bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vermistabilization of fecal sludge with organic enriched substrates for compost production using two earthworm species (Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugeniae)
Authors: Nsiah‐Gyambibi Rapheal , Essandoh Helen Michelle Korkor , Asiedu Nana Yaw , Fei‐Baffoe Bernard
Published: February 2022

Developing countries are facing high generation of fecal sludge without adequate systems for proper treatment, leading to detrimental effects on the environment from its disposal. An emerging and innovative option in curbing this problem is the use of epigeic earthworm species to stabilize the waste into vermicompost, a value‐added resource. Substrate enrichment techniques can be applied to promote the sustainability and effectiveness of the vermicomposting process. This study was therefore carried out to determine the potential of two epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugeniae) to transform and stabilize fecal sludge into vermicompost using organic enriched substrates. Enriched substrates were prepared with 160 g of coconut coir, 120 g of fecal matter (65–70% dry matter) and 80 g of organic black soil. Three treatments of the vermibed substrates were prepared which were labelled T1, T2 and T3, with T1 containing Eisenia foetida, T2 containing Eudrilus eugeniae and T3, the control treatment, containing no earthworm. Treatments were triplicated and about 3‐week‐old 20 clitellated, E. fetida (live weight ∼255–275 mg) were introduced into the vermibeds for vermicomposting over a duration of 12 weeks. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Ntot), available phosphorus (Pavail), exchangeable calcium (Caexch), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and aluminium (Al) changes in the setups at the beginning and end of the vermicomposting period were evaluated. Eisenia foetida demonstrated a higher Corg mineralization (67.59%) compared to Eudrilus eugeniae, which attained 67.22%. Eisenia foetida also showed 5% more mortality than Eudrilus eugeniae. The study revealed that the two epigeic earthworm species for the vermicomposting of fecal waste in the enriched substrates played significant role in stabilizing the waste into vermicompost that was rich in nutrients, with lower levels of metals, higher levels of microbial biomass and higher levels of enzyme concentration.
Effects of ivabradine and atenolol on heart rate and heart rate variability in healthy cats over a 24 h period: A pilot study
Authors: Ogawa Mizuki , Kawamura Ayano , Akabane Ryota , Sakatani Atsushi , Miyakawa Hirosumi , Hsu Huai‐Hsun , Miyagawa Yuichi , Takemura Naoyuki
Published: February 2022

Background

Ivabradine is used to treat tachycardia; unlike atenolol, it does not affect blood pressure or myocardial contractility. This study compared the impact of ivabradine and atenolol on heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) during a 24 h period, feeding and sleeping times, via a Holter electrocardiogram in healthy cats. We hypothesised that ivabradine and atenolol would lower the HRs equally well, even at times of excitement and rest, such as during feeding and sleep; that ivabradine, unlike atenolol, would have an effect on HRV.

Methods

Five clinically healthy cats were used in the prospective blinded crossover study receiving 3 days of ivabradine (0.30 mg/kg per os twice daily) followed by atenolol (6.25 mg/cat per os twice daily, range 1.3–2.0 mg/kg) or receiving atenolol followed by ivabradine. A placebo period was initiated before the start of the crossover test, data obtained during that period were used as a baseline (BL). Evaluation parameters included HR and HRV, for the whole 24 h period and for feeding and sleeping times, comparing the effect of ivabradine and atenolol with BL.

Results

The HR for the whole 24 h, feeding and sleeping times, were significantly lower with ivabradine and atenolol, compared to BL (p < 0.05). The HRV for the whole 24 h and sleeping time were significantly higher after ivabradine compared with BL and after atenolol.

Conclusions

In healthy cats, ivabradine and atenolol significantly reduced the HR regardless of excitement and rest; their effects were comparable. Ivabradine significantly increased HRV in comparison to BL whereas atenolol did not.
Introduction and Overview
Authors: Knijnenburg Bart P. , Page Xinru , Wisniewski Pamela , Lipford Heather Richter , Proferes Nicholas , Romano Jennifer
Published: February 2022

This chapter introduces the book Modern Socio-Technical Perspectives on Privacy. The book informs academic researchers and industry professionals about the socio-technical privacy challenges related to modern networked technologies. This chapter provides a working definition of privacy, describes the envisioned audiences of this book, and summarizes the key aspects covered in each chapter. The chapter concludes with an invitation to join our community of privacy researchers and practitioners at modern-privacy.org.
Privacy in Adolescence
Authors: Wisniewski Pamela J. , Vitak Jessica , Hartikainen Heidi
Published: February 2022

Late adolescence represents an important life stage where children are becoming more independent and autonomous from their parents but are not quite old enough to go out on their own. Teenagers are also avid users of mobile devices and social media and actively use their smartphones to connect with friends and share their lives. Much of the research looking at teen technology use has employed a risk-centric approach; in other words, it takes the view that teens are putting themselves at risk by sharing personal information online, so the privacy-oriented solutions typically involve parental monitoring or technology restrictions. In this chapter, we review the research on teens, technology use, and privacy and discuss why such risk-centric models may be problematic to teens’ maturation. Instead, we argue that—much like it was for prior generations—risk-taking is a learning process critical to becoming a young adult and that teens do think about their privacy online, albeit in different ways than their adult counterparts. We offer design heuristics for developing tools for teens that allow for appropriate levels of risk-taking while protecting their privacy and ensuring their safety.
The Development of Privacy Norms
Authors: Proferes Nicholas
Published: February 2022

This chapter addresses how we develop, revisit, and negotiate norms around privacy when confronted with new technologies. The chapter first examines Nissenbaum’s (Washington Law Review 79(1):119–157, 2004) theory of privacy as contextual integrity, a framework that helps unpack how context-relevant norms for appropriateness and transmission can be challenged by new technologies. It then reviews how social norms develop as we build mental models of how a technology works during its diffusion process. The chapter concludes with suggestions for designers about approaches for thinking through implications when a design may challenge a preexisting social norm, or where there is no socially agreed upon norm. This includes careful reflection on who challenges to the current social norms may benefit and who they may hurt.
Social Media and Privacy
Authors: Page Xinru , Berrios Sara , Wilkinson Daricia , Wisniewski Pamela J.
Published: February 2022

With the popularity of social media, researchers and designers must consider a wide variety of privacy concerns while optimizing for meaningful social interactions and connection. While much of the privacy literature has focused on information disclosures, the interpersonal dynamics associated with being on social media make it important for us to look beyond informational privacy concerns to view privacy as a form of interpersonal boundary regulation. In other words, attaining the right level of privacy on social media is a process of negotiating how much, how little, or when we desire to interact with others, as well as the types of information we choose to share with them or allow them to share about us. We propose a framework for how researchers and practitioners can think about privacy as a form of interpersonal boundary regulation on social media by introducing five boundary types (i.e., relational, network, territorial, disclosure, and interactional) social media users manage. We conclude by providing tools for assessing privacy concerns in social media, as well as noting several challenges that must be overcome to help people to engage more fully and stay on social media.
Lepton flavor violation in the Littlest Higgs Model with T parity realizing an inverse seesaw
Authors: Pacheco Iván , Roig Pablo
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We study lepton flavor violation (LFV) within the Littlest Higgs Model with T parity (LHT) realizing an inverse seesaw (ISS) mechanism of type I. With respect to the traditional LHT, there appear new 𝒪(10 TeV) Majorana neutrinos, driving LFV. For τ →$$ \mathrm{\ell \ell}^{\prime}\overline{\mathrm{\ell}}^{{\prime\prime} } $$
ℓℓ
′

ℓ
¯

″
(including wrong-sign, ℓ = e, μ) decays and μ → e conversion in Ti, we get typical rates only one order of magnitude below present bounds (ℓ → ℓ′γ can reach the current upper limit) and for Z →$$ \overline{\tau}\mathrm{\ell } $$

τ
¯

ℓ
, μ →$$ ee\overline{e} $$
ee

e
¯

and conversion in Au, results are within two orders of magnitude from present limits. Correlations among modes are drastically different to the traditional LHT and other models, which would ease the confrontation of this scenario to eventual measurements of LFV processes involving charged leptons.
The pace of a trauma resuscitation: experience matters
Authors: Maarseveen Oscar E. C. van , Ham Wietske H. W. , Huijsmans Roel L. N. , Leenen Luke P. H.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Resuscitation quality and pace depend on effective team coordination, which can be facilitated by adequate leadership. Our primary aim was to assess the influence of trauma team leader experience on resuscitation pace. Second, we investigated the influence of injury severity on resuscitation pace.

Methods

The trauma team leaders were identified (Staff trauma surgeon vs Fellow trauma surgeon) and classified from video analysis during a 1-week period. Resuscitations were assessed for time to the treatment plan, total resuscitation time, and procedure time. Furthermore, patient and resuscitation characteristics were assessed and compared: age, gender, Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale < 9, and the number (and duration) of surgical procedures during initial resuscitation. Correlations between total resuscitation time, Injury Severity Score, and time to treatment plan were calculated.

Results

After adjustment for the time needed for procedures, the time to treatment plan and total resuscitation time was significantly shorter in resuscitations led by a Staff trauma surgeon compared to a Fellow trauma surgeon (median 648 s (IQR 472–813) vs 852 s (IQR 694–1256); p 0.01 resp. median 1280 s (IQR 979–1494) vs 1535 s (IQR 1247–1864), p 0.04). Surgical procedures were only performed during resuscitations led by Staff trauma surgeons (4 thorax drains, 1 endotracheal intubation, 1 closed fracture reduction). Moreover, a significant negative correlation (r:  – 0.698, p < 0.01) between Injury Severity Score and resuscitation time was found.

Conclusion

Experienced trauma team leaders may positively influence the pace of the resuscitation. Moreover, we found that the resuscitation pace increases when the patient is more severely injured.
The role of reactive oxygen species derived from different NADPH oxidase isoforms and mitochondria in oxalate-induced oxidative stress and cell injury
Authors: Qian Xiaoyuan , Wu Weisong , Hu Henglong , Yu Xiao , Wang Shaogang , Zhu Jianning , Zhang Jiaqiao
Published: February 2022

Hyperoxaluria is a risk factor for urolithiasis and can cause renal epithelial cell injury secondary to oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during cell damage originate from different sources and play different roles. Here, we explored the potential sources of ROS production and investigated the role of ROS from various sources in oxalate-induced oxidative stress and cell injury in normal rat kidney-52 epithelial (NRK-52E) cells. Oxalate-induced injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release experiments. 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and mitoSOX Red were used to determine the intracellular and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) production, respectively. The expression level of Nox4, Nox2, and p22 protein was detected by Western blotting to observe the effect of oxalate on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH) oxidase (Nox). Furthermore, a specific NADPH oxidase subtype inhibitor and targeted mitochondrial antioxidants were used to preliminarily identify the role of ROS from different sources in renal tubular epithelial cell injury induced by oxalate. We found that oxalate inhibited cell viability, induced LDH release, and prompted intracellular and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) production. Oxalate also decreased the protein expression level of Nox4 and increased the protein expression level of p22. Mitochondria were also a source of ROS production. In addition, Nox2 inhibitor or mtROS scavenging prevented oxalate-induced cell injury, reversed by an inhibitor of Nox4/1. We concluded that ROS from different sources might play different roles in oxalate-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury. We also identified new potential targets for preventing or alleviating oxalate-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury.

Graphic abstract
Dynamics and timescales of mafic–silicic magma interactions at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat
Authors: Didonna Rosa , Costa Fidel , Handley Heather , Turner Simon , Barclay Jenni
Published: February 2022

Mafic magma intrusions into silica-rich magmatic reservoirs are commonly proposed to drive the eruptions of andesitic hybrid magmas that characterise many arc volcanoes. However, interactions between contrasting magmas involve large gradients of physical and chemical properties that change over time, and the details of such processes have proven difficult to constrain. In this paper we investigate the dynamics of magma mingling and mixing using chemical and textural zoning patterns recorded in plagioclase crystals from the February 2010 eruption at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat. This eruption is considered a classic example of interactions between the andesite magma that constitutes the bulk of the erupted volume and the basaltic andesite that occurs as enclaves. We find that plagioclase crystals are characterised by two well-defined zones that record mafic–silicic magma interaction: a crystal interior, often identified by a patchy, dusty and oscillatory zoning, and an overgrowth zone (rim) of a different composition. We use the anorthite and Mg contents to track the thermal and compositional changes experienced by the crystals over time. Our results reveal that the crystal rims formed a few hours to days prior to eruption, during co-eruptive magmatic interactions. The interaction between the two magmas with contrasting rheology is likely increased by a narrowing conduit geometry towards the surface, which facilitates convection and additional interface contact of the two magmas. Our findings shed new light on the nature and timing of magmatic interactions driving the final eruptive phase at Soufrière Hills Volcano and help to propose an interpretative framework of the monitoring signals.
Spontaneous motor tempo over the course of a week: the role of the time of the day, chronotype, and arousal
Authors: Hammerschmidt David , Wöllner Clemens
Published: February 2022

The spontaneous motor tempo (SMT) or internal tempo describes the natural pace of predictive and emergent movements such as walking or hand clapping. One of the main research interests in the study of the spontaneous motor tempo relates to factors affecting its pace. Previous studies suggest an influence of the circadian rhythm (i.e., 24-h cycle of the biological clock), physiological arousal changes, and potentially also musical experience. This study aimed at investigating these effects in participants‘ everyday life by measuring their SMT four times a day over seven consecutive days, using an experience sampling method. The pace of the SMT was assessed with a finger-tapping paradigm in a self-developed web application. Measured as the inter-tap interval, the overall mean SMT was 650 ms (SD = 253 ms). Using multi-level modelling (MLM), results show that the pace of the SMT sped up over the course of the day, and that this effect depended on the participants’ chronotype, since participants tending towards morning type were faster in the morning compared to participants tending towards evening type. During the day, the pace of the SMT of morning types stayed relatively constant, whereas it became faster for evening-type participants. Furthermore, higher arousal in participants led to a faster pace of the SMT. Musical sophistication did not influence the SMT. These results indicate that the circadian rhythm influences the internal tempo, since the pace of SMT is not only dependent on the time of the day, but also on the individual entrainment to the 24-h cycle (chronotype).
Modelling the cathodic reduction of 2,4-dichlorophenol in a microbial fuel cell
Authors: Leon-Fernandez Luis Fernando , Fernandez-Morales Francisco Jesús , Villaseñor Camacho José
Published: February 2022

This work presents a simplified mathematical model able to predict the performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) for the cathodic dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) operating at different cathode pH values (7.0 and 5.0). Experimental data from previous work were utilized for the fitting of the model. The MFC modelled consisted of two chambers (bioanode and abiotic cathode), wherein the catholyte contained 300 mg L−1 of 2,4-DCP and the anolyte 1000 mg L−1 of sodium acetate. The model considered two mixed microbial populations in the anode compartment using sodium acetate as the carbon source for growth and maintenance: electrogenic and non-electrogenic biomass. 2,4-DCP, its intermediates of the reductive process (2-chlorophenol, 2-CP and 4-chlorophenol, 4-CP) and protons were considered in the model as electron acceptors in the electrogenic mechanism. The global process rate was assumed to be controlled by the biological mechanisms and modelled using multiplicative Monod-type equations. The formulation of a set of differential equations allowed to describe the simultaneous evolution of every component: concentration of sodium acetate in the anodic compartment; and concentration of 2,4-DCP, 2-CP, 4-CP, phenol and chloride in the cathode chamber. Current production and coulombic efficiencies were also estimated from the fitting. It was observed that most of the organic substrate was used by non-electrogenic mechanism. The influence of the Monod parameters was more important than the influence of the biomass yield coefficients. Finally, the model was employed to simulate different scenarios under distinct experimental conditions.
Motion of a sphere in a viscous fluid towards a wall confined versus unconfined conditions
Authors: Fonceca I. , Hidalgo R. C. , Maza D.
Published: February 2022

In the present work, we investigate experimentally and numerically the motion of solid macroscopic spheres (Brownian and colloidal effects are negligible) when settling from rest in a quiescent fluid toward a solid wall under confined and unconfined configurations. Particle trajectories for spheres of two types of materials are measured using a high-speed digital camera. For unconfined configurations, our experimental findings are in excellent agreement with well-established analytical frameworks, used to describe the forces acting on the sphere. Besides, the experimental values of the terminal velocity obtained for different confinements are also in very good agreement with previous theoretical formulations. Similar conditions are simulated using a resolved CFD-DEM approach. After adjusting the parameters of the numerical model, we analyze the particle dynamic under several confinement conditions. The simulations results are contrasted with the experimental findings, obtaining a good agreement. We analyze several systems varying the radius of the bead and show the excellent agreement of our results with previous analytical approaches. However, the results indicate that confined particles have a distinct dynamics response when approaching the wall. Consequently, their motion cannot be described by the analytical framework introduced for the infinite system. Indeed, the confinement strongly affects the spatial scale where the particle is affected by the bottom wall and, accordingly, the dimensionless results can not be collapsed in a single master curve, using the particle size as a characteristic length. Alternatively, we rationalize our findings using a kinematic approximation to highlight the relevant scale of the problem. Our outcomes suggest it is possible to determine a new spatial scale to describe the collisional process, depending on the specific confining conditions.
Sublinear circuits and the constrained signomial nonnegativity problem
Authors: Murray Riley , Naumann Helen , Theobald Thorsten
Published: February 2022

Conditional Sums-of-AM/GM-Exponentials (conditional SAGE) is a decomposition method to prove nonnegativity of a signomial or polynomial over some subset X of real space. In this article, we undertake the first structural analysis of conditional SAGE signomials for convex sets X. We introduce the X-circuits of a finite subset $${\mathcal {A}}\subset {\mathbb {R}}^n$$

A
⊂

R

n

, which generalize the simplicial circuits of the affine-linear matroid induced by $${\mathcal {A}}$$
A
to a constrained setting. The X-circuits serve as the main tool in our analysis and exhibit particularly rich combinatorial properties for polyhedral X, in which case the set of X-circuits is comprised of one-dimensional cones of suitable polyhedral fans. The framework of X-circuits transparently reveals when an X-nonnegative conditional AM/GM-exponential can in fact be further decomposed as a sum of simpler X-nonnegative signomials. We develop a duality theory for X-circuits with connections to geometry of sets that are convex according to the geometric mean. This theory provides an optimal power cone reconstruction of conditional SAGE signomials when X is polyhedral. In conjunction with a notion of reduced X-circuits, the duality theory facilitates a characterization of the extreme rays of conditional SAGE cones. Since signomials under logarithmic variable substitutions give polynomials, our results also have implications for nonnegative polynomials and polynomial optimization.
Population preferences for non-pharmaceutical interventions to control the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: trade-offs among public health, individual rights, and economics
Authors: Mühlbacher Axel C. , Sadler Andrew , Jordan Yvonne
Published: February 2022

Problem

Policymakers must decide on interventions to control the pandemic. These decisions are driven by weighing the risks and benefits of various non-pharmaceutical intervention alternatives. Due to the nature of the pandemic, these decisions are not based on sufficient evidence regarding the effects, nor are decision-makers informed about the willingness of populations to accept the economic and health risks associated with different policy options. This empirical study seeks to reduce uncertainty by measuring population preferences for non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Methods

An online-based discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to elicit population preferences. Respondents were asked to choose between three pandemic scenarios with different interventions and impacts of the Corona pandemic. In addition, Best–worst scaling (BWS) was used to analyze the impact of the duration of individual interventions on people’s acceptance. The marginal rate of substitution was applied to estimate willingness-to-accept (WTA) for each intervention and effect by risk of infection.

Results

Data from 3006 respondents were included in the analysis. The DCE showed, economic effect of non-pharmaceutical measures had a large impact on choice decisions for or against specific lockdown scenarios. Individual income decreases had the most impact. Excess mortality and individual risk of infection were also important factors influencing choice decisions. Curfews, contact restrictions, facility closures, personal data transmissions, and mandatory masking in public had a lesser impact. However, significant standard deviations in the random parameter logit model (RPL) indicated heterogeneities in the study population. The BWS results showed that short-term restrictions were more likely to be accepted than long-term restrictions. According to WTA estimates, people would be willing to accept a greater risk of infection to avoid loss of income.

Discussion

The results can be used to determine which consequences of pandemic measures would be more severe for the population. For example, the results show that citizens want to limit the decline in individual income during pandemic measures. Participation in preference studies can also inform citizens about potential tradeoffs that decision-makers face in current and future decisions during a pandemic. Knowledge of the population’s preferences will help inform decisions that consider people’s perspectives and expectations for the future.

Survey results can inform decision-makers about the extent to which the population is willing to accept certain lockdown measures, such as curfews, contact restrictions, lockdowns, or mandatory masks.
MAPAS: a practical deep learning-based android malware detection system
Authors: Kim Jinsung , Ban Younghoon , Ko Eunbyeol , Cho Haehyun , Yi Jeong Hyun
Published: February 2022

A lot of malicious applications appears every day, threatening numerous users. Therefore, a surge of studies have been conducted to protect users from newly emerging malware by using machine learning algorithms. Albeit existing machine or deep learning-based Android malware detection approaches achieve high accuracy by using a combination of multiple features, it is not possible to employ them on our mobile devices due to the high cost for using them. In this paper, we proposeMAPAS, a malware detection system, that achieves high accuracy and adaptable usages of computing resources.MAPASanalyzes behaviors of malicious applications based on API call graphs of them by using convolution neural networks (CNN). However,MAPASdoes not use a classifier model generated by CNN, it only utilizes CNN for discovering common features of API call graphs of malware. For efficiently detecting malware,MAPASemploys a lightweight classifier that calculates a similarity between API call graphs used for malicious activities and API call graphs of applications that are going to be classified. To demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency ofMAPAS, we implement a prototype and thoroughly evaluate it. And, we compareMAPASwith a state-of-the-art Android malware detection approach, MaMaDroid. Our evaluation results demonstrate thatMAPAScan classify applications 145.8% faster and uses memory around ten times lower than MaMaDroid. Also,MAPASachieves higher accuracy (91.27%) than MaMaDroid (84.99%) for detecting unknown malware. In addition,MAPAScan generally detect any type of malware with high accuracy.
Recent trends in computer vision-driven scene understanding for VI/blind users: a systematic mapping
Authors: Valipoor Mohammad Moeen , de Antonio Angélica
Published: February 2022

During the past years, the development of assistive technologies for visually impaired (VI)/blind people has helped address various challenges in their lives by providing services such as obstacle detection, indoor/outdoor navigation, scene description, text reading, facial recognition and so on. This systematic mapping review is mainly focused on the scene understanding aspect (e.g., object recognition and obstacle detection) of assistive solutions. It provides guidance for researchers in this field to understand the advances during the last four and a half years. This is because deep learning techniques together with computer vision have become more powerful and accurate than ever in tasks like object detection. These advancements can bring a radical change in the development of high-quality assistive technologies for VI/blind users. Additionally, an overview of the current challenges and a comparison between different solutions is provided to indicate the pros and cons of existing approaches.
An Iterative Method for Calculation of Wind Profiles at the Mesoscale and Microscale
Authors: Adamiec-Wójcik Iwona , Brzozowska Lucyna , Drąg Łukasz , Wojciech Stanisław
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the variational diagnostic model and iterative procedure, which enables the wind field in subdomains to be adjusted. Diagnostic models are not time dependent. Consideration of more complex features of the thermodynamic structure requires models with high resolution, which require large calculation times. The model presented applies the variational approach and enables topographical complexity of the terrain to be considered. The problem of adjusting the wind field is solved in two steps. The first step adjusts the initial wind field by means of experimental measurements or a prognosis in the larger domain, which includes smaller domains. Then the results obtained are used as the initial wind field when the grid refinement in the smaller domain is performed. This allows more precise mapping of the terrain and its architecture. Nevertheless the algorithm proposed ensures a considerable reduction in calculation time. This approach also allows us to eliminate the problem of the lack of initial data when the number of meteorological stations in the smaller domain is insufficient. The algorithm is described and validated, and numerical simulations for pollutant dispersion for a chosen town are described, followed by discussion of the iterative procedure.
Predictors of myocardial fibrosis and response to anti-fibrotic therapy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Lewis Gavin A. , Rosala-Hallas Anna , Dodd Susanna , Schelbert Erik B. , Williams Simon G. , Cunnington Colin , McDonagh Theresa , Miller Christopher A.
Published: February 2022

Myocardial fibrosis, measured using magnetic resonance extracellular volume (ECV), associates with adverse outcome in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the PIROUETTE (The Pirfenidone in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) trial, the novel anti-fibrotic agent pirfenidone reduced myocardial fibrosis. We sought to identify baseline characteristics that associate with myocardial fibrotic burden, the change in myocardial fibrosis over a year, and predict response to pirfenidone in patients with HFpEF. Amongst patients enrolled in the PIROUETTE trial (n = 107), linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between baseline variables and baseline myocardial ECV, with change in myocardial ECV adjusting for treatment allocation, and to identify variables that modified the pirfenidone treatment effect. Body mass index, left atrial reservoir strain, haemoglobin and aortic distensibility were associated with baseline ECV in stepwise modelling, and systolic blood pressure, and log N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide were associated with baseline ECV in clinically-guided modelling. QRS duration, left ventricular mass and presence of an infarct at baseline were associated with an increase in ECV from baseline to week 52. Whilst QRS duration, presence of an infarct, global longitudinal strain and left atrial strain modified the treatment effect of pirfenidone when considered individually, no variable modified treatment effect on multivariable modelling. Baseline characteristics were identified that associate with myocardial fibrosis and predict change in myocardial fibrosis. No variables that independently modify the treatment effect of pirfenidone were identified (PIROUETTE, NCT02932566).
Inferring Economic Impacts from a Program’s Physical Outcomes: An Application to Forest Protection in Thailand
Authors: He Wumeng , Nabangchang Orapan , Erdman Krista , Vanko Alex C. A. , Poudel Prapti , Giri Chandra , Vincent Jeffrey R.
Published: February 2022

Economists typically estimate the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) when evaluating government programs. The economic interpretation of the ATT can be ambiguous when program outcomes are measured in purely physical terms, as they often are in evaluations of environmental programs (e.g., avoided deforestation). This paper presents an approach for inferring economic impacts from physical outcomes when the ATT is estimated using propensity-score matching. For the case of forest protection, we show that a protection program’s ex post economic impact, as perceived by the government agency responsible for protection decisions, can be proxied by a weighted ATT, with the weights derived from the propensity of being treated (i.e., protected). We apply this new metric to mangrove protection in Thailand during 1987–2000. We find that the government’s protection program avoided the loss of 12.8% of the economic value associated with the protected mangrove area. This estimate is about a quarter smaller than the conventional ATT for avoided deforestation, 17.3 percentage points. The difference between the two measures indicates that the program tended to be less effective at reducing deforestation in locations where the government perceived the net benefits of protection as being greater, which is the opposite of the relationship that would characterize a maximally effective program.
Unpacking secondary school technology teachers’ interpretations and experiences of teaching ‘problem-solving’
Authors: Lane Diarmaid , McGarr Oliver , Nicholl Bill
Published: February 2022

Research relating to the nature and purpose of ‘design’ activity across education sectors has accelerated in recent years as governments and policy makers throughout the world highlight the importance of skills such as creative problem-solving and innovation. Within secondary schools, responsibility for teaching and learning through design is often assigned to Technology and Engineering subjects, however, gaps tend to exist in relation to what different teachers understand and experience about the teaching and learning of problem-solving and design in their classrooms. In this exploratory study, a small group of practicing secondary school teachers completed a one day training workshop where they were introduced to new knowledge and pedagogical skills relating to design problem-solving using a classroom intervention called ‘Designing Our Tomorrow’. The teachers participated in a focus group discussion before and after the workshop in which they discussed their experiences in teaching design. Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) (Lakoff & Johnson Metaphors we live, University of Chicago Press, 1980) was employed to highlight the figures of speech used by the teachers during the focus groups and from these a number of conceptual metaphors were identified that described their understandings and experiences of teaching design problem-solving. In synthesizing the broad theoretical base relating to understandings of design problem-solving and CMT together with the findings from the one day professional development workshop, the paper highlights the potential value for researchers in using CMT to unpack teachers' views on how design problem-solving is taught and learned in schools. Finally, the paper reveals a potential new space to inform and evaluate future professional development of Technology teachers, particularly where the focus is on complex and difficult to define concepts such as design and problem-solving.
Association of Integrated Mental Health Services with Physical Health Quality Among VA Primary Care Patients
Authors: Leung Lucinda B. , Rubenstein Lisa V. , Jaske Erin , Taylor Leslie , Post Edward P. , Nelson Karin M. , Rosland Ann-Marie
Published: February 2022

Background

Integrated care for comorbid depression and chronic medical disease improved physical and mental health outcomes in randomized controlled trials. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) implemented Primary Care–Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) across all primary care clinics nationally to increase access to mental/behavioral health treatment, alongside physical health management.

Objective

To examine whether widespread, pragmatic PC-MHI implementation was associated with improved care quality for chronic medical diseases.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study included 828,050 primary care patients with at least one quality metric among 396 VA clinics providing PC-MHI services between October 2013 and September 2016.

Main Measure(s)

For outcome measures, chart abstractors rated whether diabetes and cardiovascular quality metrics were met for patients at each clinic as part of VA’s established quality reporting program. The explanatory variable was the proportion of primary care patients seen by integrated mental health specialists in each clinic annually. Multilevel logistic regression models examined associations between clinic PC-MHI proportion and patient-level quality metrics, adjusting for regional, patient, and time-level effects and clinic and patient characteristics.

Key Results

Median proportion of patients seen in PC-MHI per clinic was 6.4% (IQR=4.7–8.7%). Nineteen percent of patients with diabetes had poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c >9%). Five percent had severely elevated blood pressure (>160/100 mmHg). Each two-fold increase in clinic PC-MHI proportion was associated with 2% lower adjusted odds of poor glycemic control (95% CI=0.96–0.99;p=0.046) in diabetes. While there was no association with quality for patients diagnosed with hypertension, patients without diagnosed hypertension had 5% (CI=0.92–0.99;p=0.046) lower adjusted odds of having elevated blood pressures.

Conclusions and Relevance

Primary care clinics where integrated mental health care reached a greater proportion of patients achieved modest albeit statistically significant gains in key chronic care quality metrics, providing optimism about the expected effects of large-scale PC-MHI implementation on physical health.
Sequence Analysis and Comparison of TCTP Proteins from Human Protozoan Parasites
Authors: Lagunas-Rangel Francisco Alejandro
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Translational controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a functionally important protein in most eukaryotes because it participates in a wide variety of processes, the most representative being proliferation, differentiation, histamine release, cell death, protein synthesis and response to stress conditions. In the present work, we analyze the sequence, structure and phylogeny of TCTP orthologs in a group of human parasitic protozoan species.

Methods

The complete sequences of TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites were identified with the NCBI BLAST tool in the database of the EuPathDB Bioinformatics Resource Center. The sequences were aligned and important regions of the protein were identified, and later phylogenetic trees and 3D models were built with different bioinformatic tools.

Results

Our results show evolutionarily and structurally conserved sites that could be exploited to create new therapeutic strategies given the increase in the number of strains resistant to current drugs.

Conclusion

TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites have been little studied but have been shown to be important in parasite growth, proliferation, reproduction, and response to changes in the environment. For all this, TCTP can be considered as a possible therapeutic target.
C/EBPβ Participates in Nerve Trauma-Induced TLR7 Upregulation in Primary Sensory Neurons
Authors: He Long , Cao Jing , Jiang Bao-Chun , Yang Jian-Jun , Tao Yuan-Xiang , Ai Yanqiu
Published: February 2022

Nerve trauma-induced toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) expression level increases in primary sensory neurons in injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) avails to neuropathic pain, but the reason is still unknown. In the current study, we showed that unilateral lumbar 4 (L4) spinal nerve ligation (SNL) upregulated CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (C/EBPβ) expression in ipsilateral L4 DRG. Preventing this elevation attenuated the SNL-induced upregulation of TLR7 in the ipsilateral L4 DRG and inhibited cold/thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. In injected DRG, mimicking nerve trauma-induced C/EBPβ upregulation increased TLR7 levels, augmented responses to cold/thermal/mechanical stimuli, and caused ipsilateral spontaneous pain with no SNL. Mechanistically, SNL upregulated binding of increased C/EBPβ to Tlr7 promoter in ipsilateral L4 DRG. Accorded that C/EBPβ could trigger the activation of Tlr7 promoter and co-expressed with Tlr7 mRNA in individual DRG neurons, our findings strongly suggest the role of C/EBPβ in nerve trauma-mediated TLR7 upregulation in injured primary sensory neurons.
Preserving Narrative Identity for Dementia Patients: Embodiment, Active Environments, and Distributed Memory
Authors: Heersmink Richard
Published: February 2022

One goal of this paper is to argue that autobiographical memories are extended and distributed across embodied brains and environmental resources. This is important because such distributed memories play a constitutive role in our narrative identity. So, some of the building blocks of our narrative identity are not brain-bound but extended and distributed. Recognising the distributed nature of memory and narrative identity, invites us to find treatments and strategies focusing on the environment in which dementia patients are situated. A second goal of this paper is to suggest various of such strategies, including lifelogging technologies such as SenseCams, life story books, multimedia biographies, memory boxes, ambient intelligence systems, and virtual reality applications. Such technologies allow dementia patients to remember their personal past in a way that wouldn’t be possible by merely relying on their biological memory, in that way aiding in preserving their narrative identity and positively contributing to their sense of well-being.
Vaginal reconstruction using a gluteal transposition flap after abdominoperineal excision for anorectal malignancy
Authors: Bolmstrand Björn , Sommar Pehr , Nilsson Per J. , Zach Diana , Lagergren Jakob , Schain Daniel , Holm Torbjörn , Martling Anna , Palmer Gabriella
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to present and evaluate a surgical method using gluteal flap for combined perineal and vaginal reconstruction after abdominoperineal excision (APE) with partial vaginectomy for anorectal malignancy. The method is a two-centre study of consecutive patients undergoing APE including partial vaginectomy for anorectal tumours, with immediate combined perineal and vaginal reconstruction using gluteal flaps. Follow-up data were retrieved via retrospective review of medical records, questionnaires and gynaecological examinations. Some 34 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. At the time of follow-up, 14 (78%) of the 18 patients alive responded to questionnaires. Seven (50%) of the survey responders agreed to undergo gynaecological examination. Major flap-specific complications (Clavien–Dindo > 2) were observed in 3 (9%) patients. Among survey responders, 11 (79%) had been sexually active preoperatively of which five (45%) resumed sexual activity postoperatively and three (27%) resumed vaginal intercourse. These three patients had all implemented an active vaginal health promotion strategy postoperatively. Perineo-vaginal reconstruction using gluteal flap after extended APE for anorectal malignancy is feasible. Although comparable to other methods of reconstruction, the rate of perineo-vaginal complications is high and post-operative sexual dysfunction is substantial. Postoperative strategies for vaginal health promotion may improve sexual function after vaginal reconstruction.
Heat resilience of apartment buildings in Korea and Germany: comparison of building design and climate
Authors: Schünemann Christoph , Son Seoyeon , Ortlepp Regine
Published: February 2022

A major concern in climate adaptation is to enhance the heat resilient design of residential buildings. However, recent scientific literature addressing overheating analysis is only focussing on individual countries. In this article, we discuss how different design of representative apartment buildings in two countries influences the overheating risk or cooling demand and what conclusions can be drawn from it. This is done for a low-rise apartment building located in Germany and a high-rise building in South Korea applying building performance simulation. Both countries are located in the moderate climate zone, but regional differences in frequency of tropical nights and radiant summer days lead to significant differences in overheating intensity (800 Kh/a for the German and 5100 Kh/a for the Korean) or cooling demand (1800 kWh for the German to 1300 kWh for the Korean). The lower cooling demand but much higher overheating intensity of the Korean building compared to the German is mainly caused by the different solar heat gain due to the glazed balcony design of the Korean building where these balcony rooms are not actively cooled. On the contrary, the common internal façade insulation of Korean buildings results in a higher overheating risk compared to the German building and in addition the lower potential of passive cooling by natural ventilation due to the necessity of insect screens in Korea. The large effect of implementing heat adaptation measures on overheating risk reduction or cooling demand (up to 90%) clearly demonstrates that both buildings are far away from a heat resilient design and that heat adaptation measures can address both climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Vector transmission and epidemiology of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ in Austria and identification of Cacopsylla pyrisuga as new pathogen vector
Authors: Riedle-Bauer Monika , Paleskić Caroline , Schönhuber Christina , Staples Martina , Brader Günter
Published: February 2022

Pear decline, induced by the phytoplasma 'CandidatusPhytoplasma pyri', transmitted by pear psyllids, is one of the most devastating diseases onPyrus communisin Europe and North America. Investigations of pear psyllids in 4 pear orchards in lower Austria showed the presence ofCacopsylla pyri,C. pyricolaandC. pyrisugaat all locations. PCR analyses revealed overall phytoplasma infection rates forC. pyriof 5.4%, forC. pyricola,of 4.6%, forC. pyrisugaremigrants of 9.6% and forC. pyrisugaemigrants of 0%. The rates of PCR-positiveC. pyriandC. pyricolaindividuals varied greatly in the course of the year, and the highest infection rates were observed in late summer, autumn and in late winter. In transmission experiments with healthy pear seedlings, winterform individuals ofC. pyri and C. pyricolatransmitted the pathogen to 19.2% (5 out of 26) and 4.8% (2 out of 41) of the test plants, respectively. The vectoring ability ofC. pyrisugawas experimentally proven for the first time, and in transmission experiments with remigrants, 9.5% (2 out of 21) of the pear seedlings were infected. Our data indicate a significant risk of pathogen transmission in pear orchards during the greater part of the year, especially in late winter, early spring and autumn. Multilocus sequence analysis by aid of the genesaceFandimpallowed the discrimination between 15 phytoplasma types. Three so far undescribedaceFgenotypes and four undescribedimpgenotypes were identified.