bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The 14th International Conference of Students of Systematic Musicology (SysMus21)
Authors: Kiss Luca , Guiot Cecilia , Hashim Sarah , D’Aleman Arango Nicolas , Miguel Martin A.
Published: February 2022

The 14th International Conference of Students of Systematic Musicology (SysMus21) was held in a hybrid format that allowed both in-person and online participants to join. The SysMus conference series aims to foster a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment for students and early career researchers to share and discuss their work in the fields of systematic musicology and its related disciplines. This year at SysMus21, a total number of 26 oral and 35 poster presentations were held, covering a range of topics including well-being, data science, absorption and imagery, social connections, rhythm and groove, music information retrieval, sociology, cognition, and emotion. An introductory talk was given by Peter Vuust (Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University, Denmark), and two keynotes were presented by Jonna Vuoskoski (RITMO Center, University of Oslo, Norway) and Nori Jacoby (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt, Germany). Additionally, four workshops were held by Caitlyn Trevor, Joshua Bamford, Niels Christian Hansen, and Svenja Reiner, focusing on research skills relevant for developing a career in academia. In this report, an overview of the conference is provided including a summary of keynotes, presentations, workshops, and social activities, as well as a review of the advantages and challenges of the hybrid set-up.
The Effect of Major and Minor Complications After Lung Surgery on Length of Stay and Readmission
Authors: Finley Christian J , Begum Housne A , Pearce Kendra , Agzarian John , Hanna Waël C , Shargall Yaron , Akhtar-Danesh Noori
Published: February 2022

The effect of post-operative adverse events (AEs) on patient outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and readmissions to hospital is not completely understood. This study examined the severity of AEs from a high-volume thoracic surgery center and its effect on the patient postoperative LOS and readmissions to hospital. This study includes patients who underwent an elective lung resection between September 2018 and January 2020. The AEs were grouped as no AEs, 1 or more minor AEs, and 1 or more major AEs. The effects of the AEs on patient LOS and readmissions were examined using a survival analysis and logistic regression, respectively, while adjusting for the other demographic or clinical variables. Among 488 patients who underwent lung surgery, (Wedge resection [n = 100], Segmentectomy [n = 51], Lobectomy [n = 310], Bilobectomy [n = 10], or Pneumonectomy [n = 17]) for either primary (n = 440) or secondary (n = 48) lung cancers, 179 (36.7%) patients had no AEs, 264 (54.1%) patients had 1 or more minor AEs, and 45 (9.2%) patients had 1 or more major AEs. Overall, the median of LOS was 3 days which varied significantly between AE groups; 2, 4, and 8 days among the no, minor, and major AE groups, respectively. In addition, type of surgery, renal disease (urinary tract infection [UTI], urinary retention, or acute kidney injury), and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) score were significant predictors of LOS. Finally, 58 (11.9%) patients were readmitted. Readmission was significantly associated with AE group ( P = 0.016). No other variable could significantly predict patient readmission. Overall, postoperative AEs significantly affect the postoperative LOS and readmission rates.
MCRWR: a new method to measure the similarity of documents based on semantic network
Authors: Pan Xianwei , Huang Peng , Li Shan , Cui Lei
Published: February 2022

Background

Besides Boolean retrieval with medical subject headings (MeSH), PubMed provides users with an alternative way called “Related Articles” to access and collect relevant documents based on semantic similarity. To explore the functionality more efficiently and more accurately, we proposed an improved algorithm by measuring the semantic similarity of PubMed citations based on the MeSH-concept network model.

Results

Three article similarity networks are obtained using MeSH-concept random walk with restart (MCRWR), MeSH random walk with restart (MRWR) and PubMed related article (PMRA) respectively. The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of MCRWR, MRWR and PMRA is 0.93, 0.90, and 0.67 respectively. Precisions of MCRWR and MRWR under various similarity thresholds are higher than that of PMRA. Mean value of P5 of MCRWR is 0.742, which is much higher than those of MRWR (0.692) and PMRA (0.223). In the article semantic similarity network of “Genes & Function of organ & Disease” based on MCRWR algorithm, four topics are identified according to golden standards.

Conclusion

MeSH-concept random walk with restart algorithm has better performance in constructing article semantic similarity network, which can reveal the implicitly semantic association between documents. The efficiency and accuracy of retrieving semantic-related documents have been improved a lot.
Environmental differences explain subtle yet detectable genetic structure in a widespread pollinator
Authors: Glück Marcel , Geue Julia C. , Thomassen Henri A.
Published: February 2022

Background

The environment is a strong driver of genetic structure in many natural populations, yet often neglected in population genetic studies. This may be a particular problem in vagile species, where subtle structure cannot be explained by limitations to dispersal. Consequently, these species might falsely be considered quasi-panmictic and hence potentially mismanaged. A species this might apply to, is the buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), an economically important and widespread pollinator, which is considered to be quasi-panmictic at mainland continental scales. Here we aimed to (i) quantify genetic structure in 21+ populations of the buff-tailed bumble bee, sampled throughout two Eastern European countries, and (ii) analyse the degree to which structure is explained by environmental differences, habitat permeability and geographic distance. Using 12 microsatellite loci, we characterised populations of this species with Fst analyses, complemented by discriminant analysis of principal components and Bayesian clustering approaches. We then applied generalized dissimilarity modelling to simultaneously assess the informativeness of geographic distance, habitat permeability and environmental differences among populations in explaining divergence.

Results

Genetic structure of the buff-tailed bumble bee quantified by means of Fst was subtle and not detected by Bayesian clustering. Discriminant analysis of principal components suggested insignificant but still noticeable structure that slightly exceeded estimates obtained through Fst analyses. As expected, geographic distance and habitat permeability were not informative in explaining the spatial pattern of genetic divergence. Yet, environmental variables related to temperature, vegetation and topography were highly informative, explaining between 33 and 39% of the genetic variation observed.

Conclusions

In contrast to previous studies reporting quasi-panmixia in continental populations of this species, we demonstrated the presence of subtle population structure related to environmental heterogeneity. Environmental data proved to be highly useful in unravelling the drivers of genetic structure in this vagile and opportunistic species. We highlight the potential of including these data to obtain a better understanding of population structure and the processes driving it in species considered to be quasi-panmictic.
A case report of isolated primary herpes-simplex virus neuroretinitis in an immunocompetent adult
Authors: Lázaro-Rodríguez Víctor , Berrada Halima , Capella María José
Published: February 2022

Background

Herpes simplex virus (specifically HSV-1 and HSV-2) are greatly prevalent viruses that can cause conjunctivitis, keratitis and other rarer ocular disorders such as acute retinal necrosis syndrome or neuroretinitis. We report a case of an isolated unilateral neuroretinitis with primary HSV infection in an immunocompetent adult without other related clinical features.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with sudden painless central vision loss in her left eye (best corrected visual acuity was 20/200) showing optic disc edema, submacular fluid and a delayed development of a macular star. The macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a serous retinal detachment. Arterial hypertension or exposure to ionizing radiation were ruled out and the microbiological blood test battery was only positive for immunoglobulin M (IgM) for HSV-1 which allowed etiological treatment with oral valacyclovir. Complete resolution and good visual results were found within 3 months.

Conclusions

The present case of isolated neuroretinitis as a primary HSV infection in an immunocompetent patient was resolved with good functional results after valacyclovir treatment. Presence of HSV IgM in absence of other laboratory results could be enough evidence to start HSV treatment in immunocompetent patients with a macular star, as an isolated lesion, after ruling out other non-infectious causes, such as arterial hypertension or exposure to ionizing radiation. Rare infectious agents in immunocompetent patients must be considered in the differential diagnosis of neuroretinitis, even if there are no other typical symptoms or signs that could suggest the disease.
Navigating conflicting value systems: a grounded theory of the process of public health equity work in the context of mental health promotion and prevention of harms of substance use
Authors: Marcellus Lenora , Pauly Bernie , Martin Wanda , Revai Tina , Easton Kathy , MacDonald Marjorie
Published: February 2022

Background

Promoting health equity and reducing heath inequities is a foundational aim and ethical imperative in public health. There has been limited attention to and research on the ethical issues inherent in promoting health equity and reducing health inequities that public health practitioners experience in their work. The aim of the study was to explore how public health providers identified and navigated ethical issues and their management related to promoting health equity within services focused on mental health promotion and preventing harms of substance use.

Methods

Semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 32 public health practitioners who provided public-health oriented services related to mental health promotion and prevention of substance use harms (e.g. harm reduction) in one Canadian province.

Results

Participants engaged in the basic social process ofnavigating conflicting value systems. In this process, theycame to recognize a range of ethically challenging situationsrelated to health equity within a system that held values in conflict with health equity. The extent to which practitioners recognized, made sense of, and acted on these fundamental challenges was dependent on the degree to which they had developed a critical public health consciousness. Ethically challenging situations hadimpactsfor practitioners, most importantly, the experiences ofresponding emotionally to ethical issuesand the experience ofliving in dissonancewhen working to navigate ethical issues related to promoting health equity in their practice within a health system based in biomedical values.

Conclusions

There is an immediate need for practice-oriented tools for recognizing ethical dilemmas and supporting ethical decision making related to health equity in public health practice in the context of mental health promotion and prevention of harms of substance use. An increased focus on understanding public health ethical issues and working collaboratively and reflexively to address the complexity of equity work has the potential to strengthen equity strategies and improve population health.
Author Correction to: Telomerase subunit Est2 marks internal sites that are prone to accumulate DNA damage
Authors: Pandey Satyaprakash , Hajikazemi Mona , Zacheja Theresa , Schalbetter Stephanie , Neale Matthew J. , Baxter Jonathan , Guryev Victor , Hofmann Andreas , Heermann Dieter W. , Juranek Stefan A. , Paeschke Katrin
Published: February 2022

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Barriers and facilitators of following perioperative internal medicine recommendations by surgical teams: a sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study
Authors: Flemons Kristin , Bosch Michael , Coakeley Sarah , Muzammal Bushra , Kachra Rahim , Ruzycki Shannon M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Preoperative medical consultations add expense and burden for patients and the impact of these consults on patient outcomes is conflicting. Previous work suggests that 10–40% of preoperative medical consult recommendations are not followed. This limits measurement of the effect of perioperative medical consultation on patient outcomes and represents a quality gap, given the patient time and healthcare cost associated with consultation. We aimed to measure, characterize, and understand reasons for missed recommendations from preoperative medical consultation.

Methods

This explanatory, sequential mixed-methods study used chart audits followed by semi-structured interviews. Chart audit of consecutive patients seen in preoperative medical clinic were reviewed to measure the proportion and characterize the type of recommendations that were not completed (“missed”). This phase informed the interview participants and questions. The interview guide was developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework. Template analysis was used to understand drivers and barriers of missed recommendations

Results

Chart audit included 255 patients (n=161, 63.1% female) seen in preadmission clinic between April 1 and April 30, 2019. 55.7% of patients had all recommendations followed (n=142). Postoperative anticoagulation management and postoperative cardiac biomarker surveillance recommendations were least commonly followed (50.0%, n=28, and 68.9%, n=82, respectively).

Eighteen surgical team members were interviewed. Missed recommendations were both unintentional and intentional, and the key drivers differed by these categories. Unintentionally missed recommendations occurred due to individual-level factors (drivers: knowledge of the consultation note, lack of routine for reviewing the consultation note, and competing demands on time) and systems-level factors (driver: lack of role clarity). Intentionally missed recommendations occurred due to user error due (drivers: lack of knowledge of guidelines or evidence) and appropriate modifications (driver: need to adapt a preoperative plan for a complicated postoperative course).

Conclusions

Only 55.7% of consult notes had all recommendations followed, suggesting a quality gap in perioperative medical care. Qualitative data suggests multiple drivers of missed recommendations that should be targeted to improve the efficiency of care for these patients.
Comparative metabolomic analysis reveals shared and unique chemical interactions in sponge holobionts
Authors: Zhang Shan , Song Weizhi , Nothias Louis-Félix , Couvillion Sneha P. , Webster Nicole , Thomas Torsten
Published: February 2022

Background

Sponges are ancient sessile metazoans, which form with their associated microbial symbionts a complex functional unit called a holobiont. Sponges are a rich source of chemical diversity; however, there is limited knowledge of which holobiont members produce certain metabolites and how they may contribute to chemical interactions. To address this issue, we applied non-targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to either whole sponge tissue or fractionated microbial cells from six different, co-occurring sponge species.

Results

Several metabolites were commonly found or enriched in whole sponge tissue, supporting the notion that sponge cells produce them. These include 2-methylbutyryl-carnitine, hexanoyl-carnitine and various carbohydrates, which may be potential food sources for microorganisms, as well as the antagonistic compounds hymenialdisine and eicosatrienoic acid methyl ester. Metabolites that were mostly observed or enriched in microbial cells include the antioxidant didodecyl 3,3′-thiodipropionate, the antagonistic compounds docosatetraenoic acid, and immune-suppressor phenylethylamide. This suggests that these compounds are mainly produced by the microbial members in the sponge holobiont, and are potentially either involved in inter-microbial competitions or in defenses against intruding organisms.

Conclusions

This study shows how different chemical functionality is compartmentalized between sponge hosts and their microbial symbionts and provides new insights into how chemical interactions underpin the function of sponge holobionts.
Researching the researchers: psychological distress and psychosocial stressors according to career stage in mental health researchers
Authors: Hill Nicole T. M. , Bailey Eleanor , Benson Ruth , Cully Grace , Kirtley Olivia J. , Purcell Rosemary , Rice Simon , Robinson Jo , Walton Courtney C.
Published: February 2022

Background

Although there are many benefits associated with working in academia, this career path often involves structural and organisational stressors that can be detrimental to wellbeing and increase susceptibility to psychological distress and mental ill health. This exploratory study examines experiences of work-related psychosocial stressors, psychological distress, and mental health diagnoses among mental health researchers.

Methods

This international cross-sectional study involved 207 mental health researchers who were post-graduate students or employed in research institutes or university settings. Work-related psychosocial stressors were measured by the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III (COPSOQ III). Psychological distress was assessed using the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Thoughts of suicide was assessed using an adaptation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). History of mental health diagnoses was assessed through a custom questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test of independence was used to compare mental health diagnoses and suicidal ideation across career stages. The association between work-related psychosocial stressors and psychological distress was conducted using multivariate linear regression controlling for key demographic, employment-related and mental health factors.

Results

Differences in ‘demands at work’ and the ‘work-life balance’ domain were lowest among support staff (p = 0.01). Overall, 13.4% of respondents met the threshold for severe psychological distress, which was significantly higher in students compared to participants from other career stages (p = 0.01). Among the subgroup of participants who responded to the question on mental health diagnoses and suicidal ideation (n = 152), 54% reported a life-time mental health diagnosis and 23.7% reported suicidal ideation since their academic career commencement. After controlling for key covariates, the association between the ‘interpersonal relations and leadership’ domain and psychological distress was attenuated by the mental health covariates included in model 3 (β = −0.23, p = 0.07). The association between the remaining work-related psychosocial stressors and psychological distress remained significant.

Conclusions

Despite working in the same environment, research support staff report experiencing significantly less psychosocial stressors compared to postgraduate students, early-middle career researchers and senior researchers. Future research that targets key modifiable stressors associated with psychological distress including work organization and job content, and work-life balance could improve the overall mental health and wellbeing of mental health researchers.
Neutrophils predominate the immune signature of cerebral thrombi in COVID-19 stroke patients
Authors: Genchi Angela , Semerano Aurora , Schwarz Ghil , Dell’Acqua Beatrice , Gullotta Giorgia Serena , Sampaolo Michela , Boeri Enzo , Quattrini Angelo , Sanvito Francesca , Diamanti Susanna , Bergamaschi Andrea , Grassi Stefano , Podini Paola , Panni Pietro , Michelozzi Caterina , Simionato Franco , Scomazzoni Francesco , Remida Paolo , Valvassori Luca , Falini Andrea , Ferrarese Carlo , Michel Patrik , Saliou Guillaume , Hajdu Steven , Beretta Simone , Roveri Luisa , Filippi Massimo , Strambo Davide , Martino Gianvito , Bacigaluppi Marco
Published: February 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. Ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients entails high severity and mortality rates. Here we aimed to analyze cerebral thrombi of COVID-19 patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischemic stroke to expose molecular evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in the thrombus and to unravel any peculiar immune-thrombotic features. We conducted a systematic pathological analysis of cerebral thrombi retrieved by endovascular thrombectomy in patients with LVO stroke infected with COVID-19 (n = 7 patients) and non-covid LVO controls (n = 23). In thrombi of COVID-19 patients, the SARS-CoV-2 docking receptor ACE2 was mainly expressed in monocytes/macrophages and showed higher expression levels compared to controls. Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we detected SARS-CoV-2 Clade20A, in the thrombus of one COVID-19 patient. Comparing thrombus composition of COVID-19 and control patients, we noted no overt differences in terms of red blood cells, fibrin, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), platelets and complement complex C5b-9. However, thrombi of COVID-19 patients showed increased neutrophil density (MPO+ cells) and a three-fold higher Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (tNLR). In the ROC analysis both neutrophils and tNLR had a good discriminative ability to differentiate thrombi of COVID-19 patients from controls. In summary, cerebral thrombi of COVID-19 patients can harbor SARS-CoV2 and are characterized by an increased neutrophil number and tNLR and higher ACE2 expression. These findings suggest neutrophils as the possible culprit in COVID-19-related thrombosis.

Graphical Abstract
A review of the pathogenicity mechanism of Verticillium dahliae in cotton
Authors: ZHANG Yalin , ZHOU Jinglong , ZHAO Lihong , FENG Zili , WEI Feng , BAI Hongyan , FENG Hongjie , ZHU Heqin
Published: February 2022

Verticillium wilt, caused by the notorious fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is one of the main limiting factors for cotton production. Due to the stable dormant structure microsclerotia, long-term variability and co-evolution with host plant, its pathogenicity mechanism is very complicated, and the interaction mechanism between pathogen and host plant is also unclear. So identification and functional analysis of the genes involved in the pathogenicity or virulence of this fungus will benefit to uncover the molecular pathogenic mechanism of V. dahliae. In this review, many multifunction genes covering microsclerotia development, pathogen infection, effector proteins, transcription factors, horizontal gene transfer and trans-kingdom RNA silencing have been summarized to provide a theoretical basis to deep understand the molecular pathogenicity mechanism of V. dahliae and promote to effectively control Verticillium wilt. Furtherly, these pathogenicity-related genes may be considered as targets for effective control of Verticillium wilt in cotton.
Iterative analytic extension in tomographic imaging
Authors: Zeng Gengsheng L.
Published: February 2022

If a spatial-domain function has a finite support, its Fourier transform is an entire function. The Taylor series expansion of an entire function converges at every finite point in the complex plane. The analytic continuation theory suggests that a finite-sized object can be uniquely determined by its frequency components in a very small neighborhood. Trying to obtain such an exact Taylor expansion is difficult. This paper proposes an iterative algorithm to extend the measured frequency components to unmeasured regions. Computer simulations show that the proposed algorithm converges very slowly, indicating that the problem is too ill-posed to be practically solvable using available methods.
President's Page: The changing landscape for geophysicists and SEG
Authors: Shaughnessy Anna
Published: February 2022

In 1930, a group of visionary leaders founded SEG to support professionals interested in applied geophysics. In the decades since, we have secured a prime position as a leading professional society in geophysics with solid and well-earned prestige. The landscape for geophysicists is now changing rapidly. The employment of geophysicists in the petroleum industry, to which the majority of our members belong, has been in decline for almost 10 years, impacting many of SEG's current members. The good news is that other areas of geophysics have been expanding and offering new opportunities for geophysicists. My goal is to find a path forward by which SEG can provide an inviting and inclusive home for practitioners in all areas of applied geophysics.
Narrative review of the COVID-19, healthcare and healthcarers thematic series
Authors: Williams Richard , Kaufman Kenneth R.
Published: February 2022

This review covers the thematic series of 22 papers selected from among manuscripts published by BJPsych Open concerning coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and healthcare. We report nine papers that cover concepts and epidemiology relating to the public and patients. We review 11 papers about the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services and their staff in 15 countries. Two papers consider the psychosocial impact on staff working in mental health services in the UK. Most papers report cross-sectional analyses of data collected from convenience samples by self-reported surveys conducted at single times. They have limitations of generalisability, do not enable conclusions about diagnosis or causality, and many are likely to have attendant bias and noise. BJPsych Open published these papers to meet requirements for early indications of the mental health impact of COVID-19 on the public and on healthcare staff. They claim high prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. We contrast these findings with selected reports of studies with different methodologies published elsewhere. We emphasise the need for longitudinal clinical studies with refined sampling and methodological rigour. We identify several longitudinal research programmes; two in this series. We advocate tuning advice offered about caring for the public and healthcare staff to the realities of their circumstances and their perceptions of need in the context of findings from further longitudinal studies. We draw attention to the importance of the social, relationship and environmental circumstances of the public and healthcare staff in order to understand their distress and their risks of developing mental health disorders.
Dynamics of the reaction Ba + HI -> BaI + H
Authors: Τσεκούρας Αθανάσιος
Published: February 2022

Η αντίδραση Ba + HI -> BaI + H μελετήθηκε υπό συνθήκες μεμονωμένων συγκρούσεων χρησιμοποιώντας φασματοσκοπία laser υψηλής διακριτικής ικανότητας για να προσδιοριστούν οι περιστροφικές κατανομές πληθυσμών του BaI σε συγκεκριμένες δονητικές στάθμες. Τα φάσματα φθορισμού επαγόμενου από laser παρείχαν την δυνατότηα μετρήσεως της περιστροφικής και της δονητικής διεγέρσεως του BaI. Έτσι ταυτοποιήθηκαν πολλές περιστροφικές καταστάσεις χαμηλών δονητικών ταινιών και προσδιορίστηκαν συντελεστές Dunham από όλες τις παρατηρηθείσες μεταπτώσεις που μπορούν να αναπαραγάγουν όλα τα δεδομένα. Οι κατανομές ταχυτήτων των αντιδρώντων μετρήθηκαν με φασματοσκοπία Doppler για το Ba και με μεθόδους χρόνου πτήσεως για την υπερηχητική δέσμη του HI. Οι περιστροφικές κατανομές για το BaI (v=0) εμφανίζουν μέγιστο σε J=420 με ενέργειες συγκρούσεων ως προς το κέντρο μάζας 30 kJ/mol που επιτυγχάνονται με διασταυρούμενες μοριακές δέσμες. Οι περιστροφικές κατανομές του BaI(v) με v=0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 18 που προέκυψαν με αντίδραση δέσμης με αέριο εμφάνισαν μέγιστα στις τιμές J=438, 286, 220, 150, 127 και 106 αντίστοιχα. Το εύρος των κατανομών ήταν περίπου 150. Η ανωτέρω αντίδραση αποτελεί κατεξοχήν παράδειγμα συστήματος με κινηματικούς περιορισμούς όπου ο συνδυασμών μαζών αντιδρώντων και προϊόντων υπαγορεύει την μεταφορά όλης της στροφορμής των αντιδρώντων σε περιστροφή του διατομικού προϊόντος. Η στροφορμή των αντιδρώντων οφείλεται στην σχετική τους κίνηση και είναι το γινόμενο της ανηγμένης μάζας τους, της σχετικής τους ταχύτητας και του συντελεστή κρούσεως της συγκρούσεως. Έτσι προσδιορίστηκαν τιμές συντελστού κρούσεως που οδηγούν στον σχηματισμό BaI στις δονητικές καταστάσεις που προαναφέρθηκαν. Η κατανομή συντελεστών κρούσεων που οδηγεί στον σχηματισμό του BaI (v=0) εμφανίζει μέγιστο σε 4.5 Å με πολύ μικρό εύρος. Υψηλότερες δονητικές στάθμες προέκυψαν από μικρότερους συντελεστές κρούσεως με ευρύτερες κατανομές, γεγονός που δείχνει την ισχυρή συσχέτιση μεταξύ συντελεστού κρούσεως και δονητικής καταστάσεως του προϊόντος.
Policy Brief 2: Social norms, mental models and other behavioural drivers of petty corruption
Authors: Baez Camargo Claudia , Stahl Cosimo
Published: February 2022

This policy brief summarises the main findings and lessons learned from research on corruption, social norms and behaviours in Uganda. The empirical evidence indicates that behavioural factors associated to social practices and collective understandings play a role in shaping Ugandan citizens’ attitudes towards petty corruption and in fuelling practices such as bribery and favouritism.

On the basis of the research findings, policy recommendations are put forward aiming to contribute to the development of anti-corruption interventions that incorporate behavioural insights in their design and implementation.
Unprecedented early-summer heat stress and forecast of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, 2021-2022
Authors: Spady Blake L. , Skirving William J. , Liu Gang , De La Cour Jacqueline L. , McDonald Cathy J. , Manzello Derek P.
Published: February 2022

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is predicted to undergo its sixth mass coral bleaching event during the Southern Hemisphere summer of 2021-2022. Coral bleaching-level heat stress over the GBR is forecast to start earlier than any previous year in the satellite record (1985-present). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch (CRW) near real-time satellite-based heat stress products were used to investigate early-summer sea surface temperature (SST) and heat stress conditions on the GBR during late 2021. As of 14 December 2021, values of instantaneous heat stress (Coral Bleaching HotSpots) and accumulated heat stress over a 12-week running window (Degree Heating Weeks) on the GBR were unprecedented in the satellite record. Further, 89% of GBR satellite reef pixels for this date in 2021 had a positive seven-day SST trend of greater than 0.2 degrees Celsius/week. Background temperatures (the minimum temperature over the previous 29 days) were alarmingly high, with 87% of GBR reef pixels on 14 December 2021 being greater than the maximum SST over that same 29-day period for any year from 1985-2020. The GBR is starting the 2021-2022 summer season with more accumulated heat than ever before, which could have disastrous consequences for the health, recovery, and future of this critical reef system.
Effects of asparaginases and L-carnitine on Western-diet-induced hepatosteatosis in mice
Authors: Ali Mahmoud Assar Mona , Hüffel Martina , Afify Mamdouh , Weiskirchen Ralf , Eisert Albrecht , Tolba Rene , Steitz Julia
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background: Asparaginases are common chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a single or combinational therapy. Accompanying hepatotoxicity makes its use in elderly patients with pre-conditions, as obesity or other hepatopathies, difficult. Various hepatoprotective compounds like, L-carnitine, are discussed to ameliorate the induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: Here we aimed to establish a mouse model to study the effect of asparaginases (L-asparaginase and Oncaspar) and L-carnitine on Western-diet-induced hepatosteatosis in mice. Dose-escalation studies were performed to analyze asparaginases induced hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice with normal or fatty livers. Subsequently, the effect of L-carnitine to improve the induced toxicity was tested.

Results: Our results showed mild-to-moderate hepatotoxic effects while the Western-diet induced a higher degree of vacuolization and hepatocyte damage in liver tissue. Testing of L-carnitine in the established models did not show any protective effect on the toxicity or impairment of the efficacy of asparaginases.

Conclusion: The here established models were able to demonstrate the asparaginase-induced hepatotoxic effects which were enhanced by the Western-diet. However, to test potential ameliorating drugs, the models might need some improvements.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITS OF THE RUSSIAN SOCIETY OF THE RED CROSS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE HEALTH STATE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE FAR EAST IN THE 1920s.
Authors: Akhmetova Anna V. , Bobyshev Sergey V.
Published: February 2022

Background. The article provides a general description of the activities of the mobile units of the Russian Red Cross Society (ROKK) and their role in organizing a system for ensuring the health of small ethnic groups in the Far East in the 1920s, an assessment of their activities in the framework of the Soviet national policy is given. Purpose. The article identifies and examines the importance of a mobile type of organizing medical and sanitary care for aborigines as the first stage in the formation of the Soviet health care system in remote regions.Materials and methods. The material for the study is the archival documents of the State Archives of the Russian Federation and the State Archives of the Khabarovsk Krai. The traditional methods of historical research were used through analyzing the material, such as chronological, historical-systemic and comparative-typological.Results. Due to the activities of the ROKK units, the data are significantly refined, and in some regions, statistics are obtained on the spread of various diseases, on the peculiarities of the lifestyle of indigenous peoples, primary medical care is provided to the indigenous population, and basic sanitary and hygienic skills and first aid techniques were trained.Practical implications. The scientific results of the research can be used in the educational process (in the form of textbooks, lecture courses) on ethnography, history of the Russian Far East, etc.
The Effects of Online Review Platforms on Restaurant Revenue, Consumer Learning, and Welfare
Authors: Fang Limin
Published: February 2022

This paper quantifies the effects of online review platforms on restaurant revenue and consumer welfare. Using a novel data set containing revenues and information from major online review platforms in Texas, I show that online review platforms help consumers learn about restaurant quality more quickly. The effects on learning show up in restaurant revenues. Specifically, doubling the review activity increases the revenue of a high-quality independent restaurant by 5%–19% and decreases that of a low-quality restaurant by a similar amount. These effects vary widely across restaurants’ locations. Restaurants around highway exits are affected twice as much as those in nonhighway areas, implying that reviews are more useful to travelers and tourists than locals. The effects also decline as restaurants age, consistent with the diminishing value of information in learning. In contrast, chain restaurants are affected to a much lesser degree than independent restaurants. Building on this evidence, I develop a structural demand model with aggregate social learning. Counterfactual analyses indicate that online review platforms raise consumer welfare much more for tourists than for locals. By encouraging consumers to eat out more often at high-quality independent restaurants, online review platforms increased the total industry revenue by 3.0% over the period from 2011–2015.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4279 .
Linear Convergence of Random Dual Coordinate Descent on Nonpolyhedral Convex Problems
Authors: Necoara Ion , Fercoq Olivier
Published: February 2022

This paper deals with constrained convex problems, where the objective function is smooth and strongly convex, and the feasible set is described by a large number of closed convex (possibly nonpolyhedral) sets. In order to deal efficiently with the complicated constraints, we consider a dual formulation of this problem. We prove that the corresponding dual function satisfies a quadratic growth property on any sublevel set, provided that the primal objective function is smooth and strongly convex and the feasible set verifies Slater’s condition. We propose (accelerated) random coordinate descent algorithms that use the special composite structure of the dual problem. However, with the existing theory, one can prove only that such methods converge sublinearly. Based on our new quadratic growth property derived for the dual problem, we show that such methods have faster convergence, that is, the dual (accelerated) random coordinate descent algorithms converge linearly. Besides providing a general dual framework for the analysis of random dual coordinate descent schemes, our results resolve an open problem in the literature related to the convergence of the Dykstra algorithm on the best feasibility problem for a collection of convex sets. That is, we establish linear convergence rate for the random Dykstra algorithm when the convex sets just satisfy Slater’s condition and derive also a new accelerated variant for the Dykstra algorithm.
Adult congenital heart disease: education and preparation of nurses
Authors: Lotto Robyn
Published: February 2022

In this month's BANCC feature, Robyn Lotto, senior lecturer, advanced cardiac nurse practitioner and committee member of BANCC, reflects on the educational needs of cardiac nurses caring for patients with congenital heart defects.
Implementation of Gamification Principles into Higher Education
Authors: Paľová Dana , Vejačka Martin
Published: February 2022

The field of education was distinctly affected by the development of information and communication technologies, as they can make education more efficient, interactive, and available. Today’s students call for new innovative educational approaches. Digital communication technologies are the organic part of their life and they are group-oriented and experienced users of these technologies. Information and communication technologies must be used in a new and more interactive way to motivate this new generation of students. One of the ways might be gamified learning. The gamification of education is an approach, which uses game practices and elements in a process of learning. Its main objective is to increase students' interest in learned topics and to motivate them to endure in learning. The gamification of the educational process is introduced in the curricula of several courses at our faculty. The paper aims to give a short overview of tools and methods of gamification of the education process. In addition to that, the implementation of gamification in our learning management system Moodle-supported business informatics course is presented.
CircSCAPER contributes to IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis in vitro via miR-140-3p/EZH2 axis
Authors: Luobu Zhaxi , Wang Lei , Jiang Dahai , Liao Tao , Luobu Ciren , Qunpei Luosong
Published: February 2022

Aims

Circular RNA (circRNA) S-phase cyclin A-associated protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (circSCAPER, ID: hsa_circ_0104595) has been found to be highly expressed in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and has been associated with the severity of OA. Hence, the role and mechanisms underlying circSCAPER in OA were investigated in this study.

Methods

In vitro cultured human normal chondrocyte C28/I2 was exposed to interleukin (IL)-1β to mimic the microenvironment of OA. The expression of circSCAPER, microRNA (miR)-140-3p, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. The extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, proliferation, and apoptosis of chondrocytes were determined using Western blot, cell counting kit-8, and flow cytometry assays. Targeted relationships were predicted by bioinformatic analysis and verified using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway-related protein were detected using Western blot assays.

Results

CircSCAPER was highly expressed in OA cartilage tissues and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Knockdown of circSCAPER reduced IL-1β-evoked ECM degradation, proliferation arrest, and apoptosis enhancement in chondrocytes. Mechanistically, circSCAPER directly bound to miR-140-3p, and miR-140-3p inhibition reversed the effects of circSCAPER knockdown on IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. miR-140-3p was verified to target EZH2, and overexpression of miR-140-3p protected chondrocytes against IL-1β-induced dysfunction via targeting EZH2. Additionally, we confirmed that circSCAPER could regulate EZH2 through sponging miR-140-3p, and the circSCAPER/miR-140-3p/EZH2 axis could activate the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusion

CircSCAPER promoted IL-1β-evoked ECM degradation, proliferation arrest, and apoptosis enhancement in chondrocytes via regulating miR-140-3p/EZH2 axis, which gained a new insight into the pathogenesis of OA. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(2):61–72.
Fracture-related infection in osteoporotic bone causes more severe infection and further delays healing
Authors: Li Jie , Wong Ronald Man Yeung , Chung Yik Lok , Leung Sharon Shui Yee , Chow Simon Kwoon-Ho , Ip Margaret , Cheung Wing-Hoi
Published: February 2022

Aims

With the ageing population, fragility fractures have become one of the most common conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether microbiological outcomes and fracture-healing in osteoporotic bone is worse than normal bone with fracture-related infection (FRI).

Methods

A total of 120 six-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized to six groups: Sham, sham + infection (Sham-Inf), sham with infection + antibiotics (Sham-Inf-A), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX + infection (OVX-Inf), and OVX + infection + antibiotics (OVX-Inf-A). Open femoral diaphysis fractures with Kirschner wire fixation were performed. Staphylococcus aureus at 4 × 104 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml was inoculated. Rats were euthanized at four and eight weeks post-surgery. Radiography, micro-CT, haematoxylin-eosin, mechanical testing, immunohistochemistry (IHC), gram staining, agar plating, crystal violet staining, and scanning electron microscopy were performed.

Results

Agar plating analysis revealed a higher bacterial load in bone (p = 0.002), and gram staining showed higher cortical bone colonization (p = 0.039) in OVX-Inf compared to Sham-Inf. OVX-Inf showed significantly increased callus area (p = 0.013), but decreased high-density bone volume (p = 0.023) compared to Sham-Inf. IHC staining showed a significantly increased expression of TNF-α in OVX-Inf compared to OVX (p = 0.049). Significantly reduced bacterial load on bone (p = 0.001), enhanced ultimate load (p = 0.001), and energy to failure were observed in Sham-Inf-A compared to Sham-Inf (p = 0.028), but not in OVX-Inf-A compared to OVX-Inf.

Conclusion

In osteoporotic bone with FRI, infection was more severe with more bone lysis and higher bacterial load, and fracture-healing was further delayed. Systemic antibiotics significantly reduced bacterial load and enhanced callus quality and strength in normal bone with FRI, but not in osteoporotic bone. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(2):49–60.
Anticancer mechanism of artonin E and related prenylated flavonoids from the medicinal plant Artocarpus elasticus
Authors: Bailly Christian
Published: February 2022

Abstract. Bailly C. 2021. Anticancer mechanism of artonin E and related prenylated flavonoids from the medicinal plant Artocarpus elasticus. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 19: 44-56. Plants of the Artocarpus genus are largely distributed throughout tropical Asia and Oceania. Species such as A. altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg and A. heterophyllus Lam. are popular trees known as breadfruit and jackfruit, respectively. They contain a large structural diversity of bioactive prenylated flavonoids. Here we have focused on the less known species Artocarpus elasticus Reinw. ex Blume which is well distributed in southeast Asia, and used in traditional medicine to treat dysentery, tuberculosis, and other diseases. Numerous prenylated flavonoids have been isolated from the leaves and bark of A. elasticus, such as artocarpesin, artocarpin, artelastin, and many others. They are endowed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. A focus is made of the subgroup of compounds designated artonins, with the derivative artonin E as a lead anticancer agent. Art-E has revealed marked anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo, after oral administration. The mechanism of action of Art-E is discussed, to highlight the structural and functional analogy between Art-E and the antitumor natural product morusin. Both compounds trigger TRAIL-mediated apoptosis of cancer cells. They can be considered further for the development of novel anticancer agents.