bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Duration and Type on Well-being: an Online Dose-Ranging Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fincham Guy W. , Mavor Ken , Dritschel Barbara
Published: April 2023

Objectives

This multi-arm randomized controlled online trial explored the effects of two key mindfulness characteristics (dose and type) over 2 weeks on mental well-being, along with psychological distress and dispositional mindfulness, in a healthy community sample.

Method

Participants were randomly assigned to one of four mindfulness interventions (~ 10 min or ~ 30 min of sitting or movement meditation) to practice daily for 2 weeks; 161 participants fully completed the study and were included in the final sample. We also explored self-reported adherence through how often participants practiced, along with dropout rate via how many participants fully completed the study.

Results

Well-being and mindfulness scores increased—and distress scores decreased—within all four conditions. However, most importantly, there were no significant differences between the conditions as a function of meditation dose or type. There were also no differences between the conditions on how regularly the meditations were practiced irrespective of type or dose. Additionally, there was no difference on dropout rate regarding meditation dose. However, meditation type had an effect, with a significantly higher dropout rate for participants allocated to a movement meditation irrespective of the dose.

Conclusions

Brief mindfulness meditation may offer some benefit to well-being regardless of the meditation type and dose but, fundamentally, no differences in effects were detected between short/long sitting meditations and short/long movement meditations. Moreover, the results indicate that movement meditations may possibly be harder to adhere to, potentially informing the tailoring of mindfulness-based self-help programs. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.

Preregistration

This study was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000422123).
Recent advancement in development and modification of nanofibrous matrix for the application in sensing and remediation of water pollutants
Authors: Khurana Dolphee , Sadashiva Swathi , Dey Bipasa , Guruprasad K. P. , Bhat Shyamasunder N. , Singh Bhisham Narayan
Published: April 2023

Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively investigated in recent years for the generation of various advanced sensing technique like high efficiency biosensors, chemosensors, colorimetric sensing strip, and nanofibrillar-based biosorbent for waste water management, remediation and environmental monitoring. The present review article highlights various different types of conventional sensors, their limitations and the further advancement towards development of highly sensitive sensor with faster response time using functionalized nanofibrous matrix. It also explains the various approaches for the generation of nanofibrous matrix through melt blowing, force spinning, template melt extrusion and electrospinning methods and their further modification with suitable probe for the detection and elimination of various water contaminants. This review discussed various nanofibrous matrices that have been modified for the sensing and remediation of heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), organic pollutants such as dye, petroleum, phenolic compounds, and microorganisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), BVDV (bovine viral diarrhoea virus), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Finally, the various challenges and future perspectives associated with the usage of nanofibrous matrix-based sensors for detection and remediation of water pollutant are discussed.
New mesocarnivore at the doorstep of Central Europe: historic development of golden jackal (Canis aureus) population in Slovenia
Authors: Krofel M. , Berce M. , Berce T. , Kryštufek B. , Lamut S. , Tarman J. , Fležar U.
Published: April 2023

Golden jackal (Canis aureus) has dramatically increased its distribution and abundance in Europe. Expansion is now reaching parts of Central, Northern, and Western Europe, where jackal occurrences are mainly limited to vagrants or single territorial groups. Currently, it is hard to predict future development of jackal populations in these regions, as it remains unclear whether environmental conditions here could enable population growth similar to the jackal core areas in the South-eastern Europe. We used a combination of a literature review, opportunistically collected data and systematic acoustic surveys to study historic development of golden jackal population in Slovenia, a Central European country that jackals started colonizing 70 years ago and which could serve as a model for other countries at the expansion frontier due to its resemblance in environmental conditions. After the initial expansion waves reached Slovenia in the 1950s and 1980s, jackal presence became more permanent since 2000s. This is also the period when first territorial groups and reproductions were confirmed, but it was not until the following decade for the number of records to start exhibiting an exponential growth. By 2016–2017, the minimum densities in lowlands reached 0.06–0.29 jackal territorial groups/10 km2, which is still lower compared to the core areas in the Balkans and the Pannonian Basin. This study demonstrates that jackals can successfully colonize and spread across a forested Central-European country with lower availability of anthropogenic food resources, although in such conditions, it can take several decades of sporadic existence before population progresses into exponential growth similar to jackal populations in the European core areas.
Integrated biorefinery of Mucor circinelloides biomass and sugarcane bagasse for application of high-value biopolymers
Authors: Zininga Johnson Tungamirai , Puri Adarsh Kumar , Dlangamandla Nkosikho , Wang Zhengxiang , Singh Suren , Permaul Kugenthiren
Published: April 2023

The replacement of expensive components in microbial growth media with pretreated lignocellulosic waste component to increase the product spectrum and add value to the bioproducts has been encouraged to achieve sustainable and feasible utilization of waste biomass as per the biorefinery approach. This study demonstrates an integrated biorefinery approach towards utilization of sugarcane bagasse and biomass of Mucor circinelloides ZSKP. A maximum reducing sugar recovery of 80.67 g/l was achieved after combining pretreatment with saccharification. A low temperature, glycerol, and ammonium phosphate pretreatment method was established, where glycerol pretreatment conditions were reduced from 250 to 150 °C and from 120 to 45 min. The ammonium phosphate-containing hydrolysate yielded 12.89 g/l of fungal biomass after fermentation to add to 20.8 g lignin from the delignification step. The biomass production was further improved to 17.69 g/l after supplementation with corn steep solids and mineral salts. The fermentation process also yielded 2.36 g/l chitosan and 4.9 g/l of lipids after extraction from the oleaginous fungus. The lignin infused glycerol plasticized chitosan biocomposite plastic had a 100% improvement in thermogravimetric properties with almost 50% more energy needed to increase the temperature of the material when compared to glycerol only plasticized biocomposite. The fungal chitosan showed antimicrobial properties and was effective as a preservative spray for fresh tomatoes and apples extending their shelf life to at least 14 and 18 days, respectively. This study therefore demonstrated that a novel two-step pretreatment process could be environmentally beneficial and yielded multiple products for biotechnological applications.
Seeds of knowledge: paving the way to integrated historical and conservation science research
Authors: Gomes Inês , Freire Dulce
Published: April 2023

Recognition of the importance of protecting agrobiodiversity is not a new phenomenon. Crossing different sciences is often pinpointed as a relevant contributor to its successful protection. This paper proposes an integrated research approach in history and conservation science by opening new paths for using written historical sources in biodiversity inventories. It discusses some conceptual and methodological challenges raised by historical research regarding the diversity and distribution of wild and cultivated edible plants. The possibilities of using historical sources for compiling plant lists that can be integrated into biodiversity databases are also explored. Arguing that interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are crucial, enabling a wide range of vernacular sources from several centuries to be cross-referenced, the paper aims to draw attention to written historical sources and their importance in deepening knowledge about past biodiversity patterns.
Do leadership behaviours, work environments and the health of managers in Sweden and outside Sweden differ?—a study of a large international mining company
Authors: Vinberg Stig , Lööw Joel , Jakobsson Mats , Molnar Malin Mattson , Larsson Johan
Published: April 2023

The mining industry faces specific challenges related to the working conditions and safety of employees. Studies indicate that the leadership behaviours, working conditions and health of managers are of importance for the working conditions and health of subordinates. Therefore, the aim here is to study these factors in a large international mining company with its head office in Sweden. The specific focus is on identifying similarities and differences that may exist between managers in Sweden and managers outside Sweden. An online survey with validated questions has been distributed to all managers in the company. The main findings are that both managers in and outside of Sweden report relatively high values regarding relation-, structure- and change-oriented leadership behaviours. In addition, managers also rated HEL (healthy and effective leadership) behaviours with relatively high values. The managers in Sweden rate relation orientation with the highest value and the managers outside Sweden rate structure orientation with the highest value. These differences have been confirmed by a regression analysis that identified significant associations between the group of managers based outside Sweden and higher structure orientated leadership behaviours. Both manager groups rate relatively high values regarding job satisfaction and self-rated health. However, they rate relatively high work demand values. The main conclusions are that there are different patterns in leadership behaviours between these two manager groups that can be related to cross-culture factors. Further investigation of the reasons for these differences is important in this industrial sector.
Differences between total amount of heavy metals and their occurrence form contents in the wastelands of a molybdenum mine area
Authors: Shi Ping , Huang Jing , Wu Zecan , Chen Aoshuang , Zhang Guangxin
Published: April 2023

In a single sample plot, the total amount of heavy metals in the soil could not necessarily reflect the contents of their effective states. This must be considered when attempting to determine the degree of soil heavy-metal pollution in an area. In the present study, the soil around the molybdenum mining area in Huludao, China, was surveyed and sampled to evaluate soil heavy-metal pollution using the Nemerow multifactor pollution index method. The Tessier continuous extraction method was used to analyze the distribution of heavy-metal forms’ and their content changes in the soil of this area. Thus, the bioactivity of heavy metals in the soil, the absorption of heavy metals by plants, and the distribution of heavy metals in plants were explored to provide data supporting the use of phytoremediation technology to treat the heavy-metal pollution in the molybdenum mining area and develop ecological restoration strategies for the area’s wastelands. The pollution index results indicate that heavy-metal pollution in the soil around the tailings pond is severe, mainly due to Pb and Zn heavy metals. Heavy-metal pollution in the surrounding land is mainly due to Cd and Zn. Content analysis of the heavy-metal forms/states in soils shows that exchangeable forms, which are most effective and toxic to plants, of the following metals are highest in the following areas: Cd, Cu, and Zn in the mountains around the stope; Zn, Mo, and Cu in the cultivated land around the dump; and Cd, Zn, and Mo in the cultivated land around the tailings pond. The pollution index analysis provides a basic overview of soil heavy-metal pollution across the entire mining area. However, content analysis of heavy-metal forms/states better reflects the relationship between the availability of heavy metals in the soil and the effectiveness of plants. Thus, the latter analysis can help ensure that phytoremediation strategies are adequately targeted, science-based, and effective.
Damping Behaviour of High Silicon Nodular Cast Iron
Authors: Pereira Inês , Anjos Vítor , Alonso Gorka , Malheiros Luís Filipe , Suarez Rámon
Published: April 2023

This work focused on producing and characterizing high silicon cast irons (microstructural analysis, tensile properties, damping capacity, elastic properties). Moreover, it also evaluated the influence of RE alloying on damping capacity. The samples present a step-casting geometry to verify the cooling rate’s impact on their microstructures and, consequently, on the mechanical properties. The high Si SGI presented a fully ferritic matrix (i.e. pearlite < 5%) with uniform dispersed graphite nodules; however, those also RE alloyed showed a lower nodularity. The results show an average increase, relative to the base SGI, of 33% for tensile strength and 55% for yield strength (section thicknesses between 45 and 25 mm). A damping capacity increase was observed, reaching a maximum increase of 32% with the addition of RE. The beneficial impact lies in the possibility of increasing the damping capacity of SGI, without compromising its tensile strength, by balancing the graphite degeneration (induced by RE alloying) and strengthening the ferritic matrix (promoted by the high Si content).
The Impacts of Applying Cobalt and Chitosan with Various Water Irrigation Schemes at Different Growth Stages of Corn on Macronutrient Uptake, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency
Authors: Elshamly Ayman M. S. , Nassar Saad M. A.
Published: April 2023

While previous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of low cobalt (CB) levels and chitosan (CH) on yield and nutrient status, information about their individual and combined applications on plants under stress is still lacking. Therefore, we conducted a study to investigate CB and CH impacts on mitigating water stress during growth stages and their effects on corn macronutrient uptake and yield. Four irrigation schemes were employed, including (1) control (full irrigation), (2) 70% of irrigation water during the vegetative stage, (3) 70% of irrigation water during the flowering stage, and (4) 85% of irrigation water during both the vegetative and flowering stages. The plants were treated with (7.5 mg l−1) CB injected into the irrigation water and CH foliar application (500 mg l−1), while distilled water was used as the control. Plants that were exposed to water stress during the flowering stage and treated with CB, or those subjected to water stress during the vegetative stage and treated with CH, showed increased macronutrient uptake and growth, which had a positive effect on yield and water use efficiency. However, when CB and CH were applied in combination, their potential to enhance these features depended on the pattern of water stress adopted. Overall, the application of CB and CH was effective in mitigating water stress, and their combined application was particularly effective when 70% of irrigation water was applied during the flowering stage. This approach resulted in the highest yield, macronutrient uptake, water use efficiency, and tolerance index.
Thermal protection of a vertical plate using ethylene glycol film cooling flowing down on a vertical plate
Authors: Nasr Abdelaziz
Published: April 2023

This paper concerns a numerical investigation of the evaporative cooling of liquid film falling along a vertical channel. The first plate is insulated and wetted by an ethylene glycol liquid film while the second one (y = d) is dry and isothermal. A marching procedure is employed for solution of the equation of mass momentum, energy and concentration in the flow. Numerical results for air-ethylene glycol system are presented. The effects of ambient gas temperature and inlet vapor mass fraction of ethylene glycol on the heat and mass transfer and on the ethylene glycol liquid film evaporation are investigated.
Modeling grid erosion in the NEXT ion thruster using the CEX2D and CEX3D codes
Authors: Polk James , Chaplin Vernon , Anderson John , Yim John , Soulas George , Williams George , Shastry Rohit
Published: April 2023

NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) is a candidate for future deep space missions that offers high efficiency and specific impulse over a large power throttling range. One of the key life-limiting components is the ion accelerator system, which is subject to sputter erosion by low energy discharge plasma ions incident on the upstream screen grid and higher energy charge exchange ions that impact the downstream accelerator grid. The grid erosion codes CEX2D and CEX3D were validated with data from tests of NEXT as well as the NSTAR ion thruster and then used to assess the time to failure in space due to screen grid erosion and electron backstreaming caused by accelerator grid aperture erosion. Screen grid erosion was found to be important only at the lowest throttle levels, and was conservatively estimated to lead to failure after processing over 900 kg of xenon. The first failure mode at high power levels was found to be electron backstreaming due to accelerator grid hole wall erosion, which would occur after processing over 700 kg of propellant.
The uncommon complications of Meckel’s diverticulum: A single center case series study and literature review
Authors: Bayissa Badhaasaa B. , Yahya Abdurahman
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Introduction and importance

Meckel’s diverticulum is the most common congenital true diverticula of the gastrointestinal tract with 4–9% life time risk of complications. It is difficult to diagnose preoperatively other than having high index of suspicion. Therefore, the aim of this case series is to present the rare presentation of this disease and create awareness for clinician to deliver early intervention so that associated mortality and morbidity will be minimized.

Case presentation

Here we present four cases of Meckel’s diverticulum managed in single center during a period of one year. Two cases were presented as isolated gangrenous Meckel’s diverticulum with small bowel obstruction. The remaining two were: an adult male patient operated for generalized peritonitis as a result of perforated Meckel’s diverticulitis and a child with intussusception in which Meckel’s diverticulum was secondarily obstructed.

Clinical discussion

The less frequent complications of Meckel’s diverticulum are more challenging to diagnose. It carries higher rate of morbidities since early diagnosis is difficult; especially, isolated axial torsion of the Meckel’s diverticulum that we are presenting in this case series. Therefore it is prudent to consider for a pain originating from central abdomen which gets diffuse in the meantime unlike symptoms of complicated appendicitis as symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum.

Conclusion

The rare complications of Meckel’s diverticulum need high index of suspicion to diagnose as their symptoms mimic other pathologies which cause diffuse abdominal pain. Timely intervention can prevent hospital mortality, morbidity and decrease duration of hospital stay.

Highlights
Master Narratives, Self-Simulation, and the Healing of the Self
Authors: BOLLIER RYAN
Published: April 2023

Infiltrated consciousness occurs when a subject's sense of self comes to be strongly and negatively shaped by victimizing master narratives. Consider the stay-at-home dad who has internalized a harmful narrative of traditional masculinity and so feels ashamed because he is not the family's bread winner. One way master narratives infiltrate consciousness is through conditioning self-simulation by assigning a hierarchy of values to different social roles. Further, master narratives confine self-simulation by prescribing certain social roles to an individual and prohibiting others. One common suggestion for counteracting infiltrated consciousness is to transform it through membership in new communities with new master narratives. But how does such healing happen? This essay offers a response. Recent psychological research on constructivist theories of memory outlines a naturalistically plausible mechanism for self-simulation. I argue that this mechanism is implicated in transforming infiltrated consciousness. This clarifies features of our psychological architecture that make the alteration of self-concepts possible.
Moral Principles as Generics
Authors: THAKRAL RAVI
Published: April 2023

I argue that moral principles involve the same sort of generalization as ordinary yet elusive generic generalizations in natural language such as ‘Tigers are striped’ or ‘Peppers are spicy’. A notable advantage of the generic view is that it simultaneously allows for pessimism and optimism about the role and status of moral principles in our lives. It provides a new perspective on the nature of moral principles on which principles are not apt for determining the moral status of particular actions while they may be apt, and even fundamental, to our acquisition of moral knowledge. A natural consequence of the view is variation among moral principles, with some regularly warranting exceptions and some appearing arguably exceptionless. I will also argue that this generic conception of moral principles has significant advantages, as a normative model of moral reasoning, over the view of moral principles as defaults advanced in recent years.
Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing varies by clinical services at United States children’s hospitals
Authors: Diggs Devin T. , Tribble Alison C. , Same Rebecca G. , Newland Jason G. , Lee Brian R.
Published: April 2023

Objective:

To describe patterns of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing at US children’s hospitals and how these patterns vary by clinical service.

Design:

Serial, cross-sectional study using quarterly surveys.

Setting:

Surveys were completed in quarter 1 2019–quarter 3 2020 across 28 children’s hospitals in the United States.

Participants:

Patients at children’s hospitals with ≥1 antibiotic order at 8:00 a.m. on institution-selected quarterly survey days.

Methods:

Antimicrobial stewardship physicians and pharmacists collected data on antibiotic orders and evaluated appropriateness of prescribing. The primary outcome was percentage of inappropriate antibiotics, stratified by clinical service and antibiotic class. Secondary outcomes included reasons for inappropriate use and association of infectious diseases (ID) consultation with appropriateness.

Results:

Of 13,344 orders, 1,847 (13.8%) were inappropriate; 17.5% of patients receiving antibiotics had ≥1 inappropriate order. Pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and hospitalists contributed the most inappropriate orders (n = 384 and n = 314, respectively). Surgical subspecialists had the highest percentage of inappropriate orders (22.5%), and 56.8% of these were for prolonged or unnecessary surgical prophylaxis. ID consultation in the previous 7 days was associated with fewer inappropriate orders (15% vs 10%; P < .001); this association was most pronounced for hospitalist, PICU, and surgical and medical subspecialty services.

Conclusions:

Inappropriate antibiotic use for hospitalized children persists and varies by clinical service. Across 28 children’s hospitals, PICUs and hospitalists contributed the most inappropriate antibiotic orders, and surgical subspecialists’ orders were most often judged inappropriate. Understanding service-specific prescribing patterns will enable antimicrobial stewardship programs to better design interventions to optimize antibiotic use.
Non-reversible guided Metropolis kernel
Authors: Kamatani Kengo , Song Xiaolin
Published: April 2023

We construct a class of non-reversible Metropolis kernels as a multivariate extension of the guided-walk kernel proposed by Gustafson (Statist. Comput.8, 1998). The main idea of our method is to introduce a projection that maps a state space to a totally ordered group. By using Haar measure, we construct a novel Markov kernel termed the Haar mixture kernel, which is of interest in its own right. This is achieved by inducing a topological structure to the totally ordered group. Our proposed method, the$\Delta$-guided Metropolis–Haar kernel, is constructed by using the Haar mixture kernel as a proposal kernel. The proposed non-reversible kernel is at least 10 times better than the random-walk Metropolis kernel and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo kernel for the logistic regression and a discretely observed stochastic process in terms of effective sample size per second.
Virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance and phylogeny of bovine mastitis-associatedStreptococcus dysgalactiae
Authors: Crippa Bruna Lourenço , Rodrigues Marjory Xavier , Tomazi Tiago , Yang Yongqiang , de Oliveira Rocha Liliana , Bicalho Rodrigo Carvalho , Silva Nathália Cristina Cirone
Published: April 2023

We carried out a thorough genetic evaluation ofStreptococcus dysgalactiaeisolated from clinical bovine mastitis cases and performed a phylogenetic analysis to represent the evolutionary relationship betweenS. dysgalactiaesequences. A total of 35S. dysgalactiaestrains were isolated from cases of clinical mastitis identified at a large commercial dairy farm located near Ithaca, New York. Whole-genome sequencing identified twenty-six antibiotic resistance genes, four of which were acquired genes, in addition to fifty virulence genes. Multi-locus sequence typing detected three new sequence types (STs). We conclude that a high proportion of this microorganism carries multiple virulence determinants and resistance genes, and that this indicates its potential to cause mastitis. Eight different STs were identified, of which ST453 (n= 17) was the most prevalent and ST714, ST715, ST716 were novel STs.
A Stethoscope to the World: The Fault Lines Between Marxism and Afropessimism
Authors: Fermin Juan Carlos Coden
Published: April 2023

In Capital, Karl Marx provides an immanent critique of capitalism. The text offers a rendering of a political economy that is at times “synchronic” as it describes how capital works irrespective of any given moment in history, but also “diachronic” when it accounts for the historical development of capitalism as Marx knew it. These affordances equip Marx with a language essential to characterizing an “antagonism” between the worker and the capitalist. This antagonism subtends capitalism's demise since the proletariat possesses the numbers to overthrow the bourgeoisie. However, Marxism's assumptive logic only holds water when considering the structural position of the worker. The structural position of the slave entails no such denouement. In his 1983 book Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition, Cedric Robinson notes that “slave labor” helped scaffold “what Marx termed ‘primitive accumulation,’ [but] it would be an error to arrest the relationship there, assigning slave labor to some ‘pre-capitalist’ stage of history . . . this meant that the interpretation of history in terms of the dialectic of capitalist class struggles would prove inadequate”—inadequate, that is, to the task of understanding forms of racial alienation, exploitation, and suffering that lose visibility in class-reductionist discourses.1 In a critical divergence from Robinson's Black radical tradition, Frank Wilderson's contributions to the framework of Afropessimism pose a different yet nonetheless crucial intervention to Marxism. Importantly, Robinson throws into relief the concomitance of slavery and racialization with the logic of capitalism, proclaiming that “the Atlantic slave trade and the slavery of the New World were integral to the modern world economy. Their relationship to capitalism was historical and organic rather than adventitious or synthetic.”2 Wilderson argues, however, that the concomitance of slavery and racialization (particularly for Blackness) circumscribes capitalism on the level of paradigm.
goose-fronting in Received Pronunciation across time: A trend study
Authors: Jansen Sandra , Mompean Jose A.
Published: April 2023

The current study analyzes the trajectory of thegoosevowel in Received Pronunciation (RP) over ten decades (1920s-2010s). Recordings of eighty-seven RP speakers were transcribed inELAN, and vowel tokens were extracted byFAVE, measuring F1 and F2 values at the midpoint. Showing the life-cycle of a sound change from start to (almost) completion, the results confirm thatgoose-fronting has been an active sound change for many decades in RP, with F2 starting to increase in the middle of the twentieth century and accelerated changes in the 1970s and the 2010s. We observe similar predictor strengths of linguistic factors as in previous studies. The results are interpreted in light of the social changes in the social composition of the RP group in the second part of the twentieth century, involving increased dialect contact.
From type theory to setoids and back
Authors: Palmgren Erik
Published: April 2023

A model of Martin-Löf extensional type theory with universes is formalized in Agda, an interactive proof system based on Martin-Löf intensional type theory. This may be understood, we claim, as a solution to the old problem of modeling the full extensional theory in the intensional theory. Types are interpreted as setoids, and the model is therefore a setoid model.We solve the problem of interpreting type universes by utilizing Aczel’s type of iterative sets and show how it can be made into a setoid of small setoids containing the necessary setoid constructions. In addition, we interpret the bracket types of Awodey and Bauer. Further quotient types should be interpretable.
Polypharmazie und Delir bei alten Menschen
Authors: Glaser Isabella
Published: April 2023

Zusammenfassung: Das Delir ist ein häufiges Krankheitsbild bei älteren Menschen im Krankenhaus. Multimorbidität und dadurch bedingte Polypharmazie gelten als wichtige Risikofaktoren für die Entwicklung eines Delirs. Gleichzeitig führt ein Delir umgekehrt häufig zu einer weiteren Verordnung von Medikamenten. Dieser Artikel beleuchtet den Zusammenhang von Delir und Polypharmazie auf Basis aktueller Evidenz. Ausserdem versucht er, Möglichkeiten zur Reduktion von Medikamenten aufzuzeigen.
Journeying Through Different Mythic Worlds
Authors: Lee Boon-Ooi
Published: April 2023

Abstract: The global mental health movement (GMHM) seeks to close the treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries including those in Southeast Asia. However, the GMHM has been criticized for its overemphasis on a Eurocentric approach to mental health care, ignoring the diversity of knowledge and resources in local communities. Given the pluralistic health care systems in most Southeast Asian countries, people may utilize both Indigenous healing and Western mental health services. Therefore, indigenous healing systems can be integrated into mental health care to offer additional resources to local people to cope with emotional distress. Using a single case study approach, this article aims to explore the therapeutic aspects of indigenous healing systems relevant to mental health care. The case is about Jing, a Chinese woman who simultaneously consulted psychiatrists, a dang-ki (Chinese shaman/spirit medium), and a traditional Chinese medicine physician in Singapore. I attempt to answer three questions. First, what is Jing’s experience of seeking help from different forms of healing systems? Second, what are the therapeutic aspects of indigenous healing systems relevant to mental health care? Third, what are the challenges for reconciling the experiential truth with the empirical truth? Based on her narrative, although these healing systems were structured in different mythic worlds and explanatory models, Jing found all of them helpful without experiencing any cognitive dissonance. This may be because she did not passively respond to the treatments but actively negotiated her expectations with the healers, constructed meanings, and adopted a pragmatic attitude to meet her needs.
The Relationship Between Stigma and Social Support to Quality of Life in Indonesia and the Philippines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Balmores-Paulino Rozel S. , Suryani Angela Oktavia , Zay Hta May Kyi , Pamoso Aron Harold G. , Liem Andrian , Sing-Kiat Ting Rachel
Published: April 2023

Abstract: The importance of quality of life (QoL) was magnified as countries faced the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the relationship between COVID-19-related stigma and preferred social support to QoL in two Southeast Asian countries. This paper examined (1) the differences in the physical and psychological dimensions of QoL (QoL-PSY, QoL-PHL), COVID-19 perceived stigma (PcS) and public stigma (PS), and preferred social support (PSS) between Indonesia (IDN) and the Philippines (PHP); (2) the associations between PS and PcS with QoL; (3) the associations between PSS and QoL; and (4) the role of the country as a moderator between the relationship of PcS and PSS to QoL. Data were collected from 992 participants (PHP = 564; IDN = 428) through an online survey (April–June 2022) and analyzed through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), hierarchical multiple regression, and multiple-group path analysis. After controlling for potential covariates, we found significant country differences in QOL and PSS, where Indonesia's estimated means for these two measures were significantly higher than the Philippines. Both domains of PSS had significant positive associations with both QOL domains in the merged sample; similarly, PcS had significant negative associations with both domains of QOL. Path analysis also showed similar significant predictors (PSS and PcS) associated with QoL for both countries with minor coefficient variations, except PS and PSS-ST. The findings show a similar relationship pattern between perceived stigma and social support (strong ties) to the QoL in Indonesia and the Philippines. Cultural interventions to mitigate perceived stigma were suggested in healthcare settings.
Facing the Frontline – An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Filipino Rural Doctors' Mental Health Amid COVID-19
Authors: Umil Mary Diane , Meneses Miranda Ellen , Sioson† Caitlin Ann , Teng-Calleja Mendiola
Published: April 2023

Abstract: Global health crises impose considerable strain in health care systems worldwide that create mental health challenges among medical practitioners. Greater challenges are experienced by doctors practicing in rural areas of developing countries such as the Philippines that have weak healthcare infrastructures and meager resources for health services. Thus, this study sought to explore doctors’ experiences of working in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify contextual factors contributing to their mental health. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used in gathering and analyzing data from semistructured interviews with 12 doctors who worked in rural areas in Eastern Visayas, a region that has very few doctors and that experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases at the time of the study. The findings revealed challenges to doctors’ mental health that include fear of exposure, burnout, scarcity of supplies, and patient-related challenges that reflected contextual realities in the area. The results also described coping strategies utilized by the rural doctors, e.g., communing with nature, diskarte (resourcefulness), social support from family and coworkers, and bayanihan (observed in this study as mutual support among doctors in the rural community to achieve collective goals). The findings highlight policy implications and other forms of support that will sustain rural doctors’ mental health amid a pandemic.
The Role of Atmospheric Rivers in Antarctic Sea Ice Variations
Authors: Liang Kaixin , Wang Jinfei , Luo Hao , Yang Qinghua
Published: April 2023

Antarctic sea ice variations are affected by moisture and heat from low‐ and mid‐latitudes, more than 90% of which are transported by atmospheric rivers (ARs). This study employs the ERA5 reanalysis and satellite observations to detect all the ARs over the Antarctic sea ice and analyze the general contributions of ARs on sea ice changes from 1979 to 2020. Though AR frequency is low in all seasons, ARs give rise to intense sea ice reduction at a rate of more than 10%/day in marginal ice zone. Thermodynamic processes of sea ice dominate the AR‐induced variations, associated with anomalous atmospheric conditions during ARs. Warm, moist and cloudy weather causes considerable melting by enhancing sensible heat flux in cold seasons but has restrictive influences in summer due to blocked solar radiation. Heavy precipitation during ARs is also nonnegligible, especially during the summer melt.
High‐Temperature Fracture Growth by Constrained Sintering of Jadeite and Quartz Aggregates
Authors: Doungkaew Natchanan , Eichhubl Peter
Published: April 2023

Fractures control heat and mass transfer and rheology in a wide range of subsurface regimes, ranging from low‐temperature diagenetic environments to high‐temperature metamorphic and magmatic systems. To investigate processes of opening‐mode fracture growth at high homologous temperature, we conducted constrained high‐temperature sintering experiments of thin layers of porous jadeite and quartz aggregate attached to a non‐sintering mullite substrate. Samples were heated stepwise at a low rate in a muffle furnace from 25°C to 1,000°C under ambient air pressure and examined for changes in mineral composition, texture, porosity, and fracture morphology using powder‐X‐ray diffraction, macro‐photography, reflected incident light microscopy, and secondary electron microscopy. Mineral reactions in the jadeite and quartz sample layer include jadeite and quartz reacting to albite at 600°C and the formation of nepheline and orthoclase at 900°C and 1,000°C. Opening‐mode fractures are first observed at 850°C coincident with the first presence of a melt phase with low aperture‐to‐length ratios similar to elastic‐brittle fractures. At 900°C, melt becomes increasingly abundant, and fractures obtain ductile morphology with high aperture‐to length ratios and blunted tips resulting from fracture growth by growth and coalescence of larger pores at the expense of smaller pores. In the absence of an externally applied mechanical load, we conclude that fracture growth is driven primarily by sintering stress resulting from differential contraction between sample layer and substrate associated with high‐temperature mineral reactions, melt formation and redistribution, and changes in pore structure. Similar fracture processes may be relevant to the segregation and migration of melt in magmatic systems.
Patient-derived xenograft models in cancer therapy: technologies and applications
Authors: Liu Yihan , Wu Wantao , Cai Changjing , Zhang Hao , Shen Hong , Han Ying
Published: April 2023

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, in which tumor tissues from patients are implanted into immunocompromised or humanized mice, have shown superiority in recapitulating the characteristics of cancer, such as the spatial structure of cancer and the intratumor heterogeneity of cancer. Moreover, PDX models retain the genomic features of patients across different stages, subtypes, and diversified treatment backgrounds. Optimized PDX engraftment procedures and modern technologies such as multi-omics and deep learning have enabled a more comprehensive depiction of the PDX molecular landscape and boosted the utilization of PDX models. These irreplaceable advantages make PDX models an ideal choice in cancer treatment studies, such as preclinical trials of novel drugs, validating novel drug combinations, screening drug-sensitive patients, and exploring drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we gave an overview of the history of PDX models and the process of PDX model establishment. Subsequently, the review presents the strengths and weaknesses of PDX models and highlights the integration of novel technologies in PDX model research. Finally, we delineated the broad application of PDX models in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other novel therapies.
USP1 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the Hippo/TAZ axis
Authors: Liu Dongyi , Li Quanhui , Zang Yifeng , Li Xin , Li Zhongbo , Zhang Peng , Feng Chang , Yang Penghe , Cui Jiayao , Sun Yanan , Wei Tian , Su Peng , Zhao Xin , Yang Huijie , Ding Yinlu
Published: April 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. The Hippo signaling pathway has emerged as a significant suppressive pathway for hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The core components of the Hippo pathway constitute a kinase cascade, which inhibits the functional activation of YAP/TAZ. Interestingly, the overactivation of YAP/TAZ is commonly observed in hepatocellular carcinoma, although the inhibitory kinase cascade of the Hippo pathway is still functional. Recent studies have indicated that the ubiquitin‒proteasome system also plays important roles in modulating Hippo signaling activity. Our DUB (deubiquitinase) siRNA screen showed that USP1 is a critical regulator of Hippo signaling activity. Analysis of TCGA data demonstrated that USP1 expression is elevated in HCC and associated with poor survival in HCC patients. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that USP1 depletion affects Hippo signaling activity in HCC cell lines. Mechanistic assays revealed that USP1 is required for Hippo/TAZ axis activity and HCC progression. USP1 interacted with the WW domain of TAZ, which subsequently enhanced TAZ stability by suppressing K11-linked polyubiquitination of TAZ. Our study identifies a novel mechanism linking USP1 and TAZ in regulating the Hippo pathway and one possible therapeutic target for HCC.
IL-6 prevents Th2 cell polarization by promoting SOCS3-dependent suppression of IL-2 signaling
Authors: Bachus Holly , McLaughlin Erin , Lewis Crystal , Papillion Amber M. , Benveniste Etty N. , Hill Dave Durell , Rosenberg Alexander F. , Ballesteros-Tato André , León Beatriz
Published: April 2023

Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Using a model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, we showed that IL-6 signaling in allergen-specific T cells was required to prevent Th2 cell differentiation and the subsequent IgE response and allergic inflammation. Th2 cell lineage commitment required strong sustained IL-2 signaling. We found that IL-6 turned off IL-2 signaling during early T-cell activation and thus inhibited Th2 priming. Mechanistically, IL-6-driven inhibition of IL-2 signaling in responding T cells was mediated by upregulation of Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3). This mechanism could be mimicked by pharmacological Janus Kinase-1 (JAK1) inhibition. Collectively, our results identify an unrecognized mechanism that prevents the development of unwanted Th2 cell responses and associated diseases and outline potential preventive interventions.
Inflammatory signals from fatty bone marrow support DNMT3A driven clonal hematopoiesis
Authors: Zioni N. , Bercovich A. Akhiad , Chapal-Ilani N. , Bacharach Tal , Rappoport N. , Solomon A. , Avraham R. , Kopitman E. , Porat Z. , Sacma M. , Hartmut G. , Scheller M. , Muller-Tidow C. , Lipka D. , Shlush E. , Minden M. , Kaushansky N. , Shlush Liran I.
Published: April 2023

Both fatty bone marrow (FBM) and somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), also termed clonal hematopoiesis (CH) accumulate with human aging. However it remains unclear whether FBM can modify the evolution of CH. To address this question, we herein present the interaction between CH and FBM in two preclinical male mouse models: after sub-lethal irradiation or after castration. An adipogenesis inhibitor (PPARγ inhibitor) is used in both models as a control. A significant increase in self-renewal can be detected in both human and rodent DNMT3AMut-HSCs when exposed to FBM. DNMT3AMut-HSCs derived from older mice interacting with FBM have even higher self-renewal in comparison to DNMT3AMut-HSCs derived from younger mice. Single cell RNA-sequencing on rodent HSCs after exposing them to FBM reveal a 6-10 fold increase in DNMT3AMut-HSCs and an activated inflammatory signaling. Cytokine analysis of BM fluid and BM derived adipocytes grown in vitro demonstrates an increased IL-6 levels under FBM conditions. Anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibodies significantly reduce the selective advantage of DNMT3AMut-HSCs exposed to FBM. Overall, paracrine FBM inflammatory signals promote DNMT3A-driven clonal hematopoiesis, which can be inhibited by blocking the IL-6 pathway.
Combining data and theory for derivable scientific discovery with AI-Descartes
Authors: Cornelio Cristina , Dash Sanjeeb , Austel Vernon , Josephson Tyler R. , Goncalves Joao , Clarkson Kenneth L. , Megiddo Nimrod , El Khadir Bachir , Horesh Lior
Published: April 2023

Scientists aim to discover meaningful formulae that accurately describe experimental data. Mathematical models of natural phenomena can be manually created from domain knowledge and fitted to data, or, in contrast, created automatically from large datasets with machine-learning algorithms. The problem of incorporating prior knowledge expressed as constraints on the functional form of a learned model has been studied before, while finding models that are consistent with prior knowledge expressed via general logical axioms is an open problem. We develop a method to enable principled derivations of models of natural phenomena from axiomatic knowledge and experimental data by combining logical reasoning with symbolic regression. We demonstrate these concepts for Kepler’s third law of planetary motion, Einstein’s relativistic time-dilation law, and Langmuir’s theory of adsorption. We show we can discover governing laws from few data points when logical reasoning is used to distinguish between candidate formulae having similar error on the data.
All-optical control of high-purity trions in nanoscale waveguide
Authors: Lee Hyeongwoo , Koo Yeonjeong , Kumar Shailabh , Jeong Yunjo , Heo Dong Gwon , Choi Soo Ho , Joo Huitae , Kang Mingu , Siddique Radwanul Hasan , Kim Ki Kang , Lee Hong Seok , An Sangmin , Choo Hyuck , Park Kyoung-Duck
Published: April 2023

The generation of high-purity localized trions, dynamic exciton–trion interconversion, and their spatial modulation in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are building blocks for the realization of trion-based optoelectronic devices. Here, we present a method for the all-optical control of the exciton-to-trion conversion process and its spatial distributions in a MoS2 monolayer. We induce a nanoscale strain gradient in a 2D crystal transferred on a lateral metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide and exploit propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) to localize hot electrons. These significantly increase the electrons and efficiently funnel excitons in the lateral MIM waveguide, facilitating complete exciton-to-trion conversion even at ambient conditions. Additionally, we modulate the SPP mode using adaptive wavefront shaping, enabling all-optical control of the exciton-to-trion conversion rate and trion distribution in a reversible manner. Our work provides a platform for harnessing excitonic quasiparticles efficiently in the form of trions at ambient conditions, enabling high-efficiency photoconversion.