bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative estimation of pulmonary artery wedge pressure from chest radiographs by a regression convolutional neural network
Authors: Saito Yuki , Omae Yuto , Fukamachi Daisuke , Nagashima Koichi , Mizobuchi Saki , Kakimoto Yohei , Toyotani Jun , Okumura Yasuo
Published: February 2022

Recent studies reported that a convolutional neural network (CNN; a deep learning model) can detect elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) from chest radiographs, the diagnostic images most commonly used for assessing pulmonary congestion in heart failure. However, no method has been published for quantitatively estimating PAWP from such radiographs. We hypothesized that a regression CNN, an alternative type of deep learning, could be a useful tool for quantitatively estimating PAWP in cardiovascular diseases. We retrospectively enrolled 936 patients with cardiovascular diseases who had undergone right heart catheterization (RHC) and chest radiography and estimated PAWP by constructing a regression CNN based on the VGG16 model. We randomly categorized 80% of the data as training data (training group, n = 748) and 20% as test data (test group, n = 188). Moreover, we tuned the learning rate—one of the model parameters—by 5-hold cross-validation of the training group. Correlations between PAWP measured by RHC [ground truth (GT) PAWP] and PAWP derived from the regression CNN (estimated PAWP) were tested. To visualize how the regression CNN assessed the images, we created a regression activation map (RAM), a visualization technique for regression CNN. Estimated PAWP correlated significantly with GT PAWP in both the training (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) and test group (r = 0.62, P < 0.001). Bland–Altman plots found a mean (SEM) difference between GT and estimated PAWP of − 0.23 (0.16) mm Hg in the training and − 0.05 (0.41) mm Hg in the test group. The RAM showed that our regression CNN model estimated high PAWP by focusing on the cardiomegaly and pulmonary congestion. In the test group, the area under the curve (AUC) for detecting elevated PAWP (≥ 18 mm Hg) produced by the regression CNN model was similar to the AUC of an experienced cardiologist (0.86 vs 0.83, respectively; P = 0.24). This proof-of-concept study shows that regression CNN can quantitatively estimate PAWP from standard chest radiographs in cardiovascular diseases.
Use of fixed-dose combination antihypertensives in Germany between 2016 and 2020: an example of guideline inertia
Authors: Mahfoud Felix , Kieble Marita , Enners Salka , Kintscher Ulrich , Laufs Ulrich , Böhm Michael , Schulz Martin
Published: February 2022

Background

The 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines for the management of hypertension highlight the importance of fixed-dose combinations (FDC) for the treatment of hypertension and recommend initial single-pill combination therapy in almost all patients. However, data on the implementation of these recommendations in clinical practice are scarce.

Methods

Data from the German Institute for Drug Use Evaluation (DAPI) were analyzed and extrapolated accounting for approximately 88% of Germany’s population (approximately 73.3 million subjects). All antihypertensive (AHT) FDC products available on the German market were included in the analyses. We examined the time course of dispensed packages between January 2016 and December 2020.

Results

FDCs accounted for 15.4% of all AHT in 2016 and for 10.9% in 2020. While dispensing of all AHT increased slightly from year to year (2016: 143.8 million, 2020: 153.2 million packs), dispensing of FDCs decreased from 22.2 million (2016) to 16.6 million (2020) packs. Dispensing of FDCs containing hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) declined considerably from 2016 to 2020 (Q1 2016: 4.65 million, Q4 2020: 3.13 million packs). Accordingly, the proportion of HCT-containing combinations in all FDCs decreased from 85.3 to 74.2% from Q1 2016 to Q4 2020. Patients younger than 80 years were prescribed FDCs more frequently (14.6% of all AHT, based on the entire evaluation period) than patients 80 years and older (10.0%). In both age groups, this proportion decreased continuously over time.

Conclusions

Almost 2 years following the release of the 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines, only 10.9% of the prescribed packs of antihypertensive drugs in 2020 were FDC products, documenting underutilization of current guideline recommendations on pharmacotherapy in hypertension. Structured programs to evidence-based decision support are required to improve guideline inertia and patient outcomes, eventually.

Graphical abstract
Healthy diet associated with better asthma outcomes in elderly women of the French Asthma-E3N study
Authors: Ait-hadad Wassila , Bédard Annabelle , Chanoine Sébastien , Dumas Orianne , Laouali Nasser , Le Moual Nicole , Leynaert Bénédicte , Macdonald Conor , Siroux Valérie , Boutron-Ruault Marie-Christine , Varraso Raphaëlle
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The impact of a healthy diet on asthma prevention and management, particularly among elderly women, remains poorly understood. We investigated whether a healthy diet would be associated with fewer asthma symptoms, and, among women with asthma, with reduced uncontrolled asthma and metabolic-related multimorbidity.

Methods

We included 12,991 elderly women (mean age = 63 years) from the Asthma-E3N study, a nested case–control study within the French E3N cohort. Negative binomial regressions were used to analyse associations between a healthy diet [evaluated by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010)] and a validated asthma symptom score, and logistic regressions to analyse associations between the AHEI-2010 with the asthma control test and multimorbidity profiles previously identified by clustering methods on medications used.

Results

After adjustment for potential confounders, a linear inverse association was found between the AHEI-2010 score and the asthma symptom score [mean score ratio (95% CI) = 0.82 (0.75–0.90) for the highest versus lowest quintile; p for trend < 0.0001]. In addition, women in the highest versus lowest AHEI-2010 tertile were at a lower risk to belong to the “Predominantly metabolic multimorbidity-related medications profile” compared to the “Few multimorbidity-related medications" profile [OR 0.80 (0.63–1.00) for tertile 3; p for trend = 0.05; n = 3474].

Conclusion

Our results show that a healthy dietary intake could play an important role in the prevention and management of asthma over the life course.
UVB-exposed wheat germ oil increases serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 without improving overall vitamin D status: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bailer Anja C. , Philipp Sophie , Staudt Shabnam , Weidauer Thomas , Kiehntopf Michael , Lorkowski Stefan , Stangl Gabriele I. , Dawczynski Christine
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study investigated whether UVB-exposed wheat germ oil (WGO) is capable to improving the vitamin D status in healthy volunteers.

Methods

A randomized controlled human-intervention trial in parallel design was conducted in Jena (Germany) between February and April. Ultimately, 46 healthy males and females with low mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels (34.9 ± 10.6 nmol/L) were randomized into three groups receiving either no WGO oil (control, n = 14), 10 g non-exposed WGO per day (– UVB WGO, n = 16) or 10 g WGO, which was exposed for 10 min to ultraviolet B-light (UVB, intensity 500–630 µW/cm2) and provided 23.7 µg vitamin D (22.9 µg vitamin D2 and 0.89 µg vitamin D3) (+ UVB WGO, n = 16) for 6 weeks. Blood was obtained at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks and analyzed for serum vitamin D-metabolite concentrations via LC–MS/MS.

Results

Participants who received the UVB-exposed WGO were characterized by an increase of circulating 25(OH)D2 after 3 and 6 weeks of intervention. However, the 25(OH)D3 concentrations decreased in the + UVB WGO group, while they increased in the control groups. Finally, the total 25(OH)D concentration (25(OH)D2 + 25(OH)D3) in the + UVB WGO group was lower than that of the non-WGO receiving control group after 6 weeks of treatment. In contrast, circulating vitamin D (vitamin D2 + vitamin D3) was higher in the + UVB WGO group than in the control group receiving no WGO.

Conclusion

UVB-exposed WGO containing 23.7 µg vitamin D can increase 25(OH)D2 levels but do no improve total serum levels of 25(OH)D of vitamin D-insufficient subjects.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03499327 (registered, April 13, 2018).
Clinical spectrum of female genital malformations in prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Mallmann Michael R. , Gembruch Ulrich
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Fetal genital malformations represent a rare and heterogeneous group of congenital malformations of the disorders of sexual development (DSD) spectrum.

Methods

A thorough literature review on the main topics in the prenatal approach towards DSD was conducted.

Results

First, a thorough overview on prenatal characteristics of the most common fetal genital malformations of ovaries, uterus and external genitalia, and second, a standardized approach for differential diagnosis in the presence of direct and indirect prenatal signs of DSDs.

Conclusions

This review is mainly directed towards the aspects of female genital malformations with  aspects of male DSD explained as well to aid in the prenatal differential diagnosis.
Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth: prevalence and associated factors—a prospective cohort study
Authors: Steetskamp J. , Treiber L. , Roedel A. , Thimmel V. , Hasenburg A. , Skala C.
Published: March 2022

Objective

Traumatic experiences during or after childbirth are subject of intense discussions in mainstream and social media as well as in scientific literature. Aim of this evaluation is to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth in postpartum women and to evaluate the influence of maternal, obstetrical and neonatal characteristics on the degree of PTSD symptoms measured by the Impact of Events Scale questionnaire (IES-R).

Methods

In total, 589 women who gave birth in the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany in 2016, participated in a survey within the first days after birth. Of these, 278 also participated 6 months later. All participants received the validated Impact of Events Scale questionnaire (IES-R). The influence of maternal, obstetric and fetal parameters on PTSD score was evaluated.

Results

PTSD overall prevalence was 2.9%. Patients with PTSD had significantly less often personal support during labor (p < 0.001). Maternal age (p < 0.001), parity (p < 0.001), migration background (p < 0.001), mode of delivery (p < 0.001) and assistance during labor (p < 0.001) were parameters significantly influential on the PTSD symptom level measured by the IES-R.

Conclusions

Maternal PTSD prevalence after childbirth seems to be quite rare with 2.9%. Nevertheless, recent findings assume that this prevalence may only represent the “tip of the iceberg”. PTSD after childbirth should not be underestimated. As PTSD depends on personal vulnerability and existing risk factors, patients at risk have to be detected before childbirth, which appears to be challenging especially for obstetric and family care professionals.
Identification of fresh submarine groundwater off the coast of San Diego, USA, using electromagnetic methods
Authors: King Roslynn B. , Danskin Wesley R. , Constable Steven , Maloney Jillian M.
Published: March 2022

Climate change has a pronounced effect on water resources in many semiarid climates, causing populated areas such as San Diego County (USA), to become more vulnerable to water shortages in the coming decades. To prepare for decreased water supply, San Diego County is adopting policies to decrease water use and to develop additional local sources of water. One new local source of freshwater is produced by a desalination facility that purifies brackish groundwater from the coastal San Diego Formation. This formation has been studied extensively onshore, but little is known about the geology or groundwater quality offshore in the adjacent continental shelf. Because most groundwater systems are interconnected and complex, further analysis is needed to identify offshore geology, possible sequestration of freshwater in the shelf, and potential pathways for saltwater intrusion. This comprehensive understanding is important because seawater intrusion may limit use of the San Diego Formation and longevity of desalination facilities. Controlled-source electromagnetic methods are uniquely suited to detecting offshore groundwater as they are sensitive to changes in pore fluids such as the transition from fresh to brackish groundwater. This paper describes results from surface-towed electromagnetic surveys that mapped the pore-fluid salinity and possible fluid pathways in the continental shelf off the coast of San Diego. The results indicate a considerable volume of fresh-to-brackish groundwater sequestered in the shelf, both in continuous lenses and isolated pockets, that appear influenced by fault systems and shallow stratigraphy.
Preventing active re-identification attacks on social graphs via sybil subgraph obfuscation
Authors: Mauw Sjouke , Ramírez-Cruz Yunior , Trujillo-Rasua Rolando
Published: February 2022

Active re-identification attacks constitute a serious threat to privacy-preserving social graph publication, because of the ability of active adversaries to leverage fake accounts, a.k.a.sybil nodes, to enforce structural patterns that can be used to re-identify their victims on anonymised graphs. Several formal privacy properties have been enunciated with the purpose of characterising the resistance of a graph against active attacks. However, anonymisation methods devised on the basis of these properties have so far been able to address only restricted special cases, where the adversaries are assumed to leverage a very small number of sybil nodes. In this paper, we present a new probabilistic interpretation of active re-identification attacks on social graphs. Unlike the aforementioned privacy properties, which model the protection from active adversaries as the task of making victim nodes indistinguishable in terms of their fingerprints with respect to all potential attackers, our new formulation introduces a more complete view, where the attack is countered by jointly preventing the attacker from retrieving the set of sybil nodes, and from using these sybil nodes for re-identifying the victims. Under the new formulation, we show thatk-symmetry, a privacy property introduced in the context of passive attacks, provides a sufficient condition for the protection against active re-identification attacks leveraging an arbitrary number of sybil nodes. Moreover, we show that the algorithmK-Match, originally devised for efficiently enforcing the related notion ofk-automorphism, also guaranteesk-symmetry. Empirical results on real-life and synthetic graphs demonstrate that our formulation allows, for the first time, to publish anonymised social graphs (with formal privacy guarantees) that effectively resist the strongest active re-identification attack reported in the literature, even when it leverages a large number of sybil nodes.
Lactylation: a Passing Fad or the Future of Posttranslational Modification
Authors: Xin Qi , Wang Hai , Li Qinglin , Liu Sinan , Qu Kai , Liu Chang , Zhang Jingyao
Published: February 2022

Lactate is a glycolytic product and a significant energy source. Moreover, it regulates gene transcription via lactylation of histones and non-histone proteins, i.e., a novel posttranslational modification. This review summarizes recent advances related to lactylation in lactate metabolism and diseases. Notably, lactylation plays a vital role in cancer, inflammation, and regeneration; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. Histone lactylation regulates oncogenic processes by targeting gene transcription and inflammation via macrophage activation. Eventually, we identified research gaps and recommended several primary directions for further studies.
Odour-mediated Interactions Between an Apex Reptilian Predator and its Mammalian Prey
Authors: Dickman Christopher R. , Fardell Loren L. , Hills Nicole
Published: March 2022

An important but understudied modality for eavesdropping between predators and prey is olfaction, especially between non-mammalian vertebrate predators and their prey. Here we test three olfactory eavesdropping predictions involving an apex reptilian predator, the sand goanna Varanus gouldii, and several species of its small mammalian prey in arid central Australia: 1) small mammals will recognize and avoid the odour of V. gouldii; 2) V. gouldii will be attracted to the odour of small mammals, especially of species that maximize its energetic returns; and 3) small mammals will be less mobile and will show higher burrow fidelity where V. gouldii is absent compared with where it is present. As expected, we found that small mammals recognized and avoided faecal odour of this goanna, feeding less intensively at food patches where the odour of V. gouldii was present than at patches with no odour or a pungency control odour. Varanus gouldii also was attracted to the odour of small mammals in artificial burrows and dug more frequently at burrows containing the odour of species that were energetically profitable than at those of species likely to yield diminishing returns. Our third prediction received mixed support. Rates of movement of three species of small mammals were no different where V. gouldii was present or absent, but burrow fidelity in two of these species increased as expected where V. gouldii had been removed. We conclude that olfaction plays a key role in the dynamic interaction between V. gouldii and its mammalian prey, with the interactants using olfaction to balance their respective costs of foraging and reducing predation risk. We speculate that the risk of predation from this apex reptilian predator drives the highly unusual burrow-shifting behaviour that characterizes many of Australia's small desert mammals.
Day versus night use of forest by red and roe deer as determined by Corine Land Cover and Copernicus Tree Cover Density: assessing use of geographic layers in movement ecology
Authors: Salvatori M. , De Groeve J. , van Loon E. , De Baets B. , Morellet N. , Focardi S. , Bonnot N. C. , Gehr B. , Griggio M. , Heurich M. , Kroeschel M. , Licoppe A. , Moorcroft P. , Pedrotti L. , Signer J. , Van de Weghe N. , Cagnacci F.
Published: March 2022

Context

Diel use of forest and open habitats by large herbivores is linked to species-specific needs of multiple and heterogeneous resources. However, forest cover layers might deviate considerably for a given landscape, potentially affecting evaluations of animals’ habitat use.

Objectives

We assessed inconsistency in the estimates of diel forest use by red and roe deer at GPS location and home range (HR) levels, using two geographic layers: Tree Cover Density (TCD) and Corine Land Cover (CLC).

Methods

We first measured the classification mismatch of red and roe deer GPS locations between TCD and CLC, also with respect to habitat units’ size. Then, we used Generalised Least Squares models to assess the proportional use of forest at day and night at the GPS location and HR levels, both with TCD and CLC.

Results

About 20% of the GPS locations were inconsistently classified as forest or open habitat by the two layers, particularly within smaller habitat units. Overall proportion of forest and open habitat, though, was very similar for both layers. In all populations, both deer species used forest more at day than at night and this pattern was more evident with TCD than with CLC. However, at the HR level, forest use estimates were only marginally different between the two layers.

Conclusions

When estimating animal habitat use, geographic layer choice requires careful evaluation with respect to ecological questions and target species. Habitat use analyses based on GPS locations are more sensitive to layer choice than those based on home ranges.
The effects of Ginsenosides on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Balaei Neda , Shoorei Hamed , Hasan Syed Muhammad Farid , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Talebi Seyedeh Fahimeh , Taheri Mohammad , Ayatollahi Seyed Abdulmajid
Published: February 2022

Ginsenosides belong to a group of steroid glycosides that are extracted from the plant genus Panax (ginseng). This plant has been used for a long time for the treatment of a variety of disorders in traditional medicine. Recent studies have assessed the biological impact of Ginsenosides in cell culture or animal models. Animal studies have shown their beneficial impacts in the remedy of pathological conditions in different tissues. The ameliorating effects of Ginsenosides in diverse pathogenic conditions can be attributed to their effects on the production of reactive oxygen species. These substances mainly affect the activity of AMPK/AKT and PI3K/AKT pathways. The beneficial effects of Ginsenosides have been appraised in diabetes-related complications, spinal cord injury, cerebral ischemia, myocardial ischemia, and other disorders which are associated with oxidative stress. Moreover, these substances have been shown to interfere with the pathologic conditions during carcinogenesis. In the current study, we explain these impacts in two distinct sections including non-neoplastic conditions and neoplastic conditions.
CircAXL Knockdown Alleviates Aβ1-42-Induced Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s Disease via Repressing PDE4A by Releasing miR-1306-5p
Authors: Meng Shengxi , Wang Bing , Li Wentao
Published: March 2022

The development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is implicated with the dysregulation of numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the function of several circRNAs remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circular AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (circAXL) in AD. Cell models of AD were constructed by treating SK-N-SH cells with amyloid-β (Aβ1-42). The expression of circAXL, miR-1306-5p and phosphodiesterase 4A (PDE4A) mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Cell viability was checked by CCK-8 assay. The production of inflammatory factors was monitored by ELISA. Cell apoptosis was checked by flow cytometry assay. Oxidative stress was assessed by ROS level, MDA level and SOD activity using commercial kits. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was assessed by ER-related protein markers using western blotting. The relationship between miR-1306-5p and circAXL or PDE4A was validated by RIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Serum exosomes were isolated by centrifugation to assess the diagnostic value of exosomal circAXL, miR-1306-5p and PDE4A. CircAXL was overexpressed in Aβ1-42-treated SK-N-SH cells. CircAXL knockdown alleviated Aβ1-42-induced cell cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in SK-N-SH cells. MiR-1306-5p was screened as a target of circAXL, and miR-1306-5p inhibition abolished the effects of circAXL knockdown. MiR-1306-5p inhibited the expression of PDE4A, and circAXL regulated PDE4A expression by targeting miR-1306-5p. MiR-1306-5p restoration also alleviated Aβ1-42-induced cell injuries, while PDE4A reintroduction abolished the effects of miR-1306-5p restoration. Exosomal circAXL and exosomal miR-1306-5p had diagnostic values for AD. CircAXL knockdown alleviates Aβ1-42-induced neurotoxicity in AD pathology via repressing PDE4A by releasing miR-1306-5p.
Microbial response of distinct soil types to land-use intensification at a South-Indian rural-urban interface
Authors: Moran-Rodas Virna Estefania , Chavannavar Suvarna V. , Joergensen Rainer Georg , Wachendorf Christine
Published: March 2022

Aims

Rural-urban dynamics are leading to agricultural intensification practices, which affect microbial ecosystem functions in a soil-specific way. This study aimed to investigate what effects agricultural intensification has on soil microbial communities.

Methods

The effects of N fertilization level (low and high) and crop type (maize and finger millet) on microbial communities were investigated, using a two-factorial split-plot design, at two fields (irrigated and rainfed) on typical soil types (Nitisol and Acrisol) mimicking an intensification gradient in the rural-urban interface of the Indian Megacity Bangalore.

Results

The Nitisol had higher pH and clay content than the Acrisol. In combination with irrigation, this led to higher aboveground plant biomass (APB), soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass (MB), fungal ergosterol and microbial necromass. High APB resulted in low total P content, due to P export in APB and high soil C/P and MB-C/P ratios in the Nitisol. Crop type and N fertilization level did not affect microbial parameters in the irrigated Nitisol, whereas crop type affected ergosterol and MBP and N fertilization level affected basal respiration in the rainfed Acrisol. Particulate organic matter (POM) was a major explanatory factor for most microbial parameters in both soils. In the Acrisol, drought reduced metabolic demand, which counteracted negative effects of low pH and clay on the MB. This was indicated by similar metabolic quotients and MBC/SOC ratios in both soils.

Conclusions

These results indicate the current need for water and high-quality fresh plant inputs to improve the microbial contribution to soil fertility at Bangalore.
Unobserved classes and extra variables in high-dimensional discriminant analysis
Authors: Fop Michael , Mattei Pierre-Alexandre , Bouveyron Charles , Murphy Thomas Brendan
Published: March 2022

In supervised classification problems, the test set may contain data points belonging to classes not observed in the learning phase. Moreover, the same units in the test data may be measured on a set of additional variables recorded at a subsequent stage with respect to when the learning sample was collected. In this situation, the classifier built in the learning phase needs to adapt to handle potential unknown classes and the extra dimensions. We introduce a model-based discriminant approach, Dimension-Adaptive Mixture Discriminant Analysis (D-AMDA), which can detect unobserved classes and adapt to the increasing dimensionality. Model estimation is carried out via a full inductive approach based on an EM algorithm. The method is then embedded in a more general framework for adaptive variable selection and classification suitable for data of large dimensions. A simulation study and an artificial experiment related to classification of adulterated honey samples are used to validate the ability of the proposed framework to deal with complex situations.
Developing Community Co-designed Scenario-Based Training for Police Mental Health Crisis Response: a Relational Policing Approach to De-escalation
Authors: Lavoie Jennifer A. A. , Alvarez Natalie , Kandil Yasmine
Published: February 2022

Using the current empirical landscape of police responses to people in mental health crisis as a backdrop, this methods paper makes an argument for the central role of collaborative co-design and production by diverse community experts and stakeholders to build transformative specialized training for frontline officers. Subject matter experts (SMEs) from across key domains participated in focus groups and curriculum creation, with outputs being the co-development of a conceptual approach and an innovative experiential learning training program. Part 1 unpacks the team’s conceptual development of a relational policing approach. This humanized method is shaped by procedural justice, trauma-informed, person-centred, and cultural safety frameworks. Part 2 details the co-production of a novel problem-based training method for a police service in Southern Ontario, Canada. The program centres on the acquisition of core competencies related to relational policing, de-escalation, and mental health crisis response. The training was designed to bring learners through a spectrum of authentic crisis scenarios: from observer-participant scenarios informed by Forum Theatre methods and targeted SME feedback to a range of high-fidelity assessment simulations that test officers’ abilities to effectively communicate, de-escalate, and make decisions under stress. This program offers repeated opportunities for officers to practice alternative crisis management strategies in scenarios that might otherwise result in the use of force.
Compassion-based approaches: a systematic review of their effectiveness and acceptability in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Authors: Mavituna Selin , Hahn Eric , Hahne Inge , Bergmann Niklas , Pijnenborg Marieke , Ta Thi Minh Tam , Tafelski Lana , Böge Kerem
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this systematic literature review is to provide an exhaustive summary of current research to explore the prospects of compassion-based approaches in treating persons with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). Thereby, studies investigating the relationship between clinical parameters and self-compassion in SSD, as well as the acceptability, feasibility, and effects of compassion-based approaches for individuals with SSD were considered. The review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and checklist. Eight studies were included for qualitative synthesis. The results indicate an important role of self-compassion for several clinical parameters, including negative associations to positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive disorganization, and emotional distress. All studies reported good acceptability and feasibility. Regarding the clinical effectiveness of compassion-based approaches, a variety of clinical benefits, such as improvements of mood, affect regulation, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive disorganization, and variables relating to psychological recovery were found in individuals with SSD. It is concluded that compassion-based approaches are a promising form of intervention in the treatment of SSD. However, further research, especially randomized controlled trials, in this field is needed to understand the full potential of compassion-based approaches for individuals with SSD.
Psychometric study of the differentiation of self scale-revised in a sample of Spanish adults
Authors: Oliver Jesús , Jódar Rafael , Berástegui Ana , Skowron Elizabeth A. , Friedlander Myrna L. , Schmitt Thomas A.
Published: March 2022

This study analyzes the psychometric properties of the Differentiation of Self Scale-Revised (DSS-R), an instrument assessing the differentiation of the self of Spanish adults through the dimensions I Position, Emotional Reactivity, Fusion with Others and Emotional Cutoff, and of a new dimension, Dominance over Others. In Study 1, carried out with 1445 subjects, exploratory factor analysis was performed with one half of the participants, and confirmatory factor analysis with the other, comparing the five-factor and bifactor models. In Study 2, examining convergent validity, 180 subjects participated and completed the revised scale and the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised. Studies 3 and 4 verified concurrent validity, with 401 subjects completing the DSS-R and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Study 3, and 170 subjects completing the DSS-R and the Couple Assertion Questionnaire in Study 4. Adequate internal consistency indices and evidence of construct, convergent and concurrent validity were found. The use of the DSS-R is recommended for assessing the differentiation of the self in the Spanish population.
Unveiling the Impact of Psychological Traits on Innovative Financial Decision-making in Small Tourism Businesses
Authors: Sandhu Navjot , El-Gohary Hatem
Published: February 2022

Understanding factors affecting innovative financial decision-making involves the usage of more than one theory-driven model including those related to psychological behaviour (e.g. theory of planned behaviour). This study validates a conceptual framework extending the traditional financing model (TFM) and behavioural financial decision (BFD) to explain innovative financial decision-making utilising both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Based on a sample of 140 small tourism businesses, employing structured equation modelling, the findings reinforce the importance of the behavioural approach on innovative financial decision-making in small tourism businesses. The findings does not only make a respectable contribution the field, but also offer a practical evidence for the adaptation of the theory of planned behaviour in developing countries.
Artesunate monotherapy versus artesunate plus quinine combination therapy for treatment of imported severe malaria: a TropNet retrospective cohort study
Authors: Botta Annarita , Comelli Agnese , Vellere Iacopo , Chechi Flavia , Bianchi Leila , Giulia Gardini , Tomasoni Lina Rachele , Spinicci Michele , Galli Luisa , Castelli Francesco , Bartoloni Alessandro , Zammarchi Lorenzo
Published: February 2022

Background

The addition of intravenous quinine (IVQ) to intravenous artesunate (IVA) has been recently suggested by World Health Organization  in areas where artemisinin resistance is highly prevalent. Since IVA is not yet widely available as “Good Manufacturing Practices” product, for several years combination treatment with IVA and IVQ was used in some Italian centers to mitigate the legal risks in using an unlicensed drug.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was designed to compare IVA + IVQ and IVA treatment for imported severe malaria. We collected data from three Italian centers. Adult and pediatric cohorts were analyzed separately.

Results

Forty-nine patients treated with IVA and 44 with IVA + IVQ were enrolled, 45 were adults and 48 children. All acquired malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the adult cohort, median of fever clearance time (FCT) was similar in both groups (48 h vs 48 h, p = 0.19) but number of patients who reached apyrexia within 48 h (FCT48) was higher in IVA group (20/24, 83.3% vs 8/17, 47%, p = 0.002). The parasite clearance time (PCT) measure did not differ (median 48 h vs 48 h, p = 0.669). In the pediatric cohort, FCT did not differ in the two groups (median 30 vs 48 h, p = 0.50) while PCT was longer in IVA + IVQ group (median 72 vs 48 h, p = 0.002). Adverse events (AEs) in adults were more common in the combination treatment group (6/19, 31.58% vs 2/26, 7.69%, p = 0.055).

Conclusion

IVA + IVQ treatment did not show better outcome with respect to IVA monotherapy. AEs were more frequent in the IVA + IVQ group compared to the monotherapy. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether IVA + IVQ could be an efficient strategy to treat severe malaria cases in areas at high risk of artemisinin resistance.
Structure, defects, and microwave dielectric properties of Al-doped and Al/Nd co-doped Ba4Nd9.33Ti18O54 ceramics
Authors: Guo Weijia , Ma Zhiyu , Luo Yu , Chen Yugu , Yue Zhenxing , Li Longtu
Published: February 2022

Low-loss tungsten-bronze microwave dielectric ceramics are dielectric materials with potential application value for miniaturized dielectric filters and antennas in the fifth-generation (5G) communication technology. In this work, a novel Al/Nd co-doping method of Ba4Nd9.33Ti18O54(BNT) ceramics with a chemical formula of Ba4Nd9.33+z/3Ti18−zAlzO54(BNT-AN, 0 ⩽z⩽ 2) was proposed to improve the dielectric properties through structural and defect modulation. Together with Al-doped ceramics (Ba4Nd9.33Ti18−zAl4z/3O54, BNT-A, 0 ⩽z⩽ 2) for comparison, the ceramics were prepared by a solid state method. It is found that Al/Nd co-doping method has a significant effect on improving the dielectric properties compared with Al doping. As the doping amountzincreased, the relative dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) of the ceramics decreased, and theQ×fvalues of the ceramics obviously increased whenz⩽ 1.5. Excellent microwave dielectric properties ofεr= 72.2,Q×f= 16,480 GHz, andτf= +14.3 ppm/°C were achieved in BNT-AN ceramics withz= 1.25. Raman spectroscopy and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique were firstly combined to analyze the structures and defects in microwave dielectric ceramics. It is shown that the improvement onQ×fvalues was originated from the decrease in the strength of the A-site cation vibration and the concentration of oxygen vacancies ($${\rm{V}}_{\rm{O}}^{ \cdot \cdot }$$VO⋅⋅), demonstrating the effect and mechanism underlying for structural and defect modulation on the performance improvement of microwave dielectric ceramics.
A p-adic Maass–Shimura operator on Mumford curves
Authors: Longo Matteo
Published: February 2022

We study a p-adic Maass–Shimura operator in the context of Mumford curves defined by [15]. We prove that this operator arises from a splitting of the Hodge filtration, thus answering a question in [15]. We also study the relation of this operator with generalized Heegner cycles, in the spirit of [1, 4, 19, 28].
Analysis of the airborne mercury and particulate arsenic levels close to an abandoned waste dump and buildings of a mercury mine and the potential risk of atmospheric pollution
Authors: Garcia Gonzalez Hector , García-Ordiales Efren , Diez Rafael Rodriguez
Published: March 2022

The project SUBproducts4LIFE is a research project financed by the European Union within the framework of the LIFE programme which proposes to demonstrate innovative circular economy concepts by the reuse of industrial subproducts/waste (coal ash and gypsum from coal power plants, blast furnace slag and steelmaking slag from steel factories) for the remediation at a real scale of contaminated soils and brownfield areas related to Hg mining. The area it is developing includes the waste dumps and demolition waste of the metallurgical plant of the abandoned mercury mine La Soterraña in Asturias, Northern Spain. Before this restoration research project takes place, this paper aims to evaluate airborne mercury and arsenic levels in land strongly contaminated with arsenic and mercury. The goal is to evaluate the air quality and compare it with international literature under reference levels. The study sampled gaseous mercury with a high-resolution direct reading device (LUMEX RA-915) and arsenic and mercury particulates with an IOM sampler, Casella personal pump, analyzed in the laboratory, to ensure the Health and Safety of workers, visitors and pedestrians walking near the mine and near the villages. The study concludes that As and Hg levels in the air are below 1 μg/m3 for the general public and villages near the mine. For works in the rubble area in the mine, it is recommended that workers use personal protective equipment and control measures are used to keep arsenic and mercury levels as low as technically possible.

Article Highlights

Gaseous Hg and airborne Hg and As particulates are measured in a strongly contaminated mercury mining and metallurgy site.

High concentration of gaseous Hg is present in the strongly contaminated soils; therefore protective measures must be adopted for workers.

Apart from an area with demolition rubble of a metallurgical plant, airborne Hg-As contamination is not harmful to workers or the general public.
Assessment of Critical Resource Use in Aircraft Manufacturing
Authors: Dolganova Iulia , Bach Vanessa , Rödl Anne , Kaltschmitt Martin , Finkbeiner Matthias
Published: March 2022

The global aircraft fleet has been expanding worldwide, leading to a high demand for primary resources. Simultaneously, recycling initiatives for decommissioned aircraft are still incipient. Following circular economy principles, the aims of this paper are to identify potentially critical resources used and related environmental impacts, to derive recommendations regarding recycling, and to analyze the influence of increasing utilization of lightweight composite materials in aircraft manufacturing. It was identified that the engine is the structure containing resources with the highest scarcity, with tantalum dominating seven of the eleven analyzed impact categories. Aluminum, titanium, and nickel were shown to lead to the highest environmental impacts. Hotspots in the criticality and environmental assessment often occur due to alloying resources with a low mass share. It was shown that aluminum and steel alloy recycling should be prioritized. A higher lightweight composite material share in the aircraft increases impacts in the categories climate change and fossil resource depletion by 12% and 20%, respectively, whereas the impact of the category acidification, political stability, and demand growth decreases by 16%, 35%, and 60%, respectively.
The circadian clock ticks in plant stress responses
Authors: Xu Xiaodong , Yuan Li , Xie Qiguang
Published: March 2022

The circadian clock, a time-keeping mechanism, drives nearly 24-h self-sustaining rhythms at the physiological, cellular, and molecular levels, keeping them synchronized with the cyclic changes of environmental signals. The plant clock is sensitive to external and internal stress signals that act as timing cues to influence the circadian rhythms through input pathways of the circadian clock system. In order to cope with environmental stresses, many core oscillators are involved in defense while maintaining daily growth in various ways. Recent studies have shown that a hierarchical multi-oscillator network orchestrates the defense through rhythmic accumulation of gene transcripts, alternative splicing of mRNA precursors, modification and turnover of proteins, subcellular localization, stimuli-induced phase separation, and long-distance transport of proteins. This review summarizes the essential role of circadian core oscillators in response to stresses inArabidopsis thalianaand crops, including daily and seasonal abiotic stresses (low or high temperature, drought, high salinity, and nutrition deficiency) and biotic stresses (pathogens and herbivorous insects). By integrating time-keeping mechanisms, circadian rhythms and stress resistance, we provide a temporal perspective for scientists to better understand plant environmental adaptation and breed high-quality crop germplasm for agricultural production.
The Impact of Abstinence from Alcohol on Erectile Dysfunction: A Prospective Follow up in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Karunakaran Aravind , Michael Jaimon Plathottathil
Published: February 2022

Background

There is a compelling evidence for the relation between alcohol use and erectile dysfunction (ED), however the impact of alcohol abstinence on improvement of ED is explored sparsely.

Aim

This study aimed to determine the impact of alcohol abstinence on ED. The association between total duration of drinking, the quantity of alcohol consumed, sociodemographic, clinical variables and ED were also studied.

Methods

One hundred and four subjects with alcohol use disorder and complaints of ED meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited into the study after taking written informed consent. The subjects were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of abstinence from alcohol with IIEF-5 and a specially designed pro forma. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess the change in ED after 3 months of abstinence. Chi square test was done to assess the associations and binary logistic regression was done to determine the significance of variables after 3 months of abstinence.

Outcomes

Improvement in ED after 3 months of abstinence from alcohol and its association between socio demographic and clinical variables were assessed.

Results

Of the 104 subjects studied, 88.5% (92) showed improvement in ED after 3 months of abstinence from alcohol. Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that the improvement in ED after 3 months of abstinence was significant. (Z = 8.708, P < .001). Significant association was found between age, alcoholic liver disease, total duration of drinking, and number of standard drinks per day with ED after 3 months of abstinence.

Clinical Implications

Information that ED will improve with abstinence from alcohol can be used in deaddiction treatment to provide a motivation for change.

Strength and Limitations

This study aims to fill the gap in literature as only a few studies have examined the impact of abstinence from alcohol on ED. The main limitations of this study are short follow up period and since this study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital it could have given rise to Berksonian bias.

Conclusion

Results indicate that ED shows improvement with abstinence from alcohol. Absence of alcoholic liver disease, younger age, shorter duration of drinking, lesser number of standard drinks per day had a significant influence in the improvement of ED with alcohol abstinence and this information can be beneficial in treatment to provide an impetus for change.
Direct numerical simulation of slot film cooling downstream of misaligned plates
Authors: Xu Haosen H. A. , Lynch Stephen , Yang Xiang I. A.
Published: March 2022

When manufacturing a turbine engine, the combustor annulus and the turbine annulus are created as separate parts and assembled. This leads to an inter-platform gap between the two components, which must be supplied with leakage air to prevent ingestion of the extremely hot combustion gases into the interior of the engine. The combustor and the turbine are likely to misalign because of differential thermal expansion or assembly tolerances. This paper presents a direct numerical simulation study of inter-platform misalignment with leakage flow supplied at the junction of the platforms. The geometry is two misaligned plates with a cross-flow and a leakage flow simulated as a slot jet. The misalignment of the two plates gives rise to a forward misalignment configuration and a backward misalignment configuration, and the jet/cross-flow gives rise to a windward mixing layer and a leeward mixing layer. Compared with the aligned configuration, the cooling effectiveness immediately downstream of the gap decreases in the forward misalignment configuration and increases in the backward misalignment configuration; this response amplifies as the flow rate through the gap increases. In addition to the cooling effectiveness, we report flow statistics, including the velocity, the temperature, the turbulent kinetic energy and the relevant turbulent fluxes. We find strong turbulence generation in the leeward mixing layer and high turbulence level as a result. Mixing of the thermal energy, on the other hand, occurs predominantly in the windward mixing layer. The eddy viscosity and the eddy conductivity that are critical to turbulence modelling are also reported. We find negative eddy viscosity at regions where the incoming boundary layer starts to mix with the leakage jet. The analysis shows that the negative eddy viscosity is a result of flow hysteresis: it takes time, or travel distance, before the eddies in the incoming boundary layer and the eddies in the leakage jet come to an equilibrium, thereby favouring a transport Reynolds stress model over a local eddy viscosity type model. The novelty of this paper lies in the direct numerical simulations, which provide direct access to the near-wall flow field and clarify the effects of blowing ratio and platform misalignment on heat transfer. The novelty also lies in the data analysis, which sheds light on how this flow should be modelled.
Generation of the fluctuations by a charged dust beam in the ionosphere
Authors: Wei Lin , Liu Bo , Zhang Heng , Duan Wen-Shan
Published: March 2022

Different kinds of waves and instabilities in the F-region of the ionosphere excited by the relative streaming of the dust beam to the background plasma are studied in the present paper. The dispersion relations of different waves are obtained on different time scales. It is found from our numerical results that there are both a stable upper hybrid wave on the electron vibration time scale and a stable dust ion cyclotron wave on the ion vibration time scale. However, the chaotic behaviour appears on the dust particles vibration time scale due to the relative streaming of the dust particles to the background plasma. Such instabilities may drive plasma irregularities that could affect radar backscatter from the clouds.