bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Class Room Lectures with Fishbowl-Snowball Activity for Dental Undergraduate Students: An Observational Study
Authors: Hegde Amitha M. , Shetty Shreema , Mehrotra Deepshikha
Published: November 2022

Background Traditional classroom lectures have been the backbone of the education system for a long time although this method is most effective but it may not always permit active engagement with the matter and learn it. In contrast, active teaching formats such as fishbowl and snowball techniques allow students to participate in the task of attaining knowledge by shifting the target from preceptor to student, thereby allowing a better understanding of the concepts.

Methodology A total of 80 final-year undergraduate dental students were included in this study. Each student was informed regarding study design and protocol. A lecture on the principles of Pediatric Endodontics was delivered to the students in small groups using the routine virtual method, following which a pre-test activity questionnaire and formal thinking questionnaire were given to the students for scoring. Following this, the class of 80 was divided into smaller groups of four each and the Fishbowl–snowball activity was performed. A post-test activity questionnaire and formal thinking questionnaire were given once again to the students for scoring. The mean pre and post-test scores were statistically analyzed using paired t-test by statistical software SPSS version 20. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results The overall mean difference between pre and post-test activity and formal thinking scores was seen to be statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion It was seen that a combination of fishbowl and snowball method of teaching led to more satisfactory results as compared with the routine classroom teaching method.
The examination of job separation tendency of nursing staff in the first public–private joint-venture hospital in Taiwan: a multiple mediation model of job satisfaction and job performance
Authors: Chen Chiwei , Pao Lu-Sheng , Lei Hong
Published: November 2022

Nursing staff are the largest number of employees in hospitals and the high turnover rate is a global problem, which is also a critical issue faced by many hospitals in Taiwan. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the factors affecting the job turnover of nursing staff and to propose suggestions to reduce job turnover. The results showed that among demographic variables, all variables except the affiliated unit were significantly positively or negatively related to job turnover intention. In the job characteristic analysis, it was found that job structure, repetitiveness of the job, the participation of nursing staff in job decisions, and compassionate leadership style were the antecedent variables affecting the intention to leave. Among organizational factors, colleague rapport was an antecedent variable to the intention to leave. Fairness of distribution, opportunity of in-service education, and colleague rapport added to job satisfaction to decrease the intention to leave. When using job performance as a mediation variable, this study found that promotion opportunity, fairness of distribution, and opportunity of in-service education could not affect the intention to leave through job performance. This study also found that the external job opportunities variable could be through a mediation variable, job satisfaction or job performance, which in turn affected the intention to leave. Several suggestions were proposed for top hospital management personnel, such as management by participation, planning a clear job structure, job rotation and job enrichment, and establishing a good working atmosphere and working environment to reduce job turnover.
Two-dimensional dynamic perylene ordering on Ag(110)
Authors: Bobrov Kirill , Kalashnyk Nataliya , Guillemot Laurent
Published: November 2022

We present a room temperature STM study of dynamics of the quasi-liquid perylene monolayer formed on Ag(110) under thermal equilibrium. We observe that the thermodynamic balance of the molecule–molecule and molecule–substrate interactions generates a compact two-dimensional (2D) quasi-liquid state established by mobile perylene molecules dynamically distributed into three distinct motion modes. Monitoring of the quasi-liquid monolayer indicates that each motion mode is triggered by spontaneous recognition of specific locations of the substrate lattice into which transient locking occurs. Analysis of the STM topographies shows that the substrate lattice guides the whole molecule ensemble and provides each of the modes with a distinct register. In each mode, the substrate registry forces the transiently immobile molecules to alternate with the transiently mobile ones. The dynamic interminglement of the modes prevents segregation of the dynamically active and inactive molecules. The substrate provides memory to the intermingled molecules and eliminates ergodicity of the quasi-liquid state. Fourier transform of the topographies unravels the long-range spatial correlations and epitaxial character of the quasi-liquid state. Analysis of the short-range mode coupling allows us to understand the mechanism of the long-range mode coupling. The substrate force field induces the dynamical ergodic–non-ergodic phase transition giving rise to the stationary long-range ordered −12.532 quasi-liquid state.
Viewing convection as a solar farm phenomenon broadens modern power predictions for solar photovoltaics
Authors: Smith Sarah E. , Stanislawski Brooke J. , Eng Byron Kasey , Ali Naseem , Silverman Timothy J , Calaf Marc , Cal Raúl Bayoán
Published: November 2022

Heat mitigation for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays is crucial to extend lifetime and energy harvesting capacity. PV module temperature is dependent on site-specific farm geometry, yet common predictions consider panel-scale and environmental factors only. Here, we characterize convective cooling in diverse PV array designs, capturing combined effects of spatial and atmospheric variation on panel temperature and production. Parameters, including row spacing, panel inclination, module height, and wind velocity, are explored through wind tunnel experiments, high-resolution numerical simulations, and operating field data. A length scale based on fractal lacunarity encapsulates all aspects of arrangement (angle, height, etc.) in a single value. When applied to the Reynolds number Re within the canonical Nusselt number heat transfer correlation, lacunarity reveals a relationship between convection and farm-specific geometry. This correlation can be applied to existing and forthcoming array designs to optimize convective cooling, ultimately increasing production and PV cell life.
Xylella: the greatest threat to Australian agriculture?
Authors: Taylor Philip
Published: November 2022

The realities of climate change and global world trade could be playing into the hands of plant pathogens, none more so than Xylella fastidiosa. A relatively unimportant and parochial pathogen 50 years ago, it has become one of the most important plant diseases in the world threatening crop production in a wide variety of tree crops all over the globe. It moves within a region within insect vectors analogous to virus transmission but long-distance spread is through traded, often asymptomatic, plants. On arrival in a new region many of the local sap feeding insect population are candidates for its spread and this uncertainty coupled with the potential for the range of these as yet unidentified vectors to enlarge is heaping uncertainty on uncertainty. In addition to crop plants, many amenity trees species are susceptible, infection is often fatal and there is no cure once infection has occurred. Phytosanitation officers around the globe are deeply concerned about this new threat, the likes of which have never been seen previously.
The Spanish component of Falkland Islands English
Authors: Rodríguez Yliana V. , Elizaincín Adolfo , González Paz
Published: November 2022

English is the most used language in the Falkland Islands; however, Spanish was also spoken in the 19th century, when beef livestock farming was one of the economic engines of the Islands. Such businesses used to be managed by gauchos from South America, and their presence is still evident in the lexicon of Falkland Islands English. This article presents a novel methodological approach to the elaboration of loanwords corpora. Loanwords are later analysed in terms of their occurrence, frequency, appearance in dictionaries and the semantic fields they have penetrated. We have attempted to account for the volume of words that Spanish speakers lent to the Islands’ English. We observed that Spanish loanwords are mainly – though not exclusively – related to horse tack and horse types: it is clear from our data that most words are tightly connected to gauchos’ vernacular and not exclusively with their equestrian duties.
Do ‘say’ verbs really grammaticalize into complementizers through clause combination?
Authors: Long Haiping , Deng Chuanlin
Published: November 2022

When a ‘say’ clause is combined with a quoted-speech clause, one of two hypothetical pathways may be followed: (a) a complementation pathway on which the ‘say’ clause takes the quoted-speech clause as its complement clause and thus becomes its matrix clause; (b) a conjoining pathway which involves no syntactic operation but rather the loss of a prosodic gap between the two. Following the second pathway, ‘say’ may become grammaticalized into a quotative particle. On neither pathway is ‘say’ grammaticalized into a complementizer. It is proposed that cross-linguistically so-called ‘say’ complementizers, including the alleged Chinese complementizershuō, are more likely to be not complementizers but rather quotative particles.
Structural markedness and depiction
Authors: Thompson Arthur L. , Chan May Pik Yu , Yeung Ping Hei , Do Youngah
Published: November 2022

Ideophones are marked words that depict sensory imagery and are hypothesized to be structurally marked, i.e., exhibiting unique structural properties. In this paper, “marked” is broadly used to mean phonologically marked (Dingemanse, 2021: Akita and Dingemanse, 2019). Using Cantonese ideophones as our case study, this paper measures sequential predictability within ideophones and non-ideophones, as a way to test their relative degree of structural markedness. We created a database of non-ideophones and ideophones from the Hong Kong Cantonese Corpus (HKCC) (Luke and Wong, 2015) and Mok (2001) and calculated the sequential predictability of each phoneme in various phonological contexts. The results indicate that Cantonese ideophones exhibit lower degrees of sequential predictability than non-ideophones, lending empirical support to the structural markedness of ideophones. We argue that non-ideophones exhibit a higher degree of sequential predictability because they follow the phonotactic regularities of Cantonese, whereas ideophones, to some degree, flout these regulations in favor of sequences of sounds that might better depict a given referent or percept.
Discrete vortex bound states with a van Hove singularity in the vicinity of the Fermi level
Authors: Fang Delong , Cui Yunkang
Published: November 2022

A theoretical study on discrete vortex bound states is carried out near a vortex core in the presence of a van Hove singularity (VHS) near the Fermi level by solving Bogoliubov–de Gennes (BdG) equations. When the VHS lies exactly at the Fermi level and also at the middle of the band, a zero-energy state and other higher-energy states whose energy ratios follow integer numbers emerge. These discrete vortex bound state peaks undergo a splitting behavior when the VHS or Fermi level moves away from the middle of the band. Such splitting behavior will eventually lead to a new arrangement of quantized vortex core states whose energy ratios follow half-odd-integer numbers.
Rational design of Fe/Co-based diatomic catalysts for Li–S batteries by first-principles calculations
Authors: Zhang Xiaoya , Cheng Yingjie , Zhao Chunyu , Gao Jingwan , Kan Dongxiao , Wang Yizhan , Qi Duo , Wei Yingjin
Published: November 2022

Fe/Co-based diatomic catalysts decorated on an N-doped graphene substrate are investigated by first-principles calculations to improve the electrochemical properties of Li–S batteries. Our results demonstrate that FeCoN8@Gra not only possesses moderate adsorption energies towards Li2S
n
species, but also exhibits superior catalytic activity for both reduction and oxidation reactions of the sulfur cathode. Moreover, the metallic property of the diatomic catalysts can be well maintained after Li2S
n
adsorption, which could help the sulfur cathode to maintain high conductivity during the whole charge–discharge process. Given these exceptional properties, it is expected that FeCoN8@Gra could be a promising diatomic catalyst for Li–S batteries and afford insights for further development of advanced Li–S batteries.
Atom-based power-frequency electric field measurement using the radio-frequency-modulated Rydberg spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Weixin , Zhang Linjie , Wang Tao
Published: November 2022

The radio-frequency modulated electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a ladder three-level system with Rydberg state is studied. Under the influence of a fast radio-frequency field, the EIT peak splits into a series of sidebands. When attaching a power-frequency electric field directly to the fast radio-frequency field, the odd-order sidebands of the Rydberg-EIT oscillate sensitively with the power-frequency field. The oscillation frequency is equal to twice the power frequency; the oscillation amplitude is monotonically increasing with the amplitude of the power-frequency field when the change of Stark-shift is smaller than the radio frequency. Our work paves the way for measurement of power-frequency electric field based on Rydberg atoms.
Computational modeling of endovascular peripheral nerve stimulation using a stent-mounted electrode array
Authors: Liu Jing Yang , Grayden David B , Keast Janet R , John Sam E
Published: November 2022

Objective. Endovascular neuromodulation has attracted substantial interest in recent years as a minimally invasive approach to treat neurological disorders. In this study, we investigated with a computational model the feasibility of stimulating peripheral nerves with an endovascular stent-mounted electrode array. Approach. Anatomically realistic FEM models were constructed for the pudendal and vagal neurovascular bundles. The electromagnetic fields generated from electrical stimuli were computed using Sim4Life NEURON models to predict dynamic axonal responses. Main results. The models predict that the stimulation thresholds of the endovascular stent-electrode array configurations tested are comparable to that of ring electrodes and are dependent on the inter-electrode distance and orientation of the device. Arranging multiple electrodes along the longitudinal axis of the nerve lowers surface charge density without sacrificing axon recruitment, whereas arranging electrodes along the circumference of the blood vessel reduces the risk of misalignment but lowers axon recruitment. Significance. Overall, this study predicts that the endovascular stent-electrode array is a feasible stimulation option for peripheral nerves, and the electrode array can be flexibly optimized to achieve the lowest stimulation threshold.
Precision measurement of the W boson mass using the full CDF Run II data set
Authors: Vellidis Costas
Published: November 2022

The mass of the W boson, a mediator of the weak force between elementary particles, is tightly constrained by the symmetries of the standard model of particle physics. After the observation of the Higgs boson, the last missing component of the model, the measurement of the W boson mass provides a stringent test of the model. A measurement of the W boson mass is presented, which used data corresponding to 8.8 fb−1 of integrated luminosity, collected in proton-antiproton collisions at a 1.96 TeV center-of-mass energy with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. A sample of approximately 4 million W boson candidates was used to obtain a Wboson mass of 80433.5±6.4stat ±6.9syst = 80433.5±9.4 MeV, the precision of which exceeds that of all previous measurements combined. This measurement is in significant tension with the standard model expectation.
Design of nanostructured coating to prevent biofilm formation on surfaces
Authors: Marra Daniele , Recupido Federica , Di Somma Angela , Canè Carolina , Acquesta Annalisa , Toscano Giuseppe , Monetta Tullio , Duilio Angela , Caserta Sergio
Published: November 2022

Biofilms are surface-attached microbial organizations, where microbial species are enclosed in an exo-polysaccharides matrix. Its removal/prevention from surfaces represents an important challenge and a relevant issue in many fields. In this light, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent good candidates to conventional antibiotics due to their selectivity towards targets (cell membranes), rapid action and low tendency to induce bacterial resistance. In our project we are investigating novel techniques to realise nanostructured coatings on surfaces, in order to prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. We are focusing our attention on a well-known antimicrobial peptide (Magainin-2). Two bacteria models have been considered: E.coli and P. fluorescens. Our goal is to optimize AMPs grafting on surfaces by means of treatment methodologies based on Oxygen plasma technologies. In this work we present a methodology to investigate anti-biofilm efficiency of the nano-functionalized surfaces, compared with the case of the raw surfaces. Biofilm morphologies can be measured using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and image analysis techniques to quantify its structure by measuring quantitative morphological parameters.
Different Aspect Ratio Polysaccharide-Assisted Assembling of Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Di Corato Riccardo , Aloisi Alessandra , Mandriota Giacomo , Penna Anna , Slavu Laura M. , Rinaldi Rosaria
Published: November 2022

Versatile methods are here presented for the assembling of magnetic nanoparticles in controlled super-structures with different final aspect ratios. The first step of the procedure is based on the destabilization, and consequently clustering, of a dextran-coated nanoparticles suspension, altering the colloidal stability of the initial building blocks. Subsequently, a second polysaccharide shell, based on chitosan, is grafted to the super-structure surface, for stopping the aggregation of the nanoparticles and enhancing the stability of the resulting assembly. For achieving a finer control of the process, spherical magnetic clusters (SMC) are prepared through a microfluidic aided clustering, investigating the contribution of flow rates and injection scheme geometry to the nanoparticle assembly. Besides, the use of static magnetic fields applied during the first step results in the preparation of micrometric elongated magnetic super-structures (EMS), tuning the average aspect ratio up to a value of 13±4.
Safe by Design of nanomaterials in industrial production processes: nanomaterials in the cosmetic field
Authors: Vertuani S , Cesa E , Battistin M , Ziosi P , Manfredini S
Published: November 2022

Cosmetic pleasantness of products containing inorganic UV filters depends on an unwanted whitening effect which is inversely correlated to their size. To overcome this effect, diameter has been reduced to nanosized but thus increasing the surface area and biological reactivity and carrying questions about the safety of humans and environment. Following a “safe and sustainability by design” approach, we designed a new class of optimized sunscreen UV filters by chemical functionalization of ZnO and TiO2 with Oxisol. If compared with the simple physical mixture, the new coated filters show different properties and benefits: a higher SPF (ISO 24443:2012), a better cytotoxic profile (MTT and NRU assay), a radical scavenging action (PCL assay) and an improved safety profile with a strong reduction of photocatalytic activity (Acid blue 9 test). In conclusion, our Safe by Design (acronym SbD) approach presents a new generation of UV filters bonded with booster molecules (by means of synergistic antioxidant effects) as the best compromise in the conscientious UV protection.
Methodology for the investigation of surfactant dissolution in water
Authors: Ferraro R , Caserta S
Published: November 2022

Concentrated aqueous solutions of surfactants pastes are widely used in industrial productions. The dissolution phenomena of these fluids in water is difficult to optimize, given the thermodynamic complexity of the system, that adds further resistance to the mass transport efficiency. One of the most common anionic surfactants is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLE3S). Depending on the SLE3S-water composition, surfactant nano-molecules can assume different morphologies, such as micellar phases (<30%wt of SLE3S), hexagonal liquid crystals (>30%wt), cubic structures (~60%wt), or lamellar liquid crystals (>60%wt), which are characterized by nanoscale ordered structures. Different phases show strongly different rheological behaviour. All phases are non-Newtonian, with a shear-thinning viscosity as function of imposed shear rate. A novel methodology is here proposed to investigate the dynamic evolution of the phase changes during surfactant dissolution using Time-lapse microscopy. Samples are observed trough crossed polarizers. Differences in nano-morphology, due to molecules rearrangement during phase changes, can be easily monitored by measuring light intensity profiles.
Cutting performance and tool wear in laser-assisted grinding of SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites
Authors: Kong Xianjun , Liu Shiwen , Hou Ning , Zhao Ming , Liu Na , Wang Minghai
Published: November 2022

Ceramic matrix composites have high hardness, so their machining requires high grinding forces that cause severe wear of the grinding head. To investigate this problem, the present study investigated the cutting performance of conventional grinding (CG) and laser-assisted grinding (LAG) of SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites using electroplated diamond grinding heads. Firstly, a three-dimensional transient heat transfer model based on a Gaussian heat source was developed to observe the surface and internal temperature field distributions of SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites subjected to laser irradiation. Secondly, the effects of laser heating temperature on the workpiece surface on the grinding forces were analysed. It was found that the axial and feed grinding forces were more than 40% lower under LAG than CG due to the removal mechanism of the SiC matrix changing from brittle fracture to ductile fracture and the oxidation reactions occurred in the SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites. Thirdly, the material removal mechanism was analysed by observing the morphology of machined surfaces, which showed that ductile removal from the SiC matrix occurs during LAG. Finally, it is also founded that the mean height of exposed abrasive grains from machined surface was reduced by 1.02 μm, 12.52 μm in LAG and CG respectively. The forms of wear caused by abrasive grains were studied. Under CG, the abrasive grains mainly exhibit cleavage fractures; while under LAG, micro-abrasion is the main wear form.
Some uniqueness theorems for a conical Radon transform
Authors: Moon Sunghwan
Published: November 2022

The conical Radon transform, which assigns to a given function f on

R

3

its integrals over conical surfaces, arises in several imaging techniques, e.g. in astronomy and homeland security, especially when the so-called Compton cameras are involved. In many practical situations we know this transform only on a subset of its domain. In these situations, it is a natural question of what we can say about f from partial information. In this paper, we investigate some uniqueness theorems regarding a conical Radon transform.
The concept of PICaboo: from individual building blocks to complex photonic integrated circuits for future access and metro networks
Authors: Kanakis Giannis , Spyropoulou Maria , Brestas Giorgos , Yao Weiming , van der Tol Jos J G M , Miranda Alessio , Mehrabi Kolsoom , Nag Dhiman , Caillaud Christophe , Vakarin Vladyslav , Penades Jordi Soler , Artundo Inigo , Bonk Rene , Borkowski Robert , Petousi Despoina , Ayala Pablo Castro , Eiselt Michael , Avramopoulos Hercules
Published: November 2022

The immense growth of data traffic that traverses modern networks, calls for immediate solutions to tackle the challenges that arise in terms of speed, capacity, cost and energy efficiency. This manuscript outlines the key technological aspects of the PICaboo project, that aims to develop novel building blocks and photonic integrated circuits for the next generation of optical metro and access networks enhanced with optical signal processing functionalities exploiting the generic foundry model approach.
Correlations between flexural stiffness, wingbeat frequency and aerodynamic force generation in hovering insect flight
Authors: Deshpande Parag J
Published: November 2022

We report a direct relationship between wing flexural stiffness, wingbeat frequency, and mean aerodynamic force generation based on the wing morphological database for various insect species in hovering flight condition. Proposed correlations have shown the potential to predict the minimum aerodynamic force generation in flapping wings for a given flapping frequency with reasonable accuracy. The robustness of these correlations is demonstrated by validating them against the available experimental data for the various artificial flapping-wing configurations. These regression models can be used as first-order design tools which will save computational and experimental time while developing flapping-wing drones.
a-ITZO based thin film transistor for ammonia gas sensing: a simulation study
Authors: Jain Neeraj , Sharma Shashi Kant , Kumawat Renu
Published: November 2022

This work is an optimization study by numerical simulation of the performance of amorphous indium tin zinc oxide thin film transistor (a-ITZO TFT) based gas sensor using SILVACO-ATLAS software. The optimization process is focused on the catalytic source/drain electrode, dielectric material and work-function difference. Based on simulation results, when the electrode material is switched from cobalt to molybdenum, the value of drain current was found to be increased from 39 μA to 231 μA. For molybdenum, ruthenium and cobalt with a work function difference of 200 meV, the OFF state current sensitivity (SIOFF) and ON State current sensitivity (SION) values were found to be 607.27 and 213.2, 102.81 and 0.35 and 0.015 and 0.90 respectively. An increase in the sensitivity of simulated structure was observed with the value of work function difference that indicates an increase in the concentration of gas. The impact of the dielectric material also reveals that high-k dielectric materials boost the sensitivity of the proposed device. The simulation results confirm the a-ITZO TFTs potential in gas sensing applications.
Limited role of climate change in extreme low rainfall associated with southern Madagascar food insecurity, 2019–21
Authors: Harrington Luke J , Wolski Piotr , Pinto Izidine , Ramarosandratana Anzelà Mamiarisoa , Barimalala Rondrotiana , Vautard Robert , Philip Sjoukje , Kew Sarah , Singh Roop , Heinrich Dorothy , Arrighi Julie , Raju Emmanuel , Thalheimer Lisa , Razanakoto Thierry , van Aalst Maarten , Li Sihan , Bonnet Remy , Yang Wenchang , Otto Friederike E L , van Oldenborgh Geert Jan
Published: November 2022

Southern Madagascar recently experienced a severe food security crisis, made significantly worse by well below average rainfall from July 2019 to June 2021. This exceptional drought has affected a region with high pre-existing levels of vulnerability to food insecurity (subsistence agriculture and pastoralism in the region is rain-fed only), while impacts have been compounded further by COVID-19 restrictions and pest infestations. The rainy seasons of both 2019/20 and 2020/21 saw just 60% of normal rainfall across the Grand South region and was estimated as a 1-in-135 year dry event, only surpassed in severity by the devastating drought of 1990–92. Based on a combination of observations and climate modelling, the likelihood of experiencing such poor rains in the region was not significantly increased due to human-caused climate change: while the observations and models combine to indicate a small shift toward more droughts like the 2019–2021 event as a consequence of climate change, these trends remain overwhelmed by natural variability. This result is consistent with previous research, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report concluding that any perceptible changes in drought will only emerge in this region if global mean temperatures exceed 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.
GADRP: graph convolutional networks and autoencoders for cancer drug response prediction
Authors: Wang Hong , Dai Chong , Wen Yuqi , Wang Xiaoqi , Liu Wenjuan , He Song , Bo Xiaochen , Peng Shaoliang
Published: November 2022

Drug response prediction in cancer cell lines is of great significance in personalized medicine. In this study, we propose GADRP, a cancer drug response prediction model based on graph convolutional networks (GCNs) and autoencoders (AEs). We first use a stacked deep AE to extract low-dimensional representations from cell line features, and then construct a sparse drug cell line pair (DCP) network incorporating drug, cell line, and DCP similarity information. Later, initial residual and layer attention-based GCN (ILGCN) that can alleviate over-smoothing problem is utilized to learn DCP features. And finally, fully connected network is employed to make prediction. Benchmarking results demonstrate that GADRP can significantly improve prediction performance on all metrics compared with baselines on five datasets. Particularly, experiments of predictions of unknown DCP responses, drug-cancer tissue associations， and drug-pathway associations illustrate the predictive power of GADRP. All results highlight the effectiveness of GADRP in predicting drug responses, and its potential value in guiding anti-cancer drug selection.
Race, polygenic risk and their association with incident dementia among older US adults
Authors: Beydoun May A , Weiss Jordan , Banerjee Sri , Beydoun Hind A , Noren Hooten Nicole , Evans Michele K , Zonderman Alan B
Published: November 2022

Dementia incidence increases steadily with age at rates that may vary across racial groups. This racial disparity may be attributable to polygenic risk, as well as lifestyle and behavioural factors. We examined whether Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score and race predict Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia incidence differentially by sex and mediation through polygenic scores for other health and behavioural conditions. We used longitudinal data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. We restricted participants to those with complete data on 31 polygenic scores, including Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score (2006–2012). Among participants aged 55 years and older in 2008, we excluded those with any memory problems between 2006 and 2008 and included those with complete follow-up on incident Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia, between 2010 and 2018 (N = 9683), based on self- or proxy-diagnosis every 2 years (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018). Cox proportional hazards and 4-way decomposition models were conducted. Analyses were also stratified by sex and by race.

There were racial differences in all-cause dementia incidence (age and sex-adjusted model, per standard deviation: hazard ratio, HR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.09–1.65, P = 0.007), partially driven by educational attainment and income. We also found independent associations of race (age and sex-adjusted model, African American versus White adults: HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.52–2.83, P < 0.001) and Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score (age and sex-adjusted model, per SD: HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.00–1.87, P < 0.001) with Alzheimer’s disease incidence, including sex differences whereby women had a stronger effect of Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score on Alzheimer’s disease incidence compared with men (P < 0.05 for sex by Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score interaction) adjusting for race and other covariates. The total impact of Alzheimer's disease polygenic scores on Alzheimer's disease incidence was mostly direct, while the effect of race on all-cause dementia incidence was mediated through socio-economic, lifestyle and health-related factors. Finally, among the 30 polygenic scores we examined, the total effects on the pathway Alzheimer's disease polygenic score --> Other polygenic score --> Incident Alzheimer's or all-cause dementia, were statistically significant for all, driven primarily by the controlled direct effect (P< 0. 001). In conclusion, both race and Alzheimer’s disease polygenic scores were associated independently with Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia incidence. Alzheimer’s disease polygenic score was more strongly linked to incident Alzheimer’s disease among women, while racial difference in all-cause dementia was explained by other factors including socio-economic status.
TDP-43 knockdown in mouse model of ALS leads to dsRNA deposition, gliosis, and neurodegeneration in the spinal cord
Authors: Milstead Ryan A , Link Christopher D , Xu Zuoshang , Hoeffer Charles A
Published: November 2022

Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kilodaltons (TDP-43) is a DNA and RNA binding protein associated with severe neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primarily affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Partial knockdown of TDP-43 expression in a mouse model (the amiR-TDP-43 mice) leads to progressive, age-related motor dysfunction, as observed in ALS patients. Work in Caenorhabditis elegans suggests that TDP-43 dysfunction can lead to deficits in chromatin processing and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) accumulation, potentially activating the innate immune system and promoting neuroinflammation. To test this hypothesis, we used immunostaining to investigate dsRNA accumulation and other signs of CNS pathology in the spinal cords of amiR-TDP-43 mice. Compared with wild-type controls, TDP-43 knockdown animals show increases in dsRNA deposition in the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord. Additionally, animals with heavy dsRNA expression show markedly increased levels of astrogliosis and microgliosis. Interestingly, areas of high dsRNA expression and microgliosis overlap with regions of heavy neurodegeneration, indicating that activated microglia could contribute to the degeneration of spinal cord neurons. This study suggests that loss of TDP-43 function could contribute to neuropathology by increasing dsRNA deposition and subsequent innate immune system activation.
Estimating the impact of nutrition and physical activity policies with quasi-experimental methods and simulation modelling: an integrative review of methods, challenges and synergies
Authors: Emmert-Fees Karl M F , Capacci Sara , Sassi Franco , Mazzocchi Mario , Laxy Michael
Published: November 2022

Background

The promotion of healthy lifestyles has high priority on the global public health agenda. Evidence on the real-world (cost-)effectiveness of policies addressing nutrition and physical activity is needed. To estimate short-term policy impacts, quasi-experimental methods using observational data are useful, while simulation models can estimate long-term impacts. We review the methods, challenges and potential synergies of both approaches for the evaluation of nutrition and physical activity policies.

Methods

We performed an integrative review applying purposive literature sampling techniques to synthesize original articles, systematic reviews and lessons learned from public international workshops conducted within the European Union Policy Evaluation Network.

Results

We highlight data requirements for policy evaluations, discuss the distinct assumptions of instrumental variable, difference-in-difference, and regression discontinuity designs and describe the necessary robustness and falsification analyses to test them. Further, we summarize the specific assumptions of comparative risk assessment and Markov state-transition simulation models, including their extension to microsimulation. We describe the advantages and limitations of these modelling approaches and discuss future directions, such as the adequate consideration of heterogeneous policy responses. Finally, we highlight how quasi-experimental and simulation modelling methods can be integrated into an evidence cycle for policy evaluation.

Conclusions

Assumptions of quasi-experimental and simulation modelling methods in policy evaluations should be credible, rigorously tested and transparently communicated. Both approaches can be applied synergistically within a coherent framework to compare policy implementation scenarios and improve the estimation of nutrition and physical activity policy impacts, including their distribution across population sub-groups.
Acceptability of policies targeting dietary behaviours and physical activity: a systematic review of tools and outcomes
Authors: Scheidmeir Marie , Kubiak Thomas , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Wendt Janine , Scheller Daniel A , Meshkovska Biljana , Müller-Stierlin Annabel Sandra , Forberger Sarah , Łobczowska Karolina , Neumann-Podczaska Agnieszka , Wieczorowska-Tobis Katarzyna , Zeeb Hajo , Steinacker Jürgen M , Woods Catherine B , Lakerveld Jeroen
Published: November 2022

Background

Successful implementation of health policies require acceptance from the public and policy-makers. This review aimed to identify tools used to assess the acceptability of policies targeting physical activity and dietary behaviour, and examine if acceptability differs depending on characteristics of the policy and of the respondents.

Methods

A systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42021232326) was conducted using three databases (Science Direct, PubMed and Web of Science).

Results

Of the initial 7780 hits, we included 48 eligible studies (n = 32 on dietary behaviour, n = 11 on physical activity and n = 5 on both), using qualitative and quantitative designs (n = 25 cross-sectional, quantitative; n = 15 qualitative; n = 5 randomized controlled trials; n = 3 mixed-methods design). Acceptability was analysed through online surveys (n = 24), interviews (n = 10), focus groups (n = 10), retrospective textual analysis (n = 3) and a taste-test experiment (n = 1). Notably, only 3 (out of 48) studies applied a theoretical foundation for their assessment. Less intrusive policies such as food labels and policies in a later stage of the implementation process received higher levels of acceptability. Women, older participants and respondents who rated policies as appropriate and effective showed the highest levels of acceptability.

Conclusion

Highly intrusive policies such as taxations or restrictions are the least accepted when first implemented, but respondents’ confidence in the relevance and effectiveness of the policy may boost acceptability over the course of implementation. Studies using validated tools and a theoretical foundation are needed to further examine opportunities to increase acceptability.
Development of a framework to guide research into policies promoting physical activity and healthy diets in the European context: the system-based Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) framework
Authors: Kamphuis Carlijn B M , Forberger Sarah , Lien Nanna , Rehfuess Eva , Luszczynska Aleksandra
Published: November 2022

Background

The Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) is a multidisciplinary Pan-European research consortium focussing on policies affecting dietary intake, physical activity and sedentary behaviour. At the start, the PEN consortium expressed the need for an overarching, system-based framework covering the complexities between the different domains of the policy process (design, implementation and outcomes) in order to execute all research activities in a coherent way. This article describes the PEN framework itself and its development process.

Methods

A staged approach to the development of a system-based framework was executed between February 2019 and February 2022. We started with a point-of-departure framework, made use of existing models, collected PEN outputs at different project stages (through online meetings, e-mail exchanges and workshops with PEN researchers) and drew updated versions of the framework, which resulted in the system-based PEN framework.

Results

The system-based PEN framework depicts the policy process as a complex system, visualizing the dynamic interrelations between and within policy domains (i.e. policy design, policy implementation and policy outcomes), the ways they interact with the context, and how to assure a focus on equity in each domain.

Conclusions

The system-based PEN framework may guide researchers and professionals involved in the evaluation of health- or sustainability-related policies to consider their evaluation in a comprehensive picture, including domain interactions, contextual influences and equity considerations, as these can have important implications for the scope of their research. The stage-based process as applied for the development of the PEN framework can serve as a template for other research projects wishing to develop their own framework.
What we know about the actual implementation process of public physical activity policies: results from a scoping review
Authors: Forberger Sarah , Reisch Lucia A , Meshkovska Biljana , Lobczowska Karolina , Scheller Daniel A , Wendt Janine , Christianson Lara , Frense Jennifer , Steinacker Jürgen M , Woods Catherine B , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Zeeb Hajo
Published: November 2022

Background

Physical inactivity rates have remained high worldwide since 2001. Public policies are an essential upstream lever to target individual physical activity (PA) behaviour. However, implementers have different strategies and face implementation challenges that are poorly understood. The present study analyzes the implementation processes of public policies to promote PA in terms of: (i) the policies covered and their legal quality, (ii) the actors and stakeholders involved in the implementation process and (iii) the used implementation strategies (vertical, horizontal or a mix).

Methods

A scoping review was systematically conducted (registered Open Science Framework: osf.io/7w84q/), searching 10 databases and grey literature until March 2022. Of the 7741 titles and abstracts identified initially, 10 studies were included.

Results

The current evidence includes high-income countries (USA, n = 7; UK, New Zealand and Oman, n = 1 each). Policy areas covered are education (school sector) and PA promotion in general (national PA plans or city-wide approaches). The legal classification ranges from laws (school sector) to coordination and budgeting to non-legally binding recommendations. The jurisdictions covered were federal (n = 4), state (n = 1), county (n = 1), school district (n = 1) and city (n = 3). Implementation strategies for city-wide approaches are characterized by a coordinated approach with vertical and horizontal integration; federal PA policies by a mix of implementation strategies; and the school sector by a strict horizontal top-down integration without the involvement of other actors.

Conclusion

Implementation strategies differ by policy field. Therefore, continuous evaluation of the implementation process is necessary to align policy implementation with policy goals to promote individual PA behaviour.
Pathogenicity and virulence of bacterial strains associated with summer mortality in marine mussels (Perna canaliculus)
Authors: Azizan Awanis , Alfaro Andrea C , Jaramillo Diana , Venter Leonie , Young Tim , Frost Emily , Lee Kevin , Van Nguyen Thao , Kitundu Eileen , Archer Stephen D J , Ericson Jessica A , Foxwell Jonathan , Quinn Oliver , Ragg Norman L C
Published: November 2022

The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria has emerged as a plausible key component of summer mortalities in mussels. In the current research, four bacterial isolates retrieved from moribund Greenshell࣪ mussels, Perna canaliculus, from a previous summer mortality event, were tentatively identified as Vibrio and Photobacterium species using morpho-biochemical characterization and MALDI-TOF MS and confirmed as V. celticus, P. swingsii, P. rosenbergii, and P. proteolyticum using whole genome sequencing. These isolates were utilized in a laboratory challenge where mussels were injected with cell concentrations ranging from 105 to 109 CFU/mussel. Of the investigated isolates, P. swingsii induced the highest mortality. Additionally, results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, focusing on known virulence genes were detected in all isolates grown under laboratory conditions. Photobacterium rosenbergii and P. swingsii showed the highest expression levels of these virulence determinants. These results indicate that Photobacterium spp. could be a significant pathogen of P. canaliculus, with possible importance during summer mortality events. By implementing screening methods to detect and monitor Photobacterium concentrations in farmed mussel populations, a better understanding of the host–pathogen relationship can be obtained, aiding the development of a resilient industry in a changing environment.
Can transcutaneous perianal ultrasonography be the first-line diagnostic instrument for evaluating pediatric perianal fistulas?
Authors: Ding Yu-Wen , Yin Hao-Qiang , Liang Hong-Tao , Lu Jin-Gen , Wang Bo , Wang Chen
Published: November 2022

Background

Pediatric perianal fistula is a common disorder. It is more difficult to detect the fistula tract and internal opening (IO) in children than in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of transcutaneous perianal ultrasound for children with perianal fistula.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted by analysing the preoperative transcutaneous perianal ultrasound and intraoperative exploration results of 203 consecutive patients who were <3 years old and diagnosed with perianal fistula. Analyses were conducted to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of utilizing the transcutaneous perianal ultrasound in the diagnosis of the complexity and location of the IO of perianal fistulas.

Results

Compared with intraoperative exploration, the preoperative transcutaneous perianal ultrasonography has almost perfect agreement (Kappa = 0.881, P < 0.001) in the diagnosis of fistula tract complexity and IO with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 97%. In addition, both intraoperative exploration and transcutaneous perianal ultrasound diagnosis showed high consistency in the identification of the IO of perianal fistulas (Quadrant I Kappa = 0.831, Quadrant II Kappa = 0.773, Quadrant III Kappa = 0.735, Quadrant IV Kappa = 0.802, all P < 0.01). The IOs were mainly distributed in Quadrants IV and II in both simple and complex fistulas.

Conclusions

Transcutaneous perianal ultrasound, as a non-invasive and simple imaging technique, showed high accuracy in the diagnosis and identification of the fistula classification and IO location. It could be considered a first-line diagnostic instrument for evaluating perianal fistulas among children.