bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating rates of coral carbonate production from aerial and archive imagery by applying colony scale conversion metrics
Authors: Husband E. , Perry C. T. , Lange I. D.
Published: April 2022

Recent interest in assessing coral reef functions has raised questions about how carbonate production rates have altered over the past few decades of ecological change. At the same time, there is growing interest in quantifying carbonate production on larger reef-scales. Resolving these issues is challenging because carbonate production estimates require three-dimensional survey data, which are typically collected in-situ over small spatial scales. In contrast, data that can be extracted from archive photograph or video imagery and high-resolution aerial imagery are generally planar. To address this disconnect, we collected data on the relationship between linear planar and3Dcontour lengths of 62 common Indo-Pacific hard coral genera-morphotypes to establish appropriate conversion metrics (i.e. coral class rugosity values, hereafter termedRcoral). These conversion values allow planar colony dimensions to be converted to estimates of 3D colony contour length, which can be employed within existing census budget methodologies like ReefBudget to estimate coral carbonate production (G, in kg CaCO3m−2 yr−1). We tested this approach by comparing in-situ carbonate production data collected using the ReefBudget methodology against estimates derived from converted colony length data from video imagery. The data show a high level of consistency with an error of ~ 10%. We then demonstrate potential applications of the conversion metrics in two examples, the first using time-series (2006 to 2018) photo-quadrat imagery from Moorea, and the second using high-resolution drone imagery across different reef flat habitats from the Maldives. Whilst some degree of error must necessarily be accepted with such conversion techniques, the approach presented here offers exciting potential to calculate coral carbonate production: (1) from historical imagery to constrain past coral carbonate production rates; (2) from high quality aerial imagery for spatial up-scaling exercises; and (3) for use in rapid photograph or video-based assessments along reef systems where detailed surveys are not possible.
Burden of CIN2+ diagnoses and conizations in women aged 18–45 years—a retrospective secondary data analysis of German statutory health insurance claims data
Authors: Reuschenbach Miriam , Stephan Anna-Janina , Saxena Kunal , Prabhu Vimalanand S. , Jacob Christian , Schneider Kim Maren , Greiner Wolfgang , Wölle Regine , Hampl Monika
Published: April 2022

Purpose

High grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) may progress to cervical cancer. They may be detected by screening and are usually treated by conization. This study aimed at assessing annual proportions of screening, prevalent and incident CIN2+ diagnoses, as well as proportions of (re-)conizations during 24 months follow-up after conization in Germany.

Methods

A descriptive retrospective claims data analysis of the years 2013–2018 was conducted using the InGef Research Database. Women aged 18–45 years with CIN2+ diagnoses were identified by ICD-10-GM codes (N87.1, N87.2, D06.-, and C53.-). Cervical conizations were identified by OPS codes (5–671.0* or 5–671.1*). Screening participation was identified by EBM codes (01730, 01733, 32819 or 32820). Annual proportions were calculated as women with the respective documented codes divided by all women in the respective age group per calendar year.

Results

Overall annual proportions of screened women spanned from 60.01 to 61.33% between 2013 and 2018. The overall annual prevalence of CIN2+ diagnoses (regardless of screening participation) ranged from 0.72 to 0.84% between 2013 and 2018, with highest proportions observed in women aged 27–45 years. Also, CIN2+ incidence was highest in women 27–45 years. Annual proportion of women undergoing conization was 0.24% in 2013 and 0.21% in 2018. During a 24-month follow-up period after conization, 2.91% of women underwent a re-conization 3 months or later after the initial conization.

Conclusion

This analysis demonstrates a considerable burden of CIN2+, conizations and re-conizations in Germany, especially in women aged 27–45 years. This highlights the need for intensified prevention efforts such as expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
Knee extensor force production and discomfort during neuromuscular electrical stimulation of quadriceps with and without gluteal muscle co-stimulation
Authors: Flodin J. , Mikkelsen C. , Ackermann P. W.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To investigate whether Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) simultaneously applied on the quadriceps (Q) and gluteal (G) muscles, as compared to single Q-stimulation alters the knee extensor force production and discomfort.

Methods

A total of 11 healthy participants (6 females), with normal weight and age between 19 and 54 years were included. The unilateral, isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was assessed for each participant in an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex, system 3). NMES was, in a randomized order, applied only on the Q-muscle and on the Q- and G-muscles (QG) simultaneously. NMES-intensity was increased stepwise until the maximal tolerable level was reached regarding discomfort, graded according to the visual analogue scale (VAS). VAS and the % of MVC produced by NMES, were registered for each level, expressed as median (inter-quartile range).

Results

The maximum tolerated NMES-intensity applied on Q compared to QG resulted in equally high discomfort, 8.0 (6.0–9.0) vs 8.0 (6.3–9.0), and in equivalent knee extensor force production, 36.7 (29.9–47.5) and 36.2 (28.9–49.3), respectively, in % of MVC. At 20% of MVC, NMES applied on Q compared to QG resulted in equal acceptable discomfort, 3.0 (2.0–4.5) vs 3.0 (3–5.5), and comparable intensity levels, 41.5 (38.0–45.8) vs 43.5 (37.0–48.8), respectively.

Conclusions

Simultaneous QG-NMES, as compared to single Q-NMES, does not seem to affect the knee extensor force production or discomfort. Q-NMES, without voluntary muscle contraction, can with an acceptable level of discomfort result in at least 20% of MVC.
Extreme Points of Gram Spectrahedra of Binary Forms
Authors: Scheiderer Claus
Published: April 2022

The Gram spectrahedron $$\mathrm {Gram}(f)$$

Gram
(
f
)

of a form f with real coefficients is a compact affine-linear section of the cone of psd symmetric matrices. It parametrizes the sum of squares decompositions of f, modulo orthogonal equivalence. For f a sufficiently general positive binary form of arbitrary degree, we show that $$\mathrm {Gram}(f)$$

Gram
(
f
)

has extreme points of all ranks in the Pataki range. We also calculate the dimension of the set of rank r extreme points, for any r. Moreover, we determine the pairs of rank two extreme points for which the connecting line segment is an edge of $$\mathrm {Gram}(f)$$

Gram
(
f
)

. The proof of the main result relies on a purely algebraic fact of independent interest: Whenever $$d,r\ge 1$$

d
,
r
≥
1

are integers with $$\left( {\begin{array}{c}r+1\\ 2\end{array}}\right) \le 2d+1$$

r
+
1

2

≤
2
d
+
1

, there exists a length r sequence $$f_1,\dots ,f_r$$

f
1

,
⋯
,

f
r

of binary forms of degree d for which the $$\left( {\begin{array}{c}r+1\\ 2\end{array}}\right) $$

r
+
1

2

pairwise products $$f_if_j$$

f
i

f
j

, $$i\le j$$

i
≤
j

, are linearly independent.
Telepractice and Dysphagia Management: The Era of COVID-19 and Beyond
Authors: Ward Elizabeth C. , Raatz Madeline , Marshall Jeanne , Wishart Laurelie R. , Burns Clare L.
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic drove rapid and widespread uptake of telepractice across all aspects of healthcare. The delivery of dysphagia care was no exception, with telepractice recognized as a service modality that could support social distancing/infection control, overcome service delivery challenges created by lockdowns/service closures, and address consumer concerns about attending in-person appointments. Now, almost two years since most services first rapidly deployed telepractice, it is time to reflect on the big picture, and consider how telepractice will continue as a service option that is sustained and integrated into mainstream dysphagia care. It is also timely to consider the research agenda needed to support this goal. To this end, in this paper we present 4 discussion topics, which raise key considerations for the current and future use of telepractice within adult and pediatric dysphagia services. These are (1) Dysphagia services must meet consumer and service needs; (2) Aspects of dysphagia services can be safely and reliably provided via telepractice; (3) Telepractice can be used in flexible ways to support the delivery of dysphagia services; and (4) Providing quality dysphagia services via telepractice requires planned implementation and evaluation. Then directions for future research are discussed. These considerations are presented to help shift perspectives away from viewing telepractice as simply a COVID-19 “interim-care solution”. Rather, we encourage clinicians, services, and researchers to embrace a future of “integrated care”, where traditional dysphagia services are combined with telepractice models, to enhance the quality of care provided to our clients.
Taste and smell function in long-term survivors after childhood medulloblastoma/CNS-PNET
Authors: Tanem Kristine Eidal , Stensvold Einar , Wilberg Petter , Skaare Anne B. , Singh Preet Bano , Brandal Petter , Herlofson Bente Brokstad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To investigate taste and smell function in survivors, with a minimum of 2 years since treatment of childhood medulloblastoma (MB)/central nervous system supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (CNS-PNET).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 40 survivors treated ≤ 20 years of age. Taste strips with four concentrations of sweet, sour, salt, and bitter were used to assess taste function in all participants. Score from 0 to 16; ≥ 9 normogeusia, < 9 hypogeusia, and complete ageusia which equals no sensation. No sensation of a specific taste quality equals ageusia of that quality. Thirty-two participants conducted smell testing using three subtests of Sniffin’ sticks: threshold, discrimination, and identification. Together they yield a TDI-score from 1 to 48; functional anosmia ≤ 16.00, hyposmia > 16.00– < 30.75, normosmia ≥ 30.75– < 41.50, and ≥ 41.50 hyperosmia. Results were compared with normative data. Survivors rated their taste and smell function using a numerical rating scale (NRS) score 0–10.

Results

Forty survivors with a mean time since treatment of 20.5 years, 13 (32.5%) were diagnosed with hypogeusia, nine (22.5%) of these being ageusic to one or more taste qualities. Seventeen (53%) of 32 participants were diagnosed with hyposmia. The mean scores of the olfactory subtests, and TDI score were significantly lower than normative data (P < 0.0001). The mean NRS scores of smell and taste function were 7.9 ± 1.5 and 8 ± 1.3, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study showed impaired taste and smell function in survivors of childhood MB/CNS-PNET using objective measurements. However, subjective ratings did not reflect objective findings.
Examining the effect of intellectual devices for healthiness using flower bee algorithm
Authors: Teekaraman Yuvaraja , Manoharan Hariprasath , Kuppusamy Ramya
Published: April 2022

In modern days, for the perseverance of monitoring the vigor of a specific individual, the Wireless Body Sensor Networks have been emerging as an auspicious platform. The foremost challenge such as energy, path loss, and transmission distance that is prevalent from early days has been addressed in this article. The focal notion specified in this exploration is to discover the sensor locations on a human body that is much suitable for interconnecting the information about the intact body thus satisfying all the objectives. The focal difference between the proposed technique and the existing methods is that the projected methodology enacts multiple objectives as an alternative of distinct impartial. Further, the problem of finding the locations of sensors has been executed on an online monitoring system using MATLAB platform where the consequences are found to be improved practically for about 65% when compared with existing literature.
Mycorrhizal structures in mycoheterotrophic Thismia spp. (Thismiaceae): functional and evolutionary interpretations
Authors: Feller Benjamin , Dančák Martin , Hroneš Michal , Sochor Michal , Suetsugu Kenji , Imhof Stephan
Published: April 2022

Achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic plants often have an elaborate mycorrhizal colonization pattern, allowing a sustained benefit from external fungal root penetrations. The present study reveals the root anatomy and mycorrhizal pattern of eight mycoheterotrophic Thismia spp. (Thismiaceae), all of which show separate tissue compartments segregating different hyphal shapes of the mycorrhizal colonization, as there are intact straight, coiled and peculiarly knotted hyphae as well as degenerated clumps of hyphal material. Those tissue compartments in Thismia roots potentially comprise exo-, meso- and endoepidermae, and exo-, meso- and endocortices, although not all species develop all these root layers. Differences in details among species according to anatomy (number of root layers, cell sizes and shapes) and colonization pattern (hyphal shapes within cells) are striking and can be discussed as an evolutionary series towards increasing mycorrhizal complexity which roughly parallels the recently established phylogeny of Thismia. We suggest functional explanations for why the distinct elements of the associations can contribute to the mycorrhizal advantage for the plants and, thus, we emphasize the relevance of structural traits for mycorrhizae.
Blood-based biomarker in Parkinson’s disease: potential for future applications in clinical research and practice
Authors: Tönges Lars , Buhmann Carsten , Klebe Stephan , Klucken Jochen , Kwon Eun Hae , Müller Thomas , Pedrosa David J. , Schröter Nils , Riederer Peter , Lingor Paul
Published: April 2022

The clinical presentation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is both complex and heterogeneous, and its precise classification often requires an intensive work-up. The differential diagnosis, assessment of disease progression, evaluation of therapeutic responses, or identification of PD subtypes frequently remains uncertain from a clinical point of view. Various tissue- and fluid-based biomarkers are currently being investigated to improve the description of PD. From a clinician's perspective, signatures from blood that are relatively easy to obtain would have great potential for use in clinical practice if they fulfill the necessary requirements as PD biomarker. In this review article, we summarize the knowledge on blood-based PD biomarkers and present both a researcher’s and a clinician’s perspective on recent developments and potential future applications.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects serotonergic neurons against 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”) induced cytoskeletal damage
Authors: Bavato F. , Stamatakos S. , Ohki C. M. Yde , Seifritz E. , Romualdi P. , Grünblatt E. , Quednow B. B.
Published: April 2022

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) use has been linked to persistent alterations of the brain serotonergic (5-HT) system in animal and human studies, but the molecular underpinnings are still unclear. Cytoskeletal structures such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) are promising markers of drug-induced brain toxicity and may be involved in MDMA neurotoxicity. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes the growth and sprouting of 5-HT neurons and its differential response to MDMA administration was suggested to mediate dose- and region-dependent 5-HT damage by MDMA. However, the role of BDNF pre-treatment in preventing MDMA neurotoxicity and the potential effects of MDMA on NfL are still elusive. Therefore, a differentiated 5-HT neuronal cell line obtained from rat raphe nucleus (RN46A) was treated in vitro with either MDMA, BDNF, MDMA + BDNF, or vehicle. Cell viability (measured by MTT) and intracellular NfL levels (immunocytochemistry assay) were reduced by MDMA, but partially rescued by BDNF co-treatment. Our findings confirmed that BDNF levels can influence MDMA-induced 5-HT damage, and support BDNF to be a crucial target for neuroprotective interventions of the 5-HT system. We also provide evidence on the sensitivity of NfL to MDMA neurotoxicity, with potential implications for in-vivo monitoring of drug-induced neurotoxicity.
The fractional Makai–Hayman inequality
Authors: Bianchi Francesca , Brasco Lorenzo
Published: April 2022

We prove that the first eigenvalue of the fractional Dirichlet–Laplacian of orderson a simply connected set of the plane can be bounded from below in terms of its inradius only. This is valid for$$1/2<s<1$$1/2<s<1and we show that this condition is sharp, i.e., for$$0<s\le 1/2$$0<s≤1/2such a lower bound is not possible. The constant appearing in the estimate has the correct asymptotic behavior with respect tos, as it permits to recover a classical result by Makai and Hayman in the limit$$s\nearrow 1$$s↗1. The paper is as self-contained as possible.
Reply to Sana et al.’s (2022) Commentary on Rest-from-Deliberate-Learning as a Mechanism for the Spacing Effect
Authors: Chen Ouhao , Paas Fred , Sweller John
Published: April 2022

Sana and colleagues (2022) have raised a number of challenges regarding the operationalisation of constructs and selection of articles to Chen et al.’s (Educational Psychology Review 33:1499–1522, 2021) suggestion that resting from cognitive activity could possibly allow for working memory recovery and so explain some of the data on the spacing effect. In our response, we indicate that the goal of our proposed framework was to try to resolve some mixed results of the spacing and interleaving effects and offer an alternative explanation for those mixed results, rather than proposing a theory of everything. We acknowledge that there are other important factors, which does not however, provide grounds for rejecting our hypothesis. Additional empirical studies are needed to determine whether rest and its effect on working memory are important when analysing the spacing effect.
On the Effect of the Volumetric Deformation in Soft Dielectric Composites with High Phase Contrast
Authors: Bardella Lorenzo , Volpini Valentina , Gei Massimiliano
Published: April 2022

Towards the accurate modelling of soft dielectric composites, this investigation aims at demonstrating that the incompressibility constraint customarily adopted in the literature may lead to largely inaccurate predictions. This claim is grounded on the premise that, even though in these composites each phase may individually be assumed to be incompressible, the volumetric deformation of the softest phase can provide a significant contribution to the effective behaviour if the phase contrast is high enough. To reach our goal, we determine the actuation response of two-phase dielectric laminated composites (DLCs) where the softest phase admits volumetric deformation. Our results, discussed in the light of the limit case in which the softest phase consists of vacuum, on the one hand, challenge the hypotheses usually assumed in the modelling of soft dielectric composites and, on the other hand, are expected to provide useful information for the design of high-performance hierarchical DLCs.
The KUSF and the NCAA: a comparative study of national collegiate sport organizations' academic policies
Authors: Lee Youngjik , Pond Addison , Hums Mary , George Casey
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this comparative study was to investigate and compare the academic policies of the Korean University Sport Federation (KUSF) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). A qualitative, multiple case study design was utilized for this study. Specifically, in-depth interviews were completed with current South Korean (N = 3) and US (N = 3) college women's tennis players to understand their experiences and perceptions linked to the KUSF's and NCAA’s academic policies. A total of three distinct themes emerged with US student-athletes: (a) academic advisor involvement, (b) academic regulations, and (c) study hall. One theme emerged with South Korean student-athletes: absence of academic support. The results of this study provide practical insights to administrators of South Korean intercollegiate athletics regarding their academic policies.
When philosophy (of science) meets formal methods: a citation analysis of early approaches between research fields
Authors: Bonino Guido , Maffezioli Paolo , Petrovich Eugenio , Tripodi Paolo
Published: April 2022

The article investigates what happens when philosophy (of science) meets and begins to establish connections with two formal research methods such as game theory and network science. We use citation analysis to identify, among the articles published in Synthese and Philosophy of Science between 1985 and 2021, those that cite the specialistic literature in game theory and network science. Then, we investigate the structure of the two corpora thus identified by bibliographic coupling and divide them into clusters of related papers by automatic community detection. Lastly, we construct by the same bibliometric techniques a reference map of philosophy, on which we overlay our corpora to map the diffusion of game theory and network science in the various sub-areas of recent philosophy. Three main results derive from this study. (i) Philosophers are interested not only in using and investigating game theory as a formal method belonging to applied mathematics and sharing many relevant features with social choice theory, but also in considering its applications in more empirically oriented disciplines such as social psychology, cognitive science, or biology. (ii) Philosophers focus on networks in two research contexts and in two different ways: in the debate on causality and scientific explanation, they consider the results of network science; in social epistemology, they employ network science as a formal tool. (iii) In the reference map, logic—whose use in philosophy dates back to a much earlier period—is distributed in a more uniform way than recently encountered disciplines such as game theory and network science. We conclude by discussing some methodological limitations of our bibliometric approach, especially with reference to the problem of field delineation.
Spacetime: function and approximation
Authors: Baron Sam
Published: April 2022

Several approaches to quantum gravity (QG) signal the loss of spacetime at some level. According to spacetime functionalism, spacetime is functionally realised by a more fundamental structure. According to one version of spacetime functionalism, the spacetime role is specified by Ramsifying general relativity (GR). In some approaches to QG, however, there does not appear to be anything that exactly realises the functional role defined by a Ramsey sentence for GR. The spacetime role is approximately realised. It is open to the spacetime functionalist to adopt a ‘near enough is good enough’ attitude to functional realisation, and maintain that spacetime is functionally realised nonetheless. In this paper I present a challenge for such an ‘approximate’ spacetime functionalism. The challenge, in brief, is to provide an account of how ‘close’ is close enough for approximate realisation to occur. I canvass a range of options for spelling out a similarity relation of the relevant kind, and argue that none are successful. In light of the challenge, I recommend giving up on the functional realisation of spacetime. I argue, however, that even if spacetime as a whole is not functionally realised, some of the functions of spacetime may still be performed.
Re-engineering contested concepts. A reflective-equilibrium approach
Authors: Brun Georg
Published: April 2022

Social scientists, political scientists and philosophers debate key concepts such asdemocracy, powerandautonomy. Contested concepts like these pose questions: Are terms such as “democracy” hopelessly ambiguous? How can two theorists defend alternative accounts of democracy without talking past each other? How can we understand debates in which theorists disagree about what democracy is? This paper first discusses the popular strategy to answer these questions by appealing to Rawls’s distinction between concepts and conceptions. According to this approach, defenders of rival conceptions of, e.g. justice can disagree without talking past each other because they share the concept of justice. It is argued that this idea is attractive but limited in application and that it fails to do justice to the dynamic and normative aspects of concept formation. Reflective equilibrium is then suggested as an alternative approach. It replaces the static contrast between a conceptual ‘core’ and competing conceptions by a dynamic perspective of concept formation as a partly normative undertaking: pre-theoretic language use and commitments can provide a shared starting point for developing alternative accounts which yield different concepts of, e.g. justice. This perspective provides a new understanding of how it is possible that different theorists defend rival accounts of, e.g. justice, without talking past each other.
Nominalist dispositional essentialism
Authors: Vogt Lisa
Published: April 2022

Dispositional Essentialism, as commonly conceived, consists in the claims that at least some of the fundamental properties essentially confer certain causal-nomological roles on their bearers, and that these properties give rise to the natural modalities. As such, the view is generally taken to be committed to a realist conception of properties as either universals or tropes, and to be thus incompatible with nominalism as understood in the strict sense. Pace this common assumption of the ontological import of Dispositional Essentialism, the aim of this paper is to explore a nominalist version of the view, Austere Nominalist Dispositional Essentialism. The core features of the proposed account are that it eschews all kinds of properties (be they universals, tropes, or sets of particulars), takes certain predicative truths as fundamental, and employs the so-called generic notion of essence. As I will argue, the account is significantly closer to the core idea behind Dispositional Essentialism than the only nominalist account in the vicinity of Dispositional Essentialism that has been offered so far—Ann Whittle’s (2009) Causal Nominalism—and is immune to crucial problems that affect this view.
Knot much like tonk
Authors: De Michael , Omori Hitoshi
Published: April 2022

Connectives such as Tonk have posed a significant challenge to the inferentialist. It has been recently argued (Button 2016; Button and Walsh 2018) that the classical semanticist faces an analogous problem due to the definability of “nasty connectives” under non-standard interpretations of the classical propositional vocabulary. In this paper, we defend the classical semanticist from this alleged problem.
Constant light exposure and/or pinealectomy increases susceptibility to trichloroethylene-induced hepatotoxicity and liver cancer in male mice
Authors: Abdraboh Mohamed E. , El-Missiry Mohamed A. , Othman Azza I. , Taha Ahmed Nageeb , Elhamed Dalia S. Abd , Amer Maggie E.
Published: April 2022

Exposure to light at night, pineal gland impairment, and the environmental pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE) have serious implications for health and contribute to illness, including liver cancer. The adverse effect of the association of continuous exposure to light with decreased melatonin levels and TCE-induced toxicity is not disclosed in target organs. This work explored the role of light and pineal impairment in increasing susceptibility to liver toxicity and cancer upon exposure to TCE. Male albino mice were divided into groups as follows: control group (12-h light/12-h dark cycle), constant light (24-h light), pinealectomized (Pnx) mice, sham surgically treated group, TCE-treated groups subjected to two doses (500 and 1000 mg/kg) at two different light regimens, and combination of Pnx and TCE-treated mice kept at a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. Melatonin levels were significantly decreased in both Pnx mice and TCE-treated animals at both light regimens. Aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, activities, and serum bilirubin levels were significantly elevated, whereas albumin levels were markedly decreased in Pnx mice, TCE-treated mice, and the combination group. Histopathological investigations reflected changes in liver function parameters indicating liver injury and induction of cancer. These effects were accompanied by significant increase of the liver cancer biomarker alpha-fetoprotein and the expression of the metastatic markers CD44, TGFβ-1, and VEGF, along with increased oxidative stress indicators and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in both Pnx and TCE-treated mice and the combination group at both light regimens. Taken together, our findings indicated that low melatonin levels, exposure to constant light, and the combination of both factors increases susceptibility to the toxic and carcinogenic effects of TCE on the liver.
Inflammasome involvement in CS-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes
Authors: Prieux Roxane , Ferrara Francesca , Cervellati Franco , Guiotto Anna , Benedusi Mascia , Valacchi Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

Cigarette smoke (CS) alters cutaneous biological processes such as redox homeostasis and inflammation response that might be involved in promoting skin inflammatory conditions. Exposure to CS has also been linked to a destabilization of the NLRP3 inflammasome in pollution target tissues such as the lung epithelium, resulting in a more vulnerable immunological response to several exogenous and endogenous stimuli related to oxidative stress. Thus, CS has an adverse effect on host defense, increasing the susceptibility to develop lung infections and pathologies. In the skin, another direct target of pollution, inflammasome disorders have been linked to an increasing number of diseases such as melanoma, psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and acne, all conditions that have been connected directly or indirectly to pollution exposure. The inflammasome machinery is an important innate immune sensor in human keratinocytes. However, the role of CS in the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in the cutaneous barrier has still not been investigated. In the present study, we were able to determine in keratinocytes exposed to CS an increased oxidative damage evaluated by 4-HNE protein adduct and carbonyl formation. Of note is that, while CS inhibited NLRP3 activation, it was able to activate NLRP1, leading to an increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. This study highlights the importance of the inflammasome machinery in CS that more in general, in pollution, affects cutaneous tissues and the important cross-talk between different members of the NLRP inflammasome family.
Increasing hip fracture volume following repeated lockdowns: an Irish multicentre study of periods pre-Covid, during Covid lockdown and following vaccination
Authors: O’Driscoll Conor S. , Downey Colum , Timon Charles , Lennon David , Brent Louise , Murphy Colin G. , Cleary May , Quinlan John F.
Published: April 2022

Background

Older age groups were identified as a high-risk cohort for Covid-19 and thus were a focus of lockdown measures enacted internationally. Resultant decreased social mobility and physical activity levels are associated with sarcopenia, which may lead to increased risk of hip fracture upon resuming social integration and physical activities after easing of lockdown restrictions.

Aims

Our aim was to compare the incidence of hip fractures during the period following vaccination with subsequent relaxation of restrictions, to those prior to and during the Covid pandemic.

Methods

A multicentre retrospective cohort study was performed consisting of all patients presenting with a “hip” fracture to 3 regional trauma units over the relevant time periods in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Tallaght, Galway and Waterford University Hospitals are large academic teaching hospitals with a combined mixed urban and rural catchment of over 1 million people.

Findings

Four-hundred-fourteen patients in total were included in the final analysis, with 133 eligible hip fractures observed proceeding to operative treatment across the study period in 2019, 132 in 2020 and 149 in 2021, representing a 12.88% increase. Demographic data revealed similar patient cohorts with respect to age and gender, fracture pattern and treatment.

Conclusions

An increase in hip fracture volume was observed during the period post vaccination with subsequent relaxation of restrictions and increased social mobility, compared to those prior to and during the Covid pandemic. These findings have implications for hospital planning and orthopaedic resourcing as we navigate our way forward past the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Hemorrhage in pheochromocytoma surgery: evaluation of preoperative risk factors
Authors: Guo Ying , Li Hai , Xie Dingxiang , You Lili , Yan Li , Li Yanbing , Zhang Shaoling
Published: April 2022

Objective

Pheochromocytoma surgery carries a higher risk of hemorrhage. Our objective was to identify preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage during pheochromocytoma surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery and with postoperative pathological confirmation were enrolled. A total of 251 patients from our center were included in the investigation, and 120 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were included as an external validation dataset. Family and medical history, demographics, hemodynamics, biochemical parameters, image data, anesthesia and operation records, postoperative outcomes were collected. Postoperative complications were graded by the Clavien–Dindo classification. Correlation between intraoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative outcomes was assessed. The features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were identified by linear regression. All features that were statistically significant in the multiple linear regression were then used to construct models and nomograms for predicting intraoperative hemorrhage. The constructed models were evaluated by Akaike Information Criterion. Finally, internal and external validations were carried out by tenfold cross-validation.

Results

Intraoperative hemorrhage volume was positively correlated with the postoperative hospitalization time (R = 0.454, P < 0.001) and the Clavien–Dindo grades (R = 0.664, P < 0.001). Features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were male gender (β = 0.533, OR = 1.722, P = 0.002), tumor diameter (β = 0.027, OR = 1.027, P < 0.001), preoperative CCB use (β = 0.318, OR = 1.308, P = 0.123) and open surgery (β = 1.175, OR = 3.234, P < 0.001). Validations showed reliable results (internal (R = 0.612, RMSE = 1.355, MAE = 1.111); external (R = 0.585, RMSE = 1.398, MAE = 0.964)).

Conclusion

More intraoperative hemorrhage is correlated with longer postoperative hospitalization time and more severe postoperative complications. Male gender, larger tumor, preoperative CCB use and open surgery are preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage in PCC surgery.
Lipid Dyshomeostasis and Inherited Cerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Zhao Jin , Zhang Huan , Fan Xueyu , Yu Xue , Huai Jisen
Published: April 2022

Cerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia that originates from dysfunction of the cerebellum, but may involve additional neurological tissues. Its clinical symptoms are mainly characterized by the absence of voluntary muscle coordination and loss of control of movement with varying manifestations due to differences in severity, in the site of cerebellar damage and in the involvement of extracerebellar tissues. Cerebellar ataxia may be sporadic, acquired, and hereditary. Hereditary ataxia accounts for the majority of cases. Hereditary ataxia has been tentatively divided into several subtypes by scientists in the field, and nearly all of them remain incurable. This is mainly because the detailed mechanisms of these cerebellar disorders are incompletely understood. To precisely diagnose and treat these diseases, studies on their molecular mechanisms have been conducted extensively in the past. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that some common pathogenic mechanisms exist within each subtype of inherited ataxia. However, no reports have indicated whether there is a common mechanism among the different subtypes of inherited cerebellar ataxia. In this review, we summarize the available references and databases on neurological disorders characterized by cerebellar ataxia and show that a subset of genes involved in lipid homeostasis form a new group that may cause ataxic disorders through a common mechanism. This common signaling pathway can provide a valuable reference for future diagnosis and treatment of ataxic disorders.
Non-contact optical characterization of negative pressure in hydrogel voids and microchannels
Authors: Xu Shihao , Liu Xiaowei , Yu Zehua , Liu Kang
Published: April 2022

Negative pressure in water under tension, as a thermodynamic non-equilibrium state, has facilitated the emergence of innovative technologies on microfluidics, desalination, and thermal management. However, the lack of a simple and accurate method to measure negative pressure hinders further in-depth understanding of the properties of water in such a state. In this work, we propose a non-contact optical method to quantify the negative pressure in micron-sized water voids of a hydrogel film based on the microscale mechanical deformation of the hydrogel itself. We tested three groups of hydrogel samples with different negative pressure inside, and the obtained results fit well with the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this method can characterize the distribution of negative pressure, and can thus provide the possibility of investigation of the flow behavior of water in negative pressure. These results prove this technique to be a promising approach to characterization of water under tension and for investigation of its properties under negative pressure.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluation and improvement of the WWTP performance of an agricultural cooperative by adsorption on inert biomaterial: case of orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions
Authors: Abali Mhamed , Ait Ichou Abdeljalil , Zaghloul Ahmed , Chiban Mohamed , Sinan Fouad , Zerbet Mohamed
Published: April 2022

The study is carried out at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of an agricultural cooperative that operates according to the activated sludge process. Dairy industry is enlisted as one of the top-most industries in the food industry. Dairy wastewater treatment is a big issue as dairy wastewater releases a high amount of chemical oxygen demand, inorganic and organic particles, biological oxygen demand, and nutrients. But, these processes partly degrade wastewater containing fats and nutrients as dairy wastewater. The aim of this study was to evaluate the purification performance of this treatment process. The qualitative analysis of decanted raw wastewater (DRWW) and purified wastewater (PWW) shows that the concentration of orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions is slightly higher. Such contaminated water if not handled appropriately, it pollutes water bodies and largely affects our ecosystem and biodiversity. Hence, our proposal is to improve the WWTP performances by using the adsorption process onto dried Carpobrotus edulis as an inert biomaterial. This adsorption process is recognized as one of the best water treatment techniques, more and more works are oriented towards the search for new materials, cheaper and having a good adsorbent potential. This study opens the path for the use of natural and abundant local material to remove orthophosphate, nitrate and sulfate ions using the C. edulis plant particles shred. The surface micromorphology of the biomaterial was investigated using a scanning electron microscope; while the qualitative element composition was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray and infrared spectroscopies. The found results of DRWW was about 57% for orthophosphates, 67% for sulfates and 73% for nitrates ions. For PWW, the percentage removal was found to be 62%, 73% and 84% for orthophosphates, sulfates and nitrates respectively. These results indicate that dried C. edulis plant, as an environmentally friendly adsorbent could be recommended for the removal of mineral pollutants. In conclusion, the C. edulis adsorbent can be integrated into the activated sludge process for wastewater treatment after identifying the optimal hydraulic loads, associated sizes, and shapes in continuous operations.
Assessment of metal concentrations from recreational rivers in a tropical region (Jengka, Malaysia)
Authors: Sulaiman Fazrul Razman , Shamshudin Che Mohamad Fakhrul Hafiz Che Mohd , Rahim Muhammad Haziq Abd , Sulaiman Noorzamzarina
Published: April 2022

A recreational river may be exposed to some extent of metal pollution. Two rivers, namely Sungai Weh and Sungai Jempul, were selected for this study, as both areas offer recreational activities for residents in Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia. This study examines the concentration of selected metals (Fe, Mn, and Pb), elucidates the possible sources, evaluates the toxicity loads, and estimates the potential health risk. Metal concentrations were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations were found in the sequence of Fe > Pb > Mn. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) suggested that the metals’ origins included both anthropogenic activities and natural sources. About 16.66% of Pb should be removed from the river water to ensure safety, based on the heavy metal toxicity load calculation (HMTL). Children are more vulnerable to non-cancer and cancer risks than adults. The findings indicate that comprehensive monitoring of water quality parameters and thorough exposure assessment should be performed.
Smart water supply system: a quasi intelligent diagnostic method for a distribution network
Authors: Kowalski Dariusz , Kowalska Beata , Suchorab Paweł
Published: April 2022

Constantly developing monitoring systems provide a large amount of raw data. In many cases, the operators of water supply systems (WSS) have already reached their perception limit for analysing information. Therefore, the managing process of the WSS requires quasi-intelligent informatics systems, the main purpose of which is to minimise the WSS operating costs in addition to maintaining the proper water delivery to customers. It can be achieved by the detection of abnormal functioning of WSS operations (leakages, water outages). The standard SCADA monitoring systems, in most cases, are not able to distinguish a significant water leakage and water tank filling process. Such cases occur relatively often in complex water supply systems with many water tanks. The aim of this paper is to present the quasi intelligent method of detecting abnormal WSS functioning, including its concepts and effects after a 3 month period operation. The essence of the detection method is the integration of numerical model (built-in Bentley WaterGEMS software) and SCADA monitoring system. The monitoring data are constantly compared to the simulation results and when accepted accordance limits are exceeded, the appropriate alerts are generated. Such solution cause the WSS operator does not need to analyse SCADA system indications constantly. The additional application of the method enables the detection of essential water leakages.
Contribution of isotopic techniques to the knowledge of the aquiferous system of the great Sebkha of Oran
Authors: Benziane Ahmed , Boualla Nabila
Published: April 2022

In the Great Sebkha Basin of Oran, water flows, both surface and subterranean, originate on the slopes and converge toward the discharging area of the salt Lake Great Sebkha of Oran (≈ 80 m above sea level). Isotopic water tracing of 2H, 18O, 14C, and 13C was carried out on the main aquifer formations to clarify the phenomena of evaporation, dissolution, mixing of different water bodies, and their residence time in the aquifer system. The data concern: the salt Lake of the Great Sebkha of Oran, the Quaternary alluvial water table of the periphery, the limestone Miocene, the Brédéah pumping station (whose waters are polluted by brackish water intrusions), deepwater tabler table of the Mio-Pliocene complex of the Plain of Maflak, the Pliocene of the Plain of Tameira, and the Thermal Complex of Hammam Bou Hadjar. The d18O levels range from −9.61 to + 4.8 ‰ V-SMOW at the salt Lake of Great Sebkha of Oran. The 2H contents range from −70 to 20. Minimum values characterize run off from the northern slopes of the Tessala. The 13C contents of dissolved total inorganic carbon (TDI) measured ranged from −10.92 to −3.9 ‰ vs PDB. The activities of the 14C are divided between 2 and 51 PMC. The highest activity in 14C (≈50 PMC) is measured on samples taken from the Miocene limestones of Djebel Murdjadjo.
Multivariate and spatial methods-based water quality assessment of Chu Tran Valley, Gilgit Baltistan
Authors: Fatima Syeda Urooj , Khan Moazzam Ali , Alamgir Aamir , Mahmood Nadeem , Sulman Nasir
Published: April 2022

Current study was performed to evaluate the physico-chemical, metals and microbial characteristics of the surface water available in Chu Tran valley located in sub-district Shigar of district Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. A total of 24 water samples were collected and analysed to determine the water quality index (WQI). Multivariate analysis comprising principal component analysis (PCA) and spatial distribution using inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolation were also employed to ascertain the water quality available in the valley and public health concern assessment. The results of WQI comprehended that physico-chemical characteristics of the water samples are excellent. However, the concentration of metals in water samples is higher than recommended WHO standards and public health quality of water supply is not satisfactory; therefore, the water in the valley is unfit of human consumption. Multivariate analysis with PCA technology identified important water quality parameters and revealed that metals and microbial concentrations are major later factors which have significant influence on the water quality. IDW-based spatial distribution indicates that water samples collected from the central part of the valley are highly contaminated with metals and microbial load. This is the region where the major human settlements are located and agricultural activities, domestic dischargers and erosion are the fundamental sources of water pollution. People have no choice except to consume the contaminated water as no other water supply is available and hardly question about the water quality. The study also proved that combination of WQI, PCA and IDW is effective and promising tools for surface water quality assessment in other areas in order to get accurate results for public health monitoring. It is recommended that the sources of contaminations can be further explored to reduce the pollution load of the surface water of Chu Tran Valley that might be helpful in the promotion of sustainable ecotourism.