bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends and Race/Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes-Related Hospital Use in Medicaid Enrollees: Analyses of Serial Cross-sectional State Data, 2008–2017
Authors: Chehal Puneet Kaur , Uppal Tegveer S. , Ng Boon Peng , Alva Maria , Ali Mohammed K.
Published: November 2022

Background

Race/ethnic disparities in preventable diabetes-specific hospital care may exist among adults with diabetes who have Medicaid coverage.

Objective

To examine race/ethnic disparities in utilization of preventable hospital care by adult Medicaid enrollees with diabetes across nine states over time.

Design

Using serial cross-sectional state discharge records for emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient (IP) hospitalizations from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, we quantified race/ethnicity-specific, state-year preventable diabetes-specific hospital utilization.

Participants

Non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic adult Medicaid enrollees aged 18–64 with a diabetes diagnosis (excluding gestational or secondary diabetes) who were discharged from hospital care in Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Utah for the years 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017.

Main Measures

Non-Hispanic Black-over-White and Hispanic-over-White rate ratios constructed using age- standardized state-year, race/ethnicity-specific ED, and IP diabetes-specific utilization rates.

Key Results

The ratio of Black-over-White ED utilization rates for preventable diabetes-specific hospital care increased across the 9 states in our sample from 1.4 (CI 95, 1.31–1.50) in 2008 to 1.73 (CI 95, 1.68–1.78) in 2017. The cross-year-state average non-Hispanic Black-over-White IP rate ratio was 1.46 (CI 95, 1.42–1.50), reflecting increases in some states and decreases in others. The across-state-year average Hispanic-over-White rate ratio for ED utilization was 0.67 (CI 95, 0.63–0.71). The across-state-year average Hispanic-over-White IP hospitalization rate ratio was 0.72 (CI 95, 0.69–0.75).

Conclusions

Hospital utilization by non-Hispanic Black Medicaid enrollees with diabetes was consistently greater and often increased relative to utilization by White enrollees within state programs between 2008 and 2017. Hispanic enrollee hospital utilization was either lower or indistinguishable relative to White enrollee hospital utilization in most states, but Hispanic utilization increased faster than White utilization in some states. Among broader patterns, there is heterogeneity in the magnitude of race/ethnic disparities in hospital utilization trends across states.
Has global deforestation accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Céspedes Jonnathan , Sylvester Janelle M. , Pérez-Marulanda Lisset , Paz-Garcia Paula , Reymondin Louis , Khodadadi Mehran , Tello Jhon J. , Castro-Nunez Augusto
Published: November 2022

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, questions arose as to whether the pandemic would amplify or pacify tropical deforestation. Early reports warned of increased deforestation rates; however, these studies were limited to a few months in 2020 or to selected regions. To better understand how the pandemic influenced tropical deforestation globally, this study used historical deforestation data (2004–2019) from the Terra-i pantropical land cover change monitoring system to project expected deforestation trends for 2020, which were used to determine whether observed deforestation deviated from expected trajectories after the first COVID-19 cases were reported. Time series analyses were conducted at the regional level for the Americas, Africa and Asia and at the country level for Brazil, Colombia, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. Our results suggest that the pandemic did not alter the course of deforestation trends in some countries (e.g., Brazil, Indonesia), while it did in others (e.g., Peru). We posit the importance of monitoring the long-term effects of the pandemic on deforestation trends as countries prioritize economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic.
A cell model for evaluating mitochondrial damage in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Chen Yongxue , Zhao Senming
Published: November 2022

Background

Various cellular models were used for assessment of mitochondrial damage in cardiomyocyte, but most of them are based on silent cells without contractility. The mitochondria in cells at working should be more sensitive to toxic or reperfusion damage due to their high level mitochondrial respiration. Therefore, contracting cells can represent inotropic agent-mediated high-energy demand states.

Objective

To establish a cellular model to detect mitochondrial damage in cardiomyocytes at contraction.

Method

Freshly isolated Sprague–Dawley rat cardiomyocytes were incubated with or without bupivacaine, in the presence or absence of isoprenaline, and electrically stimulated to induce rhythmic contractions.

Results

Contraction under electrical field stimulation did not induce mitochondrial swelling or ROS production in DMEM; the silent cells in the presence of bupivacaine showed mild mitochondrial swelling, but contracting cells exhibited significantly higher mitochondrial swelling and increased ROS production (P < 0.05, vs. silent cells). Isoprenaline induced a further enhancement in mitochondrial swelling and ROS production in contracting cells.

Conclusions

Contracting cells are more sensitive to bupivacaine toxicity and could be more accurately represent mitochondrial damage in vivo condition.
Clinical features, treatment outcomes and mortality risk of tuberculosis sepsis in HIV-negative patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case reports
Authors: Adegbite Bayode R. , Elegbede-Adegbite Nadege O. M. , Edoa Jean R. , Honkpehedji Yabo J. , Zinsou Jeannot F. , Dejon-Agobé Jean Claude , Adegnika Ayola A. , Grobusch Martin P.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Tuberculosis sepsis (TBS) is sepsis due to the Mycobacterium species causing tuberculosis (TB). It seems to be rare in HIV-negative patients and mainly individual case reports have been reported. This systematic review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment outcomes of TBS in HIV-negative patients.

Methods

An electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed to identify published case reports of TBS between January 1991 and September 2022.

Results

Twenty-five articles reported 28 cases of TBS in HIV-negative patients, among which 54% (15/28) were women; with 50% (14/28) of patients not having reported predisposing factors. A total of 64% (18/28) of patients died, and the diagnosis was obtained for many of them only post-mortem. Two of the reports mentioned the BCG vaccination status. A higher proportion of deaths occurred in patients with delayed diagnosis of sepsis. The probability of survival of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis sepsis was 68% on day 10; 41% on day 20; and 33% on day 30 after admission.

Conclusions

Our review showed TBS occurred in HIV-negative patients and some of them have no known immunocompromised underlying co-morbidity. TBS might not be rare as clinicians thought but might be prone to be missed. In endemic settings, M. tuberculosis etiology of sepsis should be accounted for early, irrespective of HIV infection status.
Real-Time Predictive Control of Path Following to Stabilize Autonomous Electric Vehicles Under Extreme Drive Conditions
Authors: Guo Ningyuan , Zhang Xudong , Zou Yuan
Published: November 2022

A novel real-time predictive control strategy is proposed for path following (PF) and vehicle stability of autonomous electric vehicles under extreme drive conditions. The investigated vehicle configuration is a distributed drive electric vehicle, which allows to independently control the torques of each in-wheel motor (IWM) for superior stability, but bringing control complexities. The control-oriented model is established by the Magic Formula tire function and the single-track vehicle model. For PF and direct yaw moment control, the nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) strategy is developed to minimize PF tracking error and stabilize vehicle, outputting front tires’ lateral force and external yaw moment. To mitigate the calculation burdens, the continuation/general minimal residual algorithm is proposed for real-time optimization in NMPC. The relaxation function method is adopted to handle the inequality constraints. To prevent vehicle instability and improve steering capacity, the lateral velocity differential of the vehicle is considered in phase plane analysis, and the novel stable bounds of lateral forces are developed and online applied in the proposed NMPC controller. Additionally, the Lyapunov-based constraint is proposed to guarantee the closed-loop stability for the PF issue, and sufficient conditions regarding recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability are provided analytically. The target lateral force is transformed as front steering angle command by the inversive tire model, and the external yaw moment and total traction torque are distributed as the torque commands of IWMs by optimization. The validations prove the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in improved steering capacity, desirable PF effects, vehicle stabilization, and real-time applicability.
The Effects of Offset Loading Versus Traditional Loading in the Bench Press Exercise on Muscle Thickness and Strength in Trained Males
Authors: Sharp Matthew , Ottinger Charlie , Gheith Raad , Stefan Matthew , Lowery Ryan , LoDuca Salvatore , Wilson Jacob
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study compared the effects of offset loading (OSL) versus traditional loading (TDL) in the bench press exercise on pectoral muscle thickness and bench press strength over a 4-week mesocycle. Methods: Twenty male participants aged 18–45 years with at least 5 years of bench press experience and a bench press one-repetition maximum equal to or greater than their body mass were randomly assigned to OSL and TDL groups. Before and after the 4-week mesocycle, pectoral muscle thickness was assessed via ultrasonography and muscle strength was assessed by bench press one-repetition maximum. Effects were explored with two-way mixed ANOVA and non-clinical magnitude-based inferences. Results: No group-by-time interaction was detected for any variable (P > 0.05). When compared to small magnitudes, the pectoralis major muscle thickness changes were likely greater in OSL compared to TDL for the dominant (ES = 0.70; 87% likely greater) and nondominant pectoralis (ES = 0.77; 91% likely greater) as well as the sum of both pectorals (ES = 0.80; 92% likely greater). Similarly, a likely greater effect for absolute (ES = 0.57; 82% likely) and relative (ES = 0.67; 85% likely) bench press strength was seen with OSL. Conclusion: Magnitude-based inferences interpreted here support the notion that OSL may be an advantageous training modality to enhance pectoral muscle thickness and bench press strength.
AI’s fairness problem: understanding wrongful discrimination in the context of automated decision-making
Authors: Cossette-Lefebvre Hugo , Maclure Jocelyn
Published: November 2022

The use of predictive machine learning algorithms is increasingly common to guide or even take decisions in both public and private settings. Their use is touted by some as a potentially useful method to avoid discriminatory decisions since they are, allegedly, neutral, objective, and can be evaluated in ways no human decisions can. By (fully or partly) outsourcing a decision process to an algorithm, it should allow human organizations to clearly define the parameters of the decision and to, in principle, remove human biases. Yet, in practice, the use of algorithms can still be the source of wrongful discriminatory decisions based on at least three of their features: the data-mining process and the categorizations they rely on can reconduct human biases, their automaticity and predictive design can lead them to rely on wrongful generalizations, and their opaque nature is at odds with democratic requirements. We highlight that the two latter aspects of algorithms and their significance for discrimination are too often overlooked in contemporary literature. Though these problems are not all insurmountable, we argue that it is necessary to clearly define the conditions under which a machine learning decision tool can be used. We identify and propose three main guidelines to properly constrain the deployment of machine learning algorithms in society: algorithms should be vetted to ensure that they do not unduly affect historically marginalized groups; they should not systematically override or replace human decision-making processes; and the decision reached using an algorithm should always be explainable and justifiable.
Multi-agent reinforcement learning for autonomous vehicles: a survey
Authors: Dinneweth Joris , Boubezoul Abderrahmane , Mandiau René , Espié Stéphane
Published: November 2022

In the near future, autonomous vehicles (AVs) may cohabit with human drivers in mixed traffic. This cohabitation raises serious challenges, both in terms of traffic flow and individual mobility, as well as from the road safety point of view. Mixed traffic may fail to fulfill expected security requirements due to the heterogeneity and unpredictability of human drivers, and autonomous cars could then monopolize the traffic. Using multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) algorithms, researchers have attempted to design autonomous vehicles for both scenarios, and this paper investigates their recent advances. We focus on articles tackling decision-making problems and identify four paradigms. While some authors address mixed traffic problems with or without social-desirable AVs, others tackle the case of fully-autonomous traffic. While the latter case is essentially a communication problem, most authors addressing the mixed traffic admit some limitations. The current human driver models found in the literature are too simplistic since they do not cover the heterogeneity of the drivers’ behaviors. As a result, they fail to generalize over the wide range of possible behaviors. For each paper investigated, we analyze how the authors formulated the MARL problem in terms of observation, action, and rewards to match the paradigm they apply.
Exact Solutions of Fractional Order Oscillation Equation with Two Fractional Derivative Terms
Authors: Duan Jun-Sheng , Zhang Jun-Yan , Qiu Xiang
Published: November 2022

The fractional oscillation equation with two fractional derivative terms in the sense of Caputo, where the orders $$\alpha$$
α
and $$\beta$$
β
satisfy $$1<\alpha \le 2$$

1
<
α
≤
2

and $$0<\beta \le 1$$

0
<
β
≤
1

, is investigated, and the unit step response and two initial value responses are obtained in two forms by using different methods of inverse Laplace transform. The first method yields series solutions with the nonnegative powers of t, which converge fast for small t. The second method is our emphasis, where the complex path integral formula of the inverse Laplace transform is used. In order to determine singularities of integrand we first seek for the roots of the characteristic equation, which is a transcendental equation with four parameters, two coefficients and two noninteger power exponents. The existence conditions and properties of the roots on the principal Riemann surface are given. Based on the results on the characteristic equation, we derive these responses as a sum of a classical exponentially damped oscillation, which vanishes in an indicated case, and an infinite integral of the Laplace type, which converges fast for large t, with a steady component in the unit step response. Asymptotic behaviors of solutions for large t are derived as algebraic decays in negative power laws characterized by the orders $$\alpha$$
α
and $$\beta$$
β
. The fractional system exhibits a magical transition from oscillation to monotonic decay in negative power law.
Simulating topological materials with photonic synthetic dimensions in cavities
Authors: Yang Mu , Xu Jin-Shi , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can
Published: November 2022

Photons play essential roles in fundamental physics and practical technologies. They have become one of the attractive informaiton carriers for quantum computation and quantum simulation. Recently, various photonic degrees of freedom supported by optical resonant cavities form photonic synthetic dimensions, which contribute to all-optical platforms for simulating novel topological materials. The photonic discrete or continuous degrees of freedom are mapped to the lattices or momenta of the simulated topological matter, and the couplings between optical modes are equivalent to the interactions among quasi-particles. Mature optical modulations enable flexible engineering of the simulated Hamiltonian. Meanwhile, the resonant detection methods provide direct approaches to obtaining the corresponding energy band structures, particle distributions and dynamical evolutions. In this Review, we give an overview of the synthetic dimensions in optical cavities, including frequency, orbital angular momentum, time-multiplexed lattice, and independent parameters. Abundant higher-dimensional topological models have been demonstrated in lower dimensional synthetic systems. We further discuss the potential development of photonic synthetic dimensions in the future.
Reinventing Capitalism in the Digital Age
Authors: Denning Stephen
Published: November 2022

This Element examines the current crisis of capitalism's legitimacy and concludes that it derives principally from business pursuing an aberration of capitalism known as shareholder capitalism, in which firms sought to maximize shareholder value as reflected in the current share price, at the expense of all other stakeholders and society. Shareholder capitalism began in the 1970s and was renounced by the Business Roundtable in 2019, but continues behind a façade of stakeholder capitalism. Stakeholder capitalism is the most widely cited form of capitalism today, but it is incoherent as a practical guide to action for an entire firm. This Element concludes that a recent evolution of capitalism--customer capitalism--which gives primacy to co-creating value for customers and users, enables firms to master the challenges of the digital age, shower benefits on society, and meet the needs of all the stakeholders.
Korean Cinema in Global Contexts
Authors: Kim Soyoung
Published: November 2022

Offering the most comprehensive analysis of Korean cinema from its early history to the present, and including the films of Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho and Kim Ki-young, Korean Cinema in Global Contexts: Postcolonial Phantom, Blockbuster and Trans-Cinema situates itself in the local, Inter-Asian, and transnational contexts by mobilizing the critical frameworks of feminism, postcolonial critique and comparative film studies. It is attentive to an enmeshment of the cinematic, aesthetics, politics and cultural history.
Victim versus villain: Repatriation policies for foreign fighters and the construction of gendered and racialised ‘threat narratives’
Authors: Stenger Helen
Published: November 2022

State responses to repatriation of Islamic State (ISIS) foreign fighters and their children detained across Syria and Iraq are highly diverse. Repatriation policies implemented between 2018 and 2020 range from denying repatriation of nationals and revocation of citizenship to repatriation and subsequent gender-responsive rehabilitation programmes. What explains the variation in state responses? This article seeks to explain why repatriation policies differ despite the global challenges faced by all states. It investigates and categorises the repatriation policies for foreign fighters across 69 countries ranging from unconditional repatriation to denying repatriation. To explain the state responses to a common security and human rights dilemma, a mixed-method approach is employed involving an explorative statistical analysis to test key explanations and a narrative analysis. The findings reveal how diverse social constructions of gendered and racialised ‘threat narratives’ of foreign fighters in policy documents and the media explain variation in foreign fighter repatriation policies.
How Do Mainstream Parties Justify Their (Un)willingness to Rule with Populist Parties? Evidence from Twitter Data
Authors: Jacobs Laura
Published: November 2022

Parties usually argue in favour or against a government coalition based on party considerations in terms of projected policy implementation, power in office and vote maximization – that is, the ‘policy, office, votes’ triad. So far, however, it remains unclear which claims mainstream parties invoke to motivate their choice to rule or not rule with populist parties. Adopting the ‘policy, voter, office’ triad, this article examines mainstream parties' Twitter claims on ruling with populist parties in Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (2006–2021, N = 1,919). Mainstream parties mainly reject ruling with (mostly radical right) populist parties. To justify unwillingness, policy-based motives referring to the populist parties' extremist nature trump motives on office-seeking and vote maximization. To justify willingness, predominantly office-seeking motivations are invoked. Party characteristics (ideology, incumbency status, size) and context, however, shape these claims. This study sheds light on mainstream parties' patterns of political communication on coalition formation with populist parties.
The Populist Radical Right and the Pandemic
Authors: Rovira Kaltwasser Cristóbal , Taggart Paul
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 shocked the world and provided a particular challenge for populist radical right (PRR) forces. We lay out three research questions that this special issue addresses through case studies of the PRR in government in Brazil, Hungary, Turkey and the US and in opposition in France, Italy, Germany and Spain: (1) How have PRR actors responded to the pandemic? (2) How have PRR actors framed the politics of the pandemic? and (3) What have been the effects of the pandemic on the popularity of the PRR? We explain the case selection of this special issue and summarize the main findings of the eight case studies, which show that the pandemic did not severely damage the PRR and that they had very different responses to the challenge. This reinforces the idea that the PRR is not ephemeral but is rather the by-product of structural transformations of contemporary societies and is here for the foreseeable future.
Augmentation strategies for clozapine resistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Grover Sandeep , Sarkar Siddharth , Sahoo Swapnajeet
Published: November 2022

Background:

Several augmentation strategies have been used to improve symptomatology in patients not adequately responding to clozapine. Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the efficacy of different strategies to augment clozapine. This systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed the available RCTs that have evaluated the clinical efficacy of various pharmacological agents, non-pharmacological strategies (occupational therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy), and somatic treatment [electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, etc.)] as augmenting agents to clozapine.

Methods:

Data were extracted using standard procedures, and risk of bias was evaluated. Effect sizes were computed for the individual studies.

Results:

Forty-five clinical trials were evaluated. The pooled effect size for various antipsychotic medications was 0.103 (95% CI: 0.288–0.493, p < 0.001); when the effect size was evaluated for specific antipsychotics for which more than one trial was available, the effect size for risperidone was −0.27 and that for aripiprazole was 0.57. The effect size for lamotrigine was 0.145, and that for topiramate was 0.392. The effect size for ECT was 0.743 (CI: 0.094–1.392). Risk of bias was low (mean Jadad score – 3.93). Largest effect sizes were seen for mirtazapine (effect size of 5.265). Most of the studies can be considered underpowered and limited by small sample sizes.

Conclusions:

To conclude, based on the findings of the present systematic review and meta-analysis, it can be said that compared to other treatment strategies, clozapine non-responsive patients respond maximum to mirtazapine followed by ECT.
Totally endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression in patients with traumatic facial nerve paralysis: from geniculate ganglion to mastoid segment
Authors: Daneshi A , Asghari A , Mirsalehi M , Kiani Asiabar M , Mohebbi S
Published: November 2022

Objective

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression in patients with post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis.

Methods

This retrospective study included 10 patients with post-traumatic complete facial nerve paralysis who underwent endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression. The surgical technique was explained step by step, and the surgical complications, hearing status and facial nerve function 12 months post-operatively were reported.

Results

Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression allowed exposure of the geniculate ganglion to the mastoid segment. The facial nerve function improved from House–Brackmann grade VI to grades I and II in 8 of 10 (80 per cent) patients, and 2 patients experienced partial recovery (House–Brackmann grades III and IV). No severe complication was reported.

Conclusion

Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression, involving the nerve from the geniculate ganglion to the mastoid segment, is a safe and effective approach in patients with post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis.
In defence of partial faith
Authors: Wilczewska Sylwia
Published: November 2022

Some people display a general attitude towards God which does not fulfil the criteria of full-blown faith but also does not amount to lack of faith. I argue that in some cases such an attitude, best described as partial faith, is likely to be the all-things-considered best option – even if God exists and the best possible relationship with God is the greatest possible good. This is because, in a universe as religiously ambiguous as ours, some people seem unable to have full-blown faith, and for some others such faith is likely to be possible only at the cost of contradicting some values relevant for the relationship to God. Somehow paradoxically, God-related worries and doubts leading to spiritual struggles and enquiries can improve one's relationship with God, so that, for some people at some times, the advantages of partial faith may override those of full-blown faith. If I am right, it offers some reason to think that partial faith does not deserve the criticism which has traditionally been directed at it. In addition to that, I argue that, independently of the normative assessment, partial faith is a useful descriptive concept, which can throw light on many issues surrounding faith in general and make it easier to describe some themes belonging to continental philosophy of religion in analytic terms.
Invisible, unrecognised and undervalued: examining stories of unpaid work performed by older adults in their local neighbourhoods
Authors: Stewart Katherine E. , Hand Carri , Rudman Debbie Laliberte , McGrath Colleen , McFarland Jami , Gilliland Jason , Kinghorn Wes
Published: November 2022

Over the past 40 years, positive ageing discourses that speak to an expectation of continued productivity have gained prominence within research and policy. Such discourses have been critiqued as placing disproportionate value on the extension of older adults' working lives, while obscuring other valuable forms of work performed by older adults. Despite the emergence of theoretical conversations about the expansion of conceptions of work, few studies have adopted an explicit focus on the work performed by older adults within their neighbourhoods. Informed by conceptions of work positioned at the intersection of critical gerontology and critical feminism, we drew upon qualitative data from a larger ethnographic study, generated from 17 participants aged 65 and older, to examine: (a) the various forms and contributions of unpaid work that older adults carry out at the neighbourhood level, and (b) the ways in which older adults' representations of this work relate to dominant notions of productivity. Specifically, each participant engaged in three types of qualitative interviews, including additional spatial and visual data generation: (a) completing a narrative interview; (b) carrying a small Global Positioning System (GPS) device to automatically log locations, completing an activity diary and a follow-up interview; and (c) participating in a go-along interview or a photo elicitation interview. Our findings highlight a range of unpaid work performed by participants in their neighbourhood, including formal volunteering, informal caring and informal civic participation. Although these forms of work were, at times, discussed by participants as enabling social inclusion, significant tensions arose from the general lack of discursive and social value assigned to them. In particular, participants described being subject to overwhelming expectations placed on older adults, and women in particular, to carry out this work, with little recognition or acknowledgement of their contributions to the neighbourhood. Taken together, our findings suggest the need not only to diversify understandings of the forms of work perceived as aligning with productive contributions to society in older age, but also to attend to the invisible work performed by older adults within their neighbourhoods. Additionally, we propose a variety of ways organisations and communities that benefit from older adults' unpaid labour may enhance accessibility, thereby reducing the work done by older adults to negotiate tensions between ableist expectations for productivity and their ageing bodies.
Heart disease symptoms, cognitive functioning, health communication, treatment anxiety, and health-related quality of life in paediatric heart disease: a multiple mediator analysis
Authors: Varni James W. , Uzark Karen
Published: November 2022

Objectives:

The objective was to investigate the serial mediating effects of perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety in the relationship between heart disease symptoms and overall generic health-related quality of life in children with heart disease from the patient perspective.

Methods:

Heart Disease Symptoms, Cognitive Problems, Communication and Treatment Anxiety Scales from Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Cardiac Module and PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales were completed by 278 children with CHD ages 8–18. A serial multiple mediator model analysis was conducted to test the sequential mediating effects of perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety as intervening variables in the relationship between the heart disease symptoms predictor variable and overall generic health-related quality of life.

Results:

Heart disease symptoms predictive effects on overall generic health-related quality of life were serially mediated in part by cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety. In a predictive analytics model with age and gender demographic covariates, heart disease symptoms, perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety accounted for 67% of the variance in patient-reported overall generic health-related quality of life (p < 0.001), representing a large effect size.

Conclusions:

Perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety explain in part the mechanism of heart disease symptoms predictive effects on overall generic health-related quality of life in paediatric heart disease. Identifying the mediators of heart disease symptoms on overall generic health-related quality of life from the patient perspective may inform targeted clinical interventions and future patient-centred clinical research to improve overall daily functioning.
An ex-Gaussian analysis of eye movements in L2 reading
Authors: Luke Steven G. , Liu Rachel Yu , Nelson Kyle , Denton Jared , Child Michael W.
Published: November 2022

Second language learners’ reading is less efficient and more effortful than native reading. However, the source of their difficulty is unclear; L2 readers might struggle with reading in a different orthography, or they might have difficulty with later stages of linguistic interpretation of the input, or both. The present study explored the source of L2 reading difficulty by analyzing the distribution of fixation durations in reading. In three studies, we observed that L2 readers experience an increase in Mu, which we interpret as indicating early orthographic processing difficulty, when the L2 has a significantly different writing system than the L1 (e.g., Chinese and English) but not when the writing systems were similar (e.g., Portuguese and English). L2 readers also experienced an increase in Tau, indicating later-arising processing difficulty which likely reflects later-stage linguistic processes, when they read for comprehension. L2 readers of Chinese also experienced an additional increase in Tau.
Responding to Complexity in the Context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Authors: McKenzie Kirsty , Smith-Merry Jennifer
Published: November 2022

Background:

Personalisation in disability support funding is premised on the notion that services come together through the individual. Where people have very complex needs, many individuals and their supporters find it difficult to facilitate services themselves. This article examines the Integrated Service Response (ISR), an Australian response to complexity implemented during the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) roll-out. We explore its facilitation of collaboration in the context of the NDIS.

Results:

Results from interviews and observation of collaboration suggest there are multiple challenges with effective inter-organisational collaboration under the NDIS, including communication between services, and the loss of previous ways of addressing complexity and crisis. Participants valued ISR as a response to complexity, including its ability to facilitate collaboration by ‘getting the right people at the table’.

Conclusions:

While programmes such as ISR may improve inter-organisational collaboration around specific clients, broader ongoing systemic approaches are required to address system-wide issues.
Recent Seasonal Variations in Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency in China's Key Tropical‐Subtropical Transitional Zones in Response to Climate Change
Authors: Liu Linxin , Zhang Ke , Chao Lijun , Ezaz Gazi Tawfiq , Li Xi , Forzieri Giovanni
Published: November 2022

Understanding the response of terrestrial ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) to climate change is critical to accurately represent the carbon‐water cycle processes. However, how WUE dynamics are evolving under seasonal climate variations and biome‐specific characteristics remains still unclear. In this study, we integrated two state‐of‐the‐art retrieval algorithms to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) from satellite MODIS records. Such metrics served as input to quantify ecosystem WUE, expressed as the ratio of GPP to ET, and explore its dynamics during the dry and wet season from 2001 to 2018 in China's key tropical to subtropical transitional zones, that is, Yunnan Province. Results show large spatial and seasonal variability in WUE over the observational period. During the dry season, the increasing trends in GPP and ET have led to contrasting WUE patterns in forest and non‐forest biomes, leading to positive and negative WUE trends, respectively. During the wet season, the declining trends in GPP occurring in combination with opposite trends in ET, have caused decreasing WUE consistently across all biomes except croplands, likely further modulated by human factors. The observed changes in WUE appear primarily driven by variations in air temperature (Ta) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) during both dry and wet seasons. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the carbon‐water interplay in tropical‐subtropical transitional zones and provide new insights to improve our capacity to predict the terrestrial ecosystem's response to climate change.
Sound Velocity of (Mg0.91Fe0.09)2SiO4 Wadsleyite and Its Implications to Water Distribution in Mantle Transition Zone
Authors: Cai Nao , Wang Duojun
Published: November 2022

The current elasticities of major mantle transition zone minerals and their hydrous counterparts, such as wadsleyite, ringwoodite, and majorite garnet, have the velocity gradients several times lower than those of the Earth models. Here we use ultrasonic interferometry technique to measure the sound velocities of wadsleyite (Mg0.91Fe0.09)2SiO4 at pressures up to 14 GPa and room temperature. Compared with previous studies, we have obtained possibly the highest ∂VP/P and ∂KS/P value at transition zone pressure, which are still noticeably lower than the Earth models, such as the preliminary reference Earth model, ak135, iasp91, etc. The results indicate that the VP contrast of “dry” olivine‐wadsleyite transition at 410 km is higher than previous thought, while that of wadsleyite‐ringwoodite transition at 520 km is noticeably low. Using the current and previous data on “dry” and hydrous wadsleyite a water “gradient” model at upper mantle transition zone were proposed and discussed.
Extreme Energy Spectra of Relativistic Electron Flux in the Outer Radiation Belt
Authors: Mourenas D. , Artemyev A. V. , Zhang X.‐J. , Angelopoulos V.
Published: November 2022

Electron diffusion by whistler‐mode chorus waves is one of the key processes controlling the dynamics of relativistic electron fluxes in the Earth's radiation belts. It is responsible for the acceleration of sub‐relativistic electrons injected from the plasma sheet to relativistic energies as well as for their precipitation and loss into the atmosphere. Based on analytical estimates of chorus wave‐driven quasi‐linear electron energy and pitch‐angle diffusion rates, we provide analytical steady‐state solutions to the corresponding Fokker‐Planck equation for the relativistic electron distribution and flux. The impact on these steady‐state solutions of additional electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, and of ultralow frequency waves are examined. Such steady‐state solutions correspond to hard energy spectra at 1–4 MeV, dangerous for satellite electronics, and represent attractors for the system dynamics in the presence of sufficiently strong driving by continuous injections of 10–300 keV electrons. Therefore, these analytical steady‐state solutions provide a simple means for estimating the most extreme electron energy spectra potentially encountered in the outer radiation belt, despite the great variability of injections and plasma conditions. These analytical steady‐state solutions are compared with numerical simulations based on the full Fokker‐Planck equation and with relativistic electron flux spectra measured by satellites during one extreme event and three strong events of high time‐integrated geomagnetic activity, demonstrating a good agreement.
Biomineral Flocculation of Kaolinite and Microalgae: Laboratory Experiments and Stochastic Modeling
Authors: Zhu Yuliang , Lin Mingze , Shen Xiaoteng , Fettweis Michael , Zhang Ying , Zhang Jinfeng , Bi Qilong , Wu Zi
Published: November 2022

In estuaries and coastal waters, the flocculation of cohesive sediments is significantly affected by extracellular polymeric substances secreted by microalgae. In this study, laboratory experiments are carried out to explore the role of two typical microalgae (Skeletonema costatum and Cyclotella meneghiniana) on suspended fine‐grained sediments under various turbulent shear and environmental conditions. The results show that the shear rate is a dominant factor in controlling the biomineral flocculation processes, and the existence of microalgae generally enhances the aggregation of mineral sediments with microalgae. It is also found that floc size distributions (FSDs) and mean sizes are clearly influenced by different algal species and concentrations, especially under intensive turbulent environments. Moreover, a quasi‐Monte Carlo (QMC) based bivariate population balance model is developed to simulate the FSDs of sediment‐algae flocs. This model is reasonably validated by two analytical solutions and laboratory observations, and indicates a potential extension for tracking the properties of microalgae‐associated fine sediment flocs due to the discrete nature of the QMC method.
Genetic nurture versus genetic transmission of risk for ADHD traits in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study
Authors: Pingault Jean-Baptiste , Barkhuizen Wikus , Wang Biyao , Hannigan Laurie J. , Eilertsen Espen Moen , Corfield Elizabeth , Andreassen Ole A. , Ask Helga , Tesli Martin , Askeland Ragna Bugge , Davey Smith George , Stoltenberg Camilla , Davies Neil M. , Reichborn-Kjennerud Ted , Ystrom Eivind , Havdahl Alexandra
Published: November 2022

Identifying mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits can inform interventions and provide insights into the role of parents in shaping their children’s outcomes. We investigated whether genetic transmission and genetic nurture (environmentally mediated effects) underlie associations between polygenic scores indexing parental risk and protective factors and their offspring’s ADHD traits. This birth cohort study included 19,506 genotyped mother-father-offspring trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. Polygenic scores were calculated for parental factors previously associated with ADHD, including psychopathology, substance use, neuroticism, educational attainment, and cognitive performance. Mothers reported on their 8-year-old children’s ADHD traits (n = 9,454 children) using the Parent/Teacher Rating Scale for Disruptive Behaviour Disorders. We found that associations between ADHD maternal and paternal polygenic scores and child ADHD traits decreased significantly when adjusting for the child polygenic score (pΔβ = 9.95 × 10−17for maternal andpΔβ = 1.48 × 10−14for paternal estimates), suggesting genetic transmission of ADHD risk. Similar patterns suggesting genetic transmission of risk were observed for smoking, educational attainment, and cognition. The maternal polygenic score for neuroticism remained associated with children’s ADHD ratings even after adjusting for the child polygenic score, indicating genetic nurture. There was no robust evidence of genetic nurture for other parental factors. Our findings indicate that the intergenerational transmission of risk for ADHD traits is largely explained by the transmission of genetic variants from parents to offspring rather than by genetic nurture. Observational associations between parental factors and childhood ADHD outcomes should not be interpreted as evidence for predominantly environmentally mediated effects.
Power and optimal study design in iPSC-based brain disease modelling
Authors: Brunner Jessie W. , Lammertse Hanna C. A. , van Berkel Annemiek A. , Koopmans Frank , Li Ka Wan , Smit August B. , Toonen Ruud F. , Verhage Matthijs , van der Sluis Sophie
Published: November 2022

Studies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are gaining momentum in brain disorder modelling, but optimal study designs are poorly defined. Here, we compare commonly used designs and statistical analysis for different research aims. Furthermore, we generated immunocytochemical, electrophysiological, and proteomic data from iPSC-derived neurons of five healthy subjects, analysed data variation and conducted power simulations. These analyses show that published case–control iPSC studies are generally underpowered. Designs using isogenic iPSC lines typically have higher power than case–control designs, but generalization of conclusions is limited. We show that, for the realistic settings used in this study, a multiple isogenic pair design increases absolute power up to 60% or requires up to 5-fold fewer lines. A free web tool is presented to explore the power of different study designs, using any (pilot) data.
CBP-HSF2 structural and functional interplay in Rubinstein-Taybi neurodevelopmental disorder
Authors: de Thonel Aurélie , Ahlskog Johanna K. , Daupin Kevin , Dubreuil Véronique , Berthelet Jérémy , Chaput Carole , Pires Geoffrey , Leonetti Camille , Abane Ryma , Barris Lluís Cordón , Leray Isabelle , Aalto Anna L. , Naceri Sarah , Cordonnier Marine , Benasolo Carène , Sanial Matthieu , Duchateau Agathe , Vihervaara Anniina , Puustinen Mikael C. , Miozzo Federico , Fergelot Patricia , Lebigot Élise , Verloes Alain , Gressens Pierre , Lacombe Didier , Gobbo Jessica , Garrido Carmen , Westerheide Sandy D. , David Laurent , Petitjean Michel , Taboureau Olivier , Rodrigues-Lima Fernando , Passemard Sandrine , Sabéran-Djoneidi Délara , Nguyen Laurent , Lancaster Madeline , Sistonen Lea , Mezger Valérie
Published: November 2022

Patients carrying autosomal dominant mutations in the histone/lysine acetyl transferases CBP or EP300 develop a neurodevelopmental disorder: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS). The biological pathways underlying these neurodevelopmental defects remain elusive. Here, we unravel the contribution of a stress-responsive pathway to RSTS. We characterize the structural and functional interaction between CBP/EP300 and heat-shock factor 2 (HSF2), a tuner of brain cortical development and major player in prenatal stress responses in the neocortex: CBP/EP300 acetylates HSF2, leading to the stabilization of the HSF2 protein. Consequently, RSTS patient-derived primary cells show decreased levels of HSF2 and HSF2-dependent alteration in their repertoire of molecular chaperones and stress response. Moreover, we unravel a CBP/EP300-HSF2-N-cadherin cascade that is also active in neurodevelopmental contexts, and show that its deregulation disturbs neuroepithelial integrity in 2D and 3D organoid models of cerebral development, generated from RSTS patient-derived iPSC cells, providing a molecular reading key for this complex pathology.
Probing atomic physics at ultrahigh pressure using laser-driven implosions
Authors: Hu S. X. , Bishel David T. , Chin David A. , Nilson Philip M. , Karasiev Valentin V. , Golovkin Igor E. , Gu Ming , Hansen Stephanie B. , Mihaylov Deyan I. , Shaffer Nathaniel R. , Zhang Shuai , Walton Timothy
Published: November 2022

Spectroscopic measurements of dense plasmas at billions of atmospheres provide tests to our fundamental understanding of how matter behaves at extreme conditions. Developing reliable atomic physics models at these conditions, benchmarked by experimental data, is crucial to an improved understanding of radiation transport in both stars and inertial fusion targets. However, detailed spectroscopic measurements at these conditions are rare, and traditional collisional-radiative equilibrium models, based on isolated-atom calculations and ad hoc continuum lowering models, have proved questionable at and beyond solid density. Here we report time-integrated and time-resolved x-ray spectroscopy measurements at several billion atmospheres using laser-driven implosions of Cu-doped targets. We use the imploding shell and its hot core at stagnation to probe the spectral changes of Cu-doped witness layer. These measurements indicate the necessity and viability of modeling dense plasmas with self-consistent methods like density-functional theory, which impact the accuracy of radiation transport simulations used to describe stellar evolution and the design of inertial fusion targets.