bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of brown adipose tissue vascular density on body adiposity in healthy Japanese infants and children
Authors: Kuroiwa Miyuki , Hamaoka‐Fuse Sayuri , Amagasa Shiho , Kime Ryotaro , Endo Tasuki , Tanaka Riki , Kurosawa Yuko , Hamaoka Takafumi
Published: August 2021

Background and Objective

The importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well recognized in healthy infants and children. However, information regarding age‐related changes in BAT vascular density (BAT‐d) and the impact of BAT‐d on body adiposity are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the normal values of BAT‐d, factors influencing BAT‐d, and the impact of BAT‐d on body adiposity in healthy infants and children.

Methods

This study included 240 participants (127 girls and 113 boys) aged 1 month to 5 years. The tissue total hemoglobin concentration in the supraclavicular region adjusted according to the subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) ([total‐Hb‐Adj]sup) as BAT‐d. SAT in the deltoid and interscapular regions (SATdel+int), the Kaup index (body weight [g]/height or length [cm]/height or length [cm] × 10) as body adiposity, and fertilization season were also measured.

Results

The [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup of boys was higher than that of girls (r = 0.277, p = 0.009). Younger children had a significantly higher Kaup index (r = 0.495, p < 0.001) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001) than older children. Children who had higher [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup had a significantly lower Kaup index (r = 0.495, p = 0.037) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup, as a parameter of BAT‐d, is negatively correlated with body adiposity in children aged 1 month to 5 years, and BAT might affect human obesity to a much greater extent than expected. To prevent or treat obesity in early childhood, the level of BAT‐d should be considered when using a dietary intervention.
Linking political brand image and voter perception in India: A political market orientation approach
Authors: DasGupta Krishna , Sarkar Soumya
Published: August 2021

Political parties in order to design their competitive strategies are always keen to understand the factors that govern voter's perception. Voter's perception in this paper utilizes voter's acknowledgement of voter orientation (VO) of political parties. The purpose of this paper is to examine the constituent variables and their cumulative impact on voter's orientation and examine the linkage that exists between them. The authors have proposed four key constructs that demonstrates causality namely voter involvement (VI), voter subjective knowledge (VSK), political brand image (PBI) and environmental factor (EF). The study has used SEM method of model estimation. VI and VSK merged into a new construct labelled as voter engagement (VE). Engaged voter would impact PBI positively and political brand impacts VO. The relationship of VE and VO is mediated PBI, but the same kind of mediation is not witnessed in the case of EF. This research advances the understanding of composite variables of VO from the vantage of political market orientation. Political brand mediates the association between VE and voter perception.
Critical assessment of structural changes in some copolyamide‐clay hybrid materials in correlation with the filler characteristics
Authors: Zănoagă Mădălina , Airinei Anton , Fifere Nicuşor , Grigoraş Cristian‐Vasile , Ţîmpu Daniel , Tanasă Fulga
Published: August 2021

A series of three copolyamide‐clay hybrid nanocomposites were prepared using three different smectite clays (bentonite, montmorillonite K10, and Nanomer I.30P) by a solventless melt mixing process. The influence of the nature of clays on the structural changes was critically assessed by comparison with the neat copolyamide. Nanocomposite samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X‐ray diffractometry (WAXD), UV–vis spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The testing yielded in direct and indirect evidences of structural changes induced by the presence of clays in correlation with their characteristics, as nature of the clay, particle size, granulometric distribution, and particle dispersion into the matrix.
Fabrication of polymeric solar thermal fuel composite for solar energy storage applications
Authors: Telgerafchi Armaghan Ehsani , Mehranpour Milad , Nazockdast Hossein
Published: August 2021

Solar energy storage and conversion have remained significant global challenges. This article discusses how to fabricate a polymeric solar thermal fuel (P‐STF) composite with unique thermal storage abilities. In this regard, we aim at developing a novel method for dispersing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with azobenzene molecules (modified azobenzene molecules) in ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA). The modification of azobenzene (functionalization) enhances the energy storage density of AZO molecules, and the addition of fillers (MWCNT) leads to the production of the P‐STF composite with the potential to store and convert solar energy to thermal energy. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test verifies the P‐STF composite's capacity to absorb solar energy and release it as heat. Thus, the uncharged nanocomposites required heat energy at the melting point temperature of EVA (Enthalpy 18.392 J/g). However, the EVA‐AZO‐MWCNT 10% and EVA‐AZO‐MWCNT 5% nanocomposites released heat energy rather than requiring it to melt with enthalpy −37.6526 and −1.2609 J/g, respectively, which indicates the heat release in the P‐STF composite. Moreover, oscillatory shear rheological measurement (RMS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) demonstrate that modified azobenzene (MWCNT‐AZO) is well dispersed in the polymer matrix (EVA).
Drug repurposing of dextromethorphan as a cellular target for the management of influenza
Authors: Cummings Tammy H. , Magagnoli Joseph , Hardin James W. , Sutton S. Scott
Published: August 2021

Background

Influenza viruses are responsible for seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics of varying severity in humans, and additional treatment options are needed. High‐throughput siRNA screens and a pre‐clinical research model demonstrated that dextromethorphan (DM) has anti‐viral activity as a cellular target for treatment of influenza. This study examined DM usage and hospitalization rates among patients with laboratory‐confirmed influenza in a national cohort of United States veterans. We aimed to evaluate the potential drug repurposing of DM as a cellular target for the management of influenza utilizing a large, national claims and electronic health record database.

Methods

This retrospective drug‐disease association cohort study was conducted using data from the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI). We used a cohort with laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of influenza and international classification of disease (ICD)‐9/10 diagnosis codes of fever, cough, influenza, or acute upper respiratory infection in an outpatient setting. The study outcome is inpatient hospitalization (all‐cause and respiratory) within 30 days of influenza diagnosis. We estimated the relative risk for all‐cause and respiratory hospitalizations using Poisson generalized linear model (GLM) and a greedy nearest neighbor propensity score 1:1 matched sub‐analysis for both hospitalization models.

Findings

A total of 18,677 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated in our study. The cohorts consisted of 2801 patients dispensed DM and 15,876 untreated patients (no DM). The Poisson GLM adjusted for covariates demonstrated a relative risk reduction of 34% for all‐cause hospitalizations (Relative Risk (RR) 0.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.525–0.832) and 40% for respiratory hospitalizations (RR 0.597, 95% CI 0.423–0.843) in patients with influenza treated with DM.

Conclusion

Influenza viruses continue to emerge and cause infection (including pandemics) in humans, so there remains a critical need to advance the understanding of influenza treatment. Our results demonstrated reduced hospitalization rates for influenza patients treated with DM. Further research on cellular targets and/or DM is warranted for the treatment of influenza.
The emerging threat of human‐use antifungals in sustainable and circular agriculture schemes
Authors: Sallach J. Brett , Thirkell Tom J. , Field Katie J. , Carter Laura J.
Published: August 2021

Societal Impact Statement

Rapidly growing global populations mandate greater crop productivity despite increasingly scarce natural resources, including freshwater. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices seek to address such issues, but an unintended consequence is the exposure of agricultural soils and associated biota to emerging contaminants including azole pharmaceutical antifungals. We show that environmentally relevant exposure to three commonly prescribed azole antifungals can reduce mycorrhizal 33P transfer from the soil into the host plant. This suggests that exposure to azoles may have a significant impact on mycorrhizal‐mediated transfer of nutrients in soil‐plant systems. Understanding the unintended consequences of sustainable agricultural practices is needed to ensure the security and safety of future food production systems.

Sustainable farming practices are increasingly necessary to meet the demands of a growing population under constraints imposed by climate change. These practices, in particular the reuse of wastewater and amending soil with wastewater derived biosolids, provide a pathway for man‐made chemicals to enter the agricultural environment.

Among the chemicals commonly detected in wastewater and biosolids are pharmaceutical azole antifungals. Fungi, in particular mycorrhiza‐forming fungal symbionts of plant roots, are key drivers of nutrient cycling in the soil–plant system. As such, greater understanding of the impacts of azole antifungal exposure in agricultural systems is urgently needed.

We exposed wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘Skyfall’) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to environmentally relevant concentrations of three azole antifungals (clotrimazole, miconazole nitrate and fluconazole). We traced the mycorrhizal‐acquired 33P from the soil into the host plant in contaminated versus non‐contaminated soils and found 33P transfer from mycorrhizal fungi to host plants was reduced in soils containing antifungals. This represents a potentially major disruption to soil nutrient flows as a result of soil contamination.

Our work raises the major issue of exposure of soil biota to pharmaceuticals such as azole antifungals, introduced via sustainable agricultural practices, as a potentially globally important disruptive influence on soil nutrient cycles. The impacts of these compounds on non‐target organisms, beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in particular, could have major implications on security and sustainability of future food systems.
Temperature Dependence of Dark Spot Diameters in GaN and AlGaN
Authors: Netzel Carsten , Knauer Arne , Brunner Frank , Mogilatenko Anna , Weyers Markus
Published: August 2021

Threading dislocations in c‐plane (Al,Ga)N layers are surrounded by areas with reduced light generation efficiency, called “dark spots.” These areas are observable in luminescence measurements with spatial resolution in the submicrometer range. Dark spots reduce the internal quantum efficiency in single layers and light‐emitting devices. In cathodoluminescence measurements, the diameter of dark spots (full width at half maximum [FWHM]) is observed to be 200–250 nm for GaN. It decreases by 30–60% for AlxGa1−xN with x ≈ 0.5. Furthermore, the dark spot diameter increases with increasing temperature from 83 to 300 K in AlGaN, whereas it decreases in GaN. Emission energy mappings around dark spots become less smooth and show sharper features on submicrometer scales at low temperature for AlGaN and, on the contrary, at high temperature for GaN. It is concluded that charge carrier localization dominates the temperature dependence of dark spot diameters and of the emission energy distribution around threading dislocations in AlGaN, whereas the temperature‐dependent excitation volume in cathodoluminescence and charge carrier diffusion limited by phonon scattering are the dominant effects in GaN. Consequently, with increasing temperature, nonradiative recombination related to threading dislocations extends to wider regions in AlGaN, whereas it becomes spatially limited in GaN.
Research progress of phenolic compounds regulating IL‐6 to exert antitumor effects
Authors: Xia Tingting , Li Jie , Ren Xin , Liu Cun , Sun Changgang
Published: August 2021

Cytokine therapy, which activates the host immune system, has become an important and novel therapeutic approach to treat various cancers. Recent studies have shown that IL‐6 is an important cytokine that regulates the homeostasis in vivo. However, excessive IL‐6 plays a pathological role in a variety of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in cancer. IL‐6 can transmit signals through JAK/STAT, RAS /MAPK, PI3K/ Akt, NF‐κB, and other pathways to promote cancer progression. Phenolic compounds can effectively regulate the level of IL‐6 in tumor cells and improve the tumor microenvironment. This article focuses on the phenolic compounds through the regulation of IL‐6, participate in the prevention of cancer, inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, reduce angiogenesis, improve therapeutic efficacy, and reduce side effects and other aspects. This will help to further advance research on cytokine therapy to reduce the burden of cancer and improve patient prognosis. However, current studies are mostly limited to animal and cellular experiments, and high‐quality clinical studies are needed to further determine their antitumor efficacy in humans.
Impacts of initial conditions and model configuration on simulations of polar lows near Svalbard using Polar WRF with 3DVAR
Authors: Xue Jianjun , Bromwich David H. , Xiao Ziniu , Bai Lesheng
Published: August 2021

The impacts of initial conditions and model configuration on the simulations of polar lows (PLs) near Svalbard, the global “hotspot” for PL activity, were investigated using the Polar Weather Research and Forecasting (Polar WRF or PWRF) model and WRF three‐dimensional data assimilation (3DVAR). The well‐documented PL case presented by Sergeev et al., in 2017 from March 26, 2013 featuring in situ aircraft observations is revisited using PWRF and 3DVAR to identify the most suitable model configuration to simulate PLs. The simulation results using initial conditions from PWRF and 3DVAR cycling runs were compared with those of cold‐start experiments using reanalysis as the initial condition. For cycling runs, the impacts of initial conditions from synoptic observations together with satellite radiances were superior to the assimilation of synoptic data alone. Several additional experiments were undertaken to further refine the PWRF configuration by considering the horizontal resolution, analysis nudging, digital filter initialization, and two boundary‐layer and four microphysics schemes. Based on the chosen configuration of Polar WRF and 3DVAR from the case‐study, the monthly reanalysis mode with 3 hr time window cycling data assimilation and short‐term forecasts using PWRF alone were performed for March 2013 and the PLs that formed over the Nordic Seas were evaluated. Manual identification and verification of PLs were performed using thermal infrared satellite imagery and 10 m scatterometer winds. Overall, nine PLs were identified in addition to the case presented by Sergeev et al., in 2017. Both the case‐study and monthly simulation results show that the high‐resolution initial condition is the most important factor, but a reasonable forecast model configuration can help to improve the simulation performance. Satellite radiance data are very important for producing the high‐resolution initial conditions for Polar WRF to simulate PLs successfully; the best performance was obtained by assimilating both synoptic data and satellite radiances.
Analysis and optimization of split‐plot operating window experiments: Methodology and application
Authors: Wang Juan , Byun Jai‐Hyun , Ma Yizhong
Published: August 2021

The method of Operating Window (OW) is a statistical‐engineering approach to improve the robustness and reliability of products/processes. Like many industrial experiments, operating window experiments are often conducted with a split‐plot structure in order to accommodate the nature of some experimental factors. Existing research on OW has paid little attention to this aspect of the OW experiments. In this paper we focus on the modeling and optimization of OW experiments by incorporating the split‐plot structure. For ease of reading, we use the ubiquitous paper feeder example to illustrate each step of modeling and optimization. First, we employ the generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMM) to model the complex error structure afforded by the split‐plot structure. Then we obtain statistically significant variables for each failure mode in the feeder example: misfeed and multifeed. These analysis results enable us to make inference about the predicted failure probability for each mode. The optimization step is performed by minimizing some performance measures proposed in the literature, especially the one by Joseph and Wu.1 Performance measures for each control run are calculated and then modeled in terms of the identified control variables, which lead to the identification of optimal settings of these variables. This case study not only reveals the split‐plot structure common in industrial experiments and identify the key factors for the process, but also provides some additional insights on the process.
Bayesian accelerated life testing: A generalized Eyring‐Birnbaum‐Saunders model
Authors: Smit Neill , Raubenheimer Lizanne
Published: August 2021

In this paper, an accelerated life testing model using the Birnbaum‐Saunders distribution and the generalized Eyring model is explored. A Bayesian approach is proposed, considering the combined effect of one thermal stressor and one non‐thermal stressor. The model is demonstrated via an application to an electronics epoxy packaging ALT data set, with temperature and humidity as accelerated stressors. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are employed to generate posterior samples for inference. A sensitivity analysis is performed via the deviance information criterion. The predictive reliability is also investigated.
Model selection based on validation criteria for Gaussian process regression: An application with highlights on the predictive variance
Authors: Demay Charles , Iooss Bertrand , Le Gratiet Loic , Marrel Amandine
Published: August 2021

The manufacturing quality of industrial pieces is linked with the intrinsic concentration field of certain chemical species. Thus, from punctual measurements sparsely distributed on the piece, a robust estimation of the maximum concentration is very valuable. To this aim, Gaussian Process regression models may be used, providing useful confidence interval at each interpolation location. However, the specification of the underlying covariance function from sparse data may be arduous, both in terms of function form and hyperparameters. This specification problem, also referred to as a model selection problem, may be addressed in several ways, from expert knowledge to numerical estimation. Regarding the covariance function form, the predictivity coefficient is commonly used as a primary criteria and focuses on the prediction capabilities of the model predictor. In this paper, other criteria related to the correctness of the model variance, covariance and more generally to the whole conditional distribution are added. This methodology is applied on the Kriging of chemical measurements spatially distributed on circular domains, where several classical covariance functions are fitted and compared. The results highlight the need to include the above mentioned criteria to get a predictive model with robust uncertainty. The Kriging models are then used to quantify the uncertainty on the highest concentration via the use of conditional simulations.
A function based adaptive EWMA mean monitoring control chart
Authors: Noor‐ul‐Amin Muhammad , Arshad Asma , Hanif Muhammad
Published: August 2021

Adaptive control charts are getting remarkable place in statistical process control for monitoring production systems with efficiently simple design schemes. These tools are preferred to get rapid detection of shifts in manufacturing items. In this paper, a new exponentially weighted moving average function‐based adaptive control chart is proposed. The idea of design is to determine plotting exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic smoothing constant value as per system arising shift magnitude through a continuous function. As a result, the process mean shift of any size can be catered in a rapid manner than other counterparts. The Monte Carlo simulations are performed to determine the run‐length profiles of the proposed chart and the efficacy of the chart is assessed through average run length, standard deviation of run length, and the percentiles of run length. A comparative discussion with the existing adaptive EWMA (AEWMA) charts proved the efficacy of the concept for all types of small to moderate and large shifts in the favor of the concept. The proposed chart application is explained with the help of an illustrative example and a real‐life industrial dataset to get a deep insight into the concept.
The clinical significance of the calf circumference in non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients who undergo surgery
Authors: Nagoya Akihiro , Kanzaki Ryu , Kimura Kenji , Fukui Eriko , Kanou Takashi , Ose Naoko , Funaki Soichiro , Minami Masato , Shintani Yasushi
Published: August 2021

Background

Calf circumference (CC), the greatest girth of the lower leg, is a simple tool for assessing sarcopenia. Its significance in patients with resectable non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown.

Methods

A total of 684 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery were included in the present study. The relationship between parameters of sarcopenia [i.e. the CC and skeletal mass index (SMI)] and the short‐term and long‐term outcomes was retrospectively analysed.

Results

The median CC (34.5 cm for men and 32.0 cm for women) was selected as the cut‐off value of the CC for the analysis in this study, and the patients were classified into the smaller CC (SC) and normal CC (NC) groups. The mean age of the SC group was significantly older than that of the NC group (70.8 vs. 65.8 years, P < 0.01), whereas the body mass index of the SC group was lower than that of the NC group (20.6 vs. 23.6, P < 0.01). The respiratory function of the SC group was poorer in comparison with the NC group. The mean SMI of the SC group was significantly lower than that of the NC group in both men (47.9 vs. 54.1, P < 0.01) and women (40.1 vs. 44.0, P < 0.01). The prevalence of sarcopenia (defined by a lower SMI) was higher in the SC group than in the NC group (38.8% vs. 11.8%, P < 0.01). The post‐operative complication rate was higher in the SC group than in the NC group (28.8% vs. 19.3%, P < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the CC was an independent risk factor for grade ≥3 post‐operative complications [odds ratio: 1.90 (1.07–3.38), P = 0.03]. In all patients, the 5 year overall survival (OS) rate of the SC group was significantly worse than that of the NC group (75.5% vs. 82.3%, P < 0.01). The difference in OS according to CC was significant in men but not in women. In a multivariate analysis, the CC was not an independent prognostic factor for the OS [hazard ratio: 1.07 (0.75–1.55), P = 0.70]. When patients were divided into four groups according to the CC and SMI, the CC was able to stratify the OS of patients with a normal SMI (P = 0.02) in men but not in women.

Conclusions

The CC was found to be a useful predictor for both short‐term and long‐term outcomes. The CC plays a complementary role to the SMI, proving useful for prognostic stratification that was unable to be performed by SMI alone in men.
PFAS removal from groundwaters using Surface‐Active Foam Fractionation
Authors: Burns David J. , Stevenson Paul , Murphy Peter J. C.
Published: August 2021

Results from a field trial commissioned for the Australian Department of Defence at the Army Aviation Centre Oakey evaluated the effectiveness of the Surface‐Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF) process at removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. The study showed that the SAFF process is effective in removing ≥99.5% of the aggregate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in PFAS‐contaminated groundwater, and consistently achieved the criteria for these PFAS species prescribed in the Australian PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (HEPA, 2020) water quality specification, and exceeded such by a factor of 3.3 over the 12‐month study period. The field trial also demonstrated the sustainability attributes of SAFF since it requires no chemical reagents nor adsorbent media, other than air introduced to the foam fractionation vessels. However, when an anionic exchange (AIX) resin “polisher” was installed downstream of SAFF, all trace detectable PFAS species were removed. In addition, by reducing the PFAS loading, the SAFF process extends the AIX resin lifespan. The field trial demonstrated that the removal (i.e., separation and concentration) extent of PFAS species due to SAFF is closely correlated with the adsorption coefficient of the molecules at the gas–liquid interface. When the reported adsorption coefficient is greater than approximately 1.0 × 10−6 m, practically all of the PFAS species, including PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA, were removed by SAFF. Longer‐chain PFAS species that benefit from higher adsorption coefficients are easier to remove than shorter‐chain species that exhibit lower adsorption coefficient values. It is noted that the presence of dissolved electrolytes arising from the site groundwater being classified as hard is believed to enhance the adsorption coefficients, and so SAFF is likely to become still more effective in brackish, saline, and reverse osmosis reject waters.
Feasibility of using a software‐defined baseband for multiple space per aperture (MSPA) ground operations
Authors: Browne Mwakyanjala Moses , Hyvönen Petrus , de Oliveira Élcio Jeronimo , van de Beek Jaap
Published: August 2021

This paper presents the feasibility of performing multiple spacecraft per aperture (MSPA) ground operations by using a low‐cost software‐defined baseband (SDB). The SDB is a Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS)‐compliant baseband that employs a personal computer for signal processing and a low‐cost commercial‐off‐the‐shelf RF front end for RF signal sampling. The SDB is customized to offer traditional telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) services for near‐Earth missions operating in S band. The study starts by reviewing MSPA methods already studied by space agencies such as NASA and ESA before going to MSPA methods proposed in the latest CCSDS blue book on RF and modulation systems. The feasibility of operating the CCSDS‐proposed multiple uplink carrier MSPA method using the SDB is assessed after evaluating in‐band interference and out‐of‐band emissions from the uplink signals radiated by the low‐cost RF front end employed by the SDB. Furthermore, we present a case study where the SDB is used in MSPA operations on a typical solid‐state amplifier (SSPA) amplifier typically used in near‐Earth missions.
Understanding the impacts of feline epilepsy on cats and their owners
Authors: Henning Julia , Nielson Torben , Nettifee Julie , Muñana Karen , Hazel Susan
Published: August 2021

Background

Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition reported in cats. Characterised by recurrent seizures, treatment involves the administration of anti‐epileptic drugs up to multiple times a day. Epilepsy and its associated treatments may impact both cats and their owners. The present study aimed to assess factors associated with quality of life (QOL) in cats with epilepsy and the burden of care in their owners.

Methods

An online survey was developed using demographic information and the following validated measures: cat QOL, Zarit burden interview (ZBI) and the cat owner relationship scale (CORS). Regression analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.

Results

Responses were completed by 141 owners from 22 countries. QOL was significantly higher in cats with controlled seizures, no adverse effects from medication and epilepsy onset before 5 years of age. ZBI was significantly lower in owners who felt supported by their veterinarian, who were over 55 and had cats with controlled seizures. Higher CORS was significantly correlated with both higher cat QOL and lower owner ZBI.

Conclusions

Adequate seizure control and close cat‐owner relationships may play an important role in mitigating the impact of epilepsy on cats and their owners. Further research into understanding cat‐owner relationships and successfully controlling epilepsy in cats is needed.
Gluon fragmentation into 3$$ {P}_J^{\left[1,8\right]} $$ quark pair and test of NRQCD factorization at two-loop level
Authors: Zhang Peng , Meng Ce , Ma Yan-Qing , Chao Kuang-Ta
Published: August 2021

Abstract

The next-to-leading order (NLO) ($$ \mathcal{O} $$O($$ {\alpha}_s^3 $$αs3)) corrections for gluon fragmentation functions to a heavy quark-antiquark pair in3$$ {P}_J^{\left[1,8\right]} $$PJ18states are calculated within the NRQCD factorization. We use the integration-by-parts reduction and differential equations to semi-analytically calculate the fragmentation functions in full-QCD, and find that infrared divergences can be absorbed by the NRQCD long distance matrix elements. Thus, the NRQCD factorization conjecture is verified at two-loop level via a physical process, which is free of artificial ultraviolet divergences. Through the matching procedure, infrared-safe short distance coefficients and$$ \mathcal{O} $$O($$ {\alpha}_s^2 $$αs2) perturbative NRQCD matrix elements ⟨$$ {\mathcal{O}}^3{P}_J^{\left[1,8\right]} $$O3PJ18(3$$ {S}_1^{\left[8\right]} $$S18)⟩ are obtained simultaneously. The NLO short distance coefficients are found to have significant corrections comparing with the LO ones.
Understanding the excess psychosis risk in ethnic minorities: the impact of structure and identity
Authors: Jongsma Hannah E. , Karlsen Saffron , Kirkbride James B. , Jones Peter B.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Psychotic disorders, which are associated with substantially increased morbidity and mortality, are up to five times more common in some ethnic minority groups compared with the white majority in Western countries. This long-standing and well-replicated public mental health disparity has hitherto largely eluded adequate explanation. We argue that this might have arisen in part due to the lack of attention given to theoretical work characterising the complex and multidimensional social nature of ethnicity by those epidemiological investigations that have dominated the literature.

Methods

To bridge this gap, we draw on theoretical and empirical literature from across the social sciences considering the ontological significance of ethnicity (as biology, migration, racialised structures and identity) and its relationships with psychotic disorders to illuminate probable drivers of excess psychosis risk.

Results

The largest gains in our theoretical understanding of excess psychosis risk among ethnic minority groups are to be made by considering ethnicity in relation to disempowerment resulting from structural and identity-based exclusion. The former is readily studied through the social gradient in health: socioeconomic disadvantage clusters in some ethnic minorities and increases the risk of poor health outcomes, including psychosis. Furthermore, limitations on identity acquisition and expression imposed by the ethnic majority can further contribute to alienate ethnic minorities and increase psychosocial disempowerment (a lack of control over one’s life).

Conclusion

We theorise that structural and identity-based exclusion act as the primary drivers shaping variation in rates of psychotic disorder by ethnic minority status.
Relationship Between Changes in Serum Levels of Intact Parathyroid Hormone and Sclerostin After a Single Dose of Zoledronic Acid: Results of a Phase 1 Pharmacokinetic Study
Authors: Kuroda Tatsuhiko , Shiraki Masataka , Nakamura Toshitaka , Suzuki Hiroaki , Hiraishi Kazuki , Sugimoto Toshitsugu , Tanaka Satoshi
Published: August 2021

Although changes in serum sclerostin levels at 12 months after infusion of zoledronic acid have been reported, the changes in sclerostin levels at earlier time points are poorly understood. We reanalyzed the study data of a previous phase 1 pharmacokinetic study and investigated the correlation between changes in sclerostin levels and relevant factors in calcium metabolism. A total of 24 Japanese female subjects with primary postmenopausal osteoporosis were administered a single 4- or 5-mg dose of zoledronic acid. Serum and urine samples were collected on days 15, 29, 90, 180, and 365 after administration. Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and sclerostin were measured. Levels of serum sclerostin were unchanged from baseline on days 15 and 29, but increased significantly on day 90, subsequently decreased significantly on day 180, and returned to baseline levels on day 365. A significant negative correlation was observed between changes in iPTH levels at early time points and sclerostin levels at later time points. This suggests that sclerostin was negatively regulated by iPTH, and the decrease in sclerostin may indicate the start of bone formation during later time points after zoledronic acid injection.
Dural venous sinus anatomy in children with external hydrocephalus: analysis of a series of 97 patients
Authors: Cinalli Giuseppe , di Martino Giuliana , Russo Carmela , Mazio Federica , Nastro Anna , Mirone Giuseppe , Ruggiero Claudio , Aliberti Ferdinando , Cascone Daniele , Covelli Eugenio , Spennato Pietro
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the anatomical variations of dural venous sinuses in children with external hydrocephalus, proposing a radiological grading of progressive anatomic restriction to venous outflow based on brain phase-contrast magnetic resonance venography (PC-MRV); to evaluate the correlation between positional plagiocephaly and dural sinuses patency; and to compare these findings with a control group to ascertain the role of anatomical restriction to venous outflow in the pathophysiology of external hydrocephalus.

Methods

Brain MRI and PC MRV were performed in 97 children (76 males, 21 females) diagnosed with external hydrocephalus at an average age of 8.22 months. Reduction of patency of the dural sinuses was graded as 1 (stenosis), 2 (complete stop) and 3 (complete agenesis) for each transverse/sigmoid sinus and sagittal sinus. Anatomical restriction was graded for each patient from 0 (symmetric anatomy of patent dural sinuses) through 6 (bilateral agenesis of both transverse sinuses). Ventricular and subarachnoid spaces were measured above the intercommissural plane using segmentation software. Positional plagiocephaly (PP) and/or asymmetric tentorial insertion (ATI) was correlated with the presence and grading of venous sinus obstruction. These results were compared with a retrospective control group of 75 patients (35 males, 40 females).

Results

Both the rate (84.53% vs 25.33%) and the grading (mean 2.59 vs mean 0.45) of anomalies of dural sinuses were significantly higher in case group than in control group. In the case group, sinus anomalies were asymmetric in 59 cases (right-left ratio 1/1) and symmetric in 22. A significant association was detected between the grading of venous drainage alterations and diagnosis of disease and between the severity of vascular anomalies and the widening of subarachnoid space (SAS). Postural plagiocephaly (39.1% vs 21.3%) and asymmetric tentorial insertion (35.4% vs 17.3%) were significantly more frequent in the case group than in the control group. When sinus anomalies occurred in plagiocephalic children, the obstruction grading was significantly higher on the flattened side (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Decreased patency of the dural sinuses and consequent increased venous outflow resistance may play a role in the pathophysiology of external hydrocephalus in the first 3 years of life. In plagiocephalic children, calvarial flattening may impact on the homolateral dural sinus patency, with a possible effect on the anatomy of dural sinuses and venous drainage in the first months of life.
Science-based policy: targeted nutrition for all ages and the role of bioactives
Authors: Kalache Alexandre , Bazinet Richard P. , Carlson Susan , Evans William J. , Kim Chi Hee , Lanham-New Susan , Visioli Francesco , Griffiths James C.
Published: August 2021

Globally, there has been a marked increase in longevity, but it is also apparent that significant inequalities remain, especially the inequality related to insufficient ‘health’ to enjoy or at least survive those later years. The major causes include lack of access to proper nutrition and healthcare services, and often the basic information to make the personal decisions related to diet and healthcare options and opportunities. Proper nutrition can be the best predictor of a long healthy life expectancy and, conversely, when inadequate and/or improper a prognosticator of a sharply curtailed expectancy. There is a dichotomy in both developed and developing countries as their populations are experiencing the phenomenon of being ‘over fed and under nourished’, i.e., caloric/energy excess and lack of essential nutrients, leading to health deficiencies, skyrocketing global obesity rates, excess chronic diseases, and premature mortality. There is need for new and/or innovative approaches to promoting health as individuals’ age, and for public health programs to be a proactive blessing and not an archaic status quo ‘eat your vegetables’ mandate. A framework for progress has been proposed and published by the World Health Organization in their Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health (WHO (2017) Advancing the right to health: the vital role of law. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/252815/9789241511384-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 07 Jun 2021; WHO (2020a) What is Health Promotion. www.who.int/healthpromotion/fact-sheet/en/. Accessed 07 Jun 2021; WHO (2020b) NCD mortality and morbidity. www.who.int/gho/ncd/mortality_morbidity/en/. Accessed 07 Jun 2021). Couple this WHO mandate with current academic research into the processes of ageing, and the ingredients or regimens that have shown benefit and/or promise of such benefits. Now is the time for public health policy to ‘not let the perfect be the enemy of the good,’ but to progressively make health-promoting nutrition recommendations.
PERMIT study: a global pooled analysis study of the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel in routine clinical practice
Authors: Villanueva Vicente , D’Souza Wendyl , Goji Hiroko , Kim Dong Wook , Liguori Claudio , McMurray Rob , Najm Imad , Santamarina Estevo , Steinhoff Bernhard J. , Vlasov Pavel , Wu Tony , Trinka Eugen ,   the PERMIT pooled analysis participants
Published: August 2021

The PERaMpanel pooled analysIs of effecTiveness and tolerability (PERMIT) study was a pooled analysis of data from 44 real-world studies from 17 countries, in which people with epilepsy (PWE; focal and generalized) were treated with perampanel (PER). Retention and effectiveness were assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months, and at the last visit (last observation carried forward). Effectiveness assessments included 50% responder rate (≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency from baseline) and seizure freedom rate (no seizures since at least the prior visit); in PWE with status epilepticus, response was defined as seizures under control. Safety and tolerability were assessed by evaluating adverse events (AEs) and discontinuation due to AEs. The Full Analysis Set included 5193 PWE. Retention, effectiveness and safety/tolerability were assessed in 4721, 4392 and 4617, respectively. Retention on PER treatment at 3, 6, and 12 months was 90.5%, 79.8%, and 64.2%, respectively. Mean retention time on PER treatment was 10.8 months. The 50% responder rate was 58.3% at 12 months and 50.0% at the last visit, and the corresponding seizure freedom rates were 23.2% and 20.5%, respectively; 52.7% of PWE with status epilepticus responded to PER treatment. Overall, 49.9% of PWE reported AEs and the most frequently reported AEs (≥ 5% of PWE) were dizziness/vertigo (15.2%), somnolence (10.6%), irritability (8.4%), and behavioral disorders (5.4%). At 12 months, 17.6% of PWEs had discontinued due to AEs. PERMIT demonstrated that PER is effective and generally well tolerated when used to treat people with focal and/or generalized epilepsy in everyday clinical practice.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among immigrant groups and Swedish-born individuals: a cohort study of all adults 18 years of age and older in Sweden
Authors: Wändell Per , Fredrikson Sten , Carlsson Axel C. , Li Xinjun , Sundquist Jan , Sundquist Kristina
Published: August 2021

Background

There is a lack of studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in immigrants.

Objective

The objective is to study the association between country of birth and incident ALS in first-generation immigrants versus Swedish-born individuals, and in second-generation immigrants versus native Swedes.

Methods

Study populations included all adults aged 18 years and older in Sweden, in the first-generation study 6,128,698 individuals (2,975,141 men, 3,153,557 women) with 5,344 ALS cases (3017 men, 2327 women), and in the second-generation study 4,588,845 individuals (2,346,855 men and 2,241,990 women) with 3,420 cases (2027 men and 1393 women). ALS was defined as having at least one registered diagnosis of ALS in the National Patient Register 1998–2017. The incidence of ALS in different first-generation immigrant groups versus Swedish-born individuals was assessed by Cox regression, expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, geographical residence in Sweden, educational level, marital status, and neighbourhood socioeconomic status.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, the HRs were lower in foreign-born men, 0.71 (95% CI 0.63–0.81), and women, 0.80 (95% CI 0.70–0.92). The ALS risk was lower among men and women from most Western countries (Europe outside Nordic countries, and North America), and from other regions of the world (Africa, Asia, and Latin America). Among men and women with foreign-born parents, the risk of ALS did not differ significantly from native Swedes.

Significance

In general, the risk of ALS was lower in first-generation men and women but did not differ in second-generation individuals.
Bactericidal activity of three different antiseptic ophthalmic preparations as surgical prophylaxis
Authors: Tognetto Daniele , Pastore Marco R. , Guerin Gian Marco , Decorti Giuliana , Franzin Martina , Lagatolla Cristina , Cirigliano Gabriella
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In the era of antibiotic resistance, there is an increased interest in antiseptic solutions that might represent a reliable option for ocular surface disinfection. The objective of this study is to compare for the first time three different antiseptic ophthalmic preparations to assess their in vitro antimicrobial activity.

Methods

The antiseptic activity of three commercial ophthalmic solutions, IODIM (povidone-iodine 0.6% in hyaluronic acid vehicle—Medivis, Catania, Italy), OZODROP (nanoemulsion with ozonated oil—concentration not specified—FBVision, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals, Rome, Italy), and DROPSEPT (chlorhexidine 0.02% and vitamin E 0.5% Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate—TPGS, Sooft Italia, Montegiorgio, Italy), was tested in vitro on six reference strains by time-killing assays. Viable cells were evaluated after 1, 15, 30 min; 2, 6, and 24 h exposure by seeding 100 µl of the suspension (or appropriate dilutions) on LB agar or Sabouraud-dextrose agar. All plates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and evaluated by manually counting the colonies.

Results

IODIM solution showed a very rapid microbicidal activity: the number of viable cells for all the tested strains was under the detection limit (less than 10 CFU/ml) already after 1 min exposure, and this result was maintained at every incubation time. The rapid antimicrobial activity of povidone-iodine was not replicated when testing the other two antiseptics.

Conclusions

The study reports the great efficacy in reducing bacterial load in a very short time of povidone-iodine 0.6% compared with other antiseptic preparations.
Estimating surface runoff and groundwater recharge in an urban catchment using a water balance approach
Authors: Weatherl Robin K. , Henao Salgado Maria J. , Ramgraber Maximilian , Moeck Christian , Schirmer Mario
Published: August 2021

Land-use changes often have significant impact on the water cycle, including changing groundwater/surface-water interactions, modifying groundwater recharge zones, and increasing risk of contamination. Surface runoff in particular is significantly impacted by land cover. As surface runoff can act as a carrier for contaminants found at the surface, it is important to characterize runoff dynamics in anthropogenic environments. In this study, the relationship between surface runoff and groundwater recharge in urban areas is explored using a top-down water balance approach. Two empirical models were used to estimate runoff: (1) an updated, advanced method based on curve number, followed by (2) bivariate hydrograph separation. Modifications were added to each method in an attempt to better capture continuous soil-moisture processes and explicitly account for runoff from impervious surfaces. Differences between the resulting runoff estimates shed light on the complexity of the rainfall–runoff relationship, and highlight the importance of understanding soil-moisture dynamics and their control on hydro(geo)logical responses. These results were then used as input in a water balance to calculate groundwater recharge. Two approaches were used to assess the accuracy of these groundwater balance estimates: (1) comparison to calculations of groundwater recharge using the calibrated conceptual HBV Light model, and (2) comparison to groundwater recharge estimates from physically similar catchments in Switzerland that are found in the literature. In all cases, recharge is estimated at approximately 40–45% of annual precipitation. These conditions were found to closely echo those results from Swiss catchments of similar characteristics.