bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiometabolic risk factors as determinants of peripheral nerve function: the Maastricht Study
Authors: van der Velde Jeroen H. P. M. , Koster Annemarie , Strotmeyer Elsa S. , Mess Werner H. , Hilkman Danny , Reulen Jos P. H. , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Henry Ronald M. A. , Schram Miranda T. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Savelberg Hans H. C. M. , Schaper Nicolaas C.
Published: June 2020

Aims/hypothesis

We aimed to examine associations of cardiometabolic risk factors, and (pre)diabetes, with (sensorimotor) peripheral nerve function.

Methods

In 2401 adults (aged 40–75 years) we previously determined fasting glucose, HbA1c, triacylglycerol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, inflammation, waist circumference, blood pressure, smoking, glucose metabolism status (by OGTT) and medication use. Using nerve conduction tests, we measured compound muscle action potential, sensory nerve action potential amplitudes and nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) of the peroneal, tibial and sural nerves. In addition, we measured vibration perception threshold (VPT) of the hallux and assessed neuropathic pain using the DN4 interview. We assessed cross-sectional associations of risk factors with nerve function (using linear regression) and neuropathic pain (using logistic regression). Associations were adjusted for potential confounders and for each other risk factor. Associations from linear regression were presented as standardised regression coefficients (β) and 95% CIs in order to compare the magnitudes of observed associations between all risk factors and outcomes.

Results

Hyperglycaemia (fasting glucose or HbA1c) was associated with worse sensorimotor nerve function for all six outcome measures, with associations of strongest magnitude for motor peroneal and tibial NCV, βfasting glucose = −0.17 SD (−0.21, −0.13) and βfasting glucose = −0.18 SD (−0.23, −0.14), respectively. Hyperglycaemia was also associated with higher VPT and neuropathic pain. Larger waist circumference was associated with worse sural nerve function and higher VPT. Triacylglycerol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure were not associated with worse nerve function; however, antihypertensive medication usage (suggestive of history of exposure to hypertension) was associated with worse peroneal compound muscle action potential amplitude and NCV. Smoking was associated with worse nerve function, higher VPT and higher risk for neuropathic pain. Inflammation was associated with worse nerve function and higher VPT, but only in those with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and, to a lesser extent, prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) were associated with worse nerve function, higher VPT and neuropathic pain (p for trend <0.01 for all outcomes).

Conclusions/interpretation

Hyperglycaemia (including the non-diabetic range) was most consistently associated with early-stage nerve damage. Nonetheless, larger waist circumference, inflammation, history of hypertension and smoking may also independently contribute to worse nerve function.
Mode of action-based risk assessment of genotoxic carcinogens
Authors: Hartwig Andrea , Arand Michael , Epe Bernd , Guth Sabine , Jahnke Gunnar , Lampen Alfonso , Martus Hans-Jörg , Monien Bernhard , Rietjens Ivonne M. C. M. , Schmitz-Spanke Simone , Schriever-Schwemmer Gerlinde , Steinberg Pablo , Eisenbrand Gerhard
Published: June 2020

The risk assessment of chemical carcinogens is one major task in toxicology. Even though exposure has been mitigated effectively during the last decades, low levels of carcinogenic substances in food and at the workplace are still present and often not completely avoidable. The distinction between genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens has traditionally been regarded as particularly relevant for risk assessment, with the assumption of the existence of no-effect concentrations (threshold levels) in case of the latter group. In contrast, genotoxic carcinogens, their metabolic precursors and DNA reactive metabolites are considered to represent risk factors at all concentrations since even one or a few DNA lesions may in principle result in mutations and, thus, increase tumour risk. Within the current document, an updated risk evaluation for genotoxic carcinogens is proposed, based on mechanistic knowledge regarding the substance (group) under investigation, and taking into account recent improvements in analytical techniques used to quantify DNA lesions and mutations as well as “omics” approaches. Furthermore, wherever possible and appropriate, special attention is given to the integration of background levels of the same or comparable DNA lesions. Within part A, fundamental considerations highlight the terms hazard and risk with respect to DNA reactivity of genotoxic agents, as compared to non-genotoxic agents. Also, current methodologies used in genetic toxicology as well as in dosimetry of exposure are described. Special focus is given on the elucidation of modes of action (MOA) and on the relation between DNA damage and cancer risk. Part B addresses specific examples of genotoxic carcinogens, including those humans are exposed to exogenously and endogenously, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and the corresponding alcohols as well as some alkylating agents, ethylene oxide, and acrylamide, but also examples resulting from exogenous sources like aflatoxin B1, allylalkoxybenzenes, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline (MeIQx), benzo[a]pyrene and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Additionally, special attention is given to some carcinogenic metal compounds, which are considered indirect genotoxins, by accelerating mutagenicity via interactions with the cellular response to DNA damage even at low exposure conditions. Part C finally encompasses conclusions and perspectives, suggesting a refined strategy for the assessment of the carcinogenic risk associated with an exposure to genotoxic compounds and addressing research needs.
Thermoviscoelasticity in Kelvin–Voigt Rheology at Large Strains
Authors: Mielke Alexander , Roubíček Tomáš
Published: June 2020

The frame-indifferent thermodynamically-consistent model of thermoviscoelasticity at large strain is formulated in the reference configuration by using the concept of the second-grade nonsimple materials. We focus on physically correct viscous stresses that are frame indifferent under time-dependent rotations. Also elastic stresses are frame indifferent under rotations and respect positivity of the determinant of the deformation gradient. The heat transfer is governed by the Fourier law in the actual deformed configuration, which leads to a nontrivial description when pulled back to the reference configuration. The existence of weak solutions in the quasistatic setting, that is inertial forces are ignored, is shown by time discretization.
Multimodal influences on learning walks in desert ants (Cataglyphis fortis)
Authors: Vega Vermehren Jose Adrian , Buehlmann Cornelia , Fernandes Ana Sofia David , Graham Paul
Published: June 2020

Ants are excellent navigators using multimodal information for navigation. To accurately localise the nest at the end of a foraging journey, visual cues, wind direction and also olfactory cues need to be learnt. Learning walks are performed at the start of an ant’s foraging career or when the appearance of the nest surrounding has changed. We investigated here whether the structure of such learning walks in the desert ant Cataglyphis fortis takes into account wind direction in conjunction with the learning of new visual information. Ants learnt to travel back and forth between their nest and a feeder, and we then introduced a black cylinder near their nest to induce learning walks in regular foragers. By doing this across days with different wind directions, we were able to probe how ants balance different sensory modalities. We found that (1) the ants’ outwards headings are influenced by the wind direction with their routes deflected such that they will arrive downwind of their target, (2) a novel object along the route induces learning walks in experienced ants and (3) the structure of learning walks is shaped by the wind direction rather than the position of the visual cue.
Comparing the prospectivity of hydrogeological settings for deep radioactive waste disposal
Authors: Hipkins E. V. , Haszeldine R. S. , McDermott C. I.
Published: June 2020

Nuclear power has the potential to provide significant amounts of reliable electricity generation without carbon dioxide emissions. Disposing of radioactive waste is, however, an ongoing challenge, and if it is to be buried, the characterisation of the regional groundwater system is vital to protect the anthroposphere. This aspect is understudied in comparison to the engineered facility; yet, selecting a suitable groundwater setting can ensure radionuclide isolation hundreds of thousands of years beyond that provided by the engineered structure. This paper presents a multi-faceted scoping tool to quantitatively assess, and directly compare, the regional hydrogeological prospectivity of different groundwater settings for disposal at an early stage of the site selection process. The scoping tool is demonstrated using geological data from three distinct UK groundwater settings as a case study. Results indicate a significant difference in the performance potential of different regional groundwater settings to ensure long-term waste containment.
Use of Telemedicine and Virtual Care for Remote Treatment in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bokolo Anthony Jnr.
Published: June 2020

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant strain on medical centers resources. Thus, concerns about the reducing and management of COVID-19 are on the rise, as there is need to provide diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and follow-ups during the pandemic. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically and quickly altered how medical practitioners provide care to patients. Medical centers are now responding to COVID-19 through rapid adoption of digital tools and technologies such as telemedicine and virtual care which refer to the delivery of healthcare services digital or at a distance using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for treatment of patients. Telemedicine is expected to deliver timely care while minimizing exposure to protect medical practitioners and patients. Accordingly, a rapid literature review was conducted, and 35 research studies published from 2019 to May 2020 were employed to provide theoretical and practical evidence on the significance of using telemedicine and virtual care for remote treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides practical guide based on how to use telemedicine and virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides implication on the potentials of consolidating virtual care solutions in the near future towards contributing to integrate digital technologies into healthcare.
Analysing the Combined Health, Social and Economic Impacts of the Corovanvirus Pandemic Using Agent-Based Social Simulation
Authors: Dignum Frank , Dignum Virginia , Davidsson Paul , Ghorbani Amineh , van der Hurk Mijke , Jensen Maarten , Kammler Christian , Lorig Fabian , Ludescher Luis Gustavo , Melchior Alexander , Mellema René , Pastrav Cezara , Vanhee Loïs , Verhagen Harko
Published: June 2020

During the COVID-19 crisis there have been many difficult decisions governments and other decision makers had to make. E.g. do we go for a total lock down or keep schools open? How many people and which people should be tested? Although there are many good models from e.g. epidemiologists on the spread of the virus under certain conditions, these models do not directly translate into the interventions that can be taken by government. Neither can these models contribute to understand the economic and/or social consequences of the interventions. However, effective and sustainable solutions need to take into account this combination of factors. In this paper, we propose an agent-based social simulation tool, ASSOCC, that supports decision makers understand possible consequences of policy interventions, but exploring the combined social, health and economic consequences of these interventions.
Sodium hexametaphosphate–induced enhancement of silver nanoparticle toxicity towards leukemia cells
Authors: Oćwieja Magdalena , Barbasz Anna
Published: June 2020

Synergistic effects occurring between biologically active substances are of great importance for efficient treatment of many diseases. Therefore, the aim of research was to determine impact of sodium hexametaphosphate (HEX), which is a well-known permeabilizer, on the cytotoxicity of silver ions and two types of AgNPs towards HL-60 and U-937 tumor cells. The AgNPs were synthesized in a chemical reduction method using sodium borohydride and trisodium citrate (CITAgNPS) or sodium hypophosphite and HEX (HEXAgNPs). Imaging with the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the AgNPs exhibited spherical shape and comparable size distribution. Electrophoretic mobility studies showed that the AgNPs were negatively charged. The mitochondrial and antioxidant activity as well as membrane lipid peroxidation and integrity after dose-dependent AgNP treatment were evaluated using biochemical assays. The impact of HEXAgNPs on the membrane integrity and inactivation of antioxidant enzymes of the cells was much higher than this one observed for CITAgNPs and silver ions of the same concentration. The membrane damage occurred as a result of lipid peroxidation which was induced by pure HEX and HEXAgNPs. It was also observed that HEX significantly increased cell membrane damage induced by CITAgNPs and silver ions although the cells exhibited different sensitivity to these components. Moreover, it was found that HEX can induce oxidative stress. Hence, it was revealed that HEX enhances AgNP activity when it is applied both as their stabilizer or supplement in their suspensions.
Analysing Contaminant Mixing and Dilution in River Waters Influenced by Mine Water Discharges
Authors: Turunen Kaisa , Räsänen Teemu , Hämäläinen Emmy , Hämäläinen Matias , Pajula Pasi , Nieminen Soile P.
Published: June 2020

Mine water discharges can cause negative effects on recipient rivers. The magnitude of the effects depends on how quickly and efficiently contaminants dilute in the river. Electrical conductivity (EC) is linked to the water quality and can be utilized as a general tool to compare and detect the contaminant sources and concentration changes derived from mine water discharge. Hydrological and flow velocity profiling devices were tested to assess the impact as well as mixing and dilution of mine effluent discharge in a river next to a gold mine in Finland. Additionally, flow rate and velocity profiles of the cross-sections were measured. Recently, the greatest ecological impacts had been detected in the vicinity of the dewatering discharge point, which has the highest sulphate concentrations in rivers. According to EC measurements of this study, these were the same locations, where the mine effluent did not dilute and mix efficiently due to lower flow velocities and lesser turbulence. Further, EC values displayed a significant positive correlation with sulphate, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium, whereas a lower correlation was observed with the trace elements. The tested study method revealed how changes in the river morphology and flow velocity affect behaviour, mixing, and dilution processes. Mixing and dilution of contaminants depended on the discharge location and method as well as on the density differences between the mine water discharge and fresh river water. This study highlights the importance of detailed hydrological and flow rate measurements when designing the location of mine water discharge to recipient rivers.
Application of Linear Viscoelastic Continuum Damage Theory to the Low and High Strain Rate Response of Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Authors: Chen H. , Trivedi A.R. , Siviour C.R.
Published: June 2020

Background

Understanding the mechanical response of elastomers to applied deformation at different strain rates and temperatures is crucial in industrial design and manufacture; however, this response is often difficult to measure, especially at high strain rates (e.g. > 100 s− 1), and more predictive methods to obtain constitutive relationships are required.

Objective

The objective of the research described in this paper is to develop such methods.

Method

The paper outlines a novel approach combining quasi-static monotonic tests in tension and compression, quasi-static cyclic tests in tension, and high strain rate tests in compression, with dynamic mechanical analysis and time-temperature superposition. A generalized viscoelastic model incorporating continuum damage is calibrated.

Results

The results show that a model calibrated using data from quasi-static compression and dynamic mechanical analysis can be used to adequately predict the compressive high strain rate response: hence, this paper provides an important step in the development of a methodology that avoids the requirement to obtain constitutive data from high strain rate experiments. In addition, data from FE models of the dynamic mechanical analysis experiments are provided, along with a discussion of data obtained from tensile and cyclic loading.

Conclusions

The paper demonstrates the effectiveness of ‘indirect’ predictive methods to obtain information about high rate behaviour of low modulus materials.
PVT properties variation with depth in carbonate reservoirs: a case study
Authors: Kargarpour Mohammad Ali
Published: June 2020

PVT properties of a hydrocarbon reservoir, in addition to estimate oil and gas in place, are required for optimum dynamic reservoir management. In carbonate reservoirs, it is more important as reservoir’s fluid properties usually vary laterally or/and vertically. In this paper, summary results of a study which carried out on the reported PVT properties of reservoir ‘A’ are presented. Reservoir ‘A’ is a real oil carbonate reservoir which suffers from variation of PVT properties. The oil gravity and GOR (gas-oil ratio) in this reservoir are reported to be in the range of 23°–36° API and 300–1400 SCF/STB (Standard Cubic Feet/Stock Tank Barrel), respectively. These wide ranges of PVT properties raised questions about the accuracy and consistency of PVT laboratory test results, FBDST (Full Bore Drill Stem Test) measured data and reservoir characterization, such as effect of seismic recognized faults and the validity of laboratory PVT measurements which conducted on the reservoir fluid samples gathered from adjacent wells in one zone. So, an extensive, systematic study has been conducted on the available fluid data to check the validity of data and find out an acceptable, logical hypothesis about PVT variation across the reservoir, vertically and/or laterally. This study reveals that the reported laboratory measured PVT analysis, oil API gravity and GOR (gas oil ratio) measured in well tests campaign are valid. The PVT variation is dominantly vertical owing to compositional gravity segregation due to relatively high thickness of reservoir, about 300 m (984 ft). It is also distinguished that seismic detected faults (if exist) do not act as barriers at least at geological time.
Investigation of dehydrogenation performance and air stability of MgH2–PMMA nanostructured composite prepared by direct high-energy ball-milling
Authors: Rafatnejad Mahsa , Raygan Shahram , Sefidmooy Azar Mohammad
Published: June 2020

Mechanical milling and a gas-selective polymer were used to protect MgH2 from oxidation and improve its dehydrogenation properties. MgH2 and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were simultaneously ball-milled for 5 and 20 h, respectively, to prepare an air-resistant nanostructured composite. The properties of the nanostructured composite were studied by XRD, SEM, and FTIR methods. The dehydrogenation performance of all samples was investigated by TGA analysis. The hydrogen desorption performance of ball-milled samples was also evaluated after exposure to air for 4 weeks. Results showed that MgH2 desorbed about 0.79 wt.% of hydrogen after heating up to 300 ˚C and holding for 15 min at this temperature. The ball-milling of MgH2 and PMMA for 5 and 20 h led to hydrogen desorption of 6.21 and 6.10 wt.% after heating up to 300 ˚C and holding for 15 min at this temperature, respectively, which proved the surface protection of MgH2 from oxidation by PMMA. After 4 weeks of exposing the ball-milled MgH2–PMMA samples to air, their hydrogen desorption percentage at the same condition changed to 5.80 and 5.72 wt.% for 5 and 20 h milled samples, respectively. A slight reduction in the dehydrogenation percentage of air-exposed samples proved that the air stability of MgH2 had been significantly enhanced by its confinement with PMMA.
The Power of Sharing to Support Consumers through Liminality
Authors: Ozanne Lucie K. , Ozanne Julie L.
Published: June 2020

Across a lifetime, consumers face many transitions in which they need social support. Difficult transitions are often fraught with challenges, such as transitioning from one social role to another. But social support is particularly important for consumers in liminality when they are caught between social roles failing to transition from an old to a new role. Consumers in liminality benefit if they can draw on social networks for support to help them complete their transition. In this study, we explored how one form of sharing—trading skills and services in an exchange network—provides consumers with important social support helping them to cope and transition into new social roles. Specifically, a sharing exchange network helps consumers draw emotional, cognitive, and material support that enhances their well-being and has some advantages over social support from family and friends.
Security in the Gulf
Authors: Rossiter Ash
Published: June 2020

The British Empire employed a diverse range of strategies to establish and then maintain control over its overseas territories in the Middle East. This new interpretation of how Britain maintained order, protected its interests and carried out its defence obligations in the Gulf in the decades before its withdrawal from the region in 1971 looks at how the British government increasingly sought to achieve security with great economy of force by building up local militaries instead of deploying costly military forces from the home country. Benefitting from the extensive use of recently declassified British Government archival documents and India Office records, this highly original narrative weighs the successes and failures of Britain's use of 'indirect rule' among the small states of Eastern Arabia, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the seven Trucial States and Oman. Drawing important lessons for scholars and policymakers about the limitations of trying to outsource security to local partners, Security in the Gulf is a remarkable study of the deployment of British colonial policy in the Middle East before 1971.
The Authors Do Not Speak: A People’s Reading of the ASEAN Charter
Authors: BAGULAYA Jose Duke S.
Published: June 2020

While the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter has been read by commentators as a constitutional document, its use of the peoples of Southeast Asia as fictional authors of the text has not been fully explored. A people’s reading of the ASEAN Charter provides a critical perspective that uncovers the elitist and statist nature of this document. A close textual analysis of the preamble reveals that these purported authors are displaced by the Heads of State as the speaking subject and creators of the new legal entity. This textual displacement transforms the constituent treaty into a state monologue as it imposes a utopian vision of capitalism on the geopolitical body of the region. Contrary to its democratic claims, the Charter has only constitutionalised reification, class structures, and the exclusion of the peoples from power. The ASEAN constitution silences its own authors.
Relationship between ratings of performance in the simulated and workplace environments among emergency medicine residents
Authors: Prudhomme Nicholas , O'Brien Michael , McConnell Meghan M. , Dudek Nancy , Cheung Warren J.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

The Emergency Medicine (EM) Specialty Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) specifies that resuscitation entrustable professional activities (EPAs) can be assessed in the workplace and simulated environments. However, limited validity evidence for these assessments in either setting exists. We sought to determine if EPA ratings improve over time and whether an association exists between ratings in the workplace v. simulation environment.

Methods

All Foundations EPA1 (F1) assessments were collected for first-year residents (n = 9) in our program during the 2018–2019 academic year. This EPA focuses on initiating and assisting in the resuscitation of critically ill patients. EPA ratings obtained in the workplace and simulation environments were compared using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). To determine whether ratings in the two environments differed as residents progressed through training, a within-subjects analysis of variance was conducted with training environment and month as independent variables.

Results

We collected 104 workplace and 36 simulation assessments. No correlation was observed between mean EPA ratings in the two environments (CCC(8) = -0.01; p = 0.93). Ratings in both settings improved significantly over time (F(2,16) = 18.8; p < 0.001; η2= 0.70), from 2.9 ± 1.2 in months 1–4 to 3.5 ± 0.2 in months 9–12. Workplace ratings (3.4 ± 0.1) were consistently higher than simulation ratings (2.9 ± 0.2) (F(2,16) = 7.2; p = 0.028; η2= 0.47).

Conclusions

No correlation was observed between EPA F1 ratings in the workplace v. simulation environments. Further studies are needed to clarify the conflicting results of our study with others and build an evidence base for the validity of EPA assessments in simulated and workplace environments.
The role of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of xylan and mannan in gut health of monogastric animals
Authors: Tiwari Utsav P. , Fleming Stephen A. , Abdul Rasheed Muhammed S. , Jha R. , Dilger Ryan N.
Published: June 2020

Apart from its role as a digestive and absorptive organ, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a vital immune organ that encompasses roughly 70 % of the total immune cells of the body. As such, the physical, chemical and nutrient composition of the diet influences overall GI function, effectively as an immune organ. With the improvement in feed technology, agro-industrial co-products that are high in fibre have been widely used as a feed ingredient in the diets of pigs and poultry. Arabinoxylan (AX) and mannan are the most abundant hemicellulosic polysaccharides present in cereal grain and co-product ingredients used in the livestock industry. When monogastric animals consume diets containing high amounts of AX and mannans, stimulation of GI immune cells may occur. This involves the activation of several cellular and molecular pathways of the immune system and requires a considerable amount of energy and nutrients to be expended by the animal, which may ultimately influence overall health and growth performance of animals. Therefore, a better understanding of the role of AX and mannan in immune modulation will be helpful in modulating untoward GI immune responses, thereby minimising nutrient and energy expenditure toward this effort. This review will summarise pertinent research on the role of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides containing AX and mannans in immune modulation in order to preserve gut integrity.
What the past can say about the present and future of fire
Authors: Marlon Jennifer R.
Published: June 2020

Wildfires are an integral part of most terrestrial ecosystems. Paleofire records composed of charcoal, soot, and other combustion products deposited in lake and marine sediments, soils, and ice provide a record of the varying importance of fire over time on every continent. This study reviews paleofire research to identify lessons about the nature of fire on Earth and how its past variability is relevant to modern environmental challenges. Four lessons are identified. First, fire is highly sensitive to climate change, and specifically to temperature changes. As long as there is abundant, dry fuel, we can expect that in a warming climate, fires will continue to grow unusually large, severe, and uncontrollable in fire-prone environments. Second, a better understanding of “slow” (interannual to multidecadal) socioecological processes is essential for predicting future wildfire and carbon emissions. Third, current patterns of burning, which are very low in some areas and very high in others—are often unprecedented in the context of the Holocene. Taken together, these insights point to a fourth lesson—that current changes in wildfire dynamics provide an opportunity for paleoecologists to engage the public and help them understand the potential consequences of anthropogenic climate change.
Deciphering the geodynamic evolution of the Dinaric orogen through the study of the ‘overstepping’ Cretaceous successions
Authors: Nirta Giuseppe , Aberhan Martin , Bortolotti Valerio , Carras Nicolaos , Menna Francesco , Fazzuoli Milvio
Published: June 2020

Along the Dinaric–Hellenic orogen, the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous ophiolite obduction over the Adria continental margin was sealed by sedimentation of clastic terrestrial deposits rapidly followed by a widespread carbonate platform system since the Early Cretaceous period. These Cretaceous sediments presently crop out over areas of varying extension, from several hundred kilometre wide undeformed continuous covers to small-scale tectonic slivers involved in the tectonic stack following the latest Cretaceous–Palaeogene collision. These deposits are unconformably sedimented above the units formed by the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous nappe stacking above the eastern Adria continental margin. We studied these deposits in a large area between western Serbia and eastern Bosnia. In the studied area, these deposits are divided into three lithostratigraphic groups according to their age, depositional environment and type of underlying basement. The Mokra Gora Group sediments (upper Aptian–Maastrichtian) were deposited on top of previously obducted and weathered ophiolites, the Kosjerić Group (Cenomanian–Campanian) overlies composite tectonic units comprising obducted ophiolites and their underlying continental basement portions, while the Guča Group (Campanian–Maastrichtian) exclusively rests on top of continental basement. The reconstructed sedimentary evolution of these groups, together with the comparison with the syn- and post-obduction deposits at the front of the ophiolitic nappe(s) in a wider area of the internal Dinarides (e.g. Pogari Group and Bosnian flysch), allowed us to clarify the obduction mechanisms, including their tectonic context, the changes in depositional environments and the timing of depositional and tectonic events, and, in a wider view, shed light on the geodynamic evolution of the Dinaric belt.
Share of current unmet need for modern contraceptive methods attributed to past users of these methods in India
Authors: Shukla Ankita , Jain Anrudh K. , Acharya Rajib , Ram F. , Mozumdar Arupendra , Kumar Abhishek , Mondal Subrato , Saggurti Niranjan
Published: June 2020

Despite persistent efforts, unmet need for contraceptives in India has declined only slightly from 14% to 13% between 2005–06 and 2015–16. Many women using a family planning method discontinue it without switching to another method and continue to have unmet need. This study quantified the share of current unmet need for modern contraceptive methods attributed to past users of these methods in India. Data were drawn from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2005–06 and 2015–16. Using information on women with current unmet need, and whether they used any modern method in the past, the share of past users with current unmet need for modern methods was calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Among 46 million women with unmet need, 11 million were past users of modern methods in 2015–16. The share of current unmet need attributed to past users of modern contraceptive methods declined from 27% in 2005–06 to 24% in 2015–16. Share of current unmet need attributed to past users was associated with reversible method use. This share rose with increased use of modern reversible methods. With the Indian family planning programme’s focus on increasing modern reversible method use, the share of unmet need attributed to past users of modern methods is likely to increase in the future. The programme’s emphasis on continuation of contraceptive use, along with bringing in new users, could be one of the key strategies for India to achieve the FP2020 goals.
Computing schizophrenia: ethical challenges for machine learning in psychiatry
Authors: Starke Georg , De Clercq Eva , Borgwardt Stefan , Elger Bernice Simone
Published: June 2020

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) promise far-reaching improvements across medical care, not least within psychiatry. While to date no psychiatric application of ML constitutes standard clinical practice, it seems crucial to get ahead of these developments and address their ethical challenges early on. Following a short general introduction concerning ML in psychiatry, we do so by focusing on schizophrenia as a paradigmatic case. Based on recent research employing ML to further the diagnosis, treatment, and prediction of schizophrenia, we discuss three hypothetical case studies of ML applications with view to their ethical dimensions. Throughout this discussion, we follow the principlist framework by Tom Beauchamp and James Childress to analyse potential problems in detail. In particular, we structure our analysis around their principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. We conclude with a call for cautious optimism concerning the implementation of ML in psychiatry if close attention is paid to the particular intricacies of psychiatric disorders and its success evaluated based on tangible clinical benefit for patients.
Judaeo-Christian faith as trust and loyalty
Authors: PACE MICHAEL , MCKAUGHAN DANIEL J.
Published: June 2020

Disputes over the nature of faith, as understood in the Judaeo-Christian tradition, sometimes focus on whether it is to be identified exclusively with trust in God or with loyalty/fidelity to God. Drawing on recent work on the semantic range of the Hebrewʾĕmûnâand Greekpistislexicons, we argue for a multidimensional account of what it is to be a person of faith that includes trust and loyalty in combination. TheTrust-Loyaltyaccount, we maintain, makes better sense of the faith of exemplars, including Abraham, and fits well with the biblical language of faith. Further, a normatively appropriate combination of trust and loyalty towards others is a recognizable social virtue, aimed at promoting flourishing relationships. Finally, we consider how to make sense of ancient and modern exemplars of faith who protest against God, such as Job and Elie Wiesel, and argue that theTrust-Loyaltyview is uniquely well suited to accommodate them.
Preventing diabetic retinopathy by mitigating subretinal space oxidative stressin vivo
Authors: Berkowitz Bruce A.
Published: June 2020

Patients with diabetes continue to suffer from impaired visual performance before the appearance of overt damage to the retinal microvasculature and later sight-threatening complications. This diabetic retinopathy (DR) has long been thought to start with endothelial cell oxidative stress. Yet newer data surprisingly finds that the avascular outer retina is the primary site of oxidative stress before microvascular histopathology in experimental DR. Importantly, correcting this early oxidative stress is sufficient to restore vision and mitigate the histopathology in diabetic models. However, translating these promising results into the clinic has been stymied by an absence of methods that can measure and optimize anti-oxidant treatment efficacyin vivo.Here, we review imaging approaches that address this problem. In particular, diabetes-induced oxidative stress impairs dark–light regulation of subretinal space hydration, which regulates the distribution of interphotoreceptor binding protein (IRBP). IRBP is a vision-critical, anti-oxidant, lipid transporter, and pro-survival factor. We show how optical coherence tomography can measure subretinal space oxidative stress thus setting the stage for personalizing anti-oxidant treatment and prevention of impactful declines and loss of vision in patients with diabetes.
Health systems strengthening to optimise scale-up in global mental health in low- and middle-income countries: lessons from the frontlines. A re-appraisal
Authors: Petersen I. , van Rensburg A. , Gigaba S. G. , Luvuno Z. B. P. , Fairall L. R.
Published: June 2020

Against the backdrop of mounting calls for the global scaling-up of mental health services – including quality care and prevention services – there is very little guidance internationally on strategies for scaling-up such services. Drawing on lessons from scale-up attempts in six low- and middle-income countries, and using exemplars from the front-lines in South Africa, we illustrate how health reforms towards people-centred chronic disease management provide enabling policy window opportunities for embedding mental health scale-up strategies into these reforms. Rather than going down the oft-trodden road of vertical funding for scale-up of mental health services, we suggest using the policy window that stresses global policy shifts towards strengthening of comprehensive integrated primary health care systems that are responsive to multimorbid chronic conditions. This is indeed a substantial opportunity to firmly locate mental health within these horizontal health systems strengthening funding agendas. Although this approach will promote systems more enabling of scaling-up of mental health services, implications for donor funders and researchers alike is the need for increased time commitments, resources and investment in local control.
Prevalence of depression, anxiety and suicide among men who have sex with men in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wei D. , Wang X. , You X. , Luo X. , Hao C. , Gu J. , Peng S. , Yang X. , Hao Y. , Silenzio Vincent M. B. , Li J. , Hou F.
Published: June 2020

Aims

Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for depression, anxiety and suicide. The estimated prevalence of these problems is essential to guide public health policy, but published results vary. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and suicide among Chinese MSM.

Methods

Systematic searches of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases with languages restricted to Chinese and English for studies published before 10 September 2019 on the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts among Chinese MSM. Studies that were published in the peer-reviewed journals and used validated instruments to assess depression and anxiety were included. The characteristics of studies and the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts were independently extracted by authors. Random-effects modelling was used to estimate the pooled rates. Subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. This study followed the PRISMA and MOOSE.

Results

Sixty-seven studies were included. Fifty-two studies reported the prevalence of depressive symptoms, with a combined sample of 37 376 people, of whom 12 887 [43.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 38.9–47.5] reported depressive symptoms. Twenty-seven studies reported the prevalence of anxiety symptoms, with a combined sample of 10 531 people, of whom 3187 (32.2%; 95% CI, 28.3–36.6) reported anxiety symptoms. Twenty-three studies reported the prevalence of suicidal ideation, with a combined sample of 15 034 people, of whom 3416 (21.2%; 95% CI, 18.3–24.5) had suicidal ideation. Nine studies reported the prevalence of suicide plans, with a combined sample of 5271 people, of whom 401 (6.2%; 95% CI, 3.9–8.6) had suicide plans. Finally, 19 studies reported the prevalence of suicide attempts, with a combined sample of 27 936 people, of whom 1829 (7.3%; 95% CI, 5.6–9.0) had attempted suicide.

Conclusions

The mental health of Chinese MSM is poor compared with the general population. Efforts are warranted to develop interventions to prevent and alleviate mental health problems among this vulnerable population.
Grounding Social Foundations for Integrated Assessment Models of Climate Change
Authors: Mathias Jean‐Denis , Debeljak Marko , Deffuant Guillaume , Diemer Arnaud , Dierickx Florian , Donges Jonathan F. , Gladkykh Ganna , Heitzig Jobst , Holtz Georg , Obergassel Wolfgang , Pellaud Francine , Sánchez Angel , Trajanov Aneta , Videira Nuno
Published: June 2020

Integrated assessment models (IAMs) are commonly used by decision makers in order to derive climate policies. IAMs are currently based on climate‐economics interactions, whereas the role of social system has been highlighted to be of prime importance on the implementation of climate policies. Beyond existing IAMs, we argue that it is therefore urgent to increase efforts in the integration of social processes within IAMs. For achieving such a challenge, we present some promising avenues of research based on the social branches of economics. We finally present the potential implications yielded by such social IAMs.
Temporal Variation and Frequency Dependence of Seismic Ambient Noise on Mars From Polarization Analysis
Authors: Suemoto Yudai , Ikeda Tatsunori , Tsuji Takeshi
Published: June 2020

We applied a polarization analysis of InSight seismic data to estimate the temporal variation and frequency dependence of the Martian ambient noise field. Low‐frequency (<1 Hz) P waves show a diurnal variation in their dominant back azimuths that are apparently related to wind and the direction of sunlight in a distant area. Low‐frequency Rayleigh waves (0.25–1 Hz) show diurnal variations and a dominant back azimuth related to the wind direction in a nearby area. Low‐frequency signals that are derived mainly from wind may be sensitive to subsurface structure deeper than the lithological boundary derived from an autocorrelation analysis. On the other hand, dominant back azimuths of high‐frequency (>1 Hz) waves point toward the InSight lander, especially in daytime, indicating that wind‐induced lander noise is dominant at high frequencies. These results point to the presence of several ambient noise sources as well as geologic structure at the landing site.
A Novel Instrument for Bed Dynamics Observation Supports Machine Learning Applications in Mangrove Biogeomorphic Processes
Authors: Hu Z. , Zhou J. , Wang C. , Wang H. , He Z. , Peng Y. , Zheng P. , Cozzoli F. , Bouma T. J.
Published: June 2020

Short‐term bed level changes play a critical role in long‐term coastal wetland dynamics. High‐frequency observation techniques are crucial for better understanding of intertidal biogeomorphic evolution. Here, we introduce an innovative instrument for bed level dynamics observation, that is, LSED‐sensor (Laser based Surface Elevation Dynamics sensor). The LSED‐sensors inherit the merits of the previously introduced optical SED sensors as it enables continuous high‐frequency monitoring with relatively low cost of labor and acquisition. As an iteration of the optical SED‐sensors, the LSED‐sensors avoid touching the measuring object (i.e., bed surface), and they do not rely on daylight by adapting laser‐ranging technique. Furthermore, the new LSED‐sensors are equipped with a real‐time data transmission function, enabling automatic observation networks covering multiple (remote) sites. During a 22‐day field survey in a mangrove wetland, good agreement (R2 = 0.7) has been obtained between the automatic LSED‐sensor measurement and an accurate ground‐truth measurement method, that us, Sedimentation Erosion Bars. The obtained LSED‐sensor data were subsequently used to develop machine learning predictors, which revealed the effect of vegetation is a main driver in the accumulative and daily bed level changes. We expect that the LSED‐sensors can further support machine learning applications to extract new knowledge on coastal biogeomorphic processes.
On-chip integrated optical stretching and electrorotation enabling single-cell biophysical analysis
Authors: Huang Liang , Liang Fei , Feng Yongxiang , Zhao Peng , Wang Wenhui
Published: June 2020

Cells have different intrinsic markers such as mechanical and electrical properties, which may be used as specific characteristics. Here, we present a microfluidic chip configured with two opposing optical fibers and four 3D electrodes for multiphysical parameter measurement. The chip leverages optical fibers to capture and stretch a single cell and uses 3D electrodes to achieve rotation of the single cell. According to the stretching deformation and rotation spectrum, the mechanical and dielectric properties can be extracted. We provided proof of concept by testing five types of cells (HeLa, A549, HepaRG, MCF7 and MCF10A) and determined five biophysical parameters, namely, shear modulus, steady-state viscosity, and relaxation time from the stretching deformation and area-specific membrane capacitance and cytoplasm conductivity from the rotation spectra. We showed the potential of the chip in cancer research by observing subtle changes in the cellular properties of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) A549 cells. The new chip provides a microfluidic platform capable of multiparameter characterization of single cells, which can play an important role in the field of single-cell research.