bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of habilitation services in the lives of children and adolescents with visual impairments
Authors: Manitsa Ifigeneia , Barlow-Brown Fiona
Published: December 2022

Previous research suggests that children and adolescents with visual impairment may face several challenges in their academic learning and socio-emotional development due to restricted mobility, feelings of loneliness, and dependency on others. Habilitation services attempt to provide support with respect to many of these challenges that may positively impact on well-being and mental health, such as enabling independence in daily tasks, participation in social activities, and developing self-confidence. The literature also shows that individuals who have received educational and vocational rehabilitation support report higher quality of life and more positive self-esteem. Therefore, the primary focus of this study was on the rehabilitation, recreational opportunities, and educational resources provided by vision habilitation services for children and adolescents with visual impairments. The role that these services may play in school and daily life, as well as in the socio-emotional development of children and adolescents with visual impairments was also examined. This research covers the perspectives of professional staff, parents, children, and adolescents and considers both the immediate and potential long-term benefits of these services. The findings of the study highlighted the positive impact that this support has on children and adolescents’ independence, personal-safety, and self-confidence. The findings also indicated the positive impact of this support on the mental health of their families and benefits of providing continued support and expanding these habilitation and recreation services.
An improved multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for multiple-target asynchronous parallel selective disassembly sequence planning
Authors: Sun Xiang , Guo Shunsheng , Guo Jun , Du Baigang , Tang Hongtao
Published: December 2022

The product’s service life has been shortened rapidly along with the development of modern technologies and human esthetic evolutions, resulting in a great number of end-of-life (EOL) products. Disassembling renewable parts from EOL products for remanufacturing is of great significance to save resources and protect the environment. The existing studies on selective disassembly sequence planning (SDSP) largely focus on the sequential disassembly planning, which is inefficient especially for complex products because it is a linear process where only one component can be removed at a time. Thus, this work focuses on parallel SDSP and further proposes a multiple-target asynchronous parallel selective DSP (APSDSP) with the objectives of minimizing disassembly time and maximizing disassembly profit simultaneously. In APSDSP, operators can remove multiple components simultaneously as long as disassembly constraints are not violated, and without synchronization requirement between operators. The feasible disassembly sequence and disassembly direction sequence are generated by a space interference matrix method (SIMM) to meet the actual disassembly environment. Based on SIMM, an improved multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on multiple neighborhood search strategy is developed to create the pareto frontier of the problem. Finally, two cases study are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. It gives enterprises new insights to reduce disassembly time and improve disassembly profit.
Integrating building information modeling and life cycle assessment to analyze the role of climate and passive design parameters in energy consumption
Authors: Falegari Sahar , Shirzadi Javid Ali Akbar
Published: December 2022

With the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry representing a significant share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, developing sustainable design and reducing buildings’ environmental impacts has become a priority over the past decades. Adopting building information modeling tools and implementing them into life cycle analysis techniques at the early stages of design has been an effective method for buildings sustainability evaluation. With our environment constantly changing, it is reasonable that the construction industry should also aim to adapt to these changes and use them. However, the role of local climate features and their effects on a building's energy output is often neglected. By using building information modeling–life cycle analysis integration techniques, this research aims to consider the role of climatic attributes along with some passive design strategies in the life cycle assessment of the building and see how it affects that building's energy performance. By only applying passive design strategies (not including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system type), the models’ energy demand was reduced up to 30% of the original value. It is also witnessed that by using the proper equipment and construction materials that match the respective climate, up to 28% of the building's energy consumption during the operational phase, can be saved. Although insulation of the walls does reduce energy consumption values, it also contributes to more greenhouse gas emissions. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions was estimated to be around 3%, but since the insulation boards make up only 2% of the building's area, it is a considerable amount.
Application of switched-dynamics friction models in feedback control
Authors: Villegas Fernando J , Hecker Rogelio L , Peña Miguel E
Published: December 2022

In the last decades, several friction models suitable for control purposes have been proposed, which are able to represent most of the observed friction behavior. However, this comes at the cost of an increased complexity, presenting in some cases switched dynamics, as in the generalized Maxwell-slip friction model. Thus, consideration of these models in control design certainly increases the complexity of stability proofs, and thus, their use in control design except for feedforward compensation. The purpose of this work is to provide stability results to facilitate the application of these models in feedback control. First, results are given for a more general model with switched dynamics, and then results are given for the particular case of the generalized Maxwell-slip model. Then, the application of these developments is illustrated for the case of a deterministic robust control design for a linear motor drive. In this case, controllers with feedforward and feedback friction compensation are implemented in an experimental setup, showing the improvement in performance that can be achieved using the latter.
Lake level evidence for a mid-Holocene East Asian summer monsoon maximum and the impact of an abrupt late-Holocene drought event on prehistoric cultures in north-central China
Authors: Zhang Zhiping , Shen Zhongwei , Zhang Shanjia , Chen Jie , Chen Shengqian , Li Dongxue , Zhang Shuai , Liu Xiangjun , Wu Duo , Sheng Yongwei , Tang Qiuhong , Chen Fahu , Liu Jianbao
Published: December 2022

Uncertainty regarding the timing of the highest Holocene water level of enclosed Dali Lake in northern China has led to controversy about whether the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) peaked in the early Holocene or the mid-Holocene. Therefore, a record combining a reliable chronology with unambiguous lake level indicators is essential to resolve the issue. In this study, we established a temporal sequence of well-preserved paleolake shorelines at different elevations around Dali Lake using quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Combining the new OSL-based chronological data with the previously published ages of beach ridges, we constructed an integrated lake level record for Dali Lake since the last deglaciation; the record is chronologically well-constrained and provides a clearer representation of lake level changes than previous studies. The main findings are as follows: (1) the level of Dali Lake rose gradually during 14.5–8.0 ka and reached a highest level during 8.0–6.0 ka that was ~61 m higher than today, before gradually declining after ~6.0 ka; (2) although the short-lived highstand of Dali Lake during the early Holocene was caused by both monsoon precipitation and snow/ice meltwater influx, the mid-Holocene lake level maximum was mainly the result of increased monsoon precipitation. These findings indicate that the EASM maximum in the region occurred during the mid-Holocene, which is supported by precipitation-proxy records from the EASM margin; (3) a major decline (~30 m) of the level of Dali Lake occurred at ~4.2 ka, reflecting a regional-scale drought event in northern China. Combined with near-contemporaneous frequent floods in the lower Yellow River, we propose that the pattern of “drought in northern China, flooding in central China” occurred during ~4.2–3.8 ka, triggering the migration of the prehistoric human population of the area to the central Plain of China. This population migration may have destabilized the existing social order and promoted the emergence of more complex societies, leading to the development of early civilization in north-central China.
A Bibliometric Review of the Knowledge Base on Capital Structure Decisions
Authors: Priyan P. K. , Nyabakora Wakara Ibrahimu , Rwezimula Geofrey
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study is to review the knowledge base on capital structure decisions. The Scopus database was used for the bibliometric review of the area in question. The sampling process was performed employing the PRISMA approach. The VOSviewer software was used to analyse 2,979 articles. This identified the network growth, the most contributors, the context of the intellectual structure, the most studied topic and the research gap for future studies. We have found that the year 1989 marked the abolition of research on capital structure for articles in the Scopus database. As the period was divided into three sub-periods, the terms ‘capital structure’ and ‘leverage’ appeared throughout. Also, the recent themes as depicted in the density map are corporate governance, dividend policy, testing the trade-off theory against pecking order theories, speed of adjustments and corporate social responsibility. However, there are research gaps found due to the newness of the terms and the frequency of terms’ persistence in the current sub-period. The findings will provide researchers with knowledge about the past, current and future implications as well as the gaps for their studies.
Co-Occurring Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: The Influence of Early Life Experiences of Abuse
Authors: Falb Kathryn L. , Blackwell Alexandra , Hategekimana Jean de Dieu , Sifat Munjireen , Roth Danielle , O’Connor Meghan
Published: December 2022

Little is known about co-occurring intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and child abuse within families in humanitarian settings. Baseline data from 203 couples in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were analyzed to assess associations between childhood experiences of abuse with present co-occurring violence. Over half of women (56.1%) and men (50.5%) reported co-occurring violence. Adjusted models demonstrate experiencing physical abuse as a child was associated with greatest odds of recent co-occurring violence while witnessing parental IPV had mixed influence. Programmatic approaches focused on reducing early childhood violence may be promising to prevent both IPV and child abuse.
Relationship between ganglion cell complex thickness and vision in age-related macular degeneration treated with aflibercept
Authors: Buyukavsar Cihan , Sonmez Murat , Sagdic Sercan Koray , Unal Melih Hamdi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the correlation between ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT) and vision compared with the choroidal thickness (CT) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in relation to the outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

This was a prospective, observational study. Forty-three eyes of 38 patients with wet AMD received a monthly loading dose of 2 mg aflibercept by intravitreal injection (IVI) during the first 3 months and were then followed at regular monthly intervals for an average of 10 months by a pro re nata regimen. All patients were examined using spectral domain-optic coherence tomography (OCT) and enhanced depth imaging OCT. According to their response to IVI treatment in the third month, patients were divided into 2 groups, both functionally and anatomically.

Results

Three-month GCCT and optic disc retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (ODRNFLT) had the most correlation with the 10-month vision (p  =  0.002, p  =  0.02, respectively). While baseline GCCT was most correlated with the functional response, baseline CRT was most correlated with the anatomical response (p  =  0.01, p  =  0.004, respectively).

Conclusions

The results suggest that a reduction in 3-month GCCT indicates a good long-term vision outcome, while a reduction in 3-month ODRNFLT shows a poor long-term vision outcome. The literature suggests that this study is the first to demonstrate that baseline GCCT is more strongly correlated with the functional response than it is with CT and CRT. Hence, GCCT has a prognostic value for vision impairment.
Constituting affective identities: Understanding the communicative construction of identity in online men’s rights spaces
Authors: Eddington Sean M , Jarvis Caitlyn M , Buzzanell Patrice M
Published: December 2022

The present study examined how identity is affectively organized online in an online men’s rights community, responding to calls to explore how sites like Reddit serve as spaces that host and support varied misogynist language and communities. We utilized scholarship of affective organizing and communicative constitution of organizations to study the identity construction through the social and communicative processes that facilitate and limit online communication. We analyzed 35,643 comments from a popular men’s rights community to interrogate how affective and gendered organizing contributed to identity construction using text mining, semantic network analyses, and qualitative analyses. Our findings revealed that affect was not merely prominent in the forum but served as a constitutive means through which the members of the men’s rights community constructed their identity individually and within their Reddit community. We advance an affect-centered approach within organizational communication scholarship, theorizing how masculinity is constituted through the interplay of affective contradictions, affective sensemaking, and affective identification.
The autocrat’s intelligence paradox: Vladimir Putin’s (mis)management of Russian strategic assessment in the Ukraine War
Authors: Dylan Huw , Gioe David V. , Grossfeld Elena
Published: December 2022

Autocratic leaders rely on intelligence machineries for regime and personal security. They often manage large, powerful, unaccountable organisations, which they hold close. But, despite their close relationship with - and reliance upon - intelligence, autocrats also frequently struggle to use it to enhance decision-making and foreign policy, and consequently suffer avoidable intelligence failures. This article argues that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is illustrative of this broader, though understudied, pattern of autocratic mismanagement of strategic intelligence. The invasion was both spurred and accompanied by a catastrophic intelligence failure, the responsibility for which rests with Vladimir Putin, the arbiter of a system with limited capacity to offer dispassionate strategic assessments. His failure is characteristic of autocratic regimes assessing foreign developments, including Putin’s Soviet predecessors. This article contributes to the emerging scholarship on intelligence in autocratic regimes by examining Putin’s use of intelligence in the Ukraine War in the context of the broader literature on intelligence and decision.
Ixazomib Combined With Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for POEMS Syndrome: A Case Report and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Ji , Wang Xiaoyue , Lu Hui , Liang Zhihao , Wang Liang
Published: December 2022

Objective: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare monoclonal plasma cell proliferation disorder. At present, there is no unified treatment for POEMS syndrome. Here, we describe one case with POEMS syndrome with obvious neurological symptoms diagnosed in September 2020. We made a meta-­analysis to assess the efficacy of treatment strategies in recent years. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of this patient, and searched relevant articles in PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases using MedicalSubject Headings (MeSH) (eg, POEMS, Therapy, Drug Therapy, Biological Therapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunotherapy, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Chemoradiotherapy, and Salvage Therapy) and free words, and performed the statistical analysis. Results: The patient's efficacy evaluation was complete response (CR) after treatment with ixazomib combined with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Overall, 20 articles consist of 6 clinical trials, 14 retrospective studies, and 936 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in complete hematologic response (CRH) rate between people who underwent ASCT and those who did not. However, ASCT might have a better survival rate. Conclusions: Ixazomib combined with ASCT therapy may be a safe and effective method for patients with POEMS syndrome.
Inland water transport workers and the Posting of Workers Directive
Authors: Tournaye Cécile
Published: December 2022

Inland Water Transport (IWT) workers within the EU represent a workforce of about 50,000, most of whom work across borders on a regular basis. The national labour law applicable to them is hard to determine under the current EU legal framework. In particular, the question of whether, and if so, when, IWT workers should be viewed as posted workers, within the meaning of the Posting of Workers Directive (PWD), remains unclear. This article aims to shed some light on the matter. It suggests that determining the national labour law applicable to them under the Rome I Regulation should be the priority. This would suppose that the meaning of the ‘habitual place of work’ be clarified for IWT workers. In order to do so, we claim that the usual pattern of operation in IWT should be taken into account. IWT is a river-based, rather than a country-based, activity. For this reason, we suggest a two-step process in determining the habitual place of work: first designate the river where IWT workers carry out their activity, then determine the law of the riparian State that is objectively applicable to their contract of employment. In our view, such an approach would suffice to fix most social dumping practices presently ongoing in IWT. It would also bring clarity and security to both workers and transport undertakings, without generating disproportionate additional administrative burdens for Member States or transport undertakings. The PWD would then marginally apply to IWT workers, covering cases that depart from the usual IWT patterns of operation, when it brings real benefits to IWT workers.
The promotional regime of visibility: Ambivalence and contradiction in strategies of dominance and resistance
Authors: Jiménez-Martínez César , Edwards Lee
Published: December 2022

In this article, we explore the tensions and blurred boundaries between dominance and resistance in promotional contexts by critically examining the notion of ‘visibility’, a commonly used yet largely unproblematised concept within the field of promotion. More specifically, we argue that contemporary promotional industries sustain and perpetuate a post-panoptical ‘regime of visibility’ underpinned by three modalities: (1) visibility as recognition, which associates being watched with empowerment while downplaying it as surveillance; (2) visibility as transient, which stresses visibility as a scarce resource that requires continuous work; and (3) and visibility as an end-goal, that is, as an end in itself rather than means to achieve something else. Acknowledging the existence of this regime opens up avenues for a productive analysis of the coexistence and mutual constitution of dominance and resistance within promotion in the digitalised communication environment, beyond debates about ‘authenticity’ or ‘woke washing’. We note that promotional industries structure visibility as a desirable and even inevitable requirement for both reinforcing and reconfiguring social arrangements. Consequently, they foster a mirage that celebrates the actions of individuals without actually producing meaningful change, while obscuring invisibility as an equally valid strategy of resistance.
Is the socioeconomic inequality in stroke prognosis changing over time and does quality of care play a role?
Authors: Hyldgård Vibe Bolvig , Søgaard Rikke , Valentin Jan Brink , Lange Theis , Damgaard Dorte , Johnsen Søren Paaske
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

In a publicly financed healthcare system we aimed to study the development in socioeconomic disparity in ischemic stroke outcomes over time. In addition, we study whether the healthcare system affects these outcomes through the quality of early stroke care when adjustments are made for various patient characteristics incl. comorbidity and stroke severity.

Patients and methods:

Using nationwide, detailed individual-level register-data we analysed how income-related and education-related inequality in 30-day mortality and 30-day readmission risk developed between 2003 and 2018. In addition, focusing on income-related inequality, we applied mediation analyses to estimate the mediating role of quality of acute stroke care on 30-day mortality and 30-day readmission.

Results:

A total of 97,779 individual ischemic stroke patients were registered in Denmark with a first ever stroke in the study period. Three-point-seven percent died within 30 days of their index-admission and 11.5% were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The income-related inequality in mortality remained virtually unchanged over time from an RR of 0.53 (95% CI: 0.38; 0.74) in 2003–06 to RR 0.69 (95% CI: 0.53; 0.89)) in 2015–18 when high income was compared to low income (Family income-time interaction: RR 1.00 (95% CI: 0.98–1.03)). A similar but less uniform trend was found for the education-related inequality in mortality (Education-time interaction: RR 1.00 (95% CI: 0.97–1.04)). The income-related disparity in 30-day readmission was smaller than in 30-day mortality and it diminished over time from 0.70 (95% CI: 0.58; 0.83) to 0.97 (95% CI: 0.87; 1.10). The mediation analysis showed no systematic mediating effect of quality of care on neither mortality nor readmission. However, it cannot be ruled out that residual confounding may have washed out some mediating effects.

Discussion and Conclusion:

The socioeconomic inequality in stroke mortality and re-admission risk has yet to be eliminated. Additional studies from different settings are warranted in order to clarify the impact of socioeconomic inequality of quality of acute stroke care.
Association of cholesterol levels with hemorrhagic transformation and cerebral edema after reperfusion therapies
Authors: Escudero-Martínez Irene , Thorén Magnus , Matusevicius Marius , Cooray Charith , Zini Andrea , Roffe Christine , Toni Danilo , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Ringleb Peter , Wahlgren Nils , Ahmed Niaz
Published: December 2022

Background:

The association between cholesterol levels and cerebral edema (CED) or hemorrhagic transformation (HT) as an expressions of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction after ischemic stroke is not well established. The aim of this study is to determine the association of total cholesterol (TC) levels with the incidence of HT and CED after reperfusion therapies.

Methods:

We analyzed SITS Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy Registry data from January 2011 to December 2017. We identified patients with data on TC levels at baseline. TC values were categorized in three groups (reference group ⩾200 mg/dl). The two primary outcomes were any parenchymal hemorrhage (PH) and moderate to severe CED on follow up imaging. Secondary outcomes included death and functional independence (mRS 0–2) at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline factors including statin pretreatment was used to assess the association between TC levels and outcomes.

Results:

Of 35,314 patients with available information on TC levels at baseline, 3372 (9.5%) presented with TC levels ⩽130 mg/dl, 8203 (23.2%) with TC 130–200 mg/dl and 23,739 (67.3%) with TC ⩾ 200 mg/dl. In the adjusted analyses, TC level as continuous variable was inversely associated with moderate to severe CED (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99–1.00, p = 0.025) and as categorical variable lower TC levels were associated with a higher risk of moderate to severe CED (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10–1.40, p = 0.003). TC levels were not associated with any PH, functional independence, and mortality at 3 months.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate an independent association between low levels of TC and higher odds of moderate/severe CED. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Rift-related paleogeography of the European margin in the Eastern Alps (Central Tauern Window)
Authors: Groß Philip , Pleuger Jan , Handy Mark R.
Published: December 2022

Continent-derived tectonic units in the Tauern Window of the Alps exhibit stratigraphic and structural traces of extension of continental margins eventually leading to the opening of the Alpine Tethys. In this study, we reassess lithostratigraphic data from the central part of the Tauern Window to reconstruct the post-Variscan evolution of this area, particularly the rift-related geometry of the European continental margin. The lithostratigraphy of the Alpine nappes reflects systematic variations of the structure of the European margin. The lowest tectonic units (Venediger nappe system, Eclogite Zone and Trögereck Nappe) are characterized by a thick succession of arkose-rich Bündnerschiefer-type sediments of probably Early Cretaceous age that we interpret as syn-rift sequence and which stratigraphically overlies thinned continental basement and thin pre-rift sediments. In contrast, the highest tectonic unit derived from Europe (Rote Wand Nappe) preserves a thick pre-rift sedimentary sequence overlying thinned continental basement, as well as a thick syn- to post-rift succession characterized by turbiditic Bündnerschiefer-type sediments of probable Cretaceous age. These observations point towards a highly segmented structure of the European rifted margin. We propose that this involved the formation of an outer margin high, partly preserved in the Rote Wand Nappe, that was separated from the main part of the European margin by a rift basin overlying strongly-thinned continental crust. The along-strike discontinuity of the Rote Wand Nappe is proposed to reflect the lateral variation in thickness of the outer margin high that resulted from margin-parallel segmentation of the European continental crust during highly oblique rifting antecedent to the opening of Alpine Tethys.
PLK1 protects intestinal barrier function during sepsis by targeting mitochondrial dynamics through TANK-NF-κB signalling
Authors: Cao Ying-Ya , Zhang Yuan , Gerile Wuyun , Guo Yan , Wu Li-Na , Wu Li-Li , Song Kai , Lu Wei-Hua , Yu Jian-Bo
Published: December 2022

Background

Intestinal barrier integrity in the pathogenesis of sepsis is critical. Despite an abundance of evidence, the molecular mechanism of the intestinal barrier in sepsis pathology remains unclear. Here, we report a protective role of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in intestinal barrier integrity during sepsis.

Methods

Mice with PLK1 overexpression (CAG-PLK1 mice) or PLK1 inhibition (BI2536-treated mice) underwent caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to establish a sepsis model. The intestinal barrier function, apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium, mitochondrial function and NF-κB signalling activity were evaluated. To suppress the activation of NF-κB signalling, the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, was administered. The Caco-2 cell line was chosen to establish an intestinal epithelial injury model in vitro.

Results

Sepsis destroyed intestinal barrier function, induced excessive apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium, and disrupted the balance of mitochondrial dynamics in wild-type mice. PLK1 overexpression alleviated sepsis-induced damage to the intestinal epithelium by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signalling. PLK1 colocalized and interacted with TANK in Caco-2 cells. Transfecting Caco-2 cells with TANK-SiRNA suppressed NF-κB signalling and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and the high permeability of cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, TANK overexpression impaired the protective effect of PLK1 on LPS-induced injuries in Caco-2 cells.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that the PLK1/TANK/NF-κB axis plays a crucial role in sepsis-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by regulating mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium and might be a potential therapeutic target in the clinic.
The potential of the EU Water Framework Directive for reducing emissions of pollutants is limited: a case study on river basin specific pollutants in Swedish environmental permitting processes
Authors: Undeman Emma , Josefsson Henrik , Ågerstrand Marlene , Sobek Anna , Nilsson Annika
Published: December 2022

River basin specific pollutants (RBSPs) are supposedly a key tool to fulfil the EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) goal of good ecological status in all European waterbodies. The RBSPs provide a tool to manage chemical pollution identified as a national priority. An important question is if the costly management related to RBSPs leads to reduced emissions, an issue we investigated here using Sweden as a case. Swedish measures implemented under the WFD mainly rely on environmental permitting and supervision. We, therefore, specifically assessed how RBSPs have influenced permit proceedings in the Land and Environment Court of Appeal, where precedents for judgements in lower courts and authorities is established, during the 2010s. Despite permit-review being an important measure highlighted in the WFD and in Swedish programs of measures, all cases appealed to higher court were initiated by the operators/permit holders. The permissibility of environmentally hazardous activities was not impacted by RBSPs in any instance. Permit conditions addressing RBSPs were discussed in ⁓1% of all environmental cases, mainly resulting in conditions demanding further inquiries regarding emissions and concentrations of a limited number of RBSPs (i.e., metals and nitrogen in the forms of nitrate and ammonia). Open-ended conditions and delegation allowing for updating permit conditions if additional RBSPs are identified were suggested but rejected by court as these conflict with fundamental principles of precision and predictability of permit conditions stated in Swedish and European law. We conclude that RBSPs as management tool has little impact on emissions from activities requiring environmental permits and thereby water quality.
Graph regularized non-negative matrix factorization with prior knowledge consistency constraint for drug–target interactions prediction
Authors: Zhang Junjun , Xie Minzhu
Published: December 2022

Background

Identifying drug–target interactions (DTIs) plays a key role in drug development. Traditional wet experiments to identify DTIs are expensive and time consuming. Effective computational methods to predict DTIs are useful to narrow the searching scope of potential drugs and speed up the process of drug discovery. There are a variety of non-negativity matrix factorization based methods to predict DTIs, but the convergence of the algorithms used in the matrix factorization are often overlooked and the results can be further improved.

Results

In order to predict DTIs more accurately and quickly, we propose an alternating direction algorithm to solve graph regularized non-negative matrix factorization with prior knowledge consistency constraint (ADA-GRMFC). Based on known DTIs, drug chemical structures and target sequences, ADA-GRMFC at first constructs a DTI matrix, a drug similarity matrix and a target similarity matrix. Then DTI prediction is modeled as the non-negative factorization of the DTI matrix with graph dual regularization terms and a prior knowledge consistency constraint. The graph dual regularization terms are used to integrate the information from the drug similarity matrix and the target similarity matrix, and the prior knowledge consistency constraint is used to ensure the matrix decomposition result should be consistent with the prior knowledge of known DTIs. Finally, an alternating direction algorithm is used to solve the matrix factorization. Furthermore, we prove that the algorithm can converge to a stationary point. Extensive experimental results of 10-fold cross-validation show that ADA-GRMFC has better performance than other state-of-the-art methods. In the case study, ADA-GRMFC is also used to predict the targets interacting with the drug olanzapine, and all of the 10 highest-scoring targets have been accurately predicted. In predicting drug interactions with target estrogen receptors alpha, 17 of the 20 highest-scoring drugs have been validated.
Exchanges of economic plants along the land silk road
Authors: Wang Guangyan , Chen Qian , Yang Ya , Duan Yuanwen , Yang Yongping
Published: December 2022

Backgroud

The greatest contribution of the Silk Road is to communicate among different countries and nationalities, and promote two-way cultural exchanges between the East and the West. We now have clearer understanding about how material civilization and religious culture of Central Asia and West Asia spread eastward along the Land Silk Road. However, there is controversial about how crops migrate along the Land Silk Road.

Results

We summarize archaeology, genetics, and genomics data to explore crop migration patterns. Of the 207 crops that were domesticated along the Land Silk Road, 19 for which genomic evidence was available were selected for discussion.

Conclusions

There were conflicting lines of evidence for the domestication of Tibetan barley, mustard, lettuce, buckwheat, and chickpea. The main reasons for the conflicting results may include incomplete early knowledge, record differences in different period, sample sizes, and data analysis techniques. There was strong evidence that Tibetan barley, barley, and wheat were introduced into China before the existence of the Land Silk Road and mustard, lettuce, buckwheat, chickpea, alfalfa, walnut, cauliflower, grape, spinach, apple, cucumber, mulberry, and pea spread via trade and human migration along the Land Silk Road.
The association between initial calculated driving pressure at the induction of general anesthesia and composite postoperative oxygen support
Authors: Hosokawa Koji , Tanaka Katsuya , Ishihara Kayo , Yamazaki Yukiko , Matsuki Yuka , Shigemi Kenji
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Early discontinuation of postoperative oxygen support (POS) would partially depend on the innate pulmonary physics. We aimed to examine if the initial driving pressure (dP) at the induction of general anesthesia (GA) predicted POS prolongation.

Methods

We conducted a single-center retrospective study using the facility's database. Consecutive subjects over 2 years were studied to determine the change in odds ratio (OR) for POS prolongation of different dP classes at GA induction. The dP (cmH2O) was calculated as the ratio of tidal volume (mL) over dynamic Crs (mL/cmH2O) regardless of the respiratory mode. The adjusted OR was calculated using the logistic regression model of multivariate analysis. Moreover, we performed a secondary subgroup analysis of age and the duration of GA.

Results

We included 5,607 miscellaneous subjects. Old age, high scores of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status, initial dP, and long GA duration were associated with prolonged POS. The dP at the induction of GA (7.78 [6.48, 9.45] in median [interquartile range]) was categorized into five classes. With the dP group of 6.5–8.3 cmH2O as the reference, high dPs of 10.3–13 cmH2O and ≥ 13 cmH2O were associated with significant prolongation of POS (adjusted OR, 1.62 [1.19, 2.20], p = 0.002 and 1.92 [1.20, 3.05], p = 0.006, respectively). The subgroup analysis revealed that the OR for prolonged POS of high dPs disappeared in the aged and ≥ 6 h anesthesia time subgroup.

Conclusions

High initial dPs ≥ 10 cmH2O at GA induction predicted longer POS than those of approximately 7 cmH2O. High initial dPs were, however, a secondary factor for prolongation of postoperative hypoxemia in old age and prolonged surgery.
Establishment of a nonshockable rhythm cardiac arrest model caused by asphyxia
Authors: Zhang Chenyu , Zhan Haohong , Zhou Dawang , Li Tian , Zhang Qiang , Liu Cong , Wei Hongyan , Hu Chunlin
Published: December 2022

Objective

Cardiac arrest (CA) is caused by a nonshockable rhythm with a low success rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and a poor prognosis. This study intended to establish a nonshockable rhythm CA model caused by asphyxia.

Materials and methods

Healthy adult male Wistar rats were injected with vecuronium bromide to induce CA. After the CA duration reached the target time point, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed. The survival status and neurological and cardiac function were evaluated after ROSC. Brain histopathology, including hematoxylin staining, Nissl staining and Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, was performed to evaluate the surviving cells and apoptotic cells. Apoptosis-related proteins after ROSC for 72 h were analyzed by western blot.

Results

CA was successfully induced in all animals. The time for the three groups of animals to PEA was 320 ± 22 s in the CA-8 group, 322 ± 28 s in the CA-12 group and 320 ± 18 s in the CA-15 group. The time to asystole was 436 ± 54 s in the CA-8 group, 438 ± 62 s in the CA-12 group and 433 ± 56 s in the CA-15 group. The NDS of rats in the CA group was significantly decreased after ROSC for 24 h. The NDS in the CA-15 group was 5–16 points, while it was 58–67 points and 15–43 points in the CA-8 and CA-12 groups, respectively. The cardiac function of animals in the CA group was impaired after ROSC, and the ejection fraction, fractional shortening, stroke volume and cardiac output, were all significantly decreased. Brain histopathology showed that the number of surviving neurons was decreased, and the number of apoptotic cells was increased in CA group, the longer the CA duration, the more apoptotic cells increased. The expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax and the apoptotic executive protein caspase3 in the hippocampus of CA rats was significantly increased, while the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was significantly reduced.

Conclusions

The use of vecuronium can successfully induce CA caused by nonshockable rhythm in rats, which will help to further study the pathophysiological changes after CA by nonshockable rhythm.
The factor structure of the cardiac anxiety questionnaire, and validation in a post-MI population
Authors: Leissner Philip , Held Claes , Rondung Elisabet , Olsson Erik M. G.
Published: December 2022

Background

CVD-patients with higher levels of cardiac anxiety suffer psychologically, as well as being at increased risk for cardiac morbidity and mortality. Therefore it is important to be able to assess CA in a clinical setting. It is currently measured with the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, which has conflicting findings regarding its factor structure, and it has not been validated in a Swedish population. This study aimed to examine the factor structure of CAQ and its psychometric properties in a Swedish CVD-population.

Methods

Nine hundred thirty patients post-MI were recruited at different Swedish hospitals and completed the CAQ, along with several other questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to explore factor structure and to inspect various factor solutions from previous research. Standard psychometric tests were performed for the CAQ to test its validity and reliability.

Results

The exploratory analysis found a model with the factors Fear/Worry, Avoidance and Attention. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a 3-factor solution best fitted the data, but with certain items removed. Additionally, psychometric properties turned out acceptable in a Swedish post-MI population.

Conclusions

We conclude that the original 3-factor structure of the CAQ is valid, but that the questionnaire could be revised in regard to some items. A shorter 10-items version could also be considered. We also confirm that the CAQ is a valid instrument to measure CA in a Swedish MI-population.

Trial registration

The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 05/01/2012 (NCT01504191).
Urogenital schistosomiasis in three different water access in the Senegal river basin: prevalence and monitoring praziquantel efficacy and re-infection levels
Authors: Senghor Bruno , Mathieu-Begné Eglantine , Rey Olivier , Doucouré Souleymane , Sow Doudou , Diop Bocar , Sène Mariama , Boissier Jérôme , Sokhna Cheikh
Published: December 2022

Background

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. In the Senegal river basin, the construction of the Diama dam led to an increase and endemicity of schistosomiasis. Since 2009, praziquantel has frequently been used as preventive chemotherapy in the form of mass administration to Senegalese school-aged children without monitoring of the treatment efficacy and the prevalence after re-infection. This study aims to determine the current prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis (caused by Schistosoma haematobium), the efficacy of praziquantel, and the re-infection rates in children from five villages with different water access.

Methods

The baseline prevalence of S. haematobium was determined in August 2020 in 777 children between 5 and 11 years old and a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) was administered to those positive. The efficacy of praziquantel and the re-infection rates were monitored 4 weeks and 7 months after treatment, respectively, in 226 children with a high intensity of infection at baseline.

Results

At the baseline, prevalence was low among children from the village of Mbane who live close to the Lac de Guiers (38%), moderate among those from the villages of Dioundou and Khodit, which neighbor the Doue river (46%), and very high at Khodit (90.6%) and Guia (91.2%) which mainly use an irrigation canal. After treatment, the observed cure rates confirmed the efficacy of praziquantel. The lowest cure rate (88.5%) was obtained in the village using the irrigation canal, while high cure rates were obtained in those using the lake (96.5%) and the river (98%). However, high egg reduction rates (between 96.7 and 99.7%) were obtained in all the villages. The re-infection was significantly higher in the village using the canal (42.5%) than in the villages accessing the Lac de Guiers (18.3%) and the Doue river (14.8%).

Conclusion

Praziquantel has an impact on reducing the prevalence and intensity of urogenital schistosomiasis. However, in the Senegal river basin, S. haematobium remains a real health problem for children living in the villages near the irrigation canals, despite regular treatment, while prevalence is declining from those frequenting the river and the Lac de Guiers.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04635553. Registered 19 November 2020 retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04635553?cntry=SN&draw=2&rank=4
Building communities of practice through case-based e-learning to prevent and manage TB among people living with HIV–India
Authors: Agarwal Reshu , Agarwal Upasna , Das Chinmoyee , Reddy Ramesh Allam , Pant Rashmi , Ho Christine , Kumar B. Ravi , Dabla Vandana , Moonan Patrick K. , Nyendak Melissa , Anand Sunil , Puri Anoop Kumar , Mattoo Sanjay K. , Sachdeva Kuldeep Singh , Yeldandi Vijay V. , Sarin Rohit
Published: December 2022

Background

Co-management of HIV-TB coinfection remains a challenge globally. Addressing TB among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is a key priority for the Government of India (GoI). In 2016, GoI implemented single-window services to prevent and manage TB in PLHIV. To strengthen HIV-TB service delivery, case-based e-learning was introduced to health care providers at Antiretroviral Therapy centres (ARTc).

Methods

We implemented a hub and spoke model to deliver biweekly, virtual, case-based e-learning at select ARTc (n = 115), from four states of India–Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. We evaluated feasibility and acceptability of case-based e-learning and its impact on professional satisfaction, self-efficacy, knowledge retention using baseline and completion surveys, session feedback, pre-and post-session assessments. We reviewed routine programmatic data and patient outcomes to assess practices among participating ARTc.

Results

Between May 2018 and September 2020, 59 sessions were conducted with mean participation of 55 spokes and 152 participants. For 95% and 88% of sessions ≥ 80% of respondents agreed that topics were clear and relevant to practice, and duration of session was appropriate, respectively. Session participants significantly improved in perceived knowledge, skills and competencies (+ 8.6%; p = 0.025), and technical knowledge (+ 18.3%; p = 0.04) from baseline. Participating ARTc increased TB screening (+ 4.2%, p < 0.0001), TB diagnosis (+ 2.7%, p < 0.0001), ART initiation (+ 4.3%, p < 0.0001) and TB preventive treatment completion (+ 5.2%, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Case-based e-learning is an acceptable and effective modus of capacity building and developing communities of practice to strengthen integrated care. E-learning could address demand for accessible and sustainable continuing professional education to manage complex diseases, and thereby enhance health equity. We recommend expansion of this initiative across the country for management of co-morbidities as well as other communicable and non-communicable diseases to augment the existing capacity building interventions by provide continued learning and routine mentorship through communities of practice.
Cerebral infarct induced by severe leptospirosis-a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhu Zhongli , Feng Jian , Dong Yong , Jiang Bin , Wang Xiong , Li Fuxiang
Published: December 2022

Background

Although most leptospirosis is mild, the severe form can cause multiple complications, with a fatality rate of over 50% even with ICU support. The clinical manifestations of leptospirosis vary depending on organs and tissues involved. Both cerebral artery and coronary artery can be damaged by leptospirosis. Although cerebral arteritis induced by leptospirosis has been reported, cerebral infarction caused by leptospirosis is rarely reported.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 79-year-old man admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) because of 3 days duration of fever, bloody sputum and dyspnea. Five days before he was admitted to hospital, he had harvested rice in flooded fields. After admission, leptospira interrogans DNA sequence was identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) showed the serum antibody of Mini serovars was 1,600 and Hebdomadis serovars was 800. On the eighth day of admission, the patient noted left hemiplegia. Cranial CT scan revealed low-density shadow in the right basal ganglia, so cerebral infarction was diagnosed. The patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated and he died on the eleventh day of admission despite penicillin treatment, invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement support.

Conclusion

Neurologic leptospirosis manifested as cerebral occlusion, although rare, might be deadly and should not be ignored.