bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constraint on regional land surface air temperature projections in CMIP6 multi-model ensemble
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wu Tongwen , Li Laurent , Furtado Kalli , Xie Chengjun , Zheng Mengzhe , Zhao He , Zhou Yumeng
Published: September 2022

The reliability of the near-land-surface air temperature (LSAT) projections from the state-of-the-art climate-system models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase six (CMIP6) is debatable, particularly on regional scales. Here we introduce a new method of constructing a constrained multi-model-ensemble (CMME), based on rejecting models that fail to reproduce observed LSAT trends. We use the CMME to constrain future LSAT projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 5-8.5 (SSP5-8.5) in the 21st century; this scenario represents the high end of the range of future pathway uncertainty. In comparison with the “raw” (unconstrained) CMIP6 multi-model ensemble (MME) mean, the impact of the observation-based constraint is less than 0.1 oC/100years at global scale over the 21st century. However, the regional results show a wider range of positive and negative adjustments from -1.0oC/100years to 1 oC/100years. The ideal 1pctCO2 experiment suggests that the response of LSAT to carbon dioxide (CO2) forcing on regional scales is responsible for the MME biases in historical period, indicating the higher reliability of CMME in the 21st century projections. The advantage of CMME is that it goes beyond the idea of “model democracy” assumed in MME. The unconstrained CMIP6 MME may be overestimating the risks of future warming over North America, Europe, and North Africa, but underestimating the risks over Asia.
Does vitamin D deficiency really increase the risk of post-surgical hypoparathyroidism?
Authors: Vilar José Alberto , Ramírez Joaquín Gómez , Brabyn Philip , Puerta Ana , Gonzalez Alberto , Cebrián José María
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypoparathyroidism is the most frequent complication after total thyroidectomy. The identification of preoperative predictors could be helpful to identify patients at risk. The aim of this study is to determine if preoperative vitamin D levels are related to transient, protracted, and permanent hypoparathyroidism.
METHOD: A prospective, observational study that includes 100 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy.
RESULTS: Transient hypoparathyroidism was present in 42% of patients, 11% developed protracted hypoparathyroidism and 5% permanent hypoparathyroidism.
The median preoperative Vitamin D levels were higher in patients who developed transient hypoparathyroidism than in patients without this complication (24 ng/mL [RIQ 13-31] vs. 17 ng/mL [RIQ 10-24]; p=0.024). Patients with preoperative vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL had a lower percentage of transient hypoparathyroidism (31.4% vs. 53.1%; p=0.028). The prevalence of protracted and permanent hypoparathyroidism in both groups was similar. Patients with preoperative vitamin D levels lower than 20 pg/mL had higher median PTH levels 24 hours after surgery, (37.7 ± 28.2 pg/ml vs. 23.6 ± 18.6 pg/ml; p=0.037), and suffered a lower postoperative PTH decline (46.2 ± 35.4 % vs. 61 ± 29 %; p=0.026).
CONCLUSIONS:Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a lower transient hypoparathyroidism rate, higher median PTH levels 24 hours after surgeryand a lower postoperative PTH decline. We found no association between preoperative vitamin D and the development of protracted or permanent hypoparathyroidism.
The time course of social and non-social implicit Sense of Agency
Authors: Silver Crystal A , Tatler Benjamin W , Chakravarthi Ramakrishna , Timmermans Bert
Published: September 2022

Sense of Agency (SoA) is the responsibility felt over our actions and their effects. Social Agency is when SoA occurs in a social context. Whether and how SoA and Social Agency differ remains largely unknown. As non-social interaction is fundamentally governed by the laws of physics and material properties, action-effect contiguity is expected. This is not so when interacting with conspecifics, who we know act under their own volition, at a time of their choosing. Therefore, temporal contingency is a characteristic where social and non-social agency may differ. In three experiments, this exploratory study directly compared the time course of implicit SoA in social and non-social cooperative interactions by varying action-effect intervals. Participants were told they were a) interacting via live webcams with another person (social condition), b) interacting with pre-recorded videos (non-social condition) or c) observing two pre-recorded videos (control condition; Experiment 3). Results across all experiments showed greater implicit agency effects for social compared to non-social conditions through Temporal Binding (i.e., the perceived compression of action-effect interval duration; TB), and this to a proportionally comparable degree across all action-effect intervals. Further, in Experiments 1 and 2, there was consistent social TB throughout, whereas non-social TB decreased during the second half. In Experiment 3, the non-social condition did not differ from control, whereas the social condition did, exhibiting enhanced binding. These findings indicate that implicit Social Agency is enhanced, compared to non-social agency, in cooperative interaction. Social Agency also exhibits TB effects at shorter action-effect intervals than non-social agency.
Robot Grasp Detection using Inverted Residual Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Gu Ye , Zhu Bao , Du Yawei
Published: September 2022

In this work, we develop a modular robotic system to predict single or multiple grasping poses specifically for parallel-plate robotic grippers using RGB and depth images. An end-to-end Inverted Residual Convolutional Neural Network (IR-ConvNet) model is proposed. The model uses state-of-the art Fused-MBconv blocks for feature extraction. Transposed Convolution is applied to up-sample the feature maps to thesize of the input. The grasp proposals can be inferred from the three-channel output feature maps. Given the efficient number of parameters, the model can run in real-time. The proposed model is evaluated on two public grasping datasets and a set of casual objects. The best model variant can achieve accuracy of 97.8%and 96.6% on image-wise splitting and object-wise splitting tests on Cornell Grasp Dataset respectively. The Jacquard Dataset accuracy is 93.9%. Finally, a robotic arm UR-5 is used to implement the detected grasps. The experimental results show effectiveness of the proposed robot grasping detection and implementation system.
The Typology of Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Concerns toward COVID-19 Vaccine and its Association with Vaccine Injection in Medical Sciences Students
Authors: Solimani Zeinab , Mahmoodi Hamed , Rezapour Maysam , Amiri Hadis
Published: September 2022

Background: Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Concerns (KAPC) are important components for Covid19 vaccine. The study pursues are 1- Classification of students based on KAPC about COVID-19 vaccine. 2- Determining the relationship between these patterns.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. For analyzing data, we conducted a latent Profile analysis to identify subgroups of COVID-19 Vaccine KAPC patterns, then the association between typology of KAPC and vaccine injection was measured by logistic regression analysis. In addition, the scores of KAPC were compared by ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.
Results: The results showed three patterns of COVID-19 Vaccine KAPC, including "Moderate to up for KAPC" (pro-file1: 70.5%), “High Knowledge, Attitude, Practices & Low Concerns" (profile2: 25.4%), “Moderate Knowledge & Low Attitude, Practices & High Concerns" (profile3: 4.1%). Students in the three profiles differed significantly in their KAPC factors. The individuals with membership in profile 2 and profile 3 relative to profile 1 have 73% and 99% less odds to vaccine inject. Conclusions: Patterns have various distribution in vaccine injection. It seems that governmental authorities should take measures to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the people appropriate to each profile as well as identify any obstacles to their promotion.
Bloodstream infections due to Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in hematological patients: assessment of risk factors for mortality and treatment options
Authors: Zhang Lining , Zhen Sisi , Shen Yuyan , Zhang Tingting , Wang Jieru , Li Jia , Lin Qingsong , Xiao Zhijian , Zheng Yizhou , Jiang Erlie , Han Mingzhe , Wang Jianxiang , Feng Sizhou
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are associated with poor outcomes in hematological patients. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality and evaluate the value of epidemiological feature of carbapenemases in guiding antimicrobial treatment options.
Methods
Hematological patients with CRE BSI between January 2012 and April 2021 were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality 30 days after BSI onset.
Results
A total of 94 patients were documented in the study period. Escherichia coli was the most common Enterobacteriaceae, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. 66 CRE strains were tested for carbapenemase genes, and 81.8% (54/66) were positive, including NDM (36/54), KPC (16/54), IMP (1/54). Besides, one E. coli isolate was found to express both NDM and OXA-48-like genes. Overall, 28 patients received an antimicrobial treatment containing ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI), of which 21 cases were combined with aztreonam. The remaining 66 patients were treated with other active antibiotics (OAAs). The 30-day mortality rate was 28.7% (27/94) for all patients, and was only 7.1% ((2/28) for patients treated with CAZ-AVI. In multivariate analysis, the presence of septic shock at BSI onset (OR 10.526, 95% CI 1.376–76.923) and pulmonary infection (OR 6.289, 95% CI 1.351–29.412) were independently risk factors for 30-day mortality. Comparing different antimicrobial regimens, CAZ-AVI showed a significant survive benefit than OAAs (OR 0.068, 95% CI 0.007–0.651).
Conclusion
CAZ-AVI-containing regimen is superior to OAAs for CRE BSI. As the predominance of blaNDM in our center, we recommend the combination with aztreonam when choose CAZ-AVI.
Efficacy and prognostic factor of ventricul-operitoneal shunt in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis with intracranial hypertension
Authors: Luo Lun , Cao Cheng'an , Chen Chuan , He Haiyong , Zhang Baoyu , Ling Cong , Guo Ying
Published: September 2022

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) combined with intracranial hypertension is associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and prognostic factor of ventriculo-peritoneal(V-P) shunt in the non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) CM patients withintracranial hypertension.
Methods: A total of 136non-HIV CM patients with intracranial hypertension treated in our hospital from July 2010 to December 2019 wereretrospectively included. Fifty-seven patients underwent V-P shunt placement (the Shunt group) and 79 patients received conservative therapy (the conservative group). The clinical symptoms after treatment, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests results andtherapeutic outcomes were compared between the groups.
Results: V-P shunt significantly reduced the incidences of headache, vomiting, cranial nerve injury, the intracranial pressure, and CSF leukocyte level in CM patients (all P<0.05). The Shunt group had significantly higher curative rate, shorter seroconversion time, hospitalization time, and disease duration (all P<0.001). However, no significant difference in the survival outcome was observed between groups (P=0.163). Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis showed that seroconversion time was the only independent factor associated with the survival outcome.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that V-P shunt is an effective and safe treatment for non-HIV CM patients combined with intracranial hypertension. Seroconversion time was the only independent factor associated with the survival outcome.
Combined effects of ground pressure, traffic intensity, and travel speed levels on selected soil physical properties.
Authors: Naghdi Ramin , Solgi Ahmad , Rahmani Parviz , Tsioras Petros A.
Published: September 2022

Among the various factors affecting soil compression during wood extraction, travel speed hasn’t received much attention. The objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate the impacts of two tractor types, one light (Massey Ferguson 285) and one heavy model (Timberjack 450C) equipped with different tire sizes and uneven axle loads with regard to forest soil physical properties and rut formation under various traffic frequencies and travel speeds, and (b) examine the relationship between travel speed and soil bulk density. Treatments included six different traffic frequencies (0, 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15 passes) and three travel speed levels (1, 3 and 5 m s− 1) of the two tractors examined on six machine-operating trails with soil moisture contents of 20% and 23%, respectively. The examined light and heavy tractor types had single tires on both axles, dimensioned 750–18 and 24.5–32 at the front and 18.4–30 and 24.5–32 on the rear axle, respectively. Results suggest that bulk density positively correlated with traffic intensity in all examined levels of travel speed. Porosity in the topsoil (0–10 cm) decreased with an increasing number of passes and this trend was also evidenced as the travel speed decreased. The heavy tractor created, in all cases, deeper ruts than those generated by the light tractor. The results indicate that equipment type, traffic intensity, and travel speed exerted significant impacts on the examined soil physical properties and their combinations should be taken into consideration to mitigate the adverse effects of skidding operations.
Leveraging meta-information of products to eliminate bias in an e-commerce grid search
Authors: Gill Mantej Singh , Harshith John
Published: September 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Parametric study on the bimetallic cladding silica waveguide surface plasmon resonance sensor
Authors: Yang Shuqing , Ji Lanting , Zhao Shanshan , Su Juan , Wu Chi
Published: September 2022

SPR is dedicated to the measurement of liquid refractive index. Compared with near-infrared and infrared bands, the absorption coefficient of water to visible red band is relatively low. We propose the scheme of silica on silicon and bimetallic layer, which not only reduces the light absorption of water, but also achieves higher sensing performance. In this paper, a parametric study on the bimetallic silver-gold film silica waveguide surface plasmon resonance sensor is performed by using finite element method. Red light that has a low transmission loss in water is adopted as the signal. Magnesium fluoride located between the waveguide and metal film functions as a low RI buffer layer to better couple waveguide mode and SPP mode. The effects of waveguide geometric parameters and operating wavelength on the sensing performance are investigated. Simulation results show that the buffer layer, Cr adhesion layer, operating wavelength and the Ag to Au ratio have a significant influence on surface plasmon resonance. At a bimetal thickness of Au(7nm)Ag(35nm), the sensitivity is as high as 4285 dB/RIU within the refractive index range from 1.358 to 1.365.
Diverting Stoma Prevents Symptomatic Anastomotic Leakage but Not Intra-abdominal Infection After Low Anterior Resection
Authors: Han Tianxiao , Wu Zhouqiao , Wang Qi , Wang Yiding , Shan Fei , Ji Jiafu , Li Ziyu
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Anastomotic leakage (AL) remains a devastating complication following low anterior resection (LAR) for left colorectal cancer. Previous studies have identified several factors to predict it. However, evidence seems conflicting, especially in the role of diverting stoma (DS). In this prospective cohort study, we specifically defined intra-abdominal infection (IAI) and AL to determine risk factors and the effectiveness of DS.
Methods
182 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer undergoing LAR from January 2017 to December 2020 were included in our analysis and divided into IAI, including AL and other IAI, or non-IAI group. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory information were collected. We carried out univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify predictors of IAI, AL and other IAI.
Results
Twenty-two of 182 patients (12.1%) developed IAI; of 22, 14 developed AL. IAI was associated with prolonged hospital stay (median 26 days vs 13 of non-IAI; P < 0.001). Eight patients with diverting stoma exhibited later diagnosis, seven of whom suffered from other intra-abdominal infections. Multivariate regression analyses showed that diverting stoma was not predictive for the whole, but protective against AL and indicative of other IAI. (HR = 0.026 and 8.952; P = 0·016 and 0.047; respectively). One published nomogram had an AUC of 0.47 (95% CI 0.34–0.60) and was not well calibrated in our cohort.
Conclusion
We outlined the whole picture of risk factors in IAI and demonstrated the effectiveness of DS in subdivided IAI populations. This will contribute to more precise peri-operation management.
The effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the expression of proteins involved in autophagy, apoptosis, and atrophy pathways in the myocardium of male rats with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Daryanoosh Farhad , Moghadam Mohammad Sherafati , Pahlavani Hamed Alizadeh , Bahmanbeglou Neda Aghaei , Mirzaei Sajad
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Autophagy, apoptosis, and atrophy pathways are responsible for controlling cardiac cell homeostasis. This study aims to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the expression of proteins involved in autophagy, apoptosis, and atrophy pathways in the myocardium of type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods

In this experimental study, 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats (2 months old, weighing 280 ± 20 g) were selected. 12 rats were made diabetic through intraperitoneal injection of STZ and nicotinamide solutions. These rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, HIIT + diabetes (HIIT + D), and diabetic (6 rats in each group). A control group (6 rats) was also considered. The HIIT + D group did HIIT protocol 4 days a week for 8 weeks. To analyze the data, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were used.

Results

It was shown that HIIT leads to a significant increase in AKT and mTOR protein content between the HIIT + D and diabetic groups in the left ventricle. But there is no significant change in the content of AMPK proteins. The content of FOXO3a, Beclin1, P53, myostatin, and SMAD2/3 proteins showed a significant decrease in the HIIT + D group. The protein content of caspase-3 in the activated form did not show a significant change, but there was a significant decrease in the content of the initial form (Pro).

Conclusion

HIIT along with increasing regulation of AKT and mTOR proteins can disable autophagy, apoptosis, and atrophy pathways. Therefore, the process of apoptosis and atrophy of heart cells is reduced in type 2 diabetic rats.
A Study on Skin Irritation in Children undergoing Orthodontic Facemask Therapy
Authors: Kim Harim , Kim Jung-Suk , Kim Cheol-Soon , Becker-Weimann Su Youn , Cha Jung-Yul , Choi Sung-Hwan
Published: September 2022

Orthodontic facemask is an extraoral orthodontic appliance used in children with skeletal Class III malocclusion to influence the maxillary and mandibular developments in a favorable direction. While the use of facemask is the most effective in patients before the growth peak, skin irritation is often observed during the treatment. Thus, the present retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of such skin changes and distinguish the possible factors associated with them. Patient age and sex; orthodontic parameters, expressing the severity of malocclusion; the presence of complaints in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) areas; and the level of patient cooperation were evaluated. Additionally, in patients with skin reactions the severity and onset time were further analyzed. The results indicated that 43.5% of the patients experienced skin changes, which were characteristic for irritant contact dermatitis. The presence of TMJ complaints, and female sex were found to have a statistically significant correlation with the occurrence of skin irritation. Furthermore, skin irritation was observed more frequently in younger patients. Clinicians should give a particular attention to the skin areas, which come in contact with the appliance at every visit in order to detect any potential problems. Moreover, patients and parents should be provided with sufficient information, regarding the possibility, prevention and management of skin problems during facemask therapy.
Endovascular embolization of visceral artery aneurysm: A retrospective study
Authors: Gong Chi , Sun Ming-Sheng , Leng Rui , Ren Hua-Liang , Zheng Kai , Wang Sheng-Xing , Zhu Ren-Ming , Li Chun-Min
Published: September 2022

Objectives To compare the short- to mid-term prognosis of coil embolization for symptomatic visceral artery aneurysm (SVAA) and asymptomatic visceral artery aneurysm (ASVAA), to identify risk factors associated with 30-day mortality. Explore the symptomatic features and intrinsic associations of SVAA.
Method A retrospective study of 66 consecutive patients at two tertiary care hospitals from 2010-2020 compared the short- to mid-term outcomes of 22 symptomatic VAAs and 44 asymptomatic VAAs treated with coil embolization. Univariate and log-rank tests were used to analyze the prognostic impact of SVAA and ASVAA.
Results Dyslipidemia were significance differences between the two groups(P=0.010). SVAA group had significantly higher 30-day mortality than ASVAA group (2(9.1%) vs 0, P=0.042), both patients who died had symptomatic pseudoaneurysms. Perioperative complications such as end-organ ischemia (0.293) and reintervention (P=1) were similar in both groups. No difference in event-free survival was identified between the two groups(P=0.900), but we found that the majority of pseudoaneurysms were SVAA (4/5) and that they had a much higher event rate than true aneurysms.
Conclusion Coil embolization is a safe and effective method of treatment for VAA. Most pseudoaneurysms have symptoms such as abdominal pain and bleeding, and in view of their risk, more attention should be paid to symptomatic patients and the nature of the aneurysm should be determined as soon as possible to determine the next stage of treatment.
Photoelectrocatalytic Treatment and Resource Utilization of Industrial Waste Salt for Chlor-Alkali Electrolysis
Authors: Zhou Huan , Zhou He , Tang Langlang , Hong Xinlin
Published: September 2022

Pesticides, fine chemicals and many other chemical industries usually produce a large amount of waste solid salt which is detrimental to the environment when treated by burning and rigid landfill. In contrast to traditional disposal strategies, resource utilization of waste salt is beneficial for both the environment and economy. However, the current technique for the resource utilization of waste salt, such as nanofiltration, is high-cost and hard to popularize. In this study, the photoelectrocatalytic treatment of waste salt obtained from the glyphosate industry and its utilization as a raw material for chlor-alkali electrolysis are proved feasible. The waste salt consists mainly of NaCl, with ~1.31 wt% of organic impurities. By virtue of photoelectrocatalytic treatment with a TiO2 nanotube electrode, the percentage of the total organic carbon (PTOC) of the waste salt, which was prepared into the brine, can be reduced to 5*10⁻4, with a removal ratio of 85%, and it is able to meet the standard of refined brine in the chlor-alkali industry (PTOC<2*10⁻4) after further treatment. A study on the photoelectrocatalytic mechanism reveals that the main oxidative substances contributing to the degradation are holes (h⁺) and chlorine active substances other than Cl· under the condition of high Cl⁻ concentration. The organic impurities in the waste salt are poisonous to both the electrode and membrane in the process of chlor-alkali electrolysis, leading to an increase in the voltage. With photoelectrocatalytic treatment, most of the organic impurities can be removed so that the waste salt can be utilized as a raw material for chlor-alkali electrolysis.
Chemical composition of rainwater and the acid neutralization effect at Tartous and Kadmous sites in coastal area of Syria
Authors: Al-Charideh A. , Nasser S.
Published: September 2022

The chemical compositions were measured in rainwater samples collected from December 2019 to March 2021 from two representative sites; Tartous city and sub-urban of Kadmous. Both sites were located on the east Mediterranean coast of western Syria. The rainwater was alkaline with a volume-weighted mean (VWM) pH of 6.94 and 6.46 at Tartous and Kadmous respectively. Tartous had much higher concentrations of total ions in rainwater (2505µeq/L) than those in rainwater at Kadmous (836µeq/L). Ca2+, the most abundant ion with a VWM concentration of 738µeq/L and 269µeq/L and accounted for 30% of the total ionic at both sites. The SO42− and NO3− concentration of rainwater in Tartous was three and six times that in Kadmous. The strong coefficient of (nssSO42− + NO3−) vs.(Ca2+) correlation (r = 0.9) indicates that Ca2+ ion is the major neutralizing factor and the percentages of the potential acidity neutralize by Ca2+ were 77% and 79% in rainwater respectively. The high coefficient of Na+ and Cl− correlation (r = 0.99) indicated marine components at both sites. Using Na+ as an indicator of marine origin, and Ca2+ for the terrestrial inputs, the proportions of sea salt and terrestrial elements were estimated from elemental ratios. The nss-Ca contribution was observed as 98% suggesting their crustal origin whereas nss-Mg and nss-K show their contribution as 67%, 54% and 96% and 69% respectively indicating the influence of soil sources. The nss-SO42− 77.4% and 84.7% and NO3− more than 98% at both sites suggested the effects by anthropogenic sources mainly comprising industrial, vehicular, fossil fuel combustion, agricultural and residential activities.
Correlates of Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older adults in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): Results from the KASADS Study
Authors: Simo-Tabue Nadine , Boucaud-Maitre Denis , Gebhard Pierre , Villeneuve Roxane , Rinaldo Leila , Dartigues Pr Jean-François , Drame Pr Moustapha , Tabue-Teguo Pr Maturin
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the correlates of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults in Guadeloupe.
METHODS: We used the KArukera Study of Aging - Drugs Storage (KASADS), an observational, cross-sectional study on community-dwelling older people living in Guadeloupe. A visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 was used to assess HRQoL.
RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 115 patients aged 65 years or older; 67.8% were women. Participants were 76 (± 7.8) years old with a mean HRQoL of 66,2 (±20,3). The correlates of HRQoL were complaints of pain (p<0.001) and IADL dependency (p=0.030) after adjustment. We found no significant interactions between HRQoL and the other variables, such as marital status, socio-educational level and cognitive decline.
CONCLUSION: Pain and IADL dependency were independently associated with lower HRQoL in community-dwelling older people in Guadeloupe.
Angular engineering for the enhancement of surface nonlinear frequency conversion in centrosymmetric topological semimetal HfGe0.92Te
Authors: Zhao Qiming , Chen Long , Liang Fei , Wang Shuxian , Wang Gang , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin
Published: September 2022

Surface nonlinear optics lays at the heart of integrated photonics and micro-nano optoelectronics, whose efficiency is restricted by the finite nonlinear susceptibility of matter and the intrinsic atomic-layered interaction length between light and matter. Herein, we originally demonstrate that the centrosymmetric topological semimetal HfGe0.92Te crystal possesses a giant and anisotropic surface second-order nonlinear susceptibility up to 5535 ± 308 pm·V− 1 and manifests efficient and unprecedented second-harmonic generation (SHG) based on the angular engineering strategy. The maximum optical conversion efficiency is up to 3.75‰, a value that is 1015 orders of magnitude larger than the conventional surface SHG. Benefiting from the linear dispersion in a large energy range around the Dirac points, we find that this high conversion efficiency can be maintained with the SHG wavelengths ranging from the visible region to the deep ultraviolet one (515 nm-257.5 nm). Our work may open the door for the development of topological photonics and integrated nonlinear photonics based on topological semimetals.
Latent Subtypes of Childhood Psychological Maltreatment and their Links to Adult Mental Health in China and the UK
Authors: Xiao Zhuoni , Obsuth Ingrid , Meinck Franziska , Murray Aja
Published: September 2022

Background
Though links between childhood maltreatment and mental health have been established, little known about how specific types of childhood maltreatment tend to cluster and how the resulting patterns of exposure impact mental health outcomes.
Method
The current study used latent profile analyses in Chinese (N = 544) and UK (N = 589) samples to identify childhood psychological maltreatment profiles (i.e., profiles of psychological abuse, psychological neglect, and psychological non-support) in different country contexts, and their associations with a range of mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, anger, physical aggression, verbal aggression, and hostility), and broader well-being (i.e., self-esteem) outcomes.
Results
Four profiles were identified in both samples, but their nature differed between the Chinese sample (“Psychological Non-support”, “Low-Maltreated”, “High-Maltreated”, and “Severe-Maltreated”) and the UK sample (“Low-Maltreated”, “Moderate-Maltreated”, “High-Maltreated”, and “Severe-Maltreated”). Individuals in the “Psychological Non-support” in China and “Low-Maltreated” class in the UK displayed better mental health outcomes – lower levels of depression, anxiety, and aggression, and higher self-esteem. In contrast, individuals in the “Sever-Maltreated” profiles in both the Chinese and UK samples displayed poorer mental health outcomes – higher depression, anxiety, and aggression, and lower self-esteem. Interventions and prevention efforts are needed for individuals categorized in the “Sever-Maltreated” profile.
Conclusion
Further research is needed to illuminate contextual differences in psychological maltreatment profiles and their links to mental health.
Bringing Antarctica to the lab: A polar desert environmental chamber to study the response of Antarctic microbial communities to climate change
Authors: Monteiro Maria R. , Marshall Alexis J. , Lee Charles K. , McDonald Ian R. , Cary Stephen C.
Published: September 2022

Polar deserts contain unique and sensitive communities responsive to climate-associated habitat changes. However, unlike temperate desert ecosystems, characterizing and predicting the responses of polar ecosystems to environmental change remains a significant challenge due to logistical constraints. Here we aim to demonstrate the use of a custom-designed Polar Desert Environmental Chamber (PDEC) to perform off-continent experimental ecological research. We did so by characterizing the structure and composition of arid edaphic bacterial communities collected from the McMurdo Dry Valleys during a simulated wetting event. The results were discussed in light of previous field observations. Rapid structural and compositional changes were observed during wetting and re-drying treatments. Those were driven by changes in the relative abundance of co-existing taxa, which fluctuated asynchronously over time in response to the treatments. While selection was the main ecological factor attributed to the changes observed during the initial wetting, over time, neutral processes began to drive community assembly in communities that remained wet. Ultimately, this observation reflects the presence of microbial taxa with divergent adaptations to water stress, which can be argued as beneficial to increasing resilience in polar deserts. Our findings demonstrate that experiments conducted in PDEC provide valuable contextual data on community response to environmental change and can accelerate our ability to assess biological thresholds to change within polar desert ecosystems. We advocate that, with careful consideration of key emulated environmental attributes, laboratory-based Antarctic research can complement fieldwork to achieve a nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the ecology of Antarctica's ice-free regions.
Analysis for Osteoarthritis of the Ankle Joint in a Mouse Model of Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Kim Ju Young , Eun So Young , Kim Do Kyun , Yoo Byung Min , Lee Sung Hyun
Published: September 2022

Background
Ankle sprains are the most common orthopedic pathology experienced during sports and physical activity and often result in chronic ankle instability (CAI). The purpose of this study was to assess osteoarthritic changes in the ankle joint in a surgical CAI mouse model.
Method
The experiments were performed using 14-week-old ICR male mice (n = 19). Mice were randomly placed into the SH group (sham; control, n = 5), ATFL group (resected anterior talofibular ligament; mild ankle sprain, n = 7), or ATFL + CFL group (resected anterior talofibular ligament / calcaneofibular ligament; severe, n = 7) and housed individually. Behavioral analysis using the frequency of standing on the hind leg was performed. To evaluate the clinical severity of arthritis, bodyweight, paw thickness, and ankle thickness were assessed immediately before sacrifice. Immunohistochemical staining and micro-computed tomography were performed to analyze the arthritic changes of the ankle joint. Serological analysis of inflammatory cytokines and C-terminal telopeptide of type I bone resorption markers was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results
Compared with the control group, the ATFL + CFL group significantly aggravated the clinical severity of arthritis. In the ATFL and ATFL + CFL groups, the number of mice standing on the hind leg was significantly decreased. ELISA confirmed that the inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in the ATFL + CFL group. C-terminal telopeptide of type I levels were increased in the ATFL + CFL group but the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that the surgical induction of chronic ankle instability (ATFL + CFL) in a mouse model results in the development of osteoarthritis of an ankle joint.
Evaluation of circulating renin-angiotensin system components in pediatric patients with acute leukemia: a pilot study
Authors: Pena Ana Luísa Batista , de Castro Pedro Alves Soares Vaz , Severo Renata Gomes , Ribeiro João Paulo Ferreira , Silva Ana Cristina Simões e
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Acute leukemia (AL) is the most common cancer of childhood. In recent years, there has been an important advance in the survival rate of these patients. The objective of this study was to assess whether there is an association between the blood levels of Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) molecules in children with acute AL and disease presentation and evolution in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a group of pediatric patients with AL. We measured blood levels of Angiotensin II (Ang II) and Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] by enzyme immunoassay. The Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratio was calculated as a parameter of the balance between the alternative and classical axes of the RAS. Results: Eleven patients with AL and 20 healthy controls matched by sex and age were included. Patients with AL had significantly higher levels of both peptides when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratio between the two groups. A strong and positive correlation was detected between Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels in patients with AL (r = 0.853; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the levels of Ang II and Ang-(1-7), as well as the Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratio, the type of AL and clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Both Ang-(1-7) and Ang II seem to be involved in the physiopathology of AL and other molecules of the RAS could be potentially explored for the development of new therapeutic options for AL.
Total neoadjuvant treatment (consolidation chemotherapy) provides highest rate of clinical complete response for rectal cancer: analysis of 5-year long-term oncological outcomes with watch and wait protocol
Authors: Asoglu Oktar , Bulut Alisina , Aliyev Vusal , Piozzi Guglielmo Niccolò , Guven Koray , Bakır Barıs , Goksel Suha
Published: September 2022

Aim

To reveal whether chemoradiotherapy-consolidation chemotherapy (CRT-CNCT) treatment provides more organ preservation in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and its effect on oncological outcomes.

Method

Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained database was performed. Oncological outcomes of mid-low LARC patients (n = 60) were analyzed after a follow-up of 63 (50–83) months. Patients with clinical complete response (cCR) were treated with the watch-and-wait (WW) protocol. Patients who could not achieve cCR were treated with total mesorectal excision (TME) or local excision (LE).

Results

Thirty-nine (65%) patients who achieved cCR were treated with the WW protocol. TME was performed in 15 (25%) patients and LE was performed in 6 (10%) patients. During the follow-up period, 10 (25.6%) patients in the WW group had regrowth (RG) and 3 (7.6%) had distant metastasis (DM). 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 90.1% and 71.6%, respectively, in WW group. 5-y OS and DFS were 94.9% (95% CI: 88–100%) and 80% (95% CI: 55.2–100%), respectively, in the RG group. 5-y OS and DFS were 90.1% (95% CI: 78.9–100%) and 96.6% (95% CI: 89.9–100%) in the non-RG group. 5-y OS and DFS were 78% (95% CI: 55.8–100%) and 60% (95% CI: 35.2–84.8%) in TME group.

Conclusion

CRT-CNCT provides cCR as high as 2/3 of LARC patients. While the WW protocol provides organ preservation, RGs developed during follow-up can be successfully salvaged without causing oncological disadvantage.
Is YouTube a reliable tool for approaching Robotic-assisted Transabdominal Preperitoneal (RTAPP) surgery? a critical review of the available resources
Authors: Sanchez Alexis , Rodriguez Omaira , Medina Manuel , Vegas Liumariel , Couto Francisco , Mogollon Ivan , Inchausti Cristina
Published: September 2022

Inguinal hernia is one of the most common surgical conditions, with an incidence of 27 to 43% in men and 3 to 6% in women. Surgical repair of inguinal hernia must adhere to the 10 golden rules to achieve optimal results. Robotic assisted transabdominal preperitoneal (RTAPP) is a relatively new technique for the management of this pathology. Trainee surgeons often review surgical videos to familiarize themselves with new techniques. The most reviewed video platform by surgeons in training is YouTube, 86 to 92% of trainee surgeons have used this platform to become acquainted with new surgical techniques. Due to the lack of peer review or medical verification, YouTube videos may represent an unreliable source of educational material The objective of this study is to perform a thorough critical analysis of the 10 most viewed Robotic assisted transabdominal preperitoneal (RTAPP) related videos on YouTube to determine their compliance with the ten golden rules.
Determining the Incidence of Heart Malformations in Neonates: A Novel Clinically Approved Solution
Authors: Bordbar Arash , Kashaki Mandana , Vafapour Maryam , Sepehri Amir A.
Published: September 2022

Background: Screening for critical congenital heart defects should be done as early as possible and is essential to save lives and reduce the incidence of undetected adult congenital heart diseases. Over 50% of neonates with heart malformations remain unrecognized at birth. Accurate screening for congenital heart malformations is achievable using a certified and internationally patented digital intelligent phonocardiography machine. This study aimed to assess the actual incidence of newborn heart defects in a well-baby nursery and evaluate digital intelligent phonocardiogram screening for critical congenital heart defects.
Methods: We conducted the “Neonates Cardiac Monitoring Research Project” (ethics approval number: IR-IUMS-FMD. REC.1398.098) at the Shahid Akbarabadi Maternity Hospital. This study is a retrospective analysis of screening congenital heart malformation in 840 neonates. Randomly, 840 neonates from the well-baby nursery underwent standard clinical examinations at birth and digital intelligent phonocardiogram examination in a double-blinded format. Pediatric cardiologist performed echocardiography for each neonate classified as abnormal using the intelligent machine or routine medical examinations. If a follow up was demanded by the pediatric cardiologist, the neonate was considered as having a congenital heart malformation and the cumulative incidence proportion was calculated accordingly.
Results: The incidence of heart malformations in the well-baby nursery was 5%, and 44% of neonates with heart malformations were unrecognized at birth based on the standard medical examination results, including those with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD). An intelligent phonocardiogram recognized 100% of neonates with heart malformations.
Conclusion: We accurately and cost-effectively screened for congenital heart malformations in all neonates in our hospital using a digital intelligent phonocardiogram. We detected neonates with CCHD and congenital heart defects using an intelligent machine; these could not be detected using standard medical examinations. In addition, the intelligent machine interpreted innocent murmurs as healthy heart sounds.
THE INFLUENCE OF ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE IN ACHIEVING THE INTERNATIONALACCOUNTING STANDARD BOARDS QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Authors:   Finance Directorate, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana., Said YakubuIssahaku , Aliu Adam ,   Finance Directorate, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Published: September 2022

Purpose:Financial reporting quality and interpretation is instrumental in the provision of stewardship and complaiance with applicable standards and regulations. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of accounting software in the achievement of the InternationalAccounting Standard Boards (IASB) Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Information. It provides empirical evidence from public universities in Northern Ghana. Research methodology:The study used quantitative method. Data gathered through questionnaire from a sample of one hundred and twentypublic universities staff, who use accounting software in the processing of financial statements. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) 16.0used for the data analysis. Results:The findings concluded thatfour variablesnamel: efficiency, ease of use, data quality, and accuracy have significant influence on IASBs qualitative charactericticsof financial information, while reliability have no influence on IASBs qualitative characterictics of financial information. The regression result confirmed that, on aggregate, accounting software have significant impact on IASBs qualitative characterictics of financial information. Limitations: The study limited by the study useof few characteristics of accounting software namely efficiency, reliability, ease of use, data quality, and accuracy and a limited number of public universities. Future research would be interested in using wider characteristics of accounting software and wider number of universities. Contribution:The findings in this study are expected to help management to invest more in technological financial tools and accounting software that can help them to fulfill their responsibility of preparation and fair presentation of financial statements to for efficient operation, financial managemt and comply with applicable frameworks, regulations, and standards.
DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF THE AQUATIC ENTOMOFAUNA ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE HAUT-BANDAMA WILDLIFE RESERVE AREA OF THE BANDAMA RIVER (CENTRE-NORTH, COTE DIVOIRE)
Authors:   Laboratory of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Cote dIvoire, BP 150 Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Jean-Renaud Allouko , Armand Kressou ,   Laboratory of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Cote dIvoire, BP 150 Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Kouakou Roland Djene ,   Laboratory of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Cote dIvoire, BP 150 Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Nda Jean-Boris-Mea Obo ,   Laboratory of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Cote dIvoire, BP 150 Daloa, Cote dIvoire., Kotchi Yves Bony ,   Laboratory of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Cote dIvoire, BP 150 Daloa, Cote dIvoire.
Published: September 2022

The section of the Bandama River located in Haut-Bandama Wildlife Reserve was subject to several pressures induced by the anthropic activities that take place there. These activities could have impacts on the structure of biological communities such as aquatic insects which are indicators of the state of the ecological integrity of the environment. This study was conducted to evaluate the diversity and structure of the aquatic entomofauna of this part of Bandama River. Sampling was conducted from January 2018 to February 2019 at 06 sites defined according to the upstream-downstream gradient of the river. Insects were collected using a handled net and aVan Veen bucket. The inventory identified 127 species from 53 families and 10 orders. In this part of Bandama River, the order Hemiptera was the most prevalent with 30 species. The taxa Gerisella sp. (31% of individuals), Dineutus sp. (55%), and Laccophilus sp. (38%) wereabundant in the upstream, median and downstream sections of Bandama River respectively. Also, 33 species were common to all stations. Thraulus sp. AndLispe sp. wereonly found at station BYB, located downstream of this sectionof Bandama River. The distribution of entomofauna was influenced by pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, speed, depth and temperature. The entomological populations in this part of the Bandama River were well diversified and with awell balanced organisation.