bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Foundational Narratives Shape European Union Politics
Authors: De Vries Catherine E.
Published: November 2022

In this article, I distinguish between four foundational narratives about the EU and outline how they continue to shape EU politics of the present day. The foundational narratives are (1) the EU as a peace project, (2) the notion that the EU is forged in crisis, (3) the sense that deeper economic interdependence fosters political change and (4) the idea that law can replace power politics in the EU. In order for the European project to address current challenges, such as climate change, economic instability, political polarization or the rule of law crisis, I argue that Europeans need to confront their past. History is not only the recollection of events; it represents the connections that the public and elites wish to make. So, in order to develop policy solutions to cross‐border issues, European contemporaries need to critically revisit past connections and to uncover blind spots. If Europeans revisit the EU's foundational narratives, they might also figure out what should change in the EU today.
Procedural fairness and equality of opportunity
Authors: Trautmann Stefan T.
Published: November 2022

In this article, we discuss concepts of procedural fairness and equality of opportunity, and review the descriptive evidence regarding such procedural fairness preferences and their dynamic consistency. We then review the empirical relationship between equality of opportunity and preferences for redistribution. We discuss evidence derived from both survey and experimental studies.
Pathological neutrophil migration predicts adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Langer Mona‐May , Sichelschmidt Stefanie , Bauschen Alina , Bornemann Lea , Guckenbiehl Sabrina , Gunzer Matthias , Lange Christian M.
Published: November 2022

Background and Aims

Given the early response of neutrophil granulocytes to infections, detection of pathological neutrophil migration might help in predicting adverse events in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods

Migration of blood neutrophils in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis was characterized by a novel standardized migration assay. Pathological neutrophil migration patterns were associated with a composite endpoint of ACLF, sepsis or death within 7 or 30 days.

Results

Overall, 125 patients were included, of whom 11 (8.8%) had compensated cirrhosis, 84 (67.2%) had acute decompensation (AD) and 30 (24%) had acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF). The migration response of neutrophils from patients with AD or ACLF to stimulation with the chemotactic formylpeptide f‐Met‐Leu‐Phe (fMLP) was significantly impaired, while the response to chemokine (C‐X‐C motif)‐ligand 8 (CXCL8) was affected less pronouncedly. In contrast, no relevant differences in response to CXCL1 were observed. Of note, neutrophils of a number of patients with AD and ACLF were largely immotile at resting and stimulated conditions. Patients with non‐migrating neutrophils at unstimulated conditions were at high risk to develop the composite endpoint of ACLF, sepsis or death. Moreover, expression of chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 was significantly decreased in patients with ACLF. Interestingly, the expression of chemokine receptors did not correlate with neutrophil migration patterns, but—based on the increased expression of the cell surface markers CD66b and CD177—neutrophils of patients with AD and ACLF were strongly pre‐activated.

Conclusion

Pathological neutrophil migration in patients with cirrhosis indicates a high risk of developing adverse outcomes.
Association of Mediterranean diet adherence during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal lipid, glycemic and inflammatory markers: The GESTAFIT project
Authors: Flor‐Alemany Marta , Acosta‐Manzano Pedro , Migueles Jairo H. , Baena‐García Laura , Aranda Pilar , Aparicio Virginia A.
Published: November 2022

To examine the association of Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal lipid, glycemic, and inflammatory markers. This study included 152 women from the GESTAFIT trial and a subsample of 35 newborns. The Mediterranean Diet Score, derived from food frequency questionnaires, was employed to assess MD adherence. Total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides, and glucose were assessed in the mother (at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks [g.w.]) and in cord arterial and venous serum with standard procedures using an autoanalyzer. Pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]−6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐1beta, interferon gamma, and tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF‐α]) were measured with Luminex xMAP technology. A greater MD adherence was associated with higher HDL‐C and lower LDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C ratio, triglycerides, triglycerides/HDL‐C ratio, and TNF‐α in the mother at the 16th and the 34th g.w. (|β|: 0.191–0.388, p < 0.05). A higher intake of whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables and fish and a lower intake of sweets were associated with higher HDL‐C and lower LDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C ratio, triglycerides, triglycerides/HDL‐C ratio, and TNF‐α at the 16th and 34th g.w. (|β|: 0.188–0.334, p < 0.05). No associations were found with the cord arterial and venous serum markers (p > 0.05). A greater MD adherence during pregnancy, driven by a higher intake of whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables and fish, and a lower intake of sweets, was positively associated with the maternal lipid and inflammatory serum markers throughout gestation. MD adherence during pregnancy was not associated with cord serum markers.
Genomics reveals a genetically isolated population of the Pacific white‐sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) distributed in the Sea of Japan
Authors: Suzuki Miwa , Ohno Kaho , Sawayama Eitaro , Morinaga Shin‐Ichi , Kishida Takushi , Matsumoto Teruyo , Kato Haruhiko
Published: November 2022

The processes by which animals become genetically isolated in an open environment such as the ocean have not yet been fully elucidated. Morphologically different populations of Pacific white‐sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens are observed sympatrically in the Sea of Japan. However, genetic studies that exclusively used limited mitochondrial loci or microsatellite DNA have failed to demonstrate the existence of genetically distinct populations. Here, to reveal the population structure, we analysed genome‐wide population genetic data using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) gathered in 2018–2021 from all domestic captive individuals in aquaria, the majority of which originated from the wild, as well as from some stranded individuals, together covering a wide area of coastal water around Japan (n = 123). Multiplexed intersimple sequence repeat genotyping‐by‐sequencing analysis was performed to obtain the SNP data. Principal coordinate analysis and the clustering method structure indicated that two genetically‐distinct populations exist, with little interpopulation gene flow revealed. In addition, the genotypic segregation was reflected in differences in external morphotype. Furthermore, a population demographic analysis based on the whole‐genome sequences of an individual from each population indicated that sea‐level changes during the Last Glacial Period probably led to allopatric divergence of this species in a limited area of the Sea of Japan, with that group subsequently sharing a distribution area with the other population. These findings yield insights into the formation of genetically isolated sympatric populations in the ocean.
An innovative food system approach to diversifying protein intake: Protein‐I: Shared Island sustainable healthy nutrition
Authors: Brennan Lorraine , O'Gorman Aoife , Barth Susanne , Cadden Trevor , Dean Moira , Doohan Fiona , Henchion Maeve , McIvor Ronan , McNulty Breige , O'Donoghue Cathal , O'Reilly Seamus , Rafferty Joseph , Roche Helen M. , Thorne Fiona , Wallace Martina , Wright David , Nugent Anne P.
Published: November 2022

There is a need to transform our current food system if we are to feed the rapidly expanding global population while maintaining planetary health. Within the island of Ireland, there is an urgent need to diversify the foods that currently contribute to our populations' protein intake. A Shared Island Innovative Food System approach is required to achieve this in a manner that is sustainable and provides benefits to producers, consumers and other supply chain participants. The Protein‐I project employs such an approach, with the paradigm focusing on production of plant food through to human health, while paying particular attention to the development of the rural bioeconomy. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the team will develop strategies to maximise sustainable plant protein production in a traceable/transparent fashion and assess the impact of changes to existing value chains and the development of new value chains for the rural economy. A smart supply chain technology solution tailored to the needs of the agri‐food industry will be developed and tested. Additionally, we will co‐design consumer‐led approaches to diversify plant protein intake, model the impact of changes at the population level and perform human interventions to demonstrate efficacy in terms of achieving adequate nutrition and improved health. Comprehensive engagement with stakeholders is embedded throughout the whole project to embrace the multi‐actor approach. Overall, the project will be a key step towards future‐proofing our food system on the island of Ireland and moving towards protecting planetary and population health, within the context of a just transition.
Fe deficiency‐induced ethylene synthesis confers resistance to Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Lu Cheng Kai , Liang Gang
Published: November 2022

Although iron (Fe) deficiency is an adverse condition to growth and development of plants, it increases the resistance to pathogens. How Fe deficiency induces the resistance to pathogens is still unclear.

Here, we reveal that the inoculation of Botrytis cinerea activates the Fe deficiency response of plants, which further induces ethylene synthesis and then resistance to B. cinerea.

FIT and bHLH Ib are a pair of bHLH transcription factors, which control the Fe deficiency response. Both the Fe deficiency‐induced ethylene synthesis and resistance are blocked in fit‐2 and bhlh4x‐1 (a quadruple mutant for four bHLH Ib members). SAM1 and SAM2, two ethylene synthesis‐associated genes, are induced by Fe deficiency in a FIT‐bHLH Ib‐dependent manner. Moreover, SAM1 and SAM2 are required for the increased ethylene and resistance to B. cinerea under Fe‐deficient conditions.

Our findings suggest that the FIT‐bHLH Ib module activates the expression of SAM1 and SAM2, thereby inducing ethylene synthesis and resistance to B. cinerea. This study uncovers that Fe signaling also functions as a part of the plant immune system against pathogens.
Mid‐Term Outcomes of Navigation‐Assisted Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Adjusted Mechanical Alignment
Authors: Zheng Kai , Sun Houyi , Zhang Weicheng , Zhu Feng , Zhou Jun , Li Rongqun , Geng Dechun , Xu Yaozeng
Published: November 2022

Objective

The adjusted mechanical alignment (aMA) technique is an extension of conventional mechanical alignment (MA), which has rarely been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate mid‐term outcomes of navigation‐assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using aMA.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 63 consecutive patients (77 knees) who underwent navigation‐assisted TKA using aMA between September 2017 and October 2019. Fifty‐two consecutive patients (61 knees) who underwent TKA using MA during the same period were assessed as the controlled group. The demographic data and perioperative data were recorded. The parameters of resection and soft tissue balance including tibia resection angle, frontal femoral angle, axial femoral angle, joint line translation, medial and lateral gap in extension and flexion position were recorded. Radiographic parameters and functional scores including the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, and Forgotten Joint Score‐12 (FJS‐12) were evaluated. Surgery‐related complications were recorded. The average follow‐up was 3.5 years, with a minimum of 2.4 years.

Results

The frontal femoral angle was 2.55° ± 1.08° in aMA group versus 0.26° ± 0.60° in MA group (p < 0.001). The axial femoral angle was 3.07° ± 2.23° external in aMA group versus 2.30° ± 1.70° in MA group (p = 0.027). The lateral flexion gap was wider in the aMA group, with a mean of 0.71 mm more laxity (p = 0.001). Postoperative coronal alignment was 177.03° ± 1.82° in aMA group versus 178.14° ± 1.69° in MA group (p < 0.001). The coronal femoral component angle was 92.62° ± 2.78° in aMA group versus 90.85° ± 2.01° in MA group (p < 0.001). Both aMA‐TKA and MA‐TKA achieved satisfactory mid‐term clinical outcomes. However, the HSS scores at 1 month postoperatively were significantly higher using aMA than using MA (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Navigation‐assisted TKA using aMA technique obtained satisfactory mid‐term clinical outcomes. The aMA technique aims to produce a biomimetic wider lateral flexion‐extension gap and minimize releases of soft tissues, which might be associated with better early clinical outcomes than MA technique.
Other minds, other people, and human opacity
Authors: Hacker Peter M. S.
Published: November 2022

This paper explains the absence of the problem of other minds in ancient philosophy and links its rise in early modern philosophy with the distinction between primary and secondary qualities and the consequent veil of ideas. The futile struggles of early modern philosophers with the problems is delineated. So too are the incoherent theories of modern neuroscientists and psychologists. The sources of the manifold confusions are pinned down to use and misuse of the concept of mind, to misunderstandings about the nature of the human ability to say how things are subjectively with oneself, to misconstruals of the nature of introspection and self‐knowledge, and to the misguided picture of the “inner” and the “outer”. Philosophical misunderstandings about knowledge of other minds has masked the genuine limitations on our knowledge and understanding of our fellow human beings. Some of these rest on ignorance, others on the constitutional indeterminacy of the mental.
Small babies at birth, small lungs for life?
Authors: Guerra Stefano , Melén Erik
Published: November 2022

See related article
Double take: Abolition and the size of transferred property rights*
Authors: Bourne Jenny
Published: November 2022

Objective

Abolition is sometimes portrayed as a taking of property rights from former masters.  If we consider freedom as the baseline, slavery could instead represent a taking of property rights from slaves. To gauge pecuniary losses to slaves, I estimate foregone wages to former U.S. slaves alive at the time of emancipation.

Method

I use slave hire rates and values from colonial times to the 1860s to calculate lost compensation to former slaves.

Results

Estimated pecuniary losses to former slaves at the time of their emancipation are nearly $7 billion in 1860 dollars, or about $200 billion in today's dollars.

Conclusions

Today's calls for reparations to U.S. blacks appeal to a sense of justice but encounter legal problems because potential plaintiffs cannot show direct harm from slavery. Former slaves, however, arguably possessed legal standing at the time of emancipation to request reimbursement for past wages. Because our nation failed to compensate newly freed persons for lost wages, they and their descendants have suffered a financial disadvantage for generations.
Comparison of the marine soundscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in dolphin habitat in Sarasota Bay, FL
Authors: Longden Emma G. , Gillespie Douglas , Mann David , McHugh Katherine A. , Rycyk Athena M. , Wells Randall , Tyack Peter L.
Published: November 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreases in large vessel activity and low-frequency noise have been reported globally. Sarasota Bay is home to a large and increasing number of recreational vessels, as well as a long-term resident community of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. We analyzed data from two hydrophones to compare the soundscape during the COVID-19 pandemic to previous years (March–May 2020 and 2018/2019). Hourly metrics were calculated: vessel passes, 95th percentile noise levels (125 and 16 kHz Third Octave Bands (TOBs) and two broadbands: 88–1122 Hz, 1781–17959 Hz), and dolphin whistle detection, to understand changes in vessel activity and the effect on wildlife. Vessel activity increased during COVID-19 restrictions by almost 80% at one site and remained the same at the other. Changes in noise levels varied between sites. Only the 125 Hz TOB and 88–1122 Hz band increased with vessel activity at both sites, suggesting this may be an appropriate measure of noise from small vessels in very shallow (<10 m) habitats. Dolphin whistle detection decreased during COVID-19 restrictions at one site but remained the same at the site that experienced increased vessel activity. Our results suggest that pandemic effects on wildlife should not be considered to be homogeneous globally.
Experimental study and modeling of the level-dependent acoustical behavior of granular particle stacks
Authors: Song Guochenhao , Mo Zhuang , Bolton J. S.
Published: November 2022

Researchers have previously observed elastic modulus softening and increased damping when granular particle stacks are exposed to progressively increasing acoustical excitation levels. However, the level-dependent behavior of granular particle stacks is not well understood, and there are no comprehensive approaches to modeling those effects. Earlier, the authors measured the absorption coefficient of a stack of one type of granular activated carbon stack by using signals having different bandwidths and levels. In the present work, five more types of granular particle stacks were studied to validate and generalize the previous conclusions: i.e., both the modulus softening, and increased damping can be characterized by the total RMS fluid displacement at the sample surface. Therefore, a strain-dependent modulus and damping formula from the literature (based on cyclic loading tests on sand particles) was converted into a total RMS fluid displacement-dependent formula (based on acoustic measurements). In addition, a multi-layered model based on this displacement-dependent formula has been developed to iteratively update each layer’s modulus, damping, and total RMS fluid displacement to solve for the particle stack’s acoustic properties. This approach allows modeling of the particle stack’s acoustical behavior by using a single set of parameters, even for different level and bandwidth test signals.
Activatable perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions stabilized by oligo(ethylene glycol) bisphosphonate dendrons
: Methods of preparation and characterization
Authors: Abadian Hagop , El-Yahklifi Salima , Ayela Benjamin , Felder-Flesch Delphine , Schmutz Marc , Krafft Marie Pierre
Published: November 2022

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) combine unique capacities (biological inertness, gas solubilization, low intermolecular interactions, extreme hydrophobicity, etc.), which qualify them as critical actors in emerging fields [M. P. Krafft and J. G. Riess, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 294, 102407 (2021) ]. Microbubbles (MBs) focus sustained interest for biomedical imaging and therapy. Nanometric PFC droplets (NDs) can accumulate in tumors and be vaporized on demand at the target site using ultrasound or other stimuli, generating MBs. We identified a lack of well-defined, biocompatible, and versatile amphiphiles specifically tailored for PFC-ND stabilization and acoustic droplet vaporization control. So, we developed a series of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) bisphosphonate dendrons that, in combination with phospholipids, provide closer control over the size and stability of perfluorohexane-NDs [Felder-Flesch et al., Eur. Pat. 22305549.2 (2022)]. These NDs were easily converted into MBs with a half-life five time longer than for reference MBs. We will discuss the methods of preparation and characterization of the new PFC nanoemulsions. Temperature-dependent cryo-TEM studies identified key intermediates in the phase-shift of the NDs into MBs. The bisphosphonate dendrons also stabilize iron oxide nanoparticles for incorporation in the NDs’ phospholipid shell.
Updated noise dose range of NASA’s X-59 aircraft estimated from propagation simulations
Authors: Doebler William , Loubeau Alexandra
Published: November 2022

A follow-on study to Doebler and Loubeau [“The noise dose range of the X-59 estimated from propagation simulations,” JASA 150(4), A208 (2021)] is described. In the previous work, propagation simulations of NASA’s X-59 sonic thump were conducted using two near-field pressure solutions from NASA’s Cart3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The near-fields were propagated through realistic atmospheric profiles from the Climate Forecast System Version 2 database across the USA, and perceived level statistics of the thumps were presented. The current work repeats the previous analyses, instead using near-field CFD solutions from NASA’s Fully Unstructured Navier-Stokes (FUN3D) code for the same aircraft conditions (Mach 1.4 at 53 200 feet and Mach 1.3 at 43 000 feet), which achieve the minimum and maximum cruise loudness. NASA and contractors in the X-59 development and community noise testing project mutually agreed upon using FUN3D for generating near-field pressures. Sonic thump loudness statistics using the FUN3D near-fields are similar to those of Cart3D. The min loudness condition is about 1 dB (PL) greater when using the FUN3D solution, and the max loudness condition results are nearly identical. Understanding the X-59’s dose range for various flight and atmospheric conditions is important for planning X-59 community noise surveys.
An active noise control filter design method based on machine learning algorithms
Authors: Ding Dan , Wang Peisheng , Wang Yiming
Published: November 2022

Filter design is the essential problem in active noise control. In the case of FIR filter design, the whole problem can be formulated as a convex optimization. In practice, limited by computation capability, IIR filters are preferred but more challenging to design. On the one hand, the existence of zeros could cause instablity; on the other hand, the problem can not be formulated as a convex optimization problem. This work introduces a new IIR filter design method, which stablizes the system by modeling the ANC controller as casade parametric biquadratic IIRs and optimizes their cofficients by using machine learning algorithms. A neural network with zero input but learnable bias and network weights is used to generate the filter coefficients; and the loss function consists of a reward term for reducing noise and penalty terms for breaking the constraints. Training the neural network with gradient based machine learning algorithm directly leads to a group of coefficients that achieves good ANC performance and is subject to given constraints. It turned out that no big and deep neurual network is required for this method to perform well and therefore it is computationally efficient. Experiments showed that the proposed method was able to consistently yield good ANC filters for a variety of given acoustical environments.
What is the impact of targeted therapies given within phase I trials on the cognitive function of patients with advanced cancer: a mixed-methods exploratory study conducted in an early clinical trials unit
Authors: Stapleton Sarah , Darlington Anne-Sophie Emma , de Bono J S , Wiseman Theresa
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Novel therapies such as small protein molecule inhibitors and immunotherapies are tested in early phase trials before moving to later phase trials and ultimately standard practice. A key aim of these clinical trials is to define a toxicity profile, however, the emphasis is often on safety with measurements of organ toxicity. Other subjective side effects can be under-reported because they are not measured formally within the trial protocols. The concern from clinical practice is that cognitive toxicity is poorly studied and may be under-reported in this context. This could lead to toxicity profiles of new treatments not being fully described and patients with unmet need in terms of acknowledgement and support of symptoms. This protocol outlines a framework of an exploratory study with feasibility aspects to investigate the impact and experience of cognitive changes for patients on phase I trials.

Methods and analysis

This is a mixed-methods study, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample is 30 patients with advanced cancer who are participating in phase I trials of novel therapies in the early clinical trials unit of a specialist cancer centre. A test battery of validated cognitive assessments will be taken alongside patient reported outcome measures at three time points from baseline, day eight and day 28 post start of treatment. At day 28, a semi-structured interview will be conducted and the narrative thematically analysed. Results will be integrated to offer a comprehensive description of cognitive function in this patient group.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received full HRA and ethical approval. It is the first study to introduce formal cognitive assessments in a cancer phase I trial context. The study has the potential to highlight previously unreported side effects and more importantly unmet need in terms of care for patients who are participating in the trials.
Home-based multidisciplinary interventions on skin adverse reactions in EGFR-TKI-treated patients with lung cancer: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Du Ruofei , Yang Huashan , Zhou Huiyue , Ma Lixia , Getu Mikiyas Amare , Chen Changying , Wang Tao
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Here, we provide a feasible, well-designed protocol of a randomised controlled trial for the assessment of the effects of a home-based multidisciplinary intervention on the severity of skin adverse drug reactions and health-related indicators in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy.

Methods and analysis

The study will be a two-group, parallel randomised controlled trial conducted at patients’ homes by a multidisciplinary team in Zhengzhou in Henan Province, China. Patients with NSCLC who received EGFR-TKI therapy and experienced adverse skin reactions will be randomised and receive either ordinary care or home-based multidisciplinary interventions. The intervention will be divided into an intensive stage (6 weeks) and a maintenance stage (6 weeks) with baseline and follow-up assessment. Interventions in the intensive stage will include general interventions such as health education, follow-up, behaviour guide and social support and targeted interventions such as skill training, coping with adverse drug reaction and problem-solving. The measures that will be carried out in maintenance stage are continuous interventions consisted of an intensive intervention. The multidisciplinary team will be responsible for managing skin adverse drug reactions as required at patients’ homes. Data collection and analysis will be performed by researchers at baseline, the end of the sixth week of intervention and the third month after the intervention. The primary outcome is the degree of skin adverse drug reactions, while the secondary outcomes, for example, self-management ability, quality of life, outpatient visits and health economics indicators, will also be presented.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou University (No. ZZUIRB-2020-97). Findings will be available to patients, clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, community medical staff, funders and health policymakers through peer-reviewed publications, social media and patient support groups.

Trial registration number

Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2000040643).
Patterns of suicide and self-harm in Pakistan: a retrospective descriptive study protocol
Authors: Asad Nargis , Pirani Shahina , Tariq Summaiya , Qureshi Asra , Zaman Mohammad , Aslam Mustafa , Mirza Farhat , Khan Murad M
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Suicide is a major global public health problem. Low-income and middle-income countries contribute 78% of all suicidal deaths. Pakistan, a South Asian country, lacks official statistics on suicides at national level. Statistics on suicide are neither collected nationally nor published in the annual national morbidity and mortality surveys. Medicolegal reports on suicides and self-harm are extremely rich and important source of information but greatly underused in Pakistan. We aim to examine the patterns of suicides and self-harm retrospectively in patients who were registered with medicolegal centres (MLCs) in Karachi, during the period January 2017 to December 2021.

Methods and analysis

Using retrospective descriptive design, the data will be collected from the medical records maintained at the main office of the Karachi police surgeon. Data from all nine MLCs of Karachi are collated and stored at the main office of Police surgeon. Information on suicide and self-harm cases will be extracted from records of all MLCs. The data will be collected using structured proforma and it will be analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved for exemption from Aga Khan University, Ethical Review Committee. The findings of the study will be disseminated by conducting seminars for healthcare professionals and stakeholders including psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, medicolegal officers, police surgeons, mental health nurses, general and public health physicians and policy makers. Findings will be published in local and international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Prospective cohort study to identify prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of infection associated kidney disease in a regional hospital in Malawi
Authors: Carey Laura Isobel , Kaimba Sylvester , Nyirenda Saulos , Chetcuti Karen , Joekes Elizabeth , Henrion Marc Yves Romain , Rylance Jamie
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and severe complication of community acquired infection, but data on impact in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are lacking. We determined prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of infection associated kidney disease in adults in Malawi.

Design

A prospective cohort study of adults admitted to hospital with infection, from February 2021 to June 2021, collecting demographic, clinical, laboratory and ultrasonography data.

Setting

Adults admitted to a regional hospital in Southern Region, Malawi.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were prevalence of kidney disease and mortality by Cox proportional hazard model. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Secondary outcomes were risk factors for AKI identified by logistic regression and prevalence of chronic kidney disease at 3 months.

Results

We recruited 101 patients presenting to hospital with infection. Median age was 38 years (IQR: 29–48 years), 88 had known HIV status of which 53 (60%) were living with HIV, and of these 42 (79%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy. AKI was present in 33/101 at baseline, of which 18/33 (55%) cases were severe (KDIGO stage 3). At 3 months, 28/94 (30%) participants had died, while 7/61 (11%) of survivors had chronic kidney disease. AKI was associated with older age (age: 60 years vs 40 years, OR: 3.88, 95% CI 1.82 to 16.64), and HIV positivity (OR: 4.08, 95% CI 1.28 to 15.67). Living with HIV was independently associated with death (HR: 3.97, 95% CI 1.07 to 14.69).

Conclusions

Kidney disease is common among hospitalised adults with infection in Malawi, with significant kidney impairment identified at 3 months. Our study highlights the difficulty in diagnosing acute and chronic kidney disease, and the need for more accurate methods than creatinine based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations for populations in Africa. Patients with kidney impairment identified in hospital should be prioritised for follow-up.
Impact of modifiable reproductive factors on cancer incidence and mortality in Korea: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Kim Seo-Hee , Han Mi Ah
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In Korea, it is also a major public health problem. Cancer burden may increase significantly due to ageing population and changes in lifestyle. The features of reproductive factors have changed, which include increased age at first childbirth and decreased breastfeeding duration. This study aims to systematically summarise the association between modifiable reproductive factors and cancer incidence and mortality to provide evidence for planning strategies aimed at reducing cancer incidence and mortality in women.

Methods and analysis

A literature search was performed using the EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Korean databases such as the Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, KoreaMED, Korean Medical Database, National Assembly Library and Korea Institute from their inception to 24 August 2022. We will include cohort studies addressing the associations between at least one of the reproductive factors and the incidence and mortality of all or specific cancers among Korean women. Two reviewers will screen the references, extract the data, and assess the risk of bias independently and in duplicates. Discrepancies will be resolved through discussion or consultation with a third-party reviewer. We will use the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to evaluate the certainty of evidence. We will summarise the findings of the included systematic reviews through quantitative or narrative syntheses and present the summarised findings in tables.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required, since we will use only the published data. We will disseminate the study findings in peer-reviewed publications.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022356085.
Resident physician outlook on death, dying and end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic: effect of religion and burnout
Authors: Kripalani Simran , Gaughan John P , Cerceo Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Religion and spirituality are important aspects of many physicians and patients’ lives and may impact their views of death and the way they interact with terminally ill patients, specifically comfort discussing end-of-life care and death and dying. This study explores the religious and spiritual beliefs of resident physicians, if they affect interactions with their patients and if burnout impedes this interaction.

Methods

A 28-item questionnaire was administered to residents and fellows at an urban academic hospital.

Results

65 residents and fellows answered the survey. Religiosity but not spirituality correlated with reported comfort interacting with patients dealing with death or dying. Resident specialty, biological sex and spirituality were not associated with comfort and conversations about religion and end-of-life care. The majority (60%) reported that the pandemic has not affected how they speak to their patients about death and dying. Caring for a higher volume of terminally ill patients was not associated with high levels of burnout though 71% reported increased burnout due to COVID-19.

Conclusion

Further research can be done to determine whether additional training or resources should be provided to resident physicians to cope with death and dying in the setting of a pandemic.
Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of Hollow Spherical TiO2/Cu2O Composites
Authors: Liu Fengqiang , Wang Liming , Xu Lihui , Pan Hong , Fan Ding
Published: November 2022

The anatase phase titanium dioxide sols were prepared by hydrothermal method using titanium sulfate as the titanium source. Copper acetate monohydrate was used as the copper source, cubic phase Cu2O with matched bandgap TiO2 was introduced to synthesize hollow spherical nano-TiO2/Cu2O composites by precipitation method. The powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), specific surface area testing (BET), X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis using methyl orange (MO) solution as indicator. The results showed that the introduction of Cu2O did not affect the physical phase of TiO2. Titanium dioxide was a shuttle-shaped nanorod with an average particle size less than 20 nm, Cu2O was a sphere with an average particle size greater than 400 nm. TiO2 loading results in smaller particle size, larger specific surface area, thinner spherical walls, increased hollowness, and improved adsorption and photocatalytic properties of spherical Cu2O. The optimum Ti content of TiO2/Cu2O nanocomposite was 4.0 wt.%, the maximum specific surface area of TiO2/Cu2O sample was 90.57 m2/g with particle size less than 150 nm. When TiO2/Cu2O sample with Ti content of 4.0 wt.% was used as photocatalyst, the adsorption effect was 66.2% under the dark reaction at 60 min, the degradation effect was 91.2% under visible light irradiation at 120 min. The adsorption and photocatalytic performance were excellent when the TiO2/Cu2O sample with Ti content of 4.0 wt.% was used as the photocatalyst. This work provides an effective method for photocatalytic treatment of waste liquids.
A single multi-scale and multi-sourced semi-automated lineament detection technique for detailed structural mapping with applications to geothermal energy exploration
Authors: Yeomans Christopher M. , Claridge Hester , Hudson Alexander J. L. , Shail Robin K. , Willems Cees , Eyre Matthew , Harker Chris
Published: November 2022

Semi-automated algorithms incorporating multi-sourced datasets into a single analysis are increasingly common, but until now operate at a fixed pixel resolution resulting in multi-sourced methods being limited by the largest input pixel size. Multi-scale lineament detection circumvents this issue and allows increased levels of detail to be captured. We present a semi-automated method using a bottom-up Object-Based Image Analysis approach to map regional lineaments to a high level of detail. The method is applied to onshore light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and offshore bathymetry around the Land's End Granite (Cornwall, UK). The method uses three different pixel resolutions to extract detailed lineaments across a 700 km
2
area. The granite displays large-scale NW–SE fault zones that are considered analogous to those being targeted as onshore deep geothermal reservoirs (2–5 km in depth). Investigation of the lineaments derived from this study shows along-strike variations from NW–SE orientations within granite to NNW–SSE within slate and reflects structural inheritance of early Variscan structures within Devonian slates. This is furthered by analysing these major structures for reservoir potential. Lineaments proximal to these broadly NW–SE features indicate that a damage zone
c.
100–200 m wide is present. These observations provide a preliminary understanding of reservoir characteristics for fault-hosted geothermal systems.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Remote sensing for site investigations on Earth and other planets collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/remote-sensing-for-site-investigations-on-earth-and-other-planets

Supplementary material:
A description of the OBAI method and additional figures are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6309629
Algorithmic fair allocation of indivisible items
Authors: Aziz Haris , Li Bo , Moulin Hervé , Wu Xiaowei
Published: November 2022

The theory of algorithmic fair allocation is at the center of multi-agent systems and economics in recent decades due to its industrial and social importance. At a high level, the problem is to assign a set of items that are either goods or chores to a set of agents so that every agent is happy with what she obtains. In this survey, we focus on indivisible items, for which exact fairness as measured by envy-freeness and proportionality cannot be guaranteed. One main theme in the recent research agenda is designing algorithms that approximately achieve fairness criteria. We aim at presenting a comprehensive survey of recent progress through the prism of algorithms, highlighting the ways to relax fairness notions and common techniques to design algorithms, as well as the most interesting questions for future research.
Improving Workplace Judgments by Reducing Noise: Lessons Learned from a Century of Selection Research
Authors: Highhouse Scott , Brooks Margaret E.
Published: November 2022

Some assert that noise (i.e., unwanted variance) is the most neglected yet most important source of error in judgment. We suggest that this problem was discovered nearly 100 years ago in the area of personnel selection and that a century of selection research has shown that noise can be demonstrably reduced by structuring the process (i.e., decomposing the component parts, agreeing on standards, and applying those standards consistently) and by aggregating judgments independently. Algorithms can aid significantly in this process but are often confused with methods that, in their current form, can substantially increase noise in judgment (e.g., artificial intelligence and machine learning).
NE-activated β2-AR/β-arrestin 2/Src pathway mediates duodenal hyperpermeability induced by water-immersion restraint stress
Authors: Yan Jing-Ting , Zhu Yin-Zhe , Liang Liang , Feng Xiao-Yan
Published: November 2022

Stress causes a rapid spike in norepinephrine (NE) levels, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction. NE reduces the expression of tight junctions (TJs) and aggravates intestinal mucosal damage, but the regulatory mechanism is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of stress-associated duodenal hyperpermeability by NE. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability, transepithelial resistance, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis were used in water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) rats in this study. The results indicate that the duodenal permeability, degradation of TJs, mucosal NE, and β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) increased in WIRS rats. The duodenal intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels were decreased, whereas the expression of β-arrestin 2 negatively regulates G protein-coupled receptors signaling, was significantly increased. Src recruitment was mediated by β-arrestin; thus, the levels of Src kinase activation were enhanced in WIRS rats. NE depletion, β2-AR, or β-arrestin 2 blockade significantly decreased mucosal permeability and increased TJs expression, suggesting improved mucosal barrier function. Moreover, NE induced an increased duodenal permeability of normal rats with activated β-arrestin 2/Src signaling, which was significantly inhibited by β2-AR blockade. The present findings demonstrate that the enhanced NE induced an increased duodenal permeability in WIRS rats through the activated β2-AR/β-arrestin 2/Src pathway. This study provides novel insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of NE on the duodenal mucosal barrier and a new target for treating duodenal ulcers induced by stress.
Systematic Analysis Strategy Based on Network Pharmacology to Investigate the Potential Mechanism of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. against Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Xu Gonghao , Feng Siwen , Sun Rui , Ding Qi , Shi Yuanyuan
Published: November 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a long-term, distressing, and age-related interstitial lung disease characterized by a complicated etiology and irreversible progression. Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe Beimu, ZBM) is frequently used for its heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving properties in herbal compounds for the treatment of IPF. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of ZBM against IPF have not yet been reported. In this study, we applied a systematic analysis strategy based on network pharmacology to explore the probable core targets and major pathways of ZBM against IPF. In addition, molecular docking simulation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to preliminarily investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ZBM on IPF. We collected a total of 86 components of ZBM and used network pharmacology analysis to screen nine presumptive targets of ZBM against IPF. The molecular-docking results indicated that the components of ZBM exhibited good binding activity with presumptive targets. The qRT-PCR results also suggested that ZBM may partly alleviate IPF by regulating the expression of presumptive targets. This study laid the foundation for further clinical applications of ZBM and the development of IPF-related therapeutic products.
Cell Phenotype Classification Based on Joint of Texture Information and Multilayer Feature Extraction in DenseNet
Authors: Fekri-Ershad Shervan , Al-Imari Mustafa Jawad , Hamad Mohammed Hayder , Alsaffar Marwa Fadhil , Hassan Fuad Ghazi , Hadi Mazin Eidan , Mahdi Karrar Salih
Published: November 2022

Cell phenotype classification is a critical task in many medical applications, such as protein localization, gene effect identification, and cancer diagnosis in some types. Fluorescence imaging is the most efficient tool to analyze the biological characteristics of cells. So cell phenotype classification in fluorescence microscopy images has received increased attention from scientists in the last decade. The visible structures of cells are usually different in terms of shape, texture, relationship between intensities, etc. In this scope, most of the presented approaches use one type or joint of low-level and high-level features. In this paper, a new approach is proposed based on a combination of low-level and high-level features. An improved version of local quinary patterns is used to extract low-level texture features. Also, an innovative multilayer deep feature extraction method is performed to extract high-level features from DenseNet. In this respect, an output feature map of dense blocks is entered in a separate way to pooling and flatten layers, and finally, feature vectors are concatenated. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated on the benchmark dataset 2D-HeLa in terms of accuracy. Also, the proposed approach is compared with state-of-the-art methods in terms of classification accuracy. Comparison of results demonstrates higher performance of the proposed approach in comparison with some efficient methods.