bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of bullous pemphigoid during treatment of psoriasis with ustekinumab: a case report and literature review
Authors: Kong Luyang , Huang Dawei , Lu Jiajing , Zhang Yuexin , Li Ying , Yi Xuemei , Shi Yuling
Published: May 2023

Ustekinumab is a biological therapy that has been approved for treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Although injection site reactions, nasopharyngitis, headaches, and infections are the common adverse events associated with ustekinumab, the development of bullous pemphigoid (BP) is also thought to be related to ustekinumab. Given that psoriasis itself can be complicated by BP, it is worthwhile to investigate the relationship between ustekinumab, psoriasis, and BP. Here we report a case of a male patient who developed BP twice after psoriasis treatment with ustekinumab. The patient’s psoriasis and BP were brought under control by discontinuing ustekinumab and administering methotrexate, minocycline, and topical corticosteroids. Because of the increasing use of biologics in patients with psoriasis, BP should be considered a potential adverse event associated with ustekinumab.
Expression profile of HERVs and inflammatory mediators detected in nasal mucosa as a predictive biomarker of COVID-19 severity
Authors: Petrone Vita , Fanelli Marialaura , Giudice Martina , Toschi Nicola , Conti Allegra , Maracchioni Christian , Iannetta Marco , Resta Claudia , Cipriani Chiara , Miele Martino Tony , Amati Francesca , Andreoni Massimo , Sarmati Loredana , Rogliani Paola , Novelli Giuseppe , Garaci Enrico , Rasi Guido , Sinibaldi-Vallebona Paola , Minutolo Antonella , Matteucci Claudia , Balestrieri Emanuela , Grelli Sandro
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Our research group and others demonstrated the implication of the human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in SARS-CoV-2 infection and their association with disease progression, suggesting HERVs as contributing factors in COVID-19 immunopathology. To identify early predictive biomarkers of the COVID-19 severity, we analyzed the expression of HERVs and inflammatory mediators in SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs with respect to biochemical parameters and clinical outcome.

Methods

Residuals of swab samples (20 SARS-CoV-2-negative and 43 SARS-CoV-2-positive) were collected during the first wave of the pandemic and expression levels of HERVs and inflammatory mediators were analyzed by qRT-Real time PCR.

Results

The results obtained show that infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a general increase in the expression of HERVs and mediators of the immune response. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased expression of HERV-K and HERV-W, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, MCP-1, INF-γ, TLR-3, and TLR-7, while lower levels of IL-10, IFN-α, IFN-β, and TLR-4 were found in individuals who underwent hospitalization. Moreover, higher expression of HERV-W, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-α, and IFN-β reflected the respiratory outcome of patients during hospitalization. Interestingly, a machine learning model was able to classify hospitalized vs not hospitalized patients with good accuracy based on the expression levels of HERV-K, HERV-W, IL-6, TNF-a, TLR-3, TLR-7, and the N gene of SARS-CoV-2. These latest biomarkers also correlated with parameters of coagulation and inflammation.

Discussion

Overall, the present results suggest HERVs as contributing elements in COVID-19 and early genomic biomarkers to predict COVID-19 severity and disease outcome.
Viable SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants isolated from autopsy tissues
Authors: Maffia-Bizzozero Santiago , Cevallos Cintia , Lenicov Federico Remes , Freiberger Rosa Nicole , Lopez Cinthya Alicia Marcela , Guano Toaquiza Alex , Sviercz Franco , Jarmoluk Patricio , Bustos Cristina , D’Addario Adriana Claudia , Quarleri Jorge , Delpino M. Victoria
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations have been described after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus is known to persist in multiple organs due to its tropism for several tissues. However, previous reports were unable to provide definitive information about whether the virus is viable and transmissible. It has been hypothesized that the persisting reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in tissues could be one of the multiple potentially overlapping causes of long COVID.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated autopsy materials obtained from 21 cadaveric donors with documented first infection or reinfection at the time of death. The cases studied included recipients of different formulations of COVID-19 vaccines. The aim was to find the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines. We used two technical approaches: the detection and quantification of viral genomic RNA using RT-qPCR, and virus infectivity using permissivein vitroVero E6 culture.

Results

All tissues analyzed showed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA but at dissimilar levels ranging from 1.01 × 102copies/mL to 1.14 × 108copies/mL, even among those cases who had been COVID-19 vaccinated. Importantly, different amounts of replication-competent virus were detected in the culture media from the studied tissues. The highest viral load were measured in the lung (≈1.4 × 106copies/mL) and heart (≈1.9 × 106copies/mL) samples. Additionally, based on partial Spike gene sequences, SARS-CoV-2 characterization revealed the presence of multiple Omicron sub-variants exhibiting a high level of nucleotide and amino acid identity among them.

Discussion

These findings highlight that SARS-CoV-2 can spread to multiple tissue locations such as the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines, both after primary infection and after reinfections with the Omicron variant, contributing to extending knowledge about the pathogenesis of acute infection and understanding the sequelae of clinical manifestations that are observed during post-acute COVID-19.
Access to, use of, and experiences with social alarms in home-living people with dementia: results from the LIVE@Home.Path trial
Authors: Puaschitz Nathalie Genevieve Søyland , Jacobsen Frode Fadnes , Berge Line Iden , Husebo Bettina Sandgathe
Published: May 2023

Background

Social alarms are considered an appropriate technology to ensure the safety and independence of older adults, but limited research has been conducted on their actual use. We, therefore, explored the access, experiences, and use of social alarms among home-bound people with dementia and their informal caregivers (dyads).

Methods

From May 2019 to October 2021, the LIVE@Home.Path mixed-method intervention trial collected data from semi-quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews conducted among home-dwelling people with dementia and their informal caregivers in Norway. The study focused on data from the final assessment at 24 months.

Results

A total of 278 dyads were included, and 82 participants reached the final assessment. The mean age of the patients was 83 years; 74.6% were female; 50% lived alone; and 58% had their child as a caregiver. A total of 62.2% of subjects had access to a social alarm. Caregivers were more likely to answer that the device was not in use (23.6%) compared to patients (14%). Qualitative data revealed that approximately 50% of the patients were not aware of having such an alarm. Regression analyses assessed that access to a social alarm was associated with increasing age (86–97 years, p = 0.005) and living alone (p < 0.001). Compared to their caregivers, people with dementia were more likely to answer that the device gave them a false sense of security (28% vs. 9.9%), while caregivers were more likely to answer that the social alarm was of no value (31.4% vs.14.0%). The number of social alarms installed increased from 39.5% at baseline to 68% at 24 months. The frequency of unused social alarms increased from 12 months (17.7%) to 24 months (23.5%), and patients were less likely to feel safe during this period (60.8% vs. 70%).

Conclusion

Depending on their living situation, patients and family members experienced the installed social alarm differently. There is a gap between access to and the use of social alarms. The results indicate an urgent need for better routines in municipalities with regard to the provision and follow-up of existing social alarms. To meet the users’ changing needs and abilities, passive monitoring may help them adapt to declining cognitive abilities and increase their safety.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04043364.
Auriculotherapy in prevention of migraine attacks: an open randomized trial
Authors: Michel-Cherqui Mireille , Ma Sabrina , d’Ussel Marguerite , Ebbo David , Spassova Antoinette , Chaix-Couturier Carine , Szekely Barbara , Fischler Marc , Lemaire Nicolas , Le Guen Morgan
Published: May 2023

Use of auriculotherapy to prevent episodic migraine pain has seldom been reported. The aim of this open study was to show that three sessions of auriculotherapy, 1 month apart, using semi-permanent needles decrease frequency and intensity of an attack in patients presenting episodic migraine. A total of 90 patients were randomized to the treatment group (AUR group, n = 58) or the control group (C group, n = 32). Four patients dropped out during the study (three in the AUR group and one in the C group). The number of days with migraine and non-migraine headache was similar when the analysis focused on the 3 months of the study or on the difference in each group of this number between the 3 months preceding the inclusion and the 3 months of the study (p = 0.123). AUR group patients had fewer days with non-migraine headache (p = 0.011) and took less Triptans (p = 0.045) than group C. Number of days with migraine, sum of the pain intensities of all migraines and non-migraine headaches, and total number of analgesics taken, other than triptan, were similar between groups. MIDAS score decreased with time in the AUR group while it increased in the C group whether in absolute values (p = 0.035) or as categories (p = 0.037). These contrasted results should lead to further study of the effectiveness of auriculotherapy for the prevention of migraine.

Clinical trail registration: Protocol registered on the Clinicaltrials.gov, website (January 30, 2017, NCT03036761).
Active Gains in brain Using Exercise During Aging (AGUEDA): protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Solis-Urra Patricio , Molina-Hidalgo Cristina , García-Rivero Yolanda , Costa-Rodriguez Claudia , Mora-Gonzalez Jose , Fernandez-Gamez Beatriz , Olvera-Rojas Marcos , Coca-Pulido Andrea , Toval Angel , Bellón Darío , Sclafani Alessandro , Martín-Fuentes Isabel , Triviño-Ibañez Eva María , de Teresa Carlos , Huang Haiqing , Grove George , Hillman Charles H. , Kramer Arthur F. , Catena Andrés , Ortega Francisco B. , Gómez-Río Manuel , Erickson Kirk I. , Esteban-Cornejo Irene
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s disease is currently the leading cause of dementia and one of the most expensive, lethal and severe diseases worldwide. Age-related decline in executive function is widespread and plays a key role in subsequent dementia risk. Physical exercise has been proposed as one of the leading non-pharmaceutical approaches to improve executive function and ameliorate cognitive decline. This single-site, two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will include 90 cognitively normal older adults, aged 65–80 years old. Participants will be randomized to a 24-week resistance exercise program (3 sessions/week, 60 min/session, n = 45), or a wait-list control group (n = 45) which will be asked to maintain their usual lifestyle. All study outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 24-weeks after the exercise program, with a subset of selected outcomes assessed at 12-weeks. The primary outcome will be indicated by the change in an executive function composite score assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Secondary outcomes will include changes in brain structure and function and amyloid deposition, other cognitive outcomes, and changes in molecular biomarkers assessed in blood, saliva, and fecal samples, physical function, muscular strength, body composition, mental health, and psychosocial parameters. We expect that the resistance exercise program will have positive effects on executive function and related brain structure and function, and will help to understand the molecular, structural, functional, and psychosocial mechanisms involved.
Cesium activates the neurotransmitter receptor for glycine
Authors: Fricke Steffen , Harnau Magnus , Hetsch Florian , Liu Haoran , Leonhard Julia , Eylmann Anna , Knauff Pina , Sun Han , Semtner Marcus , Meier Jochen C.
Published: May 2023

The monovalent cations sodium and potassium are crucial for the proper functioning of excitable cells, but, in addition, other monovalent alkali metal ions such as cesium and lithium can also affect neuronal physiology. For instance, there have been recent reports of adverse effects resulting from self-administered high concentrations of cesium in disease conditions, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue an alert concerning cesium chloride. As we recently found that the monovalent cation NH4+ activates glycine receptors (GlyRs), we investigated the effects of alkali metal ions on the function of the GlyR, which belongs to one of the most widely distributed neurotransmitter receptors in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Whole-cell voltage clamp electrophysiology was performed with HEK293T cells transiently expressing different splice and RNA-edited variants of GlyR α2 and α3 homopentameric channels. By examining the influence of various milli- and sub-millimolar concentrations of lithium, sodium, potassium, and cesium on these GlyRs in comparison to its natural ligand glycine (0.1 mM), we could show that cesium activates GlyRs in a concentration- and post-transcriptional-dependent way. Additionally, we conducted atomistic molecular dynamic simulations on GlyR α3 embedded in a membrane bilayer with potassium and cesium, respectively. The simulations revealed slightly different GlyR-ion binding profiles for potassium and cesium, identifying interactions near the glycine binding pocket (potassium and cesium) and close to the RNA-edited site (cesium) in the extracellular GlyR domain. Together, these findings show that cesium acts as an agonist of GlyRs.
Analysis of oligomers to assess exposure to microplastics from foods. A perspective
Authors: Tsochatzis Emmanouil D. , Theodoridis Georgios , Corredig Milena
Published: May 2023

There is an emerging interest in evaluating the presence of microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) residues in food. Despite their potential threat to human health, there is still a need for harmonized methods to evaluate and quantify their presence. Incomplete polymerization may occur during the production of plastic. Conversely, oligomers are formed during chemical, mechanical, or enzymatic depolymerization. Oligomers are a few nanometers in size. Recent advances in analytical chemistry have enabled the quantification and identification of these oligomers in various complex biological matrices. Therefore, we propose that the specific nanosized oligomers can be considered markers for the presence of MPs/NPs. This advance may facilitate a broader perspective for the assessment of MPs/NPs exposure, leading to the evaluation of food safety and associated risks to humans.
Neural tube defects among new borns: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kidane Mahder , Sime Yohanes , Gashaw Anteneh , Chane Getachew
Published: May 2023

Background

Neural tube defects are a major public health issue that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-income countries such as Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, particularly in the study setting, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence, magnitude, and associated factors of neural tube defects. As a result, the purpose of this study was to evaluate neural tube defects and associated factors in JUMC.

Methods

This study was an institution-based cross-sectional study conducted from June to September 2021. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous literature. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Independent variables with a p-value < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant with neural tube defects.

Results

The prevalence of NTDs in this study was 3.6%. Preterm newborns with GA < 34 AOR 2.9(1.2–9.7), newborns with birth weight b/n 1,000–1,499 AOR 5.2(1.1–9.4), born with weight b/n 1,500–2,499 AOR 2.1(1.3–8.7), exposure to smoke AOR 2.1(1.2–8.8), radiation AOR 6.8(1.3–14.5), at least one history of abortion AOR 10.1(7.2–21.0) and mothers with AED intake AOR 5.7(2.3–18.4) were found to be associated significantly.

Conclusion

The results indicated a significant frequency of neural tube abnormalities in newborns. The use of AEDs, abortion, and radiation have all been linked to those NTD cases. Pregnant women are advised to learn more about the need of beginning prenatal care as soon as possible because the aforementioned issues will be addressed during this treatment.
Association between immune-related adverse events and immunotherapy efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Li , Liu Yu , Chen Chen , Wei Anhua , Li Wei
Published: May 2023

Objective: Our study aimed to identify potential correlations between anti-tumor efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of online electronic databases up to March 2023 to identify any correlations between irAEs and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in NSCLC. We used meta-analysis RevMan 5.3 software to calculate pooled results.

Results: Our meta-analysis of 54 studies revealed that patients who experienced irAEs achieved a significantly higher objective response rate (p < 0.00001) and longer progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.00001) and overall survival (OS) (p < 0.00001) than those who did not experience irAEs. Additionally, patients with ≥2 irAEs had better PFS, whereas no significant difference was observed between patients with or without squamous cell carcinoma. Subgroup analysis of irAE types indicated that irAEs (thyroid dysfunction and gastrointestinal, skin, or endocrine irAEs) were associated with better PFS and OS. However, no significant differences were observed between patients with pneumonitis or hepatobiliary irAEs.

Conclusion: Our study showed that the occurrence of irAEs was a strong predictor of survival efficacy in patients with NSCLC treated with ICIs. Specifically, patients with ≥2 irAEs and those with thyroid dysfunction and gastrointestinal, skin, or endocrine irAEs achieved a better survival benefit.

Systematic Review Registration: Website: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, Identifier: CRD42023421690
Simultaneous suppression of PKM2 and PHGDH elicits synergistic anti-cancer effect in NSCLC
Authors: Wang Kaixuan , Lu Hao , Wang Xinmiao , Liu Qingxia , Hu Jinxia , Liu Yao , Jin Meihua , Kong Dexin
Published: May 2023

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of human cancer. Cancer cells exhibit enhanced glycolysis, which allows glycolytic intermediates to be diverted into several other biosynthetic pathways, such as serine synthesis. Here, we explored the anti-cancer effects of the pyruvate kinase (PK) M2 inhibitor PKM2-IN-1 alone or in combination with the phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) inhibitor NCT-503 in human NSCLC A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. PKM2-IN-1 inhibited proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, with increased glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PG) level and PHGDH expression. The combination of PKM2-IN-1 and NCT-503 further suppressed cancer cell proliferation and induced G2/M phase arrest, accompanied by the reduction of ATP, activation of AMPK and inhibition of its downstream mTOR and p70S6K, upregulation of p53 and p21, as well as downregulation of cyclin B1 and cdc2. In addition, combined treatment triggered ROS-dependent apoptosis by affecting the intrinsic Bcl-2/caspase-3/PARP pathway. Moreover, the combination suppressed glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) expression. In vivo, co-administration of PKM2-IN-1 and NCT-503 significantly inhibited A549 tumor growth. Taken together, PKM2-IN-1 in combination with NCT-503 exhibited remarkable anti-cancer effects through induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, in which the metabolic stress induced ATP reduction and ROS augmented DNA damage might be involved. These results suggest that the combination of PKM2-IN-1 and NCT-503 might be a potential strategy for the therapy of lung cancer.
Drug–disease association prediction with literature based multi-feature fusion
Authors: Kang Hongyu , Hou Li , Gu Yaowen , Lu Xiao , Li Jiao , Li Qin
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Exploring the potential efficacy of a drug is a valid approach for drug development with shorter development times and lower costs. Recently, several computational drug repositioning methods have been introduced to learn multi-features for potential association prediction. However, fully leveraging the vast amount of information in the scientific literature to enhance drug-disease association prediction is a great challenge.

Methods: We constructed a drug-disease association prediction method called Literature Based Multi-Feature Fusion (LBMFF), which effectively integrated known drugs, diseases, side effects and target associations from public databases as well as literature semantic features. Specifically, a pre-training and fine-tuning BERT model was introduced to extract literature semantic information for similarity assessment. Then, we revealed drug and disease embeddings from the constructed fusion similarity matrix by a graph convolutional network with an attention mechanism.

Results: LBMFF achieved superior performance in drug-disease association prediction with an AUC value of 0.8818 and an AUPR value of 0.5916.

Discussion: LBMFF achieved relative improvements of 31.67% and 16.09%, respectively, over the second-best results, compared to single feature methods and seven existing state-of-the-art prediction methods on the same test datasets. Meanwhile, case studies have verified that LBMFF can discover new associations to accelerate drug development. The proposed benchmark dataset and source code are available at: https://github.com/kang-hongyu/LBMFF.
The Basset–Boussinesq history force: its neglect, validity, and recent numerical developments
Authors: Jaganathan Divya , Prasath S. Ganga , Govindarajan Rama , Vasan Vishal
Published: May 2023

Particle-laden flows are ubiquitous, ranging across systems such as platelets in blood, dust storms, marine snow, and cloud droplets. The dynamics of a small particle in such non-uniform flows, under the idealization of being rigid and spherical, is described by the Maxey–Riley–Gatignol equation, which includes the Basset–Boussinesq history force among other better-understood forces. The history force, which is an integral over time with a weakly singular kernel, is often neglected, not because such neglect is known to be justified, but because it is difficult to be included in general scenarios. It is becoming increasingly evident that there are situations where neglecting this force might not be valid. In this review, after introducing classical knowledge about the history force, we outline recent studies that suggest alternative forms for it and discuss the range of validity of each, and describe recent numerical methods that have been developed to efficiently compute the history force. The question of whether the history force matters requires careful consideration and can be settled only with its accurate inclusion. We hope this review will help researchers addressing the multitude of open questions related to particulate flows to account for this effect.
An insight into hypothesized biological mechanisms contributing to the Flash effect
Authors: Del Debbio Francesca , Bertilacchi Maria Sofia , Gonnelli Alessandra , Da Pozzo Eleonora , Tozzini Valentina , Martini Claudia , Capaccioli Simone , Costa Barbara
Published: May 2023

In recent years, FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH RT) has gained attention in preclinical studies as a potential advancement in cancer treatment. The great advantage of FLASH RT is the ultra-fast, high doses delivery that have a similar or greater effect on cancer cells while sparing normal, healthy tissue surrounding the tumor site. This is known as the FLASH effect. However, currently, there are not enough in vitro and in vivo data to transpose FLASH RT to human trials. This mini review summarizes the available in vitro data on electron beam FLASH, focusing on possible mechanisms of the FLASH effect. Current studies have focused on various types of cancer, including lung cancer, glioblastoma, uterus adenocarcinoma, cervix carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and colon adenocarcinoma. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the biological mechanisms contributing to the to the selective FLASH effect, including differences between healthy and cancer cells in production of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, limitation of Fenton reaction caused by high Fe2+/3+ levels in tumor cells, and impaired DNA damage repair mechanisms occurring in cancer.
Advances in omics research on peanut response to biotic stresses
Authors: Huang Ruihua , Li Hongqing , Gao Caiji , Yu Weichang , Zhang Shengchun
Published: May 2023

Peanut growth, development, and eventual production are constrained by biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in serious economic losses. To understand the response and tolerance mechanism of peanut to biotic and abiotic stresses, high-throughput Omics approaches have been applied in peanut research. Integrated Omics approaches are essential for elucidating the temporal and spatial changes that occur in peanut facing different stresses. The integration of functional genomics with other Omics highlights the relationships between peanut genomes and phenotypes under specific stress conditions. In this review, we focus on research on peanut biotic stresses. Here we review the primary types of biotic stresses that threaten sustainable peanut production, the multi-Omics technologies for peanut research and breeding, and the recent advances in various peanut Omics under biotic stresses, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, miRNAomics, epigenomics and phenomics, for identification of biotic stress-related genes, proteins, metabolites and their networks as well as the development of potential traits. We also discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future directions for peanut Omics under biotic stresses, aiming sustainable food production. The Omics knowledge is instrumental for improving peanut tolerance to cope with various biotic stresses and for meeting the food demands of the exponentially growing global population.
Career flexibility and its relation to time perspective: a study with college students in the Portuguese context
Authors: Frainer Juliana , Janeiro Isabel N.
Published: May 2023

The volatility of the labor market resulting from globalization, rapid technology changes, economic competition, and the impact of events such as the Covid-2019 Pandemic, demand from vocational psychology a more refined understanding of the processes individuals face while dealing with those new challenges and opportunities, especially in uncertain contexts. Theories such as Planned Happenstance address constructs such as career flexibility, an essential skill to recognize, create and use chance events as career opportunities. Furthermore, when fortuitous events and uncertain contexts are considered for career development, it becomes relevant to understand how subjective time perspective evolves, that is how the life events and career goals are projected, accessed, valued, and organized. Given this context, the objectives of the present study are to adapt and validate a Portuguese version of the Career Flexibility Inventory and to explore the possible relationships between career flexibility, time perspective, and variables inherent to the educational context. The Portuguese version of the Career Flexibility Inventory, the Time Perspective Inventory and a sociodemographic form were answered by 1,380 students from Portuguese higher education institutions. The results indicated that the Portuguese version of the CFI has an adequate three-factor structure with good reliability indices. Some limitations regarding psychometric validity show the importance of further research to improve the measure. However, the findings contribute to theoretically and operationally deepening discussions on the multidimensionality of Career Flexibility. The results regarding the relationships between time perspective and career flexibility seem to be in line with the theoretical indicators of the variables and support the formulated hypotheses, specifically, that future orientation presents a positive correlation with active adaptation; a negative correlation with wavering, and wavering presents a positive correlation with the negative future orientation. The results partially support the hypothesis of differences on time perspective and career flexibility among students with different academic grade averages and from diverse scientific areas of study. Finally, the study advances a theoretical reflection on the different nature of career flexibility dimensions and contributes to broadening and promoting theoretical and operational discussions on the relationships between time perspective and career flexibility, which are still incipient.
Positive affect dysregulation and its relation to binge eating size and frequency
Authors: Flynn Rebecca L. , Massion Thomas A. , Kosmas Jacqueline A. , Smith Shannon R. , Mastronardi Carli N. , Graham Andrea K.
Published: May 2023

Negative affect is an established predictor of binge eating, yet less is known about positive affect. Low positive affect has been theorized to increase binge eating, but a better understanding is needed on the relationship between positive affect and binge eating frequency and size. Participants were 182 treatment-seeking adults (76% self-identified as female; 45% self-identified their race as Black and 40% as White; and 25% self-identified their ethnicity as Hispanic/Latino) with self-reported recurrent binge eating (≥12 binge episodes in the past 3  months). Participants completed the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) survey and the eating disorder examination to assess frequency of objective binge episodes (OBEs) and subjective binge episodes (SBEs) over the past 3  months. OBEs and SBEs also were combined to yield total binge episodes over the past 3  months. Independent t-tests and linear regression analyses were used to test associations between positive affect scores and binge episode size and frequencies, and to compare low versus higher positive affect on binge frequency. Additional exploratory models were conducted controlling for negative affect, identity characteristics, and socio-demographic variables. Lower positive affect was significantly associated with more frequent total binge episodes, but not OBEs and SBEs when assessed independently. Findings remained consistent when controlling for covariates and when comparing individuals with the lowest versus higher positive affect levels. Overall, results lend support to the theory that low positive affect is associated with binge eating. Increasing positive affect may be an important treatment consideration for those with recurrent binge eating.
Digital transformation of career landscapes in radiology: personal and professional implications
Authors: Agrawal Anjali
Published: May 2023

Millennial radiology is marked by technical disruptions. Advances in internet, digital communications and computing technology, paved way for digitalized workflow orchestration of busy radiology departments. The COVID pandemic brought teleradiology to the forefront, highlighting its importance in maintaining continuity of radiological services, making it an integral component of the radiology practice. Increasing computing power and integrated multimodal data are driving incorporation of artificial intelligence at various stages of the radiology image and reporting cycle. These have and will continue to transform the career landscape in radiology, with more options for radiologists with varied interests and career goals. The ability to work from anywhere and anytime needs to be balanced with other aspects of life. Robust communication, internal and external collaboration, self-discipline, and self-motivation are key to achieving the desired balance while practicing radiology the unconventional way.
The dual nature of constraints on foreign worker participation in sports and physical activity in South Korea during COVID-19
Authors: Na Dongkyu , Park Mihwa
Published: May 2023

This study provides a different understanding of the constraints imposed by the pandemic and the official and unofficial restrictions that accompanied it. It is an empirical effort demonstrating that the pandemic's effects are not purely negative, but rather, also helped to produce positive and productive practices that draw upon both the inhibiting and enabling features of the constraints it triggered. Engaging with “productive power” in Foucault by considering constraints as practices that both inhibit and enable, the empirical goal of this paper is to explore how pandemic-related constraints on sports and physical activity prohibit foreign worker participation in sports and physical activity. It also examines how the constraints encourage them to pursue an active life in new and unique ways. To achieve this goal, the paper examines the South Korean context, particularly unskilled foreign workers with E-9 visas for non-professional employment in the fishing, farming, and manufacturing industries and their involvement in sports and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings address three “inhibitors” that specifically prevented foreign workers from getting actively involved, then demonstrate that explicit restrictions on sports and physical activity can be transformed into four “enablers” that encouraged foreign workers to participate. The conclusion offers critical reflections on Foucault's “ethical subject,” followed by the limitations and implications of the study.
Trust-supply chain performance relationships: unraveling the mediating role of transaction cost attributes in agribusiness SMEs
Authors: Owot Godfrey Moses , Okello Daniel Micheal , Olido Kenneth , Odongo Walter
Published: May 2023

The mediation effect of transaction cost attributes on the trust-supply chain performance relationships has remained largely under-explored. Particularly, little is known about the mediating role of information sharing, uncertainty and transaction frequency on the trust-supply chain performance relationships in the agri-food sector. Based on the transaction cost theory, this study used logistic regression to investigate the mediating role of transaction cost attributes on the trust-supply chain performance relationships. Data were collected from 396 agribusiness small and medium-sized enterprises, i.e., farmers (n = 203) and traders (n = 193) in Northern Uganda. Analysis was performed using logistic regression in SPSS version 23 and Amos version 23. The results show that, while trust positively influences supply chain performance, information sharing is the only transaction cost attribute that mediates the relationship between trust and supply chain performance. Agribusiness managers, therefore, need to not only renew the effort of sharing accurate and timely information regarding the market's demand for specific volumes and quality of agricultural products and market trends and storage facilities but also utilize the information to become competitive and improve supply chain performance.
Structure of the pork value chain in Northern Uganda: implications for Taenia solium control interventions
Authors: Ngwili Nicholas , Ahimbisibwe Salaviriuse , Sentamu Derrick Noah , Thomas Lian F. , Ouma Emily
Published: May 2023

Introduction

This study characterizes the pork value chain in Agago, Kitgum, Lamwo, and Pader districts of Northern Uganda and analyzes its implications on the transmission and control ofTaenia soliuminfections.

Methodology:

Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers and pig and pork traders, key informant interviews (KIIs) with local government officials and consumers, and district-level multi-stakeholder mini workshops organized in the study area. The value chain actors identified include input and services providers, pig farmers, live pig traders, pork traders, and consumers.

Results

Most of the pig production, marketing and consumption was found to occur through informal channels. Pig production in this area is dominated by smallholder extensive systems, with most producers keeping less than 10 pigs. The production segment of the pig value chain is characterized by low use of inputs and services such as veterinary extension, drugs and improved feeds. Pigs scavenge for food under free-range systems and are at risk of parasitic infections such as the zoonotic helminthTaenia solium. This risk is exacerbated by the inherent contextual aspects of the study sites including low latrine coverage, open defecation, and high poverty. In addition, some respondents viewed pigs as “sanitation policemen” where they leave them to roam around and eat dirt including feaces thereby cleaning the environment.T. soliumwas recognized as an important pig health constraint in this value chain alongside African swine fever (ASF). Unlike ASF that was associated with the pig mortalities, the cysts were associated with rejection of pigs by traders at purchase, condemnation of pig carcasses by meat inspectors and rejection of raw pork by consumers at points of sale.

Discussion

Poor organization of the value chain and lack veterinary extension and meat inspection services results in some pigs infected withT. soliumentering the food chain, exposing consumers to infection with the parasite. To reduce the pig production losses and public health impact fromT. soliuminfections, there is need for control and prevention interventions targeting specific nodes of the value chain where the risk of transmission is highest.
Buckling Analysis and Structure Improvement for the Afterburner Cylinder of an Aero-Engine
Authors: Zheng Xiaoxia , Zou Yu , He Bohan , Xiang Jixin , Li Zhiqiang , Yang Qiao
Published: May 2023

The buckling failure of the afterburner cylinder is a serious safety concern for aero-engines. To tackle this issue, the buckling simulation analysis of the afterburner cylinder was carried out by using finite element method (FEM) software to obtain the buckling mode and critical buckling loads. It was found that the afterburner cylinder was susceptible to buckling when subjected to differential pressure or the compressive force of the rear flange. Buckling would occur when the differential pressure reached 0.4 times the atmospheric pressure or when the axial compressive force on the rear flange reached 222.8 kN. Buckling was also found at the front of the cylinder under the auxiliary mount load. Additionally, under various loads on the rear flange, buckling occurred in the rear section, with the buckling mode being closely related to the load characteristics. Based on the simulation results and structural design requirements, two structural improvements were proposed, including the wall-thickening scheme and the grid reinforcement scheme. FEM simulation analysis results showed that both schemes would improve the rigidity and stability of the afterburner cylinder. For the 0.3 mm increase in the wall thickness scheme, the critical buckling load increased by 17.86% to 66.4%; for the grid reinforcement scheme, the critical buckling load increased by 169% to 619%. Therefore, the grid reinforcement scheme had a stronger anti-buckling ability and was deemed the optimal solution. The findings of this paper could provide technical support for the structural design of large-sized and thin-walled components of aero-engines.
A Virtual Simulation-Pilot Agent for Training of Air Traffic Controllers
Authors: Zuluaga-Gomez Juan , Prasad Amrutha , Nigmatulina Iuliia , Motlicek Petr , Kleinert Matthias
Published: May 2023

In this paper we propose a novel virtual simulation-pilot engine for speeding up air traffic controller (ATCo) training by integrating different state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools. The virtual simulation-pilot engine receives spoken communications from ATCo trainees, and it performs automatic speech recognition and understanding. Thus, it goes beyond only transcribing the communication and can also understand its meaning. The output is subsequently sent to a response generator system, which resembles the spoken read-back that pilots give to the ATCo trainees. The overall pipeline is composed of the following submodules: (i) an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system that transforms audio into a sequence of words; (ii) a high-level air traffic control (ATC)-related entity parser that understands the transcribed voice communication; and (iii) a text-to-speech submodule that generates a spoken utterance that resembles a pilot based on the situation of the dialogue. Our system employs state-of-the-art AI-based tools such as Wav2Vec 2.0, Conformer, BERT and Tacotron models. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work fully based on open-source ATC resources and AI tools. In addition, we develop a robust and modular system with optional submodules that can enhance the system’s performance by incorporating real-time surveillance data, metadata related to exercises (such as sectors or runways), or even a deliberate read-back error to train ATCo trainees to identify them. Our ASR system can reach as low as 5.5% and 15.9% absolute word error rates (WER) on high- and low-quality ATC audio. We also demonstrate that adding surveillance data into the ASR can yield a callsign detection accuracy of more than 96%.
Influence of Factors Determining Weeds’ Plant Tissue Reaction to the Electric Pulse Damage Impact
Authors: Yudaev Igor , Daus Yuliia , Panchenko Vladimir , Bolshev Vadim
Published: May 2023

Due to the emerging danger to the life of animals and people, today there is a turn to safe technologies for controlling weeds by physical methods, both from the point of view of ecology and food safety, which include the destruction of plants using an electric current, in particular, high-voltage electrical pulses. The purpose of the study presented in the article is to identify and evaluate the effect of high-voltage electrical pulses on the irreversible damage to the intracellular structures of the plant tissue of weeds and unwanted grasses during their electric weed control, characterizing and evaluating the parameters and modes associated with such processing. Experimental studies were carried out using a laboratory experimental setup that consists of a pulse voltage generator, a control circuit for a spherical forming spark gap, and schemes for measuring the electrical resistance of the plant tissue of the weed sample. The lesion level made it possible to control the depth of irreversible damage to the internal structure of the plant tissue of weeds by measuring its tolerance (the conductivity of the tissue increased with increasing damage to the cellular components of the tissue).The irreversible damage to the plant tissues of weeds for weeds of various biological groups, which is characterized by reaching the value of at least 4.0–7.5 degrees of damage to their tissues, can be acted on them with high-voltage electrical pulses in the treated tissue of an electric field intensity of at least 3.74 kV/cm, while ensuring specific processing electric energy for the reliable processing of weeds: for Euphórbia virgáta, thise quals 5.2…17.5 J/cm3; for Amaránthus retrofléxus, it is 3.5…7.7 J/cm3; for Cirsium arvense, it is 2.7…10.9 J/cm3;for Sónchus arvénsis, it is 3.7…15.8 J/cm3; and for Lactúca tatárica, it is 3.3…8.1 J/cm3.
Rhizoglomus intraradices Is More Prominent in Improving Soil Aggregate Distribution and Stability Than in Improving Plant Physiological Activities
Authors: Wu Wei-Jia , Zou Ying-Ning , Hashem Abeer , Avila-Quezada Graciela Dolores , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Wu Qiang-Sheng
Published: May 2023

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) confer positive and negative effects on many plants, but it is unclear whether AMF has an effect on soil fertility, aggregate distribution, and stability. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of Rhizoglomus intraradices on plant growth, root morphology, leaf chlorophyll and gas exchange, sugar concentrations, and soil nutrients, aggregate distribution, and stability in marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), maize (Zea mays L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) plants. Twelve weeks after R. intraradices inoculation, maize presented the highest mycorrhizal development, while mycorrhizal dependence was shown to be the decreasing trend in marigold > white clover > vetch > maize. AMF inoculation significantly increased the chlorophyll index of marigold and white clover, the net photosynthetic rate of white clover, the stomatal conductance of maize and white clover, and the transpiration rate of maize. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose in the four plants were differentially affected by R. intraradices. R. intraradices significantly increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) of marigold, maize, and white clover, the Olsen-P of white clover, the available K content of marigold, the easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) of maize, and the difficultly extractable and total GRSP levels of marigold and vetch. In addition, R. intraradices significantly increased the stability of soil water-stable aggregates (WSAs) in all four plants, plus it increased WSA at 0.5–4 mm sizes. Root AMF colonization was significantly positively correlated with WSA stability, SOC, difficultly extractable GRSP, and total GRSP. It is concluded that AMF-triggered changes in plant growth, physiological activities, and soil fertility depended on plant species, but AMF-improved WSA distribution and stability were not dependent on plant species.