bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitor tofogliflozin suppresses atherosclerosis through glucose lowering in ApoE‐deficient mice with streptozotocin‐induced diabetes
Authors: Iwamoto Masahiko , Kubota Tetsuya , Sakurai Yoshitaka , Wada Nobuhiro , Shioda Seiji , Yamauchi Toshimasa , Kadowaki Takashi , Kubota Naoto
Published: June 2022

Epidemiological and animal studies have revealed that sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors suppress cardiovascular events in subjects with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis in animal models of diabetes. However, it still remains unclear if the anti‐atherosclerotic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors is entirely dependent on their glucose‐lowering effect. Tofogliflozin, a highly specific SGLT2 inhibitor, was administrated to apolipoprotein‐E‐deficient (ApoEKO) with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes and nondiabetic ApoEKO mice. After 6 weeks, samples were collected to investigate the histological changes and peritoneal macrophage inflammatory cytokine levels. Tofogliflozin suppressed atherosclerosis in the diabetic ApoEKO mice. The atherosclerosis lesion areas and accumulation of macrophages in these areas were reduced by tofogliflozin treatment. The expression levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐6 in the peritoneal macrophages were significantly suppressed in the tofogliflozin‐treated diabetic ApoEKO mice. Tofogliflozin treatment failed to inhibit atherosclerosis in the nondiabetic ApoEKO mice. No significant difference in the anti‐atherosclerotic effects of insulin and tofogliflozin was observed between diabetic ApoEKO mice with equivalent degrees of glycemic control achieved with the two treatments. Insulin treatment significantly reduced the IL‐1β and IL‐6 expression levels in the peritoneal macrophages of the diabetic ApoEKO mice. Significant decrease of the LPS‐stimulated IL‐1β concentrations was also observed in the conditioned medium of the peritoneal macrophages collected from insulin‐ and tofogliflozin‐treated diabetic ApoEKO mice. These results suggest that tofogliflozin suppresses atherosclerosis by improving glucose intolerance associated with inhibition of inflammation. Tofogliflozin suppresses atherosclerosis in ApoEKO mice with STZ‐induced diabetes via its glucose‐lowering effect.
Helping patients to understand their medicines
Authors: Thompson Angus
Published: June 2022

Spending time in conversation with patients helps them to become well informed and active participants in the therapeutic partnership. Angus Thompson describes how analogies and imagery can sometimes be useful to help patients understand the purpose of their medicines and the reasons behind treatment decisions.
Muscle mass change using linear measurement analysis after nephrectomy for pT3 and pT4 renal cell carcinoma is associated with mortality
Authors: Medline Alexandra , Midenberg Eric , Patil Dattatraya , Evans Sean , Vettikattu Nikhil , Kamal Fatima , Ogan Kenneth , Psutka Sarah P. , Bilen Mehmet Asim , Master Viraj A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Preoperative skeletal muscle deficiency is an established risk factor for poor survival outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, given the dynamic nature of skeletal muscle associated with malignancy, there is a need to evaluate the prognostic benefit of muscle area change from the preoperative to postoperative period. We hypothesize that an improvement in muscle area following nephrectomy, measured by linear segmentation of L3 psoas and paraspinal musculature, is associated with improvement in overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) for patients with pT3 and pT4 RCC.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 270 pT3 and pT4 RCC patients who underwent nephrectomy from March 2004 to February 2020 with available preoperative and postoperative axial CT or MRI studies segmented at the L3 vertebrae. The majority were N0 (79%) and M0 (68%). Psoas and paraspinal muscles were measured bilaterally using a validated digital ruler tool. Total muscle area (TMA) was calculated by aggregating the area of all four muscles and total muscle area index (TMI) by dividing the TMA by height squared (m2). The prognostic value of postoperative muscle improvement, defined as any increase in muscle area index, was analysed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional stepwise hazard models.

Results

Median time between preoperative scans and surgery was approximately 22 days and between surgery and postoperative scans 172 days. One hundred twenty‐one patients (44.8%) had an increase in total muscle area index post‐nephrectomy (IQR = 33.4; P ≤ 0.0001). On Kaplan–Meier analysis, postoperative improvement in TMI was associated with decreased odds of mortality (P = 0.0024) with a median follow‐up of 38.6 months. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, improvement of TMI was associated with increased OS (HR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.35–0.78, P < 0.001) and increased CSS (HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.32–0.94, P = 0.030). A 5% or more improvement in TMI was also associated with increased OS (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34–0.84, P = 0.006) and increased CSS (HR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.24–0.86, P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Any improvement in TMI between preoperative and initial postoperative imaging after nephrectomy was associated with increased OS and CSS in patients with pT3 and pT4 RCC. Perioperative linear segmentation is an efficient tool that may improve current prognostication methods and can be performed on any imaging software platform.
Sputtered Phosphorus‐Doped poly‐Si on Oxide Contacts for Screen‐Printed Si Solar Cells
Authors: Nasebandt Lasse , Min Byungsul , Hollemann Christina , Hübner Simon , Dippell Torsten , Peibst Robby , Brendel Rolf
Published: June 2022

The impact of the phosphorus doping density in direct current‐sputtered polysilicon layers on surface passivation and contact resistance by fabricating polysilicon on oxide (POLO) contacts is studied, when applying doping densities ranging from 3 × 1019to 4 × 1020 cm−3. Hydrogenation is performed either via a hydrogen‐releasing AlOxlayer and postdeposition anneals in forming gas using a tube furnace at 400 °C, or by rapid firing of an AlOx/SiNystack in a conveyor belt furnace at 810 °C. The study shows that the forming gas anneal of the weakly in situ phosphorus‐doped poly‐Si layers with AlOxenables a passivation quality with an implied open‐circuit voltage of up to 734 mV and a recombination current density down to 1.8 fA cm−2. For fast firing, a high phosphorus concentration of 4 × 1020 cm−3is required for comparably high passivation quality with a recombination current density down to 1.3 fA cm−2. A p‐type POLO back‐junction solar cell featuring such ex situ doped sputtered POLO contacts with a cell efficiency of 22.4% and an open‐circuit voltage of 714 mV is fabricated. To our knowledge, this is the highest open‐circuit voltage published so far with sputtered POLO contacts.
The comparison of Fenton and photo‐Fenton oxidation as a primary unit process for the treatment of raw textile wastewaters
Authors: Sarı Bülent , Türkeş Selman , Güney Hakan , Keskinkan Olcayto
Published: June 2022

The Fenton and photo‐Fenton oxidation processes (FOP and PFOP) are usually applied as a secondary unit process, and direct usage of both processes is critical in textile wastewater treatment. There is seldom study on the direct application of the FOP or PFOP showing the treatment of raw textile industry wastewaters. This study demonstrates the application and comparison of both FOP and PFOP as single units separately for the treatment of wastewater in a textile industry producing woven fabrics. In both processes, the highest treatment efficiency was achieved at pH 3. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), and color parameters in FOP reduced from 1341 to 254 mg/L, 99.5 to 19.9 mg/L, and 1396 to 97.7 Pt‐Co, respectively. Separately, in the PFOP, 365‐nm wavelength UV radiation sources have been used. In PFOP, the same parameters were reduced from 715 to 42.9 mg/L, 90 to 9 mg/L, and 2080 to 83.2 Pt‐Co, respectively. These results were obtained at 0.7 g Fe2+/L and 2 mM H2O2 concentrations in both studies. PFOP can meet the textile industry receiving environment discharge standards of many countries, especially in Turkey. The use of PFOP as a single unit is possible in the treatment of textile industry wastewater without primary precipitation. The findings in this study may be practical for the adaptation of the processes on the field scale.

Practitioner Points

There is seldom study on the direct application of Fenton or photo‐Fenton processes as a single unit to raw textile wastewaters

This study shows the application of the Fenton or photo‐Fenton processes as single units for the treatment of raw wastewater in a textile industry

Results of both processes in this study meet the discharge standards of many countries

Evaluations of efficiencies of both processes were achieved

This study may be the focus of attention of treatment plant operators and researchers
Dealing with Uncertainty
Authors: Loucks Daniel P.
Published: June 2022

This chapter introduces how probability and statistical measures can be incorporated into models to reflect the uncertainties of model inputs, parameter values and output variable values.
Modeling Stochastic Processes
Authors: Loucks Daniel P.
Published: June 2022

Many public systems must deal with uncertain inputs over time. This chapter illustrates how models incorporating uncertain inputs over time can be developed and solved. Stochastic linear and dynamic programming models are developed to show the difference in output that define optimal sequential conditional decision making strategies.
Conclusion
Authors: Loucks Daniel P.
Published: June 2022

Concluding thoughts on the successful implementation of modeling in policy making processes and the relationships between analysts and policy makers.
Solving Models Using Excel
Authors: Loucks Daniel P.
Published: June 2022

This chapter offers examples illustrating how the ‘Solver’ feature of Excel can be used to solve simultaneous equations and unconstrained and constrained optimization models. This and other features of Excel can be used to solve any of the optimization or simulation models or equations introduced in this book.
Discrete Optimization Modeling
Authors: Loucks Daniel P.
Published: June 2022

Using examples, the chapter introduces discrete dynamic programming that converts an overall optimization problem into many simpler sub-optimization problems. The chapter discusses the advantages and limitations of this optimization method.
Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts on Digital Transformation
Authors: Mikalef Patrick , Parmiggiani Elena
Published: June 2022

While we have accumulated much knowledge over the past decades about how organizations engage in digital transformation, future developments are likely to make a lot of this knowledge at least partially obsolete. New forms of working and organizing, along with an increased collaboration between human and machine, are likely to give rise to new forms of digital transformation, novel practices and approaches, and significantly different strategies. Nevertheless, such changes are likely to be gradual. This is due to the fact that emerging technologies require time to mature and to be assimilated in organizational processes. In this concluding chapter, we lay out some final thoughts about digital transformation, as well as how it will likely unfold in Norwegian organizations.
Plastizität menschlichen Alterns: Die Chancen des Zusammenspiels von Biologie, Kultur und Person
Authors: Staudinger Ursula
Published: June 2022

Wir leben länger als je zuvor in der Geschichte der Menschheit. Aber längere Leben sind gleichzeitig ein Geschenk und eine Herausforderung für den Einzelnen und die Gesellschaft. Längere Leben heben ein außergewöhnliches Merkmal der menschlichen Spezies hervor, nämlich die Fähigkeit, die eigene Entwicklung und das Altern absichtlich oder unabsichtlich positiv zu beeinflussen. Diese positive Plastizität der menschlichen Entwicklung und des Alterns beruht auf der Tatsache, dass das menschliche Altern weder biologisch noch kontextuell bedingt ist. Vielmehr sind Entwicklung und Alterung das Ergebnis ständiger Wechselwirkungen zwischen biologischen, soziokulturellen Kräften und dem Verhalten eines Menschen. Ein Umdenken in der Entwicklung von Erwachsenen impliziert, dass die Forschung ihre Anstrengungen intensivieren muss, um die Bedingungen und Mechanismen, die die positive Plastizität der Entwicklung und des Alterns von Erwachsenen ermöglichen, zu untersuchen und aufzudecken. Wir müssen wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse darüber sammeln, welche Verlaufskurven von Konstellationen soziokultureller und physischer Kontextmerkmale, der Verhaltensmuster und der genetischen Ausstattung eines Menschen geeignet sind, das Altern zu optimieren. Forschungsbeispiele aus dem Bereich der kognitiven und Persönlichkeitsfunktionen werden vorgestellt, um die positive Plastizität der Entwicklung von Erwachsenen sowie deren Grenzen zu veranschaulichen. Um ein tieferes Verständnis dafür zu erlangen, wie die positive Plastizität des menschlichen Alterns genutzt werden kann, sind kohorten- und ländervergleichende Langzeit-Längsschnittdaten erforderlich, die neben soziodemographischen Informationen und Informationen über die physische Umgebung auch physiologische und verhaltensbezogene Maße umfassen. Solche Erkenntnisse sind dann in der Lage, spezifische und daher effektive Beweise zu liefern, die sowohl für die Sozialpolitik als auch für die Wahl des Lebensstils von Bedeutung sind.
Lebensqualität im Alter durch Hirnschrittmacher und Neuroprothesen
Authors: Gharabaghi Alireza
Published: June 2022

Die Tiefe Hirnstimulation (deep brain stimulation: DBS) hat sich in den letzten drei Jahrzehnten zu eine der erfolgreichsten neuroprothetischen Anwendung zur neuromodulatorischen Behandlung von Hirnerkrankungen im Alter entwickelt und führt zu nachweislichen Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität, z.B. bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit der Parkinson-Erkrankung. Hierzu wird eine neurochirurgische Hochpräzisionsoperation durchgeführt, die auf unterschiedlichen neurotechnologischen Verfahren basiert. Innovative physiologische Verfahren zur Lokalisation der Zielregion können helfen, die Implantation der Elektroden im Gehirn sicherer, genauer und schneller durchzuführen und die Therapieeffekte zu verbessern. Neue Stimulationszielorte und -parameter werden aktuell erforscht, um auch diejenigen Krankheitssymptome, die bisher nicht ausreichend auf diese Therapie ansprechen, wie Gang- und Schlafstörungen, erfolgreich zu behandeln.
Das alternde Gehirn
Authors: Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas
Published: June 2022

Die Lebenserwartung ist in Deutschland in den letzten Jahrzehnten, wie in der gesamten entwickelten Welt, dramatisch und nahezu linear angestiegen. Waren es um 1900 noch etwas mehr als 40 Jahre für Männer und 45 Jahre für Frauen, so liegt die Lebenserwartung in Baden-Württemberg aktuell bei 84 Jahren für eine Frau und 79,5 Jahren für einen Mann. Diese Entwicklung bedeutet, dass im Schnitt für jeden Tag des Lebens die Lebenserwartung um rund 6 h angestiegen ist!
Dark Matter abundance via thermal decays and leptoquark mediators
Authors: Belfatto Benedetta , Buttazzo Dario , Gross Christian , Panci Paolo , Strumia Alessandro , Vignaroli Natascia , Vittorio Ludovico , Watanabe Ryoutaro
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We explore a new mechanism for reproducing the Dark Matter (DM) abundance: scatterings of one DM particle on light Standard Model particles. Strong bounds on its decays can be satisfied if DM undergoes freeze-in and has a mass around or below the pion mass. This happens, for example, in theories with a right-handed neutrino interacting with charged fermions through a leptoquark exchange. These leptoquarks can be linked to the ones motivated by the B-physics anomalies if assumptions about the flavour structure are made. DM signals are unusual, with interesting possibilities for direct and indirect detection. Achieving thermal freeze-out instead requires models with more than one DM flavour, and couplings parametrically smaller than what needed by the usual pair annihilations.
The mechanism of resistance in Escherichia coli to ridinilazole and other antibacterial head-to-head bis-benzimidazole compounds
Authors: Dale Aaron G. , Porcu Alessandra , Mann John , Neidle Stephen
Published: June 2022

The appY gene has been characterised as conferring resistance to a novel series of antimicrobial benzimidazole derivatives in E. coli MC1061 cells when expressed in high copy-number. A microarray approach was used to identify genes involved in the mechanism of appY-mediated antibacterial resistance, that were up- or down-regulated following induction of the gene in the appY knockout strain JW0553. In total, expression of 90 genes was induced and 48 repressed greater than 2.5-fold (P < 0.05), 45 min after appY induction. Over half the genes up-regulated following appY expression had confirmed or putative roles in acid resistance (AR) and response to oxidative and antibiotic stresses. These included the genes for MdtE and MdtF, which form a multi-drug transporter with TolC and have been implicated in resistance to several antibiotics including erythromycin. Amongst the acid resistance genes were gadAB and adiAC encoding the glutamate-dependant (AR2) and arginine-dependant (AR3) acid resistance systems respectively, in addition to the transcriptional activators of these systems gadE and gadX. In agreement with earlier studies, appA, appCB and hyaA-F were also up-regulated following induction of appY. This study has also confirmed that over-expression of mdtEF confers resistance to these antibacterial benzimidazoles, indicating that the observation of appY conferring resistance to these compounds, proceeds through an appY-mediated up-regulation of this efflux transporter. To assess the importance of the AppY enzyme to acid stress responses, the percentage survival of bacteria in acidified media (pH ≤ 2) was measured. From an initial input of 1 × 106 CFU/ml, the wild-type strain MG1655 showed 7.29% and 0.46% survival after 2 and 4 h, respectively. In contrast, strain JW0553 in which appY is deleted was completely killed by the treatment. Transformation of JW0553 with a plasmid carrying appY returned survival to wild-type levels (7.85% and 1.03% survival at 2 and 4 h). Further dissection of the response by prior induction of each of the three AR systems has revealed that AR1 and AR3 were most affected by the absence of appY. This work highlights an important and previously unidentified role for the AppY enzyme in mediating the responses to several stress conditions. It is likely that the appY gene fits into a complex transcriptional regulatory network involving σS and gadE and gadX. Further work to pinpoint its position in such a hierarchy and to assess the contribution of appY to oxidative stress responses should help determine its full significance. This work is also consistent with recent studies in C. difficile showing that the mechanism of action of ridinilazole involves AT-rich DNA minor groove binding.
Differential impact of individual autonomic domains on clinical outcomes in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Longardner Katherine , Merola Aristide , Litvan Irene , De Stefano Alberto Maria , Maule Simona , Vallelonga Fabrizio , Lopiano Leonardo , Romagnolo Alberto
Published: June 2022

Introduction

While autonomic failure is a well-known prognostic factor for more aggressive disease progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD), with a three- to sevenfold higher risk of dementia and death within 10 years after the diagnosis, the individual impact of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urogenital, thermoregulatory, and pupillomotor autonomic domains on PD clinical outcomes remains unclear.

Objectives

We sought to determine the 5-year risk of developing dementia, falls, postural instability, dysarthria, and dysphagia in PD patients with and without autonomic impairment at baseline and to assess the joint and individual association of each autonomic domain on these key functional outcomes. In addition, we aimed to determine the impact of each autonomic domain on activities of daily living (ADLs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

We enrolled 65 consecutive PD patients in a 5-year cohort study involving standardized evaluations of autonomic symptoms, orthostatic hypotension, and motor and non-motor features, including cognitive function. Associations were estimated as odds ratio and adjusted for PD duration, age, and baseline motor impairment.

Results

Cardiovascular dysautonomia was associated with a sevenfold higher risk of developing dementia (95%CI: 1.154–50.436; p = 0.035) and a fivefold higher risk of falls (95%CI: 1.099–18.949; p = 0.039), as well as significantly higher impairment in ADLs (p = 0.042) and HRQoL (p = 0.031). No relevant associations were found between the other autonomic domains and these outcomes.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular dysautonomia, but not other domains, showed an association with worse 5-year clinical outcomes in PD. Our data suggest a specific role for cardiovascular autonomic dysregulation in the pathogenic mechanisms of PD progression.
Correlation of PD-L1 expression on tumour cells between diagnostic biopsies and surgical specimens of lung cancer in real life with respect to biopsy techniques and neoadjuvant treatment
Authors: Gompelmann D. , Sinn K. , Brugger J. , Bernitzky D. , Mosleh B. , Prosch H. , Geleff S. , Blessing A. , Tiefenbacher A. , Hoetzenecker K. , Idzko M. , Hoda M. A.
Published: June 2022

Purposes

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing is performed mainly on biopsy specimens in patients with advanced lung cancer. It is questionable whether the small amount of tissue analysed in biopsies may represent the true PD-L1 expression of a tumour.

Methods

In this retrospective study, PD-L1 expression on tumour cells derived from bronchoscopy brush cytology, endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), endobronchial biopsy, transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic biopsy was compared to the PD-L1 expression of the corresponding surgical resection in lung cancer patients with regard to neoadjuvant treatment in-between.

Results

A quantitative comparison between the diagnostic biopsy of the primary tumour with corresponding resected surgical specimens in a total of 113 lung cancer patients (60% male, mean age 65 ± 9 years) revealed a statistically significant correlation of PD-L1 expression on tumour cells (r = 0.58, p< 0.001), for patients without neoadjuvant treatment in-between and for patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment (both p < 0.001). Using a cut-off value of ≥ 50% PD-L1 TPS for comparing the biopsy samples and resected specimens, the concordance rate was 78% with a Cohen’s Kappa of 0.45.

Conclusion

A statistically significant concordance for PD-L1 expression on tumour cells between biopsies from primary lung tumour and resected specimen was found, but of uncertain clinical accuracy. The use of a cut-off value of ≥ 50% PD-L1 TPS resulted only in a moderate agreement. Therefore, the interpretation of the PD-L1 determined form biopsy specimens status should only be considered with caution for treatment decisionsQuery.
Zones of Entrapment and Impunity: On the Constitution of Vague and Strange Regimes of Power
Authors: Hallsworth Simon , Stephenson Svetlana
Published: June 2022

This article challenges a tendency prominent in critical theory—one that holds that being “vague and strange” constitute qualities of life opposed to the grid-like systems of coercive control intrinsic to the operation of modern power regimes which, by their ascriptive nature, are compelled to suppress all life which exhibits these traits. Consequently, vagueness represents not only the antithesis of modern power, but a source of resistance against it. This article contests this assumption by exploring the vague regimes of power (which, following William Burroughs, we call “interzones”), which also exist within the fabric of the administered order. The article examines how these interzones function and explores two incarnations:zones of entrapmentandzones of impunity.
Microstructural white matter alterations associated with migraine headaches: a systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies
Authors: Rahimi Rahil , Dolatshahi Mahsa , Abbasi-Feijani Fatemeh , Momtazmanesh Sara , Cattarinussi Giulia , Aarabi Mohammad Hadi , Pini Lorenzo
Published: June 2022

The pathophysiology of migraine as a headache disorder is still undetermined. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has significantly improved our knowledge about brain microstructure in this disease. Here, we aimed to systematically review DTI studies in migraine and survey the sources of heterogeneity by investigating diffusion parameter changes associated with clinical characteristics and migraine subtypes. Microstructural changes, as revealed by widespread alteration of diffusion metrics in white matter (WM) tracts, subcortical and cortical regions, were reported by several migraine DTI studies. Specifically, we reported changes in the corpus callosum, thalamic radiations, corona radiata, and brain stem. These alterations showed high variability across migraine cycle phases. Additionally, migraine associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms revealed significant changes in the corpus callosum, internal capsule, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. No significant WM microstructural differences were observed between migraine patients with and without aura. Overall, differences between chronic and episodic migraine showed inconsistency across studies. Migraine is associated with microstructural changes in widespread regions including thalamic radiations, corpus callosum, and brain stem. These alterations can highlight neuronal damage and neuronal plasticity mechanisms either following pain stimulations occurring in migraine cycle or as a compensatory response to pain in chronic migraine. Longitudinal studies applying advanced modalities may shed new light on the underlying microstructural changes in migraine subtypes.
Facial landmark disentangled network with variational autoencoder
Authors: Liang Sen , Zhou Zhi-ze , Guo Yu-dong , Gao Xuan , Zhang Ju-yong , Bao Hu-jun
Published: June 2022

Learning disentangled representation of data is a key problem in deep learning. Specifically, disentangling 2D facial landmarks into different factors (e.g., identity and expression) is widely used in the applications of face reconstruction, face reenactment and talking head et al.. However, due to the sparsity of landmarks and the lack of accurate labels for the factors, it is hard to learn the disentangled representation of landmarks. To address these problem, we propose a simple and effective model named FLD-VAE to disentangle arbitrary facial landmarks into identity and expression latent representations, which is based on a Variational Autoencoder framework. Besides, we propose three invariant loss functions in both latent and data levels to constrain the invariance of representations during training stage. Moreover, we implement an identity preservation loss to further enhance the representation ability of identity factor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to end-to-end disentangle identity and expression factors simultaneously from one single facial landmark.
Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version
Authors: Ivanova-Serokhvostova Anastasiya , Molinuevo Beatriz , González Leonor , Hilterman Ed L. B. , Pardo Yolanda , Pera-Guardiola Vanessa , Bonillo Albert , Batalla Iolanda , Torrubia Rafael , Forth Adelle
Published: June 2022

The current study examined the psychometric properties (factor structure, reliability and validity) of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV; Forth et al., 2003) in Spanish samples of male justice-involved youths between 15 and 22-years old. The PCL:YV was administered to two groups of youths who were incarcerated (n = 62; n = 95) and a sample of youth on probation (n = 122). Confirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable-to-good fit for three- and four-factor models. The four-factor hierarchical model with a second-order higher factor representing the whole psychopathy construct was considered for further analyses. PCL:YV scores showed high internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Low-to-moderate convergence with other measures of psychopathic traits evinced an adequate convergent validity. Convergent and discriminant validity of the PCL:YV total scores were also confirmed considering several measures of psychopathology and personality traits. Importantly, the differential external correlates of the PCL:YV factors provide support for a multidimensional conceptualization of the psychopathy construct. Altogether, these results reveal adequate psychometric properties of the PCL:YV in Spanish population of justice-involved youths and justifies its use to assess psychopathic traits in this kind of populations.
Shade effects on yield across different Coffea arabica cultivars — how much is too much? A meta-analysis
Authors: Koutouleas Athina , Sarzynski Thuan , Bertrand Benoît , Bordeaux Mélanie , Bosselmann Aske Skovmand , Campa Claudine , Etienne Hervé , Turreira-García Nerea , Léran Sophie , Markussen Bo , Marraccini Pierre , Ramalho José Cochicho , Vaast Philippe , Ræbild Anders
Published: June 2022

The coffee research community has maintained a long ongoing debate regarding the implications of shade trees in coffee production. Historically, there has been contrasting results and opinions on this matter, thus recommendations for the use of shade (namely in coffee agroforestry systems) are often deemed controversial, particularly due to potential yield declines and farmers’ income. This study is one of the first demonstrating how severalCoffea arabicacultivars respond differently to shade with respect to yield. By standardising more than 200 coffee yield data from various in-field trials, we assembled the so-called “Ristretto” data pool, a one of a kind, open-source dataset, consolidating decades of coffee yield data under shaded systems. With this standardised dataset, our meta-analysis demonstrated significant genotypic heterogeneity in response to shade, showing neutral, inverted U-shaped and decreasing trends between yield and shade cover amongst 18 different cultivars. These findings encourage the examination ofC. arabicaat the cultivar level when assessing suitability for agroforestry systems. Comparison of productivity is also encouraged across a range of low to moderate shade levels (10–40%), in order to help elucidate potential unknown optimal shade levels for coffee production.
Effects of Acute Sleep Loss on Physical Performance: A Systematic and Meta-Analytical Review
Authors: Craven Jonathan , McCartney Danielle , Desbrow Ben , Sabapathy Surendran , Bellinger Phillip , Roberts Llion , Irwin Christopher
Published: June 2022

Background

Sleep loss may influence subsequent physical performance. Quantifying the impact of sleep loss on physical performance is critical for individuals involved in athletic pursuits.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Search and Inclusion

Studies were identified via the Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO online databases. Investigations measuring exercise performance under ‘control’ (i.e., normal sleep, > 6 h in any 24 h period) and ‘intervention’ (i.e., sleep loss, ≤ 6 h sleep in any 24 h period) conditions were included. Performance tasks were classified into different exercise categories (anaerobic power, speed/power endurance, high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), strength, endurance, strength-endurance, and skill). Multi-level random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression analyses were conducted, including subgroup analyses to explore the influence of sleep-loss protocol (e.g., deprivation, restriction, early [delayed sleep onset] and late restriction [earlier than normal waking]), time of day the exercise task was performed (AM vs. PM) and body limb strength (upper vs. lower body).

Results

Overall, 227 outcome measures (anaerobic power:n = 58; speed/power endurance:n = 32; HIIE:n = 27; strength:n = 66; endurance:n = 22; strength-endurance:n = 9; skill:n = 13) derived from 69 publications were included. Results indicated a negative impact of sleep loss on the percentage change (%Δ) in exercise performance (n = 959 [89%] male; mean %Δ =  − 7.56%, 95% CI − 11.9 to − 3.13,p = 0.001,I2 = 98.1%). Effects were significant for all exercise categories. Subgroup analyses indicated that the pattern of sleep loss (i.e., deprivation, early and late restriction) preceding exercise is an important factor, with consistent negative effects only observed with deprivation and late-restriction protocols. A significant positive relationship was observed between time awake prior to the exercise task and %Δin performance for both deprivation and late-restriction protocols (~ 0.4% decrease for every hour awake prior to exercise). The negative effects of sleep loss on different exercise tasks performed in the PM were consistent, while tasks performed in the AM were largely unaffected.

Conclusions

Sleep loss appears to have a negative impact on exercise performance. If sleep loss is anticipated and unavoidable, individuals should avoid situations that lead to experiencing deprivation or late restriction, and prioritise morning exercise in an effort to maintain performance.
Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in the African continent: where do we stand? A systematic review
Authors: Shalaby Ahmed Saad , Shemies Rasha Samir
Published: June 2022

Background

Pregnancy-Related Acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) is a global health problem with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the current situation in the developing world including African countries. Africa is the poorest continent per capita, and women from Sub-Saharan Africa alone account for 66% of the estimated global maternal deaths from preventable obstetric causes.

Methods

Objective

To review the literature on the clinical profile, maternal and renal outcomes of women with PR-AKI in the African continent.

Search strategy

Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library were searched in February 2022, using the MeSH terms and text key words: “pregnancy”, “pregnant”, “acute kidney injury”, “acute renal insufficiency”, “acute renal injury”, “acute renal failure”, and “Africa”.

Selection criteria and data collection

Studies from African countries which reported maternal and renal outcomes in women with PR-AKI during pregnancy or postpartum were included. Editorials, short communications, and case reports were excluded. The study quality was assessed using the NHLBI tool. Data extraction was done using predefined data fields.

Results

A total of 167 studies were evaluated, of which 14 studies from seven African countries met the inclusion criteria. Preeclampsia, obstetric hemorrhage, and sepsis represented the main causes of PR-AKI. Maternal mortality ranged between 0 and 34.4%. Although the majority of women needed ICU admission and hemodialysis, renal recovery occurred in 53.1–90% of patients. Perinatal mortality has been reported to be 1.5–60.5% in the included studies.

Authors’ conclusions

PR-AKI in Africa represents the second leading cause of AKI. Limited access to obstetric care, late referral, and late diagnosis of women with risks for PR-AKI hinder the curtailment of the problem. Provision of health care facilities with adequately trained personnel and implementation of preventive strategies will be of great value in decreasing the magnitude of the problem.
Compound Renewal Processes
Authors: Borovkov A. A.
Published: June 2022

Compound renewal processes (CRPs) are among the most ubiquitous models arising in applications of probability. At the same time, they are a natural generalization of random walks, the most well-studied classical objects in probability theory. This monograph, written for researchers and graduate students, presents the general asymptotic theory and generalizes many well-known results concerning random walks. The book contains the key limit theorems for CRPs, functional limit theorems, integro-local limit theorems, large and moderately large deviation principles for CRPs in the state space and in the space of trajectories, including large deviation principles in boundary crossing problems for CRPs, with an explicit form of the rate functionals, and an extension of the invariance principle for CRPs to the domain of moderately large and small deviations. Applications establish the key limit laws for Markov additive processes, including limit theorems in the domains of normal and large deviations.
Pandemic Kinship
Authors: Reece Koreen M.
Published: June 2022

Shaped around the stories of one extended family, their friends, neighbours, and community, Pandemic Kinship provides an intimate portrait of everyday life in Botswana's time of AIDS. It challenges assumptions about a 'crisis of care' unfolding in the wake of the pandemic, showing that care - like other aspects of Tswana kinship - is routinely in crisis, and that the creative ways families navigate such crises make them kin. In Setswana, conflict and crisis are glossed as dikgang, and negotiating dikgang is an ethical practice that generates and reorients kin relations over time. Governmental and non-governmental organisations often misread the creativity of crisis, intervening in ways that may prove more harmful than the problems they set out to solve. Moving between family discussions, community events, and the daily work of orphan care projects and social work offices, Pandemic Kinship provides provocative insights into how we manage change in pandemic times.
Micro-institutional Foundations of Capitalism
Authors: Hsueh Roselyn
Published: June 2022

What is the relationship between internal development and integration into the global economy in developing countries? How and why do state–market relations differ? And do these differences matter in the post-cold war era of global conflict and cooperation? Drawing on research in China, India, and Russia and examining sectors from textiles to telecommunications, Micro-institutional Foundations of Capitalism introduces a new theory of sectoral pathways to globalization and development. Adopting a historical approach, the book's Strategic Value Framework shows how state elites perceive the strategic value of sectors in response to internal and external pressures. Sectoral structures and organization of institutions further determine the role of the state in market coordination and property rights arrangements. The resultant dominant patterns of market governance vary by country and sector within country. These national configurations of sectoral models are the micro-institutional foundations of capitalism, which mediate globalization and development.
Practice Variation between Salaried and Fee-for-Service Surgeons for Lumbar Surgery
Authors: Banaszek Daniel , McIntosh Greg , Charest-Morin Raphaële , Abraham Edward , Manson Neil , Johnson Michael G. , Bailey Christopher S. , Rampersaud Y Raja , Glennie R Andrew , Paquet Jerome , Nataraj Andrew , Weber Michael H. , Christie Sean , Attabib Najmedden , Soroceanu Alex , Kelly Adrienne , Hall Hamilton , Thomas Ken , Fisher Charles , Dea Nicolas
Published: June 2022

Objective:

To examine differences in surgical practices between salaried and fee-for-service (FFS) surgeons for two common degenerative spine conditions. Surgeons may offer different treatments for similar conditions on the basis of their compensation mechanism.

Methods:

The study assessed the practices of 63 spine surgeons across eight Canadian provinces (39 FFS surgeons and 24 salaried) who performed surgery for two lumbar conditions: stable spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. The study included a multicenter, ambispective review of consecutive spine surgery patients enrolled in the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network registry between October 2012 and July 2018. The primary outcome was the difference in type of procedures performed between the two groups. Secondary study variables included surgical characteristics, baseline patient factors, and patient-reported outcome.

Results:

For stable spinal stenosis (n = 2234), salaried surgeons performed statistically fewer uninstrumented fusion (p < 0.05) than FFS surgeons. For degenerative spondylolisthesis (n = 1292), salaried surgeons performed significantly more instrumentation plus interbody fusions (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in patient-reported outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Surgeon compensation was associated with different approaches to stable lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Salaried surgeons chose a more conservative approach to spinal stenosis and a more aggressive approach to degenerative spondylolisthesis, which highlights that remuneration is likely a minor determinant in the differences in practice of spinal surgery in Canada. Further research is needed to further elucidate which variables, other than patient demographics and financial incentives, influence surgical decision-making.
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt–associated surgical site infection with three-month versus twelve-month surveillance periods in Canadian hospitals
Authors: Choi Kelly B. , Steele Vivienne , Conly John , Chow Blanda , Comeau Jeannette L. , Embree Joanne , Lee Bonita E. , Lefebvre Marie-Astrid , Mitchell Robyn , Pelude Linda , Shephard Allyson L. , Langley Joanne M. ,   for the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP)
Published: June 2022

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt–associated surgical site infection surveillance for 3 months compared to 12 months after surgery captures 83% of cases with no significant differences in patient characteristics, surgery types, or pathogens. A shorter 3-month follow-up can reduce resource use and allow for more timely reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates for hospitals.
Benefit and cost of repeating a severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after the second day of hospitalization in five hospitals during various community prevalences and vaccination rates
Authors: Bulnes Rene , Said Mina , Bronstein Melissa , Gutowski Jennifer , Alag Karan , Bress Jonathan , Dellefave Amber , Riedy Dawn , Alcantara Jose , Bhavsar Hiloni , Gargano Bryan , Lesho Emil
Published: June 2022

At our hospital, universal severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed upon admission and again after 2 inpatient days. As community-wide prevalence, admission, and vaccination rates varied, the number needed to benefit fluctuated between 16 and 769 and the cost per additional detection fluctuated between $800 and $29,400. These 2 metrics were negatively associated with new hospital admissions. No other community indicator was associated with the number needed to benefit and cost per additional detection.
Extraction and Its Others
Authors: Perreault Tom
Published: June 2022

This essay reviews the following works:

Limits to Decolonization: Indigeneity, Territory, and Hydrocarbon Politics in the Bolivian Chaco. By Penelope Anthias. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2018. Pp. 312. $27.95 paperback. ISBN: 9781501714368.

The Extractive Zone: Social Ecologies and Decolonial Perspectives. By Macarena Gómez-Barris. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2017. Pp. xii + 208. $24.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780822368977.

Oil, Revolution, and Indigenous Citizenship in Ecuadorian Amazonia. By Flora Lu, Gabriela Valdivia, and Néstor L. Silva. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017. Pp. 313. $119.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781137564627.

Undoing Multiculturalism: Resource Extraction and Indigenous Rights in Ecuador. By Carmen Martínez Novo. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021. Pp. 280. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780822946632.

Landscapes of Inequity: Environmental Justice in the Andes-Amazon Region. Edited by Nicholas A. Robins and Barbara J. Fraser. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2020. Pp. xxxiv + 347. $65.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781496208026.

La lucha por los comunes y las alternativas al desarrollo frente al extractivismo. Compiled by Denisse Roca-Servat and Jenni Perdomo-Sánchez. Buenos Aires: CLACSO, 2020. Pp. 430. E-book. ISBN: 9789877228137.

Shifting Livelihoods: Gold Mining and Subsistence in the Chocó, Colombia. By Daniel Tubb. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. Pp. xxviii + 217. $95.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780295747521.
The effect of siliceous sponge deposition on Permian paleocommunity structure
Authors: Wistort Zackery P. , Ritterbush Kathleen A.
Published: June 2022

A dramatic shift from carbonate-rich to chert-rich marine strata occurred during the Permian and is frequently attributed to the increased activity of siliceous sponges and their biosiliceous sedimentation. The first-order ecologic consequences of this transition, if any, remain opaque. We analyze fossil occurrence data from the Phosphoria Basin (western North America) to test whether the presence of siliceous sponges, which are correlated with basin-wide chert strata, influenced the recruitment of benthic fauna. Using published lithologic descriptions, we categorized fossil collections by formation, facies, and lithology and used these data to code detrended correspondence analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordinations. We also analyzed the clustering of taxa into faunal units termed biofacies.

Results from these analyses indicate that fossil collections occurring in chert and carbonate are closely associated in faunal composition and community structure. These collections preferentially occur in the inner- to mid-ramp facies, in agreement with previous studies. Although largely similar in composition, collections of chert and carbonate lithology exhibit differences in the frequency and abundance of accessory brachiopod taxa (e.g., Composita and Hustedia), possibly a result of greater biosiliceous sedimentary input.
Sarcocystis sp. infection (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) in invasive California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Gran Canaria
Authors: Santana-Hernández Kevin M. , Javorská Kristýna , Rodríguez-Ponce Eligia , Fecková Barbora , Šlapeta Jan , Modrý David
Published: June 2022

Invasive species pose a threat not only to biodiversity because they displace or compete with native fauna, but also because of the pathogens they can host. The Canary Islands are an Atlantic biodiversity hotspot threatened by increasing numbers of invasive species, including the California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae, which was recently introduced to Gran Canaria. Seventy-seven snakes were examined for gastrointestinal parasites in 2019–2020. Sporocysts of Sarcocystis sp. were detected in 10 of them; detection of gamogonia stages in histological sections of 3 snakes confirmed the snake as a definitive host. Partial ssrDNA was amplified using SarcoFext/SarcoRext primers; an additional sequence of Sarcocystis was obtained from the tail muscle of the endemic Gran Canaria giant lizard Gallotia stehlini for a comparison. Identical ssrDNA sequences of unknown Sarcocystis sp. were obtained from 5 different snakes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Sarcocystis sp. isolated from invasive California kingsnakes is unrelated to Sarcocystis provisionally considered S. stehlini from the endemic lizard. The dixenous coccidia are rarely reported to invade new predator–prey systems. However, the present data suggest that previously unknown Sarcocystis sp. is circulating among invasive snakes and as yet unknown vertebrate intermediate hosts, with undetermined consequences for the Gran Canaria ecosystem.
The Dark Master, Kuro Tanino
Authors: Eckersall Peter
Published: June 2022

In Kuro Tanino’s play The Dark Master (Daaku Masudaa), a person arrives at a rundown restaurant (yOshokuya) in working-class Osaka and orders typical Japanese comfort food from a crochety old “master.” Kuro’s 2020 VR theatre version of the play, Daaku Masudaa VR, reanimates the atmospheric setting of the restaurant and heightens its grotesque sensibilities. Using the extreme disorientation and intimacy of VR goggles and headphones, he creates threatening feelings of immersion.