bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and obsessive‐compulsive disorders (OCD) in women: A study based on urodynamic findings and micturition problem
Authors: Rezaeimehr Mohammad R. , Zargham Mahtab , Jahanabadi Zahra , Afsar Firozeh , Rahnama'i Mohammad S. , Sharbafchi Mohammad R. , Mazdak Hamid
Published: November 2021

Aim

This study focused on women with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who simultaneously suffered from obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) to evaluate the association between micturition abnormality and OCD.

Methods

A cohort case study was conducted on 128 women with chronic LUTS who visited the academic clinic from 2012 to 2018. The participants with a history of OCD were grouped together, whereas the other group consisted of those with no psychiatric issues. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and also the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and χ2 tests.

Results

The participants with OCD had a lower mean age (41.7 vs. 48.8 years) and longer symptom duration than the control group. Moreover, voiding phase problems were more prevalent among OCD patients (mean voiding score: 9.3 vs. 6.9). Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) was the most common type of urinary incontinence in OCD patients, and the most important urodynamic study finding was bladder outlet obstruction (45% and 17% in the OCD and control groups, respectively). Voiding disorders resulted in chronic renal failure in two patients (3.12%). It was shown that bladder outlet obstruction (odds ratio (OR) 4.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–12.78, p = 0.006] was the strongest predictor of OCD and stress urinary incontinence (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07–0.53, p < 0.001) was the best protector against OCD.

Conclusion

The findings revealed that chronic LUTS was related to voiding dysfunction and urodynamic abnormality in OCD patients. These disorders may be categorized as somatoform disorder that requires appropriate treatments.
Effects of visceral manipulation associated with pelvic floor muscles training in women with urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: De Marco Murilo , Arbieto Eliane R. M. , Da Roza Thuane H. , Resende Ana P. M. , Santos Gilmar M.
Published: November 2021

Aims

To compare the effects of manual visceral therapy (MVT) associated with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms, vaginal resting pressure, and maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM).

Methods

A double‐blinded randomized controlled trial of 5 weeks duration with two active intervention arms: PFMT + MVT and PFMT + manual sham therapy (MST). Participants were women over 18 years of age with complaint or diagnosis of UI symptoms. The primary outcome was the severity of UI symptoms, assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form. The secondary outcomes measures included the vaginal resting pressure and the maximum voluntary contraction of PFM assessed by digital manometry.

Results

Fifty‐two incontinent women participated in the study. There was no significant difference between groups in UI symptoms (F (1.74, 86.9) = 0.406; p = 0.638), vaginal resting pressure (mean difference −1.5 cmH₂0 [95% confidence interval [CI] −4.5 to 1.5; p = 0.33]), and maximum voluntary contraction of PFM (median 0.0 cmH₂0 [25%–75% interquartile range 0.0–5.6; p = 0.12]) after the intervention period.

Conclusions

Combining MVT with PFMT was not more effective than PFMT alone in reducing UI symptoms, in change vaginal resting pressure and maximum voluntary contraction of PFM. Due to the limitations of the study, further investigations are still needed to confirm these findings.
Psychosocial care providers’ perspectives: Barriers to implementing services for siblings of children with cancer
Authors: Brosnan Phoebe , Davis Kathryn A. , Mazzenga Marcella , Oberoi Anjali R. , Sharkey Christina M. , Buchbinder David , Alderfer Melissa A. , Long Kristin A.
Published: November 2021

Background

Siblings of children with cancer are at increased risk for poor long‐term psychosocial outcomes. The standard of psychosocial care in pediatric oncology calling for sibling support is not routinely implemented, often leaving siblings with unmet psychosocial needs. Barriers to implementing the sibling standard may exist at multiple levels. This study addresses research gaps regarding multilevel barriers to supporting siblings at the health care system, oncology center, and family levels.

Procedure

Qualitative interviews were conducted with psychosocial care providers (N = 27; 18 psychologists, five social workers, three psychiatrists, and one child life specialist) employed at oncology centers within hospitals across the United States, varying in extent of sibling programming and center size. Interviews included questions about providers’ roles, oncology center characteristics, existing psychosocial sibling services, barriers to providing systematic sibling assessment, and ideas about how to overcome barriers. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis.

Results

Qualitative analysis revealed (a) barriers to providing sibling services occur at multiple levels (health care system, oncology center, family); (b) barriers at multiple levels frequently interact with one another; and (c) interacting barriers maintain a cycle: barriers to providing services contribute to limited provision of services, low service provision leads to limited utilization of existing services and underprioritization of siblings, and together this leads to siblings being off the radar, which further limits sibling service provision.

Conclusion

Addressing health care system and oncology center barriers to implementing sibling assessment and support may be important potential targets for interventions to help ensure that siblings receive needed psychosocial assessment and support.
Pentazole (N5H) as a possible catalyst for CO2 activation: Density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) studies
Authors: Faizan Mohmmad , Pawar Ravinder
Published: November 2021

The alarming increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration is a matter of great concern today. Enormous attention has been devoted to search the novel and innovative approaches to recycle the CO2 evolved from the industries into useful chemicals. However, the thermodynamic stability of CO2 molecule imposes a great challenge in utilizing it as a raw material in chemical reactions. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to scrutinize pentazole (N5H) as an effective catalyst for the CO2 activation. The fixation reaction of CO2 with ethylene oxide (oxirane) was chosen to be the prototypal model. Both the density functional theory (DFT) calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) studies explicitly suggest pentazole to be a promising catalyst for the activation of CO2 molecule. The energy required for the CO2 activation was found to be 35.6 kcal/mol. Also, the proton transfer step is found to be the key step in the reaction. Based on the prototypal reaction, the coupling reaction of CO2 with aziridine, propylene oxide and styrene oxide was also investigated.
Reconfiguration of Amorphous Complex Oxides: A Route to a Broad Range of Assembly Phenomena, Hybrid Materials, and Novel Functionalities
Authors: Prakash Divya J. , Chen Yajin , Debasu Mengistie L. , Savage Donald E. , Tangpatjaroen Chaiyapat , Deneke Christoph , Malachias Angelo , Alfieri Adam D. , Elleuch Omar , Lekhal Kaddour , Szlufarska Izabela , Evans Paul G. , Cavallo Francesca
Published: November 2021

Reconfiguration of amorphous complex oxides provides a readily controllable source of stress that can be leveraged in nanoscale assembly to access a broad range of 3D geometries and hybrid materials. An amorphous SrTiO3 layer on a Si:B/Si1−xGex:B heterostructure is reconfigured at the atomic scale upon heating, exhibiting a change in volume of ≈2% and accompanying biaxial stress. The Si:B/Si1−xGex:B bilayer is fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy, followed by sputter deposition of SrTiO3 at room temperature. The processes yield a hybrid oxide/semiconductor nanomembrane. Upon release from the substrate, the nanomembrane rolls up and has a curvature determined by the stress in the epitaxially grown Si:B/Si1−xGex:B heterostructure. Heating to 600 °C leads to a decrease of the radius of curvature consistent with the development of a large compressive biaxial stress during the reconfiguration of SrTiO3. The control of stresses via post‐deposition processing provides a new route to the assembly of complex‐oxide‐based heterostructures in 3D geometry. The reconfiguration of metastable mechanical stressors enables i) synthesis of various types of strained superlattice structures that cannot be fabricated by direct growth and ii) technologies based on strain engineering of complex oxides via highly scalable lithographic processes and on large‐area semiconductor substrates.
Dark QED from inflation
Authors: Arvanitaki Asimina , Dimopoulos Savas , Galanis Marios , Racco Davide , Simon Olivier , Thompson Jedidiah O.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

One contribution to any dark sector’s abundance comes from its gravitational production during inflation. If the dark sector is weakly coupled to the inflaton and the Standard Model, this can be its only production mechanism. For non-interacting dark sectors, such as a free massive fermion or a free massive vector field, this mechanism has been studied extensively. In this paper we show, via the example of dark massive QED, that the presence of interactions can result in a vastly different mass for the dark matter (DM) particle, which may well coincide with the range probed by upcoming experiments.

In the context of dark QED we study the evolution of the energy density in the dark sector after inflation. Inflation produces a cold vector condensate consisting of an enormous number of bosons, which via interesting processes — Schwinger pair production, strong field electromagnetic cascades, and plasma dynamics — transfers its energy to a small number of “dark electrons” and triggers thermalization of the dark sector. The resulting dark electron DM mass range is from 50 MeV to 30 TeV, far different from both the 10−5 eV mass of the massive photon dark matter in the absence of dark electrons, and from the 109 GeV dark electron mass in the absence of dark photons. This can significantly impact the search strategies for dark QED and, more generally, theories with a self-interacting DM sector. In the presence of kinetic mixing, a dark electron in this mass range can be searched for with upcoming direct detection experiments, such as SENSEI-100g and OSCURA.
The effect of hand posture on swimming efficiency
Authors: van den Berg Joris , Bazuin Rens , Jux Constantin , Sciacchitano Andrea , Westerweel Jerry , van de Water Willem
Published: November 2021

Our quest is for the thumb and finger positions that maximize drag in front crawl swimming and thus maximize propulsion efficiency. We focus on drag in a stationary flow. Swimming is in water, but using Reynolds similarity the drag experiments are done in a wind tunnel. We measure the forces on real-life models of a forearm with hands, flexing the thumb and fingers in various positions. We study the influence on drag of cupping the hand and flexing the thumb. We find that cupping the hand is detrimental for drag. Swimming is most efficient with a flat hand. Flexing the thumb has a small effect on the drag, such that the drag is largest for the opened (abducted) thumb. Flow structures around the hand are visualized using robotic volumetric particle image velocimetry. From the time-averaged velocity fields we reconstruct the pressure distribution on the hand. These pressures are compared to the result of a direct measurement. The reached accuracy of $$\approx$$
≈
 10% does not yet suffice to reproduce the small drag differences between the hand postures.

Graphical Abstract
Analytical solution of the uniaxial extension problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua (including full derivations)
Authors: Rizzi Gianluca , Khan Hassam , Ghiba Ionel-Dumitrel , Madeo Angela , Neff Patrizio
Published: November 2021

We derive analytical solutions for the uniaxial extension problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua. These solutions may help in the identification of material parameters of generalized continua which are able to disclose size effects.
Leaf morphology, wax composition, and residual (cuticular) transpiration of four poplar clones
Authors: Grünhofer Paul , Herzig Lena , Schreiber Lukas
Published: November 2021

Key message

We identified two poplar clones of the same species as highly comparable, yet clones of two further species of the same genus to be distinctly different regarding multiple morphological and ecophysiological traits.

Leaf morphology, wax composition, and residual (cuticular) transpiration of four poplar clones (two clones of the hybrid species P. × canescens, P. trichocarpa, and P. euphratica) were monitored from the beginning to end of the growing season 2020. A pronounced epicuticular wax coverage was found only with P. euphratica. As the most prominent substance classes of cuticular wax primary alcohols, alkanes and esters were identified with P. × canescens and P. trichocarpa, whereas esters and alkanes were completely lacking in P. euphratica. Wax amounts were slightly decreasing during the season and significantly lower wax amounts were found for newly formed leaves in summer compared to leaves of the same age formed in spring. Residual (cuticular) transpiration was about five to tenfold lower for P. × canescens compared with the two other poplar species. Interestingly, with three of the four investigated species, newly formed leaves in summer had lower wax coverages and lower rates of residual (cuticular) transpiration compared to leaves of exactly the same age formed in spring. Our findings were especially surprising with P. euphratica, representing the only one of the four investigated poplar species naturally growing in very dry and hot climates in Central Asia. Instead of developing very low rates of residual (cuticular) transpiration, it seems to be of major advantage for P. euphratica to develop a pronounced epicuticular wax bloom efficiently reflecting light.
A new unsupervised pseudo-siamese network with two filling strategies for image denoising and quality enhancement
Authors: Huang Chenxi , Hong Dan , Yang Chenhui , Cai Chunting , Tao Siyi , Clawson Kathy , Peng Yonghong
Published: November 2021

Digital image noise may be introduced during acquisition, transmission, or processing and affects readability and image processing effectiveness. The accuracy of established image processing techniques, such as segmentation, recognition, and edge detection, is adversely impacted by noise. There exists an extensive body of work which focuses on circumventing such issues through digital image enhancement and noise reduction, but this work is limited by a number of constraints including the application of non-adaptive parameters, potential loss of edge detail information, and (with supervised approaches) a requirement for clean, labeled, training data. This paper, developed on the principle of Noise2Void, presents a new unsupervised learning approach incorporating a pseudo-siamese network. Our method enables image denoising without the need for clean images or paired noise images, instead requiring only noise images. Two independent branches of the network utilize different filling strategies, namely zero filling and adjacent pixel filling. Then, the network employs a loss function to improve the similarity of the results in the two branches. We also modify the Efficient Channel Attention module to extract more diverse features and improve performance on the basis of global average pooling. Experimental results show that compared with traditional methods, the pseudo-siamese network has a greater improvement on the ADNI dataset in terms of quantitative and qualitative evaluation. Our method therefore has practical utility in cases where clean images are difficult to obtain.
Apical approach in periodontal reconstructive surgery with enamel matrix derivate and enamel matrix derivate plus bone substitutes: a randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Moreno Rodríguez Jose Antonio , Ortiz Ruiz Antonio José
Published: November 2021

Objectives

This parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the influence of bone substitutes (BS) on the efficacy of the non-incised papillae surgical approach (NIPSA) with enamel matrix derivate (EMD) in resolving deep, isolated, combined non-contained intrabony and supra-alveolar periodontal defects, preserving the soft tissue.

Material and methods

Twenty-four patients were randomized to treatment with NIPSA and EMD or NIPSA plus EMD and BS. Bleeding on probing (BoP), interproximal clinical attachment level (CAL), interproximal probing depth (PD), recession (REC), location of the tip of the papilla (TP), and width of the keratinized tissue (KT) were evaluated before surgery and at 1 year post-surgery (primary outcomes). Wound closure was assessed at 1 week post‐surgery, and supra‐alveolar attachment gain (SUPRA-AG) was recorded at 1 year post‐surgery.

Results

At 1 week, 87.5% of cases registered complete wound closure and there were no cases of necrosis, without differences between groups (p > .05). At 1 year, all cases showed negative BoP. A significant PD reduction (NIPSA + EMD 8.25 ± 2.70 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 6.83 ± 0.81 mm) and CAL gain (NIPSA + EMD 8.33 ± 2.74 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 7.08 ± 2.68 mm) were observed (p < .001) in both groups, without significant between-group differences (p > .05). The residual PD was < 5 mm in all defects (NIPSA + EMD 2.50 ± 0.67 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 2.67 ± 0.78 mm). Soft tissues were preserved without significant between-group differences (REC: NIPSA + EMD 0.25 ± 0.45 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 0.17 ± 0.58 mm, p > .05; KT: 0.00 ± 0.43 mm vs. 0.08 ± 0.67 mm, p > .05). There were improvements in the papilla in both groups (TP: NIPSA + EMD 0.33 ± 0.49 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 0.45 ± 0.52 mm, p > .05), which was only significant in the NIPSA EMD + BS group (0.45 ± 0.52 mm; p < .05). In both groups, CAL gain was recorded in the supra-alveolar component, showing full resolution of the intrabony component of the defect in all cases (SUPRA-AG: NIPSA + EMD 1.83 ± 1.11 mm vs. NIPSA + EMD + BS 2.00 ± 1.76 mm, p > .05).

Conclusions

NIPSA and EMD with or without BS seem to be a valid surgical approach in the treatment of isolated, deep non-contained periodontal defects. In our study, both treatments resulted in significant PD reduction and CAL gain, that extended in the supra-alveolar component, without differences with the use of BS. Both treatments resulted in soft tissue preservation. However, the addition of BS may improve interdental papillary tissue.

Clinical relevance

NIPSA, with or without bone substitutes, resulted in significant periodontal improvement, with soft tissue preservation in isolated, deep non-contained periodontal defects. The application of bone substitutes may provide interproximal soft tissue gain.

Clinical trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04712630.
Interplay between IncF plasmids and topoisomerase mutations conferring quinolone resistance in the Escherichia coli ST131 clone: stability and resistance evolution
Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez Jose-Manuel , Lopez-Cerero Lorena , García-Duque Ana , Rodriguez-Baño Jesus , Pascual Alvaro
Published: November 2021

The Escherichia coli ST131 H30-Rx subclone vehicles CTX-M-15 plasmids and mutations in gyrA and parC conferring multidrug resistance successfully in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was (1) to investigate the relationship of specific topoisomerase mutations on the stability of IncF (CTX-M producing) plasmids using isogenic E. coli mutants and (2) to investigate the impact of the IncF-type plasmids present in the E. coli clone ST131 on the evolution of quinolone resistance. E. coli ATCC 25922 (background strain) and derived mutants encoding specific QRDR substitutions were used. Also, NGS-characterized IncFIA and IncFIB plasmids (encoding CTX-M genes) were included. Plasmid stability was evaluated by sequential dilutions into Luria broth medium without antibiotics for 7 days. Mutant frequency to ciprofloxacin was also evaluated. Moderate differences in the IncF plasmids stability were observed among E. coli ATCC 25922 and isogenic mutants. Under our experimental conditions, the fluctuation of bacteria harboring plasmids was less than 0.5-log(10) in all cases. In the mutant frequency tests, it was observed that the presence of these IncF plasmids increased this value significantly (10–1000-fold). Quinolone resistance substitutions in gyrA or parC genes, frequently found associated with E. coli clone ST131, do not modify the stability of ST131-associated IncFIA and IncFIB plasmids under in vitro conditions. IncF-type plasmids present in E. coli clone ST131 facilitate the selection of resistance to quinolones. These results are consistent with the clinical scenario in which the combination of resistance to quinolones and beta-lactams is highly frequent in the E. coli clone ST131.
The role of potentiating mutations in the evolution of pandemic Escherichia coli clones
Authors: Cummins Elizabeth A. , Snaith Ann E. , McNally Alan , Hall Rebecca J.
Published: November 2021

The Escherichia coli species exhibits a vast array of variable lifestyles, including environmental, commensal, and pathogenic organisms. Many of these E. coli contribute significantly to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) clones of E. coli have arisen multiple times over varying timescales. The repeated emergence of successful pandemic clones, including the notorious ST131 lineage, highlights a desperate need to further study the evolutionary processes underlying their emergence and success. Here, we review the evolutionary emergence of E. coli ST131 pandemic clones and draw parallels between their evolutionary trajectories and those of other lineages. From colonization and expansion to the acquisition of multidrug resistance plasmids, potentiating mutations are present at each stage, leading to a proposed sequence of events that may result in the formation of an antimicrobial-resistant pandemic clone.
Indications for fertility preservation not included in the 2017 Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline for Fertility Preservation in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients treated with gonadal toxicity, including benign diseases
Authors: Ono Masanori , Matsumoto Kimikazu , Boku Narikazu , Fujii Nobuharu , Tsuchida Yumi , Furui Tatsuro , Harada Miyuki , Kanda Yoshinobu , Kawai Akira , Miyachi Mitsuru , Murashima Atsuko , Nakayama Robert , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Shimizu Chikako , Sugiyama Kazuhiko , Takai Yasushi , Fujio Keishi , Morishige Ken-Ichirou , Osuga Yutaka , Suzuki Nao
Published: November 2021

In recent years, local governments in Japan have established a public financial support system for fertility preservation in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients. Fertility preservation has become popular for patients with cancers included in the gonadal toxicity risk classification of the 2017 edition of the Guideline for Fertility Preservation in Children, Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Patients from the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology. However, patients with cancer and non-cancer diseases that are not included in the Guideline’s gonadal toxicity risk classification also often receive treatment that may affect fertility, but they are often denied the opportunity of fertility preservation because no public financial support is available for diseases not listed in the Guideline. The national research project proposes including these diseases in the indications and treatment for fertility preservation. Therefore, we cooperated with the Japan Society for Fertility Preservation and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research group to solicit opinions from experts in each therapeutic area and reviewed the literature and overseas guidelines. This paper summarizes the findings of the project. We believe that it will be an important source of information for clinicians treating patients who need fertility preservation but note that the appropriateness of fertility preservation for the disorders listed in this report needs to be continuously reviewed as medical care advances.
SFSADE: an improved self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm with a shuffled frog-leaping strategy
Authors: Pan Qingtao , Tang Jun , Wang Haoran , Li Hao , Chen Xi , Lao Songyang
Published: November 2021

The differential evolution (DE) algorithm is an efficient random search algorithm based on swarm intelligence for solving optimization problems. It has the advantages of easy implementation, fast convergence, strong optimization ability and good robustness. However, the performance of DE is very sensitive to the design of different operators and the setting of control parameters. To solve these key problems, this paper proposes an improved self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm with a shuffled frog-leaping strategy (SFSADE). It innovatively incorporates the idea of the shuffled frog-leaping algorithm into DE, and at the same time, it cleverly introduces a new strategy of classification mutation, and also designs a new adaptive adjustment mechanism for control parameters. In addition, we have carried out a large number of simulation experiments on the 25 benchmark functions of CEC 2005 and two nonparametric statistical tests to comprehensively evaluate the performance of SFSADE. Finally, the results of simulation experiments and nonparametric statistical tests show that SFSADE is very effective in improving DE, and significantly improves the overall diversity of the population in the process of dynamic evolution. Compared with other advanced DE variants, its global search speed and optimization performance also has strong competitiveness.
Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing migrating and local breeding birds in Finland
Authors: Sormunen Jani J. , Klemola Tero , Vesterinen Eero J.
Published: November 2021

Ticks are globally renowned vectors for numerous zoonoses, and birds have been identified as important hosts for several species of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens. Many European bird species overwinter in Africa and Western Asia, consequently migrating back to breeding grounds in Europe in the spring. During these spring migrations, birds may transport exotic tick species (and associated pathogens) to areas outside their typical distribution ranges. In Finland, very few studies have been conducted regarding ticks parasitizing migrating or local birds, and existing data are outdated, likely not reflecting the current situation. Consequently, in 2018, we asked volunteer bird ringers to collect ticks from migrating and local birds, to update current knowledge on ticks found parasitizing birds in Finland. In total 430 ticks were collected from 193 birds belonging to 32 species, caught for ringing between 2018 and 2020. Furthermore, four Ixodes uriae were collected from two roosting islets of sea birds in 2016 and 2020. Ticks collected on birds consisted of: Ixodes ricinus (n = 421), Ixodes arboricola (4), Ixodes lividus (2) and Hyalomma marginatum (3). Ixodes ricinus loads (nymphs and larvae) were highest on thrushes (Passeriformes: Turdidae) and European robins (Erithacus rubecula). The only clearly imported exotic tick species was H. marginatum. This study forms the second report of both I. uriae and I. arboricola from Finland, and possibly the northernmost observation of I. arboricola from Europe. The importation of exotic tick species by migrating birds seems a rare occurrence, as over 97% of all ticks collected from birds arriving in Finland during their spring migrations were I. ricinus, a species native to and abundant in Finland.
“We Do Exist”: The Experiences of Women Living with a Sexual Interest in Minors
Authors: Lievesley Rebecca , Lapworth Rhia
Published: November 2021

The current body of the literature studying minor-attracted persons (MAPs) predominantly focuses on the experiences of men who experience sexual attractions to children. To shed more light on the experiences of women within this population, we conducted anonymous semi-structured interviews with six self-identified female MAPs, who were recruited through online support forums for individuals with sexual attractions to children. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Two superordinate themes were identified from the dataset that highlighted the uniqueness of the experience of being a woman within the MAP community (“A minority within a minority”) and themes of social isolation and the effects of this on identity (“A lonely secret existence”). The findings reported here highlight how the experiences of female MAPs both converge with and diverge from their male counterparts in important ways. We discuss the implications of these experiences in relation to more effective service provision for women who are sexually attracted to children.
Identification of Key Pathways and Genes in SARS-CoV-2 Infecting Human Intestines by Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Chen Ji-Chun , Xie Tian-Ao , Lin Zhen-Zong , Li Yi-Qing , Xie Yu-Fei , Li Zhong-Wei , Guo Xu-Guang
Published: November 2021

COVID-19 is a serious infectious disease that has recently swept the world, and research on its causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, remains insufficient. Therefore, this study uses bioinformatics analysis techniques to explore the human digestive tract diseases that may be caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gene expression profile data set, numbered GSE149312, is from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and is divided into a 24-h group and a 60-h group. R software is used to analyze and screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and then gene ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses are performed. In KEGG, the pathway of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease exists in both the 24-h group and 60-h group. STRING is used to establish a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and Cytoscape is then used to visualize the PPI and define the top 12 genes of the node as the hub genes. Through verification, nine statistically significant hub genes are identified: AKT1, TIMP1, NOTCH, CCNA2, RRM2, TTK, BUB1B, KIF20A, and PLK1. In conclusion, the results of this study can provide a certain direction and basis for follow-up studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human digestive tract and provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2.
Teacher observations of programming affordances for K-12 mathematics and technology
Authors: Humble Niklas
Published: November 2021

With future shortage of professionals with programming and computing skills, many countries have made programming part of kindergarten – grade 12 curriculum (K-12). A possible approach is to make programming part of an already existing subject. Sweden has chosen this approach and in 2017 programming was integrated in the subject content of K-12 mathematics and technology. Integrating programming is at the expense of extra workload on teachers. Teachers affected by these changes will face new challenges in their teaching and learning activities. The aim of the study is to examine K-12 teachers’ use and perceived affordances of programming as a tool for teaching and learning activities in mathematics and technology. Data were collected through focus group discussions with three teacher teams in mathematics and technology from three K-12 schools in the mid Sweden region. 21 teachers participated in the study. Thematic analysis with a mixture of deductive and inductive coding were used to analyse the data. Theory of affordances was used to structure findings in themes of interests and answer the study’s aim and research questions. Results show that the teachers use a variety of programming tools in their teaching and learning activities. The use of programming in mathematics and technology can be understood in five main perceived affordances: 1) Play, 2) Discovery, 3) Adaptation, 4) Control, and 5) Freedom; which relate to both student motivation and subject content. Teachers also perceive obstacles and opportunities in using programming, that relates to different programming tools’ ability to support teaching and learning activities. The findings of this study can be drawn upon by teachers and other stakeholders in the integration of programming in K-12 education, and in the design of teaching and learning activities with programming.
In vitro cultivation of primary intestinal cells from Eisenia fetida as basis for ecotoxicological studies
Authors: Riedl Simon A. B. , Völkl Matthias , Holzinger Anja , Jasinski Julia , Jérôme Valérie , Scheibel Thomas , Feldhaar Heike , Freitag Ruth
Published: November 2021

The earthworm Eisenia fetida is a commonly used model organism for unspecific soil feeders in ecotoxicological studies. Its intestinal cells are the first to encounter possible pollutants co-ingested by the earthworm, which makes them prime candidates for studies of toxic effects of environmental pollutants on the cellular as compared to the organismic level. In this context, the aim of this study was to demonstrate the suitability of preparations of primary intestinal E. fetida cells for in vitro ecotoxicological studies. For this purpose, a suitable isolation and cultivation protocol was established. Cells were isolated directly from the intestine, maintaining >85% viability during subsequent cultivations (up to 144 h). Exposure to established pollutants and soil elutriates comprising silver nanoparticles and metal ions (Cu2+, Cd2+) induced a significant decrease in the metabolic activity of the cells. In case of microplastic particles (MP particles), namely 0.2, 0.5, 2.0, and 3.0 µm diameter polystyrene (PS) beads as well as 0.5 and 2.0 µm diameter polylactic acid (PLA) beads, no active uptake was observed. Slight positive as well as negative dose and size dependent effects on the metabolism were seen, which to some extent might correlate with effects on the organismic level.
Raising Concerns at Work in the Swedish Healthcare and Educational Sectors: Silence and Voice Climates
Authors: Börnfelt P-O
Published: November 2021

This article is based on an interview study of workers in Sweden’s healthcare and educational sectors who raise or withhold concerns about conditions at the workplace. Five groups of climates regarding concerns raised internally were found: A high voice climate, a moderate voice climate, a restrained voice climate, a resignation silence climate, and a silence and fear climate. A democratic leadership orientation lays the foundation for a voice climate based on trust and open dialogue. Silence and fear climates are created by an autocratic and retaliative leadership orientation. Also, a laissez-faire leadership can have a silencing effect on the workplace climate. Autocratic leadership and a hierarchical view on communication are silencers both regarding concerns raised internally and externally. If organisations are exposed to competition, loyalty towards the organisations tends to be strengthened in order to protect the brand, thus having a silencing effect on raising concerns externally. As a consequence, teacher practise self-censorship in order to conceal problems at their school, thereby protecting the school’s reputation on the market.
Pipeline for ontology-based modeling and automated deployment of digital twins for planning and control of manufacturing systems
Authors: Göppert Amon , Grahn Lea , Rachner Jonas , Grunert Dennis , Hort Simon , Schmitt Robert H.
Published: November 2021

The demand for individualized products drives modern manufacturing systems towards greater adaptability and flexibility. This increases the focus on data-driven digital twins enabling swift adaptations. Within the framework of cyber-physical systems, the digital twin is a digital model that is fully connected to the physical and digital assets. A digital model must follow a standardization for interoperable data exchange. Established ontologies and meta-models offer a basis in the definition of a schema, which is the first phase of creating a digital twin. The next phase is the standardized and structured modeling with static use-case specific data. The final phase is the deployment of digital twins into operation with a full connection of the digital model with the remaining cyber-physical system. In this deployment phase communication standards and protocols provide a standardized data exchange. A survey on the state-of-the-art of these three digital twin phases reveals the lack of a consistent workflow from ontology-driven definition to standardized modeling. Therefore, one goal of this paper is the design of an end-to-end digital twin pipeline to lower the threshold of creating and deploying digital twins. As the task of establishing a communication connection is highly repetitive, an automation concept by providing structured protocol data is the second goal. The planning and control of a line-less assembly system with manual stations and a mobile robot as resources and an industrial dog as the product serve as exemplary digital twin applications. Along this use-case the digital twin pipeline is transparently explained.
Behavior of the Avian Parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in and Near Host Nests in the Galapagos Islands
Authors: Pike Courtney L. , Ramirez Ismael E. , Anchundia David J. , Fessl Birgit , Heimpel George E. , Causton Charlotte E.
Published: November 2021

The Avian Vampire Fly, Philornis downsi, has invaded the Galapagos Islands, where it causes high mortality of endemic and native landbird species, including most species of Darwin’s finches. Control methods are under development, but key information is missing about the reproductive biology of P. downsi and the behavior of flies in and near nests of their hosts. We used external and internal nest cameras to record the behavior of P. downsi adults within and outside nests of the Galapagos Flycatcher, Myiarchus magnirostris, throughout all stages of the nesting cycle. These recordings showed that P. downsi visited flycatcher nests throughout the day with higher fly activity during the nestling phase during vespertine hours. The observations also revealed that multiple P. downsi individuals can visit nests concurrently, and that there are some interactions among these flies within the nest. Fly visitation to nests occurred significantly more often while parent birds were away from the nest than in the nest, and this timing appears to be a strategy to avoid predation by parent birds. We report fly mating behavior outside the nest but not in the nest cavity. We discuss the relevance of these findings for the adaptive forces shaping P. downsi life history strategies as well as rearing and control measures.
Rheotaxis and migration of an unsteady microswimmer
Authors: Omori T. , Kikuchi K. , Schmitz M. , Pavlovic M. , Chuang C.-H. , Ishikawa T.
Published: November 2021

Rheotaxis and migration of cells in a flow field have been investigated intensively owing to their importance in biology, physiology and engineering. In this study, first, we report our experiments showing that the microalgae Chlamydomonas can orient against the channel flow and migrate to the channel centre. Second, by performing boundary element simulations, we demonstrate that the mechanism of the observed rheotaxis and migration has a physical origin. Last, using a simple analytical model, we reveal the novel physical mechanisms of rheotaxis and migration, specifically the interplay between cyclic body deformation and cyclic swimming velocity in the channel flow. The discovered mechanism can be as important as phototaxis and gravitaxis, and likely plays a role in the movement of other natural microswimmers and artificial microrobots with non-reciprocal body deformation.
ON QUOTIENTS OF VALUES OF EULER’S FUNCTION ON FACTORIALS
Authors: NATH AYAN , JHA ABHISHEK
Published: November 2021

We investigate, for given positive integers a and b, the least positive integer
$c=c(a,b)$
such that the quotient
$\varphi (c!\kern-1.2pt)/\varphi (a!\kern-1.2pt)\varphi (b!\kern-1.2pt)$
is an integer. We derive results on the limit of
$c(a,b)/(a+b)$
as a and b tend to infinity and show that
$c(a,b)>a+b$
for all pairs of positive integers
$(a,b)$
, with the exception of a set of density zero.
Brain signatures in children who contemplate suicide: learning from the large-scale ABCD study
Authors: Wiglesworth Andrea , Falke Conner A. , Fiecas Mark , Luciana Monica , Cullen Kathryn R. , Klimes-Dougan Bonnie
Published: November 2021

Background

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in youth. Understanding the neural correlates of suicide ideation (SI) in children is crucial to ongoing efforts to understand and prevent youth suicide. This study characterized key neural networks during rest and emotion task conditions in an epidemiologically informed sample of children who report current, past, or no SI.

Methods

Data are from the adolescent brain cognitive development study, including 8248 children (ages 9–10; mean age = 119.2 months; 49.2% female) recruited from the community. Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and activation to emotional stimuli in the salience (SN) and default mode (DMN) networks were measured through fMRI. Self-reported SI and clinical profiles were gathered. We examined the replicability of our model results through repeated sub-sample reliability analyses.

Results

Children with current SI (2.0%), compared to those without any past SI, showed lower DMN RSFC (B = −0.267, p < 0.001) and lower DMN activation in response to negative as compared to neutral faces (B = −0.204, p = 0.010). These results were robust to the effects of MDD, ADHD, and medication use. Sub-sample analysis further supported the robustness of these results. We did not find support for differences in SN RSFC or in SN activation to positive or negative stimuli for children with or without SI.

Conclusions

Results from a large brain imaging study using robust statistical approaches suggest aberrant DMN functioning in children with current suicide ideation. Findings suggest potential mechanisms that may be targeted in suicide prevention efforts.
The Relevance of Ultrastructural Studies of Metastatic Cells from Women with Breast Cancer History
Authors: Moreira Isabela Delfino , Peres André , Campos Ariane , Bica Claudia Giuliano , dos Santos Giovana Tavares , Prolla João Carlos , Carús Lauren Arrusul , Ferreira Mariana Simões , Fernandes Marilda da Cruz , Bassani Naiane Carlesso , Introíni Gisele Orlandi
Published: November 2021

The interaction between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment is determinant for metastasis success. In this study, the ultrastructural relevance of cells in the malignant pleural effusion (MPE) of women with breast cancer history was investigated. In MPE, it is possible to observe single cells and clusters. Women whose MPE presents carcinomas in aggregates have a better prognosis when compared to cases in which metastatic single cells are found. Samples were collected via fine-needle aspiration puncture (US-FNA). Subsequent to the material preparation and ultrathin cuts, they were observed using light and transmission electron microscopy (LM/TEM). LM and TEM images served as a basis for the creation of a digital sculpture using ZBrush® software. Clusters exhibited structural stability, en route vesicles allowing exocytosis of electron-dense fibrous elements, and cytoplasmic protrusions contributing to migratory and invasive skills. Single cells presented different necrotic phenotypes and many displayed leukocyte-like characteristics. Cluster cooperative relationships seem to be related to a long-term permanence in MPE. The absence of a collaborative network presumably triggers a more aggressive behavior of single cells. Its putative fusion with leukocytes can maximize the efficiency for transendothelial migration, increasing chances of metastatic success and, unfortunately, reducing survival of women with recidivism.
Iron Depletion in the Deep Chlorophyll Maximum: Mesoscale Eddies as Natural Iron Fertilization Experiments
Authors: Hawco Nicholas J. , Barone Benedetto , Church Matthew J. , Babcock‐Adams Lydia , Repeta Daniel J. , Wear Emma K. , Foreman Rhea K. , Björkman Karin M. , Bent Shavonna , Van Mooy Benjamin A. S. , Sheyn Uri , DeLong Edward F. , Acker Marianne , Kelly Rachel L. , Nelson Alexa , Ranieri John , Clemente Tara M. , Karl David M. , John Seth G.
Published: November 2021

In stratified oligotrophic waters, phytoplankton communities forming the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) are isolated from atmospheric iron sources above and remineralized iron sources below. Reduced supply leads to a minimum in dissolved iron (dFe) near 100 m, but it is unclear if iron limits growth at the DCM. Here, we propose that natural iron addition events occur regularly with the passage of mesoscale eddies, which alter the supply of dFe and other nutrients relative to the availability of light, and can be used to test for iron limitation at the DCM. This framework is applied to two eddies sampled in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Observations in an anticyclonic eddy center indicated downwelling of iron‐rich surface waters, leading to increased dFe at the DCM but no increase in productivity. In contrast, uplift of isopycnals within a cyclonic eddy center increased supply of both nitrate and dFe to the DCM, and led to dominance of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton. Iron addition experiments did not increase productivity in either eddy, but significant enhancement of leucine incorporation in the light was observed in the cyclonic eddy, a potential indicator of iron stress among Prochlorococcus. Rapid cycling of siderophores and low dFe:nitrate uptake ratios also indicate that a portion of the microbial community was stressed by low iron. However, near‐complete nitrate drawdown in this eddy, which represents an extreme case in nutrient supply compared to nearby Hawaii Ocean Time‐series observations, suggests that recycling of dFe in oligotrophic ecosystems is sufficient to avoid iron limitation in the DCM under typical conditions.
Interannual Variation of Settling Particles Reflects Upper‐Ocean Circulation in the Southern Chukchi Borderland, 2010‐2014
Authors: Onodera Jonaotaro , Watanabe Eiji , Itoh Motoyo , Harada Naomi , Honda Makio C. , Tengberg Anders , Tanaka Yuichiro , Kikuchi Takashi
Published: November 2021

Time series monitoring of hydrography and marine settling particles supplies a large amount of information regarding the marine lower‐trophic ecosystem with respect to the changing Arctic Ocean. To investigate the interannual relationship between the settling particles and hydrographic conditions of the western Arctic Ocean, bottom‐tethered sediment trap moorings were deployed at the Northwind Abyssal Plain (NAP) from October 2010 to September 2014 and at the Chukchi Abyssal Plain (CAP) from October 2012 to September 2013 to the east and west of the Chukchi Borderland. The settling particles at both stations contained a significant amount of lithogenic matter, with biogenic particles being a lateral advection of shelf materials from shelf to basin. The many peaks of settling particle fluxes at NAP in 2013–2014 corresponded to the hydrographic events of passing oceanic eddies over the station, in addition to seasonal biological production. The settling particle flux at CAP remarkably increased when Pacific‐origin water advected over the northern shelf of the Chukchi Sea in March–April 2013. Additionally, abundant gelatinous matter was found at NAP and CAP in July–September 2011 and 2014 and in July–August 2013, respectively. The settling flux data of particulate organic matter and the mole ratio and stable isotope ratios of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen reflected the changes in the composition of trapped plankton assemblages under various hydrographic conditions over the course of the four years of the study.