bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The bronchiolitis epidemic in 2021-2022 during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: experience of a third level centre in Northern Italy
Authors: Faraguna Martha Caterina , Lepri Irene , Clavenna Antonio , Bonati Maurizio , Vimercati Chiara , Sala Debora , Cattoni Alessandro , Melzi Maria Luisa , Biondi Andrea
Published: October 2022

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the 2021-2022 bronchiolitis season to the four previous years (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021) to see if there was an anticipation of the peak, an overall increase of cases, and an increased need of intensive care.
Methods: A retrospective single-centre study in the San Gerardo Hospital, Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy was performed. Emergency Departments (ED) visits of patients aged <18 years and ≤12 months were analyzed: the incidence of bronchiolitis on total assessments, the urgency level at triage and the hospitalization rate were compared. Data of children admitted to the Pediatric Department due to bronchiolitis were analyzed in terms of need of intensive care, respiratory support (type and duration), length of hospital stay, main etiological agent, patient characteristics.
Results: During 2020-2021 (first pandemic period) an important reduction in the ED attendance for bronchiolitis was observed, while in 2021-2022 there was an increase in incidence of bronchiolitis (13% of visits in infants <1 year) and in the rate of urgent accesses (p=0.0002), but hospitalization rates did not differ compared to previous years. Furthermore, an anticipated peak in November 2021 was observed. In the 2021-2022 cohort of admitted children to the Pediatric Department, a statistically significative increased need of intensive care unit was detected (Odds Ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-6.8 after adjustment for severity and clinical characteristics). Instead, respiratory support (type and duration) and length of hospital stay did not differ. RSV was the main etiological agent and RSV-bronchiolitis determined a more severe infection (type and duration of breathing support, intensive care need and length of hospital stay).
Conclusions: During Sars-CoV-2 lockdowns (2020-2021), there was a dramatic decrease of bronchiolitis and others respiratory infections. In the following season, 2021-2022, an overall increase of cases with an anticipated peak was observed and data analysis confirmed that patients in 2021-2022 required more intensive care than children in the four previous seasons.
Structural inhomogeneity of cellulose assembly in plant cell wall affecting anisotropic mechanical property
Authors: Lee Jongcheol , Choi Juseok , Feng Luyi , Yu Jingyi , Zheng Yunzhen , Zhang Qian , Lin Yen-Ting , Sah Saroj , Gu Ying , Zhang Sulin , Cosgrove Daniel , Kim Seong
Published: October 2022

Cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) in plant cell walls are a major load-bearing component in plant primary cell walls, and their collective orientational alignment is known to be a key factor to determine the mechanical properties of the cell wall. Plant epidermis has been widely used as a model system for the primary cell wall to study the cellulose structure and tissue mechanics because of its ease of access for characterization. However, the structural information of CMFs in epidermal walls and their mechanics have often been interpreted assuming that CMFs are uniformly distributed in the whole tissue. Here, we report distinct CMF assembly patterns in the flat face region of the epidermal cell and the edge region of the cell where two cells meet. The vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) imaging analysis found that the CMF orientation in the cell edges is preferentially aligned perpendicular to the anticlinal walls. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to test if the cell geometry and the discovered inhomogeneous CMF assemblies could explain the previously observed anisotropic mechanical properties of epidermal cell walls. Our study resolves discrepancies in microfibril structure obtained with different techniques and suggests that the distinct CMF assemblies in the edge region may contribute to tissue-level mechanical anisotropy of epidermal cell walls.
Complementing two-photon fluorescence detection with backscatter detection to decipher multiparticle dynamics inside a nonlinear laser trap
Authors: Devi Anita , Yadav Sumit , De Arijit
Published: October 2022

Using wide-field and point detection modalities, we show how optical trapping dynamics under femtosecond pulsed excitation can be explored by complementing detection of two-photon fluorescence with backscatter. Radial trajectories of trapped particles are mapped from correlated/anti-correlated fluctuations in backscatter pattern whereas temporal evolution of two-photon fluorescence is used to mark the onset of trapping involving multiple particles. Simultaneous confocal detection of backscatter and two-photon fluorescence estimates axial trap stiffness, delineating short-time trapping dynamics. When a second particle is being trapped an oscillatory signal is observed which is due to interference of backscatter amplitudes, revealing inter-particle interactions within the trap. These findings are crucial steps forward to achieve controlled manipulation by harnessing optical nonlinearity under femtosecond pulsed excitation.
Structure and dynamics of Fe90Si3O7 liquids close to Earth's liquid core conditions
Authors: Tang Ling , Zhang Chao , Sun Yang , Ho Kai-Ming , Wentzcovitch Renata , Wang Caizhuang
Published: October 2022

Using an artificial neural-network machine learning interatomic potential, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations to study the structure and dynamics of Fe90Si3O7 liquid close to the Earth's liquid core conditions. The simulation results reveal that the short-range structural order (SRO) in the Fe90Si3O7 liquid is very strong. About 80% of the atoms are arranged in crystalline-like SRO motifs. In particular, ~ 70% of Fe-centered clusters can be classified as either hexagonal-close-pack (HCP/HCP-like) or icosahedral (ICO/ICO-like) SRO motifs. The SRO clusters centered on Fe, Si, or O atoms are strongly intermixed and homogenously distributed throughout the liquid. The atomic structure of the liquid and the fractions of dominant SRO clusters are not sensitive to pressure/temperature used in the simulations except that the SRO of the O-centered clusters is enhanced close to inner core pressures. The O diffusion coefficient is about 2–3 times larger than the Fe and Si ions and increases more rapidly in the deeper core regions.
TIGAR protects cochlear hair cells against teicoplanin-induced damage
Authors: zhang qiongmin , Yao Zhiqun , Chen Fang , Wang Xue , Wang Man , Lu Junze , Meng Yu , Xu Lei , Han Yuechen , Liu Wenwen , Wang Haibo
Published: October 2022

Teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, is used for the treatment of severe staphylococcal infections. Teicoplanin is reported to have an ototoxic potential but its toxic effects on cochlea hair cells (HCs) remains unclear. TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) plays a key role to promote cell survival, our previous study shown that TIGAR protected inner ear spiral ganglion neuron against cisplatin injury. However, the role of TIGAR in mammalian HCs damage has not been explored yet. In this study, firstly, we found that teicoplanin induced significant cell loss of both HEI-OC1 cells and cochlea HCs in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Next, we discovered that the expression of TIGAR was significantly decreased after teicoplanin treatment in HCs and HEI-OC1 cells. To explore the role of TIGAR in inner ear after teicoplanin damage, the expression of TIGAR was upregulated via recombinant adenovirus or knocked down by shRNA in HEI-OC1 cells, respectively. We found that the overexpression of TIGAR increased cell viability, decreased apoptosis and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level after teicoplanin injury, whereas downregulation of TIGAR by shRNA decreased cell viability, exacerbated apoptosis and elevated ROS level. Finally, antioxidant treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine lowered ROS level, rescued cell loss as well as restored p38/phosphorylation-p38 expression levels induced by TIGAR deficiency in HEI-OC1 cells after teicoplanin injury. This study provides evidences that TIGAR might be a new potential target for prevention from the teicoplanin-induced ototoxicity.
Optimizing recording speed and interrogation window for rotating flow recorded in the ambient light: PIV analysis
Authors: Shah Shailee P , Mumana Nayan , Barad Preksha , Desai Rucha P , Joshi Pankaj S
Published: October 2022

The present study reports PIV analysis of the surface flow profile using a smartphone camera in ambient light instead of high-tech equipment like a professional camera and high-power laser/ LEDs. Additionally, it provides a stepwise method for optimizing recording speed and interrogation window size for the vortex flow generated at different rotational frequencies of the magnetic stirrer. The analysis has been carried out using the Matlab-based application PIVlab. Finally, the optimized parameters have been compared with the Burger vortex model, which shows good agreement with the PIV data. The proposed method can also determine the surface flow of opaque liquids.
Differences in engineers' brain activity when CAD modelling from isometric and orthographic projections
Authors: Lukačević Fanika , Becattini Niccolò , Škec Stanko
Published: October 2022

A way of presenting information in visual representations of technical systems influences the progress and the outcome of the engineering design process. Consequently, an improvement of the means by which information is utilized (generated and interacted with) during the process is one suggested approach of advancing engineering design. Although engineers’ interaction with information has been mostly visual, virtual, and cognitive, little is known about cognition (mental information processing) underlying generation of and interaction with visual representation of technical systems during engineering design. With the aim of narrowing this research gap, the presented study explored the effects of visual representations of technical systems to engineers’ brain activity while generating computer-aided design (CAD) models based on them. More precisely, brain activity of 20 engineers was monitored and analysed using electroencephalography (EEG) during the visuospatially-intensive design tasks of CAD modelling in two conditions; when technical systems were presented with orthographic and isometric projections in technical drawings. Significant differences and effect sizes were found among the total signal and individual band (theta, alpha, and beta) task related power (TRP) both when interpreting the projections in technical drawings and generating 3D CAD models from them. The results suggest that significant differences exist in brain activity when considering the individual electrodes, all the 14 electrodes cumulatively (the TRP across the cortex), the cortical hemispheres, and the cortical areas. In particular, the TRP was persistently higher when interpreting the technical drawing with orthographic projection and generating a CAD model from it. In addition, theta TRP in frontal brain area seems to be particularly important in distinguishing neurocognitive responses to the orthographic and isometric projections. As such, the conducted exploratory study grounds a basis for exploring engineers’ brain activity while solving visuospatially-intensive design tasks, whose segments are relatable to the aspects of visuospatial thinking. Future work will explore brain activity in other design activities that are highly visuospatial in their nature, with a larger sample size and an EEG device of a higher spatial resolution.
Interaction phenomena between solitons, lumps and breathers for the combined KP3-4 equation
Authors: Hao Xiazhi , Li Yan
Published: October 2022

The Hirota’s bilinear method is used to determine the N-soliton solutions of the combined KP3 and KP4 equation, from which the M-lump solutions which decay to zero in all directions in the plane are obtained by using long wave limit when N = 2M. Then, we discuss some novel hybrid solutions between lumps, breathers and solitons. In order to shade more light on the dynamical characteristics of the acquired solutions, numerical simulations have been performed by means of the 3D figures under careful choice of the values of the parameters involved. These results may be useful for understanding the propagation phenomena of nonlinear localized waves. The hybrid solutions describing molecules between lumps, breathers and solitons are also presented.
Application of optimized convolutional neural network to fixture layout in automotive parts
Authors: Toro Javier Villena , Wiberg Anton , Tarkian Mehdi
Published: October 2022

Fixture layout has aroused substantial interest in the research community during recent decades. It affects the design and production of fixtures, and hence manufacturing costs. While fixturing may seem simple in conception, it requires expertise and well-trained engineers. A general principle, usually called the 3-2-1 locating principle, ensures fixing an object, restringing its degrees of freedom. Fixtures must always comply with the principle. While most research approaches automation of the fixture layout using optimization or rule-based frameworks, this paper proposes supervised learning. The presented framework solves the 3-2-1 locating principle for sheet metal designs based on the experience of previous designs, using automotive b-pillars as a test study. There are three main contributions: 1. A novel idea to introduce sheet metal design data in a convolutional neural network (CNN), projecting the geometry over a plane. The Z coordinate transforms into gray-scale pixel values, generating a topographic map. 2. The framework reuses knowledge about fixturing to lay out new workpieces. The framework is an add-in integrated with the CAD environment. 3. A hyperparameter-tuned CNN for regression generates the final output. The results show high accuracy (≈ 100%) in classifying b-pillars and fast convergence in regression, proving model usability for industrial cases.
Prediction of watershed processes based on morphometric features using feature selection and neural network algorithms
Authors: Mokarram Marzieh , Pourghasemi Hamid Reza , Tiefenbacher John P.
Published: October 2022

Alluvial fans of 4 watersheds in Iran were extracted semi-automatically using GIS and digital elevation model (DEM) analysis. The relationships between 25 morphometric features of these watersheds, the amount of erosion, and formation material were investigated using the self-organizing map (SOM) method. A feature-selection algorithm was used to select the most important parameters affecting erosion and formation material. The group method of data handling (GMDH) algorithm was employed to predict erosion and formation material based on morphometries. The results indicated that the semi-automatic method in GIS could detect alluvial fans. The SOM algorithm determined that the morphometric factors affecting the formation material were fan length, minimum height of fan, and minimum fan slope. The main factors affecting erosion were fan area and minimum fan height. The feature selection algorithm identified minimum fan height, maximum fan height, minimum fan slope, and fan length to be the morphometries most important for determining formation material, and basin area, fan area, maximum fan height and compactness coefficient (Cirb) were the most important characteristics for determining erosion rates. The GMDH algorithm predicted the fan formation materials and rates of erosion with high accuracy (R2 = 0.94, R2 = 0.87).
Hunting for ecological indicators: Are large herbivore skeleton measures from harvest data useful proxies for monitoring?
Authors: Stefanussen Åshild Ønvik , Bårdsen B.-J. , Veiberg V. , Irvine R. J. , Hansen B. B.
Published: October 2022

Hunter-collected data and samples are used as indices of population performance, and monitoring programs often take advantage of such data as ecological indicators. Here, we establish the relationships between measures of skeleton size (lower jawbone length and hind-leg length) and autumn carcass mass of slaughtered individuals of known age and sex of the high Arctic endemic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus). We assess these relationships using a long-term monitoring dataset derived from samples of hunted or culled reindeer. The two skeleton measures were generally strongly correlated within age class. Both jaw length (R2 = 0.78) and hind-leg length (R2 = 0.74) represented good proxies of carcass mass, but these relationships were mainly driven by an age effect (i.e., due to growth). The skeleton measures reached an asymptote at 4–6 years age. Accordingly, strong positive correlations between skeleton measures and carcass mass were mainly evident in young age classes (range r [0.45–0.84] for calves and yearlings), while in adult age classes, these relationships weakened due to skeletal growth ceasing in mature animals as well as the strong impacts of annual environmental fluctuations, causing increased variance in mass with age. Although body mass is often viewed as the ‘gold standard’ in ungulate monitoring, our results indicate that skeleton measures collected by hunters may provide similar valuable information about variation in ecological processes, particularly for the younger age classes. Such harvest-based monitoring proxies may improve the management’s access to indicators of changing environmental conditions.
Trend of sociodemographic and economic inequalities in the use of maternal health services in Lao People’s Democratic Republic from 2006 to 2017: MICS data analysis
Authors: Ahissou Noudéhouénou Credo Adelphe , Nonaka Daisuke , Takeuchi Rie , Reyes Calvin de los , Uehara Manami , Khampheng Phongluxa , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Kobayashi Jun
Published: October 2022

Background: Maternal mortalities remain high in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). To improve access to maternal health services for all women, the country adopted a policy to remove user fees for childbirth-related care (“Free Maternal Health Service” [Free MCH] policy) in 2012. However, it remains unclear whether the policy has reduced inequalities in access to services. Our study assessed the trends and magnitude of sociodemographic and economic inequalities in access to health services before and after adoption of the Free MCH policy.
Methods: We used the three most recent Lao Social Indicator Survey datasets for this analysis. We assessed wealth, area of residence, ethnicity, educational attainment, and women’s age-related inequalities in the use of at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit with skilled personnel, institutional delivery, and at least one facility-based postnatal care (PNC) visit by mothers. The magnitude of inequalities was measured using concentration curves, concentration indices (CIX), and equiplots.
Results: Overall, the coverages of at least one ANC visit with skilled personnel and institutional delivery increased from 35.7% to 78.4% and 23.1% to 65.5% respectively, between the years 2006 and 2017. These coverages almost doubled in all social groups from 2011–12 to 2017 compared to 2006 to 2011–12. Meanwhile, the use of at least one facility-based PNC after discharge rose only from 2.3% to 3.7% between 2011–12 and 2017. Despite the decreases in service utilization gaps between groups, inequalities in favor of the rich, the most educated, and the majority ethnic groups remained the highest, particularly for facility-based deliveries. The CIX in 2017 were 0.193, 0.139, and 0.120, respectively, for these factors (p <0.001).
Conclusion: During the study period, uptake of maternal health services improved, and sociodemographic and economic inequalities decreased. The highest improvement since adoption of the MCH policy occurred among the least-favored women. Future interventions should promote outreach services, awareness raising, and a woman-centered approach to care. More attention should also be given to improving the uptake of facility-based PNC visits.
Evaluating the impact of fermentation by multiple probiotics on proximate composition, amino Acid profile, antioxidant activity and Dephytinization of wheat grains
Authors: Altaf Aayeena , Jha Bhawana
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of fermentation by single cultures of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their multiple co-cultures on the different physiochemical and nutritional parameters of wheat. Fermentation by Lactobacillus casei proved to increase the protein content (27% w/w) as compared to (control) unfermented wheat (12.7% w/w). All probiotics cultures drastically reduced the phytic acid content particularly Lactobacillus caseireduce the level from 1269mg/100g to 127mg/100g. After fermentation both essential and non - essential amino acids were increased, single culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed higher amount of valine and methionine (187.24mg/g) and (135.71mg/g) respectively.Lipid content was increased by Lactobacillus casei (23%) compare to control (2.5%). Antioxidant activity was also increased after the fermentation by Lactobacillus casei with the combination of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (78.60±2.12%). Hence the results showed that fermentation of wheat grains by different probiotics is adequate to increase the nutrient value and reduces the anti-nutritional factors and enhance the utilization of wheat in food systems.
Multiple Wolbachia subpopulations co-occur in single Culex pipiens mosquitoes
Authors: Schrieke Hans , Duron Olivier , Eren A , Reveillaud Julie
Published: October 2022

Wolbachia is a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium that infects a wide range of arthropods including mosquitoes. The endosymbiont is widely used in biocontrol strategies due to its capacity to modulate the arthropod reproduction and to limit pathogen transmission. While most studies assume that Wolbachia infections are mono-clonal within individual hosts, we show here that an ancestral Wolbachia can evolve to a set of closely related, but genetically distinct, subpopulations which coexist within the same hosts and are maternally transmitted to host progeny. To this aim, we reconstructed Wolbachia Metagenome-Assembled Genomes in naturally-infected single individual Culex pipiens mosquitoes from both ovary and midgut metagenomes for the first time and afforded Wolbachia population genomic analyses within and between single individuals. We observed consistent single nucleotide and amnio acid variations across samples that we also confirmed in egg metagenomes from geographical distant locations. This study reveals the presence of multiple Wolbachia populations co-existing in individual mosquitoes that could have critical importance for the good use of Wolbachia in basic and applied research.
Surgery for Pilonidal Sinus Disease in Norway: Training, Attitudes and Preferences. A Survey Among Norwegian Surgeons
Authors: Odlo Mari , Horn Julie , Xanthoulis Athanasios
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is frequently observed in young adults. There is no wide consensus on optimal treatment in the literature, and various procedures are used in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess current practice, experience, training, and attitudes towards PSD surgery among Norwegian surgeons.
Methods: An online survey on PSD surgery was created and sent to all members of the Norwegian Surgical Association. Categorical data were reported as frequencies and percentages.
Results: Most currently practicing Norwegian surgeons used the Bascom’s cleft lift (93.2%) or minimally invasive procedures (55.4%). Midline excisions with primary closure (19.7%) or secondary healing (22.4%) were still used by some surgeons, though. Most surgeons had received training in PSD surgery supervised by a specialist, but only about half of them felt sufficiently trained. The surgeons generally performed few PSD operations per year. Many considered PSD as a condition of low surgical status and this patient group as underprioritized.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PSD surgery in Norway has been moving away from midline excisions and towards off-midline flap procedures and minimally invasive techniques. PSD and its treatment have a low status among many Norwegian surgeons. This study calls for attention to this underprioritized group of patients and shows the need for consensus in PSD treatment such as development of national guidelines in Norway. Further investigation on training in PSD and the role of supervision is needed.
Eucalyptus globulus vessels enzymatic passivation: effect of pore structure on bulk and surface chemistry
Authors: Vaz Álvaro , Coelho João , Costa Vera , Maloney Thaddeus , Josphat Phiri , Pinto Paula , Sousa António Mendes , Simões Rogério
Published: October 2022

Hardwood vessel elements generate problems in industrial uncoated wood-free printing paper operation, causing vessel picking and ink refusal. These problems are mitigated using mechanical refining at the cost of paper quality. Vessel enzymatic passivation, altering its adhesion to the fiber network and reducing its hydrophobicity is a way of improving paper quality. The object of this paper is to study how the enzymatic treatment by xylanase and by an enzymatic cocktail containing cellulases and laccases affect elemental chlorine free bleachedEucalyptus globulusvessel and fiber porosities, bulk, and surface chemical compositions. Thermoporosimetry revealed the vessel structure to be more porous, surface analysis showed its lower O/C ratio and bulk chemistry analysis its higher hemicellulose content. Enzymes had different effects on porosity, bulk and surface composition of fibers and vessels, affecting vessel adhesion and hydrophobicity. It is proposed that differences in vessel and fiber porosity structures affect the enzymatic attacks, eventually causing vessel passivation.
Circulating osteoprogenitors have a mixed immune and mesenchymal progenitor function in humans
Authors: Feehan Jack , Jacques Macsue , Kondrikov Dmitri , Eynon Nir , Wijeratne Tissa , Apostolopoulos Vasso , Gimble Jeffrey , Hill William , Duque Gustavo
Published: October 2022

Circulating osteoprogenitors (COP) are a population of cells in the peripheral circulation that possess functional and phenotypical characteristics of multipotent stromal cells (MSCs). These cells can differentiate into adipocyte, chondrocyte, myocyte, and osteoblast lineages. Considering that COP cells are isolated from peripheral blood, this population has a strong potential to become an abundant, accessible, and replenishable source of MSCs with multiple potential clinical applications for the repair and regeneration of acute and chronically damaged tissues. However, in order to fully test and develop their use in clinical settings, a comprehensive functional characterization of COP cells is still required. This study fully characterized COP cells by comparing them to bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) through detailed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. COP cells have a distinct gene and protein expression pattern to BM-MSCs and ASCs, with a significantly stronger immune footprint, likely owing to their hematopoietic lineage. In addition, regarding progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation pathways, COP cells have a similar pattern of expression to BM-MSCs and ASCs. In summary, this study shows COP cells to be a unique but functionally similar population to BM-MSCs and ASCs, sharing their proliferation and differentiation capacity, thus presenting an accessible source of MSCs with strong potential for translational regenerative medicine strategies.
“We must be strong in our heart, in our mind and in our soul”: An exploratory qualitative study on nurses’ psychological self-care in strengthening their mental health while providing COVID-19 care
Authors: Abdul-Mumin Khadizah H. , Maideen Aminol Azrin , Lupat Agong , Mohd-Alipah Siti Nur-Diyana , Mohammad-Alli Roziah H. , Abd-Manaf Hajah-Noraini H. , Osman Abd-Rani , Fata Haji Mohd Reduan Abd. , busrah nani , Darling-Fisher Cynthia , Idris Deeni Rudita
Published: October 2022

Background
It is two years since the unprecedented and massive COVID-19 pandemic affected the world. Since its emergence, nurse frontliners across the globe faced various challenges that lead them to experience adverse mental health. An important yet often overlooked or underappreciated initial coping strategy is psychological self-care. Research has shown that nurses’ psychological self-care practices strengthened their mental well-being when facing the unpredicted nature and chaos of COVID-19. This study examined the specific positive psychological self-care practices used by nurses who provided care for COVID-19 patients.
Methods
An exploratory qualitative study was conducted on 40 nurses who worked in providing care for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients across Brunei. Data was collected using focus groups aided by semi-structured open-ended questions and analysed thematically using the principles underpinning Constructivist Grounded Theory (Charmaz, 2021).
Results
Four themes emerged: 1) ‘Care of the mind, heart and soul’ – explained the meaning and importance of psychological self-care practices to the nurses; 2) ‘Physical care for the psychological well-being’- illuminated efforts undertaken to strengthen knowledge and practices for preparedness in caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients; 3) ‘Venting out and distraction’ – demonstrated the measures undertaken to release and relieve stress; 4) ‘Have faith, think and stay positive’ – described the importance of having faith in the higher being or supreme entity such as God for protection, and enduring the daily challenges positively
Conclusions
Due to the challenges of dealing with a worldwide pandemic, nurses’ mental well-being was unintentionally placed at risk while the government strategized and prioritised containing and preventing the spread of and death from COVID-19. This study describes specific psychological self-care practices undertaken by nurses to strengthen their mental health and develop resilience in their professional care role while addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 era. Health administrators, as well as nursing educators, need to promote and developing resources to strengthen nurses’ positive psychological self-care practices. This will not only benefit individual nurses but will help promote the wellbeing of patients and employees, improve the health of all, and counteract any unintended stressful situations, even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
TiNbSn stems with gradient changes of Young’s modulus and stiffness prevent stress shielding compared to similarly designed stems
Authors: Baba Kazuyoshi , Mori Yu , Chiba Daisuke , Kuwahara Yoshiyuki , Kurishima Hiroaki , Tanaka Hidetatsu , Kogure Atsushi , Yamada Norikazu , Ohtsu Susumu , Oyama Masamizu , Masahashi Naoya , Hanada Shuji , Itoi Eiji , Aizawa Toshimi
Published: October 2022

Background

The difference between Young’s moduli of the femur and the stem causes stress shielding (SS). TiNbSn (TNS) stem has a low Young’s modulus and strength with gradient functional properties during the change in elastic modulus with heat treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of TNS stems on SS and their clinical outcomes compared to conventional stems.

Methods

This study was a clinical trial. Primary THA was performed using a TNS stem from April 2016 to September 2017 for patients in the TNS group. Unilateral THA was performed using a Ti6Al4V alloy stem from January 2007 to February 2011 for patients in the control group. The TNS and Ti6Al4V stems were matched in shape. Radiographs were obtained at the 1- and 3-year follow-ups. Two surgeons independently checked the SS grade and appearance of cortical hypertrophy (CH). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores before and 1 year after surgery were assessed as clinical scores.

Results

None of the patients in the TNS group had grade 3 or 4 SS. In contrast, in the control group, 24% and 40% of patients had grade 3 and 4 SS at the 1- and 3-year follow-ups, respectively. The SS grade was lower in the TNS group than in the control group at the 1- and 3-year follow-ups (p < 0.001). The frequencies of CH in both groups were no significant difference at the 1- and 3- year follow-ups. The JOA scores of the TNS group significantly improved at 1 year after surgery and were comparable to control group.

Conclusion

The TNS stem prevented SS at 1 and 3 years after THA compared to the proximal-engaging cementless stem, although the shapes of the stems matched. The TNS stem could prevent SS, stem loosening, and periprosthetic fractures.

Trial registration:

Current Controlled Trials
ISRCTN21241251. https://www.isrctn.com/search?q=21241251
The date of registration was October 26, 2021. Retrospectively registered.
Influence of recent and long-lasting loading history on the cyclic behaviour of sand: confrontation of novel experimental results and established constitutive laws
Authors: Knittel L. , Tafili M. , Tavera C. E. Grandas , Triantafyllidis Th.
Published: October 2022

The design of massive dump slopes for opencast mines usually requires information about the soil resistance to liquefaction during earthquakes. This resistance depends not only on the initial stress, the initial density, and the amplitude of the cyclic loading, but also on the preshearing, that is, the deviatoric stress path applied to the soil before the cycling loading. To explore the influence of preshearing on the subsequent soil behaviour, a set of triaxial tests with a combination of undrained preshearing and drained stress cycles using two sample preparation methods is presented. It is shown that the preshearing as well as the preparation method have a mayor influence on the strain accumulation upon cyclic loading. Simulations of the experiments with four advanced constitutive models reveal that neither the long-lasting effect of preshearing nor the preparation method can adequately be captured by all of the models. This deficiency of the constitutive models can lead to unsafe designs due to the overestimation of the cyclic resistance to liquefaction and to the underestimation of long term settlements.
Assessing the Quality, Reliability, and Readability of Online Information on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Quality Information Retinal Detachment
Authors: ÖZTÜRK Yücel , GÜNGÖR Çiğdem Bengi
Published: October 2022

Purpose
Investigating the quality, accountability, readability, availability of translation among publicly available online resource materials on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
Methods
Websites were classified as private or academic in Google search results where the searching region was set to United States. Quality and accountability were assessed using internationally accepted modified DISCERN criteria, JAMA and Health on the Net Code of Conduct (HONcode). Readability and availability of translation into other languages were evaluated.
Results
No statistical difference was found in modified DISCERN, JAMA, and HONcode scoring when websites were grouped as academic or private. (p = 0.27, p = 0.34, p = 0.53, respectively). There was a statistical difference between the two groups in the readability of academic and private websites. (p = 0.01) The readability of private websites was higher. When we group by the presence of HONcode certificate, 9 websites have certificates, 11 websites were not certified. Comparing the modified DISCERN and JAMA scores of these websites, the difference between the two groups were statistically significant. (p = 0.005, p = 0.004, respectively).
Conclusions
The Online content provided by websites should be written in a simple way that the reader can understand, with accurate information. The certified medical online content providers can be an indicator of the reliability of the content.
Working situation and burden of work limitations in sarcoma patients. Results from the multi-center prospective PROSa Study.
Authors: Bonilla Sergio Armando Zapata , Fried Marius , Singer Susanne , Hentschel Leopold , Richter Stephan , Hohenberger Peter , Kasper Bernd , Andreou Dimosthenis , Pink Daniel , Arndt Karin , Bornhäuser Martin , Schmitt Jochen , Schuler Marcus , Eichler Martin
Published: October 2022

Purpose: We investigated limitations in work performance and job loss in sarcoma patients and related risk factors / predictors.
Methods: We measured clinical and sociodemographic data in adult sarcoma patients from a nationwide study and recorded if the patients had dropped out of their job one year after initial assessment. Work limitations were assessed using three scales of the Work-Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ©). Analyses regarding associated factors were exploratory.
Results: We included 356 patients (48.6 % female, mean age 48.3 years). After one year, 76 (21.3%) patients had dropped out of their jobs. Time since diagnosis was positively associated with staying at work (>5 years: OR 0.1; p < 0.01). Patients with liposarcoma (OR 0.1; p=0.01) were less likely to stop working. Regarding work limitations, having received sarcoma treatment in the last 6 months (Scale 1: B= 18.9; p < 0.01, Scale 2: B= 15.7; p < 0.01, Scale 3: B= 15.1; p < 0.01) was also negatively associated with limitations at the work place across all measured scales.
Conclusion: Our study indicates that work limitations and job loss occur frequently in patients with sarcoma adding to the burden of this condition. The reported predictors of work limitations may help physicians to decide about the length of prescribed work inability before the start of therapy and patients in the decision about re-starting in the work life after an occurred therapy.
“Your struggles are valid, you are worthy of help and you deserve to recover”: Narratives of recovery from Orthorexia Nervosa
Authors: Talbot Catherine V. , Campbell Charleigh E.R. , Greville-Harris Maddy
Published: October 2022

Purpose Limited research has examined recovery processes and conceptualisations of recovery within Orthorexia Nervosa (ON). This study harnessed online data to examine how people use #OrthorexiaRecovery and how recovery is represented within this online space.
Methods 500 textual posts containing #OrthorexiaRecovery were extracted from Instagram. Co-occurring hashtags were analysed descriptively to determine whether this online space is specific to ON, and textual data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results The hashtag analysis indicated that #OrthorexiaRecovery is being used within a wider context of eating disorder recovery and awareness, but also provides deep insights into experiences of recovery from ON. The thematic analysis generated five themes: The invisibility of orthorexia; A rollercoaster journey; Finding food freedom; From compulsive exercise to intuitive movement; A community of support. Our findings suggest that people with ON experience recovery as a continuous process and the current invisibility of ON within diagnostic criteria and wider society impedes recovery. While working towards recovery, users aimed to be free from diet culture, become more attuned to their bodies, and develop more adaptive relationships with food and fitness. Users noted a general lack of support for people with ON and so used this online space to create a supportive community, though some content was potentially triggering.
Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of increased recognition of ON and the potential value of targeting societal norms and harnessing social identity resources within therapeutic interventions for ON.
Denser forests across the USA experience more damage from insects and pathogens
Authors: Asaro Christopher , Koch Frank , Potter Kevin
Published: October 2022

Forests across much of the United States are becoming denser. Trees growing in denser stands experience more competition for essential resources, which can make them more vulnerable to disturbances. Forest density can be expressed in terms of basal area, a metric that has been used to assess vulnerability of some forests to damage by certain insects or pathogens. A raster map of total tree basal area (TBA) for the conterminous United States was compared with annual (2000-2019) survey maps of forest damage due to insects and pathogens. Across each of four regions, median TBA was significantly higher within forest areas defoliated or killed by insects or pathogens than in areas without recorded damage. Therefore, TBA may serve as a general indicator of forest health and enable the development of planning tools for targeting high-priority areas with silvicultural tactics that help prevent deteriorating stand conditions.
Pre-immunization with inactivated pathogens recapitulates adult human immune memory in laboratory mice
Authors: Falkenberg Caroline , Toft Martin Fitzner , Skov Søren , Hansen Camilla Hartmann Friis , Hansen Axel Kornerup
Published: October 2022

Laboratory mice show poor translation to humans within a range of pre-clinical fields, which might be due to their specific pathogen free (SPF) status. SPF mice have CD8+ effector memory T cell levels more comparable to newborn than to adult humans or pet shop mice. However, reintroducing pathogens would re-introduce diseases, and, therefore, research facilities should look for safer alternatives. We inactivated mouse adenovirus type 1, minute virus of mice, mouse hepatitis virus, Sendai virus, Theiler’s encephalomyelitis virus (GD 7), and Mycoplasma pulmonis by ultraviolet irradiation, and mixed them with the adjuvant Addavax®. A subcutaneous injection twice with two weeks interval with 10 µg of each pathogen generated CD8+ effector memory T cell quantities significantly higher than untreated mice, and 82.3% of the pre-immunized mice were comparable with pet shop mice, while the overall quantities and percentages of T cells were un-affected. None of the pathogens were transferred from the pre-immunized mice to co-housed non-immunized mice. Pre-immunization with inactivated murine pathogens, therefore, may be used to safely create an immunological memory in mice.
Do physicians still direct nursing workforce? A profession striving for autonomy since mid- 1900’s
Authors: You Wenpeng , Cusack Lynette , Donnelly Frank
Published: October 2022

Background This study highlights the contribution of nurses is secondary to physicians to overall population health (indexed with life expectancy at birth, e(0)). Methods All data were extracted from the World Bank. The potential competing effects of affluence, urbanization and obesity were fully considered when scatter plots, bivariate correlation and partial correlation models were performed to analyse the correlations between e(0)and physician healthcare and nursing healthcare respectively. The Fisher Z-Transformation was conducted for comparing the correlations between e(0)and physician healthcare and nursing healthcare. Multiple linear regression analyses were implemented for modelling that physicians’ contributions to e(0)explain nurses’. Results Physician healthcare correlates to e(0)significantly more strongly than nursing healthcare (z= 2.83, 2.95 and 2.01 in scatterplots, Pearson’s r and nonparametric respectively, p< 0.05). Physician healthcare remains significantly correlational to e(0)when nursing healthcare alone was controlled or when the 3 confounders (economic affluence, obesity and urbanization) were controlled (r=0.380, p <0.001 and r=0.444, p < 0.001 respectively). Nursing healthcare was in weak or negligible correlation to e(0)when physician healthcare was controlled individually or together with the 3 control variables. Linear regression reveals that nursing healthcare was a significant predictor for e(0)when physician healthcare was “not added” for modelling, but this significance became negligible when physician healthcare was “added”. Conclusions Physician healthcare correlated to e(0)extension significantly more than nurses. Statistically, physicians may explain the role of nurses in extending e(0).
Ni-P-based Alloy Coatings Prepared by Direct and Pulsed Electrodeposition for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media
Authors: Gaikwad A. P. , Banerjee Atindra Mohan , Pai M. R. , Dheeman Rajat , Kumar Sanjay , Tripathi A. K.
Published: October 2022

Alkaline water electrolysis driven by renewable energy is a promising technology for green hydrogen generation. The cathode half-cell reaction i.e., the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water electrolysis suffers from slow kinetics. Ni-P-based alloys have shown to be an efficient and cost-effective electrocatalyst to accelerate the HER rate. In this study, three Ni-P alloy coatings are prepared via electrodeposition by varying the deposition currents viz. 10 mA cm− 2 direct, 10 mAcm− 2 and 100 mAcm− 2 pulsed currents. The XRD patterns of all the Ni-P coatings exhibited the formation of crystalline deposits and confirmed the alloying of P in Ni. The SEM images suggested that the microstructures of the Ni-P alloy deposits are highly dependent on the magnitude and waveform of the applied current employed during preparation of the alloy coatings. The composition of the alloy surface is Ni-rich in all three cases but exhibited local variations as evaluated by EDX. The surface distributions of Ni and P in the pulsed deposited samples are more uniform and homogeneous. The cyclic voltammetry patterns of the Ni-P coatings in KOH media exhibit characteristic peaks due to Ni/Ni3+ redox phenomenon. The Ni2+/Ni3+ oxidation peak area is lowest for the direct deposited sample and highest for the pulsed deposited one (100 mAcm− 2). The Ni-P alloy electrocatalyst deposited under pulsed mode at 100 mAcm− 2 exhibits a current density of -10 mAcm− 2 at 0.09 V overpotential and is most active among all samples. The remarkable electrocatalytic activity of this sample is attributed to its smaller crystallite size, better morphological characteristics and lesser resistances to charge transfer and porosity.
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Its Associations with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents with Depression
Authors: Wang Lu , Zou Haiou , Liu Jun , Hong Jingfang
Published: October 2022

As a serious public health concern, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adolescents with depression has been associated with a wide range of mental health problems, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, few studies have comprehensively explored the prevalence of different types of ACEs and its associations with NSSI in Chinese adolescents with depression. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of different types of ACEs and its associations with NSSI in Chinese adolescents with depression. 562 depressed adolescents were utilized to assess the prevalence of different types of ACEs and its associations with NSSI, by using Chi-squared tests, latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logistic regression. 92.9% of depressed adolescents reported ACEs, in which the prevalence of emotional neglect, physical abuse, caregiver treated violently and bullying were relatively high. Depressed adolescents with NSSI were associated with greater odds of exposure to ACEs, including sexual abuse (OR = 5.645), physical abuse (OR = 3.603), emotional neglect (OR = 3.096), emotional abuse (OR = 2.701), caregiver divorce/family separation (OR = 2.5), caregiver treated violently (OR = 2.221), caregiver substance abuser (OR = 2.117). Three latent classes were identified: the high ACEs class (19%), the moderate ACEs class (40%), and the low ACEs class (41%). There had a higher risk of NSSI in the high/moderate ACEs class compared to low ACEs class, particularly in the high ACEs class. The prevalence of ACEs in adolescents with depression was not optimistic, and some types of ACEs was associated with NSSI. Early prevention and targeted intervention of ACEs is important for eliminating potential risk factors for NSSI. In addition, further large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the different development trajectories related to ACEs, such as the relationship between different development periods of ACEs and NSSI, and ensure the adoption of evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.