bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Female White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Behavior During Pregnancy, Parturition, and Lactation in 2 Contrasting Ecoregions
Authors: Wright Chloe A. , McRoberts Jon T. , Rota Christopher T. , Wiskirchen Kevyn H. , Keller Barbara J. , Millspaugh Joshua J.
Published: August 2021

Late gestation, parturition, and lactation are the most metabolically expensive periods for female ungulates, often requiring them to make trade‐offs between acquiring sufficient forage and reducing predation risk to neonates. Females alter movements and resource use depending on the stage of parturition; however, little is known about the influence of habitat type and fragmentation on parturition behavior. We evaluated how land use and habitat fragmentation affected white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) space use, movements, and resource selection before, during, and after parturition in the highly fragmented glaciated plains (GP) and the more‐contiguous forested Ozark (OZ) ecoregions of Missouri, USA. We captured 127 pregnant female deer from January–March 2015–2017 and fitted them with global positioning system radio‐collars. We examined weekly home range sizes, space use shifts, movement speeds, and resource selection. Females in both study areas maintained stable movement speeds until the week of parturition when crepuscular movement speeds decreased significantly. Home range sizes were ≥150% smaller during the week of parturition compared to the third week before parturition in both study areas. Females shifted their space use 144 m (95% confidence interval [CI] = 830–252 m) in the GP and 162 m (95% CI 103–256 m) in the OZ between the week before parturition and the week of parturition. Females in both study areas exhibited similar patterns of resource selection before, during, and after parturition. Females consistently selected for Conservation Reserve Program grasslands in the GP and deciduous forests in the OZ, which could provide suitable forage for the female and adequate cover for the neonate. The similarity in movements and resource selection surrounding parturition in both areas, despite marked differences in land use and levels of fragmentation, suggests that the physiological cues of pregnancy and lactation may have the greatest influence on maternal behavior. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
New migration and distribution patterns of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) around Nunavik (Québec, Canada) identified using Inuit Knowledge
Authors: Martinez-Levasseur Laura M. , Furgal Chris M. , Hammill Mike O. , Henri Dominique A. , Burness Gary
Published: August 2021

Environmental changes are affecting the Arctic at an unprecedented rate, but limited scientific knowledge exists on their impacts on species such as walruses (Odobenus rosmarus). Inuit Traditional and Local Ecological Knowledge (Inuit TEK/LEK) held by Inuit walrus harvesters could shed light on walrus ecology and related environmental changes. Our main objective was to study spatial and temporal changes in Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) distribution in Nunavik (northern Québec, Canada) using Inuit TEK/LEK. To do so, we documented the knowledge and observations of 33 local hunters and Elders as part of a larger project on Atlantic walruses in Nunavik. We first gathered information on changes in Inuit land use patterns and harvesting practices through time and space, which was a crucial step to avoid potential biases in interpreting local observations on walrus distribution. We found that walrus hunters are now covering smaller hunting areas over shorter time periods, reducing in space and time their observations of Atlantic walruses around Nunavik. While clearly taking these limitations into account, we learned from interviews that some areas abandoned by Atlantic walruses in the past were now being re-occupied. Importantly, Atlantic walruses, which migrate following the melting ice, are now traveling along the eastern coast of Nunavik one month earlier, suggesting that Atlantic walrus migration has changed due to variations in sea-ice coverage around Nunavik. Our study not only highlighted important changes in Atlantic walrus distribution and migration in Nunavik, but also sheds light on the importance of documenting temporal and spatial changes in Inuit land use patterns and harvesting practices to understand the ecology of Arctic species using Inuit Knowledge.
Psychometric properties of the German-language questionnaire for urinary incontinence diagnosis (QUID) in women with urinary incontinence
Authors: Brandt Florian , Solomayer Erich-Franz , Sklavounos Panagiotis
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to translate the questionnaire for urinary incontinence diagnosis (QUID) into German and to assess its psychometric properties in German-speaking women with urinary incontinence (UI). The QUID contains two subscales to measure symptom severity of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and to distinguish between both forms.

Methods

A total of 161 women with UI completed the QUID and the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), each in the German version. To examine construct validity Spearman’s correlation coefficients between both questionnaires were computed. Furthermore, the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the QUID and its criterion validity were examined. Looking at criterion validity, sensitivity, specificity, ROC curves, and Youden-indexes were computed for both subscales.

Results

The QUID showed good construct validity by strong correlations with related domains of the KHQ. Cronbach’s alpha values were good for both subscales of the QUID (SUI-subscale: 0.76; UUI-subscale: 0.86). Sensitivity and specificity were 83% (95% CI, 0.72–0.9) and 45% (95% CI, 0.25–0.67) for the SUI-subscale and 83% (95% CI, 0.7–0.91) and 56% (95% CI, 0.4–0.72) for the UUI-subscale. Youden-index was 0.28 for the SUI-subscale and 0.39 for the UUI-subscale at the given cut-off values.

Conclusion

Psychometric properties of the German-language QUID are principally good and support its use in the German-speaking area. However, the modest specificity when distinguishing between SUI and UUI should be taken into account.

Trial registration number:

DRKS00018777 (date of registration: 16-January-2020).
Computer-assisted photoreceptor assessment on Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis™ High Magnification Module™ images
Authors: Mulders Timo W. F. , Klevering B. Jeroen , Hoyng Carel B. , Theelen Thomas
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To evaluate reliability and repeatability of computer-assisted measurements of cone photoreceptor metrics on Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis™ High Magnification Module (HMM™) Automatic Real-time Tracking (ART™) images.

Methods

We analyzed HMM™ images in three separate study arms. Computer-assisted cone identification software was validated using an open-access adaptive optics (AO) dataset. We compared results of the first arm to data from AO and histology. We evaluated intersession repeatability of our computer-assisted cone analysis in the second arm. We assessed the capability of HMM™ to visualize cones in the presence of pathology in the third arm.

Results

We included 10 healthy subjects in the first arm of our study, 5 additional healthy participants in the second arm and 5 patients in the third arm. In total, we analyzed 225 regions of interest on HMM™ images. We were able to automatically identify cone photoreceptors and assess corresponding metrics at all eccentricities between 2 and 9° from the fovea. Cone density significantly declined with increasing eccentricity (p = 4.890E-26, Friedman test). With increasing eccentricity, we found a significant increase in intercell distance (p = 2.196E-25, Friedman test) and nearest neighbor distance (p = 1.997E-25, Friedman test). Cone hexagonality ranged between 71 and 85%. We found excellent automated intersession repeatability of cone density counts and spacing measurements. In pathology, we were also able to repeatedly visualize photoreceptors.

Conclusion

Computer-assisted cone photoreceptor analysis on Spectralis™ HMM™ images is feasible, and most cone metrics show excellent repeatability. HMM™ imaging may be useful for photoreceptor analysis as progression marker in outer retinal disease.
Characterizing temporal and spatial recruitment of systemically administered RPE65-programmed bone marrow-derived cells to the retina in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Francelin Carolina , Godoy Juliana , Qi Xiaoping , Silva Juliete A. F. , Grant Maria B. , Boulton Michael E.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Previously, we reported that the intravenous injection of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) infected with lentivirus expressing the human RPE65 gene resulted in the programming of BMDC to promote visual recovery in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial and temporal recruitment of these programmed BMDC to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer.

Methods

C57BL/6J female mice received a subretinal injection of AAV1-SOD2 ribozyme to knock down (KD) superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and induce AMD-like pathology. BMDC were isolated from GFP+ mice and infected with a lentivirus expressing RPE65. One month after SOD2 KD, fifty thousand GFP+RPE65-BMDC were injected in the mouse tail vein. Animals were terminated at different time points up to 60 min following cell administration, and localization of GFP+ cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy of neural retina and RPE flat mounts and tissue sections.

Results

GFP+RPE65- BMDC were observed in SOD2 KD neural retina and RPE as early as 1 min following administration. With increasing time, the number of cells in the neural retina decreased, while those in the RPE increased. While the number of cells in peripheral and central retina remained similar at each time point, the number of BMDC recruited to the central RPE increased in a time-dependent manner up to a maximum by 60 min post administration. Immunohistochemistry of cross-sections of the RPE layer confirmed the incorporation of donor GFP+ BMDC into the RPE layer and that these GFP+ human RPE65 expressing cells co-localized with murine RPE65. No GFP+ cells were observed in the neural retina or RPE layer of normal uninjured control eyes.

Conclusions

Our study shows that systemically administered GFP+RPE65-BMDC can reach the retina within minutes and that the majority of these BMDC are recruited to the injured RPE layer by 60 min post injection.
Psychoneuroendocrinological effects of music therapy versus mindfulness in palliative care: results from the ‘Song of Life’ randomized controlled trial
Authors: Koehler Friederike , Kessler Jens , Stoffel Martin , Weber Martin , Bardenheuer Hubert J. , Ditzen Beate , Warth Marco
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Although research on psychosocial interventions in palliative care provided evidence for their effectiveness regarding patient-reported outcomes, few studies have examined their psychobiological effects yet. Therefore, the purpose of the present work as part of an overarching study was to investigate differential effects of music therapy versus mindfulness on subjective distress and both neuroendocrine and autonomic stress biomarkers.

Methods

A total of 104 patients from two palliative care units were randomly assigned to three sessions of either music therapy or mindfulness. Before and after the second session (completed by 89 patients), participants rated their momentary distress and provided three saliva samples for cortisol and α-amylase analysis. Furthermore, photoplethysmography recordings were continuously assessed to calculate mean heart rate and heart rate variability. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling of all available data and sensitivity analysis with multiply imputed data.

Results

Between 67 and 75% of the maximally available data points were included in the primary analyses of psychobiological outcomes. Results showed a significant time*treatment effect on distress (b =  − 0.83,p = .02) indicating a greater reduction in the music therapy group. No interaction effects were found in psychobiological outcomes (allp > .05), but multilevel models revealed a significant reduction in cortisol (b =  − 0.06,p = .01) and mean heart rate (b =  − 7.89,p = .05) over time following either intervention.

Conclusion

Findings suggest a beneficial effect music therapy on distress while no differential psychobiological treatment effects were found. Future studies should continue to investigate optimal stress biomarkers for psychosocial palliative care research.

Trial Registration

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS)—DRKS00015308 (date of registration: September 7, 2018)
Management of post-traumatic femoral defects with a monorail external fixator over an intramedullary nail
Authors: Lu Victor , Zhang James , Zhou Andrew , Krkovic Matija
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The management of limb-length discrepancy secondary to traumatic femoral bone loss poses a unique challenge for surgeons. The Ilizarov technique is popular, but is associated with long external fixator time and many complications. This retrospective study assessed outcomes of post-traumatic femoral defects managed by monorail external fixation over an intramedullary nail.

Methods

Eight patients were included from October 2015 to May 2019 with post-traumatic femoral defects that underwent treatment with monorail fixator-assisted intramedullary nailing. Primary outcome was time to bone union and bone results according to ASAMI classification. Secondary outcomes were lengthening index, consolidation time and index, external fixator index (EFI), time to partial weight bearing(PWB) and full weight bearing (FWB), and complications. Patient reported outcome measures including EQ-5D-5L, SF-36, Oxford knee scores (OKS), and Oxford hip scores (OHS) were recorded after recovery.

Results

Mean follow-up time was 227 weeks. Average bone defect size was 9.69 cm. Average consolidation time and index were 11.35 months and 1.24 months/cm, respectively. Mean lengthening and external fixator index were 20.2 days/cm and 23.88 days/cm, respectively. On average, patients achieved FWB and bone union 56.25 weeks and 68.83 weeks after bone transport initiation, respectively. Two patients had docking site non-union, five patients had pin site infections, and two patients had osteomyelitis. EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS scores were compared to UK population norms (p = 0.104, p = 0.238, respectively). Average OKS was 32.17 and OHS was 34.00.

Conclusion

Monorail external fixation over an intramedullary nail is an effective option for post-traumatic femoral defects, reducing external fixator time and returning patients’ quality of life to a level comparable with the normal population.
New evidence on the link between ethnic fractionalization and economic freedom
Authors: Marson Marta , Migheli Matteo , Saccone Donatella
Published: August 2021

Among the determinants of economic freedom, the presence of different ethnic groups within a country has sometimes been explored by the empirical literature, without conclusive evidence on the sign of the relation, its drivers, and the conditions under which it holds. This paper offers new evidence by empirically modelling how ethnic fragmentation is related to economic freedom, as measured by the Economic Freedom Index and by each of its numerous areas, components and sub-components. The results provide insights on the components driving the effect and, interestingly, detect notable differences between developed and developing countries.
Raised by aliens: constant exposure to an invasive predator triggers morphological but not behavioural plasticity in a threatened species tadpoles
Authors: Melotto Andrea , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Pennati Roberta , Ancona Nicoletta , Manenti Raoul
Published: August 2021

During biotic invasions, native communities are abruptly exposed to novel and often severe selective pressures. The lack of common evolutionary history with invasive predators can hamper the expression of effective anti-predator responses in native prey, potentially accelerating population declines. Nonetheless, rapid adaptation and phenotypic plasticity may allow native species to cope with the new ecological pressures. We tested the hypothesis that phenotypic plasticity is fostered when facing invasive species and evaluated whether plasticity offers a pool of variability that might help the fixation of adaptive phenotypes. We assessed behavioural and morphological trait variation in tadpoles of the Italian agile frog (Rana latastei) in response to the invasive crayfish predator,Procambarus clarkii, by rearing tadpoles under different predation-risk regimes: non-lethal crayfish presence and crayfish absence. After two-month rearing, crayfish-exposed tadpoles showed a plastic shift in their body shape and increased tail muscle size, while behavioural tests showed no effect of crayfish exposure on tadpole behaviour. Furthermore, multivariate analyses revealed weak divergence in morphology between invaded and uninvaded populations, while plasticity levels were similar between invaded and uninvaded populations. Even if tadpoles displayed multiple plastic responses to the novel predator, none of these shifts underwent fixation after crayfish arrival (10–15 years). Overall, these findings highlight that native prey can finely tune their responses to invasive predators through plasticity, but the adaptive value of these responses in whitstanding the novel selective pressures, and the long-term consequences they can entail remain to be ascertained.
Left ventricular dyssynchrony in long-term childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Pourier Milanthy S. , Dull Myrthe M. , Weijers Gert , Loonen Jacqueline , Bellersen Louise , de Korte Chris L. , Kapusta Livia , Mavinkurve-Groothuis Annelies M. C.
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate left ventricular contraction patterns in asymptomatic Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). Left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential myocardial parameters were assessed using 2DSTE, in asymptomatic CCS and age matched healthy controls. Time to peak (T2P) systolic strain was quantified. Dyssynchrony index (DI) was measured by calculating the standard deviation of T2P systolic strain of six segments in each view. Difference between T2P systolic longitudinal strain of septal and lateral wall was also assessed as a parameter for dyssynchrony. We included 115 CCS with a median age of 17.2 years (range 5.6–39.5) and a median follow up of 11.3 years (range 4.9–29.5) and 119 controls. Conventional echocardiographic parameters and global longitudinal strain were significantly decreased in CCS compared to controls (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Dyssynchrony index did not differ between CCS and controls. There was a clinically insignificant smaller absolute difference between T2P systolic longitudinal of septal and lateral wall in CCS compared to controls. We showed no difference in longitudinal or circumferential left ventricular dyssynchrony in CCS compared to controls using 2DSTE. Future research should focus on assessing dyssynchrony in more segments and a larger CCS population, using both 2D and 3DSTE.
Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and their histopathological effects on fish tissues in Fehérvárcsurgó reservoir, Hungary
Authors: Drobac Backović Damjana , Tokodi Nada , Marinović Zoran , Lujić Jelena , Dulić Tamara , Simić Snežana B. , Đorđević Nevena B. , Kitanović Nevena , Šćekić Ilija , Urbányi Béla , Meriluoto Jussi , Svirčev Zorica
Published: August 2021

Cyanobacteria are important members of lake plankton, but they have the ability to form blooms and produce cyanotoxins and thus cause a number of adverse effects. Freshwater ecosystems around the world have been investigated for the distribution of cyanobacteria and their toxins and the effects they have on the ecosystems. Similar research was performed on the Fehérvárcsurgó reservoir in Hungary during 2018. Cyanobacteria were present and blooming, and the highest abundance was recorded in July (2,822,000 cells/mL). The species present were Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis flos-aquae, Microcystis wesenbergii, Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi, Dolichospermum flos-aquae, and Snowella litoralis. In July and September, the microcystin encoding gene mcyE and the saxitoxin encoding gene sxtG were amplified in the biomass samples. While a low concentration of microcystin-RR was found in one water sample from July, analyses of Abramis brama and Carassius gibelio caught from the reservoir did not show the presence of the investigated microcystins in the fish tissue. However, several histopathological changes, predominantly in gills and kidneys, were observed in the fish, and the damage was more severe during May and especially July, which coincides with the increase in cyanobacterial biomass during the summer months. Cyanobacteria may thus have adverse effects in this ecosystem.
Stable and momentary psychosocial correlates of everyday smoking: An application of Temporal Self-Regulation Theory
Authors: Jones Christopher M. , Schüz Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Smoking is one of the leading causes of non-communicable disease mortality and morbidity. Smoking behaviour is determined by both stable, person-level (e.g., motivation, nicotine dependence) and variable, situation-level factors (e.g., urges, cues). However, most theoretical approaches to understanding health behaviours so far have not integrated these two spheres of influence. Temporal Self-Regulation Theory (TST) integrates these person-level and situation-level factors, but has not yet been comprehensively applied to predicting smoking behaviour. We use Ecological Momentary Assessment to examine the utility of TST in predicting daily smoking. 46 smokers reported individual and environmental cues right after smoking and at random time points during the day. Cognitions, self-control, past behaviour, and nicotine dependence were assessed at baseline. Multi-level logistic regressions show that smoking is largely guided by momentary cues, but individual motivation can buffer their influence. This suggests that TST is a useful integrative approach to understand modifiable determinants of smoking and thus intervention targets.
Dexmedetomidine Restores Autophagic Flux, Modulates Associated microRNAs and the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway upon LPS-Treatment in Rats
Authors: Kho Widuri , von Haefen Clarissa , Paeschke Nadine , Nasser Fatme , Endesfelder Stefanie , Sifringer Marco , González-López Adrián , Lanzke Nadine , Spies Claudia D.
Published: August 2021

Infections and perioperative stress can lead to neuroinflammation, which in turn is linked to cognitive impairments such as postoperative delirium or postoperative cognitive dysfunctions. The α2-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine (DEX) prevents cognitive impairments and has organo-protective and anti-inflammatory properties. Macroautophagy (autophagy) regulates many biological processes, but its role in DEX-mediated anti-inflammation and the underlying mechanism of DEX remains largely unclear. We were interested how a pretreatment with DEX protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in adult male Wistar rats. We used Western blot and activity assays to study how DEX modulated autophagy- and apoptosis-associated proteins as well as molecules of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and qPCR to analyse the expression of autophagy and inflammation-associated microRNAs (miRNA) in the spleen, cortex and hippocampus at different time points (6 h, 24 h, 7 d). We showed that a DEX pretreatment prevents LPS-induced impairments in autophagic flux and attenuates the LPS-induced increase in the apoptosis-associated protein cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) in the spleen. Both, DEX and LPS altered miRNA expression and molecules of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the spleen and brain. While only a certain set of miRNAs was up- and/or downregulated by LPS in each tissue, which was prevented or attenuated by a DEX pretreatment in the spleen and hippocampus, all miRNAs were up- and/or downregulated by DEX itself – independent of whether or not they were altered by LPS. Our results indicate that the organo-protective effect of DEX may be mediated by autophagy, possibly by acting on associated miRNAs, and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Graphical abstract

Preventive effects of DEX on LPS-induced inflammation. DEX restores the LPS-induced impairments in autophagic flux, attenuates PARP cleavage and alters molecules of the cholinergic system in the spleen. Furthermore, DEX alters and prevents LPS-induced miRNA expression changes in the spleen and brain along with LPS.
Good and bad boundaries in ultrasound compounding: preserving anatomic boundaries while suppressing artifacts
Authors: Hung Alex Ling Yu , Galeotti John
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Ultrasound compounding is to combine sonographic information captured from different angles and produce a single image. It is important for multi-view reconstruction, but as of yet there is no consensus on best practices for compounding. Current popular methods inevitably suppress or altogether leave out bright or dark regions that are useful and potentially introduce new artifacts. In this work, we establish a new algorithm to compound the overlapping pixels from different viewpoints in ultrasound.

Methods

Inspired by image fusion algorithms and ultrasound confidence, we uniquely leverage Laplacian and Gaussian pyramids to preserve the maximum boundary contrast without overemphasizing noise, speckles, and other artifacts in the compounded image, while taking the direction of the ultrasound probe into account. Besides, we designed an algorithm that detects the useful boundaries in ultrasound images to further improve the boundary contrast.

Results

We evaluate our algorithm by comparing it with previous algorithms both qualitatively and quantitatively, and we show that our approach not only preserves both light and dark details, but also somewhat suppresses noise and artifacts, rather than amplifying them. We also show that our algorithm can improve the performance of downstream tasks like segmentation.

Conclusion

Our proposed method that is based on confidence, contrast, and both Gaussian and Laplacian pyramids appears to be better at preserving contrast at anatomic boundaries while suppressing artifacts than any of the other approaches we tested. This algorithm may have future utility with downstream tasks such as 3D ultrasound volume reconstruction and segmentation.
Bariatric Surgery in Youth: the Perspective of Dutch Pediatricians, Parents, and Adolescents
Authors: van de Pas Kelly G. H. , Bonouvrie Daniëlle S. , Janssen Loes , Roebroek Yvonne G. M. , Zegers Bas S. H. J. , Leclercq Wouter K. G. , Vreugdenhil Anita C. E. , van Dielen François M. H.
Published: August 2021

Background

Recent studies have indicated that bariatric surgery is effective for the treatment of youth with severe obesity. The attitudes of pediatricians, parents, and adolescents regarding this topic remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the current thoughts and beliefs of Dutch pediatricians, parents, and adolescents regarding bariatric surgery in youth.

Methods

An online survey containing twenty questions on bariatric surgery in youth was distributed to pediatricians of the Dutch Society of Pediatrics. Parents and adolescents who participated in an interdisciplinary care program for overweight, obesity, and severe obesity filled out an online survey of twelve questions.

Results

One hundred and twenty-one pediatricians, 49 parents, and 19 adolescents completed the surveys. Seventy-two pediatricians (59.5%) considered bariatric surgery to be an effective treatment for youth with severe obesity when conventional treatment fails, and intend to refer patients for bariatric surgery. The most frequently suggested conditions for bariatric surgery were a minimum age of 16 years (n = 59, 48.7%), a BMI threshold of 40 kg/m2 (n = 51, 42.2%), and a minimum Tanner stage of IV (n = 59, 48.8%).

Thirty parents (61.2%) and fourteen adolescents (73.7%) responded that bariatric surgery should become available for youth with severe obesity.

Conclusion

Dutch pediatricians, parents, and adolescents increasingly accept bariatric surgery as a treatment modality in youth with severe obesity who do not respond successfully to lifestyle intervention. Whether pediatricians will actually refer youth for bariatric surgery remains to be seen when this treatment option will be implemented in the Netherlands.

Graphical abstract
Examining Multilevel Poverty-Causing Factors in Poor Villages: a Hierarchical Spatial Regression Model
Authors: Wang Yanhui , Jiang Yuewen , Yin Duoduo , Liang Chenxia , Duan Fuzhou
Published: August 2021

The examination of poverty-causing factors and their mechanisms of action in poverty-stricken villages is an important topic associated with poverty reduction issues. Although the individual or background effects of multilevel influencing factors have been considered in some previous studies, the spatial effects of these factors are rarely involved. By considering nested geographic and administrative features and integrating the detection of individual, background, and spatial effects, a bilevel hierarchical spatial linear model (HSLM) is established in this study to identify the multilevel significant factors that cause poverty in poor villages, as well as the mechanisms through which these factors contribute to poverty at both the village and county levels. An experimental test in the region of the Wuling Mountains in central China revealed the following findings. (1) There were significant background and spatial effects in the study area. Moreover, 48.28% of the overall difference in poverty incidence in poor villages resulted from individual effects at the village level. Additionally, 51.72% of the overall difference resulted from background effects at the county level. (2) Poverty-causing factors were observed at different levels, and these factors featured different action mechanisms. Village-level factors accounted for 14.29% of the overall difference in poverty incidence, and there were five significant village-level factors. (3) The hierarchical spatial regression model was found to be superior to the hierarchical linear model in terms of goodness of fit. This study offers technical support and policy guidance for village-level regional development.
Increased risk of cancer in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Lundberg Båve Aiva , Bergquist Annika , Bottai Matteo , Warnqvist Anna , von Seth Erik , Nordenvall Caroline
Published: August 2021

Background and aims

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with an increased risk of hepatobiliary and colorectal cancer, but the risks of other cancer forms have not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of intestinal and extraintestinal cancers in a large, well-defined cohort of PSC patients.

Material and method

A matched cohort study of Swedish PSC patients was performed with up to ten comparators for each patient, matched for sex, age, and residency. The data were retrieved from national registers. Patients were followed from PSC diagnosis until cancer diagnosis, liver transplantation, first emigration date, death, or December 31, 2016. The risk of cancer was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression models.

Results

In total, 1432 PSC patients with a verified diagnosis and 14,437 comparators were studied. The mean follow-up time was 15.9 years. Eighty-eight percent of the PSC patients had concomitant inflammatory bowel disease. PSC patients ran significantly increased risks of developing any cancer [HR 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–4.3], hepatobiliary cancer (HR 120.9, 95% CI 72.0–203.1), colorectal cancer (HR 7.5, 95% CI 5.6–10.0), pancreatic cancer (HR 8.0, 95% CI 3.2–20.2), gastric cancer (HR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5–11.3), small bowel cancer (HR 21.1, 95% CI 3.5–128.2), and lymphoma (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6–5.7). PSC was not associated with a lower risk of any cancer form.

Conclusions

PSC patients have a four times overall increased risk of developing cancer compared to the general population, with increased risk of developing hepatobiliary, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer, as well as lymphoma.
Altruism, Solidarity and Responsibility from a Committed Sociology: Contributions to Society
Authors: Gualda Estrella
Published: August 2021

A careful look at the international development of Sociology highlights the centrality that the study of social problems and the approach to possible solutions to them have had in the history of this discipline, not infrequently for the sake of better social integration, stability, development, social change or even modernity. Recent approaches suggest shifting this focus of attention, arguing about the deficit in sociological research and practice concerning theor etical frameworks that pay attention to the positive aspects. This text reflects on the contributions that altruism, solidarity, and collective responsibility can have to improve the quality of life in contemporary societies and face humanitarian emergencies with a certain degree of success. For instance, the so-called refugee crisis or the current COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges for societies. This article also explores briefly new roles of data science in connection with responsibility and altruism. The text invites us to revisit sociology, thinking about the lights more than the shadows.
Comparative environmental sustainability study of an improved sewage sludge treatment and sludge reuse system based on emergy analysis in China
Authors: Zhang Junxue , Ma Lin
Published: August 2021

As the significant residuals in the sewage treatment system, sludge treatment and reuse play a pivotal impact on the environmental sustainability study in China. In this paper, two sewage sludge treatment systems have been investigated, calculated, and analyzed, including the conventional treatment system (Scenario A) and improved reuse system (Scenario B), respectively. The results demonstrate that (1) Compared to Scenario A, Scenario B is a comprehensive system, which integrates a sewage sludge treatment system and a brick production system for sludge recycling. (2) After considering the brick system (scenario B), on the one hand, the sludge treatment capacity has been enhanced and raised sludge utilization; on the other hand, negative influences have also generated due to the non-renewable resources input and several outputs. (3) In Scenario A and Scenario B, the input resources part reflects the main impact (about 59.6% in the entire emergy value). (4) In this new paper, the UEVs are 2.73E + 11sej/kg and 6.29E + 11sej/kg in Scenario A and Scenario B, respectively. (5) The emergy sustainability indexes (ESI) are 0.012292 and 0.00848, which express the weak comprehensive effects in Scenario A and Scenario B. (6) Scenario B has a more extensive range of change than Scenario A because of the more resource input for the sensitivity analysis. Given the all discussions, there are two effective approaches to be used for perfecting environmental sustainability in the Scenario A system and Scenario B system.
A novel technique for the modeling of shale swelling behavior in water-based drilling fluids
Authors: Lalji Shaine Mohammadali , Ali Syed Imran , Awan Zahoor Ul Hussain , Jawed Yunus
Published: August 2021

One of the most significant problems in oil and gas sector is the swelling of shale when it comes in contact with water. The migration of hydrogen ions (H+) from the water-based drilling fluid into the platelets of shale formation causes it to swell, which eventually increases the size of the shale sample and makes it structure weak. This contact results in the wellbore instability problem that ultimately reduces the integrity of a wellbore. In this study, the swelling of a shale formation was modeled using the potential of first order kinetic equation. Later, to minimize its shortcoming, a new proposed model was formulated. The new model is based on developing a third degree polynomial equation that is used to model the swelling percentages obtained through linear dynamic swell meter experiment performed on a shale formation when it comes in contact with a drilling fluid. These percentages indicate the hourly change in sample size during the contact. The variables of polynomial equation are dependent on the time of contact between the mud and the shale sample, temperature of the environment, clay content in shale and experimental swelling percentages. Furthermore, the equation also comprises of adjustable parameters that are fine-tuned in such a way that the polynomial function is best fitted to the experimental datasets. The MAE (mean absolute error) of the present model, namely Scaling swelling equation was found to be 2.75%, and the results indicate that the Scaling Swelling equation has the better performance than the first order kinetics in terms of swelling predication. Moreover, the proposed model equation is also helpful in predicting the swelling onset time when the mud and shale comes in direct contact with each other. In both the cases, the percentage deviation in predicting the swelling initiation time is close to 10%. This information will be extremely helpful in forecasting the swelling tendency of shale sample in a particular mud. Also, it helps in validating the experimental results obtained from linear dynamic swell meter.
Real world effectiveness and cost consequences of grass pollen SCIT compared with SLIT and symptomatic treatment
Authors: Brüggenjürgen Bernd , Klimek Ludger , Reinhold Thomas
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Real-world evidence (RWE) with regard to allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) adherence is increasingly available. Economic modelling has already shown AIT to be cost-effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis compared with symptomatic treatment. However, analyzing sublingual (SLIT) and subcutaneous (SCIT) immunotherapeutic approaches based on RWE adherence data are not available for Germany. This analysis outlines the cost-effectiveness of SCIT compared with SLIT as well as a symptomatic treatment modality on the basis of recent RWE adherence data.

Methods

A Markov model, with predefined disease stages and a time period of 9 years, was adapted for this analysis. A 6-grass subcutaneous allergoid SCIT preparation and a 5-grass pollen SLIT tablet was employed as AIT administrations. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated based on symptom scores and used as the effectiveness variable. Total costs and cost effectiveness of SCIT, SLIT and symptomatic treatment (ST) were calculated. Model uncertainties were estimated by means of additional sensitivity analyses. Applied discount rate was 3%.

Results

Both SCIT and SLIT preparations proved superior compared to symptomatic treatment with regard to effectiveness. Although more expensive, AIT also proved to be cost-effective. A direct comparison of SCIT (Allergovit®) and SLIT (Oralair®) showed lower total costs for SCIT treatment over the study period of 9 years (SCIT 1779 € versus SLIT 2438 €) and improved effectiveness (SCIT 7.17 QALYs versus SLIT 7.11 QALYs).

Conclusion

AIT represents a cost-effective treatment option for patients with allergic rhinitis compared with symptomatic treatment. SCIT appeared to be dominant and cost-effective, due in particular to higher patient adherence and lower drug costs.
A Special Additive Enables All Cations and Anions Passivation for Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency over 23%
Authors: Zhao Wenjing , Xu Jie , He Kun , Cai Yuan , Han Yu , Yang Shaomin , Zhan Sheng , Wang Dapeng , Liu Zhike , Liu Shengzhong
Published: August 2021

Passivating undercoordinated ions is an effective way to reduce the defect densities at the surface and grain boundaries (GBs) of perovskite materials for enhanced photovoltaic performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, (BBF) complex is chosen as a multifunctional additive, which contains both C7H9N and BF3 groups working as Lewis base and Lewis acid, respectively, can bond with Pb2+/I− and FA+ on the surface and in the GBs in the perovskite film, affording passivation of both cation and anion defects. The synergistic effect of the C7H9N and BF3 complex slows the crystallization during the perovskite film deposition to improve the crystalline quality, which reduces the trap density and the recombination in the perovskite film to suppress nonradiative recombination loss and minimizes moisture permeation to improve the stability of the perovskite material. Meanwhile, such an additive improves the energy-level alignment between the valence band of the perovskite and the highest occupied molecular orbital of the hole-transporting material, Spiro-OMeTAD. Consequently, our work achieves power conversion efficiency of 23.24%, accompanied by enhanced stability under ambient conditions and light illumination and opens a new avenue for improving the performance of PSCs through the use of a multifunctional complex.
Continuous citrate‐capped gold nanoparticle synthesis in a two‐phase flow reactor
Authors: Damilos Spyridon , Alissandratos Ioannis , Panariello Luca , Radhakrishnan Anand N. P. , Cao Enhong , Wu Gaowei , Besenhard Maximilian O. , Kulkarni Amol A. , Makatsoris Charalampos , Gavriilidis Asterios
Published: August 2021

A continuous manufacturing platform was developed for the synthesis of aqueous colloidal 10–20 nm gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in a flow reactor using chloroauric acid, sodium citrate and citric acid at 95 oC and 2.3 bar(a) pressure. The use of a two-phase flow system – using heptane as the continuous phase – prevented fouling on the reactor walls, while improving the residence time distribution. Continuous syntheses for up to 2 h demonstrated its potential application for continuous manufacturing, while live quality control was established using online UV-Vis photospectrometry that monitored the particle size and process yield. The synthesis was stable and reproducible over time for gold precursor concentration above 0.23 mM (after mixing), resulting in average particle size between 12 and 15 nm. A hydrophobic membrane separator provided successful separation of the aqueous and organic phases and collection of colloidal Au NPs in flow. Process yield increased at higher inlet flow rates (from 70 % to almost 100 %), due to lower residence time of the colloidal solution in the separator resulting in less fouling in the PTFE membrane. This study addresses the challenges for the translation of the synthesis from batch to flow and provides tools for the development of a continuous manufacturing platform for gold nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract
Scattering Map for the Vlasov–Poisson System
Authors: Flynn Patrick , Ouyang Zhimeng , Pausader Benoit , Widmayer Klaus
Published: August 2021

We construct (modified) scattering operators for the Vlasov–Poisson system in three dimensions, mapping small asymptotic dynamics as $$t\rightarrow -\infty$$

t
→
-
∞

to asymptotic dynamics as $$t\rightarrow +\infty$$

t
→
+
∞

. The main novelty is the construction of modified wave operators, but we also obtain a new simple proof of modified scattering. Our analysis is guided by the Hamiltonian structure of the Vlasov–Poisson system. Via a pseudo-conformal inversion, we recast the question of asymptotic behavior in terms of local in time dynamics of a new equation with singular coefficients which is approximately integrated using a generating function.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Sexually Active Students of the University of Buea
Authors: Halle-Ekane Gregory Edie , Timti Louis Foingwe , Tanue Elvis Asangbeng , Ekukole Conrald Metuge , Yenshu Emmanuel Vubo
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common public health issue. Most studies, especially in the sub-Saharan region are typically carried out in the older married female population, but the post-secondary education period is crucial for the development of the sexuality of young women. Poor awareness and management of FSD may lead to adverse physical and psychosocial complications later on in the lives of these women.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of the risk of having FSD and the factors associated with having FSD among sexually active students of the University of Buea.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the University of Buea involving 405 sexually active students; 16 years of age and above. Quantitative data on sociodemographic, biological, interpersonal and psychosocial characteristics were collected. A validated Japanese modified version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-J) was used to assess the risk of having female sexual dysfunction. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, binary and multivariate logistic analyses.

Main Outcome Measures

Prevalence of risk of having FSD and its associated factors among students of the University of Buea.

Results

A total of 171 (42.0%) out of 405 students showed a risk of having at least one form of FSD. The commonest forms of dysfunction were problems of sexual pain (46.9%), orgasm (42.0%), desire (29.1%) and arousal (21.2%). Participants who were unmarried but in a relationship (P = .002) were less likely to experience FSD. Lower levels of education (first year [P = .005], second year [P = .001]), having a history of sexual assault (P = 0.012) and poor health (P = .012) were all independently associated with a higher risk of having FSD.

Conclusion

The prevalence of students at risk of having FSD was high with 4 out of every 10 students showing a risk of having at least one form. Lower levels of education, having a history of sexual assault and poor health were independent risk factors of FSD. Being unmarried but in a relationship was the sole protective factor against FSD.