bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiepileptogenic effects of trilostane in the kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Costa Anna Maria , Gol Mohammad , Lucchi Chiara , Biagini Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

Objective

Epileptogenesis after status epilepticus (SE) has a faster onset in rats treated to reduce brain levels of the anticonvulsant neurosteroid allopregnanolone with the 5α‐reductase inhibitor finasteride; however, it still has to be evaluated whether treatments aimed at increasing allopregnanolone levels could result in the opposite effect of delaying epileptogenesis. This possibility could be tested using the peripherally active inhibitor of 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5‐4 isomerase trilostane, which has been shown repeatedly to increase allopregnanolone levels in the brain.

Methods

Trilostane (50 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once daily for up to six consecutive days, starting 10 min after intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg). Seizures were evaluated by video‐electrocorticographic recordings for 70 days maximum, and endogenous neurosteroid levels were assessed by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the presence of brain lesions.

Results

Trilostane did not alter the latency of kainic acid‐induced SE onset or its overall duration. When compared to the vehicle‐treated group, rats receiving six daily trilostane injections presented a remarkable delay of the first spontaneous electrocorticographic seizure and subsequent tonic–clonic spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs). Conversely, rats treated with only the first trilostane injection during SE did not differ from vehicle‐treated rats in developing the SRSs. Notably, trilostane did not modify neuronal cell densities or the overall damage in the hippocampus. In comparison to the vehicle group, repeated administration of trilostane significantly decreased the activated microglia morphology in the subiculum. As expected, allopregnanolone and other neurosteroid levels were remarkably increased in the hippocampus and neocortex of rats treated for 6 days with trilostane, but pregnanolone was barely detectable. Neurosteroids returned to basal levels after a week of trilostane washout.

Significance

Overall, these results suggest that trilostane led to a remarkable increase in allopregnanolone brain levels, which was associated with protracted effects on epileptogenesis.
RETRACTED: The design for supply chain management of intelligent logistics system using cloud computing and the internet of things
Authors: Wang Huan , Yin Yuanxing , Wang Xinyu
Published: March 2023

Image recognition is the key to smart logistics systems. Traditional handwriting feature extraction is difficult to meet the requirements of image recognition. Deep learning is used for image recognition. Firstly, convolutional neural network (CNN) and deep Boltzmann machines under deep learning are introduced. Second, cellular neural networks are used to perform feature recognition and extraction on images. Finally, a Parzen classifier is used to classify the obtained image features. The novelty is that through the structural design and research of the intelligent logistics system, the CNN is combined to construct a management system of supply chain logistics of image recognition and information processing. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy time of the proposed improved fusion algorithm on the Mixed National Institute of Standards and Technology data set is 198.85 s. When the improved algorithm achieves the same recognition accuracy, it takes 159.65 s. The recognition efficiency of the improved algorithm is 19.71% higher than that of the unimproved algorithm. In addition, when the unimproved algorithm reaches the maximum number of iterations, the error rate is 2.47%. The error rate of the improved algorithm is only 0.74%. This study provides a basis for improving the image recognition accuracy and has certain practical value.
Fantasies of home: “Heimat” in E. T. A. Hoffmann'sHaimatochare
Authors: Dickson Polly
Published: March 2023

E. T. A. Hoffmann'sHaimatochare, an epistolary fiction set in Hawaii, defamiliarizes the narrative of an erotic colonial fantasy by coaxing the reader into the assumption that its alluring central figure is an Indigenous woman and then revealing her to be an insect. This article studies the dynamics of misapprehension within the text, beginning with Walter Benjamin's misreading of its title as “Heimatochare,” a mistake that has proved strangely persistent in the critical literature. By readingHaimatocharealongsideDer Sandmann, the article shows howHaimatochareintroduces a web of “Heimat”‐related terms that both solicit the misreading and indicate the insect's identity such that the central revelation is already partially intuited and thus takes on an uncanny aspect. Furthermore, in making “Heimat” present across the narrative and then destabilizing it, the text unfolds an experience of “Heimweh,” where home is both fantasy and sickness at once.
BerlinUnter Grund: Vision beyond the surface city
Authors: Olsson Berggren Mikael
Published: March 2023

This article examines a selection of poetry and short prose depictingU‐Bahnjourneys in early 20th‐century Berlin. While the cultural imagination of Berlin's emergence as a modern metropolis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is closely intertwined with the historical novelty of exterior spaces in the city and the figure of the perambulating flaneur, the cityscape's underground, made up ofU‐Bahntunnels and thousands of passengers have figured much less prominently in scholarship on Berlin's modernity. The close readings focus on the texts’ mediation of the sensory experience of underground dwelling and the impact of the sudden shifts between above‐ and belowground environments on the passenger's perception of space. As the article shows, the visual imagination and literary tropes that we encounter in theU‐Bahnsignify not only modes of representing modern urban space but also hold significance for understanding the importance of threshold experiences in modernity.
Evaluation of functional, physicochemical, textural and sensorial properties of multi‐millet‐based biscuit
Authors: Arepally Divyasree , Reddy Ravula Sudharshan , Coorey Ranil , Goswami Tridib Kumar
Published: March 2023

Consumer desire for typical health‐promoting snacks is on the rise. Millet is thought to provide consumer health benefits and can be used in treating celiac disease and gastrointestinal problems. In this study, wheat flour (WF) was substituted with multi‐millet flour (MMF) at different levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) in producing the multi‐millet biscuit. MMF was made by combining an equal proportion of barnyard, finger, kodo and pearl millet. The functional, physicochemical and sensorial properties of the biscuits were examined. The water holding and oil absorption capacity increased by increasing the proportion of MMF to WF. Biscuits made from MMF had significantly more fat, ash and fibre (P < 0.05) than the control (100% WF). In comparison to the control biscuit, the 100% MMF‐based biscuit had a higher total phenolic content (50.30 ± 1.64 mg of GAE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (13.85 ± 0.33 mg of GAE/100 g). There was also a decrease in L* and b* and an increase in a* on increasing proportion of MMF, indicating that the biscuit colour darkened significantly (P < 0.05). The sensory analysis indicated that biscuits with 40% MMF were most acceptable compared to the rest of the samples. This study provides reference in usage of MMF for producing nutritional multi‐millet‐based biscuit.
Surgical management of prepubertal testicular tumors: A 30‐year study in our institution
Authors: Nishio Hidenori , Mizuno Kentaro , Kato Taiki , Kamisawa Hideyuki , Kurokawa Satoshi , Nakane Akihiro , Maruyama Tetsuji , Kawai Noriyasu , Yasui Takahiro , Hayashi Yutaro
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The 2021 European Association of Urology–European Society for Paediatric Urology guidelines on Pediatric Urology recommended testis‐sparing surgery (TSS) as the primary approach to treat prepubertal testicular tumors exhibiting favorable preoperative ultrasound diagnoses. However, prepubertal testicular tumors are rare and clinical data regarding them is limited. Here, we analyzed the surgical management of prepubertal testicular tumors based on cases observed over approximately 30 years.

Methods

Data were retrospectively reviewed from medical records of consecutive patients aged <14 years with testicular tumors who received treatment at our institution between 1987 and 2020. We compared patients by their clinical characteristics, namely, those who underwent TSS versus radical orchiectomy (RO) and those who received surgery in 2005 onward versus prior to 2005.

Results

We identified 17 patients, with a median age at surgery of 3.2 years (range 0.6–14.0) and a median tumor size of 15 mm (range 6–67). The tumor size was significantly smaller in patients who underwent TSS than in those who underwent RO (p = 0.007). Patients treated in 2005 onward were more likely to undergo TSS than those treated prior to 2005 (71% vs. 10%, respectively), without significant differences in tumor size or the rate of preoperative ultrasound. No TSS cases required conversion to RO.

Conclusions

Recent improvements in ultrasound imaging technology allow for more accurate clinical diagnosis. Therefore, the indications of TSS for prepubertal testicular tumors can be judged based not only on the tumor size but also on the diagnosis of benign tumors by preoperative ultrasound.
Nilaparvata lugens ERR2 regulates moulting and ovary development is related to hormone signalling
Authors: Jiang Xiaojuan , Zheng Shiwen , Bamu Anfu , Dai Huan , Lin Xinda
Published: March 2023

The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily is one of the largest groups of transcription factors in living organisms. Oestrogen related receptor (ERR) is a class of nuclear receptors closely related to oestrogen receptors (ERs). In this study, the Nilaparvata lugens (N. lugens) ERR2 (NlERR2) was cloned, and the expression of NlERR2 was detected by qRT‐PCR to explore the distribution of NlERR2 during development and in different tissues. Using RNAi and qRT‐PCR, the interaction between NlERR2 and related genes of the 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH) signalling pathways was studied. The results showed that topical application of 20E and juvenile hormone III (JHIII) affected the expression of NlERR2, and NlERR2 could affect the expression of genes related to 20E and JH signalling pathways. Furthermore, NlERR2 and JH/20E hormone signalling‐related genes affect moulting and ovarian development. NlERR2 and NlE93/NlKr‐h1 affect the transcriptional expression of Vg‐related genes. In summary, NlERR2 is related to hormone signalling pathways, which is also related to the expression of Vg and Vg related genes. Brown planthopper is one of the most important rice pests. This study provides an important basis for mining new targets for pest control.
RETRACTED: Caregivers' knowledge with burned children and related factors towards burn first aid: A systematic review
Authors: Farzan Ramyar , Parvizi Arman , Takasi Poorya , Mollaei Amirabbas , Karkhah Samad , Firooz Mahbobeh , Hosseini Seyed Javad , Haddadi Soudabeh , Ghorbani Vajargah Pooyan
Published: March 2023

This systematic review aimed to examine the caregivers' knowledge with burned children and related factors towards burn first aid. A comprehensive, systematic search was performed in different international electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as “Knowledge”, “First aid”, “Caregiver”, “Burn”, and “Child” from the earliest to the December 1, 2022. The quality of the studies included in this systematic review was evaluated by using the appraisal tool for cross‐sectional studies (AXIS tool). A total of 11 763 caregivers of children with burns were enrolled in 14 studies. Of the participants, 78.81% were female and 41.15% had a university education. The mean score of caregivers' knowledge with burned children towards burn first aid was 51.44 out of 100. The knowledge of caregivers of burned children towards burn first aid had a significant positive relationship with the level of education, first aid training, age of caregivers, history of burn, number of children, monthly income, social status, and attitude. In addition, caregivers' knowledge had a significant negative relationship with the number of children. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between caregivers' knowledge and level of education, monthly income, smoking, and previous knowledge of first aid. The level of caregivers' knowledge with burned children towards burn first aid was moderate. Therefore, health managers and policymakers can improve the knowledge of caregivers of burned children towards burn first aid by creating suitable platforms for face‐to‐face training as well as online training using websites.
NDVI and grain fill duration are important to be considered in breeding for terminal heat stress tolerance in wheat
Authors: Kumar Monu , Mishra Vinod Kumar , Chand Ramesh , Sharma Sandeep , Kumar Uttam , Jaiswal Jai Prakash , Choudhary Mukesh , Mahato Anima , Ashutosh  , Singh Prashant , Joshi Arun Kumar
Published: March 2023

Terminal heat stress is a major constraint for taking a profitable crop of wheat by small and marginal farmers in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains of south Asia. Hence, breeders remain in constant search for heat‐tolerant genotypes. This study was done with the purpose to find out high‐yielding wheat genotypes that perform stably under terminal heat stress as well as to conclude an easy phenotyping trait for this objective. A cross (HUW 234 × HUW 468) was made using two popular cultivars of the eastern Gangetic Plains of India. HUW 234 carries terminal heat tolerance whereas, HUW 468 is high yielding but suffers from terminal heat stress when planted late. So obtained 167 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were exposed to both timely sown (TS) and late sown (LS) conditions at three locations for two consecutive years 2016–17 and 2017–18 at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar). Combined ANOVA revealed that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at anthesis stage (NDVI_AH) and grain filling duration (GFD) was significant for genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Likewise, differences were significant for grain yield (GY) and 1000‐grain weight (TGW). AMMI analysis revealed similar results. However, NDVI_AH showed low variation under heat stressed late sown conditions. Furthermore, the which‐won‐where model and mean versus stability identified the best performing, above‐average yielding and stable lines across the environments. Correlation among measured traits revealed that NDVI_AH had a significant association with GY in most of the environments. Several lines that performed superior to better parent for GY also showed higher values for NDVI_AH and GFD. The study demonstrates that NDVI_AH and GFD appear to be important traits to be considered while breeding for terminal heat stress tolerance in wheat.
Midwives and service users' perspectives on implementing a dialogue about alcohol use in antenatal care: A qualitative study
Authors: Dyson Judith , Onukwugha Franklin , Howlett Helen , Combe Katherine , Catterick Maria , Smith Lesley
Published: March 2023

Aim

There are barriers to midwives engaging in conversations about alcohol with pregnant women. Our aim was to capture the views of midwives and service users to co‐create strategies to address these barriers.

Design

Qualitative description.

Methods

Structured Zoom‐based focus group interviews of midwives and service users where we presented known barriers and sought solutions to midwives discussing alcohol use in antenatal settings. Data collection took place between July and August 2021.

Results

Fourteen midwives and six service users attended five focus groups. Barriers considered were as follows: (i) lack of awareness of guidelines, (ii) poor skills in difficult conversations, (iii) lack of confidence, (iv) lack of belief in existing evidence, (v) women would not listen to their advice, and (vi) alcohol conversations were not considered part of their role. Five strategies to address barriers to midwives discussing alcohol with pregnant women were identified. These were as follows: Training that included mothers of children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, champion midwives, a service user questionnaire about alcohol for completion before the consultation, questions about alcohol added to the maternity data capture template and a structured appraisal to provide a means of audit and feedback on their alcohol dialogue with women.

Conclusions

Co‐creation involving providers and users of maternity services yielded theoretically underpinned pragmatic strategies to support midwives to ask advise assist about alcohol during antenatal care. Future research will test if the strategies can be delivered in antenatal care settings, and if they are acceptable to service providers and service users.

Impact

If these strategies are effective in addressing barriers to midwives discussing alcohol with pregnant women, this could support women to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, thus reducing alcohol‐related maternal and infant harm.

Patient and public contribution

Service users were involved in the design and execution of the study, considering data, supporting intervention design and delivery and dissemination.
Treatment of childhood disruptive behavior disorders and callous‐unemotional traits: a systematic review and two multilevel meta‐analyses
Authors: Perlstein Samantha , Fair Maddy , Hong Emily , Waller Rebecca
Published: March 2023

Background

Children with callous‐unemotional (CU) traits are at high lifetime risk of antisocial behavior. It is unknown if treatments for disruptive behavior disorders are as effective for children with CU traits (DBD+CU) as those without (DBD‐only), nor if treatments directly reduce CU traits. Separate multilevel meta‐analyses were conducted to compare treatment effects on DBD symptoms for DBD+CU versus DBD‐only children and evaluate direct treatment‐related reductions in CU traits, as well as to examine moderating factors for both questions.

Methods

We systematically searched PsycINFO, PubMed, Cochran Library (Trials), EMBASE, MEDLINE, APA PsycNet, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials, controlled trials, and uncontrolled studies evaluating child‐focused, parenting‐focused, pharmacological, family‐focused, or multimodal treatments.

Results

Sixty studies with 9,405 participants were included (Mage = 10.04, SDage = 3.89 years, 25.09% female, 44.10% racial/ethnic minority). First, treatment was associated with similar reductions in DBD symptoms for DBD+CU (SMD = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.45, 1.72) and DBD‐only (SMD = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.38, 1.64). However, DBD+CU started (SMD = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.57, 1.80) and ended (SMD = 0.73, p < .001; 95% CI = 0.43, 1.04) treatment with more DBD symptoms. Second, although there was no overall direct effect of treatment on CU traits (SMD = .09, 95% CI = −0.02, 0.20), there were moderating factors. Significant treatment‐related reductions in CU traits were found for studies testing parenting‐focused components (SMD = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.35), using parent‐reported measures (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04, 0.28), rated as higher quality (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.39), conducted outside the United States (SMD = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.32), and with less than half the sample from a racial/ethnic minority group (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.002, 0.30).

Conclusions

DBD+CU children improve with treatment, but their greater DBD symptom severity requires specialized treatment modules that could be implemented alongside parenting programs. Conclusions are tempered by heterogeneity across studies and scant evidence from randomized controlled trials.
Electrolyte pH dependence of composition, roughness parameters, particle diameter and magnetic features of nanostructured Fe‐Co‐Ni/ITO deposits prepared by electrochemical deposition method
Authors: Saraç Umut , Trong Dung Nguyen , Baykul M. Celalettin , Long Van Cao , Dang Phu Nguyen , Lan Doan Phuong , Ţălu Ştefan
Published: March 2023

The composition, structural features, surface morphology, roughness parameters, particle size, and magnetic features of nanostructured Fe‐Co‐Ni deposits manufactured on conducting indium tin oxide‐coated glasses at various electrolyte pH values are studied. The deposit produced at low electrolyte pH contains slightly higher Fe and Co contents but lower Ni content compared to deposits fabricated at high pH values. Further composition analysis confirms that the reduction rates of Fe2+ and Co2+ are higher than the Ni2+ reduction rate. The films consist of nano‐sized crystallites with a strong [111] preferred orientation. The results also reveal that the crystallization of the thin films is affected by the electrolyte pH. Surface analysis shows that the deposit surfaces are composed of nano‐sized particles with different diameters. The mean particle diameter and surface roughness decrease as the pH of the electrolyte decreases. The effect of the electrolyte pH on the morphology is also discussed in terms of surface skewness and kurtosis parameters. Magnetic analysis shows that the resultant deposits have in‐plane hysteresis loops with low and close SQR parameters ranging from 0.079 to 0.108. The results also reveal that the coercive field of the deposits increases from 29.4 Oe to 41.3 Oe as the electrolyte pH decreases from 4.7 to 3.2.
European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) 2023 guidance paper for digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma
Authors: Sorbye Halfdan , Grande Enrique , Pavel Marianne , Tesselaar Margot , Fazio Nicola , Reed Nicholas Simon , Knigge Ulrich , Christ Emanuel , Ambrosini Valentina , Couvelard Anne , Tiensuu Janson Eva
Published: March 2023

This ENETS guidance paper, developed by a multidisciplinary working group, provides up‐to‐date and practical advice on the diagnosis and management of digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma, based on recent developments and study results. These recommendations aim to pave the road for more standardized care for our patients resulting in improved outcomes. Prognosis is generally poor for digestive NEC, most are advanced at diagnosis and median survival in metastatic disease is 11–12 months. Surgery can be of benefit for localized disease after extensive preoperative imaging. Carboplatin in combination with etoposide is recommended as first‐line treatment for metastatic disease. Irinotecan with fluoropyrimidines has the best evidence as second‐line treatment. Immunotherapy plays a minor role in biomarker‐unselected patients. Molecular profiling if available is encouraged to identify new targets. More prospective clinical trials are highly needed to fulfil the unmet needs in this field, especially on new predictive and prognostic biomarkers and to improve survival of patients with advanced disease.
Examining craniofacial variation among crispant and mutant zebrafish models of human skeletal diseases
Authors: Diamond Kelly M. , Burtner Abigail E. , Siddiqui Daanya , Alvarado Kurtis , Leake Sanford , Rolfe Sara , Zhang Chi , Kwon Ronald Young , Maga A. Murat
Published: March 2023

Genetic diseases affecting the skeletal system present with a wide range of symptoms that make diagnosis and treatment difficult. Genome‐wide association and sequencing studies have identified genes linked to human skeletal diseases. Gene editing of zebrafish models allows researchers to further examine the link between genotype and phenotype, with the long‐term goal of improving diagnosis and treatment. While current automated tools enable rapid and in‐depth phenotyping of the axial skeleton, characterizing the effects of mutations on the craniofacial skeleton has been more challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate a semi‐automated screening tool can be used to quantify craniofacial variations in zebrafish models using four genes that have been associated with human skeletal diseases (meox1, plod2, sost, and wnt16) as test cases. We used traditional landmarks to ground truth our dataset and pseudolandmarks to quantify variation across the 3D cranial skeleton between the groups (somatic crispant, germline mutant, and control fish). The proposed pipeline identified variation between the crispant or mutant fish and control fish for four genes. Variation in phenotypes parallel human craniofacial symptoms for two of the four genes tested. This study demonstrates the potential as well as the limitations of our pipeline as a screening tool to examine multi‐dimensional phenotypes associated with the zebrafish craniofacial skeleton.
Colporrhaphy using elastic tissue continuous with and obscured behind the fibromuscular layer of the vaginal wall
Authors: Oishi Tetsuya , Kotsuji Fumikazu , Kato Hiroki , Tokuda Hisato , Nakago Satoshi , Shibata Takashi
Published: March 2023

Aim

Due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's order to cease the use of surgical mesh for transvaginal repair, an improvement of the native tissue repair (NTR) of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) could become important as one of the first‐line operative methods. This study details the surgical technique of an NTR method we developed, with report of our 5 years of experience.

Methods

Operative technique: A new fibromuscular layer (FL) was constructed using a thick and elastic tissue continuous with and obscured behind the original FL of the vaginal wall.

Patients: Between April 2017 and March 2020, we performed our novel repair technique on 87 women with POP of either quantification stage III or IV.

Results

We followed up 80 of the 87 women for over 24 months up to 60 months (follow‐up rate: 91.2%). POP recurred (defined as stage II or higher) in four patients (5.0%). Operation time was 49–70 min. The bleeding volume was 70–250 g. There were no intra‐ or postoperative complications that required further treatment.

Conclusions

This procedure could potentially become one of the first‐line operative methods for repairing POP.
Preconception origins of asthma, allergies and lung function: The influence of previous generations on the respiratory health of our children
Authors: Svanes Cecilie , Holloway John W. , Krauss‐Etschmann Susanne
Published: March 2023

Emerging research suggests that exposures occurring years before conception are important determinants of the health of future offspring and subsequent generations. Environmental exposures of both the father and mother, or exposure to disease processes such as obesity or infections, may influence germline cells and thereby cause a cascade of health outcomes in multiple subsequent generations. There is now increasing evidence that respiratory health is influenced by parental exposures that occur long before conception. The strongest evidence relates adolescent tobacco smoking and overweight in future fathers to increased asthma and lower lung function in their offspring, supported by evidence on parental preconception occupational exposures and air pollution. Although this literature is still sparse, the epidemiological analyses reveal strong effects that are consistent across studies with different designs and methodologies. The results are strengthened by mechanistic research from animal models and (scarce) human studies that have identified molecular mechanisms that can explain the epidemiological findings, suggesting transfer of epigenetic signals through germline cells, with susceptibility windows in utero (both male and female line) and prepuberty (male line).

The concept that our lifestyles and behaviours may influence the health of our future children represents a new paradigm. This raises concerns for future health in decades to come with respect to harmful exposures but may also open for radical rethinking of preventive strategies that may improve health in multiple generations, reverse the imprint of our parents and forefathers, and underpin strategies that can break the vicious circle of propagation of health inequalities across generations.
Relational Expertise: What Machines Can't Know
Authors: Pakarinen Pauli , Huising Ruthanne
Published: March 2023

Professions continue to be the primary means through which societies institutionalize expertise. Recent analyses and narratives predict that artificial intelligence (AI) will make meaningful inroads into non‐routine reasoning about complex cases, threatening the authority of professions. These predictions, we argue, draw on substantialist understandings of expertise as an intellectual possession, a mental achievement, or a cognitive state performed – by humans or machines – to achieve effects. A synthesis of empirical studies shows that expertise is more accurately conceptualized as relationally constituted – generated, applied, and recognized – through interactions. Relational expertise creates challenges of opacity, translation, and accountability for the development and deployment of AI technologies in the context of professional work. A relational understanding of expertise disrupts notions that professions may be augmented with, subordinated to, or dismantled by AI technologies. Instead, AI technologies are embedded in the network of interactions through which the relational expertise of professions is constituted.
Efficacy and safety of vibegron compared with mirabegron for overactive bladder: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: He Wenjuan , Zhang Yuqian , Huang Guangliang , Tian Yunfei , Sun Qian , Liu Xiuju
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to indirectly compare the efficacy and safety of mirabegron and vibegron in patients with overactive bladder.

Methods

A systematic search was performed on Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases to identify studies from the date of database inception to January 1, 2022. All randomized controlled trials comparing mirabegron or vibegron with tolterodine, imidafenacin, or placebo were eligible. One reviewer extracted data, and a second reviewer checked. Included trials were assessed for similarity, and networks were developed using Stata 16.0 software. Mean differences for continuous variables and odds ratios for dichotomous variables together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to rank treatments and compare the differences, respectively.

Results

A total of 11 randomized controlled trials and 10 806 patients were included. For each outcome, results for all licensed treatment doses were included. Both vibegron and mirabegron were more efficacious than placebo at reducing the frequency of micturition, incontinence, urgency, urgency incontinence, and nocturia. Vibegron was more efficacious than mirabegron in reducing mean voided volume/micturition (95% CI [5.15, 14.98]). Safety outcomes for vibegron and mirabegron were similar to those in the placebo group, except for mirabegron, which had a higher risk of nasopharyngitis and cardiovascular adverse events than placebo.

Conclusions

Both drugs seem to be comparable and well tolerated, particularly as direct comparisons are not available. However, vibegron may be more effective than mirabegron in reducing mean voided volume.
A decentralized robust control approach for virtually coupled train sets
Authors: Vaquero‐Serrano Miguel A. , Felez Jesus
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a novel approach to train control systems based on virtual coupling is presented. Virtual coupling is a concept that has evolved from platooning of vehicles and allows to reduce the distance and headway between trains without constructing new lines while ensuring safe operation. With this objective in mind, we propose a decentralized robust model predictive control (MPC) framework for a virtually coupled train set based on a min–max approach. Unlike the nominal MPC, robust MPC is designed to consider external undetermined disturbances and errors to improve robustness in real‐world applications. Therefore, in this study, we present the formulation of a robust MPC based on solving a finite‐horizon optimization problem with bounded uncertainties. The bounds consider resistive modeling errors, positioning errors, communication delays, and a possible adhesion loss of up to 10%. We then performed four simulations to compare the behavior of the robust MPC with the equivalent nominal MPC. In these simulations, we simulated a metro line, main line, and high‐speed line. The simulations also analyzed the behavior of the robust MPC under the considered perturbations and different communication delays. The results show that the robust MPC ensures safer operation than nominal MPC in subways, conventional lines, and high‐speed lines. Future research can focus on centralized MPC and artificial intelligence.
Glucuronic acid: not just another brick in the cell wall
Authors: Oliveira Dyoni M.
Published: March 2023

This article is a Commentary on Debra‐Maceluch et al. (2023), 238: 297–312.
Effects of Astragalus polysaccharide to boar sperm on bisphenol A exposure
Authors: Hu Qimeng
Published: March 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is reported to impair male fertility. The alleviating effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on sperm oxidative damage caused by BPA exposure was analysed for the first time. In this study, the effect of APS (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 mg/mL) on motility of BPA‐exposed sperm, energy metabolism indexes, and antioxidant parameters was evaluated. In addition, the effects of APS supplementation on protein tyrosine phosphorylation of BPA‐exposed sperm were assessed. The results showed that the addition of APS (0.5 and 0.75 mg/mL) significantly increased motility of BPA‐exposed sperm by decreasing the content of malondialdehyde and improving activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase (p < .05). Administration of different doses of APS to BPA‐exposed sperm improved mitochondrial membrane potential and energy production (p < .05). Moreover, APS protected and alleviated tyrosine phosphorylation protein on the principal‐pieces of BPA‐exposed sperm flagella. In conclusion, supplementation with APS enhanced the antioxidant capacity of BPA‐exposed sperm and improved in vitro capacitation, thereby improving the reproductive capacity of sperm exposed to environmental hormones.
Establishing an empirical conceptual model of oral health in dependent adults: Systematic review
Authors: BaHammam Fahad A. , Akhil Jamal , Stewart Margaret , Abdulmohsen Bana , Durham Justin , McCracken Giles I. , Wassall Rebecca
Published: March 2023

Aim

This qualitative evidence synthesis was performed to establish a conceptual model of oral health in dependent adults that defines the construct of oral health and describes its interrelationships based on dependent adults’ and their caregivers’ experiences and views.

Methods

Six bibliographic databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OATD, and OpenGrey. Citations and reference lists were manually searched. A quality assessment of included studies was conducted independently by two reviewers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. The ‘best fit’ framework synthesis method was applied. Data were coded against an a priori framework and data not captured by this framework were thematically analyzed. To assess the confidence of the findings from this review, the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE‐CERQual) approach was used.

Results

Twenty‐seven eligible studies were included from 6126 retrieved studies. Four themes were generated to further understand oral health in dependent adults: oral health status, oral health impact, oral care, and oral health value.

Conclusion

This synthesis and conceptual model offer a better understanding of oral health in dependent adults and subsequently provide a starting point to guide establishment of person‐centred oral care interventions.
Predicting children's internalizing symptoms across development from early emotional reactivity
Authors: Gabel Lindsay N. , Mohamed Ali Ola , Kotelnikova Yuliya , Tremblay Paul F. , Stanton Kasey J. , Durbin C. Emily , Hayden Elizabeth P.
Published: March 2023

Current methods of assessing children's emotional reactivity fail to capture individual differences in emotion across contexts that may be meaningfully related to youth psychopathology. We therefore explored the utility of modeling variability in young children's positive and negative emotion across emotionally evocative laboratory tasks to predict later adjustment. At age 3, 409 children completed a battery of laboratory tasks eliciting either positive or negative affect. We used latent difference score (LDS) modeling to predict children's caregiver‐reported internalizing symptoms across ages 3, 5, 8, and 11 from variability in their observer‐rated positive and negative emotion across laboratory tasks. We found that sex moderated the association between both average and variability measures of children's negative emotion at age 3 and trajectories of their anxious‐depressive symptoms across childhood. Measures of emotion variability predicted children's internalizing symptoms above and beyond measures of average emotion. Variability indices also provided unique information about the trajectories of children's symptoms. We discuss implications for the utility of LDS modeling in assessing children's emotional reactivity.
Effects of the Tax Transition Reform on the Real Exchange Rate through the Trade Openness Channel in Developing Countries
Authors: Gnangnon Sèna Kimm
Published: March 2023

International financial institutions have advised developing countries to implement a reform of their tax revenue structure to reduce their dependence on international trade tax revenue, for the benefit of domestic tax revenue. This study examines the effect of this type of tax reform on the real exchange rate through the trade openness channel. It defines tax reform (also known as "tax transition reform") as a process that involves the convergence of developing countries' tax structures toward the tax structure of developed countries (given the weak dependence of the latter's tax structure on international trade tax revenue). The analysis is conducted using an unbalanced panel dataset of 107 countries from 1980-2019, and the two-step system-generalized method of moments approach. The findings show that tax reform causes real exchange rate depreciation, with the magnitude of this effect being higher in developed countries than in developing countries. Furthermore, the real exchange rate depreciation effect of the tax reform is higher in countries with greater trade openness and a tax structure that is less dependent on international trade tax revenue.
In the Dark or Out of the Shadows? Trade Liberalization and Underground Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Nkemgha Guivis Zeufack
Published: March 2023

This article contributes to the understanding of other understudied effects of international trade by analyzing its impact on the informal economy in 24 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the period 2000-2020. This article employs various estimation methods, including ordinary least squares, fixed effects, instrumental variables, and the system generalized method of moments. The results indicate that international trade significantly reduces the size of the SSA's informal economy across various parameters. In addition, the results demonstrate that governance is a mechanism by which international trade reduces the size of the informal economy. Therefore, SSA countries undertake more economic reforms in favor of free trade so that they can not only reap the benefits of globalization but also alleviate their thorny problem of informality.
Modulation of Heat Transfer in a Porous Burner Based on Triply Periodic Minimal Surface
Authors: Cheng Zhilong , Li Song , Chen Wei , Wang Qiuwang
Published: March 2023

The list of reacting flows in porous media applications is quite long, including porous media combustion, syngas production, and fuel cells. Porous media combustion is recognized as a cutting-edge combustion technique for increasing flammability. In this process, heat is transferred from the exothermic reaction zone to the incoming reactants through porous media. This role of porous media distinguishes reacting flows in porous media from free combustion processes. Local heat transfer, such as solid conduction, solid–solid radiation, and solid–gas convection, as well as the response behavior, are affected by the topology of the porous material. Theoretical studies indicate that continuously graded porous materials can significantly enhance the performance benefits of heat transfer. However, topology design is challenging for smooth graded porous media, and thus investigations of combustion within graded porous media are still required. In this study, we constructed a porous structure of type W/P/D/G (porosity ε = 0.3–0.5, hydraulic diameter dh = 1.33–3.86 mm) using a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS), and a computational model of the combustion reaction in porous media was established to compare the range of flame stability within different pore types. In addition, topology gradation was achieved via TPMS to modulate the heat transfer to ensure the dependable functioning of premixed flames and improved heat recirculation. Heat transfer in the graded TPMS-based porous structure was analyzed numerically. The conclusions obtained from this study can effectively address the aforementioned challenges related to porous media burner design.
Numerical Study of a Non-Linear Porous Sublimation Problem With Temperature-Dependent Thermal Conductivity and Concentration-Dependent Mass Diffusivity
Authors: Chaurasiya Vikas , Jain Ankur , Singh Jitendra
Published: March 2023

Sublimation heat transfer occurs in a wide range of engineering processes, such as accelerated freeze drying (AFD), energy storage, and food technology. Particularly in the microwave AFD process, preservation of material with the least possible energy consumption is desirable. In connection with this, it is of interest to analyze the effect of temperature/concentration dependent heat/mass transfer properties. Given the limited literature available on sublimation, there is a general lack of physical understanding of this particular problem. The present work analyzes the nonlinear sublimation process driven by convective heat/mass transfer and evaporation of water vapor using the Legendre wavelet collocation method (LWCM). Results from the present work are shown to be in excellent agreement with the exact solution of the special case of a linear problem. Further, the present numerical technique shows good agreement with finite difference method in case of a completely nonlinear model. The model is used for a comprehensive investigation of the impact of the problem parameters, on the rate of sublimation. It is found that the sublimation rate increases with increasing values of β1 and decreasing values of β2. The impact of other dimensionless problem parameters such as Péclet numbers Pe1 and Pem, convection due to mass transfer of water vapor β, latent heat of sublimation l0 and Luikov number Lu on sublimation process is also discussed in detail. These observations offer a comprehensive theoretical and mathematical understanding of sublimation heat/mass transfer for improving the performance and efficiency of freeze-drying and related engineering processes.
Stress Analysis of ASME Section X Flanges Using Classical Lamination Theory
Authors: Bouzid Sofiane , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim , Ngô Anh Dung
Published: March 2023

The increased usage of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite pressure vessels and piping components in the past decades in the residential and industrial sectors is attributed to the FRP material resistance to corrosion and chemical attacks. FRP composite flanges are, however, known for their anisotropic behavior. In the ASME code section X, FRP composite flanges are treated using an analytical approach derived from that metallic flanges in addition to the fact that the geometries are made to fit them as much as possible and not designed independently. This is known to have caused structural flaws for certain FRP flange classes and sizes. Using a recently developed anisotropic FRP flange approach, it is proposed to identify the most critical flanges by analyzing the flange parameters such as flange ring rotation and stresses in their different parts; gasket, flange ring, hub, and shell subjected to pressure loading. The study on the strength of flanges described in ASME section X RD-620.1 table, will reveal the most critical size and class flanges and their highly stressed locations. To conduct such a study, the selected flange material is an E glass/Vinyl Ester laminate composite. The study shows that FRP flanges of classes 25 and 50 are most vulnerable and should comparatively be less loaded. The stresses are found to reach 50 MPa in the shell and 58 MPa in the flange ring while the maximum flange rotation is 0.83 deg.
Chemical and electrical modifications of few-layer graphene films via sub-10 keV electron beam irradiation
Authors: Moyano Karla , Reinoso Carlos , Núñez Steven , Pérez Beatriz , Santacruz Cristian , Costa César , Irribarra Esteban
Published: March 2023

Graphene has attracted special attention due to its mechanical and electrical properties. In this work, we describe the effects of sub-10 keV electron beam irradiation on the electrical conductivity of few-layer graphene films deposited on a glass substrate. The irradiation process was performed in vacuum at 10–6 Torr for 30 min per sample. The superficial chemical structure and optical properties of the samples were evaluated before and after electron irradiation using spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, Raman, and XPS), and the Van der Pauw method was used to determine the sheet resistance. It was found that the sheet resistance and the defect density decrease as the energy of incident electrons increases. For instance, the sheet resistance has been reduced by 17.3% after the sample was irradiated with a 10 keV electron beam. This could be explained by the reduction of defect density on the irradiated samples caused by the removal of oxygen content on graphene flakes, estimated by Raman and XPS, respectively. Hence, electron beam irradiation could be used to modify the electrical conductivity of graphene films based on defect engineering.
Masking of Korotkoff sounds used in blood pressure measurement through auscultation
Authors: Alvarado Alvarez Mariana , Padwal Raj , Hiebert Wayne
Published: March 2023

Measurement of blood pressure (BP) through manual auscultation and the observation of Korotkoff sounds (KSs) remains the gold standard in BP methodology. Critical to determining BP levels via auscultation is the determination of KS audibility. While absolute sound level audibility is well researched, the problem has not been approached from the point of view of psychoacoustic masking of the sounds. Here, during manual auscultation of BP, a direct comparison is made between what an observer perceives as audible and the electronic analysis of audibility level determined from masking of sound signal levels. KSs are collected during auscultation with an electronic stethoscope, which allows simultaneously observing sound audibility and recording the sound electronically. By time-segmenting the recorded sound around Korotkoff peaks into a test segment and a masking segment, performing Fourier transforms on the segments, and comparing frequency-band sound energy levels, signal-to-noise ratios of a sound to its masking counterpart can be defined. Comparing these ratios to difference limen in the psychoacoustic masking literature, an approximate threshold for sound audibility is obtained. It is anticipated that this approach could have profound effects on future development of automated auscultation BP measurements.