bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding help‐seeking in rural counties: A serial mediation analysis
Authors: Keller Emily M. , Owens Gina P.
Published: October 2021

Objective

Rural areas in the Southern United States are characterized by certain cultural values that may delay or prevent mental health service utilization. The present study examined a four‐stage chain of serial mediation where higher levels of general self‐reliance would be related to greater levels of public stigma, which would in turn be related to higher levels of self‐stigma, followed by greater self‐reliance about managing mental health problems, and finally, more negative attitudes toward seeking help from psychologists.

Method

Community members who lived in rural counties in the Southern United States (N = 783) completed measures of these constructs online.

Results

Mediation analyses supported a direct association between general self‐reliance and attitudes toward help‐seeking that was explained in serial by higher levels of public stigma, self‐stigma, and mental health self‐reliance.

Conclusions

Clinical implications for rural practitioners are suggested including instilling policy changes, increasing provider visibility, and addressing barriers in therapy.
Household caregivers' knowledge and control of helminthiasis in preschool children in a rural community of Enugu state, Nigeria
Authors: Ugwunna Nwachukwu Chinedu , Ede Moses Onyemaechi , Okeke Chinedu Ifedi , Onuorah Adaorah Rapuluchukwu
Published: October 2021

Helminthiasis causes iron deficiency anemia, pica, growth, and mental retardation in children. Deworming exercises are being included as part of various interventional programs to reduce the disease burden. However, the success or failure of such activities in terms of household caregivers’ knowledge and practice of deworming is not usually adequately evaluated, thus this study. This was a cross‐sectional descriptive study carried out in the rural community of Enugu State, Nigeria. Pretested semi‐structured interviewer‐administered questionnaire was used. Inferential statistics, χ2 test, and t‐test were also used in the analysis for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 294 preschool children and 250 caregivers were studied. Among the caregivers, 212 (71.9%) had good knowledge and 149 (50.5%) had good practice of deworming. There was a statistically significant association between the age of respondents and knowledge score (χ2 = 6.471, p = 0.039) and between the educational level of respondents and practice score (χ2 = 30.632, p < 0.001). Most respondents in the rural community had a good knowledge of worm infestation and only half had good practice of deworming. Also, there was a significant difference between the age of respondents and knowledge of helminthiasis and between the educational level of respondents and deworming activities of respondents.
Difference in sarcopenia characteristics associated with physical activity and disability incidences in older adults
Authors: Chiba Ippei , Lee Sangyoon , Bae Seongryu , Makino Keitaro , Shinkai Yohei , Katayama Osamu , Harada Kenji , Takayanagi Naoto , Shimada Hiroyuki
Published: October 2021

Background

Deteriorated skeletal muscle condition, including sarcopenia, is a risk factor for disability in older adults. Promoting physical activity is a useful treatment for sarcopenia. However, optimal intensity of physical activity according to sarcopenia characteristics is unclear.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study enrolled 2149 community‐dwelling older adults (women 55.7%, mean age: 75.5 ± 4.0 years). Five‐year disability incidence defined by Japanese long‐term care insurance certification and accelerometer‐measured physical activities (light‐intensity physical activity [LPA] and moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity [MVPA]), which were adjusted for potential confounders, was analysed using cox‐proportional hazard model stratified by sarcopenia characteristics based on the diagnostic algorithm by the Asian working group for sarcopenia (robust, low physical function, low muscle mass, and sarcopenia). The sarcopenia group was defined as low muscle mass and low physical function (weakness and/or slowness). The low muscle mass and low physical function groups were each defined by these characteristics alone. Muscle mass was analysed via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Each intensity of physical activity times was divided by median values.

Results

The disability incidence rate was 15.4%, excluding those who could not be followed up. Mean LPA times were 43.8 ± 18.0, 45.6 ± 17.5, 45.4 ± 16.6, 40.8 ± 18.6, and 41.4 ± 18.5 min/day and MVPA times were 24.6 ± 17.6, 26.3 ± 18.3, 27.2 ± 17.3, 21.6 ± 16.3, and 21.5 ± 16.4 min/day in all participants, the robust, low muscle mass, low physical function, and sarcopenia groups, respectively. For all participants, higher MVPA was associated with disability incidence [hazard ratios (HR), 0.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.49–0.81; P < 0.001], whereas higher LPA showed no association (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.68–1.10; P = 0.22). Higher LPA was associated in the sarcopenia group (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15–0.85; P = 0.019), and MVPA was associated in the robust (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39–0.87; P = 0.008) and low physical function (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45–0.98; P = 0.040) groups. Both LPA and MVPA showed no association in the low muscle mass group. The P values for interactions between sarcopenia characteristics and physical activity were 0.017 for LPA and 0.014 for MVPA.

Conclusions

The LPA was associated with a lower risk of disability in older adults with sarcopenia, whereas MVPA was associated in subjects with robust and low physical function. Our findings indicate a need for individualized approaches to prevent disability based on muscle condition.
Circular RNA ITCH attenuates the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inducing PTEN upregulation via miR‐214
Authors: Wang Liuzhong , Sang Jianzhong , Zhang Yamin , Gao Ling , Zhao Dongli , Cao Hua
Published: October 2021

Background

Circular RNA itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (circ‐ITCH) has previously been reported to play a key role in carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the role of circ‐ITCH in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be explored.

Methods

Gene expression analysis was performed using a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The role of circ‐ITCH in NPC was explored using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, colony formation, transwell invasion, scratch healing and xenograft tumor assays. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay was carried out to assess the interactions among circ‐ITCH, microRNA‐214 (miR‐214) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN).

Results

The levels of circ‐ITCH and PTEN were decreased, whereas the level of miR‐214 was increased in NPC tissues collected from 28 subjects compared to normal nasopharynx tissues collected from 15 subjects. Moreover, a negative correlation between circ‐ITCH and miR‐214 expression and a positive correlation between circ‐ITCH and PTEN expression were observed in NPC tissues. Downregulation of circ‐ITCH expression was also observed in NPC cell lines. In addition, upregulation of circ‐ITCH markedly inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, circ‐ITCH was confirmed to exert its function by sponging miR‐214. PTEN was found to be a direct target gene of miR‐214 and its expression was negatively correlated with miR‐214 expression in NPC tissues. Moreover, our results showed that the circ‐ITCH/miR‐214 axis regulated NPC proliferation, migration and invasion through regulating the expression of PTEN. Upregulation of circ‐ITCH or PTEN blocked miR‐214‐mediated promotion of NPC tumorigenesis in vitro. Additionally, upregulation of circ‐ITCH also suppressed NPC tumorigenesis in vivo.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that circ‐ITCH suppressed NPC tumorigenesis by upregulating PTEN expression through interacting with miR‐214, thus proposing a novel mechanism for NPC inhibition.
Cass's Homosexual Identity Formation: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Goodrich Kristopher M. , Brammer M. Kathryn
Published: October 2021

Cass's (1979) model of homosexual identity formation has been used as a guideline to understand sexual identity development, although questions of its current applicability have been raised. This article critically analyzes Cass's model through a contemporary lens. To contextualize and understand the model and its implications, we review empirical and anecdotal research, as well as several human processes. Implications for counselors and counselor educators and suggestions for best use of the model are provided.

El modelo de formación de la identidad homosexual de Cass (1979) ha sido utilizado como una guía para comprender el desarrollo de la identidad sexual, aunque han surgido dudas sobre su validez en la actualidad. Este artículo analiza de forma crítica el modelo de Cass desde una perspectiva contemporánea. Para contextualizar y comprender el modelo y sus implicaciones, revisamos las investigaciones empíricas y anecdóticas, además de varios procesos humanos. Se proporcionan implicaciones para consejeros y educadores en consejería, así como sugerencias sobre la mejor forma de utilizar el modelo.
Linking Creativity to Psychological Well‐being: Integrative Insights from the Instrumental Emotion Regulation Theory
Authors: Leung Angela K.‐y. , Koh Brandon , Phang Riyang , Lee Sean T. H. , Huang Tengjiao
Published: October 2021

Research has recognized that people regulate their emotions not only for seeking pleasurable experiences but also for receiving instrumental gains. We draw on the theoretical framework of instrumental emotion regulation (IER; Tamir, 2005, 2009) to shed new light on the relationships among creativity, emotion, and psychological well‐being. We outline propositions that explain why there are concurrent creative and well‐being benefits when people experience emotional states that are consistent with their personality trait (e.g., worrisome emotions being consistent with trait neuroticism) even if such trait‐consistent emotions are negative. The IER perspective offers new interpretations of the creativity—well‐being relationship through motivating a more holistic view of emotion regulation and well‐being. We present an integrative theoretical model explicating that instrumental regulation toward trait‐consistent emotions engages people in emotional states that feel affectively right (affective path), motivate them intrinsically (motivational path), and boost cognitive efficiency (cognitive path), thus yielding potential downstream benefits on creativity and well‐being.
Crosslinking Trends in Multicomponent Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Dodda Jagan Mohan , Azar Mina Ghafouri , Sadiku Rotimi
Published: October 2021

Multicomponent‐based hydrogels are well established candidates for biomedical applications. However, certain aspects of multicomponent systems, e.g., crosslinking, structural binding, network formation, proteins/drug incorporation, etc., are challenging aspects to modern biomedical research. The types of crosslinking and network formation are crucial for the effective combination of multiple component systems. The creation of a complex system in the overall structure and the crosslinking efficiency of different polymeric chains in an organized fashion are crucially important, especially when the materials are for biomedical applications. Therefore, the engineering of hydrogel has to be, succinctly understood, carefully formulated, and expertly designed. The different crosslinking methods in use, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, coordination bonding, and self‐assembly. The formations of double, triple, and multiple networks, are well established. A systematic study of the crosslinking mechanisms in multicomponent systems, in terms of the crosslinking types, network formation, intramolecular bonds between different structural units, and their potentials for biomedical applications, is lacking and therefore, these aspects require investigations. To this end, the present review, focuses on the recent advances in areas of the physical, chemical, and enzymatic crosslinking methods that are often, employed for the designing of multicomponent hydrogels.
Ethylene/Propylene/Diene Terpolymers Grafted with Poly(methyl acrylate) by Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Authors: Rostami Najafabadi Zahra , Omaña Alvaro A. , Rivard Eric , Soares João B. P.
Published: October 2021

This article describes the synthesis of ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymers grafted with poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization. The PMA graft molecular weights and densities are controlled by varying the concentration and conversion of methyl acrylate, as well as the concentration of initiator. The grafted copolymers are characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, proton NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Copolymers with graft molecular weights varying from 12 to 179 kDa and grafting densities from 11% to 53% are made following this procedure.
Consumer cynicism in service failures
Authors: Tran Hai‐Anh , Strizhakova Yuliya , Usrey Bryan , Johnson Samuel
Published: October 2021

Despite growing corporate commitments to being customer‐centric, many customers perceive firms as self‐driven and caring only about their own business interests. This sentiment is projected in consumer cynicism, or negative consumer attitudes based on the disbelief in the sincerity of firms' motives and actions. We argue that consumer cynicism emerges in response to negative marketplace situations, such as service and product failures. Across four scenario‐based experiments and one video‐based experiment, our research examines cynicism as a key mediator, transmitting the effect of double deviation (i.e., a failure in delivery and in subsequent recovery) on negative electronic word‐of‐mouth and repurchase intention. We further demonstrate that consumer cynicism can be minimized when the provider uses cocreated recovery (i.e., engages consumers in recovery) even if the recovery fails and when the provider offers a strong empathetic apology (either before or after recovery failure). Our research contributes to consumer and service recovery research by highlighting an important but overlooked role of consumer cynicism in the context of double deviation. We also offer managerial insights into cocreation and empathetic apologies as cost‐effective recovery strategies to minimize cynicism.
Accumulation of Sulfonic Acid Groups Anchored in Covalent Organic Frameworks as an Intrinsic Proton‐Conducting Electrolyte
Authors: Zhai Lipeng , Yao Yuze , Ma Baiwei , Hasan Md. Mahmudul , Han Yuxi , Mi Liwei , Nagao Yuki , Li Zhongping
Published: October 2021

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a novel class of crystalline porous polymers, which possess high porosity, excellent stability, and regular nanochannels. 2D COFs provide a 1D nanochannel to form the proton transport channels. The abovementioned features afford a powerful potential platform for designing materials as proton transportation carriers. Herein, the authors incorporate sulfonic acid groups on the pore walls as proton sources for enhancing proton transport conductivity in the 1D channel. Interestingly, the sulfonic acid COFs (S‐COFs) electrolytes being binder free exhibit excellent proton conductivity of ≈1.5 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 25 ℃ and 95% relative humidity (RH), which rank the excellent performance in standard proton‐conducting electrolytes. The S‐COFs electrolytes keep the high proton conduction over the 24 h. The activation energy is estimated to be as low as 0.17 eV, which is much lower than most reported COFs. This research opens a new window to evolve great potential of structural design for COFs as the high proton‐conducting electrolytes.
Prisoner dilemma in a vertical duopoly with managerial delegation
Authors: Colombo Stefano
Published: October 2021

We consider managerial delegation with two firms producing goods of different qualities. We show that both firms choose to delegate in equilibrium, but a prisoner dilemma is not inevitable in the case of Cournot competition. Indeed, when the quality asymmetry is sufficiently large, the profits of the high‐quality firm are greater than in the case of no delegation.
Pilot tone navigation for respiratory and cardiac motion‐resolved free‐running 5D flow MRI
Authors: Falcão Mariana B. L. , Di Sopra Lorenzo , Ma Liliana , Bacher Mario , Yerly Jérôme , Speier Peter , Rutz Tobias , Prša Milan , Markl Michael , Stuber Matthias , Roy Christopher W.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

In this work, we integrated the pilot tone (PT) navigation system into a reconstruction framework for respiratory and cardiac motion‐resolved 5D flow. We tested the hypotheses that PT would provide equivalent respiratory curves, cardiac triggers, and corresponding flow measurements to a previously established self‐gating (SG) technique while being independent from changes to the acquisition parameters.

Methods

Fifteen volunteers and 9 patients were scanned with a free‐running 5D flow sequence, with PT integrated. Respiratory curves and cardiac triggers from PT and SG were compared across all subjects. Flow measurements from 5D flow reconstructions using both PT and SG were compared to each other and to a reference electrocardiogram‐gated and respiratory triggered 4D flow acquisition. Radial trajectories with variable readouts per interleave were also tested in 1 subject to compare cardiac trigger quality between PT and SG.

Results

The correlation between PT and SG respiratory curves were 0.95 ± 0.06 for volunteers and 0.95 ± 0.04 for patients. Heartbeat duration measurements in volunteers and patients showed a bias to electrocardiogram measurements of, respectively, 0.16 ± 64.94 ms and 0.01 ± 39.29 ms for PT versus electrocardiogram and of 0.24 ± 63.68 ms and 0.09 ± 32.79 ms for SG versus electrocardiogram. No significant differences were reported for the flow measurements between 5D flow PT and from 5D flow SG. A decrease in the cardiac triggering quality of SG was observed for increasing readouts per interleave, whereas PT quality remained constant.

Conclusion

PT has been successfully integrated in 5D flow MRI and has shown equivalent results to the previously described 5D flow SG technique, while being completely acquisition‐independent.
A nursing mentoring programme on non‐pharmacological interventions against BPSD: Effectiveness and use of antipsychotics—A retrospective, before–after study
Authors: Plante‐Lepage Roxane , Voyer Philippe , Carmichael Pierre‐Hugues , Kröger Edeltraut
Published: October 2021

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common and have significant implications for patients and caregivers. Non‐pharmacological interventions (NPI) have shown to be effective in the management of BPSD. However, the use of antipsychotics to treat BPSD remains ubiquitous. This retrospective, before–after study aimed to examine whether a nurse mentoring programme promoting NPI for BPSD management had a significant association with the use of antipsychotics in older adults with major neurocognitive disorders residing in different settings. Results obtained from the medical files of 134 older adults having benefitted from the mentoring programme demonstrate that this intervention significantly reduced BPSD. The effect on antipsychotics use was modest: a 10% reduction in the use of antipsychotics has been observed among patients for which the NPI were effective. However, the use of antipsychotics remained widespread despite the nursing recommendations of the mentoring team of the Center of Excellence on Aging in Quebec (CEVQ).
Processable and recyclable polyurethane/HNTs@Fe3O4 solid–solid phase change materials with excellent thermal conductivity for thermal energy storage
Authors: Lin Changhong , Ying Puyou , Huang Min , Zhang Ping , Yang Tao , Liu Gang , Wu Jianbo , Levchenko Vladimir
Published: October 2021

The permanently chemically cross‐linking solid–solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) were designed to solve the problem of leakage and poor shape stability during the whole process of phase transformation. However, these materials lead to environment pollution and resources waste because of the non‐recyclability. Therefore, a SSPCMs was fabricated using dynamic thermal reversible Diels–Alder bonds. The prepared SSPCMs exhibited excellent shape, heat storage stability, and reliability and reprocessed ability, resulting from dynamic Diels–Alder bonds. Moreover, the Halloysite nanotubes decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (HNTs@Fe3O4) were used to enhance the thermal conductivity of SSPCMs. When the filler content was 0.5 wt%, the best integrated properties (phase change properties and thermal conductivity) of the SSPCMs were obtained, it had the highest melting and freezing phase change enthalpies about 116.8 and 127.2 J/g, and thermal conductivity value, 0.223 W/m K, which was 101% higher than pure SSPCMs. Hence, the prepared SSPCMs can be considered as promising save‐energy, friendly‐environment thermal management materials.
Pharmacological and epidemiological considerations while constructing treatment episodes using observational data: A simulation study
Authors: Pazzagli Laura , Andersen Morten , Sessa Maurizio
Published: October 2021

Background

The permissible gap method is an extensively used approach for defining episodes of continuous treatment use in pharmacoepidemiology. This method uses the amount of drug redeemed, when available, and researcher‐defined temporal gaps to fill the interval between the calculated end of coverage of a redeemed prescription and the date of redemption of the next prescription in the same treatment episode. The final scope is defining periods of continuous use of medications. There are strong pharmacological and epidemiological arguments for adding the gap at the end of each treatment episode. However, the evidence is scarce on the impact that such a practice has on measures of association. This study aims to compare the impact of adding or not adding the researcher‐defined gap time to the end of a treatment episode on the incidence of drug discontinuation and the incidence rate for a simulated outcome that occurred during an observational window. Additionally, the study aims at assessing the magnitude of misclassification of exposure time between the two methods.

Methods

A simulated dataset of 100 patients available in the R package AdhereR that contains 1080 redeemed prescriptions was used. A gap time of 90 days was used for constructing treatment episodes in an observational window of 365 days following the first redeemed prescription. Two approaches were used for defining treatment episodes that were named “gap+” and “gap–” and that respectively add and did not add the gap time at the end of a treatment episode. An outcome was simulated by using an exponential baseline hazard function with scale parameter λ = 0.5 and censoring at time t = 365 days. The incidence rate ratio for the simulated outcome between the two approaches was computed.

Results

The 100 patients were followed for a median time of 183 days (interquartile range, IQR 50–365 days) and a median time of 273 days (IQR 140–365 days), respectively using “gap–” and “gap+”. During the first 100 days of the follow‐up period, none of the patients was found to discontinue the treatment with the method “gap+” while 38 patients discontinued using the method “gap–”. The approach “gap+” exerted a higher incidence rate for the simulated outcome among the exposed (0.98 events/person‐years) when compared to the “gap–” (0.82 events/person‐years) during defined periods of continuous treatment use. When comparing the two approaches and using the method “gap–” as the reference group, the incidence rate ratio for the simulated outcome was 1.20 (95% confidence interval: CI 0.72–2.02) among the exposed.

Conclusions

This study showed that not adding the gap at the end of the treatment episodes leads to an overestimation of drug discontinuation, particularly at the beginning of the observational window, and an underestimation of the incidence rate of a hypothetical outcome during the period of exposure to the medication.
Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A systematic review of prevalence rates and palivizumab prophylaxis
Authors: Lewis Leonie , Sinha Ian , Losty Paul D
Published: October 2021

Background

The seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics have been disrupted during the COVID‐19 pandemic, possibly because of lockdowns and social restrictions reducing viral transmission. Given uncertainties around the severity of upcoming RSV bronchiolitis epidemics, debate exists whether palivizumab (RSV prophylaxis) should be administered to infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), who may be vulnerable due to lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension.

Aim

To evaluate (1) if CDH infants have higher risk of admission with RSV bronchiolitis than infants in the general population; (2) if palivizumab prophylaxis may reduce this risk.

Methods

We included all eligible studies examining the risk(s) of RSV‐positive bronchiolitis requiring hospital admission in (1) CDH infants without palivizumab prophylaxis versus infants in the general population and (2) CDH infants with prophylaxis versus CDH infants without prophylaxis. The primary outcome evaluated was the risk of admission with RSV bronchiolitis. Data are reported descriptively and meta‐analysed when appropriate.

Results

Three eligible retrospective cohort studies were identified: one study found CDH to be an independent risk factor for RSV hospitalisation (odds ratio, 3.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01–4.4); two studies compared RSV hospitalisation rates in CDH patients who had palivizumab versus those that did not. The pooled risk ratio was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.29–4.23; p = .88). Overall, the quality of evidence was considered poor and one study was industry funded.

Conclusion

Whether CDH infants are at particular risk of severe bronchiolitis remains unclear. There is no evidence from this current systematic review that CDH infants should routinely receive palivizumab vaccination prophylaxis.
Conformational variability in proteins bound to single‐stranded DNA: A new benchmark for new docking perspectives
Authors: Mias‐Lucquin Dominique , Chauvot de Beauchene Isaure
Published: October 2021

We explored the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to collect protein–ssDNA structures and create a multi‐conformational docking benchmark including both bound and unbound protein structures. Due to ssDNA high flexibility when not bound, no ssDNA unbound structure is included in the benchmark. For the 91 sequence‐identity groups identified as bound–unbound structures of the same protein, we studied the conformational changes in the protein induced by the ssDNA binding. Moreover, based on several bound or unbound protein structures in some groups, we also assessed the intrinsic conformational variability in either bound or unbound conditions and compared it to the supposedly binding‐induced modifications. To illustrate a use case of this benchmark, we performed docking experiments using ATTRACT docking software. This benchmark is, to our knowledge, the first one made to peruse available structures of ssDNA–protein interactions to such an extent, aiming to improve computational docking tools dedicated to this kind of molecular interactions.
What do relationships between extractable metals and soil organic carbon concentrations mean?
Authors: Hall Steven J. , Thompson Aaron
Published: October 2021

Aluminum (Al)‐bearing and iron (Fe)‐bearing minerals, especially short‐range‐ordered (SRO) phases, are thought to protect soil organic C (SOC). However, it remains methodologically challenging to assess the influence of Al vs. Fe minerals or metal complexes. Whereas SRO Al and Fe phases share some properties, Al dissolved by oxalate (Alox) often correlates stronger with SOC than Fe dissolved by oxalate (Feox) or citrate–dithionite (Fecd). To further evaluate these relationships, we analyzed a large North American soil dataset from the National Ecological Observatory Network. A strong relationship between Alox and SOC (and weaker Feox‐SOC relationship) persisted even after excluding soils rich in SRO minerals (Andisols and Spodosols). Al dissolved by oxalate was strongly correlated with citrate–dithionite‐extractable Al (Alcd; slope = 0.92, R2 = .69), and discrepancies could be explained (R2 = .87) by greater dissolution of Al‐substituted Fe phases by citrate–dithionite and greater dissolution of aluminosilicates by oxalate. Aluminum dissolved by oxalate and Alcd were both strong SOC predictors despite their differing relationships with silicon (Si). Al dissolved by oxalate and Siox strongly covaried (R2 = .79), but Alcd was inconsistently related to Sicd (R2 = .18). Similar relationships of Alox and Alcd with SOC, despite differences in minerals extracted by oxalate and citrate–dithionite, suggest that Al‐OC complexes (as opposed to aluminosilicate or iron‐bearing minerals) were the best SOC predictor. This raises important questions: do Al‐OC complexes indicate protection from decomposition or simply reflect greater intensity of mineral weathering by organic acids; and, if the latter, then perhaps SOC input is driving Alox and SOC correlations rather than Al phase composition or abundance.
Neglected Cutaneous Skin Malignancy: A Patient with Concurrent Giant Basal Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma
Authors: Sun L. , Tan E.
Published: October 2021

Background

Giant basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are a rare subtype of BCC that grow to be greater than 5 cm in diameter. With the increase in size, there is a corresponding increase in metastatic rate and state of local invasion, with a clinical morphology that can be hard to differentiate from other subtypes of cutaneous malignancy. Although histologically equivalent to their common sub-centimetre counterparts, giant BCCs can precipitate significant systematic medical morbidity as well as psychological trauma, and can be a real surgical reconstructive challenge to clinicians.

Aims

To add breadth to the existing cases in the literature, as well as a fresh patient perspective on the psychological challenges in a patient with Giant BCC.

Materials & Methods

A case from the Waikato Hospital, New Zealand referred to the Plastic and Reconstructive Department is carefully photographed, ordered, and presented.

Results

We present a case of a 15 cm giant BCC of the back existing alongside a neglected thick exophytic melanoma of the elbow in a patient who had been too embarrassed to approach healthcare professionals. These skin lesions were an incidental discovery by the general practitioner after the patient presented with symptoms of shortness of breath.

Discussion

Neglected skin cancers can fungate and be clinically morphologically confusing. Photographs of examples of these tumours can hone clinician awareness of the existance of Giant BCCs.

Conclusion

Giant BCCs are an entity yet to receive standardized treatment stratification. Prompt diagnosis and staging scans mean an expedited path to wide local excision and reconstruction, resulting in timely resolution of patients' immediate morbidity from their oncological disease burden.
Core‐Shell Structured Micro‐Nanomotors: Construction, Shell Functionalization, Applications, and Perspectives
Authors: Yan Miao , Liang Kang , Zhao Dongyuan , Kong Biao
Published: October 2021

The successful integration of well‐designed micro‐nanomotors (MNMs) with diverse functional systems, such as, living systems, remote actuation systems, intelligent sensors, and sensing systems, offers many opportunities to not only endow them with diverse functionalization interfaces but also bring augmented or new properties in a wide variety of applications. Core‐shell structured MNM systems have been considered to play an important role in a wide range of applications as they provide a platform to integrate multiple complementary components via decoration, encapsulation, or functionalization into a single functional system, being able to protect the active species from harsh environments, and bring improved propulsion performance, stability, non‐toxicity, multi‐functionality, and dispersibility, etc., which are not easily available from the isolated components. More importantly, the hetero‐interfaces between individual components within a core‐shell structure might give rise to boosted or new physiochemical properties. This review will bring together these key aspects of the core‐shell structured MNMs, ranging from advanced protocols, enhanced/novel functionalities arising from diverse functional shells, to integrated core‐shell structured MNMs for diverse applications. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives for the development of core‐shell structured MNMs are discussed in term of synthesis, functions, propulsions, and applications.
The HURRIER process for experimentation in business‐to‐business mission‐critical systems
Authors: Issa Mattos David , Dakkak Anas , Bosch Jan , Olsson Helena Holmström
Published: October 2021

Continuous experimentation (CE) refers to a set of practices used by software companies to rapidly assess the usage, value, and performance of deployed software using data collected from customers and systems in the field using an experimental methodology. However, despite its increasing popularity in developing web‐facing applications, CE has not been studied in the development process of business‐to‐business (B2B) mission‐critical systems. By observing the CE practices of different teams, with a case study methodology inside Ericsson, we were able to identify the different practices and techniques used in B2B mission‐critical systems and a description and classification of the four possible types of experiments. We present and analyze each of the four types of experiments with examples in the context of the mission‐critical long‐term evolution (4G) product. These examples show the general experimentation process followed by the teams and the use of the different CE practices and techniques. Based on these examples and the empirical data, we derived the HURRIER process to deliver high‐quality solutions that the customers value. Finally, we discuss the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from applying CE and the HURRIER process in B2B mission‐critical systems.
Community detection with nodal information: Likelihood and its variational approximation
Authors: Weng Haolei , Feng Yang
Published: October 2021

Community detection is one of the fundamental problems in the study of network data. Most existing community detection approaches only consider edge information as inputs, and the output could be suboptimal when nodal information is available. In such cases, it is desirable to leverage nodal information for the improvement of community detection accuracy. Towards this goal, we propose a flexible network model incorporating nodal information and develop likelihood‐based inference methods. For the proposed methods, we establish favorable asymptotic properties as well as efficient algorithms for computation. Numerical experiments show the effectiveness of our methods in utilizing nodal information across a variety of simulated and real network data sets.
Influence of science text reading difficulty and hands‐on manipulation on science learning: An eye‐tracking study
Authors: Jian Yu‐Cin
Published: October 2021

This study used eye‐movement tracking to investigate how students engage with the learning process of reading science articles with or without hands‐on manipulation of a pulley system and their influences on learning outcomes. This experiment used a 2 (reading easy or difficult articles) × 2 (with or without hands‐on manipulation) between‐subject design. Seventy‐nine undergraduate students participated. They first read a science article about rotational mechanics and then completed a problem‐solving task. While completing the problem‐solving task, the two pure reading groups could reread the article to write down their answers, and the two read‐and‐manipulation groups were allowed to manipulate the pulley system in addition to reading the article. The participants' eye movements were recorded during the completion of this task. Results showed that hands‐on manipulation benefited those learners who read the difficult article, since they had better scores regarding the problem‐solving task; this was not the case for those who read the easy article. Eye movement data showed that the two pure reading groups spent more processing time rereading the article as well as writing their answers to the problem‐solving task than did the other two read‐and‐manipulation groups. Furthermore, the easy‐article group spent significantly longer processing time on performing the experiment but not on preparing or planning for manipulating the pulley system than did the difficult‐article group. The transition proportion of eye fixations reflected the looking and acting order of the participants during the problem‐solving task and indicated groups' similarities (e.g., seldom did students refer to the article to manipulate the pulley system and in reverse) and differences (e.g., the difficult‐article group preferred to check back‐and‐forth if their manipulation resolved the testing questions, but the easy‐article group did so relatively seldom).
The role of forensic anthropological techniques in identifying America's war dead from past conflicts
Authors: Belcher William R. , Shiroma Calvin Y. , Chesson Lesley A. , Berg Gregory E. , Jans Miranda
Published: October 2021

The Scientific Analysis Directorate of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is a unique entity within the U.S. Government. This agency currently houses the world's largest, accredited skeletal identification laboratory in the world, in terms of the size of the scientific staff, global mission, and number of annual identifications. Traditional forensic anthropology is used for the formation of a biological profile (biological sex, stature, population affinity/ancestry, and age) as well as trauma and pathologies that may be compared with historical records and personnel files. Since World War II, various scientists associated with DoD have conducted base‐line research in support of the identification of U.S. war dead, including, but not limited to, histology, the use of chest radiography and clavicle comparison, and statistical models to deal with commingling issues. The primary goal of the identification process of the Scientific Analysis Directorate is to use all available historical, field, and forensic methods to establish the most robust and defendable identification as scientifically and legally possible.

This article is categorized under:

Forensic Anthropology > Age Assessment

Forensic Anthropology > Sex Assessment

Forensic Anthropology > Ancestry Determination
Quantum corrections to the thermodynamics of black branes
Authors: Pourhassan Behnam , Faizal Mir
Published: October 2021

Abstract

In this paper we study the thermodynamics of black branes at quantum scales. We analyze both perturbative and non-perturbative corrections to the thermodynamics of such black branes. It will be observed that these corrections will modify the relation between the entropy and area of these black branes. This will in turn modify their specific heat, and thus their stability. So, such corrections can have important consequences for the stability of black branes at quantum scales. We also analyze the effect of these perturbative and non-perturbative quantum corrections on various other thermodynamic quantities. Then, we obtain the metric for the quantum corrected geometry for black branes.
A stringy perspective on the coincidence problem
Authors: Cunillera Francesc , Padilla Antonio
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We argue that, for string compactifications broadly consistent with swampland constraints, dark energy is likely to signal the beginning of the end of our universe as we know it, perhaps even through decompactification, with possible implications for the cosmological coincidence problem. Thanks to the scarcity (absence?) of stable de Sitter vacua, dark energy in string theory is assumed to take the form of a quintessence field in slow roll. As it rolls, a tower of heavy states will generically descend, triggering an apocalyptic phase transition in the low energy cosmological dynamics after at most a few hundred Hubble times. As a result, dark energy domination cannot continue indefinitely and there is at least a percentage chance that we find ourselves in the first Hubble epoch. We use a toy model of quintessence coupled to a tower of heavy states to explicitly demonstrate the breakdown in the cosmological dynamics as the tower becomes light. This occurs through a large number of corresponding particles being produced after a certain time, overwhelming quintessence. We also discuss some implications for early universe inflation.
Nucleation and Growth of Lattice Crystals
Authors: Braides Andrea , Scilla Giovanni , Tribuzio Antonio
Published: October 2021

A variational lattice model is proposed to define an evolution of sets from a single point (nucleation) following a criterion of “maximization” of the perimeter. At a discrete level, the evolution has a “checkerboard” structure and its shape is affected by the choice of the norm defining the dissipation term. For every choice of the scales, the convergence of the discrete scheme to a family of expanding sets with constant velocity is proved.
Mid-term follow-up surgical results in 284 cases of clival chordomas: the risk factors for outcome and tumor recurrence
Authors: Bai Jiwei , Li Mingxuan , Shi Jianxin , Jing Liwei , Zhai Yixuan , Zhang Shuheng , Wang Junmei , Zhao Peng , Li Chuzhong , Gui Songbai , Zhang Yazhuo
Published: October 2021

Objective

Skull base chordoma (SBC) is rare and one of the most challenging diseases to treat. We aimed to assess the optimal timing of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and to evaluate the factors that influence resection and long-term outcomes.

Methods

In total, 284 patients with 382 surgeries were enrolled in this retrospective study. Postsurgically, 64 patients underwent RT before recurrence (pre-recurrence RT), and 47 patients underwent RT after recurrence. During the first attempt to achieve gross-total resection (GTR), when the entire tumor was resected, 268 patients were treated with an endoscopic midline approach, and 16 patients were treated with microscopic lateral approaches. Factors associated with the success of GTR were identified using χ2 and logistic regression analyses. Risk factors associated with chordoma-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated with the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

In total, 74.6% of tumors were marginally resected [GTR (40.1%), near-total resection (34.5%)]. History of surgery, large tumor volumes, and tumor locations in the lower clivus were associated with a lower GTR rate. The mean follow-up period was 43.9 months. At the last follow-up, 181 (63.7%) patients were alive. RT history, histologic subtype (dedifferentiated and sarcomatoid), non-GTR, no postsurgical RT, and the presence of metastasis were associated with poorer CSS. Patients with pre-recurrence RT had the longest PFS and CSS, while patients without postsurgical RT had the worst outcome.

Conclusion

GTR is the goal of initial surgical treatment. Pre-recurrence RT would improve outcome regardless of GTR.
Advance voting and political competition
Authors: Ekman Mats
Published: October 2021

This paper appears to be the first to analyse political campaign incentives when the electorate vote at different moments before Election Day, a phenomenon known as early or advance voting. Many jurisdictions accommodate such voting by accepting mail-in ballots or by opening polling places before Election Day. Since politicians can thereby add campaign promiseswhilecitizens vote, they have an incentive to add promises valued by late-voting segments as Election Day approaches. This implies that early-voting segments of the electorate will pay higher taxes and receive lower transfers than had been announced when they voted. Late-voting segments benefit.
Satellite Gravimetry: A Review of Its Realization
Authors: Flechtner Frank , Reigber Christoph , Rummel Reiner , Balmino Georges
Published: October 2021

Since Kepler, Newton and Huygens in the seventeenth century, geodesy has been concerned with determining the figure, orientation and gravitational field of the Earth. With the beginning of the space age in 1957, a new branch of geodesy was created, satellite geodesy. Only with satellites did geodesy become truly global. Oceans were no longer obstacles and the Earth as a whole could be observed and measured in consistent series of measurements. Of particular interest is the determination of the spatial structures and finally the temporal changes of the Earth's gravitational field. The knowledge of the gravitational field represents the natural bridge to the study of the physics of the Earth's interior, the circulation of our oceans and, more recently, the climate. Today, key findings on climate change are derived from the temporal changes in the gravitational field: on ice mass loss in Greenland and Antarctica, sea level rise and generally on changes in the global water cycle. This has only become possible with dedicated gravity satellite missions opening a method known as satellite gravimetry. In the first forty years of space age, satellite gravimetry was based on the analysis of the orbital motion of satellites. Due to the uneven distribution of observatories over the globe, the initially inaccurate measuring methods and the inadequacies of the evaluation models, the reconstruction of global models of the Earth's gravitational field was a great challenge. The transition from passive satellites for gravity field determination to satellites equipped with special sensor technology, which was initiated in the last decade of the twentieth century, brought decisive progress. In the chronological sequence of the launch of such new satellites, the history, mission objectives and measuring principles of the missions CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE flown since 2000 are outlined and essential scientific results of the individual missions are highlighted. The special features of the GRACE Follow-On Mission, which was launched in 2018, and the plans for a next generation of gravity field missions are also discussed.
Population genetics meets phylogenetics: new insights into the relationships among members of the genus Euthynnus (family Scombridae)
Authors: Ollé Judith , Vilà-Valls Laura , Alvarado-Bremer Jaime , Cerdenares Genoveva , Duong Thuy Yen , Hajjej Ghailen , Lino Pedro G. , Muñoz-Lechuga Rubén , Sow Fambaye Ngom , Diaha N’guessan Constance , Araguas Rosa M. , Sanz Núria , Viñas Jordi
Published: October 2021

Euthynnus(family Scombridae) is a genus of marine pelagic fish species with a worldwide distribution that comprises three allopatric species:E. alletteratus,E. affinisandE. lineatus. All of them targeted by artisanal and commercial fisheries. We analyzed 263 individuals from Atlantic and Pacific Oceans using two genetic markers, the mtDNA Control Region (350 bp) and nuclear calmodulin (341 bp). The results obtained challenge the phylogeny of this group. We found a deep genetic divergence, probably at species level, withinE. alletteratus, between the North Atlantic-Mediterranean and the Tropical East Atlantic. This deep genetic divergence was tested with several species delimitation methods. This complete phylogeographic association between the North Atlantic and the Tropical East Atlantic support the hypothesis of two cryptic species. In addition, population genetic heterogeneity was detected between the North East Atlantic–Mediterranean and North West Atlantic regions. Our results indicate two scales of differentiation in what is currently considered a single population. Accordingly, for management purposes, the populations ofE. alletteratus, should be divided into a minimum of three management units. On the other hand, the high level of differentiation found inE. alletteratuscontrasts with the shallow genetic divergence ofE. affinisandE. lineatus.