bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tendinopathy: sex bias starts from the preclinical development of tendon treatments. A systematic review
Authors: Mondini Trissino da Lodi Camilla , Salerno Manuela , Merli Giulia , Brama Pieter , Jenner Florien , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: July 2022

Tendinopathies are common overuse disorders that arise both in athletes and the general population. Available tendon treatments are used both for women and men without distinction. However, the existence of a sex-based difference in tendon biology is widely demonstrated. Since basic research represents the foundation for treatment development, an equal female–male representation should be pursued in preclinical studies. This systematic review quantified the current evidence by analyzing 150 studies on 8231 animals. Preclinical studies largely neglected the importance of sex, none analyzed sex-based differences, and only 4% of the studies reported disaggregated data suitable for the analysis of treatment results in males and females. There is an alarming female under-representation, in particular in the field of injective therapies. Despite the growing awareness on the importance of investigating treatments in both males and females, the investigated field proved resistant from properly designing studies including both sexes, and the lack of sex-representation remains critical.
Characterization of symbiotic and nitrogen fixing bacteria
Authors: Kawaka Fanuel
Published: July 2022

Symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria comprise of diverse species associated with the root nodules of leguminous plants. Using an appropriate taxonomic method to confirm the identity of superior and elite strains to fix nitrogen in legume crops can improve sustainable global food and nutrition security. The current review describes taxonomic methods preferred and commonly used to characterize symbiotic bacteria in the rhizosphere. Peer reviewed, published and unpublished articles on techniques used for detection, classification and identification of symbiotic bacteria were evaluated by exploring their advantages and limitations. The findings showed that phenotypic and cultural techniques are still affordable and remain the primary basis of species classification despite their challenges. Development of new, robust and informative taxonomic techniques has really improved characterization and identification of symbiotic bacteria and discovery of novel and new species that are effective in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in diverse conditions and environments.
Oxysterol derivatives Oxy186 and Oxy210 inhibit WNT signaling in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Tang Liu-Ya , Spezia Marie , Chen Ting , Shin Jee-Hye , Wang Feng , Stappenbeck Frank , Lebensohn Andres M. , Parhami Farhad , Zhang Ying E.
Published: July 2022

Background

Developmental signaling pathways such as those of Hedgehog (HH) and WNT play critical roles in cancer stem cell self-renewal, migration, and differentiation. They are often constitutively activated in many human malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously, we reported that two oxysterol derivatives, Oxy186 and Oxy210, are potent inhibitors of HH/GLI signaling and NSCLC cancer cell growth. In addition, we also showed that Oxy210 is a potent inhibitor of TGF-β/SMAD signaling. In this follow-up study, we further explore the mechanism of action by which these oxysterols control NSCLC cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Results

Using a GLI-responsive luciferase reporter assay, we show here that HH ligand could not mount a signaling response in the NSCLC cell line A549, even though Oxy186 and Oxy210 still inhibited non-canonical GLI activity and suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells. Further, we uncover an unexpected activity of these two oxysterols in inhibiting the WNT/β-catenin signaling at the level of LRP5/6 membrane receptors. We also show that in a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model generated from A549 cells, Oxy186, but not Oxy210, exhibits strong inhibition of tumor growth. Subsequent RNA-seq analysis of the xenograft tumor tissue reveal that the WNT/β-catenin pathway is the target of Oxy186 in vivo.

Conclusion

The oxysterols Oxy186 and Oxy210 both possess inhibitory activity towards WNT/β-catenin signaling, and Oxy186 is also a potent inhibitor of NSCLC tumor growth.
Determinants of adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices in the coffee-based farming system of Ethiopia
Authors: Diro Samuel , Tesfaye Agajie , Erko Beza
Published: July 2022

Objectives

This study explored the adoption status of different Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices and factors that influence their adoption for sustainable soil resource utilization in the changing climate.

Methodology

We used quantitative and qualitative primary data collected from smallholder farmers and other stakeholders from major coffee-growing regions of Ethiopia: Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP). We used the multivariate probit (MVP) model to study factors that influence the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies, namely, manure application, minimum tillage, intercropping, use of improved forage, and physical soil and water management practices.

Results

The study result shows that 35% of farmers apply manure on their farm plots. Minimum tillage is also applied to 36% of farms. Intercropping improved forages and physical soil and water management structures are adopted by 45, 19, and 47% of farmers, respectively. The finding of the study indicates the positive and significant effect of education, extension (access to extension services and participation on field days), and ownership of communication devices specifically radio on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

Recommendations

Concerning bodies must pay due attention to problems affecting effective farmers-extension linkage. The positive effect of radio ownership on technology adoption also suggests the need for increased accessibility of FM radio channels to farmers to be aware of climate change and innovative agricultural technologies, practices, and information that mitigate the problem.
Host-microbiota interaction-mediated resistance to inflammatory bowel disease in pigs
Authors: Zhao Xuan , Jiang Lin , Fang Xiuyu , Guo Zhiqiang , Wang Xiaoxu , Shi Baoming , Meng Qingwei
Published: July 2022

Background

Disease resistance phenotypes are associated with immune regulatory functions and immune tolerance and have implications for both the livestock industry and human health. Microbiota plays an essential role in regulating immunity and autoimmunity in the host organism, but the influence of host-microbiota interactions on disease resistance phenotypes remains unclear. Here, multiomics analysis was performed to identify potential regulatory mechanisms of disease resistance at both the microbiome and host levels in two pig breeds.

Results

Acute colitis models were established in Min pigs and Yorkshire pigs, and control and diseased individuals were compared. Compared with Yorkshire pigs under the same nutritional and management conditions, Min pigs exhibited strong disease resistance, as indicated by a low disease activity index (DAI) and a low histological activity index (HAI). Microbiota sequencing analysis showed that potentially harmful microbes Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides and Streptococcus were enriched in diseased individuals of the two breeds. Notably, potentially beneficial microbes, such as Lactobacillus, Clostridia and Eubacterium, and several genera belonging to Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae were enriched in diseased Min pigs and were found to be positively associated with the microbial metabolites related to intestinal barrier function. Specifically, the concentrations of indole derivatives and short-chain fatty acids were increased in diseased Min pigs, suggesting beneficial action in protecting intestinal barrier. In addition, lower concentrations of bile acid metabolites and short-chain fatty acids were observed in diseased Yorkshire pigs, which were associated with increased potentially harmful microbes, such as Bilophila and Alistipes. Concerning enrichment of the immune response, the increase in CD4+ T cells in the lamina propria improved supervision of the host immunity response in diseased Min pigs, contributing to the maintenance of Th2-type immune superiority and immune tolerance patterns and control of excessive inflammation with the help of potentially beneficial microbes. In diseased Yorkshire pigs, more terms belonging to biological processes of immunity were enriched, including Toll-like receptors signalling, NF-κB signalling and Th1 and Th17-type immune responses, along with the increases of potentially harmful microbes and damaged intestinal barrier.

Conclusions

Cumulatively, the results for the two pig breeds highlight that host-microbiota crosstalk promotes a disease resistance phenotype in three ways: by maintaining partial PRR nonactivation, maintaining Th2-type immune superiority and immunological tolerance patterns and recovering gut barrier function to protect against colonic diseases.
A Lagrangian–Eulerian procedure for the coupled solution of the Navier–Stokes and shallow water equations for landslide-generated waves
Authors: Masó Miguel , Franci Alessandro , de-Pouplana Ignasi , Cornejo Alejandro , Oñate Eugenio
Published: July 2022

This work presents a partitioned method for landslide-generated wave events. The proposed strategy combines a Lagrangian Navier Stokes multi-fluid solver with an Eulerian method based on the Boussinesq shallow water equations. The Lagrangian solver uses the Particle Finite Element Method to model the landslide runout, its impact against the water body and the consequent wave generation. The results of this fully-resolved analysis are stored at selected interfaces and then used as input for the shallow water solver to model the far-field wave propagation. This one-way coupling scheme reduces drastically the computational cost of the analyses while maintaining high accuracy in reproducing the key phenomena of the cascading natural hazard. Several numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and robustness of the proposed coupling strategy and its applicability to large-scale landslide-generated wave events. The validation of the partitioned method is performed versus available results of other numerical methods, analytical solutions and experimental measures.
Barriers to medications for opioid use disorder in the court system: provider availability, provider “trustworthiness,” and cost
Authors: Ahmed Fatema Z. , Andraka-Christou Barbara , Clark M.H. , Totaram Rachel , Atkins Danielle N. , del Pozo Brandon
Published: July 2022

Background

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) significantly decrease mortality but courts rarely refer participants with opioid use disorder to MOUD providers. Previous qualitative work suggests routine court referrals to MOUD providers are more likely if court team members perceive providers as “trustworthy.” Court team members may also be less likely to refer participants to MOUD if they consider MOUD unaffordable, particularly in Florida, which has not expanded Medicaid. Our aims were to explore court team members’ 1) perceptions of availability of local trustworthy MOUD providers, 2) characteristics associated with perceptions of availability of local trustworthy MOUD providers, including beliefs about MOUD efficacy, and 3) perceptions of MOUD affordability.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to all criminal problem-solving court and dependency court team members in Florida in 2019 and 2020. Likert scale questions assessed respondent agreement with statements about the availability of any MOUD providers, the availability of trustworthy MOUD providers, and the affordability of MOUD for court participants. An open-ended question explored MOUD barriers. Spearman’s rho, Friedman, Kruskal Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for analyzing quantitative data and iterative categorization for qualitative data.

Results

One hundred fifty-one respondents completed quantitative questions (26% response rate), and 42 completed the qualitative question. Respondents were more likely to agree that local MOUD providers are more available than trustworthy MOUD providers. Perceptions of trustworthy provider availability differed significantly by MOUD type and were associated with MOUD efficacy beliefs. Qualitative results suggest that MOUD providers offering counseling and individualized treatment are more trustworthy.

Conclusions

Court team MOUD beliefs may influence their perceptions of providers, or negative experiences with providers may influence court team MOUD beliefs. Improving court team perceptions of local MOUD providers may be critical for facilitating court participant treatment access.
End of the road? The career intentions of under-represented STEM students in higher education
Authors: Wong Billy , Chiu Yuan-Li Tiffany , Murray Órla Meadhbh , Horsburgh Jo
Published: July 2022

Background

The analogy of the leaky pipeline has been used to describe STEM education, with lower student diversity from compulsory to post-compulsory education and beyond. Although extensive research has explored the views and experiences of school-aged children about STEM, fewer studies have examined the career intentions of STEM students at university, especially those from under-represented backgrounds (e.g., racial/ethnic minority, women and working class students). This paper draws on a large qualitative study that interviewed 110 under-represented STEM undergraduates in the UK. We focus on students’ STEM career intentions and the likely directions of their post-degree trajectories, drawing on the lenses of science identity and Social Cognitive Career Theory.

Results

Three pathways were identified. The first group plans to pursue a career in or from STEM. While social inequalities may persist, the potential impact of these challenges may be neutralised by the personal drive and passion of STEM career-oriented students, who seem committed to drive into an STEM future. The second group stated intentions for non-STEM-related careers, leaving the STEM pipeline. The reasons students gave for their imminent departure from STEM are the better financial reward on offer in some non-STEM sectors, especially in finance and business, as well as wider social inequalities and stereotypes. The third group was undecided, those who are uncertain or unclear about their futures. Students described a general lack of direction or clear career pathway, from a complete lack of career ideas to an overload of options.

Conclusions

We conclude with a reminder that the STEM pipeline is far from secured or equitable, despite apparent progress in participation and representation. We reiterate the importance of fostering a diverse, inclusive and supportive learning environment that maximises the participation, strengths and potential of all students, especially those from under-represented backgrounds. While it is not uncommon for STEM students to pursue careers outside of STEM, we need to be wary that those who exit the STEM pipeline are not forced off the road by social inequalities and exclusions.
Spatio-temporal clustering of successive earthquakes as inferred from analyses of global CMT and NIED F-net catalogs
Authors: Bantidi Thystere Matondo , Nishimura Takeshi
Published: July 2022

Investigation of the characteristic behavior of successive earthquakes that closely occur in space and time is important to understand the generation mechanism of earthquakes and useful to assess a triggered earthquake, especially around the area, where a first large earthquake took place. Here, we analyzed the Global Centroid Moment Tensor catalog from 1976 to 2016 for shallow earthquakes with a moment magnitude,$${M}_{w}$$Mw, of at least 5.5, and the F-net catalog, Japan, for$$4\le {M}_{w}<5.5$$4≤Mw<5.5, to clarify the spatio-temporal characteristics of the successive earthquakes. We first sorted all of the earthquakes in time and removed the aftershocks that occurred in and around the faults of earthquakes with$${M}_{w}$$Mwlarger than the target magnitude range we investigated. Then, we selected source events from the beginning and searched for earthquakes that occurred within a horizontal distance (D) and a lapsed time ($${T}_{a}$$Ta) from the source event to group them in clusters. Then, the source event was selected from the catalog in order, and the same procedure was repeated. We counted the number of clusters, each of which consisted of successive earthquakes, for differentDand$${T}_{a}.$$Ta.To examine whether successive earthquakes were explained by random occurrences, we compared the results with simulations in which earthquakes occurred randomly in time but at the same locations matching the centroids in the real data. The comparison showed that the number of clusters for the simulation rapidly increased withDand merged with that for real data at a short distance, which is defined here as the triggering distance. We find that triggering distance is proportional to about 1/5 to 1/4 of the seismic moment$${(M}_{0})$$(M0)of the source event, and exponentially decreases with increasing$${T}_{a}$$Ta. Relating the derived empirical scaling relations between$${M}_{0}$$M0and triggering distance from the equations in the ETAS model, we show that the observed exponents of 1/5 to 1/4 were well predicted from the estimated ETAS parameters in various regions around the world. These consistencies first show that successive occurrence of earthquakes is well explained by the ETAS model.

Graphical abstract
Production of free fatty acids from various carbon sources by Ogataea polymorpha
Authors: Li Yunxia , Zhai XiaoXin , Yu Wei , Feng Dao , Shah Aamer Ali , Gao Jiaoqi , Zhou Yongjin J.
Published: July 2022

Energy shortage and environmental concern urgently require establishing the feasible bio-refinery process from various feedstocks. The methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha is thermo-tolerant and can utilize various carbon sources, such as glucose, xylose and methanol, which makes it a promising host for bio-manufacturing. Here, we explored the capacity of O. polymorpha for overproduction of free fatty acids (FFAs) from multiple substrates. The engineered yeast produced 674 mg/L FFA from 20 g/L glucose in shake flask and could sequentially utilize the mixture of glucose and xylose. However, the FFA producing strain failed to survive in sole methanol and supplementing co-substrate xylose promoted methanol metabolism. A synergistic utilization of xylose and methanol was observed in the FFA producing strain. Finally, a mixture of glucose, xylose and methanol was evaluated for FFA production (1.2 g/L). This study showed that O. polymorpha is an ideal host for chemical production from various carbon sources.

Graphical Abstract
DeepPVC: prediction of a partial volume-corrected map for brain positron emission tomography studies via a deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Matsubara Keisuke , Ibaraki Masanobu , Kinoshita Toshibumi ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2022

Background

Partial volume correction with anatomical magnetic resonance (MR) images (MR-PVC) is useful for accurately quantifying tracer uptake on brain positron emission tomography (PET) images. However, MR segmentation processes for MR-PVC are time-consuming and prevent the widespread clinical use of MR-PVC. Here, we aimed to develop a deep learning model to directly predict PV-corrected maps from PET and MR images, ultimately improving the MR-PVC throughput.

Methods

We used MR T1-weighted and [11C]PiB PET images as input data from 192 participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. We calculated PV-corrected maps as the training target using the region-based voxel-wise PVC method. Two-dimensional U-Net model was trained and validated by sixfold cross-validation with the dataset from the 156 participants, and then tested using MR T1-weighted and [11C]PiB PET images from 36 participants acquired at sites other than the training dataset. We calculated the structural similarity index (SSIM) of the PV-corrected maps and intraclass correlation (ICC) of the PV-corrected standardized uptake value between the region-based voxel-wise (RBV) PVC and deepPVC as indicators for validation and testing.

Results

A high SSIM (0.884 ± 0.021) and ICC (0.921 ± 0.042) were observed in the validation and test data (SSIM, 0.876 ± 0.028; ICC, 0.894 ± 0.051). The computation time required to predict a PV-corrected map for a participant (48 s without a graphics processing unit) was much shorter than that for the RBV PVC and MR segmentation processes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the deepPVC model directly predicts PV-corrected maps from MR and PET images and improves the throughput of MR-PVC by skipping the MR segmentation processes.
Towards personalised dosimetry in patients with liver malignancy treated with 90Y-SIRT using in vivo-driven radiobiological parameters
Authors: Gholami Yaser H. , Willowson Kathy P. , Bailey Dale L.
Published: July 2022

Background

The prediction of response is one of the major challenges in radiation-based therapies. Although the selection of accurate linear–quadratic model parameters is essential for the estimation of radiation response and treatment outcome, there is a limited knowledge about these radiobiological parameters for liver tumours using radionuclide treatments.

Methods

The “clinical radiobiological” parameters ($$T_{{\text{p}}}$$

T
p

, $$T_{{\text{k}}}$$

T
k

, $$\alpha$$
α
, $$\alpha {/}\beta$$

α
/
β

) for twenty-five patients were derived using the generalised linear–quadratic model, the diagnostic ([18F] FDG PET/CT) and therapeutic ([90Y]-SIR-Spheres PET/CT) images to compute the biological effective dose and tumour control probability (TCP) for each patient.

Results

It was estimated that the values for $$\alpha$$
α
and $$\alpha {/}\beta$$

α
/
β

parameters range in ≈ 0.001–1 Gy−1 and ≈ 1–49 Gy, respectively. We have demonstrated that the time factors, $$T_{{\text{p}}}$$

T
p

, $$T_{{\text{k}}}$$

T
k

and $$T_{{{\text{critic}}}}$$

T
critic

are the key parameters when evaluating liver malignancy lesional response to [90Y]SIR-Spheres treatment. Patients with cholangiocarcinoma have been shown to have the longest average $$T_{{\text{p}}}$$

T
p

(≈ 236 ± 67 d), highest TCP (≈ 53 ± 17%) and total liver lesion glycolysis response ($$\Delta {\text{TLG}}_{{{\text{liver}}}}$$

Δ

TLG
liver

≈ 64%), while patients with metastatic colorectal cancer tumours have the shortest average $$T_{{\text{p}}}$$

T
p

(≈ 129 ± 19 d), lowest TCP (≈ 28 ± 13%) and $$\Delta {\text{TLG}}_{{{\text{liver}}}}$$

Δ

TLG
liver

≈ 8%, respectively.

Conclusions

Tumours with shorter $$T_{{\text{k}}}$$

T
k

have shown a shorter $$T_{{{\text{critic}}}}$$

T
critic

and thus poorer TCP and $$\Delta {\text{TLG}}_{{{\text{liver}}}}$$

Δ

TLG
liver

. Therefore, these results suggest for such tumours the [90Y]SIR-Spheres will be only effective at higher initial dose rate (e.g.  > 50 Gy/day).
Anterior Knee Pain: State of the Art
Authors: D’Ambrosi Riccardo , Meena Amit , Raj Akshya , Ursino Nicola , Hewett Timothy E.
Published: July 2022

Anterior knee pain (AKP) is one of the most common conditions to bring active young patients to a sports injury clinic. It is a heterogeneous condition related to multiple causative factors. Compared to the general population, there appears to be a higher risk of development of patellofemoral osteoarthritis in patients with AKP. AKP can be detrimental to the patient’s quality of life and, in the larger context, significantly burdens the economy with high healthcare costs. This study aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of AKP to improve clinical daily practice. The causes of AKP can be traced not only to structures within and around the knee, but also to factors outside the knee, such as limb malalignment, weakness of specific hip muscle groups, and core and ligamentous laxity. Hence, AKP warrants a pointed evaluation of history and thorough clinical examination, complemented with relevant radiological investigations to identify its origin in the knee and its cause. Conservative management of the condition achieves good results in a majority of patients with AKP. Surgical management becomes necessary only when it is deemed to provide benefit—when the patient has well-characterized structural abnormalities of the knee or limb that correlate with the AKP clinically or in situations where the patient does not obtain significant or sustained relief from symptoms. AKP has a multifactorial etiology. The treatment strategy must be individualized to the patient based on the patient profile and specific cause identified. Hence, treatment of AKP warrants a pointed evaluation of history and thorough clinical examination complemented with relevant radiological investigations to identify the condition’s origin and its cause. A holistic approach focused on the patient as a whole will ensure a good clinical outcome, as much as a focus on the joint as the therapeutic target.
Appropriate Reporting of Exercise Variables in Resistance Training Protocols: Much more than Load and Number of Repetitions
Authors: Coratella Giuseppe
Published: July 2022

Manipulating resistance training variables is crucial to plan the induced stimuli correctly. When reporting the exercise variables in resistance training protocols, sports scientists and practitioners often refer to the load lifted and the total number of repetitions. The present conceptual review explores all within-exercise variables that may influence the strength and hypertrophic gains, and the changes in muscle architecture. Together with the (1) load and (2) the number of repetitions, (3) performing repetitions to failure or not to failure, (4) the displacement of the load or the range of movement (full or partial), (5) the portion of the partial movement to identify the muscle length at which the exercise is performed, (6) the total time under tension, the duration of each phase and the position of the two isometric phases, (7) whether the concentric, eccentric or concentric-eccentric phase is performed, (8) the use of internal or external focus and (9) the inter-set rest may all have repercussions on the adaptations induced by each resistance exercise. Manipulating one or more variable allows to increase, equalize or decrease the stimuli related to each exercise. Sports scientists and practitioners are invited to list all aforementioned variables for each exercise when reporting resistance training protocols.
App-based intervention among adolescents with persistent pain: a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Grasaas Erik , Helseth Sølvi , Fegran Liv , Stinson Jennifer , Småstuen Milada , Lalloo Chitra , Haraldstad Kristin
Published: July 2022

Background

Persistent pain in adolescence adversely affects everyday life and is an important public health problem. The primary aim was to determine the feasibility of an 8-week app-based self-management intervention to reduce pain and improve health-related quality of life in a community-based population of adolescents with persistent pain. A secondary aim was to explore differences in health outcomes between the intervention and control groups.

Methods

A sample of 73 adolescents aged 16–19 years with persistent pain from a community-based population were randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group received the Norwegian culturally adapted version of the iCanCope with PainTM app, which includes symptom tracking, goal setting, self-management strategies, and social support. The attention control group received a symptom tracking app. Feasibility was assessed as attrition rates and level of engagement (interactions with the app). The secondary outcomes included pain intensity, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, pain self-efficacy, perceived social support from friends, anxiety and depression, and patient global impression. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS.

Results

Demographic and baseline outcome variables did not differ between the 2 groups. No differences were found between the participants completing the study and those who withdrew. Twenty-eight adolescents completed the intervention as planned (62% attrition). Both groups had a low level of app engagement. Intention-to-treat analysis (n = 19 + 14) showed no significant differences in outcomes between groups. However, the large effect size (Cohen’s d = .9) for depression suggested a lower depression score in the intervention group.

Conclusions

High treatment attrition and low engagement indicate the need for changes in trial design in a full-scale randomized controlled trial to improve participant retention.

Trial registration

The iCanCope with Pain Norway trial was retrospectively registered in Clinical Trials.gov (ID: NCT03551977). Registered 6 June 2018.
The feasibility of delivering the ADVANCE digital intervention to reduce intimate partner abuse by men receiving substance use treatment: protocol for a non-randomised multi-centre feasibility study and embedded process evaluation
Authors: Gilchrist Gail , Landau Sabine , Dheensa Sandi , Henderson Juliet , Johnson Amy , Love Beverly , Potts Laura , Radcliffe Polly , Zenasni Zohra , Parrott Steve , Li Jinshuo , Thomson Kate , Dwyer Georges-Jacques , Turner Richard , Halliwell Gemma , Berbary Cassandra , Bergman Ciara , Feder Gene , Easton Caroline , Brooks Cat Papastavrou , Gilchrist Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

Background

Compared to men in the general population, men in substance use treatment are more likely to perpetrate intimate partner abuse (IPA). The ADVANCE group intervention for men in substance use treatment is tailored to address substance use and IPA in an integrated way. In a feasibility trial pre-COVID, men who received the ADVANCE intervention via face-to-face group delivery showed reductions in IPA perpetration. Due to COVID-19, ADVANCE was adapted for remote digital delivery.

Methods/design

This mixed-methods non-randomised feasibility study, with a nested process evaluation, will explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the ADVANCE digital intervention to men in substance use treatment who have perpetrated IPA towards a female partner in the past year. Sixty men will be recruited from seven substance use treatment services in Great Britain. The ADVANCE digital intervention comprises a preparatory one-to-one session with a facilitator to set goals, develop a personal safety plan, and increase motivation and a preparatory online group to prepare men for taking part in the intervention. The core intervention comprises six fortnightly online group sessions and 12 weekly self-directed website sessions to recap and practise skills learned in the online group sessions. Each website session is followed by a one-to-one video/phone coaching session with a facilitator. Men will also receive their usual substance use treatment. Men’s female (ex) partners will be invited to provide outcome data and offered support from integrated safety services (ISS). Outcome measures for men and women will be sought post intervention (approximately 4 months post male baseline interview). Feasibility parameters to be estimated include eligibility, suitability, consent, recruitment, attendance, retention and follow-up rates. In-depth interviews or focus groups will explore the intervention’s acceptability to participants, facilitators and ISS workers. A secondary focus of the study will estimate pre-post-differences in outcome measures covering substance use, IPA, mental health, self-management, health and social care service use, criminal justice contacts and quality of life.

Discussion

Findings will inform the design of a multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the ADVANCE digital intervention for reducing IPA.

Trial registration

The feasibility study was prospectively registered:ISRCTN66619273.
Feasibility of a preoperative strengthening exercise program on postoperative function in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pacheco-Brousseau Lissa , Dobransky Johanna , Jane Alanna , Beaulé Paul E. , Poitras Stéphane
Published: July 2022

Background

There are conflicting results on the effect of preoperative exercise programs on long-term function and little evidence on short-term function. The aim is to assess the feasibility of a preoperative strengthening exercise program in patients undergoing hip or knee joint arthroplasty in terms of trial design, recruitment, and follow-up rates.

Methods

A randomized controlled feasibility study with patients undergoing hip or knee joint arthroplasty. Patients were randomized to a preoperative strengthening exercise program or standard of care. Feasibility outcome measures were recruitment rate (≥ 50%) and loss to follow-up (≤ 15%).

Results

Of the 129 eligible participants, 63 participants consented to participate in the study (49%), and 27 were successfully randomized prior to surgery (43%). All 27 participants completed the baseline assessment. Of these, 6 (22%) had surgery during the exercise period. Of the remaining 21 participants, 20 (95%) completed the pre-surgery assessment. The study was terminated before five participants could be eligible for the 6-month assessment. Sixteen (76%) participants completed the 6-week post-surgery assessment. Twelve participants completed the 6-month assessment (75%).

Conclusion

Given the recruitment rate, randomization barriers, and study participant loss to follow-up, the study was discontinued since it was not considered feasible in this current form at our clinical site despite modifications made to the protocol. Future investigations into a modified intervention via telerehabilitation should be explored.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03483519. Retrospectively registered in March 2018.
Nanodiamond enhanced mechanical and biological properties of extrudable gelatin hydrogel cross-linked with tannic acid and ferrous sulphate
Authors: Bhattacharyya Amitava , Priya V. N. Karthikai , Kim Ji-hyeon , Khatun Mst Rita , Nagarajan R. , Noh Insup
Published: July 2022

Background

The requirements for cell-encapsulated injectable and bioprintable hydrogels are extrusion ability, cell supportive micro-environment and reasonable post-printing stability for the acclimatization of the cells in the target site. Detonation nanodiamond (ND) has shown its potential to improve the mechanical and biological properties of such hydrogels. Enhancing the performance properties of natural biopolymer gelatin-based hydrogels can widen their biomedical application possibilities to various areas including drug delivery, tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting.

Method

In this study, natural cross-linker tannic acid (TA) is used along with ferrous sulphate (FS) to optimize the swelling and disintegration of extrudable and 3D printable gelatin hydrogels. The amounts of TA and FS are restricted to improve the extrusion ability of the gels in 3D printing. Further, ND particles (detonation type) are dispersed using twin screw extrusion technology to study their effect on mechanical and biological properties of the 3D printing hydrogel.

Results

The improved dispersion of ND particles helps to improve compressive strength almost ten times and dynamic modulus three times using 40 mg ND (2% w/w of gelatin). The surface-functional groups of detonation ND also contributed for such improvement in mechanical properties due to higher interaction with the hydrogel matrix. The stability of the hydrogels in water was also improved to 7 days. Four times improvement of the cell growth and proliferation was observed in ND based hydrogel.

Conclusion

The cell-supportive nature of these moderately stable and extrudable ND dispersed gelatin hydrogels makes them a good candidate for short term regenerative applications of cell-encapsulated injectable hydrogels with better mechanical properties.
Controlling electricity storage to balance electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings
Authors: Aryai Vahid , Goldsworthy Mark
Published: July 2022

The optimal management of flexible loads and generation sources such as battery storage systems in buildings is often concerned with minimizing electricity costs. There is an increasing need to managed flexible resources in a way that minimises both costs and carbon emissions. Minimising emissions of grid consumed electricity requires quantification of the carbon emissions intensity of the electricity grid, so first we develop a real-time emission intensity model of the Australian National Energy Market using a power-flow tracing approach. This model reveals that electricity price signals currently do not drive consumers toward using electricity at times of lower emissions. For example, the mean and peak emissions intensity during low electricity tariff periods are the same or slightly higher than those during high tariff periods, while the 30-min wholesale electricity price in each region has no significant correlation with the emissions intensity of electricity consumed in that region. The emissions model is then used to investigate the extent to which controlling a battery storage system to minimise costs under existing electricity tariff structures also leads to minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions for a case study commercial office building. Results show that reducing emissions does indeed come at the expense of increasing costs. For example, annual operating cost savings reduced from 31% to 20% when the battery control was changed from minimising costs to minimising emissions. This has important implications for buildings seeking to reduce emissions as well as for the design of electricity tariffs.
Using decision analysis to support implementation planning in research and practice
Authors: Smith Natalie Riva , Knocke Kathleen E. , Hassmiller Lich Kristen
Published: July 2022

Background

The process of implementing evidence-based interventions, programs, and policies is difficult and complex. Planning for implementation is critical and likely plays a key role in the long-term impact and sustainability of interventions in practice. However, implementation planning is also difficult. Implementors must choose what to implement and how best to implement it, and each choice has costs and consequences to consider. As a step towards supporting structured and organized implementation planning, we advocate for increased use of decision analysis.

Main text

When applied to implementation planning, decision analysis guides users to explicitly define the problem of interest, outline different plans (e.g., interventions/actions, implementation strategies, timelines), and assess the potential outcomes under each alternative in their context. We ground our discussion of decision analysis in the PROACTIVE framework, which guides teams through key steps in decision analyses. This framework includes three phases: (1) definition of the decision problems and overall objectives with purposeful stakeholder engagement, (2) identification and comparison of different alternatives, and (3) synthesis of information on each alternative, incorporating uncertainty. We present three examples to illustrate the breadth of relevant decision analysis approaches to implementation planning.

Conclusion

To further the use of decision analysis for implementation planning, we suggest areas for future research and practice: embrace model thinking; build the business case for decision analysis; identify when, how, and for whom decision analysis is more or less useful; improve reporting and transparency of cost data; and increase collaborative opportunities and training.
Self-expressiveness and hedonic brand affect brand love through brand jealousy
Authors: Siddique Sehrash , Rajput Amer
Published: July 2022

This study investigates the effect of self-expressiveness and hedonic brand aspect on brand jealousy through brand love of female fashion clothing brands. Conceptualized research framework is empirically tested through utilization of Smart PLS. Data are collected through questionnaire survey from 313 female consumers of fashion clothing brand with convenience sampling. It is empirically proven that self-expressiveness and hedonic brand aspect are positively related with brand love and indirectly associated with brand jealousy for female fashion clothing brands. Brand love in association with brand jealousy enhances knowledge in the context of female fashion clothing brands.
Utilization of solid materials to remove ammonia from drinking water
Authors: Samy Reham , Abdelmonem Nabil , Ismail Ibrahim , Abdelghany Amr
Published: July 2022

The winter closure is an annual action taken every year by the Egyptian authorities by closing water flows in series of channels for maintenance of water channels where levels in water channels are forced to reduce. However, Kafr El Sheikh and El Behaira, located in North Egypt, were affected by pollutant during winter closure due to the drainage of industrial wastes causing high pollution load of ammonia (mainly) and other pollutants. This paper focuses on testing agricultural wastes and natural materials to decrease ammonia in water at the inlet of water treatment stations that may reach 30 mg/l which happened during the winter closure. Nine adsorbents were investigated for ammonia removal: sugarcane peels, activated diatom, activated carbon, activated zeolite, rice straw, white foam, ilmenite, red brick, and a mixture of ilmenite with sugarcane. The sugarcane peels were the optimum treatment solution with a removal efficiency of 58% at an initial concentration of 38 mg/l, ~ 0.7 g of the adsorbent mass, and pH ranges from 10 to 12 after 1 h of contact time. At the same time, ilmenite reached an efficiency of 62% at an initial concentration of 21 mg/l, ~ 1.7 g of ilmenite, and pH 7 after 1 h of contact time. In addition, the reaction kinetics and adsorption isotherms were investigated for the selected adsorbent sugarcane peels, and the results showed that it matched the first-order kinetics with a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.99 and Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R2) of 0.96.

Graphical Abstract
Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Sperm DNA Fragmentation: A Cross-sectional Study of 5401 Men Seeking Infertility Care
Authors: Zhao Shuhua , Tang Li , Fu Jingyun , Yang Zexing , Su Cunmei , Rao Meng
Published: July 2022

Context

Our previous study showed that paternal subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) had a detrimental effect on the clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. However, it remains to be determined whether paternal SCH affects sperm DNA integrity.

Objective

To investigate the association between SCH and sperm DNA fragmentation in men seeking infertility care.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 4983 men with euthyroidism and 418 men with SCH seeking infertility treatment in a tertiary care academic medical center between January 2017 and December 2021. The outcome measures were the absolute DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the risk of abnormal DFI (defined as DFI ≥ 25% or ≥ 30%).

Results

The mean (SD) age of men with euthyroidism and men with SCH was 34.20 (5.97) and 35.35 (6.48) years, respectively (P < 0.001). The difference in DFI was not statistically significant (adjusted mean: 19.7% vs 18.9% in the SCH and euthyroidism groups, respectively; P = 0.07) after confounder adjustment. A DFI ≥25% was significantly more frequent in men with SCH (20.57%) than in men with euthyroidism (14.49%) after confounder adjustment [odds ratio (OR) 1.43 (95% CI 1.09-1.88)]. DFI ≥ 30% was also significantly more common in men with SCH (11.72%) than in men with euthyroidism [6.74%; OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.34-2.52)]. In addition, thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration was significantly associated with an increased risk of having a DFI ≥25% (P < 0.001) or ≥30% (P = 0.011).

Conclusion

SCH was significantly associated with an increased risk of an abnormal DFI.
Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor-based Therapeutics for Metabolic Liver Disease
Authors: Yabut Julian M , Drucker Daniel J
Published: July 2022

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) controls islet hormone secretion, gut motility, and body weight, supporting development of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. GLP-1RA exhibit a favorable safety profile and reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with T2D. Considerable preclinical data, supported by the results of clinical trials, link therapy with GLP-RA to reduction of hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. Mechanistically, the actions of GLP-1 on the liver are primarily indirect, as hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and stellate cells do not express the canonical GLP-1R. GLP-1RA reduce appetite and body weight, decrease postprandial lipoprotein secretion, and attenuate systemic and tissue inflammation, actions that may contribute to attenuation of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Here we discuss evolving concepts of GLP-1 action that improve liver health and highlight evidence that links sustained GLP-1R activation in distinct cell types to control of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduction of experimental and clinical nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The therapeutic potential of GLP-1RA alone, or in combination with peptide agonists, or new small molecule therapeutics is discussed in the context of potential efficacy and safety. Ongoing trials in people with obesity will further clarify the safety of GLP-1RA, and pivotal studies underway in people with NASH will define whether GLP-1–based medicines represent effective and safe therapies for people with MAFLD.
Glomerular filtration and diuresis are related to the state of lipids peroxidation in female rats exposed to water-salt loads accompanied by chronic stress
Authors: Żukow Xawery , Zavidnyuk Yuriy
Published: July 2022

Background. It is known about the existence of close functional link between adequate working kidney nephrons and bone metabolism. Focused monitoring of renal function is able to provide substantial assistance in the organization of preventive measures against latently emerging osteoporosis. Activation of lipoperoxidation is known to inhibit glomerular filtration, whereas antioxidants prevent this. We set ourselves the goal of clarifying correlations between glomerular filtration, as well as tubular water reabsorption and daily diuresis, on the one hand, and lipoperoxidation parameters, on the other hand. Materials and Methods. Experiment was performed on 50 healthy female Wistar rats 240-290 g, both intact and exposed to water-salt loads. By the size of the diuresis and the level of creatinine in plasma and urine, glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption were calculated. The plasma levels of diene conjugates and malondyaldehide as well as catalase of plasma and superoxide dismutase of erythrocytes were determined. The levels of the first three parameters determined in urine too. Results. In conditions of water-salt loads accompanied by chronic stress, glomerular filtration is downregulated by malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase; diuresis is also downregulated by malondialdehyde, but upregulated by catalase. Lipoperoxidation parameters determine kidney function by 52,8%. Conclusion. The obtained data indicate the role of lipoperoxidation as a accompaniment of chronic stress in the regulation of kidney functions.