bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satisfaction with one's job and working at home in the COVID‐19 pandemic: A two‐wave study
Authors: Wood Stephen , Michaelides George , Inceoglu Ilke , Niven Karen , Kelleher Aly , Hurren Elizabeth , Daniels Kevin
Published: October 2022

As greater numbers of people have worked at home during the COVID‐19 pandemic, workers, organisations and policy makers have begun considering the benefits of a sustained move towards homeworking, with workers' satisfaction with homeworking often cited as a key driver. But is satisfaction with homeworking that relevant to workers' overall job satisfaction? In this study, we examine whether job and homeworking satisfaction are predicted by different demands and resources, namely, those well established in the job design literature (workload, job autonomy and social support) for the former and those specific to the context of homeworking (loneliness, work–nonwork interference, work–nonwork interference and adequacy of homeworking environment) for the latter. We also explore whether homeworking satisfaction mediates the relationship between homeworking demands and resources and job satisfaction. Findings of a study of university workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic (N = 753 in Phase 1, 471 in Phase 2) support our expectations about the domain‐specific nature of the predictors of job and homeworking satisfaction, autonomy is positively related to job satisfaction, while loneliness, nonwork‐to‐work interference and inadequate homeworking environment are negatively related to homeworking satisfaction. Results also support the argument that satisfaction with homeworking mediates the relationship between homeworking factors and job satisfaction, reinforcing the value of differentiating the two concepts.
Factors relating to nonpublication and publication bias in clinical trials in Canada: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Morrow Richard L. , Mintzes Barbara , Gray Garry , Law Michael R. , Garrison Scott , Dormuth Colin R.
Published: October 2022

Aims

This study aims to understand factors contributing to nonpublication and publication bias in clinical trials in Canada.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted between March 2019 and April 2021 with 34 participants from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, including 17 clinical trial investigators, 1 clinical research coordinator, 3 research administrators, 3 research ethics board members and 10 clinical trial participants. We conducted a thematic analysis involving coding of interview transcripts and memo‐writing to identify key themes.

Results

Several factors contribute to nonpublication and publication bias in clinical trial research. A core theme was that reporting practices are shaped by incentives within the research system taht favour publication of positive over negative trials. Investigators are discouraged from reporting by experiences or perceptions of difficulty in publishing negative findings but rewarded for publishing positive findings in various ways. Trial investigators more strongly associated positive clinical trials than negative trials with opportunities for industry and nonindustry funding and with academic promotion, bonuses and recognition. Research institutions and ethics boards tended to lack well‐resourced, proactive policies and practices to ensure trial findings are reported in registries or journals.

Conclusion

Clinical trial reporting practices in Canada are shaped by incentives favouring reporting of positive over negative trials, such as funding opportunities and academic promotion, bonuses and recognition. Research institutions could help change incentives by adopting performance metrics that emphasize full reporting of results in journals or registries.
On the limits of free trade in a Cournot world: When are restrictions on trade beneficial?
Authors: Amir Rabah , Jin Jim Y. , Troege Michael
Published: October 2022

This paper examines marginal deviations from free trade in an asymmetric Cournot world. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions under which: (i) small import tariffs, (ii) export subsidies, (iii) production subsidies and (iv) consumption taxes increase country‐level as well as world social welfare and consumer surplus. We find that free trade is generally not optimal: some countries' tariffs or subsidies can always improve world welfare. Every country's export subsidy raises the average of world social welfare and consumer surplus. Finally, we rank the different policies and show that production subsidies are most likely to raise world social welfare, followed by export subsidies and then import tariffs, whereas consumption taxes never do.
More than funders: The roles of philanthropic foundations in marine conservation governance
Authors: Blackwatters Jeffrey E. , Betsill Michele , Enrici Ash , Le Cornu Elodie , Basurto Xavier , Gruby Rebecca L.
Published: October 2022

Environmental governance scholars have overlooked philanthropic foundations as influential non‐state actors. This omission, along with the continued growth in funding from private foundations for conservation issues, presents important questions about what foundations do in governance spaces. To address this gap, we examine The David and Lucile Packard Foundation's involvement in Fiji and Palau in the context of the Foundation's “Western Pacific Program”—a series of coastal and marine‐related investments made from 1998 to 2020. We describe and analyze six governance roles that the Packard Foundation contributed to: funding, influencing agendas, capacity‐building, convening and coordinating, facilitating knowledge, and rule‐making and regulation. In documenting the Packard Foundation's governance roles, we provide scholars and practitioners a conceptual framework to more systematically and strategically think about foundations as more than funders. This research helps move the conversation around conservation philanthropy beyond binary conceptions of “good” versus “bad,” and, instead, toward deeper considerations about what foundations currently do within governance systems, how they engage with diverse practitioners, as well as what they can and should do to advance conservation goals.
Phenobarbital to manage severe gamma‐hydroxybutyrate withdrawal: A case series
Authors: Freeman Georgia , Siefried Krista J. , Roberts Darren M. , Rodgers Craig , Nic Ionmhain Una , Ramanathan Jay , Ezard Nadine , Brett Jonathan
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Management of a withdrawal syndrome following cessation of regular gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use, and its precursors, can represent a clinical challenge due to rapid onset delirium and/or seizures. Severe GHB withdrawal can be characterised by persistent or worsening features despite increasing benzodiazepine doses and regular baclofen. Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, are an appealing option in this context due to their unique GABA‐A receptor action.

Case Series

This series describes the use of phenobarbital in 13 cases, 12 patients, across two hospitals in Sydney, Australia, with persistent or progressive GHB withdrawal despite benzodiazepine‐based management. A median cumulative dose of oral diazepam prior to commencing phenobarbital was 120 mg (range 80–255 mg). The median time from the last GHB use to the first dose of phenobarbital was 24 h (range 7–57 h). Eight cases received phenobarbital orally on a general ward and 5 intravenously in intensive care units. An improvement in GHB withdrawal symptoms was observed after phenobarbital in all cases and there were no adverse events related to phenobarbital.

Discussion and Conclusion

This case series suggests that phenobarbital for the management of benzodiazepine‐resistant GHB withdrawal can be safe, even in general inpatient settings, and may avert the progression of delirium. Most data on the management of GHB withdrawal comes from case reports or series, such as this one. This highlights the need for prospective trials to establish an evidence base for therapeutic approaches, including validated measures of withdrawal severity and more information relating to the safe and effective dosing of phenobarbital.
Association rule mining using new discrete elephant swarm approaches
Authors: Moulai Hadjer , Drias Habiba
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we are proposing two novel swarm intelligence approaches for solving discrete problems. Two different continuous evolutionary algorithms inspired by the behaviour of elephants, namely elephant herding optimization and elephant swarm water search algorithm, are studied and analysed in order to propose discrete versions of the latter called discrete elephant herding optimization and discrete elephant swarm water search algorithm. As an illustration of how our proposals can work on discrete problems, a case study on association rule mining is carried out where the proposed discrete algorithms are modelled and applied on the problem in order to extract interesting association rules from large‐scale databases. Extensive experiments on eight different real‐life and relevant datasets with various sizes showed that both our proposals yield good results that compete and sometimes outperform state of the art algorithms.
A review of microbial‐environmental interactions recorded in Proterozoic carbonate‐hosted chert
Authors: Moore Kelsey R. , Daye Mirna , Gong Jian , Williford Kenneth , Konhauser Kurt , Bosak Tanja
Published: October 2022

The record of life during the Proterozoic is preserved by several different lithologies, but two in particular are linked both spatially and temporally: chert and carbonate. These lithologies capture a snapshot of dominantly peritidal environments during the Proterozoic. Early diagenetic chert preserves some of the most exceptional Proterozoic biosignatures in the form of microbial body fossils and mat textures. This fossiliferous and kerogenous chert formed in shallow marine environments, where chert nodules, layers, and lenses are often surrounded by and encased within carbonate deposits that themselves often contain kerogen and evidence of former microbial mats. Here, we review the record of biosignatures preserved in peritidal Proterozoic chert and chert‐hosting carbonate and discuss this record in the context of experimental and environmental studies that have begun to shed light on the roles that microbes and organic compounds may have played in the formation of these deposits. Insights gained from these studies suggest temporal trends in microbial‐environmental interactions and place new constraints on past environmental conditions, such as the concentration of silica in Proterozoic seawater, interactions among organic compounds and cations in seawater, and the influence of microbial physiology and biochemistry on selective preservation by silicification.
Effect of aleurone‐rich fraction on texture and nutritional properties of breads
Authors: Zhou Ting , Ying Ruifeng , Huang Meigui , Tang Zhenxing
Published: October 2022

Aleurone represents a fraction of the outer endosperm in wheat kernels composed of a single‐cell layer containing a variety of nutrients, including dietary fibre (mainly arabinoxylan, β‐glucan, and cellulose), proteins, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants (ferulic acid). In this study, aleurone‐rich fraction (0%–100%) was added to wheat flour to examine the microstructure of the bread and the crystal structure of the starch after the addition using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The maximum in vitro hydrolysis rate of bread with 10%–100% aleurone‐rich fraction addition ranged from 35.69% to 65.93%, which was significantly lower than that of white bread (68.76%). Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance revealed an increase in the amount of bound water in bread after the addition of the aleurone‐rich fraction. Further, bread containing the aleurone‐rich fraction had a higher antioxidant capacity, as evaluated by DPPH• and •OH scavenging activity. Therefore, these results indicate that the aleurone‐rich fraction may be a beneficial ingredient for the manufacture of low‐calorie and high‐fibre foods.
Pearl millet protein hydrolysates exhibiting effective in‐vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti‐lipidemic properties as potential functional food ingredient
Authors: Mudgil Priti , Alblooshi Munira , Singh Brij Pal , Devarajan Aarthi Rekha , Maqsood Sajid
Published: October 2022

Millets are well‐known for protein with high nutritional value and a range of health benefits. Millet‐derived proteins can thus be a rich source of bioactive peptides with multiple bioactive properties. In this study three proteolytic enzymes, i.e. alcalase, bromelain, and chymotrypsin were used to generate pearl millet protein hydrolysates (PMPHs) and explored for multifunctional bioactive properties. Degree of hydrolysis (DH) ranged between 28.69% and 59.21% with maximum DH observed for PMPs hydrolysed with bromelain for 9 h. The PMPs digested with alcalase exhibited enhanced in‐vitro anti‐diabetic potential with greater inhibition towards α‐amylase and dipeptidyl peptidase‐IV (DPP‐IV) with IC50 inhibitory concentration of 5.06 and 3.44 μg mL−1, respectively. Alcalase PMPHs demonstrated the strongest ABTS radical scavenging activity (976 mM TEAC) while chymotrypsin‐generated PMPHs showed significant scavenging of DPPH free radicals (222.3 mM TEAC). In addition, bromelain‐treated hydrolysates displayed the highest α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity (6.71 μg mL−1) and Ferric reducing anti‐oxidant power (585.7 mM TEAC). Moreover, PMPHs generated by alcalase showed potential anti‐lipidemic activity by inhibiting pancreatic lipase and cholesteryl esterase with maximum IC50 values of 3.46 and 3.61 μg mL−1, respectively. These findings suggest that PMPs could be used as a potential source for bioactive hydrolysates with improved anti‐diabetic, anti‐lipidemic, and anti‐oxidant activities.
Compositional characterisation of papadkhar and deciphering the influence of cationic and anionic component(s) of salt on the quality attributes of papads
Authors: Kaimal Admajith M. , Barela Anjali K. , Singhal Rekha S.
Published: October 2022

Papadkhar, an efflorescent ash, is an essential ingredient in papad manufacturing which enhances texture. This study is comprised of two parts: Initially, papadkhar samples were collected from various regions of India and evaluated for physicochemical parameters and heavy metals. Cadmium (<2.29 mass%), mercury (<2.48 mass%) and lead (<32.38 mass%) were detected. However, the regulations for heavy metal contamination in papadkhar are inexplicit. The study suggested the need to evaluate toxicity and regulate heavy metal contamination below the threshold value. Optimal papadkhar concentration was found to be 3% (w/w). Furthermore, literature emphasising the role of salt components on papad quality is scanty. The second part of the study focused on deciphering the role of cationic and anionic salt component(s) on physicochemical properties of papads. To study the effect of cations, varying levels (0.5%–1.5%) of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium carbonates were used. Sodium salts were chosen for further studies considering lower dough hardness (136.3–123.0 g). Hereinafter, sodium salt of sulphate, phosphate, chloride and carbonate (0.5%–1.5%) were selected. A blend of 3:1 ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate at 1% (w/w) showed the best organoleptic acceptability.
A novel non‐invasive index of oxygenation and prediction of outcomes for patients on high‐flow nasal cannula: a pilot study
Authors: Carroll Robert P. , Balasubramaniam Ravind , Sawyer Michael , Tran Khoa
Published: October 2022

Predicting success of a therapy in acute respiratory failure is clinically important. The FOx index (high‐flow rate × FiO2)/SpO2 was retrospectively applied to 70 patients who required high‐flow nasal prongs for hypoxaemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure. The FOx index could predict between success and failure of high‐flow nasal prongs at 6 hours, using non‐invasive markers. This adds to the clinician's toolbox in managing respiratory failure and represents important proof of concept for a prospective study.
Network polarization, filter bubbles, and echo chambers: an annotated review of measures and reduction methods
Authors: Interian Ruben , G. Marzo Ruslán , Mendoza Isela , Ribeiro Celso C.
Published: October 2022

Polarization arises when the underlying network connecting the members of a community or society becomes characterized by highly connected groups with weak intergroup connectivity. The increasing polarization, the strengthening of echo chambers, and the isolation caused by information filters in social networks are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers from different areas of knowledge such as computer science, economics, and social and political sciences. This work presents an annotated review of network polarization measures and models used to handle the polarization. Several approaches for measuring polarization in graphs and networks were identified, including those based on homophily, modularity, random walks, and balance theory. The strategies used for reducing polarization include methods that propose edge or node editions (including insertions or deletions as well as edge weight modifications), changes in social network design, or changes in the recommendation systems embedded in these networks.
The role of prophylactic antibiotics in elective inguinal tension‐free hernia repair: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tian Xiao‐Jun , Wang Xian‐Min , Lei Yue‐Hua , Wang Deng‐Chao , Wei Jian , Fu Zhao‐Jun , Li Yue‐Juan
Published: October 2022

Whether to use antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection in elective inguinal tension‐free hernia repair has been controversial. To systematically evaluate the effect of prophylactic antibiotic application in elective inguinal tension‐free hernia repair, we identified all published randomised controlled trials of the effect of prophylactic antibiotic application on elective inguinal tension‐free hernia repair were collected by computer retrieval from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure; VIP Database; Wanfang Database; China Biomedical Literature Database; and PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Meta‐analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. The meta‐analysis showed that the total incidence of surgical site infections [P = 0.003] and the incidence of superficial surgical site infections [P = 0.004] in the antibiotic group (AG) were lower than those in the non‐antibiotic group (NAG). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of postoperative infections [P = 0.06], deep surgical site infections [P = 0.26] and seroma [P = 0.52] between the AG and the NAG. Based on current evidence, the application of prophylactic antibiotics in elective inguinal tension‐free hernia repair can prevent the total incidence of surgical site infections and that of superficial surgical site infections but cannot prevent the total incidence of postoperative infection events, incidence of deep surgical site infections and incidence of seroma.
Statistical analysis of the strength reliability of the MAX phases
Authors: Yin Hang , He Xiaodong , Song Guangping , Zheng Yongting , Bai Yuelei
Published: October 2022

A good comprehension of the mechanical property stability is crucial in promoting the structural applications of the MAX phases. This study aims to determine the most suitable intensity distribution for the experimental flexural strength of present Ti3AlC2 and previous Ti3SiC2, optimize the fitting parameters, and explore the error sources. After comparing two‐parameter Weibull, three‐parameter (3P) Weibull, and other three distributions, the 3P‐Weibull distribution is the most suitable for the MAX phases. The different parameter estimation methods, rank estimators, and minimum used sample numbers of 3P‐Weibull were tested to determine safe and accurate parameter values for engineering application. Furthermore, the 3P‐Weibull modulus (2.32 for Ti3AlC2 and 2.04 for Ti3SiC2) indicates that the MAX phases occupy a middle ground between typical metals and ceramics, attributing to their high fracture toughness and the R‐curve behavior. These findings would open up prospects for the standardization of testing methods for the Weibull statistics of the MAX phases.
Review on the sublethal effects of pure and formulated glyphosate on bees: Emphasis on social bees
Authors: Battisti Lucas , Potrich Michele , Lozano Everton Ricardi , dos Reis Martinez Claudia Bueno , Sofia Silvia Helena
Published: October 2022

Bees are declining worldwide, and the use of pesticides has been linked to this problem. Studies show that even herbicides can negatively impact bees, causing death or compromising health. As a result, concern about the use of glyphosate (GLY) has increased, as it is the most sold pesticide. Studies have shown that exposure of bees to GLY can trigger sublethal effects. Considering the speed with which information is published, reviews become important for the integration of knowledge, aiding understanding of the topic. Therefore, the present study aimed to review the literature on the sublethal effects of GLY and the different commercial formulations on bees. After the literary review, it was observed that the exposition, acute and chronic, of larvae and adults of social and solitary bees, to GLY and its formulations, can trigger alterations in gene expression, enzyme functioning, oxidative metabolism, cell/tissue structure, intestinal microbiota diversity, learning, food consumption, flight and vertical displacement capacity, circadian cycle and body development of these insects. The most used species in the studies was Apis mellifera L. Studies are still necessary to understand the sublethal effects of GLY on bees, in the medium and long term, on colony homeostasis, especially about the information on the toxicity of some surfactants present in the different commercial formulations.
The Interior as a Witness: Interwar Interiors in Flanders Captured by Forensic Files
Authors: Sterckx Marjan
Published: October 2022

The common resources for studying historic homes offer staged and idealized representations of interiors which reveal little about how these spaces were inhabited and by whom. With a rather limited scope of sources available for reliable images of “real,” vernacular home environments, I advocate for the use of forensic photography and files in interior design historical research to broaden our image and understanding of such modes of living. As a case study, I examine, by close inspection and visual analysis, 40 crime cases from the Belgian provinces of Antwerp and East–Flanders, recorded between 1929 and 1937, containing interior photographs, floor plans, and judicial reports. The sample spans different social strata and building types, living circumstances, and locations—urban, suburban, and rural, demonstrating how many of the people in that era lived in old(er) houses, deprived of the newest sanitary, heating, and lighting amenities. It attests to the passing down over generations of rugs, furniture, utensils and decorative objects, and the randomness of their presence, with traces of gradual modernization, from washing machines to radios, club seats, and fashionable wallpapers. Forensic photographs offer a nonstaged representation of reality. Thus, they provide a reality check, showing how mainstream interiors were really used and how they evolved over a period of time.
Bolsonaro's far‐right populist environmental and climate diplomacy
Authors: Toni Ana , Feitosa Chaves Cíntya
Published: October 2022

Brazilian diplomacy has historically used the environmental agenda as a soft‐power tool, particularly regarding climate change, but this situation has drastically changed under Jair Bolsonaro's administration. Imitating other far‐right populists and their antienvironmental rhetoric, especially Donald Trump's, Bolsonaro attempted to use the topic to inflame his domestic supporters against international players. On the one hand, this strategy weakened Brazilian influence in bilateral and multilateral forums; on the other, dismantling environmental policies and governance structures had substantial consequences, especially in deforestation rates and attacks on traditional communities. This article analyzes the Bolsonaro administration's stand on the environment and climate issues and the repercussions of its policies and rhetoric in Brazil's domestic and foreign scenarios. We conclude that changes in the international context, especially after Trump's electoral defeat in the United States, led to a softening of Bolsonaro's international environmental and climate discourse, with no substantial policy changes internally. Although climate denialism is a centerpiece of the discourse of far‐right populists, this empirical analysis indicates that, in the case of Brazil, this narrative did not bring significant results to Bolsonaro in terms of support or international relevance.
Leveled odds? Attorney capability, team litigation, and outcomes in administrative patent cases
Authors: Miller Banks , Curry Brett
Published: October 2022

We examine the impact of legal representation in an administrative setting. Focusing on adversarial proceedings within the United States Patent and Trademark Office and employing new data on patent litigation, we investigate patent rights—a legal area dominated by specialized, upper‐hemisphere litigation teams that generally represent parties with ample resources. Even in an environment with substantial parity in representational capability, we find that litigation team quality matters. Perceived firm quality and litigation team size both enhance the likelihood of victory; these findings are robust under a number of different approaches used to account for the ability of attorneys to select their clients.
Coordinated regulation of plant defense and autoimmunity by paired trihelix transcription factors ASR3/AITF1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Ying , Tang Meng , Zhang Ying , Huang Mengling , Wei Lan , Lin Yang , Xie Jiatao , Cheng Jiasen , Fu Yanping , Jiang Daohong , Li Bo , Yu Xiao
Published: October 2022

Plants perceive pathogens and induce robust transcriptional reprogramming to rapidly achieve immunity. The mechanisms of how immune‐related genes are transcriptionally regulated remain largely unknown.

Previously, the trihelix transcriptional factor ARABIDOPSIS SH4‐RELATED 3 (ASR3) was shown to negatively regulate pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we identified another trihelix family member ASR3‐Interacting Transcriptional Factor 1 (AITF1) as an interacting protein of ASR3.

ASR3‐Interacting Transcriptional Factor 1 and ASR3 form heterogenous and homogenous dimers in planta. Both aitf1 and asr3 single mutants exhibited increased resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, but the double mutant showed reduced resistance, suggesting AITF1 and ASR3 interdependently regulate immune gene expression and resistance. Overexpression of AITF1 triggered autoimmunity dependently on its DNA‐binding ability and the presence of ASR3. Notably, autoimmunity caused by overexpression of AITF1 was dependent on a TIR‐NBS‐LRR (TNL) protein suppressor of AITF1‐induced autoimmunity 1 (SAA1), as well as enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1), the central regulator of TNL signaling. ASR3‐Interacting Transcriptional Factor 1 and ASR3 directly activated SAA1 expression through binding to the GT‐boxes in SAA1 promoter.

Collectively, our results revealed a mechanism of trihelix transcription factor complex in regulating immune gene expression, thereby modulating plant disease resistance and autoimmunity.
Reproductive skews of territorial species in heterogeneous landscapes
Authors: Péron Guillaume
Published: October 2022

The socio–spatial organization of populations of territorial species refers to the way distance, variation in social status and variation in resource availability interact to shape the way territory‐bounded individuals are distributed. I investigated the resulting reproductive skew, i.e. the emergence of a few high performers amidst a majority of mediocre performers, using lifetime reproductive success data from 46 species living in contrasting landscape configurations. I applied three skew statistics that captured different aspects of the individual heterogeneity: the skewness, the Gini coefficient of inequalities and Hill's index of heavy‐tailed distribution. I also used a simplistic theoretical model, in which only immediate neighbors interacted. In the comparative analysis, the distribution of lifetime reproductive success was more skewed but also more egalitarian in homogeneous than heterogeneous landscapes, after controlling for the allometric effect of the body mass. The simulations indicated that a possible explanatory mechanism for the change in egalitarian properties is that some individuals hide behind their neighbors in the socio‐spatial organization. They therefore secure a better territory than if the distribution was despotic. The ideal despotic model without spatial restriction on interactions could not explain the correlations. This work emphasizes that the shape of the distribution of fitness components conveys information besides the mean and the variance, and the potential for nontrivial effects to emerge from simple movement heuristics.
Kirschner Wire as a Reference Marker for the Positioning of a Syndesmotic Screw: A Radiological Study and Clinical Evaluation
Authors: Zhang Congming , Zhang Chengcheng , Huang Qiang , Sun Liang , Ren Chen , Lu Yao , Xu Yibo , Lin Hua , Zhang Kun , Ma Teng , Li Zhong
Published: October 2022

Objective

No consensus has been reached regarding optimal implantation for a syndesmotic screw. Thus, we aimed to explore the feasibility of a reliable and static fibular incisura plane reference for ideal syndesmotic screw placement.

Methods

A retrospective review of computed tomography (CT) scans of 42 uninjured adult ankles with foot fractures were analyzed to measure the tibiofibular vertical distance (TFVD) at 2.5 cm proximal to the plafond from August 2016 to June 2017 in our hospital. The patients (20 females, 22 males) were divided into four groups according to their TFVD: 0–1, 1–2, 2–3, and 3–4 mm, and patients in each group were counted. We retrospectively assessed 41 patients (15 females, 26 males) who underwent syndesmotic screw fixation for ankle fractures from December 2015 to June 2020. We performed t‐testing of two independent samples to determine the differences in the angle between the anatomic axis of the syndesmosis and screw axis (AAS) and ankle function using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score at 3 and 6 months postoperatively between the conventional (20 patients) and K‐wire marker (21 patients) groups. The correlation between the AAS and AOFAS score was analyzed.

Results

The TFVD measured 2.23 ± 1.01 mm at 2.5 cm proximal to the plafond, and occurred at 25% of the distance from 2 to 3 mm in 47.6% of the patients. This new technique decreased AAS deformation by 62%, from 13.01° ± 2.84° to 4.89° ± 2.43°, in the conventional group (p < 0.001). At 3 months postoperatively, the AOFAS scores of ankle function were similar in both groups, but it was significantly better in the new group than that of conventional group at the 6‐month follow‐up (p = 0.024). There was a moderate negative correlation between AAS and AOFAS score at 6 months postoperatively (R = −0.684). No obvious complications affecting ankle function were observed in either group postoperatively.

Conclusions

Surgeons can accurately place a screw trajectory using the fibular incisura plane as a reliable intraoperative reference. A 1.6‐mm K‐wire placed in the syndesmosis at 2.5 cm proximal to the tibial plafond could act as a static marker of the syndesmotic plane.
Challenging the ability intuition: From personal to extended to distributed belief‐forming processes
Authors: Shieber Joseph
Published: October 2022

Much of what we know results from information sources on which we epistemically rely. This fact about epistemic reliance, however, stands in tension with a very powerful intuition governing knowledge, an intuition that Pritchard (e.g., 2010) has termed the “ability intuition,” the idea that a believer's “reliable cognitive faculties are the most salient part of the total set of causal factors that give rise to [their] believing the truth” (Vaesen, 2011, p. 518; compare Greco, 2003; 2009; 2010). In this paper I suggest that this tension may indeed be ineliminable. I proceed by canvassing some representative attempts to reconcile epistemic reliance and the ability intuition. In doing so, I suggest that all of these attempts founder on one or the other of two elements of what I've previously described (Shieber, 2013, 2015) as a “personalist presumption” in discussions of social epistemology: an excessive focus on (i) reliability filters within the persons who are the recipients of information or (ii) on reliable truth‐tracking and ‐conveying abilities in the persons who are the transmitters of information. In conclusion, I suggest how best to resolve the tension: by abandoning the ability intuition.
Influencing factors of loneliness among older adults in China: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zuo Shufang , Lin Lu , Chen Si , Wang Ziyu , Tian Li , Li Huilling , Xu Yong
Published: October 2022

China has a large and rapidly growing older population. Loneliness is associated with a range of negative health outcomes in older adults. However, to date, there is still a lack of comprehensive and systematic evidence on the factors influencing loneliness among older adults in China. Nine Chinese and English databases were searched by computer from inception to March 2022: China Knowledge Network, WanFang Data, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. Studies on factors influencing loneliness among older adults in China were included. Two reviewers independently completed the literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction, and statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. A total of 15 studies were included in the review, with 47 066 participants in total. Fifty‐nine influencing factors of loneliness in older Chinese were involved. Twenty factors with a total of 30 subfactors that were involved in two or more studies and with extractable data were included in the data synthesis. Eleven subfactors were not statistically significantly associated with loneliness, namely, male, female, lower age, higher education level, health status—fair, health status—poor, social support—none/low, no health insurance, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index—overweight and above (all P > 0.05), while the remaining 19 subfactors (concerning 15 factors) were significantly associated with loneliness in older adults in China (all P < 0.05). This study suggested that age, education level, marital status, living arrangement, having (no) children, receiving family support, relationship with family members, being with or without chronic diseases, health status, activities of daily living, social support, social activities, financial status, satisfaction with housing conditions, and the decision‐making right for major household expenditures were the main influencing factors of loneliness among older adults in China.
Ameliorative effect of silymarin on the quality of frozen–thawed boar spermatozoa
Authors: Yue Shunli , Wang Shunwei , Liu Xue , Bian Xiaoqi , Ding Chang , Wu Tong , Li Dantong , Zhou Jiabo
Published: October 2022

Although Silymarin (SMN) has powerful antioxidant properties, little is known about its effects on the quality of frozen–thawed boar sperm. The present study aimed to evaluate the influences of SMN added to the thawing extender on boar sperm parameters essential for fertilization. The frozen–thawed semen was diluted in a Modena thawing extender supplemented with different concentrations of SMN (0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μM respectively), and then the changes in quality parameters, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capability of frozen–thawed sperm were assessed. Here we demonstrated that the motility, plasma membrane integrity and acrosomal integrity of frozen–thawed sperm improved efficiently by SMN (p < .05). In antioxidant parameters evaluation, the tROS level and MDA content of frozen–thawed spermatozoa were reduced in the 20 μM SMN group, while the T‐AOC activity significantly increased (p < .05), indicating that the supplementation with SMN can promote the antioxidant capacity of frozen–thawed boar sperm. Besides, we also discovered that the addition of SMN significantly upregulated ATP content and enhanced the mitochondrial activity of sperm. More interestingly, SMN promoted the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (MRCC) I, II, III and IV in frozen–thawed sperm significantly. Functionally, the higher penetration rate and increased total efficiency of fertilization were observed in the 20 μM SMN group. In summary, supplementation with SMN in the thawing medium ameliorates the quality of frozen–thawed boar sperm by enhancing mitochondrial respiratory capacity, producing large amounts of ATP and regulating ROS formation.
The novel HLA‐B*40:02:01:39 allele in an individual from a Kshatriya family in North India
Authors: Tambe Manisha , D'Silva Selma Z. , Rajak Jyoti , Pinto Andrea S. , Singh Meenakshi
Published: October 2022

The novel allele, HLA‐B*40:02:01:39 differs from the HLA‐B*40:02:01:01 allele by a single nucleotide change at gDNA position 700.
Active Vibration Mitigation of Bladed Structures With Piezoelectric Patches by Decentralized Positive Position Feedback Controller
Authors: Paknejad Ahmad , Jamshidi Rasa , Pathak Shashank , Collette Christophe
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes an active damping system to mitigate the vibration of bladed assemblies. The damping system consists of multiple pairs of piezoelectric patches accompanied by a decentralized control configuration. To maximize the control authority, the size and the location of the patches are optimized based on maximizing the strain energy. In each pair, one patch is used as a sensor and the other one as an actuator. As the control plants of such configuration have no high-frequency roll-off, a second-order low-pass filter known as a positive position feedback (PPF) controller is considered as the control law. The parameters of the controller are tuned based on maximizing the closed-loop damping of the first family of modes. This active damping system is implemented on a monobloc bladed rail which is representative of a portion of bladed drum, i.e., BluM. Numerical simulations are performed to assess the performance of the designed control system and experimental tests are carried out to validate the numerical design.
Inverse Optimal Control for Maximizing Harvested Energy From Dynamical Systems
Authors: Do K. D.
Published: October 2022

This paper formulates and solves a new problem of inverse optimal control to maximize harvested energy from dynamical systems induced by external excitations. An inverse optimal control law is designed to minimize a cost function penalizing negativeness of the harvested energy and positiveness of the control and system (partial) states, where it does not require to solve a Hamilton–Jacobi–Belman (HJB) equation or a Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs (HJI) equation. An application to a point absorber wave energy converter (PAWEC) is included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed theory.
Power and Hydrogen Co-Production in Flexible “Powdrogen” Plants
Authors: de Cataldo Alessandro , Astolfi Marco , Chiesa Paolo , Campanari Stefano , Martelli Emanuele , Silva Paolo , Bedogni Stefano , Ottolina Luca , Tappani Marco , Romano Matteo C.
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the potential of “Powdrogen” plants for blue hydrogen and decarbonized electric power production, conceived to operate flexibly depending on the electricity price and to increase the capacity factor of the hydrogen production and CO2 separation units. The hydrogen production is based on fired tubular reforming or autothermal reforming technologies with precombustion CO2 capture by a methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) process. The power island is based on a combined cycle with an H2-fired gas turbine and a triple pressure reheat heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The analysis considers three main plant operating modes: hydrogen mode (reformer at full load with hydrogen export and combined cycle off) and power mode (reformer at full load with all hydrogen burned in the combined cycle), plus an intermediate polygeneration mode, producing both hydrogen and electricity. The possibility of integrating the HRSG and the reformer heat recovery process to feed a single steam turbine has been explored to allow keeping the steam turbine hot also in hydrogen operating mode. The economic analysis investigates the competitivity of the plant for different operating hours in hydrogen and power modes. Results suggest that these plants are likely to be a viable way to produce flexibly low-carbon hydrogen and electricity following the market demand.
4D live imaging and computational modeling of a functional gut-on-a-chip evaluate how peristalsis facilitates enteric pathogen invasion
Authors: Boquet-Pujadas Aleix , Feaugas Thomas , Petracchini Alba , Grassart Alexandre , Mary Héloïse , Manich Maria , Gobaa Samy , Olivo-Marin Jean-Christophe , Sauvonnet Nathalie , Labruyère Elisabeth
Published: October 2022

Physical forces are essential to biological function, but their impact at the tissue level is not fully understood. The gut is under continuous mechanical stress because of peristalsis. To assess the influence of mechanical cues on enteropathogen invasion, we combine computational imaging with a mechanically active gut-on-a-chip. After infecting the device with either of two microbes, we image their behavior in real time while mapping the mechanical stress within the tissue. This is achieved by reconstructing three-dimensional videos of the ongoing invasion and leveraging on-manifold inverse problems together with viscoelastic rheology. Our results show that peristalsis accelerates the destruction and invasion of intestinal tissue by
Entamoeba histolytica
and colonization by
Shigella flexneri
. Local tension facilitates parasite penetration and activates virulence genes in the bacteria. Overall, our work highlights the fundamental role of physical cues during host-pathogen interactions and introduces a framework that opens the door to study mechanobiology on deformable tissues.
HIRA
loss transforms
FH
-deficient cells
Authors: Valcarcel-Jimenez Lorea , Rogerson Connor , Yong Cissy , Schmidt Christina , Yang Ming , Cremades-Rodelgo Monica , Harle Victoria , Offord Victoria , Wong Kim , Mora Ariane , Speed Alyson , Caraffini Veronica , Tran Maxine Gia Binh , Maher Eamonn R. , Stewart Grant D. , Vanharanta Sakari , Adams David J. , Frezza Christian
Published: October 2022

Fumarate hydratase (FH) is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration of fumarate to malate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Germline mutations of
FH
lead to hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC), a cancer syndrome characterized by a highly aggressive form of renal cancer. Although HLRCC tumors metastasize rapidly, FH-deficient mice develop premalignant cysts in the kidneys, rather than carcinomas. How
Fh1
-deficient cells overcome these tumor-suppressive events during transformation is unknown. Here, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen to identify genes that, when ablated, enhance the proliferation of
Fh1
-deficient cells. We found that the depletion of the histone cell cycle regulator (HIRA) enhances proliferation and invasion of
Fh1
-deficient cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically,
Hira
loss activates MYC and its target genes, increasing nucleotide metabolism specifically in
Fh1
-deficient cells, independent of its histone chaperone activity. These results are instrumental for understanding mechanisms of tumorigenesis in HLRCC and the development of targeted treatments for patients.
Lithologic controls on microfracturing from legacy underground nuclear explosions
Authors: Swanson Erika M. , Wilson Jennifer E. , Sussman Aviva J.
Published: October 2022

Detection and verification of underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) can be improved with a better understanding of the nature and extent of explosion-induced damage in rock and the effect of this damage on radionuclide migration. Much of the previous work in this area has focused on centimeter- to meter-scale manifestations of damage, but to predict the effect of damage on permeability for radionuclide migration, observations at smaller scales are needed to determine deformation mechanisms. Based on studies of tectonic deformation in tuff, we expected that the heterogeneous tuff layers would manifest explosion-induced damage differently, with welded tuffs showing more fractures and nonwelded tuffs showing more deformation bands. In comparing post-UNE samples with lithologically matched pre-UNE equivalents, we observed damage in multiple lithologies of tuff through quantitative microfracture densities. We find that the texture (e.g., from deposition, welding, alteration, etc.) affects fracture densities, with stronger units fracturing more than weaker units. While we see no evidence of expected deformation bands in the nonwelded tuffs, we do observe, as expected, much larger microfracture densities at close range (<50 m) to the explosive source. We also observe a subtle increase in microfracture densities in post-UNE samples, relative to pre-UNE equivalents, in all lithologies and depths. The fractures that are interpreted to be UNE-induced are primarily transgranular and grain-boundary microfractures, with intragranular microfracture densities being largely similar to those of pre-UNE samples. This work has implications for models of explosion-induced damage and how that damage may affect flow pathways in the subsurface.
Plaque rupture and neovascularisation detected with optical coherence tomography in a case of Kounis syndrome
Authors: Katsuda Shoji , Kaku Bunji
Published: October 2022

Kounis syndrome is an allergic acute coronary syndrome (ACS) characterised by coronary artery spasm, plaque erosion/rupture or stent thrombosis caused by mast cell and other interacting cell activation. Although intracoronary imaging modalities can detect those ACS mechanisms, Kounis syndrome due to plaque rupture has rarely been reported using intracoronary imaging. We present the case of a woman in her 70s who developed Kounis syndrome as a result of plaque rupture detected with optical coherence tomography (OCT). She had non-ST-segment elevation ACS as a result of anaphylaxis to cefazolin. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenosis in the left anterior descending artery; angiographically undetectable plaque rupture was detected using OCT. OCT also revealed intraplaque neovascularisation, suggesting that the culprit plaque had been vulnerable. OCT can aid in understanding the underlying mechanisms of Kounis syndrome.