bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of malnutrition and nutrition‐related complications in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Laing Erin , Gough Karla , Krishnasamy Meinir , Michael Michael , Kiss Nicole
Published: March 2022

Cross‐sectional studies report that up to 25% of people with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP NET) are malnourished. However, the changes in nutritional status and dietary intake over time are unknown. The present study aimed to comprehensively describe the impact of a GEP NET on nutritional status and quality of life (QOL). Patients diagnosed with a GEP NET were recruited to this prospective longitudinal study on initial attendance to the NET Unit at two tertiary hospitals in Melbourne (VIC, Australia). Patient self‐reported QOL measures (European Organisation for Research and Treatment Cancer QLC‐C30 and QLC‐GINET21) and nutritional outcomes (nutritional status, weight change, fat‐free mass [FFM], dietary change, dietitian contact) were collected bi‐monthly for six months. Sixty‐one patients were recruited (66% male) with a mean ± SD age of 62 ± 12 years, predominantly diagnosed with small intestinal NET and Grade 1/2 disease. Commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (79%), abdominal discomfort (75%) and pain (68%). More patients were malnourished at baseline than at 6 months (29% vs. 13%). Over this 6 months, 48% lost weight, 20% lost ≥ 5% of their body weight, and 62% lost FFM with an average FFM loss of 2.8 kg (95% confidence interval = 2.0, 3.6), consistent with altered body composition. Dietary change was reported by 56% at baseline and 53% at six months, but only 21% consulted a dietitian at baseline and 18% at 6 months. Clinically significant loss of weight and FFM affected many patients with a GEP NET; however, few patients were referred to/or received a consultation with a dietitian. Valid screening practices are needed to identify weight loss and nutrition issues in GEP NET patients, and to facilitate referral to dietitian services.
GnRHand the photoperiodic control of seasonal reproduction: Delegating the task to kisspeptin andRFRP‐3
Authors: Dardente Hugues , Simonneaux Valérie
Published: March 2022

Synchronization of mammalian breeding activity to the annual change of photoperiod and environmental conditions is of the utmost importance for individual survival and species perpetuation. Subsequent to the early 1960s, when the central role of melatonin in this adaptive process was demonstrated, our comprehension of the mechanisms through which light regulates gonadal activity has increased considerably. The current model for the photoperiodic neuroendocrine system points to pivotal roles for the melatonin‐sensitive pars tuberalis (PT) and its seasonally‐regulated production of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as for TSH‐sensitive hypothalamic tanycytes, radial glia‐like cells located in the basal part of the third ventricle. Tanycytes respond to TSH through increased expression of thyroid hormone (TH) deiodinase 2 (Dio2), which leads to heightened production of intrahypothalamic triiodothyronine (T3) during longer days of spring and summer. There is strong evidence that this local, long‐day driven, increase in T3 links melatonin input at the PT to gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) output, to align breeding with the seasons. The mechanism(s) through which T3 impinges upon GnRH remain(s) unclear. However, two distinct neuronal populations of the medio‐basal hypothalamus, which express the (Arg)(Phe)‐amide peptides kisspeptin and RFamide‐related peptide‐3, appear to be well‐positioned to relay this seasonal T3 message towards GnRH neurons. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the cellular, molecular and neuroendocrine players, which keep track of photoperiod and ultimately govern GnRH output and seasonal breeding.
Gene expression changes in the brain of a Cushing's syndrome mouse model
Authors: Amaya Jorge Miguel , Viho Eva M. G. , Sips Hetty C. M. , Lalai Reshma A. , Sahut‐Barnola Isabelle , Dumontet Typhanie , Montanier Nathanaëlle , Pereira Alberto M. , Martinez Antoine , Meijer Onno C.
Published: March 2022

Excess glucocorticoid exposure affects emotional and cognitive brain functions. The extreme form, Cushing's syndrome, is adequately modelled in the AdKO2.0mouse, consequential to adrenocortical hypertrophy and hypercorticosteronemia. We previously reported that the AdKO2.0mouse brain undergoes volumetric changes that resemble closely those of Cushing's syndrome human patients, as well as changes in expression of glial related marker proteins. In the present work, the expression of genes related to glial and neuronal cell populations and functions was assessed in regions of the anterior brain, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Glucocorticoid target genes were consistently regulated, including CRH mRNA suppression in the hypothalamus and induction in amygdala and hippocampus, even if glucocorticoid receptor protein was downregulated. Expression of glial genes was also affected in the AdKO2.0mouse brain, indicating a different activation status in glial cells. Generic markers for neuronal cell populations, and cellular integrity were only slightly affected. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of glial cell populations to chronic high levels of circulating glucocorticoids.
Participatory action research intervention for improving sleep in inpatients with cancer
Authors: Cabrera Jaime Sandra , Martinez Cristina , Gonzalo Bachiller Verónica , Zarza Arnau Nuria , Martin Maldonado Luis , Belén Manrique Palles Ana , Artiga Sarrion Inmaculada , Tierno Sanchez Noelia , Julià Torras Joaquim , Sancho Juan Manuel , Cabrera Jaime Laura
Published: March 2022

Aim

To design and implement a plan to improve oncohaematological patients’ sleep.

Background

The hospital environment can compromise inpatients’ sleep, negatively impacting on health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Design and Method

The improvement plan was designed in collaboration with 18 professionals, 3 patients and 3 accompanying relatives. The study designed followed the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines. Outcome variables were self‐reported patient satisfaction regarding sleep, measured using a 30‐item, ad hoc questionnaire and a 10‐point visual analogue scale, completed by 318 oncohaematological inpatients (pre‐intervention n = 120, post‐intervention, n = 198) in a comprehensive cancer centre in Spain from 2017 to 2019.

Results

Overall, 61.5% (n = 190) of the inpatients reported sleep alterations, and 92.6% reported interruptions in their nightly sleep. Half slept less than 6 h/night, but 58.0% said they felt rested upon waking, despite the interruptions. These outcomes were similar before and after the intervention. The improvement plan identified four domains for work (professionals, care procedures, instruments/environment and patients/relatives), 10 areas for improvement and 35 actions for implementation.

However, overall sleep worsened significantly, from 6.73 to 6.06 on the 10‐point scale. The intervention significantly improved variables related to professionals’ behaviour, including noise during the shift change, conversations at the control desk and the use of corridor lights. Sleep disturbances were mainly caused by pain/discomfort and infuser alarms, and collectively they decreased significantly after the intervention (p = .008). However, overall sleep worsened significantly, from 6.73 to 6.06 on the 10‐point scale.

Conclusions

Pain, clinical devices and noise made by professionals are the main causes of sleep disturbances. Involving professionals in decision‐making to improve patients’ sleep have a positive impact on noise levels.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study proposes new strategies for improving sleep by increasing staff awareness and changing attitudes towards patients’ sleep. Nurses should be involved in addressing sleep disturbances during hospitalization.
One‐year persistent symptoms and functional impairment in SARS‐CoV‐2 positive and negative individuals
Authors: Nehme Mayssam , Braillard Olivia , Chappuis François , Courvoisier Delphine S. , Kaiser Laurent , Soccal Paola M. , Reny Jean‐Luc , Assal Frederic , Bondolfi Guido , Tardin Aglaé , Graf Christophe , Zekry Dina , Stringhini Silvia , Spechbach Hervé , Jacquerioz Frederique , Salamun Julien , Lador Frederic , Coen Matteo , Agoritsas Thomas , Benzakour Lamyae , Favale Riccardo , Genevay Stéphane , Lauper Kim , Meyer Philippe , Poku Nana K. , Landis Basile N. , Baggio Stéphanie , Grira Marwène , Sandoval José , Ehrsam Julien , Regard Simon , Genecand Camille , Kopp Garance , Guerreiro Ivan , Allali Gilles , Vetter Pauline , Guessous Idris ,   CoviCare Study Team
Published: March 2022

Background

Persistent symptoms of SARS‐CoV‐2 are prevalent weeks to months following the infection. To date, it is difficult to disentangle the direct from the indirect effects of SARS‐CoV‐2, including lockdown, social, and economic factors.

Objective

The study aims to characterize the prevalence of symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life at 12 months in outpatient symptomatic individuals tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 compared to individuals tested negative.

Methods

From 23 April to 27 July 2021, outpatient symptomatic individuals tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 at the Geneva University Hospitals were followed up 12 months after their test date.

Results

At 12 months, out of the 1447 participants (mean age 45.2 years, 61.2% women), 33.4% reported residual mild to moderate symptoms following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection compared to 6.5% in the control group. Symptoms included fatigue (16% vs. 3.1%), dyspnea (8.9% vs. 1.1%), headache (9.8% vs. 1.7%), insomnia (8.9% vs. 2.7%), and difficulty concentrating (7.4% vs. 2.5%). When compared to the control group, 30.5% of SARS‐CoV‐2 positive individuals reported functional impairment at 12 months versus 6.6%. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was associated with the persistence of symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.1; 2.60–6.83) and functional impairment (aOR 3.54; 2.16–5.80) overall, and in subgroups of women, men, individuals younger than 40 years, those between 40–59 years, and in individuals with no past medical or psychiatric history.

Conclusion

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection leads to persistent symptoms over several months, including in young healthy individuals, in addition to the pandemic effects, and potentially more than other common respiratory infections. Symptoms impact functional capacity up to 12 months post infection.
Evaluation of Delivering Breakfast After the Bell and Academic Performance Among Third‐Grade Children: An Application of the Synthetic Control Method
Authors: Cuadros‐Meñaca Andres , Thomsen Michael R. , Nayga Rodolfo M.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Breakfast after the bell (BAB), an alternative way to deliver breakfast after the school day begins, has been shown to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program. However, BAB occupies time that could otherwise be used for instruction and may affect academic performance. This study examined whether BAB affects math and literacy scores in third grade, an age not adequately studied in earlier literature.

METHODS

Using data on Arkansas students, we compared schools adopting BAB to corresponding “synthetic” control schools by minimizing preadoption differences in observables that can influence test scores.

RESULTS

We found little evidence of positive or negative effects on test scores. We also found little evidence of meaningful program effects over subsamples of schools by district enrollment size and BAB delivery method. Schools that adopted grab‐and‐go delivery and schools in districts with small enrollments, less than 600 students, showed statistically negative effects on math after BAB adoption. However, these effects were transitory and no longer present by the time the first fully exposed cohort reached third grade.

CONCLUSIONS

BAB can be incorporated into the school day without adversely impacting academic achievement, especially if adopting schools seek input from educators and nutrition personnel already experienced with BAB.
A cross‐sectional study of community‐level physician retention and hospitalization in rural Ontario, Canada
Authors: Mathews Maria , Ouédraogo Alexandra M. , Lam Melody , Gozdyra Peter , Green Michael
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Many rural communities experience poor family physician retention. We examined the association between community‐level physician retention and hospitalization for all causes and ambulatory care‐sensitive conditions (ACSCs) in 2017 among residents of rural communities in Ontario, Canada.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based cross‐sectional study by linking administrative data from the public health insurance program in Ontario. To create the physician retention measure for each rural community, we divided the number of family physicians who worked in the community in both 2016 and 2017 by the total number of unique family physicians in the community in either year. We grouped retention level by tertile and added a fourth category, “no physician” to include communities that did not have any residing physicians in either 2016 or 2017. Outcomes were all‐cause hospitalization and ACSC hospitalization between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Findings

Among 1,436,794 rural residents, there were 93,752 all‐cause hospitalizations and 8,691 ACSC hospitalizations in 2017. After controlling for other predictors, compared to residents in low‐retention communities, residents of medium‐ and high‐retention communities were 0.888 (95% CI: 0.868‐0.909) and 0.937 (95% CI: 0.915‐0.960) times as likely to have all‐cause hospitalization, and residents of high‐retention communities were 0.918 (95% CI: 0.858‐0.981) times as likely to have ACSC hospitalization in 2017.

Conclusions

Community‐level physician retention is significantly associated with all cause and ACSC hospitalization in rural communities in Ontario, and may serve as an alternate measure to assess the impact of disrupted continuity of care.
Evaluation of two spawning induction methods and effect of stocking density and microalgal diet composition on larval growth and survival of Pacific clam, Asaphis violascens (Forsskål, 1775)
Authors: Bolasina Sergio N.
Published: March 2022

Pacific clam, Asaphis violascens is a benthic species present in the Indo‐pacific region. It is very much appreciated as food by the local community and its population is diminishing due to overfishing. The aim of this research is to establish suitable rearing conditions for its spawning and larviculture. Two different spawning induction methods were used, emersion and thermal shock. Two stocking densities of larvae were tested (10 and 20 larvae/mL) and three different microalgae diets, one consisting of Tisochrysis lutea as a single species diet and the other two with Ti. lutea combined with Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis suecica. Emersion of clams was established as a successful spawning induction method. Larval development of A. violascens is similar to other tropical bivalves, having a 10‐day planktonic period at 28°C. An initial stocking density of 10 larvae/mL showed significantly higher (p < .05) survival rate. No significant differences (p > .05) in growth and survival were found between the diets, proving that the use of Ti. lutea alone or mixed is suitable for their nutrition. The results presented could contribute to the implementation of restorative aquaculture farms in the region, helping to mitigate food security issues in the communities and collaborating with the establishment of healthier coastal ecosystems.
Association between non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and the risk of dementia: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Kim Gi‐Ae , Oh Chi Hyuk , Kim Jung Wook , Jeong Su Jin , Oh In‐Hwan , Lee Jin San , Park Key‐Chung , Shim Jae‐Jun
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

Little is known about the association between non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and dementia. Given that hepatic steatosis is linked to abnormal fat metabolism, and fat dysregulation in the brain is related to dementia, we aimed to investigate whether NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study involving 4 031 948 subjects aged 40–69 years who underwent ≥2 health check‐ups provided by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea between January 2004 and December 2007. Based on the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), subjects were categorized into non‐NAFLD (HSI <30 at all check‐ups) and NAFLD (HSI >36 at one or more check‐ups). Dementia defined by ICD‐10 codes with prescription data was followed up until December 2017. Cox proportional hazards regression models analysed the dementia risk.

Results

At baseline, 31.3% had NAFLD. During the median follow‐up of 9.5 years, 138 424 in NAFLD group and 69 982 in non‐NAFLD group developed dementia. NAFLD group was associated with a higher risk of dementia than non‐NAFLD group on multivariable‐adjusted analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; p < .001), competing risk analysis (HR, 1.08; p < .001) and propensity‐score matched analysis (HR, 1.09; p < .001). The association between NAFLD and dementia risk was more prominent among females (HR, 1.16; p < .001). The association was stronger among non‐obese NAFLD subjects (BMI <25 kg/m2, HR, 1.09; p < .001) than obese NAFLD subjects.

Conclusions

This nationwide study found that NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of dementia. The association was prominent among females and non‐obese NAFLD subjects.
Kiwifruit MYBS1‐like and GBF3 transcription factors influence l‐ascorbic acid biosynthesis by activating transcription of GDP‐L‐galactose phosphorylase 3
Authors: Liu Xiaoying , Wu Rongmei , Bulley Sean M. , Zhong Caihong , Li Dawei
Published: March 2022

Plant‐derived Vitamin C (l‐ascorbic acid (AsA)) is crucial for human health and wellbeing and thus increasing AsA content is of interest to plant breeders. In plants GDP‐l‐galactose phosphorylase (GGP) is a key biosynthetic control step and here evidence is presented for two new transcriptional activators of GGP.

AsA measurement, transcriptomics, transient expression, hormone application, gene editing, yeast 1/2‐hybrid, and electromobility shift assay (EMSA) methods were used to identify two positively regulating transcription factors.

AceGGP3 was identified as the most highly expressed GGP in Actinidia eriantha fruit, which has high fruit AsA. A gene encoding a 1R‐subtype myeloblastosis (MYB) protein, AceMYBS1, was found to bind the AceGGP3 promoter and activate its expression. Overexpression and gene‐editing show AceMYBS1 effectively increases AsA accumulation. The bZIP transcription factor AceGBF3 (a G‐box binding factor), also was shown to increase AsA content, and was confirmed to interact with AceMYBS1. Co‐expression experiments showed that AceMYBS1 and AceGBF3 additively promoted AceGGP3 expression. Furthermore, AceMYBS1, but not GBF3, was repressed by abscisic acid, resulting in reduced AceGGP3 expression and accumulation of AsA.

This study sheds new light on the roles of MYBS1 homologues and ABA in modulating AsA synthesis, and adds to the understanding of mechanisms underlying AsA accumulation.
Tandem mass tag‐based proteomic analysis of endoplasmic reticulum proteins in mulberry leaves under ultraviolet‐B and dark stress
Authors: Liu Shengzhi , Ou Yuting , Li Yaohan , Sulaiman Kaisa , Tao Minglei , Shawky Eman , Tian Jingkui , Zhu Wei
Published: March 2022

Mulberry leaves have been used in traditional Chinese medicine due to their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic properties. A previous study showed that ultraviolet‐B radiation followed by dark incubation could improve the contents of active ingredients in mulberry leaves, such as moracin N and chalcomoracin. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves as a protein quality control center and the location for protein synthesis, which is involved in the response to the environmental stress in plants. To investigate the mechanisms in response to ultraviolet‐B radiation followed by dark incubation (UV + D), ER proteomics was performed on mulberry leaves. The ER protein markers, glucose‐regulated protein (GRP78), and calnexin (CNX), were significantly higher in the ER fraction than in the total protein fraction, indicating that the ER was purified. Compared to the control, the abundance of protein disulfide isomerase, UDP‐glucose glycoprotein glucosyltransferase, CNX, and calreticulin proteins decreased, while of the abundance of heat shock‐related proteins increased under stress. P450 enzyme system‐related proteins and ribosomal proteins showed significant increases. These results suggest that under UV + D stress, mulberry leaves activated the cell redox and ER quality control systems, enhancing protein synthesis and weakening N‐glycan biosynthesis in the ER to resist the damage.
Trade liberalization, domestic reforms, and income inequality: Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Liu Judith , Lai Mei‐Ying , Liu Zong‐Shin
Published: March 2022

This paper estimates the effects of trade liberalization on household income inequality and investigates whether trade liberalization or domestic reforms are the main factors influencing increasing inequality in Taiwan, a middle‐income open economy. We construct an empirical model by decomposing the sources of household disposable income in the quintile ratio and separate trade partners into OECD (Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development) and non‐OECD countries. Using time‐series data to estimate the long‐run effect, we find that net exports to OECD countries increase inequality, whereas net exports to non‐OECD countries insignificantly decrease inequality. This finding diverges from the prediction based on the Stolper–Samuelson theorem. Overall, trade liberalization increases income inequality, and the effect is mainly attributed to net exports to OECD countries. Moreover, we provide evidence that domestic reforms, particularly technological progress in favor of skilled labor and industrial structural change, rather than trade liberalization, are the main driving forces of income inequality.
Exploring the driving mechanism and the evolution of the low‐carbon economy transition: Lessons from OECD developed countries
Authors: Yu Bolin , Fang Debin , Kleit Andrew N. , Xiao Kun
Published: March 2022

The low‐carbon transition involves achieving the coordinated development between economic development and carbon reduction. This paper utilises an integrated decomposition and econometric framework to reveal the influence mechanism and convergence evolution of carbon emission intensity (CEI) across 29 OECD countries in the period 1992–2018. The country‐level low‐carbon transition efforts are then investigated. The results imply that: (1) The reduction in CEI is primarily attributed to the changes in economic development and energy intensity. The carbon emission coefficient effect also negatively influences CEI. The impact of energy consumption per capita, however, is negligible. (2) According to econometric analysis, energy intensity, energy mix, carbon emissions per capita and energy use per capita have positive impacts on CEI. Specially, GDP per capita shows an inverted U‐shaped curve relationship with CEI. (3) There is evidence of convergence in CEI across developed countries. Energy intensity plays a crucial role in accelerating the CEI convergence process, implying a half‐life of 3 years. (4) Fifteen European countries have made strong low‐carbon transition efforts among all countries. Denmark has made the largest efforts, South Korea the least. This study provides important implications for low‐carbon economy transition.
The West’s Teeth: IMF conditionality during the Cold War
Authors: Akerman Ariel , Pessoa João Paulo , Weller Leonardo
Published: March 2022

Did the International Monetary Fund (IMF) play a role in the United States and its Western allies efforts to contain the advance of communism during the Cold War? To answer this question, we construct a new database containing the number of conditions applied to over 500 IMF loans since 1970 and analyse how the distance from a borrowing country to its closet communist neighbour affected the IMF conditionality. We show that the Fund imposed fewer conditions on loans to countries geographically closer to the communist bloc. Results are stronger when neighbouring communist countries were not part of the Warsaw Pact. This pattern persisted during the 1990s, when the Fund helped former communist countries in their transition to market economies. However, we find no strong evidence of such discretionary treatment by the IMF after 2001, when the containment of communism had ceased to be the West's top priority.
The impact of trade preferences removal: Evidence from the Belarus Generalized System of Preferences withdrawal
Authors: Gnutzmann Hinnerk , Gnutzmann‐Mkrtchyan Arevik
Published: March 2022

Under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), high‐income countries grant unilateral trade preferences to developing countries. These preferences are subject to political conditionality, but little is known about the trade impact of loss of preferential access. We study the EU's complete withdrawal of GSP preferences from Belarus in 2007 in response to labour rights violations to fill this void. The withdrawal caused a significant drop in trade for affected products (25%–27% trade decline) and some trade reduction at the extensive margin. For products where trade was affected at the intensive margin, there is some evidence of adjustment through falls in quantities but also through prices for larger export sectors. The impact was uneven across sectors, with textiles and plastics particularly strongly affected by the withdrawal.
Ex vivo comparison of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and multidetector computed tomography arthrography to identify artificial soft tissue lesions in equine stifles
Authors: Aßmann Anton D. , Ohlerth Stefanie , Suárez Sánchez‐Andráde José , Torgerson Paul R. , Bischofberger Andrea S.
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting artificial meniscal, meniscotibial ligament (MTL) lesions and cruciate ligament (CL) lesions in horses.

STUDY DESIGN

Ex vivo controlled laboratory study.

ANIMALS

Nineteen stifles from adult horses.

METHODS

Stablike defects (n = 84) (16 mm long, 10 mm deep) were created in the menisci (n = 35), CLs (n = 24), and MTLs (n = 25) via arthroscopy prior to MRI and CTA (80 mL contrast at 85 mg/mL per joint). Two radiologists, unaware of the lesions, reached a consensus regarding the presence of lesions, based on 2 reviews of each study. Sensitivity and specificity of MRI and CTA were determined using arthroscopy as a reference and compared with McNemar's tests.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of MRI (41% and 86% respectively) and CTA (32% and 90% respectively) did not differ (P = .65). The sensitivity (MRI: 24%‐50%; CTA:19%‐40%) and specificity (MRI: 75%‐92%; CTA 75%‐100%) of imaging modalities did not differ when detecting lesions of the menisci, MTLs, and CLs (P = .1‐1.0). The highest sensitivities were achieved when MTLs were evaluated with MRI (50%) and CLs with both modalities (40%).

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic performance of CTA was comparable with that of MRI, with a low to moderate sensitivity and high specificity.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Computed tomographic arthrography should be considered as an adjunct to diagnose CL injuries. This is important for equine clinicians, as the CL cannot be visualized adequately using basic imaging techniques preoperatively.
Time to kill the beast – Importance of taxa, concentration and timing during application of glyphosate to knotweeds
Authors: Kadlecová Martina , Vojík Martin , Kutlvašr Josef , Berchová‐Bímová Kateřina
Published: March 2022

Knotweeds (Fallopia spp., syn. Reynoutria spp.) are among the most invasive plants globally, mainly due to their ability to regenerate from rhizomes and their extremely high biomass production. Spraying with glyphosate is a common control method, yet little is known about its effectiveness on underground rhizomes. In addition, there are concerns about the negative environmental impact of glyphosate. Therefore, it is essential to use appropriate dosages and application times to avoid overuse. Based on a pot trial and field experiments, we assessed the effectiveness of glyphosate concentration, application time, and influence of glyphosate on rhizomes from different soil depths to determine their effect on the aboveground and belowground parts of knotweed plants of different taxa. The study demonstrates that sampling rhizomes is a more consistently accurate indicator of knotweed regeneration rate than sampling shoots. Regeneration of shoots and rhizomes was affected differently by glyphosate spraying depending on the application time. The effect on rhizomes was much greater with early season spraying than late season spraying, which primarily reduced shoot biomass. However, no differences were found between rhizome vitality at different soil depths. F. sachalinensis was sufficiently controlled by early season foliar spray with 5% glyphosate (3.65 kg a.i. ha−1) in contrast to F. japonica and F. ×bohemica. For rapid and targeted control, early season foliar spray with 8% glyphosate (5.85 kg a.i. ha−1) is needed and, in the case of the hybrid, for a minimum of two consecutive seasons.
Polyvinyl Alcohol Incorporated with Mesoporous Phosphotungstic Acid for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Application
Authors: Ng L. X. , Suhaimin N. S. , Jaafar J.
Published: March 2022

The development of potential and novel proton exchange membrane (PEMs) is imperative for further commercialization of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC). In this study, flat sheet hybrid membrane as an alternative PEM made up of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and mesoporous phosphotungstic acid-Silica (mPTA-Si) at various loadings of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt% was prepared to examine the desirable properties for DMFC application. The characteristic test such as water uptake and proton conductivity were conducted. As the mPTA-Si loading increases, the proton conductivity of PVA/mPTA-Si membrane increased up to 1.81 x 10-3 Scm-1 with 68% of water uptakes. The obtained results could reflect the enhance performance of mPTA-Si membrane and high potential alternative membrane for DMFC. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results proved a good dispersion and the existence of Keggin anion from mPTA-Si particles formed a strong interfacial bonding between fillers and PVA matrix. Owing to these superior characteristics of the mPTA-Si, PVA/ mPTA-Si membrane is considerably promising materials as PEM for DMFC application.
Concentrating Fish Farm Effluent for its Nutrient Recovery via Nanofiltration
Authors: Loh Chian Yong , Zahid Nur Zahidah , Boon Seng Ooi
Published: March 2022

Excessive nutrients in aquaculture effluent have become an alarming environmental issue. However, current treatment methods for recovering nutrients are ineffective since the effluent contains trace amounts of nutrients. Pressure-driven nanofiltration (NF) is a potential solution to the problem of low concentration gradient. In this work, NF was applied to concentrate and recover the nutrients (ammonium (NH4+), phosphate, (PO43-), and nitrate ions (NO3-)) from the synthetic and real fish farm effluents. The experiments were first carried out to study the effect of membrane type, feed concentrations, and operating pressures on membrane performance. It is found that NF 90 membrane was able to retain more nutrient ions but compromise with a lower flux compared to NF 270. This study also revealed that an increase in feed concentration enhanced the concentrating ability for both PO43- and NO3- ions but reduced the concentrating factor of NH4+ ions. Moreover, both NF flux and concentrating factor increased with pressure. NF on actual fish farm effluents were investigated under optimal conditions (NF 90, 5 bar). Surprisingly, prefiltered effluent was found to have lower flux than raw effluent due to the presence of denser cake layer. NF could concentrate more nutrients from prefiltered fish farm effluent with concentrating factor up to 6.17 for PO43- ions and 1.55 for NH4+ions, claiming that NF was a promising approach for concentrating nutrients. These nutrients concentrate has an opportunity to be reapplied as fertilizer as a part of sustainable resource management.
Effect of an Educational Intervention on Infection Control Clinical Practices in a Dental School Environment
Authors: Habibi Tara E , Garcia M. Nathalia , Falasz Adam , Shafer Kathy , Hildebolt Charles F.
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Infection control compliance in dental schools has been reported as less than ideal and requires improvement. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a centralized educational strategy that used multimedia to improve subject understanding and compliance with infection control guidelines and practices.Materials and Methods: The training strategy was created to show clinical scenarios and to outline all information relevant to using proper infection control and safety procedures. Pre- and post-intervention observation scores were collected for 59 students, with the scores being used to assess proper use or handling of barriers, personal protective equipment, sharps, handwashing, and disinfection. Scores were summed to form a Total score that was assessed with the non-parametric Wilcoxon-test for paired samples.Results: For Total scores, 24 of the 59 students (41%) had higher post-video scores whereas only 14 students (24%) had higher pre-intervention scores (P = 0.04).Discussion: This study revealed overall improvements in the infection control practices after an educational intervention, especially for personal protective equipment with 15 positive differences and 6 negative differences, and hand washing scores with 26 positive differences and 16 negative differences.Conclusions: We consider the higher post-training scores to be clinically important and indicate that didactic intervention is effective in improving IC practices in the school clinic.
Os Desafios Para a Reconstrução do Estado Social no Brasil Pós Pandemia: Aprendizados a Partir das Políticas Públicas e Capacidades Estatais
Authors: BRUNET EMILIANO RODRIGUES , Bucci Maria Paula Dallari
Published: March 2022

O artigo se propõe a investigar as condições para a reconstrução do Estado social no Brasil após a pandemia. Na seção 1, examina como as referências do New Deal nos EUA dos anos 1930 e do welfare state europeu no pós 2a guerra vêm sendo utilizadas na disputa sobre os caminhos para a reconstrução das sociedades assoladas pela pandemia, por autores liberais como Acemoglu, Fukuyama, além de Banerjee e Duflo. No mesmo sentido, o programa Next Generation, da União Europeia, projeta a reconstrução com massiva intervenção pública. Na seção 2, analisa-se o ambiente adverso para o Estado social, que perdeu até mesmo o mote da modernização, quando o movimento liberal-conservador se apropriou desse discurso, lançando reformas em nome do desengessamento do Estado, conforme o documento Uma Ponte para o Futuro (PMDB, 2015). Desde então, tem lugar uma operação de ressignificação do sentido das políticas públicas, verdadeira torção semântica do que representam as capacidades estatais adquiridas desde a Constituição de 1988, as quais, de bases organizativas indispensáveis à efetivação dos direitos sociais passam a ser tachadas de empecilhos onerosos à entrega de serviços, supostamente em nome da ampliação desses mesmos direitos para as camadas mais pobres. Na seção 3, o artigo procura superar a dicotomia, ideologicamente manipulada, entre “mais Estado” ou “menos Estado”, com a análise das capacidades estatais. Nas seções 4 e 5, finalmente, analisam-se as possíveis forças de sustentação política para superar o descrédito em que foi posto o Estado social no Brasil e relançá-lo em novas bases.
“Ele Não Morreu Por Ser Homossexual, Travesti; Ele Morreu Porque Ele Era Vagabundo”: A Motivação nos Assassinatos de Travestis em Belém-PA
Authors: Souza Luanna Tomaz , Almeida Flávia Haydeé
Published: March 2022

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar as motivações apresentadas nos inquéritos para assassinatos de travestis, em Belém-PA, no ano de 2018. Utilizou-se o método indutivo através de uma pesquisa documental, bibliográfica e de campo. Foram levantados três inquéritos policiais referentes as quatro mortes ocorridas naquele ano, assim como foram entrevistados membros do corpo policial para elucidar a pergunta de pesquisa. Em um primeiro momento, admite-se o gênero em seu viés performático, um constructo social que serve como uma categoria estruturante da sociedade, capaz de hierarquizar vidas. Em seguida, se apresenta as travestis como as sujeitas que diferem dessa norma de gênero e por essa razão são expostas a incontáveis violações, movidas pela transfobia. Posteriormente, apresenta-se o cenário belenense dos assassinatos de travestis e os dados de campo. Questiona-se as motivações para os homicídios de travestis. Percebe-se como a transfobia foi escamoteada na investigação policial, perpetuando o discurso criminalizador e discriminatório contra as travestis. Propõe-se uma mudança na investigação destes delitos, a partir de uma perspectiva de gênero mais abrangente.
Gênero, Raça e Participação Política da Mulher Negra: Da Visibilização à Inclusão
Authors: De Almeida Jéssica Teles , Ramos Machado Raquel Cavalcanti
Published: March 2022

As mulheres negras têm exibido lenta inserção na política, impedindo o alcance de um lugar de poder institucionalizado e a consequente explicitação de suas necessidades. À vista disso, o presente trabalho objetiva analisar se as normas jurídicas, afora a capacidade de auxiliar o aumento da representatividade feminina, corroboram para um esforço especificamente voltado à inclusão das mulheres negras e se as políticas de proteção têm sido objeto de monitoramento. Com origem bibliográfica e documental e cunho qualitativo, esta pesquisa expõe, primeiramente, a baixa representatividade do referido grupo no campo político. Após uma apresentação analítico-descritiva, intercalada pela ótica crítico-hermenêutica, o artigo avança para um enfoque intersetorial, permeando a relação gênero e raça. Dessarte, constata-se que não há dados sistematizados sobre a temática, o que dificulta a compreensão dos fatores determinantes para a exclusão das mulheres negras na política. Além disso, sequer é feito um monitoramento, pela Justiça Eleitoral, dos resultados das iniciativas públicas de estímulo à integração do gênero feminino nessa seara. Por fim, em relação ao âmbito normativo, conclui-se que, apesar do interesse demonstrado por ele pela inserção da mulher e da comunidade negra na política, correntes teóricas críticas da democracia e do Direito – otimizadas pelo método indutivo – apontam para a necessidade de previsão, na Lei dos Partidos Políticos, de disposição específica que fomente a participação das mulheres negras, em observância à dupla atenção que elas requerem.
Progresses in Particle-Laden Flows Simulations in Multistage Turbomachinery With OpenFOAM
Authors: Oliani Stefano , Friso Riccardo , Casari Nicola , Pinelli Michele , Suman Alessio , Carnevale Mauro
Published: March 2022

Numerical simulations of particle-laden flows have received growing attention in the last decade, due to the broad spectrum of industrial applications in which discrete phases prediction is of interest. Among these, ingestion of particles by turbomachinery is an area that is seeing vivid research and studies. The most common technique to tackle this kind of problem is the Eulerian–Lagrangian method, in which individual particles are tracked inside the domain. At the same time, in multistage turbomachinery simulation interfaces are needed to couple the flow solution in adjacent domains in relative motion. In this work, an open-source extension for Lagrangian simulations in multistage rotating machines is presented in the foam-extend environment. First, a thorough discussion of the implementation is presented, with particular emphasis on particle passage through general grid interfaces (GGI) and mixing planes. Moreover, a mass-conservative particle redistribution technique is described, as such a property is requested at interfaces between multiple reference frame (MRF). The peculiarities of the algorithm are then shown in a relevant test case. Eventually, three turbomachinery applications are presented, with growing complexity, to show the capabilities of the numerical code in real-life applications. Simulation results in terms of erosion and impacts on aerodynamic surfaces are also presented as examples of possible parameters of interest in particle-laden flow computations.
Applying Layer-by-Layer Photo-Crosslinking in Green Bioprinting: Shape Fidelity and Cell Viability of Printed Hydrogel Constructs Containing Algae Cells
Authors: Thakare Ketan , Jerpseth Laura , Pei Zhijian , Qin Hongmin
Published: March 2022

Three-dimensional printing of hydrogel constructs containing algae cells, also known as green bioprinting, has many potential applications. Its feasibility has been demonstrated for removing metal contaminants in water and tissue engineering. However, in reported studies on green bioprinting so far, shape fidelity was either not investigated or poor. This paper reports a study to apply layer-by-layer photo-crosslinking in extrusion-based 3D printing of constructs using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bioink containing Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae cells. Shape fidelity and cell viability are compared between constructs printed by applying layer-by-layer photo-crosslinking and those printed by applying once-post-printing photo-crosslinking. Comparisons of shape fidelity are also made with alginate-methylcellulose constructs printed by applying ionic-crosslinking. Results show that GelMA constructs printed by applying layer-by-layer photo-crosslinking have the highest shape fidelity among all printed constructs, and about three-quarters of the algae cells in all printed GelMA constructs are alive four days post-printing. There are no significant differences in cell viability between the GelMA constructs printed by applying layer-by-layer photo-crosslinking and the GelMA constructs printed by applying once-post-printing photo-crosslinking.
Prediction of Remaining Useful Life Using Fused Deep Learning Models: A Case Study of Turbofan Engines
Authors: Zheng Yu , Bao Xiangyu , Zhao Fei , Chen Chong , Liu Ying , Sun Bo , Wang Haotong
Published: March 2022

The study of intelligent operation and maintenance methods for turbofan engines is of great importance for improving the reliability of turbofan engines. Given the harsh operating conditions and complex structure of the turbofan engine, it is extremely difficult to establish an accurate physical model for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction. The traditional operation and maintenance method based on the physical model has several limitations in the application of turbofan engines, while the data-driven method offers a new solution. Compared with traditional machine learning models, deep learning models possess more powerful nonlinear expression capabilities and feature extraction capabilities. Therefore, this study focuses on studying the RUL prediction algorithm for turbofan engines based on the fused deep learning models. In this article, a multimodal deep learning approach based on a 1DCNN (1D convolutional neural network) + attention enhanced Bi-LSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory) network is proposed to predict the RUL by mining the temporal information of data. Furthermore, a DDResNet (dilated deep residual network) is also introduced to the 1DCNN submodel to leverage its hidden pattern mining capability due to its advance in preventing performance degradation across layers. Subsequently, the output of these two submodels is weighted fused to obtain the final RUL prediction. The merits of the proposed method are demonstrated by comparing it with existing methods for RUL prediction using the C-MAPSS (commercial modular aero-propulsion system simulation) dataset.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Biomechanical Simulation of the Replacement: A Literature Review on Various Surgical and Nonsurgical Methods, and Development of the Finite Element Method Approach in the Treatment
Authors: Banerjee Anik , Roy Chowdhury Amit , Majumder Santanu
Published: March 2022

While this study is on the clinical development of temporomandibular joint disorders and understanding various biomechanical approaches through finite element analysis as a panacea, the primary aim is to perform a literature review. Usage of the biomedical prosthesis, over the years, including the initial development and later modernization with image processing and computer simulations, are briefly discussed from 1800 to 2021. Manual data handling was used to select 503 journal papers, of which 116 were further studied in this review. This review explains the complete biomechanical structure of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), as it disclosed possible reasons for the disorders and shortcomings in the medical treatments. In the Boundary Condition and Discussion sections, the paper discussed the boundary conditions and the results of various studies from 2000 to 2021. It also discussed 36 papers with temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJR) devices, providing important information on the stress–strain distributions in the implant and the mandible-fossa component. Both custom and stock devices are discussed with a finite element method (FEM) approach, with a proper evaluation of multiple software for individual studies. Finally, TMJR devices are considered helpful for treating TMJ disorders. The FEM approach should be considered a precise and valuable biomechanical simulation tool for modifying and improving next-generation prosthetic devices.
Numerical realization of diffuse sound pressure fields using prolate spheroidal wave functions
Authors: Van hoorickx Cédric , Reynders Edwin P. B.
Published: March 2022

A diffuse sound field is conventionally defined as a zero-mean circularly symmetric complex Gaussian random field. A more recent, generalized definition is that of a sound field having mode shapes that are diffuse in the conventional sense, and eigenfrequencies that conform to the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble. Such a generalized diffuse sound field can represent a random ensemble of sound fields that share gross features, such as modal density and total absorption, but otherwise have any possible arrangement of local wave scattering features. The problem of generating realizations or Monte Carlo samples of a conventional diffuse sound field or, equivalently, of the mode shapes of a generalized diffuse sound field, is addressed here. Such realizations can be obtained from an eigenvalue decomposition of the spatial correlation function. A discrete decomposition is numerically expensive when the sound pressures at many locations are of interest, so a fast analytical decomposition based on prolate spheroidal wave functions is developed. The approach is numerically validated by comparison with a detailed room model, where random wave scatterers are explicitly modeled as acoustic point masses with random positions, and good correspondence is observed. Furthermore, applications involving correlated sound sources and sound-structure interaction are presented.