bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrochemical-geophysical study of saline paleo-water contamination in alluvial aquifers
Authors: Pilla Giorgio , Torrese Patrizio
Published: January 2022

An integrated hydrochemical and geophysical study of the saline paleo-water uprising into the alluvial aquifer of the Oltrepò Pavese plain sector (Po Plain, northern Italy) is presented. This study involved hydrochemical analysis of groundwater, assessment of well logs, and one-, two- and three-dimensional electrical geophysical surveys. The studied area was selected for its characteristic hydrogeological setting. The alluvial aquifer is strongly conditioned by the presence of a buried tectonic discontinuity along which the saline waters are mainly distributed. These waters rise along the discontinuities in the bedrock and flow into the overlying alluvial aquifer. Contamination from saline waters is not spatially and vertically homogeneous within the aquifer. The spatial distribution of Na–Cl waters suggests the existence of plumes of highly mineralized waters that locally reach the aquifer, diffuse and mix with freshwaters. The saline waters show a dilution during upward migration, which is due to mixing with the shallow fresh groundwater. Highly mineralized groundwater is identified even at very shallow depth in correspondence with each plume. On the other hand, there is a lower degree of contamination in those sectors of the aquifer that are further away from the structural discontinuities and this lesser contamination generally only involves the deeper parts of the aquifer.
Modulation Depth Discrimination by Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Monaghan Jessica J. M. , Carlyon Robert P. , Deeks John M.
Published: January 2022

Cochlear implants (CIs) convey the amplitude envelope of speech by modulating high-rate pulse trains. However, not all of the envelope may be necessary to perceive amplitude modulations (AMs); the effective envelope depth may be limited by forward and backward masking from the envelope peaks. Three experiments used modulated pulse trains to measure which portions of the envelope can be effectively processed by CI users as a function of AM frequency. Experiment 1 used a three-interval forced-choice task to test the ability of CI users to discriminate less-modulated pulse trains from a fully modulated standard, without controlling for loudness. The stimuli in experiment 2 were identical, but a two-interval task was used in which participants were required to choose the less-modulated interval, ignoring loudness. Catch trials, in which judgements based on level or modulation depth would give opposing answers, were included. Experiment 3 employed novel stimuli whose modulation envelope could be modified below a variable point in the dynamic range, without changing the loudness of the stimulus. Overall, results showed that substantial portions of the envelope are not accurately encoded by CI users. In experiment 1, where loudness cues were available, participants on average were insensitive to changes in the bottom 30% of their dynamic range. In experiment 2, where loudness was controlled, participants appeared insensitive to changes in the bottom 50% of the dynamic range. In experiment 3, participants were insensitive to changes in the bottom 80% of the dynamic range. We discuss potential reasons for this insensitivity and implications for CI speech-processing strategies.
Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication versus 90° and 180° fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Hoffsten Johanna , Forsell Yvonne
Published: January 2022

Background

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) is standard care for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults. The main disadvantage is the compression of the food passageway, affecting the ability to belch and vomit, and causing swallowing difficulties. Therefore, partial fundoplication methods encircling esophagus as little as 90° and 180° have been developed. Previous studies have been inconclusive. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of LNF compared to laparoscopic anterior 90° and 180° fundoplication.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials were searched for in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and in eligible studies’ reference lists and relevant reviews. Outcomes of interest were 5-year heartburn, medication use, dysphagia, reoperation, and satisfaction. Dichotomous data were calculated as risk ratios (RR). Subgroup analyses were performed to compare each comparator separately with LNF. The meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model with an inverse variance statistical method and a significance level of 0.05.

Results

Four eligible trials were included with 398 participants, of which half compared LNF with 90°. At 5 years there was higher risk of dysphagia for solids after LNF compared to 90° and 180° fundoplication (RR 1.68 [1.14, 2.49]). However, LNF was associated with a significantly lower risk of medication use compared to laparoscopic anterior 90° fundoplication (RR 0.23 [0.09, 0.58], subgroup analysis). No differences between treatments in terms of heartburn, reoperation, and satisfaction were found.

Conclusion

The limited evidence fails to provide an unequivocal method of choice, but rather indicates a trade-off between reflux control and complications.
A hybrid extreme learning machine model with harris hawks optimisation algorithm: an optimised model for product demand forecasting applications
Authors: Chaudhuri Koushiki Dasgupta , Alkan Bugra
Published: January 2022

Accurate and real-time product demand forecasting is the need of the hour in the world of supply chain management. Predicting future product demand from historical sales data is a highly non-linear problem, subject to various external and environmental factors. In this work, we propose an optimised forecasting model - an extreme learning machine (ELM) model coupled with the Harris Hawks optimisation (HHO) algorithm to forecast product demand in an e-commerce company. ELM is preferred over traditional neural networks mainly due to its fast computational speed, which allows efficient demand forecasting in real-time. Our ELM-HHO model performed significantly better than ARIMA models that are commonly used in industries to forecast product demand. The performance of the proposed ELM-HHO model was also compared with traditional ELM, ELM auto-tuned using Bayesian Optimisation (ELM-BO), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) based recurrent neural network and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network models. Different performance metrics, i.e., Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Mean Percentage Error (MPE) were used for the comparison of the selected models. Horizon forecasting at 3 days and 7 days ahead was also performed using the proposed approach. The results revealed that the proposed approach is superior to traditional product demand forecasting models in terms of prediction accuracy and it can be applied in real-time to predict future product demand based on the previous week’s sales data. In particular, considering RMSE of forecasting, the proposed ELM-HHO model performed 62.73% better than the statistical ARIMA(7,1,0) model, 40.73% better than the neural network based GRU model, 34.05% better than the neural network based LSTM model, 27.16% better than the traditional non-optimised ELM model with 100 hidden nodes and 11.63% better than the ELM-BO model in forecasting product demand for future 3 months. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in the way the fast computational speed of ELMs has been combined with the accuracy gained by tuning hyperparameters using HHO. An increased number of hyperparameters has been optimised in our methodology compared to available models. The majority of approaches to improve the accuracy of ELM so far have only focused on tuning the weights and the biases of the hidden layer. In our hybrid model, we tune the number of hidden nodes, the number of input time lags and even the type of activation function used in the hidden layer in addition to tuning the weights and the biases. This has resulted in a significant increase in accuracy over previous methods. Our work presents an original way of performing product demand forecasting in real-time in industry with highly accurate results which are much better than pre-existing demand forecasting models.
Co-designing and piloting an Integrated Digital Literacy and Language Toolkit for vulnerable migrant students in higher education
Authors: Smith Angela , Rubio-Rico Lourdes , McClelland Gabrielle Tracy , Monserrate-Gómez Sílvia , Font-Jiménez Isabel , de Molina-Fernández Inmaculada
Published: January 2022

This paper presents the process of co-design, co-production, piloting, evaluation and revision of an Integrated Digital Literacy and Language Toolkit for Vulnerable Migrant Students (VMs) in Higher Education (HE). The language element focuses on academic language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking required for effective involvement in both the host society and HE learning; the acquisition and improvement of digital literacy skills enable VMs to successfully participate in, and contribute to, university and societal collaboration, creativity and content curation. The Toolkit resulted from the co -operation and collaboration of five EU universities and was based on the ASSURE instructional design model. The Toolkit offers a self- access, self- paced, non-linear, fully online set of ten stand-alone units which offer a range of materials and activities to develop those skills pertinent to VM academic language and digital literacy needs. Evaluation by a group of VMs resident in EU countries highlight the positive impact of the Toolkit and validates the instrument as fit for purpose. Noteworthy aspects include its usefulness in supporting student autonomy, improving digital capabilities and academic language mastery,a positive experience of a flexible learning experience along with access to open resources of international scope and dissemination under the Creative Commons licence.
Application of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) for identification of chromosomal aberrations in the recurrent pregnancy loss
Authors: Kowalczyk Katarzyna , Smyk Marta , Bartnik-Głaska Magdalena , Plaskota Izabela , Wiśniowiecka-Kowalnik Barbara , Bernaciak Joanna , Chojnacka Marta , Paczkowska Magdalena , Niemiec Magdalena , Dutkiewicz Daria , Kozar Agata , Magdziak Róża , Krawczyk Wojciech , Pietras Grzegorz , Michalak Elżbieta , Klepacka Teresa , Obersztyn Ewa , Bal Jerzy , Nowakowska Beata Anna
Published: January 2022

Spontaneous abortion occurs in 8–20% of recognized pregnancies and usually takes place in the first trimester (7–11 weeks). There are many causes of pregnancy loss, but the most important (about 75%) is the presence of chromosomal aberrations. We present the results of oligonucleotide array application in a cohort of 62 miscarriage cases. The inclusion criteria for the study were the loss after 8th week of pregnancy and the appearance of recurrent miscarriages. DNA was extracted from trophoblast or fetal skin fibroblasts. In the 62 tested materials from recurrent miscarriages, the detection rate was 56.5% (35/62). The most commonly found were aneuploidies (65%) (chromosomal trisomy 14, 16, 18, 21, and 22), Turner syndrome, and triploidy (17.1%). Other chromosomal abnormalities included pathogenic and likely pathogenic structural aberrations: 1) pathogenic: deletion 7p22.3p12.3 and duplication 9p24.3p13.2 inherited from the normal father, deletion 3q13.31q22.2 and deletion 3q22.3q23 of unknown inheritance and duplication of 17p12 inherited from father with foot malformation; 2) likely pathogenic variants: deletion 17p13.1 inherited from normal mother, deletion 5q14.3 of unknown inheritance and de novo deletion 1q21.1q21.2. Among these aberrations, six CNVs (copy number variants) were responsible for the miscarriage: deletion 7p22.3p12.3 and duplication 9p24.3p13.2, deletion 3q13.31q22.2 and deletion 3q22.3q23, and deletion 17p13.1 and deletion 1q21.1q21.2. Other two findings were classified as incidental findings (deletion 5q14.3 and 17p12 duplication). Our research shows that 17% of the aberrations (6/35 abnormal results) that cannot be identified by the routine kariotype analysis are structural aberrations containing genes important for fetal development, the mutations of which may cause spontaneous abortion.
Effects of an Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention on Children’s Quality of Life
Authors: Sairanen Essi , Lappalainen Raimo , Lappalainen Päivi , Hiltunen Arto
Published: January 2022

The present study examined if an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)–based online intervention for parents had indirect effects on their children’s quality of life mediated by changes in parental well-being, psychological flexibility and mindfulness skills. Participants were 74 adults, who either received an ACT-based guided online intervention or were allocated to the wait list control group, and their children (n = 66) who had type 1 diabetes or functional disabilities. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and a bias-corrected bootstrap approach were applied to examine the indirect effects of the treatment on children’s quality of life through changes in parents’ well-being and psychological processes involving psychological flexibility, cognitive defusion, and mindfulness skills. Children’s quality of life was assessed both by self-reports and parents’ evaluations. Significant indirect effects on children’s quality of life were found through improvements in parental well-being and mindfulness skills. The intervention had significant indirect effects on parents’ evaluations of their children’s quality of life concerning family and other social relationships, as well as on physical well-being. In regard to children’s self-reported quality of life, the intervention had significant indirect effects on self-esteem, family relations, emotional well-being, and functioning at school/kindergarten. The results indicate that it is beneficial for children’s quality of life to improve parents’ ability to describe their experiences, being non-reactive to one’s inner experiences and acting with awareness as well as cognitive defusion.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Newborns with 22q11 Deletion Syndrome and Low TRECs
Authors: Framme Jenny Lingman , Lundqvist Christina , Lundell Anna-Carin , van Schouwenburg Pauline A. , Lemarquis Andri L. , Thörn Karolina , Lindgren Susanne , Gudmundsdottir Judith , Lundberg Vanja , Degerman Sofie , Zetterström Rolf H. , Borte Stephan , Hammarström Lennart , Telemo Esbjörn , Hultdin Magnus , van der Burg Mirjam , Fasth Anders , Oskarsdóttir Sólveig , Ekwall Olov
Published: January 2022

Background

Population-based neonatal screening using T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) identifies infants with profound T lymphopenia, as seen in cases of severe combined immunodeficiency, and in a subgroup of infants with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS).

Purpose

To investigate the long-term prognostic value of low levels of TRECs in newborns with 22q11DS.

Methods

Subjects with 22q11DS and low TRECs at birth (22q11Low, N=10), matched subjects with 22q11DS and normal TRECs (22q11Normal, N=10), and matched healthy controls (HC, N=10) were identified. At follow-up (median age 16 years), clinical and immunological characterizations, covering lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulins, TRECs, T-cell receptor repertoires, and relative telomere length (RTL) measurements were performed.

Results

At follow-up, the 22q11Low group had lower numbers of naïve T-helper cells, naïve T-regulatory cells, naïve cytotoxic T cells, and persistently lower TRECs compared to healthy controls. Receptor repertoires showed skewed V-gene usage for naïve T-helper cells, whereas for naïve cytotoxic T cells, shorter RTL and a trend towards higher clonality were found. Multivariate discriminant analysis revealed a clear distinction between the three groups and a skewing towards Th17 differentiation of T-helper cells, particularly in the 22q11Low individuals. Perturbations of B-cell subsets were found in both the 22q11Low and 22q11Normal group compared to the HC group, with larger proportions of naïve B cells and lower levels of memory B cells, including switched memory B cells.

Conclusions

This long-term follow-up study shows that 22q11Low individuals have persistent immunologic aberrations and increased risk for immune dysregulation, indicating the necessity of lifelong monitoring.

Clinical Implications

This study elucidates the natural history of childhood immune function in newborns with 22q11DS and low TRECs, which may facilitate the development of programs for long-term monitoring and therapeutic choices.
Online Mindfulness Experience for Emotional Support to Healthcare staff in times of Covid-19
Authors: Castillo-Sánchez Gema , Sacristán-Martín Olga , Hernández María A. , Muñoz Irene , de la Torre Isabel , Franco-Martín Manuel
Published: January 2022

During the first confinement in Spain, between the months of March to June 2020, Information and Communication Technologies strategies were implemented in order to support health workers in the Wellbeing of Mental Health. Faced with so much uncertainty about the pandemic, an Online Mindfulness course. The objective of the course was to support healthcare professionals in Castilla y León in managing stress, anxiety and other emotional disturbances generated by coping with a situation as uncertain and unexpected as a pandemic, in order to manage emotions and thoughts that can lead to suicidal ideation. The motivations for the demand, reasons or motivations in which the health professionals of Castilla y León decided to participate in the mindfulness course in the first wave of Covid-19 in Spain are described. The descriptive and inferential statistical analysis of the customer satisfaction survey applied at the end of the mindfulness course, to the health professionals who participated in a satisfaction survey (CSQ-8: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire). Professional were asked to complete a survey based on (CSQ-8: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire) whose Cronbach's alpha = 0.917 is why the instrument used with N = 130 participants has high reliability. The 66% answered with a highly satisfied that they would return to the mindfulness online course. The 93% of the people who answered the satisfaction survey were women, of which they are professionals in the nursing area, with a participation of around 62%. In relation to the online system used in the Mindfulness intervention, 74% expressed that they fully agreed that it has been easy to use the online system for the mindfulness intervention. Health Professionals responded with 58% high satisfaction and 36% satisfaction, making a total of 94% on the help received in the online mindfulness courses to solve their problems. There is no difference between the age groups of the professionals who have preferred the Mindfulness online course (p = 0.672).
Beyond Coronavirus: the metamorphosis as the essence of the phenomenon
Authors: Pietrantonio Filomena
Published: January 2022

This paper is an insight on a front-line doctor’s experience of Coronavirus in Italy, in an Internal Medicine ward transformed to a COVID-19 ward. Using content analysis were analyzed 52 destructurated interviews to “Covid clinicians” in the “Ospedale dei Castelli” hospital structure in Rome, Italy. Thematic analysis was performed to recognize common topics in the interviews. Finally, a correlation between the 5 Ovid’s forces (love and thirst for knowledge—positive ones—anger, envy and fear—negative ones) and Narrative Medicine scenarios (Physician and Patients, Physician and Society, Physician and Self, Physician and Colleagues) is described. Coronavirus is a “tsunami” by confrontation with the poet Ovid’s five driving forces. Covid-19 never gave health-workers a chance to draw breath for a moment themselves, as presentation and treatment hypotheses changed at dizzying speed, constantly forcing them to modify and adapt established procedures and behavior as the pandemic evolved. Every scenarios present a correlation with at least one positive and one negative force (Physician and Patients: love and anger, Physician and Self: Fear and Thirst for Knowledge, Physician and Colleagues: Thirst for Knowledge and Envy, Physician and Society: Love, Fear and Anger). Many healthcare workers who came face-to-face with the magnitude of this emergency are able in some way to contextualize the social implications of this experience, which paradoxically has some positive aspects, having let them discover newfound courage, resourcefulness, and hope. Negative forces result from too strong positive emotions and they are a signal of deteriorated relationships and an alarm bell of clinician’s burn-out. Covid era has been defined by the lack of emergency preparedness, together with lack of international coordination and media reports generating terror. People can defeat Covid by combatting against terror of the heart, by finding passion and courage and by dealing honestly with the fear of disease and death.
Using social media to crowdsource collection of urine samples during a national pandemic
Authors: Ward Elijah P. , Bartolone Sarah N. , Sharma Prasun , Chancellor Michael B. , Lamb Laura E.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown had a substantial impact on normal research operations. Researchers needed to adapt their methods to engage at-home participants. One method is crowdsourcing, in which researchers use social media to recruit participants, gather data, and collect samples. We utilized this method to develop a diagnostic test for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). Participants were recruited via posts on popular social-media platforms, and enrolled via a website. Participants received and returned a mail kit containing bladder symptom surveys and a urine sample cup containing room-temperature preservative. Using this method, we collected 1254 IC/BPS and control samples in 3 months from all 50 United States. Our data demonstrate that crowdsourcing is a viable alternative to traditional research, with the ability to reach a broad patient population rapidly. Crowdsourcing is a powerful tool for at-home participation in research, particularly during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigrant Volunteering: A Form of Citizenship from Below
Authors: Ambrosini Maurizio , Artero Maurizio
Published: January 2022

Immigrant volunteering is a disputed topic. For some scholars, an important instrument for the social integration of immigrants, while others frame immigrant volunteerism as a regime of 'ethical citizenship' centred around the paradigms of 'civic integration' and 'deservingness'. Our research collected the experiences of hundreds of migrant volunteers in Italy (658 questionnaires plus 89 in-depth interviews) to address three research questions in particular: immigrant volunteers' levels of social inclusion, their reasons for volunteering, and the links between volunteering and other forms of social and political participation. Our findings show that volunteering is more dependent on social integration than on social marginality, represents a way to achieve a higher level of social integration, and can be framed as a way to perform active citizenship and anti-xenophobic claims. In particular, volunteering allows immigrant to present themselves as active subjects, oppose demeaning stereotypes, and express political commitment. Ultimately, this substantiates a form of citizenship ‘from below’ that re-writes the script of citizenship and enriches it with new ideas of entitlements and belongings.
Transition from Military Service: Mental Health and Well-being Among Service Members and Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities
Authors: Bond Gary R. , Al-Abdulmunem Monirah , Drake Robert E. , Davis Lori L. , Meyer Thomas , Gade Daniel M. , Frueh B. Christopher , Dickman Ross B. , Ressler Daniel R.
Published: January 2022

Transitioning from military service is stressful for veterans with service-connected disabilities seeking civilian employment. This descriptive study examined self-assessed mental health, well-being, and substance use of men and women shortly before or after transition from US military service, compared to norms from community and military samples. As part of a prospective study evaluating an innovative employment program, researchers interviewed 229 current and former service members with service-connected disabilities transitioning from U.S. military service. Compared to published norms, respondents reported significantly poorer outcomes on 5 of 6 standardized measures, indicating less life satisfaction, poorer mental health, more symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, and greater financial distress. In the previous year, 42% were prescribed opioid medications, over twice the annual opioid prescription rate of 19% in the general US population. Systematic strategies are needed to ensure access for transitioning veterans with serious behavioral health issues to appropriate evidence-based practices.
Chest X-ray versus chest computed tomography for outcome prediction in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Authors: Borghesi Andrea , Golemi Salvatore , Scrimieri Alessandra , Nicosia Costanza Maria Carlotta , Zigliani Angelo , Farina Davide , Maroldi Roberto
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare the prognostic value of chest X-ray (CXR) and chest computed tomography (CT) in a group of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. For this study, we retrospectively selected a cohort of 106 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent both CXR and chest CT at admission. For each patient, the pulmonary involvement was ranked by applying the Brixia score for CXR and the percentage of well-aerated lung (WAL) for CT. The Brixia score was assigned at admission (A-Brixia score) and during hospitalization. During hospitalization, only the highest score (H-Brixia score) was considered. At admission, the percentage of WAL (A-CT%WAL) was quantified using a dedicated software. On logistic regression analyses, H-Brixia score was the most effective radiological marker for predicting in-hospital mortality and invasive mechanical ventilation. Additionally, A-CT%WAL did not provide substantial advantages in the risk stratification of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 compared to A-Brixia score.
Osteoporosis in Europe: a compendium of country-specific reports
Authors: Willers Carl , Norton Nicholas , Harvey Nicholas C , Jacobson Trolle , Johansson Helena , Lorentzon Mattias , McCloskey Eugene V , Borgström Fredrik , Kanis John A ,   the SCOPE review panel of the IOF
Published: January 2022

This report describes epidemiology, burden, and treatment of osteoporosis in each of the 27 countries of the European Union plus Switzerland and the UK (EU 27+2).

Introduction

The aim of this report was to characterize the burden of osteoporosis in each of the countries of the European Union plus Switzerland and the UK in 2019 and beyond.

Methods

The data on fracture incidence and costs of fractures in the EU27+2 was taken from a concurrent publication in this journal (SCOPE 2021: a new scorecard for osteoporosis in Europe) and country-specific information extracted. The information extracted covered four domains: burden of osteoporosis and fractures; policy framework; service provision; and service uptake.

Results

The clinical and economic burden of osteoporotic fractures in 2019 is given for each of the 27 countries of the EU plus Switzerland and the UK. Each domain was ranked and the country performance set against the scorecard for all nations studied. Data were also compared with the first SCOPE undertaken in 2010. Fifteen of the 16 score card metrics on healthcare provision were used in the two surveys. Scores had improved or markedly improved in 15 countries, remained constant in 8 countries and worsened in 3 countries. The average treatment gap increased from 55% in 2010 to 71% in 2019. Overall, 10.6 million women who were eligible for treatment were untreated in 2010. In 2019, this number had risen to 14.0 million.

Conclusions

In spite of the high cost of osteoporosis, a substantial treatment gap and projected increase of the economic burden driven by aging populations, the use of pharmacological prevention of osteoporosis has decreased in recent years, suggesting that a change in healthcare policy concerning the disease is warranted.
On the Influence of AlSi10Mg Powder Recycling Behavior in the LPBF Process and Consequences for Mechanical Properties
Authors: Weiss C. , Haefner C. L. , Munk J.
Published: January 2022

By using additive manufacturing techniques like the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process, parts can be manufactured with high material efficiency because unfused powder material can be reconditioned and reused in consecutive manufacturing jobs. Nevertheless, process by-products like spatters may influence the powder quality and hence alter the mechanical properties/performance of parts. In order to investigate these dependencies, a methodology and a standard build job for the recycling behavior of the lightweight aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg was developed and built with ageing powder in 10 consecutive jobs with no refreshing between the cycles. The powder properties and mechanical performance of parts at static load for two build directions (horizontally and vertically to substrate plate) was evaluated. The influence of build height effects on mechanical performance was investigated as well. The findings may indicate that the coarsening of the powder material during recycling could lead to improved mechanical properties for the AlSi10Mg alloy.
Preparation of superhydrophobic titanium surface via the combined modification of hierarchical micro/nanopatterning and fluorination
Authors: Wang Zhen , Ren Bing
Published: January 2022

Adhesion of bacteria and platelets on blood-contact implants and surgical devices is one of the causes of infections and thrombus. A superhydrophobic surface serving as a protective layer can minimize adhesion and contamination due to the low surface energy. The objective of this paper is to construct a superhydrophobic surface on a titanium implant by a combination of a topological structure and chemical coating. First, a micro/nano hierarchical morphology is obtained by sandblasting, acid-etching, and anodic oxidation. Then, a low surface energy coating material (fluoroalkylsilane, as the example case in this study) is used to modify the surface further. The effects of the morphology of micro and/or nanoscales and corresponding fluorination on the wettability are investigated. The results show that a hierarchical surface with microroughness and nanotubes is successfully constructed, and the contact angle (CA) is 44.9°, indicating good hydrophilicity. Interestingly, after being modified by fluoroalkylsilane, the surface converted from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic with a CA of 151.4°. In contrast, the fluorination modification of single micro or nanofeatures cannot achieve superhydrophobicity, indicating that the micro/nanostructures may show a synergistic effect for an efficient fluorination coating later on. Overall, our results demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a superhydrophobic surface via the micro/nano topological patterning and fluorination modification. The proposed method is expected to enrich the preparation technologies of superhydrophobic titanium surfaces.

Graphic abstract
Assessment of the Antitumor Activity of Green Biosynthesized Zinc Nanoparticles as Therapeutic Agent Against Renal Cancer in Rats
Authors: El-Sonbaty Sawsan , Kandil Eman I. , Haroun Riham Abdel-Hamid
Published: January 2022

Zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) have garnered a great deal of attention as potential cancer therapy. The use of microorganisms in the synthesis of nanoparticles emerges as an eco-friendly and exciting approach. This study was designed to assess biosynthesized Zn-NPs as therapeutic agent against kidney cancer induced by ferric-nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) in rats.

Zn-NPs were synthesized from edible mushroom then characterized by transmission electron microscopy analysis, dynamic light scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Rats were divided into 4 different groups: group I (control), group II (Fe-NTA group), group III (Zn-NPs group), and group IV (Fe-NTA + Zn-NPs group). Animals were sacrificed then kidney and liver function tests, MDA level, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were measured by using colorimetric methods. Caspase-3 level and carcinoembryonic antigen concentration were measured by using ELISA. Finally, DNA fragmentation was visualized by using agarose gel electrophoresis.

Treatment with Zn-NPs significantly suppressed renal oxidative stress by restoring glutathione level, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities and ameliorated oxidative damage parameters of lipid peroxidation as well as renal toxicity markers. Molecular and tumor markers showed significant improvement with respect to induction group, and this was well appreciated with the histopathological alteration findings in the treated groups.

Microbial synthesized Zn-NPs possess antitumor-promoting activity against Fe-NTA-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis, which should be evaluated in a clinical study.
Reading and reacting to faces, the effect of facial mimicry in improving facial emotion recognition in individuals with antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits
Authors: Kyranides Melina Nicole , Petridou Maria , Gokani Heema Ajeet , Hill Sam , Fanti Kostas A.
Published: January 2022

Individuals with antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits are characterized by deficits in processing facial expressions, which results in poor social adaptation and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships. However, it is not clear how individuals with varying levels of these traits differ in this emotional impairment and if these deficits are due to correctly identifying or reacting appropriately to facial expressions. The aim of the study was to examine how individuals with these traits recognized and responded to affective facial expressions by using FaceReader software (which analyses footage of faces) across different experimental conditions (imitation, suppression, and control). Imitating facial expressions was introduced to examine whether it could direct participants’ attention to the facial cues and improve participants’ performance on the facial task. A total of 643 individuals from the community were pre-screened and a sample (N = 107; M age = 21.08, SD = 1.55), differentiated on levels of antisocial personality disorder (APD) symptoms and psychopathic (PSY) traits, who were selected based on extreme scores (high/low), were invited to participate in the study. Individuals with higher levels of APD symptoms and PSY traits (APD + PSY) expressed more anger than other groups, while those in the APD-only group expressed more sadness, compared to other groups. Overall, participants were compliant in following the instructions to imitate facial expressions. However, only the group with predominantly APD symptoms and the group with combined symptoms (APD + PSY) showed improvement in their accuracy ratings specifically when instructed to imitate facial expressions, compared to when no instructions were provided. The study offers a promising direction for targeting deficits in facial emotion recognition, suggesting that the deficits found in individuals with behavioral problems (with and without psychopathic traits) can be improved by asking them to imitate facial expressions.
Determinants of marginal area reforestation in the Western Carpathians in the light of consecutive aerial photographs
Authors: Sobala Michał
Published: January 2022

The quantification of reforestation on abandoned land is of high importance due to various environmental and socio-economic consequences. This article aims to determine the role of different factors in the reforestation of abandoned plots in particular mid-forest glades in the higher parts of the Western Carpathians and to detect the feature of plots covered prevalently with forest. The Reforestation Index (RI) was used to detect changes in reforestation. Bayesian multilevel zero-one inflated beta regression was used to determine the predictors of reforestation. Using the series of consecutive aerial photographs enabled the differences between features of plots with a faster rate of reforestation and plots covered entirely with forest to be shown. The most rapid changes in the RI were observed in plots with the lowest level of solar radiation (north exposure). In contrast, the highest RI concerns plots with south exposure, the highest mean slope, and within plots partly forested in the first year of observation. Such an attitude is crucial for areas where the precise date of land abandonment is unknown because it enables a determination of which type of plot was abandoned first.
Impacts and Implications for Advancing in Environmental Knowledge in Hospitality Industry in COVID Society: a Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Aurora , Cegarra-Navarro Juan-Gabriel , Cobo Manuel-Jesús , de Valon Tiphaine
Published: January 2022

Environmental knowledge is attracting interest in the area of sustainability due to the importance of both the environment and knowledge. As tourism is one of the biggest employers and sectors of economic development, environmental knowledge in hospitality represents a worldwide challenge. The present study aims to provide a clear understanding of the impacts and implications of environmental knowledge in the hospitality industry in a COVID society, taking into account its general areas of evolution through a systematic review methodology using a bibliographic database over time (26 years). We reviewed 944 documents collected from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database and analysed them using the Science Mapping Analysis Software Tool (SciMAT). In a world in which the environment is more deteriorated, it is important to be aware of the advance in environmental knowledge to take care of it and eliminate environmental degradation. This study adds value to the orchestration of knowledge by focusing on predictors that impact environmental knowledge. The results identify the development status and leading trends in environmental knowledge research to fall in love with the future in a COVID society. Falling in love with the future is possible in the hospitality industry.
The Complex Nexus of Evolutionary Fitness
Authors: Suárez Mauricio
Published: January 2022

The propensity nature of evolutionary fitness has long been appreciated and is nowadays amply discussed (Abrams, 2009, 2012; Ariew & Ernst, 2009; Ariew & Lewontin, 2004; Beatty & Finsen, 1989; Brandon, 1978; Drouet & Merlin, 2015; Mills & Beatty, 1979; Millstein, 2003, 2016; Pence & Ramsey, 2013; Sober, 1984, 2001, 2013, 2019; Walsh, 2010; Walsh et al., 2016; etc). The discussion has, however, on occasion followed long standing conflations in the philosophy of probability literature between propensities, probabilities, and frequencies. In this paper, I apply a more recent conception of propensities in modelling practice (the ‘complex nexus of chance’, CNC) to some of the key issues, regarding the mathematical representation of fitness and how it may be regarded as explanatory. The ensuing complex nexus of fitness (CNF) emphasises the distinction between biological propensities and the probability distributions over offspring numbers that they give rise to; and how critical it is to distinguish the possession conditions of the underlying dispositional (physical and biological) properties from those of their probabilistic manifestations.
People Prefer Moral Discretion to Algorithms: Algorithm Aversion Beyond Intransparency
Authors: Jauernig Johanna , Uhl Matthias , Walkowitz Gari
Published: January 2022

We explore aversion to the use of algorithms in moral decision-making. So far, this aversion has been explained mainly by the fear of opaque decisions that are potentially biased. Using incentivized experiments, we study which role the desire for human discretion in moral decision-making plays. This seems justified in light of evidence suggesting that people might not doubt the quality of algorithmic decisions, but still reject them. In our first study, we found that people prefer humans with decision-making discretion to algorithms that rigidly apply exogenously given human-created fairness principles to specific cases. In the second study, we found that people do not prefer humans to algorithms because they appreciate flesh-and-blood decision-makers per se, but because they appreciate humans’ freedom to transcend fairness principles at will. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of algorithm aversion. They indicate that emphasizing the transparency of algorithms that clearly follow fairness principles might not be the only element for fostering societal algorithm acceptance and suggest reconsidering certain features of the decision-making process.
Latest Trends in Investing for Improved Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
Authors: Robinson Ella , Carey Rachel , Foerster Anita , Sacks Gary
Published: January 2022

Purpose of Review

The aim of this paper is to summarise current trends and new developments with regard to institutional investor actions related to nutrition and obesity prevention.

Recent Findings

Investor-related activity related to improving population diets is building, with several recent initiatives aiming to accelerate achievement of global nutrition goals. There is increasing civil society and investor activism focused on leveraging investor influence to improve nutrition-related food company actions. There are multiple sustainability-related reporting standards; however, few include comprehensive nutrition-related metrics.

Summary

There is increasing interest from institutional investors in addressing nutrition-related issues; however, investor activity in the area is piece-meal. There is a need for further integration of nutrition within current reporting frameworks. Methodological alignment across the increasing number of food industry accountability initiatives would likely help galvanise increased investor action. Some jurisdictions are introducing relevant mandatory reporting requirements, which are likely to play a key role in enhancing transparency by the food industry and financial institutions.
Molecular analysis and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency from southern Poland — experience of a clinical center
Authors: Kurzyńska Anna , Skalniak Anna , Franson Kim , Bistika Viola , Hubalewska-Dydejczyk Alicja , Przybylik-Mazurek Elwira
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The prevalence of CYP21A2 gene variants and genotype-phenotype correlations are variable among populations. The aim of this study was to characterize CYP21A2 gene variants in adult patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CCAH) from southern Poland and to analyze genotype-phenotype correlations.

Materials/Methods

A total of 48 patients (30 women and 18 men) with CCAH were included in the study. Patients were divided into two clinical subgroups, namely, salt-wasting (SW) — 38 patients and simple virilizing (SV) — 10 patients. A genetic analysis MLPA (multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification) was performed in all of them. In dubious cases, the analysis was complemented by Sanger sequencing. Genotypes were classified into five groups (depending on the residual in vitro enzymatic activity), namely, null, A, B, C, and D, and correlated with the clinical picture.

Results

Molecular defects were investigated and identified in 48 patients. The most common variant in the studied group was I2G, followed by whole or partial gene copy deletion, and I172N. One novel variant c.[878G>T] (p.Gly293Val) was found. In nine patients, a non-concordance between genotype and phenotype was observed. Genotype-phenotype correlations measured by positive predictive value (PPV) were as follows: 100% in group null, 90.5% in group A, and 66.7% in group B.

Conclusions

CYP21A2 variants in the studied cohort were similar to values previously reported in other countries of the region. There was a good correlation between genotype and phenotype in the null and A groups, the correlation being considerably lower in group B.
Evaluation of Automatic Lane-Change Model Based on Vehicle Cluster Generalized Dynamic System
Authors: Wang Yangyang , Cao Xiaolang , Ma Xinyuan
Published: January 2022

The lane-change transportation research usually focuses on the efficiency and stability of the macro traffic flow while ignoring the driving comfort of individual vehicles. And many studies of lane-change models are often limited to the performance of a single vehicle, which leads to a lack of macroscopic evaluation. To solve the above limitations, an automatic lane-change generalized dynamic model is adopted. In this model, the lane-change behavior of an individual vehicle is considered as the generalized excitation and the restraining force between vehicles is described with the car-following model. Macro and micro evaluation indexes are also adopted to evaluate the automatic lane-change behavior in traffic flow. Furthermore, this paper proposes a modified intelligent driver model (IDM) to describe the state change process during lane change. The hyperbolic tangent transition function is used to eliminate the vehicle state mutation. The simulation results show that the proposed automatic lane-change generalized dynamic model can reflect the macro and micro parameters of the traffic flow. And compared with the traditional IDM model, the proposed HC-IDM model achieves higher comfort performance and lower fluctuation of traffic flow.
Clays in Cosmetics and Personal-Care Products
Authors: Viseras César , Sánchez-Espejo Rita , Palumbo Rosanna , Liccardi Ninfa , García-Villén Fátima , Borrego-Sánchez Ana , Massaro Marina , Riela Serena , López-Galindo Alberto
Published: January 2022

Clays are used in various cosmetic formulations, such as sunscreens, toothpastes, deodorants, creams, hair cosmetics, makeups, nail polish, facial masks, and shampoos, among others, to improve the organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics, to increase the stability, or to facilitate elaboration. Together with their technological functionalities, clays are cosmetologically active ingredients with cleaning, anti-aging, anti-wrinkling, and sun-care functionalities. Talc, kaolinite, mica, and some smectites are the clay minerals used most frequently in cosmetic products, but several other phyllosilicates as well as modified and synthetic clays are also used. Sometimes, clays are useful in the design of cosmetics just because they are made of rigid, small, and anisometric particles. Kaolinite and mica are made of hard prismatic particles which are lightly abrasive over the skin, teeth, or hair. Electric charges in smectites result in ion-exchange capacities useful in the loading of active cosmetics but also adsorbing and cleaning waste substances. Intermediate net negative charges of smectites result in layer expansion in polar media and specific rheological properties that are very useful in cosmetic formulations. The absence of charged particles in talc and kaolin make them flow easily resulting in lubricant effects. Protection against radiation from the sun by clay particles and decorative effects complete the possibilities of clays in cosmetics. The nomenclature for clays used as ingredients in cosmetics follows historical use and the names of commercial products, rather than following strict compositional principles. In this sense, an effort was made here to correlate the names of the minerals that make up each of the clay-based cosmetic ingredients.