bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive Predictors of Treatment Outcomes in Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Study Protocol
Authors: Cenkner David P. , Asnaani Anu , DiChiara Christina , Harb Gerlinde C. , Lynch Kevin G. , Greene Jennifer , Scott J. Cobb
Published: January 2021

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent, debilitating, and costly psychiatric disorder. Evidenced-based psychotherapies, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), are effective in treating PTSD, although a fair proportion of individuals show limited benefit from such treatments. CPT requires cognitive demands such as encoding, recalling, and implementing new information, resulting in behavioral change that may improve PTSD symptoms. Individuals with PTSD show worse cognitive functioning than those without PTSD, particularly in acquisition of verbal memory. Therefore, memory dysfunction may limit treatment gains in CPT in some individuals with PTSD.

Methods and Analysis

Here, we present a protocol describing the Cognition and PsychoTherapy in PTSD (CPTPTSD) study, a prospective, observational study examining how cognitive functioning affects treatment response in CPT for PTSD (NCT# 03641924). The study aims to recruit 105 outpatient veterans with PTSD between the ages of 18 and 70 years. Prior to beginning 12 sessions of CPT, Veteran participants will have standardized assessments of mood and functioning and complete a comprehensive neurocognitive battery assessing episodic learning, attention and speed of processing, language ability, executive control, and emotional functioning. This study aims to fill gaps in the current literature by: (1) examining the specificity of memory effects on treatment response; (2) exploring how baseline cognitive functioning impacts functional outcomes; and (3) examining potential mechanisms, such as memory for treatment content, that might explain the effects of baseline memory functioning on PTSD symptom trajectory.

Discussion

If successful, this research could identify clinically relevant neurocognitive mechanisms that may impact PTSD psychotherapy and guide the development of individualized treatments for PTSD.
Impaired Learning From Errors and Punishments and Maladaptive Avoidance—General Mechanisms Underlying Self-Regulation Disorders?
Authors: Wypych Marek , Potenza Marc N.
Published: January 2021

Self-regulation (SR) is an important human function that relates to quality of life in multiple domains including mental health. Previous studies have found important correlates of low SR including impulsivity and poor emotional regulation; however, underpinnings of low SR are incompletely understood. Individuals low in SR frequently engage in maladaptive behaviors (substance abuse, procrastination, etc.) despite negative consequences. This phenomenon suggests that impaired learning from errors and punishments may be important mechanisms underlying low SR. Consistently, previous studies observed impaired error processing in a wide spectrum of individuals with low SR and impaired learning from errors and punishments in SR-related disorders. We also note a possible role for poor emotional regulation and refer to concepts suggesting that engaging in maladaptive behaviors may serve as short term emotion regulation strategies aimed at avoiding or alleviating negative affect. We speculate on transdiagnostic factors underlying poor SR. We propose that impaired error processing (possibly related to striatal functioning) may prevent subjects with low SR from learning from errors and punishments and thus learning better SR skills or tendencies. Additionally, impaired coping in emotionally challenging situations, possibly related to prefrontal-cortical functioning, may lead to maladaptive avoidance. Moreover, maladaptive behaviors may be reinforced by the temporary decreases in negative affect and rewarding values of behaviors. Given existing knowledge gaps, we call for more extensive research and describe possible directions and challenges for future studies.
Gratitude and Adaptive Coping Among Chinese Singaporeans During the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tong Eddie M. W. , Oh Vincent Y. S.
Published: January 2021

We report results of a cross-sectional survey conducted during March–April 2020 which marked the start and escalation of the COVID-19 crisis in Singapore. Our purpose was to examine whether reported feelings of gratitude among Chinese Singaporeans (N = 371; 124 males, 247 females; Mage = 22.54, SDage = 3.63, age range: 18–53 years) could be linked to adaptive responses to the pandemic. The results revealed that gratitude was associated with stronger endorsement of virus-prevention measures (β = 0.25, p = 0.001) that are necessary for protecting the physical health of oneself and others but disruptive to daily lives. Gratitude was also positively related to the tendency to perceive meaningful benefits in the crisis (β = 0.25, p = 0.002). Importantly, demonstrating the uniqueness and robustness of gratitude as a predictor of positive coping in response to the pandemic, these relationships remained significant when controlling for other protective psychological factors (resilience and optimism), emotions, and key demographic variables. Among the emotions measured, gratitude was also reported the most strongly. The findings support theoretical models that gratitude facilitates prosocial inclinations and openness to different ways to support the well-being of others and suggest that in a collectivistic culture, gratitude could be a key resource enabling adaptation to a crisis.
Interdisciplinary Assessment of Hygiene Practices in Multiple Locations: Implications for COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Trang Huyen Thi , Le Huong Thi , Le Xuan Thi Thanh , Do Toan Thanh Thi , Ngo Toan Van , Phan Hai Thanh , Vu Giang Thu , Nguyen Tu Huu , Phung Dung Tri , Nghiem Son Hong , Vu Thuc Minh Thi , Nguyen Thu Ha , Tran Trung Dinh , Do Khanh Nam , Truong Dat Van , Le Thanh Tuan , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Roger C. M. , Ho Cyrus S. H.
Published: January 2021

Due to the shared border with China, Vietnam faced risks from the COVID-19 pandemic at the early stages of the outbreak. Good hygiene practices were considered an effective prevention method, but there were only minimal data on the effectiveness of hygiene practices against the pandemic at the community level. Thus, this study aims to assess hygiene practices in society by using a community-based survey. A cross-sectional study using survey monkey was conducted from December 2019 to February 2020. The Snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants and exploratory factor analysis was applied to scrutinize the construct validity of the measurement. We used the Tobit regression model to assess the association. Hygiene in a high-risk environment and hygiene in the social and educational environment were two main factors after applying the EFA method. Participants grade community sanitation quite low (around 6 out of 10). Furthermore, the mean score of hygiene practice at a local level in a high-risk environment was slightly low at 6.0. The score of sanitation in the Central region (5.3) was quite low compared to the North (5.8) and the South (6.2). The most high-risk environment was construction, industrial zone and food safety. Moreover, younger respondents were more likely to report poorer hygiene practices in high-risk environments (Coefficient = −1.67; 95% CI = −3.03; −0.32) and social and educational environment (Coefficient = −1.29; 95% CI = −2.54; −0.04). Our study gives an insight into pandemic preparedness at the grassroots level. The findings suggest the necessity of specific communication education for society to improve the compliance of hygiene practices to prevent the spreading of COVID-19.
Prenatal Depression in Women in the Third Trimester: Prevalence, Predictive Factors, and Relationship With Maternal-Fetal Attachment
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Lei , Cui Shu , Yuan Qiuyu , Huang Cui , Zhou Xiaoqin
Published: January 2021

Objective: The prevalence of prenatal depression in pregnant women has found to be high, which may adversely affect the intimacy of a mother to her fetus. Few studies have investigated the relationship between prenatal depression and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant Chinese women. This study is thus designed to evaluate the prevalence rate, predictive factors of prenatal depression in Chinese pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the effect of prenatal depression on maternal-fetal attachment.

Methods: A total of 340 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited from a hospital in Anhui Province. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was rated to assess the prenatal depression; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assess sleep quality and anxiety level for all participants. The Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) was used to assess maternal-fetal attachment.

Results: The prevalence of prenatal depression in the participants was high (19.1%) in our study. The scores of prenatal anxiety and sleep disorders were higher with prenatal depression than in those without prenatal depression (47.6 ± 9.5 vs. 38.9 ± 6.9; 8.3 ± 3.3 vs. 6.1 ± 2.7, all p < 0.01). MAAS quality was lower in prenatal depression women than those in non-prenatal depression women (43.8 ± 5.6 vs. 46.4 ± 4.5, p < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that prenatal depression was associated with parity, prenatal education, education level, marital satisfaction, anxiety and sleep disorders (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, binary logistic regression results showed that anxiety and sleep disorders were risk factors for prenatal depression. Prenatal education, higher marriage satisfaction were protective factors for prenatal depression. In addition, correlation analysis also showed that prenatal depression was positively correlated with MAAS intensity, but negatively correlated with MAAS quality.

Conclusions: Our results indicated a high prevalence of prenatal depression in women in the third trimester. Prenatal education and higher marital satisfaction were protective factors for prenatal depression; antenatal anxiety and sleep disorders during pregnancy were risk factors for prenatal depression. Prenatal depression was negatively correlated with MAAS quality, but positively correlated with MAAS intensity.
Early Detection of Severe Functional Impairment Among Adolescents With Major Depression Using Logistic Classifier
Authors: Chiu I.-Ming , Lu Wenhua , Tian Fangming , Hart Daniel
Published: January 2021

Machine learning is about finding patterns and making predictions from raw data. In this study, we aimed to achieve two goals by utilizing the modern logistic regression model as a statistical tool and classifier. First, we analyzed the associations between Major Depressive Episode with Severe Impairment (MDESI) in adolescents with a list of broadly defined sociodemographic characteristics. Using findings from the logistic model, the second and ultimate goal was to identify the potential MDESI cases using a logistic model as a classifier (i.e., a predictive mechanism). Data on adolescents aged 12–17 years who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2011–2017, were pooled and analyzed. The logistic regression model revealed that compared with males and adolescents aged 12-13, females and those in the age groups of 14-15 and 16-17 had higher risk of MDESI. Blacks and Asians had lower risk of MDESI than Whites. Living in single-parent household, having less authoritative parents, having negative school experiences further increased adolescents' risk of having MDESI. The predictive model successfully identified 66% of the MDESI cases (recall rate) and accurately identified 72% of the MDESI and MDESI-free cases (accuracy rate) in the training data set. The rates of both recall and accuracy remained about the same (66 and 72%) using the test data. Results from this study confirmed that the logistic model, when used as a classifier, can identify potential cases of MDESI in adolescents with acceptable recall and reasonable accuracy rates. The algorithmic identification of adolescents at risk for depression may improve prevention and intervention.
Comparative Study on Pharmacokinetics of Four Long-Acting Injectable Formulations of Enrofloxacin in Pigs
Authors: Ahmad Salah Uddin , Sun Jichao , Cheng Fusheng , Li Bing , Arbab Safia , Zhou Xuzheng , Zhang Jiyu
Published: January 2021

A comparative study on pharmacokinetics of four long-acting enrofloxacin injectable formulations was investigated in 36 healthy pigs after intramuscular injection according to the recommended single dose @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The drug concentrations in the plasma were computed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. WinNonLin5.2.1 software was used to analyze the experimental data and compared it under one-way ANOVA using SPSS software with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The main pharmacokinetic parameters, that is, the maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax), the time to maximum concentration (Tmax), area under the time curve concentration (AUCall) and Terminal half-life (T1/2) were 733.84 ± 129.87, 917.00 ± 240.13, 694.84 ± 163.49, 621.98 ± 227.25 ng/ml, 2.19 ± 0.0.66, 1.50 ± 0.37, 2.89 ± 0.24, 0.34 ± 0.13 h, 7754.43 ± 2887.16, 8084.11 ± 1543.98, 7369.42 ± 2334.99, 4194.10 ± 1186.62 ng h/ml, 10.48 ± 2.72, 10.37 ± 2.38, 10.20 ± 2.81, and 10.61 ± 0.86 h for 10% enrofloxacin (Alkali), 20% enrofloxacin (Acidic), Yangkang and control drug Nuokang® respectively. There were significant differences among Cmax, Tmax, and AUCallof three formulations compare with that of the reference formulation. No significant differences were observed among the T1/2for tested formulations compare with the reference formulation. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed that the tested formulations were somewhat better compared to the reference one. The calculated PK/PD indices were effective for bacteria such asActinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeandPasteurella multocidawith values higher than the cut-off points (Cmax/MIC90≥10–12 and AUC/MIC90≥ 125). However, they were not effective against bacteria likeHaemophilus parasuis, Streptococcus suis, E. coli, andBordetella bronchisepticawhere lower values were obtained.
The Study of Multiple Classes Boosting Classification Method Based on Local Similarity
Authors: Wang Shixun , Chen Qiang
Published: January 2021

Boosting of the ensemble learning model has made great progress, but most of the methods are Boosting the single mode. For this reason, based on the simple multiclass enhancement framework that uses local similarity as a weak learner, it is extended to multimodal multiclass enhancement Boosting. First, based on the local similarity as a weak learner, the loss function is used to find the basic loss, and the logarithmic data points are binarized. Then, we find the optimal local similarity and find the corresponding loss. Compared with the basic loss, the smaller one is the best so far. Second, the local similarity of the two points is calculated, and then the loss is calculated by the local similarity of the two points. Finally, the text and image are retrieved from each other, and the correct rate of text and image retrieval is obtained, respectively. The experimental results show that the multimodal multi-class enhancement framework with local similarity as the weak learner is evaluated on the standard data set and compared with other most advanced methods, showing the experience proficiency of this method.
Closing the Gap between Graduates’ Skills and Employers’ Requirements: A Focus on the Strategic Management Capstone Business Course
Authors: David Meredith E. , David Fred R. , David Forest R.
Published: January 2021

Strategic management has long been the capstone course for business majors at most colleges and universities globally. As originally designed, the capstone course sought to teach students an array of skills and tools needed to actually perform strategic planning, primarily through integration and application of functional business concepts and techniques. Times have changed, however, and business schools have come under scrutiny regarding their ineffectiveness in developing graduates’ skills commensurate with employers’ requirements. Such criticism is justified as academics teaching the capstone business course have partitioned their instruction efforts to focus increasingly on theory rather than practical applications. After a pertinent evaluation of current academic research, we illuminate how and why increased focus on practice is needed in strategic-management pedagogy. We delineate how the once well-designed business capstone course has evolved into a course that too often fails to impart practical competencies to graduating students. To facilitate closing the gap between graduates’ skills and employers’ requirements, we present a strategic management pedagogical model designed to promote student learning and development of hard and soft skills related to actually doing strategic planning. The proposed model can help reduce the gap between graduates’ skills and employers’ requirements with the intended purpose to provide increased interest for teaching practical tools that were developed by practitioners. Such tools include the BCG matrix, developed by the Boston Consulting Group, and the Internal-External (IE) portfolio matrix derived from the General Electric (GE) Business Screen developed by Jack Welch, former CEO of GE. The proposed model also reveals the process of including both internal and external aspects into strategic decision making as evidenced by countless organizations performing Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat (SWOT) analyses. The proposed model significantly enhances previous theory-based approaches for teaching the capstone strategic-management course.
Automated Defect Detection and Decision-Support in Gas Turbine Blade Inspection
Authors: Aust Jonas , Shankland Sam , Pons Dirk , Mukundan Ramakrishnan , Mitrovic Antonija
Published: January 2021

Background—In the field of aviation, maintenance and inspections of engines are vitally important in ensuring the safe functionality of fault-free aircrafts. There is value in exploring automated defect detection systems that can assist in this process. Existing effort has mostly been directed at artificial intelligence, specifically neural networks. However, that approach is critically dependent on large datasets, which can be problematic to obtain. For more specialised cases where data are sparse, the image processing techniques have potential, but this is poorly represented in the literature. Aim—This research sought to develop methods (a) to automatically detect defects on the edges of engine blades (nicks, dents and tears) and (b) to support the decision-making of the inspector when providing a recommended maintenance action based on the engine manual. Findings—For a small sample test size of 60 blades, the combined system was able to detect and locate the defects with an accuracy of 83%. It quantified morphological features of defect size and location. False positive and false negative rates were 46% and 17% respectively based on ground truth. Originality—The work shows that image-processing approaches have potential value as a method for detecting defects in small data sets. The work also identifies which viewing perspectives are more favourable for automated detection, namely, those that are perpendicular to the blade surface.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Agriculture in 2020
Authors:   Agriculture Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Agriculture maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Energy Efficiency of Continuous Rye, Rotational Rye and Barley in Different Fertilization Systems in a Long-Term Field Experiment
Authors: Moitzi Gerhard , Neugschwandtner Reinhard W. , Kaul Hans-Peter , Wagentristl Helmut
Published: January 2021

A goal in sustainable agriculture is to use fossil energy more efficiently in crop production. This 60-year-old experiment on a silt loam chernozem investigated effects of fertilization (unfertilized control, mineral fertilizer (NPK) and farmyard manure (FYM)) and rotation (continuous winter rye (CR), winter rye in rotation (RR), spring barley in rotation (SB) on diesel fuel consumption, total energy input (made of both direct and indirect inputs), crop yield, energy output, net-energy output, energy intensity, energy productivity and energy use efficiency. The input rates of fertilizer, herbicides and seeds were set constant during the experiment. Soil tillage was done with a moldboard plough with subsequent combined seedbed preparation and seeding. The mean calculated total energy input was highest in NPK with 11.28 GJ ha−1 and lowest in the unfertilized control with 5.00 GJ ha−1. Total energy input for FYM was intermediate with 6.30 GJ ha−1. With energetic consideration of NPK nutrients in FYM the total energy input increased to the level of NPK. The share of the fertilizer energy on the total energy input was 49% for NPK. Fertilization with FYM and NPK increased yield and energy output considerably, especially of CR and SB which attained about doubled values. Crop rotation also increased the yield and energy output, especially of unfertilized rye, which attained values increased by about 75%. Fertilization with FYM resulted in the highest energy efficiency as the net-energy output, the energy productivity and the energy use efficiency were higher but the energy intensity was lower compared to unfertilized controls and NPK. When the nutrients in FYM were also energetically considered, the energy efficiency parameters of FYM decreased to the level of the NPK treatment. Crop rotation increased the energy efficiency of winter rye compared to the monoculture.
Think Twice before Prescribing Antibiotics for That Swollen Knee: The Influence of Antibiotics on the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Goh Graham S. , Parvizi Javad
Published: January 2021

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare but devastating complication after total joint arthroplasty. An estimated 7–12% of patients have negative cultures despite clear clinical evidence of infection. One oft-cited reason for this occurrence is the administration of antibiotics in the weeks prior to obtaining cultures. This article reviews the influence of antibiotics on the diagnosis of PJI. Specifically, we examine the effect of prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic administration on the diagnostic accuracy of microbiological cultures as well as serum and synovial biomarkers. We also explore the potential of molecular techniques in overcoming these limitations in patients who have received antibiotics before specimen collection and propose areas for future research.
A Nonlinear CFD/Multibody Incremental-Dynamic Model for A Constrained Mechanism
Authors: Rahmati Seyed Mohammadali , Karimi Alireza
Published: January 2021

Numerical analysis of a multibody mechanism moving in the air is a complicated problem in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Analyzing the motion of a multibody mechanism in a commercial CFD software, i.e., ANSYS Fluent®, is a challenging issue. This is because the components of a mechanism have to be constrained next to each other during the movement in the air to have a reliable numerical aerodynamics simulation. However, such constraints cannot be numerically modeled in a commercial CFD software, and needs to be separately incorporated into models through the programming environment, such as user-defined functions (UDF). This study proposes a nonlinear-incremental dynamic CFD/multibody method to simulate constrained multibody mechanisms in the air using UDF of ANSYS Fluent®. To testify the accuracy of the proposed method, Newton–Euler dynamic equations for a two-link mechanism are solved using Matlab® ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and the numerical results for the constrained mechanisms are compared. The UDF results of ANSYS Fluent® shows good agreement with Matlab®, and can be applied to constrained multibody mechanisms moving in the air. The proposed UDF of ANSYS Fluent® calculates the aerodynamic forces of a flying multibody mechanism in the air for a low simulation cost than the constraint force equation (CFE) method. The results could have implications in designing and analyzing flying robots to help human rescue teams, and nonlinear dynamic analyses of the aerodynamic forces applying on a moving object in the air, such as airplanes, birds, flies, etc.
Dendrochronological Potential of Drought-Sensitive Tree Stands in Armenia for the Hydroclimate Reconstruction of the Lesser Caucasus
Authors: Opała-Owczarek Magdalena , Galstyan Hrachuhi , Owczarek Piotr , Sayadyan Hovik , Vardanyan Trahel
Published: January 2021

Existing high-resolution reconstructions of hydroclimate variability in the Caucasus are lacking tree-ring data from Armenian Plateau, the most continental part of the region. Our research presents the first dendrochronological investigation in Armenia. Juniper and oak tree-ring width chronologies were constructed, the longest spanning the last 140 years. The positive influence of spring–summer precipitation and the negative influence of temperature suggest drought stress at the investigated sites. Moving correlation analysis indicated a significant change over time in the sensitivity of investigated trees to climatic variability; juniper, previously sensitive to both temperature and precipitation, has shown especially strong precipitation signals in the recent decades since the local climate has turned more arid. Ongoing climate change increases drought stress in juniper, which may have further consequences on semiarid ecosystems. Our results reveal multiannual droughts recorded by tree rings, emerging in most parts of the Black Sea–Caspian Sea region.
On the Relationship of a Low-Level Jet and the Formation of a Heavy-Rainfall-Producing Mesoscale Vortex over the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Fu Shen-Ming , Tang Huan , Li Yu , Ma Hui , Sun Jian-Hua
Published: January 2021

Dabie vortices (DBVs) are a type of heavy-rainfall-producing mesoscale vortices that appear with a high frequency around the Dabie Mountain over the Yangtze River Basin. For a long time, scholars have found that DBVs tend to form when a low-level jet (LLJ) appears in their neighboring regions. However, the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon still remain vague. This study furthers the understanding of this type of event by conducting detailed analyses on a long-lived eastward-moving DBV that caused a severe flood in the 2020 summer. It is found that the LLJ in this event was belonged to a nocturnal LLJ type, with its maximum/minimum appeared around 2100/0600 UTC. The diurnal cycle of LLJ affected precipitation and intensity of the DBV notably: As the LLJ intensified, vortex’s precipitation and intensity both enhanced, and vice versa. The LLJ exerted two effects on the DBV’s formation that are opposite to each other. The more important effect is that the LLJ caused intense lower-level convergence around its northern terminus. This convergence directly produced cyclonic vorticity through vertical stretching, which dominates the DBV’s formation and enhances the convection-related upward cyclonic vorticity transport that acted as another favorable factor. The less important effect is that (i) the LLJ induced import of anticyclonic vorticity into the vortex’s central region, which decelerated the DBV’s formation; and (ii) the LLJ-related to strong ascending motions tilted horizontal vorticity into negative vertical vorticity, which reduced the growth rate of cyclonic vorticity.
Mental Health, Mitochondria, and the Battle of the Sexes
Authors: Bressan Paola , Kramer Peter
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a broad perspective on how mental disease relates to the different evolutionary strategies of men and women and to growth, metabolism, and mitochondria—the enslaved bacteria in our cells that enable it all. Several mental disorders strike one sex more than the other; yet what truly matters, regardless of one’s sex, is how much one’s brain is “female” and how much it is “male”. This appears to be the result of an arms race between the parents over how many resources their child ought to extract from the mother, hence whether it should grow a lot or stay small and undemanding. An uneven battle alters the child’s risk of developing not only insulin resistance, diabetes, or cancer, but a mental disease as well. Maternal supremacy increases the odds of a psychosis-spectrum disorder; paternal supremacy, those of an autism-spectrum one. And a particularly lopsided struggle may invite one or the other of a series of syndromes that come in pairs, with diametrically opposite, excessively “male” or “female” characteristics. By providing the means for this tug of war, mitochondria take center stage in steadying or upsetting the precarious balance on which our mental health is built.
Neural Predictors of Changes in Party Closeness after Exposure to Corruption Messages: An fMRI Study
Authors: Sánchez-Fernández Juan , Casado-Aranda Luis-Alberto
Published: January 2021

Daily worldwide newspapers are filled with campaigning unveiling political corruption. Despite this information be worrying to many citizens, political researchers have not identified any consistent trend of decline of support among party sympathizers. This study utilizes neuroimaging for the first time to examine the neuropsychological origin of party closeness variation among backers of a liberal (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, PSOE) and a conservative party (Popular Party, PP) in Spain after a month receiving corruption messages among their preferred party. Brain data provide some explanation as to the origin of party closeness reduction among liberal sympathizers: areas involved with negative feelings, disappointment and self-relevance served to predict party closeness reduction 30 days in advance. Implications for liberals and conservatives’ campaigns are discussed.
Temporo-Frontal Coherences and High-Frequency iEEG Responses during Spatial Navigation in Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Thomschewski Aljoscha , Trinka Eugen , Jacobs Julia
Published: January 2021

The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus function in tight coordination during multiple cognitive processes. During spatial navigation, prefrontal neurons are linked to hippocampal theta oscillations, presumably in order to enhance communication. Hippocampal ripples have been suggested to reflect spatial memory processes. Whether prefrontal-hippocampal-interaction also takes place within the ripple band is unknown. This intracranial EEG study aimed to investigate whether ripple band coherences can also be used to show this communication. Twelve patients with epilepsy and intracranial EEG evaluation completed a virtual spatial navigation task. We calculated ordinary coherence between prefrontal and temporal electrodes during retrieval, re-encoding, and pre-task rest. Coherences were compared between the conditions via permutation testing. Additionally, ripples events were automatically detected and changes in occurrence rates were investigated excluding ripples on epileptic spikes. Ripple-band coherences yielded no general effect of the task on coherences across all patients. Furthermore, we did not find significant effects of task conditions on ripple rates. Subsequent analyses pointed to rather short periods of synchrony as opposed to general task-related changes in ripple-band coherence. Specifically designed tasks and adopted measures might be necessary in order to map these interactions in future studies.
Surface Charge Effects on Adsorption of Solutes by Poplar and Elm Biochars
Authors: Peterson Steven C. , Kim Sanghoon , Adkins Jason
Published: January 2021

Elm and poplar are two tree species that can provide a large amount of low-value feedstock for biochar production due to their rapid growth rate (poplar), and susceptibility to disease and/or infestation (both elm and poplar). Biochar has been studied recently as filtration medium for water purification, as it provides a renewable alternative to activated carbon. In this work, the adsorption efficiency of biochars made from elm and poplar as a function of pyrolysis temperature were studied by ultraviolet (UV) adsorption of dyes with positive, neutral, and negative charges to determine what factors had the greatest effect on adsorption of these dyes. It was found that conductivity of the biochars increased with pyrolysis temperature, and that this factor was more important than surface area in terms of adsorbing charged dyes. Both elm and poplar biochars were not effective in adsorbing neutral dyes. This research demonstrates that elm and poplar biochars adsorb charged (either positively or negatively) solutes more efficiently than uncharged ones because they carry both charges themselves. Therefore, these biochars would make excellent candidates as renewable filtration media for charged contaminants.
CD137+ T-Cells: Protagonists of the Immunotherapy Revolution
Authors: Ugolini Alessio , Nuti Marianna
Published: January 2021

The CD137 receptor (4-1BB, TNF RSF9) is an activation induced molecule expressed by antigen-specific T-cells. The engagement with its ligand, CD137L, is capable of increasing T-cell survival, proliferation, and cytokine production. This allowed to identify the CD137+ T-cells as the real tumor-specific activated T-cell population. In fact, these cells express various TCRs that are specific for a wide range of tumor-derived peptides, both shared and neoantigenic ones. Moreover, their prevalence in sites close to the tumor and their unicity in killing cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, raised particular interest in studying their potential role in different strategies of immunotherapy. They indeed showed to be a reliable marker able to predict patient’s outcome to immune-based therapies as well as monitor their response. In addition, the possibility of isolating and expanding this population, turned promising in order to generate effector antitumor T-cells in the context of adoptive T-cell therapies. CD137-targeting monoclonal antibodies have already shown their antitumor efficacy in cancer patients and a number of clinical trials are thus ongoing to test their possible introduction in different combination approaches of immunotherapy. Finally, the intracellular domain of the CD137 receptor was introduced in the anti-CD19 CAR-T cells that were approved by FDA for the treatment of pediatric B-cell leukemia and refractory B-cell lymphoma.
Gynecological Surveillance and Surgery Outcomes in Dutch Lynch Syndrome Carriers
Authors: Eikenboom Ellis L. , van Doorn Helena C. , Dinjens Winand N. M. , Dubbink Hendrikus J. , Geurts-Giele Willemina R. R. , Spaander Manon C. W. , Tops Carli M. J. , Wagner Anja , Goverde Anne
Published: January 2021

Lynch syndrome (LS) is caused by pathogenic germline variants in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, predisposing female carriers for endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian cancer (OC). Since gynecological LS surveillance guidelines are based on little evidence, we assessed its outcomes. Data regarding gynecological tumors, surveillance, and (risk-reducing) surgery were collected from female LS carriers diagnosed in our center since 1993. Of 505 female carriers, 104 had a gynecological malignancy prior to genetic LS diagnosis. Of 264 carriers eligible for gynecological management, 164 carriers gave informed consent and had available surveillance data: 38 MLH1, 25 MSH2, 82 MSH6, and 19 PMS2 carriers (median follow-up 5.6 years). Surveillance intervals were within advised time in >80%. Transvaginal ultrasound, endometrial sampling, and CA125 measurements were performed in 76.8%, 35.9%, and 40.6%, respectively. Four symptomatic ECs, one symptomatic OC, and one asymptomatic EC were diagnosed. Endometrial hyperplasia was found in eight carriers, of whom three were symptomatic. Risk-reducing surgery was performed in 73 (45.5%) carriers (median age 51 years), revealing two asymptomatic ECs. All ECs were diagnosed in FIGO I. Gynecological management in LS carriers varied largely, stressing the need for uniform, evidence-based guidelines. Most ECs presented early and symptomatically, questioning the surveillance benefit in its current form.
Experimental Models for Studying HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Penile Cancer: New Tools for An Old Disease
Authors: Medeiros-Fonseca Beatriz , Cubilla Antonio , Brito Haissa , Martins Tânia , Medeiros Rui , Oliveira Paula , Gil da Costa Rui M.
Published: January 2021

Penile cancer is an uncommon malignancy that occurs most frequently in developing countries. Two pathways for penile carcinogenesis are currently recognized: one driven by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and another HPV-independent route, associated with chronic inflammation. Progress on the clinical management of this disease has been slow, partly due to the lack of preclinical models for translational research. However, exciting recent developments are changing this landscape, with new in vitro and in vivo models becoming available. These include mouse models for HPV+ and HPV− penile cancer and multiple cell lines representing HPV− lesions. The present review addresses these new advances, summarizing available models, comparing their characteristics and potential uses and discussing areas that require further improvement. Recent breakthroughs achieved using these models are also discussed, particularly those developments pertaining to HPV-driven cancer. Two key aspects that still require improvement are the establishment of cell lines that can represent HPV+ penile carcinomas and the development of mouse models to study metastatic disease. Overall, the growing array of in vitro and in vivo models for penile cancer provides new and useful tools for researchers in the field and is expected to accelerate pre-clinical research on this disease.
Cutaneous Findings in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Ozarslan Bengisu , Russo Teresa , Argenziano Giuseppe , Santoro Claudia , Piccolo Vincenzo
Published: January 2021

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex autosomal dominant disorder associated with germline mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. NF1 belongs to a class of congenital anomaly syndromes called RASopathies, a group of rare genetic conditions caused by mutations in the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Generally, NF1 patients present with dermatologic manifestations. In this review the main features of café-au-lait macules, freckling, neurofibromas, juvenile xanthogranuloma, nevus anemicus and other cutaneous findings will be discussed.
Aromatase and CDK4/6 Inhibitor-Induced Musculoskeletal Symptoms: A Systematic Review
Authors: Andrikopoulou Angeliki , Fiste Oraianthi , Liontos Michalis , Dimopoulos Meletios-Athanasios , Zagouri Flora
Published: January 2021

Background: Treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) is fundamental in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in the adjuvant as well as the metastatic setting. Even though it is considered to be a well-tolerated therapy, aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) is the most common adverse event encountered by breast cancer patients. CDK4/6 inhibitors have emerged as a new treatment strategy in metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. However, the impact of CDK4/6 inhibitors on musculoskeletal symptoms caused by AIs is not well-defined. Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify the frequency of joint symptoms induced by treatment with AIs and CDK4/6 inhibitors in the metastatic setting. Search strategy: Eligible articles were identified by a search of existing literature for the period 2005/01/01–2021/01/01; The algorithm consisted of a predefined combination of the following keywords “breast”, “cancer”, “aromatase inhibitors”, “CDK4/6”, “phase III”. Selection criteria: This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. All randomized controlled Phase III trials (RCTs) evaluating the administration of third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and CDK4/6 inhibitors in postmenopausal women in the metastatic setting were considered eligible for this review. Data collection: Overall, 16 randomized control trials (RCTs) were retrieved, of which nine studies explored the administration of AIs in the metastatic setting and seven studies investigated the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors and AIs. Arthralgia was reported in 1–47% of patients treated with AIs and 5.8–33.3% of patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Myalgias occurred in 2–23.7% of patients receiving AIs compared with 4.8–11.9% of patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The incidence of back pain was 7–32.9% vs. 2.9–8.5% in postmenopausal women with metastatic disease treated with AIs and CDK4/6 inhibitors, respectively. Bone pain was reported in 7–32.9% of postmenopausal women treated with AIs and 2.9–8.5% of women treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Conclusions: AI treatment-induced musculoskeletal syndrome is an adverse event affecting over one-third (20–47%) of postmenopausal patients treated with AIs that often leads to treatment discontinuation. Data from RCTs provide evidence that the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms is relatively decreased upon CDK4/6 inhibitor administration. CDK4/6 inhibitors may provide a protective role against AIMSS development.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Coatings in 2020
Authors:   Coatings Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Coatings maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Mechanism of Electronegativity Heterojunction of Nanometer Amorphous-Boron on Crystalline Silicon: An Overview
Authors: Sberna Paolo , Fang Piet X. , Fang Changming , Nihtianov Stoyan
Published: January 2021

The discovery of the extremely shallow amorphous boron-crystalline silicon heterojunction occurred during the development of highly sensitive, hard and robust detectors for low-penetration-depth ionizing radiation, such as ultraviolet photons and low-energy electrons (below 1 keV). For many years it was believed that the junction created by the chemical vapor deposition of amorphous boron on n-type crystalline silicon was a shallow p-n junction, although experimental results could not provide evidence for such a conclusion. Only recently, quantum-mechanics based modelling revealed the unique nature and the formation mechanism of this new junction. Here, we review the initiation and the history of understanding the a-B/c-Si interface (henceforth called the “boron-silicon junction”), as well as its importance for the microelectronics industry, followed by the scientific perception of the new junctions. Future developments and possible research directions are also discussed.
First Occurrence of Willhendersonite in the Lessini Mounts, Northern Italy
Authors: Mattioli Michele , Cenni Marco
Published: January 2021

Willhendersonite is a rare zeolite, with very few occurrences reported globally (Terni Province, Italy; the Eifel Region, Germany; Styria, Austria). Moreover, the data available from these sites are very limited and do not allow a detailed picture of this zeolite’s mineralogical and chemical characteristics. In this work, a new willhendersonite occurrence is reported from the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Lessini Mounts, northern Italy. Morphology, mineralogy and chemical composition of selected crystals were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and electron probe microanalyser (EPMA). Willhendersonite occurs within basanitic rocks as isolated, colorless, transparent crystals with prismatic to flattened morphologies. Individual crystals often grow together to form small elongated clusters and trellis-like aggregates. The diffraction pattern exhibits 33 well-resolved diffraction peaks, all of which can be indexed to a triclinic cell with unit cell parameters a = 9.239(2) Å; b = 9.221(2) Å; and c = 9.496(2) Å, α = 92.324(2)°, β = 92.677(2)°, γ = 89.992° (Space Group P1¯). The chemical data point to significant variability from Ca-rich willhendersonite (K0.23Na0.03)Σ=0,26Ca1.24 (Si3.06Al3,00Fe3+0.01)Σ=6,07 O12·5H2O) to Ca-K terms (K0.94Na0.01)Σ=0,95Ca0.99 (Si3.07Al2.93Fe3+0.00)Σ=6,00O12·5H2O). Willhendersonite from the Lessini Mounts highlights the existence of an isomorphous series between the Ca-pure crystals and Ca-K compositions, possibly extended up to a potassic end-member.
The Role of Information in Managing Interactions from a Multifractal Perspective
Authors: Agop Maricel , Irimiciuc Stefan Andrei , Ghenadi Adrian , Bibire Luminita , Toma Stefan , Petrescu Tudor-Cristian , Vaideanu Dorin , Rusu Cristina Marcela , Gavrilut Alina , Vasincu Decebal
Published: January 2021

In the framework of the multifractal hydrodynamic model, the correlations informational entropy–cross-entropy manages attractive and repulsive interactions through a multifractal specific potential. The classical dynamics associated with them imply Hubble-type effects, Galilei-type effects, and dependences of interaction constants with multifractal degrees at various scale resolutions, while the insertion of the relativistic amendments in the same dynamics imply multifractal transformations of a generalized Lorentz-type, multifractal metrics invariant to these transformations, and an estimation of the dimension of the multifractal Universe. In such a context, some correspondences with standard cosmologies are analyzed. Since the same types of interactions can also be obtained as harmonics mapping between the usual space and the hyperbolic plane, two measures with uniform and non-uniform temporal flows become functional, temporal measures analogous with Milne’s temporal measures in a more general manner. This work furthers the analysis published recently by our group in “Towards Interactions through Information in a Multifractal Paradigm”.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Economies in 2020
Authors:   Economies Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Economies maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Operating Performance of Pure Electric Loaders with Different Types of Motors Based on Simulation Analysis
Authors: Li Xuefei , Duan Chao , Bai Kun , Yao Zongwei
Published: January 2021

The electrification of loader designs can utilise several power motor types. Hence, this study investigates the operational performance of pure electric-powered loaders matched with three types of motors. Firstly, for the ZL08 loader, it is proposed that a pure electric-powered loader structure adopts two motors to drive the walking and hydraulic systems separately. Secondly, the dynamic parameters of the two motors were matched, and then, a joint vehicle dynamics model of the control system, the Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) module and the material Discrete Element Method (DEM) module, was established. Finally, the performance of the walking system with three motors was tested by inserting three materials and using accelerating and climbing methods. The operating performance of the hydraulic system was tested by shovelling and unloading three materials. Results show that when inserting difficult materials, the loader’s walking system with switched reluctance motors is 9.74–21.2% deeper than that with the other two motors and 11.7–56.2% faster at the same depth. The hydraulic system consumes 3–15.7% less energy when matched with a permanent magnet synchronous motor than the other two motors. Pure electric loaders have the best operating performance when the walking system is matched with a switched reluctance motor, and the hydraulic system is matched with a permanent magnet synchronous motor.