bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Boosts Early Motion Perception Learning Rather than the Later Performance Plateau
Authors: Liu Na , Wu Di , Wang Yifan , Zhang Pan , Zhang Yinling 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The effect of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on visual perceptual learning has only been investigated during early training sessions, and the influence of tRNS on later performance is unclear. We engaged participants first in 8 days of training to reach a plateau (Stage 1) and then in continued training for 3 days (Stage 2). In the first group, tRNS was applied to visual areas of the brain while participants were trained on a coherent motion direction identification task over a period of 11 days (Stage 1 + Stage 2). In the second group, participants completed an 8-day training period without any stimulation to reach a plateau (Stage 1); after that, they continued training for 3 days, during which tRNS was administered (Stage 2). In the third group, participants completed the same training as the second group, but during Stage 2, tRNS was replaced by sham stimulation. Coherence thresholds were measured three times: before training, after Stage 1, and after Stage 2. Compared with sham simulation, tRNS did not improve coherence thresholds during the plateau period. The comparison of learning curves between the first and third groups showed that tRNS decreased thresholds in the early training stage, but it failed to improve plateau thresholds. For the second and third groups, tRNS did not further enhance plateau thresholds after the continued 3-day training period. In conclusion, tRNS facilitated visual perceptual learning in the early stage, but its effect disappeared as the training continued.
Deterrence and Defence: The US Military and International Partnering for Peace in Outer Space
Authors: Sturdevant Rick W. 
Published: March 2023

Summary
International military alliances have developed to deter potential foes from initiating war and, when deterrence fails, to defeat enemies. From the earliest days of spaceflight, US military leaders have partnered with other nations for various purposes. With the space domain becoming more congested and contested in the early 21st century¸ the US defence establishment has begun expanding and strengthening space-related relationships with like-minded international partners to deter irresponsible, adversarial space behaviour and perpetuate peaceful uses of the outer space domain for civil and commercial purposes.
Post-Election Elite Bargaining and Coalition Formation in the MENA: Lessons from Iraq and Morocco
Authors: Storm Lise , O’Driscoll Dylan 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
This article analyses the dynamics of post-election elite bargaining and coalition formation in the cases of Iraq and Morocco, demonstrating that, despite widely differing contexts, the outcome is often far removed from the election results. Recent works on political parties in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have alluded to this state of affairs, but, so far, the scholarship is missing in-depth comparative studies of the intricate dynamics of elite bargaining and coalition formation. Beyond not necessarily connecting to the election results, but rather being rooted in competition over access to patronage resources and power, our comparison demonstrates the negative impact that this state of affairs has on the government’s ability to govern.
The So-called Sempiternalism of the Early Academy
Authors: De Cesaris Giulia 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
It is a well-established opinion in the literature that the immediate circle of Plato’s disciples maintained that the generation of the cosmos described in the Timaeus was to be understood as an illustrative, or educational metaphor. On this account, Plato’s students were the first to hold an eternalist, metaphorical reading of the generation of the world, challenged by the Peripatos. When criticising their position in the De Caelo, however, Aristotle describes Early Academic philosophers as holding the more nuanced view that the world is ‘indestructible and yet generated’ (ἄφθαρτον μὲν […] γενόμενον δέ). Is it possible to make any sense of this formulation and restore a different position for Early Academic philosophers? In this paper, I claim that the standard reading can be challenged and that there is ground to believe that Speusippus and Xenocrates held that the world is generated but everlasting. What they denied having happened in time and said should be understood as an illustrative metaphor is the transition from the absence of an order to order or, in other words, the cosmogonic process itself.
Il proemio di Timeo: struttura, contenuto e funzione
Authors: Ferrari Franco 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
In the proem that precedes the account of the generation of the world, Timaeus provides very important elements for understanding the discourse he is about to delivery. It is a complex text that displays at least three different levels: dialectical, analogical (or metaphorical) and epistemological. In the dialectical section, Timaeus establishes that the sensible universe is a generated reality and as such has a cause; in the metaphorical section, he indicates the analogical schemes he will use to explain the genesis of the cosmos (technical and biological) and the causes on which it depends. Finally, in the epistemological section he explains the reason why this exposition cannot achieve truth but must be content with likeness.
Does the Universe Perceive? On Cosmic Perception in the Timaeus
Authors: Preite Alesia 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
In the present paper, I argue that in order to be in a position to understand what the World Soul thinks about, we need first to answer the question of whether the universe perceives and if so, of what it perceives. I shall first (section 1) lay out the main reasons for suspecting that the universe has perception and some possible objections against this view. I will then (section 2) make a case for my claim that the universe has perception on the basis of my ‘minimalist’ account of perception, which identifies four necessary and jointly sufficient conditions for having an instance of aisthēsis: 1) a body; 2) a soul; 3) affections which cause motion/change in the body and in the soul; 4) the cause of these affections. I will show that the universe composed of a World Body and a World Soul meets all four conditions. On the basis of this, I will claim that one can ascribe (self-) perception to the universe. Finally (section 3), I will suggest that the universe perceives the polyhedra of its own body.
Sombras del eleatismo en la concepción del lenguaje: la refutación de Platón y Aristóteles al monismo lingüístico
Authors: Spangenberg Pilar 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
The article studies two texts closely linked to each other. In the first place, the final lines of Physics I 2, a text in which Aristotle offers a refutation against positions that propose to modify the language to adapt it to a monistic semantics that, from his point of view, involves a reduction of the senses of being analogous to that of the Eleatic thinkers that he has been criticizing. Second, the refutation that the Eleatic Stranger offers to the linguistic monists who “deny the possibility of saying one thing through another” in Plato’s Sophist 251a-254e. It is particularly interesting to illuminate the link between such passages in order to exhibit not only important points of contact in their respective positions regarding the relationship between being and language, but also some significant differences in terms of the doctrines each one of them point to, which denotes a rich and extensive discussion held at the time around the problem of unity and multiplicity in their relationship with language.
A nomogram based on metabolic profiling to discriminate lung cancer among patients with lung nodules
Authors: Li Chenwei , Chen Zhuo , Zhao Hui , Wang Cuicui , Yu Shujun , Ma Hengde , Wang Qi , Du Xiaohui 
Published: March 2023

Objective To develop a nomogram that discriminates lung cancer from benign lung nodules through metabolic profiling. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study that recruited 848 participants who were randomized into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. Clinical characteristics and metabolic profiles were retrieved. Variables in the training set with statistically significant differences were selected for further least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The nomogram was built from 13 variables identified by stepwise regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic, calibration curve, and decision curve analyses were conducted to evaluate the performance of the nomogram by internal validation. Results Thirteen variables were selected through LASSO regression to build the nomogram: age, sex, ornithine, tyrosine, glutamine, valine, serine, asparagine, arginine, methylmalonylcarnitine, tetradecenoylcarnitine, 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine/2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, and hydroxybutyrylcarnitine. The nomogram had good discrimination for the training set, with an area under the curve of 0.836 (95% confidence interval: 0.830–0.890). Moreover, the calibration curve with 1000 bootstrap resamples showed that the predicted value coincided well with the actual value. Decision curve analysis described a net benefit superior to baseline within the threshold probability range of 15% to 93%. Conclusions The nomogram constructed from metabolic profiling accurately predicted risk of lung cancer.
Digital Games as Media for Teaching and Learning: A Template for Critical Evaluation
Authors: Pötzsch Holger , Hansen Therese Holt , Hammar Emil Lundedal 
Published: March 2023

Background Videogames can be useful tools for teaching and learning. To plan educational uses, potential benefits and possible problematic aspects of specific titles need to be critically assessed by teachers and school leaders prior to implementation. Theory and Method Based on game ontological models, we identify salient areas of inquiry in games research and use these to structure a template for evaluation. This way we operationalize foundational games research and put key insights to practical use in the planning and preparation of videogame-based teaching sessions. Aims We develop a template for the evaluation of videogames as tools for and objects of teaching and learning to facilitate critical uses of these technologies in schools and other educational settings. Results We present a template for critical evaluation to facilitate the use of videogames for educational endeavors. The template distinguishes between videogames as tools for and objects of teaching and learning and is structured along the game ontological dimensions of 1) sign system, 2) rules and mechanics, 3) materiality and 4) players, and includes aspects of both representation and simulation. This way, we disentangle a complex phenomenon and make its components amendable for critical analysis and constructive intervention. Discussion and Conclusion We offer illustrating examples for how the template can be used to assess the usability of specific titles in education and discuss advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we suggest steps for implementation and further improvement.
Pragmatic Deficits in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kessler Paige B. , Ikuta Toshikazu 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: While poorer pragmatic language skills have been found in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) populations, there has been no conclusive evidence of this. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of pragmatic language abilities in ADHD populations to definitively demonstrate the extent of pragmatic language deficits in these populations as compared to typically developing (TD) populations. Methods: Studies were identified using the search terms ((attention deficit) OR (adhd)) AND (pragmatics), and those studies were screened and reviewed for inclusion criteria, descriptive information, and outcome variables in order to conduct a meta-analysis. Results: A total of 14 studies (5,772 participants) met the criteria for quantitative synthesis. Meta-analysis indicated that ADHD populations exhibited significantly poorer pragmatic language skills than TD populations, with a very large overall effect size of −1.55. These results indicate that pragmatic language is significantly impaired in ADHD populations. Conclusion: It is suggested that pragmatic language skills may deserve greater surveillance considering the importance of pragmatic language in socio-emotional development, daily life, and academic success.
The use of telemedicine for perioperative pain management during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Xie Anping , Hsu Yea-Jen , Speed Traci J , Saunders Jamia , Nguyen Jaclyn , Khasawneh Amro , Kim Samuel , A Marsteller Jill , M McDonald Eileen , Shechter Ronen , N Hanna Marie 
Published: March 2023

Introduction Using a human factors engineering approach, the Johns Hopkins Personalized Pain Program adopted telemedicine for perioperative pain management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the impact of telemedicine adoption on the quality and outcomes of perioperative pain management. Methods A mixed-methods study with a convergent parallel design was conducted. From June 2017 to December 2021, 902 patients participated in the Personalized Pain Program. Quantitative data on daily opioid consumption, pain severity and interference, physical and mental health status, and patient satisfaction and engagement were continuously collected with all patients using chart review and patient surveys. Beginning 23 March 2020, the Personalized Pain Program transitioned to telemedicine. A pre–post quasi-experimental design was used to examine the impact of telemedicine. In addition, qualitative interviews were conducted with 3 clinicians and 17 patients to explore their experience with telemedicine visits. Results The monthly number of new patients seen in the Personalized Pain Program did not significantly change before and after telemedicine adoption. Compared to patients having in-person visits before the pandemic, patients having telemedicine visits during the pandemic achieved comparable improvements in daily opioid consumption, pain severity and interference, and physical health status. While telemedicine helped overcome many challenges faced by the patients, the limitations of telemedicine were also discussed. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic stimulated the use of telemedicine. To facilitate telemedicine adoption beyond the pandemic, future research is needed to examine best practices for telemedicine adoption and provide additional evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine.
Axial compressive behavior of self-compacting micro-expansive high-strength concrete confined by glass fiber reinforced plastic tube
Authors: Wang Leijia , Zhu Mingqiao , Yue Wenhui , Dong Jiarui 
Published: March 2023

To solve the instability of the compression bars in the space truss composed of GFRP tubes, a composite column with high-strength concrete (HSC) confined by glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) tube was proposed. High-strength self-compacting micro-expansive concrete with a slump greater than 255 mm was produced under normal-temperature curing conditions and confined by GFRP tubes. A mechanical performance test of the GFRP-confined HSC short column under axial compression was performed. The effects of GFRP tube types, concrete expansion agent, constraint effect, ultimate load capacity, and failure mode of the composite structure were discussed and analyzed through the test. A model of the stress-strain response of the GFRP confined HSC column was proposed. The results show that the 45° fiber-wound GFRP tube has a significant restraining effect on the HSC. The stress-strain relationship increases quadratically in a linear fashion. When the composite column was damaged, the GFRP fiber was broken and the concrete was crushed. The ultimate strength was about 1.5 times that of unconstrained HSC columns, and the loading method has less influence on the results. The expansion agent has a significant effect on the deformation performance of the composite column, and its ultimate strain was about 1.4 times that of the composite column without expansion agent.
Efficacy and safety of a triple combination of atezolizumab, bevacizumab plus GEMOX for advanced biliary tract cancer: a multicenter, single-arm, retrospective study
Authors: Wang Kang , Liu Zong-Han , Yu Hong-Ming , Cheng Yu-Qiang , Xiang Yan-Jun , Zhong Jing-Ya , Ni Qian-Zhi , Zhou Li-Ping , Liang Chao , Zhou Hong-Kun , Pan Wei-Wei , Guo Wei-Xing , Shi Jie , Cheng Shu-Qun 
Published: March 2023

Background: Anti-programmed cell death ligand 1/vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition, coupled with chemotherapy, may potentiate antitumor immunity leading to enhanced clinical benefit, but it has not been investigated in advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). Objectives: We investigated the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in advanced BTC and explore the potential biomarkers related to the response. Design: Multicenter, single-arm, retrospective study. Methods: Advanced BTC patients, who received a triple combination therapy at three medical centers between 18 March 2020 and 1 September 2021, were included. Treatment response was evaluated via mRECIST and RECIST v1.1. Endpoints included the overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. The whole exome sequencing of pathological tissues was conducted for bioinformatic analysis. Results: In all, 30 patients were enrolled. The best ORR was 76.7% and the DCR was 90.0%. The median PFS was 12.0 months, and the median OS was not reached. During the treatment, 10.0% (3/30) of patients suffered from ⩾grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Furthermore, fever (73.3%), neutropenia (63.3%), increased aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase levels (50.0% and 43.3%, respectively) are the most common TRAEs. Bioinformatics analysis revealed patients with altered ALS2CL had a higher ORR. Conclusion: The triple combination of atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and GEMOX may be efficacious and safe for patients with advanced BTC. ALS2CL may be a potential predictive biomarker for the efficacy of triple combination therapy.
Women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Anbesu Etsay Woldu , Alemayehu Mussie , Asgedom Dejen Kahsay , Jeleta Fikru Yigezu 
Published: March 2023

Objective: Although emphasis is placed on women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use in Ethiopia, the utilization of contraceptives is low. There are studies conducted in different parts of the country on women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use; however, there are inconsistent findings. Thus, this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use and associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to develop the systematic review and meta-analysis. All observational studies were retrieved from online databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, African Journal Online and gray literature. The data search was performed from 1 December to 16 May 2022. The quality of the studies was critically assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Heterogeneity among studies was examined using the I2 statistic. RevMan version 5.3 and STATA version 14 software were used for analysis. Results: A total of 852 studies were retrieved, and 8 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use was 57 (95% confidence interval: 37, 77). Good knowledge of family planning methods (odds ratio: 2.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.65, 3.67), a positive attitude toward family planning methods (odds ratio: 2.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 3.2), and having primary or higher education (odds ratio: 9.76, 95% confidence interval: 4.36, 21.99) were associated with increased odds of women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use. Conclusion: Nearly three in five married women made decisions regarding family planning use in Ethiopia. Women with good knowledge of family planning methods, a positive attitude toward family planning methods, and women having primary or higher education were associated with increased odds of women’s decision-making power regarding family planning use.
Banana peel extract alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress via modulation of the Nrf2/Hmox-1 and NF-κB pathways in thyroid of heavy metal mixture exposed female rats
Authors: Eddie-Amadi Boma F , Ezejiofor Anthonet N , Orish Chinna N , Cirovic Ana , Cirovic Aleksandar , Orisakwe Orish E 
Published: March 2023

Introduction This is an evaluation of the effects of banana peel BP extract on the heavy metals’ mixture HMM mediated oxido-inflammatory effects in the thyroid of female albino rats. Methods Five groups (5 female rats/group) were treated as follows for 60 days: Group 1: Deionized water only; Group 2: (Pb, Hg, Mn and Al); Group 3: 200 mg/kg BP extract + HMM; Group 4: 400 mg/kg BP extract + HMM; Group 5: 800 mg/kg BP extract + HMM. On day 60 animals were euthanized, thyroid was harvested and used for, malondialdehyde MDA, nitric oxide NO, antioxidants, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF – α), interleukin 6 (IL – 6), Caspase-3, Nuclear factor erythroid 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2), Nuclear factor kappa B (NfkB) and Heme Oxygynase – 1 (Hmox-1) and histopathology. Results There was significant bioaccumulation of Pb, Al, Hg and MN; elevated IL-6 and Tnf-α, MDA and NO, caspase-3 and Nrf2, NF-κB and Hmox-1 in the HMM only group in comparison to the control. There was significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in SOD, CAT GSH activities in HMM only exposed group in comparison to the control deionized water group, whereas BP co-treatment with HMM significantly ( p < 0.05) increased SOD, CAT GSH activities. Co-treatment with BP extract also reversed most of these effects. Discussion and Conclusions BP extract may ameliorate HMM -induced thyrotoxicity in female albino rats by blunting oxido-inflammatory activities.