bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffusion-Reaction-Deformation Coupled Modeling of Large-Deformed Germanium Thin Film Anodes
Authors: Wang Kejie , Song Xu , Cao Xinlei , Wang Fenghui , Zhao Xiang
Published: October 2023

Germanium is known as a high-capacity material that reversibly stores large amounts of lithium, whereas the inevitable volume changes lead to mechanical failures and unstable reaction interfaces. According to the finite deformation theory, we establish a theoretical framework to capture the viscoplastic flow and the interfacial transfer kinetics during lithiation and delithiation under coupled diffusion-reaction-deformation environments. Many microcracks on the surface of germanium electrodes are observed by previous experiments, and we take this effect into consideration by associating the parameters of Li-Ge alloy with the degree of lithiation, such as the concentration-dependent elasticity modulus and yield stress. Subsequently, the framework is used to calculate the mechanical and electrochemical response of thin film electrodes during charge and discharge under the rigid substrate constraint. The results suggest that charge rate and electrode thickness determine the performance of thin film battery, which is in accordance with the experimentally observed phenomenon. The Cauchy stress in the thin film electrode is also subject to the effect of the inhomogeneous spatial distribution of stress, and the stress drop at the ends of the electrodes is the main source of material fracture failure.
Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment Increased the Quality and Characteristic Flavor of Lyophilized Lemon Slices
Authors: Liu Dongjie , Zhou Ningjing , Sanmartin Chiara , Ying Xiaoguo , Brennan Charles , Xiao Gengsheng , Ma Lukai , Li Linlin
Published: October 2023

Low-pressure plasma (LPP) treatment was implemented as a nonthermal technology to preserve the organoleptic and nutritional qualities of lyophilized lemon slices. Effects of LPP treatment on the basic quality and flavor characteristics of lyophilized lemon slices stored for 7 d were evaluated. Fresh lyophilized lemon slices were prepared as a reference. The total titratable acids and sugars were in the range of 1.00∼1.11 mg/mL and 190.21∼197.37 mg/mL. The total phenolic content and Vc gradually decreased during storage from 1.74 to 1.33 mg/mL and 0.53 to 0.31 mg/mL. LPP had minor effects on total sugars and total titrate acids but prevented the storage losses of vitamin C (Vc) and phenols. A total of 35 volatile organic compounds were identified with C10 monoterpenoids being the major compounds. C6-C9 aldehydes corresponding to a green grassy aroma gradually decreased with increasing storage time. The gallery plot confirmed the different compositions of volatile organic compounds in LPP-treated samples. LPP-treated lemon slices had a higher content of preferred aromatic substances (terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, α-terpinene, and limonene) with a citrus-like flavor. These results demonstrated the positive effect of LPP treatment on retaining the flavor characteristics of lemon slices.
The Cost-Benefit of Aging: Financial Capability and Well-Being across Age Groups in Brazil
Authors: da Silva Eduarda A. S. R. G. , Silva César A. T.
Published: October 2023

A large proportion of older persons in developing countries do not have access to pension, which also constrains their ability to afford healthcare services and entails extensive challenges to the well-being of older people. This study aimed to analyze the financial preparedness of different age groups for retirement in Brazil. Data were derived from a survey to empirically validate the proposed relationships between preparedness for retirement and resilience for the future (financial well-being (FWB) outcomes) on the one hand and among demographic and socioeconomic aspects, behaviors and attitudes, knowledge and experience, and “key” psychological factors on the other hand. The sample consisted of 412 individuals aged between 22 and 79 years. FWB was measured using the financial capability and well-being model and regressed on a number of sociodemographic and psychological variables using linear regression analyses. The results demonstrated that preparedness for retirement was strongly related to older age. Additionally, age was correlated with resilience for the future close to zero, which indicates no relationship. Knowledge and the psychological factors of self-control and confidence were positively and strongly related to better financial behavior for all age groups. In addition, grit and resilience for the future were positively related to better financial behavior in the older age group. Furthermore, the variables of retirement contribution were seemingly not viewed as important to the older group compared with their young and mature counterparts. Multidimensional interventions, especially targeting behaviors and psychological patterns, could, therefore, be recommended in advance to young and mature groups to prepare them to secure their old age and achieve FWB.
[Retracted] Influence of Melatonin Treatment on Emotion, Sleep, and Life Quality in Perimenopausal Women: A Clinical Study
Authors: Zhang Jianfu , Jiang Bengui
Published: October 2023

Objects. Sleep and mood disorders are frequently observed in perimenopausal women, which may be associated with the changes of melatonin concentrations. Therefore, this study aimed at probing into the impact of melatonin on the improvement of sleep, mood symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) in perimenopausal women. Method. 100 healthy perimenopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups, with 50 subjects in each group. In the control group, placebo was administrated daily for 3 cycles (4 weeks of treatment for 1 cycle and drug withdrawals for 1 week). The study group received 3 mg oral melatonin treatment daily in the same period of time. All subjects completed the study. We compared the uterine volume, endometrial thickness, LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle generating hormone), E2 (estradiol), and melatonin levels during daytime between the two groups before and after the study. Moreover, perimenopause syndrome, sleep, mood, and QoL were analyzed at the baseline and 3 cycles by the questionnaires of the Kupperman index, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), and the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), as well as menopausal QoL (MENQOL), respectively. Any adverse reactions experienced by the subjects were also compared in the study. Finally, 91 participants (92%) completed the whole study, 47 and 44 in the study and control groups, respectively, and their data were considered in subsequent analyses. Results. After therapy, the two groups were similar in the uterine volume and endometrial thickness. In contrast to the control group, the study group showed notably decreased LH and FSH levels. No notable difference was discovered in E2 and melatonin levels between the two groups in the study. Moreover, the study group exhibited a significantly lower score in the Kupperman index, PSQI, HAMA, HAMD, and MENQOL scale than the control group. Moreover, the two groups had no notable difference in adverse reactions. Conclusion. Melatonin was a useful treatment to relieve climacteric symptoms and improve sleep, mood, and life quality in perimenopausal women without obvious adverse reactions.
IoT‐Based Reinforcement Learning Using Probabilistic Model for Determining Extensive Exploration through Computational Intelligence for Next‐Generation Techniques
Authors: Tiwari Pradeep Kumar , Singh Pooja , Rajagopal Navaneetha Krishnan , Deepa K. , Gulavani Sampada , Verma Amit , Kumar Yekula Prasanna
Published: October 2023

Computing intelligence is built on several learning and optimization techniques. Incorporating cutting‐edge learning techniques to balance the interaction between exploitation and exploration is therefore an inspiring field, especially when it is combined with IoT. The reinforcement learning techniques created in recent years have largely focused on incorporating deep learning technology to improve the generalization skills of the algorithm while ignoring the issue of detecting and taking full advantage of the dilemma. To increase the effectiveness of exploration, a deep reinforcement algorithm based on computational intelligence is proposed in this study, using intelligent sensors and the Bayesian approach. In addition, the technique for computing the posterior distribution of parameters in Bayesian linear regression is expanded to nonlinear models such as artificial neural networks. The Bayesian Bootstrap Deep Q‐Network (BBDQN) algorithm is created by combining the bootstrapped DQN with the recommended computing technique. Finally, tests in two scenarios demonstrate that, when faced with severe exploration problems, BBDQN outperforms DQN and bootstrapped DQN in terms of exploration efficiency.
Optimization Strategy of College Students’ Education Management Based on Smart Cloud Platform Teaching
Authors: Zhang Mingjing
Published: October 2023

With the passage of time and social changes, the form of education is also changing step by step. In just a few decades, information technology has developed by leaps and bounds, and digital education has not yet been widely promoted. Intelligent education cloud platforms based on big data, Internet of things, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have begun to emerge. The research on the “smart campus” cloud platform is conducive to improving the utilization rate of existing hardware equipment in colleges and universities and is conducive in improving the level of teaching software deployment. At the same time, this research also provides a new idea for the research in the field of cloud security. While cloud computing brings convenience to teaching work, it also brings new problems to system security. At present, virtualization technology is still in the ascendant stage in the construction of “smart campus” in colleges and universities and is gradually applied to cloud computing service products. At present, there are many cases about the construction of teaching resource platform, but most of them are modified from the early resource management system, which has strong coupling of single system, insufficient functions of collecting, processing, searching, sharing, and reusing resources, and weak application support ability for related business systems. Under this social background, this paper studies the teaching process management system for intelligent classroom.
PHINDaccess Hackathons for COVID‐19 and Host‐Pathogen Interaction: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Authors: Ghedira Kais , Dallali Hamza , Ardhaoui Monia , Bouslema Zied , Hamdi Yosr , Feki Ben-Salah Salma , Chelbi Hanen , Atri Chiraz , Chaouch Melek , Dekhil Naira , Rais Afef , Azouz Saifeddine , Gharbi Manel , Guerfali Fatma , Hkimi Chaima , Kamoun Selim , Ksouri Ayoub , Moumni Imen , Ouragini Houyem , Bsibes Raghda , Afifi Zeineb , Youssfi Khouloud , Ben Hassine Hichem , Hadhri Najet , Mardassi Helmi , Othman Houcemeddine , Khamessi Oussema
Published: October 2023

Hackathons are collaborative events that bring together diverse groups to solve predefined challenges. The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 has emphasized the need for portable and reproducible genomics analysis pipelines to study the genetic susceptibility of the human host and investigate human‐SARS‐CoV‐2 protein interactions. To build and strengthen institutional capacities in OMICS data analysis applied to host‐pathogen interaction (HPI), the PHINDaccess project organized two hackathons in 2020 and 2021. These hackathons are aimed at developing bioinformatics pipelines related to the SARS‐CoV‐2 viral genome, its phylodynamic transmission, and the identification of human genome host variants, with a focus on addressing global health challenges, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC). This paper outlines the preparation, proceedings, and lessons learned from these hackathons, including the challenges faced by participants and our recommendations based on our experience for organizing hackathons in LMIC and beyond.
A Review of Antibiotic Efficacy in COVID-19 Control
Authors: Hekmat Hamidreza , Rasooli Aziz , Siami Zeinab , Rutajengwa Kauthar Amir , Vahabi Zahra , Mirzadeh Fatemeh Alsadat
Published: October 2023

Severe acute respiratory disease is associated with chronic secondary infections that exacerbate symptoms and mortality. So far, many drugs have been introduced to treat this disease, none of which effectively control the coronavirus. Numerous studies have shown that mitochondria, as the center of cell biogenesis, are vulnerable to drugs, especially antibiotics. Antibiotics were widely prescribed during the early phase of the pandemic. We performed a literature review to assess the reasons, evidence, and practices on the use of antibiotics in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in- and outpatients. The current research found widespread usage of antibiotics, mostly in an empirical context, among COVID-19 hospitalized patients. The effectiveness of this approach has not been established. Given the high death rate linked with secondary infections in COVID-19 patients and the developing antimicrobial resistance, further study is urgently needed to identify the most appropriate rationale for antibiotic therapy in these patients.
The Effects of Mucuna pruriens and Basella alba Extracts on Sex Reversal in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Hajibeglou Ali , Sudagar Mohamad , Azizinezhad Jolandan Fatemeh , Alaei Kimia
Published: October 2023

The use of synthetic steroids for sex reversal in various fish is widespread, but due to the potential dangers of these types of compounds, the use of phytochemicals has been explored as a suitable natural alternative. In this experiment, the effects of extracts of Mucuna pruriens seeds and Basella alba leaves on sex reversal in Oncorhynchus mykiss were investigated. Fifteen-days-old rainbow trout larvae (mean weight: 0.123 ± 0.001 g) were fed experimental diets containing 17 α-methyltestosterone (MT) (60, 90 mg/kg diet), ethanol extract of B. alba leaves (1.0, 2.0 g/kg diet), and methanol extract of M. pruriens seeds (0.1, 0.2 g/kg diet) for 90 days. After 90 days, the experimental diets were replaced with the basal diet until 10 months of age. The control group was fed the basal diet. At the end of the experiment, growth factors, survival (%), intersex (%), and masculinization (%) were measured. The feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate in all experimental groups were not significantly different from those in the control group (

P
>
0.05

). The highest significant percentage of intersex (6.03 ± 3.53%) and the lowest percentage of survival (72.33 ± 2.51%) were observed in the treatment with 90 mg MT/kg compared with the other treatments (

P
>
0.05

). The percentage of intersexuality was significantly lower in the groups fed with plant extract than in the groups fed with MT (

P
<
0.05

). The percentage of intersexuality was significantly lower in the groups fed with plant extract than in the groups fed with MT. The highest percentage of masculinization was observed in the groups fed with M. pruriens extract (0.2 g/kg) (61.75 ± 17.16%) and MT (90 mg/kg) (68.62 ± 1.82%). Moreover, masculinization was significantly higher in all experimental groups than in the control group (

P
>
0.05

). There were significantly more males (%) in all experimental groups than in the control group. In conclusion, extracts of M. pruriens and B. alba can be used as an environmentally friendly and safe alternative to MT to induce masculinization of rainbow trout.
The Neuroprotective Effect of Isotetrandrine on Parkinson’s Disease via Anti-Inflammation and Antiapoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Wu Ching-Hu , Lin Kun-Ling , Long Cheng-Yu , Feng Chien-Wei
Published: October 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most influential diseases in the world, and the current medication only can relieve the clinical symptoms but not slow the progression of PD. Therefore, we intend to examine the neuroprotective activity of plant-derived compound isotetrandrine (ITD) in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, cells were cotreated with ITD and LPS to detect the inflammatory-related protein and mRNA. In vivo, zebrafish were pretreated with ITD and inhibitors prior to 6-OHDA treatment. Then, the behavior was monitored at 5 dpf. Our result showed ITD inhibited LPS-induced upregulation of iNOS, COX-2 protein expression, and iL-6, inos, cox-2, and cd11b mRNA expression in BV2 cells. The data in zebrafish also demonstrated a significant improvement of ITD on the 6-OHDA-induced locomotor deficiency. ITD also improved 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis in zebrafish PD. We also pharmacologically validated the mechanism with three inhibitors, including LY294002, PI3K inhibitor; LY32141996, ERK inhibitor, SnPP, and HO-1 inhibitors. All of these inhibitors could abolish the neuroprotective effect of ITD partially in locomotor activity. Besides, the molecular level also showed the same trend. Treatment of these inhibitors could significantly abolish ITD-induced antineuroinflammatory and antioxidative stress effects in zebrafish PD. Our study showed ITD possessed a neuroprotective activity in zebrafish PD. The mRNA level also supported our arguments. The neuroprotection of ITD might be through antineuroinflammation and antiapoptosis pathways via PI3K, ERK, and HO-1.
Development of a Workplace-Based Training Program for Nurse-Led Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Nerve Blocks: A Feasibility Study with the Patients’ Perspective in Focus
Authors: Saga Elin , Skovdahl Kirsti , Lindholm Espen , Sørum Falk Ragnhild , Bing-Jonsson Pia Cecilie
Published: October 2023

Background. Task shifting is a systematic delegation of tasks in order to make more efficient use of the available human resources for health. Training programs and the quality of these are sparsely studied and specially they that include the patients’ perspectives to an even lesser degree. Aim. A single-center feasibility study with a convergent parallel mixed method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative components, was conducted at an emergency department aimed to evaluate a training program for nurse-led ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block. Method. Registered nurses (RNs) (n = 5), supervising anesthesiologists (n = 7), and patients with hip fracture (n = 15) participated. The training consisted of a one-day program that included comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in anatomy, hygiene, and the application of ultrasound. The one-day training program was evaluated through an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Following that, each registered nurse conducted three supervised procedures in the weeks that followed. These procedures were performed on patients admitted with hip fractures in the emergency department. The patients (n = 15) were interviewed regarding their experiences and perspectives of pain, safety, and information of the procedures in emergency department. Results. In questionnaire, the RNs and anesthesiologists agreed that the training procedures were beneficial for the patients due to pain relief. Pain intensity showed a mean baseline pain score of 6.0 (95% CI 4.9–7.1) decreasing to 2.5 (95% CI 1.4–3.6) at 30 minutes after needle extraction. The interviews revealed that all patients experienced pain relief after the in situ nerve block training procedures as well as they felt safe and taken care of. Conclusions. The training program for nurse-led ultrasound-guided femoral nerve blocks was considered feasible. All included RNs learned the procedure for task shifting in a satisfactory way.
Molecular and Epidemiological Analyses of Sheeppox Outbreaks in Russia from 2013 to 2021
Authors: Sprygin Alexander , Shalina Kseniya , van Schalkwyk Antoinette , Mazloum Ali , Shcherbinin Sergey , Krotova Alena , Byadovskaya Olga , Prokhvatilova Larisa , Chvala Ilya
Published: October 2023

Sheeppox (SPP) is a transboundary infectious disease that affects sheep and goats, leading to significant losses in countries with extensive small ruminant breeding programs. While sporadic SPP outbreaks have been observed in the Russian Northern Caucasus and the Far East, the number of SPP outbreaks in the Russian Central and Far East regions has increased recently. However, there is a lack of epidemiological data on SPP virus (SPPV) in the Northern latitudes. In this study, we conducted epidemiological and genetic analyses of SPP outbreaks in Russia from 2013 to 2021 using whole-genome sequences of five selected isolates. The epidemiological data revealed an elevated risk of SPP outbreaks during the summer months, although outbreaks were not limited to this period. A phylogenetic analysis of the whole-genome sequences of selected SPPVs obtained directly from clinical samples revealed a unique cluster of SPPV isolates circulating in Central Russia, which was related to previous isolates from the European part of Russia. In contrast, SPPVs obtained from the Russian Far East showed genetic similarity to isolates detected in Southeast Asia. The whole-genome sequences demonstrated that the reported outbreaks were not related to the NISKHI vaccine strain, which was used to combat lumpy skin disease and SPP in Russia. Based on the study findings and GenBank data, we propose a novel cluster designation system for SPPV genomic sequences.
Pain Management in Dermatology
Authors: Hayoun Mathilde , Misery Laurent
Published: October 2023

Background: The dermatologist has to deal with many situations where the patient feels pain and must therefore know how to manage it. Summary: The aim of this review was to explore the treatments available to manage pain in dermatology in different circumstances, with an emphasis on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions specifically studied in dermatology.
Detecting emotions using a combination of bidirectional encoder representations from transformers embedding and bidirectional long short-term memory
Authors: Wibawa Aji Prasetya , Cahyani Denis Eka , Prasetya Didik Dwi , Gumilar Langlang , Nafalski Andrew
Published: October 2023

One of the most difficult topics in natural language understanding (NLU) is emotion detection in text because human emotions are difficult to understand without knowing facial expressions. Because the structure of Indonesian differs from other languages, this study focuses on emotion detection in Indonesian text. The nine experimental scenarios of this study incorporate word embedding (bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), Word2Vec, and GloVe) and emotion detection models (bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), LSTM, and convolutional neural network (CNN)). With values of 88.28%, 88.42%, and 89.20% for Commuter Line, Transjakarta, and Commuter Line+Transjakarta, respectively, BERT-BiLSTM generates the highest accuracy on the data. In general, BiLSTM produces the highest accuracy, followed by LSTM, and finally CNN. When it came to word embedding, BERT embedding outperformed Word2Vec and GloVe. In addition, the BERT-BiLSTM model generates the highest precision, recall, and F1-measure values in each data scenario when compared to other models. According to the results of this study, BERT-BiLSTM can enhance the performance of the classification model when compared to previous studies that only used BERT or BiLSTM for emotion detection in Indonesian texts.
ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ЕКСПРЕСІЇ мікроРНК ДЛЯ ВИБОРУ ЧЕРГОВОЇ ЛІНІЇ ХІМІОТЕРАПІЇ У ХВОРИХ НА РАК МОЛОЧНОЇ ЗАЛОЗИ
Authors: Карашівська О. С. , Галайчук І. Й. , Нітефор Л. В. , Угляр Т. Ю.
Published: October 2023

РЕЗЮМЕ. У статті представлено огляд теоретичних даних і власних практичних результатів досліджень застосування мікроРНК для вибору хіміотерапії у хворих на рецидиви або прогресування раку молочної залози після попередніх ліній хіміотерапії. Проаналізовано та зіставлено результати власних досліджень з даними наукових публікацій про прогностичну значимість молекул мікроРНК при злоякісних пухлинах. На основі клінічного спостереження за участю 29 хворих на рак молочної залози встановлено, що показники циркулюючих мікроРНК є важливим прогностичним маркером ефективності хіміотерапії. Мета роботи – проаналізувати власний досвід застосування мікроРНК для вибору хіміопрепаратів під час лікування рецидиву раку молочної залози. Матеріал і методи. У дослідження включено 29 пацієнтів з рецидивом раку молочної залози. Для визначення експресії панелі мікроРНК у сироватці крові застосовували метод зворотно-транскрипційної полімеразної ланцюгової реакції. Результати. Проаналізовано та зіставлено результати власних досліджень з даними сучасної літератури про прогностичну значимість молекул мікроРНК при злоякісних пухлинах. Клінічний ефект терапії оцінювали відповідно до стандартів оцінки відповіді пухлини згідно з критеріями RECIST 1.1 з підрахунком розмірів таргетних вогнищ. У 11 (37,9 %) пацієнтів досягнуто повного регресу захворювання, у 13 (44,8 %) хворих – часткового регресу, у 5 (17,3 %) хворих – стабілізації. Висновки. На основі клінічного спостереження за участю 29 хворих встановлено, що показники циркулюючих мікроРНК є важливим прогностичним маркером ефективності хіміотерапії.
What Can Biologic Aging Tell Us About the Effects of Mental Stress on Vascular Health
Authors: Sara Jaskanwal Deep Singh , Lerman Lilach O. , Lerman Amir
Published: October 2023

Cardiovascular disease is often a disease of aging. Considerable advances in our understanding of the biological mechanisms of aging have been made; yet, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States urging a continued search for novel risk factors to target for preventing and treating disease. Mental stress (MS) is emerging as an important risk factor, and while progress has been made in understanding the link between MS and cardiovascular disease, the precise mechanisms of a putative causal relationship require greater clarification. In the current review, we (1) summarize our current understanding of the pathological effects of MS on vascular health; (2) describe important aspects of the pathobiology of vascular aging including inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction as well as novel processes such as genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, and nutrient signal pathways; (3) highlight similarities in the downstream biologic effects of aging and MS on vascular health with an emphasis on cellular and molecular processes that could be used to develop novel prognostic markers and treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease; (4) discuss lifestyle and pharmacological methods that target indicators of aging whose role could be translated into approaches managing the effects of MS; and (5) outline important future steps that should be considered in this area of research including the need for prospective clinical trials and for creating greater collaboration between preclinical aging researchers and clinical investigators managing MS.
Thrombocytopenia as a Bleeding Risk Factor in Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease: Insights From the AFIRE Study
Authors: Iijima Raisuke , Tokue Masahide , Nakamura Masato , Yasuda Satoshi , Kaikita Koichi , Akao Masaharu , Ako Junya , Matoba Tetsuya , Miyauchi Katsumi , Hagiwara Nobuhisa , Kimura Kazuo , Hirayama Atsushi , Matsui Kunihiko , Ogawa Hisao ,   the AFIRE Investigators
Published: October 2023

Background

Thrombocytopenia poses a risk of bleeding in patients with chronic coronary syndrome after coronary intervention. However, whether thrombocytopenia also increases the bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic coronary syndrome remains unclear.

Methods and Results

This study evaluated the AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count <100 000/mm
3
level at enrollment. Primary end points included incidence of major bleeding based on the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis criterion and major adverse cardiovascular ischemic events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke). A total of 2133 patients were classified into the thrombocytopenia (n=70) and nonthrombocytopenia (n=2063) groups. Major bleeding was significantly higher in the thrombocytopenia group than in the nonthrombocytopenia group (10.0% versus 4.1%,
P
=0.027). The thrombocytopenia group tended to have a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular ischemic events (11.4% versus 6.2%,
P
=0.08). The bleeding incidence was significantly higher in patients with thrombocytopenia receiving combination therapy with rivaroxaban and a single antiplatelet drug (thrombocytopenia group, 14.3%, versus nonthrombocytopenia group, 5.0%; hazard ratio, 3.18 [95% CI, 1.27–7.97],
P
=0.014). Thrombocytopenia was an independent predictor of major bleeding (hazard ratio, 2.57 [95% CI, 1.19–5.56],
P
=0.017).

Conclusions

Among patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic coronary syndrome, thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with increased risk of major bleeding. Selecting drugs for patients with thrombocytopenia continuing antithrombotic therapy should be given special consideration.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02642419.
https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/
; Unique identifier: UMIN000016612.
Identification of Clinically Relevant Brain Endothelial Cell Biomarkers in Plasma
Authors: Cordon Jenifer , Duggan Michael R. , Gomez Gabriela T. , Pucha Krishna A. , Peng Zhongsheng , Dark Heather E. , Davatzikos Christos , Erus Guray , Lewis Alexandria , Moghekar Abhay , Candia Julián , Ferrucci Luigi , Kapogiannis Dimitrios , Walker Keenan A.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Proteins expressed by brain endothelial cells (BECs), the primary cell type of the blood-brain barrier, may serve as sensitive plasma biomarkers for neurological and neurovascular conditions, including cerebral small vessel disease.

METHODS:

Using data from the BLSA (Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging; n=886; 2009–2020), BEC-enriched proteins were identified among 7268 plasma proteins (measured with SomaScanv4.1) using an automated annotation algorithm that filtered endothelial cell transcripts followed by cross-referencing with BEC-specific transcripts reported in single-cell RNA-sequencing studies. To identify BEC-enriched proteins in plasma most relevant to the maintenance of neurological and neurovascular health, we selected proteins significantly associated with 3T magnetic resonance imaging–defined white matter lesion volumes. We then examined how these candidate BEC biomarkers related to white matter lesion volumes, cerebral microhemorrhages, and lacunar infarcts in the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities; US multisite; 1990–2017). Finally, we determined whether these candidate BEC biomarkers, when measured during midlife, were related to dementia risk over a 25-year follow-up period.

RESULTS:

Of the 28 proteins identified as BEC-enriched, 4 were significantly associated with white matter lesion volumes (CDH5 [cadherin 5], CD93 [cluster of differentiation 93], ICAM2 [intracellular adhesion molecule 2], GP1BB [glycoprotein 1b platelet subunit beta]), while another approached significance (RSPO3 [R-Spondin 3]). A composite score based on 3 of these BEC proteins accounted for 11% of variation in white matter lesion volumes in BLSA participants. We replicated the associations between the BEC composite score, CDH5, and RSPO3 with white matter lesion volumes in ARIC, and further demonstrated that the BEC composite score and RSPO3 were associated with the presence of ≥1 cerebral microhemorrhages. We also showed that the BEC composite score, CDH5, and RSPO3 were associated with 25-year dementia risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

In addition to identifying BEC proteins in plasma that relate to cerebral small vessel disease and dementia risk, we developed a composite score of plasma BEC proteins that may be used to estimate blood-brain barrier integrity and risk for adverse neurovascular outcomes.
Deep Learning Parameterization of Vertical Wind Velocity Variability via Constrained Adversarial Training
Authors: Barahona Donifan , Breen Katherine H. , Kalesse-Los Heike , Röttenbacher Johannes
Published: October 2023

Atmospheric models with typical resolution in the tenths of kilometers cannot resolve the dynamics of air parcel ascent, which varies on scales ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. Small-scale wind fluctuations are thus characterized by a subgrid distribution of vertical wind velocity W with standard deviation σW. The parameterization of σW is fundamental to the representation of aerosol–cloud interactions, yet it is poorly constrained. Using a novel deep learning technique, this work develops a new parameterization for σW merging data from global storm-resolving model simulations, high-frequency retrievals of W, and climate reanalysis products. The parameterization reproduces the observed statistics of σW and leverages learned physical relations from the model simulations to guide extrapolation beyond the observed domain. Incorporating observational data during the training phase was found to be critical for its performance. The parameterization can be applied online within large-scale atmospheric models, or offline using output from weather forecasting and reanalysis products.

Significance Statement

Vertical air motion plays a crucial role in several atmospheric processes, such as cloud droplet and ice crystal formation. However, it often occurs at scales smaller than those resolved by standard atmospheric models, leading to uncertainties in climate predictions. To address this, we present a novel deep learning approach that synthesizes data from various sources, providing a representation of small-scale vertical wind velocity suitable for integration into atmospheric models. Our method demonstrates high accuracy when compared to observation-based retrievals, offering potential to mitigate uncertainties and enhance climate forecasting.
Regional and Seasonal Biases in Convection-Allowing Model Forecasts of Near-Surface Temperature and Moisture
Authors: Wade Andrew R. , Jirak Israel L. , Lyza Anthony W.
Published: October 2023

This study investigates regional, seasonal biases in convection-allowing model forecasts of near-surface temperature and dewpoint in areas of particular importance to forecasts of severe local storms. One method compares model forecasts with objective analyses of observed conditions in the inflow sectors of reported tornadoes. A second method captures a broader sample of environments, comparing model forecasts with surface observations under certain warm-sector criteria. Both methods reveal a cold bias across all models tested in Southeast U.S. cool-season warm sectors. This is an operationally important bias given the thermodynamic sensitivity of instability-limited severe weather that is common in the Southeast cool season. There is not a clear bias across models in the Great Plains warm season, but instead more varied behavior with differing model physics.

Significance Statement

The severity of thunderstorms and the types of hazards they produce depend in part on the low-level temperature and moisture in the near-storm environment. It is important for numerical forecast models to accurately represent these fields in forecasts of severe weather events. We show that the most widely used short-term, high-resolution forecast models have a consistent cold bias of about 1 K (up to 2 K in certain cases) in storm environments in the southeastern U.S. cool season. Human forecasters must recognize and adjust for this bias, and future model development should aim to improve it.
Countervailing Claims: Pro-Diversity Responses to Stigma by Association Following the Unite the Right Rally
Authors: Hurst Reuben
Published: October 2023

Why do firms take positions on divisive social issues? In this article, I draw on theories of stigma by association to explain why firms’ mere proximity to controversial political actors may lead stakeholders to presume that firms silent on social issues are misaligned with the stakeholders’ sociopolitical preferences. Firms, in turn, countervail these presumptions of misalignment by eschewing silence and claiming sociopolitical positions. Substantiating this theory in the context of employee recruitment following the 2017 Unite the Right White supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, I show that Charlottesville’s employers combated presumptions that they shared demonstrators’ anti-diversity positions by making countervailing pro-diversity claims in their online job postings. In supplementary analysis, I show that the rally was associated with a newfound wage premium in job postings by Charlottesville’s employers but that this premium was lower when employers made pro-diversity claims. This study advances understanding of strategic sociopolitical positioning whereby firms make calculated appeals to stakeholders. It contrasts with related research showing that firms use social claims to combat negative evaluations resulting from their own actions or to differentiate from competitors. In doing so, it suggests opportunities for further research investigating, for example, additional motivations for firms’ sociopolitical positioning, how positioning might evolve in the context of growing political polarization, and how positioning might relate to workplace inequality and diversity.
What’s in a memory? PTSD and working with survivors of psychological trauma
Authors: Andreassen Michael , Deahl Martin
Published: October 2023

Background:

Treating the consequences of psychological trauma and PTSD is of major concern to psychiatry although outcomes are often rather poor, often giving to the fact that the diagnose of PTSD is misused and no consideration of the trauma settings and its consequences on the brain.

Aims:

This paper looks at the impact of false or induced memories in the trauma narrative and their potential impact on therapy with examples from the everyday world. The consequences of this in civilian therapy sessions is discussed compared to the classical debriefing for PTSD in the armed forces.

Methods:

We take a theoretical overview of the interaction between therapist and patient with PTSD and consider the shortfalls of any therapy that requires the patient to recount their experiences.

Results:

We argue the uncritical acceptance of trauma history fails to take account of, and even lends itself, to induced or false memories which undermine treatment.

Conclusions:

We conclude that, this is also often leading to a wrong conception of the outcome of treatment for PTSD, which is often much more sombre than the treatment outcome of lesser conditions.
Post-migration journey: Asylum, trauma and resilience, different trajectories – A comparison of the mental health and post-migration living difficulties of documented and undocumented migrants in Belgium
Authors: Herroudi Laura , Knuppel Iris , Blavier Adélaïde
Published: October 2023

Background:

Research on the impact of post-migration experiences on the mental health of migrant populations has shown a predictive link between post-migration living difficulties and psychological distress. While many studies have focussed on refugees and asylum seekers, there is a considerable gap in the literature concerning undocumented migrants.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in mental health between documented and undocumented migrants in Belgium. It identified the post-migration difficulties encountered by these two groups and measured their impact on their levels of trauma, resilience, anxiety, depression and their assumptive world.

Method:

This study involved 69 participants, aged 18 to 68 years, who were either documented or undocumented resident in Belgium. Our data collection included the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Checklist for the measurement of post-migration difficulties, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – DSM-V version for the measurement of trauma, the World Assumptions Questionnaire for the measurement of the assumptive world, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 for the measurement of depressive and anxiety disorders and the Adult Resilience Measure – Revised for the measurement of resilience.

Results:

Our analyses showed that the mental health of undocumented migrants was poorer than that of documented migrants, with higher levels of trauma, anxiety and depression, a more negative assumptive world, a lower sense of control and lower total and personal resilience. Our results also revealed that post-migration living difficulties were more severe and more numerous for undocumented migrants, and that they were associated to different themes in both groups.

Conclusions:

The fact that post-migration experience plays such an important role in the mental health of migrant populations raises significant clinical, political and societal considerations. Furthermore, it would appear that undocumented migrants represent a distinct migratory group with their own specificities in terms of migration journey and mental health.
Entry Mechanisms into the Belgian Synthetic Drugs Market
Authors: De Seranno Sophia , Colman Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Organised crime groups prefer existing ties, such as family and friendship, to maximise trust. However, they might also win from a certain degree of heterogeneity. External individuals might add value in the form of skills, expertise or money. Accordingly, including suitable co-offenders is an important activity for the organised crime group. This article studies the entry mechanisms of individuals into the synthetic drugs market in Belgium, namely by gaining insight into the factors and mechanisms introducing people into this market. Interviews with 29 inmates detained for their involvement in the production and/or trafficking of synthetic drugs in Belgium revealed that: (1) poly drug supply markets exist in Belgium; (2) financial reasons to enter the market are common; and (3) there are six different entry mechanisms, in which trust is crucial, namely criminal family ties, criminal friends, drug use, earlier time in prison, outlaw motorcycle gang membership, and criminal professional ties.
The impact of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles on the color stability of artificially aged heat-polymerized maxillofacial silicone elastomer
Authors: Abdalqadir Mohammed , Mohammed Kaml , Azhdar Bruska
Published: October 2023

The limited service life of craniofacial prostheses due to degradation and color instability is a significant challenge. This in vitro study aimed to determine how zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles affect the color stability of M511 heat temperature vulcanizing (HTV) maxillofacial silicone elastomers after artificial aging. ZrO2 nanoparticles were added at concentrations of 1, 2, and 3 wt% to M511 HTV silicone elastomer. Two intrinsic silicone pigments were used (red and mocha). Silicone with pigment and without ZrO2 nanoparticles were used as the control. Eighty disk-shaped specimens were fabricated and divided into eight experimental groups, each containing ten specimens (n = 10). All specimens were subjected to artificial aging, and color changes were recorded at 252, 504, and 1008 h intervals. The L*a *b * values were measured using a colorimeter and the CIE-Lab system. To interpret the recorded color differences, a 50:50 percent perceptibility threshold (ΔE* = 1.1) and acceptability threshold (ΔE* = 3.0) were implemented. A one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test at a significance level of 0.05 were used for the statistical analysis. We found that every evaluated specimen group exhibited a chromatic change (ΔE* > 0). The ΔE* values for the mocha pigments with and without ZrO2 nanoparticles were below the perceptible threshold (1.1 units). The ΔE* values of the red pigment with and without ZrO2 nanoparticles were significantly higher than the acceptable threshold (P < 0.000). According to the findings of this in vitro study, all the specimens underwent color changes (ΔE* > 0). The red pigment exhibited highly significant chromatic alterations. In contrast, mocha pigments with and without ZrO2 nanoparticles exhibited the least color change and were below the perceptible threshold. ZrO2 nanoparticles provided important protection and showed a reduction in color change.
Interconnected principles of ocean governance through science-policy integration under the judgements of the international dispute settlement bodies
Authors: Zhang Shijun , Butt M Jahanzeb , Zulfiqar Khadija
Published: October 2023

International Dispute Settlement Bodies (IDSBs), through their judgements, have consistently urged the States to take scientific approaches in ocean governance for marine environmental protection. There has been the development of significant jurisprudence which undertake policy principles with scientific prescription in ocean governance. The jurisprudence relating to maritime dispute resolution has primarily relied on the interpretative criteria of ‘integration’ for science and policy as specified in the Vienna Convention. Indeed, this principle of ‘integration’ integrated ‘science-policy’ through various concepts, and IDSBs applied and endorsed the ‘rule of law’, ‘cooperation’, ‘precaution’ and ‘ecosystem-based approach’ to lay stress on the progressive ocean governance. This also reflects that the scientific basis in jurisprudence demonstrates a change in the international organisations’ interests (of environmental protection and global sustainability). Moreover, it is also suggested at the end how the provisions related to Marine Scientific Research can be purposefully developed and maintained to protect the marine environment and ecosystems in light of the decisions of the IDSBs. This research article analysed the relevant jurisprudence to explain the principles for science-policy integration, which operates in ocean governance for marine environmental protection.
Public Service Motivation, Performance-Contingent Pay, and Job Satisfaction of Street-Level Bureaucrats
Authors: Tu Wenyan , Hsieh Chih-Wei , Chen Chung-An , Wen Bo
Published: October 2023

Does job satisfaction of street-level bureaucrats depend on intrinsic public service motivation (PSM) or extrinsic performance-contingent pay? Which factor exerts a more substantial impact on job satisfaction? Drawing on a data set of 220 frontline public service workers in Hong Kong, this study examines the nuanced relationship among PSM, performance-contingent pay, and job satisfaction. The findings show that both PSM and performance-contingent pay elevate the job satisfaction of street-level bureaucrats through a shared mediator-perceived job control. Furthermore, PSM, as an intrinsic motivator, exerts a stronger impact on job satisfaction than performance-contingent pay.
Parental Incarceration in Childhood and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration: Race/Ethnicity and Sex Differences
Authors: Lee Rosalyn D. , Luo Feijun
Published: October 2023

Few studies have examined associations between parental incarceration (PI) and violence perpetration in adulthood. We used Wave I and Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to investigate such associations with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Exposure to PI was found significantly associated with increased risk of all IPV perpetration behaviors in adulthood, except forced sex. The association of PI exposure with issuing threats, pushing, and throwing objects did not differ by race/ethnicity or sex. Associations of PI exposure with slapping, hitting, or kicking and injuring a partner were stronger for non-Hispanic White persons than for non-Hispanic Black persons. Differing patterns of elevated violence risk in adults with PI history suggest tailored preventive strategies may be of value.