bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic dissection of maize plant architecture using a novel nested association mapping population
Authors: Zhao Sheng , Li Xueying , Song Junfeng , Li Huimin , Zhao Xiaodi , Zhang Peng , Li Zhimin , Tian Zhiqiang , Lv Meng , Deng Ce , Ai Tangshun , Chen Gengshen , Zhang Hui , Hu Jianlin , Xu Zhijun , Chen Jiafa , Ding Junqiang , Song Weibin , Chang Yuxiao
Published: December 2021

The leaf angle (LA), plant height (PH), and ear height (EH) are key plant architectural traits influencing maize (Zea mays L.) yield. However, their genetic determinants have not yet been well‐characterized. Here, we developed a maize advanced backcross‐nested association mapping population in Henan Agricultural University (HNAU‐NAM1) comprised of 1,625 BC1F4/BC2F4 lines. These were obtained by crossing a diverse set of 12 representative inbred lines with the common GEMS41 line, which were then genotyped using the MaizeSNP9.4K array. Genetic diversity and phenotypic distribution analyses showed considerable levels of genetic variation. We obtained 18–88 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with LA, PH, and EH by using three complementary mapping methods, named as separate linkage mapping, joint linkage mapping, and genome‐wide association studies. Our analyses enabled the identification of ten QTL hot‐spot regions associated with the three traits, which were distributed on nine different chromosomes. We further selected 13 major QTLs that were simultaneously detected by three methods and deduced the candidate genes, of which eight were not reported before. The newly constructed HNAU‐NAM1 population in this study will further broaden our insights into understanding of genetic regulation of plant architecture, thus will help to improve maize yield and provide an invaluable resource for maize functional genomics and breeding research.
Bioremediation of trichloroethylene‐polluted groundwater using emulsified castor oil for slow carbon release and acidification control
Authors: Chen Wei‐Ting , Chen Ku‐Fan , Surmpalli Rao Y. , Zhang Tian C. , Ou Jiun‐Hau , Kao Chih‐Ming
Published: December 2021

In this study, the emulsified castor oil (ECO) substrate was developed for a long‐term supplement of biodegradable carbon with pH buffering capacity to anaerobically bioremediate trichloroethylene (TCE)‐polluted groundwater. The ECO was produced by mixing castor oil, surfactants (sapindales and soya lecithin [SL]), vitamin complex, and a citrate/sodium phosphate dibasic buffer system together for slow carbon release. Results of the emulsification experiments and microcosm tests indicate that ECO emulsion had uniform small droplets (diameter = 539 nm) with stable oil‐in‐water characteristics. ECO had a long‐lasting, dispersive, negative zeta potential (−13 mv), and biodegradable properties (viscosity = 357 cp). Approximately 97% of TCE could be removed with ECO supplement after a 95‐day operational period without the accumulation of TCE dechlorination byproducts (dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride). The buffer system could neutralize acidified groundwater, and citrate could be served as a primary substrate. ECO addition caused an abrupt TCE adsorption at the initial stage and the subsequent removal of adsorbed TCE. Results from the next generation sequences and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicate that the increased microbial communities and TCE‐degrading bacterial consortia were observed after ECO addition. ECO could be used as a pH‐control and carbon substrate to enhance anaerobic TCE biodegradation effectively.

Practitioner Points

Emulsified castor oil (ECO) contains castor oil, surfactants, and buffer for a slow carbon release and pH control.

ECO can be a long‐term carbon source for trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination without causing acidification.

TCE removal after ECO addition is due to adsorption and reductive dechlorination mechanisms.
Constructing and Complicating Physical Wholeness
Authors: Sweet Ryan
Published: December 2021

This chapter explores the construction of the concept of physical wholeness and the way in which fears of physical loss were perpetuated. The chapter addresses nineteenth-century contexts such as changing understandings of the human condition, new models of work, and changes in legislation. It considers these factors alongside analyses of literary texts that stimulated anxiety regarding the neurological impact of body loss, including Frederick Marryat’sJacob Faithful(1834) and Silas Weir Mitchell’s “The Case of George Dedlow” (1866). The chapter ends by investigating how the burgeoning prosthesis market reinforced preferences for physical normalcy in advertisements as it exploited them for capitalist ends.
“Losing a Leg to Gain a Wife”: Marriage, Gender, and the Prosthetic Body Part
Authors: Sweet Ryan
Published: December 2021

This chapter traces representations of male and female prosthesis users in the marriage plot, the nineteenth-century narrative form most heavily populated by users of prosthetic devices. Building on the work of scholars such as Martha Stoddard Holmes and Talia Schaffer, who expose the important roles that disabled characters perform in Victorian marriage plots, this chapter identifies the prosthesis-marriage plot as a related yet separately identifiable formulaic plot structure. As the chapter argues, when viewed collectively, and at times also individually, prosthesis-marriage plots present unstable affective and imaginative treatments of prosthesis users. These representations shed light on the complex ways in which discourses of gender, class, and ableism intersect and how, in particular instances, the bodily status quo is challenged, brought into question, or even outright rejected.
Entangled Bystanders: Multidimensional Trauma of Ethnic Cleansing and Mass Violence in Eastern Galicia
Authors: Wylegała Anna
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on the multidimensional trauma of witnesses to mass ethnic violence. The author analyzes the personal experiences of civilians during World War II in Eastern Galicia (once a multi-ethnic borderland region: before 1939 in Poland, now in Ukraine). What makes Galicia an exceptional case study is the continuity of mass violence of different kinds and against different groups of the population: Soviet repression and mass killings, the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing of Poles committed by Ukrainian nationalists, and conflict between Soviet authorities and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Drawing on existing concepts from the field of bystanders’ studies, for example, Michael Rothberg’s implicated subject and Omer Bartov’s communal genocide, the author proposes to understand the trauma of Galician bystanders as a complex and multidimensional experience, psychological as well as collective and communal.
Deep Learning for the classification of quenched jets
Authors: Apolinário L. , Castro N. F. , Romão M. Crispim , Milhano J. G. , Pedro R. , Peres F. C. R.
Published: December 2021

Abstract

An important aspect of the study of Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) in ultrarelativistic collisions of heavy ions is the ability to identify, in experimental data, a subset of the jets that were strongly modified by the interaction with the QGP. In this work, we propose studying Deep Learning techniques for this purpose. Samples of Z+jet events were simulated in vacuum (pp collisions) and medium (PbPb collisions) and used to train Deep Neural Networks with the objective of discriminating between medium- and vacuum-like jets within the medium (PbPb) sample. Dedicated Convolutional Neural Networks, Dense Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks were developed and trained, and their performance was studied. Our results show the potential of these techniques for the identification of jet quenching effects induced by the presence of the QGP.
Sprachtherapeutische Versorgung 4-jähriger Kinder in Hessen: ein Überblick
Authors: Zaretsky E. , van Minnen S. , Lange B. P. , Hey C.
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund

Eine verspätete Erkennung bzw. versäumte Intervention bei Sprachentwicklungsstörungen beeinträchtigen den schulischen und beruflichen Werdegang. Aufgrund ungünstiger soziodemografischer Bedingungen (mangelhafte Deutschkenntnisse der Eltern, niedriges familiäres Einkommen etc.) sowie medizinischer Auffälligkeiten sind zunehmend viele Kinder in ihrer Sprachentwicklung gefährdet.

Ziel der Arbeit

Im Rahmen einer hessischen Sprachstanderfassungsstudie wurde geprüft, inwiefern 4‑jährige Kinder mit (KMM) und ohne Migrationshintergrund (KOM) sprachtherapeutisch versorgt wurden, und wie diese Therapien motiviert waren.

Material und Methoden

Vierjährige Kindergartenkinder (n = 1384) wurden mit dem Sprachtest KiSS.2 untersucht. Beide Untergruppen (KMM und KOM) wurden hinsichtlich sprachbezogener Störungsbilder und sprachtherapeutischer Versorgung verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt nahmen 8 % aller Kinder an Sprachtherapien teil. KMM waren fast doppelt so häufig klinisch abklärungsbedürftig wie KOM (21 % vs. 11 %). Bei KOM wurden dagegen mehr sprachbezogene Störungsbilder (z. B. häufige Mittelohrentzündungen) bereits vor der Studienteilnahme diagnostiziert. Klinisch abklärungsbedürftige KOM befanden sich daher häufiger in einer Sprachtherapie als KMM (37 % vs. 23 %).

Diskussion

Es fanden sich Hinweise für Diskrepanzen zwischen Sprachtherapiebedarf und sprachtherapeutischer Versorgung von bestimmten Untergruppen der 4‑jährigen Kinder. Evidenzbasierte, flächendeckende Sprachstanderfassungsprogramme können dazu beitragen, dass bei der Einteilung der Kinder in sprachförder- und sprachtherapiebedürftige weniger falsch-positive bzw. -negative Ergebnisse erzielt werden.
The damping properties of the foam-filled shaft of primary feathers of the pigeon Columba livia
Authors: Deng K. , Kovalev A. , Rajabi H. , Schaber C. F. , Dai Z. D. , Gorb S. N.
Published: December 2021

The avian feather combines mechanical properties of robustness and flexibility while maintaining a low weight. Under periodic and random dynamic loading, the feathers sustain bending forces and vibrations during flight. Excessive vibrations can increase noise, energy consumption, and negatively impact flight stability. However, damping can alter the system response, and result in increased stability and reduced noise. Although the structure of feathers has already been studied, little is known about their damping properties. In particular, the link between the structure of shafts and their damping is unknown. This study aims at understanding the structure-damping relationship of the shafts. For this purpose, laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) was used to measure the damping properties of the feather shaft in three segments selected from the base, middle, and tip. A combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (µCT) was used to investigate the gradient microstructure of the shaft. The results showed the presence of two fundamental vibration modes, when mechanically excited in the horizontal and vertical directions. It was also found that the base and middle parts of the shaft have higher damping ratios than the tip, which could be attributed to their larger foam cells, higher foam/cortex ratio, and higher percentage of foam. This study provides the first indication of graded damping properties in feathers.
The utility of prostate MRI within active surveillance: description of the evidence
Authors: Dominique Georgina , Brisbane Wayne G. , Reiter Robert E.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

We present an overview of the literature regarding the use of MRI in active surveillance of prostate cancer.

Methods

Both MEDLINE® and Cochrane Library were queried up to May 2020 for studies of men on active surveillance with MRI and later confirmatory biopsy. The terms studied were ‘prostate cancer’ as the anchor followed by two of the following: active surveillance, surveillance, active monitoring, MRI, NMR, magnetic resonance imaging,  MRI, and multiparametric MRI. Studies were excluded if pathologic reclassification (GG1 →  ≥ GG2) and PI-RADS or equivalent was not reported.

Results

Within active surveillance, baseline MRI is effective for identifying clinically significant prostate cancer and thus associated with fewer reclassification events. A positive initial MRI (≥ PI-RADS 3) with GG1 identified at biopsy has a positive predictive value (PPV) of 35–40% for reclassification by 3 years. MRI possessed a stronger negative predictive value, with a negative MRI (≤ PI-RADS 2) yielding a negative predictive value of up to 85% at 3 years. Surveillance MRI, obtained after initial biopsy, yielded a PPV of 11–65% and NPV of 85–95% for reclassification.

Conclusion

MRI is useful for initial risk stratification of prostate cancer in men on active surveillance, especially if MRI is negative when imaging is obtained during surveillance. While useful, MRI cannot replace biopsy and further research is necessary to fully integrate MRI into active surveillance.
Palaeoenvironmental context and significance of ferruginous tubular bioforms and other authigenic mineral formations in source-to-sink sedimentary systems
Authors: López-Pérez A. E. , Rubio B. , Rey D. , Plaza-Morlote M.
Published: December 2021

Surficial sediments on the seafloor from passive continental margins can provide insight into recent Late Quaternary sedimentary dynamics acting over offshore sedimentary systems. This work focuses on the study of some particular ferruginous tubular structures resembling bioforms (FTB) located in the distal Galician Continental Margin (NW Iberian Margin) at water depths between ~ 1550 and ~ 2200 m. The characterisation of these structures made it possible to study in depth their formation environment and subsequent sedimentary evolution during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The FTB consist of goethite with a framboidal texture. They were interpreted as formed by an initial pyrite precipitation in reducing microenvironments conditioned by the activity of sediment-dwelling organisms during the early diagenesis. This is followed by the oxidation of pyrite by a combination of hydrothermal fluids and erosional processes, which triggers the formation of the framboidal oxyhydroxides. The data allowed obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the environmental context and the significance of these ferruginous tubules, as there are no previous studies in the scientific literature that describe these structures in a source-to-sink sedimentary system.
Ultra-processed food consumption in adults across Europe
Authors: Mertens Elly , Colizzi Chiara , Peñalvo José L.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to
describe ultra-processed food and drinks (UPFDs) consumption, and associations with intake of total sugar and dietary fibre, and high BMI in adults across Europe.

Methods

Using food consumption data collected by food records or 24-h dietary recalls available from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, the foods consumed were classified by the level of processing using the NOVA classification. Diet quality was assessed by data linkage to the Dutch food composition tables (NEVO) and years lived with disability for high BMI from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Bivariate groupings were carried out to explore associations of UPFDs consumption with population intake of sugar and dietary fibre, and BMI burden, visualised by scatterplots.

Results

The energy share from UPFDs varied markedly across the 22 European countries included, ranging from 14 to 44%, being the lowest in Italy and Romania, while the highest in the UK and Sweden. An overall modest decrease (2–15%) in UPFDs consumption is observed over time, except for Finland, Spain and the UK reporting increases (3–9%). Fine bakery wares and soft drinks were most frequently ranked as the main contributor. Countries with a higher sugar intake reported also a higher energy share from UPFDs, as most clearly observed for UPF (r = 0.57, p value = 0.032 for men; and r = 0.53, p value = 0.061 for women). No associations with fibre intake or high BMI were observed.

Conclusion

Population-level UPFDs consumption substantially varied across Europe, although main contributors are similar. UPFDs consumption was not observed to be associated with country-level burden of high BMI, despite being related to a higher total sugar intake.
Fractures and skin lesions in pediatric abusive head trauma: a forensic multi-center study
Authors: Feld Katharina , Ricken Tim , Feld Dustin , Helmus Janine , Hahnemann Maria , Schenkl Sebastian , Muggenthaler Holger , Pfeiffer Heidi , Banaschak Sibylle , Karger Bernd , Wittschieber Daniel
Published: December 2021

Abusive head trauma (AHT) and its most common variant, the shaken baby syndrome (SBS), are predominantly characterized by central nervous system-associated lesions. Relatively little data are available on the value of skeletal and skin injuries for the diagnosis of SBS or AHT. Thus, the present study retrospectively investigated 72 cases of living children diagnosed with the explicit diagnosis of SBS during medico-legal examinations at three German university institutes of legal medicine. The risk of circular reasoning was reduced by the presence of 15 cases with confession by perpetrators. Accordingly, the comparison with the 57 non-confession cases yielded no significant differences. Skeletal survey by conventional projection radiography, often incomplete, was found to be performed in 78% of the cases only. Fractures were found in 32% of the cases. The skull (43%) and ribs (48%) were affected most frequently; only 8% of the cases showed classic metaphyseal lesions. In 48% of the cases, healing fractures were present. Skin lesions (hematomas and abrasions) were found in 53% of the cases with the face (76%), scalp (26%), and trunk (50%) being the major sites. In 48% of the cases, healing skin lesions were observed. Nearly 80% of the cases with fractures also showed skin lesions. The data prove that SBS is frequently accompanied by other forms of physical abuse. Therefore, skeletal survey is indispensable and should always be done completely and according to existing imaging guidelines if child abuse is suspected.
Association between inflammatory biomarkers and acute respiratory distress syndrome or acute lung injury risk
Authors: Liu Zhenfeng , Liu Daishun , Wang Zhihua , Zou Yugang , Wang Haixia , Li Xiao , Zheng Deliang , Zhou Guoqi
Published: December 2021

Background

The relationship between acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI) and levels of certain inflammatory factors remains controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize the available studies evaluating the association between levels of inflammatory factors and ARDS/ALI incidence.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane databases for studies published up to July 2017. For each inflammatory factor, a random effects model was employed to pool results from different studies.

Results

We identified 63 studies that included 6243 patients in our meta-analysis. Overall, the results indicated that the levels of angiopoietin (ANG)-2 (standard mean difference, SMD: 1.34; P < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-1β (SMD: 0.92; P = 0.012), IL‑6 (SMD: 0.66; P = 0.005), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (SMD: 0.98; P = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with ARDS/ALI than in unaffected individuals. No significant differences were observed between patients with ARDS/ALI and unaffected individuals in terms of the levels of IL‑8 (SMD: 0.61; P = 0.159), IL-10 (SMD: 1.10; P = 0.231), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 (SMD: 0.70; P = 0.060).

Conclusions

ARDS/ALI is associated with a significantly elevated levels of ANG‑2, IL-1β, IL‑6, and TNF‑α, but not with IL‑8, IL-10, and PAI‑1 levels.
The prevalence of CT-defined low skeletal muscle mass in patients with metastatic cancer: a cross-sectional multicenter French study (the SCAN study)
Authors: Raynard Bruno , Pigneur Frederic , Di Palma Mario , Deluche Elise , Goldwasser François
Published: December 2021

Background

Cachexia, characterized by involuntary muscle mass loss, negatively impacts survival outcomes, treatment tolerability, and functionality in cancer patients. However, there is a limited appreciation of the true prevalence of low muscle mass due to inconsistent diagnostic methods and limited oncologist awareness.

Methods

Twenty-nine French healthcare establishments participated in this cross-sectional study, recruiting patients with those metastatic cancers most frequently encountered in routine practice (colon, breast, kidney, lung, prostate). The primary outcome was low skeletal muscle mass prevalence, as diagnosed by estimating the skeletal mass index (SMI) in the middle of the third-lumbar vertebrae (L3) level via computed tomography (CT). Other objectives included an evaluation of nutritional management, physical activity, and toxicities related to ongoing treatment.

Results

Seven hundred sixty-six patients (49.9% males) were enrolled with a mean age of 65.0 years. Low muscle mass prevalence was 69.1%. Only one-third of patients with low skeletal muscle mass were receiving nutritional counselling and only 28.4% were under nutritional management (oral supplements, enteral or parenteral nutrition). Physicians highly underdiagnosed those patients identified with low skeletal muscle mass, as defined by the primary objective, by 74.3% and 44.9% in obese and non-obese patients, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed a lower risk of low skeletal muscle mass for females (OR: 0.22, P < 0.01) and those without brain metastasis (OR: 0.34, P < 0.01). Low skeletal muscle mass patients were more likely to have delayed treatment administration due to toxicity (11.9% versus 6.8%, P = 0.04).

Conclusions

There is a critical need to raise awareness of low skeletal muscle mass diagnosis among oncologists, and for improvements in nutritional management and physical therapies of cancer patients to curb potential cachexia. This calls for cross-disciplinary collaborations among oncologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and radiologists.
Counter-reporting sustainability from the bottom up: the case of the construction company WeBuild and dam-related conflicts
Authors: Bontempi Antonio , Del Bene Daniela , Di Felice Louisa Jane
Published: December 2021

Controversies around large-scale development projects offer many cases and insights which may be analyzed through the lenses of corporate social (ir)responsibility (CSIR) and business ethics studies. In this paper, we confront the CSR narratives and strategies of WeBuild (formerly known as Salini Impregilo), an Italian transnational construction company. Starting from the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice (EJAtlas), we collect evidence from NGOs, environmental justice organizations, journalists, scholars, and community leaders on socio-environmental injustices and controversies surrounding 38 large hydropower schemes built by the corporation throughout the last century. As a counter-reporting exercise, we code (un)sustainability discourses from a plurality of sources, looking at their discrepancy under the critical lenses of post-normal science and political ecology, with environmental justice as a normative framework. Our results show how the mismatch of narratives can be interpreted by considering the voluntary, self-reporting, non-binding nature of CSR accounting performed by a corporation wishing to grow in a global competitive market. Contributing to critical perspectives on political CS(I)R, we question the reliability of current CSR mechanisms and instruments, calling for the inclusion of complexity dimensions in and a re-politicization of CS(I)R accounting and ethics. We argue that the fields of post-normal science and political ecology can contribute to these goals.
Disruptive Technologies for Achieving Supply Chain Resilience in COVID-19 Era: An Implementation Case Study of Satellite Imagery and Blockchain Technologies in Fish Supply Chain
Authors: Sengupta Tuhin , Narayanamurthy Gopalakrishnan , Moser Roger , Pereira Vijay , Bhattacharjee Devleena
Published: December 2021

In supply chains where stakeholders belong to the economically disadvantaged segment and form an important part of the supply chain distribution, the complexities grow manifold. Fisheries in developing nations are one such sector where the complexity is not only due to the produce being perishable but also due to the livelihood dependence of others in the coastal regions that belong to the section of economically disadvantaged. This paper explains the contextual challenges of fish supply chain in a developing country and describes how integrating disruptive technologies can address those challenges. Through a positive deviance approach, we show how firms can help unorganized supply chains with economically disadvantaged suppliers by carefully redesigning the supply chain through the integration of satellite imagery and blockchain technology. With COVID-19 in the backdrop, we highlight how such technologies significantly improves the supply chain resilience and at the same time contributes to the income generating opportunities of poor fisherfolks in developing nations. Our study has important implications to both developing markets and food supply chain practitioners as this paper tackles issues such as perishability, demand-supply mismatch, unfair prices, and quality related data transparency in the entire value chain.
Long-term trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and predictive value of first dose vaccination-induced IgG-antibodies in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Tillmann F. P. , Still H. , von Landenberg Philipp
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The predictive value of antibody titers after the first SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and long-term trajectories of antibody titers in hemodialysis patients are unknown.

Methods

SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and their neutralizing effect six weeks after the first and second vaccination were analysed in 30 hemodialysis patients. IgG titers served to classify participants as responders or non-responders and to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Associations between potential risk factors and post-vaccine non-response were analysed by Mann–Whitney-U test and Chi-Squared test. Long-term follow-up analysis (ANOVA) on the evolution of neutralizing IgG-titers was performed in 24 participants 94 and 135 days after the second immunization.

Results

IgG antibodies ≥ 1 AU/L (mean 9 ± 20 AU/L) after the first dose were found in 20 patients (66.7%). After the second dose only two participants (6.7%) remained sero-negative and 16.6% showed neutralizing levels below 30%, whereas 25 patients showed IgG antibodies with the high neutralizing activity of 86 ± 18%. Positive IgG antibodies 6 weeks after the first vaccination predicted vaccination effectiveness after two cycles with a specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 76%, and accuracy of 87%. Even low-dose immunosuppressive therapy increased the relative risk for non-response after the first and second dose 1.9 (95% CI 0.8–4.6) and 4.9 (95% CI 1.0–23.8) times, respectively. Over a period of about 4.5 months IgG titers slowly declined by 51% from baseline or by 0.45 AU/mL per day, respectively.

Conclusion

Two cycles of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-induced high seroconversion rates comparable to the general population. Immunosuppressive medication is a major risk factor for vaccination non-response. Mounted IgG antibodies showed a high neutralizing capacity as evidence of protective effectiveness. IgG antibodies after the first dose may serve to predict later vaccination outcome. Patients on dialysis display a more rapid decline in antibody titers on long-term follow-up compared to healthy controls.
Intradialytic nutrition and quality of life in Chilean older patients in hemodialysis with protein-energy wasting
Authors: Ayala Mariana , Marchant Margarita , Hertz Cristina , Castillo Gloria
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study assessed the impact of intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation on the quality of life in patients receiving hemodialysis and diagnosed with protein energy wasting.

Methods

A pre-test post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted before and after 3 months of intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation on 109 older hemodialysis patients. We measured before and after 3 months of intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation, the quality of life score, the burden of kidney disease, three quality of life scales and the mental and physical health status using KDQoL-SF™ 1.3, body composition and biochemical parameters of nutritional condition.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 69.4 ± 3.4 years, 59% were male, and the time on dialysis was 63.5 ± 52.6 months. Comparing the baseline with month 3 of intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation, we observed to better quality of life. In contrast to malnutrition, score, specifically increased significantly score of symptoms/problems list related to hemodialysis, sexual function, social and cognitive function, sleep, pain, energy/fatigue and general state of health. Significant changes were also found in nutritional status, energy intake and body composition indicators. After 3 months of intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation, we observed a nutritional status recovery in one or more indicators in 92% of the patients.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that 3 months of intradialysis oral nutritional supplementation improves the components of physical and mental quality of life and nutritional status in older patients receiving hemodialysis diagnosed with loss of protein energy. These results are relevant to improve the experience of patients with protein energy loss receiving hemodialysis.
Integrating water quality index, GIS and multivariate statistical techniques towards a better understanding of drinking water quality
Authors: Masood Adil , Aslam Mohammad , Pham Quoc Bao , Khan Warish , Masood Sarfaraz
Published: December 2021

Groundwater is considered as an imperative component of the accessible water assets across the world. Due to urbanization, industrialization and intensive farming practices, the groundwater resources have been exposed to large-scale depletion and quality degradation. The prime objective of this study was to evaluate the groundwater quality for drinking purposes in Mewat district of Haryana, India. For this purpose, twenty-five groundwater samples were collected from hand pumps and tube wells spread over the entire district. Samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), turbidity, total alkalinity (TA), cations and anions in the laboratory using the standard methods. Two different water quality indices (weighted arithmetic water quality index and entropy weighted water quality index) were computed to characterize the groundwater quality of the study area. Ordinary Kriging technique was applied to generate spatial distribution map of the WQIs. Four semivariogram models, i.e. circular, spherical, exponential and Gaussian were used and found to be the best fit for analyzing the spatial variability in terms of weighted arithmetic index (GWQI) and entropy weighted water quality index (EWQI). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) were applied to provide additional scientific insights into the information content of the groundwater quality data available for this study. The interpretation of WQI analysis based on GWQI and EWQI reveals that 64% of the samples belong to the “poor” to “very poor” bracket. The result for the semivariogram modeling also shows that Gaussian model obtains the best fit for both EWQI and GWQI dataset. HCA classified 25 sampling locations into three main clusters of similar groundwater characteristics. DA validated these clusters and identified a total of three significant variables (pH, EC and Cl) by adopting stepwise method. The application of PCA resulted in three factors explaining 69.81% of the total variance. These factors reveal how processes like rock water interaction, urban waste discharge and mineral dissolution affect the groundwater quality.
Circulating testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone are associated with individual motor unit features in untrained and highly active older men
Authors: Guo Yuxiao , Piasecki Jessica , Swiecicka Agnieszka , Ireland Alex , Phillips Bethan E. , Atherton Philip J. , Stashuk Daniel , Rutter Martin K. , McPhee Jamie S. , Piasecki Mathew
Published: December 2021

Long-term exercise training has been considered as an effective strategy to counteract age-related hormonal declines and minimise muscle atrophy. However, human data relating circulating hormone levels with motor nerve function are scant. The aims of the study were to explore associations between circulating sex hormone levels and motor unit (MU) characteristics in older men, including masters athletes competing in endurance and power events. Forty-three older men (mean ± SD age: 69.9 ± 4.6 years) were studied based on competitive status. The serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), total testosterone (T) and estradiol were quantified using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Intramuscular electromyographic signals were recorded from vastus lateralis (VL) during 25% of maximum voluntary isometric contractions and processed to extract MU firing rate (FR), and motor unit potential (MUP) features. After adjusting for athletic status, MU FR was positively associated with DHEA levels (p = 0.019). Higher testosterone and estradiol were associated with lower MUP complexity; these relationships remained significant after adjusting for athletic status (p = 0.006 and p = 0.019, respectively). Circulating DHEA was positively associated with MU firing rate in these older men. Higher testosterone levels were associated with reduced MUP complexity, indicating reduced electrophysiological temporal dispersion, which is related to decreased differences in conduction times along axonal branches and/or MU fibres. Although evident in males only, this work highlights the potential of hormone administration as a therapeutic interventional strategy specifically targeting human motor units in older age.
Quantification and analysis of surface macroplastic contamination on arable areas
Authors: Stefano Nikolas , Pleissner Daniel
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The present study provides quantitative data on the degree of macroplastic contamination of two conventionally treated arable areas in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), which differ only in the use of organic fertilizers (e.g., compost).

Methods

The plastic contamination of both areas was determined by means of field sampling. The study areas were divided into edge and central areas to minimize and identify direct influences from the boundaries. After cleaning and drying, the collected macroplastic particles were analyzed by phototechnical and optical methods for number and size of particles.

Results

The arable area with compost fertilization showed a substantially higher macroplastic pollution with 9247 particles per hectare compared to the 220 particles per hectare found on the arable land without compost application. Furthermore, the differences in plastic forms and types on both areas, the presence of plastic directly related to household and garden products, and the homogeneous distribution of plastic particles on the arable area with compost application allow to conclude that compost can be regarded as reason for substantially higher pollution. Areas close to a road showed a higher degree of contamination and differences in the found plastic products compared to the center areas, which indicates littering as a further considerable entry path.

Conclusions

The causes of plastic contamination of the investigated arable areas (e.g., contaminated compost by improper waste management and littering) are predominantly external to agricultural practices. The knowledge gained contributes to the knowledge about quantities, impacts, and fate of plastic in the environment.
Work Addiction and Work Engagement: a Network Approach to Cross-Cultural Data
Authors: Bereznowski Piotr , Bereznowska Aleksandra , Atroszko Paweł A. , Konarski Roman
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate direct relationships of work addiction symptoms with dimensions of work engagement. We used three samples in which work addiction was measured with the Bergen Work Addiction Scale and work engagement was measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. One sample comprised responses from working Norwegians (n1 = 776), and two samples comprised responses from working Poles (n2 = 719; n3 = 715). We jointly estimated three networks using the fused graphic lasso method. Additionally, we estimated the stability of each network, node centrality, and node predictability and quantitatively compared all networks. The results showed that absorption and mood modification could constitute a bridge between work addiction and work engagement. It suggests that further investigation of properties of absorption and mood modification might be crucial for answering the question of how engaged workers become addicted to work.
Effect of steady-state response versus excitatory/inhibitory balance on spiking synchronization in neural networks with log-normal synaptic weight distribution
Authors: Nobukawa Sou , Wagatsuma Nobuhiko , Ikeda Takashi , Hasegawa Chiaki , Kikuchi Mitsuru , Takahashi Tetsuya
Published: December 2021

Synchronization of neural activity, especially at the gamma band, contributes to perceptual functions. In several psychiatric disorders, deficits of perceptual functions are reflected in synchronization abnormalities. Plausible cause of this impairment is an alteration in the balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I balance); a disruption in the E/I balance leads to abnormal neural interactions reminiscent of pathological states. Moreover, the local lateral excitatory-excitatory synaptic connections in the cortex exhibit excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that follow a log-normal amplitude distribution. This long-tailed distribution is considered an important factor for the emergence of spatiotemporal neural activity. In this context, we hypothesized that manipulating the EPSP distribution under abnormal E/I balance conditions would provide insights into psychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in perceptual functions, potentially revealing the mechanisms underlying pathological neural behaviors. In this study, we evaluated the synchronization of neural activity with external periodic stimuli in spiking neural networks in cases of both E/I balance and imbalance with or without a long-tailed EPSP amplitude distribution. The results showed that external stimuli of a high frequency lead to a decrease in the degree of synchronization with an increasing ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurons in the presence, but not in the absence, of high-amplitude EPSPs. This monotonic reduction can be interpreted as an autonomous, strong-EPSP-dependent spiking activity selectively interfering with the responses to external stimuli. This observation is consistent with pathological findings. Thus, our modeling approach has potential to improve the understanding of the steady-state response in both healthy and pathological states.
Ruminative reflection is associated with anticorrelations between the orbitofrontal cortex and the default mode network in depression: implications for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Ehrlich Tobin J. , Bhat Jyoti , Horwege Andrea M. , Mathalon Daniel H. , Glover Gary H. , Roach Brian J. , Badran Bashar W. , Forman Steven D. , George Mark S. , Scott J. Cobb , Thase Michael E. , Yesavage Jerome A. , Yurgelun-Todd Deborah A. , Rosen Allyson C.
Published: December 2021

Patients with depression who ruminate repeatedly focus on depressive thoughts; however, there are two cognitive subtypes of rumination, reflection and brooding, each associated with different prognoses. Reflection involves problem-solving and is associated with positive outcomes, whereas brooding involves passive, negative, comparison with other people and is associated with poor outcomes. Rumination has also been related to atypical functional hyperconnectivity between the default mode network and subgenual prefrontal cortex. Repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation of the prefrontal cortex has been shown to alter functional connectivity, suggesting that the abnormal connectivity associated with rumination could potentially be altered. This study examined potential repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation prefrontal cortical targets that could modulate one or both of these rumination subtypes. Forty-three patients who took part in a trial of repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation completed the Rumination Response Scale questionnaire and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Seed to voxel functional connectivity analyses identified an anticorrelation between the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (−44, 26, −8;k = 172) with the default mode network-subgenual region in relation to higher levels of reflection. Parallel analyses were not significant for brooding or the RRS total score. These findings extend previous studies of rumination and identify a potential mechanistic model for symptom-based neuromodulation of rumination.
Personal experience, posttraumatic symptomatology, and meaning in life during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Arredondo A. Y. , Caparrós B.
Published: December 2021

Background

The traumatic subjective distress and personal meaning in life were examined in the context of the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic sanitary crisis and home lockdown. Method: A total of 543 participants answered an online survey that included questions about the individual characteristics of the pandemic experience, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Personal Meaning Profile-Brief. Results: Nearly all of life impaired areas, having the suspicion of being ill with COVID-19, having lost a close person to this virus, and having been accompanied during the lockdown were experiences associated with higher PTSD symptoms. Posttraumatic symptomatology was inversely correlated with areas of meaning in life. Lastly, a higher number of affected areas and a negative subjective lockdown circumstance explained greater total PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: Specific pandemic experiences and lockdown circumstances affected the presence of posttraumatic symptoms. The personal meaning of life seems to be involved in the process of less adverse traumatic consequences.
Insights into the generation of hydroxyl radicals from H2O2 decomposition by the combination of Fe2+ and chloranilic acid
Authors: Ahmad M. I. , Bensalah N.
Published: December 2021

In this work, the degradation of chloranilic acid (CAA) by chemical oxidation with H2O2 alone and in the presence of ferrous iron Fe2+ catalyst was investigated in order to improve our understanding on the novel metal-independent approach. The interesting and efficient metal-independent hydroxyl radicals (OH) production by using halogenated quinones and H2O2 has been currently demonstrated. The results clearly confirmed the formation of OH radicals from the reaction of CAA with H2O2. CAA was slowly decayed by chemical oxidation with H2O2 and followed a pseudo-first kinetics. H2O2 doses ≥ 1000 mM were required to achieve complete CAA decay from 1 mM CAA. However, low total organic carbon (TOC) removal was measured with the accumulation of carboxylic acids. The addition of Fe2+ enhanced the kinetics of CAA degradation and reduced the required dose of H2O2. High TOC removal was obtained, almost complete release of chloride ions, without accumulation of carboxylic acids. The decolorization of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solutions was performed using H2O2, H2O2/CAA, H2O2/Fe2+, and H2O2/CAA/Fe2+. H2O2/CAA/Fe2+ was the most effective method in decolorizing MB solutions due to the accelerated Fe2+ regeneration. Coupling Fenton reagent with CAA seems to be promising alternative to physical activation in water and soil treatment.
Aut-invariant quasimorphisms on free products
Authors: Karlhofer Bastien
Published: December 2021

Let$$G=A *B$$G=A∗Bbe a free product of freely indecomposable groups. We explicitly construct quasimorphisms onGwhich are invariant with respect to all automorphisms ofG. We also prove that the space of such quasimorphisms is infinite-dimensional wheneverGis not the infinite dihedral group. As an application we prove that an invariant analogue of stable commutator length recently introduced by Kawasaki and Kimura is non-trivial for these groups.
Post-Synthetic and In Situ Vacancy Repairing of Iron Hexacyanoferrate Toward Highly Stable Cathodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wan Min , Zeng Rui , Meng Jingtao , Cheng Zexiao , Chen Weilun , Peng Jiayu , Zhang Wuxing , Huang Yunhui
Published: December 2021

Iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF) is a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, FeHCF always suffers from a poor cycling stability, which is closely related to the abundant vacancy defects in its framework. Herein, post-synthetic and in-situ vacancy repairing strategies are proposed for the synthesis of high-quality FeHCF in a highly concentrated Na4Fe(CN)6 solution. Both the post-synthetic and in-situ vacancy repaired FeHCF products (FeHCF-P and FeHCF-I) show the significant decrease in the number of vacancy defects and the reinforced structure, which can suppress the side reactions and activate the capacity from low-spin Fe in FeHCF. In particular, FeHCF-P delivers a reversible discharge capacity of 131 mAh g−1 at 1 C and remains 109 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles, with a capacity retention of 83%. FeHCF-I can deliver a high discharge capacity of 158.5 mAh g−1 at 1 C. Even at 10 C, the FeHCF-I electrode still maintains a discharge specific capacity of 103 mAh g−1 and retains 75% after 800 cycles. This work provides a new vacancy repairing strategy for the solution synthesis of high-quality FeHCF.
A Kuhn–Tucker model for behaviour in dictator games
Authors: Moffatt Peter G. , Zevallos Graciela
Published: December 2021

We consider a dictator game experiment in which dictators perform a sequence of giving tasks and taking tasks. The data are used to estimate the parameters of a Stone–Geary utility function over own-payoff and other’s payoff. The econometric model incorporates zero observations (e.g. zero-giving or zero-taking) by applying the Kuhn–Tucker theorem and treating zeros as corner solutions in the dictator’s constrained optimisation problem. The method of maximum simulated likelihood (MSL) is used for estimation. We find that selfishness is significantly lower in taking tasks than in giving tasks, and we attribute this difference to the “cold prickle of taking”.
Zwischen Lebenssinn, Spott und Nostalgie. Wie das Christentum neurechte Anhänger vereint und trennt
Authors: Diefenbach Aletta
Published: December 2021

Die Rolle des Christentums wird im gegenwärtigen Rechtsruck bisher als diffuser Identitätsmarker für das Eigene, als belonging without believing, beschrieben. Referenzen wie die christliche Kultur würden zwar für das Identitäre stehen, damit artikuliere sich aber eher ein säkulares und kulturelles als ein glaubendes Wir. Diagnosen dieser Art wurden bisher vor allem an öffentlichen Programmatiken oder Diskursen festgemacht. Weniger klar ist, wie christliche Wissensbestände auch auf der lebensweltlichen Ebene neuer lokaler Gruppen ihre Relevanz erhalten und zu einer kollektiven Identität der sogenannten Neuen Rechten beitragen. Aufbauend auf dem Konzept der affektiven Grenzziehungen, das den Blick für ebendiese erfahrungsbasierten Prozesse der Sinnstiftung schärft, geht dieser Beitrag den Bedeutungen und Funktionen des Christentums für verschiedene lokal agierende Gruppen (AfD, Pegida, Identitäre Bewegung) nach. Drei exemplarische Fälle verdeutlichen, wie facettenreich und damit auch umstritten das Christentum als verbindende Ressource der Neuen Rechten ist: Zwar zeigt sich ein vereinendes Potenzial in der gemeinsamen Identifikation mit dem Christentum als säkularisierter Kulturleistung. Doch letztlich offenbaren sich in den Positionierungen zum Christentum fundamentale Identitäts- und gesellschaftliche Ordnungsvorstellungen. Die Befunde verweisen damit auch auf die Grenzen einer gemeinsamen Politisierung durch den Ethnopluralismus.