bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecological interactions and the underlying mechanism of anammox and denitrification across the anammox enrichment with eutrophic lake sediments
Authors: Zhang Dandan , Yu Huang , Yang Yuchun , Liu Fei , Li Mingyue , Huang Jie , Yu Yuhe , Wang Cheng , Jiang Feng , He Zhili , Yan Qingyun
Published: April 2023

Background

Increasing attention has recently been devoted to the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in eutrophic lakes due to its potential key functions in nitrogen (N) removal for eutrophication control. However, successful enrichment of anammox bacteria from lake sediments is still challenging, partly due to the ecological interactions between anammox and denitrifying bacteria across such enrichment with lake sediments remain unclear.

Results

This study thus designed to fill such knowledge gaps using bioreactors to enrich anammox bacteria with eutrophic lake sediments for more than 365 days. We continuously monitored the influent and effluent water, measured the anammox and denitrification efficiencies, quantified the anammox and denitrifying bacteria, as well as the related N cycling genes. We found that the maximum removal efficiencies of NH4+ and NO2− reached up to 85.92% and 95.34%, respectively. Accordingly, the diversity of anammox and denitrifying bacteria decreased significantly across the enrichment, and the relative dominant anammox (e.g., Candidatus Jettenia) and denitrifying bacteria (e.g., Thauera, Afipia) shifted considerably. The ecological cooperation between anammox and denitrifying bacteria tended to increase the microbial community stability, indicating a potential coupling between anammox and denitrifying bacteria. Moreover, the nirS-type denitrifiers showed stronger coupling with anammox bacteria than that of nirK-type denitrifiers during the enrichment. Functional potentials as depicted by metagenome sequencing confirmed the ecological interactions between anammox and denitrification. Metagenome-assembled genomes-based ecological model indicated that the most dominant denitrifiers could provide various materials such as amino acid, cofactors, and vitamin for anammox bacteria. Cross-feeding in anammox and denitrifying bacteria highlights the importance of microbial interactions for increasing the anammox N removal in eutrophic lakes.

Conclusions

This study greatly expands our understanding of cooperation mechanisms among anammox and denitrifying bacteria during the anammox enrichment with eutrophic lake sediments, which sheds new insights into N removal for controlling lake eutrophication.
Ultrasound aspects and risk factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school children in Mali
Authors: Agniwo Privat , Sidibé Bakary , Diakité Assitan , Niaré Safiatou Doumbo , Guindo Hassim , Akplogan Ahristode , Ibikounlé Moudachirou , Boissier Jérôme , Dabo Abdoulaye
Published: April 2023

Background

Urogenital schistosomiasis is endemic in Mali and is a major cause of serious morbidity in large parts of the world. This disease is responsible for many socio-economic and public health issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the disease on morbidity and to describe demographic and socioeconomic factors in relation to the status of children with urogenital schistosomiasis in Mali.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in November 2021 of 971 children aged 6 to 14 years selected at random from six schools in three districts in the Kayes Region of Mali. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected on survey forms. Clinical data were collected following a medical consultation. Hematuria was systematically searched for through the use of strips. The search forSchistosoma haematobiumeggs in urine was done via the filtration method. The urinary tract was examined by ultrasound. Associations between each of these variables and disease infection were tested using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis detected was 50.2%. The average intensity of infection was 36 eggs/10 ml of urine. The associated risk factors for urogenital schistosomiasis showed that children who bathed, used the river/pond as a domestic water source, and who habitually urinated in the river/pond were more affected (P < 0.05). Children with farming parents were most affected (P = 0.032). The collection of clinical signs revealed that boys had more pollakiuria (58.6%) and dysuria (46.4%) than girls. Ultrasound data showed that focal lesion rates were recorded in all villages with the lowest rate in Diakalel (56.1%). Ultrasound and parasitological findings showed that irregularity and thickening were strongly associated with urinary schistosomiasis (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Schistosoma haematobiuminfection was still endemic in the study site despite more than a decade of mass treatment with praziquantel. However, the high percentage of symptoms associated with high intensity reinforces the idea that further studies in terms of schistosomiasis-related morbidity are still needed.
Cost-effectiveness of remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a systematic review
Authors: Rezapour Aziz , Behroozi Zahra , Nasirzadeh Mostafa , Rezaeian Mohsen , Barzegar Mohammad , Tashakori-Miyanroudi Mahsa , Sayyad Abdollah , Souresrafil Aghdas
Published: April 2023

Background

Remdesivir is being studied and used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to systematically identify, critically evaluate, and summarize the findings of the studies on the cost-effectiveness of remdesivir in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods

In this systematic review, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies published between 2019 and 2022. We included all full economic evaluations of remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Data were summarized in a structured and narrative manner.

Results

Out of 616 articles obtained in this literature search, 12 studies were included in the final analysis. The mean score of the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) for the studies was 87.66 (high quality). All studies were conducted in high-income countries (eight studies in the USA and one study in England), except for three studies from middle-to-high-income countries (China, South Africa, and Turkey). Six studies conducted their economic analysis in terms of a health system perspective; five studies conducted their economic analysis from a payer perspective; three studies from the perspective of a health care provider. The results of five studies showed that remdesivir was cost-effective compared to standard treatment. Furthermore, the therapeutic strategy of combining remdesivir with baricitinib was cost-effective compared to remdesivir alone.

Conclusions

Based on the results of the present study, remdesivir appears to be cost-effective in comparison with the standard of care in China, Turkey, and South Africa. Studies conducted in the United States show conflicting results, and combining remdesivir with baricitinib is cost-effective compared with remdesivir alone. However, the cost-effectiveness of remdesivir in low-income countries remains unknown. Thus, more studies in different countries are required to determine the cost-effectiveness of this drug.
The relationship between beliefs in substance craving and quality of life among narcotics anonymous: a cross-sectional study in southeastern Iran
Authors: Dehghan Mahlagha , Malakoutikhah Alireza , Kazemy Homayoon , Fattahi Toqroljerdi Mohammad Hossein , Mokhtarabadi Sima , Zakeri Mohammad Ali
Published: April 2023

Background

Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and lasting changes in the brain. Low quality of life may influence the substance craving, which leads to relapsing. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between beliefs in substance craving and quality of life among narcotics anonymous.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed on 202 narcotics anonymous in Kerman, southeastern Iran. Convenience sampling was used to select anonymous patients in the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) association in Kerman city. Narcotics anonymous completed the demographic questionnaire, the Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CBQ), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Multiple linear regression model was used to determine the predictors of craving beliefs. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 22.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 38.48 ± 11.32 years. The majority of the samples were male (86.1%), married (65.4%), educated (93.6%) and urban (86.1%). The mean scores of craving beliefs and overall Quality of Life (QOL) were 77.58 ± 20.70 and 64.42 ± 23.13, respectively. Forty-two-point 1% had high level of craving beliefs. We found a significant negative and weak correlation between beliefs in substance craving, physical health domain (r = -0.16, p = 0.02), and overall quality of life (r = -0.15, p = 0.03). History of crack use, job, and physical health domain of QOL were predictors of beliefs in substance craving among the NAs.

Conclusion

Based on the study results, the participants had a high level of substance craving, and some aspects of the quality of life had an impact on the beliefs of addiction. However, it is necessary to conduct more studies in this field; psychological interventions and programs to increase the quality of life may reduce the substance craving.
Prognostic stratification of oropharyngeal cancer patients in a betel nut chewing and low HPV area
Authors: Lee Huai-Pao , Lee Ching-Chih
Published: April 2023

Background

This study aimed to establish a simple predictive model for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) in an area with a relatively low prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and frequent betel nut chewing.

Methods

A total of 116 patients with OPC were recruited from the clinical research database of a referral cancer center between 2013 and 2018. Patient characteristics—including age, gender, tumor stage, differentiation, and treatment modality—were extracted from the database. Patients diagnosed after 2018 were staged using the 7th AJCC staging system to explore the impact of extra-nodal tumor extension (ENE) on survival. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed for p16, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p53, and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). ENE status was evaluated by pathological analysis or radiological features. Primary outcome was disease-specific overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to establish a predictive model.

Results

Mean age was 57.3 ± 9.9 years; 103 patients (88.8%) were male. P16 positive OPC was positively associated with higher PD-L1 and a tonsillar sub-site and negatively associated with betel nut chewing and cigarette smoking. In Cox regression, age, p16 status, EGFR, cT4, ENE, and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with OS. In survival tree analysis, cT stage was the most important risk stratification parameter, followed by EGFR expression and p16 status. Patients with cT4 stage or high EGFR were classified as the high-risk group and had poorest OS.

Conclusions

Due to the low prevalence of HPV and popularity of betel nut chewing in Asia, the relative importance of prognostic predictors for OPC are not identical to Western countries. Identification of significant prognostic biomarkers may improve treatment. Trial registration This study was registered and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (VGHKS19-CT9-07; date of approval: Aug 9, 2019).

Graphic Abstract
Potential of cell-free hemoglobin and haptoglobin as prognostic markers in patients with ARDS and treatment with veno-venous ECMO
Authors: Bünger Victoria , Hunsicker Oliver , Krannich Alexander , Balzer Felix , Spies Claudia D. , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Weber-Carstens Steffen , Menk Mario , Graw Jan A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Hemolysis is associated with increased mortality in patients with sepsis, ARDS, or therapy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). To quantify a critical threshold of hemolysis in patients with ARDS and treatment with veno-venous ECMO, we aimed to identify cutoff values for cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) and haptoglobin (Hp) plasma concentrations associated with a significant increase in ICU mortality.

Methods

Patients with ARDS admitted to a tertiary ARDS referral center between 01/2007 and 12/2018 and treatment with veno-venous ECMO were included. Cutoff values for mean CFH (mCFH) and mean Hp (mHp) plasma concentrations dividing the cohort into groups with significantly different ICU mortalities were calculated and patient characteristics were compared. A multiple logistic regression model with stepwise backward variable selection was included. In addition, cutoff values for vulnerable relative timespans for the respective CFH and Hp concentrations were calculated.

Results

A quantitative cutoff value of 11 mg/dl for mCFH separated the cohort (n = 442) regarding ICU mortality (mCFH ≤ 11 mg/dl: 38%, [95%-CI: 32.22–43.93] (n = 277) vs. mCFH > 11 mg/dl: 70%, [61.99–76.47] (n = 165), p < 0.001). Analogously, a mHp cutoff value ≤ 0.39 g/l was associated with a significant increase in ICU mortality (mHp ≤ 0.39 g/l: 68.7%, [60.91–75.61] (n = 163) vs. mHp > 0.39 g/l: 38.7%, [33.01–44.72] (n = 279), p < 0.001). The independent association of ICU mortality with CFH and Hp cutoff values was confirmed by logistic regression adjusting for confounders (CFH Grouping: OR 3.77, [2.51–5.72], p < 0.001; Hp Grouping: OR 0.29, [0.19–0.43], p < 0.001). A significant increase in ICU mortality was observed when CFH plasma concentration exceeded the limit of 11 mg/dl on 13.3% of therapy days (≤ 13.3% of days with CFH > 11 mg/dl: 33%; [26.81–40.54] (n = 192) vs. > 13.3% of days with CFH > 11 mg/dl: 62%; [56.05–68.36] (n = 250), p < 0.001). Analogously, a mortality increase was detected when Hp plasma concentration remained ≤ 0.39 g/l for > 18.2% of therapy days (≤ 18.2% days with Hp ≤ 0.39 g/l: 27%; [19.80–35.14] (n = 138) vs. > 18.2% days with Hp ≤ 0.39 g/l: 60%; [54.43–65.70] (n = 304), p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Moderate hemolysis with mCFH-levels as low as 11 mg/dl impacts mortality in patients with ARDS and therapy with veno-venous ECMO. Furthermore, a cumulative dose effect should be considered indicated by the relative therapy days with CFH-concentrations > 11 mg/dl. In addition, also Hp plasma concentrations need consideration when the injurious effect of elevated CFH is evaluated.
Enhancement of alkaline protease production in recombinant Bacillus licheniformis by response surface methodology
Authors: Zhang Ying , Hu Jingmin , Zhang Qing , Cai Dongbo , Chen Shouwen , Wang Yonghong
Published: April 2023

Alkaline protease is widely used in the food, detergent, and pharmaceutical industries because of its comparatively great hydrolysis ability and alkali tolerance. To improve the ability of the recombinant Bacillus licheniformis to produce alkaline protease, single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were utilized to determine and develop optimal culture conditions. The results showed that three factors (corn starch content, soybean meal content, and initial medium pH) had significant effects on alkaline protease production (P < 0.05), as determined through the Plackett‒Burman design. The maximum enzyme activity was observed with an optimal medium composition by central composite design (CCD): corn starch, 92.3 g/L; soybean meal, 35.8 g/L; and initial medium pH, 9.58. Under these optimum conditions, the alkaline protease activity of strain BL10::aprE was 15,435.1 U/mL, 82% higher than that in the initial fermentation medium. To further investigate the application of the optimum fermentation medium, the overexpressed strain BL10::aprE/pHYaprE was cultured using the optimized medium to achieve an enzyme activity of 39,233.6 U/mL. The present study achieved the highest enzyme activity of alkaline protease by B. licheniformis at the shake-flask fermentation level, which has important application value for large-scale production.

Graphical Abstract
Extractive adsorption of 1,3-propanediol on a novel polystyrene macroporous resin enclosing medium and long-chain alcohols as extractant
Authors: Sui Wen-Bo , Huang Lu-Sheng , Wang Xiao-Li , Zhou Xu , Sun Ya-Qin , Xiu Zhi-Long
Published: April 2023

Extractive adsorption is an integrated separation method employing a novel resin with both particle and liquid characteristics in terms of adsorption and extraction. In this study, the novel extractive adsorption polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) macroporous resin was synthesized by suspension polymerization, in which n-octanol (OL-PS-DVB) or mixed alcohols of n-octanol, undecyl alcohol, and tetradecyl alcohol (MA-PS-DVB) were added as porogen and enclosed in the resin skeleton after the reaction. The characterization of the two novel resins of OL-PS-DVB and MA-PS-DVB showed that they have large specific surface areas of 48.7 and 17.4 m2/g, respectively. Additionally, the two synthesized resins have much higher static adsorption capacities of 1,3-propanediol (511 and 473 mg/g) and dynamic adsorption capacities (312 and 267 mg/g) than traditional resins, because extractants enclosed in the resin can increase the adsorption capacity. Through Langmuir equation, the theoretical static maximum adsorption capacity of the mixed alcohols resin is 515 mg/g at 298 K and Gibbs free energy change of adsorption was -3781 J/mol, indicating that the adsorption process was spontaneous. In addition, the sorbent concentration effect in the resin was generated at high 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) concentrations. The fitting of the Flocculation model can reveal that there is a possible relation between adsorption and flocculation. Compared to OL-PS-DVB, MA-PS-DVB showed better performance in the recovery yield of 1,3-PDO and other byproducts, the removal rates of the inorganic salt and protein, and the efficiency of recycled resin. For MA-PS-DVB, the recovery of 1,3-PDO, butyrate acid, acetic acid, and residual glycerol was 97.1%, 94.7%, 93.3%, and 90.3%, respectively. Simultaneously, the resin of MA-PS-DVB could remove 93.8% of inorganic salts and 90.9% of proteins in the concentrated fermentation broth. The two synthesized resins of OL-PS-DVB and MA-PS-DVB still had 90% or 92% of capacity for extractive adsorption of 1,3-propanediol after 10 times of recycling, which exhibited potential application in the separation of 1,3-propanediol from fermentation broth.
Qualitative concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing interviews of symptoms, impacts and selected customized PROMIS® Short Forms: a study in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Findley Amy , Middlehurst Jessica M. , Howse Chloe A. , Clifford Molly J. , Neill William , Tatlock Sophi , Chen Wen-Hung , Bracher Marguerite G. , Patel Dharm S.
Published: April 2023

Background

Sleep disturbance, pain, and fatigue are key symptoms/impacts of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Three customized Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Short Forms (Sleep Disturbance, Pain Interference, and Fatigue) have been proposed for use in axSpA to assess these key disease concepts. This study was designed to further understand the patient experience of axSpA and evaluate the content validity of the three customized PROMIS® Short Forms to support their use in axSpA clinical trials.

Methods

Non-interventional, cross-sectional, qualitative (concept elicitation [CE] and cognitive debriefing [CD]) study. Participants took part in 90-min telephone interviews. The CE section used open-ended questions to elicit information about axSpA symptoms and impacts. The CD section involved a ‘think-aloud’ exercise where participants read out each instruction, item, and response option for the customized PROMIS® Short Forms and shared their feedback. Participants also discussed the relevance of the items, response options and recall period. Verbatim interview transcripts were subject to thematic and content analysis.

Results

In total, there were 28 participants (non-radiographic axSpA, n = 12; ankylosing spondylitis, n = 16), from the US (n = 20) and Germany (n = 8). Mean age was 52.8 years, and 57% were male; mean time since diagnosis was 9.5 years. The CE section identified 12 distinct symptoms that characterized axSpA: pain, sleep problems, fatigue/tiredness, stiffness, swelling, vision/eye issues, restricted body movements, headache/migraine, spasms, change in posture/stature, balance/coordination problems, and numbness. Pain, sleep problems, and fatigue/tiredness were experienced by ≥ 90% of participants, occurring simultaneously and exacerbating one another. Participants reported axSpA impacted their lives across six domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL): physical functioning (100%), emotional wellbeing (89%), work/volunteering (79%), social functioning (75%), activities of daily living (61%) and cognitive functioning (54%). Impacts were most frequently associated with pain, stiffness, and fatigue. CD showed the PROMIS® instruments were conceptually comprehensive and well understood, with all items relevant to ≥ 50% of participants.

Conclusions

Pain, sleep problems and fatigue are pivotal symptoms of axSpA and associated with HRQoL impacts. These results were used to update a conceptual model of axSpA which was originally developed based on a targeted literature review. Interpretability and content validity of the customized PROMIS® Short Forms were confirmed, with each deemed to adequately assess key impacts associated with axSpA, making them suitable for use in axSpA clinical trials.
Development and early qualitative evidence of two novel patient-reported outcome instruments to assess daily functioning in people with early-stage Parkinson’s
Authors: Morel Thomas , Cleanthous Sophie , Andrejack John , Barker Roger A. , Biagioni Milton , Blavat Geraldine , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Boroojerdi Babak , Brooks William , Burns Paul , Cano Stefan , Gallagher Casey , Gosden Lesley , Siu Carroll , Slagle Ashley F. , Ratcliffe Natasha , Schroeder Karlin
Published: April 2023

Background

Previous research on concepts that are important to people living with early-stage Parkinson’s indicated that ‘functional’ slowness, fine motor skills, and subtle gait abnormalities are cardinal concepts that are not comprehensively captured by existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments that are used in clinical practice and research to assess symptoms and daily functioning within this patient population. We sought to develop novel PRO instruments to address this unmet need.

Methods

PRO instrument development was led by a multidisciplinary research group, including people living with Parkinson’s (termed ‘patient experts’), as well as patient engagement and involvement, regulatory science, clinical, and outcome measurement experts. A first set of PRO instruments, termed Early Parkinson’s Function Slowness (42 items) and Early Parkinson’s Mobility (26 items), were drafted to capture ‘functional’ slowness, fine motor skills, and subtle gait abnormalities. These PRO instruments were used in cognitive debriefing interviews with people living with early-stage Parkinson’s (who were not involved with the multidisciplinary research group) to identify issues with relevance, clarity, ease of completion, conceptual overlap, or missing concepts.

Results

Sixty people living with early-stage Parkinson’s were interviewed, which led to refining the items to 45 for the Early Parkinson’s Functional Slowness and 23 for the Early Parkinson’s Mobility PRO instruments. Refinement included rewording items to address clarity issues, merging or splitting items to address overlap issues, and adding new items to address missing concepts. The Early Parkinson’s Function Slowness PRO instrument resulted in a multidimensional instrument covering upper limb, complex/whole body, general activity, and cognitive functional slowness. The Early Parkinson’s Mobility PRO instrument resulted in comprehensive coverage of everyday mobility tasks, with a focus on gait concepts, plus complex/whole body, balance, and lower limb mobility.

Conclusions

The Early Parkinson’s Function Slowness and Early Parkinson’s Mobility PRO instruments aim to address gaps in existing PRO instruments to measure meaningful symptoms and daily functioning in people living with early-stage Parkinson’s. Utilizing a meticulous study design led by a multidisciplinary research group that included patient experts helped to ensure that the PRO instruments were patient-centric, content valid, and meaningful from a clinical and measurement perspective.
Evaluating the sustainability of lightweight drones for delivery: towards a suitable methodology for assessment
Authors: Mitchell Sinéad , Steinbach Juliana , Flanagan Tomás , Ghabezi Pouyan , Harrison Noel , O’Reilly Simon , Killian Stephen , Finnegan William
Published: April 2023

Drone technology is widely available and is rapidly becoming a crucial instrument in the functions of businesses and government agencies worldwide. The demand for delivery services is accelerating particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. Both companies and customers want these services to be efficient, timely, safe, and sustainable, but these are major challenges. Last-mile delivery by lightweight short-range drones has the potential to address these challenges. However, there is a lack of consistency and transparency in assessing and reporting the sustainability of last-mile delivery services and drones. This paper critically reviews published papers on Life Cycle Assessments of drones to date. The study reveals a lack of comprehensive studies, and a need to examine composite and battery manufacturing developments and provides key considerations for future study development.

Graphical Abstract
Biochemical and histopathological responses of Biomphalaria alexandrina to RIPEX (plant growth regulator)
Authors: Abdel-Azeem Hoda H. , Mohamed Azza H. , Habib Mohamed R.
Published: April 2023

Background

Plant growth regulators are widely used in agriculture for increasing the growth and ripening of plants, but they endanger the aquatic ecosystem. The current study assessed the effect of sublethal exposure to RIPEX 48% EC concentrations (8 and 16 µL/L) on oxidative stress parameters, sex hormones, immune potential enzymes, differential hemocyte counts, and the histopathology of digestive glands and ovotestis in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

Results

RIPEX exposure caused an overall increase in Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione-S-Transferase activities in B. alexandrina. However, extreme RIPEX exposure inhibits SOD activity in snails. Malondialdehyde activity showed an increase in B. alexandrina exposed to both concentrations after all exposure periods. RIPEX also caused a significant increase in testosterone in snails exposed to 16 µL/L, it did, however, reduce hormone levels in snails exposed to 8 µL/L at 7 days. Regarding estradiol, there was a significant increase after 3 days of exposure to 16 µl/L and 7 days of exposure to 8 µL/L. RIPEX exposure also increased the activities of Myeloperoxidase and Adenosine deaminase enzymes in the digestive glands of snails. It increased the total hemocyte count of exposed snails as well as the number of granulocytes. Snail digestive glands and ovotestis showed pathological alterations after 7 days of RIPEX exposure.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that RIPEX is toxic to B. alexandrina and that this snail can be used as a bioindicator for environmental contamination with plant growth regulators.
Expectation-maximization framework-based image-domain least-squares migration
Authors: Sheng Shen , Feng Bo , Wang Huazhong , Xu Peng , Wu Chengliang
Published: April 2023

High-resolution and high-fidelity seismic inversion imaging is one of the core issues of lithologic reservoir exploration. As a linearization subproblem of full-waveform inversion, least-squares migration (LSM) can obtain inversion results with more reliable amplitude, better resolution, and fewer artifacts that can be solved in either the data domain or image domain. For data-domain LSM, the calculation of the data-domain iteration can be very computationally intensive. In practical situations, the convexity of the cost function of LSM could be poor, resulting in slow or even nonconvergence iteration, so the ideal inversion imaging results cannot be reached. The image-domain LSM (ID-LSM) follows the logic of image deblurring, which realizes the effects of LSM in another way. The key problem of ID-LSM is to calculate a reliable Hessian matrix that can be effectively replaced by a set of point-spread functions (PSFs). Affected by the unknown source wavelet, the accuracy of the background velocity, and the accuracy of the forward/migration operator, the calculation results of the Hessian/PSF cannot be accurate. We first illustrate the impact of incorrect Hessian/PSF on ID-LSM through numerical experiments. To eliminate the influence of the inaccuracy of PSF, we develop the ID-LSM problem as a high-dimensional image deconvolution problem. An alternate update strategy of PSF and imaging results is given under the framework of the expectation-maximization algorithm by additionally introducing prior information about PSF and the inversion result. Numerical examples of synthetic data and field data verify that our method significantly improves image quality.
The effectiveness of a primary care-based collaborative care model to improve quality of life in people with severe mental illness: PARTNERS2 cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Byng Richard , Creanor Siobhan , Jones Benjamin , Hosking Joanne , Plappert Humera , Bevan Sheriden , Britten Nicky , Clark Michael , Davies Linda , Frost Julia , Gask Linda , Gibbons Bliss , Gibson John , Hardy Pollyanna , Hobson-Merrett Charley , Huxley Peter , Jeffery Alison , Marwaha Steven , Rawcliffe Tim , Reilly Siobhan , Richards Debra , Sayers Ruth , Williams Lynsey , Pinfold Vanessa , Birchwood Maximillian
Published: April 2023

Background

Individuals living with severe mental illness can have significant emotional, physical and social challenges. Collaborative care combines clinical and organisational components.

Aims

We tested whether a primary care-based collaborative care model (PARTNERS) would improve quality of life for people with diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychoses, compared with usual care.

Method

We conducted a general practice-based, cluster randomised controlled superiority trial. Practices were recruited from four English regions and allocated (1:1) to intervention or control. Individuals receiving limited input in secondary care or who were under primary care only were eligible. The 12-month PARTNERS intervention incorporated person-centred coaching support and liaison work. The primary outcome was quality of life as measured by the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA).

Results

We allocated 39 general practices, with 198 participants, to the PARTNERS intervention (20 practices, 116 participants) or control (19 practices, 82 participants). Primary outcome data were available for 99 (85.3%) intervention and 71 (86.6%) control participants. Mean change in overall MANSA score did not differ between the groups (intervention: 0.25, s.d. 0.73; control: 0.21, s.d. 0.86; estimated fully adjusted between-group difference 0.03, 95% CI −0.25 to 0.31; P = 0.819). Acute mental health episodes (safety outcome) included three crises in the intervention group and four in the control group.

Conclusions

There was no evidence of a difference in quality of life, as measured with the MANSA, between those receiving the PARTNERS intervention and usual care. Shifting care to primary care was not associated with increased adverse outcomes.
Facilitators and Barriers to Older Adult Participation in Cancer Trials: A Qualitative Study Exploring Patient-Caregiver Dyad Congruence
Authors: Mokhnatkin Janet V. , Bae Marie , Dale William , Tiwari Abhay , Patanapirom Jasmine , Sedrak Mina S.
Published: April 2023

PURPOSE

Family caregivers play an integral role in caring for older adults with cancer. Few studies have examined older adults with cancer and their family caregivers as a unit in a relationship or a dyad. Dyad congruence, or consistency in perspective, is relevant to numerous aspects of living with cancer, including the decision to enroll in a cancer clinical trial.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews of 32 older women (age ≥ 70 years) with breast cancer and their family caregivers (16 dyads) were conducted at both academic and community settings from December 2019 to March 2021 to explore perceived facilitators and barriers to cancer trials. Dyad congruence was defined as aligned (matching) perspectives, and incongruence was defined as misaligned (nonmatching) perspectives.

RESULTS

Five (31%) of 16 patients were age ≥80 years, 11 (69%) had nonmetastatic breast cancer, and 14 (88%) were treated in an academic setting. Six (38%) of 16 caregivers were in the 50-59 age group, 10 (63%) were female, and seven (44%) were daughters. Dyad congruence centered on the clinical benefit of trials and physician recommendation. However, compared with caregivers, patients were more motivated to contribute to science. Patients and caregivers also differed on the perceived extent to which the caregiver influenced enrollment.

CONCLUSION

Older patients with cancer and their caregivers generally agree about the facilitators and barriers to cancer trial enrollment, but some perceptions are misaligned. Further research is needed to understand whether misaligned perspectives between patients and caregivers influence clinical trial participation of older adults with cancer.
Tris-Hydroxymethyl Aminomethane in Critically Ill Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Radosevich Misty A. , Wieruszewski Patrick M. , Wittwer Erica D.
Published: April 2023

Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM) is an amino alcohol used clinically to buffer acid loads and raise pH in acidotic conditions. Unlike sodium bicarbonate, which increases plasma sodium levels with use and produces carbon dioxide (CO2) as part of the buffering process, THAM does neither. Although not widely used in modern critical care and unavailable for clinical use in 2016, THAM has been available in the United States since 2020. Clinical experience and existing literature suggest that THAM may have clinical utility in acid-base management in conditions such as liver transplantation where rising sodium levels during perioperative care may be dangerous, and in managing acid-base derangements during care of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). To clarify the evidence base supporting the clinical use of THAM, we conducted a systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of THAM as a buffering agent in critically ill adults using Ovid EBM Reviews, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. Randomized-, crossover-, retrospective cohort-, parallel-designed clinical trials, case series, and case reports of adult patients who received THAM in the operative or critical care setting were included. Conference abstracts of qualifying study designs were also included. Two independent reviewers extracted the data regarding the study details, demographics, treatment, and outcomes data. A third reviewer adjudicated discrepancies. A total of 21 studies including 3 randomized controlled trials, 5 observational studies, 4 case series, and 9 case reports met inclusion criteria. Eight studies (38%) were abstracts published in conference proceedings. In total, 417 critically ill patients received THAM to treat acidosis in critically ill surgical and nonsurgical patients, during liver transplantation, and in ARDS. In general, THAM corrected acidosis with an efficacy equivalent to sodium bicarbonate and did so with less hypercarbia and hypernatremia. Adverse effects of THAM included hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, ventilator depression, and tissue damage with extravasation. We conclude that THAM may have potential advantages in some critical care settings, but that clinical evidence is limited, and high-quality evaluations are necessary.
An arginase 2 promoter transgenic line illuminates immune cell polarisation in zebrafish
Authors: Hammond Ffion R. , Lewis Amy , Speirs Zoë C. , Anderson Holly E. , Sipka Tamara , Williams Lewis G. , Nguyen-Chi Mai , Meijer Annemarie H. , Wiegertjes Geert F. , Elks Philip M.
Published: April 2023

Innate immune responses to inflammation and infection are complex and represent major challenges for developing much needed new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases and drug-resistant infections. To be ultimately successful, the immune response must be balanced to allow pathogen clearance without excess tissue damage, processes controlled by pro- and anti-inflammatory signals. The roles of anti-inflammatory signalling in raising an appropriate immune response are underappreciated, representing overlooked potential drug targets. This is especially true in neutrophils, a difficult cell type to study ex vivo owing to a short lifespan, dogmatically seen as being highly pro-inflammatory. Here, we have generated and describe the first zebrafish transgenic line [TgBAC(arg2:eGFP)sh571] that labels expression of the anti-inflammatory gene arginase 2 (arg2) and show that a subpopulation of neutrophils upregulate arginase soon after immune challenge with injury and infection. At wound-healing stages, arg2:GFP is expressed in subsets of neutrophils and macrophages, potentially representing anti-inflammatory, polarised immune cell populations. Our findings identify nuanced responses to immune challenge in vivo, responses that represent new opportunities for therapeutic interventions during inflammation and infection.
Physiological and behavioral evidence for multiple spectral channels in the larval stomatopod visual system
Authors: McDonald Marisa S. , Cohen Jonathan H. , Porter Megan L.
Published: April 2023

Larval stomatopods have generally been described as having a typical larval crustacean compound eye, which lacks the visual pigment diversity and morphological specializations of the well-studied stomatopod adult eye. However, recent work has suggested that larval stomatopod eyes are more complex than previously described. In this study, we provide physiological and behavioral evidence of at least three distinct photoreceptor classes in three species of larval stomatopods: Gonodactylellus n. sp., Gonodactylaceus falcatus and Pullosquilla n. sp. First, electroretinogram recordings were used to measure the spectral sensitivity of each species. Evidence for at least three spectral classes were identified in each: an ultraviolet, peaking at 340–376 nm; a short-wavelength blue, peaking at 455–464 nm; and a long-wavelength orange, peaking at 576–602 nm. Next, the behavioral response to light was investigated. We found that each species demonstrated positive phototactic responses to monochromatic stimuli across the UV–visible spectrum. In wavelength preference trials, distinct preferences among species were identified when different colored light stimuli were presented simultaneously. All species displayed a strong response to the UV stimulus, as well as responses to blue and orange stimuli, although at different response strengths, but no response to green. The results of this study demonstrate that larval stomatopods not only have multiple physiologically active spectral classes but they also display clear and distinct responses to wavelengths across the spectrum. We propose that the spectral classes demonstrated in each are related to visually guided ecological tasks of the larvae, which may differ between species.
Physical Activity Solutions to Decrease Occupational Stress
Authors: Aslakson Aaron , Melton Bridget , Bland Helen , Biber Duke
Published: April 2023

Apply It!

After reading this article, fitness professionals will be able to:

• Understand the impact of occupational stress on employees.

• Understand how physical activity impacts occupational stress.

• Implement suggestions for on-site physical activity solutions and off-site physical activity promotion to impact occupational stress.
Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση στο βιβλίο γνώσεων: Μια προσπάθεια εγχάραξης της εθνικής ιστορικής μνήμης και της συλλογικής ταυτότητας στις παιδικές αφηγηματικές αναπαραστάσεις.
Authors: Angelaki Rosy Triantafullia
Published: April 2023

Τα πραγματογνωστικά παιδικά βιβλία γνώσεων ανήκουν στο είδος των έργων που πραγματεύονται πληροφορίες αναφορικά με ένα συγκεκριμένο θέμα, ένα γεγονός ή μια επιστήμη, όπως, φερ’ ειπείν, είναι η Ιστορία, η Αρχαιολογία, η θρησκεία, οι πολιτισμοί χωρών και εθνών, κ.λπ.. Στόχος των συγγραφέων των έργων αυτών αποτελεί η βιωματική μάθηση του αναγνωστικού τους κοινού και η ανακάλυψη του φυσικού και κοινωνικού κόσμου με τρόπο ευχάριστο, μέσα από ιστορίες που διακρίνονται για την επιστημονική τους εγκυρότητα και εμπλουτίζουντις αποκτημένες γνώσεις των παιδιών. Η Ιστορία ανήκει στις επιστήμες της σοφίας, πραγματεύεται τα γεγονότα που έχουν πρωταγωνιστή τον άνθρωπο και σκοπός της διδασκαλίας της στους νέους είναι, μεταξύ άλλων, η μετάδοση αξιών, η αξιολόγηση του τρόπου διαμόρφωσης των ανθρώπινων σχέσεων μέσα στο χρόνο και η ώθησή τους να σκέπτονται κριτικά. Εύλογα, επομένως, κερδίζει διαρκώς έδαφος ως θεματική στο συγκεκριμένο κειμενικό είδος, που αρθρώνεται τόσο σε γλωσσικό όσο και ιδεολογικό επίπεδο και βασίζεται σε αφηγηματικά τεχνάσματα με παιδευτική αξία, αποτελώντας έναν πολυφωνικό, πολιτισμικό «τόπο». Δεδομένου πως η γνώση είναι εξηγήσιμη, αντανακλά μέρος της πραγματικότητας που περιγράφει και αποτελεί αντικείμενο δι-υποκειμενικής επεξεργασίας στη βάση συγκεκριμένων μεθοδολογικών πλαισίων ενός επιστημονικού πεδίου, έχει ενδιαφέρον να μελετηθούν βιβλία που απευθύνονται σε παιδιά και πραγματεύονται ιστορικές πληροφορίες, κοινωνικές ιδεολογίες, επιστημονικές απόψεις και θρησκευτικές πεποιθήσεις, χαράσσοντας ερμηνευτικά σχήματα κατανόησης του κόσμου. Ο Αγώνας της Εθνικής Παλιγγενεσίας αποτελεί, αναμφίβολα, σπουδαίο ζήτημαπου μπορεί -και πρέπει- να αναλυθεί από πολλές πλευρές, ιδωμένες εξίσου από μακροϊστορική και μικροϊστορική προοπτική. Πιστεύουμε πως η εξιστόρηση καίριωνγεγονότων και εννοιών που αφορούν στην εθνική αφύπνιση του 1821 στα παιδιά δύναται να ενισχύσει τον κριτικό τους προβληματισμό, καθώς τους προσφέρει τη δυνατότητα να μάθουν το παρελθόν τους μέσα από την ερμηνεία των αλλαγών που έλαβαν τότε χώρα. Εν προκειμένω, θα εξεταστεί ο τρόπος με τον οποίο η συγγραφέας Γιολάντα Χατζή με τη συμβολή του εικονογράφου Πέτρου Χριστούλια, επιχείρησε να ενσταλλάξει με απλό τρόπο σε παιδιά προσχολικής και πρωτοσχολικής ηλικίας πολύτιμες γνώσεις και πολιτισμικά στοιχεία αναφοράς σχετιζόμενα με την πολυπαραγοντική Ελληνική Επανάσταση, μέσα από το πολυτροπικό, μορφωτικού χαρακτήρα έργο της με τίτλο «Φιλική Εταιρεία», της σειράς Μικρές ελληνικές ιστορίες (εκδόσεις Καστανιώτη, 2020).
Historical Literacy and the Structuring Process of Historical Knowledge in Students
Authors: NIPPI AMALIA
Published: April 2023

In the 19th century, history emerged as a professional cognitive faculty and historians tried to exempt historical writing from its rhetorical elements and literary features. According to Ricoeur, historical narration is defined as the logical organisation of heterogeneous elements, so that actors, actions, means and unpredictable events are transformed into a constitutionally organized whole with a plot, namely into a history (Kavvoura-Sissoura, 2011). History is not just the narration of war or definite events, but the attempt to restructure the past with the aim to interpret the past and maybe to predict the future. In the educational framework, historical knowledge does not include only the learning of events, as well as the development of skills that will make a person historically literate.

School history, with the contribution of the interpretive method, is a study of the historical past, the space and time, the intentionality and causality. It also records the historical context, so that students become historically literate. The main purpose of historical literacy is the distinction and understanding of historical knowledge, which is developed through historical description, narration and interpreting of text with the aim to obtain historical thinking, historical reasoning and historical consciousness.

 

Key words: history, historical literacy, historical knowledge
Αλλαγές και προσπάθεια οργάνωσης της Γυμναστικής στην Πρωτοβάθμια Εκπαίδευση την περίοδο 1967-1974
Authors: Γιαννακόπουλος Ανέστης
Published: April 2023

Σκοπός της έρευνας ήταν η μελέτη της θέσης της Γυμναστικής στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα κατά την περίοδο της δικτατορίας (1967-74). Διερευνήθηκε κατά πόσο επέδρασε στη Γυμναστική το δικτατορικό καθεστώς, τις αλλαγές και τις προσθήκες που επιχειρήθηκαν στο ωρολόγιο πρόγραμμα, το ρόλο του Γυμναστή και τον τρόπο με τον οποίο προσπάθησε να διαμορφώσει και να πειθαρχήσει τη συμπεριφορά των μαθητών και μαθητριών. Μελετήθηκαν οι σημαντικότερες αλλαγές που προέκυψαν με την τροποποίηση του Νόμου 4379/64 και την εκπαιδευτική μεταρρύθμιση του 1964, οι οποίες αντικαταστάθηκαν με τον ΑΝ 59/1967 (κατάργηση του Παιδαγωγικού Ινστιτούτου κ.λ.π.) και τον ΑΝ 129/1967 (οργάνωση – διοίκηση της Γενικής Εκπαίδευσης, επαναφορά αρχαίων ελληνικών, καθαρεύουσας κ.λ.π.). Με τον Α.Ν. 375/68 έγινε προσπάθεια εποπτείας της εκπαίδευσης με τη συγκρότηση του Ανώτατου Εκπαιδευτικού Συμβουλίου, στηριζόμενο από τα Ανώτερα Περιφερειακά Συμβούλια (εκπαιδευτικές περιφέρειες). Με το Ν.Δ. 793/1971 καθιερώθηκε το «Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Παιδείας», με σκοπό τη μελέτη και διατύπωση προτάσεων για την εκπαιδευτική πολιτική της χώρας. Από την ανάλυση και επεξεργασία των πηγών προέκυψε ότι το καθεστώς προσπάθησε με κάθε τρόπο και μέσο να ελέγξει το σχολείο, ως φορέα παραγωγής της γνώσης και να το μετατρέψει σε προπαγανδιστική μηχανή προσέγγισης των οικογενειών και της ευρύτερης κοινωνίας των μαθητών/τριών. Δόθηκε έμφαση στη διαφορετικότητα της γυμναστικής στο σχολείο με έντονα τα στοιχεία της πειθαρχίας, της μερικής στρατικοποίησης των μαθητών-τριών και καλλιέργεια του ομαδικού πνεύματος σχετικά με τον αθλητισμό.
Πολιτικοϊδεολογικές συνθήκες και διαδικασίες παραγωγής των εν χρήσει σχολικών βιβλίων Ιστορίας του Γυμνασίου:
Authors: Φούκας Βασίλης
Published: April 2023

H παρούσα εργασία έχει ως σκοπό, αφενός μεν, τη μελέτη και την παρουσίαση της διαδικασίας παραγωγής των σχολικών βιβλίων των τριών τάξεων του Γυμνασίου για το μάθημα της Ιστορίας σε συνάρτηση με την περιρρέουσα ατμόσφαιρα σε εθνικό και ευρωπαϊκό πλαίσιο, την καταγραφή των διαδικασιών που ακολουθήθηκαν και την αποτίμηση της συγκεκριμένης προσπάθειας, αφετέρου δε, την ανάλυση του ‘λόγου’ μερίδας των συγγραφέων αυτών με στόχο την αναπλαισίωση και ερμηνευτική προσέγγιση των συνθηκών και της διαδικασίας συγγραφής. Για τον λόγο αυτόν ελήφθησαν συνεντεύξεις από τρεις από τους συγγραφείς των εν λόγω σχολικών βιβλίων με τη βοήθεια ημι-δομημένου οδηγού συνέντευξης. Στα απομαγνητοφωνημένα κείμενα των συνεντεύξεων εφαρμόστηκε η ποιοτική ανάλυση περιεχομένου για την οποία συγκροτήθηκε επαγωγικό σύστημα κατηγοριών. Το υλικό αναλύθηκε με βάση το παράδειγμα της δόμησης περιεχομένου και της πρότυπης δόμησης, ενώ για την εξαγωγή των συμπερασμάτων ακολουθήθηκε η ερμηνευτική.