bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geoelectrical subsurface characterization: A case study of saltwater intrusion in Kudat, Sabah
Authors: Ismail Fatin Nabilahuda , Musta Baba , Saleh Hardianshah , Yahya Farashazillah
Published: August 2022

Saltwater intrusion is one of the primary sources of groundwater contamination, especially near the coastal line, and it is crucial to monitor saltwater intrusion to protect fresh groundwater. Due to the proximity of the coastal line, the area within Kudat Peninsula that was formed by the ophiolite basement, Kudat Formation Chert-Spilite Formation, and alluvium deposit is susceptible to saltwater intrusion. In this study, two survey lines of geoelectrical resistivity and induced polarization imaging survey with a total length of 200 m were carried out. The Wenner configuration was used to characterize the subsurface of the Kudat Peninsula. The interpolation between geoelectrical resistivity and chargeability profiles provided better interpretations of the subsurface environment. The saltwater intrusion zone displays a resistivity value between 0 – 5.0 Ωm and a chargeability value between 0 – 3.0 ms. The results showed that saltwater intrusion was detected at depths as shallow as 1.25 m to 36.90 m and intruded as far as 218.00 m into the mainland, from the coastline.
Process Simulation of Steam Stripping of Bleached Palm Oil Deodorization for Removing Free Fatty Acids using DWSIM
Authors: Bahrun M H V , Battak N , Tan W-H , Bono A
Published: August 2022

The presence of free fatty acids (FFAs) and odoriferous components in the bleached palm oil (BPO) need to be removed to meet the specific standard quality and make the oil palatable. Because FFAs and odoriferous components is more volatile than the main oil components, they vaporize readily thus being removed from the oil product. Deodorization is the key process in industry to remove FFAs by vaporizing them using steam stripping agent such as steam under vacuum. In this work, a simulation study was adopted for the analysis of deodorization process implemented in an open-source chemical process simulator software, DWSIM. The deodorization section was modelled using absorber column unit operation in the software. The process conditions and BPO compositions fed into the deodorizer were taken from literature. The simulation showed much decrease in the FFAs content below the maximum value as standardized by the authorized association. The deodorization of BPO was analyzed by studying the column profiles such as the individual TGs, FFAs and water interstage flows in vapour and liquid phases, and the total component interstage flow for vapour and liquid phases’ profiles. From the simulation study under defined process conditions, the percentage removal of FFAs from the BPO was >99.99%.
Exploring clusters of rare events using unsupervised random forests
Authors: Omar Z A , Chin S N , Hashim S R M , Hamzah N
Published: August 2022

Given highly imbalanced data, most learning algorithms face the challenge of accurately predicting rare events, while such cases are the ones that carry importance and useful knowledge. In a binary class label dataset, the rare events are the ones in the minority class. This study used a stroke dataset with a binary class label and the class imbalance ratio was 54:1. In addition to that, the dataset contained missing values and mixed data types. To identify the intrinsic structures in the minority class (the stroke group), Random Forest Clustering was used to produce the proximity matrix and fed to Partition around Medoid (PAM) clustering method to identify the optimal number of clusters. The proximity plot seems to show there could be cluster tendency as Hopkins’s statistics test value was H = 0.8735 and k=2 was identified to be the optimal number of clusters. Based on the internal cluster validation, however, the silhouette coefficient width was small (0.1), indicating that many of the data objects were within the other boundary of the other class. We have suggested a further investigation plan in this paper for the next action.
Growth of Titania Nanoparticles Assists Self-Cleaning Features of Glass
Authors: Thomas N F , Awang A
Published: August 2022

Self-cleaning glasses became demanding for various advanced applications due to their manifold advantages. In this view, tellurite glasses containing titania nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) with varying concentration were synthesized using standard melt-quenching. The TEM images of the glasses showed the presence of elongated TiO2 NPs with lattice spacing of 3.78 Å. TiO2 NPs are found to grow further in the longitudinal and transverse axes ranging from 7-23 nm and 5-10 nm for TZETi glass and from 8-27 nm and 6-14 nm for TZETi-HT345 glass. The observed reduction in the water contact angle from 67.5° to 34.7° of the glasses indicated their hydrophilic nature. Growth of TiO2 NPs induced by the heat treatment process reduces the water contact angle due to water droplets that tends to form a film and reduces water contact angle which in turn facilitates the removal of dirt on the glass surface. It was demonstrated that by adjusting the shape and size of TiO2 NPs tailored the hydrophilic traits of the glasses.
Changes in the sweet pepper fruits quality indicators during storage taking into account agricultural cultivation technology
Authors: Kalmykova E V , Kalmykova O V
Published: August 2022

Vegetable growing in open ground is a demanded branch of plant growing in the southern zone of the Russian Federation. The choice of safe growing technologies and irrigation systems, as well as the selection of the vegetable crops most productive and adaptive varieties and hybrids plays an important role in stabilizing yields. The aim of the research was to substantiate scientifically agrotechnical methods for increasing the sweet pepper fruits productivity and quality when stored in the south of the Russian Federation conditions. Studies showed that an improvement in nutrition against the background of sufficient moisture supply for vegetable plants in the root layer, especially during the period of fruit formation. entailed a proportional increase in yield from 90 and more t/ha of marketable products. At the same time. the largest increase was noted on the Pompeo F1 hybrid: on the variant, subject to the elements of agricultural technology, for obtaining 50 t/ha - 33.5 t/ha, for obtaining 90 t/ha - 21.4 t/ha. The amount of biochemical substances in sweet pepper fruits was closely dependent on its variety and hybrid, irrigation regime, ripening degree and storage duration. On the fifth day of storage, the quality of fruits of the ripening biological degree decreased on average on varieties by 23.6-27.7%, the ripening technical degree is 1.1-1.2 times higher. When stored for twenty days, there was a deterioration in the market condition due to the fruit wilting and the decrease in quality indicators. In the Pompeo F1 hybrid. regardless of the fruit ripening degree and the applied irrigation regime, a higher content of dry matter, the amount of sugars. ascorbic acid and a lower content of nitrates were noted.
Analysis of wide diffuse halo formation in the x-ray diffraction spectrum during the reduction of Fe2O3 by waste-activated sludge (WAS)
Authors: Serrano Nava Manuel Eduardo , Hernández Morelos Jorge Luis , Reséndiz González Mary Cruz , Guardian Tapia Rene , Vlasova Marina , Márquez Aguilar Pedro Antonio
Published: August 2022

A simulation of the diffuse experimental x-ray halo obtained when waste-activated sludge (WAS) was used as the Fe2O3 reducing agent made it possible to explain the large width of the experimental halo and the change in its shape as a result of the change in the amorphous phase content. The halo consists of different sets of amorphous phase convolutions. The synthesized product was a composite consisting of amorphous iron with inclusions of amorphous oxides of aluminum and silicon, amorphous carbon, and amorphous Si, Al, and C alloys on the surface of the Fe particles. The shift in the halo makes it possible to qualitatively estimate the contributions of oxide and carbon components or alloys to the halo of amorphous iron.
Petri net transition times as training features for multiclass models to support the detection of neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Tobar Cristian , Rengifo Carlos , Muñoz Mariela
Published: August 2022

This paper proposes the transition times of Petri net models of human gait as training features for multiclass random forests (RFs) and classification trees (CTs). These models are designed to support screening for neurodegenerative diseases. The proposed Petri net describes gait in terms of nine cyclic phases and the timing of the nine events that mark the transition between phases. Since the transition times between strides vary, each is represented as a random variable characterized by its mean and standard deviation. These transition times are calculated using the PhysioNet database of vertical ground reaction forces (VGRFs) generated by feet-ground contact. This database comprises the VGRFs of four groups: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the control group, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson disease. The RF produced an overall classification accuracy of 91%, and the specificities and sensitivities for each class were between 80% and 100%. However, despite this high performance, the RF-generated models demonstrated lack of interpretability prompted the training of a CT using identical features. The obtained tree comprised only four features and required a maximum of three comparisons. However, this simplification dramatically reduced the overall accuracy from 90.6% to 62.3%. The proposed set features were compared with those included in PhysioNet database of VGRFs. In terms of both the RF and CT, more accurate models were established using our features than those of the PhysioNet.
Poststructuralism: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Belsey Catherine
Published: August 2022

Poststructuralism challenges traditional ways of thinking about the relations between human beings, culture, and the world. Language and meaning are reappraised, and with them assumptions about what it is possible for us to know. Poststructuralism resists certainties and offers ways to consider our place in the world that compete with conventional explanations. In this Very Short Introduction, Catherine Belsey examines key figures such as Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Julia Kristeva, Gilles Deleuze, and Sarah Kofman, drawing examples from sources as diverse as M. C. Escher, politics, Shakespeare, climate change, love, primatology, and pandemics.
Does Vitamin D Provide Added Benefit to Antihypertensive Therapy in Reducing Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Determined by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance?
Authors: Levy Phillip D , Twiner Michael J , Brody Aaron M , Dawood Rachelle , Reed Brian , Mango LynnMarie , Gowland Laura , Grandits Greg , Svendsen Kenneth , Haacke Ewart Mark , Li Tao , Zhang Liying , McNaughton Candace D , Flack John M
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and vitamin D deficiency have been linked to hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease, particularly in African Americans (AAs). Our objective was to determine if the addition of vitamin D to antihypertensive therapy would lead to greater regression of LV mass index (LVMI) as determined by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) after 1 year in vitamin D deficient AA patients with uncontrolled HTN and LVH.

METHODS

This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study. AA patients with HTN (systolic blood pressure [BP] >160 mm Hg), increased LVMI, and vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) were randomized. All patients received antihypertensive therapy combined with biweekly 50,000 IU vitamin D3 (vitamin D group, n = 55) or placebo (placebo group, n = 58).

RESULTS

At 1 year, there were no statistical differences between the vitamin D and placebo groups in LVMI (−14.1 ± 14.6 vs. −16.9 ± 13.1 g/m2; P = 0.34) or systolic BP (−25.6 ± 32.1 vs. −25.7 ± 25.6 mm Hg; P = 0.99) reduction, respectively. Serum vitamin D levels increased significantly in the vitamin D group compared with placebo (12.7 ± 2.0 vs. 1.8 ± 8.2 ng/ml; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this high-risk cohort of AAs we did not find an association between vitamin D supplementation and differential regression of LVMI or reduction in systolic BP. However, our study suffered from a small sample size with low statistical power precluding a definitive conclusion on the therapeutic benefit of vitamin D in such patients.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

Trial Number NCT01360476. Full trial protocol is available from corresponding author.
China’s emerging data protection framework
Authors: Creemers Rogier
Published: August 2022

Over the past 5 years, the People’s Republic of China has accelerated efforts to establish a legal architecture for data protection. With the promulgation of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and the Data Security Law (DSL) in the summer of 2021, the first phase of these efforts have been concluded. These will have a significant impact on data flows within China, but also merit foreign attention. They provide a new approach to data protection to be subjected to comparative analysis, and may influence the development of data protection legislation in other states, particularly those with close digital connections to China. Doing so requires a greater understanding of how this legislation is shaped by the Chinese political and economic context. Drawing on a thorough review of government documents, supplemented by Chinese-language academic sources, this article reviews the evolution of the two pillars of China’s data protection architecture, from the early stage of fragmentation via the promulgation of the Cybersecurity Law in 2016, up to the present day. It finds that the PIPL and its attendant regulations serve to primarily regulate the relationship between large technology companies and consumers, as well as prevent cyber crime. It does not create meaningful constraints on data collection and use by the state. Even so, the PIPL bears a clear family resemblance to personal data protection regimes elsewhere in the world. In contrast, the DSL is a considerable innovation, attempting to prevent harm to national security and the public interest inflicted through data-enabled means. While implementing structures for this Law remain under construction, it will likely herald a thorough reorganization of the way through which data is collected, stored, and managed within all kinds of Chinese actors.
Angiographic outcome in patients treated with deferred stenting after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction—results from DANAMI-3-DEFER
Authors: Nepper-Christensen Lars , Kelbæk Henning , Ahtarovski Kiril A , Høfsten Dan E , Holmvang Lene , Pedersen Frants , Tilsted Hans-Henrik , Aarøe Jens , Jensen Svend E , Raungaard Bent , Terkelsen Christian J , Køber Lars , Engstrøm Thomas , Lønborg Jacob
Published: August 2022

Aims

Stent implantation during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occasionally results in flow disturbances and distal embolization, which may cause adverse clinical outcomes. Deferred stent implantation seems to reduce the impairment on myocardial function, although the mechanisms have not been clarified. We sought to evaluate whether deferred stenting could reduce flow disturbance in patients treated with primary PCI.

Methods and results

Patients with STEMI included in the DANAMI-3-DEFER trial were randomized to deferred versus immediate stent implantation. The primary and secondary outcomes of this substudy were the incidences of slow/no reflow and distal embolization. A total of 1205 patients were included. Deferred stenting (n = 594) resulted in lower incidences of distal embolization [odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46–0.98, P = 0.040] and slow/no reflow (OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.37–0.97, P = 0.039). In high-risk subgroups, the protective effect was greatest in patients >65 years of age (slow/no reflow: OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17–0.72, P = 0.004 and distal embolization: OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.18–0.63, P = 0.001), in patients presenting with occluded culprit artery at admission (slow/no reflow: OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.65, P = 0.001 and distal embolization: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.96, P = 0.036) and in patients with thrombus grade >3 (slow/no reflow: OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.20–0.67, P = 0.001 and distal embolization: OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.24–0.64, P < 0.001) with a significant P for interaction for all.

Conclusion

Deferred stent implantation reduces the incidences of slow/no reflow and distal embolization, especially in older patients and in those with total coronary occlusion or high level of thrombus burden.
Obesity and cardiovascular disease: mechanistic insights and management strategies. A joint position paper by the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation
Authors: Lopez-Jimenez Francisco , Almahmeed Wael , Bays Harold , Cuevas Ada , Di Angelantonio Emanuele , le Roux Carel W , Sattar Naveed , Sun Marie Chan , Wittert Gary , Pinto Fausto J , Wilding John P H
Published: August 2022

The ongoing obesity epidemic represents a global public health crisis that contributes to poor health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and >2.8 million deaths each year. Obesity is relapsing, progressive, and heterogeneous. It is considered a chronic disease by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) and a chronic condition by the World Heart Federation (WHF). People living with overweight/obesity are at greater risk for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Increased adiposity (body fat), particularly visceral/abdominal fat, is linked to CV risk and CV disease (CVD) via multiple direct and indirect pathophysiological mechanisms. The development of CVD is driven, in part, by obesity-related metabolic, endocrinologic, immunologic, structural, humoral, haemodynamic, and functional alterations. The complex multifaceted nature of these mechanisms can be challenging to understand and address in clinical practice. People living with obesity and CVD often have concurrent chronic physical or psychological disorders (multimorbidity) requiring multidisciplinary care pathways and polypharmacy. Evidence indicates that intentional weight loss (particularly when substantial) lowers CVD risk among people with overweight/obesity. Long-term weight loss and maintenance require ongoing commitment from both the individual and those responsible for their care. This position paper, developed by the WOF and the WHF, aims to improve understanding of the direct and indirect links between overweight/obesity and CVD, the key controversies in this area and evidence relating to cardiometabolic outcomes with available weight management options. Finally, an action plan for clinicians provides recommendations to help in identifying and addressing the risks of obesity-related CVD (recognizing resource and support variances between countries).
Wavefront directionality and decremental stimuli synergistically improve identification of ventricular tachycardia substrate: insights from personalized computational heart models
Authors: Sung Eric , Prakosa Adityo , Kyranakis Stephen , Berger Ronald D , Chrispin Jonathan , Trayanova Natalia A
Published: August 2022

Aims

Multiple wavefront pacing (MWP) and decremental pacing (DP) are two electroanatomic mapping (EAM) strategies that have emerged to better characterize the ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrate. The aim of this study was to assess how well MWP, DP, and their combination improve identification of electrophysiological abnormalities on EAM that reflect infarct remodelling and critical VT sites.

Methods and results

Forty-eight personalized computational heart models were reconstructed using images from post-infarct patients undergoing VT ablation. Paced rhythms were simulated by delivering an initial (S1) and an extra-stimulus (S2) from one of 100 locations throughout each heart model. For each pacing, unipolar signals were computed along the myocardial surface to simulate substrate EAM. Six EAM features were extracted and compared with the infarct remodelling and critical VT sites. Concordance of S1 EAM features between different maps was lower in hearts with smaller amounts of remodelling. Incorporating S1 EAM features from multiple maps greatly improved the detection of remodelling, especially in hearts with less remodelling. Adding S2 EAM features from multiple maps decreased the number of maps required to achieve the same detection accuracy. S1 EAM features from multiple maps poorly identified critical VT sites. However, combining S1 and S2 EAM features from multiple maps paced near VT circuits greatly improved identification of critical VT sites.

Conclusion

Electroanatomic mapping with MWP is more advantageous for characterization of substrate in hearts with less remodelling. During substrate EAM, MWP and DP should be combined and delivered from locations proximal to a suspected VT circuit to optimize identification of the critical VT site.
Associations of ultra-processed food consumption with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: UK Biobank
Authors: Chen Xuanli , Chu Jiadong , Hu Wei , Sun Na , He Qida , Liu Siyuan , Feng Zhaolong , Li Tongxing , Han Qiang , Shen Yueping
Published: August 2022

Background

This study aimed to investigate the associations between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in the UK Biobank Cohort.

Methods

This observational prospective study evaluated 60 298 participants aged 40 years or older. We used the NOVA classification system to identify and categorize UPF. The associations among UPF consumption, cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and all-cause mortality were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Dose–response analysis of UPF consumption and CVD incidence and mortality was performed using a restricted cubic spline.

Results

After a median follow-up of 10.9 years, 6048 participants (10.0%) experienced CVD events, and 5327 (8.8%) and 1503 (2.5%) experienced coronary heart and cerebrovascular diseases, respectively. There were 2590 (4.3%) deaths, of which 384 (0.6%) deaths were caused by CVD. A higher intake of UPF was associated with a higher risk of CVD and all-cause mortality (all P < 0.001). A higher intake of UPF was associated with a higher risk of CVD [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–1.26], coronary heart disease (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07–1.25), cerebrovascular disease (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.13–1.50) and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09–1.36). The association of UPF consumption with a range of CVD incidents and all-cause mortality was monotonic (all P for non-linearity > 0.30).

Conclusions

A higher proportion of UPF consumption was associated with CVD and all-cause mortality. Thus, actions to limit UPF consumption should be incorporated into the CVD and all-cause mortality prevention recommendations.
Mortality from angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in people infected with COVID-19: a cohort study of 3.7 million people
Authors: Dambha-Miller Hajira , Hinton William , Wilcox Christopher R , Lemanska Agnieszka , Joy Mark , Feher Michael , Stuart Beth , de Lusignan Simon , Hippisley-Cox Julia , Griffin Simon
Published: August 2022

Background

Concerns have been raised that angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) might facilitate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 leading to more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease and an increased risk of mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between ACE-I/ARB treatment and risk of death amongst people with COVID-19 in the first 6 months of the pandemic.

Methods

We identified a cohort of adults diagnosed with either confirmed or probable COVID-19 (from 1 January to 21 June 2020) using computerized medical records from the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) primary care database. This comprised 465 general practices in England, United Kingdom with a nationally representative population of 3.7 million people. We constructed mixed-effects logistic regression models to quantify the association between ACE-I/ARBs and all-cause mortality among people with COVID-19, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, comorbidities, concurrent medication, smoking status, practice clustering, and household number.

Results

There were 9,586 COVID-19 cases in the sample and 1,463 (15.3%) died during the study period between 1 January 2020 and 21 June 2020. In adjusted analysis ACE-I and ARBs were not associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85–1.21 and OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.67–1.07, respectively).

Conclusion

Use of ACE-I/ARB, which are commonly used drugs, did not alter the odds of all-cause mortality amongst people diagnosed with COVID-19. Our findings should inform patient and prescriber decisions concerning continued use of these medications during the pandemic.
Environmental Factors Influence the Seed Phenotypic Variation of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. and Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk. in China
Authors: Wang Mianzhi , Liu Jiming , Zheng Yulin , Sun Caowen , Wang Xin , Xu Yuanyuan , Wang Lixian , Zhao Guochun , Weng Xuehuang , Jia Liming , Sheng Kezhai , Wei Changsheng , Yang Mingyan
Published: August 2022

The phenotypes of Sapindus are significantly influenced by environmental factors, but the responses of oil-related seed phenotypes to environmental factors are still unclear. We sampled 115 seed accessions of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. and 33 of Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk. from fifty-six distinct locations in China to explore the effects of environmental factors on the seed phenotypes. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that 100-seed kernel weight (SKW), 100-seed shell weight (SSW), and seed kernel content (SKC) were the phenotypes most sensitive to the environmental influence (significantly associated with at least ten environmental factors). Redundancy analysis explained 26.13% of the variance and revealed that longitude was negatively correlated with SKW and SKC but was positively correlated with SSW, whereas elevation had the opposite effect. Monthly sunshine hours was negatively correlated with 100-seed weight and SSW. Additionally, the Mantel test showed that the seed phenotypic variations in Sapindus mukorossi and Sapindus delavayi were significantly affected by environmental factors differently. SKW and SKC of Sapindus delavayi were more sensitive to the influence of key environmental factors and therefore had more potential for oil development. It is recommended to cultivate Sapindus delavayi at lower longitudes to facilitate seed kernel development and promote oil yield.
QTL mapping and characterization of black spot disease resistance using two multi-parental diploid rose populations
Authors: Rawandoozi Zena J , Young Ellen L , Yan Muqing , Noyan Seza , Fu Qiuyi , Hochhaus Tessa , Rawandoozi Maad Y , Klein Patricia E , Byrne David H , Riera-Lizarazu Oscar
Published: August 2022

Black spot disease (BSD) (Diplocarpon rosae) is the most common and damaging fungal disease in garden roses (Rosa sp.). Although qualitative resistance to BSD has been extensively investigated, the research on quantitative resistance lags behind. The goal of this research was to study the genetic basis of BSD resistance in two multi-parental populations (TX2WOB and TX2WSE) through a pedigree-based analysis approach (PBA). Both populations were genotyped and evaluated for BSD incidence over five years in three locations in Texas. A total of 28 QTLs, distributed over all linkage groups (LGs), were detected across both populations. Consistent minor effect QTLs included two on LG1 and LG3 (TX2WOB and TX2WSE), two on LG4 and LG5 (TX2WSE), and one QTL on LG7 (TX2WOB). In addition, one major QTL detected in both populations was consistently mapped on LG3. This QTL was localized to an interval ranging from 18.9 to 27.8 Mbp on the Rosa chinensis genome and explained 20 and 33% of the phenotypic variation. Furthermore, haplotype analysis showed that this QTL had three distinct functional alleles. The parent PP-J14–3 was the common source of the LG3 BSD resistance in both populations. Taken together, this research presents the characterization of new SNP-tagged genetic determinants of BSD resistance, the discovery of marker-trait associations to enable parental choice based on their BSD resistance QTL haplotypes, and substrates for the development of trait-predictive DNA tests for routine use in marker-assisted breeding for BSD resistance.
Walking a Tightrope: Financial Regulation, Climate Change, and the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy
Authors: Demekas Dimitri , Grippa Pierpaolo
Published: August 2022

As with the global financial crisis, there are once again demands on central banks and financial regulators to take on new responsibilities, this time for supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. Regulators can indeed facilitate the reorientation of financial flows necessary for the transition. But they may find themselves walking a tightrope, having to balance exaggerated expectations against limited capabilities and political economy constraints. Their diagnostic and policy toolkits are still in their infancy. Expanding their legal mandates to take on these new, essentially political, responsibilities should be done through the political process and be accompanied by strengthened governance and accountability arrangements. Taking on these new responsibilities can also have potential pitfalls and unintended consequences on financial markets. Ultimately, central banks and financial regulators cannot deliver a low-carbon economy by themselves and should not risk being caught again in the role of ‘the only game in town’.
Reproduction number of monkeypox in the early stage of the 2022 multi-country outbreak
Authors: Du Zhanwei , Shao Zengyang , Bai Yuan , Wang Lin , Herrera-Diestra Jose L , Fox Spencer J , Ertem Zeynep , Lau Eric H Y , Cowling Benjamin J
Published: August 2022

Monkeypox, a fast-spreading viral zoonosis outside of Africa in May 2022, has put scientists on alert. We estimated the reproduction number to be 1.39 (95% CrI: 1.37, 1.42) by aggregating all cases in 70 countries as of 22 July 2022.
Functional diversity and metabolic engineering of plant-specialized metabolites
Authors: Zhou Shaoqun , Ma Yongshuo , Shang Yi , Qi Xiaoquan , Huang Sanwen , Li Jiayang
Published: August 2022

Plants are talented biochemists that produce a broad diversity of small molecules. These so-called specialized metabolites (SMs) play critical roles in the adaptive evolution of plants to defend against biotic and abiotic stresses, attract pollinators, and modulate soil microbiota for their own benefits. Many plant SMs have been used as nutrition and flavor compounds in our daily food, as well as drugs for treatment of human diseases. Current multi-omics tools have significantly accelerated the process of biosynthetic pathway elucidation in plants through correlation analyses, genetic mapping, and de novo biosynthetic gene cluster predictions. Understanding the biosynthesis of plant SMs has enabled reconstitution of naturally occurring specialized metabolic pathways in microbial hosts, providing a sustainable supply of these high-value molecules. In this review, we illustrate the general functions of several typical plant SMs in natural ecosystems and for human societies. We then provide an overview of current methods elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of plant SMs, and synthetic biology strategies that optimize the efficiency of heterologous biosynthetic pathways in microbial hosts. Moving forward, dissection of the functions and application of plant SMs by using current multidiscipline approaches would be greatly benefit to the scientific community and human societies.
Positive Affect Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Craske Michelle G. , Dour Halina , Treanor Michael , Meuret Alicia E.
Published: August 2022

Positive Affect Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Therapist Guide contains step-by-step detailed procedures for assessing and treating specific problems and diagnoses. According to the growing consensus, evidence-based practice offers the most responsible course of action for mental health professionals. The guide is intended for clinicians familiar with cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and clinical presentations of depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) was developed to specifically target areas of reward sensitivity that are believed to contribute to anhedonia. The treatment is expected to be an indispensable resource for all practitioners who wish to effectively and efficiently help individuals regain and improve their quality of life.
Behavioral Science and Neuroscience Identify Targets for Treatment of Anhedonia
Authors: Craske Michelle G. , Dour Halina J. , Treanor Michael , Meuret Alicia E.
Published: August 2022

This chapter focuses on using behavioral science and neuroscience to identify targets for the treatment of anhedonia. The appetitive systems and withdrawal systems are considered to be the two core systems that regulate thoughts and behavior or actions. On the other hand, anxiety and depression have long been understood to involve excesses in the defensive system. The chapter discusses the main components of the reward system as well. It also explores how individuals with depression tend to have difficulty in labeling their emotions. The process of labeling positive emotions is likely to enhance attention to positive experiences and improve the attainment of reward.
Psychoeducation
Authors: Craske Michelle G. , Dour Halina J. , Treanor Michael , Meuret Alicia E.
Published: August 2022

This chapter covers the psychoeducation that should be provided to clients participating in the Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) program. This educational material includes an explanation of mood cycles and how to identify them and how one’s emotions, thoughts, behavior, and physical sensations are interrelated. Clients are expected to learn thinking and behavioral skills that can indirectly change how they feel. Clients will learn how to label their positive emotions, which increases attention to and experience of positivity. The difference between downward spirals and upward spirals is explained in this chapter as well. A primary goal of PAT is to help clients reach upward spirals.
Continuing the Journey After Treatment
Authors: Craske Michelle G. , Dour Halina J. , Treanor Michael , Meuret Alicia E.
Published: August 2022

This chapter covers the long-term goals after the completion of the Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) program. It highlights the importance of continued practice to maintain therapy gains. Long-term goals are known to promote continued practice. Having a plan for overcoming barriers help clients anticipate and cope with circumstances that might prevent them from continuing to use the skills they have learned. Awareness and a management plan could reduce the likelihood of high-risk triggers sparking a lapse or a relapse. The therapist can prepare clients for treatment termination by reviewing the client’s progress, long-term treatment goals, and coping strategies. Progress is assessed by examining the objective change in the weekly scores on the standardized questionnaires.
Is It Difficult for You to Feel Positive Emotions?
Authors: Meuret Alicia E. , Dour Halina J. , Guinyard Amanda G. Loerinc , Craske Michelle G.
Published: August 2022

This chapter introduces anhedonia, which is defined as persistently low levels of positive emotions. It is commonly present in the majority of psychiatric conditions such as depressive disorder or anxiety. The latest advances in behavioral and biological science have shed light on the specific processes involved in anhedonia. People with anhedonia can experience a loss of purpose, a sense of hopelessness, and an increased desire to end their life. The positive mood system is sometimes referred to as the reward system or appetitive system. Wanting, liking, and learning of positive experiences are regarded as three components of the positive system. The new psychological treatment outlined in this workbook, called the Positive Affect Treatment, targets these problems with wanting, liking, and reward learning.
Attending to the Positive
Authors: Meuret Alicia E. , Dour Halina J. , Guinyard Amanda G. Loerinc , Craske Michelle G.
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses the skill of Attending to the Positive as part of the Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) program. Thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations of situations can influence how people feel. Some people have difficulty noticing and appreciating positive events when they occur, while others have difficulty taking ownership of positive events. People with anhedonia often feel those more than most. The chapter explains the significance of liking and learning efforts and positive outcomes while practicing to be optimistic. It also includes the process of finding silver linings. PAT also prioritizes planning for the future while training a positive mindset. Additionally, taking ownership of positive events occurring in life is just as important as noticing and appreciating them.
Building Positivity
Authors: Meuret Alicia E. , Dour Halina J. , Guinyard Amanda G. Loerinc , Craske Michelle G.
Published: August 2022

This chapter explores the importance and function of Building Positivity as part of the Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) program. It explains the process and provides case studies of practicing loving-kindness, appreciative joy, gratitude, and generosity. Evidence shows that engaging in gratitude and generosity leads to feeling more connected, having better relationships, and doing more prosocial behavior. Loving-kindness and appreciative joy are skills that use imagery and positive thinking to enhance relationships and change feelings. The chapter also discusses research showing that these practices increase positive emotions and well-being and decrease negative emotions. PAT’s Building Positivity exercises are strategies to improve mood, appreciate positive feelings, and form connections.
Tools to make low intensity interventions with children and youth more effective
Authors: Law Duncan
Published: August 2022

First of all, thank you for pausing at this chapter! It may have been one that you thought you might skip—right? When we think about outcome measures, we tend to think about numbers . . . and who’s really interested in numbers anyway? What we are really interested in is doing good work with children and youth, and helping people get better. Well, let me tell you, we’re both on the same page (literally and metaphorically!). I’m not a great fan of numbers either, but I do like to do good, collaborative work with children, youth, and their families and that is what this chapter is all about: developing good relationships and doing good work to help people improve their mental well-being. This is important in any mental health intervention, but it is particularly important in low intensity interventions when time is often limited and you need be adaptive to gather information and generally work more efficiently.
Lens
Authors: Than Jonathan , Barsam Allon
Published: August 2022

This chapter focuses on the lens and its pathological opacification, cataract. Cataract is an important cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. Fortunately, acquired cataract is a reversible cause of visual impairment and, in developed countries, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed elective surgical procedure. This chapter outlines lens anatomy and embryology, along with clinical knowledge areas that include acquired cataract (clinical evaluation and treatment), intraoperative and postoperative (infectious and non-infectious) complications of cataract surgery, and lens dislocation. Practical skills, including biometry, local anaesthesia, implantation of intraocular lenses, and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, are also discussed.
Professional skills and behaviour
Authors: Than Jonathan , Hingorani Melanie
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses professional skills and behaviour in ophthalmology. It starts off by detailing good medical practice, as set forth by the General Medical Council. It then addresses information governance, with a discussion of the Data Protection Act 2018, the roles of the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Caldicott Guardian, and the use or disclosure of confidential information, as well as the Freedom of Information Act 2000, electronic health records, and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ national ophthalmic audit programme. It then goes on to discuss clinical governance and risk management, clinical leadership, and NHS management, education, and training. Communication and consent, research, statistics, the Ophthalmologists in Training group, and safeguarding are also addressed. The chapter concludes with a discussion concerning vision and its context in society.
Relation of Vitamin D Level, BMI, and Location of Lower Extremity Stress Fractures in Military Trainees
Authors: Zalneraitis B Holt , Huuki Elizabeth , Benavides Linda C , Benavides Jerome M
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Military trainees are at an increased risk of stress fractures. Vitamin D availability is known to play an important role in both fracture prevention and healing. The purpose of this investigation was to assess 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in soldiers with confirmed lower extremity stress fractures and assess the predictors of fracture location.

Materials and Methods

Following Institutional Review Board approval, military trainees at a large training base presenting to the orthopedic clinic with a radiographically verified stress fracture were identified. Demographic data and 25(OH)D levels were collected. A descriptive analysis was performed in regard to patient age, body mass index (BMI), and 25(OH)D level. Interactions between variables were assessed using one-way analysis of variance for four fracture location groups (femoral neck, femoral shaft, tibial shaft, and foot and ankle). Bivariate correlations were examined between age, BMI, and vitamin D level.

Results

A total of 155 lower extremity stress fractures were identified in 144 males and 11 females over 30 months. The mean age was 22.7 ± 4.85 years. The majority (60.7%) of fractures were located in the femoral neck. The average 25(OH)D level was 26.8 ± 8.37 ng/mL. Overall, 26% (N = 41) of enrolled patients had normal 25(OH)D levels, 48% (N = 74) had insufficient 25(OH)D levels, and 26% (N = 40) had deficient 25(OH)D levels. Patients with femoral neck fractures and tibial shaft fractures had significantly lower BMI than patients with foot and ankle fractures (23.3 vs. 27.7, P < .001 and 24.2 vs. 27.7, P = .003, respectively). Patients with foot and ankle fractures had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than patients with femoral shaft fractures (21.1 vs. 30.1, P = .02). There were no significant findings regarding age and fracture location. Age correlated positively (but weakly) with BMI (0.338, P < .001). There was no correlation between age and vitamin D level or BMI and vitamin D level.

Conclusion

Overall, 74% of patients in military training with lower extremity stress fractures had insufficient or deficient levels of 25(OH)D, highlighting a persistent area of concern in this population. Patients with femoral neck and tibial shaft stress fractures had significantly lower BMI than patients with foot and ankle stress fractures. This suggests that in stress fracture–prone patients, BMI may play a role in predicting fracture location.
Detection of Viral Infection and Bacterial Coinfection and Superinfection in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department Using the 29-mRNA Host Response Classifier IMX-BVN-3: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Bauer Wolfgang , Gläser Sven , Thiemig Dorina , Wanner Katrin , Peric Alexander , Behrens Steffen , Bialas Johanna , Behrens Angelika , Galtung Noa , Liesenfeld Oliver , Sun Lisa , May Larissa , Mace Sharron , Ott Sebastian , Vesenbeckh Silvan
Published: August 2022

Background

Identification of bacterial coinfection in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) facilitates appropriate initiation or withholding of antibiotics. The Inflammatix Bacterial Viral Noninfected (IMX-BVN) classifier determines the likelihood of bacterial and viral infections. In a multicenter study, we investigated whether IMX-BVN version 3 (IMX-BVN-3) identifies patients with COVID-19 and bacterial coinfections or superinfections.

Methods

Patients with polymerase chain reaction–confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in Berlin, Germany; Basel, Switzerland; and Cleveland, Ohio upon emergency department or hospital admission. PAXgene Blood RNA was extracted and 29 host mRNAs were quantified. IMX-BVN-3 categorized patients into very unlikely, unlikely, possible, and very likely bacterial and viral interpretation bands. IMX-BVN-3 results were compared with clinically adjudicated infection status.

Results

IMX-BVN-3 categorized 102 of 111 (91.9%) COVID-19 patients into very likely or possible, 7 (6.3%) into unlikely, and 2 (1.8%) into very unlikely viral bands. Approximately 94% of patients had IMX-BVN-3 unlikely or very unlikely bacterial results. Among 7 (6.3%) patients with possible (n = 4) or very likely (n = 3) bacterial results, 6 (85.7%) had clinically adjudicated bacterial coinfection or superinfection. Overall, 19 of 111 subjects for whom adjudication was performed had a bacterial infection; 7 of these showed a very likely or likely bacterial result in IMX-BVN-3.

Conclusions

IMX-BVN-3 identified COVID-19 patients as virally infected and identified bacterial coinfections and superinfections. Future studies will determine whether a point-of-care version of the classifier may improve the management of COVID-19 patients, including appropriate antibiotic use.
Risk of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infection in Patients Presenting With Gram-Negative Bacteremia
Authors: Chesdachai Supavit , Baddour Larry M , Sohail M Rizwan , Palraj Bharath Raj , Madhavan Malini , Tabaja Hussam , Fida Madiha , Lahr Brian D , DeSimone Daniel C
Published: August 2022

Background

Gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) as a manifestation of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is uncommon. Moreover, echocardiography may be nonspecific in its ability to differentiate whether CIED lead masses are infected. We aimed to determine the rate of CIED infection in the setting of GNB.

Methods

All patients with CIED who were hospitalized with GNB during 2012–2019 at Mayo Clinic were investigated. The definition of CIED infection was based on criteria recommended by the 2019 European Heart Rhythm Association document.

Results

A total of 126 patients with CIED developed GNB. None of them had signs of pocket infection. Twenty (15.9%) patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography. Overall, 4 (3%) patients had definite CIED infection. None of them underwent CIED extraction; 3 died within 12 weeks and 1 received long-term antibiotic suppression. Ten (8%) patients had possible CIED infection; despite no CIED extraction, no patient had relapsing GNB. We observed a higher rate of CIED infection in patients with Serratia marcescens bacteremia as compared to that in patients with other GNB.

Conclusions

The rate of CIED infection following GNB was relatively low. However, accurate classification of CIED infection among patients presenting with GNB remains challenging, in part, due to a case definition of CIED infection that is characterized by a low pretest probability in the setting of GNB. Prospective, multicenter studies are needed to determine accurate identification of CIED infection among GNB, so that only patients with true infection undergo device removal.