bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Challenge of Global Aflatoxins Legislation with a Focus on Peanuts and Peanut Products: A Systematic Review
Authors: Meneely Julie P. , Kolawole Oluwatobi , Haughey Simon A. , Miller Sarah J. , Krska Rudolf , Elliott Christopher T. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractGlobally, of all mycotoxins, aflatoxins present a significant threat to human and animal health and has resulted in the introduction of strict food regulatory limits to protect public health. A systematic review, was performed to elucidate the rationale applied in establishing aflatoxin standards and evaluate the economic impacts of these. The focus was peanuts, a principal trading commodity susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Results revealed that although regulations are established in many countries, there is huge disparity in the maximum limits applied due to different methodologies used when considering exposure assessment. Moreover, in countries most affected by aflatoxin contamination in peanuts, few, if any standards exist. In the case of risk assessments, knowledge gaps identified include the impact of climate change on peanut aflatoxin contamination, the role of aflatoxins in child stunting, Kwashiorkor and immunomodulation and a lack of occurrence and exposure data in many developing countries from contaminated peanuts. Few quantitative studies evaluating the impact of aflatoxin regulations on trade exist and evidence is lacking in terms of what happens to exports that do not meet regulatory requirements. Evidence does suggest a lack of knowledge of the extent of the aflatoxin problem, associated health risks and mitigation strategies in developing countries. A hugely important factor that needs to be highlighted is that while there is a fundamental right for sufficient, safe, nutritious food, in many cases in low-income and lower middle-income countries there exists an incredibly difficult and complex trade-off between food security and food safety.
Left bundle branch pacing as an alternative to biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronisation therapy
Authors: Rademakers L. M. , van den Broek J. L. P. M. , Bracke F. A. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundLeft bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel physiological pacing technique which may serve as an alternative to biventricular pacing (BVP) for the delivery of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT). This study assessed the feasibility and outcomes of LBBP in comparison to BVP.MethodsLBBP was attempted in 40 consecutive patients as the first-line method for delivering CRT. To evaluate LBBP versus BVP, 40 patients with identical inclusion criteria who received BVP were compared with the LBBP group. Acute success rate, complications, functional and echocardiographic outcomes as well as hospitalisation for heart failure and all-cause mortality 6 months after implantation were evaluated.ResultsLBBP was successfully performed in 31 (78%) patients and resulted in significant QRS narrowing (from 166 ± 16 to 123 ± 18 ms,p < 0.001), improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; from 28 ± 8 to 43 ± 12%,p < 0.001) and New York Heart Association functional class (from 2.8 ± 0.5 to 1.6 ± 0.6,p < 0.001) at 6 months. No LBBP-related complications occurred. Compared to BVP, LBBP resulted in a greater reduction in QRS duration (44 ± 17 vs 15 ± 26 ms,p < 0.001) with comparable absolute improvement in LVEF (15.2 ± 11.7 vs 9.6 ± 12.1%,p = 0.088). Hospitalisation for heart failure and all-cause mortality were similar in the two groups.ConclusionsLBBP is feasible and was safe in 78% of patients with favourable electrical resynchronisation and functional improvement and may serve as an alternative to BVP.
Mathematische Mindestanforderungen für ein MINT-Studium: Was können Hochschulen fordern, was sollten Schulen leisten?
Authors: Weber Birke-Johanna , Schumacher Mareike , Rolfes Tobias , Neumann Irene , Abshagen Maike , Heinze Aiso 
Published: August 2022

ZusammenfassungDie Problematik des Übergangs Schule-Hochschule im MINT-Bereich ist in den vergangenen Jahren zunehmend zum Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Forschung geworden. Dabei wird insbesondere den mathematischen Lernvoraussetzungen der Erstsemesterstudierenden eine große Bedeutung zugeschrieben. Von Schulen und Hochschulen wird diese Übergangsproblematik jedoch vornehmlich aus der eigenen institutionellen Perspektive betrachtet. Gemeinsame Lösungsansätze werden dadurch erschwert, dass Schulen nicht genau wissen, was Hochschulen fordern, und Hochschulen nicht im Detail wissen, was auf Basis aktueller Lehrpläne erwartet werden kann. Eine Abstimmung hierüber findet bisher nur in Ausnahmefällen statt. Wir stellen ein Design-Based-Research-Projekt vor, welches dieses Problem in einem Bundesland adressiert. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, Wissen über Charakteristika eines erfolgreichen Lösungsansatzes des Problems mangelnder Abstimmung zwischen Schule und Hochschule zu generieren, sodass dieser Ansatz bei Abstimmungsproblemen in anderen Bundesländern oder Regionen adaptiert werden kann. Im vorgestellten Projekt wurden dazu Abstimmungsprozesse zwischen Mathematiklehrkräften und Hochschullehrenden in Schleswig-Holstein initiiert, um einen Konsens über mathematische Mindestvoraussetzungen für ein MINT-Studium in Schleswig-Holstein zu erzielen. Zentrales Mittel für die Initiierung der Abstimmungsprozesse war die gemeinsame Erarbeitung eines Aufgabenkatalogs, der am Ende den Konsens über die Mindestvoraussetzungen illustrierte. Die Initiierung der Abstimmungsprozesse und die Ergebnisse wurden evaluiert. Als wichtige Voraussetzungen für eine gelingende Abstimmung zwischen Schulen und Hochschulen ergaben sich u. a. die explizite Benennung des schulamtlichen Referenzrahmens, in dem die diskutierten mathematischen Lernvoraussetzungen an Schulen erworben werden, sowie formelle und informelle Gelegenheiten für Kommunikationsprozesse anhand konkreter Aufgaben. Die Ergebnisse des Projekts liefern Ansatzpunkte für weitere Bundesländer oder Regionen, um eine Abstimmung zwischen Schulen und Hochschulen voranzubringen.
Can the Integrated Information Theory Explain Consciousness from Consciousness Itself?
Authors: Negro Niccolò 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn consciousness science, theories often differ not only in the account of consciousness they arrive at, but also with respect to how they understand their starting point. Some approaches begin with experimentally gathered data, whereas others begin with phenomenologically gathered data. In this paper, I analyse how the most influential phenomenology-first approach, namely the Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of consciousness, fits its phenomenologically gathered data with explanatory hypotheses. First, I show that experimentally driven approaches hit an explanatory roadblock, since we cannot tell, at the present stage, which model of consciousness is best. Then, I show that IIT’s phenomenology-first approach implies a self-evidencing explanation according to which consciousness can be explained by starting from consciousness itself. I claim that IIT can take advantage of the virtuous circularity of this reasoning, but it also faces a data-fitting issue that is somehow similar to that faced by experiment-driven approaches: we are not given enough information to decide whether the explanatory hypotheses IIT employs to explain its phenomenological data are in fact best. I call this problem “the self-evidencing problem” for IIT, and after introducing it, I propose a possible way for IIT to solve it.
The importance of coupling aerodynamic and cost analysis in aircraft design
Authors: Di Pasquale Davide , Savill Mark 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCompanies are increasingly required to improve their quality, flexibility and innovation while maintaining or reducing their costs. However, engineering and finance are often handled by different staff groups at different times in the manufacturing process, and by uncoupling engineering and finance, a company runs the risk of overlooking important interactions between the two. A design system that performs engineering and financial analysis simultaneously may, therefore, improve upon the efficiency and effectiveness of the traditional methods, as the existing practice of designing aircraft from a technical perspective without simultaneously considering the impact on overall program value is not optimal in a business sense. A coupled performance/financial framework enables an integrated approach to technical design and programmatic decisions. This work thus seeks to couple aero performance and financial design. Specifically, a multi-objective trade study is conducted to see the impact on the direct operating cost (DOC) and manufacturing cost of parametrically varying aircraft wing thickness to chord ratio along the wing span. While the present process is only partially automated, the purpose is to establish a useful foundation for further developments and to gain insight into the interactions between technical and program design.
Aging hampers neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) efficacy
Authors: Sabbatini Maurizio , Bona Elisa , Novello Giorgia , Migliario Mario , Renò Filippo 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background
NETosis is a neutrophil-mediated defense mechanism during which DNA and enzymes are extruded forming a network (NETs) trapping and killing different pathogens. NETosis is reduced in both mice and humans during aging.

Aims
We explored the difference in the efficacy of NETs released in elderly (> 65 years) versus adults (20–50 years) subjects in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus growth and activating the growth of keratinocytes.

Methods
Neutrophil granulocytes, obtained from venous blood both in healthy elderly and adult subjects, were stimulated by LPS (0–250 µg/ml) to induce the formation of NET. NETs were quantified by SYBR Green staining and growth inhibition of S. aureus was evaluated by disk diffusion test. Furthermore, NETs (0–500 ng/ml) were added to immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), and their proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay after 24 h. Finally, the DNA size of NETs was evaluated by flow cytometry after SYBR Green staining.

Results
Greater production of NETs was observed in elderly subjects than in adults, but these NETs showed reduced bactericidal capacity and HaCaT cells’ proliferation stimulation. The activities of the NETs are related to the size of the extruded DNA threads, and when NETs size was analyzed, DNA from elderly showed a higher size compared to that obtained by adults.

Discussion
Unexpected results showed aging-related NETs structural modification resulting in both a lower antimicrobial activity and keratinocyte proliferation stimulation compared to NETs obtained from adults.

Conclusions
The NETs DNA size observed in elderly subjects has not been previously reported and could be part of other pathogenic mechanisms observed in aging.
Dual-Mode Teaching in the Language Classroom: Reconciling the Pandemic, Equity, and the Future of Quality Language Teaching Pedagogy
Authors: Olsen-Reeder Vincent Ieni 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic sent New Zealand universities into crisis, and as a key crisis response measure, classes were mostly moved online. While navigating national public health settings, educators simultaneously had to innovate quickly: to keep our courses in operation, students learning, and quality pedagogy present. The author has been navigating a faculty-wide ‘dual-mode’ teaching policy at their home institution, to teach the Māori language. Dual-mode refers to teaching both in-person and online. Although dual-mode teaching has brought a significant amount of learning flexibility and innovation to the classroom, it also has disadvantages. This article attempts to document some of the positive and negative characteristics noted over two years of dual-mode teaching, from the position of intermediate Māori language classes. It concludes that although this kind of teaching is flexible and equitable, it is not of high quality, and contributes to poor proficiency outcomes for students. Teaching in this way could, however, be of a much higher quality, with support, resourcing and time. As we look to keep these more accessible teaching methods in the future, those additional aspects will be critical in designing classes that are not only equitable, dynamic, and in line with contemporary technological learning styles, but also of a standard that maintains quality language proficiency-building within our learners.
Changes in College Students Mental Health and Lifestyle During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Buizza Chiara , Bazzoli Luciano , Ghilardi Alberto 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCollege students have poorer mental health than their peers. Their poorer health conditions seem to be caused by the greater number of stressors to which they are exposed, which can increase the risk of the onset of mental disorders. The pandemic has been an additional stressor that may have further compromised the mental health of college students and changed their lifestyles with important consequences for their well-being. Although research has recognized the impact of COVID-19 on college students, only longitudinal studies can improve knowledge on this topic. This review summarizes the data from 17 longitudinal studies examining changes in mental health and lifestyle among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to improve understanding of the effects of the outbreak on this population. Following PRISMA statements, the following databases were searched PubMed, EBSCO, SCOPUS and Web of Science. The overall sample included 20,108 students. The results show an increase in anxiety, mood disorders, alcohol use, sedentary behavior, and Internet use and a decrease in physical activity. Female students and sexual and gender minority youth reported poorer mental health conditions. Further research is needed to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable subgroups of college students.
Developing the Workforce of the Digital Future: Leveraging Technology to Train Community-Based Mobile Mental Health Specialists
Authors: Buck Benjamin , Kopelovich Sarah L. , Tauscher Justin S. , Chwastiak Lydia , Ben-Zeev Dror 
Published: August 2022

AbstractChallenges in training, dissemination, and implementation have impeded the ability of providers to integrate promising digital health tools in real-world services. There is a need for generalizable strategies to rapidly train real-world providers at scale to support the adoption of digital health. This study describes the development of principles guiding rapid training of community-based clinicians in the support of digital health. This training approach was developed in the context of an ongoing trial examining implementation strategies for FOCUS, a mobile mental health intervention designed for people with serious mental illness. The SAIL (Simple, Accessible, Inverted, Live) model introduces how digital tools can be leveraged to facilitate rapid training of community agency-based personnel to serve as digital mental health champions, promoters, and providers. This model emphasizes simple and flexible principles of intervention delivery, accessible materials in a virtual learning environment, inverted or “flipped” live training structure, and live consultation calls for ongoing support. These initial insights lay the groundwork for future work to test and replicate generalizable training strategies focused on real-world delivery of digital mental health services. These strategies have the potential to remove key obstacles to the implementation and dissemination of digital health interventions for mental health.
Detection of Biofilm on Water Supply Technical Materials with the Application of an Impedance Sensor
Authors: Wolf-Baca Mirela , Grzebyk Tomasz , Siedlecka Agata 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn favourable environmental conditions microorganisms can adhere to surfaces and reproduce, forming biofilm. Such a structure causes biodeterioration, i.e. biological degradation of technical materials. The issue is of high importance in the case of distribution of treated water to end-point consumers. An important factor determining the formation of biofilm is the type and character of the surface which can stimulate or inhibit its growth. The article presents innovative results of research involving measurement of growth of biofilm on technical materials used for the construction of water supply networks by means of an impedance sensor. The research was conducted at a laboratory scale continuously for 6 months, reflecting actual conditions occurring in water distribution systems. After half a year culture of environmental microorganisms in the bioreactor, an almost 100% increase in the value of relative impedance was recorded by means of a sensor placed inside the bioreactor. A comparison of the surface coverage of technical materials and the sensor with bacteria (fluorescence in situ hybridization) showed that the sensor could be used for technical materials made of polybutylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. Observations (scanning electron microscopy) of the surface of the plastics used to build the water supply network pipes (new materials, with biofilm present, and after detaching the biofilm) showed significant changes in the structures of the materials due to biofilm formation. The largest changes in the structure were observed on the polyethylene and polypropylene surfaces. The proposed sensor could be applied in the measurements of biofilm adhesion to selected technical materials.
“Gendered differences versus doing gender”: a systematic review on the role of gender in CSCL
Authors: Kube Dana , Weidlich Joshua , Jivet Ioana , Kreijns Karel , Drachsler Hendrik 
Published: August 2022

AbstractGender equity in education is an essential UN sustainable development goal. However, it is unclear what aspects of gender are important to consider in regard to research outcomes as well as how findings can be interpreted in the context of gender stereotypes and bias. This lack of clarity is particularly salient in the STEM field. Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is a group learning method where learners work together on group tasks that aim at the sharing and co-construction of knowledge. Aside from the cognitive learning gains, the literature reports that CSCL can bring social and psychological benefits, such as fostering positive mutual relationships and increased understanding of equity and diversity. In order to elaborate on the assumed potential of CSCL to support equity and diversity goals in education, this systematic literature will focus on the role of gender in CSCL. Although gender issues in CSCL have been examined before, a comprehensive overview is still lacking. Based on the PRISMA method, the current systematic review considers 27 articles, and explores (1) how gender is addressed, (2) what findings concerning gender are reported, and (3) the potential of CSCL to create more gender inclusive learning contributing to the UN SDGs. Our findings show that most studies addressed gender as a binary predictor for participation, communication, or attitude. Less than half of the studies treated gender more nuanced by defining gender as a social construct. This review highlights the need for additional research on the role of gender in CSCL, alongside more methodologies that can account for the complexities this entails. It is estimated that there is some potential for CSCL to decrease gender stereotypes and gender bias in STEM education.
Porewater Content, Pore Structure and Water Mobility in Clays and Shales from NMR Methods
Authors: Fleury M. , Gimmi T. , Mazurek M. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractSub-surface clay samples are difficult to characterize using conventional methods so non-invasive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques were used to evaluate in a preserved state the pore structure, porosity, water mobility, and affinity of various clay systems. Within the CLAYWAT project launched by the NEA Clay Club, some of the most advanced NMR techniques were applied to samples from 11 clay-rich sedimentary formations (Boom Clay, Yper Clay (both Belgium); Callovo-Oxfordian shale, Upper Toarcian (both France); Opalinus Clay from two sites (Switzerland); Queenston Fm., Georgian Bay Fm., Blue Mountain Fm. (all Canada); Boda Clay (Hungary); and Wakkanai Fm. and Koetoi Fm. (Japan)). The degree of induration within this suite of samples varies substantially, resulting in a wide porosity range of 0.02–0.6. The key finding is the determination of pore-size distribution by NMR cryoporometry in the range of 2 nm–1 μm with the native fluid present in the pore space for most samples. The water volume in pore sizes of <2 nm could also be measured, thus providing a full description of the porosity system. A specific preparation by sample milling was applied to the preserved original cores minimizing disturbances to the samples in terms of water loss. The water content measured by NMR relaxation was comparable to values obtained by drying at 105°C. In general, the narrow T2 distributions indicate that water was diffusing throughout the pore network during the magnetization lifetime, implying that T2 distributions cannot be considered as proxies for the pore-size distributions. For the set of samples considered, the T1/T2 varied between 1.7 and 4.6, implying variable surface affinity. Finally, for most samples, a pore-shape factor of ~2.4, intermediate between a sheet (1) and a cylinder (4), was deduced.
The Hanson–Wright inequality for random tensors
Authors: Bamberger Stefan , Krahmer Felix , Ward Rachel 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWe provide moment bounds for expressions of the type $$(X^{(1)} \otimes \cdots \otimes X^{(d)})^T A (X^{(1)} \otimes \cdots \otimes X^{(d)})$$

(

X

(
1
)

⊗
⋯
⊗

X

(
d
)

)

T

A

(

X

(
1
)

⊗
⋯
⊗

X

(
d
)

)

where $$\otimes $$
⊗
denotes the Kronecker product and $$X^{(1)}, \ldots , X^{(d)}$$

X

(
1
)

,
…
,

X

(
d
)

are random vectors with independent, mean 0, variance 1, subgaussian entries. The bounds are tight up to constants depending on d for the case of Gaussian random vectors. Our proof also provides a decoupling inequality for expressions of this type. Using these bounds, we obtain new, improved concentration inequalities for expressions of the form $$\Vert B (X^{(1)} \otimes \cdots \otimes X^{(d)})\Vert _2$$

‖
B

(

X

(
1
)

⊗
⋯
⊗

X

(
d
)

)

‖

2

.