bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applications of a micro-structured brittle damage model to laboratory tests on rocks
Authors: De Bellis M. L. , Pandolfi A.
Published: July 2022

A multiscale microstructured brittle damage model is used to describe the behavior of confined rock materials. Plane strain and triaxial tests conducted at the laboratory scale are simulated in terms of boundary value problems. Simulations reveal good predictive qualities of the model to describe the macroscopic features of specimens at failure. The microstructures, oriented in different directions, allow the localization of the macroscopic strain along straight lines, emerging at the macroscale in the form of shear bands. The microstructured material model, characterized by recursive equidistant parallel cohesive-frictional faults, is fully defined by six elastic and inelastic material constants. The model was originally developed in a finite kinematics framework to simulate the dynamic behavior of confined brittle materials (Pandolfi et al. in J Mech Phys Solids 54:1972–2003, 2006). In linearized form, it has been extended and used for the simulation of in-field excavations (De Bellis et al. in: Eng Geol 215:10–24, 2016). The performance of the model in predicting the behavior of small scale rock tests in the laboratory, the object of the present study, has never been investigated. Numerical simulations show that the model is able to capture several important features observed in rocks, in particular the reduction of the overall stiffness for increasing deterioration of the material, fragile to ductile transition, strain localization, shear band formation, and more general size-effect.
Trivalent chromium supplementation ameliorates adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis through up-regulation of FOXP3 and decrease in synovial Cathepsin G expression
Authors: Hassouna Sally S. , Sheta Eman , Zaki Inass , Harby Sahar A. , Allam Eman A.
Published: July 2022

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known debilitating autoimmune disease. Immune-suppressants that are used for disease treatment have serious side effects, therefore, trivalent chromium (Cr (III)); which has shown evidence of its influences on some inflammatory pathways and cytokines; was used in this study for the first time to be assessed for its therapeutic effect in RA rat model and was compared to prednisolone in a trial to find a treatment with lesser side effects.

Methods

Adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, untreated RA, prednisolone treated RA (1.25 mg/kg/day) and Cr (III) treated RA groups (80 μg/kg/day), induction of RA was done by subcutaneous complete Freund adjuvant injection. Study duration was 4 weeks throughout which arthritis scoring and weight measurement were pursued. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical FOXP3 assessment were done for joint biopsies. Serum inflammatory markers (interleukin 17, interleukin 10, CRP) and synovial erosive arthritis marker (Cathepsin G) were measured. HDL and non-HDL cholesterol were estimated as well.

Results

Cr (III) treatment showed marked clinical and histopathological improvement, also astonishing anti-inflammatory effects (increase in FOXP3 expression and interleukin 10, with decrease in interleukin 17, CRP and synovial Cathepsin G) to the extent that Cr (III) effects on inflammation abolishment were comparable to that of prednisolone and even better at some aspects. Moreover, Cr (III) was protective from side effects, i.e., weight gain and dyslipidemia that were seen with prednisolone treatment.

Conclusions

Cr (III) is promising in treating RA and it lacks some side effects of accustomed immune-modulatory agents including prednisolone. Further experimental studies and clinical trials should be held to see the efficacy of Cr (III) in different doses and to assess its long term side effects when used for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases treatment.
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator after transvenous lead extraction: safety, efficacy and outcome
Authors: Giacomin Enrico , Falzone Pasquale Valerio , Dall’Aglio Pietro Bernardo , Pittorru Raimondo , De Lazzari Manuel , Vianello Riccardo , Bertaglia Emanuele , Tarzia Vincenzo , Iliceto Sabino , Gerosa Gino , Migliore Federico
Published: July 2022

Background

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is a suitable alternative for transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) patients who have undergone transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Limited data are available on the outcome of S-ICD patients implanted after TLE. We assessed the safety, efficacy, and outcome of S-ICD implantation after TLE of TV-ICD.

Methods

The study population consisted of 36 consecutive patients with a median age of 52 (44–66) years who underwent S-ICD implantation after TLE of TV-ICD.

Results

Indications for TLE were infection (63.9%) and lead malfunction (36.1%). During a median follow-up of 31 months, 3 patients (8.3%) experienced appropriate therapy and 7 patients (19.4%) experienced complications including inappropriate therapy (n = 4; 11.1%), isolated pocket erosion (n = 2; 5.5%), and ineffective therapy (n = 1; 2.8%). No lead/hardware dysfunction was reported. Premature device explantation occurred in 4 patients (11%). Eight patients (22.2%) died during follow-up, six of them (75%) because of refractory heart failure (HF). There were no S-ICD-related deaths. Predictors of mortality included NYHA class ≥ 2 (HR 5.05; 95% CI 1.00–26.38; p = 0.04), hypertension (HR 22.72; 95% CI 1.05–26.31; p = 0.02), diabetes (HR 10.64; 95% CI 2.05–55.60; p = 0.001) and ischemic heart disease (HR 5.92; 95% CI 1.17–30.30; p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Our study provides evidences on the use of S-ICD as an alternative after TV-ICD explantation for both infection and lead failure. Mortality of S-ICD patients who underwent TV-ICD explantation does not appear to be correlated with the presence of a prior infection, S-ICD therapy (appropriate or inappropriate), or S-ICD complications but rather to worsening of HF or other comorbidities.
Alcoholate and Mixed Alcoholate/Iodide Supported Hexanuclear Niobium Cluster Compounds with a Mixed Face-Bridged/Edge-Bridged Cluster Pair Example
Authors: Schröder Florian , Köckerling Martin
Published: July 2022

Chemical reactions of ball-mill activated [Nb6I11] with alcohol solutions of Mg alcoholates result in the formation of the three new hexanuclear Nb cluster compounds [Nb6I8(HOCH3)6][Nb6(OCH3)18]·2CH3OH (1), (PPh4)2[Nb6(OC2H5)12I6]·C2H5OH (2) and (PPN)2[Nb6(OC2H5)12I6] (3). They contain cluster anions, which have the edges of the Nb6 octahedra, i.e. the inner coordination sites, μ2-bridged by the O atoms of methanolato or ethanolato ligands. Thereby, they represent further characterized members of the so far very small group of hexanuclear cluster alcoholates. The terminal metal sites are bonded to further methanolato (1) or iodido ligands (2 and 3). Sterically demanding organic cations (PPh4+, PPN+, 2 and 3) or a cationic Nb6 cluster complex with terminal methanol ligands [Nb6I8(HOCH3)6]2+ in 1 compensate the negative charges of the cluster anions. Compound 1 is the first example of a M6 cluster ion pair of both the text-book known edge-bridged [M6X12] and face-bridged [M6X8] cluster units. The structures of the three title compounds were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.

Graphical Abstract
Stateless neural meta-learning using second-order gradients
Authors: Huisman Mike , Plaat Aske , van Rijn Jan N.
Published: July 2022

Meta-learning can be used to learn a good prior that facilitates quick learning; two popular approaches are MAML and the meta-learner LSTM. These two methods represent important and different approaches in meta-learning. In this work, we study the two and formally show that the meta-learner LSTM subsumes MAML, although MAML, which is in this sense less general, outperforms the other. We suggest the reason for this surprising performance gap is related to second-order gradients. We construct a new algorithm (named TURTLE) to gain more insight into the importance of second-order gradients. TURTLE is simpler than the meta-learner LSTM yet more expressive than MAML and outperforms both techniques at few-shot sine wave regression and 50% of the tested image classification settings (without any additional hyperparameter tuning) and is competitive otherwise, at a computational cost that is comparable to second-order MAML. We find that second-order gradients also significantly increase the accuracy of the meta-learner LSTM. When MAML was introduced, one of its remarkable features was the use of second-order gradients. Subsequent work focused on cheaper first-order approximations. On the basis of our findings, we argue for more attention for second-order gradients.
Lithium surveillance by community pharmacists and physicians in ambulatory patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Brouwer Jurriaan M. J. L. , Risselada Arne J. , de Wit Marinka , Lubberts Janniek , Westerhuis Henrieke , Doornbos Bennard , Mulder Hans
Published: July 2022

Background

Shared care agreements between clinical pharmacists and physicians can improve suboptimal lithium monitoring in in- and outpatient settings. However, it is unknown whether incorporating community pharmacists in such agreements can also improve lithium monitoring in an outpatient setting.

Aim

To assess the necessity for a shared care agreement for lithium monitoring in our region by investigating: intervention rates by community pharmacists and whether those are sufficient; lithium monitoring by physicians in ambulatory patients; the extent of laboratory parameter exchange to community pharmacists.

Method

Patient files of lithium users were surveyed in a retrospective cohort study among 21 community pharmacies in the Northern Netherlands. Outcome was the intervention rate by community pharmacists and whether those were deemed sufficient by an expert panel. Additionally, we investigated both the percentages of patients monitored according to current guidelines and of laboratory parameters exchanged to community pharmacists.

Results

129 patients were included. Interventions were performed in 64.4% (n = 29), 20.8% (n = 5), and 25.0% (n = 1) of initiations, discontinuations, and dosage alterations of drugs interacting with lithium, respectively. The expert panel deemed 40.0% (n = 14) of these interventions as “insufficient”. Physicians monitored 40.3% (n = 52) of the patients according to current guidelines for lithium serum levels and kidney functions combined. Approximately half of the requested laboratory parameters were available to the community pharmacist.

Conclusion

Intervention rates by community pharmacists and lithium monitoring by physicians can be improved. Therefore, a shared care agreement between community pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, and physicians is needed to improve lithium monitoring in ambulatory patients.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Selected Fruit Juices
Authors: Nowak Dariusz , Gośliński Michał , Kłębukowska Lucyna
Published: July 2022

Fruit and fruit juices are a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which can protect our organisms from oxidative stress. The phenolic compounds and other phytochemicals may affect the antimicrobial properties of juices. The aim of this study has been to evaluate antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of selected berry juices and vitamin C-rich fruit juices. The research material was composed of seven juices, including three from berries (elderberry chokeberry, cranberry), three from vitamin C-rich fruit (sea buckthorn, wild rose, Japanese quince) and one exotic juice from noni fruit. Antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin content were determined. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) as well as the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated. The research showed that fruit juices from wild rose, chokeberry and Japanese quince had the highest antioxidant capacity. These juices were characterised by the rich content of polyphenols. Elderberry and chokeberry juices had the highest total anthocyanins. The juices differed in the content of bioactive compounds and specific bactericidal properties against Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Fruit juices from cranberry, Japanese quince and sea buckthorn had the highest antimicrobial activity. Wild rose, chokeberry and elderberry juices, despite their high antioxidant properties, showed antimicrobial activity only against Gram-positive strains, except Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens. Significant differences in the content of bioactive compounds in fruit juices affect the antimicrobial properties juices.
Accounting for Spatial Autocorrelation in Algorithm-Driven Hedonic Models: A Spatial Cross-Validation Approach
Authors: Deppner Juergen , Cajias Marcelo
Published: July 2022

Data-driven machine learning algorithms have initiated a paradigm shift in hedonic house price and rent modeling through their ability to capture highly complex and non-monotonic relationships. Their superior accuracy compared to parametric model alternatives has been demonstrated repeatedly in the literature. However, the statistical independence of the data implicitly assumed by resampling-based error estimates is unlikely to hold in a real estate context as price-formation processes in property markets are inherently spatial, which leads to spatial dependence structures in the data. When performing conventional cross-validation techniques for model selection and model assessment, spatial dependence between training and test data may lead to undetected overfitting and overoptimistic perception of predictive power. This study sheds light on the bias in cross-validation errors of tree-based algorithms induced by spatial autocorrelation and proposes a bias-reduced spatial cross-validation strategy. The findings confirm that error estimates from non-spatial resampling methods are overly optimistic, whereas spatially conscious techniques are more dependable and can increase generalizability. As accurate and unbiased error estimates are crucial to automated valuation methods, our results prove helpful for applications including, but not limited to, mass appraisal, credit risk management, portfolio allocation and investment decision making.
Leaving the Ivory Tower: Vocational Application Orientation of Early Career Academics
Authors: Lerche André D. S. , Burk Christian L. , Wiese Bettina S.
Published: July 2022

This study reports on the development and validation of a new construct of application orientation (AO), which we defined as a vocational orientation concerning the interest for certain principles, values, and activities that are common for university graduates working in applied (i.e., industrial) fields. Using a multi-study program with different samples, the new construct was conceptualized (Study 1) and validated (Studies 2–4). In a qualitative content analysis with N = 102 professionals (all of them having an academic degree mostly in the STEM disciplines), four central facets of applied (i.e., industrial) work were identified (process orientation, customer focus, product focus, and economic focus). In a study with N = 200 university students and professionals with mixed disciplinary backgrounds (i.e., STEM but also non-STEM fields), the AO facets correlated with the RIASEC dimensions (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional; Holland, 1997) mostly as expected, and the AO facet product focus was predictive of the preference for applied work settings, supporting convergent validity assumptions. Discriminant validity of the AO facets was largely supported, examining average variance extracted by the AO factors compared to the RIASEC factors. In a known-groups validation study, AO was higher in N = 108 professionals from industry compared with N = 40 scientists (all from STEM fields) working at a university. In a sample of N = 128 early career scientists from the STEM fields, the AO facet product focus predicted applied work behavior in an assessment center.
Update zur Pankreastransplantation
Authors: Rössler Fabian , de Rougemont Olivier
Published: July 2022

Hintergrund

Die Pankreastransplantation ist die erste Wahl in der Behandlung von Patienten mit schwer einstellbarem, insulinabhängigem Diabetes mellitus. Die häufigste Form ist die simultane Pankreas- und Nierentransplantation bei Menschen mit insulinabhängigem Diabetes mellitus und einer kombiniert eingeschränkten Nierenfunktion.

Ziel

Ziel der Pankreastransplantation ist es, die Blutzuckerkontrolle wiederherzustellen und diabetische Langzeitfolgeschäden zu verhindern.

Operation

Die Pankreastransplantation erfolgt in Europa ausschließlich in Form einer Verstorbenenspende und wird en bloc mit dem Spenderduodenum transplantiert. Die Implantation wird meist über eine mediane Laparotomie, mit Anastomosen an die A. iliaca communis und die V. cava inferior, vorgenommen. Die exokrine Drainage erfolgt heutzutage meist über eine Verbindung von Spenderduodenum und proximalem Jejunum.

Ergebnisse

Die Resultate der Pankreastransplantation sind insgesamt sehr gut, wobei nicht nur die Lebensqualität, sondern auch das Überleben der Patienten deutlich verbessert werden. Der größte Überlebensvorteil besteht gegenüber Diabetespatienten an der Dialyse. Rund 90 % der Transplantierten sind 1 Jahr nach der Transplantation noch ohne Insulinbedarf, nach 5 Jahren sind es noch 71 %.

Schlussfolgerung

Eine erfolgreiche Pankreastransplantation ist nach wie vor die wirksamste Methode, um eine langfristige Blutzuckerkontrolle zu erreichen und die diabetischen Sekundärkomplikationen zu limitieren.
Social trading: do signal providers trigger gambling?
Authors: Oehler Andreas , Schneider Julian
Published: July 2022

Social trading—also referred to as copy trading—is an interactive platform-based innovation facilitating visibility and traceability of signal provider trading activities. Based on published portfolio transaction and return track records, platform users can copy one or several signal providers, i.e. delegate their investment decisions, and thereby become signal followers. Allowing signal providers to administer purely virtual portfolios, in combination with a remuneration scheme based on performance fees and high watermarks, creates convex or option-like incentives (Carpenter, J Finance 55:2311–2331, 2000; Doering and Jonen, SSRN J, 2018). We argue that the incentive structure imposed by social trading providers, including a very limited monetary downside risk for signal providers, may motivate traders to gamble. In this context, we assess the factors that have an impact on signal provider lottery-like stock transactions (Bali et al., J Financ Econ 99:427–446, 2011; Kumar, J Finance 64:1889–1933, 2009). We provide empirical evidence that signal providers tend to increase the traded relative share of lottery-like stocks when being located at an extreme end of the relative performance spectrum. Furthermore, we provide evidence that underperforming signal providers increase their net exposure towards lottery-like stocks, in turn exposing signal followers to a lottery-like return structure—triggering gambling.
Application of Bentonite Clay, Date Pit, and Chitosan Nanoparticles as Promising Adsorbents to Sequester Toxic Lead and Cadmium from Milk
Authors: Abdelnaby Amany , Abdelaleem Nabila M. , Elshewy Elham , Mansour Ayman H. , Ibrahim Samar S.
Published: July 2022

Evaluating residual lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in food products, especially milk, is critical for product safety and quality. In this purview, the current study aims to determine Pb and Cd concentrations in milk using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compare their values with international standards. In addition, it aims to remove these metals from milk samples using low-cost, naturally occurring materials, such as bentonite, date pit, and chitosan nanoparticles. The ability of potential adsorbents was also investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Moreover, their impact on milk’s nutritional properties was considered. The results revealed that most milk samples contained Pb and Cd, with mean values of 0.237 ± 0.179 and 0.041 ± 0.036 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the three possible adsorbents demonstrated high sequestering ability due to their existing functional groups; the adsorption capacity of bentonite to Pb and Cd was 84 and 88%, date pit was 97 and 93%, and chitosan nanoparticles were 82 and 98%, respectively, with no discernible change in milk nutritional contents. In conclusion, the bentonite, date pit, and chitosan nanoparticles were found to be significantly effective and safe in removing hazardous trace elements (Pb and Cd) from contaminated milk.

Graphical abstract
The mGlu5 Receptor Protomer-Mediated Dopamine D2 Receptor Trans-Inhibition Is Dependent on the Adenosine A2A Receptor Protomer: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Romero-Fernandez Wilber , Taura Jaume J. , Crans René A. J. , Lopez-Cano Marc , Fores-Pons Ramon , Narváez Manuel , Carlsson Jens , Ciruela Francisco , Fuxe Kjell , Borroto-Escuela Dasiel O.
Published: July 2022

The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) and metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5) form A2AR-D2R-mGluR5 heteroreceptor complexes in living cells and in rat striatal neurons. In the current study, we present experimental data supporting the view that the A2AR protomer plays a major role in the inhibitory modulation of the density and the allosteric receptor-receptor interaction within the D2R-mGluR5 heteromeric component of the A2AR-D2R-mGluR5 complex in vitro and in vivo. The A2AR and mGluR5 protomers interact and modulate D2R protomer recognition and signalling upon forming a trimeric complex from these receptors. Expression of A2AR in HEK293T cells co-expressing D2R and mGluR5 resulted in a significant and marked increase in the formation of the D2R-mGluR5 heteromeric component in both bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and proximity ligation assays. A highly significant increase of the the high-affinity component of D2R (D2RKi High) values was found upon cotreatment with the mGluR5 and A2AR agonists in the cells expressing A2AR, D2R and mGluR5 with a significant effect observed also with the mGluR5 agonist alone compared to cells expressing only D2R and mGluR5. In cells co-expressing A2AR, D2R and mGluR5, stimulation of the cells with an mGluR5 agonist like or D2R antagonist fully counteracted the D2R agonist-induced inhibition of the cAMP levels which was not true in cells only expressing mGluR5 and D2R. In agreement, the mGluR5-negative allosteric modulator raseglurant significantly reduced the haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice, and in A2AR knockout mice, the haloperidol action had almost disappeared, supporting a functional role for mGluR5 and A2AR in enhancing D2R blockade resulting in catalepsy. The results represent a relevant example of integrative activity within higher-order heteroreceptor complexes.
Scoping Review on ACL Surgery and Registry Data
Authors: Kaarre Janina , Zsidai Bálint , Narup Eric , Horvath Alexandra , Svantesson Eleonor , Hamrin Senorski Eric , Grassi Alberto , Musahl Volker , Samuelsson Kristian
Published: July 2022

Purpose of Review

To present an overview of registry-based anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) research, as well as provide insight into the future of ACL registries.

Recent Findings

During the past decades, the ACL registries have had an important role in increasing our understanding of patients with ACL injuries and their treatment. The registry data has deepened our understanding of factors that have been associated with an increased risk of sustaining an ACL injury and for evaluation of treatment factors and their impact on patient-related outcomes. Recently, registry-based ACL research using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has shown potential to create clinical decision-making tools and analyzing outcomes. Thus, standardization of collected data between the registries is needed to facilitate the further collaboration between registries and to facilitate the interpretation of results and subsequently improve the possibilities for implementation of AI and ML in the registry-based research.

Several studies have been based on the current ACL registries providing an insight into the epidemiology of ACL injuries as well as outcomes following ACL reconstruction. However, the current ACL registries are facing future challenges, and thus, new methods and techniques are needed to ensure further good quality and clinical applicability of study findings based on ACL registry data.
Red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara blood l-amino acid oxidase utilizes the substrates in plasma
Authors: Kitani Yoichiro
Published: July 2022

l-amino acid oxidases (LAOs) oxidatively deaminate l-amino acids and generate H2O2. Recently, a novel LAO was isolated from the red-spotted grouper Epinephelusakaara serum (EaLAO) and it showed antibacterial activity via H2O2. The enzymatic activity of EaLAO was normally suppressed in blood and was activated by mixing it with seawater. This phenomenon suggested that EaLAO may stand by as an inactive form in the body, and it functions as an antibacterial protein at the bleeding trauma sites. For pathogen protection by EaLAO at the wound site, instant H2O2 production is essential. In this work, the substrate source of EaLAO and the H2O2-generation potential of the grouper plasma were studied. Mixing plasma with seawater or cations generated 0.26–0.48 mM of H2O2 except for the addition of l-amino acid substrates. The amino acid quantification of plasma via fluorescent HPLC showed that the alanine was dominantly consumed after being mixed with seawater. The Vmax, Km, and turnover number of EaLAO with l-alanine at 25 °C in seawater were 1618 μU/reaction, 86.6 mM, and 10.6 s−1, respectively. Furthermore, Vibrioharveyi was 84% killed by the plasma–seawater mixture. These results suggested that l-alanine may be the primary substrate of EaLAO in plasma.
A pragmatic approach to scientific change: transfer, alignment, influence
Authors: Canali Stefano
Published: July 2022

I propose an approach that expands philosophical views of scientific change, on the basis of an analysis of contemporary biomedical research and recent developments in the philosophy of scientific change. Focusing on the establishment of the exposome in epidemiology as a case study and the role of data as a context for contrasting views on change, I discuss change at conceptual, methodological, material, and social levels of biomedical epistemology. Available models of change provide key resources to discuss this type of change, but I present the need for an approach that models transfer, alignment, and influence as key processes of change. I develop this as a pragmatic approach to scientific change, where processes might change substantially depending on specific circumstances, thus contributing to and complementing the debate on a crucial epistemological issue.
Diagnostic and prognostic potential clustered miRNAs in bladder cancer
Authors: Ware Akshay Pramod , Kabekkodu Shama Prasada , Chawla Arun , Paul Bobby , Satyamoorthy Kapaettu
Published: July 2022

At specific genomic loci, miRNAs are in clusters and their association with copy number variations (CNVs) may exhibit abnormal expression in several cancers. Hence, the current study aims to understand the expression of miRNA clusters residing within CNVs and the regulation of their target genes in bladder cancer. To achieve this, we used extensive bioinformatics resources and performed an integrated analysis of recurrent CNVs, clustered miRNA expression, gene expression, and drug–gene interaction datasets. The study identified nine upregulated miRNA clusters that are residing on CNV gain regions and three miRNA clusters (hsa-mir-200c/mir-141, hsa-mir-216a/mir-217, and hsa-mir-15b/mir-16-2) are correlated with patient survival. These clustered miRNAs targeted 89 genes that were downregulated in bladder cancer. Moreover, network and gene enrichment analysis displayed 10 hub genes (CCND2, ETS1, FGF2, FN1, JAK2, JUN, KDR, NOTCH1, PTEN, and ZEB1) which have significant potential for diagnosis and prognosis of bladder cancer patients. Interestingly, hsa-mir-200c/mir-141 and hsa-mir-15b/mir-16-2 cluster candidates showed significant differences in their expression in stage-specific manner during cancer progression. Downregulation of NOTCH1 by hsa-mir-200c/mir-141 may also sensitize tumors to methotrexate thus suggesting potential chemotherapeutic options for bladder cancer subjects. To overcome some computational challenges and reduce the complexity in multistep big data analysis, we developed an automated pipeline called CmiRClustFinder v1.0 (https://github.com/msls-bioinfo/CmiRClustFinder_v1.0), which can perform integrated data analysis of 35 TCGA cancer types.
Online polarization and cross-fertilization in multi-cleavage societies: the case of Spain
Authors: Casañ Rubén Rodríguez , García-Vidal Enrique , Grimaldi Didier , Carrasco-Farré Carlos , Vaquer-Estalrich Francisco , Vila-Francés Joan
Published: July 2022

The impact of the social media (SM) has been seen on the one hand as the cause of large exacerbation of negative messages, responsible for massively harmful societal phenomenon against democracies. On the other hand, recent studies have begun to look at how these online channels were able to provide a new impulse in human communication. The novelty of our work resides on analysing several axes of polarizations related to different societal topics. We believe our approach to reflect a more complex society, differing from the recent literature, which has considered a unique left–right dichotomic cleavage. Our methodology consists of extracting topics from the priority themes of the SM debate, using BERT language processing techniques and TF-IDF model. Our results show situation of social media interactions in a multidimensional space does exist. We highlight how social media behaviours, polarization and cross-fertilization differ as upon concrete topics. We argue therefore the ‘mega-identity partisanship’ which differentiate US online users in two different spaces cannot be extended for the rest of countries taking as first evidence the case of Spain. Further research should extend our conclusions for a possible generalization.
An Agmon–Allegretto–Piepenbrink principle for Schrödinger operators
Authors: Buccheri Stefano , Orsina Luigi , Ponce Augusto C.
Published: July 2022

We prove that each Borel function $$V : \Omega \rightarrow [{-\infty }, +\infty ]$$

V
:
Ω
→
[

-
∞

,
+
∞
]

defined on an open subset $$\Omega \subset {\mathbb R}^{N}$$

Ω
⊂

R

N

induces a decomposition $$\Omega = S \cup \bigcup _{i} D_{i}$$

Ω
=
S
∪

⋃
i

D
i

such that every function in $$W^{1,2}_{0}(\Omega ) \cap L^{2}(\Omega ; V^{+} \,\mathrm {d}x)$$

W
0

1
,
2

(
Ω
)

∩

L
2

(
Ω
;

V
+

d
x
)

is zero almost everywhere on S and existence of nonnegative supersolutions of $$-\Delta + V$$

-
Δ
+
V

on each component $$D_{i}$$

D
i

yields nonnegativity of the associated quadratic form $$ \int _{D_{i}} (|\nabla \xi |^2+V\xi ^2). $$

∫

D
i

(
|
∇
ξ
|

2

+
V

ξ
2

)
.
A review of prospects and current scenarios of biomass co-pyrolysis for water treatment
Authors: Zuhara Shifa , Mackey Hamish R. , Al-Ansari Tareq , McKay Gordon
Published: July 2022

With ever-growing population comes an increase in waste and wastewater generated. There is ongoing research to not only reduce the waste but also to increase its value commercially. One method is pyrolysis, a process that converts wastes, at temperatures usually above 300 °C in a pyrolysis unit, to carbon-rich biochars among with other useful products. These chars are known to be beneficial as they can be used for water treatment applications; certain studies also reveal improvements in the biochar quality especially on the surface area and pore volume by imparting thermal and chemical activation methods, which eventually improves the uptake of pollutants during the removal of inorganic and organic contaminants in water. Research based on single waste valorisation into biochar applications for water treatment has been extended and applied to the pyrolysis of two or more feedstocks, termed co-pyrolysis, and its implementation for water treatment. The co-pyrolysis research mainly covers activation, applications, predictive calculations, and modelling studies, including isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic adsorption analyses. This paper focuses on the copyrolysis biochar production studies for activated adsorbents, adsorption mechanisms, pollutant removal capacities, regeneration, and real water treatment studies to understand the implementation of these co-pyrolyzed chars in water treatment applications. Finally, some prospects to identify the future progress and opportunities in this area of research are also described. This review provides a way to manage solid waste in a sustainable manner, while developing materials that can be utilized for water treatment, providing a double target approach to pollution management.
Exploring patients’ and relatives’ needs following acute myocardial infarction—A qualitative study
Authors: Qin Hong , Bonderman Diana , Brunner Silvia , Großbichler Tamara , Scharinger Edeltraud , Mayer Hanna
Published: July 2022

Background

For patients after acute myocardial infarction, a gap exists in Austrian care in the early period following hospital discharge. The patients’ and their relatives’ perspectives are crucial for developing nursing interventions.

Objective

To investigate patients’ and their relatives’ experiences from the onset of acute myocardial infarction symptoms until the early period following hospital discharge.

Methods

This qualitative study used in-depth individual and couple interviews with acute myocardial infarction patients (n = 14) and their relatives (n = 7) for data collection and a phenomenological hermeneutical analysis method.

Results

Four phenomena, i.e., “Understanding of living with heart disease,” “Omnipresent anxiety,” “Being there for each other,” and “Being understood as an individual,” showed participants’ needs. “Understanding of living with heart disease” described the process participants underwent to understand coronary heart disease, including the sub-phenomena of “Perceiving having heart disease,” “Getting familiar with heart disease,” and “Living life against the backdrop of heart disease.” It implied the participants’ strong need to get information on disease causes at the individual level and reshape their lives after the event to ensure a normal life.

Conclusion

Healthcare professionals should involve patients and their relatives in care and provide communication based on their needs. Such endeavors may allow those affected to understand coronary heart disease and prepare for and adapt to the needed lifestyle changes. Nursing interventions that consider the four phenomena highlighted in this study may ensure enhanced care for those affected in their lives after acute myocardial infarction, improving nursing care quality.
Learning from Country to conceptualise what an Aboriginal curriculum narrative might look like in education
Authors: Burgess Cathie , Thorpe Katrina , Egan Suzanne , Harwood Valerie
Published: July 2022

Missing from the Australian Curriculum is a coherent Aboriginal curriculum narrative that is legitimate in its own right, rather than an “add on” to other curriculum areas. We argue that in order to do this, teachers need to experience Country-centred learning led by local Aboriginal community members. From these experiences, teachers can build relationships and better understand local knowledges and practices to develop an Aboriginal curriculum narrative for their teaching. In an urban Australian university teacher education program, Learning from Country in the City (LFC), a largely non-Aboriginal cohort of preservice teachers participate in Aboriginal community–led learning outside the classroom and on Country. This paper is based on qualitative data from individual yarns and group yarning circles with ten Aboriginal community-based educators and 30 preservice teachers. From this data, a Learning from Country Framework (Burgess et al., Teachers and Teaching, forthcoming) was developed which emphasises (i) Country-Centred Relationships, (ii) Relating, (iii) Critical Engagement, and (iv) Mobilising. Through deep listening and truth telling processes, preservice teachers build confidence and relationships with Aboriginal people and Country, awaken their critical consciousness and explore processes to conceptualise an Aboriginal curriculum narrative for their teaching. Through deep listening to the cultural, historical, and socio-political narratives of place, learning occurs through being and doing. Aboriginal community-based educators highlight the significance of Country-centred knowledges and truth-telling processes to challenge settler-colonial narratives and the power dynamics that have silenced Aboriginal people.
Fusing the Poverty-Aware Paradigm with Public Health Approaches to Protect Children: a Case Study of an Israeli Social Services Department
Authors: Saar-Heiman Yuval
Published: July 2022

This article aims to explore the potential contribution of incorporating the Poverty-Aware Paradigm for Child Protection—a critical framework for child protection policy and practice—with public health approaches to protecting children. It focuses on one Israeli social services department that embraced the Poverty-Aware Paradigm as an overarching framework for all levels of practice and specifically in the context of child protection. Based on an in-depth case study of the department’s child protection practice, the findings outline and describe the primary, secondary, and tertiary services and interventions through which the department addresses child maltreatment. These services and interventions are explored in light of Higgins and colleagues’ conceptualization of the six core components of public health approaches to preventing child maltreatment. This exploration points to the compatibly of the two frameworks and suggests three potential contributions of the Poverty-Aware Paradigm to the development of a public health approach. First, it offers a holistic and critical framework that focuses on a multidimensional analysis of child maltreatment and makes it possible to link tertiary responses to primary-level interventions. Second, it provides a firm ethical foundation rooted in a commitment to resisting social oppression and standing by parents, children, and their relationships. Third, it infuses relational concepts and practices into the policy and practice of public health approaches.
Cocultured Schwann Cells Rescue Irradiated Pelvic Neuron Outgrowth and Increase Survival
Authors: Randolph Joshua T. , Pak Elena S. , McMains Jennifer C. , Koontz Bridget F. , Hannan Johanna L.
Published: July 2022

Background

Prostatic radiation therapy (RT) leads to erectile dysfunction by damaging peri-prostatic pro-erectile nerves of the pelvic ganglion. Schwann cells (SC) facilitate neuronal repair after mechanical injury, however, their role in repair of pelvic neurons post-radiation hasn’t been explored.

Aim

To determine if SCs cocultured with primary pelvic neurons can rescue neuronal survival and growth after ex vivo RT.

Methods

Major pelvic ganglia (MPG) were collected from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12) to isolate SCs. SCs received RT (0 or 8 Gy), were plated on coated coverslips and grown to confluence before the addition of neurons. Additional MPGs were irradiated (0 or 8 Gy) and digested to isolate pelvic neurons. Dissociated neurons were plated alone or atop SC-coated coverslips to create 6 experimental groups (n = 3/grp): (i) Control (CON) MPG, (ii) RT MPG, (iii) CON SC + CON MPG, (iv) CONSC + RT MPG, (v) RT SC + CON MPG, and (iv) RT SC + RT MPG. After 72 hours, coverslips were fixed and stained for beta-tubulin (neuron marker), S100 (SC marker), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nitrergic marker), tyrosine hydroxylase (sympathetic marker), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling.

Outcomes

We measured neurite length, branching, specific neuron populations and apoptosis.

Results

Ex vivo RT decreased MPG neuron length, increased apoptosis and decreased nitrergic neurons in monoculture. Compared to all other groups, CON SC + RT MPG cocultures demonstrated increased neurite outgrowth (P < .001). Neurite branching was decreased in the RT MPG + RT SC coculture, but unchanged in other cocultures. Groups containing RT MPG neurons exhibited increased apoptosis, but coculture with CON SC reduced the degree of RT-induced apoptosis (P < .01). The number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons was unchanged while nitrergic neurons were significantly lower in RT neurons and coculture with CON SCs was unable to prevent nitrergic loss.

Clinical Translation

These findings suggest that SCs may be an important target in prostate cancer patients with radiation-induced pelvic neuropathy to promote MPG neuron survival and neuronal repair after RT.

Strengths and Limitations

This is the first study to characterize the ex vivo ability of SCs to rescue pelvic nerve growth and survival. The study is limited by little supporting mechanistic molecular data and the need to confirm the ability of healthy SCs to promote pelvic neuron survival and repair following prostatic RT in vivo.

Conclusion

Unirradiated SCs partially mitigated RT-induced MPG apoptosis but did not affect the loss of nitrergic neuron populations suggesting that SCs promote irradiated MPG neuron survival and facilitate intrinsic repair functions.
Advances in Laser Physics and Technology
Authors: Mohan Man , Maini Anil Kumar , Bhattacherjee Aranya B.
Published: July 2022

Lasers are created to study the timescale of electron motion in atoms and molecules. They also have wide applications in areas like solid state, plasma physics, nanoscience and defence technology. This book helps readers to master the large variety of physical phenomena and technological aspects involved in laser technology. Besides explaining the physical principles and common techniques of laser science and technology, it also elaborates on topics like High-harmonic Generation (HHG) and strong-field Non-sequential Double Ionization (NSDI), effects of a low energy atto-second pulse, laser spectroscopy, laser cooling and trapping, quantum optics and laser applications. Many important concepts covered include a new test system design of comprehensive characterization of non-imaging laser IR guided missiles, advanced laser and opto-electronics technologies for Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) applications and development of highly advanced laser cavity and resonator for high power chemical oxygen iodine laser at the Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC).
Soft streaming – flow rectification via elastic boundaries
Authors: Bhosale Yashraj , Parthasarathy Tejaswin , Gazzola Mattia
Published: July 2022

Viscous streaming is an efficient mechanism to exploit inertia at the microscale for flow control. While streaming from rigid features has been thoroughly investigated, when body compliance is involved, as in biological settings, little is known. Here, we investigate body elasticity effects on streaming in the minimal case of an immersed soft cylinder. Our study reveals an additional streaming process, available even in Stokes flows. Paving the way for advanced forms of flow manipulation, we illustrate how gained insights may translate to complex geometries beyond circular cylinders.
Characterization of bifurcated dual vortex streets in the wake of an oscillating foil
Authors: Verma Suyash , Hemmati Arman
Published: July 2022

Wake evolution of an oscillating foil with combined heaving and pitching motion is evaluated numerically for a range of phase offsets (

$\phi$

), chord-based Strouhal numbers (

$St_c$

) and Reynolds numbers (

$Re$

). The increase in

$\phi$

from

$90^\circ$

to

$180^\circ$

at a given

$St_c$

and

$Re$

coincides with a transition of pitch- to heave-dominated kinematics that further reveals novel transitions in wake topology characterized by bifurcated vortex streets. At

$Re= 1000$

, each of the dual streets constitutes a dipole-like paired configuration of counter-rotating coherent structures that resemble qualitatively the formation of

$2P$

mode. A new mathematical relation between the relative circulation of coherent dipole-like paired structures and kinematic parameters is proposed, including heave-based (

$St_h$

), pitch-based (

$St_{\theta }$

) and combined motion (

$St_A$

) Strouhal numbers, as well as

$\phi$

. This model can predict accurately the wake transition towards

$2P$

mode characterized by a bifurcation, at low

$Re= 1000$

. At

$Re= 4000$

, however, the relationship was inaccurate in predicting the wake transition. A shear splitting process is observed at

$Re= 4000$

, which leads to the formation of reverse Bénard–von Kármán mode in conjunction with

$2P$

mode. Increasing

$\phi$

further depicts a consistent prolongation of the splitting process, which coincides with a unique transition in terms of absence and reappearance of bifurcated dipole-like pairs at

$\phi = 120^\circ$

and

$180^\circ$

, respectively. Changes in the spatial arrangement of

$2P$

pairs observed consistently for oscillating foils with the combined motion constitute a novel wake transition that becomes more dominant at higher Reynolds numbers.
A GENERALISATION OF A SUPERCONGRUENCE ON THE TRUNCATED APPELL SERIES
Authors: WANG XIAOXIA , YU MENGLIN
Published: July 2022

Recently, Lin and Liu [‘Congruences for the truncated Appell series
$F_3$
and
$F_4$
’, Integral Transforms Spec. Funct.31(1) (2020), 10–17] confirmed a supercongruence on the truncated Appell series
$F_3$
. Motivated by their work, we give a generalisation of this supercongruence by establishing a q-supercongruence modulo the fourth power of a cyclotomic polynomial.
Meta-analysis of longitudinal neurocognitive performance in people at clinical high-risk for psychosis
Authors: Hedges Emily P. , See Cheryl , Si Shuqing , McGuire Philip , Dickson Hannah , Kempton Matthew J.
Published: July 2022

Persons at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) are characterised by specific neurocognitive deficits. However, the course of neurocognitive performance during the prodromal period and over the onset of psychosis remains unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesise results from follow-up studies of CHR individuals to examine longitudinal changes in neurocognitive performance. Three electronic databases were systematically searched to identify articles published up to 31 December 2021. Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria. Study effect sizes (Hedges' g) were calculated and pooled for each neurocognitive task using random-effects meta-analyses. We examined whether changes in performance between baseline and follow-up assessments differed between: (1) CHR and healthy control (HC) individuals, and (2) CHR who did (CHR-T) and did not transition to psychosis (CHR-NT). Meta-analyses found that HC individuals had greater improvements in performance over time compared to CHR for letter fluency (g = −0.32, p = 0.029) and digit span (g = −0.30, p = 0.011) tasks. Second, there were differences in longitudinal performance of CHR-T and CHR-NT in trail making test A (TMT-A) (g = 0.24, p = 0.014) and symbol coding (g = −0.51, p = 0.011). Whilst CHR-NT improved in performance on both tasks, CHR-T improved to a lesser extent in TMT-A and had worsened performance in symbol coding over time. Together, neurocognitive performance generally improved in all groups at follow-up. Yet, evidence suggested that improvements were less pronounced for an overall CHR group, and specifically for CHR-T, in processing speed tasks which may be a relevant domain for interventions aimed to enhance neurocognition in CHR populations.