bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric oncologists' perspectives on the use of complementary medicine in pediatric cancer patients in Switzerland: A national survey‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Pirson Léopold , Lüer Sonja C. , Diezi Manuel , Kroiss Sabine , Brazzola Pierluigi , Schilling Freimut H. , von der Weid Nicolas , Scheinemann Katrin , Greiner Jeanette , Zuzak Tycho Jan , von Bueren André O.
Published: June 2022

Background

There is a widespread use of complementary therapies among pediatric cancer patients. Previous studies provided evidence that communication between pediatric oncologists (POs) and patients/families about the use of these therapies is often incomplete. Furthermore, nationwide studies on this topic are rare.

Aims

We assessed POs' perspectives on the use of complementary medicine (CM) in Switzerland, on the basis of an edited survey previously used in a nationwide study.

Methods and Results

A link to an online survey was sent by e‐mail to each of the fifty‐two eligible pediatric oncologists in all nine Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) centers. Eligible respondents were board‐certified (Switzerland or abroad) POs currently working at a SPOG center. The survey was available for a total period of 2 months.

We received 29 filled questionnaires (overall response rate: 56%). Most POs (59%) indicated that they ask more than 50% of their patients about CM use. Frequent reasons for not asking about the use of CM were i) forgetting to ask (55%), ii) lack of knowledge on the subject (31%), and iii) lack of time (24%). More than every second PO (55%) reported having a lack of knowledge on the subject. A majority of POs (66% to 76%) indicated interest in learning more about specific CM topics (cannabinoids, hypnosis and relaxation, music therapy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, meditation, and yoga). More information and specific training opportunities on the use of CM was deemed important by 76% to 97% of POs.

Conclusion

POs working in Switzerland identify complementary therapies as an important subject. Swiss POs are willing to acquire more knowledge on CM. More training seems to be necessary in order to increase awareness about the topic, to enhance communication about complementary therapies and thus to improve patient care.
Corporate social responsibility (environment, product, diversity, employee, and community) and the hotel employees' job performance: Exploring the role of the employment types
Authors: Yu Jongsik , Lho Linda Heejung , Han Heesup
Published: June 2022

This study attempted to verify the influence of hotel corporations' social responsibility activities on perceived job performance. To achieve the purpose of this study, five new sub‐factors (environment, product, diversity, employee, and community) were suggested for the social responsibility activities of hotel corporations. A quantitative analysis was performed to obtain research objectives using SPSS 22 and AMOS 22. Our results evidenced that corporations' social responsibility activities enhanced perceived job performances of the hotel employees. Additionally, employment type of the employees in the relationship between CSR and the job performance showed significant moderating influence. This study provides a very meaningful and important insight that the social responsibility activities of hotel corporations have a significant influence on the improved performance of the hotel employees.
Implementing microwell slides for detection and isolation of single circulating tumor cells from complex cell suspensions
Authors: Yang Liwen , Rivandi Mahdi , Franken André , Hieltjes Maarten , van der Zaag Pieter Jan , Nelep Constantin , Eberhardt Jens , Peter Stefan , Niederacher Dieter , Fehm Tanja , Neubauer Hans
Published: June 2022

Cell loss during detection and isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a challenge especially when label‐free pre‐enrichment technologies are used without the aid of magnetic particles. Although microfluidic systems can remove the majority of “contaminating” white blood cells (WBCs), their remaining numbers are still impeding single CTC isolation, thus making additional separation steps needed. This study aimed to develop a workflow from blood‐to‐single CTC for complex cell suspensions by testing two microwell formats. In the first step, different cell lines were used to compare the performances of Sievewell™ 370 K (TOK, Japan) and CellCelector™ Nanowell U25 (ALS Automated Lab Solutions, Germany) slides for cell labelling and single‐cell micromanipulation. Confounding levels of auto‐fluorescence inherent to different plastic materials used to cast the microwells, staining recovery rates, and cell isolation rates were determined. In the second step, three different blood preservation tubes were tested for RNA analysis. Lastly, the established workflow was applied to isolate CTCs from peripheral blood samples obtained from metastasized breast cancer (mBC) patients for single‐cell DNA and RNA analysis. The detection of CTCs in Sievewell slides profit from better signal‐to‐noise ratios in the fluorescence channels mainly used for CTC detection. In addition, due to its design, Sievewell supports direct in situ CTC labelling, which minimizes cell loss and leads to single‐cell recovery rates after staining of approx. 94%. Detection of PIK3CA mutations in single CTCs verified the applicability of the workflow for the analysis of genomic DNA of CTCs. Furthermore, combined with blood preservation up to 48 h at room temperature in LBguard tubes, panel RT‐PCR transcript analysis was successful for single cell line cells and CTCs, respectively. The combined use of Sievewell microwell slides and CellCelector™ automated micromanipulation system improves single CTC detection, labelling and isolation from complex cell suspensions. This approach is especially valuable when samples of high cellular content are processed.
Organocatalytic One‐Pot Synthesis of Pseudo‐Terpenoids
Authors: Peraka Swamy , Gorachand Badaraita , Hussain Akram , Sravanthi Revoju , Ramachary Dhevalapally B.
Published: June 2022

Structurally complex cedrane scaffolds were synthesized in very good yields with high chemo‐ and diastereoselectivities in a sequential one‐pot manner. A combination of intermolecular olefination, intramolecular Michael and Michael reactions or intermolecular olefination, intramolecular Michael and aldol reactions were used as the key steps from the readily available hydroxy‐p‐quinone butanals and phosphoranes with catalytic amounts of quinine at ambient temperatures for a few hours. This is a unique one‐pot combination of coupling and annulation routes for the green synthesis of a library of tricyclic pseudo‐terpenoids (cedrane scaffolds) with high selectivity and yields. Organocatalytic ring isomerization was highlighted through transforming one ring into another one by retro‐cyclization. We have discussed thoroughly mechanistic aspects of these tandem coupling/annulation and ring isomerization reactions based on control experiments and X‐ray crystal structure analysis.
HS‐UNET‐ID: An approach for human skin classification integrating between UNET and improved dense convolutional network
Authors: Nguyen Hai Thanh , Luong Huong Hoang , Phan Phat Tan , Nguyen Hung Huy Duc , Ly Duong , Phan Duc Minh , Do Tin Trung
Published: June 2022

The Sun's ultraviolet radiation, toxic chemicals from industry, and other factors can cause problems to human skin. These factors have boosted the risk of humans contracting skin cancer. In identifying and detecting signals of skin cancer diseases, recent advancements in deep learning techniques significantly improve the accuracy of diagnosis. This work delves into processing techniques for human skin images with MorphologyEx (blackhat), thresholding, semantic segmentation with UNET, and several famous convolutional neural network architectures to improve skin classification performance. If skin cancer can be stopped in the first stage, the survival rate of the patient could be more than 95%, while it drops to just 5% if the detection is carried lately in Stage IV4. Due to its seriousness, the healthcare and research community has received considerable attention, and its most important goal is to be able to diagnose it at an early stage. However, the challenge due to the similarity in melanocytic and non‐melanoma skin lesions is inevitable. We achieved skin classification performances of 0.8560, 0.9672, 0.8063, and 0.8560 measured by overall accuracy, area under curve, Matthews correlation coefficient, and F1‐score, respectively. The proposed approach has been deployed into applications on Mobile and Web platforms.
Hsa_circ_0008726 regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia through modulating the miR‐1290‐LHX6 signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yongyan , Fang Shuai , Wang Jiayi , Chen Siqian , Xuan Rongrong
Published: June 2022

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy, with a global incidence of about 2%–8%. It is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality among the pregnant women and perinatal infants. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to play an important regulatory role in PE. This study aimed to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_0008726 in the occurrence and development of PE.

Methods

The expression of hsa_circ_0008726 in PE placental tissue and blood was detected by qRT‐PCR. CCK‐8, wound closure, and Transwell assay were used to measure cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Bioinformatics prediction, Western blotting, and dual‐luciferase reporter gene detection were used to explore the mechanism of hsa_circ_0008726 in HTR8/SVneo cells.

Results

The expression level of circ_0008726 in the placental tissue and blood samples of PE patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls. The overexpression of circ_0008726 can significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of HTR‐8/SVneo cells. While the silence of circ_0008726 showed an opposite effect. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0008726 can modulate the expression of LHX6 by adsorbing miR‐1290.

Conclusion

Hsa_circ_000872 can regulate LHX6 by adsorbing miR‐1290 to inhibit PE progression, thus establishing hsa_circ_000872 as a potential target for predicting and treating PE.
Community participation in a low‐income neighborhood: The salience of sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions and experience of violence, and neighborhood attachment
Authors: Swart Lu‐Anne , Ismail Ghouwa , Seedat Mohamed
Published: June 2022

While community participation may serve as a vehicle to improve health and socioeconomic outcomes for residents in poor communities, little research exists on the individual factors that influence community participation, particularly in contexts where violence is exceptionally high. This study examined the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions, and experiences of violence, neighborhood attachment, and community participation in a low‐income, under‐resourced neighborhood in Johannesburg South Africa. The study used baseline data from 300 randomly selected households and multiple linear regression to assess the relationship between individual factors and community participation. The results suggest a high level of community participation, with religious organizational membership the most common. Being female, employed, and fear of violent crime were positively associated with community participation. Future research should include mixed methods and transdisciplinary research approaches for building our understandings of social justice and transformation‐oriented community participation.
Unusually swift response of relapsed Burkitt leukemia to R‐DHAP
Authors: Harrer Dennis Christoph , Denk Alexander , Keil Felix , Menhart Karin , Mayer Stephanie , Wolff Daniel , Edinger Matthias , Herr Wolfgang , Grube Matthias
Published: June 2022

Burkitt leukemia (BL) represents a highly aggressive lymphoma characterized by proliferation rates of around 100%, and a frequent spread into the central nervous system. If standard frontline chemotherapy fails, the prognosis is usually dismal, and reports on successful effective salvage therapy strategies for patients with relapsed/refractory BL are scant. Here, we report on a 40‐year‐old female patient who suffered an early relapse of BL three months after the completion of frontline chemoimmunotherapy. Strikingly, after only one cycle of R‐DHAP chemotherapy, the patient showed CR of BL enabling swift transition to a consolidating allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A 40‐year‐old previously healthy woman presented to the hospital with fatigue and incessant epistaxis, and a diagnosis of BL was made upon histological examination of a bone marrow biopsy. Treatment was initiated according to the GMALL 2002 B‐NHL/ALL protocol, which could induce complete molecular remission. Nevertheless, three months after chemotherapy, the patient exhibited BL relapse in the bone marrow, and on Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)–PET‐imaging. The relapse therapy was started with R‐DHAP, and after only one cycle, the patient once again entered complete remission (CR) paving the way for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately, the patient again relapsed five months after transplantation prompting salvage therapy with R‐DHAC and the execution of the second stem cell transplantation. However, one month after the second transplantation the patient presented with chemorefractory meningeosis leukemia resulting in the initiation of palliative care treatment. In summary, we report on rapid CR of relapsed BL after a single cycle of rituximab‐DHAP. Given a paucity of clinical trials on the treatment of patients with r/r BL, we intend to highlight the potential efficacy of rituximab‐DHAP as salvage therapy in those patients.
A surface‐enhanced Raman sensor for trace identification and analysis of high‐priority drugs of abuse with portable and handheld Raman devices
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Pei Junchang , Li Xuefeng , Li Haowen , Inscore Frank
Published: June 2022

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a rapidly emerging technology that offers a fast, extremely sensitive, and quantitative approach to trace chemical detection. Such a technique incorporated into a portable device is attractive to law enforcement and emergency room personnel for rapid accurate on‐site screening of illicit and abused drugs. Toward this, we are developing an analyzer in a hand‐held unit, based on SERS that is integrated with a capillary sensor embedded with activated gold nanoparticles in a porous glass matrix. In this preliminary study, we have used this gold sol–gel capillary to measure aqueous solutions of 14 high‐priority drugs to define sensitivity (lowest measured concentration [LMC] and estimated limit of detection [LOD]), determine concentration dependence and quantification capabilities by constructing calibration curves, examine effects of pH at 3, 7, and 11 on SERS measurements, and perform multicomponent analysis of fentanyl laced drug mixtures and spectral identification on our portable and handheld units. Of particular significance, fentanyl was detected with an LMC of 1 ng/ml and estimated LOD at 0.11 ng/ml, while other representative drugs such as cocaine and phenylcyclidine produced LMCs and LODs at 5.0 and 0.77 ng/ml, and 10.0 and 0.62 ng/ml, respectively. These sub‐nanogram per milliliter detection limits are comparable or lower than previously reported and confirm that this gold sol–gel has the potential to meet the sensitivity requirements for saliva analysis. Most importantly, these sensors can be manufactured easily and cheaply and when integrated with our portable Raman units produce high‐quality spectra and accurate identification within 1.2 s.
How and when female directors effectively cut down acquisition premiums
Authors: Lim Mi‐Hee , Lee Ji‐Hwan
Published: June 2022

Grounded upon the group dynamics and the human capital literature, this paper proposes that the presence and conditions of female directors on a board substantially affect the acquisition decision. In detail, it argues that female board representation decreases the acquisition premium offered. It also examines the effects of female directors are contingent upon their conditions. When the females are inside, rather than outside, directors, their influence is greater. When the female directors have more prior acquisition experiences than male directors, the negative impact on premiums is strengthened, particularly when their acquisition experiences are those accumulated at acquirers rather than at targets. Empirical analyses on a sample of 1750 acquisitions made by US public firms in 2003–2013 provide evidence to support our predictions.
Sowing the wheat seeds of Afghanistan's future
Authors: Poole Nigel , Sharma Rajiv , Nemat Orzala A. , Trenchard Richard , Scanlon Andrew , Davy Charles , Ataei Najibeh , Donovan Jason , Bentley Alison R.
Published: June 2022

Societal Impact Statement

The production and availability of food underpins societal stability. In Afghanistan, wheat is the major arable agricultural crop and source of dietary energy. The withdrawal of NATO allies and partner countries from Afghanistan presents numerous well‐documented societal and political challenges and has impacts on immediate and longer‐term food security. Conflict‐impacted irrigation infrastructure coupled with growing climate instability have also contributed markedly to reductions in current food, and specifically wheat, production. Here, we review the status of Afghan wheat improvement and propose a research agenda to support the regeneration of Afghanistan's wheat and agricultural sector.

Afghanistan is a country with diverse natural ecologies in a largely arid and mountainous region. The rural sector is still considered to drive economic potential. Current social, political and economic instability along with climatic challenges are driving food and water insecurity in the wider region. In the short term, it is likely that this and the associated challenges of displacement and unemployment can only be addressed by humanitarian intervention and agrifood and nutrition support. In the medium to long term, drought, and heat, probably linked to climate change, will pose recurrent challenges for agriculture and food security that will require a much broader set of interventions to secure the rural population's livelihoods. The genetic gap, among other major challenges, must be addressed if Afghanistan is to develop its agricultural potential leading to income and livelihood improvements for farmers and stable and accessible supplies for consumers. Only thereby will the country be enabled to reap the important and long‐sought trade and food security benefits derived from self‐sufficiency. Here, we highlight the agricultural challenges facing Afghanistan and propose forward strategies for ensuring the future stability of wheat production, the cornerstone of Afghan agriculture.
CXCR3 antagonist AMG487 ameliorates experimental autoimmune prostatitis by diminishing Th1 cell differentiation and inhibiting macrophage M1 phenotypic activation
Authors: Hua Xiaoliang , Zhang Jiong , Ge Shengdong , Liu Haoran , Du Hexi , Niu Qingsong , Chen Xianguo , Yang Cheng , Zhang Li , Liang Chaozhao
Published: June 2022

Background

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is an inflammatory immune disease that is characterized by infiltrating inflammatory cells in the prostate and pelvic or by perineal pain. Receptor CXCR3modulates immune and inflammatory responses; however, the effects of CXCR3 antagonist AMG487 in the context of CP/CPPS are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of AMG487 in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mice and explored the potential functional mechanisms.

Methods

The EAP model was induced by intradermally injecting a mixture of prostate antigens and complete Freundʼs adjuvant on Days 0 and 28. To evaluate the effect of AMG487 on EAP mice, treatment with AMG487 and vehicle solution was conducted for the indicated period. Then, procedures were performed, including behavioral test, to evaluate the pain response to stimulation before the mice were killed and a histological assessment to evaluate the inflammation after the mice were killed. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and Western blot assay were used to analyze the functional phenotype and regulation mechanism of AMG487 on T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and macrophages.

Results

We found high expression of CXCR3 in human benign prostate tissues with inflammation and EAP mice. The elevated CXCR3 in prostate tissues correlates with the severity of inflammation. CXCR3 antagonist AMG487 treatment ameliorated the inflammatory changes and the pelvic pain of EAP mice. AMG487 inhibits Th1 cell differentiation through the IL‐12/STAT4pathway and inhibits pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages through the lipopolysaccharide/NF‐κB p65signaling. AMG487 could inhibit the secretion of inflammatory mediators in EAP mice.

Conclusion

CXCR3 antagonist AMG487 could ameliorate the inflammatory changes and the pelvic pain of EAP mice by diminishing Th1 cell differentiation and inhibiting macrophage M1 phenotypic activation. Thus, the results imply that AMG487 has the potential as an effective therapeutic agent in the prevention and treatment of EAP.
Human primary skeletal muscle‐derived myoblasts and fibroblasts reveal different senescent phenotypes
Authors: Francis Thomas G. , Jaka Oihane , Ellison‐Hughes Georgina M. , Lazarus Norman R. , Harridge Stephen D.R.
Published: June 2022

Background

The age‐related loss of muscle mass and quality, sarcopenia, has many contributing factors, one of which may be cellular senescence, but this is not well defined in human skeletal muscle.

Method

Primary cells were isolated from biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis muscle from healthy adult males (n = 6, 22 ± 1 years), sorted (magnetic activated cell sorting) and chemically induced (doxorubicin, DOX, 0.2 μM) to a senescent state. This allowed the parallel and simultaneous investigation of the two main skeletal muscle‐derived cell types: satellite cell‐derived CD56+ve/desmin+ve myoblasts (muscle precursor cells) and CD56− ve/TE7+ve fibroblasts (at >95% purity). Both cell types were followed for up to 35 days post DOX treatment with a combination of quantitative immunocytochemistry and qRT‐PCR for senescent markers and senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors.

Results

Myoblasts and fibroblasts showed temporal and quantitative differences in many of the senescence markers studied. p16 protein expression increased across the time course (P < 0.0001) with no difference between cell types, whereas at the mRNA level, myoblasts showed increased p16 expression from 4 days post treatment (FC = 3.03 ± 0.99), and in fibroblasts, this appeared later at 10 and 35 days post DOX treatment (FC = 8.09 ± 2.46, P < 0.0001). Both myoblasts (FC = 8.83 ± 1.72) and fibroblasts (FC = 2.33 ± 1.10) showed significant increases in p21 mRNA (P < 0.0001), which remained elevated in the myoblast cell populations across the 35‐day time course but returned to baseline in the fibroblasts from 4 days post DOX treatment. Within 35 days post DOX treatment, all cell populations of both myoblasts and fibroblasts had reached 100% SA‐β‐Gal‐positive cells (P < 0.05). γH2aX expression (a marker of DNA damage) increased 1 day after DOX treatment in the myoblasts (FC = 3.3 ± 1.1, P < 0.05) but returned to baseline within 4 days post DOX treatment, whereas fibroblasts showed a similar trend that did not reach statistical significance. Significant reductions in expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 1 day post DOX treatment were seen in both cell types and were maintained throughout the time course (FC = 0.11 ± 0.07, P < 0.0001). Significant changes over the time course were also observed in mRNA expression of selected SASP factors (e.g. PAI‐1, MMP3, and IGFBP3, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Neither cellular senescence nor sarcopenia is fully understood. The present data on human primary myoblasts and fibroblasts obtained from the same tissue sample show that senescence is a complex, non‐linear, and dynamic cellular process which shows intra‐ and inter‐cell variability.
Remedial safety in in‐situ chemical oxidation, crucial to success
Authors: Pac Tim , Cohen Elizabeth , Crimi Michelle , Dombrowski Paul , Duffy Baxter , Lee Michael , Klemmer Mark , Pittenger D. Scott , Robinson Lance
Published: June 2022

In‐situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) has been developed as a remedial technique for several decades, implemented under a variety of Health, Safety & Environmental practices. A positive safety culture and implementation of best practices are important for the protection of all workers, as well as the general environment and the public, and for compliance with regulatory requirements and professional workplace expectations and ethical obligations. ISCO is arguably one of the highest‐risk approaches for in situ remediation, and the consequence of poor safety practices, lack of training, and a failure to sharing previous knowledge can be substantial. Since 2000, the remediation industry has experienced step changes in the evolution of safety practices, shifting focus from a centralized autocratic planning process, toward a behavior‐based safety‐first individual empowerment, resulting in—“I am responsible for the safety of myself and the team.” Supporting this step‐change, this paper explains the need for safety‐first work practices, provides examples of common inadequate or incomplete practices, discusses the top four adverse incidents in ISCO projects (impacts to storm sewers; impacts to other utilities; errors and omissions; and inadequate contingency planning), and provides a description of the top three skills to mitigate risks (planning, executing, and correcting).
Modeling nonlinear systems using the tensor network B‐spline and the multi‐innovation identification theory
Authors: Wang Yanjiao , Tang Shihua , Deng Muqing
Published: June 2022

The nonlinear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) model shows a strong expression capacity for nonlinear systems since these systems have limited information about their structures. However, it is difficult to model the NARX system with a relatively high dimension by using the popular polynomial NARX and the neural network efficiently. This article uses the tensor network B‐spline (TNBS) to model the NARX system, whose representation of the multivariate B‐spline weight tensor can alleviate the computation and store burden for processing high‐dimensional systems. Furthermore, applying the multi‐innovation identification theory and the hierarchical identification principle, the recursive algorithm by combining the ‐norm is proposed to the NARX system with Gaussian noise. Because of the local adjustability of the B‐spline curve, the TNBS can fit nonlinear systems with strong nonlinearity by the meaning of setting a proper degree and knots number. Finally, a numerical experiment is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Impact factors and space‐time characteristics of income inequality in a global sample
Authors: Quito Byron , del Río‐Rama María de la Cruz , Álvarez‐García José , Correa‐Quezada Ronny
Published: June 2022

Inequality has been of growing interest in the political debate and in theoretical and empirical studies for some decades. Therefore, the study of regional inequality raises some relevant questions related to the spatial nature of the data. In fact, adopting a regional point of view implies the opportunity to consider spatial interactions, which traditional studies do not include in their analyses. Therefore, the study aims to analyze income inequality before () and after () income and transfers, using a data set of 116 countries during a time period from 1985 to 2018. Spatial Durbin and Spatial Lag Models are applied to address spatial interactions and the spillover effect between countries and regions. First, the estimation results verify the existence of spatial correlations in income inequality for both and . Second, both and produce relatively similar scenarios, which implies that the effects of the independent variables do not differ in both scenarios. Third, globalization widens the income differences of neighboring regions significantly. Fourth, urbanization has a negative and significant effect, which generates a spillover effect and reduces the inequality of neighboring economies. Finally, there is evidence that an inverted Kuznets U is rejected both for economic and financial development. Thus, inequality at the regional level provides useful insights for policy makers, as it facilitates the assessment of the effectiveness of strategies aimed at reducing regional disparities and helps to develop actions based on the location and its environment.
Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on sleep of undergraduate students: A systematic literature review
Authors: Valenzuela Rafael Lorenzo G. , Velasco Raphael Ian B. , Jorge Manuel Peter Paul C.
Published: June 2022

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic forced the shift to distance education aggravating mental and physical vulnerabilities of undergraduate students, including sleep. This review aims to describe sleep problem rates and prevalence, sleep pattern disruption, sleep duration, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, psychological and socio‐economic factors affecting sleep of undergraduates in 22 countries. A systematic search for articles published from 2020 to 2021 using ‘COVID‐19,’ ‘Coronavirus,’ ‘Pandemic,’ ‘Sleep,’ ‘Mental Health,’ and ‘Students’ from PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane yielded 2550 articles, where 72 were included. Selection criteria were: English full‐text available articles, undergraduates and not postgraduates, reported sleep outcomes, and participants not from allied health courses. Risk of bias was assessed using various Joanna Briggs Institute checklists and outcomes were descriptively synthesized. Prevalence of sleep problems was notable, while longitudinal studies showed increased rates. There was significantly increased sleep duration, and sleep pattern disruption during lockdowns. Several psychological, behavioural, environmental, demographic, and socio‐economic factors were found to be associated with sleep changes. These highlight the pandemic's impact on sleep of undergraduate students and reveal opportunities for institutions to intervene with policies and programs to promote the well‐being of undergraduates. Limitations include recall bias and underrepresentation of other countries. This study is self‐funded with registration number RGAO‐2021‐0071.
Schadensäquivalenzfaktoren für Fahrbahnplatten stählerner Eisenbahnbrücken
Authors: Aigner Francesco , Fink Josef , Takács Patrik
Published: June 2022

Nach EN 1993‐2 kann der Ermüdungsnachweis von Eisenbahnbrücken auf der Grundlage der Schnittgrößen infolge des Lastmodells 71 geführt werden. Dazu müssen diese mit einem dynamischen Beiwert Φ2 und einem Schadensäquivalenzfaktor λ multipliziert werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden für drei Standard‐Verkehrsmischungen Spannweitenbeiwerte λ1 für vierseitig, an den Längsrändern drehelastisch gelagerte Platten von eingleisigen Brücken im Stützweitenbereich zwischen 10,0 und 27,5 m angegeben. Aus den Spannweitenbeiwerten λ1 können unter Berücksichtigung des Verkehrsvolumens pro Jahr und der Nutzungsdauer die gesuchten Schadensäquivalenzfaktoren λ ermittelt werden.
Activity of acute pancreatitis is modified by secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine ablation
Authors: Ammer‐Herrmenau Christoph , Wolf Laurin , Nasrin Syeda S. , Ramu Iswarya , Roggiolani Roberta , Goetze Robert G. , Buchholz Soeren M. , Sendler Mathias , Ellenrieder Volker , Neesse Albrecht
Published: June 2022

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a frequent cause for hospitalization. However, molecular determinants that modulate severity of experimental pancreatitis are only partially understood.

Objective

To investigate the role of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) during cerulein‐induced AP in mice.

Methods

AP was induced by repeated cerulein injections in SPARC knock‐out mice (SPARC−/−) and control littermates (SPARC+/+). Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine expression and severity of AP were determined by histopathological scoring, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical assays. For functional analysis, primary murine acinar cell cultures with subsequent amylase release assays were employed. Proteome profiler assay and ELISA were conducted from pancreatic tissue lysates, and co‐immunofluorescence was performed.

Results

Upon cerulein induction, SPARC expression was robustly induced in pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) but not in acinar cells. Genetic SPARC ablation resulted in attenuated severity of AP with significantly reduced levels of pancreatic necrosis, apoptosis, immune cell infiltration, and reduced fibrosis upon chronic stimulation. However, the release of amylase upon cerulein stimulation in primary acinar cell culture from SPARC+/+ and SPARC−/− was indistinguishable. Notably, immune cell derived C‐C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2) was highly elevated in SPARC+/+ pancreatic tissue potentially linking PSC derived SPARC with CCL2 induction in AP.

Conclusion

SPARC mediates the severity of AP. The potential link between SPARC and the CCL2 axis could open new avenues for tailored therapeutic interventions in AP patients and warrants further investigations.
Examining water and gender narratives and realities
Authors: Dickin Sarah , Caretta Martina Angela
Published: June 2022

There is a wealth of scholarly knowledge that aims to disentangle the complex relationship between gender and water. This scholarship coupled with practitioners' collective experiences and insights have resulted in the emergence of certain narratives that describe how unequal gender relationships to water are manifested and how they can be addressed. In this paper, we critically examine four of these water and gender narratives, myths, or realities: Are women solely responsible for water collection? Are women excluded from the global water workforce? Is technology is sufficient enough to solve water‐related gender inequalities? Does participation in design and implementation of water services address gender inequalities? By reviewing existing evidence underlying these water and gender narratives that are prominent in much academic research and international programming, we show the nuances of water and gender relationships, and the discrepancies upon which these narratives are grounded. We draw on examples and research largely focusing on the Global South, but highlight a need for similar examination of these narratives in the Global North. Finally, we discuss remaining knowledge gaps and argue that these normative understandings overlook limited and potentially contradicting evidence on the intricacies of the relationship between gender and water.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation
Pregeometry and spontaneous time-space asymmetry
Authors: Wetterich C.
Published: June 2022

Abstract

In pregeometry a metric arises as a composite object at large distances. We investigate if its signature, which distinguishes between time and space, could be a result of the dynamics rather than being built in already in the formulation of a model. For short distances we formulate our model as a Yang-Mills theory with fermions and vector fields. For the local gauge symmetry we take the non-compact group SO(4, ℂ). The particular representation of the vector field permits us to implement diffeomorphism invariant kinetic terms. Geometry and general relativity emerge at large distances due to a spontaneous breaking of the gauge symmetry which induces masses for the gauge bosons. The difference between time and space arises directly from this spontaneous symmetry breaking. For a euclidean metric all fields have a standard propagator at high momenta. Analytic continuation to a Minkowski-metric is achieved by a change of field values. We conjecture that this type of model could be consistent with unitarity and well behaved in the short distance limit.
Immunity-related GTPase IRGM at the intersection of autophagy, inflammation, and tumorigenesis
Authors: Goswami Apeksha Bharatgiri , Karadarević Dimitrije , Castaño-Rodríguez Natalia
Published: June 2022

The human immunity-related GTPase M (IRGM) is a GTP-binding protein that regulates selective autophagy including xenophagy and mitophagy. IRGM impacts autophagy by (1) affecting mitochondrial fusion and fission, (2) promoting the co-assembly of ULK1 and Beclin 1, (3) enhancing Beclin 1 interacting partners (AMBRA1, ATG14L1, and UVRAG), (4) interacting with other key proteins (ATG16L1, p62, NOD2, cGAS, TLR3, and RIG-I), and (5) regulating lysosomal biogenesis. IRGM also negatively regulates NLRP3 inflammasome formation and therefore, maturation of the important pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, impacting inflammation and pyroptosis. Ultimately, this affords protection against chronic inflammatory diseases. Importantly, ten IRGM polymorphisms (rs4859843, rs4859846, rs4958842, rs4958847, rs1000113, rs10051924, rs10065172, rs11747270, rs13361189, and rs72553867) have been associated with human inflammatory disorders including cancer, which suggests that these genetic variants are functionally relevant to the autophagic and inflammatory responses. The current review contextualizes IRGM, its modulation of autophagy, and inflammation, and emphasizes the role of IRGM as a cross point of immunity and tumorigenesis.
Exploring the effectiveness of family-based interventions for psychosis in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Authors: Morillo Hannah , Lowry Sophie , Henderson Claire
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Of the 80% people with psychosis living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), up to 90% are left to the care of families. The World Health Organization has recommended the inclusion of families in community-based rehabilitation and while there is evidence of its implementation in LMICs, this has not been reviewed yet. This study aims to describe the key features and implementation strategies of family-based interventions in LMICs, and appraise their effectiveness.

Methods

Included are people with psychosis in LMICs who receive any form of family-based intervention, compared to their usual or absence of treatment, with patient outcome measures. We searched (August 2021) through Embase, MEDLINE, Global Health, PsycInfo, Social Policy and Practice, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), as well as from grey literature and hand-searched records. Risk of bias was assessed through the Integrated Quality Criteria for Review of Multiple Study Designs (ICROMS) and Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS), then analyzed narratively.

Results

27 studies were included from the 5254 records. Psychotherapeutic features, systems approach and task-sharing were key intervention elements. Delivery strategies included preliminary research, sustained family engagement, and cultural adaptation. There were positive health impacts across four outcome domains.

Conclusion

All studies recommended family-based interventions, with limitations in heterogeneity and 70% of them rated high risk of bias.

Other

Review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021256856). The authors did not receive funding for this research.
Irreducible Metric Maps and Weil–Petersson Volumes
Authors: Budd Timothy
Published: June 2022

We consider maps on a surface of genus g with all vertices of degree at least three and positive real lengths assigned to the edges. In particular, we study the family of such metric maps with fixed genus g and fixed number n of faces with circumferences $$\alpha _1,\ldots ,\alpha _n$$

α
1

,
…
,

α
n

and a $$\beta $$
β
-irreducibility constraint, which roughly requires that all contractible cycles have length at least $$\beta $$
β
. Using recent results on the enumeration of discrete maps with an irreducibility constraint, we compute the volume $$V_{g,n}^{(\beta )}(\alpha _1,\ldots ,\alpha _n)$$

V

g
,
n

(
β
)

(

α
1

,
…
,

α
n

)

of this family of maps that arises naturally from the Lebesgue measure on the edge lengths. It is shown to be a homogeneous polynomial in $$\beta , \alpha _1,\ldots , \alpha _n$$

β
,

α
1

,
…
,

α
n

of degree $$6g-6+2n$$

6
g
-
6
+
2
n

and to satisfy string and dilaton equations. Surprisingly, for $$g=0,1$$

g
=
0
,
1

and $$\beta =2\pi $$

β
=
2
π

the volume $$V_{g,n}^{(2\pi )}$$

V

g
,
n

(
2
π
)

is identical, up to powers of two, to the Weil–Petersson volume $$V_{g,n}^{\mathrm {WP}}$$

V

g
,
n

WP

of hyperbolic surfaces of genus g and n geodesic boundary components of length $$L_i = \sqrt{\alpha _i^2 - 4\pi ^2}$$

L
i

=

α
i
2

-
4

π
2

, $$i=1,\ldots ,n$$

i
=
1
,
…
,
n

. For genus $$g\ge 2$$

g
≥
2

the identity between the volumes fails, but we provide explicit generating functions for both types of volumes, demonstrating that they are closely related. Finally we discuss the possibility of bijective interpretations via hyperbolic polyhedra.
Polar germs, Jacobian ideal and analytic classification of irreducible plane curve singularities
Authors: Casas-Alvero Eduardo
Published: June 2022

We examine the relationship between the analytic type of an irreducible plane curve singularity with a single characteristic exponent and the germs of curve defined by the elements of its Jacobian ideal, in particular its polar germs.
Upregulation of necroptosis markers RIPK3/MLKL and their crosstalk with autophagy-related protein Beclin-1 in primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Kamal Amany M. , Nabih Nermeen A. , Rakha Nahed M. , Sanad Eman F.
Published: June 2022

Necroptosis is a novel form of programmed necrotic cell death involved in various autoimmune diseases. The potential role of necroptosis in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and the possible interlink with autophagy have not been fully investigated. The gene expression of mixed lineage kinase-like domain (MLKL), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and Beclin-1 were quantified in peripheral blood of 45 ITP patients and 20 healthy controls. Their associations with clinical, laboratory parameters and response to steroid therapy in ITP patients were evaluated. RIPK3, MLKL, and Beclin-1 were significantly upregulated in ITP patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Beclin-1 mRNA levels were positively correlated with both RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA levels in ITP patients (P < 0.0001). In addition, MLKL, RIPK3, and Beclin-1 mRNA levels were inversely correlated with platelet count (r = −0.330, −0.527 and −0.608, respectively). On the hand, positive correlations between MLKL (P = 0.01), RIPK3 (P = 0.005), Beclin-1 (P = 0.002) mRNA levels and severity of bleeding in ITP patients were reported. Steroid responders (n = 18, 40%) had significantly lower MLKL, RIPK3, Beclin-1 mRNA expression levels than their levels in the non-responders (n = 27, 60%). Necroptosis may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ITP and provide both novel therapeutic targets and promising biomarkers for the prediction of bleeding severity and treatment response in ITP patients. Additionally, this study highlighted the crosstalk between autophagy and necroptosis in ITP patients.

Graphical abstract
A new method to detect changes in displacement rates of slow-moving landslides using InSAR time series
Authors: Urgilez Vinueza Alexandra , Handwerger Alexander L. , Bakker Mark , Bogaard Thom
Published: June 2022

Slow-moving landslides move downslope at velocities that range from mm year−1 to m year−1. Such deformations can be measured using satellite-based synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR). We developed a new method to systematically detect and quantify accelerations and decelerations of slowly deforming areas using InSAR displacement time series. The displacement time series are filtered using an outlier detector and subsequently piecewise linear functions are fitted to identify changes in the displacement rate (i.e., accelerations or decelerations). Grouped accelerations and decelerations are inventoried as indicators of potential unstable areas. We tested and refined our new method using a high-quality dataset from the Mud Creek landslide, CA, USA. Our method detects accelerations and decelerations that coincide with those previously detected by manual examination. Second, we tested our method in the region around the Mazar dam and reservoir in Southeast Ecuador, where the time series data were of considerably lower quality. We detected accelerations and decelerations occurring during the entire study period near and upslope of the reservoir. Application of our method results in a wealth of information on the dynamics of the surface displacement of hillslopes and provides an objective way to identify changes in displacement rates. The displacement rates, their spatial variation, and the timing of accelerations and decelerations can be used to study the physical behavior of a slow-moving slope or for regional hazard assessment by linking the timing of changes in displacement rates to landslide causal and triggering factors.
Synthesis and Characterizations of Novel Spinel Ferrites Nanocomposites Al0.5Cr0.5Zn0Fe2O4 and Zn0.5Cr0.5Al0Fe2O4
Authors: Nosheen Sumaira , Iqbal Sadia Sagar , Sabir Aneela , Alturki Abdulaziz , Hossain Nazia , Bahadar Ali
Published: June 2022

In this study, novel spinel ferrites nanocomposites containing aluminum chromium zinc nanoferrites, Al0.5Cr0.5Zn0Fe2O4 and Zn0.5Cr0.5Al0Fe2O4 have been fabricated and characterized to determine the properties of highly stable conduction materials. The nanocomposites have been synthesized through the sol–gel method. Zinc and aluminum-doped chromium ferrites were prepared with the stoichiometric composition ZnxAlx-0.5Cr0.5Fe2O4 with ammonium hydroxide solution (NH4OH) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at different temperatures with consecutive steps. After sintering the final nanoferrites, characterizations for morphological, spectral properties, and crystallinity have been determined through scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectrometer, respectively. SEM micrographs presented that higher sample density and agglomeration of the nanocomposite outer surface with temperature increase. The investigation of the dielectric and conduction properties presented with varying sintering temperature and Al–Zn doping greatly influenced the dielectric properties of spinel nanoferrites dielectric properties: dielectric loss tangent and dielectric constant. The effects of various sintering temperatures provide synergistic effects on the morphology and dielectric conductivity features. The characterizations presented that the dopants (Al, Zn) enhanced the magnetic and electrical properties of both chromium nanoferrites which can be implemented in high frequency single-layered electromagnetic waves absorbing devices in electrical and medical appliances in future.