bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic stress and coping mechanisms among nurses in Lango sub‐region, northern Uganda
Authors: Kabunga Amir , Kigongo Eustes , Udho Samson , Auma Ann Grace , Okalo Ponsiano , Apili Brenda , Halimah Namata , Nalwoga Viola
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to assess chronic stress and coping mechanisms among nurses in Lango sub‐region, northern Uganda, conducted between May and June 2022.

Design

Institutional‐based cross‐sectional design conducted between May and June 2022.

Methods

The study included 498 participants recruited from six health facilities. A 12‐Item Short Form Survey tool was used to collect data on chronic stress, while a researcher‐developed questionnaire was used to collect data on coping strategies. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and multiple regression were conducted for data analysis. A p‐value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of 498 participants, 153 (30.7%) were aged between 31 and 40 years, 341 (68.5%) were female, 288 (57.8%) were married, and 266 (53.4%) had less than Diploma. Of the 498 participants, 351 (70.5%) experienced chronic stress. The protective factors against chronic stress were being married (AOR: 0.132; 95% CI: 0.043–0.408; p < 0.001), optimizing shift length (AOR: 0.056; 95% CI: 0.027–0.115; p < 0.001), religiosity/Spirituality (AOR: 2.750; 95% CI: 1.376–5.497; p = 0.004), and regular exercise and breaks (AOR: 0.405; 95% CI: 0.223–0.737; p = 0.003).
Measuring and explaining fiscal de/centralization: Empirical evidence from Ethiopia, 1995–2020
Authors: Yimenu Bizuneh
Published: May 2023

This article provides an in‐depth analysis of fiscal decentralization in Ethiopia from 1994/95 to 2019/20, focusing on five fiscal categories: regional own‐source revenues, regional tax autonomy, regional borrowing, federal grants, and conditional grants. To measure fiscal de/centralization, the study constructs original data sets based on reports from various organizations over multiple years. The analysis results demonstrate that fiscal de/centralization varies temporally and spatially. While improved capacity is associated with enhanced own‐source revenue, the desire to improve regional fiscal management often results in fiscal centralization. Further, although Ethiopian regions have constitutional powers to determine the bases and rates of regional taxes, the central government has significant influence in such matters, often manipulating regional affairs in disregard of the constitution. The article reveals substantial variations of own‐source revenues across regions attributed to regional differences in capacity, development, location, and investment distribution. The article highlights the importance of a systematic understanding of region‐specific challenges to accurately assess the effectiveness of decentralization policies in the global South. Insights from Ethiopia are of great importance to policymakers looking to embrace fiscal decentralization in developing countries.
Metformin use is associated with reduced acute kidney injury following coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with type 2 diabetes: An inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis
Authors: Peng Wenxing , Yang Bo , Qiao Huanyu , Liu Yongmin , Lin Yang
Published: May 2023

Study Objective

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Patients with diabetes are commonly associated with renal microvascular complications and have a greater risk of AKI after CABG surgery. This study aimed to explore whether preoperative metformin administration could reduce the incidence of postoperative AKI following CABG in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Design

Patients with diabetes who underwent CABG were retrospectively included in this study. AKI after CABG was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The effects of metformin on postoperative AKI following CABG in patients were compared and analyzed.

Data Source

Patients were enrolled in this study between January 2019 and December 2020 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital.

Patients

A total of 812 patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into the metformin group (203 cases) and the control group (609 cases) according to whether metformin was used preoperatively.

Intervention

Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to minimize baseline differences between the two groups. IPT‐weighted p values were analyzed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes between the two groups.

Measurements and Main Results

The incidence of AKI in the metformin group and the control group was compared. After IPTW adjustment, the incidence of AKI in the metformin group was lower than the control group (IPTW‐adjusted p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, metformin showed significant protective effects in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and eGFR 60–90 mL/min per 1.73 m2 subgroups, which was not observed in the eGFR ≥90 mL/min per 1.73 m2 subgroup. No significant differences in the incidence of renal replacement therapy, reoperation due to bleeding, in‐hospital mortality, or red blood cell transfusion volume were observed between the two groups.

Conclusions

In this study, we provided evidence that preoperative metformin was associated with a significant reduction of postoperative AKI following CABG in patients with diabetes. Metformin showed significant protective effects in patients with mild‐to‐moderate renal insufficiency.
Socio‐emotional, cognitive, affective disorders and substance use in a sample of students in first‐ and second‐grade high school in Italy: A comparison among students', parents', and teachers' perceptions
Authors: Cena Loredana , Trainini Alice , Zecca Sara , Zappa Sofia Bonetti , Cunegatti Federica , Buizza Chiara
Published: May 2023

The closure of schools, social hubs, and extracurricular activities due to lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2, has increased the risk factors for students' mental health. This cross‐sectional study, conducted from March 2020 to March 2021, aimed to estimate socio‐emotional, cognitive, and affective disorders and substance use in a sample of first‐ and second‐grade high school students in Northern Italy. This study compared data from 284 Italian students' self‐perceptions along with the perceptions of their parents and teachers through a web‐based survey. The differences in the perceptions of the three groups (students, parents, and teachers) were analyzed using an analysis of variance test, applying a Bonferroni correction. Theχ2test was used to assess the comparison between students, parents, and teachers in the substance use questions. The results showed statistically significant differences among the three groups. The most important outcomes were sociality, scholastic performance, extracurricular activity, emotional symptoms, affective disorders (depression and anxiety), and substance use. These findings could be interesting for the promotion of mental health and prevention of psychopathological risks in students.
The fascist Green Revolution
Authors: Sollai Michele
Published: May 2023

Societal Impact Statement

The Green Revolution is commonly understood as the dramatic increase in food production in Mexico and India between the 1940s and 1970s due to the spread of new agricultural technologies, especially high‐yielding seed varieties. Beyond this conventional understanding, however, historians are now revealing the occurrence of—and connections between—various Green Revolutions across space and time. This article identifies a “fascist Green Revolution” through the history of agrarian development and scientific wheat breeding in fascist Italy (1922–1943). Through this case study, the article provides new insights into key themes of discussion around the Green Revolution such as the relationship between plant breeding, the environment, food security, and food self‐sufficiency.

In 1925, the fascist regime launched the “Battle of Wheat,” a plan of agrarian development aimed at achieving self‐sufficiency in wheat, Italy's main food crop. Key to this project was the replacement of traditional landraces with “elite” semi‐dwarf and early‐maturing wheat cultivars released by Italy's star plant breeder Nazareno Strampelli. Through the historical analysis of Strampelli's breeding program and of the implementation of the fascist “seed replacement” strategy, this article makes the case for viewing the Battle of Wheat as a “fascist Green Revolution.”

The article draws on new methods and perspectives developed by the historiography of the Green Revolution. It is grounded on the historical analysis of fascist‐era publications and archival documents produced by Italian crop scientists and agricultural research institutions.

While “elite” cultivars spread rapidly in fertile and wealthy northern Italy, they struggled to take hold in the dry and poor Italian South. The article delineates the environmental, social, and economic reasons underpinning this divergence. Focusing in particular on agrarian scientists' approaches to crop improvement in the Italian South, the article shows how this “marginal” region became a key site for the development of scientific counter‐narratives and concrete alternatives to the official fascist strategy of “seed replacement.”

The article reveals the co‐existence of multiple approaches over space and time within fascist‐era agrarian science. Through this case study, it provides new elements to analyze key themes in science and agriculture historiography such as the tension between hyper‐modernization and agroecological concerns, centralized and decentralized research, imported technologies and local resources.
Black Hole Spectra from Vaz's Quantum Gravitational Collapse
Authors: Corda Christian
Published: May 2023

In 2014, in a famous paper Hawking strongly criticized the firewall paradox by claiming that it violates the equivalence principle and breaks the CPT invariance of quantum gravity. He proposed that the final result of the gravitational collapse should not be an event horizon, but an apparent horizon instead. On the other hand, Hawking did not give a mechanism for how this could work. In the same year, Vaz endorsed Hawking's proposal in a quantum gravitational model of dust collapse by winning the Second Prize in the 2014 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition. He indeed showed that continued collapse to a singularity can only be obtained if one combines two independent and entire solutions of the Wheeler‐DeWitt equation. Vaz's interpretation of the paradox was in terms of simply forbidding such a combination. This leads naturally to matter condensing on the apparent horizon during quantum collapse. In that way, an entirely new framework for black holes (BHs) has emerged. The approach of Vaz was also consistent with Einstein's idea in 1939 of the localization of the collapsing particles within a thin spherical shell. In this work we derive the BH mass and energy spectra via a Schrodinger‐like approach, by further supporting Vaz's conclusions that instead of a spacetime singularity covered by an event horizon, the final result of the gravitational collapse is an essentially quantum object, an extremely compact “dark star”. This “gravitational atom” is held up not by any degeneracy pressure but by quantum gravity in the same way that ordinary atoms are sustained by quantum mechanics. Finally, by evoking the generalized uncertainty principle, the maximum value of the density of Vaz's shell will be estimated.
A gut‐isolated Enterococcus strain (HcM7) triggers the expression of antimicrobial peptides that aid resistance to nucleopolyhedrovirus infection of Hyphantria cunea larvae
Authors: Li Shouyin , Yu Xiaohang , Fan Binqi , Hao Dejun
Published: May 2023

Background

Commensal microorganisms are widely distributed in insect gut tissues and play important roles in host nutrition, metabolism, reproductive regulation, and especially immune functioning and tolerance to pathogens. Consequently, gut microbiota represent a promising resource for the development of microbial‐based products for pest control and management. However, the interactions among host immunity, entomopathogen infections, and gut microbiota remain poorly understood for many arthropod pests.

Results

We previously isolated an Enterococcus strain (HcM7) from Hyphantria cunea larvae guts that increased the survival rates of larvae challenged with nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV). Here, we further investigated whether this Enterococcus strain stimulates a protective immune response against NPV proliferation. Infection bioassays demonstrated that re‐introduction of the HcM7 strain to germfree larvae preactivated the expression of several antimicrobial peptides (particularly H. cunea gloverin 1, HcGlv1), resulting in the significant repression of virus replication in host guts and hemolymph, and consequently improved host survivorship after NPV infection. Furthermore, silencing of the HcGlv1 gene by RNA interference markedly enhanced the deleterious effects of NPV infection, revealing a role of this gut symbiont‐induced gene in host defenses against pathogenic infections.

Conclusion

These results show that some gut microorganisms can stimulate host immune systems, thereby contributing to resistance to entomopathogens. Furthermore, HcM7, as a functional symbiotic bacteria of H. cunea larvae, may be a potential target for increasing the effectiveness of biocontrol agents against this devastating pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Hypergraph Ramsey numbers of cliques versus stars
Authors: Conlon David , Fox Jacob , He Xiaoyu , Mubayi Dhruv , Suk Andrew , Verstraëte Jacques
Published: May 2023

Let denote the complete 3‐uniform hypergraph on vertices and the 3‐uniform hypergraph on vertices consisting of all edges incident to a given vertex. Whereas many hypergraph Ramsey numbers grow either at most polynomially or at least exponentially, we show that the off‐diagonal Ramsey number exhibits an unusual intermediate growth rate, namely,
for some positive constants and . The proof of these bounds brings in a novel Ramsey problem on grid graphs which may be of independent interest: what is the minimum such that any 2‐edge‐coloring of the Cartesian product contains either a red rectangle or a blue ?
Categorical classifiers in multiclass classification with imbalanced datasets
Authors: Carpita Maurizio , Golia Silvia
Published: May 2023

This paper discusses, in a multiclass classification setting, the issue of the choice of the so‐called categorical classifier, which is the procedure or criterion that transforms the probabilities produced by a probabilistic classifier into a single category or class. The standard choice is the Bayes Classifier (BC), but it has some limits with rare classes. This paper studies the classification performance of the BC versus two alternatives, that are the Max Difference Classifier (MDC) and Max Ratio Classifier (MRC), through an extensive simulation and some case studies. The results show that both MDC and MRC are preferable to BC in a multiclass setting with imbalanced data.
The impacts of latent profiles and transitions of stresses on adolescent mental health: A person‐centred analysis
Authors: Chen Danrui , Zhou Xinglin , Wu Huijiao , Ying Jiefeng , Shen Yunhong , Zhu Qixin , You Jianing
Published: May 2023

Research has demonstrated robust links between adolescent stress and serious psychological problems. The current study aimed to identify latent stress profiles of 1510 adolescents (59.7% females;Mage = 16.77 years,SD = 0.86) based on five stresses (parental stresses, family environment stresses, academic stresses, teacher stresses, and peer stresses) at three time points (T1/2/3). Moreover, this study would investigate the transition patterns of these profiles over time and examine the associations between the profiles and adverse psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, nonsuicidal self‐injury [NSSI], and suicidal ideation). Three latent stress profiles were identified, includingHigh‐stress profile,Medium‐stress profile, andLow‐stress profile.The three profiles were significantly different on the levels of T1/2/3 anxiety, depression, NSSI, and suicidal ideation. The profile memberships remained relatively stable across three time points. Notably, the present study found gender differences, with boys were more likely to be in theHigh‐stress profileand to transition from theMedium‐to theHigh‐stress profile, compared to girls. Furthermore, left‐behind adolescents were more likely to be in theHigh‐stress profilethan non‐left‐behind adolescents. The findings highlight the importance of adopting ‘this‐approach‐fits‐this‐profile’ interventions for adolescents. Parents and teachers are advised to adopt different strategies for girls and boys.
Incidence and performance of spinouts and incumbent new establishments: Role of selection and redeployability within parent firms
Authors: Balasubramanian Natarajan , Sakakibara Mariko
Published: May 2023

Research Summary

Using matched employer‐employee data from 30 U.S. states covering a wide range of industries, we compare spinouts with new establishments formed by incumbents (INEs). We propose a selection‐based framework comprising idea selection by parents to internally implement ideas as INEs, entrepreneurial selection by founders to form spinouts, and exit selection to close ventures. Consistent with parents choosing better ideas in the idea selection stage, we find that INEs perform relatively better than spinouts, and more so with larger parents. Regarding the entrepreneurial selection stage, we find evidence consistent with resource requirements being a greater entry barrier to spinouts. Parents' resource redeployment opportunities are associated with lower relative survival of INEs, consistent with their being subject to greater selection pressures in the exit selection stage.

Managerial Summary

Spinouts, or new ventures started by employees leaving a parent firm, have received special attention because spinouts tend to outperform other types of new firms. This superior performance is typically attributed to the better knowledge and higher‐quality ideas developed by the founders at parent firms. However, parent firms can also select and implement such ideas internally, particularly if they are good quality ideas. We compare spinouts with new establishments formed within parent firms and find that consistent with such a process of selection, the latter outperform spinouts, more so in the case of larger parents. Interestingly, new establishments of parent firms tend to close at a greater rate than spinouts, consistent with parent firms being able to redeploy resources elsewhere within their firms.
Enhanced Liposomal Drug Delivery Via Membrane Fusion Triggered by Dimeric Coiled‐Coil Peptides
Authors: Zeng Ye , Shen Mengjie , Singhal Ankush , Sevink Geert Jan Agur , Crone Niek , Boyle Aimee L. , Kros Alexander
Published: May 2023

An ideal nanomedicine system improves the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. However, most nanomedicines enter cells via endosomal/lysosomal pathways and only a small fraction of the cargo enters the cytosol inducing therapeutic effects. To circumvent this inefficiency, alternative approaches are desired. Inspired by fusion machinery found in nature, synthetic lipidated peptide pair E4/K4 is used to induce membrane fusion previously. Peptide K4 interacts specifically with E4, and it has a lipid membrane affinity and resulting in membrane remodeling. To design efficient fusogens with multiple interactions, dimeric K4 variants are synthesized to improve fusion with E4‐modified liposomes and cells. The secondary structure and self‐assembly of dimers are studied; the parallel PK4 dimer forms temperature‐dependent higher‐order assemblies, while linear K4 dimers form tetramer‐like homodimers. The structures and membrane interactions of PK4 are supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Upon addition of E4, PK4 induced the strongest coiled‐coil interaction resulting in a higher liposomal delivery compared to linear dimers and monomer. Using a wide spectrum of endocytosis inhibitors, membrane fusion is found to be the main cellular uptake pathway. Doxorubicin delivery results in efficient cellular uptake and concomitant antitumor efficacy. These findings aid the development of efficient delivery systems of drugs into cells using liposome‐cell fusion strategies.
A Universal Fabrication Strategy for High‐Resolution Perovskite‐Based Photodetector Arrays
Authors: Liang Yegang , Lu Qiuchun , Wu Wenqiang , Xu Zhangsheng , Lu Hui , He Zeping , Zhu Yizhi , Yu Yang , Han Xun , Pan Caofeng
Published: May 2023

Metal halide perovskite photodetector arrays have demonstrated great potential applications in the field of integrated systems, optical communications, and health monitoring. However, the fabrication of large‐scale and high‐resolution device is still challenging due to their incompatibility with the polar solvents. Here, a universal fabrication strategy that utilizes ultrathin encapsulation‐assisted photolithography and etching to create high‐resolution photodetectors array with vertical crossbar structure is reported. This approach yields a 48 × 48 photodetector array with a resolution of 317 ppi. The device shows good imaging capability with a high on/off ratio of 3.3 × 105 and long‐term working stability over 12 h. Furthermore, this strategy can be applied to five different material systems, and is fully compatible with the existing photolithography and etching techniques, which are expected to have potential applications in the other high‐density and solvent‐sensitive devices array, including perovskite‐ or organic semiconductor‐based memristor, light emitting diode displays, and transistors.
Experimental investigation of the shear behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete slender beams without stirrups through crack kinematics and shear transfer mechanisms
Authors: Resende Thomás Lima de , Cardoso Daniel Carlos Taissum
Published: May 2023

This paper aims to contribute to a more rational understanding of the shear strength behavior of steel fiber‐reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. For this purpose, an experimental program comprising eight slender beams varying the fiber content and type, tested in three‐point bending configuration with a complete monitoring of the displacement fields of the failure span, was carried out. A detailed analysis of the shape and kinematics of the critical crack, associated with the investigation of the shear transfer mechanisms during the test given by mechanical models available in the literature, was performed. The theoretical–experimental analyzes proved to be a promising approach for quantifying the contribution of each relevant parameter to the shear capacity, such as the fiber concrete residual tensile response. The study, therefore, presents a contribution toward a rational and comprehensive methodology for the shear design of concrete members. The influence of shape and kinematics of the critical crack on the shear response is also reported and a theoretical explanation is provided to justify the fact that beams with the same characteristics have different cracking patterns but similar shear strength.
Photon propagator in de Sitter space in the general covariant gauge
Authors: Glavan Dražen , Prokopec Tomislav
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We consider a free photon field inD-dimensional de Sitter space, and construct its propagator in the general covariant gauge. Canonical quantization is employed to define the system starting from the classical theory. This guarantees that the propagator satisfies both the equation of motionandsubsidiary conditions descending from gauge invariance and gauge fixing. We first construct the propagator as a sum-over-modes in momentum space, carefully accounting for symmetry properties of the state. We then derive the position space propagator in a covariant representation, that is our main result. Our conclusions disagree with previous results as we find that the position space photon propagatornecessarily breaks de Sitter symmetry, except in the exact transverse gauge limit.
A freely falling graviton in the D1D5 CFT
Authors: Guo Bin , Hampton Shaun
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We study a freely falling graviton propagating in AdS in the context of the D1D5 CFT, where we introduce an interaction by turning on a deformation operator. We start with one left and right moving boson in the CFT. After applying two deformation operators, the initial bosons split into three left moving and three right moving bosons. We compute the amplitude for various energies and extrapolate the result to the large energy region. At early times, the amplitude is linear in time. This corresponds to an infalling graviton becoming redshifted in AdS. At late times, the amplitude is periodic, which agrees with the fact that a freely falling graviton will not be thermalized.
Interactions of πK, ππK and KKπ systems at maximal isospin from lattice QCD
Authors: Draper Zachary T. , Hanlon Andrew D. , Hörz Ben , Morningstar Colin , Romero-López Fernando , Sharpe Stephen R.
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We study the interactions of systems of two and three nondegenerate mesons composed of pions and kaons at maximal isospin using lattice QCD, specifically π+K+, π+π+K+ and K+K+π+. Utilizing the stochastic LapH method, we determine the spectrum of these systems on two CLS Nf = 2 + 1 ensembles with pion masses of 200 MeV and 340 MeV, and include many levels in different momentum frames. We constrain the K matrices describing two- and three-particle interactions by fitting the spectrum to the results predicted by the finite-volume formalism, including up to p waves. This requires also results for the π+π+ and K+K+ spectrum, which have been obtained previously on the same configurations. We explore different fitting strategies, comparing fits to energy shifts with fits to energies boosted to the rest frame, and also comparing simultaneous global fits to all relevant two- and three-particle channels to those where we first fit two-particle channels and then add in the three-particle information. We provide the first determination of the three-particle K matrix in π+π+K+ and K+K+π+ systems, finding statistically significant nonzero results in most cases. We include s and p waves in the K matrix for π+K+ scattering, finding evidence for an attractive p-wave scattering length. We compare our results to Chiral Perturbation Theory, including an investigation of the impact of discretization errors, for which we provide the leading order predictions obtained using Wilson Chiral Perturbation Theory.
Towards resolving the gallium anomaly
Authors: Brdar Vedran , Gehrlein Julia , Kopp Joachim
Published: May 2023

Abstract

A series of experiments studying neutrinos from intense radioactive sources have reported a deficit in the measured event rate which, in combination, has reached a statistical significance of ∼ 5σ. In this paper, we explore avenues for explaining this anomaly, both within the Standard Model and beyond. First, we discuss possible biases in the predicted cross section for the detection reaction νe + 71Ga → e− + 71Ge, which could arise from mismeasurement of the inverse process, 71Ge decay, or from the presence of as yet unknown low-lying excited states of 71Ga. The latter would imply that not all 71Ge decays go to the ground state of 71Ga, so the extraction of the ground state-to-ground state matrix element relevant for neutrino capture on gallium would be incorrect. Second, we scrutinize the measurement of the source intensity in gallium experiments, and we point out that a ∼ 2% error in the branching ratios for 51Cr decay would be enough to explain the anomaly. Third, we investigate the calibration of the radiochemical germanium extraction efficiency as a possible origin of anomaly. Finally, we outline several new explanations beyond the Standard Model, including scenarios with sterile neutrinos coupled to fuzzy dark matter or to dark energy, as well as a model with decaying sterile neutrinos. We critically assess the viability of these scenarios, and others that have been proposed, in a summary table.
Potential of the KOBO extrusion process for nonferrous metals in the form of solids and chips
Authors: Bochniak Włodzimierz , Ostachowski Paweł , Korbel Andrzej , Łagoda Marek
Published: May 2023

The research undertaken for this paper was inspired by the results of theoretical analyzes and strong experimental evidence confirming the possibility to induce the phenomenon of viscous flow (typical for liquids) in the process of low-temperature KOBO extrusion of metals. Thus, despite the constant solid state of the metal, the KOBO plastic deformation process requires much lower stress (low flow resistance) in comparison with conventional extrusion. On the other hand, the KOBO method is particularly attractive due to the generation of high strength properties in the product/extrudate favorable for low (room) temperature deformation as well as superplastic features at higher temperature ranges.

This paper presents the results of the studies on the efficiency of low-temperature KOBO extrusion of hardly-deformable materials in massive form (Mg4Li, AK11, Cu6.5P) and fragmented fractions (2014, 7075, AZ91, titanium grade 2). Particular attention was paid to the structure and mechanical properties of the obtained extrudates, which were rated as exceedingly favorable. As such, the paper provides new technological arguments for the application of the KOBO method in plastic deformation of materials as it guarantees their functional properties.
Differentiation syndrome and coagulation disorder — comparison between treatment with oral and intravenous arsenics in pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Luo Jie-Si , Zhang Xiao-Li , Huang Dan-Ping , Chen Yi-Qiao , Wan Wu-Qing , Mai Hui-Rong , Chen Hui-Qin , Wen Hong , Liu Ri-Yang , Chen Guo-Hua , Li Yu , Luo Xue-Qun , Tang Yan-Lai , Huang Li-Bin
Published: May 2023

Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), with A4S4 as a major ingredient, is an oral arsenic used in China to treat pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The efficacy of RIF is similar to that of arsenic trioxide (ATO). However, the effects of these two arsenicals on differentiation syndrome (DS) and coagulation disorders, the two main life-threatening events in children with APL, remain unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 68 consecutive children with APL from South China Children Leukemia Group-APL (SCCLG-APL) study. Patients received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on day 1 of induction therapy. ATO 0.16 mg/kg day or RIF 135 mg/kg·day was administrated on day 5, while mitoxantrone was administered on day 3 (non-high-risk) or days 2–4 (high-risk). The incidences of DS were 3.0% and 5.7% in ATO (n = 33) and RIF (n = 35) arms (p = 0.590), and 10.3% and 0% in patients with and without differentiation-related hyperleukocytosis (p = 0.04), respectively. Moreover, in patients with differentiation-related hyperleukocytosis, the incidence of DS was not significantly different between ATO and RIF arms. The dynamic changes of leukocyte count between arms were not statistically different. However, patients with leukocyte count > 2.61 × 109/L or percentage of promyelocytes in peripheral blood > 26.5% tended to develop hyperleukocytosis. The improvement of coagulation indexes in ATO and RIF arms was similar, with fibrinogen and prothrombin time having the quickest recovery rate. This study showed that the incidence of DS and recovery of coagulopathy are similar when treating pediatric APL with RIF or ATO.
Constrained school choice: an experimental QRE analysis
Authors: Alcalde-Unzu Jorge , Klijn Flip , Vorsatz Marc
Published: May 2023

The theoretical literature on public school choice proposes centralized mechanisms that assign children to schools on the basis of parents’ preferences and the priorities children have for different schools. The related experimental literature analyzes in detail how various mechanisms fare in terms of welfare and stability of the resulting matchings, yet often provides only aggregate statistics of the individual behavior that leads to these outcomes (i.e., the degree to which subjects tell the truth in the induced simultaneous move game). In this paper, we show that the quantal response equilibrium (QRE) adequately describes individual behavior and the resulting matching in three constrained problems for which the immediate acceptance mechanism and the student-optimal stable mechanism coincide. Specifically, the comparative statics of the logit-QRE with risk-neutral and expected-payoff-maximizing agents capture the directional changes of subject behavior and the prevalence of the different stable matchings when cardinal payoffs (i.e., relative preference intensities) are modified in the experiment.
Relating side scan sonar backscatter data to geotechnical properties for the investigation of surficial seabed sediments
Authors: Smith Liz , Stark Nina , Jaber Reem
Published: May 2023

Side scan sonar is a common tool for seafloor imaging and surveying due its efficiency and high resolution. The backscatter information from side scan sonar enables to identify sediment types and seabed roughness, often used to study sediment dynamics. Theory suggests that side scan sonar backscatter can be correlated to the geotechnical properties of the seabed surface. This could enhance the prediction of erodibility and efficiency of seabed sediment characterization, considering that side scan sonar can offer large spatial coverage in a short time. In this study, high-frequency (1000 kHz) side scan sonar backscatter data, sediment samples, and in-situ seabed strength profiles were collected of the seabed surface at ten locations. Statistical analysis of the backscatter data compared with geotechnical data showed trends between mean backscatter, soil strength, and textural sediment properties. Generally, mean backscatter increased when sediment strength and mean grain size increased and when water content and fines content decreased. However, roughness from bedforms, the presence of oysters, shell hash as well as variations in water content (i.e., porosity) of the seafloor heavily influenced the backscatter and sometimes masked any relationships with the strength properties directly.
Longitudinal change in neurocognitive functioning in children and adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: a systematic review
Authors: Pedruzo Borja , Aymerich Claudia , Pacho Malein , Herrero Jon , Laborda María , Bordenave Marta , Giuliano Anthony J. , McCutcheon Robert A. , Gutiérrez-Rojas Luis , McGuire Philip , Stone William S. , Fusar-Poli Paolo , González-Torres Miguel Ángel , Catalan Ana
Published: May 2023

Clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR-P) population has become an attractive area of interest in preventing transitions to psychosis. The consequences of developing a psychotic disorder may be worse in cases of early onset. Thus, childhood and adolescence represent a critical developmental window, where opportunities to gain social and adaptive abilities depend on the individuals’ neurocognitive performance. There have been previous syntheses of the evidence regarding neurocognitive functioning in CHR-P individuals and its longitudinal changes. However, there has been less focus on children and adolescents at CHR-P. A multistep literature search was performed from database inception until July 15th, 2022. PRIMSA/MOOSE compliant systematic review and PROSPERO protocol were used to identify studies reporting on longitudinal changes in neurocognitive functioning in children and adolescents (mean age of sample ≤ 18 years) at CHR-P and matched healthy control (HC) group. A systematic review of identified studies was then undertaken. Three articles were included, resulting in a total sample size of 151 CHR-P patients [mean (SD) age, 16.48 (2.41) years; 32.45% female] and 64 HC individuals [mean (SD) age, 16.79 (2.38) years; 42.18% female]. CHR-P individuals had worse outcomes in verbal learning, sustained attention and executive functioning domains compared to HC. Individuals taking antidepressants had better outcomes in verbal learning in contrast with those taking antipsychotics. In children and adolescents, neurocognition may be already impaired before the psychosis onset, and remains stable during the transition to psychosis. Further study should be performed to obtain more robust evidence.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: IL-1RA inhibits esophageal carcinogenesis and lymphangiogenesis via downregulating VEGF-C and MMP9
Authors: Shen Zhimin , Zhang Peipei , Zhang Weiguang , Luo Fei , Xu Hui , Chen Shuchen , Kang Mingqiang
Published: May 2023

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) has been shown to play an important role in cancer progression. However, its pathogenic effects and molecular mechanism in the malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain largely unknown. This study was designed to explore the function of IL-1RA in ESCC and determine the relationship between IL-1RA and lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients. The clinical relevance of IL-1RA in relation to the clinicopathological features and prognosis of 100 ESCC patients was analyzed. The function and underlying mechanisms of IL-1RA in the growth, invasion, and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC were explored both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic effect of anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, on ESCC was also evaluated in animal experiments. Downregulation of IL-1RA was observed in ESCC tissues and cells and was found to be strongly correlated with pathological stage (P = 0.034) and lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.038). Functional assays demonstrated that upregulation of IL-1RA reduced cell proliferation, migration, and lymphangiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that overexpression of IL-1RA activated the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the ESCC cells through activation of MMP9 and regulation of the expression and secretion of VEGF-C through the PI3K/NF-κB pathway. Anakinra treatment resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth, lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. IL-1RA inhibits lymph node metastasis of ESCC by regulating the EMT through activation of matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9) and lymphangiogenesis, driven by VEGF-C and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Anakinra may be an effective drug for the inhibition of ESCC tumor formation and lymph node metastasis.
Choice of climate data influences predictions for current and future global invasion risks for two Phelsuma geckos
Authors: Dubos Nicolas , Fieldsend Thomas W. , Roesch Markus A. , Augros Stéphane , Besnard Aurélien , Choeur Arthur , Ineich Ivan , Krysko Kenneth , Leroy Boris , Malone Sparkle L. , Probst Jean-Michel , Raxworthy Christopher , Crottini Angelica
Published: May 2023

Invasion risks may be influenced either negatively or positively by climate change, depending on the species. These can be predicted with species distribution models, but projections can be strongly affected by the source of the environmental data (climate data source, Global Circulation Models GCM and Shared Socio-economic Pathways SSP). We modelled the distribution ofPhelsuma grandisandP. laticauda, two Malagasy reptiles that are spreading globally. We accounted for drivers of spread and establishment using socio-economic factors (e.g., distance from ports) and two climate data sources, i.e., Climatologies at High Resolution for the Earth’s and Land Surface Areas (CHELSA) and Worldclim. We further quantified the degree of agreement in invasion risk models that utilised CHELSA and Worldclim data for current and future conditions. Most areas identified as highly exposed to invasion risks were consistently identified (e.g. in Caribbean and Pacific Islands). However, projected risks differed locally. We also found notable differences in quantitative invasion risk (3% difference in suitability scores forP. laticaudaand up to 14% forP. grandis) under current conditions. Despite both species native distributions overlapping substantially, climate change will drive opposite responses on invasion risks by 2070 (decrease forP. grandis,increase forP. laticauda). Overall, projections of future invasion risks were the most affected by climate data source, followed by SSP. Our results highlight that assessments of current and future invasion risks are sensitive to the climate data source, especially in islands. We stress the need to account for multiple climatologies when assessing invasion risks.
Thermal rounding for shape modification of high-performance polyetherketoneketone and reinforced polyetherketoneketone-carbon fiber composite particles
Authors: Unger Laura , Fischer Sybille , Sesseg Jens P. W. , Pfister Andreas , Schmidt Jochen , Bück Andreas
Published: May 2023

This study presents shape transformation of anisotropic high-performance thermoplastic polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) and carbon fiber reinforced powder composite particles (HT-23) by thermal rounding. The shape transformation is achieved by (partial) melting of the high-temperature thermoplast microparticles. Three different process setups are presented, investigating the impact of the source of heat supply on the resulting shape modification: using a directly heated sheath gas flow, an indirect heat supply through the reactor wall and a combined approach. Regardless of the chosen setup, a modification of the particle shape was observable. The most advantageous shape transformation was observed in the indirect heating approach. In addition, the enhanced shape transformation yields an improved free flow behaviour of the powders, as quantified by ring-shear experiments. Reductions of the unconfined yield strengths of the powders for high consolidation stresses as high as 18 percent for PEKK and 30 percent for the HT-23 are achieved. Thereby, processability of the powder in laser based powder bed fusion is enhanced, extending the range of available (composite) polymer materials.
Immunomodulatory Activity on Human Macrophages by Cell-Free Supernatants to Explore the Probiotic and Postbiotic Potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains of Plant Origin
Authors: Rocchetti Maria Teresa , Russo Pasquale , De Simone Nicola , Capozzi Vittorio , Spano Giuseppe , Fiocco Daniela
Published: May 2023

Upon dietary administration, probiotic microorganisms can reach as live cells the human gut, where they interact with the microbiota and host cells, thereby exerting a beneficial impact on host functions, mainly through immune-modulatory activities. Recently, attention has been drawn by postbiotics, i.e. non-viable probiotic microbes, including their metabolic products, which possess biological activities that benefit the host. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a bacterial species that comprises recognised probiotic strains. In this study, we investigated in vitro the probiotic (and postbiotic) potential of seven L. plantarum strains, including five newly isolated from plant-related niches. The strains were shown to possess some basic probiotic attributes, including tolerance to the gastrointestinal environment, adhesion to the intestinal epithelium and safety. Besides, their cell-free culture supernatants modulated cytokine patterns in human macrophages in vitro, promoting TNF-α gene transcription and secretion, while attenuating the transcriptional activation and secretion of both TNF-α and IL-8 in response to a pro-inflammatory signal, and enhancing the production of IL-10. Some strains induced a high IL-10/IL-12 ratio that may correlate to an anti-inflammatory capacity in vivo. Overall, the investigated strains are good probiotic candidates, whose postbiotic fraction exhibits immunomodulatory properties that need further in vivo studies. The main novelty of this work consists in the polyphasic characterisation of candidate beneficial L. plantarum strains obtained from relatively atypical plant-associated niches, by an approach that explores both probiotic and postbiotic potentials, in particular studying the effect of microbial culture-conditioned media on cytokine pattern, analysed at both transcriptional and secretion level in human macrophages.
Digital interventions for genomics and genetics education, empowerment, and service engagement: A systematic review
Authors: Gasteiger Norina , Vercell Amy , Khan Naz , Dowding Dawn , Davies Angela C. , Davies Alan
Published: May 2023

Background

Patient-facing digital technologies may reduce barriers to and alleviate the burden on genetics services. However, no work has synthesised the evidence for patient-facing digital interventions for genomics/genetics education and empowerment, or to facilitate service engagement more broadly. It is also unclear which groups have been engaged by digital interventions.

Aim

This systematic review explores which existing patient-facing digital technologies have been used for genomics/genetics education and empowerment, or to facilitate service engagement, and for whom and for which purposes the interventions have been developed.

Methods

The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eight databases were searched for literature. Information was extracted into an Excel sheet and analysed in a narrative manner. Quality assessments were conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included, of which 21 were moderate or high quality. The majority (88%) were conducted in the United States of America or within a clinical setting (79%). More than half (63%) of the interventions were web-based tools, and almost all focussed on educating users (92%). There were promising results regarding educating patients and their families and facilitating engagement with genetics services. Few of the studies focussed on empowering patients or were community-based.

Conclusion

Digital interventions may be used to deliver information about genetics concepts and conditions, and positively impact service engagement. However, there is insufficient evidence related to empowering patients and engaging underserved communities or consanguineous couples. Future work should focus on co-developing content with end users and incorporating interactive features.