bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Early Blood Pressure Lowering in Patients Presenting with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Maud A. , Rodriguez G. J. , Vellipuram A. , Sheriff F. , Ghatali M. , Gupta V. , Khatri R. , Cruz-Flores S.
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

In this review article we will discuss the acute hypertensive response in the context of acute ischemic stroke and present the latest evidence-based concepts of the significance and management of the hemodynamic response in acute ischemic stroke.

Recent Findings

Acute hypertensive response is considered a common hemodynamic physiologic response in the early setting of an acute ischemic stroke. The significance of the acute hypertensive response is not entirely well understood. However, in certain types of acute ischemic strokes, the systemic elevation of the blood pressure helps to maintain the collateral blood flow in the penumbral ischemic tissue. The magnitude of the elevation of the systemic blood pressure that contributes to the maintenance of the collateral flow is not well established. The overcorrection of this physiologic hemodynamic response before an effective vessel recanalization takes place can carry a negative impact in the final clinical outcome. The significance of the persistence of the acute hypertensive response after an effective vessel recanalization is poorly understood, and it may negatively affect the final outcome due to reperfusion injury.

Acute hypertensive response is considered a common hemodynamic reaction of the cardiovascular system in the context of an acute ischemic stroke. The reaction is particularly common in acute brain embolic occlusion of large intracranial vessels. Its early management before, during, and immediately after arterial reperfusion has a repercussion in the final fate of the ischemic tissue and the clinical outcome.
Impact of Nutritional Epigenetics in Essential Hypertension: Targeting microRNAs in the Gut-Liver Axis
Authors: Golonka Rachel M. , Cooper Johnathan Kawika , Issa Rochell , Devarasetty Pratyush Pavan , Gokula Veda , Busken Joshua , Zubcevic Jasenka , Hill Jennifer , Vijay-Kumar Matam , Menon Bindu , Joe Bina
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

To review the current knowledge on interactions between dietary factors and microRNAs (miRNAs) in essential hypertension (EH) pathogenesis.

Recent Findings

There exists an integration of maintenance signals generated by genetic, epigenetic, immune, and environmental (e.g., dietary) factors that work to sustain balance in the gut-liver axis. It is well established that an imbalance in this complex, intertwined system substantially increases the risk for EH. As such, pertinent research has been taken to decipher how each signal operates in isolation and together in EH progression. Recent literature indicates that both macro- and micronutrients interrupt regulatory miRNA expressions and thus, alter multiple cellular processes that contribute to EH and its comorbidities. We highlight how carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, salt, and potassium modify miRNA signatures during EH. The disruption in miRNA expression can negatively impact communication systems such as over activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, modulating the vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype, and promoting angiogenesis to favor EH. We also delineate the prognostic value of miRNAs in EH and discuss the pros and cons of surgical vs dietary prophylactic approaches in EH prevention.

We propose that dietary-dependent perturbation of the miRNA profile is one mechanism within the gut-liver axis that dictates EH development.
A DFT-based model to the interpretation of DC conductivity in transition metals doped zinc phosphate glass
Authors: Maghni Cherif , Kharroubi Mohamed
Published: May 2021

Ternary zinc–sodium–phosphate glasses doped with transition metal of the composition Na2MxZn1−xP2O7(x = 0, 1, 2 and 5 mol %) (where M = Ni, Cu and Co) were prepared by the traditional quenching method. The ac conductivity measurements at different temperatures for the prepared glasses have been investigated, and the activation energy for dc conduction has been determined in each transition metal doped sample. The results showed that the evolution of the activation energy of the conductivity depends on the nature of the dopant ions. A model based on formal density functional theory concept in which the electrical charge exchanged between the transition-metal cations and the surrounding material surface is proposed. The outcome is a “simplified” formula which allows us to explain the evolution of the ionic dc conductivity activation energy as a function of the doped ion in interaction with the cation and the surface.
What Do Meditators Do When They Meditate? Proposing a Novel Basis for Future Meditation Research
Authors: Matko Karin , Ott Ulrich , Sedlmeier Peter
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Meditation is an umbrella term for a vast range of contemplative practices. Former proposals have struggled to do justice to this variety. To our knowledge, there is to date no comprehensive overview of meditation techniques spanning all major traditions. The present studies aimed at providing such a comprehensive list of meditation techniques.

Methods

In a qualitative study, we compiled a collection of 309 meditation techniques through a literature search and interviews with 20 expert meditators. Then, we reduced this collection to 50 basic meditation techniques. In a second, quantitative study, 635 experienced meditators from a wide range of meditative backgrounds indicated how much experience they had with each of these 50 meditation techniques.

Results

Meditators’ responses indicated that our choice of techniques had been adequate and only two techniques had to be added. Our additional statistical and cluster analyses illustrated preferences for specific techniques across and within diverse traditions as well as sets of techniques commonly practiced together. Body-centered techniques stood out in being of exceptional importance to all meditators.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we found an amazing variety of meditation techniques, which considerably surpasses previous collections. Our selection of basic meditation techniques might be of value for future scientific investigations and we encourage researchers to use this set.
Assessing Knowledge and Perceptions About Cancer Among American Indians of the Zuni Pueblo, NM
Authors: Safi Safia , Ghahate Donica , Bobelu Jeanette , Sussman Andrew L. , Rodman Joseph , Wandinger-Ness Angela , Mishra Shiraz I. , Faber Thomas , Willman Cheryl , Shah Vallabh
Published: May 2021

American Indians (AIs) in New Mexico have lower cancer screening rates compared to other populations and are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage of the disease as reported by Li et al. (Archives of Internal Medicine 163(1):49–56, 2003). AIs also have the lowest 5-year cancer survival rates compared to any ethnic/racial group in the USA as reported by Clegg et al. (Arch Intern Med 162:1985–1993, 2002) and Edwards et al. (Cancer 97:1407–1427, 2005). Numerous barriers such as cultural beliefs, fear, fatalism, mistrust, stigma, and lack of culturally appropriate interventions could contribute to low cancer screening rates as reported by Daley et al. (J Health Dispar Res Pract 5(2), 2012); Filippi et al. (J Prim Care Community Health 4(3):160–166, 2013); James et al. (Prev Chronic Dis 10:E170, 2013); and Schumacher et al. (Cancer Causes Control 19(7):725–737, 2008). Trained Community Health Representatives (CHRs) from the Zuni Pueblo and native Zuni undergraduate students led six 1-h focus group sessions using a structured focus group guide with probes. The focus groups were conducted among 51 participants from different age groups (20–29 years, n = 19; 30–49 years, n = 17; and 50 years and older, n = 15) stratified by sex. Focus groups were conducted in both English and Shiwi (Zuni) languages. Sessions were audio recorded, and team members took notes. CHRs transcribed the notes and audio recordings, and created a codebook for qualitative data analysis. In the focus groups, participants provided Zuni-specific cultural context, opinion, and experience regarding (1) general knowledge about cancer, (2) cancer risk, (3) cancer risk reduction, (4) personal experiences with cancer, and (5) culturally competent delivery of cancer information and resources. Understanding the perceptions of cancer within the Zuni Pueblo is an essential component in the development of interventional/preventative measures and improvement of current care. Ultimately, this information will provide a basis for the next steps in culturally sensitive cancer care for the Zuni Pueblo.
Removal of Toxic Elements and Microbial Contaminants from Groundwater Using Low-Cost Treatment Options
Authors: Da’ana Dana A. , Zouari Nabil , Ashfaq Mohammad Y. , Abu-Dieyeh Mohammed , Khraisheh Majeda , Hijji Yousef M. , Al-Ghouti Mohammad A.
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

This paper reviews various low-cost treatment techniques such as adsorption, permeable reactive barrier, and biological techniques for the simultaneous removal of chemical and microbial contaminants from groundwater and discusses treatment mechanisms of different treatment techniques. This paper also discusses the challenges of groundwater treatment, how to choose the appropriate treatment technique, and cost analysis of groundwater treatment.

Recent Findings

Various treatment technologies have been used for the treatment of groundwater: physical, chemical, and biological technologies with different success rates. In the literature, various adsorbents have been successfully synthesized from low-cost and environmentally friendly materials. Adsorption is considered an efficient treatment technique for the removal of both toxic elements and pathogens by utilizing different adsorbents. For example, the nanostructures of MgO with a BET surface area of up to 171 m2/g obtained a very high adsorption capacity of 29,131 mg/g for fluoride ions in water, while the incorporation of iron in activated carbon has improved its adsorption capacity to 51.3 mg/g for arsenic. Moreover, certain adsorbents have shown the capability to remove 99% of the rotavirus and adenovirus from groundwater.

Groundwater resources are contaminated with toxic metals and pathogens. Therefore, water treatment technologies should be evaluated for their efficiency to remove such contaminants. Determination of the most cost-effective and efficient treatment technique is not an easy task and requires the understanding of various aspects such as the contaminants present in water, the reuse options considered, and cost analysis of the treatment technique.
Development of new technology for coal gasification purification and research on the formation mechanism of pollutants
Authors: Zheng Shu , Shi Yixiang , Wang Zhiqi , Wang Pengjie , Liu Gang , Zhou Huaichun
Published: May 2021

Coal-fired power generation is the main source of CO2 emission in China. To solve the problems of declined efficiency and increased costs caused by CO2 capture in coal-fired power systems, an integrated gasification fuel cell (IGFC) power generation technology was developed. The interaction mechanisms among coal gasification and purification, fuel cell and other components were further studied for IGFCs. Towards the direction of coal gasification and purification, we studied gasification reaction characteristics of ultrafine coal particles, ash melting characteristics and their effects on coal gasification reactions, the formation mechanism of pollutants. We further develop an elevated temperature/pressure swing adsorption rig for simultaneous H2S and CO2 removals. The results show the validity of the Miura-Maki model to describe the gasification of Shenhua bituminous coal with a good fit between the predicted DTG curves and experimental data. The designed 8–6–1 cycle procedure can effectively remove CO2 and H2S simultaneously with removal rate over 99.9%. In addition, transition metal oxides used as mercury removal adsorbents in coal gasified syngas were shown with great potential. The techniques presented in this paper can improve the gasification efficiency and reduce the formation of pollutants in IGFCs.
Incorporation of Mo6+ in Ferrihydrite, Goethite, and Hematite
Authors: Görn Marcel G. , Bolanz Ralph M. , Parry Stephen , Göttlicher Jörg , Steininger Ralph , Majzlan Juraj
Published: May 2021

Among all iron oxides, hematite (α-Fe2O3), goethite (α-FeOOH), and ferrihydrite (FeOOH⋅nH2O) are the most common mineral species. While immobilization of Mo6+ by surface adsorption on ferric oxides has been studied extensively, the mechanisms of incorporation in their structure have been researched little. The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between Mo content and its structural incorporation in hematite, goethite, and six-line ferrihydrite by a combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), and inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Synthesized in the presence of Mo, the hematite, goethite, and six-line ferrihydrite phases incorporated up to 8.52, 0.03, and 17.49 wt. % Mo, respectively. For hematite and goethite, pXRD analyses did not indicate the presence of separate Mo phases. Refined unit-cell parameters correlated with increasing Mo concentration in hematite and goethite. The unit-cell parameters indicated an increase in structural disorder within both phases and, therefore, supported the structural incorporation of Mo in hematite and goethite. Analysis of pXRD measurements of Mo-bearing six-line ferrihydrites revealed small amounts of coprecipitated akaganéite. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements at the Mo L3-edge indicated a strong distortion of the MoO6 octahedra in all three phases. Fitting of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of the Mo K-edge supported the presence of such distorted octahedra in a coordination environment similar to the Fe position in the investigated specimen. Incorporation of Mo6+ at the Fe3+-position for both hematite and goethite resulted in the formation of one Fe vacancy in close proximity to the newly incorporated Mo6+ and, therefore, charge balance within the hematite and goethite structures.
Freud and Religion
Authors: Parsons William B.
Published: May 2021

We live in an era that often described as 'therapeutic.' Our culture is suffused with unconscious fantasies and psychoanalytic ways of thinking about self, other, and society. Aspects of the Freudian cultural universe have also had an impact on how we think about religion. In this volume, William Parsons explores the relationship between religion and psychoanalysis through multiple, linked investigations. Why did Freud write about religion and what did he say? What were the multiple critiques levelled at his work? What were the post-Freudian psychoanalytic advances? How can we still apply psychoanalytic ideas going forward? In answering these and related questions, Parsons distinguishes between classic-reductive, adaptive, and transformational psychoanalytic models. He also argues that the psychoanalytic theory of religion needs to integrate reflexive, dialogical, and inclusive elements as part of its toolkit. Offering illustrations and applications of such revisions, Parsons creates new capacities for thinking psychologically and critically about religion.
The Scientific Imagination in South Africa
Authors: Beinart William , Dubow Saul
Published: May 2021

South Africa provides a unique vantage point from which to examine the scientific imagination over the last three centuries, when its position on the African continent made it a staging post for Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonialism. In the eighteenth century, South African plants and animals caught the imagination of visiting Europeans. In the nineteenth century, science became central to imperial conquest, devastating wars, agricultural intensification and the exploitation of rich mineral resources. Scientific work both facilitated, and offered alternatives to, the imposition of segregation and apartheid in the twentieth century. William Beinart and Saul Dubow offer an innovative exploration of science and technology in this complex, divided society. Bridging a range of disciplines from astronomy to zoology, they demonstrate how scientific knowledge shaped South Africa's peculiar path to modernity. In so doing, they examine the work of remarkable individual scientists and institutions, as well as the contributions of leading politicians from Jan Smuts to Thabo Mbeki.
The Eulenburg Affair
Authors: Domeier Norman
Published: May 2021

When it broke out in 1906, the scandal surrounding Prince Philipp Eulenburg, closest confidant of Emperor Wilhelm II, shook the Hohenzollern monarchy and all of Europe to the core. Sparked by accusations by the journalist and publicist Maximilian Harden, the scandal dominated European headlines until 1909; it was the first modern scandal in which homosexuality was openly discussed. Particularly shocking was Harden's claim that Wilhelm had long been under the influence of a homosexual camarilla led by Eulenburg. Allegedly, this clique had brought about Bismarck's dismissal, cut off the emperor from his people, and, with its undue pacifism, maneuvered Germany not only into isolation, but to the brink of war during the Morocco Crisis of 1905/6. The scandal came to be a forum for the German public to debate diverse political, social, and cultural issues: honor, friendship, marriage, privacy, sexual mores, anti-Semitism, spiritualism, class struggle, submission to authority, and enthusiasm for the military. Norman Domeier's book, now in English translation, is the first scholarly monograph on the scandal. It draws on a wealth of primary material, including ca. 5,000 newspaper articles as well as minutes of court trials, private correspondence, government files, pamphlets, diaries, memoirs, and images. Domeier's historical analysis offers fascinating insights into the cultural history of German politics in the fateful years of transition from the Belle Époque to the 'Iron Age' of the world wars. Norman Domeier is Assistant Professor at the University of Stuttgart's Historical Institute.
Education in Twelfth-Century Art and Architecture
Authors: Cleaver Laura
Published: May 2021

On the facade of Chartres cathedral serene personifications of the arts of grammar, rhetoric, dialectic, music, arithmetic, geometry and astronomy present passers-by with a vision of education as an improving process leading to greater knowledge of God. The arts proved a popular subject in medieval imagery, and were included in manuscripts, stained-glass and luxury metalwork objects as well as onthe facades of churches. These idealized figures contrast with many textual accounts of education, in which authors recorded the hardships of student poverty and the temptations of drink and women tobe found in the cities where teachers were increasingly establishing themselves. This book considers how and why education was explored in the art and architecture of the twelfth century. Through analysis of imagery in a wide range of media, it examines how teachers and students sought to use images to enhance their reputations and the status of their studies. It also investigates how the ideal models often set out in imagery compared with contemporary practice in an era that saw significant changes, beginning with a shift away from monastic education and culminating in the appearance of the first universities. Laura Cleaver is Ussher Lecturer in Medieval Art at Trinity College Dublin.
Racial, ethnic differences in complementary and integrative health use among adults with mental illness: Results from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Ong Lee Za , Callender Karisse A. , Blalock Kacie M. , Holzbauer Jerome J.
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of complementary and integrative health (CIH) use among adults with a racial/ethnic minority background and a mental illness. A secondary data analysis of 2017 National Health Interview Survey (N= 793) was conducted using chi-square, multivariate logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression. Overall, Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx groups remained the least proportional of CIH therapies utilization. Being a male, Black/African American or Latinx/Hispanic and had work experience were predictors of the least use of the CIH therapies. Research is needed to bridge the gaps on the CIH use among a racial/ethnic minority with mental illness and to enhance the equitable and collaborative mental health care in the community.
AN ALGORITHM OF COMPUTING COHOMOLOGY INTERSECTION NUMBER OF HYPERGEOMETRIC INTEGRALS
Authors: MATSUBARA-HEO SAIEI-JAEYEONG , TAKAYAMA NOBUKI
Published: May 2021

We show that the cohomology intersection number of a twisted Gauss–Manin connection with regularization condition is a rational function. As an application, we obtain a new quadratic relation associated to period integrals of a certain family of K3 surfaces.
A NOTE ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF NONCOMPACT QUASI-EINSTEIN MANIFOLDS WITH VANISHING CONDITION ON THE WEYL TENSOR
Authors: BALTAZAR H. , MATOS NETO M.
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is to study complete (noncompact) m-quasi-Einstein manifolds with λ=0 satisfying a fourth-order vanishing condition on the Weyl tensor and zero radial Weyl curvature. In this case, we are able to prove that an m-quasi-Einstein manifold (m>1) with λ=0 on a simply connected n-dimensional manifold(Mn, g), (n ≥ 4), of nonnegative Ricci curvature and zero radial Weyl curvature must be a warped product with (n–1)–dimensional Einstein fiber, provided that M has fourth-order divergence-free Weyl tensor (i.e. div4W =0).
The Intoxicant as Preservative and Scientific Instrument in the World of James Petiver
Authors: James Kathryn
Published: May 2021

This article examines the emergent use of alcohol as a preservation medium for scientific specimens from the mid-seventeenth century in Britain. Taking the work of the London apothecary James Petiver (1660–1718) as its focus, the article explores the ways in which alcohol was used to fix and remediate the specimen, shown ‘lifelike’ in glass, in displays or in engravings. Petiver actively promoted the use of pickling spirits, publishing instructions on how to preserve specimens and distributing these to his collecting agents in the Indies trade. The article introduces the early history of preservation in alcohol in England, and particularly the work of Robert Boyle in promoting the wet collection. It then follows Petiver's agent, Richard Bradley, on his 1711 visit to Leiden and Amsterdam, examining the role of alcohol alongside other means of preserving and activating the scientific collection.
Spectral resolution and speech perception after cochlear implantation using the round window versus cochleostomy technique
Authors: Demir B , Yüksel M , Atılgan A , Ciprut A , Batman C
Published: May 2021

Objective

To evaluate the spectral resolution achieved with a cochlear implant in users who were implanted using round window route electrode insertion versus a traditional cochleostomy technique.

Methods

Twenty-six patients were classified into two groups according to the surgical approach: one group (n = 13) underwent cochlear implantation via the round window technique and the other group (n = 13) underwent surgery via cochleostomy.

Results

A statistically significant difference was found in spectral ripple discrimination scores between the round window and cochleostomy groups. The round window group performed almost two times better than the cochleostomy group. Differences between Turkish matrix sentence test scores were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The spectral ripple discrimination scores of patients who had undergone round window cochlear implant electrode insertion were superior to those of patients whose cochlear implants were inserted using a classical cochleostomy technique.
Sex differences in the association between maternal depression and child and adolescent cognitive development: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ahun Marilyn N. , Gapare Claire , Gariépy Geneviève , Côté Sylvana M.
Published: May 2021

Background

Maternal depression is negatively associated with cognitive development across childhood and adolescence, with mixed evidence on whether this association differs in boys and girls. Herein, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of sex-specific estimates of the association between maternal depression and offspring cognitive outcomes.

Method

Seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ERIC, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest) were searched for studies examining the longitudinal association between maternal depression and offspring (up to 18 years) cognitive outcomes. Studies were screened and included based on predetermined criteria by two independent reviewers (Cohen's κ = 0.76). We used random-effects models to conduct a meta-analysis and used meta-regression for subgroup analyses. The PROSPERO record for the study is CRD42020161001.

Results

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Maternal depression was associated with poorer cognitive outcomes in boys [Hedges’ g = –0.36 (95% CI −0.60 to −0.11)], but not in girls [−0.17 (–0.41 to 0.07)]. The association in boys varied as a function of the measure of depression used (b = –0.70, p = 0.005): when maternal depression was assessed via a diagnostic interview, boys [−0.84 (–1.23 to −0.44)] had poorer cognitive outcomes than when a rating scale was used [−0.16 (–0.36 to 0.04)].

Conclusions

This review and meta-analysis indicates that maternal depression is only significantly associated with cognitive outcomes in boys. Understanding the role of sex differences in the underlying mechanisms of this association can inform the development of targeted interventions to mitigate the negative effects of maternal depression on offspring cognitive outcomes.
The recent contribution of scientific techniques to the study of Nokalakevi in Samegrelo, Georgia
Authors: Everill Paul , Murgulia Nikoloz , Lomitashvili Davit , Colvin Ian , Lortkipanidze Besik , Schwenninger Jean-Luc , Cook Gordon
Published: May 2021

The site of Nokalakevi, in western Georgia, has seen significant excavation since 1973, including, since 2001, a collaborative Anglo-Georgian project. However, the interpretation of the site has largely rested on architectural analysis of standing remains and the relative dating of deposits based on the study of ceramics. Since 2013, the Anglo-Georgian Expedition to Nokalakevi has collected a diverse dataset derived from multiple scientific techniques including optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of ceramics, radiocarbon dating, δ13C and δ15N analysis and 87Sr/86Sr analysis. The full results of these analyses are reported here for the first time along with implications for the interpretation of the archaeology, which include greater detail in the site chronology but also indicators of diet and migration.
Increasing autonomy through improved care: effects of a professional care-giver training programme on the functional status of older adults
Authors: Navarro Elena , Sanjuán Miriam , Calero M. Dolores
Published: May 2021

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a care-giver training programme that trains professional care-givers in cognitive stimulation strategies for functional maintenance in care-dependent older adults. The sample contained 69 older adults (37 in the treatment group, 32 control group) assessed with the Barthel Index, the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (Cognitive Scale). Participants in the treatment group were treated by professional care-givers who were trained with the programme CUIDA-2 in communication and cognitive stimulation strategies. The results from the Barthel Index showed significant differences in the post-intervention assessment and in the follow-up assessment, where the treatment group obtained higher scores, and there were significant differences within the treatment group between the initial assessment and the post-treatment assessment, as well as between the initial assessment and the follow-up. The data obtained reflect that a training programme to train professional care-givers produced functional benefits in the older adults, and these improvements persisted over time. Moreover, the care-givers saw themselves as more competent and more satisfied with their work.
Adult children's gender, number and proximity and older parents’ moves to institutions: evidence from Sweden
Authors: Artamonova Alyona , Brandén Maria , Gillespie Brian Joseph , Mulder Clara H.
Published: May 2021

Older people's ability to thrive independently of their adult children is an important feature of a universalistic welfare system. However, population ageing puts this notion under stress. In separate multinomial logistic regression models for older men and women, we examined whether adult children's gender, number and proximity were associated with older parents’ relocations into residential care facilities, and whether the effects of these children's characteristics on older parents’ institutionalisation vary by parents’ severe health problems, operationalised as closeness to death – specifically, dying within the two-year observation period. Analyses were based on the Swedish register data between 2014 and 2016 (N = 696,007 person-years). Older parents with at least one co-resident child were less likely to move or become institutionalised than those without a co-resident child. We did not find a relationship between older adults’ institutionalisation and the closest child's gender. The negative effect of having a non-resident child living nearby on the likelihood of becoming institutionalised was more pronounced for mothers than fathers. Having a child nearby decreased the likelihood of moving to an institution more for mothers who had severe health problems than for those in better health. We found no evidence of a relationship between number of children and likelihood of institutionalisation.
Research on mechanical optimization methods of cable-driven lower limb rehabilitation robot
Authors: Wang Yan-lin , Wang Ke-yi , Chai Yu-jia , Mo Zong-jun , Wang Kui-cheng
Published: May 2021

In order to improve the working performance of the lower limb rehabilitation robot and the safety of the trained object, the mechanical characteristics of a cable-driven lower limb rehabilitation robot (CDLR) are studied. The dynamic model of the designed CDLR was established. Four kinds of cable tension optimization algorithms were proposed to obtain a good rehabilitation training effect, and the quality of the feasible workspace of the CDLR was analyzed. Finally, a real-time evaluation index of the cable tension optimization algorithms was given to measure the calculation speed of the optimization algorithms. The numerical research results were provided to confirm the characteristics of the four kinds of the optimization algorithms. The research results provide a basis for the follow-up research on the safety and compliance control strategy of the CDLR system.
The Contradictions of Reform: Prosecuting Infant Murder in the Nineteenth-Century United States
Authors: Turner Felicity
Published: May 2021

“The Contradictions of Reform” analyses the complications of reform of legislation regulating punishment for women convicted of infanticide in Connecticut between 1790 and 1860, within the context of broader social, cultural, and legal understandings of the crime within the US. These changes are investigated through a close reading of petitions for clemency to Connecticut's General Assembly in which women convicted of the crime petitioned the state legislature seeking reduced sentences. The article argues that although the nineteenth century opened with legislation that promised death to all women convicted of infanticide, in practice courts and juries never imposed the penalty. Instead, juries proved reluctant to convict and/or death sentences were not imposed, even if juries found women guilty. In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the Connecticut Assembly reformed existing infanticide law in response to a number of social debates about the merits of the death penalty, particularly for women. The article argues, however, that these reforms counter-intuitively resulted in less favorable outcomes for those convicted of the crime, as they found themselves facing lengthy prison sentences. Such an outcome was unlikely in the early decades of the nineteenth century. The article, therefore, demonstrates, the “contradictions of reform.”
SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATIONS IN THE CORE AND PERIPHERY OF ANCIENT TULA
Authors: Paredes Gudiño Blanca , Healan Dan M.
Published: May 2021

This article presents the results of an integrative program of salvage archaeology in response to two comprehensive modern construction projects within the limits of the Early Postclassic city of Tula, Hidalgo. Exploratory excavation at eleven different localities encountered remains of residential compounds and other prehispanic structures in all localities, collectively spanning the Epiclassic through Late Postclassic periods and yielding extensive ceramic, lithic, and faunal remains from domestic and ritual contexts including over 250 human and animal burials that included evidence of contact with other areas of Mesoamerica. Some 36 radiocarbon dates were obtained from ceramically dated contexts that span c. 1,000 years of occupation and support the current ceramic phase chronology for Tula.
The population characteristics of the main leukocyte subsets and their association with chronic diseases in a community-dwelling population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chen Wangyang , Wang Jixi , Ye Bintao , Zhou Jun , Wang Weibo
Published: May 2021

Aim:

To analyse the characteristics of the main leukocyte subsets and elucidate their distributions amongst the natural population. We wanted to determine whether leukocyte subsets are potential biomarkers to evaluate the risk of common chronic diseases.

Background:

The peripheral blood leukocyte count is a routine exam performed to detect pathogen infections. Recently, subsets of white blood cells and their homeostasis have shown strong associations with some chronic diseases. Therefore, studies aiming to discover whether the distribution of leukocyte counts and its subsets are useful for predicting health conditions are worthwhile.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study analysed 10 564 residents from the basic public health service project of the Health Checkup Program performed by the BaiYun Community Health Service Center. Data on demographic information, physical measurements, medical history, and routine blood examination parameters were collected using questionnaires and health check-ups. Restricted cubic spline incorporated into logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between subsets of leukocytes and common chronic diseases.

Findings:

The counts of leukocytes and their subsets in males were higher than those in females amongst all age groups, yet the percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophils did not present sex-specific differences. A low lymphocyte count and percentage were associated with old age. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with hypertension was higher than that in the non-hypertensive population. The risk of NLR in the top quartiles was 1.17-fold higher than that in people in the lowest quartiles.

Conclusions:

The distributions of the white blood cell count and percentage were associated with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). In addition to the immune barrier for pathogens, the NLR or monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) may be potentially used to indicate the risk of some chronic non-communicable diseases. Homeostasis of subsets of leukocytes may be an important biomarker for body health conditions.
Psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the spiritual well-being scale (SWBS) in Iranian patients with cancer
Authors: Sharif Nia Hamid , Mohammadinezhad Mobin , Allen Kelly A. , Boyle Christopher , Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Rahmatpour Pardis
Published: May 2021

Objective

The spiritual well-being scale (SWBS) is a widely used clinical scale which should be evaluated for Iranian patients with cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the SWBS in Iranian patients with cancer.

Method

This cross-sectional, methodological study was conducted among Iranian patients with cancer (n= 400). The participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The content, construct, convergent and discriminant validity, and reliability of the Persian version of the SWBS were evaluated.

Results

A two-factor structure for the scale was indicated with the factors being:connecting with Godandmeaningless lifethat explained 54.18% of the total variance of the concept of spiritual well-being. The results demonstrated the model had a good fit. Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and the inter-item correlation values of the factors indicated good internal consistency of the scale.

Significance of results

These results suggest that the Persian version of the SWBS is a reliable and valid measure to assess the spiritual well-being of patients with cancer through 16 items related to connecting with God and meaningless life.
Warming as a Driver of Vegetation Loss in the Sonoran Desert of California
Authors: Hantson Stijn , Huxman Travis E. , Kimball Sarah , Randerson James T. , Goulden Michael L.
Published: May 2021

Dryland ecosystems cover large regions of the Earth and have important impacts on global biogeochemistry and the carbon cycle. The plant species that occupy dryland environments have traits that enable them to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and some researchers have hypothesized that dryland vegetation may be comparatively resilient to changing climate, while others have pointed out that dryland vegetation often operates close to the physiological limits of many species, implying a possible vulnerability to warming. Here we use the Landsat archive to analyze vegetation dynamics for part of the Sonoran Desert and adjacent mountains in southern California. We show that large decreases in vegetation cover occurred over the last 34 years (1984–2017), especially across the xeric portions of our study region, where we observed a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) decline of 1.1 ± 0.3% yr−1. Changes in precipitation explain most of the year‐to‐year variation but are unable to fully explain the observed long‐term decline in NDVI. Statistical models that combined summer temperature and mean annual precipitation explained more of the spatial and temporal structure of NDVI trends and implicate climate warming as an important driver of declining vegetation cover. The impact of warming contributed to a change in the precipitation‐vegetation relationship through time for this desert region, indicating a structural change in ecosystem function during the study period. These results suggest that recent climate change has already had significant impact on these drylands and highlight the potential for future warming to increase risks for dryland ecosystems in other regions.
Monsoon and Tropical Climate Forcing on the Physicochemical and Thermocline Characteristics of the Maldives Inner Sea: Insights From Marine Isotope Stages 1–2 and 10–13
Authors: Stainbank Stephanie , Spezzaferri Silvia , Rüggeberg Andres , Raddatz Jacek , de Leau Erica S. , Yu Siyao M. , Zhang Manlin , Kroon Dick
Published: May 2021

The Maldivian archipelago, in the equatorial Indian Ocean, provides a unique location to assess long‐term basin‐wide South Asian Monsoon (SAM) processes as well as its response during climatic extremes. This insight is beneficial to better understand future SAM influences on the Maldives Inner Sea physicochemical characteristics and its diverse tropical ecosystems in a warming world. This study uses samples from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 359, drilled within the Inner Sea drift deposits. Multiple foraminiferal species (n = 15) and proxies (δ18O, δ13C, and Mg/Ca) are used to assess glacial‐interglacial SAM dynamics influencing the Inner Sea conditions across Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1–2 and 10–13. The summer SAM is modulated by insolation and atmospheric CO2 and has a predominant impact on the northern Indian Ocean surface salinity. As with present‐day observations, a strong summer monsoon resulted in large basin‐wide δ18Osw (salinity) gradients during the interglacials. Moreover, at the MIS11 minimum (MIS11c), a recognized analog for the present‐day, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were warmer than the present with a stronger summer SAM. This led to an expanded surface mixed layer and strong thermocline, resulting in a highly stratified water column and prominent oxygen minimum zone in the Inner Sea during MIS11c. SSTs in the Maldives are projected to increase at the end of this century and based on the reality that current warming (anthropogenically driven) is much faster than seen during MIS11, the Maldivian tropical coral reef and benthic shoal ecosystems will be subject to increasing stress.
Odor-active volatile compounds in preterm breastmilk
Authors: Muelbert Mariana , Galante Laura , Alexander Tanith , Harding Jane E. , Pook Chris , Bloomfield Frank H.
Published: May 2021

Background

Volatile compounds in breastmilk (BM) likely influence flavor learning and, through the cephalic phase response, metabolism, and digestion. Little is known about the volatile compounds present in preterm BM. We investigated whether maternal or infant characteristics are associated with the profile of volatile compounds in preterm BM.

Methods

Using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we analyzed volatile compounds in 400 BM samples collected from 170 mothers of preterm infants.

Results

Forty volatile compounds were detected, mostly fatty acids and their esters (FA and FAe), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, terpenoids, alcohols, and ketones. The relative concentration of most FA and FAe increased with advancing lactation and were lower in BM of most socially deprived mothers and those with gestational diabetes (p < 0.05), but medium-chain FAs were higher in colostrum compared to transitional BM (p < 0.001). Infant sex, gestational age, and size at birth were not associated with the profile of volatile compounds in preterm BM.

Conclusions

Sensory-active volatile FA and FAe are the major contributors to the smell of preterm BM. The associations between lactation stage, maternal characteristics, and volatile compounds, and whether differences in volatile compounds may affect feeding behavior or metabolism, requires further research.

Impact

Sensory-active volatile FAs are major contributors to the smell of preterm BM and are influenced by the lactation stage and maternal characteristics.

Longitudinal analysis of volatile compounds in preterm BM found that FAs increased with advancing lactation.

Colostrum had a higher concentration of medium-chain FAs compared to transitional BM and the concentration of these is associated with socioeconomic status, gestational diabetes, and ethnicity.
HLA-mismatched allogeneic adoptive immune therapy in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients
Authors: Xu Ruonan , Zhang Ji-Yuan , Tu Bo , Xu Zhe , Huang Hui-Huang , Huang Lei , Jiao Yan-Mei , Yang Tao , Zhang Chao , Qin En-Qiang , Jiang Tian-Jun , Xie Yun-Bo , Li Yuan-Yuan , Jin Lei , Zhou Chun-Bao , Shi Ming , Guo Mei , Ai Hui-Sheng , Zhang Linqi , Wang Fu-Sheng
Published: May 2021

Severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients with recurrent opportunistic infections (OIs) represent an unmet medical need even in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here we report the development of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched allogeneic adaptive immune therapy (AAIT) for severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients. Twelve severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients with severe OIs were enrolled in this single-arm study. Qualified donors received subcutaneous recombinant granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor twice daily for 4–5 days to stimulate hematopoiesis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from these donors via leukapheresis and transfused into the coupled patients. Clinical, immunological, and virological parameters were monitored during a 12-month follow-up period. We found AAIT combined with ART was safe and well-tolerated at the examined doses and transfusion regimen in all 12 patients. Improvements in clinical symptoms were evident throughout the study period. All patients exhibited a steady increase of peripheral CD4+ T cells from a median 10.5 to 207.5 cells/μl. Rapid increase in peripheral CD8+ T-cell count from a median 416.5 to 1206.5 cells/μl was found in the first 90 days since initiation of AAIT. In addition, their inflammatory cytokine levels and HIV RNA viral load decreased. A short-term microchimerism with donor cells was found. There were no adverse events associated with graft-versus-host disease throughout the study period. Overall, AAIT treatment was safe, and might help severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients to achieve a better immune restoration. A further clinical trial with control is necessary to confirm the efficacy of AAIT medication.
Bacteriophages: what role may they play in life after spinal cord injury?
Authors: Leitner Lorenz , McCallin Shawna , Kessler Thomas M.
Published: May 2021

Bacterial infections are the leading cause of death in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that solely infect and kill bacteria. The idea of using phages to treat bacterial infections, i.e., phage therapy, is very promising and potentially allows a more specific and personalized treatment of bacterial infections than antibiotics. While multi-drug resistant infections affect individuals from the general population, alternative therapeutic options are especially warranted in high-risk populations, such as individuals with SCI. However, more clinical data must be collected before phage therapy can be implemented in clinical practice, with numerous possible, subsequent applications.
LINC-PINT impedes DNA repair and enhances radiotherapeutic response by targeting DNA-PKcs in nasopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Wang You-hong , Guo Zhen , An Liang , Zhou Yong , Xu Heng , Xiong Jing , Liu Zhao-qian , Chen Xiao-ping , Zhou Hong-hao , Li Xiong , Liu Tao , Huang Wei-hua , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2021

Radioresistance continues to be the leading cause of recurrence and metastasis in nasopharyngeal cancer. Long noncoding RNAs are emerging as regulators of DNA damage and radioresistance. LINC-PINT was originally identified as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. In this study, LINC-PINT was significantly downregulated in nasopharyngeal cancer tissues than in rhinitis tissues, and low LINC-PINT expressions showed poorer prognosis in patients who received radiotherapy. We further identified a functional role of LINC-PINT in inhibiting the malignant phenotypes and sensitizing cancer cells to irradiation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC-PINT was responsive to DNA damage, inhibiting DNA damage repair through ATM/ATR-Chk1/Chk2 signaling pathways. Moreover, LINC-PINT increased radiosensitivity by interacting with DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and negatively regulated the expression and recruitment of DNA-PKcs. Therefore, these findings collectively support the possibility that LINC-PINT serves as an attractive target to overcome radioresistance in NPC.