bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and potential therapeutic impacts of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Moayedfard Zahra , Sani Farnaz , Alizadeh Aliakbar , Bagheri Lankarani Kamran , Zarei Mohammad , Azarpira Negar
Published: June 2022

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is characterized by intra-hepatocyte triglyceride accumulation and concomitant involvement of the immune system with subsequent histological changes, tissue damage, and clinical findings. There are various molecular pathways involved in the progression of NAFLD including lipotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and the immune response. Both innate and adaptive immune systems are involved in the NAFLD pathogenesis, and crosstalk between the immune cells and liver cells participates in its initiation and progression. Among the various treatments for this disease, new cell based therapies have been proposed. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) (MSC-EVs) are new cell-free vehicles with low immunogenicity, which can suppress detrimental immune responses in inflamed tissues. This review aimed to express the immune system’s molecular pathways associated with the initiation and progression of NAFLD. Then, the possible role of MSC-EVs in the treatment of this entity through immune response modulation was discussed. Finally, engineered EVs enhanced by specific therapeutic miRNA were suggested for alleviating the pathological cellular events in liver disease.
Analysis of the benefits of imputation models over traditional QSAR models for toxicity prediction
Authors: Walter Moritz , Allen Luke N. , de la Vega de León Antonio , Webb Samuel J. , Gillet Valerie J.
Published: June 2022

Recently, imputation techniques have been adapted to predict activity values among sparse bioactivity matrices, showing improvements in predictive performance over traditional QSAR models. These models are able to use experimental activity values for auxiliary assays when predicting the activity of a test compound on a specific assay. In this study, we tested three different multi-task imputation techniques on three classification-based toxicity datasets: two of small scale (12 assays each) and one large scale with 417 assays. Moreover, we analyzed in detail the improvements shown by the imputation models. We found that test compounds that were dissimilar to training compounds, as well as test compounds with a large number of experimental values for other assays, showed the largest improvements. We also investigated the impact of sparsity on the improvements seen as well as the relatedness of the assays being considered. Our results show that even a small amount of additional information can provide imputation methods with a strong boost in predictive performance over traditional single task and multi-task predictive models.
Bifidobacterium BLa80 mitigates colitis by altering gut microbiota and alleviating inflammation
Authors: Dong Yao , Liao Wenyan , Tang Jing , Fei Teng , Gai Zhonghui , Han Mei
Published: June 2022

This study was conducted to explore the therapeutic effect of the probioticBifidobacterium animalissubsp.lactisBLa80 on inflammatory bowel disease. A model of ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administering of 2.5% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 8 days. After developing UC, some mice were treated via intragastric administration of BLa80 at a dose of 109colony-forming units to assess the preventive effects of BLa80 on DSS-induced UC. Compared with non-treated UC model mice, BLa80-treated mice had reduced colon shortening and improvements in colonic tissue structure. Treatment with BLa80 also decreased the serum concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-17 in mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that BLa80 increased gut microbial diversity in mice and modulated UC-associated imbalances in the gut microbiota. BLa80 selectively promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, includingRomboutsiaandAdlercreutzia, the abundances of which were negatively correlated with concentration of cellular inflammatory factors. In summary, the study results demonstrated that pretreatment withB.lactisBLa80 reduced intestinal inflammation and altered the gut microbiota, implying that BLa80 is a promising probiotic strain with potential therapeutic function in UC.
Nitrogen deposition causes eutrophication in bryophyte communities in central and northern European forests
Authors: Weldon James , Merder Julian , Ferretti Marco , Grandin Ulf
Published: June 2022

Key message

Our results indicate that nitrogen deposition is likely to adversely affect forest bryophyte communities, having negative impacts in terms of increased dominance of nitrophilic species at the expense of N-sensitive species and a decrease in evenness.

Context

Elevated atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) has long been recognised as a threat to biodiversity and, despite declines in European emission levels, will remain a threat in the future.

Aims

It has proven difficult to show clear large-scale impacts of N deposition on vascular forest understorey species, and few studies have looked at impacts on forest bryophytes. Here, we assess the impact of nitrogen deposition on forest bryophyte communities.

Methods

We used data from 187 plots included in European monitoring schemes to analyse the relationship between levels of throughfall nitrogen deposition and bryophyte taxonomic and functional diversity and community nitrogen preference.

Results

We found that nitrogen deposition is significantly associated with increased bryophyte community nitrogen preference and decreases in species evenness.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that nitrogen deposition is likely to adversely affect forest bryophyte communities, having negative impacts in terms of increased dominance of nitrophilic species at the expense of N-sensitive species and a decrease in species evenness.
Factors affecting retention of veterinary practitioners in Ireland: a cross-sectional study with a focus on clinical practice
Authors: Ryan Eoin G. , Beatty Stephen H. , Gray Elizabeth , Field Niamh , Liston Rory , Rhodes Victoria , Donlon John
Published: June 2022

Background

Retention of veterinary practitioners has arisen as a significant problem in recent years in Ireland. No prior Irish peer-reviewed publications have addressed this problem. An online questionnaire was available through social media and via email to Irish vets from January to November 2019. The aim of this survey was to ascertain the factors contributing to the problem of vet retention in Ireland.

Results

A total of 370 eligible responses were received. The median age of respondents was 31 and the gender balance was 250 females (68%) to 118 males (32%). The majority of respondents worked in clinical practice 322 (89%), with 138 (42.8%) in mixed practice, 115 (35.7%) in small animal practice, 49 (15.2%) solely with farm animals and 20 (6.2%) in equine practice.

Fifty-four percent of respondents described themselves as likely to be leaving their current job within two years and 32.8% as being likely to leave the profession. In total, 44 variables were assessed by univariate analysis and 27 variables were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the likelihood of a respondent leaving their current job within 2 years (LCJ2), as a proxy measure of the problem of retention. All variables significant on univariate analysis at P < 0.2 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Factors associated with LCJ2 included satisfaction with work-life balance (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.33); satisfaction with working hours (OR 0.2); number of years qualified (OR 0.91); position as a practice owner/partner/director (OR 0.15); and log10salary (OR 0.03).

Four variables were retained in a separate multivariable linear regression model as significant (P < 0.05) predictors of log10salary. Log10salary increased with years qualified. Males had an increased salary compared to females irrespective of years qualified. Part-time employees, vets on maternity leave or postgraduate vets had a lower log10salary. Compared to veterinary employees, self-employed or locum vets had a higher log10salary.

Conclusions

Veterinary employers should consider salary, working hours and the facilitation of a good work-life balance in order to successfully retain veterinary employees. The significant difference in salaries currently offered to male and female vets, and the high percentage of respondents considering leaving the profession, are important findings and warrant further investigation.
Phylogeny-guided microbiome OTU-specific association test (POST)
Authors: Huang Caizhi , Callahan Benjamin J. , Wu Michael C. , Holloway Shannon T. , Brochu Hayden , Lu Wenbin , Peng Xinxia , Tzeng Jung-Ying
Published: June 2022

Background

The relationship between host conditions and microbiome profiles, typically characterized by operational taxonomic units (OTUs), contains important information about the microbial role in human health. Traditional association testing frameworks are challenged by the high dimensionality and sparsity of typical microbiome profiles. Phylogenetic information is often incorporated to address these challenges with the assumption that evolutionarily similar taxa tend to behave similarly. However, this assumption may not always be valid due to the complex effects of microbes, and phylogenetic information should be incorporated in adata-supervisedfashion.

Results

In this work, we propose a local collapsing test called phylogeny-guided microbiome OTU-specific association test (POST). In POST, whether or not to borrow information and how much information to borrow from the neighboring OTUs in the phylogenetic tree are supervised by phylogenetic distance and the outcome-OTU association. POST is constructed under the kernel machine framework to accommodate complex OTU effects and extends kernel machine microbiome tests from community level to OTU level. Using simulation studies, we show that when the phylogenetic tree is informative, POST has better performance than existing OTU-level association tests. When the phylogenetic tree is not informative, POST achieves similar performance as existing methods. Finally, in real data applications on bacterial vaginosis and on preterm birth, we find that POST can identify similar or more outcome-associated OTUs that are of biological relevance compared to existing methods.

Conclusions

Using POST, we show that adaptively leveraging the phylogenetic information can enhance the selection performance of associated microbiome features by improving the overall true-positive and false-positive detection. We developed a user friendly R packagePOSTmwhich is freely available on CRAN (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=POSTm).
Whether and when disclosing the trauma to one’s children in a migratory context? A pilot mixed methods investigation
Authors: Ngameni Elodie Gaëlle , El Husseini Mayssa’ , Dozio Elisabetta , Kokou-Kpolou Cyrille Kossigan , Apter Gisèle , Moro Marie Rose
Published: June 2022

Background

Disclosing traumatic events experienced by parents to their children is a central issue in the intergenerational trauma transmission. However, little is known about this question among migrant population. The main objective of this study was to examine the choice to disclose the traumatic experiences of migrant women in France to their children.

Methods

This pilot study examined fourteen mother–child dyads in which migrant mothers (M = 30 years; range = 19–42 years) were exposed to traumatic events. A sequential mixed method design was used. In addition to the completion of the Impact Event Scale-Revised, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. These data were analyzed using thematic and cross-cultural methods. The survey took place from May 2019 to July 2020.

Results

Our study revealed three profiles of mothers with regard to the choice to disclose the traumatic story to the child: one group of mothers opted for silence (n = 4), the other for disclosure (n = 7) and the last group who were hesitant (n = 3). The modalities of choice were statistically associated with the severity of the post-traumatic stress symptoms, F (2, 11) = 4,62, p < .05. Specifically, women who made the choice of silence (M = 72.75, SD = 4.99) and those hesitated on the choice to disclosure (M = 71.33, SD = 7.51) reported higher scores on IES-R than those who made the choice to disclosure (M = 59.86, SD = 12.44). Six main themes emerged from the thematic and cross-cultural analysis of participants’ narratives: (1) the personalization of the traumatic experience, (2) the child seen as a weapon against collapse, (3) the fear of the child's personal reactions, (4) the possible partial disclosure, (5) the trauma narrative according to the child's age, and (6) the trap of the in-between two cultures.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the recovery of these mothers from their trauma, through culturally appropriate therapeutic care, can effectively contribute to the choice to disclose their traumatic experiences to their children. This treatment can support them in developing open and healthy communication strategies to prevent the transmission of traumatic effects to their children.
Study on the relationship between Bi2S3 with different morphologies and its photocatalytic hydrogen production performance
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Jun Lang , Xiao Jiaxun , Xu Yanqin , Yang Chuanyao , Tang Jinjing , Zhou Kai , Gong Xiangnan , Zhou Xiaoyuan , Zou Hanjun
Published: June 2022

The morphology of a material is considered one of the primary aspects affecting its photocatalytic performance. Various methods have been developed to tailor the morphology of photocatalytic materials for photocatalytic water splitting. Bi2S3 is an excellent photoabsorption material with relatively narrow band gaps. Herein, Bi2S3 samples with different morphologies are successfully prepared via a simple one-step hydrothermal method and employed effectively as visible light-driven photocatalysts for hydrogen production. Electron microscopy technologies were used to characterize the morphology and microstructure of the Bi2S3 samples, which exhibit three kinds of morphologies, namely nanotubes, nanoflowers and nanorods. As a result, the Bi2S3 nanotubes have the largest BET specific surface area and lowest PL intensity, and these characteristics lead to having the best hydrogen production rate. Moreover, the catalysis mechanism is simply explained by studying the relationship between the morphology and microstructure of a material and its photocatalytic performance.
Pre-K teachers’ professional identity development at community-based organizations during universal Pre-K expansion in New York City
Authors: Akaba Sanae , Peters Lacey E. , Liang Eva , Graves Sherryl B.
Published: June 2022

This study examines how policy directives and recommendations implemented during a massive universal Pre-Kindergarten expansion in New York City has impacted teachers’ professional identity. We adapted the critical ecologies of the early childhood profession by Dalli et al. (Early childhood grows up: Towards a critical ecology of the profession. In Early childhood grows up, Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 3–19, 2012) and utilized data from in-depth interviews with teachers at community-based organizations in Pre-K programs. Our thematic analysis of transcripts revealed three themes in relation to teachers’ professional identity: becoming a teacher who can play multiple roles to meet administration’s expectations is necessary; continuously modifying practice based on external support from the leadership and policymakers can be confusing; and having a brand new relationship with administrative bodies presents challenges. Data drawn from these themes reveal external factors that have influence over teachers’ professional identity. As there is heightened attention toward publicly funding early childhood in the U.S., and the need for a respected workforce, the implications of this work includes seeking out teachers’ voices to meet their localized needs to support healthy professional identity development while they adjust their practice in response to the policy change.
Women Have Tendons… and Tendinopathy: Gender Bias is a “Gender Void” in Sports Medicine with a Lack of Women Data on Patellar Tendinopathy—A Systematic Review
Authors: Mondini Trissino da Lodi Camilla , Landini Maria Paola , Asunis Emanuela , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Patellar tendinopathy is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems associated with sport. While commonly perceived as a predominantly male problem, recent epidemiological studies revealed that it also affects a large number of sport-active women. The aim of this systematic review was to understand how the available treatments apply to women affected by patellar tendinopathy.

Methods

We analysed the available literature with a systematic review on three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science) on February 2021, retrieving a total of 136 studies published from 1983.

Results

The overall scientific field offers an astonishingly low number of data on treatment results referring to only 78 women (2%) in the entire literature. Only 5% of the retrieved articles considered focusing only or mostly on men to be a limitation.

Conclusions

Women represent only a minority of patients studied for this topic. The few documented cases are further fragmented by being related to different treatments, thus basically offering no solid evidence for results and limitations of any therapeutic approach in women. This literature analysis showed a greater gender gap than what is recognized in science and general medicine; it showed a gender blindness in sports medicine when investigating a common problem like patellar tendinopathy.
A new, widespread venomous mammal species: hemolytic activity of Sorex araneus venom is similar to that of Neomys fodiens venom
Authors: Kowalski Krzysztof , Marciniak Paweł , Rychlik Leszek
Published: June 2022

Background

Venom production has evolved independently many times in the animal kingdom, although it is rare among mammals. Venomous shrews produce toxins in their salivary glands and use their venoms to hunt and store prey. Thus far, the toxicity and composition of shrew venoms have been studied only in two shrew species: the northern short-tailed shrew,Blarina brevicauda, and the Eurasian water shrew,Neomys fodiens. Venom ofN. fodienshas potent paralytic activity which enables hunting and storing prey in a comatose state. Here, we assayed the hemolytic effects of extracts from salivary glands ofN. fodiensand the common shrew,Sorex araneus, in erythrocytes ofPelophylaxsp. frogs. We identified toxins in shrew venom by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Our results prove, confirming a suggestion made four centuries ago, thatS. araneusis venomous. We also provide the first experimental evidence that shrew venoms produce potent hemolysis in frog erythrocytes. We found significant concentration-dependent effects of venoms ofN. fodiensandS. araneuson hemolysis of red blood cells evaluated as hemoglobin release. Treatment of erythrocytes withN. fodiensvenom at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.5 mg/ml and withS. araneusvenom at concentration of 1.0 mg/ml caused an increased release of hemoglobin. Our findings confirm that hemolytic effects ofN. fodiensvenom are stronger than those produced byS. araneusvenom. We identified four toxins in the venom ofN. fodiens: proenkephalin, phospholipase A2(PLA2), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM) and lysozyme C, as well as a non-toxic hyaluronidase. In the venom ofS. araneuswe found five toxins: proenkephalin, kallikrein 1-related peptidase, beta-defensin, ADAM and lysozyme C. PLA2and ADAMs are likely to produce hemolysis in frog erythrocytes.

Conclusions

Our results clearly show that shrew venoms possess hemolytic action that may allow them to hunt larger prey. Since a member of the numerous genusSorexis venomous, it is likely that venom production among shrews and other eulipotyphlans may be more widespread than it has previously been assumed.
Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations
Authors: Tan A. C. S. , Schwartz R. , Anaya D. , Chatziralli I. , Yuan M. , Cicinelli M. V. , Faes L. , Mustapha M. , Phasukkijwatana N. , Pohlmann D. , Reynolds R. , Rosenblatt A. , Savastano A. , Touhami S. , Vaezi K. , Ventura C. V. , Vogt D. , Ambati J. , de Smet M. D. , Loewenstein A. ,   the International Retina Collaborative
Published: June 2022

Tertiary outpatient ophthalmology clinics are high-risk environments for COVID-19 transmission, especially retina clinics, where regular follow-up is needed for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Intravitreal injection therapy (IVT) for chronic macular diseases, is one of the most common procedures performed, associated with a significant burden of care because of the vigorous treatment regimen associated with multiple investigations. While minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection transmission is a priority, this must be balanced against the continued provision of sight-saving ophthalmic care to patients at risk of permanent vision loss. This review aims to give evidence-based guidelines on managing IVT during the COVID-19 pandemic in common macular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macula edema and retinal vascular disease and to report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected IVT practices worldwide.

To illustrate some real-world examples, 18 participants in the International Retina Collaborative, from 15 countries and across four continents, were surveyed regarding pre- and during- COVID-19 pandemic IVT practices in tertiary ophthalmic centers. The majority of centers reported a reduction in the number of appointments to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 with varying changes to their IVT regimen to treat various macula diseases. Due to the constantly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty about the normal resumption of health services, we suggest that new solutions for eye healthcare provision, like telemedicine, may be adopted in the future when we consider new long-term adaptations required to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collision-aware interactive simulation using graph neural networks
Authors: Zhu Xin , Qian Yinling , Wang Qiong , Feng Ziliang , Heng Pheng-Ann
Published: June 2022

Deep simulations have gained widespread attention owing to their excellent acceleration performances. However, these methods cannot provide effective collision detection and response strategies. We propose a deep interactive physical simulation framework that can effectively address tool-object collisions. The framework can predict the dynamic information by considering the collision state. In particular, the graph neural network is chosen as the base model, and a collision-aware recursive regression module is introduced to update the network parameters recursively using interpenetration distances calculated from the vertex-face and edge-edge tests. Additionally, a novel self-supervised collision term is introduced to provide a more compact collision response. This study extensively evaluates the proposed method and shows that it effectively reduces interpenetration artifacts while ensuring high simulation efficiency.
The SlSHN2 transcription factor contributes to cuticle formation and epidermal patterning in tomato fruit
Authors: Bres Cécile , Petit Johann , Reynoud Nicolas , Brocard Lysiane , Marion Didier , Lahaye Marc , Bakan Bénédicte , Rothan Christophe
Published: June 2022

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an established model for studying plant cuticle because of its thick cuticle covering and embedding the epidermal cells of the fruit. In this study, we screened an EMS mutant collection of the miniature tomato cultivar Micro-Tom for fruit cracking mutants and found a mutant displaying a glossy fruit phenotype. By using an established mapping-by-sequencing strategy, we identified the causal mutation in the SlSHN2 transcription factor that is specifically expressed in outer epidermis of growing fruit. The point mutation in the shn2 mutant introduces a K to N amino acid change in the highly conserved ‘mm’ domain of SHN proteins. The cuticle from shn2 fruit showed a ~ fivefold reduction in cutin while abundance and composition of waxes were barely affected. In addition to alterations in cuticle thickness and properties, epidermal patterning and polysaccharide composition of the cuticle were changed. RNAseq analysis further highlighted the altered expression of hundreds of genes in the fruit exocarp of shn2, including genes associated with cuticle and cell wall formation, hormone signaling and response, and transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, we showed that a point mutation in the transcriptional regulator SlSHN2 causes major changes in fruit cuticle formation and its coordination with epidermal patterning.
Systemic Therapy for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Moving Into a New Era
Authors: Gion Maria , Trapani Dario , Cortés Alfonso , Valenza Carmine , Lin Nancy , Cortés Javier , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer account for approximately 15% to 20% of all breast cancers and represent one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes. Survival rates of patients with metastatic disease have improved dramatically and progressively. Many new agents have been developed, and long-term follow-up from trials of anti-HER2 agents has shown long-term responses. The availability of novel, highly active anti-HER2 treatments, together with the ongoing development of promising diagnostic tools, will offer the unprecedented opportunity to raise cure rates. Our ultimate goal is to tailor treatment intensity to disease and patient characteristics, hopefully increasing the fraction of cured patients while minimizing the risk for overtreatment. If conducted rationally and carefully, this plan has the potential to break a decades-long paradigm, leading to a new, precise era of treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Efficient two-dimensional control of barrier crossing
Authors: Blaber Steven , Sivak David A.
Published: June 2022

Driven barrier crossings are pervasive in optical-trapping experiments and steered molecular-dynamics simulations. Despite the high fidelity of control, the freedom in the choice of driving protocol is rarely exploited to improve efficiency. We design protocols that reduce dissipation for rapidly driven barrier crossing under two-dimensional control of a harmonic trapping potential, controlling both trap center and stiffness. For fast driving, the minimum-dissipation protocol jumps halfway between the control-parameter endpoints. For slow driving, the minimum-dissipation protocol generically slows down and tightens the trap as it crosses the barrier, resulting in both significant energy savings and increased flux compared to naive and one-dimensional protocols (that only change trap center). Combining fast and slow results, we design protocols that improve performance at all speeds.
Rooting Out Injustices from the Top
Authors: Sedrez Lise , Biasillo Roberta
Published: June 2022

The article illustrates the reemergence of the Atlantic Forest biome in Morro da Babilônia, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, due to a reforestation project started in the 1980s conducted by institutional actors and the local community. The forest has played an important role in reinvigorating the sense of community, by legitimizing ownership claims that the community has made over the area, and by serving as a mitigation strategy in a context of increasing climatic-extreme events. In 2019 a team of researchers started an oral history project to document the social and environmental transformation of the favela. Interviews with members of the community and representatives of institutional partners opened up unexpected paths into people's memories and perspectives. In a frame of socioeconomic, political and environmental violence, injustice, and vulnerability, the making of a multispecies city and its related narratives turned out to be instrumental for the community's survival.
Electroanalysis of Simazine Release from Supercritically Derived Nanoferrogels over Polypyrrole/Graphene Oxide Electrodes
Authors: Joshi Pragati , Mehtab Sameena , Zaidi MGH
Published: June 2022

A supercritical carbon dioxide (SCC) assisted process has been developed to synthesize polypyrrole/graphene oxide nanocomposites (PPY/GO) along with control release formulations (CRFs) of poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) and their nanoferrogel (NFG) involving simazine (SZ, 30%, w/w). Working electrodes (WEs) with DC conductivity of 16.58 mS/cm bearing limits (M) of detection of 2.92 × 10−10 and quantification of 9.03 × 10−10 were fabricated from PPY/GO for electroanalysis of SZ released from CRFs in KCl (0.1 M, pH 3.5). Cyclic voltammetry@0.05 to 0.2 V/s in potential ranging −0.2 to −0.7 V reveals enhanced electrochemical response of WEs towards NFG and SZ released from CRFs. Square wave voltammetry in potential ranging from −0.8 to −0.1 V@50 Hz at 200 mV reveals 60% (1.47 × 10−8 M) SZ release from PNIPAM derived CRFs in 6 h. Presence of ferrite nanoparticles has rendered control release of SZ by 45% (1.10 × 10−8 M) in CRFs under identical electrochemical conditions. The present study delivers a SCC assisted clean and dry method of synthesis of PPY/GO derived WEs extending rapid, reproducible and accurate electroanalysis of SZ release from supercritically derived CRFs.
One-Step Synthesis of CoFe2O4 Nanomaterials by Solvothermal Method
Authors: Tong Yongchun , Feng Min , Wei Jihong , Wang Duotian , Wang Qingyun
Published: June 2022

Nano-magnetic CoFe2O4 materials with excellent crystallization and high saturation magnetization were synthesized by solvothermal method using Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and Co(NO3)2·6H2O as raw materials and ethanol solution as solvent, respectively. The effects of solvent ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time on the composition and properties of these nanomaterials were explored. The phase, morphology and magnetism of the CoFe2O4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The specific surface area of CoFe2O4 was measured by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and calculated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The results showed that the structure and magnetic properties of the prepared materials were greatly dependent on the synthesis conditions. Under optimal prepared conditions, i.e., reaction temperature of 200 °C, reaction time of 20 h and pure ethanol (EtOH) solvent, favorable CoFe2O4 material with high purity, small particle size, larger specific surface area and outstanding saturation magnetization was obtained. Importantly, this method with the advantages of easy-operation, environment-friendliness, and without the introduction of any precipitant or surfactant exhibits promise for the industry-scale production of nano-magnetic CoFe2O4 material.
Radiomics quality score in renal masses: a systematic assessment on current literature
Authors: Azadikhah Afshin , Varghese Bino Abel , Lei Xiaomeng , Martin-King Chloe , Cen Steven Yong , Duddalwar Vinay Anant
Published: June 2022

Objective:

To perform a systematic assessment and analyze the quality of radiomics methodology in current literature in the evaluation of renal masses using the Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) approach.

Methods:

We systematically reviewed recent radiomics literature in renal masses published in PubMed, EMBASE, Elsevier, and Web of Science. Two reviewers blinded by each other’s scores evaluated the quality of radiomics methodology in studies published from 2015 to August 2021 using the RQS approach. Owing to the diversity in the imaging modalities and radiomics applications, a meta-analysis could not be performed.

Results:

Based on our inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 87 published studies were included in our study. The highest RQS was noted in three categories: reporting of clinical utility, gold standard, and feature reduction. The average RQS of the two reviewers ranged from 5 ≤ RQS≤19, with the maximum attainable RQS being 36. Very few (7/87 i.e., 8%) studies received an average RQS that ranged from 17 < RQS≤19, which represents studies with the highest RQS in our study. Many (39/87 i.e., 45%) studies received an average RQS that ranged from 13 < RQS≤15. No significant interreviewer scoring differences were observed.

Conclusions:

We report that the overall scientific quality and reporting of radiomics studies in renal masses is suboptimal, and subsequent studies should bolster current deficiencies to improve reporting of radiomics methodologies.

Advances in knowledge:

The RQS approach is a meaningful quantitative scoring system to assess radiomics methodology quality and supports a comprehensive evaluation of the radiomics approach before its incorporation into clinical practice.
Health policy making process in Cameroon: a case for the utilization of the Target Policy Profile
Authors: Saidu Yauba , Ben Bachire Hassan , Frambo Andreas , Talongwa Roberto , Mbanga Clarence , Nassiuma Rebbea Zubili , Wiwa Owens
Published: June 2022

Background: Translating research findings into health policy often encounters numerous challenges in many African countries, including Cameroon. One of these challenges is the lack of standard tools and procedures to connect researchers to policy makers. A tool such as the Target Policy Profile (TPoP) can help to close this gap, since it is designed to optimize dialogue around the evidence needed to effect a change in policy. In this paper, we assessed the policy making process in Cameroon and suggest how the process can be optimized using the TPoP.  

Methods: This study reports on qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews of purposively selected individuals, and quantitative data extracted from strategic plans and reports of 17 vertical health programs in Cameroon.

Results: The majority (10/17) of our respondents were males and had an average of 6.5 years’ experience in policy making in Cameroon. A relatively small number of interventions/policies (19) were introduced by the assessed programs between 2015-2020. An even smaller number (9) are planned for introduction in the upcoming years. Four major gaps were identified in the policy making process, including lack of standardized methods and tools, limited use of evidence, limited ownership of the process by the state, and limited evaluation of newly introduced policies/interventions. Our respondents considered the TPoP to be a useful tool, which can help improve policy development, implementation, and evaluation across their different programs.

Conclusion: The TPoP can help address gaps identified in the health policy making process in Cameroon. Continued advocacy to help stakeholders understand its value proposition as well as training them on its use cases, may facilitate its adoption and use in Cameroon.
Mission-based optimal morphing parameters for rotors with combined chord and twist morphing
Authors: Majeti Rohin Kumar , Benz Stephan
Published: June 2022

Background: The rotor blades with fixed geometry in today’s helicopters do not give the best performance throughout the duration of any mission. However, low-speed and high-speed flights have different geometrical requirements for the shape of the most efficient rotor blades. With advancements in morphing technologies, these can be applied to change the shape of the blades between different flight regimes.

Methods: Two different helicopter rotor morphing concepts – namely, the linearly variable chord extension and the torque-tube based twist - under the framework of the European project SABRE were investigated for their optimal geometric parameters using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Since the morphing parameters were dependent on the mission profile, three different missions representing typical helicopter applications were chosen. The optimization problem was posed both as single objective (power) and as multi-objective (power, tip elastic torsion and vibratory hub load). Based on the insights drawn from these investigations, a rotor was set up including both morphing concepts in a single blade.

Results: The rotor with combined chord and twist morphing was shown to give performance improvement of 6.8% over the baseline blade for a whole mission while keeping the penalty on the elastic torsion and vibration of the rotor to a minimum. The performance improvement was higher at 13% for hover and low speed flight of µ = 0.14.

Conclusions: Chord and twist are both important parameters determining the efficiency of a rotor blade. Since they have non-overlapping requirements, combining the two morphing concepts into a single blade can yield higher performance than the individual ones.
Defining discovery: Is Google Scholar a discovery platform? An essay on the need for a new approach to scholarly discovery
Authors: Achenbach Kelly , Błaszczyńska Marta , De Paoli Stefano , Di Donato Francesca , Dumouchel Suzanne , Forbes Paula , Kraker Peter , Vignoli Michela
Published: June 2022

This essay discusses the concept of discovery, intended as content discovery, and defines it in the new context of Open Science, with a focus on Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Starting from the example of Google Scholar, the authors show that this well established service does not address the current needs, practices, and variety of discovery. Alternatives in terms of technical choices, features, and governance, do however exist, offering richer and more open discovery. The paper presents in particular the implementations and research work of the H2020 project TRIPLE (Transforming Research through Innovative Practices for Linked Interdisciplinary Exploration). Dedicated to the building of a discovery platform for the SSH, the project is meant to address the specificities and evolution of discovery in this field. 

Prevailing scholarly resource platforms like Google Scholar limit discovery by focussing only on publications, and favouring through their algorithm well-cited papers, English content, and discipline-specific resources. A limitation in the context of cross-disciplinary and collaborative Open Science, such a service more specifically hinders discovery in the SSH. Characterized by a fragmented landscape, a variety of languages, data types, and outputs, research in the SSH requires services that fully exploit discovery potentialities. 

Moreover, a survey conducted within the TRIPLE project showed that most SSH researchers use Google Scholar as their starting point, and that they recognise the lack of control they have with this system. Beyond the extension of features and content, transparency is the other important criterion for the building of an Open Infrastructure actually serving the research community. In light of this, we present in some detail the GoTriple platform, which exploits today’s technological potential and incorporates the best known functionalities in order to unveil more and innovative scholarly outputs and lead to international and interdisciplinary research project collaborations.
Flow cell for operando X-ray photon-in-photon-out studies on photo-electrochemical thin film devices
Authors: Jäker Philipp , Aegerter Dino , Kyburz Till , Städler Roman , Fonjallaz Rea , Detlefs Blanka , Koziej Dorota
Published: June 2022

Background: Photo-electro-chemical (PEC) water splitting represents a promising technology towards an artificial photosynthetic device but many fundamental electronic processes, which govern long-term stability and energetics, are not yet fully understood. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and particularly its high energy resolution fluorescence-detected (HERFD) mode, emerges as a powerful tool to study photo-excited charge carrier behavior under operating conditions. The established thin film device architecture of PEC cells provides a well-defined measurement geometry, but it puts many constraints on conducting operando XAS experiments. It remains a challenge to establish a standardized thin film exchange procedure and concurrently record high-quality photoelectrochemical and X‑ray absorption spectroscopy data that is unperturbed by bubble formation. Here we address and overcome these instrumental limitations for photoelectrochemical operando HERFD-XAS.

Methods: We constructed a novel operando photo-electro-chemical cell by computer numerical control milling, guided by the materials’ X‑ray and visible light absorption properties to optimize signal detection. To test the cell’s functionality, semiconducting thin film photoelectrodes have been fabricated via solution deposition and their photoelectrochemical responses under simulated solar light were studied using a commercial potentiostat in a three-electrode configuration during HERFD-XAS experiments at a synchrotron.

Results: We demonstrate the cell’s capabilities to measure and control potentiostatically and in open‑circuit, to detect X‑ray signals unperturbed by bubbles and to fluently exchange different thin film samples by collecting high-resolution Fe K-edge spectra of hematite (α -Fe2O3) and ferrite thin film (MFe2O4, M= Zn, Ni) photoelectrodes during water oxidation.

Conclusions: Our cell establishes a measurement routine that will provide experimental access of photo-electro-chemical operando HERFD-XAS experiments to a broader scientific community, particularly due to the ease of sample exchange. We believe to enable a broad range of experiments which acquired fundamental insights will spur further photoelectrochemical research and commercialization of water splitting technologies
Supporting resilience in older people: implications for nursing practice
Authors: Keogh Brian , Daly Louise , Byrne Gobnait
Published: June 2022

Resilience refers to an individual's ability to adapt and bounce back following adversity. As a concept it may help to explain how some people cope with stressors using internal and social support, leading to personal growth. The concept of resilience is frequently mentioned in the literature but often poorly understood. Older people are vulnerable to multiple adversities such as loss and chronic illness and therefore it is important to introduce strategies that promote resilience. The aim of this article is to explore the concept of resilience in older people by using the social ecological model to examine factors that influence resilience within this context. It further discusses the role of the nurse and uses a case study to highlight how nurses can facilitate the use of individual, contextual and sociocultural resources to foster resilience with older people in practice.
Developing a clinical care pathway to reduce and treat enteric feeding tube site skin excoriation: a quality-improvement pilot study
Authors: Aquino-Miclat Chrisse , Baptiste Nicole
Published: June 2022

Skin excoriation is a common complication of enteral tube feeding; however, universal guidelines for treatment do not exist. A quality improvement pilot study to inform the development of a local clinical care pathway was conducted. The enteral nutrition team identified products and assessed patient preference, ease of use, availability, and clinical outcomes for inclusion. This pathway includes gentle site cleansing followed by skin protectant application. For mild skin excoriation (<5 mm), acrylate terpolymer barrier film (3M Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film) was applied once every seven days. Moderate skin excoriation (5–20 mm) received acrylate terpolymer barrier film twice a day for seven days. Severe skin excoriation (>20 mm) received advanced elastomeric skin protectant (3M Cavilon Advanced Skin Protectant) applied once every 3–4 days for 2–4 weeks. Ten patients were included, three were selected for discussion. Adoption of this local clinical care pathway resulted in skin healing and improved patient comfort.
The future of general practice nursing: ARRS, DES and students
Authors: Heath Shaun
Published: June 2022

Shaun Heath analyses the development of the general practice nurse profession from the perspective of the current external forces that impinge on practice

As general practice nurses (GPNs) our minds are once again focused on the various contracts that are the fundamental bedrock of our work in primary care. Over the last 2 years, we have been preoccupied by the pandemic: setting up and working in hot or cold clinics; dealing with the fallout of broken recall registers; the increased demand of deteriorating long term conditions; and of course contributing to the hugely successful vaccination campaign. This year brings new contracts, new opportunities and, of course, new challenges to the workforce, but what are the next steps for our profession, and how should we develop both as a collective and as individuals?
Securing industrial environments
Authors: Delomier Yoann
Published: June 2022

It hardly comes as a surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed forward many digital initiatives worldwide. But while this hasty shift towards digitisation has affected almost every industry, it is critical that those in the industrial sector are paying extra attention, and now is the time to do so as organisations start to rethink their budgets, plans and the solutions they have in place for 2022.
Understanding value change
Authors: van de Poel Ibo
Published: June 2022

The possibility of value change has implications for how to responsibly develop and deploy new technologies. If values can, and do, change after technologies have been developed and designed, this would seem to have major ramifications for approaches such as value-sensitive design and responsible innovation. This contribution explores descriptive as well as normative accounts of value change. It suggests three methodological principles that descriptive accounts of value change should meet. Normative accounts are relatively independent of descriptive accounts and raise the important question of whether normative or moral values themselves can also change. Through the example of the birth control pill and its (alleged) effect on sexual morality, the article illustrates what descriptive and normative accounts might look like in a concrete case. It closes with a discussion of implications for responsibly developing new technologies and draws some conclusions for more theoretical work on value change.
The streetlights are watching you: A historical perspective on value change and public lighting
Authors: Stone Taylor
Published: June 2022

This article investigates questions of ‘designing for value change’ via a ubiquitous, yet often taken-for-granted, technology – streetlights. Smart city trends are spurring a new generation of streetlights, with lampposts being fitted with sensors, cameras and a host of other technologies aimed at monitoring and data collection. This has raised concerns about privacy, surveillance and power relations, arguably creating a changing value landscape for streetlights. However, the article will argue that, while smart streetlights may seem to instantiate a moment of value change, they in fact represent a continuity of values fundamental to the very foundations of public lighting. They embody a set of values – and value tensions – that can be traced back to the origins of modern public lighting in the seventeeth–eighteenth centuries. Moreover, urban nights occupy a liminal space at the boundaries of social order, which likewise informs streetlights’ technical functions and symbolic meanings. Appreciating this continuity of values (and value tensions) is necessary for analysing the potential impacts of new innovations, as well as the value landscape that will inevitably shape their design and use. In adopting a historical perspective on a specific case study, as well as proposing the notion of value continuity, the article offers generalizable insights, as well as future research directions, for the theory and practice of designing for value change.