bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychische Belastung während der COVID-19-Pandemie: Konsequenzen für psychiatrisch Erkrankte und therapeutische Implikationen
Authors: Winkler Johanna G. , Jalilzadeh Masah Dario , Moran James Kenneth , Bretz Joachim , Tsagkas Ioannis , Goldschmidt Thomas , Schouler-Ocak Meryam
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

Der Ausbruch der COVID-19-Erkrankung und die rasche Ausbreitung des sie verursachenden Coronavirus SARS-CoV‑2 bedroht weltweit nicht nur die physische, sondern auch die psychische Gesundheit der Bevölkerung. Seine Auswirkungen auf Neuerkrankungen und die Entwicklung bestehender Erkrankungen im ambulanten psychiatrischen Bereich in Deutschland ist noch nicht untersucht.

Methoden

Die Dokumentation in den Akten von 682 behandelten psychisch erkrankten Personen wurde retrospektiv bezüglich ihrer subjektiv erlebten Belastung durch die Pandemie und der klinischen Relevanz hin untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Bei 60,5 % (n = 378) bestand eine psychische Belastung durch diese Pandemie. 14,5 % (n = 99) der Betroffenen litten unter Angst vor dem Virus SARS-CoV‑2 und einer möglichen Infektion, 25,5 % (n = 174) unter den getroffenen Schutzmaßnahmen (Lockdown) und 4,3 % (n = 29) unter beidem; hierbei bestanden signifikante diagnoseabhängige Unterschiede. Angsterkrankte waren signifikant stärker belastet und hatten mehr Angst vor der Erkrankung, Psychoseerkrankte waren signifikant weniger belastet. Bei 43,7 % aller dieser Belasteten (n = 132) wurde eine akute therapeutische Intervention erforderlich, 6,0 % (n = 18) mussten stationär eingewiesen werden.

Diskussion

Psychisch Vorerkrankte gehören zu den durch die Belastungen der COVID-19-Pandemie besonders gefährdeten Bevölkerungsgruppen. Langfristigere Untersuchungen zum Verlauf der psychischen Belastungen unter Pandemiemaßnahmen sowie Studien zur Förderung von Resilienz in dieser Bevölkerungsgruppe und die Implementierung solcher Maßnahmen sind erforderlich.
The Cbk1-Ace2 axis guides Candida albicans from yeast to hyphae and back again
Authors: Wakade Rohan S. , Krysan Damian J.
Published: January 2021

Since its description in S. cerevisiae, the Regulation of Ace2 and Morphogenesis (RAM) pathway has been studied for nearly 20 years in multiple model and pathogenic fungi. In pathogenic fungi, the RAM pathway carries out many functions through mechanisms that remain to be defined in detail. Recently, we reported that Cbk1-mediated phosphorylation of the transcription factor Ace2 functions to repress the hyphae-to-yeast transition in Candida albicans. This transition is understudied relative to the yeast-to-hyphae transition. Subapical hyphal cell compartments are arrested in G1 until the point at which lateral yeast emerge. Here, we discuss this model and report new data indicating that a second G1 associated protein, the mitotic exit regulator Amn1. In S. cerevisiae diploid cells, Amn1 negatively regulates Ace2 at both the gene expression level through a negative feedback loop and at the protein level by targeting Ace2 for degradation. In C. albicans, Amn1 and Ace2 also form a feedback loop at the level of gene expression. Deletion of AMN1 decreases lateral yeast formation relative to wild type in maturing hyphae and is associated with decreased expression of PES1, a positive regulator of lateral yeast formation. These data indicate that the regulation of mitotic exit plays a role in determining the timing of lateral yeast emergence from hyphae in C. albicans. We also propose an integrated model for the interplay between the Cbk1-Ace2 axis and other hyphal stage regulators during the process of filamentation and transition back to yeast.
Process-based analysis of relative contributions to the multi-model warming projection over East Asia
Authors: Fan Hanjie , Hu Xiaoming , Yang Song , Choi Yong-Sang , Lee Yoon-Kyoung
Published: January 2021

Climate models predict that East Asia (EA) will be substantially warmer than the present despite large inter-model uncertainty. This study investigated the major sources of the climate projections and the inter-model uncertainty. Particularly, we decomposed the differences in surface temperatures between the historical and RCP8.5 runs from 26 CMIP5 into partial surface temperature changes due to individual radiative and non-radiative processes through the climate feedback-response analysis method. Results show that anthropogenic greenhouse forcing and subsequent water vapor feedback processes are primarily responsible for the surface warming over EA. Relatively more rapid warming over the snow/ice-covered area and southern China is due to feedback processes associated with surface albedo and cloud, respectively. The regional warming is, however, compensated by the surface non-radiative (sensible and latent heat) cooling. The inter-model projection uncertainty is substantially large over high latitudes and the Tibetan Plateau mainly due to surface albedo feedback. Again, this large uncertainty is partly suppressed by surface non-radiative cooling. Water vapor and cloud feedbacks are the secondary important sources of the projection uncertainty. Moreover, the contributions of greenhouse forcing and atmospheric dynamics to the projection uncertainty are found to be minor.
A fast and effective solution for ingrown toenail: Creation of a 2-mm space between tissue and nail by sutureless lateral longitudinal excision
Authors: Unal Ethem , Yuksekdag Sema
Published: January 2021

Nails have both functional and aesthetic importance. Undertreatments cause frequent recurrences affecting its functionality, while over-treatment spoils the aesthetic view. To describe the most practical and aesthetic method to treat ingrown toenail. All patients with ingrown toenail who applied to outpatient clinics of General Surgery Department between 2013 and 2019 were enrolled. A 2-mm space between tissue and nail by lateral longitudinal excision was created with only minimal matricectomy, under local anaesthesia. A total of 2334 surgical procedures were performed in 2118 patients. Recurrence rate was 1.7% during 36-month follow-up, most (70.7%) in younger men (22 years). The location of the lesions (right/left, medial/lateral or bilateral) did not show difference (p > 0.05 for each). Predisposing factors were tight-fitting footwear (4.5%), incorrect nail-trimming (3%), genetic tendency (2.8%), obesity (2.1%) and trauma (0.75%); but each wasp > 0.05. Mean operation time was 3 min. There was no important complication, except hematoma (0.89%) and infection (0.68%). Mean healing time was 10 days and patients returned to daily activities in 3 days. Longitudinal excision with minimal matricectomy technique provides all dead tissue and diseased parts of nail and soft tissue to be removed. It is simple, cost-effective, satisfactory and aesthetic. SBU/23.01.2019/B.10.1.TKH.4.34.H.GP.0.01/7 (retrospectively registered).
Correction to: Participatory System Dynamics Modeling: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement and Precision to Improve Implementation Planning in Systems
Authors: Zimmerman Lindsey , Lounsbury David W. , Rosen Craig S. , Kimerling Rachel , Trafton Jodie A. , Lindley Steven E.
Published: January 2021

The article “Participatory System Dynamics Modeling: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement and Precision to Improve Implementation Planning in Systems”, written by “Lindsey Zimmerman, David W. Lounsbury, Craig S. Rosen, Rachel Kimerling, Jodie A. Trafton, Steven E. Lindley”, was originally published Online First without Open Access. After publication in volume 43, issue 6, pages 834–849 the author decided to opt for Open Choice and to make the article an Open Access publication. Therefore, the copyright of the article has been changed to © The Authors 2020 and the article is forthwith distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.
Introduction to ‘Theoretical Pathways’: Thinking About Human Endeavour During the Middle Stone Age and Middle Palaeolithic
Authors: Högberg Anders , Lombard Marlize
Published: January 2021

In this brief introduction, we present and contextualise ‘theoretical pathways’ elaborated in this special issue, in terms of understanding humanity from a deep-time perspective. The participating authors discuss a wide range of approaches related to thinking about human endeavour during the Middle Stone Age and Middle Palaeolithic ranging from the constraints of technological niches and Material Engagement Theory to aspects of palaeo-neurology, agent-based models of self-domestication and co-evolutionary model building. Together, the contributions demonstrate that current theoretical approaches that aim to explain deep-time human endeavour require multi-disciplinary approaches, and that for some researchers, the trend is to move away from the symbolic standard or models of sudden mutation. By doing so, each contribution, in its own way, enhances our understanding of ‘being’ or ‘becoming’ human during the time slice between 300,000 and 30,000 years ago. The work represented here makes it increasingly clear that a singular or particular aspect did not ‘give birth’ toHomo sapiensin Africa during the Middle Stone Age and/or in Eurasia during the Middle Palaeolithic. Instead, humanity in all its complexity was probably shaped by a broad range of factors and processes that took place over an extended period.
Correction to: Andean potato diversity conserved in the International Potato Center genebank helps develop agriculture in Uganda: the example of the variety ‘Victoria’
Authors: Bernal-Galeano Vivian , Norton George , Ellis David , Anglin Noelle L. , Hareau Guy , Smale Melinda , Jamora Nelissa , Alwang Jeffrey , Pradel Willy
Published: January 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01136-6
Unitarily invariant norm inequalities for matrix means
Authors: Zuo Hongliang , Jiang Fazhen
Published: January 2021

The main target of this article is to present several unitarily invariant norm inequalities which are refinements of arithmetic-geometric mean, Heinz and Cauchy-Schwartz inequalities by convexity of some special functions.
Optimal Statistical Inference in the Presence of Systematic Uncertainties Using Neural Network Optimization Based on Binned Poisson Likelihoods with Nuisance Parameters
Authors: Wunsch Stefan , Jörger Simon , Wolf Roger , Quast Günter
Published: January 2021

Data analysis in science, e.g., high-energy particle physics, is often subject to an intractable likelihood if the observables and observations span a high-dimensional input space. Typically the problem is solved by reducing the dimensionality using feature engineering and histograms, whereby the latter allows to build the likelihood using Poisson statistics. However, in the presence of systematic uncertainties represented by nuisance parameters in the likelihood, an optimal dimensionality reduction with a minimal loss of information about the parameters of interest is not known. This work presents a novel strategy to construct the dimensionality reduction with neural networks for feature engineering and a differential formulation of histograms so that the full workflow can be optimized with the result of the statistical inference, e.g., the variance of a parameter of interest, as objective. We discuss how this approach results in an estimate of the parameters of interest that is close to optimal and the applicability of the technique is demonstrated with a simple example based on pseudo-experiments and a more complex example from high-energy particle physics.
Assessing the impact of vegetation coverage ratio in a floating water treatment bed of Pistia stratiotes
Authors: Samal Kundan , Kar Soham , Trivedi Shivanshi , Upadhyay Sudhanshu
Published: January 2021

Floating bed (FB) is one of the low cost and efficient system to treat polluted water bodies in rural as well as urban area. It requires less space compared to other macrophyte based treatment system. Vegetation coverage is an effective factor as atmospheric oxygen diffusion to water body depends upon this. When a water body is fully covered by vegetation, it prevents the diffusion of atmospheric oxygen, which is a major source of dissolved oxygen (DO). An optimum vegetation coverage is necessary to obtain maximum treatment efficiency and to verify this a laboratory scale experiment was performed with various vegetation coverage ratio (VCR) of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1. Organics and nutrient removal were measured corresponding to initial floating bed VCR. COD removal for VCR 1.0, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 and 0 were 86.4%, 93.6%, 96.2%, 85.4% and 60.8%, respectively. The roots of macrophyte (Pistia stratiotes) supports growth of microorganism, which perform biodegradation of organics as well as uptake nutrients. Maximum NH4+-N and PO43−-P removal were observed at VCR of 0.75 and 1.0, respectively. In the tanks with VCR of 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75, the final DO was more than 4 mg/L, which is the requisite DO value for survival of aquatic organism.
Myasthenia Gravis and Pregnancy: Toronto Specialty Center Experience
Authors: Alharbi Mohammed , Menon Deepak , Barnett Carolina , Katzberg Hans , Sermer Mathew , Bril Vera
Published: January 2021

Background:

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder that frequently affects young women of reproductive age. The multidirectional interplay between MG, pregnancy, and fetal health poses a complex scenario for pregnant women with MG and the healthcare team. Here, we reviewed our local experience with MG, pregnancy, and outcomes.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with MG attending the Prosserman Family Neuromuscular Clinic from 2001 to 2019 and who were referred to a high-risk pregnancy clinic. MG status was defined as stable, better, or worse. Information was collected on the delivery route, pregnancy, and neonatal complications.

Results:

We identified 20 women with MG for a total of 28 pregnancies. Worsening was observed in 50% of pregnancies: 18% during pregnancy, 25% following delivery, and 7% during both. 66.7% of patients with MG duration of 2 years or less had worsening during pregnancy. Three patients who stopped immunosuppressive treatment during pregnancy worsened and one had a crisis. C-section was done in 29% of pregnancies. The rate of delivery complications was 7% and of neonatal MG was 7%.

Conclusion:

A high proportion of MG patients worsened during pregnancy, particularly those with disease duration less than 2 years, and those who discontinued immunosuppression during pregnancy. However, pregnancy was largely unaffected, rate of neonatal MG was low, frequencies of C-section, delivery complications, and premature births were similar to the general population. While the study has limitations due to the retrospective nature, these insights provide some guidance when counseling young myasthenic women about family planning.
Transport Time and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Sy Eric , Amram Ofer , Baer Heather J. , Hameed S. Morad , Griesdale Donald E.G.
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Pre-hospital care and transportation time may impact their outcomes.

Methods:

Using the British Columbia Trauma Registry, we included 2,860 adult (≥18 years) patients with severe TBI (abbreviated injury scale head score ≥4), who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in a centre with neurosurgical services from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2013. We evaluated the impact of transportation time (time of injury to time of arrival at a neurosurgical trauma centre) on in-hospital mortality and discharge disposition, adjusting for age, sex, year of injury, injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score at the scene, location of injury, socio-economic status and direct versus indirect transfer.

Results:

Patients had a median age of 43 years (interquartile range [IQR] 26–59) and 676 (23.6%) were female. They had a median ISS of 33 (IQR 26–43). Median transportation time was 80 minutes (IQR 40–315). ICU and hospital length of stay were 6 days (IQR 2–12) and 20 days (IQR 7–42), respectively. Six hundred and ninety-six (24.3%) patients died in hospital. After adjustment, there was no significant impact of transportation time on in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.95–1.01). There was also no significant effect on discharge disposition.

Conclusions:

No association was found between pre-hospital transportation time and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with severe TBI.
Comparison of edible brown algae extracts for the inhibition of intestinal carbohydrate digestive enzymes involved in glucose release from the diet
Authors: Attjioui Maha , Ryan Sinead , Ristic Aleksandra Konic , Higgins Thomas , Goñi Oscar , Gibney Eileen R. , Tierney Joanna , O'Connell Shane
Published: January 2021

Type II diabetes is considered the most common metabolic disorder in the developed world and currently affects about one in ten globally. A therapeutic target for the management of type II diabetes is the inhibition of α- glucosidase, an essential enzyme located at the brush border of the small intestinal epithelium. The inhibition of α-glucosidase results in reduced digestion of carbohydrates and a decrease in postprandial blood glucose. Although pharmaceutical synthetic inhibitors are available, these are usually associated with significant gastrointestinal side effects. In the present study, the impact of inhibitors derived from edible brown algae is being investigated and compared for their effect on glycaemic control. Carbohydrate- and polyphenolic-enriched extracts derived fromAscophyllum nodosum,Fucus vesiculosusandUndaria pinnatifidawere characterised and screened for their inhibitory effects on maltase and sucrase enzymes. Furthermore, enzyme kinetics and the mechanism of inhibition of maltase and sucrase were determined using linear and nonlinear regression methods. All tested extracts showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase with IC50values ranging from 0⋅26 to 0⋅47 mg/ml for maltase; however, the only extract that was able to inhibit sucrase activity wasA. nodosum, with an IC50value of 0⋅83 mg/ml. The present study demonstrates the mechanisms in which different brown seaweed extracts with varying composition and molecular weight distribution differentially inhibit α-glucosidase activities. The data highlight that all brown seaweed extracts are not equal in the inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes involved in postprandial glycaemia.
Evaluation of sea-ice thickness reanalysis data from the coupled ocean-sea-ice data assimilation system TOPAZ4
Authors: Xiu Yongwu , Min Chao , Xie Jiping , Mu Longjiang , Han Bo , Yang Qinghua
Published: January 2021

With the assimilation of satellite-based sea-ice thickness (SIT) data, the new SIT reanalysis from the Towards an Operational Prediction system for the North Atlantic European coastal Zones (TOPAZ4) was released from 2014 to 2018. Apart from assimilating sea-ice concentration and oceanic variables, TOPAZ4 further assimilates CS2SMOS SIT. In this study, the 5-year reanalysis is compared with CS2SMOS, the Pan-Arctic Ice-Ocean Modeling and Assimilating System (PIOMAS) and the Combined Model and Satellite Thickness (CMST). Moreover, we evaluate TOPAZ4 SIT with field observations from upward-looking sonar (ULS), ice mass-balance buoys, Operation IceBridge Quicklook and Sea State Ship-borne Observations. The results indicate TOPAZ4 well reproduces the spatial characteristics of the Arctic SIT distributions, with large differences with CS2SMOS/PIOMAS/CMST mainly restricted to the Atlantic Sector and to the month of September. TOPAZ4 shows thinner ice in March and April, especially to the north of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago with a mean bias of −0.30 m when compared to IceBridge. Besides, TOPAZ4 simulates thicker ice in the Beaufort Sea when compared to ULS, with a mean bias of 0.11 m all year round. The benefit from assimilating SIT data in TOPAZ4 is reflected in a 34% improvement in root mean square deviation.
Improving vegetable production under semi-arid, saline conditions in south-western Madagascar
Authors: Andriamparany Jessica N. , Hanisch Susan , Buerkert Andreas
Published: January 2021

Agricultural production on the Mahafaly Plateau in SW-Madagascar has traditionally been based on subsistence rain-fed agriculture, with yields declining as a result of low soil fertility, recurrent droughts, and erratic rainfall. Market-oriented vegetable production in this area may help households improve their nutrition and diversify their income. In field trials between the 2013 and 2016 dry cropping seasons, the feasibility of carrot (Daucus carota L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) production was assessed by testing effects of manure and charcoal amendments, shading, and seed quality on yields. Due to damage caused by cyclones and strong winds, only data from 2013 and 2016 are reported in this paper. Additionally to the field experiments, effects of salinity on seed germination were also examined under laboratory conditions and in the field. Carrot dry matter (DM) yields were 0.24 to 2.76 t·ha−1 while those of onion were 0.15 to 0.99 t·ha−1 DM. While the combination of manure and charcoal application had only minor effects on crop growth, manure alone increased carrot yield by 26% across years. After one cropping season, manure application reduced soil pH from 9.0 to 8.6 and increased soil Corg from 0.87 to 1.76%, N from 0.08 to 0.14%, and P from 10.6 to 15.1 mg·kg−1. Shading reduced carrot yields from 0.87 to 0.58 t·ha−1 DM in 2013 and from 1.87 to 0.85 t·ha−1 DM in 2016, but increased onion yield in 2013 from 0.24 to 0.62 t·ha−1 DM. Carrot seed procured locally performed better in the field than seed imported from the capital which translated into differences in seedling emergence. Saline irrigation water (electrical conductivity = 7.03 mS·cm−1) reduced seedling emergence rate of carrot from 73 to 20% and for onion from 44 to 28% and unprimed seeds performed better than primed ones. Using shading during the dry season is not advisable for carrot and onion production, but improving seed quality and targeted use of soil amendments (time of manure application, manure quality) may enhance vegetable yields.
Association of basic vaccination with cognitive and learning ability among children: insights from the India Human Development Survey, 2004–05 and 2011–12
Authors: Joe William , Kumar Verma Ajay
Published: January 2021

Basic vaccination is important to protect children from infectious diseases and illnesses. Adequate levels of vaccination coverage reduce the morbidity and mortality burden among children and promote their physical and mental development. This study aimed to assess the association between basic childhood vaccination and the cognitive and learning ability of school children in India. Nationally representative follow-up data on 6183 children from the Indian Human Development Surveys conducted in 2004–05 and 2011–12 (IHDS I & II) were analysed. Children aged 8–10 years who had received all basic vaccines by the age 12 months performed better in a maths test than partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.48, 2.35). Similarly, fully vaccinated children performed better in writing tasks than partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.44, 2.18). Likewise, fully vaccinated children had better reading skills than fully unvaccinated children (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.09). The results suggest that enhancing child vaccination coverage can have significant benefits beyond health and can potentially improve the long-term educational outcomes of children.
A prospective study on the feasibility of cochlear implantation during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis and trends of assessment: experience in a UK centre
Authors: Mohammed H , Kennedy L , Whitehead D , Ahmad N , Banerjee A
Published: January 2021

Objectives

To demonstrate the feasibility of continuing cochlear implantation during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis and to report on trends of referrals via the neonatal hearing screening programme.

Methods

A prospective case series was conducted on children who underwent cochlear implantation during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis in the UK and a sample of referrals via the neonatal hearing screening programme. A step-by-step description of peri-operative management is included.

Results

Regionally, between February and May 2020, 106 babies were referred via the neonatal hearing screening programme to paediatric audiology. Eleven children were operated on during the coronavirus disease 2019 study period. None of the 11 children developed coronavirus symptoms.

Discussion

It is widely recognised that the demands of managing the current pandemic may compromise screening, clinical assessment and elective surgery. Time-sensitive issues such as cancer management have gained prominence, but a similar need exists for timely paediatric cochlear implantation.

Conclusion

Implantation in the paediatric population during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is feasible with careful planning.
Factors associated with human visceral leishmaniasis cases during urban epidemics in Brazil: a systematic review
Authors: da Silva Santana Cruz Cleya , Soeiro Barbosa David , Oliveira Vinícius Cunha , Cardoso Diogo Tavares , Guimarães Nathália Sernizon , Carneiro Mariângela
Published: January 2021

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in 70 countries and has been reported in 12 countries of Latin America, with over 90% of the cases reported in Brazil, where epidemics have occurred since 1980. The objective of this review is to describe the factors associated with the occurrence of VL epidemics in humans in urban areas. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA-P guidelines. The databases PubMed (by Medline), Cochrane Library, Embase, Amed, LILACS and grey literature [Google Scholar and handsearch of the database of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) of Brazil's Unified Health System] were used. The protocol was registered under PROSPERO (CRD42019128998). Climatic, environmental factors and indicators of urban social structure were described as influencing the outbreaks in the North and Northeast regions. Gender and age characteristics were related to a greater chance of developing VL in the Central-West, Northeast and Southeast regions. Vector indicators showed a positive correlation with the incidence of VL in studies in the Northeast region. In the Southeast and Northeast regions, studies revealed the presence of dogs with positive correlation with VL. Knowledge gaps remain regarding the contribution to the increase in the risk factors described in ecological approaches, as no analysis was performed at the individual level, and it is still necessary to discuss the influence of other associated elements in epidemic episodes in the spread of VL.
Distinct hepatic myeloid and lymphoid cell repertoires are associated with susceptibility and resistance toAscarisinfection
Authors: Deslyper Gwendoline , Murphy Dearbhla M. , Sowemimo Oluyomi A. , Holland Celia V. , Doherty Derek G.
Published: January 2021

The soil-transmitted helminthAscaris lumbricoidesinfects ~800 million people worldwide. Some people are heavily infected, harbouring many worms, whereas others are only lightly infected. The mechanisms behind this difference are unknown. We used a mouse model of hepatic resistance toAscaris, with C57BL/6J mice as a model for heavy infection and CBA/Ca mice as a model for light infection. The mice were infected with the porcine ascarid,Ascaris suumor the human ascarid,A. lumbricoidesand immune cells in their livers and spleens were enumerated using flow cytometry. Compared to uninfected C57BL/6J mice, uninfected CBA/Ca mice had higher splenic CD4+andγδT cell counts and lower hepatic eosinophil, Kupffer cell and B cell counts. Infection withA. suumled to expansions of eosinophils, Kupffer cells, monocytes and dendritic cells in the livers of both mouse strains and depletions of hepatic natural killer (NK) cells in CBA/Ca mice only. Infection withA. lumbricoidesled to expansions of hepatic eosinophils, monocytes and dendritic cells and depletions of CD8+,αβ, NK and NK T cells in CBA/Ca mice, but not in C57BL/6J mice where only monocytes expanded. Thus, susceptibility and resistance toAscarisinfection are governed, in part, by the hepatic immune system.
Anxiety in asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ye Gang , Baldwin David S. , Hou Ruihua
Published: January 2021

Background

Background: Growing evidence from observational studies indicates a high prevalence of anxiety in asthma. However, prevalence rates of coexisting anxiety symptoms and comorbid anxiety disorders vary widely across studies. We aimed to evaluate the associations between anxiety and asthma and provide more precise comorbidity estimates.

Methods

We systematically reviewed the literature from case-controlled studies and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the pooled prevalence estimates and risks of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders in asthma individuals. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were undertaken following PRISMA guidelines for preferred reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence rates. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3. Multiple databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychINFO, and PsycARTICLES were searched for publications before 1 December 2019. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (ref: CRD42020176028).

Results

In total, 19 studies involving 106813 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders in individuals with asthma was 0.32 (95% CI 0.22–0.43) and 0.24 (95% CI 0.13–0.41), respectively. The risks of coexisting anxiety symptoms and comorbid anxiety disorders were significantly higher in asthma patients than in non-asthma controls indicated by OR 1.89 (95% CI 1.42–2.52; Z = 4.37; p < 0.001) and OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.70–2.56; Z = 6.97; p < 0.001), respectively. Anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders occur at increased frequency among patients with asthma.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the need for appropriate assessments for these comorbid conditions, which may help to identify a subgroup of patients who might benefit from interventions designed to reduce anxiety and enhance the quality of life.
Social relationships and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown: longitudinal analysis of the COVID-19 Social Study
Authors: Sommerlad Andrew , Marston Louise , Huntley Jonathan , Livingston Gill , Lewis Gemma , Steptoe Andrew , Fancourt Daisy
Published: January 2021

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to measures that reduced social contact and support. We explored whether UK residents with more frequent or supportive social contact had fewer depressive symptoms during March−August 2020, and potential factors moderating the relationship.

Methods

A convenience sample of UK dwelling participants aged ⩾18 in the internet-based longitudinal COVID-19 Social Study completed up to 22 weekly questionnaires about face-to-face and phone/video social contact frequency, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms using the PHQ-9. Mixed linear models examined associations between social contact and support, and depressive symptoms. We examined for interaction by empathic concern, perspective taking and pre-COVID social contact frequency.

Results

In 71 117 people with mean age 49 years (standard deviation 15), those with high perceived social support scored 1.836 (1.801–1.871) points lower on PHQ-9 than those with low support. Daily face-to-face or phone/video contact was associated with lower depressive symptoms (0.258 (95% confidence interval 0.225–0.290) and 0.117 (0.080–0.154), respectively) compared to no contact. The negative association between social relationships and depressive symptoms was stronger for those with high empathic concern, perspective taking and usual sociability.

Conclusions

We found during lockdown that those with higher quality or more face-to-face or phone/video contact had fewer depressive symptoms. Contact quality was more strongly associated than quantity. People who were usually more sociable or had higher empathy had more depressive symptoms during enforced reduced contact. The results have implications for COVID-19 and potential future pandemic management, and for understanding the relationship between social factors and mental health.
A pilot study on the effectiveness of low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LiCBT) for common mental disorders in Hong Kong
Authors: Powell Candice L.Y.M. , Lo Alfred Pak-Kwan , Yeung Gladys T.Y. , Leung Natalie T.Y. , Mak Winnie W.S. , So Suzanne H.W. , Chiu Chui-De , Yau Sania S.W. , Mullan Eugene G. , Leung Patrick W.L.
Published: January 2021

Background:

To cope with the rising demand for psychological treatment, evidence-based low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LiCBT) delivered by trained para-professionals was introduced internationally.

Aims:

This pilot study aimed at examining the effectiveness of LiCBT in Hong Kong.

Method:

This study was of an uncontrolled pre- and post-treatment design, testing LiCBT at a local community mental health centre in Hong Kong. Two hundred and eighty-five Chinese adult help-seekers to the centre attended two or more sessions of LiCBT delivered by trained para-professionals. These participants also rated their depression and anxiety on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), respectively, at pre- and post-treatment.

Results:

Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of 285 participants indicated significant improvements in depression and anxiety with large effect sizes (depression: d = 0.87; anxiety: d = 0.95). For those participants reaching the clinical level of either depression and/or anxiety at pre-treatment (n = 229, 80.4%), they reported even larger effect sizes (depression: d = 1.00; anxiety: d = 1.15). The recovery rate was 55.9% with a reliable improvement rate of 63.9%. An average of 5.6 sessions was offered to the participants with each session spanning a mean of 42 minutes. The baseline clinical conditions and participants’ educational level were predictive of post-treatment recovery.

Conclusions:

The results supported the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of LiCBT for depression and anxiety at a Hong Kong community mental health centre. The effect sizes and the recovery and reliable improvement rates achieved were comparable to those reported from countries such as the UK and Australia.
Of Calendars—and Kings—and Why the Winter is Boiling Hot
Authors: HÄBERL CHARLES G.
Published: January 2021

This article documents the evolution and survival of an institution that has persisted nearly two and a half millennia until the present day. This institution, the Mandæan calendar, has evolved since its origins in the early Hellenistic period, and has been faithfully maintained since 472 ce at the latest. Its essential structure, 12 equal months of 30 days extended with the addition of five days to maintain its correspondence with the passage of the seasons, has evidently not changed since its initial adoption. After introducing the basic elements of time-keeping among Mandæans today, the article addresses the system of days, months, years, eras, and ages employed in the Mandæan scriptures, and correlates them with the present Mandæan calendar as well as the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
Diet quality improvement and 30-year population health and economic outcomes: a microsimulation study
Authors: Herman Patricia M , Nguyen PhuongGiang , Sturm Roland
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Diets closer aligned with nutritional guidelines could lower the risk of several chronic conditions and improve economic outcomes, such as employment and healthcare costs. However, little is known about the range, order of magnitude and timing of these potential effects.

Design:

We used a microsimulation approach to predict US population changes over 30 years in health and economic outcomes that could result from a substantial (but not impossible) improvement in diet quality – an improvement from the third to the fifth quintile of US scores on the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, 2010 version.

Setting:

Risk ratios from the literature for diabetes, heart disease and stroke were used to modify the Future Adult Model (FAM) to simulate outcomes from a higher-quality diet. Model parameter uncertainty was assessed using bootstrap and sensitivity analysis examined the variation in published risk ratios.

Participants:

FAM simulates outcomes for the US adult population aged 25 and older.

Results:

Improved diet quality initially leads to very small changes in chronic disease prevalence, but these accumulate over time. If diets improved beginning in 2019, after 30 years diabetes prevalence could be reduced by 5·9 million cases (11·5 %), heart disease prevalence by 4·0 million cases (7·2 %) and stroke prevalence by 1·9 million cases (10·3 %). These reductions in disease prevalence would be accompanied that same year by fewer deaths (88 000) and healthcare cost savings of $144·0 billion (2019 USD).

Conclusions:

This microsimulation study suggests that improvements in diet are likely to improve health and economic population outcomes over time.
CONFORMAL IMAGE REGISTRATION BASED ON CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION
Authors: MARSLAND S. , MCLACHLAN R. I. , TUFAIL M. Y.
Published: January 2021

Image registration is the process of finding an alignment between two or more images so that their appearances match. It has been widely studied and applied to several fields, including medical imaging and biology, where it is related to morphometrics. In this paper, we present a construction of conformal diffeomorphisms which is based on constrained optimization. We consider a set of different penalty terms that aim to enforce conformality, based on discretizations of the Cauchy–Riemann equations and geometric principles, and demonstrate them experimentally on a variety of images.
DEBATING GENDER
Authors: Earp Brian D.
Published: January 2021

There is an ongoing public debate about sex, gender and identity that is often quite heated. This is an edited transcript of an informal lecture I recorded in 2019 to serve as a friendly guide to these complex issues. It represents my best attempt, not to score political points for any particular side, but to give an introductory map of the territory so that you can think for yourself, investigate further, and reach your own conclusions about such controversial questions as ‘What does mean to be a man or a woman?’
OUR SOUL MAKES US WHO WE ARE
Authors: Swinburne Richard
Published: January 2021

A ‘complex’ theory of personal identity analyses a person P2 being the same as an earlier person P1 in terms of some particular degree of physical or mental continuity between them. All such theories are open to an objection that the postulated degree of continuity is an arbitrary one, and many of them are open to the objection that more than one subsequent person could satisfy them. Necessarily, any subsequent person is either totally the same person as P1 or not at all the same as P1. P2 is identical with P1 if and only if P2 has the same (non-physical and indivisible) soul as P1.
CONSIDERING WHERE IS GOD IN A CORONAVIRUS WORLD? AN EXERCISE IN CRITICAL THINKING
Authors: Worley Peter
Published: January 2021

This article is a critical response to a short book by John C. Lennox entitled Where is God in a Coronavirus World? in which he rejects atheism as a world-view equipped to deal with an event such as the coronavirus crisis and makes a case for the Christian outlook as the best way to meet such a crisis. The aim of this article is not to affirm or deny theism, but to examine critically the key arguments put forward for Christianity and against atheism by Lennox. Because of the centrality of the appeal to free will by Lennox in his article, some time is spent considering the free will response to the problem of evil, in which some close examination of the Bible is undertaken. The article finishes by outlining a personal, humanistic, secular response to the coronavirus crisis, and addresses solace and hope, two things Lennox denies atheism can provide.
Using diffusion of innovations theory to understand agricultural producer perspectives on cover cropping in the inland Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Lavoie Avery Lynn , Dentzman Katherine , Wardropper Chloe Bradley
Published: January 2021

There is increased interest in cover crops on farms; those planted during the fallow period or in place of a cash crop to improve soil and water quality. Despite extensive research suggesting that the practice can enhance on-farm resilience, cover crop use is not widespread, especially across the dryland wheat-growing region of the USA inland Pacific Northwest. Cover crops are being promoted across this region as a means to improve agronomic conditions and farmer livelihoods. Yet, there is limited producer-centered social science research to understand the regional and field-level challenges associated with the practice. To address this gap, we draw from the diffusion of innovations theory to examine the perceived relative advantage (the degree to which cover crops are compatible with the current agricultural system), and trialability of cover crops. Trialability encompasses the relative complexity and observability of the practice. Interviews (n = 28) were conducted with producers to better understand perceptions on relative advantage and how cover crop characteristics may contribute to barriers to adoption. Based on the results from interviews, focus groups (n = 48) were conducted to explore potential avenues for improving the integration of cover crops into existing cropping systems. Analysis of interviews with dryland crop and livestock producers suggested that perceptions of low relative advantage, including low compatibility with common regional management systems, perceived lack of profitability and increased cost of inputs act as deterrents to cover crop integration. Low trialability was associated with the complexity of experimentation, a lack of directly observable results and inflexible regional policies. These perceptions were compounded by a lack of region-specific agronomic and economic information on cover crops. Analysis of focus groups with crop and livestock producers and agricultural stakeholders suggested that there are several opportunities to improve potential adoption strategies and improve perceptions of relative advantage and trialability. Understanding the unique management goals of producers within the environmental, social and economic context in which they operate will better inform regional policies, outreach and future adoption strategies.
Dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals as potential interventions	against viruses: Perspectives for COVID-19
Authors: Islam Muhammad Torequl , Quispe Cristina , Martorell Miquel , Docea Anca Oana , Salehi Bahare , Calina Daniela , Reiner Željko , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: January 2021

Abstract. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19 disease pandemic has infected millions of people and caused more than thousands of deaths in many countries across the world. The number of infected cases is increasing day by day. Unfortunately, we do not have a vaccine and specific treatment for it. Along with the protective measures, respiratory and/or circulatory supports and some antiviral and retroviral drugs have been used against SARS-CoV-2, but there are no more extensive studies proving their efficacy. In this study, the latest publications in the field have been reviewed, focusing on the modulatory effects on the immunity of some natural antiviral dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals. Findings suggest that several dietary supplements, including black seeds, garlic, ginger, cranberry, orange, omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins (e.g., A, B vitamins, C, D, E), and minerals (e.g., Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Se, Zn) have anti-viral effects. Many of them act against various species of respiratory viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses. Therefore, dietary supplements, including vitamins and minerals, probiotics as well as individual nutritional behaviour can be used as adjuvant therapy together with antiviral medicines in the management of COVID-19 disease.
Modeling the Creation of Cratons, Earth’s Secret Keepers
Authors: Rocheleau Jackie
Published: January 2021

Geoscientists have long been trying to answer the complicated questions of how and why Earth’s continents formed. New research suggests a solution that surprised even the investigators themselves.
Targeting ubiquitin signaling for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Zhou Xiaofei , Sun Shao-Cong
Published: January 2021

Cancer immunotherapy has become an attractive approach of cancer treatment with tremendous success in treating various advanced malignancies. The development and clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors represent one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in cancer immunotherapy. In addition, considerable progress is being made in understanding the mechanism of antitumor immunity and characterizing novel targets for developing additional therapeutic approaches. One active area of investigation is protein ubiquitination, a post-translational mechanism of protein modification that regulates the function of diverse immune cells in antitumor immunity. Accumulating studies suggest that E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases form a family of potential targets to be exploited for enhancing antitumor immunity in cancer immunotherapy.
A computational study of a chemical gas sensor utilizing Pd–rGO composite on SnO2 thin film for the detection of NOx
Authors: Akshya S. , Juliet A. Vimala
Published: January 2021

In this paper we discussed, nitrogen oxides gas sensors are designed and simulated using the MEMS-based tool of COMSOL Multiphysics software. Pd–rGO composite films were designed and their NOx sensing characteristics were investigated in this study by comparing with/without active layers. Transition metal SnO2 deals with four different active materials i.e., Pure SnO2, SnO2–Pd, SnO2–rGO, and SnO2–Pd/rGO film was controlled by altering the active materials during the active layer deposition. The deposition of Pd/rGO active material is integrated into the SnO2 thin film. The response of the nanocomposite materials on the NOx gas sensor at a low temperature below 100 °C was significantly improved. Moreover, we investigate the optimization from different active layer response for NOx by applying power in watt and milliwatt to the interdigitated electrode on the Sn substrate. The determination is tense to finalize the suitable materials that to detect more response for nitrogen oxides i.e., Pd/rGO layer shows better performance when compared with other active layers for the sensing of nitrogen oxides is in proportion to the power in the range of 0.6–4.8 W at (1–8) Voltage range. This advanced research will enable a new class of portable NOx gas sensors to be constructed with millimeter size and microwatt power.