bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total mastectomy in severe necrotic mastitis in a pet goat complicated by a post‐operative generalised emphysema
Authors: Marzel Rok , Jože Starič , Lena Veren Geč , Primož Klinc
Published: May 2024

A total mastectomy was the treatment of choice in a 10‐year‐old pet doe Pika with a history of severe necrotic mastitis secondary to a precocious udder. Following an elliptical skin incision, the mammary tissue was bluntly excised. Because of a large surgical defect, severe skin tension was needed to close the wound completely. A passive drain was placed in the surgical site to remove excess fluid, and the animal received antibiotic and anti‐inflammatory treatment. On the fifth day after the surgery, the drain was removed and palpation revealed an extensive subcutaneous emphysema at the surgical site as well as the back and neck of the animal. The antibiotic treatment was prolonged, and the animal kept for observation. After 3 weeks, the wound had healed completely, and the doe was discharged.
Co‐perceiving: Bringing the social into perception
Authors: Deroy Ophelia , Longin Louis , Bahrami Bahador
Published: May 2024

Humans and other animals possess the remarkable ability to effectively navigate a shared perceptual environment by discerning which objects and spaces are perceived by others and which remain private to themselves. Traditionally, this capacity has been encapsulated under the umbrella of joint attention or joint action. In this comprehensive review, we advocate for a broader and more mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon, termed co‐perception. Co‐perception encompasses the sensitivity to the perceptual engagement of others and the capability to differentiate between objects perceived privately and those perceived commonly with others. It represents a distinct concept from mere simultaneous individual perception. Moreover, discerning between private and common objects doesn't necessitate intricate mind‐reading abilities or mutual coordination. The act of perceiving objects as either private or common provides a comprehensive account for social scenarios where individuals simply share the same context or may even engage in competition. This conceptual framework encourages a re‐examination of classical paradigms that demonstrate social influences on perception. Furthermore, it suggests that the impacts of shared experiences extend beyond affective responses, also influencing perceptual processes.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Attention

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science

Philosophy > Psychological Capacities
Analysing the cost impact of failure rates for the next generation of offshore wind turbines
Authors: Donnelly Orla , Carroll James , Howland Michael
Published: May 2024

Offshore wind turbines have rapidly scaled up in recent years, with plans to construct turbines up to 22 MW in the next decade. However, the operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements for these ‘next‐generation turbines’ remain largely unknown. In this study, the total O&M costs are calculated, using a bench‐marked O&M model, for a hypothetical 10 MW turbine scenario using two drive train configurations, based on known failure rates of smaller turbines. The O&M costs of the 10 MW turbines are compared with those of existing 3 MW turbines in two case studies: a North Sea wind farm and an East Coast US wind farm. Overall, direct drive 10 MW turbines performed better depending on the site's climate conditions. The study indicated that the two‐stage drive train configuration may be more suitable for the US site than the North Sea, depending on the turbine's failure rate. The US site benefited from increased availability due to more favourable weather windows, resulting in lower lost revenue for the two‐stage configuration despite high transport costs. The study found that the failure rate of 10 MW offshore wind turbines in the North Sea with a two‐stage gearbox can increase by as much as 30% compared to the 3 MW failure rates without increasing direct O&M costs. These findings are crucial for the offshore wind energy industry, particularly for OEMs, developers and maintenance providers, as they provide insights into the required reliability for next generation turbines to reduce O&M costs compared to existing 3 MW turbines.
A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia: Current scenario, concentration, characterization, polymeric risk assessment, and future Prospectives
Authors: Doshi Mahima , Rabari Vasantkumar , Patel Ashish , Yadav Virendra Kumar , Sahoo Dipak Kumar , Trivedi Jigneshkumar
Published: May 2024

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has wreaked havoc on biodiversity and food safety globally. The false ingestion of MPs causes harmful effects on organisms, resulting in a decline in biodiversity. The present review comprehended the current knowledge of MP contamination in Crustacea and Mollusca from 75 peer‐reviewed articles published in Asia between 2015 and 2023. A total of 79 species (27 Crustacea and 52 Mollusca) have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs. Out of the total 27 species of Crustacea, Metopograpsus quadridentatus (327.56 MPs/individual) and Balanus albicostatus (0.42 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. Out of the total 52 species of Mollusca, Dolabella auricularia (2325 MPs/individual) and Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis (0.2 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. In terms of country‐wise MP contamination, China has the highest number of contaminated species in both phylums among Asia. Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries. Fiber was reported predominantly in both groups. Blue and black‐colored MPs having <500 μm and <500 μm–1 mm size were found dominantly in Crustacea and Mollusca, respectively. Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both Crustacea and Mollusca. In essence, this review has provided a comprehensive insight into MP concentration in Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia, highlighting variations among species and geographic locations. This understanding is crucial for tackling urgent environmental challenges, safeguarding human health, and promoting global sustainability initiatives amid the escalating issue of plastic pollution.

Practitioner Points

Microplastic pollution has created havoc on biodiversity and food safety.

A total of 27 and 52 species of crustaceans and Mollusca have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs.

Metopograpsus quadridentate and Dolabella auricularia have shown higher MPs contamination.

Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both crustacean and Mollusca.

Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries.
New regulatory role of Znf1 in transcriptional control of pentose phosphate pathway and ATP synthesis for enhanced isobutanol and acid tolerance
Authors: Ali Syed Azhar , Songdech Pattanan , Samakkarn Wiwan , Duangphakdee Orawan , Soontorngun Nitnipa
Published: May 2024

To develop a cost‐effective microbial cell factory for the production of biofuels and biochemicals, an understanding of tolerant mechanisms is vital for the construction of robust host strains. Here, we characterized a new function of a key metabolic transcription factor named Znf1 and its involvement in stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enhance tolerance to advanced biofuel, isobutanol. RNA‐sequencing analysis of the wild‐type versus the znf1Δ deletion strains in glucose revealed a new role for transcription factor Znf1 in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and energy generation. The gene expression analysis confirmed that isobutanol induces an adaptive cell response, resulting in activation of ATP1‐3 and COX6 expression. These genes were Znf1 targets that belong to the electron transport chain, important to produce ATPs. Znf1 also activated PPP genes, required for the generation of key amino acids, cellular metabolites, and maintenance of NADP/NADPH redox balance. In glucose, Znf1 also mediated the upregulation of valine biosynthetic genes of the Ehrlich pathway, namely ILV3, ILV5, and ARO10, associated with the generation of key intermediates for isobutanol production. Using S. cerevisiae knockout collection strains, cells with deleted transcriptional regulatory gene ZNF1 or its targets displayed hypersensitivity to isobutanol and acid inhibitors; in contrast, overexpression of ZNF1 enhanced cell survival. Thus, the transcription factor Znf1 functions in the maintenance of energy homeostasis and redox balance at various checkpoints of yeast metabolic pathways. It ensures the rapid unwiring of gene transcription in response to toxic products/by‐products generated during biofuel production. Importantly, we provide a new approach to enhance strain tolerance during the conversion of glucose to biofuels.
Synthesis and Structure of Heavy Alkali Metal Pentalenides
Authors: Sanderson Hugh J. , Banerjee Sumanta , Kaur Mandeep , Kennedy Alan R. , Kociok‐Köhn Gabriele , Hintermair Ulrich , Robertson Stuart D.
Published: May 2024

The solid‐state structures of the first rubidium and caesium pentalenides [Rb(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] and [Cs(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] have been determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both were found to be polymeric in the solid state through interactions of the cations with the phenyl substituents, in contrast to their lighter group 1 congeners which are monomeric for lithium and sodium, and THF‐bridged for potassium. Both [Rb(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] and [Cs(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] displayed increased η8 coordination, demonstrating a shift towards higher hapticities down the group as previously predicted computationally for the parent M2[Pn] complexes (M=group 1 metal). The solid‐state structures of the polydentate donor adducts [M(DME)x]2[Ph4Pn] (M=Li, x=1; M=Na, x=2) and [M(Me6TREN)]2[Ph4Pn] (M=K, Rb, Cs) were all monomeric and displayed increased metal‐carbon distances and decreased ring slippage values relative to the THF adducts.
Strengthening and precipitation hardening mechanisms of surface-mechanically treated 17-4PH stainless steel
Authors: Olugbade Temitope Olumide , Oladapo Bankole I. , Zhao Qi , Ting Tin Tin
Published: May 2024

Achieving ultra-high strength without sacrificing too much ductility is the focus of attention in nanostructured materials. Here, the strengthening mechanism and property enhancement of surface-mechanically treated 17-4PH stainless steel (SS17-4PH) were investigated. Our findings show that a grain refinement and elongated lath-like martensitic grain (~ 50 nm thick) could be produced after surface treatment. The grain size remains in the nanoscale, and random crystallographic orientations with the presence of nanocrystallites characterize the nanocrystalline grains formed on the treated sample. This contributes to the property enhancement with a yield strength of about 901 MPa and a reduced elongation to failure of about 17%. The atom probe tomography (APT) characterization unveiled the emergence of high-density precipitate (Cu-rich) at the material surface, with a number density of about 2.6255 × 1024 m−3 and an average radius of 2.22 nm. Besides, the dislocation activities caused by SMAT result in the gradual breakdown of precipitates into smaller sizes and final dissolution in the matrix, increasing the number of nucleation sites and leading to more grain refinement processes. The grain boundary, dislocation densities, and the Cu-rich precipitate greatly influence the strengthening mechanism of surface-treated SS17-4PH.
Enhancing the expression of the unspecific peroxygenase in Komagataella phaffii through a combination strategy
Authors: Zhao Li-Xiang , Zou Shu-Ping , Shen Qi , Xue Ya-Ping , Zheng Yu-Guo
Published: May 2024

The unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) from Cyclocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) can selectively oxidize C–H bonds using hydrogen peroxide as an oxygen donor without cofactors, which has drawn significant industrial attention. Many studies have made efforts to enhance the overall activity of AaeUPO expressed in Komagataella phaffii by employing strategies such as enzyme-directed evolution, utilizing appropriate promoters, and screening secretion peptides. Building upon these previous studies, the objective of this study was to further enhance the expression of a mutant of AaeUPO with improved activity (PaDa-I) by increasing the gene copy number, co-expressing chaperones, and optimizing culture conditions. Our results demonstrated that a strain carrying approximately three copies of expression cassettes and co-expressing the protein disulfide isomerase showed an approximately 10.7-fold increase in volumetric enzyme activity, using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate. After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity of this strain further increased by approximately 48.7%, reaching 117.3 U/mL. Additionally, the purified catalytic domain of PaDa-I displayed regioselective hydroxylation of R-2-phenoxypropionic acid. The results of this study may facilitate the industrial application of UPOs.

Key points

• The secretion of the catalytic domain of PaDa-I can be significantly enhanced through increasing gene copy numbers and co-expressing of protein disulfide isomerase.

• After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity can reach 117.3 U/mL, using the 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate.

• The R-2-phenoxypropionic acid can undergo the specific hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by catalytic domain of PaDa-I, resulting in the formation of R-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid.
New copula families and mixing properties
Authors: Longla Martial
Published: May 2024

We characterize absolutely continuous symmetric copulas with square integrable densities in this paper. This characterization is used to create new copula families, that are perturbations of the independence copula. The full study of mixing properties of Markov chains generated by these copula families is conducted. An extension that includes the Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern family of copulas is proposed. We propose some examples of copulas that generate non-mixing Markov chains, but whose convex combinations generate $$\psi $$
ψ
-mixing Markov chains. Some general results on $$\psi $$
ψ
-mixing are given. The Spearman’s correlation $$\rho _S$$

ρ
S

and Kendall’s $$\tau $$
τ
are provided for the created copula families. Some general remarks are provided for $$\rho _S$$

ρ
S

and $$\tau $$
τ
. A central limit theorem is provided for parameter estimators in one example. A simulation study is conducted to support derived asymptotic distributions for some examples.
Winter “warm Arctic-cold Eurasia” pattern and its statistical linkages to oceanic precursors during the era of satellite observations
Authors: Schlichtholz Pawel
Published: May 2024

A striking recurrent feature of winter climate variability is the “warm Arctic-cold Eurasia” (WACE) pattern of opposite sign anomalies of surface air temperature (SAT) in the Barents Sea region and midlatitude Eurasia. Its origins and mechanisms are hotly debated, and its predictability remains unknown. This study investigates statistical relationships of the winter WACE dipole with concurrent anomalies of atmospheric circulation and oceanic precursors during the era of satellite observations. The results reveal a high potential for seasonal predictability of not only the WACE dipole but also several related indicators of winter climate variability, including the Arctic and Eurasian SAT anomalies. During subperiods of extreme covariability between the Arctic and Eurasian SATs around the early 1980s and late 2000s, most of the WACE variability is explained by ocean temperature and surface turbulent heat flux anomalies in the Barents Sea region during the preceding months. Anomalies in summer Atlantic water temperature (AWT) and autumnal sea surface temperature (SST) in this region explain about 70–80% of the variance of the following winter WACE variability during all events of strong Arctic-Eurasian SAT covariability. Analysis of SST variability in the Arctic-North Atlantic region suggests that the winter WACE link to the summer AWT anomalies reflects an atmospheric response to a large-scale surface reemergence of ocean temperature anomalies. However, this linkage had been robust only until the early 2000s. Since then, the winter WACE variability has been strongly related to autumnal SST anomalies in the Barents Sea region and the North Pacific.
Rise in complications of acute otitis media during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hollborn Hannes , Lachmann Christoph , Strüder Daniel , van Bonn Sara M. , Mlynski Robert , Schraven Sebastian P.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

After the lifting of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical observation showed an increase in complications of acute otitis, followed by a rise in the number of mastoidectomies performed. The aim of this study was to record the number of mastoidectomies performed before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic as an indicator for complications of acute otitis media.

Methods

Data were collected from a tertiary hospital in a university setting, as well as from four major public health insurance companies in Germany. The data of 24,824,763 German citizens during a period from 2014 until 2023 were analyzed.

Results

According to the data, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of mastoidectomies performed dropped by 54% for children aged 0–6 and by 62% for children aged 7–18. For adults, there were 30% fewer mastoidectomies performed between 2020 and 2022. After the lifting of most NPI’s in the season from July 2022 to June 2023, there was a sharp increase in the number of mastoidectomies performed on patients of all ages.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of mastoidectomies performed was seen, suggesting a lower incidence of complicated acute otitis, most likely linked to the general decrease of upper airway infections due to NPI’s. In contrast, a sharp increase in the incidence of complicated otitis occurred after the hygiene measures were lifted. The current development causes a more frequent performance of mastoidectomies, thus entailing a change in the challenges for everyday clinical practice.
Transanal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of technical approaches and clinical outcomes
Authors: Stephens Ian J. B. , Byrnes Kevin G. , Burke John P.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Transanal minimally invasive surgery has theoretical advantages for ileal pouch-anal anastomosis surgery. We performed a systematic review assessing technical approaches to transanal IPAA (Ta-IPAA) and meta-analysis comparing outcomes to transabdominal (abd-IPAA) approaches.

Methods

Three databases were searched for articles investigating Ta-IPAA outcomes. Primary outcome was anastomotic leak rate. Secondary outcomes included conversion rate, post operative morbidity, and length of stay (LoS). Staging, plane of dissection, anastomosis, extraction site, operative time, and functional outcomes were also assessed.

Results

Searches identified 13 studies with 404 unique Ta-IPAA and 563 abd-IPAA patients. Anastomotic leak rates were 6.3% and 8.4% (RD 0, 95% CI -0.066 to 0.065, p = 0.989) and conversion rates 2.5% and 12.5% (RD -0.106, 95% CI -0.155 to -0.057, p = 0.104) for Ta-IPAA and abd-IPAA. Average LoS was one day shorter (MD -1, 95% CI -1.876 to 0.302, p = 0.007). A three-stage approach was most common (47.6%), operative time was 261(± 60) mins, and total mesorectal excision and close rectal dissection were equally used (49.5% vs 50.5%). Functional outcomes were similar. Lack of randomised control trials, case-matched series, and significant study heterogeneity limited analysis, resulting in low to very low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions

Analysis demonstrated the feasibility and safety of Ta-IPAA with reduced LoS, trend towards less conversions, and comparable anastomotic leak rates and post operative morbidity. Though results are encouraging, they need to be interpreted with heterogeneity and selection bias in mind. Robust randomised clinical trials are warranted to adequately compare ta-IPAA to transabdominal approaches.
Fecal calprotectin and platelet count predict histologic disease activity in pediatric ulcerative colitis: results from a projection-predictive feature selection
Authors: Schiller B. , Wirthgen E. , Weber F. , Schiller S. , Radke M. , Claßen M. , Däbritz J. ,   CEDATA-GPGE Study Group, Buderus S. , Bufler P. , Däbritz J. , Dammann S. , de Laffolie J. , Friedt M. , Hauer A. , Keller K. M. , Krahl A. , Laaß M. , Lang T. , Posovszky C. , Rodeck B. , Trenkel S.
Published: May 2024

Especially for pediatric patients, proxies of mucosal inflammation are needed. The Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) has been established to predict clinical and endoscopic disease activity. However, histologic inflammation might persist. We applied a special variable selection technique to predict histologic healing in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) as parsimoniously (but still as precisely) as possible. The retrospective analysis included data from two study cohorts, comprising 91 visits from 59 pediatric patients with UC. A Bayesian ordinal regression model was used in combination with a projection-predictive feature selection (PPFS) to identify a minimal subset of clinical and laboratory parameters sufficient for the prediction of histologic disease activity. Following the PPFS, CEDATA-GPGE patient registry data were analyzed to investigate the relevance of the selected predictors in relation to PUCAI and Physician Global Assessment (PGA) in up to 6697 patient visits. Fecal calprotectin (FC) and platelet count were identified as the minimal subset of predictors sufficient for prediction of histologic disease activity in pediatric UC. FC and platelet count also appeared to be associated with increasing disease activity as measured by PUCAI and PGA in the CEDATA-GPGE registry. Based on the selected model, predictions can be performed with a Shiny web app.

  Conclusion: Our statistical approach constitutes a reproducible and objective tool to select a minimal subset of the most informative parameters to predict histologic inflammation in pediatric UC. A Shiny app shows how physicians may predict the histologic activity in a user-friendly way using FC and platelet count. To generalize the findings, further prospective studies will be needed.

What is Known:• Histologic healing is a major endpoint in the therapy of ulcerative colitis (UC).• The PUCAI score has been established to predict disease activity in pediatric UC but is not suitable for the prediction of histologic healing.

What is New:• Our Bayesian ordinal regression model in combination with a projection-predictive feature selection is a reproducible and objective tool to select the minimal subset of clinical and laboratory parameters to predict histologic inflammation in pediatric UC.• Histologic inflammation in pediatric UC can be non-invasively predicted based on the combination of fecal calprotectin levels and platelet count.
Functional similarity affects similarity in partner composition in flea-mammal networks
Authors: Krasnov Boris R. , Khokhlova Irina S. , Berrizbeitia M. Fernanda López , Matthee Sonja , Sanchez Juliana P. , van der Mescht Luther
Published: May 2024

Functional signal in an interaction network is a phenomenon in which species resembling each other in their traits interact with similar partners. We tested the functional signal concept in realm-specific and regional flea-host networks from four biogeographic realms and asked whether the species composition of (a) host spectra and (b) flea assemblages is similar between functionally similar flea and host species, respectively. Analogously to testing for phylogenetic signal, we applied Mantel tests to investigate the correlation between flea or host functional distances calculated from functional dendrograms and dissimilarities in sets of interacting partners. In all realm-specific networks, functionally similar fleas tended to exploit similar hosts often belonging to the same genus, whereas functionally similar hosts tended to harbour similar fleas, again often belonging to the same genus. The strength of realm-specific functional signals and the frequency of detecting a significant functional signal in the regional networks differed between realms. The frequency of detecting a significant functional signal in the regional networks correlated positively with the network size for fleas and with the number of hosts in a network for hosts. A functional signal in the regional networks was more frequently found for hosts than for fleas. We discuss the mechanisms behind the functional signal in both fleas and their hosts, relate geographic functional signal patterns to the historic biogeography of fleas and conclude that functional signals in the species composition of host spectra for fleas and of flea assemblages for hosts result from the interplay of evolutionary and ecological processes.
Effect of crustal stress state on magmatic stalling and ascent: case study from Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, Chile
Authors: Chamberlain Katy J. , Morgan Daniel J. , Lara Luis E. , Walshaw Richard , Gardner Joe , Chenery Simon , Millar Ian L. , Wagner Doris
Published: May 2024

The Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) in Chile is an active continental arc with a complex history of volcanism, where a range of magmatic compositions have been erupted in a variety of styles. In the Central SVZ, both monogenetic and polygenetic volcanoes exist, in close proximity to the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault System (LOFS), but with variable local stress states. Previous studies have inferred varying crustal storage timescales, controlled by the orientation of volcanic centres relative to the N-S striking LOFS and σHMax in this region. To assess the relationship between volcanism and crustal stress states affected by large-scale tectonic structures and edifice controls, we present whole rock geochemical data, to ensure consistency in source dynamics and crustal processing, mineral-specific compositional data, thermobarometry, and Fe–Mg diffusion modelling in olivine crystals from mafic lavas, to assess ascent timescales, from the stratovolcanic edifice of Puyehue-Cordón Caulle and proximal small eruptive centres. Textural observations highlight differences in crystal maturation timescales between centres in inferred compression, transpression, and extension, yet source melting dynamics remain constant. Only samples from the stratovolcanic edifice (in regional compression) preserve extensive zonation in olivine macrocrysts; these textures are generally absent from proximal small eruptive centres in transtension or extension. The zonation in olivines from stratovolcanic lavas yields timescales on the order of a few days to a few weeks, suggesting that even in environments which inhibit ascent, timescales between unrest and eruption of mafic magmas may be short. Significantly, high-resolution compositional profiles from olivine grains in the studied samples record evidence for post-eruptive growth and diffusion, highlighting the importance of careful interpretation of diffusion timescales from zoned minerals in more slowly cooled lavas when compared with tephra samples.
Viscoelasticty with physics-augmented neural networks: model formulation and training methods without prescribed internal variables
Authors: Rosenkranz Max , Kalina Karl A. , Brummund Jörg , Sun WaiChing , Kästner Markus
Published: May 2024

We present an approach for the data-driven modeling of nonlinear viscoelastic materials at small strains which is based on physics-augmented neural networks (NNs) and requires only stress and strain paths for training. The model is built on the concept of generalized standard materials and is therefore thermodynamically consistent by construction. It consists of a free energy and a dissipation potential, which can be either expressed by the components of their tensor arguments or by a suitable set of invariants. The two potentials are described by fully/partially input convex neural networks. For training of the NN model by paths of stress and strain, an efficient and flexible training method based on a long short-term memory cell is developed to automatically generate the internal variable(s) during the training process. The proposed method is benchmarked and thoroughly compared with existing approaches. Different databases with either ideal or noisy stress data are generated for training by using a conventional nonlinear viscoelastic reference model. The coordinate-based and the invariant-based formulation are compared and the advantages of the latter are demonstrated. Afterwards, the invariant-based model is calibrated by applying the three training methods using ideal or noisy stress data. All methods yield good results, but differ in computation time and usability for large data sets. The presented training method based on a recurrent cell turns out to be particularly robust and widely applicable. We show that the presented model together with the recurrent cell for training yield complete and accurate 3D constitutive models even for sparse bi- or uniaxial training data.
Impact of windbreak design on microclimate in hot regions during cold waves: Numerical investigation
Authors: Abdalazeem Mohamed E. , Hassan Hamdy , Asawa Takashi , Mahmoud Hatem
Published: May 2024

Winter cold wave adaptation strategies in hot climates due to climate change didn’t receive the deserved attention from previous studies. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigates the impact of various windbreak parameters on mitigating winter cold stress in hot steppe-arid climate. A microclimate model for a residential campus was built and validated through on-site measurement on a typical winter day to assess thirty-two scenarios for tree characteristics and spatial configuration windbreak parameters based on PET, wind speed, and Air Temperature (AT). Moreover, four configurations, that had best results on mitigating cold stress in winter, were tested during typical summer conditions to couple the assessment of cold and hot seasons. Additionally, environmental analysis for all scenarios was conducted. The results revealed that the most effective parameters for mitigating cold stress are tree distribution, Leaf Area Density (LAD), row number, spacing, and shape. Double rows of high LAD and medium height trees with small spacing yielded the best cold stress mitigation effect. Furthermore, the windbreak reduced the cold stress in the morning and night by 19.31% and 18.06%, respectively. It reduced AT and wind speed at night by 0.79 °C and 2.56 m/s, respectively. During summer, very hot PET area was reduced by 21.79% and 19.5% at 12:00 and 15:00, respectively.
The psychological distress of gastrointestinal cancer patients and its association with quality of life among different genders
Authors: Cheng Qinqin , Xie Jianfei , Duan Yinglong , Li Juan , She Zhengdi , Lu Wen , Chen Yongyi
Published: May 2024

Background

Psychological distress is a prevalent unpleasant experience faced by many cancer patients. However, the psychological distress among gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients is scarcely explored. Moreover, the association between psychological distress and quality of life in different genders has yet to be explored.

Aims

To explore the psychological distress among GI cancer patients and examine its association with quality of life among different genders.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 237 gastrointestinal cancer patients completed the distress thermometer and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General.

Results

The mean score of psychological distress of the participants was 3.04 (SD = 2.90). A greater proportion of female gastrointestinal cancer patients (52.8%) had clinically relevant psychological distress compared to males (35.9%). The quality of life was negatively associated with their psychological distress (B =  − 1.502, 95%CI: − 2.759 to − 0.245, p = 0.019) among gastrointestinal cancer patients. Such association was stronger among males compared to females in gastrointestinal cancer patients (Interaction term, B =  − 1.713, 95%CI: − 3.123 to − 0.303, p = 0.017).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that healthcare providers should attach their attention to gastrointestinal cancer patients’ psychological distress, especially females. Longitudinal studies could adopted to track the changes in psychological distress and its association with quality of life over time among different genders. In future intervention studies, the focus of psychological interventions needs to be gender-specific.
The CONUT score is associated with the pathologic grade in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Onodera Ken , Notsuda Hirotsugu , Watanabe Tatsuaki , Watanabe Yui , Suzuki Takaya , Hirama Takashi , Oishi Hisashi , Niikawa Hiromichi , Noda Masafumi , Okada Yoshinori
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Nutritional scores have been reported to be useful prognostic factors for various cancers. This study evaluated the usefulness of the preoperative controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score as a predictor of recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

The present study included 422 patients with stage I–IIIA NSCLC who underwent complete resection at Tohoku University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2016. The patients were divided into the low-CONUT and high-CONUT groups based on their CONUT scores. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cumulative recurrence rates in the low- and high-CONUT groups were evaluated retrospectively.

Results

One hundred forty-seven patients (34.8%) were assigned to the high-CONUT group. The high-CONUT group had a significantly worse performance status, pleural invasion, vascular invasion, and lung metastasis. In the whole cohort, the low-CONUT group showed better overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and a low cumulative recurrence rate in comparison to the high-CONUT group. There was no significant difference in prognosis or recurrence between the low- and high-CONUT groups after propensity score matching.

Conclusion

Patients with a high CONUT score may be at high risk of recurrence because of the high frequency of pleural invasion, vascular invasion, and lung metastasis.
Effectiveness of a web-enabled psychoeducational resource for postpartum depression and anxiety among women in British Columbia
Authors: Lawrence Claire G , Breau Genevieve , Yang Lily , Hellerstein Orli S , Hippman Catriona , Kennedy Andrea L , Ryan Deirdre , Shulman Barbara , Brotto Lori A
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA) affect nearly one-quarter (23%) of women in Canada. eHealth is a promising solution for increasing access to postpartum mental healthcare. However, a user-centered approach is not routinely taken in the development of web-enabled resources, leaving postpartum women out of critical decision-making processes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, usability, and user satisfaction of PostpartumCare.ca, a web-enabled psychoeducational resource for PPD and PPA, created in partnership with postpartum women in British Columbia.

Methods

Participants were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 52) receiving access to PostpartumCare.ca for four weeks, or to a waitlist control group (n = 51). Measures evaluating PPD (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and PPA symptoms (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale) were completed at baseline, after four weeks, and after a two-week follow-up. User ratings of website usability and satisfaction and website metrics were also collected.

Results

PPD and PPA symptoms were significantly reduced for the intervention group only after four weeks, with improvements maintained after a two-week follow-up, corresponding with small-to-medium effect sizes (PPD: partial η2 = 0.03; PPA: partial η2 = 0.04). Intervention participants were also more likely than waitlist controls to recover from clinical levels of PPD symptoms (χ 2 (1, n = 63) = 4.58, p = .032) and PostpartumCare.ca’s usability and satisfaction were rated favourably overall.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that a web-enabled psychoeducational resource, created in collaboration with patient partners, can effectively reduce PPD and PPA symptoms, supporting its potential use as a low-barrier option for postpartum women.

Trial Registration

Protocol for this trial was preregistered on NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov as of May 2022 (ID No. NCT05382884).
The Best Predictor of Future Behavior May Be the Past: Exploring Behavior Change in Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the Netherlands
Authors: van Wees Daphne , Coyer Liza , van den Elshout Mark , de Coul Eline Op , van Aar Fleur
Published: May 2024

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use prevents HIV transmission, and may lead to changes in sexual behavior. We aimed to explore sexual behavior over time, and identify predictors of behavior change in men who have sex with men (MSM) using PrEP at sexual health centers (SHC) in the Netherlands. We used longitudinal data from the national STI surveillance database (January 2018–June 2021) of HIV-negative MSM who first initiated PrEP in the national PrEP pilot. We modelled behavior change after PrEP initiation, and identified predictors of behavior change using multi-state Markov models. The probability of stopping group sex, chemsex, use of poppers or erection stimulants, and having ≥ 10 partners in the past 6 months among included MSM (n = 4,349, n SHC visits = 21,820) was higher compared to the probability of starting with these behaviors after PrEP initiation. However, MSM who used condoms consistently during anal sex had a high probability of changing to inconsistent condom use (0.8) at the next visit, and inconsistent condom users mostly remained inconsistent (0.8). First visit, visiting the SHC more often (vs. regular), and STI diagnosis were predictors of starting or continuing with most of the behaviors associated with increased risk. Behavior change was less likely among older participants (> 34 compared to ≤ 34 years), and during COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown periods compared to pre-COVID-19. Although condom use decreased over time, transitions towards stopping with other behaviors associated with increased likelihood of acquiring an STI after PrEP initiation were common. This may suggest increased sexual empowerment, especially among younger MSM. Predictors of behavior change may help to identify MSM who are likely to start with or continue to engage in these behaviors in the near future and to provide suitable and timely counselling about behavior and PrEP adherence.
Deep laser melting as controlled fragmentation method for multi-purpose projectiles
Authors: Goviazin G. G. , Vizan B.
Published: May 2024

A controlled fragmentation method, by deep laser melting, for a multi-purpose projectile (penetrator) is presented, using a full-sized projectile with 1100 mm long, 148 mm diameter, and 17.8 mm wall thickness. Effects on penetration and fragmentation performance, for various laser melting parameters, are explored through penetration and fragmentation field tests. It is shown that it is possible to attain an optimal local microstructure, in the melted regions, that ensures a pre-defined fragmentation pattern upon explosion without compromising on the penetration capabilities.
Bcubed revisited: elements like me
Authors: van Heusden Ruben , Kamps Jaap , Marx Maarten
Published: May 2024

BCubed is a mathematically clean, elegant and intuitively well behaved external performance metric for clustering tasks. BCubed compares a predicted clustering to a known ground truth clustering through elementwise precision and recall scores. For each element, the predicted and ground truth clusters containing the element are compared, and the mean over all elements is taken. We argue that BCubed overestimates performance, for the intuitive reason that the clustering gets credit for putting an element into its own cluster. This is repaired, and we investigate the repaired version, called “Elements Like Me (ELM)”. We extensively evaluate ELM from both a theoretical and empirical perspective, and conclude that it retains all of its positive properties, and yields a minimum zero score when it should. Synthetic experiments show that ELM can produce different rankings of predicted clusterings when compared to BCubed, and that the ELM scores are distributed with lower mean and a larger variance than BCubed.
A Meta-Analysis of Self-Management Interventions in Teaching Daily Living Skills to Autistic Individuals
Authors: Aydin Orhan , Sulu Mehmet D. , Ari-Arat Ceren
Published: May 2024

The current study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of self-management interventions for teaching daily living skills to autistic individuals. This study accessed the corresponding studies by doing a search in six databases. 14 articles and one dissertation met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were first analyzed descriptively and coded according to quality indicators using What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. Second, the effect sizes of the included studies were calculated using two different effect size measures (i.e., Tau-U and performance-criteria-based effect size values [PCES]). Third, these analyses were also conducted for generalization and maintenance data. Of 15 studies included in this review, nine met the WWC standards with and without reservations. Tau-U analyses were conducted for 14 studies, whereas PCES values were calculated for only eight studies with mastery criteria. The findings indicated that the self-management interventions had a .93 CI95 (.80, 1) overall effect size for Tau-U with a very large effect. On the other hand, the overall effect size for the PCES values indicated a moderate effect with .99. The weighted effect sizes in generalization and maintenance phases were very large for Tau-U; however, moderate to high effects for PCES. Although self-management interventions showed diversity, one of the domains of daily living skills (i.e., community living skills) has not been studied in the field. Notably, among the studies in our review, the last ones are from 2019. Detailed findings from descriptive analyses and two different effect size calculations are discussed, and recommendations for future studies are given.
LncRNA-NEAT1 blocks the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by targeting miR-217 to inhibit trophoblast cell migration and invasion
Authors: Jiang Ling-ling , Yang Dan-lin , Han Qing , Zhang Hua-le , Pan Mian , Yan Jian-ying
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aimed to study the correlation between preeclampsia (PE) and lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), and to examine the molecular mechanisms behind the development of PE.

Methods

30 PE and 30 normal pregnant women placental samples were assessed the levels of NEAT1 and miR-217 by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo was used for silencing NEAT1 or miR-217 inhibitor in the absence or presence of an inhibitor and H2O2. Cell counting Kit 8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and Transwell were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Luciferase reporter gene assay was utilized to verify the binding between miR-217 and Wnt family member 3 (Wnt3), and between the miR-217 and NEAT1. Proteins related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were detected using western blotting.

Results

The PE group exhibited a significantly downregulated expression of miR-217 and a significantly upregulated expression of NEAT1. NEAT1 targeted miR-217, and Wnt is a miR-217 target gene. siRNA-NEAT1 inhibited the apoptosis of trophoblast cells, but promoted their invasion, migration, and proliferation. MiR-217 inhibitor could partially reverse the effects of siRNA-NEAT1. The expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1), cyclin-D1 and β-catenin, was significantly increased after siRNA-NEAT1.

Conclusions

NEAT1 could reduce trophoblast cell invasion and migration by suppressing miR-217/Wnt signaling pathway, leading to PE.
Correlates of Behavioral Problems among Youth with Anxiety
Authors: Adabla Samuel , Nabors Laura A. , Olaniyan Afolakemi , Merianos Ashley
Published: May 2024

More information is needed to elucidate factors related to anxiety and behavioral problems among adolescents to inform those developing interventions. Reduced levels of parental stress and a supportive parent-adolescent relationship may be positively associated with anxiety and behavioral problems while experiencing adverse childhood events typically is negatively associated with anxiety and behavioral problems. This study investigated correlates of behavioral problems among youth with anxiety. Secondary data analyses were performed using a sample of 2,285 youth (10–17 years) whose parents reported that they currently had anxiety and behavioral problems from the 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health. Two multivariable logistic regressions examined the associations between four predictors: anxiety severity (mild or moderate/severe), adverse childhood experiences (0 ACEs, 1 ACE, ≥ 2 ACEs), parental stress (always or seldom stressed from parenting role), and emotional support for parents (Yes or No) and outcome variables (parent report of current or past behavioral problems for youth with anxiety). Results were similar for the two regression models. Specifically, participants who had severe/moderate anxiety, were exposed to more traumatic events (≥2 ACEs), lived with parents who were always stressed from parenting roles, and resided with parents who did not receive emotional support with parenting were more likely to have behavioral problems. Interventions are needed to reduce parental stress and provide emotional support for parents whose children experience anxiety and behavioral problems.
Impact of initial business model on the growth trajectory of new technology-based firms: a path dependency perspective
Authors: Löfsten Hans , Isaksson Anders , Rannikko Heikki , Tornikoski Erno , Buffart Mickaël
Published: May 2024

Our study explores links between the initial business model design and the post-founding development of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) through a selection of recently established NTBFs across Sweden, Finland, and France (481 firms). The trajectory of these firms’ performance has been observed and analyzed over the span of five years. The study examines the long-term effects of NTBFs’ initial business model design on their development and the path dependency of these designs on future firm performance. Our results indicate that high-growth and stable NTBFs have distinct initial designs, implying that new firms’ founders and their business design decisions have important consequences for subsequent NTBF development. Specifically, our study examines how business model characteristics impact the growth trajectory of NTBFs by empirically differentiating between the foundational characteristics of high-growth and stable NTBFs. We find that maintaining stable activity is linked to a low level of uniqueness, less demanding business objectives, and a lack of risk while high-growth is related to a larger early access to resources. We propose an explanation using path dependency literature, arguing how early business model choices predetermine long-term growth paths. Our research also provides valuable insights for stakeholders in designing targeted strategies for sustainable development.