bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fractional Complex Transform and Homotopy Perturbation Method for the Approximate Solution of Keller-Segel Model
Authors: Luo Xiankang , Nadeem Muhammad , Inc Mustafa , Dawood Suliman
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose an innovative approach to determine the approximate solution of the coupled time-fractional Keller-Segel (K-S) model. We use the fractional complex transform (FCT) to switch the model into its differential partner, and then, the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) is introduced to tackle its nonlinear elements using He’s polynomials. This two-scale theory helps to define the physical meaning of the FCT for the solution of the K-S model. Some examples are illustrated to show that the proposed scheme presents the significant results. The considerable findings show that this strategy does not require any assumptions and also reduces the massive computations without imposing any constraints. This technique is also suitable in functional studies of fractal calculus due to its powerful and robust support for nonlinear problems.
Brain Neural Progenitors are New Predictive Biomarkers for Breast Cancer Hormonotherapy
Authors: Basseville Agnes , Cordier Chiara , Ben Azzouz Fadoua , Gouraud Wilfried , Lasla Hamza , Panloup Fabien , Campone Mario , Jézéquel Pascal
Published: July 2022

Heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the major causes of treatment resistance in breast cancer. Among TME components, nervous system role in clinical outcome has been underestimated. Identifying neuronal signatures associated with treatment response will help to characterize neuronal influence on tumor progression and identify new treatment targets. The search for hormonotherapy-predictive biomarkers was implemented by supervised machine learning (ML) analysis on merged transcriptomics datasets from public databases. ML-derived genes were investigated by pathway enrichment analysis, and potential gene signatures were curated by removing the variables that were not strictly nervous system specific. The predictive and prognostic abilities of the generated signatures were examined by Cox models, in the initial cohort and seven external cohorts. Generated signature performances were compared with 14 other published signatures, in both the initial and external cohorts. Underlying biological mechanisms were explored using deconvolution tools (CIBERSORTx and xCell). Our pipeline generated two nervous system-related signatures of 24 genes and 97 genes (NervSign24 and NervSign97). These signatures were prognostic and hormonotherapy-predictive, but not chemotherapy-predictive. When comparing their predictive performance with 14 published risk signatures in six hormonotherapy-treated cohorts, NervSign97 and NervSign24 were the two best performers. Pathway enrichment score and deconvolution analysis identified brain neural progenitor presence and perineural invasion as nervous system-related mechanisms positively associated with NervSign97 and poor clinical prognosis in hormonotherapy-treated patients. Transcriptomic profiling has identified two nervous system–related signatures that were validated in clinical samples as hormonotherapy-predictive signatures, meriting further exploration of neuronal component involvement in tumor progression.

Significance:

The development of personalized and precision medicine is the future of cancer therapy. With only two gene expression signatures approved by FDA for breast cancer, we are in need of new ones that can reliably stratify patients for optimal treatment. This study provides two hormonotherapy-predictive and prognostic signatures that are related to nervous system in TME. It highlights tumor neuronal components as potential new targets for breast cancer therapy.
Alteration of the Gut Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Andoh Akira , Nishida Atsushi
Published: July 2022

Background: Alteration of the gut microbial structure and function (dysbiosis) is associated with the pathogenesis of various disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Summary: Under normal conditions, β-oxidation of butyrate consumes oxygen in colonocytes and maintains the anaerobic environment in the lumen. Depletion of butyrate-producing bacteria results in anaerobic glycolysis in colonocytes and increases oxygen diffusion into the lumen, leading to a luminal facultative anaerobe expansion. Dysbiosis in IBD is characterized by the reduced abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Ruminococcus) and an increase of the phylum Proteobacteria (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae). The overall structure of the gut mycobiome differs markedly in IBD patients, particularly Crohn’s disease (CD), compared with healthy individuals. An increase in the genus Candida is a major contributory factor in the alteration of the mycobiome in Japanese CD patients, but an increase in the genus Saccharomyces is characteristic in Western patients. The gut virome, which is mainly composed of bacteriophages (phages), influences gut homeostasis and pathogenic conditions via an interaction with the gut bacterial community. Alterations in the gut virome have been suggested in patients with IBD. This may alter either the immunogenicity of bacteria, thus affecting the bacteria-host interactions, or the bacterial functions such as antibiotic resistance and toxin synthesis. Key Message: Advances in DNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics have revolutionized our understanding of the microbiome in the gut.
Os triunfos de tarlac: guia didático
Authors: Carvalho Vinicius Marino , Pina Amanda Daltro de Viveiros
Published: July 2022

Os Triunfos de Tarlac: Guia Didático faz parte de um projeto do Laboratório de Estudos Medievais da Universidade de São Paulo (LEME-USP) e do grupo de estudos Arqueologia Interativa e Simulações Eletrônicas (ARISE). Este é um Guia Didático para auxiliar professores do Ensino Médio, com o intuito de servir para orientar professores que queiram utilizar, de formas diversas, o jogo de tabuleiro Os Triunfos de Tarlac em suas salas de aula. Este Guia Didático foi construído de forma objetiva, para que o professor possa consultá-lo de maneira rápida, eficaz e pontual. Subsidiado por materiais contextualizados, bibliografia densa sobre o tema e pesquisadores especialistas em História, Arqueologia e Arqueologia Digital, este guia didático oferece aos professores uma diferente ferramenta para engajar os alunos de maneira diversa à tradicional sala de aula.
Influência da espiritualidade e religiosidade no abuso de álcool e drogas: revisão integrativa
Authors: Campos Marco Túlio França , Rodrigues Jéssica Peixoto
Published: July 2022

Objetivo: apresentar uma revisão integrativa da literatura científica acerca das possíveis influências da religiosidade e da espiritualidade como fator protetor no âmbito da dependência de substâncias. Método: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura nas bases de dados: LILACS - Literatura LatinoAmericana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; MEDLINE - Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online; BDENF - Base de Dados de Enfermagem, no período de janeiro de 2009 a dezembro de 2019. Resultados: após a leitura e análise, foram recuperados 12 artigos. A literatura apontou que a influência da espiritualidade e religiosidade foi significativa, atuando de forma protetora para indivíduos saudáveis e como suporte no tratamento de dependência química. O bem-estar espiritual deve ser abordado nos cuidados com o paciente de forma holística. No entanto, verificou-se déficit na formação acadêmica quanto à espiritualidade e sua relação com a saúde mental. Conclusão: a espiritualidade e a religiosidade são fatores de influência positiva para os dependentes químicos sob tratamento e conferem proteção para a saúde mental de indivíduos vulneráveis, sendo necessária a integração deste conteúdo na formação acadêmica dos profissionais de saúde.
Mitochondrial Ca
2+
Uptake Drives Endothelial Injury By Radiation Therapy
Authors: Ait-Aissa Karima , Koval Olha M. , Lindsey Nathanial R. , Grumbach Isabella M.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Radiation therapy strongly increases the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease, such as carotid stenosis. Radiation induces DNA damage, in particular in mitochondria, but the upstream and downstream signaling events are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to define such mechanisms.

Methods:

Endothelial-specific MCU (mitochondrial Ca
2+
uniporter) knockout and C57Bl6/J mice with or without a preinfusion of a mitoTEMPO (mitochondrial reactive oxygen species [ROS] scavenger) were exposed to a single dose of cranial irradiation. 24, and 240 hours postirradiation, vascular reactivity, endothelial function, and mitochondrial integrity were assessed ex vivo and in vitro.

Results:

In cultured human endothelial cells, irradiation with 4 Gy increased cytosolic Ca
2+
transients and the mitochondrial Ca
2+
concentration ([Ca
2+
]
mt
) and activated MCU. These outcomes correlated with increases in mitochondrial ROS (
mt
ROS), loss of NO production, and sustained damage to mitochondrial but not nuclear DNA. Moreover, irradiation impaired activity of the ETC (electron transport chain) and the transcription of ETC subunits encoded by mitochondrial DNA (
mt
DNA). Knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of MCU blocked irradiation-induced
mt
ROS production,
mt
DNA damage, loss of NO production, and impairment of ETC activity. Similarly, the pretreatment with mitoTEMPO, a scavenger of
mt
ROS, reduced irradiation-induced Ca
2+
entry, and preserved both the integrity of the
mt
DNA and the production of NO, suggesting a feed-forward loop involving [Ca
2+
]
m
and
mt
ROS. Enhancement of DNA repair in mitochondria, but not in the nucleus, was sufficient to block prolonged
mt
ROS elevations and maintain NO production. Consistent with the findings from cultured cells, in C57BL/6J mice, head and neck irradiation decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and
mt
DNA integrity in the carotid artery after irradiation. These effects were prevented by endothelial knockout of MCU or infusion with mitoTEMPO.

Conclusions:

Irradiation-induced damage to
mt
DNA is driven by MCU-dependent Ca
2+
influx and the generation of
mt
ROS. Such damage leads to reduced transcription of mitochondrial genes and activity of the ETC, promoting sustained
mt
ROS production that induces endothelial dysfunction. Our findings suggest that targeting MCU and
mt
ROS might be sufficient to mitigate irradiation-induced vascular disease.
Targeting PDE4B (Phosphodiesterase-4 Subtype B) for Cardioprotection in Acute Myocardial Infarction via Neutrophils and Microcirculation
Authors: Wan Qing , Xu Chuansheng , Zhu Liyuan , Zhang Yuze , Peng Zekun , Chen Hong , Rao Haojie , Zhang Erli , Wang Hongyue , Chu Fei , Ning Xuan , Yang Xuejian , Yuan Jinqing , Wu Yongjian , Huang Yu , Hu Shengshou , Liu De-Pei , Wang Miao
Published: July 2022

Background:

Timely and complete restoration of blood flow is the most effective intervention for patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the efficacy is limited by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) injury. PDE4 (phosphodiesterase-4) hydrolyzes intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate and it has 4 subtypes A-D. This study aimed to delineate the role of PDE4B (phosphodiesterase-4 subtype B) in MI/R injury.

Methods:

Mice were subjected to 30-minute coronary artery ligation, followed by 24-hour reperfusion. Cardiac perfusion was assessed by laser Doppler flow. Vasomotor reactivities were determined in mouse and human coronary (micro-)arteries.

Results:

Cardiac expression of PDE4B, but not other PDE4 subtypes, was increased in mice following reperfusion. PDE4B was detected primarily in endothelial and myeloid cells of mouse and human hearts. PDE4B deletion strikingly reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function 24-hour or 28-day after MI/R. PDE4B in bone marrow–derived cells promoted MI/R injury and vascular PDE4B further exaggerated this injury. Mechanistically, PDE4B mediated neutrophil-endothelial cell interaction and PKA (protein kinase A)-dependent expression of cell adhesion molecules, neutrophil cardiac infiltration, and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, PDE4B promoted coronary microcirculatory obstruction and vascular permeability in MI/R, without affecting flow restriction-induced thrombosis. PDE4B blockade increased flow-mediated vasodilatation and promoted endothelium-dependent dilatation of coronary arteries in a PKA- and nitric oxide–dependent manner. Furthermore, postischemia administration with piclamilast, a PDE4 pan-inhibitor, improved cardiac microcirculation, suppressed inflammation, and attenuated MI/R injury in mice. Incubation with sera from patients with acute myocardial infarction impaired acetylcholine-induced relaxations in human coronary microarteries, which was abolished by PDE4 inhibition. Similar protection against MI/R-related coronary injury was recapitulated in mice with PDE4B deletion or inhibition, but not with the pure vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside.

Conclusions:

PDE4B is critically involved in neutrophil inflammation and microvascular obstruction, leading to MI/R injury. Selective inhibition of PDE4B might protect cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction designated for reperfusion therapy.
Microbial Peer Pressure
Authors: Muralitharan Rikeish R. , Jama Hamdi A. , Xie Liang , Peh Alex , Snelson Matthew , Marques Francine Z.
Published: July 2022

There is increasing evidence of the influence of the gut microbiota on hypertension and its complications, such as chronic kidney disease, stroke, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. This is not surprising considering that the most common risk factors for hypertension, such as age, sex, medication, and diet, can also impact the gut microbiota. For example, sodium and fermentable fiber have been studied in relation to both hypertension and the gut microbiota. By combining second- and, now, third-generation sequencing with metabolomics approaches, metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and trimethylamine N-oxide, and their producers, have been identified and are now known to affect host physiology and the cardiovascular system. The receptors that bind these metabolites have also been explored with positive findings—examples include known short-chain fatty acid receptors, such as G-protein coupled receptors GPR41, GPR43, GPR109a, and OLF78 in mice. GPR41 and OLF78 have been shown to have inverse roles in blood pressure regulation, whereas GPR43 and GPR109A have to date been demonstrated to impact cardiac function. New treatment options in the form of prebiotics (eg, dietary fiber), probiotics (eg,
Lactobacillus
spp.), and postbiotics (eg, the short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate) have all been demonstrated to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure in animal models, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and translation to hypertensive patients is still lacking. Here, we review the evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in hypertension, its risk factors, and cardiorenal complications and identify future directions for this exciting and fast-evolving field.
David G. Sherman Lecture Award: 15-Year Experience of the Nationwide Multicenter Stroke Registry in Korea
Authors: Bae Hee-Joon , Kim Jun Yup , Kang Jihoon , Kim Beom Joon , Han Moon-Ku , Choi Kang-Ho , Kim Joon-Tae , Park Man-Seok , Cho Ki-Hyun , Kim Baik Kyun , Yum Kyu Sun , Shin Dong-Ick , Kim Dae-Hyun , Cha Jae-Kwan , Gwak Dong-Seok , Ryu Wi-Sun , Kim Dong-Eog , Park Jong-Moo , Kim Yong Soo , Kang Kyusik , Kim Jae Guk , Lee Soo Joo , Lee Minwoo , Oh Mi-Sun , Yu Kyung-Ho , Lee Byung-Chul , Park Hong-Kyun , Cho Yong-Jin , Hong Keun-Sik , Kang Chul-Hoo , Jang Joong-Goo , Choi Jay Chol , Jang Seong Hwa , Park Hyungjong , Hong Jeong-Ho , Sohn Sung-Il , Park Tai Hwan , Park Sang-Soon , Kim Wook-Joo , Kwon Jee-Hyun , Lee Kyung Bok , Kwon Doo Hyuk , Lee Jun , Lee Keon-Joo , Lee Sang-Hwa , Kim Chulho , Jeong Hae-Bong , Park Kwang Yeol , Lee Ji Sung , Lee Juneyoung
Published: July 2022

The expected growth of stroke burden in Korea in early 2000s led to the initiation of a government-funded clinical research project with the goal of development and implementation of national stroke guidelines. The CRCS-K (Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke in Korea) began as a part of this project. For stroke epidemiology and quality of care research, the CRCS-K developed a multicenter, prospective, stroke registry and began collection of data in 2008. Now, about 100 000 cases have been registered at 17 university hospitals or regional stroke centers and about 200 articles have been published based on the registry experience. The analysis of the 10-year secular trends showed overall improvement of stroke care and outcomes and areas for improvement. This large-scale, high-quality dataset provides opportunities to explore and compare treatment disparities using the comparative effectiveness research methods, design and conduct a registry-based randomized clinical trial, connect the registry data with other data sources including the national claims data and neuroimaging or genetic data, and collaborate with other international researchers. An international stroke registry consortium may be a viable future direction.
Evaluations from Superiors Matter More: Evidence from Behavior and Event-related Potentials
Authors: Duan Ran , Li Zhurong , Hu Jiali , Li Peng , Warren Christopher M.
Published: July 2022

As an essential feature of social groups, social hierarchies influence how people interact in daily life. However, it is unknown how external evaluations from peers at different levels in a social hierarchy influence feedback processing. In the current study, participants were instructed to establish a social hierarchy through a novel stick drawing task. With their status in the social hierarchy manipulated to be in the middle, participants received positive or negative evaluations from superiors and inferiors separately with ERPs signals recorded. Behaviorally, participants rated their happiness highest, and most quickly, after receiving positive evaluations from superiors. ERP results showed that P3 amplitude exhibited an interaction between social hierarchy and feedback valence, such that larger P3 amplitude was elicited by positive evaluations from superiors than any other condition, whereas the feedback-related negativity was only sensitive to the difference between high and low social statuses. Moreover, a generalized linear mixed model examining single-trial ERP data showed P3 amplitude correlated with happiness ratings as a function of feedback valence: a significant positive correlation in the positive feedback condition and a significant negative correlation in the negative feedback condition. P3 was also negatively correlated with RT across all conditions. These results demonstrate that brain activity associated with feedback processing predicted participants' emotion ratings and their decision time. Our study provides the first ERP evidence that positive feedback from superiors impacts neural activity related to reward processing differently than positive feedback from those of lower social standing.
The Neural Mechanism Underlying Visual Working Memory Training and Its Limited Transfer Effect
Authors: Cai Ying , Yang Can , Wang Sisi , Xue Gui
Published: July 2022

Visual working memory (VWM) training has been shown to improve performance in trained tasks with limited transfer to untrained tasks. The neural mechanism underlying this limited transfer remains unknown. In the present study, this issue was addressed by combining model-fitting methods with EEG recordings. Participants were trained on a color delay estimation task for 12 consecutive 1-hr sessions, and the transfer effect was evaluated with an orientation change detection task. The EEG responses during both tasks were collected in a pretraining test, a posttraining test conducted 1 day after training, and a follow-up test conducted 3 months after training. According to our model-fitting results, training significantly improved the capacity but not the precision of color working memory (WM), and this capacity improvement did not transfer to the orientation change detection task, spatial 2-back task, symmetry span task, or Raven reasoning test. The EEG results revealed that training resulted in a specific and sustained increase in parietal theta power suppression in the color WM task, which reflected individual color WM capacity. In contrast, the increase in parietal–temporal alpha power, which reflected individual orientation WM capacity, did not change with training. Together, these findings suggest that the simultaneous change of stimulus type and task structure would modulate the cognitive and neural substrates of WM tasks and introduce additional constraints for the transfer of WM training.
NGOs and the Effectiveness of Interventions
Authors: Usmani Faraz , Jeuland Marc , Pattanayak Subhrendu K.
Published: July 2022

Programs implemented by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are often more effective than comparable efforts by other actors, yet relatively little is known about how implementer identity drives final outcomes. By combining a stratified field experiment in India with a triple-difference estimation strategy, we show that a local development NGO’s prior engagement with target communities increases the effectiveness of a technology promotion program implemented in these areas by at least 30%. This “NGO reputation effect” has implications for the generalizability and scalability of evidence from experimental research conducted with local implementation partners.
The Evolution of Technological Substitution in Low-Wage Labor Markets
Authors: Aaronson Daniel , Phelan Brian J.
Published: July 2022

This paper uses minimum wage hikes to evaluate the susceptibility of low-wage employment to technological substitution. We find that automation is accelerating and supplanting a broader set of low-wage routine jobs since the 2008–2009 financial crisis. Simultaneously, low-wage interpersonal jobs are increasing and offsetting routine job loss. However, interpersonal job growth does not appear to be enough, as it was prior to the financial crisis, to fully offset the negative effects of automation on low-wage routine jobs. Employment losses are most evident among non-Asian people of color who experience outsized losses at routine jobs and smaller gains at interpersonal jobs.
The Price of Inclusion: Evidence from Housing Developer Behavior
Authors: Soltas Evan J.
Published: July 2022

In many cities, incentives and regulations lead developers to integrate low-income housing into market-rate buildings. How cost-effective are these policies? I study take-up of a tax incentive in New York City using a model in which developers trade off between tax savings and pretax income. Estimating the model using policy variation and microdata on development from 2003 to 2015, I find a citywide marginal fiscal cost of $1.6 million per low-income unit. Differences in neighborhoods, not developer incidence, explain the cost premium over other housing programs. Weighing costs against estimates of neighborhood effects, I conclude middle-class neighborhoods offer “opportunity bargains.”
“Have You Been Recruited Because You Are a Woman or Because You Are Good?” Gendered Humanitarian Diplomats at the United Nations
Authors: Turunen Salla
Published: July 2022

This article examines gender equality in humanitarian diplomacy. To date, there has been no discussion of gender in relation to humanitarian diplomacy, which stands in contrast to an existing body of literature on gender and diplomacy. Gender is often discussed in relation to the recipients of humanitarian initiatives, but less is known about how gender impacts aid providers. This article argues that alike diplomacy as a masculine field with homosocial tendencies, these characteristics are also found in humanitarian diplomacy. Based on interviews with staff of the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (ocha), this exploratory case study of the UN’s gendered humanitarian diplomacy finds the following: In contrast to the UN’s mission of promoting gender equality, the current practices place men as the norm and women as the exception in the organization’s humanitarian diplomacy.
The Sericothripinae genus Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in India with description of a new species
Authors: RACHANA R.R. , AMARENDRA B. , GRACY R. GANDHI
Published: July 2022

A new species of Hydatothrips is described from India, H. initium. A key to the ten species of Hydatothrips recorded from India is also provided.
Taxonomy of Perissosega Krombein (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae, Amiseginae), with description of a new species from Japan
Authors: MITA TOSHIHARU
Published: July 2022

Perissosega sulcata sp. nov. is newly described on the basis of the two females collected from Iriomote Island, the Ryukyus, Japan. A new combination is proposed for Calosega flavipes (Kimsey, 1995), comb. nov. from Perissosega Krombein, 1983. The diagnostic characters of Calosega Terayama, 1999 and Perissosega are revised.
EPIC as a Catalyst for NOAA’s Future Earth Prediction System
Authors: Uccellini Louis W. , Spinrad Richard W. , Koch Dorothy M. , McLean Craig N. , Lapenta William M.
Published: July 2022

NOAA has launched the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) in partnership with the Weather Enterprise (academia, government, and industry) to bring the power of distributed innovation to bear on one of the greatest challenges of our time. EPIC provides a collaborative framework building upon the community-driven Unified Forecast System (UFS) to accelerate innovative improvements to the nation’s forecast system in order to save lives, protect property, and enhance the economy. This article describes NOAA’s strategic, tactical, and organizational approaches to utilize EPIC to transform the world-leading U.S. national forecast systems into an even stronger and more effective community-based, computationally advanced Earth prediction system to meet the expanding and pressing needs of national and international societies.
Changing Trends in Drought Patterns over the Northeastern United States Using Multiple Large Ensemble Datasets
Authors: Xue Zeyu , Ullrich Paul A.
Published: July 2022

Since the infamous extreme drought of the 1960s, the climate of the northeastern United States (NEUS) has generally trended toward warmer and wetter conditions. Nonetheless, there is mounting evidence that short-term droughts will continue to pose a significant risk for this region. To better explore the processes governing events such as these, climate models have adopted more complex representations of the fully coupled atmosphere–land–ocean–sea ice system; however, large uncertainties in future projections still persist, with internal variability necessitating large ensembles to understand trends in both rare and high-impact extreme events such as rapidly developing droughts (a term here that includes flash droughts developing on monthly scales). In this study, seven large ensemble (LE) models are employed to answer the outstanding question: How are the frequency and character of drought in the NEUS changing under a warming climate? We find that most LE models indicate the NEUS will experience a long-term wetting trend with more “extremely wet” months, but also more frequent short-term extreme droughts. These changes are associated with increasing precipitation, atmospheric water demand, and climate variability. We also conclude that discrepant trends in precipitation and evapotranspiration variability will lead to increasing anticorrelation of these variables, which is relevant to the intensification of rapidly developing drought, particularly in the spring season. These changes are associated with an increase in evapotranspiration from plants, brought by an earlier emergence of the growing season and denser vegetation.

Significance Statement

Droughts are extreme events with the potential to produce considerable social and economic damage. Because droughts emerge slowly and are relatively infrequent, large datasets are needed to study these features. Using multiple climate models, each producing multiple long-duration simulations, along with a novel drought index, we characterize rapidly developing droughts (those flash droughts identifiable from monthly data) and understand their drivers in the northeastern United States. We find that short-term extreme droughts are projected to be more frequent, while rapidly developing droughts will become more intense in the spring season. Intensification of rapidly developing droughts is attributed to differences in patterns of precipitation and evapotranspiration (soil evaporation and plant transpiration), which will be magnified by an extended growing season and an increase in vegetation.
Bullies in Life and Love: A Longitudinal Analysis of Bullying and Adolescent Relationship Abuse
Authors: Charles Caitlin A.
Published: July 2022

Adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) and bullying are specific brands of adolescent violence. Research for both draw upon similar theoretical frameworks and dictates that attributes of perpetrators of either behavior are similar enough to warrant thorough research to determine their level of association. The current study builds upon previous research by examining the association of bullying and ARA. This relationship is examined using the Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories from Early to Late Adolescence survey. Random effects regression analyses were used to evaluate physical, verbal, sexual, and relational ARA. Results indicate that active bullying and active bullying victimization have strong associations across all four dependent variables, especially when controlling for race and gender in some models.
Diversifying Neighborhoods, Diversifying Schools? The Relationship Between Neighborhood Racial Change and School Segregation in New York City
Authors: Mordechay Kfir , Ayscue Jennifer B.
Published: July 2022

College-educated White households have increasingly opted to live in central urban neighborhoods, transforming many parts of the urban core. While there is emerging evidence that schools may play a key part in this process, little is known about the extent of racial contract between children of gentrifier households and original residents. This study examines NYC’s gentrifying areas, and the changing racial diversity in schools. Using data from the Census and the National Center for Educational Statistics, this study finds that schools in NYC’s gentrifying areas have seen a reduction in racial segregation, more in traditional public schools than in charters. While this trend may be promising, high levels of segregation persist. Policy and research implications are discussed.
Major Bleeding After Paracentesis Associated With Apixaban Use: Two Case Reports
Authors: Kuperman Ethan , Hobbs Ryan A.
Published: July 2022

We report 2 patients with compensated cirrhosis and moderate renal impairment who experienced severe bleeding complications from paracentesis during concurrent therapy with apixaban. While paracentesis has traditionally been considered a low bleeding-risk procedure and safe to perform without interruption of therapeutic anticoagulation, the increased concentrations observed in patients with impaired liver function may place these patients at unexpectedly high bleeding risk. Further investigation into the safety of paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis on apixaban may be warranted, as well as additional understanding of the clinical safety of this drug in Child-Pugh B cirrhosis.
Researching Translanguaging as a Feasible Pedagogical Practice: Evidence from Chinese English-as-a-Foreign-Language Students’ Perceptions
Authors: Jiang Zhihui Will , Zhang Lawrence Jun , Mohamed Naashia
Published: July 2022

Translanguaging as pedagogical practice and a theory of language has gained increasing importance in recent years. However, little research has reported Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language students’ perceptions of translanguaging; neither has research examined the predictive effects of the factors contributing to the amount of student translanguaging in the Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language classrooms. This study intended to fill the gap by inviting 292 Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language students to respond to a questionnaire that explores students’ perception of translanguaging. Two research questions were addressed: first, how do students’ attitudes to translanguaging vary across second-language proficiency? Second, how is the amount of student translanguaging predicted by students’ attitudes to translanguaging and the amount of teacher translanguaging? The results of a one-way analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference among the four groups in attitudes to teacher translanguaging and students’ translanguaging. A post hoc test found that non-English major first-year university students had a significantly higher level of acceptance of teachers’ and students’ translanguaging than English major first-year university students. Multiple regression analysis showed that the amount of teacher translanguaging and student attitudes to translanguaging explained a significant quantity of the variance in the amount of student translanguaging. The implications of the study were also discussed.
Research on automatic preprocessing equipment of salivary analyte for PCR inspection of coronavirus
Authors: Yamamoto Ikuo
Published: July 2022

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inspection of salivary analyte is performed by pretreatment, RNA extraction setup, RNA extraction, PCR setup, and the PCR process. However, the pretreatment process is conducted manually, and it is a bottleneck to the overall process. The author created automatic preprocessing logistics and prototypes using robotic technology for the pretreatment process. A dissolving agent of saliva is poured into the salivary container, the transfer syringe is automated, and a transfer robot injects an inactivating solubilizer using a robotic hand. Ninety-six inactivated vessel units are processed for the next RNA extraction process. The automatic preprocessing equipment is successfully developed and used in the inspection at a hospital. Pretreatment efficiency is up to eight times greater compared to that with the conventional manual process. The 96 units/h inspection is made possible by a single of equipment. The developed automatic preprocessing method assures high efficiency, standardization, and safety for coronavirus inspection.
Synthesis of poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) microspheres and their application in patterned photonic crystals
Authors: Zhang Yunxiao , Han Pengshuai , Ouyang Shenshen , He Wenyu , Chai Liqin , Zhou Lan , Shao Jianzhong , Liu Guojin
Published: July 2022

In order to achieve bright and durable structural colors, the poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres with self-crosslinking property were used as structural units to construct patterned photonic crystals. In this article, we thoroughly explore the effect of synthesis factors on particle sizes and monodispersity of poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres, with the characterization of the performance of prepared poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres. Then the color effects and durability of structural colors produced from poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) photonic crystals were characterized and evaluated. The results showed that the monodisperse poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres with particle sizes ranging between about 200∼320 nm could be synthesized. The prepared poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres exhibit typical core-shell structure, in which the hydrophobic polystyrene domain is mainly located on the core, and there is a thin shell mainly rich in hydrophilic Poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) covering the polystyrene core. Moreover, the poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres have self-crosslinking properties, which could be confirmed by the thermogravimetric curve. Furthermore, the photonic crystals constructed by prepared poly(styrene-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) nanospheres still present vivid and durable structural colors after friction, bending, washing and soaking tests. Specifically, the patterned photonic crystals can be constructed on photo paper, plastic board and fabrics, and the resultant structural colors present significantly iridescent effects. The research results can provide strategic support for the practical application of photonic crystals with structural colors.
Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Oncology Patients: Perceptions of Oncology Health Care Providers
Authors: Chavez Melody N. , Marshall Victoria K. , Martinez Tyson Dinorah , Mason Tina M. , Rechenberg Kaitlyn
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted psychological well-being worldwide. Oncology health care professionals’ (OHCPs’) perceptions of psychological effects of COVID-19 among people in active cancer treatment were explored. Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of OHCPs actively providing care were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using Atlas.ti v8 and thematic analysis. In total, 30 OHCPs participated. Most were registered nurses (70%), worked in outpatient setting (56.7%) and were in their current position 1–5 years (53.3%). Overarching themes are as follows: (a) cancer treatment disrupted due to patients’ fear of exposure to COVID-19; (b) social distancing restrictions caused discontinued social support and supportive services that exacerbated psychological distress; (c) pandemic-related stressors led to overwhelmed coping skills; and (d) OHCPs played a vital role in providing emotional support and connecting patients with family/friends through technology. Behavioral health interventions should focus within the “new world of COVID-19” of reduced face-to-face support and increased online support for patients.
Predicting for Traffic Risk Degree: Novel Prediction Method and Samples
Authors: Li Bo
Published: July 2022

To effectively predict the risk degree in both maritime and road traffic, a novel method is proposed in this study. First, the improved Dempster–Shafer evidence theory was derived to address multiple evidence based on the uncertain mass in the traffic environment. Further, the iterative combination equations reduced the computational complexity when computing the traffic risk degree in a given scan. Accordingly, the modified adaptive Kalman filter was explored to predict the traffic risk degree for the next scan. To maintain a positive definiteness in the estimation covariance during the whole filtering process, the Cholesky decomposition was applied to enhance reliability. By transmitting the lower triangular matrix from the Cholesky decomposition of estimation covariance, the computational complexity was reduced relatively. Finally, the experiment results indicated that the proposed method had satisfactory prediction performance for the traffic risk degree.
Computational study to predict the thermal performance and optimal design parameters of a T-shaped fin subjected to natural convection
Authors: Ahmed Hifjur Hasan , Bhanja Dipankar , Nath Sujit
Published: July 2022

The present paper aims to predict the optimal design parameters of a T-shaped fin subjected to natural convection using constructal theory. Both analytical and computational investigations are performed to determine its thermal performance for a wide range of thermo-physical and geometric parameters. Power law type temperature-dependent heat transfer coefficient is assumed for natural convection. For analytical solution Adomian decomposition method is adopted to evaluate the temperature distribution in both the stem and flange part of the fin. A numerical scheme called finite difference method is implemented to validate the analytical results. The temperature distribution obtained from the computational analysis using ANSYS FLUENT 14.0 is lower than that obtained from the analytical calculations. Moreover, the actual heat transfer rate is also compared between the two methods which reveal that the computational analysis gives higher value as compared to the analytical results. Further, optimization study has also been carried out in a generalized way so that either the fin volume or the heat transfer rate can be taken as a constraint. It is found that with the increase in length ratio, the optimum effectiveness is obtained at a higher value of aspect ratio whereas the optimum efficiency is obtained at a lower value of it. Though, a decrease in thickness ratio predicts a higher value of actual dimensionless heat transfer rate.
Potential impact of Holocene climate changes on camel breeding practices of Neolithic pastoralists in the Central Asian drylands: A preliminary assessment
Authors: Suska-Malawska Małgorzata , Kot Małgorzata , Gręzak Anna , Mętrak Monika , Khudjanazarov Mukhiddin , Szymczak Karol
Published: July 2022

Archaeological findings from the Neolithic open-air location Ayakagytma ‘The Site’, situated in the south-eastern part of the Kyzyl-kum Desert in Uzbekistan, can potentially shed new light on the camel domestication process in the Central Asian drylands and help to connect it to regional changes of paleoclimate. Detailed analyses of composition and 13C isotopic ratios of fatty acids performed on potsherds from an archaeological horizon of a Keltaminar culture dated at 3000–4000 cal BC combined with analogical analyses of modern camel and horse milk samples from Uzbekistan indicated a plausible possibility that camels were kept and milked by stockbreeders of Ayakagytma during this time period. The observed herding practices based almost exclusively on camel husbandry, as opposed to earlier more balanced herds of cattle, horses and camels, were probably an adaptation to climate transition from relatively humid to relatively dry, and the following changes in vegetation. Such climatic shift did not correspond with the general trend of Holocene moisture changes over the Westerlies-dominated Central Asia. However, it was in accordance with wet-to-dry climate transitions recorded in sediments of several lakes in the same region at around 4000 cal BP. The observed changes in Neolithic stockbreeding practices, as other inconsistencies in Holocene moisture evolution over a massive area of arid Central Asia, may have resulted from local manifestations of globally-forced climate changes and/or from local hydrographic alterations unrelated to paleoclimate.
Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies Potential Related Genes in the Pathogenesis of Intrauterine Fetal Growth Retardation
Authors: Xiao Chao , Wang Yao , Fan Yuchao
Published: July 2022

Background:

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) affects approximately 10% to 15% of all pregnancies worldwide. IUGR is not only associated with stillbirth and newborn death, but also the delay of cognition in childhood and the promotion of metabolic and vascular disorders in adulthood. Figuring out the mechanism of IUGR is rather meaningful and valuable.

Methods:

Datasets related to IUGR were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus website. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for normalization. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out using the ggpot2 tool. DEGs were used to conduct Gene Ontology (GO) terms, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analyses, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. IUGR related genes were searched in the OMIM website to look for the intersection with the DEGs. The DEGs were analyzed for tissue-specific expression by the online resource BioGPS. The results were displayed through volcano map, Venn map, box plot, heat map, and GSEA enrichment plots drawn by R language packages.

Results:

Eleven DEGs were screened out of 2 datasets. One hundred ninety-five genes related to IUGR in OMIM were retrieved. EGR2 was the only intersection gene that was found in both groups. Genes associated with placental tissue expression include COL17A1, HSD11B1, and LGALS14. Molecular functions of the DEGs are related to the oxidoreductase activity. The following 4 signaling pathways, reactome signaling by interleukins, reactome collagen degradation, Naba secreted factors, and PID NFAT tfpathway, were enriched by GSEA. Two critical modules comprising 5 up-regulated genes (LEP, PRL, TAC3, MMP14, and ADAMTS4) and 4 down-regulated genes (TIMP4, FOS, CCK, and KISS1) were identified by PPI analysis. Finally, we identified 6 genes (PRL, LGALS14, EGR2, TAC3, LEP, and KISS1) that are potentially relevant to the pathophysiology of IUGR.

Conclusion:

The candidate down-regulated genes LGALS14 and KISS1, as well as the up-regulated genes PRL, EGR2, TAC3, and LEP, were found to be closely related to IUGR by bioinformatics analysis. These hub genes are related to hypoxia and oxidoreductase activities in placental development. We provide useful and novel information to explore the potential mechanism of IUGR and make efforts to the prevention of IUGR.
Problematic Opioid Use: A Scoping Literature Review of Profiles
Authors: Archambault Léonie , Bertrand Karine , Perreault Michel
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives:

Problematic opioid use can be defined as opioid use behaviors leading to social, medical, or psychological consequences. In some instances, people presenting problematic opioid use can also meet criteria for an opioid use disorder. A growing body of literature highlights different types of people who use opioids, with contrasting characteristics and initiation patterns. In recent years, dynamic trends in opioid use have been documented and studies have demonstrated a shift in profiles.

Methods:

A scoping literature review was conducted to identify profiles of people presenting problematic opioid use, in order to support the development of tailored interventions and services.

Results:

Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Five classifications emerge from the literature reviewed to distinguish types of people presenting problematic opioid use, according to: (1) the type of opioids used, (2) the route of opioid administration, (3) the level of quality of life, (4) patterns of other drugs used, and (5) dependence severity. While samples, concepts, and measurement tools vary between studies, the most salient finding might be the distinct profile of people presenting problematic use of pharmaceutical-type opioids.

Discussion and Conclusions:

This scoping review highlights that few studies address distinctive profiles of people presenting problematic opioid use. Geographical and chronological differences suggest that local timely assessments may be needed to tailor the service offer to specific needs.

Scientific Significance:

Future studies should focus on providing a deep understanding of distinct experiential perspectives and service needs, through exploratory quantitative and qualitative designs.
Phronetic improvisation: A virtue ethics perspective
Authors: Hadjimichael Demetris , Tsoukas Haridimos
Published: July 2022

Traditional approaches to organizational improvisation treat it as a merely functional response to environmental constrains and unforeseen disruptions, neglecting its moral dimension, especially the valued ends improvisers aim to achieve. We attempt to address this gap by drawing on virtue ethics. In particular, we explore how phronetic improvisation is accomplished by drawing on the diary of an emergency-room physician, in which she describes her (and colleagues’) experience of dealing with Covid-19 in a New York Hospital, during the first spike in March–April 2020. We argue that improvisation is phronetic insofar as practitioners actively care for the valued ends of their practice. In particular, practitioners seek to phronetically fulfil the internal goods of their practice, while complying with institutional demands, in the context of coping with situational exigencies. Phronetic improvisation involves paying attention to what is salient in the situation at hand, while informed by an open-ended commitment to valued ends and constrained by scarce resources, and driven by a willingness to meet what is at stake through adapting general knowledge to situational demands. Such an inventive process may involve reshaping the original internal goods of the practice, in light of important institutional constrains.