bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Bijection for the Boolean Numbers of Ferrers Graphs
Authors: Bényi Beáta
Published: December 2021

In this note we prove a new characterization of the derangement sets of Ferrers graphs and present a bijection between the derangement sets and $$F_{\lambda }$$

F
λ

-Callan sequences. In particular, this connection reveals that the boolean numbers of the complete bipartite graphs are the D-relatives of poly-Bernoulli numbers.
Bryosphere Loss Impairs Litter Decomposition Consistently Across Moss Species, Litter Types, and Micro-Arthropod Abundance
Authors: Grau-Andrés Roger , Wardle David A. , Kardol Paul
Published: December 2021

The bryosphere (that is, ground mosses and their associated biota) is a key driver of nutrient and carbon dynamics in many terrestrial ecosystems, in part because it regulates litter decomposition. However, we have a poor understanding of how litter decomposition responds to changes in the bryosphere, including changes in bryosphere cover, moss species, and bryosphere-associated biota. Specifically, the contribution of micro-arthropods to litter decomposition in the bryosphere is unclear. Here, we used a 16-month litterbag field experiment in two boreal forests to investigate bryosphere effects on litter decomposition rates among two moss species (Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens), and two litter types (higher-quality Betula pendula litter and lower-quality P. schreberi litter). Additionally, we counted all micro-arthropods in the litterbags and identified them to functional groups. We found that bryosphere removal reduced litter decomposition rates by 28% and micro-arthropod abundance by 29% and led to a colder micro-climate. Litter decomposition rates and micro-arthropod abundance were uncorrelated overall, but were positively correlated in B. pendula litterbags. Bryosphere effects on litter decomposition rates were consistent across moss species, litter types, and micro-arthropod abundances and community compositions. These findings suggest that micro-arthropods play a minor role in litter decomposition in the boreal forest floor, suggesting that other factors (for example, micro-climate, nutrient availability) likely drive the positive effect of the bryosphere on decomposition rates. Our results point to a substantial and consistent impairment of litter decomposition in response to loss of moss cover, which could have important implications for nutrient and carbon cycling in moss-dominated ecosystems.
Comprehensive Analysis of Aldehyde Dehydrogenases (ALDHs) and Its Significant Role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Yao Senbang , Chen Wenjun , Zuo He , Bi Ziran , Zhang Xiuqing , Pang Lulian , Jing Yanyan , Yin Xiangxiang , Cheng Huaidong
Published: December 2021

Oxidative DNA damage is closely related to the occurrence and progression of cancer. Oxidative stress plays an important role in alcohol-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a family of enzymes that plays an essential role in the reducing oxidative damage. However, how ALDHs family affects alcohol-related HCC remains obscure. We aimed to explore the correlation between the differential expression of ALDHs in patients with HCC and pathological features, as well as the relationship between ALDHs and prognosis, and finally analyze the possible mechanism of ALDHs in targeted therapy of HCC. The data of HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. This research explored the expression and prognostic values of ALDHs in HCC using Oncomine, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas, cBioPortal, Kaplan–Meier plotter, GeneMANIA, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, GEPIA databases, and WebGestalt. Low mRNA and protein expressions of ALDHs were found to be significantly associated with tumor grade and clinical cancer stages in HCC patients. In particular, the loss of ALDH expression is more obvious in Asians, and its effect on prognosis is far more significant than that in the White race. Our findings play an important role in the study of prognostic markers and anti-liver cancer therapeutic targets for the members of the ALDHs family, especially in patients with liver cancer in Asia.
Studies on electrochemical dissolution of sintered molybdenum discs as a potential method for targets dissolution in 99mTc production
Authors: Cieszykowska Izabela , Jerzyk Katarzyna , Żółtowska Małgorzata , Janiak Tomasz , Birnbaum Grażyna
Published: December 2021

Electrochemical dissolution of pressed into discs and sintered metallic molybdenum powder with the mass of 712 ± 10 mg (n = 15) in potassium hydroxide solution was studied in detail. The technique was considered to apply for dissolution of irradiated100Mo target in the99mTc production. The effect of various parameters, e.g., the concentration of the electrolyte solution, temperature, current density, and surface area of the platinum cathode, was investigated. The shortest time for total dissolution of molybdenum target was 70 min. This result was achieved using an electrolyte solution of 5 M KOH, temperature 55 °C and the current density of 365 mA/cm2.
Geometrical, electrical, and energetic parameters of hetero-disubstituted cumulenes and polyynes in the presence and absence of the external electric field
Authors: Sadlej-Sosnowska Nina , Ocios-Bębenek Agnieszka , Dobrowolski Jan Cz. , Boczar Dariusz
Published: December 2021

Cumulenes and polyynes have the potential to be applied as linear, sp-hybridized, one-dimensional all-carbon nanowires in molecular electronics and optoelectronics. The delocalization and conductivity descriptors of the two π-conjugated systems, heterodisubstituted with the NO2, CN, NH2, and OH groups, were studied using the B3LYP, B3LYP/D3, CAM-B3LYP, and ωB97XD DFT functionals, combined with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Three independent types of molecular descriptors, based on geometry (the HOMA index), electrical properties (trace of the polarizability tensor), and energetic (the HOMO-LUMO energy gap) were shown to be mutually correlated and provided concordant indication that communication through the cumulene chain was considerably better than through the polyyne one. The communication can be tuned by using substituents of significantly different π-electron donor-acceptor properties as well as by the external electric field directed along the carbon chain.
Modeling Faking in the Multidimensional Forced-Choice Format: The Faking Mixture Model
Authors: Frick Susanne
Published: December 2021

The multidimensional forced-choice (MFC) format has been proposed to reduce faking because items within blocks can be matched on desirability. However, the desirability of individual items might not transfer to the item blocks. The aim of this paper is to propose a mixture item response theory model for faking in the MFC format that allows to estimate the fakability of MFC blocks, termed the Faking Mixture model. Given current computing capabilities, within-subject data from both high- and low-stakes contexts are needed to estimate the model. A simulation showed good parameter recovery under various conditions. An empirical validation showed that matching was necessary but not sufficient to create an MFC questionnaire that can reduce faking. The Faking Mixture model can be used to reduce fakability during test construction.
VR-based training of craniotomy for intracranial aneurysm surgery
Authors: Allgaier Mareen , Amini Amir , Neyazi Belal , Sandalcioglu I. Erol , Preim Bernhard , Saalfeld Sylvia
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Intracranial aneurysms can be treated micro-surgically. This procedure involves an appropriate head position of the patient and a proper craniotomy. These steps enable a proper access, facilitating the subsequent steps. To train the access planning process, we propose a VR-based training system.

Method

We designed and implemented an immersive VR access simulation, where the user is surrounded by a virtual operating room, including medical equipment and virtual staff. The patient’s head can be positioned via hand rotation and an arbitrary craniotomy contour can be drawn. The chosen access can be evaluated by exposing the aneurysm using a microscopic view.

Results

The evaluation of the simulation took place in three stages: testing the simulation using the think-aloud method, conducting a survey and examining the precision of drawing the contour. Although there are differences between the virtual interactions and their counterparts in reality, the participants liked the immersion and felt present in the operating room. The calculated surface dice similarity coefficient, Hausdorff distance and feedback of the participants show that the difficulty of drawing the craniotomy is appropriate.

Conclusion

The presented training simulation for head positioning and access planning benefits from the immersive environment. Thus, it is an appropriate training for novice neurosurgeons and medical students with the goal to improve anatomical understanding and to become aware of the importance of the right craniotomy hole.
Automated major psoas muscle volumetry in computed tomography using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Duong Felix , Gadermayr Michael , Merhof Dorit , Kuhl Christiane , Bruners Philipp , Loosen Sven H. , Roderburg Christoph , Truhn Daniel , Schulze-Hagen Maximilian F.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The psoas major muscle (PMM) volume serves as an opportunistic imaging marker in cross-sectional imaging datasets for various clinical applications. Since manual segmentation is time consuming, two different automated segmentation methods, a generative adversarial network architecture (GAN) and a multi-atlas segmentation (MAS), as well as a combined approach of both, were investigated in terms of accuracy of automated volumetrics in given CT datasets.

Materials and methods

The bilateral PMM was manually segmented by a radiologist in 34 abdominal CT scans, resulting in 68 single 3D muscle segmentations as training data. Three different methods were tested for their ability to generate automated image segmentations: a GAN- and MAS-based approach and a combined approach of both methods (COM). Bilateral PMM volume (PMMV) was calculated in cm3 by each algorithm for every CT. Results were compared to the corresponding ground truth using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Spearman’s correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

Mean PMMV was 239 ± 7.0 cm3 and 308 ± 9.6 cm3, 306 ± 9.5 cm3 and 243 ± 7.3 cm3 for the CNN, MAS and COM, respectively. Compared to the ground truth the CNN and MAS overestimated the PMMV significantly (+ 28.9% and + 28.0%, p < 0.001), while results of the COM were quite accurate (+ 0.7%, p = 0.33). Spearman’s correlation coefficients were 0.38, 0.62 and 0.73, and the DSCs were 0.75 [95%CI: 0.56–0.88], 0.73 [95%CI: 0.54–0.85] and 0.82 [95%CI: 0.65–0.90] for the CNN, MAS and COM, respectively.

Conclusion

The combined approach was able to efficiently exploit the advantages of both methods (GAN and MAS), resulting in a significantly higher accuracy in PMMV predictions compared to the isolated implementations of both methods. Even with the relatively small set of training data, the segmentation accuracy of this hybrid approach was relatively close to that of the radiologist.
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues of Digital Phenotyping as a Future Solution for Present-Day Challenges: A Scoping Review
Authors: Tomičić Ana , Malešević Anamaria , Čartolovni Anto
Published: December 2021

Digital phenotyping represents an avenue of consideration in patients' self-management. This scoping review aims to explore the trends in the body of literature on ethical, legal, and social challenges relevant to the implementation of digital phenotyping technologies in healthcare. The study followed the PRISMA-ScR methodology (Tricco et al. in Ann Int Med 169(7):467–473, 2018.https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850). The review systematically identified relevant literature, characterised the discussed technology, explored its impacts and the proposed solutions to identified challenges. Overall, the literature, perhaps unsurprisingly, concentrates on technical rather than ethical, legal, and social perspectives, which limits understanding of the more complex cultural and social factors in which digital phenotyping technologies are embedded. ELS issues mostly concern privacy, security, consent, lack of regulation, and issues of adoptability, and seldom expand to more complex ethical issues. Trust was chosen as an umbrella theme of a continuum of major ELS and technical issues. Sustained critical analysis of digital phenotyping showed to be sparse and geographically exclusive. There is a continuum and overlap between ELS issues, suggesting the need for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to each of the challenges posed by the various technologies of digital phenotyping.
Fatty acid homeostasis in honey bees (Apis mellifera) fed commercial diet supplements
Authors: Corby-Harris Vanessa , Bennett Meghan M. , Deeter Megan E. , Snyder Lucy , Meador Charlotte , Welchert Ashley C. , Hoffman Amelia , Obernesser Bethany T. , Carroll Mark J.
Published: December 2021

Honey bees obtain lipids from pollen or commercial supplements. These supplements do not fully support colony health. We tested the hypothesis that supplements are deficient because they lack essential fatty acids (EFAs). The five supplements we tested had low linolenic (⍵3) acid and were unbalanced (⍵6:⍵3 > 6) compared to natural pollen. We selected two of these supplements for further study because they had different levels of individual EFAs and different ⍵6:⍵3 ratios. Bees from hives fed these different supplements had equivalent tissue EFA levels. In choice assays, hives fed these different supplements were presented with flours with various absolute and relative levels of EFAs. We saw no difference in foraging preference. Rather, all hives preferred flours with small grain size and high protein to lipid ratios. We conclude that bees balance their internal EFAs and that differential colony nutrition does not affect foraging preference. The data also argue for more linolenic (⍵3) acid in commercial supplements.
Responsible innovation for digital identity systems
Authors: Anand Nishant , Brass Irina
Published: December 2021

Digital identity (eID) systems are a crucial piece in the digital services ecosystem. They connect individuals to a variety of socioeconomic opportunities but can also reinforce power asymmetries between organizations and individuals. Data collection practices can negatively impact an individual’s right to privacy, autonomy, and self-determination. Protecting individual rights, however, may be at odds with imperatives of profit maximization or national security. The use of eID technologies is hence highly contested. Current approaches to governing eID systems have been unable to fully address the trade-offs between the opportunities and risks associated with these systems. The responsible innovation (RI) literature provides a set of principles to govern disruptive innovations, such as eID systems, toward societally desirable outcomes. This article uses RI principles to develop a framework to govern eID systems in a more inclusive, responsible, and user-centered manner. The proposed framework seeks to complement existing practices for eID system governance by bringing forth principles of deliberation and democratic engagement to build trust amongst stakeholders of the eID system and deliver shared socioeconomic benefits.
Maximizing the Role of Emergency Medical Services in COVID-19 Response
Authors: Sonkin Roman , Alpert Evan Avraham , Katz David E. , Jaffe Eli
Published: December 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define 6 intervals of a pandemic: (1) investigation of cases, (2) recognition of the increased potential for ongoing transmission, (3) initiation of a pandemic wave, (4) acceleration of a pandemic wave, (5) deceleration of a pandemic wave, and (6) preparation for future pandemic waves. Each of these stages has 8 domains. Following China’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak announcement, Israel’s National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Organization immediately began working in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to address the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak. This article will describe how a national EMS organization acted according to these pandemic intervals and domains. In the initial stages, EMS managed a checkpoint in the international airport voluntarily testing people for febrile symptoms. Calls to the dispatch centers that aroused the suspicion of COVID-19 resulted in EMS transport to the hospital with protective gear. During the period of first exposure, the scope of the medical emergency number was increased to include questions concerning coronavirus, telemedicine, and home sampling by protected EMS workers. In the contagion stages, epidemiological tests were conducted by the MOH, and EMS began operating dedicated telephone triage, mass drive-through sampling, and finally, administration of vaccinations.
Towards the development of an automated electrical self-potential sensor of melt and rainwater flow in snow
Authors: Priestley Alex , Kulessa Bernd , Essery Richard , Lejeune Yves , Le Gac Erwan , Blackford Jane
Published: December 2021

To understand snow structure and snowmelt timing, information about flows of liquid water within the snowpack is essential. Models can make predictions using explicit representations of physical processes, or through parameterization, but it is difficult to verify simulations. In situ observations generally measure bulk quantities. Where internal snowpack measurements are made, they tend to be destructive and unsuitable for continuous monitoring. Here, we present a novel method for in situ monitoring of water flow in seasonal snow using the electrical self-potential (SP) geophysical method. A prototype geophysical array was installed at Col de Porte (France) in October 2018. Snow hydrological and meteorological observations were also collected. Results for two periods of hydrological interest during winter 2018–19 (a marked period of diurnal melting and refreezing, and a rain-on-snow event) show that the electrical SP method is sensitive to internal water flow. Water flow was detected by SP signals before it was measured in conventional snowmelt lysimeters at the base of the snowpack. This initial feasibility study shows the utility of the SP method as a non-destructive snow sensor. Future development should include combining SP measurements with a high-resolution snow physics model to improve prediction of melt timing.
Peripheral inflammatory markers associated with brain volume reduction in patients with bipolar I disorder
Authors: Tsai Shang-Ying , Sajatovic Martha , Hsu Jung-Lung , Chung Kuo-Hsuan , Chen Pao-Huan , Huang Yu-Jui
Published: December 2021

Background:

Neuroinflammation and brain structural abnormalities are found in bipolar disorder (BD). Elevated levels of cytokines and chemokines have been detected in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with BD. This study investigated the association between peripheral inflammatory markers and brain subregion volumes in BD patients.

Methods:

Euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) aged 20–45 years underwent whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging. Plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (also known as YKL-40), fractalkine (FKN), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNF-R1), interleukin-1β, and transforming growth factor-β1 were measured on the day of neuroimaging. Clinical data were obtained from medical records and interviewing patients and reliable others.

Results:

We recruited 31 patients with a mean age of 29.5 years. In multivariate regression analysis, plasma level YKL-40, a chemokine, was the most common inflammatory marker among these measurements displaying significantly negative association with the volume of various brain subareas across the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Higher YKL-40 and sTNF-R1 levels were both significantly associated with lower volumes of the left anterior cingulum, left frontal lobe, right superior temporal gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus. A greater number of total lifetime mood episodes were also associated with smaller volumes of the right caudate nucleus and bilateral frontal lobes.

Conclusions:

The volume of brain regions known to be relevant to BD-I may be diminished in relation to higher plasma level of YKL-40, sTNF-R1, and more lifetime mood episodes. Macrophage and macrophage-like cells may be involved in brain volume reduction among BD-I patients.
Changes in serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with electroconvulsive therapy and pharmacotherapy and its clinical correlates in male schizophrenia patients
Authors: Akbas Ibrahim , Balaban Ozlem Devrim
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

It has been postulated that neurotrophin dysregulation leads to disorganisation in neuronal networks, which results in schizophrenia. The current study sets out to evaluate if the finding of lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in schizophrenia patients could be confirmed in an independent cohort and to investigate if the BDNF levels can be altered with different treatment modalities such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and/or antipsychotic pharmacotherapy (PT).

Methods:

A total of 54 male patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. Schizophrenia patients were subdivided into two groups as the ones who underwent ECT + PT and only PT. Clinical and sociodemographic data questionnaire, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and blood sample collection for BDNF assessment were applied to all patients (on first and last days of admissions) and healthy participants (on the day of the interview). Then, clinical parameters and blood sample outcomes were statistically analysed.

Results:

Mean BDNF levels of healthy individuals were significantly higher than mean pre- and post-treatment BDNF levels in both PT only and ECT + PT groups. While serum BDNF levels did not increase after ECT + PT, there was a trend level increase in the PT only group. There was no significant correlation between the changes in serum BDNF levels with total PANSS scores in either group after treatment.

Conclusions:

We could confirm previously suggested data of lower serum BDNF levels in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy population but we could not find significant increase in serum BDNF levels with ECT + PT or only PT as some previous studies suggested.
Reconstituted virus–nucleus system reveals mechanics of herpesvirus genome uncoating
Authors: Evilevitch Alex , Tsimtsirakis Efthymios
Published: December 2021

The viral replication cycle is controlled by information transduced through both molecular and mechanical interactions. Viral infection mechanics remains largely unexplored, however, due to the complexity of cellular mechanical responses over the course of infection as well as a limited ability to isolate and probe these responses. Here, we develop an experimental system consisting of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsids bound to isolated and reconstituted cell nuclei, which allows direct probing of capsid–nucleus mechanics with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Major mechanical transformations occur in the host nucleus when pressurised viral DNA ejects from HSV-1 capsids docked at the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) on the nuclear membrane. This leads to structural rearrangement of the host chromosome, affecting its compaction. This in turn regulates viral genome replication and transcription dynamics as well as the decision between a lytic or latent course of infection. AFM probing of our reconstituted capsid–nucleus system provides high-resolution topographical imaging of viral capsid docking at the NPCs as well as force volume mapping of the infected nucleus surface, reflecting mechanical transformations associated with chromatin compaction and stiffness of nuclear lamina (to which chromatin is tethered). This experimental system provides a novel platform for investigation of virus–host interaction mechanics during viral genome penetration into the nucleus.
The Curse of Good Intentions: Why Anticorruption Messaging Can Encourage Bribery
Authors: CHEESEMAN NIC , PEIFFER CARYN
Published: December 2021

Awareness-raising messages feature prominently in most anticorruption strategies. Yet, there has been limited systematic research into their efficacy. There is growing concern that anticorruption awareness-raising efforts may be backfiring; instead of encouraging citizens to resist corruption, they may be nudging them to “go with the corrupt grain.” This study offers a first test of the effect of anticorruption messaging on ordinary people’s behavior. A household-level field experiment, conducted with a representative sample in Lagos, Nigeria, is used to test whether exposure to five different messages about (anti)corruption influence the outcome of a “bribery game.” We find that exposure to anticorruption messages largely fails to discourage the decision to bribe, and in some cases it makes individuals more willing to pay a bribe. Importantly, we also find that the effect of anticorruption messaging is conditioned by an individual’s preexisting perceptions regarding the prevalence of corruption.
Trends and predictors of early initiation, exclusive and continued breast-feeding in Bangladesh (2004–2018): a multilevel analysis of demographic and health survey data
Authors: Ahmed Md. Sabbir , Whitfield Kyly C. , Yunus Fakir Md
Published: December 2021

The early initiation of breast-feeding (EIBF) within 1 h of birth, exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) to 6 months and continued breast-feeding (CBF) to 2 years are key infant and young child feeding guidelines promoted globally for optimal child health and development. Using publicly available national survey data from the five most recent, consecutive Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (2004, 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2017–2018), we assessed the trends in these key breast-feeding indicators. Multiple multilevel logistic regression models were built to assess socio-demographic predictors of breast-feeding using the latest 2017–2018 data set. Both EIBF and EBF have increased significantly between 2004 and 2017–2018, from 26 % to 60 % and 36 % to 68 %, respectively, and CBF decreased from 94 % to 85 %. Caesarean section delivery conferred lower EIBF practice (OR = 0·34, 95 % CI 0·27, 0·42) compared with vaginal delivery. Women who were currently working had 32 % lower odds of EBF (OR = 0·68, 95 % CI 0·48, 0·95). Compared with delivery at home, women who delivered in a health facility had 81 % higher odds of EBF (OR = 1·81, 95 % CI 1·25, 2·34). Larger family size (≥5) also predicted EBF (OR = 1·70, 95 % CI 1·21, 2·40). Rural residency was associated with 2·39 (95 % CI 1·32, 4·31) times of higher odds of CBF. Regional variation was also predictive of the various breast-feeding indicators. Although Bangladesh currently exceeds the 2019 global prevalence rates for these three breast-feeding indicators, efforts should be made to continue improving EIBF and EBF and to prevent future decreases in CBF.
Why we should be looking for earlobe creases in ENT. A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease
Authors: Curtis J , Walford S
Published: December 2021

Objective

The association between diagonal earlobe crease and cardiovascular disease has been known for several decades. This review investigated whether there is a significant association between the presence of a diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease independent of other confounding factors.

Method

This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of selected studies using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses checklist.

Results

This study included 12 studies in the pooled analysis with 2415 cases and 2545 controls. The study found that patients with diagonal earlobe crease have an increased (four times) likelihood of having coronary artery disease. In addition, despite some previous studies suggesting that diagonal earlobe crease was simply a result of age, all 10 of the included studies that looked at this found that the relationship between diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease was independent of both age and other known cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion

Patients with diagonal earlobe crease appear to have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, and this may be higher for patients with bilateral diagonal earlobe crease.
Histopathological changes of nasal mucosa after nasal packing with Merocel
Authors: Tan M , Bayındır T , Çiçek M T , Aslan M , Gül M
Published: December 2021

Objective

To determine histopathological changes in nasal mucosa associated with duration of nasal packing with Merocel tampons.

Methods

This study included 24 healthy rabbits, 6 rabbits per group. In group A, no tampon was applied. In group B, Merocel nasal tampons were applied and removed after 24 hours. In group C, the tampons were removed after 48 hours. In group D, the tampons were removed after 5 days. Specimens were obtained from the septum of each rabbit, including cartilage. Histopathological examination was performed.

Results

Significant differences were observed in terms of inflammatory infiltration and loss of cilia between groups A and B. Significant differences were also observed in terms of inflammatory infiltration, haematoma, cilia loss, epithelium dysplasia and cartilage degeneration between groups B and C. There were significant differences in terms of cilia loss, epithelium dysplasia and subepithelial fibrosis between groups C and D. Cartilage degeneration was mild in one animal in group B and in two animals in group C, and was moderate in four animals in group C.

Conclusion

It is recommended that Merocel nasal tampons are removed within 48 hours to preserve nasal mucosal function. Keeping the pack longer may cause cartilage degeneration and other complications.
Plant-based diets: a review of the definitions and nutritional role in the adult diet
Authors: Kent Gráinne , Kehoe Laura , Flynn Albert , Walton Janette
Published: December 2021

Plant-based (PB) diets are associated with good health and are also recommended for environmental sustainability. The present review aimed to summarise the definitions of PB diets globally and to investigate the nutritional role of PB diets in adults. This review found that there is a wide range of PB definitions ranging from the traditional vegetarian diets (including vegan) to semi-vegetarian/flexitarian diets. Furthermore, other diets which were originally developed due to their associations with positive health outcomes, such as the portfolio, Mediterranean-style, DASH, healthy US-style, planetary health and Nordic-style diets, have been encompassed in PB definitions due to their emphasis on certain PB components. This review has highlighted that those consuming a PB diet are more likely to meet recommended intakes for carbohydrate, dietary fibre and vitamin E and are less likely to meet recommendations for protein, vitamin B12 and iodine compared to omnivores. Regardless of consumer type, neither PB consumers nor omnivores met recommendations for intakes of vitamin D, calcium and sodium. While intakes of protein, n-3, iron and zinc were generally sufficient from the PB diet, it is important to acknowledge the lower bioavailability of these nutrients from PB foods compared to animal-derived products. As dietary patterns shift towards a more PB diet, there is a need for further studies to investigate the role of PB diets for nutritional adequacy and status in populations currently accustomed to consuming a primarily omnivorous diet.
The Street-Level Organisation in-between Employer Needs and Client Needs: Creaming Users by Motivation in the Norwegian Employment and Welfare Service (NAV)
Authors: GJERSØE HEIDI MOEN , STRAND ANNE HEGE
Published: December 2021

Employer engagement is increasingly emphasised in the context of efforts to bring more disadvantaged people into work. A new approach in the Norwegian Employment and Welfare Service (NAV) combines demand-side and supply-side measures in a ‘combined workplace-oriented approach’. Through qualitative interviews with frontline staff – including job coaches following the Supported Employment (SE) method – the paper examines the intermediary role of the street-level organisation (SLO) through the targeted use of SE methods directed at young users and employers. The findings suggest that young users are ‘creamed by motivation’ into the SE programme, which can be explained by the importance the SLO places: on maintaining inter-organisational relationships with employers, on job coaches’ performance goals and the need to uphold an organisational structure in the SLO that seemingly works efficient to shift caseloads of young unemployed into work. Hence, creaming is not specific to outsourcing but can also occur when insourcing employer engagement services into a public SLO. Although relational work directed at both employers and young clients is seen as the benefit of a combined workplace-oriented approach, it appears a rather flimsy foundation for successful ALMPs unless supported by more structural demand-side measures.
Asymptotics of sloshing eigenvalues for a triangular prism
Authors: MAYRAND JULIEN , SENÉCAL CHARLES , ST–AMANT SIMON
Published: December 2021

We consider the three-dimensional sloshing problem on a triangular prism whose angles with the sloshing surface are of the form
${\pi}/{2q}$
, where q is an integer. We are interested in finding a two-term asymptotic expansion of the eigenvalue counting function. When both angles are
${\pi}/{4}$
, we compute the exact value of the second term. As for the general case, we conjecture an asymptotic expansion by constructing quasimodes for the problem and computing the counting function of the related quasi-eigenvalues. These quasimodes come from solutions of the sloping beach problem and correspond to two kinds of waves, edge waves and surface waves. We show that the quasi-eigenvalues are exponentially close to real eigenvalues of the sloshing problem. The asymptotic expansion of their counting function is closely related to a lattice counting problem inside a perturbed ellipse where the perturbation is in a sense random. The contribution of the angles can then be detected through that perturbation.
Identifying Primary Care Models of Dementia Care that Improve Quality of Life for People Living with Dementia and their Care Partners: An Environmental Scan
Authors: Helmer-Smith Mary , Mihan Ariana , Sethuram Claire , Moroz Isabella , Crowe Lois , MacDonald Tanya , Major Jennifer , Houghton Deanne , Laplante James , Mastin Donald , Poole Lisa , Wighton Mary Beth , Liddy Clare
Published: December 2021

Dementia is a growing concern in Canada, affecting peoples’ health and raising the cost of care. Between June and October 2019, we conducted an environmental scan to identify primary care models, strategies, and resources for dementia care from 11 pre-selected countries and assess their impact on quality-of-life measures. Search strategies included a rapid scoping review, grey literature search, and discussions with stakeholders. Eighteen primary care-based models of dementia care were identified. Common factors include team-based care, centralized care/case coordination, individual treatment plans, a stepped-care approach, and support for care partners. Five provinces had released a dementia strategy. Evidence of positive outcomes supported primary care-based models for dementia care, although only one model demonstrated evidence of impact on quality of life. Although these findings are encouraging, further research is needed to identify primary care-based models of dementia care that demonstrably improve quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners.
Functional brain plasticity following childhood maltreatment: A longitudinal fMRI investigation of autobiographical memory processing
Authors: Puetz V. B. , Viding E. , Maguire E. A. , Mechelli A. , Armbruster-Genç D. , Sharp M. , Rankin G. , Gerin M. I. , McCrory E. J.
Published: December 2021

Altered autobiographical memory (ABM) processing characterizes some individuals with experiences of childhood maltreatment. This fMRI study of ABM processing evaluated potential developmental plasticity in neural functioning following maltreatment. Adolescents with (N = 19; MT group) and without (N = 18; Non-MT group) documented childhood maltreatment recalled specific ABMs in response to emotionally valenced cue words during fMRI at baseline (age 12.71 ± 1.48) and follow-up (14.88 ± 1.53 years). Psychological assessments were collected at both timepoints. Longitudinal analyses were carried out with BOLD signal changes during ABM recall and psychopathology to investigate change over time. In both groups there was relative stability of the ABM brain network, with some developmental maturational changes observed in cortical midline structures (ventromedial PFC (vmPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (pCC), and retrosplenial cortex (rSC). Significantly increased activation of the right rSC was observed only in the MT group, which was associated with improved psychological functioning. Baseline group differences in relation to hippocampal functioning, were not detected at follow-up. This study provides preliminary empirical evidence of functional developmental plasticity in children with documented maltreatment experience using fMRI. This suggests that altered patterns of brain function, associated with maltreatment experience, are not fixed and may reflect the potential to track a neural basis of resilience.
Risk factors for early use of e-cigarettes and alcohol: Dimensions and profiles of temperament
Authors: Hartmann Sarah A. , Hayes Timothy , Sutherland Matthew T. , Trucco Elisa M.
Published: December 2021

Adolescent e-cigarette use has been labeled an epidemic and alcohol use during this developmental period is associated with deleterious outcomes. Though specific temperamental dimensions have been shown to predict substance use, profiles of temperament have rarely been examined as predictors. This study examines dimensions and profiles of adolescent temperament as predictors of early use of e-cigarettes and alcohol. The sample was comprised of adolescent (62.07% female, 87.59% White, 82.76% Hispanic/Latinx)/caregiver dyads (N = 146) who completed the first two timepoints (M age at second timepoint = 16.16, SD = 0.68) of a longitudinal adolescent substance use study. Models showed parent-reported effortful control predicted protection against adolescent use of e-cigarettes, whereas adolescent report of effortful control predicted protection against alcohol use. Though dissimilar in temperamental pattern, three profiles emerged from both parent- and adolescent-report-based latent profile analysis models. Adolescents characterized by parents as displaying a Resilient profile had greater odds of e-cigarette use than those characterized by a Reserved profile, whereas adolescents who self-characterized as Mixed-type had markedly greater odds of alcohol use than those who self-characterized as Resilient. Utilization of temperamental profiles may aid in identification of particularly vulnerable subgroups of adolescents who may benefit from relevant preventative programing.
Examining depression symptoms within OCD: the role of experiential avoidance
Authors: Browning Morgan E. , Van Kirk Nathaniel P. , Krompinger Jason W.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression commonly co-occur. Past research has evaluated underlying mechanisms of depression in the context of other diagnoses, but few to no studies have done this within OCD.

Aims:

This study examines the relationships between distress tolerance (DT), experiential avoidance (EA), depression, and OCD symptom severity across intensive/residential treatment (IRT) for OCD. It was hypothesized that all variables would be significantly moderately related and EA would emerge as a potential contributing factor to change in depression and OCD symptoms across IRT for OCD.

Method:

The sample included 311 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD seeking IRT. Correlations were performed between all variables at both admission and discharge. A two-step hierarchical regression with change in OCD symptoms and change in DT in the first block and change in EA in the second block examined if change in EA explained change in depression above and beyond change in OCD and DT ability.

Results:

At both admission and discharge, higher EA, lower DT, and higher OCD symptom severity were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms. Change in EA explained a significant amount of variance in change in depression above and beyond change in OCD symptom severity and change in DT.

Conclusions:

This study expands past results within an OCD sample, emphasizing EA as an important treatment target in OCD. Future studies could utilize samples from other treatment contexts, use a measure of EA specific to OCD, and utilize a longitudinal model that takes temporal precedence into account.
Sociodemographic disparities and contextual factors in obesity: updated evidence from a National Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases
Authors: Pou Sonia Alejandra , Diaz Maria Del Pilar , Velázquez Guillermo Angel , Aballay Laura Rosana
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To assess the association of sociodemographic and environmental factors with the obesity occurrence in Argentina from a sex- and age-comparative perspective and a multilevel approach.

Design:

Cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the National Survey of Chronic Diseases Risk Factors (CDRF) 2018, Argentina. Two-level logistic regression models stratified by sex and age were used.

Setting:

The nationwide probabilistic sample of the CDRF survey and twenty-four geographical units.

Participants:

16 410 adult people, living in Argentine towns of at least 5000 people, nested into 24 geographical units. Sex and age groups were defined as young (aged 18–44 years), middle-aged (45–64 years) and older (65 years and older) men and women.

Results:

Single men (all age groups) and divorced/widowed men (aged 45 years or older) had a lower obesity risk compared to married ones. In the middle-aged group, men with higher education showed a lower risk than men with incomplete primary education. In young women, a marked social gradient by educational level was observed. A low-income level coupled with highly urbanised contexts represents an unfavourable scenario for young and middle-aged women. Having a multi-person household was a risk factor for obesity (OR = 1·26, P = 0·038) in middle-aged women. Contextual factors linked to the availability of socially constructed recreational resources and green spaces were associated with obesity among young adults.

Conclusions:

Socio-environmental determinants of obesity seem to operate differently according to sex and age in Argentina. This entails the need to address the obesity epidemic considering gender inequalities and the socio-environmental context at each stage of life.
Does the prevalence of promotions on foods and beverages vary by product healthiness? A population-based study of household food and drink purchases in New Zealand
Authors: Tawfiq Essa , Bradbury Kathryn E , Ni Mhurchu Cliona
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To assess the prevalence of promotions on foods and non-alcoholic drinks purchased by New Zealand households and to determine if they vary according to healthiness of products.

Design:

We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of Nielsen New Zealand Homescan® 2018/19 panel data. We conducted multivariate analyses to examine the variability in quantities of healthyv. unhealthy food and beverage products purchased on promotion. Promotion was self-reported by the panellist. Healthiness of products was measured by the Health Star Rating (HSR) system. We also carried out a subgroup analysis for beverages according to the threshold of < 5 gv. ≥ 5 g sugar per 100 ml content of products.

Setting:

The Nielsen New Zealand Homescan® data were linked with two New Zealand Food Composition Databases (Nutritrack and the FOODfiles).

Participants:

Food and beverage purchases data by 1800 panel households were used.

Results:

Overall, 46 % (1 803 601/3 940 458) of all purchases made were on promotion. Compared with purchases of food and beverage products with HSR < 3·5 (unhealthy), food and beverage products with HSR ≥ 3·5 (healthy) were significantly less likely to be on promotion (OR = 0·78, 95 % CI 0·77, 0·79). The subgroup analysis for beverages shows that products with < 5 g sugar per 100 ml were significantly less likely to be on promotion than those with ≥ 5 g sugar per 100 ml (OR = 0·77, 95 % CI 0·75, 0·79).

Conclusions:

Policies to improve healthy food retailing should focus on increasing the promotion of healthier food and drink options in stores and supermarkets.
A FREENESS CRITERION WITHOUT PATCHING FOR MODULES OVER LOCAL RINGS
Authors: Brochard Sylvain , Iyengar Srikanth B. , Khare Chandrashekhar B.
Published: December 2021

It is proved that if
$\varphi \colon A\to B$
is a local homomorphism of commutative noetherian local rings, a nonzero finitely generated B-module N whose flat dimension over A is at most
$\operatorname {edim} A - \operatorname {edim} B$
is free over B and
$\varphi $
is a special type of complete intersection. This result is motivated by a ‘patching method’ developed by Taylor and Wiles and a conjecture of de Smit, proved by the first author, dealing with the special case when N is flat over A.
Does Transfer Payments Promote Low‐Carbon Development of Resource‐Exhausted Cities in China?
Authors: Li Xing , Wang Daoping
Published: December 2021

Employing a time‐varying difference‐in‐differences model and a data set collected from 2,735 counties in China from 2003 to 2017, this study examines the causal relationship between Chinese government transfer payments to resource‐exhausted cities (TPREC) and carbon emissions for the first time. Our results show that TPREC could significantly reduce carbon emissions of resource‐exhausted cities in China. A variety of robustness tests supports our findings. Our further mechanism analysis shows that TPREC mainly affects carbon emissions through the following three channels: (a) promoting technological progress and industrial upgrades; (b) increasing vegetation carbon sequestration; (c) strengthening government environmental regulations. Finally, this paper analyzes the spatial heterogeneity of the carbon emission reduction effect of TPREC and finds that the most significant reduction effect of TPREC is in the western region and coal‐exhausted cities. This paper provides new empirical evidence for the role of transfer payments in promoting low‐carbon development using a unique set of data. Our findings provide new insights for decision‐makers to facilitate the low‐carbon development of resource‐exhausted cities.
Comment on “Properties of the Recovery Phase of Extreme Storms” by Choraghe et al. (2021)
Authors: Cid C. , Saiz E.
Published: December 2021

Choraghe et al. (2021), based on a study of the recovery phase of the SYM‐H index of 31 extreme geomagnetic storms, have recently concluded that the hyperbolic decay function is only able to explain the complete recovery phase of about one third of events and that both the exponential or the hyperbolic decay functions fail to explain the late recovery phase of storms. Furthermore, they propose a linear function to model the late recovery phase and claim that the proposed model could throw new light on the relative importance of different physical processes involved during the complete recovery phase of extreme storms. We assert that the Choraghe et al. (2021) conclusions regarding the recovery phase of extreme storms analysis are incorrect and in particular are based on a misunderstanding of the nature of the evolution of the SYM‐H index and the energy balance of the ring current.