bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Generalized Ky Fan Minimax Inequality on Finite-Dimensional Spaces
Authors: Castellani Marco , Giuli Massimiliano
Published: July 2021

An existence result for a generalized inequality over a possible unbounded domain in a finite-dimensional space is established. The proof technique allows to avoid any monotonicity assumption. We adapt a weak coercivity condition introduced in Castellani and Giuli (J Glob Optim 75:163–176, 2019) for a generalized game which extends an older one proposed by Konnov and Dyabilkin (J Glob Optim 49:575–577, 2011) for equilibrium problems. Our main result encompasses and generalizes several existence results for equilibrium, quasiequilibrium and fixed-point problems.
A Numerical Approach for Evaluating the Time-Dependent Distribution of a Quasi Birth-Death Process
Authors: Mandjes Michel , Sollie Birgit
Published: July 2021

This paper considers a continuous-time quasi birth-death (qbd) process, which informally can be seen as a birth-death process of which the parameters are modulated by an external continuous-time Markov chain. The aim is to numerically approximate the time-dependent distribution of the resulting bivariate Markov process in an accurate and efficient way. An approach based on the Erlangization principle is proposed and formally justified. Its performance is investigated and compared with two existing approaches: one based on numerical evaluation of the matrix exponential underlying the qbd process, and one based on the uniformization technique. It is shown that in many settings the approach based on Erlangization is faster than the other approaches, while still being highly accurate. In the last part of the paper, we demonstrate the use of the developed technique in the context of the evaluation of the likelihood pertaining to a time series, which can then be optimized over its parameters to obtain the maximum likelihood estimator. More specifically, through a series of examples with simulated and real-life data, we show how it can be deployed in model selection problems that involve the choice between a qbd and its non-modulated counterpart.
Candida Endocarditis in Patients with Candidemia: A Single-Center Experience of 14 Cases
Authors: Hitzenbichler Florian , Joha Tobias , Simon Michaela , Grosse Jirka , Menhart Karin , Hellwig Dirk , Camboni Daniele , Sag Sabine , Sag Can Martin , Hanses Frank , Salzberger Bernd , Mohr Arno
Published: July 2021

A retrospective, single-center analysis of 14 cases of Candida endocarditis (from 355 candidemia cases during the years 2012–2019) revealed a high in-hospital mortality (57.1%), a high proportion of healthcare-associated infections (13/14) and a high treatment preference for echinocandins. Transthoracic echocardiography and 18F-FDG PET/CT had a sensitivity of 54.5% and 57.1%, respectively. Patients were older than previously described and most patients with Candida endocarditis had persistent candidemia for ≥ 3 days despite antifungal therapy.
Differentiation of S. chartarum (Ehrenb.) S. Hughes Chemotypes A and S via FT-IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Ekruth Julia , Gottschalk Christoph , Ulrich Sebastian , Gareis Manfred , Schwaiger Karin
Published: July 2021

Stachybotrys (S.) chartarum is a cellulolytic mould with the ability to produce highly cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecenes. Two chemotypes are defined according to their ability to produce either atranones or satratoxins. S. chartarum has been well known as the causative agent of the lethal disease stachybotryotoxicosis in horses. Further investigations revealed that this disease is strictly correlated with the presence of macrocyclic trichothecenes. Furthermore, their occurrence in water-damaged buildings has been linked to adverse health effects such as the sick building syndrome. As the chemotypes cannot be characterized via phenotypic criteria, different methods such as PCR, MALDI–TOF MS, LC–MS/MS, thin-layer chromatography and cytotoxicity assays have been used so far. Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is commonly used for the differentiation of bacteria and yeasts, but this technique is also applicable to filamentous fungi. Hence, this study aimed at evaluating to which extent a reliable differentiation of S. chartarum chemotypes A and S is possible. Besides, another objective was to verify if the recently introduced third genotype of S. chartarum can be identified. Therefore, 28 strains including the two chemotypes and the third genotype H were cultivated on malt extract agar (MEA) and potato dextrose agar in three biological replicates. Each sample was applied to FT-IR measurements on day 7, 14 and 21 of cultivation. In this study, we achieved a distinction of the chemotypes A and S via FT-IR spectroscopy after incubation for 7 days on MEA. In terms of genotype differentiation, the PCR detecting satratoxin- and atranone-gene clusters remained the only applicable method.
Antifungal Effect of Long Noncoding RNA 9708-1 in the Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Murine Model
Authors: Wu Ying , Jiang Lisha , Zhang Lingling , Liu Xia , Yan Lina , Luan Ting , Rui Can , Mao Zhiyuan , Fan Chong , Liu Yu , Li Ping , Zeng Xin
Published: July 2021

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida spp. affects 70–75% of women at least once during their lives. We aim to elucidate the potential mechanism of VVC and investigate the therapeutic effects of long noncoding RNA 9708-1. Female BALB/c mice were randomized to four treatment groups, including the blank control group, VVC control group, vehicle control group and lncRNA 9708-1-overexpressed group. Mice were euthanized on Day 4, Day 7 and Day 14 after treatment. Colony-forming unit (CFU) was measured, and the inflammation was detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Gene and protein expression levels of lncRNA 9708-1 and FAK were determined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The overexpression of lncRNA 9708-1 significantly decreased the fungal load from Day 4 to 7. H&E staining indicated that the impaired histological profiles were improved in lncRNA 9708-1-overexpressed group. LncRNA 9708-1 led to a significant increase in FAK level of vagina tissue which is expressed mainly in epithelial basal layer. This study suggests that lncRNA 9708-1 played a protective role on murine experimental VVC by upregulating the expression levels of FAK.
CF Fungal Disease in the Age of CFTR Modulators
Authors: Bercusson Amelia , Jarvis George , Shah Anand
Published: July 2021

Fungi are increasingly recognised to have a significant role in the progression of lung disease in Cystic fibrosis with Aspergillus fumigatus the most common fungus isolated during respiratory sampling. The emergence of novel CFTR modulators has, however, significantly changed the outlook of disease progression in CF. In this review we discuss what impact novel CFTR modulators will have on fungal lung disease and its management in CF. We discuss how CFTR modulators affect antifungal innate immunity and consider the impact of Ivacaftor on fungal disease in individuals with gating mutations. We further review the increasing complication of drug–drug interactions with concurrent use of azole antifungal medication and highlight key unknowns that require addressing to fully understand the impact of CFTR modulators on fungal disease.
Taxonomy of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale Species Complex Harboring the Highly Virulent, Multiresistant Genotype T. indotineae
Authors: Tang Chao , Kong Xue , Ahmed Sarah A. , Thakur Rameshwari , Chowdhary Anuradha , Nenoff Pietro , Uhrlass Silke , Verma Shyam B. , Meis Jacques F. , Kandemir Hazal , Kang Yingqian , de Hoog G. Sybren
Published: July 2021

A severe outbreak of highly virulent and multi-resistant dermatophytosis by species in theTrichophyton mentagrophytes/T.interdigitalecomplex is ongoing in India. The correct identity of the etiologic agent is a much-debated issue. In order to define species limits, a taxonomic study was undertaken combining molecular, morphological, and physiological characteristics as evidence of classification. Molecular characteristics show thatT. mentagrophytes s. str. andT. interdigitale s. str. can be distinguished with difficulty from each other, but are unambiguously different from the Indian genotype,T.indotineaeby sequences of the HMG gene. The entities were confirmed by multilocus analysis using tanglegrams. Phenotypic characters of morphology and physiology are not diagnostic, but statistically significant differences are observed between the molecular siblings. These properties may be drivers of separate evolutionary trends.Trichophyton mentagrophytesrepresents the ancestral, homothallic cloud of genotypes with a probable geophilic lifestyle, whileT.indotineaeandT.interdigitalebehave as anthropophilic, clonal offshoots. The origin ofT.indotineae, which currently causes a significant public health problem, is zoonotic, and its emergence is likely due to widespread misuse of antifungals.
Allergic fungal airways disease (AFAD): an under-recognised asthma endotype
Authors: Pashley Catherine H. , Wardlaw Andrew J.
Published: July 2021

The term allergic fungal airways disease has a liberal definition based on IgE sensitisation to thermotolerant fungi and evidence of fungal-related lung damage. It arose from a body of work looking into the role of fungi in asthma. Historically fungi were considered a rare complication of asthma, exemplified by allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; however, there is a significant proportion of individuals with Aspergillus fumigatus sensitisation who do not meet these criteria, who are at high risk for the development of lung damage. The fungi that play a role in asthma can be divided into two groups; those that can grow at body temperature referred to as thermotolerant, which are capable of both infection and allergy, and those that cannot but can still act as allergens in IgE sensitised individuals. Sensitisation to thermotolerant filamentous fungi (Aspergillus and Penicillium), and not non-thermotolerant fungi (Alternaria and Cladosporium) is associated with lower lung function and radiological abnormalities (bronchiectasis, tree-in-bud, fleeting shadows, collapse/consolidation and fibrosis). For antifungals to play a role in treatment, the focus should be on fungi capable of growing in the airways thereby causing a persistent chronic allergenic stimulus and releasing tissue damaging proteases and other enzymes which may disrupt the airway epithelial barrier and cause mucosal damage and airway remodelling. All patients with IgE sensitisation to thermotolerant fungi in the context of asthma and other airway disease are at risk of progressive lung damage, and as such should be monitored closely.
Why Does Mary Weep? Emotion and Gender in Advent Lines 164–213 (Advent Lyric VII)
Authors: Jorgensen Alice
Published: July 2021

This article re-reads Lyric VII of the poemAdvent, the dialogue of Mary and Joseph. The division of speeches in this lyric has been debated, largely on grounds of the plausibility of the emotions that are apparently expressed by the characters, but there are in fact clear pragmatic grounds for seeing only three speeches in the poem. The emotional expression in these speeches should not be seen in terms of character psychology, but rather the establishment and negotiation of relational stances. In her first speech, Mary expresses bitter grief and draws attention to her weeping, which is because of the insults and gossip she is suffering; the accent on shame and reputation is a distinctive emphasis in the poet’s treatment of the material. Her display of grief elicits Joseph’s response and paves the way to resolution in Mary’s final speech. Mary’s tears are gendered, but not so much because tears are inherently feminine as because they are associated with petition and dependence, and reflect Mary’s social subordination to her betrothed spouse. Lyric VII prompts its audience to a partial identification with Mary and reflection on their need for God and his mercy; such identification would work differently for female and male readers.
Do frequent satisfying trips by public transport impact its intended use in later life?
Authors: De Vos Jonas , Waygood E. Owen D. , Letarte Laurence , Cao Mengqiu
Published: July 2021

Previous studies have indicated that factors such as the built environment, attitudes and past behaviour can influence travel behaviour. However, the possible effect of travel satisfaction on travel mode choice remains underexplored, despite many studies focusing on travel satisfaction over the past years. It is likely that individuals experiencing satisfying trips with a certain travel mode will use this mode (more) frequently for future trips. In this study—using data from 984 students from Laval University, Canada—we analyse how satisfaction with public transport and the frequency of public transport use affect the intention to use public transport in later life stages. Our results indicate that public transport frequency, public transport satisfaction and the interaction between these two factors (i.e., the frequency of (dis)satisfying public transport trips) significantly affect people’s intentions to use public transport in later life, although variations in effect sizes exist between different life stages. Making public transport more pleasant and increasing ridership of children and young adults (e.g., by giving them free public transport passes) may consequently result in a higher public transport frequency in later life stages. We argue that travel satisfaction can play an important role in the formation of habitual mode use, and that satisfying trips (if undertaken frequently) are likely to be repeated in the future.
European Banking Union and bank risk disclosure: the effects of the Single Supervisory Mechanism
Authors: Altunbaş Yener , Polizzi Salvatore , Scannella Enzo , Thornton John
Published: July 2021

This paper provides evidence on the impact of European Banking Union (BU) and the associated Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) on the risk disclosure practices of European banks. The onset of BU and the associated rules are considered as an exogenous shock that provides the setting for a natural experiment to analyze the effects of the new supervisory arrangements on bank risk disclosure practices. A Difference-in-Differences approach is adopted, building evidence from the disclosure practices of systemically important banks supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB) and other banks supervised by national regulators over the period 2012–2017. The main findings are that bank risk disclosure increased overall following BU but there was a weakening of disclosure by SSM-supervised banks relative to banks supervised by national authorities. We also find that the overall positive effect of the BU on bank disclosure is stronger for less profitable banks and in the most troubled economies of the Eurozone (GIPSI countries), while the negative effect on centrally supervised banks is stronger if bank CEOs act also as chairmen (CEO duality). We interpret these findings in light of the fact that the new institutional arrangements for bank supervision under which the ECB relies on local supervisors to collect the information necessary to act gives rise to inefficiencies with respect to the speed and completeness of the information flow between SSM supervised banks and the ECB, which are reflected in bank disclosure practices.
Micropropagation and experimental field cultivation of Pulsatilla turczaninovii Kryl. et Serg. (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Hanus-Fajerska Ewa , Kocot Dawid , Wiszniewska Alina , Koźmińska Aleksandra , Muszyńska Ewa
Published: July 2021

Pulsatilla turczaninovii is an important medicinal plant, valued for high ornamental value of melliferous flowers. We assessed the efficiency of reproduction under in vitro conditions and the ex situ growth capacity of this important representative of the world flora. The seed germination percentage was assessed, followed by determination of micropropagation rate and rooting efficiency. Then, the possibility of plant development in three consecutive growing seasons was assessed. The in vitro germination percentage was approximately 55%. The highest multiplication coefficient, amounting to 5.17, was obtained on modified MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg L−1 2iP and 1.0 mg L−1 IAA. Our study provided unique insight on biochemical background of root regeneration in P. turczaninovii. In comparison with standard auxin-supplemented rooting medium, the treatment with 1.0 mg L−1 level of ethylene precursor ACC elevated rooting by about 20%. The total content of soluble sugars was proved to be biomarker of rhizogenesis in the studied species. Their concentration was positively correlated with rooting efficiency, while a level of phenolic was positively correlated with the length of regenerated roots, and their number per rosette. The cultivation of the acclimatized material was successfully carried out and was evaluated over three subsequent years. In the third year of cultivation, the plants entered the stage of generative development and most of them bloomed profusely.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic and sustainability
Authors: Wei Xueli , Li Lijing , Zhang Fan
Published: July 2021

Pumping elephant

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the lives of people around the world in millions of ways . Due to this severe epidemic, all countries in the world have been affected by all aspects, mainly economic. It is widely discussed that the COVID-19 outbreak has affected the world economy. When considering this dimension, this study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy, socio-economics, and sustainability. In addition, the research focuses on multiple aspects of social well-being during the pandemic, such as employment, poverty, the status of women, food security, and global trade. To this end, the study used time series and cross-sectional analysis of the data. The second-hand data used in this study comes from the websites of major international organizations. From the analysis of secondary data, the conclusion of this article is that the impact of the pandemic is huge. The main finding of the thesis is that the social economy is affected by the pandemic, causing huge losses in terms of economic well-being and social capital.
Social organisational LCA for the academic activity of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU
Authors: Erauskin-Tolosa Artitzar , Bueno Gorka , Etxano Iker , Tamayo Unai , García María , de Blas Maite , Pérez-Iribarren Estibaliz , Zuazo Iñaki , Torre-Pascual Eduardo , Akizu-Gardoki Ortzi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This article aims to estimate the social footprint of a higher education institution (HEI) and its potential contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. The social organisational life cycle assessment (SO-LCA) of the academic activity of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), in northern Spain, has been performed, in order to estimate its social impacts.

Method

The assessment has been run using openLCA software and supported on the PSILCA-based Soca add-on for the Ecoinvent v3.3 database, covering 53 social indicators for almost 15,000 industrial sectors and goods in 189 countries.

Results and discussion

The analysis undertaken reflects social impacts and associated risk levels for four stakeholders: Workers, Local Community, Society, and Value Chain Actors. Labour activity in the UPV/EHU is the sub-process with the greatest social impact, followed by processes related to transport, energy, materials, and waste management. Among the socio-economic context which supports the academic activity of the UPV/EHU (indirect impacts), the existence of traces of child labour and illiteracy outside the Basque Country stands out. Further analysis would be required in order to more accurately determine the geographical location of such impacts, and also to better tackle the concept of social debt.

Conclusion

SO-LCA may have great potential for HEIs, helping them to identify hotspots, reduce their social footprint, and raise awareness among the academic community, which undoubtedly contributes to the knowledge, progress, human values, and sustainability these HEIs stand for.

Graphical abstract
Identifying super-feminine, super-masculine and sex-defining connections in the human braingraph
Authors: Keresztes László , Szögi Evelin , Varga Bálint , Grolmusz Vince
Published: July 2021

For more than a decade now, we can discover and study thousands of cerebral connections with the application of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) techniques and the accompanying algorithmic workflow. While numerous connectomical results were published enlightening the relation between the braingraph and certain biological, medical, and psychological properties, it is still a great challenge to identify a small number of brain connections closely related to those conditions. In the present contribution, by applying the 1200 Subjects Release of the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and Support Vector Machines, we identify just 102 connections out of the total number of 1950 connections in the 83-vertex graphs of 1064 subjects, which—by a simple linear test—precisely, without any error determine the sex of the subject. Next, we re-scaled the weights of the edges—corresponding to the discovered fibers—to be between 0 and 1, and, very surprisingly, we were able to identify two graph edges out of these 102, such that, if their weights are both 1, then the connectome always belongs to a female subject, independently of the other edges. Similarly, we have identified 3 edges from these 102, whose weights, if two of them are 1 and one is 0, imply that the graph belongs to a male subject—again, independently of the other edges. We call the former 2 edges superfeminine and the first two of the 3 edges supermasculine edges of the human connectome. Even more interestingly, the edge, connecting the right Pars Triangularis and the right Superior Parietal areas, is one of the 2 superfeminine edges, and it is also the third edge, accompanying the two supermasculine connections if its weight is 0; therefore, it is also a “switching” edge. Identifying such edge-sets of distinction is the unprecedented result of this work.
Design of a Co–Al–W–Ta Alloy Series with Varying γ′ Volume Fraction and Their Thermophysical Properties
Authors: Volz N. , Xue F. , Bezold A. , Zenk C. H. , Fries S. G. , Schreuer J. , Neumeier S. , Göken M.
Published: July 2021

Theγ′volume fraction is a key parameter in precipitation-strengthened Co- and Ni-base superalloys and mainly determines the alloys’ properties. However, systematic studies with varyingγ′volume fractions are rare and the influence on thermal expansion has not been studied in detail. Therefore, a series of six Ta-containing Co-based alloys was designed with compositions on aγ–γ′tie-line, where theγ′volume fraction changes systematically. During solidification, Laves (C14-type) andµ(D85-type) phases formed in alloys with high levels of W and Ta. Single-phaseγor two-phaseγ/γ′microstructures were obtained in four experimental alloys after heat treatment as designed, whereas secondary precipitates, such asχ(D019-type), Laves, andμ, existed in alloys containing high levels ofγ′-forming elements. However, long-term heat treatments for 1000 hours revealed the formation of theχphase also in the formerχ-free alloys. The investigation of the thermal expansion behavior revealed a significant anomaly related to the dissolution ofγ′, which can be used to determine theγ′solvus temperature with high accuracy. Compared to thermodynamic calculations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal expansion analysis revealed a larger increase of theγ′solvus temperatures and a lesser decline of the solidus temperatures when the alloy composition approached the composition of the pureγ′phase.
Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Lebanon: A Retrospective Study and Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: Joanny Gaelle , Cappai Maria Grazia , Nonnis Francesca , Tamponi Claudia , Dessì Giorgia , Mehmood Naunain , Dahdah Julien , Hosri Chadi , Scala Antonio , Varcasia Antonio
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease that constitutes a public health challenge and a socio-economic burden in endemic areas worldwide. No specific surveillance system of CE infections in humans exists in Lebanon. The incidence and trends over time have not been documented. The current study aimed to assess the demographic and epidemiologic features of human CE surgical cases over a 14-year period in the five main regions of Lebanon.

Methods

From 2005 to 2018, a total of 894 surgically confirmed cases of hydatidosis were recorded from five anatomy and pathology laboratories.

Results

The mean annual surgical incidence was 1.23/100,000 inhabitants. Over the span of these years, the incidence increased from 0.53 to 1.94 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2005 and 2018, respectively. CE is present in Lebanon with an uneven distribution from one region to the other with higher prevalence in Bekaa (29.0%), a rural area where sheep raising is widespread. Human CE cases were more common in females (60.1%) than in males (39.9%) and a high burden of infection was reported for the age group of 30–39 years. Besides, 66.7% of the cases expressed only liver complications whereas, 20.5% showed predilection towards lungs. The 7.8% of cases presented cysts in other organs, and 1.3% showed multiple localizations. Additionally, predominant involvement of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto was recorded in human infections. Comparison of Echinococcus granulosus s.s. populations from different Mediterranean countries also revealed high gene flow among this region and sharing of alleles.

Conclusion

The current study is a step forward to fill the gap of knowledge for the hydatidosis in Lebanon where the lack of epidemiological data and control measures have resulted in higher incidence of human CE.

Graphic Abstract
Supervised Exercise Immediately After Bariatric Surgery: the Study Protocol of the EFIBAR Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Artero Enrique G. , Ferrez-Márquez Manuel , Torrente-Sánchez María José , Martínez-Rosales Elena , Carretero-Ruiz Alejandro , Hernández-Martínez Alba , López-Sánchez Laura , Esteban-Simón Alba , Romero del Rey Andrea , Alcaraz-Ibáñez Manuel , Rodríguez-Pérez Manuel A. , Villa-González Emilio , Barranco-Ruiz Yaira , Martínez-Forte Sonia , Castillo Carlos , Gómez Navarro Carlos , Aceituno Cubero Jesús , Reyes Parrilla Raúl , Aparicio Gómez José A. , Femia Pedro , Fernández-Alonso Ana M. , Soriano-Maldonado Alberto
Published: July 2021

Background

Previous studies have investigated weight loss caused by exercise following bariatric surgery. However, in most cases, the training program is poorly reported; the exercise type, volume, and intensity are briefly mentioned; and the sample size, selection criteria, and follow-up time vary greatly across studies.

Purpose

The EFIBAR study aims to investigate over 1 year the effects of a 16-week supervised exercise program, initiated immediately after bariatric surgery, on weight loss (primary outcome), body composition, cardiometabolic risk, physical fitness, and quality of life in patients with severe/extreme obesity.

Material and Methods

The EFIBAR study is a parallel-group, superiority, randomized controlled trial (RCT), comprising 80 surgery patients. Half of the participants, randomly selected, perform a 16-week supervised exercise program, including both strength and aerobic training, starting immediately after the surgery (7–14 days). For each participant, all primary and secondary outcomes are measured at three different time points: (i) before the surgery, (ii) after the intervention (≈4 months), and (iii) 1 year after the surgery.

Conclusion

The EFIBAR study will provide new insights into the multidimensional benefits of exercise in adults with severe/extreme obesity following bariatric surgery.

Trial Registration

EFIBAR randomized controlled trial was prospectively registered atClinicaltrials.gov(NCT03497546) on April 13, 2018.
Gastric Bypass Sensitizes Sympathetic and Thermogenic Activity of Brown Adipose Tissue to Cold Exposure
Authors: Chu Yi , Tian Liping , Herz Hussein , Linden Benjamin , Morgan Donald A. , Naber Meghan C. , Potthoff Matthew , Rahmouni Kamal , Mokadem Mohamad
Published: July 2021

Graphical abstract
Police Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Mental Health Treatment
Authors: Lane Jeanine , Le Marina , Martin Krystle , Bickle Korri , Campbell Erin , Ricciardelli Rosemary
Published: July 2021

Public safety personnel (PSP), including police officers, often work in high-stress environments that expose them to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTE). As a result, PSP are at a higher risk than most other occupational roles for the development of new or worsening mental health concerns, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, general or social anxiety disorder, and substance use disorders (Carleton et al., Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 63(1):54–64, 2018; Haugen et al., Journal of Psychiatric Research 94:218–229, 2017; Velazquez and Hernandez, Policing: An International Journal 42(4):711–724, 2019). Given these higher rates, research examining how to support the mental health of individuals in these occupations and how to improve our understanding of mental health help-seeking beliefs is critical. Consequently, the overall objective of the current study was to examine predictors of help-seeking attitudes among a group of police officers, while accounting for the effects of gender, years of employment, type of training experience, and mental health status (i.e. presence of mental illness, perceived resilience) on mental health-related help-seeking behaviours. A total of 112 police officers in a mid-sized law enforcement organization in Ontario, Canada, completed an online survey as part of a larger study exploring their mental health. Results indicate that years of experience and mental health training may improve attitudes toward seeking help for mental health. Our discussion offers suggestions for law enforcement organizations to consider to encourage their members to seek help for mental health difficulties.
FAIRSCAPE: a Framework for FAIR and Reproducible Biomedical Analytics
Authors: Levinson Maxwell Adam , Niestroy Justin , Al Manir Sadnan , Fairchild Karen , Lake Douglas E. , Moorman J. Randall , Clark Timothy
Published: July 2021

Results of computational analyses require transparent disclosure of their supporting resources, while the analyses themselves often can be very large scale and involve multiple processing steps separated in time. Evidence for the correctness of any analysis should include not only a textual description, but also a formal record of the computations which produced the result, including accessible data and software with runtime parameters, environment, and personnel involved. This article describes FAIRSCAPE, a reusable computational framework, enabling simplified access to modern scalable cloud-based components. FAIRSCAPE fully implements the FAIR data principles and extends them to provide fully FAIR Evidence, including machine-interpretable provenance of datasets, software and computations, as metadata for all computed results. The FAIRSCAPE microservices framework creates a complete Evidence Graph for every computational result, including persistent identifiers with metadata, resolvable to the software, computations, and datasets used in the computation; and stores a URI to the root of the graph in the result’s metadata. An ontology for Evidence Graphs, EVI (https://w3id.org/EVI), supports inferential reasoning over the evidence. FAIRSCAPE can run nested or disjoint workflows and preserves provenance across them. It can run Apache Spark jobs, scripts, workflows, or user-supplied containers. All objects are assigned persistent IDs, including software. All results are annotated with FAIR metadata using the evidence graph model for access, validation, reproducibility, and re-use of archived data and software.
Microglial Activation and Neurological Outcomes in a Murine Model of Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Ousta Alaa , Piao Lin , Fang Yong Hu , Vera Adrianna , Nallamothu Thara , Garcia Alfredo J. , Sharp Willard W.
Published: July 2021

Background

Neurological injury following successful resuscitation from sudden cardiac arrest (CA) is common. The pathophysiological basis of this injury remains poorly understood, and treatment options are limited. Microglial activation and neuroinflammation are established contributors to many neuropathologies, such as Alzheimer disease and traumatic brain injury, but their potential role in post-CA injury has only recently been recognized. Here, we hypothesize that microglial activation that occurs following brief asystolic CA is associated with neurological injury and represents a potential therapeutic target.

Methods

Adult C57BL/6 male and female mice were randomly assigned to 12-min, KCl-induced asystolic CA, under anesthesia and ventilation, followed by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 19) or sham intervention (n = 11). Neurological assessments of mice were performed using standardized neurological scoring, video motion tracking, and sensory/motor testing. Mice were killed at 72 h for histological studies; neuronal degeneration was assessed using Fluoro-Jade C staining. Microglial characteristics were assessed by immunohistochemistry using the marker of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, followed by ImageJ analyses for cell integrity density and skeletal analyses.

Results

Neurological injury in post-cardiopulmonary-resuscitation mice vs. sham mice was evident by poorer neurological scores (difference of 3.626 ± 0.4921, 95% confidence interval 2.618–4.634), sensory and motor functions (worsened by sixfold and sevenfold, respectively, compared with baseline), and locomotion (75% slower with a 76% decrease in total distance traveled). Post-CA brains demonstrated evidence of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory microglial activation.

Conclusions

Extensive microglial activation and neurodegeneration in the CA1 region and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus are evident following brief asystolic CA and are associated with severe neurological injury.
LncRNA NEAT1 Enhances Glioma Progression via Regulating the miR-128-3p/ITGA5 Axis
Authors: Chen Jiakai , Wang Handong , Wang Junjun , Niu Wenhao , Deng Chulei , Zhou Mengliang
Published: July 2021

Accumulating evidences indicate that long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) promotes the progression of glioma. In this study, we postulated that NEAT1 may act as a miR-128-3p sponge. Relative levels of NEAT1 and miR-128-3p expression in human glioma samples and GBM cells were detected using quantitative real-time PCR. By means of CCK-8 assays, transwell assays, and flow cytometric analysis, the biological functions of miR-128-3p and NEAT1 were investigated in U87MG and U251MG human GBM cell lines with stable miR-128-3p and NEAT1 knockdown or overexpression. The luciferase reports, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were conducted to determine the relevance of NEAT1 and miR-128-3p in glioma. As a result, high expression of NEAT1 and lack of miR-128-3p were observed in glioma specimens and cells. By binding to anti-oncogene miR-128-3p in the nucleus, NEAT1 enhanced tumorigenesis and glioma development. Further experiments suggested that ITGA5 expression was increased in glioma tissues and was found to be connected with miR-128-3p. Additionally, NEAT1 facilitated ITGA5 expression via competitively binding to miR-128-3p. For this reason, ITGA5 would not be decomposed by miR-128-3p and could activate FAK signaling pathway, thereby promoting cell growth. Collectively, these results indicated that the NEAT1/miR-128-3p/ITGA5 axis was involved in glioma initiation and progression, and might offer a potential novel strategy for treatment of glioma.
How Decriminalisation Reduces Harm Within and Beyond Sex Work: Sex Work Abolitionism as the “Cult of Female Modesty” in Feminist Form
Authors: Bateman Victoria
Published: July 2021

Background

Sex work has a long history and takes different forms, but the associated precarity and danger, particularly where poorer women and minorities are concerned, is undeniable. There is growing evidence that decriminalisation reduces harm, and, indeed, it is the policy approach favoured by sex worker groups. Despite this, many feminists instead seek to “end demand” for paid sex, recommending legal penalties for sex buyers, with the aim of abolishing sex work altogether.

Method

This paper takes a comparative approach, examining why “end demand” is applied to sex work but not to care work. Abolition is typically justified both in terms of reducing harm to sex workers and to women more generally, with sex work’s very existence being thought to perpetuate the notion that all women are “sex objects.” Women are, however, not only exposed to harm within care work but are also commonly stereotyped as care givers, and in a way that has similarly been argued to contribute to gender inequality.

Results

By comparing sex work with care work, this paper reveals the logical inconsistency in the “end demand” approach; unlike with sex work, there is little push to criminalise those who purchase care or other such domestic labour services. By revealing the moral nature of abolitionist arguments, and the disrespectful way in which sex workers are characterised within radical feminist literature, it argues that, rather than reducing harm, the “end demand” approach perpetuates harm, conspiring in the notion that “immodest” women are the cause of social ills.

Conclusions

Reducing the harm that sex workers—and women more generally—face requires feminists to challenge “the cult of female modesty”, rather than to be complicit in it.
A Fulton–Hansen theorem for almost homogeneous spaces
Authors: Kollár János , Landesman Aaron
Published: July 2021

We prove a generalization of the Fulton–Hansen connectedness theorem, where $${\mathbb {P}}^n$$

P

n

is replaced by a normal variety on which an algebraic group acts with a dense orbit.
COVID-19: Perceived Infection Risk and Barriers to Uptake of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Among Community Healthcare Workers
Authors: Famuyiro Tolulope B. , Ogunwale Abayomi , des Bordes Jude , Raji Mukaila
Published: July 2021

Background

The health and economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic have prompted the need for a timely and effective vaccine development. While the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in record time is being hailed as a scientific feat, skepticism about the safety, side effects, and even its long-term effects remain. Acceptance of the vaccine may therefore be a challenge among healthcare workers (HCWs), whose role is considered a proxy to determining the COVID-19 vaccine uptake response by the general population.

Methods

In December 2020, prior to the arrival and receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the readiness for vaccine uptake among HCWs at three community-based, university-affiliated health centers.

Results

A total of 205 (82%) respondents out of 250 completed the questionnaire. Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed to receive vaccine once available. Females (odds ratio (OR) =0.22, p=0.014), non-Hispanic Blacks (OR=0.066, p=0.010), and Hispanics (OR=0.11, p=0.037) were less likely to accept the vaccine. Respondents with moderate-risk perception were more likely to accept (OR=2.79, p=0.045) compared to those with low-risk perception while no association was found between high-risk perception and vaccine acceptance (p=0.226). After adjusting for perceived risk, sex, race/ethnicity, and age, acceptance in non-Hispanic Black population remained statistically significant (adjusted OR=0.07, p=0.014), with Hispanic (AOR=0.12, p=0.051) showing a trend.

Conclusions

Enthusiastic acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is lacking among surveyed HCWs of certain racial/ethnic groups. Provision of resources and public health interventions targeting underserved, minority populations are necessary to halt opposition to vaccine uptake.
Shining a Light on the Mechanisms of Sleep for Memory Consolidation
Authors: Frazer Michelle A. , Cabrera Yesenia , Guthrie Rockelle S. , Poe Gina R.
Published: July 2021

Purpose of review

This paper reviews all optogenetic studies that directly test various sleep states, traits, and circuit-level activity profiles for the consolidation of different learning tasks.

Recent findings

Inhibiting or exciting neurons involved either in the production of sleep states or in the encoding and consolidation of memories reveals sleep states and traits that are essential for memory. REM sleep, NREM sleep, and the N2 transition to REM (characterized by sleep spindles) are integral to memory consolidation. Neural activity during sharp-wave ripples, slow oscillations, theta waves, and spindles are the mediators of this process.

These studies lend strong support to the hypothesis that sleep is essential to the consolidation of memories from the hippocampus and the consolidation of motor learning which does not necessarily involve the hippocampus. Future research can further probe the types of memory dependent on sleep-related traits and on the neurotransmitters and neuromodulators required.
Qualitative Risk Analysis for Contents of Dry Toilets Used to Produce Novel Recycling Fertilizers
Authors: Krause Ariane , Häfner Franziska , Augustin Florian , Udert Kai M.
Published: July 2021

Human excreta are a sustainable, economical source of nutrients, and can be used to produce recycling fertilizer for horticulture by collecting and processing the contents of dry toilets. Herein, we discuss the key categories of risk associated with the main groups of materials commonly found in dry toilets. The study was part of the development of a German product standard for marketable and quality-assured recycling fertilizers from human excreta for use in horticulture. Particular attention is paid to ensuring that the fertilizer is epidemiologically and environmentally harmless and that the quality of the recycling fertilizer is adequate in terms of low pollution and nutrient availability. In sum, the risk of transmissible human pathogens lies within the human excreta, particularly feces; plant materials added during composting are of particular phytosanitary relevance; pharmaceutical residues in excrements and chemical additives are potential sources of pollutants; non-biodegradable contaminants can cause pollution and injury; and the horticultural risks involve mainly the ammonia emission potential and in some cases the salinity effects of urine. These risks can be reduced significantly (i) with education of users around proper operation of dry toilets and the consequences of adding inappropriate waste, (ii) with facilitation of proper use with general waste bins and clear instructions, and importantly (iii) by using modern sanitization and cleaning processes and testing for harmful substances under the guidance of local laws and regulations, ensuring safe and high-quality fertilizers. In conclusion, the benefits of using dry toilet contents to produce fertilizers for use in horticulture are unquestionable. Our analysis highlights the need to support recycling optimization and awareness for the purpose of a sustainable circular economy and to minimize the risk of harm to humans and the environment overall.
Closing Water and Nutrient Cycles in Urban Wastewater Management: How to Make an Academic Software Available to General Practice
Authors: Schuur Johann S. , Spuhler Dorothee
Published: July 2021

Appropriate sanitation is crucial to alleviate pressures on environmental and human health hazards. Conventional (sewered) sanitation systems are often not viable in rapidly developing urban areas, where over 70% of the world population is expected to live in 2050. Freshwater is polluted and valuable resources such as nutrients and organics are lost. At present, many alternative sanitation technologies and systems are being developed with the aim to alleviate these pressures through (1) independency from sewers, water, and energy, therefore better adapted to the needs of fast and uncontrolled developing urban areas; and (2) contribute to a circular economy through the recovery of nutrients, energy, and water for reuse. Unfortunately, these innovations hardly find their way into practice because there exists a lack of data and knowledge to systematically consider them in strategic planning processes. To this end, we have developed SANitaTIon system Alternative GeneratOr (SANTIAGO)—a software that provides a comprehensive list of potential technologies and system configurations and quantifies their local appropriateness as well as their resource recovery and loss potentials. The aim is to provide a manageable but diverse set of decision options together with information needed to rank the alternatives and to select the preferred one in a structured decision making process. To make this software useful for practice, an easily accessible interactive user interface is required that (1) facilitates data collection and input; and (2) the exploration and presentation of results. As a first step in creating this user interface, we develop a framework that summarizes (1) the requirements that arise from practical applications of SANTIAGO, and (2) a comprehensive user understanding on the basis of 21 interviews with international practitioners caught in five personas: capacity developers, engineering experts, planners, researchers, teachers and trainers. This framework aids the development of any academic software into a tool useful for practice and policy makers. Here specifically, it enables contribution to sustainable development goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), and 11 (sustainable cities and communities).