bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Process of Change of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for People with Bipolar Disorder: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Hanssen Imke , Boele Marieke , van der Horst Nicole , Lochmann van Bennekom Marc , Regeer Eline , Speckens Anne
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an emerging psychological treatment that might be beneficial for people with bipolar disorder (BD). Neurocognitive studies suggest that MBCT may have important effects on mood regulation and broad attentional and frontal-executive control in BD. In this qualitative study, the process of change of MBCT in people with BD is explored.

Methods

The current qualitative study was part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) on (cost-)effectiveness of MBCT for BD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 participants who participated in an 8-week MBCT. For reasons of triangulation, teachers were interviewed as well.

Results

Three themes arose from the data: (1) awareness of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and behavior and insight into their inter-relationship; (2) behavioral change; and (3) positive consequences following MBCT. A distinction was made between general aspects and aspects related specifically to BD. Themes were divided into subthemes. Process of change took place in a non-linear, iterative fashion.

Conclusions

Qualitative data support the notion that several cognitive and behavioral processes in BD could be potential targets for MBCT. We suggest that future mediation, neuroimaging, and cognitive experimental studies should explore MBCT as an adjunctive treatment strategy for BD by investigating possible working mechanisms of MBCT in BD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03507647. Registered 25th of April 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03507647
Microbial-derived bio-surfactant using neem oil as substrate and its suitability for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Ogunkunle Temitope , Fadairo Adesina , Rasouli Vamegh , Ling Kegang , Oladepo Adebowale , Chukwuma Onyinyechi , Ayoo James
Published: November 2020

The limitation in the formulation and application of synthetic surfactants in petroleum industry is owing to their high cost of production or importation and their associated toxic effect which have been proven to be harmful to the environment. Hence it is vitally imperative to develop an optimum surfactant that is cost-effective, environmentally safe (biodegradable) and equally serves as surface acting agent. This study discusses the production of microbial produced bio-surfactant and its application in enhanced oil recovery. The bacteria Pseudomonas sp. were isolated from urine and allow to feed on neem seed oil as the major carbon source and energy. The crude bio-surfactant produced from the fermentation process was used to prepare three (3) solutions of bio-surfactants at different concentrations of 5 g/500 mL, 10 g/500 mL and 15 g/500 mL, and their suitability for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) was evaluated. Reservoir core samples and crude oil collected from the Niger Delta field were used to evaluate the EOR application of the microbial-derived surfactants. The sets of experimental samples were carried out using core flooding and permeability tester equipment, and the results obtained were compared with conventional waterflooding experiments. The three bio-surfactant concentrations were observed to recover more oil than the conventional waterflooding method for the two core samples used. Optimum performance of the produced microbial-derived surfactant on oil recovery based on the concentrations was observed to be 10 g/500 mL for the two samples used in this study. Therefore, eco-friendly bio-surfactant produced from neem seed oil using Pseudomonas sp. has shown to be a promising potential substance for enhanced oil recovery applications by incremental recoveries of 51.9%, 53.2%, and 29.5% at the concentration of 5, 10, and 15 g/500 mL and 24.7%, 28.7%, and 20.1% at concentration of 5, 10, and 15 g/500 mL for the two core samples, respectively.
Genetic mapping of male sterility and pollen fertility QTLs in triticale with sterilizing Triticum timopheevii cytoplasm
Authors: Wasiak Marzena , Niedziela Agnieszka , Woś Henryk , Pojmaj Mirosław , Bednarek Piotr Tomasz
Published: November 2020

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) phenomenon is widely exploited in commercial hybrid seed production in economically important crop species, including rye, wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, cotton, sugar beets, and many vegetables. Although some commercial successes, little is known about QTLs responsible for the trait in case of triticale with sterilizingTriticum timopheevii(Tt) cytoplasm. Recombinant inbred line (RIL) F6 mapping population encompassing 182 individuals derived from the cross of individual plants representing the HT352 line and cv Borwo was employed for genetic map construction using SNP markers and identification of QTLs conferring pollen sterility in triticale with CMS Tt. The phenotypes of the F1 lines resulting from crossing of the HT352 (Tt) with HT352 (maintainer) × Borwo were determined by assessing the number of the F2 seeds per spike. A genetic map with 21 linkage groups encompasses 29,737 markers and spanned over the distance of 2549 cM. Composite (CIM) and multiple (MIM) interval mappings delivered comparable results. Single QTLs mapped to the 1A, 1B, 2A, 2R, 3B, 3R, 4B, and 5B chromosomes, whereas the 5R and 6B chromosomes shared 3 and 2 QTLs, respectively. The QTLs with the highest LOD score mapped to the 5R, 3R, 1B, and 4B chromosomes; however, the QRft-5R.3 has the highest explained variance of the trait.
A calculation method for friction coefficient and meshing efficiency of plastic line gear pair under dry friction conditions
Authors: Chen Yangzhi , Lin Yifan
Published: November 2020

A calculation method for the friction coefficient and meshing efficiency of plastic line gear (LG) pair under dry friction conditions was studied theoretically and experimentally, taking a polyoxymethylene parallel line gear pair (POM PLGP) as an example. Firstly, the geometric and mechanical models of PLGP were built by considering the effects of misalignment and loaded deformation under the actual operating condition. Then, the friction coefficient of POM specimens was obtained via the ball-on-disk experiment, of which the value varies between 0.35 and 0.45 under the experimental conditions. The calculation formula for the friction coefficient of POM LG pair was obtained by fitting the friction coefficient of the POM specimens, and the meshing efficiency of POM LG pair was calculated based on the calculation formula for friction coefficient and the meshing efficiency calculation approach. Finally, the meshing efficiency of POM PLGP specimens was measured using a homemade gear meshing efficiency test rig. The experimental results validated the feasibility of the proposed calculation method for the friction coefficient and meshing efficiency of the plastic LG pair. This study provides a method for the calculation of the friction coefficient and meshing efficiency of plastic gear pairs under dry friction conditions. It also provides the basis for the wear calculation of plastic LG pair under dry friction conditions.
The microgravity enhanced polymer-mediated siRNA gene silence by improving cellular uptake
Authors: Yang Tongren , Yu Chanchan , Wang Changrong , Li Chunhui , Zhang Mengjie , Luo Xiaofan , Weng Yuhua , Dong Anjie , Li Xiaoqiong , Deng Yulin , Huang Yuanyu
Published: November 2020

Graphical abstract

Microgravity (MG) effect is a weightlessness phenomenon caused by the distance from the ground or low gravity of other planets outside the earth’s atmosphere. The various effects of MG have been corroborated in human and animal studies and modeled in cell-based analogs. However, the impact of MG on siRNA performance remains to be elucidated, which is crucial for aerospace medicine. In this study, we prepared nucleic acid nanomicelles (EAASc/siRNA) by using tri-block copolymer of PEG45-PAMA40-P(C7A36-DBA37) (EAASc) and siRNA and explored its working mechanism under simulated microgravity (SMG) condition generated by a random positioning machine (RPM). The binding ability of EAASc to siRNA and silence activity were firstly confirmed in normal gravity (NG) environment. Evaluation of PLK1 mRNA expression revealed that gene inhibition efficiencies were increased by 28.7% (HepG2) and 28.9% (A549) under SMG condition, compared with those under NG condition. In addition, mechanism exploration indicated that morphology and migration capability of cancer cells were significantly changed, the internalization of EAASc/siRNA by cells was magnified when the cells were incubated with RPM. No significant difference was observed regarding the expression profiles of genes involved in RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, including Ago2, Dicer, TRBP, and so on. Taken together, siRNA activity was elevated under SMG condition owning to increased cellular internalization. This study, for the first time to our knowledge, provides valuable theory for development and application of siRNA therapeutic in space in the future.
Cliques in high-dimensional random geometric graphs
Authors: Avrachenkov Konstantin E. , Bobu Andrei V.
Published: November 2020

Random geometric graphs have become now a popular object of research. Defined rather simply, these graphs describe real networks much better than classical Erdős–Rényi graphs due to their ability to produce tightly connected communities. The n vertices of a random geometric graph are points in d-dimensional Euclidean space, and two vertices are adjacent if they are close to each other. Many properties of these graphs have been revealed in the case when d is fixed. However, the case of growing dimension d is practically unexplored. This regime corresponds to a real-life situation when one has a data set of n observations with a significant number of features, a quite common case in data science today. In this paper, we study the clique structure of random geometric graphs when $$n\rightarrow \infty$$

n
→
∞

, and $$d \rightarrow \infty$$

d
→
∞

, and average vertex degree grows significantly slower than n. We show that under these conditions, random geometric graphs do not contain cliques of size 4 a. s. if only $$d \gg \log ^{1 + \epsilon } n$$

d
≫

log

1
+
ϵ

n

. As for the cliques of size 3, we present new bounds on the expected number of triangles in the case $$\log ^2 n \ll d \ll \log ^3 n$$

log
2

n
≪
d
≪

log
3

n

that improve previously known results. In addition, we provide new numerical results showing that the underlying geometry can be detected using the number of triangles even for small n.
Inapt gratitude: against expansionist views
Authors: McConnell Terrance
Published: November 2020

Psychologists and philosophers have written much about gratitude recently. Many of these contributions have endorsed expansionist views of gratitude, counseling agents to feel and express gratitude in many circumstances. I argue that the essential features of the moral norm of gratitude are that a beneficiary acknowledges and appreciates benefits provided by another who is acting from beneficence, and is disposed to provide a comparable benefit to the benefactor if a suitable occasion arises. The best-known philosophical version of expansionist views claims that gratitude is apt even in cases where the “benefactor” not only did not intend to benefit the other, but intended to harm her. In the psychological literature, expansionists typically do distinguish between being grateful to and being grateful that. But they also write as if there is one general character trait of gratefulness. In this paper I argue that the philosophical position considered is mistaken on conceptual and moral grounds, and that the dominant view among psychologists fails to recognize the difference between two different traits of gratitude, one a moral virtue and the other a prudential virtue.
Anxiety and Depression Among Imaging Doctors in Post-COVID-19 Period
Authors: Li Weiguo , Mao Xuesong , Li Jieqing , Fang Lianying , Du Guangfen , Qiao Jianwei , Jia Ximing
Published: November 2020

To investigate the mental state of medical imaging staff in Shandong Province, China, who have been on the forefront of the COVID-19 epidemic during its late stage in China. Questionnaires designed to assess anxiety and depression were administered on-location, and 5331 complete results were collected. SPSS software was used for statistical descriptions and analysis. Rates of anxiety disorders and depression among medical imaging workers in Shandong Province, China, were 6.1% and 6.5%, respectively, higher than those of anxiety and depression in Chinese residents before the epidemic. The outbreak in Xinjiang, China; virus mutation in Japan; and spread of the epidemic due to occupational errors were the primary reported causes of anxiety and depression among image workers. Medical imaging workers showed evidence of psychological abnormalities during the late stage of the epidemic in China.
An evaluation model of water-saving reconstruction projects based on resource value flows
Authors: Jiang Runwen , Chen Xiaohong , Zhao Lingchu , Zhou Zhifang , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2020

Due to uncertainties in water supply, there is growing demand for water resource management in enterprises. In this study, we evaluated the effects of companies’ water-saving reconstruction projects. We used Hina Advanced Materials Company as a case to construct an investment decision model to (1) calculate the internal and external costs of water resources based on circular economic value analysis theory, and (2) locate the level of water resources circulation. We adopted gray situation decision analysis to identify the typical problems that occur in water resource utilization. Moreover, we demonstrated optimization plans for different potential improvements, thereby providing guidance and references for water resource cost management and the comprehensive optimization of environmental benefits. We concluded that the circulation economic value analysis model can effectively display the flow and amount of value derived from water resource flows, thereby providing guidance and suggestions for optimizing water resource flows.
On the Ethics of Reconstructing Destroyed Cultural Heritage Monuments
Authors: BÜLOW WILLIAM , THOMAS JOSHUA LEWIS
Published: November 2020

Philosophers, archeologists, and other heritage professionals often take a rather negative view of heritage reconstruction, holding that it is inappropriate or even impermissible. In this essay, we argue that taking such hardline attitudes toward the reconstruction of heritage is unjustified. To the contrary, we believe that the reconstruction of heritage can be both permissible and beneficial, all things considered. In other words, sometimes we have good reasons, on balance, to pursue reconstructions, and doing so can be morally acceptable. In defending this claim, we discern a number of arguments made against heritage reconstruction and demonstrate that these arguments are either exaggerated or lack support.
Corporate Power over Human Rights: An Analytical Framework
Authors: BIRCHALL David
Published: November 2020

This paper presents an original framework designed to systematize understanding of corporate power over human rights. The framework disaggregates four sites of this power: corporations have direct power over individuals’ human rights, power over the materialities of human rights, power over institutions governing human rights, and power over knowledge around human rights. This disaggregation is derived primarily from the work of Barnett and Duvall and focuses on the effects of corporate activity rather than the Weberian understanding of power as the ability to achieve desired outcomes. The framework captures a broad set of corporate acts based on their (potential) harm to human rights. It is argued that understanding business and human rights through the lens of power can help to advance a more comprehensive account of business impacts on human rights.
The use of laboratory-identified event surveillance to classify adverse outcomes due toClostridioides difficileinfection in Canadian long-term care facilities
Authors: Shen Ye , Ellison Jennifer , Leal Jenine , Bush Kathryn R. , Chandran A. Uma , Fathima Sumana , Conly John M.
Published: November 2020

Objective:

Adverse outcomes followingClostridioides difficileinfection (CDI) are not often reported for long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. We focused on the adverse outcomes due to CDI identified in Alberta LTCFs.

Methods:

All positiveClostridioides difficilestool specimens identified by laboratory-identified (LabID) event surveillance in Alberta from 2011 to 2018, along with Alberta Continuing Care Information System, were used to define CDI in Alberta LTCFs. CDI cases were classified as long-term care onset, hospital onset, and community onset. Laboratory records were linked to provincial databases to analyze acute-care admissions and mortality within 30-day post CDI. Age, sex, case classification, episode, and operator type, were investigated using logistic regression.

Results:

Overall, 902 CDI cases were identified in 762 LTCF residents. Of all CDI events, 860 (95.3%) were long-term care onset, 38 (4.2%) were hospital onset, and 4 (0.4%) were community onset. The CDI rate was 2.0 of 100,000 resident days. In total, 157 residents (20.6%) had 30-day all-cause mortality, 126 CDI cases (14.0%) had 30-day all-cause acute-care admissions. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was significantly higher in residents aged >80 versus ≤80 years (24.9 vs 12.3 per 100 residents;P< .05). Residents aged >80 years, with hospital-onset CDI, and those staying in private or voluntary LTCFs were more likely to have 30-day all-cause acute-care admissions.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of CDI adverse outcomes is in LTCFs was found to be high using LabID event surveillance. Annual review of CDI adverse outcomes using LabID event can minimize the burden of surveillance and standardize the process across all Alberta LTCFs.
Cribrilinid bryozoans from Pleistocene Mediterranean deep-waters, with the description of new species
Authors: Rosso Antonietta , Di Martino Emanuela , Ostrovsky Andrew N.
Published: November 2020

Cribrilinid bryozoans originating from Pleistocene deep-water sediments from two localities near Messina (Sicily, Italy)—Capo Milazzo (Gelasian) and Scoppo (Calabrian)—were examined. Five cribrilinid species were found, three in each locality and time interval, with only one species shared. Three species,Cribrilaria profundan. sp.,Glabrilaria transversocarinatan. sp., andFigularia spectabilisn. sp., are new to science. Of the two remaining species,Figularia figulariswas already known from local fossil associations, whereasGlabrilaria pedunculata, a present-day Mediterranean species, is recorded for the first time as a fossil. New combinations are suggested for two species previously assigned toPuellina,Cribrilaria saldanhai(Harmelin, 2001) n. comb. andCribrilaria mikelae(Harmelin, 2006) n. comb. The diagnosis of the genusFigulariawas amended to include an erect growth morphology in addition to the encrusting form, and the occurrence of ooecia formed by the distal kenozooid. Following a literature revision of all species currently assigned toFigularia, the new combinationsVitrimurella capitifera(Canu and Bassler, 1929) n. comb. andHayamiellina quaylei(Powell, 1967a) n. comb. are suggested, and problematic species are listed and briefly discussed.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/b7b36152-bf7b-4e00-b6ec-2614b2a58f1b
Skeletal stochastic differential equations for superprocesses
Authors: Fekete Dorottya , Fontbona Joaquin , Kyprianou Andreas E.
Published: November 2020

It is well understood that a supercritical superprocess is equal in law to a discrete Markov branching process whose genealogy is dressed in a Poissonian way with immigration which initiates subcritical superprocesses. The Markov branching process corresponds to the genealogical description ofprolific individuals, that is, individuals who produce eternal genealogical lines of descent, and is often referred to as theskeletonorbackboneof the original superprocess. The Poissonian dressing along the skeleton may be considered to be the remaining non-prolific genealogical mass in the superprocess. Such skeletal decompositions are equally well understood for continuous-state branching processes (CSBP).

In a previous article [16] we developed an SDE approach to study the skeletal representation of CSBPs, which provided a common framework for the skeletal decompositions of supercritical and (sub)critical CSBPs. It also helped us to understand how the skeleton thins down onto one infinite line of descent when conditioning on survival until larger and larger times, and eventually forever.

Here our main motivation is to show the robustness of the SDE approach by expanding it to the spatial setting of superprocesses. The current article only considers supercritical superprocesses, leaving the subcritical case open.
Exact sampling of determinantal point processes without eigendecomposition
Authors: Launay Claire , Galerne Bruno , Desolneux Agnès
Published: November 2020

Determinantal point processes (DPPs) enable the modeling of repulsion: they provide diverse sets of points. The repulsion is encoded in a kernelKthat can be seen, in a discrete setting, as a matrix storing the similarity between points. The main exact algorithm to sample DPPs uses the spectral decomposition ofK, a computation that becomes costly when dealing with a high number of points. Here we present an alternative exact algorithm to sample in discrete spaces that avoids the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors computation. The method used here is innovative, and numerical experiments show competitive results with respect to the initial algorithm.
Representations of hermite processes using local time of intersecting stationary stable regenerative sets
Authors: Bai Shuyang
Published: November 2020

Hermite processes are a class of self-similar processes with stationary increments. They often arise in limit theorems under long-range dependence. We derive new representations of Hermite processes with multiple Wiener–Itô integrals, whose integrands involve the local time of intersecting stationary stable regenerative sets. The proof relies on an approximation of regenerative sets and local times based on a scheme of random interval covering.
A generalization of Matérn hard-core processes with applications to max-stable processes
Authors: Dirrler Martin , Dörr Christopher , Schlather Martin
Published: November 2020

Matérn hard-core processes are classical examples for point processes obtained by dependent thinning of (marked) Poisson point processes. We present a generalization of the Matérn models which encompasses recent extensions of the original Matérn hard-core processes. It generalizes the underlying point process, the thinning rule, and the marks attached to the original process. Based on our model, we introduce processes with a clear interpretation in the context of max-stable processes. In particular, we prove that one of these processes lies in the max-domain of attraction of a mixed moving maxima process.
A combination of three plasma bile acids as a putative biomarker for schizophrenia
Authors: Tao Yanlin , Zheng Fang , Cui Donghong , Huang Fei , Wu Xiaojun
Published: November 2020

The aim of the present study is to determine whether plasma bile acids (BAs) could be used as an auxiliary diagnostic biomarker to distinguish patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Seventeen different BAs were quantitatively measured in plasma of 12 healthy participants and 12 patients with schizophrenia. Then, the data were subjected to correlation and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The concentrations of cholic acid (CA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) and taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) were significantly decreased in plasma of the schizophrenia patients. Correlation analysis showed the concentrations of CA, TCDCA and TDCA were negatively correlated with schizophrenia. In addition, LDA demonstrated that combination of CA, TCDCA and TDCA with a classification formula could predict correctly classified cases and the accuracy of prediction was up to 95.83%. Combination of the three BAs may be useful to diagnose schizophrenia in plasma samples.
Shales of Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Vindhyan Basin, central India: insight into sedimentation dynamics of Proterozoic shelf
Authors: Singh Arvind K. , Chakraborty Partha Pratim
Published: November 2020

The Vindhyan Supergroup represents the largest Proterozoic sedimentary basin fill in the Indian shield. In addition to some significant palaeobiological discoveries, the sedimentary sequence of the Vindhyan, particularly its argillaceous intervals, holds crucial information for our understanding of sedimentation dynamics in Proterozoic clastic shelves. Here we attempt an extensive, although not exhaustive, review of the physical characteristics of six argillaceous (shale) intervals (Arangi, Koldaha, Rampur, Bijaygarh, Rewa and Sirbu shale) from the Son valley sector, Vindhyan Basin, augmented with new observations to unravel the status of current understanding in terms of palaeo-flow dynamics, shelf sedimentation processes and dispersal pattern, depositional cyclicity and basinal tectonics. The sedimentary attributes of Vindhyan shales reveal their deposition largely in relative bathymetry fluctuating from distal shoreface or inner shelf (near to fair-weather wave base) to distal shelf below storm wave base. More often than not, the Vindhyan shelf was storm-infested and the operation of both storm-generated return flow and Coriolis-force-guided geostrophic currents are documented from different stratigraphic intervals of argillaceous successions. The thick arenaceous intervals interrupting the deposits of the Koldaha, Rewa and Sirbu shales at multiple stratigraphic levels indicate the presence of a fan delta and braided fluvial system during intermittent regressive stands of sea level or event deposition during a sea-level highstand, respectively. Based on facies pattern and flow vectors, a rift-related half-graben model is inferred for Arangi and Koldaha shale and a low-gradient stable-shelf model with well-defined energy gradient is proposed for successions from Rampur shale onwards.
What is the role of surgical simulation on operative opportunity for the trainee ENT surgeon?
Authors: Noon E J R , Singh A , Hall A
Published: November 2020

Objective

This study sought to assess the impact of simulation training in influencing trainees’ initial surgical participation as perceived by experienced surgeon trainers.

Methods

Twenty ENT surgeons assessed how much of a given procedure they would expect to allow a trainee to perform for their first time. Responses were provided for trainees who had undergone a relevant simulation course and those who had not, and scored according to the eLogbook levels of involvement in surgery. This was completed for simulated procedures with validated models, across four grades of junior doctors.

Results

A total of 1120 judgements on the trainees’ intended level of involvement were made. The median involvement score was higher in the simulation group versus the non-simulation group (Mann–Whitney U, p = 0.0001), corresponding to a translation in surgical opportunity from a primarily assisting role to an active role.

Conclusion

Trainer perception of a relevant ENT simulation course appears to positively impact on the initial surgical opportunities afforded to the trainee.
La révision de 2012 de l’Accord de l’OMC sur les marchés publics: son contexte et les dimensions de son champ d’application
Authors: Pelletier Philippe
Published: November 2020

Sommaire

Les marchés publics sont essentiellement régulés ou réglementés, au niveau mondial, par l’Accord plurilatéral sur les marchés publics de l’OMC (AMP). Cet Accord est aujourd’hui sur le point de prendre un nouvel envol, car les négociations dont il faisait l’objet ont abouti à la fin de l’année 2011 et l’AMP révisé est entré en vigueur le 6 avril 2014. Bien que l’entrée en vigueur de l’AMP révisé insuffle un élan vigoureux à l’ouverture des marchés, elle ne constitue toutefois pas la fin du processus visant à libéraliser les marchés publics. Afin de comprendre la nécessité de négocier de façon quasi permanente une libéralisation accrue des marchés publics et d’apprécier pleinement l’importance de l’AMP révisé pour l’économie mondiale, cet article décrit succinctement les événements marquants de l’histoire des négociations internationales visant à libéraliser les marchés publics et présente ensuite, d’une façon générale, les principaux éléments du texte de l’AMP révisé. De plus, cet article contient une analyse approfondie des listes d’engagements des Parties à l’AMP révisé (les annexes à l’Appendice I) car, malgré une certaine simplification résultant de la conclusion des négociations, cette partie de l’AMP révisé demeure particulièrement technique et complexe. Ces renseignements et observations connexes pourraient, d’une part, apporter une aide aux décideurs confrontés à des choix dans ce domaine et, d’autre part, aider à identifier les débouchés à l’exportation qui sont susceptibles d’intéresser les fournisseurs des Parties à l’AMP et des autres Membres de l’OMC désirant accéder à l’Accord.
Blurring the boundaries
Authors: Kim Sugene
Published: November 2020

A brief stroll about the cityscape of South Korea (henceforth ‘Korea’) testifies to Curtin's (2014) presumptive cosmopolitanism, whereby locals are expected to possess a high degree of competence in linguistically accommodating newcomers or world travellers by using English or other international languages in the linguistic landscape. One can easily spot English monolingual, Korean–English bilingual, and multilingual signs for ‘advertising billboards, street names, place names, commercial shop[s] and . . . government buildings’ (Landry & Bourhis, 1997: 25), helping visitors and new arrivals negotiate the environment without being literate in the local language, Korean. The current English-flooded linguistic landscape of urban areas is well described in J. S. Lee's (2016) study, in which an elderly interviewee confirms, ‘[E]verywhere you go, you see English – banks, markets, and things. When we go shopping these days, brand names and street signs are all in English’ (331).
Multi-level social-ecological networks in a payments for ecosystem services programme in central Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Langle-Flores Alfonso , Aguilar Rodríguez Adriana , Romero-Uribe Humberto , Ros-Cuéllar Julia , Von Thaden Juan José
Published: November 2020

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) programmes have been considered an important conservation mechanism to avoid deforestation. These environmental policies act in social and ecological contexts at different spatial scales. We evaluated the social-ecological fit between stakeholders and ecosystem processes in a local PES programme across three levels: social, ecological and social-ecological. We explored collaboration among stakeholders, assessed connectivity between forest units and evaluated conservation activity links between stakeholders and forest units. In addition, to increase programme effectiveness, we classified forest units based on their social and ecological importance. Our main findings suggest that non-governmental organizations occupy brokerage positions between landowners and government in a dense collaboration network. We also found a partial spatial misfit between conservation activity links and the forest units that provide the most hydrological services to Xalapa. We conclude that conservation efforts should be directed towards the middle and high part of the Pixquiac sub-watershed and that the role of non-governmental organizations as mediators should be strengthened to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the local PES programme.
Associated factors of distress in patients with advanced cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Ascencio-Huertas Leticia , Allende-Pérez Silvia Rosa , Pastrana Tania
Published: November 2020

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the psychosocial distress and associated factors in advanced cancer patients consulting at the outpatient Palliative Care Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico City.

Design

A retrospective study was conducted using electronic records (June 2015 to December 2016).

Sample

A total of 646 patients with advanced cancer during their first visit to the outpatient palliative care unit at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico were evaluated using the Distress Thermometer (DT) and ECOG performance status scores.

Findings

Overall, 62% were women, with a median age of 57 years, and married (54.8%). The most frequent diagnosis was gastrointestinal cancer (28.6%), and 38.9% had a functional performance status of ECOG 2. The median DT score was 4.0 (IQR = 2–6), with 56% reporting DT scores ≥4. The three most frequent problems ≥4 were sadness (82.6%), feeling weak (81.2%), worry (79.6%), and <4 were feeling weak (57.7%), fatigue (55.6%), and financial security (52.1%). The variables associated with distress according to the multiple logistic regression analysis were problems with housing (OR = 2.661, 95% CI = 1.538–4.602), sadness (OR = 2.533, 95% CI = 1.615–3.973), transportation (OR = 1.732, 95% CI = 1.157–2.591), eating (OR = 1.626, 95% CI = 1.093–2.417), nervousness (OR = 1.547, 95% CI = 1.014–2.360), and sleep (OR = 1.469, 95% CI = 1.980–2.203).

Conclusion

The principal factors were related to distress levels, housing problems, transportation issues, and emotional problems such as sadness, nervousness, lower functionality, and younger age. Therefore, psychosocial support is of considerable relevance in palliative care. These findings will help clinicians understand the distress of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care in Latin American countries.
Preventing harm related to CBT supervision: a theoretical review and preliminary framework
Authors: Milne Derek
Published: November 2020

Like any treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may have negative as well as positive outcomes, and the same is true of CBT supervision. This is recognized in definitions of supervision, which prioritize helping supervisees to ‘do no harm’ to their patients. Client harm is associated with personal distress in supervisees (therapists), such as burnout, resulting in sub-standard therapy which causes harm to patients. Some supervisors have contributed to the supervisees’ distress, and consequently to patient harm. Harm may also arise from other staff members, or from situational factors that impact negatively on various aspects of the healthcare environment. At a more distal level, the host organization may create a context that allows such problems to go unchecked (e.g. a failure to train or support supervisors adequately). It follows that a large-scale framework is necessary to fully understand and address this multi-dimensional and systemic context for harm. Therefore, this theoretical review sketches out a preliminary ‘infidelity framework’ in order to classify ten types of problem behaviour that commonly contribute to harm that is linked to supervision. Drawing on related frameworks and neighbouring literatures, the infidelity framework also offers an understanding of the typical antecedents and consequences of each of these ten behaviours. This generic functional analysis leads to examples of evidence-based CBT supervision that might prevent or rectify harm.
Mantle Transition Zone Structure Beneath Myanmar and Its Geodynamic Implications
Authors: Bai Yiming , Yuan Xiaohui , He Yumei , Hou Guangbing , Thant Myo , Sein Kyaing , Ai Yinshuang
Published: November 2020

Linking the India‐Tibet collision to the north and the Andaman oceanic subduction to the south, Myanmar occupies a crucial position in the India‐Eurasia convergence system. Various seismological studies have indicated that the Indian plate is obliquely subducted along the Burma arc. However, the depth extent and continuity of the subducted slab remain enigmatic. With seismic recordings collected from 114 recently deployed seismic stations, we map the topographies of the mantle transition zone (MTZ) boundaries, that is, the 410‐ and 660‐km discontinuities, beneath Myanmar using receiver functions. Regional 3‐D velocity models were adopted to account for the lateral velocity heterogeneity. The 410‐km discontinuity is uplifted by over 15 km within 95°E‐97°E and 21°N‐24°N beneath Myanmar. This feature correlates well with the east‐dipping high‐velocity anomaly in the tomographic models, with a velocity increase of 0.9%–1.2% at the 410‐km discontinuity depth, suggesting that the subducted slab has reached the MTZ. The uplift of the 410‐km discontinuity terminates to the south at ∼21°N, indicating a distinct change in slab geometry. Our results also reveal a depressed 660‐km discontinuity, which is spatially offset to the southwest of the uplifted 410‐km discontinuity. We propose that the offset between the 410‐km discontinuity uplift and the 660‐km discontinuity depression could indicate a slab break‐off and tearing beneath Myanmar, which was triggered by the northward motion of the Indian plate during the eastward subduction. We further speculate that the slab tear could mark the transition from oceanic to continental plate subduction.
Genome-wide association study of individual differences of human lymphocyte profiles using large-scale cytometry data
Authors: Okada Daigo , Nakamura Naotoshi , Setoh Kazuya , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Higasa Koichiro , Tabara Yasuharu , Matsuda Fumihiko , Yamada Ryo
Published: November 2020

Human immune systems are very complex, and the basis for individual differences in immune phenotypes is largely unclear. One reason is that the phenotype of the immune system is so complex that it is very difficult to describe its features and quantify differences between samples. To identify the genetic factors that cause individual differences in whole lymphocyte profiles and their changes after vaccination without having to rely on biological assumptions, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS), using cytometry data. Here, we applied computational analysis to the cytometry data of 301 people before receiving an influenza vaccine, and 1, 7, and 90 days after the vaccination to extract the feature statistics of the lymphocyte profiles in a nonparametric and data-driven manner. We analyzed two types of cytometry data: measurements of six markers for B cell classification and seven markers for T cell classification. The coordinate values calculated by this method can be treated as feature statistics of the lymphocyte profile. Next, we examined the genetic basis of individual differences in human immune phenotypes with a GWAS for the feature statistics, and we newly identified seven significant and 36 suggestive single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the individual differences in lymphocyte profiles and their change after vaccination. This study provides a new workflow for performing combined analyses of cytometry data and other types of genomics data.
ERICH3: vesicular association and antidepressant treatment response
Authors: Liu Duan , Zhuang Yongxian , Zhang Lingxin , Gao Huanyao , Neavin Drew , Carrillo-Roa Tania , Wang Yani , Yu Jia , Qin Sisi , Kim Daniel C. , Liu Erica , Nguyen Thanh Thanh Le , Biernacka Joanna M. , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima , Dunlop Boadie W. , Craighead W. Edward , Mayberg Helen S. , Binder Elisabeth B. , Frye Mark A. , Wang Liewei , Weinshilboum Richard M.
Published: November 2020

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are standard of care for major depressive disorder (MDD) pharmacotherapy, but only approximately half of these patients remit on SSRI therapy. Our previous genome-wide association study identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) signal across the glutamate-rich 3 (ERICH3) gene that was nearly genome-wide significantly associated with plasma serotonin (5-HT) concentrations, which were themselves associated with SSRI response for MDD patients enrolled in the Mayo Clinic PGRN-AMPS SSRI trial. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis which demonstrated that those SNPs were significantly associated with SSRI treatment outcomes in four independent MDD trials. However, the function of ERICH3 and molecular mechanism(s) by which it might be associated with plasma 5-HT concentrations and SSRI clinical response remained unclear. Therefore, we characterized the human ERICH3 gene functionally and identified ERICH3 mRNA transcripts and protein isoforms that are highly expressed in central nervous system cells. Coimmunoprecipitation identified a series of ERICH3 interacting proteins including clathrin heavy chain which are known to play a role in vesicular function. Immunofluorescence showed ERICH3 colocalization with 5-HT in vesicle-like structures, and ERICH3 knock-out dramatically decreased 5-HT staining in SK-N-SH cells as well as 5-HT concentrations in the culture media and cell lysates without changing the expression of 5-HT synthesizing or metabolizing enzymes. Finally, immunofluorescence also showed ERICH3 colocalization with dopamine in human iPSC-derived neurons. These results suggest that ERICH3 may play a significant role in vesicular function in serotonergic and other neuronal cell types, which might help explain its association with antidepressant treatment response.
Prelimbic cortex glucocorticoid receptors regulate the stress-mediated inhibition of pain contagion in male mice
Authors: Lidhar Navdeep K. , Darvish-Ghane Soroush , Sivaselvachandran Sivaani , Khan Sana , Wasif Fatima , Turner Holly , Sivaselvachandran Meruba , Fournier Neil M. , Martin Loren J.
Published: November 2020

Experiencing pain with a familiar individual can enhance one’s own pain sensitivity, a process known as pain contagion. When experiencing pain with an unfamiliar individual, pain contagion is suppressed in males by activating the endocrine stress response. Here, we coupled a histological investigation with pharmacological and behavioral experiments to identify enhanced glucocorticoid receptor activity in the prelimbic subdivision of the medial prefrontal cortex as a candidate mechanism for suppressing pain contagion in stranger mice. Acute inhibition of glucocorticoid receptors in the prelimbic cortex was sufficient to elicit pain contagion in strangers, while their activation prevented pain contagion in cagemate dyads. Slice physiology recordings revealed enhanced excitatory transmission in stranger mice, an effect that was reversed by pre-treating mice with the corticosterone synthesis inhibitor metyrapone. Following removal from dyadic testing, stranger mice displayed enhanced affective-motivational pain behaviors when placed on an inescapable thermal stimulus, which were reversed by metyrapone. Together, our data suggest that the prelimbic cortex may play an integral role in modulating pain behavior within a social context and provide novel evidence towards the neural mechanism underlying the prevention of pain contagion.
Engineering rhizobacteria for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Haskett Timothy L , Tkacz Andrzej , Poole Philip S
Published: November 2020

Exploitation of plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria (PGPR) as crop inoculants could propel sustainable intensification of agriculture to feed our rapidly growing population. However, field performance of PGPR is typically inconsistent due to suboptimal rhizosphere colonisation and persistence in foreign soils, promiscuous host-specificity, and in some cases, the existence of undesirable genetic regulation that has evolved to repress PGP traits. While the genetics underlying these problems remain largely unresolved, molecular mechanisms of PGP have been elucidated in rigorous detail. Engineering and subsequent transfer of PGP traits into selected efficacious rhizobacterial isolates or entire bacterial rhizosphere communities now offers a powerful strategy to generate improved PGPR that are tailored for agricultural use. Through harnessing of synthetic plant-to-bacteria signalling, attempts are currently underway to establish exclusive coupling of plant-bacteria interactions in the field, which will be crucial to optimise efficacy and establish biocontainment of engineered PGPR. This review explores the many ecological and biotechnical facets of this research.
A case-control study to evaluate the impact of the breast screening programme on mortality in England
Authors: Maroni Roberta , Massat Nathalie J. , Parmar Dharmishta , Dibden Amanda , Cuzick Jack , Sasieni Peter D. , Duffy Stephen W.
Published: November 2020

Background

Over the past 30 years since the implementation of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme, improvements in diagnostic techniques and treatments have led to the need for an up-to-date evaluation of its benefit on risk of death from breast cancer. An initial pilot case-control study in London indicated that attending mammography screening led to a mortality reduction of 39%.

Methods

Based on the same study protocol, an England-wide study was set up. Women aged 47–89 years who died of primary breast cancer in 2010 or 2011 were selected as cases (8288 cases). When possible, two controls were selected per case (15,202 controls) and were matched by date of birth and screening area.

Results

Conditional logistic regressions showed a 38% reduction in breast cancer mortality after correcting for self-selection bias (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.56–0.69) for women being screened at least once. Secondary analyses by age group, and time between last screen and breast cancer diagnosis were also performed.

Conclusions

According to this England-wide case-control study, mammography screening still plays an important role in lowering the risk of dying from breast cancer. Women aged 65 or over see a stronger and longer lasting benefit of screening compared to younger women.
Synthesis and X-ray characterization of 15- and 16-vertex closo-carboranes
Authors: Zheng Fangrui , Yui Tsz Hin , Zhang Jiji , Xie Zuowei
Published: November 2020

Carboranes are a class of carbon-boron molecular clusters with three-dimensional aromaticity, and inherent robustness. These endowments enable carboranes as valuable building blocks for applications ranging from functional materials to pharmaceuticals. Thus, the chemistry of carboranes has received tremendous research interest, and significant progress has been made in the past decades. However, many attempts to the synthesis of carboranes with more than 14 vertices had been unsuccessful since the report of a 14-vertex carborane in 2005. The question arises as to whether these long sought-after molecules exist. We describe in this article the synthesis and structural characterization of 15- and 16-vertex closo-carboranes as well as 16-vertex ruthenacarborane. Such a success relies on the introduction of silyl groups to both cage carbons, stabilizing the corresponding nido-carborane dianions and promoting the capitation reaction with HBBr2·SMe2. This work would shed some light on the preparation of carboranes with 17 vertices or more, and open the door for studying supercarborane chemistry.