bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Depression and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kaggwa Mark Mohan , Arinaitwe Innocent , Nduhuura Elicana , Muwanguzi Moses , Kajjimu Jonathan , Kule Moses , Ajuna Noble , Machacha Ivan , Nkola Rahel , Najjuka Sarah Maria , Wamala Nicholas Kisaakye , Bongomin Felix , Griffiths Mark D. , Rukundo Godfrey Zari , Mamun Mohammed A.
Published: April 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted psychosocial well-being and mental health of students across the world. Although students are vulnerable to depression and suicidal ideation, few studies have been conducted in Uganda. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation, and associated factors among undergraduate university students in Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduates [N = 540; 363 males; mean age = 23.3 (± 2.64) years] recruited from four universities using an online questionnaire that explored sociodemographic factors, depression, and other associated factors. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression, and Item 9 was used to assess suicidal ideation in the past 2 weeks. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation.

Results

The prevalence of moderate to severe depression was 20% (n = 108) (cut-off: 10/27 based on the PHQ-9), and the prevalence of past-2-week suicidal ideation was 13.89% (n = 75) (cut-off: 1/3 based on the PHQ-9 Item 9). About half of the individuals who screened positive for depression had suicidal ideation. Factors associated with depression were: having relationship issues [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13–2.81, p = 0.012], and having a history of sexual abuse (aOR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.10–3.84, p = 0.023). Factors associated with reducing the risk of depression were: satisfaction with current academic performance (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.32–0.79, p = 0.003), and being in the fifth year of academic study (aOR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.03–0.73, p = 0.018). Factors associated with suicidal ideation were: smoking cigarettes and/or marijuana (aOR = 4.83, 95% CI = 1.10–21.12, p = 0.037), and having financial tuition constraints (aOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.08–3.16, p = 0.024), However, satisfaction with current academic performance reduced the likelihood of suicidal ideation (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23–0.70, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Approximately one-fifth of undergraduate university students were moderately to severely depressed, especially those who had relationship issues and those with a history of sexual abuse. Suicidal ideation was common among smokers and those having financial tuition constraints. Therefore, it is recommended that the university authorities implement measures to provide psychological support for the students with problems concerning financial tuition constraints, relationships, and sexual abuse. Also, all students with depression should be screened for suicidality.
Cannabis Use and Neuroadaptation: A Call for Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Challenge Studies
Authors: Ramaekers Johannes G. , Theunissen Eef L. , van Ruitenbeek Peter , Mason Natasha L.
Published: April 2022

Currently, the assessment of the neurobehavioral consequences of repeated cannabis use is restricted to studies in which brain function of chronic cannabis users is compared to that of non-cannabis using controls. The assumption of such studies is that changes in brain function of chronic users are caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to acute cannabis intoxication. However, differences in brain function between chronic cannabis users and non-users might also arise from confounding factors such as polydrug use, alcohol use, withdrawal, economic status, or lifestyle conditions. We propose a methodology that highlights the relevance of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dosing studies for a direct assessment of neuroadaptations in chronic cannabis users. The approach includes quantification of neurochemical, receptor, and functional brain network changes in response to an acute cannabis challenge, as well as stratification of cannabis using groups ranging from occasional to cannabis-dependent individuals. The methodology allows for an evaluation of THC induced neuroadaptive and neurocognitive changes across cannabis use history, that can inform neurobiological models on reward driven, compulsive cannabis use.
Psychotherapists' Knowledge of Guideline Recommendations for the Treatment of Depressed Suicidal Patients
Authors: Teismann Tobias , Düwel Helena , Eidt Leandra , Brailovskaia Julia , Cwik Jan Christopher
Published: April 2022

Objective

Clinical practice guidelines present expert consensus on the treatment of mental disorders. Yet, studies have shown that knowledge of and adherence to recommendations are moderate. The aim of the present study was to investigate, whether and to what extent psychotherapists are aware of and follow the German guideline recommendations for the treatment of suicidal depressed patients.

Methods

174 participants (licensed psychotherapists, psychotherapists-in-training) were presented with five groups of guideline recommendations (referring to inpatient admission, psychotherapy, acute pharmacotherapy, pharmacologic relapse prevention, follow-up appointments) and were asked to identify the guideline recommendation and indicate whether they provided treatment according to the guideline.

Results

Knowledge and adherence to the guidelines recommendations on psychotherapy and inpatient admission were well present. However, knowledge about pharmacological treatment recommendations was low; same as the knowledge on the necessity of immediate follow-up appointments after discharge of patients hospitalized due to suicidality.

Discussion

The results highlight the importance of greater dissemination of various facts about the management of suicidal patients.
Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines in Adolescents, Children, and Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Du Yuxuan , Chen Long , Shi Yuan
Published: April 2022

Background

As the epidemic progresses, universal vaccination against COVID-19 has been the trend, but there are still some doubts about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents, children, and even infants.

Purpose

To evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in the population aged 0–17 years.

Method

A comprehensive search for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to November 9, 2021. All data were pooled by RevMan 5.3 statistical software, with risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval as the effect measure. This study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021290205).

Results

There was a total of six randomized controlled trials included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, enrolling participants in the age range of 3–17 years, and containing three types of COVID-19 vaccines. Compared with mRNA vaccines and adenovirus vector vaccines, inactivated vaccines have a more satisfactory safety profile, both after initial (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04–1.90, P = 0.03) and booster (RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.20–2.81, P = 0.005) vaccination. The risk of adverse reactions was significantly increased after the first and second doses, but there was no significant difference between the first two doses (RR 1.00, 95%CI 0.99–1.02, P = 0.60). Nevertheless, the two-dose regimen is obviously superior to the single-dose schedule for immunogenicity and efficacy. After booster vaccination, both neutralizing antibodies (RR 144.80, 95%CI 44.97–466.24, P < 0.00001) and RBD-binding antibodies (RR 101.50, 95%CI 6.44–1,600.76, P = 0.001) reach optimal levels, but the cellular immune response seemed not to be further enhanced. In addition, compared with younger children, older children and adolescents were at significantly increased risk of adverse reactions after vaccination, with either mRNA or inactivated vaccines, accompanied by a stronger immune response.

Conclusion

The available evidence suggests that the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines are acceptable in people aged 3–17 years. However, there is an urgent need for additional multicenter, large-sample studies, especially in younger children under 3 years of age and even in infants, with long-term follow-up data.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021290205, identifier: CRD42021290205.
The Influence of Parents on Medication Adherence of Their Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Online Investigation Based on Health Belief Model
Authors: Ge Pu , Liu Si-tong , Xu Shu-xian , Zhang Jin-zi , Lai Yong-jie , Fu Run-chen , Ke Xin-yu , Zhao Juan , Bian Ying , Wu Yi-bo
Published: April 2022

Objective

To explore the influence of parents on the medication adherence of their children.

Study Design

A cross-sectional online investigation.

Methods

A questionnaire with 41 questions was designed based on the health belief model (HBM) distributed and collected online in 28 cities around China through multi-stage stratified sampling. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability, and its validity was evaluated with exploratory factor analysis and content validity index. The structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to explore the relationship between the parents' health beliefs and their children's medication adherence. Subgroup analysis was conducted to study the differences between parents with different demographic characteristics (male and female, rural and urban).

Results

573 questionnaires were included for analysis, with an effective rate of 62.97%. The Cronbach'α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.821 > 0.6, the split-half reliability was 0.651 > 0.6, the I-CVI of each dimension were >0.78, and the S-CVI/AVE (I-CVI average) was 0.95 > 0.9. The result of the questionnaire exploratory factor analysis met the standard. According to the SEM, self-efficacy (λ = 0.177), perceived susceptibility (λ = −0.244), and perceived severity (λ = 0.243) were direct influencing factors of children's medication adherence. In the subgroup analysis, the model established by each subgroup was consistent with the model established by the overall sample. The absolute values of females' perceived susceptibility, severity, and self-efficacy for their children's medication adherence path coefficients were higher than males'.

Conclusion

Parents' perceived severity and self-efficacy may positively impact on their children's medication adherence, while parents' susceptibility to children's medication non-adherence may negatively impact on children's medication adherence. Objective constraints, perceived barriers, and benefits may in directly impact on children's medication adherence. Women's health beliefs appear to have a more significant impact on their children's medication adherence than men's. It may be an effective strategy to increase their children's medication adherence by improving parents' health beliefs. Medical staff should explain medication adherence knowledge to the parents of children, and inform the children of the possible consequences of non-adherence with medication, to improve the subjective perception of parents on the severity of children's non-adherence with medication, and improve parents' self-efficacy in rational medication for children. In addition, attention should be paid to the mental health of the parents, and more social and psychological support.
Use of Objective Outcomes Measures to Verify the Effects of ICF-Based Gait Treatment in Huntington's Disease Patient on Globus Pallidus Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case Report
Authors: Capato Tamine T. C. , Cury Rubens G. , Tornai Juliana , Fonoff Erich T. , Guimarães Renata , Jacobsen Manoel T. , Haddad Mônica S. , Barbosa Egberto R.
Published: April 2022

In advanced stages of in Huntington's disease (HD) gait impairments and severe chorea are usually medication-refractory. The long-term effects on gait in HD of physiotherapy ICF-based management post- globus pallidus deep brain stimulation (GPi DBS) are not well-established. Physiotherapy has been recognized as an essential element in HD treatment. Here, we present a case report of a 56-year-old woman with HD on the advanced stage and severe chorea medication-refractory after GPi-DBS. We performed multidisciplinary motor assessments ICF-based to identify the disability at clinical and home-setting, including environmental and personal factors before and after GPi-DBS surgery and at 11-time points follow-up. The surgery was very successful and directly post GPi-DBS, there were a significant improvement in chorea and a substantial decrease in medication dose. A framework ICF- based physiotherapy protocol with external cues was developed to improve gait was delivered post-surgery and was continued three times/week during 18-months. Physiotherapy sessions consisted of a personalized protocol of exercises with functional movements, balance, and gait training with external cues. Improvements in gait were observed in 3-months post-intervention and were more expressive in 6-months follow-up. Our patient improved substantially HD motor symptoms and her quality of life after GPi-DBS intervention and a physiotherapy program ICF-based. The objective outcomes measures used to assess gait have served as endpoints to assessing the patient's motor profile during the pre-operative period. Assessments were helpful to verify the efficacy of the multidisciplinary intervention in long-term.

Conclusion

Periodically assessing function and disability using outcome improvements may support clinicians' decisions about DBS, medication adjustments and guide physiotherapists to personalize the ICF-based intervention.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: How to Be a Great Teammate
Authors: Crawford Kaitlin L. , McEwan Desmond
Published: April 2022

Teams are groups of people who work together to achieve a common goal. Maybe you play on a sports team, perform in school plays, or work on a group project for a class. These are all examples of teams. You may have heard your coach or teacher talk about the importance of teamwork and being a good teammate. Teamwork is what teams do to maximize their chances of achieving their goals, like winning a basketball game, putting on a stellar school play, or obtaining a high mark on a group assignment. Sometimes it can be difficult for people to come together and work effectively as a team. In this article, we talk about what teamwork is and how teams can improve the way they work together before, during, and after games. We also explain how teammates can support one another when faced with obstacles and conflict.
A Plant Characterization Unit for Closed Life Support: Hardware and Control Design for Atmospheric Systems
Authors: Pannico Antonio , Cimini Gionata , Quadri Claudia , Paradiso Roberta , Bucchieri Lorenzo , Rouphael Youssef , De Pascale Stefania
Published: April 2022

Growth chambers are critical to the characterization of higher plant performance within BLSSs for long term crewed missions in Space. The Plant Characterization Unit (PCU) is a 2.16 m3 environmentally controlled sealed chamber, realized in 2019 at the Laboratory of Crop research for Space of the University of Naples (Italy), within the European Space Agency Programme MELiSSA. The PCU enables terrestrial investigations of BLSS higher plant compartments that produce food, water, and oxygen for the crew. It accommodates two separate sub-systems, an atmospheric module and a hydroponic module. Such systems regulate autonomously temperature, relative humidity, light intensity and spectral composition, atmosphere gas composition, and air flow and pressure, as well as the composition, the temperature and the flow of the nutrient solution. This method paper describes the following phases of realization: 1) the definition of plant requirements; 2) the design of the two modules; 3) the development of the control system for the atmospheric sub-system.
“Rely on Allah, Not on Your Equipment”. Modus Operandi and All Errors of Tsarnaev Brothers
Authors: Wojtasik Karolina
Published: April 2022

The article analyses modus operandi of perpetrators who carried out the bomb attack during the Boston Marathon on 15 April 2013. The author indicates the consequences of using this type of IED and explains how the location of the bombs affected the number of casualties. The article includes an analysis of the bombers’ tactics and the course of action beginning with the detonation of the bombs and ending with the apprehension of the last perpetrator. Moreover, the analysed attack shows something which does not receive enough attention – that terrorists make errors and act in a chaotic manner. A detailed analysis of the bombers’ preparation, behavior and modus operandi showed how poorly trained, insecure and chaotic the terrorists were. The slogan “Rely on Allah, not on your equipment”, popular in the jihadist media, has proved to be deceptive
Назначаемые мэры и их взаимоотношения с муниципальными советами в Нидерландах
Authors: Cherkasov Alexander
Published: April 2022

This article deals with the institute of mayor in the Netherlands and his relations with the local council. As the most important feature of this institution, it is indicated that the mayor is not elected by the population or by the local council, but is formally appointed from above, which corresponds to certain centralist traditions in the activities of the state apparatus of the Netherlands. The Dutch mayor enjoys a fairly wide range of powers, the most significant of which are powers in the field of public safety. The mayor’s responsibilities also include fire safety and management of various local emergencies, including those in the sphere of public health, which are of particular importance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The author notes the dual role of the mayor in the public authority mechanism of the Netherlands. On the one hand the mayor is built into the state power vertical, and on the other hand, he remains an integral part of the municipal government system. In such a situation, in search of the most optimal solutions, the head of the local administration has to balance between various interests, and this sometimes determines his certain vulnerability.
Mechanical Properties and Failure Mechanism of Granite with Maximum Free Water Absorption under Triaxial Compression
Authors: Zhang Yaoyao , Cao Yangbing , Li Zhijun , Chen Yangtao , Huang Zhenping
Published: April 2022

Granite in underground water-sealed storage caverns has usually been immersed for a long time. The immersion affects the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of granite with maximum free water absorption; therefore, it is crucial to study the behavior of granite under different confining pressures for engineering construction. A triaxial compression test with maximum free water absorption was conducted on granite and its mechanical properties were analyzed. A fracture scanning electron microscope test was carried out to analyze the microstructural characteristics and reveal the failure mechanism. The test results showed that the differential stress-axial strain curve can be divided into the initial compaction stage, the elastic deformation stage, the plastic deformation stage, and the post-peak strain-softening stage. With an increase in confining pressure, the duration of the initial compaction stage decreased, while the plastic deformation stage and the peak strength and peak strain stages increased. For the confining pressure range of 0–20 MPa, the peak stress difference of granite with maximum free water absorption was between 146.0 and 307.6 MPa. The elastic modulus was between 31.36 and 44.18 GPa. The cohesion (c) of the rock sample studied was 26.84 MPa and the internal friction angle (φ) was 51°. The failure mechanism of granite is tensile–shear composite failure, predominantly with tensile failure under low confining pressure regimes, and the inclined fracture surface is mainly due to shear failure under high confining pressure conditions. These research results provide updated reference data for rock engineering involving granitic mechanical properties and failure mechanisms in submerged caverns.
A CMOS-Compatible Carrier-Injection Plasmonic Micro-Ring Modulator (CIPMRM) with Stable Performance as Temperature Varying around 60 K
Authors: Sun Jiaqi , Li Zhihua , Wang Wenwu
Published: April 2022

A CMOS-compatible carrier-injection plasmonic micro-ring modulator (CIPMRM) is proposed and theoretically analyzed. It has a compacted footprint of 43.4 μm2 (R = 2 μm), a data rate of 45 Gbps, an insertion loss of −8 dB, a static extinction ratio of 22 dB, and an energy consumption of 4.5 pJ/bit when 2.5 V peak-to-peak voltage is applied. Moreover, it works well when temperature varies around 60 K. A method of tuning the resonant wavelength based on the carrier concentration is proposed here because the device is reliable when the linewidth varies within ±5%. CIPMRM provides a way to overcome the shortcomings of temperature and process sensitivity, which are characteristics of the photonic micro-ring modulator. It can be used in optoelectronic integration for its small size and stable performance.
Home-Based Music Therapy to Support Bulbar and Respiratory Functions of Persons with Early and Mid-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis—Protocol and Results from a Feasibility Study
Authors: Apreleva Kolomeytseva Alisa T. , Brylev Lev , Eshghi Marziye , Bottaeva Zhanna , Zhang Jufen , Fachner Jörg C. , Street Alexander J.
Published: April 2022

Respiratory failure, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and dehydration are the precursors to mortality in ALS. Loss of natural communication is considered one of the worst aspects of ALS. This first study to test the feasibility of a music therapy protocol for bulbar and respiratory rehabilitation in ALS employs a mixed-methods case study series design with repeated measures. Newly diagnosed patients meeting the inclusion criteria were invited to participate, until the desired sample size (n = 8) was achieved. The protocol was delivered to participants in their homes twice weekly for six weeks. Individualised exercise sets for independent practice were provided. Feasibility data (recruitment, retention, adherence, tolerability, self-motivation and personal impressions) were collected. Bulbar and respiratory changes were objectively measured. Results. A high recruitment rate (100%), a high retention rate (87.5%) and high mean adherence to treatment (95.4%) provide evidence for the feasibility of the study protocol. The treatment was well tolerated. Mean adherence to the suggested independent exercise routine was 53%. The outcome measurements to evaluate the therapy-induced change in bulbar and respiratory functions were defined. Findings suggest that the protocol is safe to use in early- and mid-stage ALS and that music therapy was beneficial for the participants’ bulbar and respiratory functions. Mean trends suggesting that these functions were sustained or improved during the treatment period were observed for most outcome parameters: Maximal Inspiratory Pressure, Maximal Expiratory Pressure, Peak Expiratory Flow, the Center for Neurologic Study—Bulbar Function Scale speech and swallowing subscales, Maximum Phonation Time, Maximum Repetition Rate—Alternating, Maximum Repetition Rate—Sequential, Jitter, Shimmer, NHR, Speaking rate, Speech–pause ratio, Pause frequency, hypernasality level, Time-to-Laryngeal Vestibule Closure, Maximum Pharyngeal Constriction Area, Peak Position of the Hyoid Bone, Total Pharyngeal Residue C24area. Conclusion. The suggested design and protocol are feasible for a larger study, with some modifications, including aerodynamic measure of nasalance, abbreviated voice sampling and psychological screening.
Comparison of Post-Transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorder Risk and Prognostic Factors between Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Mucha Krzysztof , Staros Rafał , Foroncewicz Bartosz , Ziarkiewicz-Wróblewska Bogna , Kosieradzki Maciej , Nazarewski Sławomir , Naumnik Beata , Raszeja-Wyszomirska Joanna , Zieniewicz Krzysztof , Pączek Leszek
Published: April 2022

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication of solid organ transplantation (SOT). Its development risk varies among organ graft recipients. In this study, retrospective data were analyzed to compare PTLD’s risk and prognostic factors between adult kidney and liver transplant recipients (KTRs and LTRs, respectively). Over 15 years, 2598 KTRs and 1378 LTRs were under observation at our center. Sixteen KTRs (0.62%) and twenty-three LTRs (1.67%) were diagnosed with PTLD. PTLD developed earlier in LTRs (p < 0.001), SOT patients > 45 years old (p = 0.002), and patients receiving tacrolimus (p < 0.001) or not receiving cyclosporin (p = 0.03) at diagnosis. Tacrolimus use, male sex, and age > 45 years old significantly affected the time of PTLD onset in KTRs (hazard ratio (HR) = 18.6, 7.9 and 5.2, respectively). Survival was longer in LTRs < 45 years old (p < 0.009). LTRs were more likely than KTRs to achieve complete remission (p = 0.039). Factors affecting PTLD development and outcome differ between KTRs and LTRs; thus, these populations should be separately evaluated in future studies.
Communicator-Driven Data Preprocessing Improves Deep Transfer Learning of Histopathological Prediction of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kronberg Raphael M. , Haeberle Lena , Pfaus Melanie , Xu Haifeng C. , Krings Karina S. , Schlensog Martin , Rau Tilman , Pandyra Aleksandra A. , Lang Karl S. , Esposito Irene , Lang Philipp A.
Published: April 2022

Pancreatic cancer is a fatal malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Early detection in primary and secondary locations is critical, but fraught with challenges. While digital pathology can assist with the classification of histopathological images, the training of such networks always relies on a ground truth, which is frequently compromised as tissue sections contain several types of tissue entities. Here we show that pancreatic cancer can be detected on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections by convolutional neural networks using deep transfer learning. To improve the ground truth, we describe a preprocessing data clean-up process using two communicators that were generated through existing and new datasets. Specifically, the communicators moved image tiles containing adipose tissue and background to a new data class. Hence, the original dataset exhibited improved labeling and, consequently, a higher ground truth accuracy. Deep transfer learning of a ResNet18 network resulted in a five-class accuracy of about 94% on test data images. The network was validated with independent tissue sections composed of healthy pancreatic tissue, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancer lymph node metastases. The screening of different models and hyperparameter fine tuning were performed to optimize the performance with the independent tissue sections. Taken together, we introduce a step of data preprocessing via communicators as a means of improving the ground truth during deep transfer learning and hyperparameter tuning to identify pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma primary tumors and metastases in histological tissue sections.
Change of Computed Tomography-Based Body Composition after Adrenalectomy in Patients with Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Ko Yousun , Jeong Heeryoel , Khang Seungwoo , Lee Jeongjin , Kim Kyung Won , Kim Beom-Jun
Published: April 2022

Despite the potential biological importance of the sympathetic nervous system on fat and skeletal muscle metabolism in animal and in vitro studies, its relevance in humans remains undetermined. To clarify the influence of catecholamine excess on human body composition, we performed a retrospective longitudinal cohort study including 313 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed pheochromocytoma who underwent repeat abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans before and after adrenalectomy. Changes in CT-determined visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), skeletal muscle area (SMA), and skeletal muscle index (SMI) were measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. The mean age of all patients was 50.6 ± 13.6 years, and 171/313 (54.6%) were women. The median follow-up duration for repeat CTs was 25.0 months. VFA and SFA were 14.5% and 15.8% higher, respectively (both p < 0.001), after adrenalectomy, whereas SMA and SMI remained unchanged. Similarly, patients with visceral obesity significantly increased from 103 (32.9%) at baseline to 138 (44.1%) following surgery (p < 0.001); however, the prevalence of sarcopenia was unchanged. This study provides important clinical evidence that sympathetic hyperactivity can contribute to lipolysis in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, but its impact on human skeletal muscle is unclear.
Message in a Bottle: Endothelial Cell Regulation by Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Palazzo Claudia , D’Alessio Alessio , Tamagnone Luca
Published: April 2022

Intercellular communication is a key biological mechanism that is fundamental to maintain tissue homeostasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical regulators of cell–cell communication in both physiological and pathological conditions, due to their ability to shuttle a variety of cell constituents, such as DNA, RNA, lipids, active metabolites, cytosolic, and cell surface proteins. In particular, endothelial cells (ECs) are prominently regulated by EVs released by neighboring cell types. The discovery that cancer cell-derived EVs can control the functions of ECs has prompted the investigation of their roles in tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression. In particular, here, we discuss evidence that supports the roles of exosomes in EC regulation within the tumor microenvironment and in vascular dysfunction leading to atherosclerosis. Moreover, we survey the molecular mechanisms and exosomal cargoes that have been implicated in explanations of these regulatory effects.
A Method for Unsupervised Semi-Quantification of Inmunohistochemical Staining with Beta Divergences
Authors: Sarmiento Auxiliadora , Durán-Díaz Iván , Fondón Irene , Tomé Mercedes , Bodineau Clément , Durán Raúl V.
Published: April 2022

In many research laboratories, it is essential to determine the relative expression levels of some proteins of interest in tissue samples. The semi-quantitative scoring of a set of images consists of establishing a scale of scores ranging from zero or one to a maximum number set by the researcher and assigning a score to each image that should represent some predefined characteristic of the IHC staining, such as its intensity. However, manual scoring depends on the judgment of an observer and therefore exposes the assessment to a certain level of bias. In this work, we present a fully automatic and unsupervised method for comparative biomarker quantification in histopathological brightfield images. The method relies on a color separation method that discriminates between two chromogens expressed as brown and blue colors robustly, independent of color variation or biomarker expression level. For this purpose, we have adopted a two-stage stain separation approach in the optical density space. First, a preliminary separation is performed using a deconvolution method in which the color vectors of the stains are determined after an eigendecomposition of the data. Then, we adjust the separation using the non-negative matrix factorization method with beta divergences, initializing the algorithm with the matrices resulting from the previous step. After that, a feature vector of each image based on the intensity of the two chromogens is determined. Finally, the images are annotated using a systematically initialized k-means clustering algorithm with beta divergences. The method clearly defines the initial boundaries of the categories, although some flexibility is added. Experiments for the semi-quantitative scoring of images in five categories have been carried out by comparing the results with the scores of four expert researchers yielding accuracies that range between 76.60% and 94.58%. These results show that the proposed automatic scoring system, which is definable and reproducible, produces consistent results.
Effect of Quantum Coherence on Landauer’s Principle
Authors: Hashimoto Kazunari , Uchiyama Chikako
Published: April 2022

Landauer’s principle provides a fundamental lower bound for energy dissipation occurring with information erasure in the quantum regime. While most studies have related the entropy reduction incorporated with the erasure to the lower bound (entropic bound), recent efforts have also provided another lower bound associated with the thermal fluctuation of the dissipated energy (thermodynamic bound). The coexistence of the two bounds has stimulated comparative studies of their properties; however, these studies were performed for systems where the time-evolution of diagonal (population) and off-diagonal (coherence) elements of the density matrix are decoupled. In this paper, we aimed to broaden the comparative study to include the influence of quantum coherence induced by the tilted system–reservoir interaction direction. By examining their dependence on the initial state of the information-bearing system, we find that the following properties of the bounds are generically held regardless of whether the influence of the coherence is present or not: the entropic bound serves as the tighter bound for a sufficiently mixed initial state, while the thermodynamic bound is tighter when the purity of the initial state is sufficiently high. The exception is the case where the system dynamics involve only phase relaxation; in this case, the two bounds coincide when the initial coherence is zero; otherwise, the thermodynamic bound serves the tighter bound. We also find the quantum information erasure inevitably accompanies constant energy dissipation caused by the creation of system–reservoir correlation, which may cause an additional source of energetic cost for the erasure.
Trace Elements in Sediments of Rivers Affected by Brown Coal Mining: A Potential Environmental Hazard
Authors: Staniszewski Ryszard , Niedzielski Przemysław , Sobczyński Tadeusz , Sojka Mariusz
Published: April 2022

Brown coal remains an important energy source in Europe, including countries such as Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Greece. Open-pit mines disturb the environment in terms of air quality, hydrology, and chemical and biological transformations in rivers receiving mine waters. In the present study, we assessed the impact of mine waters from four brown coal open-pit mines on the contamination of river sediments. Chemical analysis included the quantification of 62 elements, including heavy metals (HMs) and rare earth elements (REEs). The contamination of sediments by HMs was evaluated using the contamination factor (CF), the pollution load index (PLI), and the Nemerow multi-factor index (PI). The potential toxic effects of HMs on aquatic organisms were assessed using the potential ecological risk index (PERI). Detailed analysis of chondrite-standardized concentrations of REEs was performed to describe the effects of mine water on their pattern in sediments. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to divide study sites into groups and to evaluate the combined effect of sediment texture and site location on HMs and REEs in sediments. The study showed that after mine water discharge, there is a decrease in HM and REE concentrations in sediments. The decrease in each element’s concentration in sites located 100 m downstream of the discharge was caused by washing out of the finest fractions of sediments by mine waters.
Application of Generator-Electric Motor System for Emergency Propulsion of a Vessel in the Event of Loss of the Full Serviceability of the Diesel Main Engine
Authors: Łosiewicz Zbigniew , Mironiuk Waldemar , Cioch Witold , Sendek-Matysiak Ewelina , Homik Wojciech
Published: April 2022

Oil tanker disasters have been a cause of major environmental disasters, with multi-generational impacts. One of the greatest hazards is damage to the propulsion system that causes the ship to turn sideways to a wave and lose stability, which in storm conditions usually leads to capsizing and sinking Despite the perceived consequences of maritime disasters in the current solutions for the propulsion of oil tankers, there are no legal or real solutions for independent emergency main propulsion in this type of ship. Stressing that the reliability of the propulsion system has a significant impact on the ship’s safety at sea, the authors presented a new solution in the form of a power take-off/power take-in (PTO/PTI) system. This is the emergency use of a shaft generator as the main electric motor, operating in parallel in a situation when the main engine (ME), (the main engine of the ship’s direct high-power propulsion system that is slow-speed) loses the operational capability to propel the ship. Since one cause of wear, or failure, of the main engines is improper operational decisions, the paper shows the wear mechanism in relation to the accuracy of operational decisions. Using classical reliability theory, it also shows that the use of the proposed system results in an increase in the reliability of the propulsion system. The main topic of the paper was the use of an electrical system called PTO/PTI as an emergency propulsion system on the largest commercial vessels, such as bulk carriers and crude oil tankers, which has not been used before in maritime technical solutions. Semi-Markov processes, continuous in time, discrete in states, and which are used in technology, were also proposed as a tool describing the process of the operation of such a ship propulsion system, and they are useful to support operational decisions affecting the state of the technical condition of the engine. There are two ship operation strategies that can be adopted: the four-state model, for normal operation, and the three-state model, which operates with the occurrence of failure. For these types of models, their limiting distributions were defined in the form of probabilities. It was also demonstrated that faster than expected engine wear and the occurrence of inoperability of the main engine can be caused by wrong operational decisions made by the shipowner or crew. Using this type of main engine operating methodology, it is possible to support the decision of the engineer to stop the main engine and to subject it to the process of restoration to an acceptable state of technical condition (before the failure or during the failure in severe storm conditions), with the parallel use of the proposed electric propulsion (PTO/PTI) as an emergency propulsion, giving the crew a chance to maintain the steering necessary to maintain safe lateral stability.
A Comparative Study of Time Series Forecasting of Solar Energy Based on Irradiance Classification
Authors: Thaker Jayesh , Höller Robert
Published: April 2022

Sustainable energy systems rely on energy yield from renewable resources such as solar radiation and wind, which are typically not on-demand and need to be stored or immediately consumed. Solar irradiance is a highly stochastic phenomenon depending on fluctuating atmospheric conditions, in particular clouds and aerosols. The complexity of weather conditions in terms of many variable parameters and their inherent unpredictability limit the performance and accuracy of solar power forecasting models. As renewable power penetration in electricity grids increases due to the rapid increase in the installation of photovoltaics (PV) systems, the resulting challenges are amplified. A regional PV power prediction system is presented and evaluated by providing forecasts up to 72 h ahead with an hourly time resolution. The proposed approach is based on a local radiation forecast model developed by Blue Sky. In this paper, we propose a novel method of deriving forecast equations by using an irradiance classification approach to cluster the dataset. A separate equation is derived using the GEKKO optimization tool, and an algorithm is assigned for each cluster. Several other linear regressions, time series and machine learning (ML) models are applied and compared. A feature selection process is used to select the most important weather parameters for solar power generation. Finally, considering the prediction errors in each cluster, a weighted average and an average ensemble model are also developed. The focus of this paper is the comparison of the capability and performance of statistical and ML methods for producing a reliable hourly day-ahead forecast of PV power by applying different skill scores. The proposed models are evaluated, results are compared for different models and the probabilistic time series forecast is presented. Results show that the irradiance classification approach reduces the forecasting error by a considerable margin, and the proposed GEKKO optimized model outperforms other machine learning and ensemble models. These findings also emphasize the potential of ML-based methods, which perform better in low-power and high-cloud conditions, as well as the need to build an ensemble or hybrid model based on different ML algorithms to achieve improved projections.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Grid-Connected PV Battery Solutions for Holiday Homes in Sweden
Authors: Fiedler Frank , Matas Joaquin
Published: April 2022

Grid-connected PV battery systems for private homes are becoming increasingly popular in many countries, including Sweden. This study aimed to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of such distributed, grid-connected PV battery systems for single homes at a Swedish holiday location. It was especially of interest to investigate the impact of demand charges, as they are frequently introduced by utilities in Sweden and are also common in popular winter sport regions. Grid-connected PV battery systems were sized and optimized based on their net present cost. Load patterns, incentives, demand tariff structures and electricity price variation were used to study the sensitivity of the obtained results. Grid-connected residential PV battery systems were found to be equally profitable compared to grid-connected PV systems without batteries when demand charges were applied. When the load profiles had peak loads throughout the whole year and the batteries were large enough sized to shave many peaks, grid-connected PV battery systems had slightly higher profitability than grid-connected PV systems without batteries. The total savings also depended on the actual rate of demand charge. The good profitability we found greatly depends on the current state incentives for these systems in the form of tax credits for surplus electricity and investment costs. Removing the tax credit for surplus electricity would reduce the savings generated by a grid-connected PV system without batteries significantly more than for grid-connected PV systems with batteries.
Short-Term Forecasting of Energy Production for a Photovoltaic System Using a NARX-CVM Hybrid Model
Authors: Rangel-Heras Eduardo , Angeles-Camacho César , Cadenas-Calderón Erasmo , Campos-Amezcua Rafael
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a methodology for short-term forecasting of power generated by a photovoltaic module is reported. The method incorporates a nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous inputs (NARX) fed by the solar radiation and temperature times series, as well as an estimation of power time series obtained by implementing an ideal single diode model. This synthetic time series was validated against an actual photovoltaic module. The NARX model has been implemented in conjunction with the corrective vector multiplier (CVM) technique, which uses solar radiation under clear sky conditions to adjust the forecasting results. In addition, collinearity and the Granger causality tests were used to choose the input variables. The forecasting horizon was 24-h-ahead. The hybrid NARX-CVM model was compared to a nonlinear autoregressive neural network and persistence model using the typic forecasting error measures such as the mean bias error, mean squared error, root mean squared error and forecast skill. The results showed that the forecasting skills of the hybrid model are about 34% against the NAR model and about 42% against the Persistence model. The model was validated by blind forecasting. The results demonstrated evidence of the quality of the conformed forecasting model and the convenience of its implementation and building.
An Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Large Wind Turbine Pitch Angle Based on Extremum-Seeking Algorithm
Authors: Zou Yarong , Tan Wen , Jin Xingkang , Wang Zijian
Published: April 2022

This paper proposes the analysis and design of the linear active disturbance rejection controller (LADRC) for the pitch angle model of a large wind turbine generator (WTG). Since the transfer function of the pitch control system exhibits nonminimum-phase characteristics, the parameters of LADRC are difficult to tune using the conventional bandwidth method. On the basis of PI controller parameters to first-order LADRC parameters, an optimization problem is proposed in this paper to find the parameters of an LADRC for the pitch control system under the constraint of robustness measure, and the extremum-seeking (ES) algorithm is used to solve the problem. Simulation results show that LADRC can achieve better tracking and disturbance rejection performance than traditional PI control without loss of robustness against time delay.
Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Russian Arctic Economy (including the Energy Industry)
Authors: Badina Svetlana , Pankratov Alexey
Published: April 2022

Ongoing climate change most pronounces itself in northern latitudes, including in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). Climate change is a complex multidirectional process that is characterized by both positive and negative effects on the functioning of territorial economic systems. In this regard, an analysis of the impacts of climate change on economic development is a particularly urgent scientific and practical task that requires comprehensive study. This research was devoted to assessing the probable impacts of climate transformations on the parameters of the economic development of the AZRF regions. The authors created a methodological approach to the assessment of the costs of the effects of climate change for the economy of the AZRF regions, taking into account the average predicted dynamics of surface air temperature and key regional economic specializations, as well as the degree of susceptibility of various industries to the climate change. The energy industry was considered in particular detail since it is the basis for all of the other industries and is the guarantor of life support for the populations that live in the extreme Arctic climate. Calculations have shown that the accumulated economic effects of climate change as a whole for the AZRF economy during the period 2020–2050 will be negative and have been estimated as having a cost of more than RUB 8 trillion (or nearly USD 111 billion in 2020 prices), which would be about 3% of total Russian Arctic GRP in average annual terms.