bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arsenic doping and diffusion in CdTe: a DFT study of bulk and grain boundaries
Authors: Hatton Peter , Watts Michael , Zhou Ying , Smith Roger , Goddard Pooja
Published: December 2022

The doping of CdTe with As is a method which is thought to increase cell efficiency by increasing electron hole concentrations. This doping relies on the diffusion of As through CdTe resulting in AsTe substitution. The potential effectiveness of this is considered through kinetic and electronic properties calculations in both bulk and Σ3 and Σ9 grain boundaries using Density Functional Theory. In bulk zinc-blende CdTe, isolated As diffuses with barriers <0.5 eV and with similar barriers through wurtzite structured CdTe, generated by stacking faults, suggesting that As will not be trapped at the stacking faults and hence the transport of isolated As will be unhindered in bulk CdTe. Substitutional arsenic in bulk CdTe has little effect on the band gap except when it is positively charged in the AX-centre position or occurring as a di-interstitial. However in contrast to the case of chlorine, arsenic present in the grain boundaries introduces defect states into the band gap. This suggests that a doping strategy whereby the grain boundaries are first saturated with chlorine, before single arsenic atoms are introduced, might be more beneficial.
Phase evolution for oxidizing bismuth selenide
Authors: Yu Wen-Xia , Liu Bin , Huang Wei-Qing , Zhou Hong , Xie Sheng-Yi
Published: December 2022

The novel Bi2O2Se, produced by the oxidation of the layered Bi2Se3, has been considered as one of the most promising candidates for the next-generation electronics owing to its high carrier mobility and air-stability. In this work, by using crystal structure prediction and first-principles calculations, we report the phase transformations from the hexagonal Bi2Se3 to the monoclinic Bi2OSe2, and then to the tetragonal Bi2O2Se with the gradual oxidization. Owing to the difference in electronegativity between selenium (Se) and oxygen (O), the oxidation process is accompanied by an increase in bond ionicity. Our results shed light on the phenomena occurring in the interaction between the precursors Bi2Se3 and O2 and have a potential contribution to the application of optoelectronic devices. The intermediate Bi2OSe2 with calculated band gap of 1.01 eV, may be a candidate for photovoltaic application in future.
Remaining useful life prediction combining temporal convolutional network with nonlinear target function
Authors: Liu Bin , Xu Jing , Sun Chaoli , Cui Xueying , Xie Xiufeng , Zhi Hongying
Published: December 2022

Remaining useful life prediction based on degraded data is the premise of intelligent maintenance of equipment. Since the degradation process is usually complex and changeable, the general deep learning prediction method brings a large prediction deviation since it uses linear target function. In this paper, temporal convolutional network combined with a nonlinear target function (NT-TCN) is proposed to improve the prediction accuracy. The nonlinear target function is constructed using a piecewise function to label degraded data. By means of dilated causal convolution and Mish activation function, the NT-TCN learns the time series characteristics of degeneration. Thus, high precision of life prediction is achieved. By analyzing NASA’s C-MAPSS data set, the prediction results show that the NT-TCN model has lower root mean squared error and evaluation score than the neural network model with the linear target function, which is also superior to some existing prediction methods.
An Implementation of Galactic White Dwarf Binary Data Analysis for MLDC-3.1
Authors: Lu Yang , Li En-Kun , Hu Yi-Ming , Zhang Jian-dong , Mei Jianwei
Published: December 2022

The space-borne gravitational wave detectors will observe a large population of double white dwarf binaries in the Milky Way. However, the search for double white dwarfs in the gravitational wave data will be time-consuming due to the large number of templates involved and antenna response calculation. In this paper, we implement an iterative combinatorial algorithm to search for double white dwarfs in MLDC-3.1 data. To quickly determine the rough parameters of the target sources, the following algorithms are adopted in a coarse search process: (1) using the downsampling method to reduce the number of original data points; (2) using the undersampling method to speed up the generation of a single waveform template; (3) using the stochastic template bank method to quickly construct the waveform template bank while achieving high coverage of the parameter space; (4) combining the FFT acceleration algorithm with the stochastic template bank to reduce the calculation time of a single template. A fine search process is applied to further determine the parameters of the signals based on the coarse search, for which we adopt the particle swarm optimization. Finally, we detect


(

10

4

)

double white dwarf signals, validating the feasibility of our method.
Research on a Coherent Dedispersion Algorithm for Pulsar Baseband Data
Authors: Zhang Hai-Long , Zhang Ya-Zhou , Zhang Meng , Wang Jie , Zhang Ting , Wang Shuang-Qiang , Yuan Jian-ping , Ye Xin-Chen , Li Jian
Published: December 2022

When the pulsar signal propagates in the interstellar medium (ISM), the high frequency and low frequency components of the signal reach the radio telescope with a certain delay. Therefore, the pulsar signal will appear energy dispersion, which will broaden the pulse profile, decrease the signal to noise ratio, and even lead to the disappearance of the pulse signal. In this paper, we analyze the sampling, polarization and arrangement of baseband data based on the coherent dedispersion algorithm for the problem of pulsar baseband data dedispersion. We systematically study the coherent dedispersion data processing procedure, and test the pulse profile changes under different FFT block sizes. An optimal selection strategy of FFT block sizes is proposed for reducing the operation time and obtaining a better pulse profile. We propose two methods, one is the generation of ISM transfer function, the other is the pulsar period and phase prediction method at a certain time, and discuss integral and folding strategies. We test the algorithm based on the baseband data of CASPSR and Medusa terminals observed by the Parkes 64 m radio telescope, and analyze the reading and processing methods of baseband data of different terminals. The experimental results show that the phase and amplitude information of the pulse profile processed by our algorithm is basically consistent with the results obtained by DSPSR.
Information restriction in two-step cascade: role of fidelity and fluctuations
Authors: Nandi Mintu
Published: December 2022

Information retained by the middle node X in a generic two-step cascade (TSC) motif (S

→

X

→

Y) is quantified by the metric restricted information (RI). Restricted efficiency, a normalised measure of RI, computes the ability of X in resisting the information flow from S to Y. We incorporate two types of autoregulatory edges, positive and negative, at X of the TSC framework, denoted as +TSC and −TSC, respectively. The role of autoregulatory edges (positive and negative) on the behaviour of X in information restriction is studied with reference to the TSC motif without autoregulation. Our theoretical analysis supplemented by numerical simulation shows that the information restriction imposed by X decreases (increases) with positive (negative) autoregulation. We introduce a dimensionless measure, relative fidelity, to understand the variation in RI due to autoregulatory edges. The relative fidelity is the signal-to-noise ratio for S–X regulation divided by the same for S–Y regulation. We find a specific operating range of the binding coefficient due to the autoregulatory edge at which a minimum (maximum) effect on information restriction is observed in the +TSC (−TSC) motif for high autoregulation strength.
Non-destructive interrogation of nuclear waste barrels through muon tomography: a Monte Carlo study based on dual-parameter analysis via GEANT4 simulations
Authors: Topuz A. Ilker , Kiisk Madis , Giammanco Andrea
Published: December 2022

The structural characterization of the nuclear materials constitutes an indispensable aspect that necessitates a careful transportation, a limited interaction, and under certain circumstances an on-site investigation for the nuclear fields including but not limited to nuclear waste management, nuclear forensics, and nuclear proliferation. To attain this purpose, among the promising non-destructive/non-hazardous techniques that are performed for the interrogation of the nuclear materials is the muon tomography where the target materials are discriminated by the interplay between the atomic number, the material density, and the material thickness on the basis of the scattering angle and the absorption in the course of the muon propagation within the target volume. In this study, we employ the Monte Carlo simulations by using the GEANT4 code to demonstrate the capability of muon tomography based on the dual-parameter analysis in the examination of the nuclear waste barrels. Our current hodoscope setup consists of three top and three bottom plastic scintillators made of polyvinyl toluene with the thickness of 0.4 cm, and the composite target material is a cylindrical nuclear waste drum with the height of 96 cm and the radius of 29.6 cm where the outermost layer is stainless steel with the lateral thickness of 3.2 cm and the filling material is ordinary concrete that encapsulates the nuclear materials of dimensions 20×20×20 cm3. By simulating with a narrow planar muon beam of 1×1 cm2 over the uniform energy interval between 0.1 and 8 GeV, we determine the variation of the average scattering angle together with the standard deviation by utilizing a 0.5-GeV bin length, the counts of the scattering angle by using a 1-mrad step, and the number of the absorption events for the five prevalent nuclear materials starting from cobalt and ending in plutonium. Via the duo-parametric analysis that is founded on the scattering angle as well as the absorption in the present study, we show that the presence of the nuclear materials in the waste barrels is numerically visible in comparison with the concrete-filled waste drum without any nuclear material, and the muon tomography is capable of distinguishing these nuclear materials by coupling the information about the scattering angle and the number of absorption in the cases where one of these two parameters yields strong similarity for certain nuclear materials.
From managing risk to increasing resilience: a review on the development of urban flood resilience, its assessment and the implications for decision making
Authors: Rözer Viktor , Mehryar Sara , Surminski Swenja
Published: December 2022

Driven by urban growth in hazard prone areas such as along coasts or rivers as well as by climate change induced sea-level rise and increase in extreme rainfall, flood risk in urban areas is increasing. Better understanding of risks, risk drivers and its consequences in urban areas have revealed shortcomings in the existing flood risk management approaches. This has led to a paradigm shift in dealing with floods from managing the risk to reduce damages, to making urban communities resilient to flooding. Often described as a complex and at times confusing concept, this systematic review identifies and summarises the different dimensions and approaches of urban flood resilience and how they are applied in practice. Our analysis shows that urban flood resilience as a concept has evolved over the last two decades. From an engineering concept with a strong focus on ensuring that the built environment can withstand a flood to a more recent definition as a transformative process with the aim to enable all parts of the urban system to live with floods and learn from previous shocks. This evolved understanding is also reflected in the increasing number of dimensions considered in urban flood resilience assessments and decision support tools. A thematic analysis of the challenges in conceptualising and applying urban flood resilience reported in the literature has revealed a number of issues including around fairness and equity of the applied approaches, a lack of data and widely accepted methods as well as uncertainty around changing risks as a result of climate change. Based on these findings we propose a new research agenda, focusing on meta studies to identify the key dimensions and criteria for urban flood resilience, supporting a transparent and evidence-led operationalization.
Spring heat waves drive record western United States snow melt in 2021
Authors: McEvoy Daniel J , Hatchett Benjamin J
Published: December 2022

Throughout the western US snow melted at an alarming rate in April 2021 and by May 1, hydrologic conditions were severely degraded with declining summer water supply forecasts compared to earlier in the winter. The objectives of this study are to (a) quantify the magnitude and climatological context of observed melt rates of snow water equivalent (SWE) and (b) underpin the hydrometeorological drivers during April 2021 based on atmospheric reanalysis and gridded meteorological data. Peak SWE indicated snow drought conditions were widespread (41% of stations between 5th and 20th percentile) but not necessarily extreme (only 9% of stations less than 5th percentile). Here, using observations from the Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) network we found record 7 day snow melt rates (median of −99 mm; ±one standard deviation of 61 mm) occurred at 24% of SNOTEL sites and in all 11 Western states. Strong upper atmospheric ridging that began initially in the north Pacific with eastward propagation by mid-April to the Pacific Northwest Coast led to near-surface conditions across the western US conducive to rapid snow loss. One heat wave occurred inland across the Rockies the first week of April and then later in April, a second heat wave impacted the Cascades and northern California. We find that ripening of the snowpack by both record high surface solar radiation and air temperatures were factors in driving the rapid snow melt. Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures and the La Niña pattern that peaked in winter along with an eastward propagating and intensifying Madden–Julian Oscillation were likely responsible for driving the placement, strength, and progression of the north Pacific Ridge. This study documents the role of two extreme spring ‘sunny heat wave’ events on snowpack, and the cascading drought impacts which are anticipated to become more frequent in a warming world.
All-organic modification coating prepared with large-scale atmospheric-pressure plasma for mitigating surface charge accumulation
Authors: ZHANG Penghao , YU Liang , HE Dazhao , TANG Xinyu , CHEN Shuo , DONG Shoulong , YAO Chenguo
Published: December 2022

The surface charge accumulation on polymers often leads to surface flashover. Current solutions are mainly based on the introduction of inorganic fillers. The high-cost process and low compatibility remain formidable challenges. Moreover, existing researches on all-organic insulation focus on capturing electrons, contrary to alleviating charge accumulation. Here, an all-organic modification coating was prepared on polystyrene (PS) with the large-scale atmospheric-pressure plasma, which exhibits outperformed function in mitigating surface charge accumulation. The surface charge dissipation rate and surface conductivity are promoted by about 1.37 and 9.45 times, respectively. Simulation and experimental results show that this all-organic modification coating has a smaller electron affinity potential compared with PS. The decrease of electron affinity potential may result in accelerated surface charge decay of PS, which has never been involved in previous works. Moreover, this coating also has good reliability in a repeated surface flashover. This facile and large-scale approach brings up a novel idea for surface charge regulation and the manufacture of advanced dielectric polymers.
Genetic and demographic signatures accompanying the evolution of the selfing syndrome inDaphne kiusiana, an evergreen shrub
Authors: Han Eun-Kyeong , Tamaki Ichiro , Oh Sang-Hun , Park Jong-Soo , Cho Won-Bum , Jin Dong-Pil , Kim Bo-Yun , Yang Sungyu , Son Dong Chan , Choi Hyeok-Jae , Gantsetseg Amarsanaa , Isagi Yuji , Lee Jung-Hyun
Published: December 2022

Background and Aims

The evolution of mating systems from outcrossing to self-fertilization is a common transition in flowering plants. This shift is often associated with the ‘selfing syndrome’, which is characterized by less visible flowers with functional changes to control outcrossing. In most cases, the evolutionary history and demographic dynamics underlying the evolution of the selfing syndrome remain poorly understood.

Methods

Here, we characterize differences in the demographic genetic consequences and associated floral-specific traits between two distinct geographical groups of a wild shrub, Daphne kiusiana, endemic to East Asia; plants in the eastern region (southeastern Korea and Kyushu, Japan) exhibit smaller and fewer flowers compared to those of plants in the western region (southwestern Korea). Genetic analyses were conducted using nuclear microsatellites and chloroplast DNA (multiplexed phylogenetic marker sequencing) datasets.

Key Results

A high selfing rate with significantly increased homozygosity characterized the eastern lineage, associated with lower levels of visibility and herkogamy in the floral traits. The two lineages harboured independent phylogeographical histories. In contrast to the western lineage, the eastern lineage showed a gradual reduction in the effective population size with no signs of a severe bottleneck despite its extreme range contraction during the last glacial period.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the selfing-associated morphological changes in D. kiusiana are of relatively old origin (at least 100 000 years ago) and were driven by directional selection for efficient self-pollination. We provide evidence that the evolution of the selfing syndrome in D. kiusiana is not strongly associated with a severe population bottleneck.
A randomized clinical trial of isolated ambulatory phlebectomy versus saphenous thermal ablation with concomitant phlebectomy (SAPTAP Trial)
Authors: Scheerders Eveline R Y , van der Velden Simone K , Goossens Lucas M A , Hamann Sterre A S , de Maeseneer Marianne G R , Malskat Wendy S J , de Mik Linda , Nijsten Tamar E C , van den Bos Renate R ,   the members of the SAPTAP group, Scheerders E R Y , Hamann S A S , Malskat W S J , Maeseneer de M G R , Bos van den R R , Velden van der S K , Mik de L , Gaastra M T W , Koppen S , Roos De K P , Shadid N H , Wolff O
Published: December 2022

Background

Current treatment of patients with saphenous trunk and tributary incompetence consists of truncal ablation with concomitant, delayed or no treatment of the tributary. However, reflux of the saphenous trunk may be reversible after treatment of the incompetent tributary. The aim of this study was to determine whether single ambulatory phlebectomy with or without delayed endovenous truncal ablation (SAP) is non-inferior to thermal endovenous ablation with concomitant phlebectomy (TAP), and whether SAP is a cost-effective alternative to TAP.

Methods

A multicentre, non-inferiority RCT was conducted in patients with an incompetent great saphenous vein or anterior accessory saphenous vein with one or more incompetent tributaries. Participants were randomized to receive SAP or TAP. After 9 months, additional truncal treatment was considered for SAP patients with remaining symptoms. The primary outcome was VEnous INsufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QOL/Sym score) after 12 months. Secondary outcomes were, among others, cost-effectiveness, perceived improvement of symptoms, and anatomical success.

Results

Some 464 patients received the allocated treatment (SAP 227, TAP 237). VEINES-QOL scores were 52.7 (95 per cent c.i. 51.9 to 53.9) for SAP and 53.8 (53.3 to 55.1) for TAP; VEINES-Sym scores were 53.5 (52.6 to 54.4) and 54.2 (54.0 to 55.6) respectively. Fifty-eight patients (25.6 per cent) in the SAP group received additional truncal ablation. Treatment with SAP was less costly than treatment with TAP.

Conclusion

One year after treatment, participants who underwent SAP had non-inferior health-related quality of life compared with those who had TAP. Treatment with SAP was a cost-effective alternative to TAP at 12 months.

Registration number

NTR 4821 (www.trialregister.nl).
Olfaction in pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Albaugh Shaley L , Wu Lisa L , Zhang Douglas , Diaz Ashley , Werner Debra A , Pinto Jayant M , Cameron E Leslie
Published: December 2022

Little attention has been paid to olfactory changes during pregnancy with contemporary studies limited in number and sample size. We examined whether pregnancy is associated with differences in olfactory performance and if there were any specific gestational ages at which these differences occur through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature. An initial electronic database search identified 234 citations, which were screened at the abstract level. Twenty-three citations were germane for full-text review, and 13 met criteria for inclusion. Our review assessed 5 olfactory measures of interest: odor identification (n = 11 articles), threshold (n = 8), discrimination (n = 5), hedonics (n = 6), and intensity (n = 5). Nine of these 13 studies contained sufficient data for meta-analysis, and these studies included a total of 523 pregnant women and 365 non-pregnant controls. Despite previous subjective and objective reports of odor intolerances and odor hypersensitivity, we did not find any significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women in odor discrimination, thresholds, or hedonics. However, meta-analysis of 506 cases and 333 controls showed worse odor identification in pregnant women compared to controls in a random-effects model. Thus, we demonstrate worse performance at odor identification during pregnancy. In this review, we discuss the current evidence (and lack thereof) regarding olfaction in pregnancy as well as highlight current knowledge gaps in this field.
Development and Validation of Stability-Indicating High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Estimation of Lacosamide in Bulk and Its Pharmaceutical Dosage Form
Authors: Padhiyar Shantilal , Jivani Kamlesh M , Upadhyay Jagat , Patel Tejas , Suhagia Bhanubhai
Published: December 2022

A simple, specific, accurate and stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of lacosamide, using C18 column and a mobile phase composed of phosphate buffer (pH 4.0):acetonitrile (40:60 v/v). The retention time of lacosamide was found to be 2.7 min. Linearity was established for lacosamide in the range of 10–50 μg/mL. The percentage recovery of lacosamide was found to be in the range of 97.37–99.20%. The drug was subjected to acid, alkali, oxidation, dry heat and photolytic degradation. The degradation studies indicated condition was well resolved from the pure drug with significant differences in their retention time values. This method can be successfully employed for quantitative analysis of lacosamide in bulk drug and formulation.
Cardiovascular surgery in very low birth weight (≤1500 g) neonates
Authors: Henmi Soichiro , Essa Yasin , Öztürk Mahmut , Tongut Aybala , Desai Manan , Yerebakan Can , d’Udekem Yves
Published: December 2022

OBJECTIVES

Low birth weight and prematurity are known risks of increased morbidity and mortality with undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Our aim was to review the outcomes of very low birth weight (≤1500 g) patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for 32 very low birth weight (≤1500 g) patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery from 2004 to 2021 in our institution.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients weighting ≤1500 g at surgery (≤1500-g group) were compared to 17 patients born with a weigh of ≤1500 g and weighting between 1500 and 2500 g at surgery (>1500- to ≤2500-g group) in this study. In-hospital mortality was 33% (5/15) in the ≤1500-g group and 24% (4/17) in the >1500- to ≤2500-g group (P = 0.55). All patients with simple biventricular lesion survived following full repair. The occurrence of postoperative intracerebral haemorrhage was significantly higher in those operated at weight ≤1500 g than those weighting >1500 to ≤2500 g (40% vs 0%; P = 0.01). The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 66.0 ± 12.4% and 46.2 ± 14.8% in the ≤1500-g group and 76.5 ± 10.3% and 70.6 ± 11.1% in the >1500- to ≤2500-g group (log-rank P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac surgery for a very low birth weight neonate resulted in a high early and late mortality. Early surgery is only acceptable for simple biventricular lesions if needed. Delayed surgery seems to provide better long-term outcomes in patients with complex lesions. Alternative strategies for neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass should be investigated in patients with complex biventricular and single ventricular lesions.
Sustaining telehealth among cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services: a qualitative framework study
Authors: Thomas Emma E , Chambers Rebecca , Phillips Samara , Rawstorn Jonathan C , Cartledge Susie
Published: December 2022

Aims

As we move into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac and pulmonary services are considering how to sustain telehealth modalities long-term. It is important to learn from services that had greater telehealth adoption and determine factors that support sustained use. We aimed to describe how telehealth has been used to deliver cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services across Queensland, Australia.

Methods and results

Semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and focus groups (n = 7) were conducted with 27 cardiac and pulmonary clinicians and managers from health services across Queensland between June and August 2021. Interview questions were guided by Greenhalgh’s Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability framework. Hybrid inductive/deductive framework analysis elicited six main themes: (i) Variable levels of readiness; (ii) Greater telehealth uptake in pulmonary vs. cardiac rehabilitation; (iii) Safety and risk management; (iv) Client willingness—targeted support required; (v) Equity and access; and (vi) New models of care. We found that sustained integration of telehealth in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation will require contributions from all stakeholders: consumers (e.g. co-design), clinicians (e.g. shared learning), health services (e.g. increasing platform functionality), and the profession (e.g. sharing resources).

Conclusion

There are opportunities for telehealth programmes servicing large geographic areas and opportunities to increase programme participation rates more broadly. Centralized models of care serving large geographic areas could maximize sustainability with current resource limitations; however, realizing the full potential of telehealth will require additional funding for supporting infrastructure and workforce. Individuals and organizations both have roles to play in sustaining telehealth in cardiac and pulmonary services.
How Do Own and Siblings’ Genders Shape Caregivers’ Risk of Perceiving Care-Related Criticism From Siblings?
Authors: Rurka Marissa M , Suitor J Jill , Gilligan Megan , Frase Robert T
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Caring for a parent takes a greater psychological toll on daughters than sons. To minimize the psychological burden of parent care, it is important to understand what contributes to this gender disparity. Inspired by the caregiver stress process model and gender-as-relational perspective, we investigate how caregivers’ gender, and the genders of their siblings, shape their risk of perceiving care-related criticism from siblings, a secondary stressor of caregiving with negative implications for psychological well-being.

Methods

Using data from 408 adult child caregivers nested within 231 families collected as part of the Within-Family Differences Study, we employ multilevel modeling to examine how caregivers’ gender, as well as the gender composition of their sibship, interact to shape caregivers’ probability of perceiving criticism from siblings regarding the care that they provide their mother. Qualitative data from the same caregivers are then analyzed to illuminate processes underlying these statistical associations.

Results

Quantitative analyses reveal that daughters in predominantly-son sibships have a lower risk of perceiving care-related criticism than daughters in sibships with higher proportions of daughters. Qualitative analyses elucidate these findings. Daughters in predominantly-son sibships report that their siblings defer to them regarding their mother’s care. Conversely, daughters in higher proportion-daughter sibships perceive care-related criticism because they and their sibling(s) hold conflicting views regarding care, and there is less consensus regarding who best understands their mother’s care needs and preferences.

Discussion

Findings demonstrate how characteristics of caregivers and their sibships interact to affect caregivers’ risk of perceiving criticism regarding their care to their mothers.
The RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1: a regulatory hub that tunes multiple dsRNA-sensing pathways
Authors: Nakahama Taisuke , Kawahara Yukio
Published: December 2022

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an RNA-editing enzyme that catalyzes adenosine-to-inosine conversions in double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). In mammals, ADAR1 is composed of two isoforms: a nuclear short p110 isoform and a cytoplasmic long p150 isoform. Whereas both isoforms contain right-handed dsRNA-binding and deaminase domains, ADAR1 p150 harbors a Zα domain that binds to left-handed dsRNAs, termed Z-RNAs. Myeloma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) sensing of endogenous dsRNAs as non-self leads to the induction of type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes, but recent studies revealed that ADAR1 p150-mediated RNA editing, but not ADAR1 p110, prevents this MDA5-mediated sensing. ADAR1 p150-specific RNA-editing sites are present and at least a Zα domain–Z-RNA interaction is required for this specificity. Mutations in the ADAR1 gene cause Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS), an infant encephalopathy with type I IFN overproduction. Insertion of a point mutation in the Zα domain of the Adar1 gene induces AGS-like encephalopathy in mice, which is rescued by concurrent deletion of MDA5. This finding indicates that impaired ADAR1 p150-mediated RNA-editing is a mechanism underlying AGS caused by an ADAR1 mutation. ADAR1 p150 also prevents ZBP1 sensing of endogenous Z-RNA, which leads to programmed cell death, via the Zα domain and its RNA-editing activity. Furthermore, ADAR1 prevents protein kinase R (PKR) sensing of endogenous right-handed dsRNAs, which leads to translational shutdown and growth arrest. Thus, ADAR1 acts as a regulatory hub that blocks sensing of endogenous dsRNAs as non-self by multiple sensor proteins, both in RNA editing-dependent and -independent manners, and is a potential therapeutic target for diseases, especially cancer.
POPDx: an automated framework for patient phenotyping across 392 246 individuals in the UK Biobank study
Authors: Yang Lu , Wang Sheng , Altman Russ B
Published: December 2022

Objective

For the UK Biobank, standardized phenotype codes are associated with patients who have been hospitalized but are missing for many patients who have been treated exclusively in an outpatient setting. We describe a method for phenotype recognition that imputes phenotype codes for all UK Biobank participants.

Materials and Methods

POPDx (Population-based Objective Phenotyping by Deep Extrapolation) is a bilinear machine learning framework for simultaneously estimating the probabilities of 1538 phenotype codes. We extracted phenotypic and health-related information of 392 246 individuals from the UK Biobank for POPDx development and evaluation. A total of 12 803 ICD-10 diagnosis codes of the patients were converted to 1538 phecodes as gold standard labels. The POPDx framework was evaluated and compared to other available methods on automated multiphenotype recognition.

Results

POPDx can predict phenotypes that are rare or even unobserved in training. We demonstrate substantial improvement of automated multiphenotype recognition across 22 disease categories, and its application in identifying key epidemiological features associated with each phenotype.

Conclusions

POPDx helps provide well-defined cohorts for downstream studies. It is a general-purpose method that can be applied to other biobanks with diverse but incomplete data.
Morphology and Distribution of Antennal Sensilla in an Egg Parasitoid Wasp,Anastatus disparis(Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae)
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Liu Pengcheng , Wang Jianguo , Luan Qingshu , Jiang Xu , Cao Chuanwang
Published: December 2022

The wasp Anastatus disparis is an egg endoparasitoid of a number of Lepidopteran pest species. To better understand the A. disparis olfactory system, we observed the antennal sensilla of males and females under a scanning electron microscope and quantified their sizes and morphological characteristics. We identified the types of sensilla and counted the numbers and locations of the different types on the dorsal and ventral antennal surfaces. The antennae of A. disparis are geniculate, with flagella that comprise 11 subsegments in females and eight in males. The mean antenna length was 1324.10 ± 52.50 μm in females and 1323.93 ± 65.20 μm in males. Ten sensillum types were identified in both sexes: Böhm bristles (BBs), sensilla trichodea (ST, with subtypes STI and STII), sensilla chaetica (SCh), sensilla basiconica (SB, with subtypes SBI and SBII), sensilla placodea (SP), sensilla coeleoconica (SCo), sensilla grooved peg (SGP), sensilla auricillica (SAu), sensilla campaniformia (SCa), and glandular pores (GPs). The total numbers of BBs, STI, SBII, SCa, SCo, and GPs did not differ significantly between the sexes, whereas the total numbers of SCh, SBI, and SAu were significantly greater in females, and those of STII, SP, and SGP were significantly lower. The types, number, and density of antennal sensilla increased from the base to the end. The possible functions of these sensilla in host-detection behavior are discussed.
Reevaluation of the status of the Central American brocket deerMazama temama(Artiodactyla: Cervidae) subspecies based on morphological and environmental evidence
Authors: Escobedo-Morales Luis A , León-Paniagua Livia , Martínez-Meyer Enrique , Mandujano Salvador
Published: December 2022

The Central American brocket deer (Mazama temama) is widespread across the Mesoamerican forests, yet it remains largely unknown. Three subspecies are recognized currently within M. temama using pelage coloration as the primary diagnostic character. However, it remains unclear if there is any pattern of morphological variation throughout its distribution. We compared two models of morphological subdivision, namely the traditional subspecies and another based on biogeographic provinces via 2D geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modeling. The second model presented a better fit to the observed variation in cranial shape and size. We found divergence in skull size between individuals from Mexico and Guatemala (northern group) relative to specimens from Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama (southern group), the latter being 8% larger than the northern group. Centroid size showed a significant correlation with geographic distance suggesting an isolation-by-distance pattern. Low geographical overlap between the two clusters suggests niche conservatism. Late Pleistocene dispersal from South to Central America and differences in available resources with subsequent isolation due to climatic barriers therefore may have promoted differentiation in size albeit without extensive changes in shape. In this context, the Motagua-Polochic-Jolotán fault system probably plays a key role in promoting morphological differentiation by climatic isolation. Finally, we suggest that M. t. temama (Kerr, 1792) and M. t. reperticiaGoldman, 1913 should remain as valid names for the two morphological and ecologically differentiated groups detected here.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Utility of Fungal Profile Plus Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay in Pulmonary Infections
Authors: Smith Clarissa B , Shi Xiaosong , Liesman Rachael M , Thomas Laura A , Bahr Nathan C , Brownback Kyle R
Published: December 2022

Background

Pulmonary infections due to Aspergillus, Mucorales, and Nocardia have high morbidity and mortality, in part due to diagnostic challenges. Commercially available molecular assays on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) may have increased sensitivity over currently available diagnostic options. Our aim was to characterize the diagnostic performance of assays for each of these pathogens in our patient population.

Methods

The medical records of patients whose BALF was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Aspergillus, Mucorales, and Nocardia between 2019 and 2021 were reviewed in a cross-sectional manner. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) definitions of “proven,” “probable,” and “possible” infection were used, including histopathology, serology, and culture. We used (1) “proven” or “probable” infection by EORTC criteria, (2) improvement or stabilization on targeted antimicrobial therapy, and (3) absence of a more likely diagnosis as the reference standard.

Results

The Aspergillus PCR assay demonstrated the highest agreement with the diagnostic reference standard, with 31.25% (10/32) sensitivity and 97.17% (206/212) specificity. Positive and negative predictive values were 62.50% (10/16) and 90.35% (206/228), respectively. No Mucorales or Nocardia infections were identified by the diagnostic reference standard, so the sensitivity could not be calculated. The specificity of Mucorales and Nocardia targets was 98.35% and 96.69%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated relatively poor clinical sensitivity for all 3 constituent PCR assays in our patient population, suggesting a limited role for this test in the diagnosis of Aspergillus, Mucorales, or Nocardia.
SUMO E3 ligase AtMMS21-dependent SUMOylation of AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID 17 regulates auxin signaling
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Yang Yi , Yu Zhibo , Wang Jun , Huang Ruihua , Zhan Qiuna , Li Shangze , Lai Jianbin , Zhang Shengchun , Yang Chengwei
Published: December 2022

Changes in plant auxin levels can be perceived and converted into cellular responses by auxin signal transduction. AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) proteins are auxin transcriptional inhibitors that play important roles in regulating auxin signal transduction. The stability of Aux/IAA proteins is important for transcription initiation and downstream auxin-related gene expression. Here, we report that the Aux/IAA protein IAA17 interacts with the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase METHYL METHANESULFONATE-SENSITIVE 21 (AtMMS21) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). AtMMS21 regulated the SUMOylation of IAA17 at the K41 site. Notably, root length was suppressed in plants overexpressing IAA17, whereas the roots of K41-mutated IAA17 transgenic plants were not significantly different from wild-type roots. Biochemical data indicated that K41-mutated IAA17 or IAA17 in the AtMMS21 knockout mutant was more likely to be degraded compared with nonmutated IAA17 in wild-type plants. In conclusion, our data revealed a role for SUMOylation in the maintenance of IAA17 protein stability, which contributes to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of auxin signaling.
Is public health just science? Values, politics and varied but collective practices to secure better health with justice
Authors: Coggon J
Published: December 2022

This paper asks: Is public health just science? That question invites analysis from the field of public health ethics of how we might distinguish public health as being built simply on scientific evidence bases and its being founded on science and ideas of justice. In conducting the analysis, the paper explores the essentially political nature of public health as well as reasons why members of the public health community might aim not to ‘be political’ in their practice: in particular, considering professional competence/expertise, democratic legitimacy and the possibly damaging consequences of being seen as engaged in politics. Such considerations, while valid, do not stop public health from being political in nature and directed to the realization of ethical aims. The paper, therefore, then explores how members of the public health community might seek to realize the moral mandates of public health. Although that requires political outcomes, it does not mean there is an ethical requirement to be as directly politically engaged as possible. On the contrary, we find good reason to look to public health as a collective enterprise, with individual roles and activities within it being more or less directly activist.
Locally controlled release of immunosuppressive promotes survival of transplanted adult spinal cord tissue
Authors: Wang Ziqiang , Li Ya , Sun Chenxuan , Cui Pukong , Han Yuanyuan , Wu Tong , Xu Bai , Zhang Can , Shi Liyang , Dai Jianwu
Published: December 2022

Transplantation of adult spinal cord tissue (aSCT) is a promising treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) basing on various types of neural cells and matrix components inside aSCT. However, long-term systemic administration of immunosuppressors (e.g. tacrolimus, TAC) is required for the survival of allogeneic tissue, which often associated with severe side effects such as infection, liver damageand renal failure. In this study, a triglycerol monostearate (TGM)-based TAC delivery system (e.g. TAC@TGM) with high drug loading concentration was developed, which possessed injectable properties as well as sustainable and immune-responsive drug release behaviors. In complete transected SCI model, locally injected TAC@TGM could reduce the infiltration of inflammation cells, enhance the survival of transplanted aSCT (e.g. Tuj-1+ and NF+ neurons) and promote the recovery of locomotor function. Moreover, controlled release of TAC by TAC@TGM attenuated side effects of TAC on liver and kidneys compared with traditional systemic administration. More importantly, the developed TAC@TGM system provided a facile single dose of long-term immunosuppressive effect not just for aSCT transplantation, but also for other tissue/organ and cell transplantations.
Fully Automated Placental Volume Quantification From 3D Ultrasound for Prediction of Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants
Authors: Schwartz Nadav , Oguz Ipek , Wang Jiancong , Pouch Alison , Yushkevich Natalie , Parameshwaran Shobhana , Gee James , Yushkevich Paul , Oguz Baris
Published: December 2022

(Abstracted from J Ultrasound Med 2022;41:1509–1524)

Preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes are significant contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Growing evidence links abnormalities in gross placental development to these outcomes.
Fetal Heart Rate Patterns in Labor and the Risk of Neonatal Encephalopathy: A Case Control Study
Authors: Reynolds Adam J. , Murray Michelle L. , Geary Michael P. , Ater Stewart B. , Hayes Breda C.
Published: December 2022

(Abstracted from Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2022;273:69–74)

The main method of fetal monitoring in labor today is cardiotocography (CTG). When it was introduced in the 1960s, it was thought that CTG could detect fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns that indicated hypoxia and ultimately prevent hypoxic brain injury.
Analysis of Physicians’ Probability Estimates of a Medical Outcome Based on a Sequence of Events
Authors: Arkes Hal R. , Aberegg Scott K. , Arpin Kevin A.
Published: December 2022

(Abstracted from JAMA Network Open 2022;5:e2218804)

A basic law of probability is that the probability of a conjunction of 2 independent events is the product of both components and cannot exceed the likelihood of either component. When this basic law is violated, it is known as the conjunction fallacy.
The Impact of Diabetic Education on Diabetes Management
Authors: Copeland Miriam , Whitted Kelli , Renales Felicia , Lennen Noreen
Published: December 2022

Helping patients control diabetes mellitus (DM) and minimize complications is the top priority for care of patients with diabetes. A retrospective review of 86 charts was conducted to investigate the impact of an 8-hour diabetic education program on glycemic control and weight in adults with type 2 DM. Hemoglobin A1C levels and weights were documented pre- and postintervention. Patients participating in the program demonstrated decreased levels of mean A1C and mean weight postintervention. Spiritual care for people living with diabetes and the use of continuous glucose monitors to improve disease management are discussed.
Disaster Preparedness Among Nurses in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: WANG Ying , LIU Yu , YU Mingfeng , WANG Hui , PENG Chaohua , ZHANG Ping , NIAN Xinying , JIA Qu , LI Changyan
Published: December 2022

Background

Increasingly frequent global disasters such as coronavirus disease 2019 pose a threat to human health and life. The World Health Organization has called on countries to formulate detailed plans to prepare for disasters. It is critical to investigate and evaluate the disaster preparedness of nurses.

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the disaster preparedness and psychological condition of nurses in China and analyze the significant factors influencing their disaster preparedness.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2020, and 1,313 nurses were enrolled using convenience sampling. The study questionnaires were distributed and collected via a networking platform equivalent to Amazon Mechanical Turk. The disaster preparedness of the respondents was measured using the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate anxiety and depression status, and a self-designed questionnaire developed based on a review of the literature was used to explore the potential factors of influence on disaster preparedness.

Results

The average score for disaster preparedness among the participants was 186.34 (SD = 40.80), which corresponded with a moderate level, especially in skill (mean score = 42.01, SD = 12.39). Items with higher scores included support for the government, personal protection, and health education, whereas items with lower scores included nursing leadership in the community, capacity to cope with chemical or biological attacks, and assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Disaster preparedness was negatively related with mental health, including depression and anxiety. The main factors affecting disaster preparedness included educational background, nursing specialty, prior disaster training, prior disaster rescue experience, and depression level.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice

The disaster preparedness of Chinese nurses must be improved. More attention should be paid to disaster preparedness in nurses, and future tailored interventions are urgently needed to promote nursing leadership in the community, the ability to cope with chemical or biological attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder assessments. Moreover, relieving negative emotions to promote the mental health of nurses should receive greater attention.
Engaging in meaningful discussion: What nurse practitioners need to know about retirement and end-of-life planning
Authors: Hicks Rodney W. , Berg Judy A. , Roberts Mary Ellen
Published: December 2022

Nurse practitioners (NPs) should be knowledgeable about entering into meaningful conversations with clients about their retirement and end-of-life planning. Through knowledge of advanced care planning, NPs should be prepared to serve as a resource as clients develop life plans. Nurse practitioners should assess their practice for documenting client wishes that align with the 1990 Patient Self-Determination Act and advocate for changes in electronic record-keeping systems.