bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In the Shadow of Rice: Roots and Tubers in Indonesian History, 1500–1950
Authors: Boomgaard Peter
Published: March 2022

Roots and tubers are not well documented in Indonesian historiography. Colonial civil servants regarded root crops as famine food, and they were rarely included in indigenous chronicles. This article presents data for the period 1500 to 1950 on the most important indigenous Indonesian roots and tubers--taro and yams. It looks at the geographical spread of these crops and their social and economic importance--dealing also briefly with adjacent areas like the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. This is followed by the story of the introduction of the New World roots and tubers: sweet potato, bengkuang, (Irish) potato, and cassava. The article analyzes the differences between the various crops as regards their spread in time and space and the reasons that the indigenous roots and tubers were pushed aside by the alien crops. In conclusion, the findings are related to various economic, social, cultural, and political developments and to the rizification hypothesis.
Political Fragmentation and Government Stability: Evidence from Local Governments in Spain
Authors: Carozzi Felipe , Cipullo Davide , Repetto Luca
Published: March 2022

This paper studies how political fragmentation affects government stability. Using a regression discontinuity design, we show that each additional party with representation in the local parliament increases the probability that the incumbent government is unseated by 5 percentage points. The entry of an additional party affects stability by reducing the probability of a single-party majority and increasing the instability of governments when such a majority is not available. We interpret our results in light of a bargaining model of coalition formation featuring government instability. (JEL C78, D72, H70)
Lateral Multimodal Learning in a Saudi EFL Context: Investigating the Perceptions of Teachers and M2E Female Learners
Authors: Mohammed Hassan Al-Ahdal Arif Ahmed , Alqasham Fahd Hamad , Mohammed Qarabesh Mohammed Ali
Published: March 2022

Background: ELT scenario in Saudi Arabia has undergone a sea change since the pandemic. With an aim to maximize resource utilization and ensure wide learner base, college students (male and female) are taught simultaneously, the former in a face-to-face mode and the latter in an audio-only mode. The nomenclature given to this unique classroom design by the researchers is Lateral Multimodal Learning (LML), one which has its own advantages and disadvantages. This mode of learning puts a great deal of pressure on the teachers as they must attend to a huge number of students with different needs and levels of competence, whereas it ensures best utilization of infrastructural and human resources by the administrations. Being a newly developed educational model, it is important to assess the efficiency of this type of learning. Methods: This study evaluates the model from the point of view of students (99), using a questionnaire, and that of teachers (06), using semi-structured interviews. Results: The results show that Saudi female students present high perceptions of learning via LML (M=4.03); are satisfied with this type of learning (M= 3.81) and the aids applied in learning via LML (M= 4.02). Findings also show moderate perceptions on the difficulties they encountered while emerging in LML mode (M =3.39). Furthermore, the study shows correlation between the four domains, i.e., perceptions, satisfactions, challenges, and aid. The highest correlations were between perceptions and satisfactions (r=.719); perceptions and aids (r=.659), and satisfaction and aids (r=.656). The teachers’ interviews show their agreement on the efficacy of LML as being professionally fulfilling and one that they would like to continue with in the future too. Conclusions: The study concludes with recommendations, which would be of great benefit and help for all parties or stakeholders involved.
Burnout and work satisfaction are differentially associated in gastroenterologists in Germany
Authors: Adarkwah Charles Christian , Labenz Joachim , Hirsch Oliver
Published: March 2022

Background:

Burnout in the field of gastroenterology is an under-researched phenomenon. So far, only a few studies have dealt with this topic. There are large geographical variations in burnout rates with 16–20% of gastroenterologists in Mexico and Germany being at risk or having burnout, 30–40% in the United Kingdom, and 50–55% in South Korea, Canada, and the USA. The investigation of differential associations of burnout with important factors in gastroenterologists leading to tailored therapy recommendations is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the associations between work satisfaction and burnout in this specialization.

Methods:

We distributed an electronic survey to gastroenterologists organized mainly in the Federal Organization of Gastroenterology in Germany (the BVGD - Bundesverband Gastroenterologie Deutschland). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Work Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSQ) were examined regarding their postulated internal structure in our sample of gastroenterologists. Canonical correlations were performed to examine the association between work satisfaction and burnout in endoscopy physicians.

Results:

An acceptable model fit was shown for both the MBI and the Work Satisfaction Questionnaire. The canonical correlation analysis resulted in two statistically significant canonical functions with correlations of .62 (p<.001) and .27 (p<.001). The full model across all functions was significant (χ2(18) = 386.26, p<.001). Burden, personal rewards, and global item regarding the job situation were good predictors for less exhaustion, while patient care and professional relations were good predictors for personal accomplishment. This supports the recognition of burnout as being a multidimensional construct which has to be thoroughly diagnosed.

Conclusions:

Specific interventions should be designed to improve symptoms of burnout in endoscopy physicians according to their individual complaints as burnout is a multidimensional construct. Differential interventions should be offered on the basis of our study results in order to alleviate the issue of work satisfaction and burnout in endoscopy physicians.
Awareness of asthma and its management in primary school teachers in Baghdad, Iraq
Authors: R. M. Salih Muhannad , Y. Abd Arwa , Adnan Fawzi Hayder
Published: March 2022

Background: Asthma is a major global health issue characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is linked to a high disease burden and disproportionately high healthcare utilization in severe, uncontrolled cases compared to non-severe asthma. We aimed to conduct this survey among primary school teachers in Baghdad, Iraq, to assess their level of knowledge about asthma and confidence in managing school children with asthma.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Karkh and Rusafa areas of Baghdad. The study adopted a questionnaire for assessing the asthma knowledge and confidence scores regarding the management of asthmatic children. This questionnaire contained 29-multiple true-false questions based on different aspects, including facts about asthma and the management of asthma by teachers.

Results: The questionnaire for testing teachers’ knowledge of asthma and confidence scores regarding the management of asthmatic children was distributed to 150 teachers. 103 (68%) teachers completed the questionnaire fully. Approximately 71% of teachers answered the question ‘What are the three main symptoms of asthma?’ correctly i.e., answering either one symptom (35.9%) or two symptoms (35.9%) correctly. A relatively smaller number of teachers (16.5%) mentioned all three symptoms correctly. Across the 29-multiple true-false questions, more than 75% of teachers answered 11 questions correctly, 50-74% of teachers answered the rest of eight questions appropriately, and <50% of teachers answered the remaining 10 questions properly. The statistical evaluation indicated that the mean total knowledge score about asthma for all the teachers was 20.27 ± 2.97 and the mean total confidence score regarding the management of asthmatic children was 72.44 ± 13.61.

Conclusions: This study suggests that teachers from the schools in Karkh and Rusafa areas of Baghdad appear to be self-confident in their ability and knowledge to help and manage children with asthma.
Secondary Characters Coloring the Complex Cultural Atmosphere in Unorthodox
Authors: Pujol-Tubau Miquel , Guinot Laura Santamaria
Published: March 2022

The objective of this article is to analyze how different languages in the series Unorthodox convey information on characters’ identities, and whether, at the same time, the choice of language produces different effects on the film narrative itself. Since we are dealing with audiovisual products, in any full account of the story, the image must be considered as an essential factor affecting the audiences’ interpretation of the show. The article analyzes how multilingualism is rendered in its Spanish version and shows that different translation solutions may change how each character’s identity is perceived. We found that the main four languages of the series (English, Yiddish, German, and Hebrew) are used to convey different personal and social identities to each character. Besides, linguistic choices between Yiddish and English show the evolution of the main character towards freedom. Although multilingualism is hardly present in the visual channel, cultural references conveyed through images help the viewer to follow key shifts in the story.
ERP systems selection in multinational enterprises: a practical guide
Authors: Haddara Moutaz
Published: March 2022

The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system selection is an early phase in the ERP adoption process. When organizations evaluate an ERP, they commonly develop their own selection criteria that usually involve various system and vendor related factors. While the selection process is critical, however, there is an apparent research gap in literature. The ERP selection effort also focuses on the system’s fit with the organizational requirements and needs. Thus, the selection phase is critical, because if an organization chooses an unfit ERP, the whole project could be predestined to fail. This research provides an overview of an ERP selection process at an overseas branch office of a multinational company. The process employed a simple multi-attribute rating technique (SMART) for evaluation. In addition, this research presents how cross-border data protection laws between the parent company and its branch have influenced the selection process. As the ERP system has been implemented successfully, the method and the selection factors have been proven adequate for the selection process.
Lifespan of information service firms in Japan: a survival analysis
Authors: Matsuno Seigo , Uchida Yasuo , Ito Tsutomu , Ito Takao
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is an analysis of survival in the Japanese information service industry. Information service firms are generally classified into two typical patterns. One is the group of independent firms such as software vendors, and the other is the group of non-independent such as subsidiaries established by spinning off and so on. We used a sample of 334 firms in Japan and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimator method and Cox proportional hazard regression model in order to investigate the difference of survival between these two groups and/or among other attributes. As a result, the lifespan of the information service firms significantly depends on the degree of system integration sales ratio, software development sales ratio, and entrusted processing sales ratio. On the contrary, property of non-independence and high sales ratio with main customers have a negative influence on their survival rates, i.e. lifespan. The paper discusses these results and offers some managerial implications, and future research opportunities are provided.
How Digital Transformation affects Enterprise Architecture Management – a case study
Authors: Julia Kaidalova , Kurt Sandkuhl , Ulf Seigerroth
Published: March 2022

Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, cyber-physical systems and other recent technological innovations offer new opportunities for enterprises in the context of Digital Transformation (DT) but also cause new challenges for Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM), which traditionally deals with enterprise-IT planning and coordination. Based on an industrial case of a power garden products manufacturer that is exploring potentials and facing challenges in DT, this article investigates the integration of product-IT into EAM. Product-IT includes the embedded IT-systems in physical products and services, components for operations, maintenance or evaluation purposes. In this article we discuss product-IT and enterprise-IT integration in the context of EAM observed in the industrial practice. The main contributions are (1) positioning of the product-IT in the field of EAM, and (2) identification of the challenges from real-world case regarding integration of product-IT into EAM.
Consumer perspectives on information privacy following the implementation of the GDPR
Authors: Presthus Wanda , Sørum Hanne
Published: March 2022

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was implemented in the European Union and European Economic Area in May 2018. The GDPR aims to strengthen consumers’ rights to data privacy in the wake of technological developments like big data and artificial intelligence. This was a hot topic for stakeholders, such as lawyers, companies and consumers, prior to the GDPR’s implementation. This paper investigates to what extent consumers are concerned about information privacy issues following the implementation of the GDPR. We present findings from an online survey conducted during spring 2019 among 327 Norwegian consumers, as well as findings from a survey conducted immediately prior to the implementation of the GDPR in spring 2018. We draw the following conclusions: (1) consumers gained significant knowledge about their information privacy from the GDPR, but felt relatively little need to execute their enhanced rights; (2) about 50% of respondents believed themselves to have control over their data, while almost 40% stated that they had no control about their personal data; and (3) consumers largely trusted companies to manage their personal data. These insights are of interest to both academia and to industries that deal with personal data.
A Simultaneous Magnanti-Wong Method to Accelerate Benders Decomposition for the Metropolitan Container Transportation Problem
Authors: Perrykkad Andrew , Ernst Andreas T. , Krishnamoorthy Mohan
Published: March 2022

When shipping ports are colocated with major population centers, the exclusive use of road transport for moving shipping containers across the metropolitan area is undesirable from both social and economic perspectives. Port shuttles, an integrated road and short-haul rail transport modality, are thereby gaining significant interest from governments and industry alike, especially in the Australian context. In “A Simultaneous Magnanti-Wong Method to Accelerate Benders Decomposition for the Metropolitan Container Transportation Problem,” Perrykkad, Ernst, and Krishnamoorthy explore the mathematics behind the optimal integration of road and port shuttle modalities for container transportation in metropolitan areas, including proofs of NP harness, a Benders decomposition, and an extensive computational study. Critically, to accelerate their Benders decomposition the authors develop the simultaneous Magnanti-Wong method: an extension of the classical Magnanti-Wong acceleration that preserves this problem's important network substructure. In addition to the problem at hand, this technique shows promise more generally for Benders decompositions with special subproblem structure.
Multiorgan Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Bitar Zouheir , Maadarani Ossama , Abdelfatah Mohamad , Alothman Hadeel , Hajjiah Adnan
Published: March 2022

The main ultrasound criterion for diagnosing pulmonary infarction is the presence of triangular/wedge-shaped or rounded, hypoechogenic, homogeneous, pleura-based lesions. When used in point-of-care, ultrasonography of several organs can facilitate the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a patient presenting with chest pain. We describe a case of chest pain which we thought was due to angina, but point-of-care ultrasonography directed us to a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
Perceptions of people with motor neurone disease, families and HSCPs: a literature review
Authors: Brewah Helen , Borrett Kevin , Tavares Nuno , Jarrett Nikki
Published: March 2022

Motor neurone disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rapidly progressive terminal neurodegenerative condition caused by degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurones in the central nervous system of the brain. The effects of motor neurone disease are multifaceted, leading to many adjustments in everyday life. This literature review asked what the experiences of people living with motor neurone disease was before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of their condition and the support they received from health and social care services. A key theme identified was lack of knowledge among professionals when they cared for people living with motor neurone disease and their families. This lack of knowledge often resulted in delayed diagnosis and poor standards of care. COVID-19 impacted on the care of people living with motor neurone disease and their families, and there is a paucity of evidence on how services were perceived by these groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experiences of people living with motor neurone disease and their families are currently missing in the literature. In conclusion, further studies are required to include care of people living with motor neurone disease and their families.
Photoacoustic characterization of bone physico-chemical information
Authors: Xie Weiya , Feng Ting , Yu Dong , Ta Dean , Cheng Liming , Cheng Qian
Published: March 2022

Osteoporosis usually alters the chemical composition and physical microstructure of bone. Currently, most clinical techniques for bone assessment are focused on the either bone microstructure or bone mineral density (BMD). In this study, a novel multi-wavelength photoacoustic time-frequency spectral analysis (MWPA-TFSA) method was introduced based on the optical absorption spectra and photoacoustic effects of biological macromolecules, which evaluates changes in bone chemical composition and microstructure. The results demonstrated that osteoporotic bones had decreased BMD, more lipids, and wider trabecular separation filled with larger marrow clusters, which were consistent with multiple gold-standard results, suggesting that the MWPA-TFSA method has the potential to provide a thorough bone physico-chemical information evaluation noninvasively and nonradiatively.
Influence of optical mode polarization state on the Brillouin gain spectrum in optical microfibers
Authors: Cao Min , Ren Wenhua , Guo Yinghao , Huang Lin , Tang Min , Mi Yuean , Ning Tigang , Pei Li , Ren Guobin
Published: March 2022

During the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) process, when the two

H
E

11

modes in the pump light and scattered light have different polarization states, between which is an angle

θ

, the Brillouin gain spectrum characteristics in a microfiber are studied in detail. The difference of

θ

directly changes the generated optical force distribution. When

0

≤
θ
≤
π

/

2

, for the

T
R

0
n

acoustic mode in forward SBS and the

L

0
n

acoustic mode in backward SBS, the corresponding Brillouin gain values have a clear cosine-like functional relationship with

θ

. Considering the change of optical force, the

T
R

0
n

and

L

0
n

acoustic modes with symmetrical displacement distributions of center circles are the key features to realize the change of gain with

θ

. The characteristics of gain value with

θ

may provide interesting theoretical enlightenment for Brillouin applications involving angles, such as Brillouin sensors and acousto-optic modulators.
Optical frequency comb Fourier transform cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Authors: Dubroeucq Romain , Rutkowski Lucile
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate broadband and sensitive cavity ring-down spectroscopy using a near infrared frequency comb and a time-resolved Fourier transform spectrometer. The cavity decays are measured simultaneously at each optical path difference and spectrally sorted, leading to purely exponential decays for each spectral element. The absorption spectra of atmospheric water and carbon dioxide are retrieved and demonstrate the high frequency resolution and absorption precision of the technique. The experimental apparatus, the measurement concept and the data treatment are described. The technique benefits from the advantages of cavity ring-down spectroscopy, i.e. the retrieved absorption does not depend on the cavity parameters, opening up for high accuracy absorption spectroscopy entirely calibration-free.
In vitro and in vivo NIR fluorescence lifetime imaging with a time-gated SPAD camera
Authors: Smith Jason T. , Rudkouskaya Alena , Gao Shan , Gupta Juhi M. , Ulku Arin , Bruschini Claudio , Charbon Edoardo , Weiss Shimon , Barroso Margarida , Intes Xavier , Michalet Xavier
Published: March 2022

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLI) provides a
unique contrast mechanism to monitor biological parameters and
molecular events in vivo. Single-photon
avalanche diode (SPAD) cameras have been recently demonstrated in FLI
microscopy (FLIM) applications, but their suitability for in vivo macroscopic FLI (MFLI) in deep tissues
remains to be demonstrated. Herein, we report in
vivo NIR MFLI measurement with SwissSPAD2, a large time-gated
SPAD camera. We first benchmark its performance in well-controlled
in vitro experiments, ranging from
monitoring environmental effects on fluorescence lifetime, to
quantifying Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) between dyes.
Next, we use it for in vivo studies of
target-drug engagement in live and intact tumor xenografts using FRET.
Information obtained with SwissSPAD2 was successfully compared to that
obtained with a gated intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera,
using two different approaches. Our results demonstrate that SPAD
cameras offer a powerful technology for in
vivo preclinical applications in the NIR window.
Pulsatile contractions and pattern formation in excitable actomyosin cortex
Authors: Staddon Michael F. , Munro Edwin M. , Banerjee Shiladitya
Published: March 2022

The actin cortex is an active adaptive material, embedded with complex regulatory networks that can sense, generate, and transmit mechanical forces. The cortex exhibits a wide range of dynamic behaviours, from generating pulsatory contractions and travelling waves to forming organised structures. Despite the progress in characterising the biochemical and mechanical components of the actin cortex, the emergent dynamics of this mechanochemical system is poorly understood. Here we develop a reaction-diffusion model for the RhoA signalling network, the upstream regulator for actomyosin assembly and contractility, coupled to an active actomyosin gel, to investigate how the interplay between chemical signalling and mechanical forces regulates stresses and patterns in the cortex. We demonstrate that mechanochemical feedback in the cortex acts to destabilise homogeneous states and robustly generate pulsatile contractions. By tuning active stress in the system, we show that the cortex can generate propagating contraction pulses, form network structures, or exhibit topological turbulence.
Gauging the happiness benefit of US urban parks through Twitter
Authors: Schwartz Aaron J. , Dodds Peter Sheridan , O’Neil-Dunne Jarlath P. M. , Ricketts Taylor H. , Danforth Christopher M.
Published: March 2022

The relationship between nature contact and mental well-being has received increasing attention in recent years. While a body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating a positive relationship between time in nature and mental well-being, there have been few studies comparing this relationship in different locations over long periods of time. In this study, we analyze over 1.5 million tweets to estimate a happiness benefit, the difference in expressed happiness between in- and out-of-park tweets, for the 25 largest cities in the US by population. People write happier words during park visits when compared with non-park user tweets collected around the same time. While the words people write are happier in parks on average and in most cities, we find considerable variation across cities. Tweets are happier in parks at all times of the day, week, and year, not just during the weekend or summer vacation. Across all cities, we find that the happiness benefit is highest in parks larger than 100 acres. Overall, our study suggests the happiness benefit associated with park visitation is on par with US holidays such as Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Lost bioscapes: Floristic and arthropod diversity coincident with 12th century Polynesian settlement, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands
Authors: Allen Melinda S. , Lewis Tara , Porch Nick
Published: March 2022

Knowledge of biodiversity in the past, and the timing, nature, and drivers of human-induced ecological change, is important for gaining deep time perspectives and for modern conservation efforts. The Marquesas Islands (Polynesia) are one of the world’s most remote archipelagos and illustrate the vulnerability of indigenous bioscapes to anthropogenic activities. Characterised by high levels of endemism across many biotic groups, the full spectrum of the group’s flora and fauna is nonetheless incompletely known. Several centuries of Polynesian settlement reshaped biotic communities in ways that are not yet fully understood, and historically-introduced mammalian herbivores have devastated the indigenous lowland flora. We report here on archaeological recovery of a diverse assemblage of plant and arthropod subfossils from a waterlogged deposit on the largest Marquesan island: Nuku Hiva. These materials offer new perspectives on the composition of lowland plant and arthropod communities pene-contemporaneous with human arrival. Bayesian analysis of multiple 14C results from short-lived materials date the assemblages to the mid-12th century AD (1129–1212 cal. AD, 95.4% HPD). Evidence for human activities in the catchment coincident with deposit formation includes Polynesian associated arthropods, microcharcoal, and an adzed timber. Plant macrofossils (seeds, fruits, vegetative structures) and microfossils (pollen, phytoliths) reveal coastal and lowland wet-moist forest communities unlike those observed today. Several apparently extinct taxa are identified, along with extant taxa currently constrained to high altitude and/or interior areas. A diverse inventory of subfossil arthropods—the first pre-18th century records for the islands—includes more than 100 distinct taxa, with several new archipelago records and one previously unreported for eastern Polynesia. The assemblages provide new insights into lowland Marquesan forest communities coincident with human arrival, and portend the considerable anthropogenic transformations that followed. These records also have implications for human colonisation of the Marquesas Islands and East Polynesia at large.
“Mothers will be lucky if utmost receive a single scheduled postnatal home visit”: An exploratory qualitative study, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfau Yemane Berhane , Gebrehiwot Tesfay Gebregzabher , Debeb Hagos Godefay , Kahsay Alemayehu Bayray
Published: March 2022

Background

Postnatal home visits (PNHVs) have been endorsed as strategy for delivery of postnatal care (PNC) to reduce newborn mortality and improve maternal outcomes. Despite the important role of the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) in improving the overall healthcare coverage, PNHV remains as a missed opportunity in rural Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of scheduled postnatal home visits in Northern Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study on a total of 16 in-depth interviews with HEWs and mothers who gave birth one year prior to the study. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted with HEWs and key informant interviews were conducted with women development group leaders, supervisors, and healthcare authorities from April to June 2019 in two rural districts of Northern Ethiopia. Discussions and interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim in the local language (Tigrigna) and translated into English. The translated scripts were thematically coded using Atlas ti scientific software. Field notes were also taken during the discussion and while conducting the interviews.

Results

Health system factors, community context, and individual level factors were considered as the barriers and facilitators of scheduled PNHVs. Leadership, governance, management, support and supervision, referral linkages, overwhelming workload, capacity building, logistics and supplies are the major sub-themes identified as health system factors. Physical characteristics like geographical location and topography, distance, and coverage of the catchment; and community support and participation like support from women’s development groups (WDGs), awareness of the community on the presence of the service and cultural and traditional beliefs were community contexts that affect PNHVs. Self-motivation to support and intrinsic job satisfaction were individual level factors that were considered as barriers and facilitators.

Conclusion

The finding of this study suggested that the major barriers of postnatal home visits were poor attention of healthcare authorities of the government bodies, lack of effective supervision, poor functional linkages, inadequate logistics and supplies, unrealistic catchment area coverage, poor community participation and support, and lack of motivation of HEWs. Henceforth, to achieve the scheduled PNHV in rural Ethiopia, there should be strong political commitment and healthcare authorities should provide attention to postnatal care both at facility and home with a strong controlling system.
The aetiological relationship between depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life: A population-based twin study in Sri Lanka
Authors: Triantafyllou Panagiota , Nas Zeynep , Zavos Helena M. S. , Sumathipala Athula , Jayaweera Kaushalya , Siribaddana Sisira H. , Hotopf Matthew , Ritchie Stuart J. , Rijsdijk Frühling V.
Published: March 2022

Objective

Depression often co-occurs with poor health-related quality of life (HRQL). Twin studies report genetic and individual-level environmental underpinnings in the aetiology of both depression and HRQL, but there is limited twin research exploring this association further. There is also little evidence on sex differences and non-Western populations are underrepresented. In this paper we explored the phenotypic and aetiological relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQL and possible sex differences in a low-middle-income Sri Lankan population.

Method

Data for 3,948 participants came from the Colombo Twin and Singleton Follow-up Study (CoTaSS-2). Using self-report measures of depressive symptoms and HRQL, we conducted univariate and bivariate sex-limitation twin analyses.

Results

Depressive symptoms showed moderate genetic (33%) and strong nonshared environmental influences (67%). Nonshared environment accounted for the majority of variance in all the subscales of HRQL (ranging from 68 to 93%), alongside small genetic influences (ranging from 0 to 23%) and shared environmental influences (ranging from 0 to 28%). Genetic influences were significant for emotional wellbeing (23%). Shared environmental influences were significant for four out of the eight HRQL variables (ranging from 22–28%), and they were more prominent in females than males. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with lower HRQL scores. These correlations were mostly explained by overlapping nonshared environmental effects. For traits related to emotional functioning, we also detected substantial overlapping genetic influences with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed previous findings of a negative association between depressive symptoms and HRQL. However, some of the aetiological factors of HRQL differed from Western studies, particularly regarding the effects of shared environment. Our findings highlight the importance of cross-cultural research in understanding associations between psychological wellbeing and HRQL.
Different profiles among older adults with HIV according to their chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis: The FUNCFRAIL cohort study (GeSIDA 9817)
Authors: Brañas Fátima , Galindo Mª José , Torralba Miguel , Antela Antonio , Vergas Jorge , Ramírez Margarita , Ryan Pablo , Dronda Fernando , Busca Carmen , Machuca Isabel , Bustinduy Mª Jesús , Cabello Alfonso , Sánchez-Conde Matilde ,   on behalf of the FUNCFRAIL study group
Published: March 2022

Background

People in their fifties with HIV are considered older adults, but they appear not to be a homogeneous group.

Objective

To evaluate the differences among older adults with HIV according to their chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of the FUNCFRAIL cohort. Patients 50 or over with HIV were included and were stratified by both chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis: before 1996 (long-term HIV survivors [LTHS]) and after 1996. We recorded sociodemographic data, HIV-related factors, comorbidities, frailty, physical function, other geriatric syndromes, and quality of life (QOL).

Results

We evaluated 801 patients. Of these, 24.7% were women, 47.0% were LTHS, and 14.7% were 65 or over. Of the 65 or over patients, 73% were diagnosed after 1996. Higher rates of comorbidities among LTHS were found, being the more prevalent: COPD, history of cancer, osteoarthritis, depression, and other psychiatric disorders while the more prevalent among the 65 or over patients were: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cancer, and osteoarthritis. LTHS showed a significantly worse QOL. There were no differences by the year of HIV diagnosis regarding frailty and functional impairment (SPPB <10) but they were more than twice as prevalent in the 65 or over patients compared to the other chronological age groups.

Conclusions

A LTHS and a 65 or over person are both “older adults with HIV,” but their characteristics and requirements differ markedly. It is mandatory to design specific approaches focused on the real needs of the different profiles.
Wavelengths and irradiances modulate the circadian rhythm of Neurospora crassa
Authors: Wen Peijun , Tan Fuyun , Lei Menglai , Khan Muhammad Saddique Akbar , Chen Weihua , Hu Xiaodong
Published: March 2022

The circadian rhythm affects the biological evolution and operating mechanisms of organisms. The impact of light on the circadian rhythm is a significant concern for both biology and human well-being. However, the relation between different wavelengths, irradiances, and circadian rhythm is unknown. In this study, we compared the effects of four different monochromatic light-emitting diode (LED) light and two different irradiances on the circadian rhythm of a wild-type Neurospora crassa. The results demonstrated that the circadian rhythm of Neurospora crassa can be modulated by violet (λp = 393 nm), blue (λp = 462 nm), and green (λp = 521 nm) light, regardless of the irradiances, in the visible region. Unexpectedly, for the yellow light (λp = 591 nm), the 2 W/m2 light had a more significant impact on circadian rhythm modulation than the 0.04 W/m2 light had. Considering the highest energy of yellow light (2.25 eV) is lower than the High Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO)-Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) gap of WC-1 (2.43 eV). We speculate that there may be other potential photoreceptors that are involved in circadian rhythm modulation. The HOMO-LOMO gaps of these proteins are greater than 1.98 eV and less than 2.25 eV. These results provide a strong foundation for a deeper understanding of the impact of different light on the circadian rhythm and also shed light on the identification of new circadian rhythm modulation photoreceptors.
Model for establishing a new liver transplantation center through mentorship from a university with transplantation expertise
Authors: Pinheiro Rafael Soares , Andraus Wellington , Romeiro Fernando Gomes , de Martino Rodrigo Bronze , Ducatti Liliana , Arantes Rubens Macedo , Pelafsky Leonardo , Hasimoto Claudia Nishida , Yamashiro Fabio da Silva , Nacif Lucas Souto , Haddad Luciana Bertocco de Paiva , Santos Vinicius Rocha , Waisberg Daniel Reis , Vane Matheus Fachini , Rocha-Filho Joel Avancini , de Oliveira Walmar Kerche , Carneiro-D’Albuquerque Luiz Augusto
Published: March 2022

Background

Setting up new liver transplant (LT) centers is essential for countries with organ shortages. However, good outcomes require experience, because LT learning depends on a high number of surgeries. This study aims to describe how a new center was set up from a partnership between the new center and an experienced one. The step-by-step preparation process, the time needed and the results of the new center are depicted.

Material and methods

The mentoring process lasted 40 months, in which half of the 52 patients included on the transplant list received LT. After the mentorship, a 22-month period was also analyzed, in which 46 new patients were added to the waiting list and nine were operated on.

Results

The 30-day survival rates during (92.3%) and after (66.7%) the partnership were similar to the other LT centers in the same region, as well as the rates of longer periods. The waiting time on the LT list, the characteristics of the donors and the ischemia times did not differ during or after the mentorship.

Conclusion

The partnership between universities is a suitable way to set up LT centers, achieving good results for the institutions and the patients involved.
How can we change … everything?
Authors: Muratovski Gjoko
Published: March 2022

In conversation with Bruce Mau
What’s wrong with design education?
Authors: Muratovski Gjoko
Published: March 2022

In conversation with Don Norman
Association of pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 with body weight and measurement of Bali cattle (Bos javanicus)
Authors: Cahyadi Muhammad , Sukaryo Sukaryo , Dhiaurridho Mohammad Ilham , Bramastya Thoriq Aldri , Yanti Yuli , Riyanto Joko , Volkandari Slamet Diah , Sudrajad Pita
Published: March 2022

Background and Aim: Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) encodes a multifunctional transcription factor that controls many genes and pathways and is associated with cattle body weight and measurements. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PLAG1 polymorphisms with body weight and measurements in Bali cattle.

Materials and Methods: A total of 87 Bali cattle, consisting of 48 bulls and 39 heifers at the Breeding Center for Bali Cattle, were used as the population in this study. Cattle were 2 years old and kept semi-intensively in the pasture. Phenotype data consisting of body weight, withers height, body length, chest girth, waist height, and chest depth were measured. Birth weight data were obtained from birth records, and weight gain, adjusted weaning weight, and yearling weight were calculated using formulas. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein as much as 5 mL, and genomic DNA was isolated using the salting-out method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify three target polymorphisms, namely, g.48308 C>T, g.32212 (19 bp indel), and g.45233 T>C. The presence of a 19 bp indel was determined by direct observation of the PCR product on a 2% agarose gel. Two other polymorphisms were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism using the restriction endonuclease enzymes SacII and BclI. PLAG1 genotype and phenotype associations were analyzed using a general linear model.

Results: The results showed that two of the target polymorphisms in PLAG1 did not vary. The DD genotype indicated by 123 bp of PCR product was the only genotype identified for g.32212 19 bp indel, and TT genotype was the only genotype found for g.45233 T>C single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Conversely, g.48308 C>T SNP was found to be polymorphic. In addition, the g.48308 C>T polymorphism of PLAG1 was significantly associated with body length of Bali cattle. Cattle with the CC genotype had a greater body length than the other two genotypes.

Conclusion: The g.48308 C>T SNP in PLAG1 was associated with Bali cattle body length characteristics. This finding could be used as a basis for selecting Bali cattle based on body length characteristics.
Avaliação das condições de superfície de pavimentos urbanos com o auxílio de ferramentas de análise espacial
Authors: Lázaro Bruno de Oliveira , Chuerubim Maria Lígia , Lemos Ribeiro Rogério , Mendonça de Almeida Yuri , De Oliveira Tristão Marcus Vinicius
Published: March 2022

Neste trabalho são apresentadas abordagens distintas de avaliação da condição da superfície de pavimentos urbanos, fundamentadas em conceitos derivados de técnicas tradicionais de levantamento expedito, como também em metodologias de análise espacial e geoprocessamento. A partir desta problemática, elaborou-se um estudo de caso ao longo da Avenida Segismundo Pereira, na cidade de Uberlândia/MG, Brasil, onde foram coletadas informações associadas à frequência, à intensidade e a localização de manifestações patológicas da superfície do pavimento, com base na avaliação subjetiva, e com o auxílio de técnicas de geoprocessamento e de procedimentos estatísticos de análise espacial. Por meio dos resultados obtidos, observou-se que a superfície do pavimento da avenida analisada se encontra em estado predominantemente bom. No entanto, esta condição não se estende aos trechos da avenida inseridos em regiões submetidas às mudanças no padrão de uso e ocupação do solo, a intensidade e a composição do tráfego típico, nos quais a condição da superfície do pavimento foi diagnosticada como sendo ruim ou péssima.
Differing benefits of artificial intelligence-based computer-aided diagnosis for breast US according to workflow and experience level
Authors: Lee Si Eun , Han Kyunghwa , Youk Ji Hyun , Lee Jee Eun , Hwang Ji-Young , Rho Miribi , Yoon Jiyoung , Kim Eun-Kyung , Yoon Jung Hyun
Published: March 2022

Purpose: This study evaluated how artificial intelligence-based computer-assisted diagnosis (AICAD) for breast ultrasonography (US) influences diagnostic performance and agreement between radiologists with varying experience levels in different workflows.Methods: Images of 492 breast lesions (200 malignant and 292 benign masses) in 472 women taken from April 2017 to June 2018 were included. Six radiologists (three inexperienced [<1 year of experience] and three experienced [10-15 years of experience]) individually reviewed US images with and without the aid of AI-CAD, first sequentially and then simultaneously. Diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement were calculated and compared between radiologists and AI-CAD.Results: After implementing AI-CAD, the specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy significantly improved, regardless of experience and workflow (all P<0.001, respectively). The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve significantly increased in simultaneous reading, but only for inexperienced radiologists. The agreement for Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System (BI-RADS) descriptors generally increased when AI-CAD was used (κ=0.29-0.63 to 0.35-0.73). Inexperienced radiologists tended to concede to AI-CAD results more easily than experienced radiologists, especially in simultaneous reading (P<0.001). The conversion rates for final assessment changes from BI-RADS 2 or 3 to BI-RADS higher than 4a or vice versa were also significantly higher in simultaneous reading than sequential reading (overall, 15.8% and 6.2%, respectively; P<0.001) for both inexperienced and experienced radiologists.Conclusion: Using AI-CAD to interpret breast US improved the specificity, PPV, and accuracy of radiologists regardless of experience level. AI-CAD may work better in simultaneous reading to improve diagnostic performance and agreement between radiologists, especially for inexperienced radiologists.
Improving the process of auditory processing and speech decoding using the Neuroflow method in an 11-year-old CAPD patient
Authors: Ejsmunt-Wieczorek Izabela
Published: March 2022

Hearing disorders at the level of the central nervous system significantly affect the development of speech and language communication in children with CAPD. One of the methods aimed at improving the auditory functions, and thus the quality of speech understanding, is Active Auditory Training with the Neuroflow method. Its effectiveness will be discussed based on the example of a 10-year-old patient with hearing impairment.
La ciudad guetoizada: Buenos Aires en la narrativa de Ana María Shua
Authors: Draus-Kłobucka Agata
Published: March 2022

The article analyzes the image of Buenos Aires in the narrative of Ana María Shua, an Argentine writer of Polish Jewish descent. Urban space plays an important role in her prose described often as apocalyptic or dystopian. Through a historiographical metafiction, the author rewrites the memory of the ancestors in El libro de los recuerdos (2007), a novel that presents the life of Jewish immigrants in the capital of Argentina, divided into neighborhoods marked by their ethnicity. Eroticism and the use of the female body are, on the other hand, the topics that dominate in the author’s collection of micro-stories titled Casa de geishas (2009), where the brothel is described as a singular ghetto, rooted in the city panorama. Finally, the novel La muerte como efecto secundario offers a dystopic description of a future of a ghettoized city, where compulsory geriatric ghettos become a reality. The article, based on the analysis of the aforementioned works, presents a critical look at the use of the concept of “ghetto” or “urban island” in the construction of the narrative structure and space in Ana María Shua’s fiction.
Canagliflozin-associated severe hyponatremia: a rare and potentially adverse effect?
Authors: Dhanasekaran Maheswaran , Narayanan Siddharth , Mastoris Ioannis , Mehta Suchita
Published: March 2022

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) induce osmotic diuresis by inhibiting the proximal renal tubular reabsorption of the filtered glucose load, which in turn can occasionally lead to severe dehydration and hypotension amidst other adverse effects. We present a case of a 49-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) on canagliflozin, a SGLT2i. The patient was brought to the emergency room following a motor vehicle accident. He was confused and had an altered mental status. His blood alcohol and urine toxicology screens were negative. Initial investigations revealed that he had severe hyponatremia with euglycemic ketoacidosis. The adverse condition was reversed with close monitoring and timely management, and the patient was eventually discharged. This is the first report to suggest hyponatremia as a potentially serious adverse effect following SGLT2i therapy. Its impact on the renal tubule handling of sodium and water is not yet well characterized. While further studies are warranted to understand better the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with SGLT2i-induced adverse effects, timely dose reduction or perhaps even its temporary discontinuation may be recommended to prevent complications.

Learning points

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are usually well-tolerated, but some serious adverse effects have been documented.

Our case report suggests hyponatremia as a potential, rare side effect of SGLT2i and makes physicians aware of the occurrence of such life-threatening but preventable complications.

Timely and close monitoring of the patient, with temporary discontinuation of this drug, may be recommended towards effective management.

Studies demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of SGLT2i-related electrolyte derangements are warranted.