bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Russian translations of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): A document analysis and discussion of implementation challenges
Authors: Bunova Anna , Neufeld Maria , Ferreira-Borges Carina , Bryun Evgeniy , Fadeeva Eugenia , Gil Artyom , Koshkina Evgenia , Nadezhdin Aleksey , Tetenova Elena , Vyshinsky Konstantin , Yurasova Elena , Rehm Jürgen
Published: June 2021

Aims: To analyze existing Russian translations of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and their applicability in Russian-language populations.

Method: Document analysis of different Russian-language versions of the AUDIT and its shorter versions as identified in a systematic search.

Findings: A total of 122 Russian translations of the AUDIT or its shorter versions from Russia and other countries were included in the document analysis, 61 of which were unique versions. Across the translations, a series of inconsistencies was identified, most of which related to the first three consumption items and the concept of a standard drink. The identified problems appeared to have been caused by difficulties in adapting the tool to local drinking patterns and local beverage volumes. None of the analyzed sources mentioned systematic translation procedures according to a predetermined protocol.

Conclusions: Despite the fact that the AUDIT was developed as a standardized screening tool almost 30 years ago, there is still no official translation into the Russian language according to the commonly used procedures for the translation and adaptation of instruments. A systematic translation and validation appears to be urgently needed in order to have an internationally comparable AUDIT for research and clinical purposes in Russian-speaking populations.
Alcohol use among sexual minority women: Methods used and lessons learned in the 20-Year Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Study
Authors: Hughes Tonda , Wilsnack Sharon , Martin Kelly , Matthews Alicia , Johnson Timothy
Published: June 2021

Background: Two decades ago, there was almost no research on alcohol use among sexual minority women (SMW, e.g., lesbian, bisexual). Since then, a growing body of scientific literature documents substantial sexual orientation-related disparities in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Research has identified multiple risk factors associated with high-risk/hazardous drinking among SMW. However, this research has almost exclusively used cross-sectional designs, limiting the ability to draw conclusions about processes through which sexual minority status affects alcohol use. Longitudinal designs, although very rare in research on alcohol use among SMW, are important for testing mediational mechanisms and necessary to understanding how changes in social determinants impact alcohol use.

Aim: To describe the processes and lessons learned in conducting a 20-year longitudinal study focused on alcohol use among SMW.

Methods: The Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study includes five waves of data collection (2000–present) with an age and racially/ethnically diverse sample of 815 SMW (ages 18–83) originally recruited in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Illinois, a midwestern state in the United States (U.S.). Measures and focus have evolved over the course of the study.

Results: The CHLEW study is the longest-running and most comprehensive study of SMW’s drinking in the U.S. or elsewhere. Findings reported in more than 50 published manuscripts have contributed to understanding variations in SMW’s risk for hazardous/harmful drinking based on sexual identity, age, race/ethnicity, sex/gender of partner, and many other factors.

Conclusions: By describing the process used in conducting this long-term study, its major findings, and the lessons learned, we hope to encourage and support other researchers in conducting longitudinal research focused on SMW’s health. Such research is critically important in understanding and ultimately eliminating sexual orientation-related health disparities.
‘Hydro‐point’ – The forgotten and unspoken entity in hydropneumothorax
Authors: Mahalingam Sasikumar , Rajendran Gunaseelan , Nathan Balamurugan , Kugan Ezhil , Sadasivam Anuusha
Published: June 2021

Effusive pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air and fluid within the pleural space: blood, pus, or serous fluid. Thus, effusive pneumothorax can be categorized as hemopneumothorax, pyopneumothorax, or hydropneumothorax, depending on the type of fluid accumulation. Hydropneumothorax is a clinical condition defined by the presence of air and serous fluid within the pleura space. Hydropneumothorax is one of the common respiratory emergencies encountered in the emergency department in India. Etiologies can be classified into infectious and non‐infectious causes, among which tuberculosis being the most common one. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can help diagnose hydropneumothorax at the bedside rather than shift the patient for an X‐ray. Here, we describe a case of hydropneumothorax, which was diagnosed using POCUS by characteristic sonographic signs, namely “Hydro‐point” and “barcode‐hydro point‐sinusoidal sign.” Sonographic hydro‐point is the transition zone of the air‐fluid interface, which is seen in hydropneumothorax. Targhetta et al., in 1992, introduced the term “Hydro‐point” in lung ultrasound for diagnosing hydropneumothorax but has been under‐reported/unspoken much in the literature. With the use of POCUS, we diagnosed and stabilized the patient in the Emergency Department.
Normalization in tumor ecosystem: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Mortezaee Keywan
Published: June 2021

Current research in cancer therapy aims to exploit efficient strategies to have long‐lasting effects on tumors and to reduce or even revoke the chance of recurrence. Within the tumor stroma, O2 and nutrients are abnormally distributed between various cells (preferentially for supplying cancer cells), the immune contexture is abnormally positioned (permissive essentially for cells exhibiting tumor‐promoting capacity), the fibroblast and fibrotic content is abnormally distributed (presence of both extracellular matrix [ECM] stiffening and ECM‐degrading factors both for tumor‐promoting purposes), and the tumor vasculature is abnormally orchestrated (for hindering drug delivery and increasing the chance of tumor metastasis). Resistance is actually an adaptive response to an imbalance in the tumor ecosystem; thus, the key consideration for effective cancer therapy is to bring back the normal status in this ecosystem so as to reach the desired durable outcome. Vascular normalization, metabolic modulation (glucose delivery in particular), balancing cellular dispersion, and balancing the pH rate and O2 delivery within the tumor microenvironment are suggested strategies to reverse abnormality within the tumor stroma.
Female and male Eurasian lynx have distinct spatial tactics at different life‐history stages in a high‐density population
Authors: Mengüllüoğlu Deniz , Edwards Sarah , Hofer Heribert , Berger Anne
Published: June 2021

Knowledge regarding the spatial behavior of the Eurasian lynx is mainly inferred from populations in Europe. We used GPS telemetry to record the spatial behavior of nine individuals in northwestern Anatolia obtaining eleven home ranges (HRs). Analyses revealed the smallest mean HR sizes (nHR♀ = 4) at 57 km2 (95% kernel utilization distribution, KUD) and 56 km2 (95% minimum convex polygon, MCP), ever reported for adult female Eurasian lynx. Adult males either occupied small permanent territories (nHR♂.T = 2), with a mean of 176 km2 (95% KUD) and 150 km2 (95% MCP), or were residents without territories (floaters, nHR♂.F = 2) roaming across large, stable HRs with a mean size of 2,419 km2 (95% KUD) and 1,888 km2 (95% MCP), comparable to HR sizes of Scandinavian lynx populations. Three disperser subadult males did not hold stable HRs (mean 95% KUD = 203 km2, mean 95% MCP = 272 km2). At 4.9 individuals per 100 km2, population density was one of the highest recorded, suggesting that the presence of adult male floaters was a consequence of a landscape fully occupied by territorials and revealing a flexibility of spatial behavior of Eurasian lynx not previously recognized. Such a high population density, small HRs, and behavioral flexibility may have been aided by the legal protection from and apparent low levels of poaching of this population. The observed spatial tactics are unlikely to be seen in most of the previously studied Eurasian lynx populations, as they either suffer medium to high levels of human‐caused mortality or were unlikely to be at carrying capacity. For effective and appropriate conservation planning, data from felid populations in a reasonably natural state such as ours, where space, density, prey, and pathogens are likely to be the key drivers of spatial dynamics, are therefore essential.
Copper‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of N‐Pyridylindole Leading to Fused Quinazolinones
Authors: Ye Yaqing , Yue Yuanyuan , Guo Xiaohui , Chao Junli , Yang Yan , Sun Chunying , Lv Qingzhang , Liu Jianming
Published: June 2021

Copper catalyzed aerobic oxidation enables the tandem selective and efficient transformation of N‐pyridylindole for the construction of 11H‐pyrido[2,1‐b]quinazolin‐11‐ones. The reaction shows good efficiency to accomplish the aerobic oxidation. Mechanistic investigation indicated the facile oxidation of N‐pyridylindole underwent the single‐electron‐transfer oxidation, the capture of molecular oxygen and the extrusion of carbon monoxide to deliver the desired 11H‐pyrido[2,1‐b]quinazolin‐11‐ones.
The value of interdisciplinary treatment for sickness absence in chronic pain: A nationwide register‐based cohort study
Authors: LoMartire Riccardo , Björk Mathilda , Dahlström Örjan , Constan Lea , Frumento Paolo , Vixner Linda , Gerdle Björn , Äng Björn O.
Published: June 2021

Background

Interdisciplinary treatment (IDT) is an internationally recommended intervention for chronic pain, despite inconclusive evidence of its effects on sickness absence.

Methods

With data from 25,613 patients in Swedish specialist healthcare, we compared sickness absence, in the form of both sick leave and disability pensions, over a 5‐year period between patients either allocated to an IDT programme or to other/no interventions (controls). To obtain population‐average estimates, a Markov multistate model with theory‐based inverse probability weights was used to compute both the proportion of patients on sickness absence and the total sickness absence duration.

Results

IDT patients were more likely than controls to receive sickness absence benefits at any given time (baseline: 49% vs. 46%; 5‐year follow‐up: 36% vs. 35%), and thereby also had a higher total duration, with a mean (95% CI) of 67 (87, 48) more days than controls over the 5‐year period. Intriguingly, sick leave was higher in IDT patients (563 [552, 573] vs. 478 [466, 490] days), whereas disability pension was higher in controls (152 [144, 160] vs. 169 [161, 178] days).

Conclusion

Although sickness absence decreased over the study period in both IDT patients and controls, we found no support for IDT decreasing sickness absence more than other/no interventions in chronic pain patients.

Significance

In this large study of chronic pain patients in specialist healthcare, sickness absence is compared over a 5‐year period between patients in an interdisciplinary treatment programme and other/no interventions. Sickness absence decreased over the study period in bothgroups; however, there was no support forthat it decreased more with interdisciplinary treatment than alternative interventions.
A Novel Carbon Nitride Nanosheets‐based Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Hydroxychloroquine in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Synthetic Urine Samples
Authors: de Oliveira S. Silva Jonatas , Sant'Anna Mércia V. S. , Gevaerd Ava , Lima Jéssica B. S. , Monteiro Michael D. S. , Carvalho Sanny W. M. M. , Midori Sussuchi Eliana
Published: June 2021

This study introduces modified carbon paste electrodes with carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) and outlines their application for the determination of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) in tablets and synthetic urine samples. CNNS were synthesized by hydrothermal route (200 °C, 10 h) using melamine and citric acid as their precursors. The carbon nitride nanosheets‐based electrode (CNNS/E) presented a linear dynamic range for HCQ (LDR), ranging from 10.0 nmol l−1 to 6.92 μmol l−1, and detection (LOD) and quantification limits (LOQ) of 0.16 nmol l−1 and 0.52 nmol l−1, respectively. LOD and LOQ were calculated by the equations: LOD=3(Sd/b), and LOQ=10(Sd/b). The modified sensor presented excellent relative standard deviations for parameters such as repeatability (2.39 % and 1.87 %) and reproducibility (3.22 % and 2.32 %) in HCQ oxidation peaks (1 and 2). The CNNS/E has not shown significant variations in its anodic signal intensity in the presence of some organic and inorganic substances. It is worth bearing in mind that CNNS/E can be easily manufactured and the sensor has the lowest HCQ detection limits reported so far. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for HCQ determination in tablets and synthetic urine, showing good recovery values and an error of 0.60 % about comparative method in tablet samples, assuring the quality of the method.
Interfacial adsorption–insertion mechanism induced by phase boundary toward better aqueous Zn‐ion battery
Authors: Shan Lutong , Wang Yiren , Liang Shuquan , Tang Boya , Yang Yongqiang , Wang Ziqing , Lu Bingan , Zhou Jiang
Published: June 2021

Biphasic and multiphasic compounds have been well clarified to achieve extraordinary electrochemical properties as advanced energy storage materials. Yet the role of phase boundaries in improving the performance is remained to be illustrated. Herein, we reported the biphasic vanadate, that is, Na1.2V3O8/K2V6O16·1.5H2O (designated as Na0.5K0.5VO), and detected the novel interfacial adsorption–insertion mechanism induced by phase boundaries. First‐principles calculations indicated that large amount of Zn2+ and H+ ions would be absorbed by the phase boundaries and most of them would insert into the host structure, which not only promote the specific capacity, but also effectively reduce diffusion energy barrier toward faster reaction kinetics. Driven by this advanced interfacial adsorption–insertion mechanism, the aqueous Zn/Na0.5K0.5VO is able to perform excellent rate capability as well as long‐term cycling performance. A stable capacity of 267 mA h g−1 after 800 cycles at 5 A g−1 can be achieved. The discovery of this mechanism is beneficial to understand the performance enhancement mechanism of biphasic and multiphasic compounds as well as pave pathway for the strategic design of high‐performance energy storage materials.

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High Electron Mobility AlN on Sapphire (0001) with a Low Dislocation Density Prepared via Sputtering and High‐Temperature Annealing
Authors: Sakurai Yuya , Ueno Kohei , Kobayashi Atsushi , Uesugi Kenjiro , Miyake Hideto , Fujioka Hiroshi
Published: June 2021

The formation of high‐quality n‐type AlN with a dislocation density of 2.8 × 108 cm−2 on sapphire (0001) using pulsed sputtering deposition (PSD) and high‐temperature (HT) annealing is demonstrated. The surface morphology of PSD‐grown AlN on AlN templates prepared by HT annealing consists of an ordered stepped‐and‐terraced structure with a step height of 1 ML. Si‐doped AlN on the HT‐annealed AlN template yields the high electron mobility of 141 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature, which is attributed to the reduction in the dislocation density and compensating centers. These results indicate that the PSD is a promising epitaxial technique for the fabrication of ultraviolet (UV) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and future power devices.
The European Big Data Value Ecosystem
Authors: Curry Edward , Metzger Andreas , Zillner Sonja , Pazzaglia Jean-Christophe , García Robles Ana , Hahn Thomas , Le Bars Laure , Petkovic Milan , De Lama Nuria
Published: June 2021

The adoption of big data technology within industrial sectors facilitates organizations to gain competitive advantage. The impacts of big data go beyond the commercial world, creating significant societal impact, from improving healthcare systems to the energy-efficient operation of cities and transportation infrastructure, to increasing the transparency and efficiency of public administration. In order to exploit the potential of big data to create value for society, citizens and businesses, Europe needs to embrace new technology, applications, use cases and business models within and across various sectors and domains. In the early part of the 2010s, a clear strategy centring around the notion of the European Big Data Value Ecosystem started to take form with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of European industries through a data ecosystem which tackles the fundamental elements of big data value, including the ecosystem, research and innovation, business, policy and regulation, and the emerging elements of data-driven AI and common European data spaces. This chapter describes the big data value ecosystem and its strategic importance. It details the challenges of creating this ecosystem and outlines the vision and strategy of the Big Data Value Public-Private Partnership and the Big Data Value Association, which together formed the core of the ecosystem, to make Europe the world leader in the creation of big data value. Finally, it details the elements of big data value which were addressed to realise this vision.
Risk Factors for Cerebral Aneurysm Rupture in Mongolia
Authors: Bechstein Matthias , Gansukh Amarjargal , Regzengombo Boldbat , Byambajav Oyun , Meyer Lukas , Schönfeld Michael , Kniep Helge , Hanning Uta , Broocks Gabriel , Gansukh Tserenchunt , Fiehler Jens
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Identification of country-specific demographic, medical, lifestyle, and geoenvironmental risk factors for cerebral aneurysm rupture in the developing Asian country of Mongolia. First-time estimation of the crude national incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all intracranial digital subtraction angiographies (DSA) acquired in Mongolia during the 2‑year period 2016–2017 (1714 examinations) was performed. During this period, DSA was used as primary diagnostic imaging modality for acute severe neurological symptoms in the sole hospital nationwide dedicated to neurological patients. The catchment area of the hospital included the whole country. Patients with incidental and ruptured aneurysms were reviewed with respect to their medical history and living conditions. The data was used to install a Mongolian aneurysm registry.

Results

The estimated annual crude incidence of cerebral aneurysm rupture was 6.71 for the country of Mongolia and 14.53 per 100,000 persons for the capital region of Ulaanbaatar. Risk factors common in developed countries also applied for the Mongolian population: A medical history of hypertension, smoking or the presence of multiple aneurysms led to a higher relative risk of rupture. In contrast, female gender was not associated with a higher risk in this national cohort. Males pursuing a traditional nomadic living may exhibit a specifically high risk of rupture.

Conclusion

Disease management of over 200 individuals/year with aSAH constitutes a socioeconomic burden in Mongolia. Efforts to raise awareness of the risk factors hypertension and smoking among the Mongolian population are desirable. Measures to improve the nationwide availability of modern neurovascular treatment options are currently under consideration.
Selected dried fruits as a source of nutrients
Authors: Rybicka Iga , Kiewlicz Justyna , Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz , Gliszczyńska-Świgło Anna
Published: June 2021

Dried fruits are an excellent alternative to unhealthy snacks. Twelve commercially available dried fruits were selected: dates, raisins, prunes, Goji berry, chokeberry, rose hip, sea buckthorn, berberis, physalis, haritaki, noni and juniper. The nutritional value in terms of moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, energy value, mineral composition, antioxidant activity and tannins was compared. It is a novelty in the literature in relation to the particular analytes (e.g., minerals, tannins) and/or fruits (e.g., berberis, noni, haritaki). Especially rich in protein were Goji berry (13.3%), sea buckthorn (9.3%), noni (8.9%) and physalis (8.0%); in fat − sea buckthorn (11.2%); in dietary fiber (4.4–53.0%) − most of analyzed products. High antioxidant capacity was noticed for haritaki, berberis, rose hip, Goji berry, and physalis. An important source of minerals was 100 g of: noni (345 mg of Ca; 251 mg of Mg), rose hip (844 mg of Ca; 207 mg of Mg), juniper (564 mg of Ca), sea buckthorn (58 mg of Fe), berberis (24 mg of Fe) and haritaki (14 mg of Fe). The nutritionally attractive dried fruits have the potential for wider application in food formulations.
A DNA-based method for distinction of fly artifacts from human bloodstains
Authors: Bini Carla , Giorgetti Arianna , Iuvaro Alessandra , Giovannini Elena , Gianfreda Denise , Pelletti Guido , Pelotti Susi
Published: June 2021

Fly artifacts resulting from insect activity could act as confounding factors on a crime scene and interfere with bloodstain pattern analysis interpretation. Several techniques have been proposed to distinguish fly artifacts from human bloodstains based on morphological approach and immunological assay, but a DNA-based method has not been developed so far. Even if in forensic genetic investigations the detection of human DNA is generally the primary goal, fly artifacts can provide useful information on the dynamics of crime events. The present study provides a molecular method to detect fly DNA from artifacts deposited by Calliphora vomitoria after feeding on human blood through the analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (COI). Fly artifacts originated from digestive process and of different morphology spanning from red and brownish/light brown, circular and elliptical stains to artifacts with sperm-like tail or a tear-shaped body were collected. The COI amplification was successfully obtained in 94% of fly artifact samples. The method showed high sensitivity and reproducibility, and no human DNA contamination was observed, offering specificity for use in confirmatory test. This molecular approach permits the distinction of fly artifacts from genuine bloodstains and the identification of fly’s species through the COI region sequencing by protocols usually applied in forensic genetic laboratories.
Resistance of the Montgomery Ladder Against Simple SCA: Theory and Practice
Authors: Kabin Ievgen , Dyka Zoya , Klann Dan , Aftowicz Marcin , Langendoerfer Peter
Published: June 2021

The Montgomery kP algorithm i.e. the Montgomery ladder is reported in literature as resistant against simple SCA due to the fact that the processing of each key bit value of the scalar k is done using the same sequence of operations. We implemented the Montgomery kP algorithm using Lopez-Dahab projective coordinates for the NIST elliptic curve B-233. We instantiated the same VHDL code for a wide range of clock frequencies for the same target FPGA and using the same compiler options. We measured electromagnetic traces of the kP executions using the same input data, i.e. scalar k and elliptic curve point P, and measurement setup. Additionally, we synthesized the same VHDL code for two IHP CMOS technologies, for a broad spectrum of frequencies. We simulated the power consumption of each synthesized design during an execution of the kP operation, always using the same scalar k and elliptic curve point P as inputs. Our experiments clearly show that the success of simple electromagnetic analysis attacks against FPGA implementations as well as the one of simple power analysis attacks against synthesized ASIC designs depends on the target frequency for which the design was implemented and at which it is executed significantly. In our experiments the scalar k was successfully revealed via simple visual inspection of the electromagnetic traces of the FPGA for frequencies from 40 to 100 MHz when standard compile options were used as well as from 50 MHz up to 240 MHz when performance optimizing compile options were used. We obtained similar results attacking the power traces simulated for the ASIC. Despite the significant differences of the here investigated technologies the designs’ resistance against the attacks performed is similar: only a few points in the traces represent strong leakage sources allowing to reveal the key at very low and very high frequencies. For the “middle” frequencies the number of points which allow to successfully reveal the key increases when increasing the frequency.
Urteilsbildung
Authors: Wolff Stephan
Published: June 2021

Aus einer ethnomethodologischen Perspektive werden einige grundlegende Aspekte der Urteilsbildung in sozialen Diensten vorgestellt, sowie Medien, Orte und Technologien angesprochen, die damals wie heute, zum Teil freilich mit anderen Akzenten, die Urteilsbildung in der Sozialen Arbeit prägen.
Sozial bewegt
Authors: Haase Katrin
Published: June 2021

Die spezialisierte Opferberatung hat sich aus antifaschistischen und antirassistischen Initiativen entwickelt. Mit der Geschichte des Beratungsfeldes wird auf das gesellschaftskritische Potenzial Sozialer Arbeit hingewiesen und die Notwendigkeit des Erinnerns herausgestellt.
Why feeling competent matters
Authors: Raven Hanna , Pels Fabian
Published: June 2021

Physical education is an important setting for the promotion of personal resources of children and adolescents. One of the main personal resources in education in general and physical education in particular is self-efficacy. The current study investigated the association between physical education-related self-efficacy and basic psychological need satisfaction according to Self-Determination Theory in adolescent students. A total of 708 students from grades nine to eleven were surveyed using questionnaires. The results of a linear regression analysis indicated that there is a relationship between the need for competence satisfaction and physical education-related self-efficacy (R2corr = 0.29, p < 0.001, f2 = 0.40), while the need for autonomy and the need for relatedness were not related to self-efficacy. One possible interpretation is that the feeling of being competent in physical education enables the development of positive self-efficacy. As practical implications, the implementation of assessment systems in physical education is recommended, focusing on students’ individual performance to positively influence competence satisfaction and, subsequently, self-efficacy.
Development of random forest model as decision support tool in water resources management of Ogun headwater catchments
Authors: Aiyelokun O. O. , Agbede O. A.
Published: June 2021

Water resources cannot be effectively managed unless potential evapotranspiration is determined with high accuracy at headwater catchments. The study presents the most suitable feature combinations for building a reliable potential evapotranspiration (PET) model in the headwater catchments of Ogun River Basin, Southwest Nigeria. Using rainfall (R), wind speed (U2), sunshine hour (S), relative humidity (Rh), minimum temperature (Tmin) and maximum temperature (Tmax) as input features, a Random Forest (RF) model was developed to predict PET. Although the model yielded satisfactory results, it was subjected to the minimal depth and percentage increase in mean square error (%IncMSE). This was done to reduce the input features and to increase model accuracy. Thereafter various combinations of important input features were examined in order to establish the best combinations required to yield optimum results. The study revealed that althoughTmax (%IncMSE of 652.09,pvalue < 0.05) and Rh (%IncMSE of 254.36,pvalue < 0.05) were the most important predictors of PET, a more reliable RF model was achieved whenSandU2were combined with them. Consequently, this study presents RF with a combination of four parameters (Tmax, Rh,SandU2) as an excellent computational technique for the prediction of PET in headwater catchments.
Green synthesis of magnetic α–Fe2O3 nanospheres using Bridelia retusa leaf extract for Fenton-like degradation of crystal violet dye
Authors: Selvaraj Raja , Pai Shraddha , Murugesan Gokulakrishnan , Pandey Sadanand , Bhole Ruchi , Gonsalves Delicia , Varadavenkatesan Thivaharan , Vinayagam Ramesh
Published: June 2021

The reach of nanotechnology has permeated into a range of disciplines and systematically revolutionized many manufacturing techniques. Today, nanoparticles are fabricated using varied approaches, each with its pros and cons. Of them, the green synthesis approach has been very effective in terms of overall economics and the stability of nanoparticles. The current study investigates the use of the leaf extract of Bridelia retusa for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. Typical of these nanoparticles, no specific peak was discernible on employing UV–visible spectroscopy. The size, morphological features, and crystallinity of the nanoparticles were determined by employing scanning electron microscopy and electron diffraction spectroscopy. Almost uniformly sized at 38.58 nm, the nanoparticles were spherical, constituting elemental iron at 11.5% and elemental oxygen at 59%. Their relative composition confirmed the nanoparticles to be iron oxide. X-ray diffraction studies showed the particles to be hexagonal and rhombohedral, estimating the crystallite size at 24.27 nm. BET analysis put the pore volume at 0.1198 cm3/g and pore diameter at 7.92 nm. The unique feature of the nanoparticles was that the specific surface area was 75.19 m2/g, which is more than 12 times higher than commercial α-Fe2O3. The participation of a variety of biochemicals in the leaf extract towards the reduction-cum-stabilization was confirmed using FTIR analysis. The Fenton-like catalytic activity of the nanoparticles was put to test by attempting to degrade crystal violet dye, which was completely achieved in 270 min. The kinetics of the degradation was also modelled in the study.
SFM Clinical Practice Recommendations for Prenatal Invasive Diagnostic Procedures
Authors: Batra Meenu , Sharma K. Aparna , Singh Chanchal , Devadasan Shyama , Vikraman Seneesh Kumar , Praveen T. L. N. , Khurana Ashok
Published: June 2021

Diagnostic prenatal invasive testing currently forms an integral and extremely significant component of the practice of obstetric care and has a twofold purpose. The primary aim is to offer management options and informed decision making to pregnant women and their companions. The secondary aim is to ensure that every fetus has an optimal outcome. Currently, most professional societies offer guidelines on prenatal invasive testing based on specific indications. Society of Fetal Medicine (SFM) clinical practice recommendations are developed for use by all practitioners of fetal and maternal healthcare. They are intended to facilitate a reasonable standard of care by the entire medical community. Practitioners are encouraged to go beyond these standards in relevant clinical situations. This document has been drafted after extensive inputs and discussions by practitioners and experts, followed by a consensus.
Effects of first-line diabetes therapy with biguanides, sulphonylurea and thiazolidinediones on the differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis of islet cell populations
Authors: Sarnobat D. , Moffett R. C. , Flatt P. R. , Tarasov A. I.
Published: June 2021

Aims

Metformin, rosiglitazone and sulfonylureas enhance either insulin action or secretion and thus have been used extensively as early stage anti-diabetic medication, independently of the aetiology of the disease. When administered to newly diagnosed diabetes patients, these drugs produce variable results. Here, we examined the effects of the three early stage oral hypoglycaemic agents in mice with diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin, focusing specifically on the developmental biology of pancreatic islets.

Methods

Streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice expressing a fluorescent reporter specifically in pancreatic islet α-cells were administered the biguanide metformin (100 mg/kg), thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg), or sulfonylurea tolbutamide (20 mg/kg) for 10 days. We assessed the impact of the treatment on metabolic status of the animals as well as on the morphology, proliferative potential and transdifferentiation of pancreatic islet cells, using immunofluorescence.

Results

The effect of the therapy on the islet cells varied depending on the drug and included enhanced pancreatic islet β-cell proliferation, in case of metformin and rosiglitazone; de-differentiation of α-cells and β-cell apoptosis with tolbutamide; increased relative number of β-cells and bi-hormonal insulin + glucagon + cells with metformin. These effects were accompanied by normalisation of food and fluid intake with only minor effects on glycaemia at the low doses of the agents employed.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that metformin and rosiglitazone attenuate the depletion of the β-cell pool in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes, whereas tolbutamide exacerbates the β-cell apoptosis, but is likely to protect β-cells from chronic hyperglycaemia by directly elevating insulin secretion.
Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity study of Co and Ni ferrite nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method
Authors: Pancotti Alexandre , Santos Dener Pereira , Morais Dielly Oliveira , de Barros Souza Mauro Vinícius , Lima Débora R. , Scalla Vulcani Valcinir Aloisío , Martins Alessandro , Landers Richard , Braoios Alexandre
Published: June 2021

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) which are widely used in the biomedical area. There is still limited knowledge how the properties of these materials are influenced by different chemical routes. In this work, we investigated the effect of heat treatment over cytotoxicity of cobalt and niquel ferrites NPs synthesized by sol-gel method. Then the samples were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis (FTIR), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The average crystallite sizes of the particles were found to be in the range of 20–35 nm. The hemocompatibility (erythrocytes and leukocytes) was checked. Cytotoxicity results were similar to those of the control test sample, therefore suggesting hemocompatibility of the tested materials.
Exceptionally preserved hyolithids from the middle Cambrian of North China
Authors: Sun Haijing , Sun Zhixin , Zhao Fangchen
Published: June 2021

Hyoliths are extinct enigmatic organisms of early lophotrochozoan affinity known globally from the Palaeozoic Era and were especially diverse and abundant in the Cambrian Period. However, the commonly incomplete preservation of hyolith exoskeletons and our limited knowledge of their soft anatomy makes their ecological and biological aspects unclear. Konservat-Lagerstätte are crucial windows to unlock the mysteries of hyoliths. Here we report a new occurrence of exceptionally preserved hyolithid hyoliths from the middle Cambrian Mantou Formation (Miaolingian, Wuliuan) in Shandong Province, North China. The preserved soft organs of the new species Novakotheca weifangensis sp. nov. include a U-shaped gut and possible pharynx, oesophagus, stomach and digestive gland, which provide significant new information for the reconstruction of the digestive system of hyolithids. Two taphonomic modes of hyoliths described herein are recognized: soft tissue preservation through pyritization and three-dimensional shell preservation through phosphatization. Morphological variations due to different preservational pathways in the same species are revealed, highlighting the taphonomic bias on taxonomy. The ecological association between hyoliths and small brachiopod epibionts is a direct example of species interactions, providing insights into the ecological structures and adaptability of early animals during Cambrian time.
Exploring the diet and physical activity behaviours of adolescents living in India and sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Hardy-Johnson Polly , Dhuria Preeti , Strommer Sofia , Weller Susie , Barker Mary , Fall Caroline HD
Published: June 2021

Objective:

To carry out a qualitative evidence synthesis to explore what influences the diet and physical activity of adolescents living in five countries that constitute the Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition (TALENT) consortium (Cote D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, India, South Africa and The Gambia).

Design:

A search of electronic databases was conducted for qualitative articles published between 2000 and 2019.

Participants:

Studies that explore influences on the diets and physical activity habits of adolescents aged 10–19 years.

Results:

Of the twelve included studies, none were identified from The Gambia or Cote D’Ivoire. The existing qualitative literature focussed on three major areas in relation to adolescents’ diet and physical activity: (1) the influence of body image and self-esteem; (2) social and environmental influences and (3) poverty. The limited existing literature focusses heavily on girls’ experiences particularly in relation to body image and dysfunctional eating practices.

Conclusions:

In-depth research exploring adolescents’ perceptions of diet and physical activity is needed to better understand how both boys and girls, at different stages of adolescence, perceive health, diet and physical activity. More research with young people is required especially in countries where little exists to cover a wider range of issues that play a role in diet and physical activity.
Theoretical inversion of the fossil hydrothermal systems with oxygen isotopes of constituent minerals partially re-equilibrated with externally infiltrated fluids
Authors: WEI Chun-Sheng , ZHAO Zi-Fu
Published: June 2021

While the external infiltration of water has been identified from modern geothermal and/or fossil hydrothermal systems through stable isotopes, the physicochemical boundary conditions like the initial oxygen isotopes of water $( {{\rm \delta }^{ 18}{\rm O}_{\rm W}^{\rm i} } ) $ and rock as well as alteration temperature were implicitly presumed or empirically estimated by the conventional forward modelling. In terms of a novel procedure proposed to deal with partial re-equilibration of oxygen isotopes between constituent minerals and water, the externally infiltrated meteoric and magmatic water are theoretically inverted from the early Cretaceous post-collisional granitoid and intruded Triassic gneissic country rock across the Dabie orogen in central-eastern China. The meteoric water with a $ {{\rm \delta }^{ 18}{\rm O}_{\rm W}^{\rm i} } $ value of −11.01 ‰ was externally infiltrated with a granitoid and thermodynamically re-equilibrated with rock-forming minerals at 140°C with a minimum water/rock (W/R)o ratio around 1.10 for an open system. The lifetime of this meteoric hydrothermal system is kinetically constrained less than 0.7 million years (Myr) via modelling of surface reaction oxygen exchange. A gneissic country rock, however, was externally infiltrated by a magmatic water with $ {{\rm \delta }^{ 18}{\rm O}_{\rm W}^{\rm i} } $ value of 4.21 ‰ at 340°C with a (W/R)o ratio of 1.23, and this magmatic hydrothermal system could last no more than 12 thousand years (Kyr) to rapidly re-equilibrate with rock-forming minerals. Nevertheless, the external infiltration of water can be theoretically inverted with oxygen isotopes of re-equilibrated rock-forming minerals, and the ancient hydrothermal systems driven by magmatism or metamorphism within continental orogens worldwide can be reliably quantified.
Particle‐In‐Cell Simulations of Electrostatic Solitary Waves in Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection
Authors: Chang Cong , Huang Kai , Lu Quanming , Sang Longlong , Lu San , Wang Rongsheng , Gao Xinliang , Wang Shui
Published: June 2021

Electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) are ubiquitously observed in magnetic reconnection. In this study, two‐dimensional (2‐D) particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulations are performed to investigate the characteristics of ESWs in asymmetric magnetic reconnection. ESWs with bipolar structures of the parallel electric field can be generated near the separatrices only on the magnetosphere side, and propagate to reconnection downstream direction along the magnetic field. These structures corresponding to electron phase‐space holes (electron holes) can cross both the electron outflow and inflow channels although their main part is located in the electron outflow. When there is no guide field, the ESWs are generated by electron two‐stream instability. When there is a guide field, the amplitude of the ESWs are different on the right and left side of the X line. On the left side, the ESWs are weaker and generated by the electron two‐stream instability. On the right side, the ESWs are stronger, and there are two kinds of ESWs with distinct phase speed. The faster one is generated by electron two‐stream instability, while the slower one is generated by Buneman instability.
Evolution of IMF By Induced Asymmetries: The Role of Tail Reconnection
Authors: Ohma A. , Østgaard N. , Laundal K. M. , Reistad J. P. , Hatch S. M. , Tenfjord P.
Published: June 2021

North‐south asymmetries arise in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system when a significant east‐west (By) component is present in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). During such conditions, a By component with the same sign as the IMF By component is induced in the magnetosphere, and the locations of conjugate magnetic footpoints are displaced between the two hemispheres. It has been suggested that these asymmetries are introduced into the closed magnetosphere by tail reconnection. However, recent studies instead suggest that asymmetric lobe pressure induces the asymmetries, which are then reduced during periods of enhanced tail reconnection. To address this, we use the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (LFM) model and initiate a loading‐unloading cycle in multiple runs by changing the IMF. Asymmetries are induced during the loading phase and reduced during the unloading phase. The model results thus suggest that asymmetries arise during periods with low tail reconnection and are reduced during periods with enhanced tail reconnection.
Thermal Conductivity of the Martian Soil at the InSight Landing Site From HP3 Active Heating Experiments
Authors: Grott M. , Spohn T. , Knollenberg J. , Krause C. , Hudson T. L. , Piqueux S. , Müller N. , Golombek M. , Vrettos C. , Marteau E. , Nagihara S. , Morgan P. , Murphy J. P. , Siegler M. , King S. D. , Smrekar S. E. , Banerdt W. B.
Published: June 2021

The heat flow and physical properties package (HP3) of the InSight Mars mission is an instrument package designed to determine the martian planetary heat flow. To this end, the package was designed to emplace sensors into the martian subsurface and measure the thermal conductivity as well as the geothermal gradient in the 0–5 m depth range. After emplacing the probe to a tip depth of 0.37 m, a first reliable measurement of the average soil thermal conductivity in the 0.03–0.37 m depth range was performed. Using the HP3 mole as a modified line heat source, we determined a soil thermal conductivity of 0.039 ± 0.002 W m−1 K−1, consistent with the results of orbital and in‐situ thermal inertia estimates. This low thermal conductivity implies that 85%–95% of all particles are smaller than 104–173 μm and suggests that soil cementation is minimal, contrary to the considerable degree of cementation suggested by image data. Rather, cementing agents like salts could be distributed in the form of grain coatings instead. Soil densities compatible with the measurements are kg m−3, indicating soil porosities of %.
Prolonged Rock Exhumation at the Rims of Kilometer‐Scale Lunar Craters
Authors: Nypaver Cole A. , Thomson Bradley J. , Fassett Caleb I. , Rivera‐Valentín Edgard G. , Patterson Gerald W.
Published: June 2021

Fresh impact ejecta deposits on the lunar surface can be characterized as heterogeneous mixtures of boulders, cobbles, and fine‐grained regolith that are deposited on the lunar surface during the impact crater formation process. Over time, the surface boulders associated with ejecta deposits break down into fine‐grained regolith due to a combination of later impacts and thermal fatigue. Nonetheless, observations of old (>2.0 Ga) kilometer‐scale (0.8–2.0 km) lunar impact craters in high‐resolution images reveal >1 m boulders along their rims and in their near‐proximal ejecta deposits on the lunar maria. Here, we use a combination of radar and thermal‐infrared data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft to show that the rims of kilometer‐sized impact craters exhibit elevated rock abundances for the lifetime of the lunar maria. We interpret these results as indicating that boulders are continually being uncovered at crater rims due to downslope movement of the overlying regolith. Moreover, rocks found at crater rims that have been exhumed from depth in geologically recent times are locally derived and unlikely to have come from other areas of the Moon. Future collection of lunar samples at crater rims will serve to mitigate the potential for sample contamination from distal sources, helping to ensure accurate geologic interpretations from the collected samples.
Integrated genomic-metabolic classification of acute myeloid leukemia defines a subgroup with NPM1 and cohesin/DNA damage mutations
Authors: Simonetti Giorgia , Mengucci Carlo , Padella Antonella , Fonzi Eugenio , Picone Gianfranco , Delpino Claudio , Nanni Jacopo , De Tommaso Rossella , Franchini Eugenia , Papayannidis Cristina , Marconi Giovanni , Pazzaglia Martina , Perricone Margherita , Scarpi Emanuela , Fontana Maria Chiara , Bruno Samantha , Tebaldi Michela , Ferrari Anna , Bochicchio Maria Teresa , Ghelli Luserna Di Rorà Andrea , Ghetti Martina , Napolitano Roberta , Astolfi Annalisa , Baldazzi Carmen , Guadagnuolo Viviana , Ottaviani Emanuela , Iacobucci Ilaria , Cavo Michele , Castellani Gastone , Haferlach Torsten , Remondini Daniel , Capozzi Francesco , Martinelli Giovanni
Published: June 2021

Although targeting of cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), metabolic dependencies are largely unexplored. We aimed to classify AML patients based on their metabolic landscape and map connections between metabolic and genomic profiles. Combined serum and urine metabolomics improved AML characterization compared with individual biofluid analysis. At intracellular level, AML displayed dysregulated amino acid, nucleotide, lipid, and bioenergetic metabolism. The integration of intracellular and biofluid metabolomics provided a map of alterations in the metabolism of polyamine, purine, keton bodies and polyunsaturated fatty acids and tricarboxylic acid cycle. The intracellular metabolome distinguished three AML clusters, correlating with distinct genomic profiles: NPM1-mutated(mut), chromatin/spliceosome-mut and TP53-mut/aneuploid AML that were confirmed by biofluid analysis. Interestingly, integrated genomic-metabolic profiles defined two subgroups of NPM1-mut AML. One was enriched for mutations in cohesin/DNA damage-related genes (NPM1/cohesin-mut AML) and showed increased serum choline + trimethylamine-N-oxide and leucine, higher mutation load, transcriptomic signatures of reduced inflammatory status and better ex-vivo response to EGFR and MET inhibition. The transcriptional differences of enzyme-encoding genes between NPM1/cohesin-mut and NPM1-mut allowed in silico modeling of intracellular metabolic perturbations. This approach predicted alterations in NAD and purine metabolism in NPM1/cohesin-mut AML that suggest potential vulnerabilities, worthy of being therapeutically explored.