bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Archaeology of Modern Conflict and Heritage Legislation in Lithuania during Thirty Years of Restored Independence
Authors:   Klaipėda University, Petrauskas Gediminas , Muradian Lijana ,   National Museum of Lithuania, Kurilienė Augustina ,   Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture
Published: March 2024

After the Lithuanian National Revival in 1988 and the restoration of independence in 1990, the public on their own initiative searched for the remains of fallen anti-Soviet Lithuanian partisans (1944-1953), excavating the burial sites of partisan remains, their bunkers and dugouts. Such excavations prompted the need to establish regulations and procedures for the exhumation and transfer of the remains of victims of 20th-century conflicts and occupation regimes. Government resolutions adopted in 1992 obliged prosecutors, archaeologists, anthropologists and forensic medical experts to be involved in the exhumation procedure and to carry out the exhumation in accordance with the basic requirements of archaeological research. Owing to the restoration and destruction of authentic partisan bunkers and dugouts, the increase in archaeological investigations at 20th-century conflict sites, as well as the emergence of a distinct field of modern conflict archaeology, the 2022 revision of the Archaeological Heritage Management Regulation stipulated the necessity to carry out archaeological research prior to any excavation works at all 19th- and 20th-century conflict sites. Between 1995 and 2022, a total of 171 permits for archaeological excavations at 20th-century conflict sites were issued. Investigations were mostly carried out at the burial sites of Wehrmacht and Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) soldiers of the Second World War and Lithuanian partisans. Partisan bunkers, dugouts, campsites, battlefields also received considerable attention. Today, more than 1700 20th-century conflict sites have legal protection in Lithuania. These include Lithuanian Partisan War sites (mainly sites of death and burial), burial sites of soldiers from the First and Second World Wars, sites of massacres and burials of Jews, and other sites associated with the Soviet and Nazi occupation regimes. This article focuses on 20th-century conflict sites in Lithuania, examining issues of their protection, heritage conservation and archaeology, as well as current trends in archaeological research methodology.
Archaeological Heritage Management and Science on War and Terror Sites in Brandenburg, Germany
Authors: Kersting Thomas
Published: March 2024

The Brandenburg State Archaeology Museum has been conserving and analysing relics of war and terror for 25 years, and as a result of this work archaeology is now an integral part of Nazi camp research (Kersting et al. 2016a; Theune 2018). Many camp sites have been investigated, including concentration camps and their subcamps, forced labour camps, and prisoner-of-war camps (Kersting 2020; 2022). While most objects of an industrial culture of the 20th century can be quickly assigned a function, functions do change. Such a shift is a characteristic of Nazi camp finds and reflects their context of bondage and deprivation. The identification of the functions of material remains enables their association with different spheres of life in the camp, so that both perpetrator and victim groups are documented archaeologically. Moreover, these finds serve as tangible evidence to refute any relativisation of the crimes.
Categories Beyond: An approach to value and relevance of archaeological heritage. Three case studies in Westphalia, Germany
Authors:   LWL-Archäologie für Westfalen, Malliaris Michael
Published: March 2024

This short note argues that relevance and acceptance of archaeological heritage, particularly that from the 18th to the 20th centuries, hinge on effective public mediation. To achieve this, it is crucial to focus on the value and legitimisation of monuments from an impartial perspective. Employing an interdisciplinary and open-minded approach is essential in providing pertinent responses to enquiries that resonate with contemporary society. Therefore an approach to archaeological heritage by drawing on extended themes or categories is suitable to make archaeological heritage 'present' and generate public acceptance for heritage work.
Analysis of Ingress Into the Downstream Wheel Space of a 1.5-Stage Turbine By Full Circumference and Single Blade Passage Large-Eddy Simulations
Authors: Hösgen Thomas , Meinke Matthias , Schröder Wolfgang
Published: March 2024

The flow in a 1.5-stage axial turbine is investigated by large-eddy simulations. The focus is on the ingress in the downstream wheel space. Two setups are considered. In the first, the full 360 deg annulus is included on a computational mesh with approx. 1 billion mesh cells. The second setup includes a single blade passage in a 22.5 deg segment. The computational mesh has approx. 75 million mesh cells accordingly. The flow fields in the downstream wheel space differ strongly. In the 22.5 deg setup, the disk pumping effect is much more pronounced than in the 360 deg setup and the fluid bulk rotates in the direction of the rotor rotation. In the 360 deg setup, the fluid rotates in the opposite rotor direction and the velocities feature a deflection at intermediate radii. The differences are caused by the instantaneous flow fields. In the upstream wheel space of the 360 deg setup, two large-scale rotating vortex structures are predicted, which create four pressure peaks that propagate downstream. They interact with the second stator and create a rotating flow structure in the downstream wheel space, which generates alternating ingress and egress. Due to their spatial extent, none of these structures can exist in the 22.5 deg setup. The results show that for the investigated combination of turbine geometry and operating condition, the analysis of the downstream wheel space requires the detailed prediction of the unsteady flow phenomena in the upstream wheel space, i.e., it cannot be performed using the 22.5 deg setup.
Disagreement of Rehabilitation Adherence Perceptions Among Athletic Trainers and Injured Collegiate Athletes
Authors: Torres Luis , Davis Shala E. , Shotwell Colleen A. , Gardin Fredrick A.
Published: March 2024

Collegiate athletic trainers continue to report adherence to physical rehabilitation programs to be a problem in collegiate athletics, as rehabilitation adherence among collegiate athletes can range between 40% and 90%. Inconsistent appropriate adherence to these programs may limit patients’ ability to successfully recover from their sports injuries. This study sought to understand if differences in perception of rehabilitation adherence existed between athletic trainers and collegiate athletes. A nonsignificant fair inverse correlation was found between the athletic trainer perceptions and patient self-perceptions of rehabilitation adherence after an examination of 19 separate physical rehabilitation programs led by 5 collegiate athletic trainers (R = −.48, p = .06). Given the found practitioner–patient disconnect, collegiate athletic trainers should consider further encouraging patient involvement within their rehabilitation programs through various tactics such as the use of patient-rated outcomes or conversations that minimize patient distress.
Polarizing itch
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: March 2024

An itch-associated GPCR on neutrophils controls their activation during bacterial infection.
Real-time measurements of ATP dynamics via ATeams in
Plasmodium falciparum
reveal drug-class-specific response patterns
Authors: Springer Eric , Heimsch Kim C. , Rahlfs Stefan , Becker Katja , Przyborski Jude M.
Published: March 2024

Malaria tropica
, caused by the parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
(
P. falciparum
), remains one of the greatest public health burdens for humankind. Due to its pivotal role in parasite survival, the energy metabolism of
P. falciparum
is an interesting target for drug design. To this end, analysis of the central metabolite adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is of great interest. So far, only cell-disruptive or intensiometric ATP assays have been available in this system, with various drawbacks for mechanistic interpretation and partly inconsistent results. To address this, we have established fluorescent probes, based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and known as ATeam, for use in blood-stage parasites. ATeams are capable of measuring MgATP
2−
levels in a ratiometric manner, thereby facilitating
in cellulo
measurements of ATP dynamics in real-time using fluorescence microscopy and plate reader detection and overcoming many of the obstacles of established ATP analysis methods. Additionally, we established a superfolder variant of the ratiometric pH sensor pHluorin (sfpHluorin) in
P. falciparum
to monitor pH homeostasis and control for pH fluctuations, which may affect ATeam measurements. We characterized recombinant ATeam and sfpHluorin protein
in vitro
and stably integrated the sensors into the genome of the
P. falciparum
NF54
attB
cell line. Using these new tools, we found distinct sensor response patterns caused by several different drug classes. Arylamino alcohols increased and redox cyclers decreased ATP; doxycycline caused first-cycle cytosol alkalization; and 4-aminoquinolines caused aberrant proteolysis. Our results open up a completely new perspective on drugs’ mode of action, with possible implications for target identification and drug development.
Evaluation of the Vitek 2 system for antifungal susceptibility testing of
Candida auris
using a representative international panel of clinical isolates: overestimation of amphotericin B resistance and underestimation of fluconazole resistance
Authors: Siopi Maria , Pachoulis Ioannis , Leventaki Sevasti , Spruijtenburg Bram , Meis Jacques F. , Pournaras Spyros , Vrioni Georgia , Tsakris Athanasios , Meletiadis Joseph
Published: March 2024

Although the Vitek 2 system is broadly used for antifungal susceptibility testing of
Candida
spp., its performance against
Candida auris
has been assessed using limited number of isolates recovered from restricted geographic areas. We therefore compared Vitek 2 system with the reference Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution method using an international collection of 100
C
.
auris
isolates belonging to different clades. The agreement ±1 twofold dilution between the two methods and the categorical agreement (CA) based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) tentative resistance breakpoints and Vitek 2-specific wild-type upper limit values (WT-ULVs) were determined. The CLSI-Vitek 2 agreement was poor for 5-flucytosine (0%), fluconazole (16%), and amphotericin B (29%), and moderate for voriconazole (61%), micafungin (67%), and caspofungin (81%). Significant interpretation errors were recorded using the CDC breakpoints for amphotericin B (31% CA, 69% major errors; MaEs) and fluconazole (69% CA, 31% very major errors; VmEs), but not for echinocandins (99% CA, 1% MaEs for both micafungin and caspofungin) for which the Vitek 2 allowed correct categorization of echinocandin-resistant
FKS1
mutant isolates. Discrepancies were reduced when the Vitek 2 WT-ULV of 16 mg/L for amphotericin B (98% CA, 2% MaEs) and of 4 mg/L for fluconazole (96% CA, 1% MaEs, 3% VmEs) were used. In conclusion, the Vitek 2 system performed well for echinocandin susceptibility testing of
C .auris
. Resistance to fluconazole was underestimated whereas resistance to amphotericin B was overestimated using the CDC breakpoints of ≥32 and ≥2 mg/L, respectively. Vitek 2 minimun inhibitory concentrations (MICs) >4 mg/L indicated resistance to fluconazole and Vitek 2 MICs ≤16 mg/L indicated non-resistance to amphotericin B.
Identification rate of
Legionella
species in non-purulent sputum culture is comparable to that in purulent sputum culture in
Legionella
pneumonia
Authors: Ito Akihiro , Ishida Tadashi , Tachibana Hiromasa , Nakanishi Yosuke , Kawataki Masanori , Yamazaki Akio , Washio Yasuyoshi
Published: March 2024

Many
Legionella
pneumonia patients do not produce sputum, and it is unknown whether purulent sputum is required for the identification of
Legionella
species. This study aimed to evaluate the identification rate of
Legionella
species based on sputum quality and the factors predictive of
Legionella
infection. This study included
Legionella
pneumonia patients at Kurashiki Central Hospital from November 2000 to December 2022. Sputum quality, based on gram staining, was classified as the following: Geckler 1/2, 3/6 and 4/5. Geckler 4/5 was defined as purulent sputum. The sputa of 104 of 124
Legionella
pneumonia patients were cultured. Fifty-four patients (51.9%) were identified with
Legionella
species, most of which were
Legionella pneumophila
serogroup 1 (81.5%). The identification rates of
Legionella
species according to sputum quality were 57.1% (16/28) in Geckler 1/2 sputum, 50.0% (34/68) in Geckler 3/6 sputum, and 50.0% (4/8) in Geckler 4/5 sputum, which were not significantly different (
P
= 0.86). On multivariate analysis, pre-culture treatment with anti-
Legionella
antimicrobials (odds ratio [OR] 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06–0.91), Pneumonia Severity Index class ≥IV (OR 2.57 [95% CI 1.02–6.71]), and intensive care unit admission (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.06–10.09) correlated with the ability to identify
Legionella
species, but sputum quality did not (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.17–4.41). The identification rate of
Legionella
species in non-purulent sputum was similar to that in purulent sputum. For the diagnosis of
Legionella
pneumonia, sputum should be collected before administering anti-
Legionella
antibiotics and cultured regardless of sputum quality.
The
in vitro
replication phenotype of hepatitis B virus (HBV) splice variants Sp3 and Sp9 and their impact on wild-type HBV replication
Authors: McCoullough Laura C. , Sadauskas Tomas , Sozzi Vitina , Mak Kai Yan , Mason Hugh , Littlejohn Margaret , Revill Peter A.
Published: March 2024

Prior to nuclear export, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA may be spliced by the host cell spliceosome to form shorter RNA sequences known as splice variants. Due to deletions in the open reading frames, splice variants may encode novel fusion proteins. Although not essential for HBV replication, the role of splice variants and their novel fusion proteins largely remains unknown. Some splice variants and their encoded novel fusion proteins have been shown to impair or promote wild-type HBV replication
in vitro,
and although splice variants Sp3 and Sp9 are two of the most common splice variants identified to date, their
in vitro
replication phenotype and their impact on wild-type HBV replication are unclear. Here, we utilize greater than genome-length Sp3 and Sp9 constructs to investigate their replication phenotype
in vitro
, and their impact on wild-type HBV replication. We show that Sp3 and Sp9 were incapable of autonomous replication, which was rescued by providing the polymerase and core proteins
in trans
. Furthermore, we showed that Sp3 had no impact on wild-type HBV replication, whereas Sp9 strongly reduced wild-type HBV replication in co-transfection experiments. Knocking out Sp9 novel precore-surface and core-surface fusion protein partially restored replication, suggesting that these proteins contributed to suppression of wild-type HBV replication, providing further insights into factors regulating HBV replication
in vitro
.

IMPORTANCE

The role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) splice variants in HBV replication and pathogenesis currently remains largely unknown. However, HBV splice variants have been associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting a role in HBV pathogenesis. Several
in vitro
co-transfection studies have shown that different splice variants have varying impacts on wild-type HBV replication, perhaps contributing to viral persistence. Furthermore, all splice variants are predicted to produce novel fusion proteins. Sp1 hepatitis B splice protein contributes to liver disease progression and apoptosis; however, the function of other HBV splice variant novel fusion proteins remains largely unknown. We show that Sp9 markedly impairs HBV replication in a cell culture co-transfection model, mediated by expression of Sp9 novel fusion proteins. In contrast, Sp3 had no effect on wild-type HBV replication. Together, these studies provide further insights into viral factors contributing to regulation of HBV replication.
The varying extent of humoral and cellular immune responses to either vector- or RNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines persists for at least 18 months and is independent of infection
Authors: Mai Franz , Bergmann Wendy , Reisinger Emil C. , Müller-Hilke Brigitte
Published: March 2024

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona-virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spurred a worldwide race for the development of an efficient vaccine. Various strategies were pursued; however, the first vaccines to be licensed presented the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein either in the context of a non-replicating adenoviral vector or as an mRNA construct. While short-term efficacies have extensively been characterized, the duration of protection, the need for repeated boosting, and reasonable vaccination intervals have yet to be defined. We here describe the adaptive immune response resulting from homologous and heterologous vaccination regimen at 18 months after primary vaccination. To that extent, we monitored 176 healthcare workers, the majority of whom had recovered from previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. In summary, we find that differences depending on primary immunization continue to exist 18 months after the first vaccination and these findings hold true irrespective of previous infection with the virus. Homologous primary immunization with BNT162b2 was repeatedly shown to produce higher antibody levels and slower antibody decline, leading to more effective
in vitro
neutralization capacities. Likewise, cellular responses resulting from
in vitro
re-stimulation were more pronounced after primary immunization involving BNT162b2. In contrast, IL-2 producing memory T helper and cytotoxic T cells appeared independent from the primary vaccination regimen. Despite these differences, comparable infection rates among all vaccination groups suggest comparable real-life protection.

IMPORTANCE

Vaccination against the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona-virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was shown to avert severe courses of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to mitigate spreading of the virus. However, the duration of protection and need for repeated boosting have yet to be defined. Monitoring and comparing the immune responses resulting from various vaccine strategies are therefore important to fill knowledge gaps and prepare for future pandemics.
MoMkk1 and MoAtg1 dichotomously regulating autophagy and pathogenicity through MoAtg9 phosphorylation in
Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Kong Yun , Guo Pusheng , Xu Jiayun , Li Jiaxu , Wu Miao , Zhang Ziqi , Wang Yifan , Liu Xinyu , Yang Leiyun , Liu Muxing , Zhang Haifeng , Wang Ping , Zhang Zhengguang
Published: March 2024

Autophagy is a central biodegradation pathway critical in eliminating intracellular cargo to maintain cellular homeostasis and improve stress resistance. At the same time, the key component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade regulating cell wall integrity signaling MoMkk1 has an essential role in the autophagy of the rice blast fungus
Magnaporthe oryzae
. Still, the mechanism of how MoMkk1 regulates autophagy is unclear. Interestingly, we found that MoMkk1 regulates the autophagy protein MoAtg9 through phosphorylation. MoAtg9 is a transmembrane protein subjected to phosphorylation by autophagy-related protein kinase MoAtg1. Here, we provide evidence demonstrating that MoMkk1-dependent MoAtg9 phosphorylation is required for phospholipid translocation during isolation membrane stages of autophagosome formation, an autophagic process essential for the development and pathogenicity of the fungus. In contrast, MoAtg1-dependent phosphorylation of MoAtg9 negatively regulates this process, also impacting growth and pathogenicity. Our studies are the first to demonstrate that MoAtg9 is subject to MoMkk1 regulation through protein phosphorylation and that MoMkk1 and MoAtg1 dichotomously regulate autophagy to underlie the growth and pathogenicity of
M. oryzae
.

IMPORTANCE

Magnaporthe oryzae
utilizes multiple signaling pathways to promote colonization of host plants. MoMkk1, a cell wall integrity signaling kinase, plays an essential role in autophagy governed by a highly conserved autophagy kinase MoAtg1-mediated pathway. How MoMkk1 regulates autophagy in coordination with MoAtg1 remains elusive. Here, we provide evidence that MoMkk1 phosphorylates MoAtg9 to positively regulate phospholipid translocation during the isolation membrane or smaller membrane structures stage of autophagosome formation. This is in contrast to the negative regulation of MoAtg9 by MoAtg1 for the same process. Intriguingly, MoMkk1-mediated MoAtg9 phosphorylation enhances the fungal infection of rice, whereas MoAtg1-dependant MoAtg9 phosphorylation significantly attenuates it. Taken together, we revealed a novel mechanism of autophagy and virulence regulation by demonstrating the dichotomous functions of MoMkk1 and MoAtg1 in the regulation of fungal autophagy and pathogenicity.
Complete genome sequence of
Bradyrhizobium ottawaense
strain MIAE 01942 isolated from soybean nodules grown in antibiotic-amended soil
Authors: Scott Andrew , Topp Edward , Revellin Cécile , Hartmann Alain , Fruci Michael
Published: March 2024

Bradyrhizobium ottawaense
MIAE 01942 is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the root nodules of soybeans grown in agricultural soils amended with veterinary antibiotics. The genome consists of a single 8.45 Mb circular chromosome that harbors genes involved in nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and antibiotic and metal resistance.
Genome sequence of
Umezawaea
sp. strain Da 62-37 isolated from the rhizosphere of
Deschampsia antarctica
E.Desv. (Galindez Island, maritime Antarctic)
Authors: Roman Ivan , Tistechok Stepan , Gromyko Oleksandr
Published: March 2024

In this study, we present the genome sequence of
Umezawaea
sp. strain Da 62-37, which was isolated from the rhizosphere of
Deschampsia antarctica
E.Desv. (Galindez Island, maritime Antarctic). The
de novo
assembly produced one contig, with a length of 11,793,683 bp. AntiSMASH analysis indicated 49 biosynthetic gene clusters.
Complete genome sequence of
Bacillus pumilus
F12-21, a halotolerant bacterium with antibacterial properties isolated from a Big Bone Lick State Park salt spring
Authors: Kirchner Gretchen , Carter Jance , Treves David S.
Published: March 2024

Bacillus pumilus
F12-21 is a halotolerant bacterium isolated from a sulfur-enriched salt spring. F12-21 inhibits bacteria of human health interest and bacterial salt spring co-inhabitants. We report the genome of
Bacillus pumilus
F12-21, with a predicted genome of 3.77 Mbp containing 3,732 protein-coding genes, 80 tRNAs, and 24 rRNAs.
Draft genome sequence of
Bacillus velezensis
strain 3TSA-3, a potential probiotic for Pacific white shrimp
Penaeus vannamei
postlarvae isolated from commercial hatchery tanks
Authors: Reyes Guillermo , Betancourt Irma , Borbor Martha , Bayot Bonny
Published: March 2024

We report the draft genome of
Bacillus velezensis
strain 3TSA-3, isolated from Pacific white shrimp
Penaeus vannamei
postlarvae collected from a hatchery tank with high survival despite the presence of pathogenic
Vibrio
. The strain possesses genes encoding bacteriocins and lacks virulence factor genes, characteristics for a potential aquaculture probiotic.
Genome sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome COVID-19 EF.1 variant strain obtained from a Moroccan patient
Authors: Ouchari Lahcen , Hemlali Mouhssine , Ghammaz Hamza , Chouati Taha , Melloul Marouane , Alaoui Amine Sanaâ , Rhoulam Safaa , Elannaz Hicham , Touil Nadia , Ennibi Khalid , El Fahime Elmostafa
Published: March 2024

Here, we report the identification and coding-complete genome sequence of a severe acute respiratory syndrome COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) strain obtained from a Moroccan patient. The detected strain EF.1 belongs to the BQ1.1 subvariant of the BA.5 Omicron variant.
Prevalence of strabismus and risk factors in adults born preterm with and without retinopathy of prematurity: results from the Gutenberg Prematurity Eye study
Authors: Fieß Achim , Dautzenberg Kim , Gißler Sandra , Mildenberger Eva , Urschitz Michael S , Elflein Heike M , Laspas Panagiotis , Stoffelns Bernhard M , Pfeiffer Norbert , Schuster Alexander K
Published: March 2024

Aim

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of strabismus and nystagmus and to analyse associated factors in preterm and full-term infants in adulthood.

Methods

The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmological examination of participants born preterm and full-term (aged 18–52 years). Perinatal data were carefully assessed for risk factors and comprehensive ophthalmological examinations were conducted. The association between strabismus and nystagmus was assessed by analysing 16 different perinatal and actual risk factors in multivariable analysis. Participants were grouped into full-term controls (gestational age (GA) at birth ≥37 weeks), preterm participants without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and GA 33–36 weeks (group 2), GA 29–32 weeks (group 3), GA ≤28 weeks (group 4), non-treated ROP (group 5) and treated ROP (group 6).

Results

In total, 892 eyes of 450 preterm and full-term individuals (mean age: 28.6 years, SD: ± 8.6 years, 251 females) were included. Strabismus was observed in 2.1% (3/140), 6.6% (9/137), 17.4% (16/92), 11.1% (2/18), 27.1% (13/48) and 60% (9/15) of participants and nystagmus in 0.7% (1/140), 1.5% (2/137), 4.3% (4/92), 5.6% (1/18), 10.4% (5/48) and 26.7% (4/15) of participants in the respective groups. In the multivariable regression model, strabismus was associated with GA (OR=0.90; p=0.046), anisometropia ≥1.5 diopter (OR=3.87; p=0.003), hypermetropia ≥2 diopter (OR=9.89; p<0.001) and astigmatism ≥1.5 diopter (OR=2.73; p=0.017). Esotropia was more frequent than exotropia and hypermetropia/hypometropia. Most strabismus cases occurred within the first 10 years of life. The strongest predictor associated with nystagmus was perinatal adverse events (OR=15.8; p=0.002).

Conclusion

Low GA and refraction of the eye are independent risk factors for strabismus, which typically occurs in the first 10 years of life. Perinatal adverse events are the most important factors for the presence of nystagmus in adulthood.
Role of motivation and well-being indicators in interventions to improve well-being at work among primary care physicians: a systematic review
Authors: Florez Adriana , Villar-Hoz Esperanza
Published: March 2024

Objective

The well-being of primary care physicians (PCPs) has become an object of concern for governments due to staff shortages and high staff turnover. The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of individualised interventions aimed at improving the well-being of PCPs, which allowed us to determine (1) the type of interventions being carried out; (2) the well-being indicators being used and the instruments used to assess them; (3) the theories proposed to support the interventions and the mechanisms of action (MoA) put forward to explain the results obtained and (4) the role that individual motivation plays in the interventions to improve well-being among PCPs.

Design

Systematic review.

Eligibility criteria

Clinical trials on interventions aimed at improving the well-being of PCPs.

Information sources: a search of studies published between 2000 and 2022 was carried out in MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science (WOS).

Results

From the search, 250 articles were retrieved. The two authors each reviewed the articles independently, duplicate articles and those that did not meet the inclusion criteria were discarded. A total of 14 studies that met the criteria were included: 6 randomised clinical trials, 4 controlled clinical trials and 4 unique cohorts, with a before-and-after assessment of the intervention, involving a total of 655 individuals participating in the interventions. A meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of the studies.

Conclusions

The information evaluated is insufficient to accurately assess which outcomes are the best indicators of PCPs well-being or what role plays in the individual motivation in the results of the interventions. More studies need to be carried out on the subject to determine the MoA of the different interventions on the results and the motivation of the participating PCPs.
Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses in the management of schizophrenia in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study
Authors: Daliri Dennis Bomansang , Laari Timothy Tienbia , Abagye Nancy , Afaya Agani
Published: March 2024

Objective

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, of which the diagnosis and management require comprehensive care. The role mental health nurses play in this management cannot be overemphasised. In an effort to give their best, several challenges confront them which need to be sought and addressed. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the management of schizophrenia by mental health nurses in the Upper East Region.

Design and participants

A descriptive phenomenology design was used in this study. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted among 18 purposively sampled mental health nurses using a semistructured interview guide. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Colaizzi’s approach.

Setting

The study was conducted in five primary and secondary-level health facilities in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Findings

Five themes were deduced from the theoretical framework, which were as follows: individual factors, interpersonal factors, organisational factors, community-level factors, and policy-level factors. At the individual level, factors such as the condition of the patient at presentation, medication side effects, inadequate knowledge, and poor adherence were identified. Interpersonal factors identified were poor communication, lack of mutual respect, and poor communication, while organisational factors such as inadequate staff, inadequate infrastructure and logistics, and unavailability of antipsychotics were reported. Moreover, the study identified community-level factors such as stigma and cultural beliefs, while policy-level factors such as laws regarding suicide, patient rights, and non-inclusion of mental health services into the National Health Insurance Scheme were reported as factors influencing the management of schizophrenia by mental health nurses.

Conclusions

Addressing these factors is essential to ensure sustainable improvements and the effective management of schizophrenia. It is imperative to consider these factors when designing interventions and policies to optimise the management of schizophrenia by mental health nurses in Ghana.
Barriers and facilitators to pressure ulcer prevention behaviours by older people living in their own homes and their lay carers: a qualitative study
Authors: Roddis Jennifer , Dyson Judith , Woodhouse Marjolein , Devrell Anne , Oakley Karen , Cowdell Fiona
Published: March 2024

Objective

To identify barriers and facilitators to pressure ulcer prevention behaviours in community-dwelling older people and their lay carers.

Design

Theoretically informed qualitative interviews with two-phase, deductive then inductive, thematic analysis.

Setting

The study was conducted in one geographical region in the UK, spanning several community National Health Service Trusts.

Participants

Community-dwelling older patients at risk of pressure ulcer development (n=10) and their lay carers (n=10).

Results

Six themes and subthemes were identified: (1) knowledge and beliefs about consequences (nature, source, timing and taboo); (2) social and professional role and influences (who does what, conflicting advice and disagreements); (3) motivation and priorities (competing self-care needs and carer physical ability); (4) memory; (5) emotion (carer exhaustion and isolation, carergiver role conflict and patient feelings) and (6) environment (human resource shortage and equipment).

Conclusions

There is minimal research in pressure ulcer prevention in community-dwelling older people. This study has robustly applied the theoretical domains framework to understanding barriers and facilitators to pressure ulcer prevention behaviours. Our findings will support co-design of strategies to promote preventative behaviours and are likely to be transferable to comparable healthcare systems nationally and internationally.
Measurement of the prompt fission $$\gamma $$-rays from slow neutron-induced fission of $$^{235}$$U with STEFF
Authors:   The n_TOF Collaboration (www.cern.ch/ntof), Wright T. , Smith A. G. , Sosnin N. V. , Bennett S. A. , Davies P. J. , Popescu A. V. , Ryan J. A. , Sekhar A. , Warren S. , Aberle O. , Amaducci S. , Andrzejewski J. , Audouin L. , Bacak M. , Balibrea J. , Barbagallo M. , Bečvář F. , Berthoumieux E. , Billowes J. , Bosnar D. , Brown A. , Caamaño M. , Calviño F. , Calviani M. , Cano-Ott D. , Cardella R. , Casanovas A. , Cerutti F. , Chen Y. H. , Chiaveri E. , Colonna N. , Cortés G. , Cortés-Giraldo M. A. , Cosentino L. , Damone L. A. , Diakaki M. , Domingo-Pardo C. , Dressler R. , Dupont E. , Durán I. , Fernández-Domínguez B. , Ferrari A. , Ferreira P. , Finocchiaro P. , Furman V. , Göbel K. , García A. R. , Gawlik-Ramięga A. , Gilardoni S. , Glodariu T. , Gonçalves I. F. , González-Romero E. , Griesmayer E. , Guerrero C. , Gunsing F. , Harada H. , Heinitz S. , Heyse J. , Jenkins D. G. , Jericha E. , Käppeler F. , Kadi Y. , Kalamara A. , Kavrigin P. , Kimura A. , Kivel N. , Kokkoris M. , Krtička M. , Kurtulgil D. , Leal-Cidoncha E. , Lederer-Woods C. , Leeb H. , Lerendegui-Marco J. , Meo S. Lo , Lonsdale S. J. , Macina D. , Manna A. , Marganiec J. , Martínez T. , Masi A. , Massimi C. , Mastinu P. , Mastromarco M. , Maugeri E. A. , Mazzone A. , Mendoza E. , Mengoni A. , Milazzo P. M. , Mingrone F. , Musumarra A. , Negret A. , Nolte R. , Oprea A. , Patronis N. , Pavlik A. , Perkowski J. , Porras I. , Praena J. , Quesada J. M. , Radeck D. , Rauscher T. , Reifarth R. , Rubbia C. , Sabaté-Gilarte M. , Saxena A. , Schillebeeckx P. , Schumann D. , Sedyshev P. , Stamatopoulos A. , Tagliente G. , Tain J. L. , Tarifeño-Saldivia A. , Tassan-Got L. , Valenta S. , Vannini G. , Variale V. , Vaz P. , Ventura A. , Vlachoudis V. , Vlastou R. , Wallner A. , Weiss C. , Woods P. J. , Žugec P.
Published: March 2024

The average energy and multiplicity of prompt $$\gamma $$
γ
-rays from slow neutron-induced fission of $$^{235}$$

235

U have been measured using the STEFF spectrometer at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF. The individual responses from 11 NaI scintillators were corrected for multiple $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray interactions, prompt fission neutrons and background counts before being deconvolved to estimate the emitted spectrum of prompt fission $$\gamma $$
γ
-rays. The results give an average $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray energy $${\bar{E}}_{\gamma }$$

E

¯

γ

of 1.71(5) MeV and multiplicity $$\bar{\nu }_{\gamma }$$

ν

¯

γ

of 2.66(18) considering $$\gamma $$
γ
-rays emitted within the energy range 0.8–6.8 MeV. The n_TOF data has a slightly larger $${\bar{E}}_{\gamma }$$

E

¯

γ

and smaller $$\bar{\nu }_{\gamma }$$

ν

¯

γ

than other recent measurements, however the product of the two is in agreement within quoted uncertainties.
Stimulated decay of collapsing axion stars and fast radio bursts
Authors: Di Haoran
Published: March 2024

The radiation mechanism of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been extensively studied but still remains elusive. In the search for dark matter candidates, the QCD axion and axionlike particles (ALPs) have emerged as prominent possibilities. These elusive particles can aggregate into dense structures called axion stars through Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC). Such axion stars could constitute a significant portion of the mysterious dark matter in the universe. When these axion stars grow beyond a critical mass, usually through processes like accretion or merging, they undergo a self-driven collapse. Traditionally, for spherically symmetric axion clumps, the interaction between axions and photons does not lead to parametric resonance, especially when the QCD axion-photon coupling is at standard levels. Nevertheless, our study indicates that even QCD axion stars with typical coupling values can trigger stimulated decay during their collapse, rather than producing relativistic axions through self-interactions. This process results in short radio bursts, with durations of around 0.1 s, and can be potentially observed using radio telescopes like FAST or SKA. Furthermore, we find that collapsing axion stars for ALPs with specific parameters may emit radio bursts lasting just milliseconds with a peak luminosity of $$1.60\times 10^{42}\,\mathrm{erg/s}$$

1.60
×

10
42

erg
/
s

, matching the characteristics of the observed non-repeating FRBs.
NPEL: Neural Paired Entity Linking in Web Tables
Authors: Wu Tianxing , Li Lin , Gao Huan , Qi Guilin , Wang Yuxiang , Li Yuehua
Published: March 2024

This paper studies entity linking (EL) in Web tables, which aims to link the string mentions in table cells to their referent entities in a knowledge base. Two main problems exist in previous studies: 1) contextual information is not well utilized in mention-entity similarity computation; 2) the assumption on entity coherence that all entities in the same row or column are highly related to each other is not always correct. In this paper, we propose
NPEL
, a new
N
eural
P
aired
E
ntity
L
inking framework, to overcome the above problems. In NPEL, we design a deep learning model with different neural networks and an attention mechanism, to model different kinds of contextual information of mentions and entities, for mention-entity similarity computation in Web tables. NPEL also relaxes the above assumption on entity coherence by a new paired entity linking algorithm, which iteratively selects two mentions with the highest confidence for EL. Experiments on real-world datasets exhibit that NPEL has the best performance compared with state-of-the-art baselines in different evaluation metrics.
Machine Learning-Based Kernel Selector for SpMV Optimization in Graph Analysis
Authors: Xiao Guoqing , Zhou Tao , Chen Yuedan , Hu Yikun , Li Kenli
Published: March 2024

Sparse Matrix and Vector multiplication (SpMV) is one of the core algorithms in various large-scale scientific computing and real-world applications. With the rapid development of AI and big data, the input vector in SpMV becomes sparse in many application fields. Especially in some graph analysis calculations, the sparsity of the input vector will change with the running of the program, and the non-zero element distribution of the adjacency matrix of some graph data has the power law property, leading to serious load imbalance, which requires additional optimization means. Therefore, the optimal SpMV kernel may be different, and a single SpMV kernel can no longer meet the acceleration requirements. In this article, we propose a decision tree-based adaptive SpMV framework, named DTSpMV, that can automatically select appropriate SpMV kernels according to different input data in iterations of graph computation. Based on the analysis of computing patterns, bit-array compression algorithms, and serial and parallel algorithms, we encapsulate nine SpMV kernels within the framework. We explore machine learning-based kernel selectors in terms of both accuracy and runtime overhead. Experimental results on NVIDIA Tesla T4 GPU show that our adaptive framework achieves the arithmetic average performance improvement of 152× compared to the SpMV kernel in cuSPARSE.
Supervised Contrast Learning Text Classification Model Based on Data Quality Augmentation
Authors: Wu Liang , Zhang Fangfang , Cheng Chao , Song Shinan
Published: March 2024

Token-level data augmentation generates text samples by modifying the words of the sentences. However, data that are not easily classified can negatively affect the model. In particular, not considering the role of keywords when performing random augmentation operations on samples may lead to the generation of low-quality supplementary samples. Therefore, we propose a supervised contrast learning text classification model based on data quality augmentation. First, dynamic training is used to screen high-quality datasets containing beneficial information for model training. The selected data is then augmented with data based on important words with tag information. To obtain a better text representation to serve the downstream classification task, we employ a standard supervised contrast loss to train the model. Finally, we conduct experiments on five text classification datasets to validate the effectiveness of our model. In addition, ablation experiments are conducted to verify the impact of each module on classification.
Review—Smart Wearable Sensors for Health and Lifestyle Monitoring: Commercial and Emerging Solutions
Authors: Cusack N. M. , Venkatraman P. D. , Raza U. , Faisal A.
Published: March 2024

The rapid growth of urbanisation has brought about various health concerns for citizens living in urban environments. Sedentary lifestyles, increased pollution levels, and high levels of stress have become prevalent issues affecting the overall well-being of urban populations. In recent years, the emergence of smart wearable devices has offered a promising avenue to address these health concerns and promote healthier lifestyles. This review evaluatse the effectiveness of smart wearables in mitigating health concerns and improving the lifestyles of urban citizens. The review involves 50 relevant peer-reviewed smart wearable studies and supporting literature from electronic databases PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and Scopus. Results indicate that smart wearables have the potential to positively impact the health of urban citizens by promoting physical activity, tracking vital signs, monitoring sleep patterns, and providing personalised feedback and recommendations to promote physical activity levels. Furthermore, these devices can help individuals manage stress levels, enhance self-awareness, and foster healthier behaviours. However, the review also identifies several challenges, including the accuracy and reliability of wearable data, user engagement and adherence, and ethical considerations regarding data privacy and security.
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii served as key components of fecal microbiota transplantation to alleviate colitis
Authors: Xu Binqiang , Fu Yang , Yin Nuoming , Qin Wenfei , Huang Zehua , Xiao Wei , Huang Huizhen , Mei Qixiang , Fan Junjie , Zeng Yue , Huang Chunlan
Published: March 2024

We demonstrate that donors with high abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The combination therapy of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is superior to mono-bacterial therapy in ameliorating colitis in mice, of which mechanism may involve promoting lecithin and inducing IL-10 production of intestinal Tregs.
Cell Membrane Tension Gradients, Membrane Flows, and Cellular Processes
Authors: Yan Qi , Gomis Perez Carolina , Karatekin Erdem
Published: March 2024

Cell membrane tension affects and is affected by many fundamental cellular processes, yet it is poorly understood. Recent experiments show that membrane tension can propagate at vastly different speeds in different cell types, reflecting physiological adaptations. Here we briefly review the current knowledge about membrane tension gradients, membrane flows, and their physiological context.
The Noble Suicide: The Case of a Self-Contained Dagger in the Heart and a Literal Raw
Authors: Marrone Maricla , De Luca Benedetta Pia , Papalino Marco , Pititto Fortunato , Angeletti Carlo , Bellacicco Roberto , Raino Michela , Pulin Giuseppe , Tarantino Francesca
Published: March 2024

According to WHO estimates, more than 700,000 people die each year due to suicide and suicides performed with a bladed weapon account for approximately 1.6%–3% of all suicides. It is statistically more common to find injuries to the heart, lungs, and thoracic vessels in homicides, whereas in suicides there is a higher frequency of vascular injuries to the extremities of the limbs. Also in suicides, the presence of “hesitation marks,” related to the attempts the victim makes before having the courage to kill himself, can often be found. In the case presented by the authors, these parameters are subverted: There was only one injury and it was the fatal one, it was located on the chest and reached the heart. But it was suicide. The circumstantial data, the psychological explanation, and the previous similar suicide attempt left no doubt about it. The man decided to commit suicide because he could no longer find meaning in his life after losing hope for a career as a pianist, having been diagnosed with a degenerative disease in his hands. The man hated himself and his existence: The future appeared extremely negative and the only escape was self-suppression. This case report makes an essential contribution to the already existing Literature as it shows a suicide that occurred in an unusual manner.
Sophora japonica Extract Inhibits Ulcerative Colitis and Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer via Regulation of Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Zheng Ying , Li Tianjiao , Luo Xi , Jia Mengnan , Han Liying , Yu Hao , Bao Yongrui , Wang Shuai , Meng Xiansheng
Published: March 2024

Inflammation is a well-known risk factor for tumor development. Intervening in chronic inflammation may be an effective approach to inhibit the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) to colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC). Sophora japonica is a medicinal and food plant commonly used to treat hemorrhoids, bleeding, and inflammation, symptoms that coincide with those of patients with CAC. However, studies on using Sophora japonica to treat CAC are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects of Sophora japonica extract (SJE) using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced CAC models. Furthermore, we employed ultraperformance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS) technology to explore the metabolomics mechanism through which SJE inhibited the progression of UC to CAC. The results demonstrated that SJE significantly inhibited UC and CAC and alleviated symptoms such as bloody stools, colon shortening, inflammation, and intestinal tissue damage in model mice. Further, 57 differential metabolites were identified by UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS, which were composed mainly of lipids (fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids, pregnenolone lipids, etc.) and peptides (amino acids). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that SJE might inhibit the progression of UC to CAC by regulating lipid metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism. This study, for the first time, substantiated the inhibitory effect of SJE on CAC. Employing metabolomics techniques, the research delved into the potential pathways through which SJE may exert its inhibitory effects on CAC by suppressing the progression of UC. These findings contribute scientific evidence to the application of Sophora japonica in functional foods and the development of natural drugs for the prevention and treatment of UC and CAC.