bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transposable elements: multifunctional players in the plant genome
Authors: Hassan Asmaa H. , Mokhtar Morad M. , El Allali Achraf
Published: January 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) are indispensable components of eukaryotic genomes that play diverse roles in gene regulation, recombination, and environmental adaptation. Their ability to mobilize within the genome leads to gene expression and DNA structure changes. TEs serve as valuable markers for genetic and evolutionary studies and facilitate genetic mapping and phylogenetic analysis. They also provide insight into how organisms adapt to a changing environment by promoting gene rearrangements that lead to new gene combinations. These repetitive sequences significantly impact genome structure, function and evolution. This review takes a comprehensive look at TEs and their applications in biotechnology, particularly in the context of plant biology, where they are now considered “genomic gold” due to their extensive functionalities. The article addresses various aspects of TEs in plant development, including their structure, epigenetic regulation, evolutionary patterns, and their use in gene editing and plant molecular markers. The goal is to systematically understand TEs and shed light on their diverse roles in plant biology.
The role of developmental caregiving programming in modulating our affiliation tendency and the vulnerability to social anxiety and eating disorders
Authors: Gagliardi Marcantonio
Published: January 2024

Attachment is the evolutionarily-established process through which humans create bonds with others to receive care from them. The phenomenon is as essential to our physical survival as it is to our psychological development. An increasing number of studies demonstrates that in sensitive periods during the early years of life, our brain circuitry is programmed in the interactions with our caregivers, with the imprinting of information over multiple attachment dimensions. Adopting a basic brain-computer analogy, we can think of this knowledge as the psycho-social firmware of our mind. According to a recently proposed extension of the classical three-dimensional view, one attachment dimension – somaticity – concerns the caregiver’s task of reflecting and confirming the child’s (internal) states – such as sensations, emotions, and representations – to support the child’s ability to identify and define those entities autonomously. Relying on multidisciplinary evidence – from neuroscientific, developmental, evolutionary, and clinical sources – we suggest that somaticity (H1) has the adaptive function to modulate our tendency to comply and affiliate with a reference group but also (H2) increases the vulnerability to developing Social Anxiety (SA) and Eating Disorders (EDs). We evaluate H1-H2, (1) indicating the evolutionary role of somaticity in modulating our affiliation tendency to optimize the ancestral threat-opportunity balance coming from infectious diseases and (2) showing the deep connection between SA-EDs and the features most closely related to somaticity – interoception and parenting style. Finally, we discuss three relevant implications of H1-H2: (A) Bringing into research focus the adaptive role of our firmware knowledge system versus the hardware (neural substrate) and software (higher cognition) ones. (B) Complementing the well-grounded Objectification and Allocentric Lock Theories, allowing us to integrate multiple levels of explanation on the etiology of psychopathology. (C) Suggesting the design of new psychological treatments. While not aiming to prove H1-H2, our analysis supports them and encourages their direct testing.
Estimating the economic burden attributable to online only child sexual abuse offenders: implications for police strategy
Authors: Giles Susan , Alison Laurence , Humann Michael , Tejeiro Ricardo , Rhodes Hayley
Published: January 2024

Evidence is beginning to emerge of the serious negative effects online only child sexual abuse (OOCSA) can have on victims. Establishing the scale and nature of the problem could assist police in prioritizing suspects. In study 1, scoping review identified eleven studies that examined OOCSA's impact on victims. Five themes emerged from narrative review; definitional issues, a new normal, OOCSA grooming processes, comparisons with offline CSA, mechanisms between OOCSA and harm. In study 2, OOCSA national prevalence was estimated by applying 2.9% rate of OOCSA observed from original police data to a lower bound (“sexual communication with a child” crimes recorded by the police), middle (scaling up to estimate undetected offenses) and upper bound estimate of the national offender pool (self-reported sexual solicitation offenders). Recent UK Home Office figures were adapted to establish economic costs. Lifetime costs estimates attributable to OOCSA are £7.4 million (police reports), £59.6 million (including undetected offenders) and £1.4 billion (national prevalence estimates). Over 75% of this is non-financial costs borne by victims in terms of emotional harm and lost output. Government bears around 20% of the cost burden, mostly non-financial costs for police forces. Findings are discussed in relation to evidence-led recommendations for prioritization and wider police actions that can be taken to avoid the considerable economic and social burden associated with OOCSA offenses.
Difficulties in social cognitive functioning among pediatric patients with muscular dystrophies
Authors: García Irune , Martínez Oscar , López-Paz Juan Francisco , García Maitane , Rodríguez Alicia Aurora , Amayra Imanol
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Pediatric muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neuromuscular diseases characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. A neuropsychosocial approach is crucial for these patients due to associated cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric comorbidities; however, the social cognitive domain has not been adequately addressed.

Methods

This study aimed to analyze on social cognition performance in a pediatric MD patient cohort. This cross-sectional study included 32 pediatric patients with MD and 32 matched-healthy controls. The Social Perception Domain of the NEPSY-II, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test–Child and Happé’s Strange Stories Test were administered. General intelligence and behavioral and emotional symptoms were controlled for to eliminate covariables’ possible influence. The assessments were performed remotely.

Results

Children with MDs performed significantly worse on most of the social cognition tasks. The differences found between the groups could be explained by the level of general intelligence for some aspects more related to theory of mind (ToM) (TM NEPSY-II: F = 1.703, p = .197; Verbal task: F = 2.411, p = .125; RMET-C: F = 2.899, p = .094), but not for emotion recognition. Furthermore, these differences were also independent of behavioral and emotional symptoms.

Discussion

In conclusion, social cognition is apparently impaired in pediatric patients with MD, both for emotion recognition and ToM. Screening assessment in social cognition should be considered to promote early interventions aimed at improving these patient’s quality of life.
Values and their relationship with emotion processing and physical and psychological symptoms among Jewish and Arab breast cancer survivors
Authors: Hebi Maimounah , Czamanski-Cohen Johanna , Azaiza Faisal , Weihs Karen L.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Individuals from different cultures differ in their values, which encompass belief systems that individuals develop based on their culture, and play a pivotal role in shaping their perspectives. These values may affect emotion processing (EP): the recognition, interpretation, expression and response to bodily sensations, translated as emotions. These varying values may contribute to distinct emotional experiences, impacting physical and psychological symptoms in breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study investigated how EP including acceptance, expression (avoidance and approach coping), and awareness, may mediate the relationship between conservation values and symptoms of pain, fatigue, and depression among Arab (n = 62) and Jewish (n = 179) women BC survivors in Israel. Conservation values include tradition, conformity, and security.

Results

Depression and fatigue were negatively correlated with acceptance of emotions, and positively correlated with avoidance and conservation levels. Emotion processing mediated the relationship between conservation and fatigue and depression. Arab women reported higher levels of various values, emotional acceptance, pain, fatigue, and depression symptoms compared to Jewish women. Conservation was higher in Arab women and correlated with both approach and avoidance coping which was not the case in Jewish women. Avoidance coping had a positive relationship with fatigue in the Jewish, but not the Arab women. Similarly, approach coping was negatively related to depression in Jewish, but not in Arab women.

Discussion

Cultural differences are important for understanding the experience of cancer in individuals from different cultures. Future interventions for more conservative BC survivors should take culture into account.
A stakeholder perspective on poverty reduction through the implementation of social marketing in the context of tourism
Authors: Türkmendağ Tuba , Hassan Azize
Published: January 2024

This study aims to establish a model that identifies the role of tourism, target group, tourism stakeholders, and the marketing mix factors in the context of tourism marketing based on behavior change and exchange theory, to contribute to poverty reduction through the implementation of social marketing in the tourism context. Phenomenology and grounded theory designs were used in the research. The research findings have revealed that social marketing tools and techniques are effective methods for reducing poverty in the context of tourism and have contributed to a better understanding of the impact of tourism on poverty in terms of roles, barriers, and expectations. It was concluded that for social marketing to be successfully applied in tourism, it needs to be adapted to government policies, institutions, and the private sector. According to the results of the study, government policies should be conducive to promoting behavior change through tourism. In line with the philosophy of social marketing, it is expected that the results will focus on behavior change in the target group in the context of tourism, creating shared values for society, and developing roles for the benefit of individuals and society.
Human emotional evaluation of ancestral and modern threats: fear, disgust, and anger
Authors: Peléšková Šárka , Polák Jakub , Janovcová Markéta , Chomik Aleksandra , Sedláčková Kristýna , Frynta Daniel , Landová Eva
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological and behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, and the risk of infections from parasites and pathogens leading to the evolution of the behavioral immune system with disgust as the key emotion. Integration of the evolutionary concepts of the fear module and behavioral immune systems has been infrequent, despite the significant survival advantages of disgust in various contexts. Studies comparing attention to ancestral and modern threats accompanied by fear have yielded ambiguous results and what qualifies as salient modern disgusting stimuli remains unclear. We do not know whether disgust or the behavioral immune system, as inherent aspects of human psychology, have adapted to safeguard us from pandemic risks or poisoning by modern toxic substances.

Methods

To test these effects, we have developed a survey comprised of 60 short vignettes describing threats evoking fear and disgust belonging to one of the three main categories of threats: (1) ancestral (phylogenetic), (2) modern (ontogenetic), and (3) pandemics of airborne disease. Each vignette was evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale based on fear, disgust, and anger. In total, 660 respondents completed the survey. The data were analysed using a factor analysis and general linear model with the respondent as a random factor.

Results

The results show that the strongest fear is triggered by modern threats (electricity, car accidents), while the highest disgust is evoked by ancient threats (body waste products, worms, etc.). Interestingly, disgust does not respond to modern threat stimuli such as toxic substances or radioactivity as these evoke mainly fear and anger. Finally, a distinct response pattern was found for pandemic threats, in which both fear (e.g., of disease and death) and disgust (e.g., of used face masks) are employed.

Discussion

Our study offers valuable insights into the emotional responses to ancestral and modern threats and their adaptation to pandemic challenges. Ancestral threats are not always more powerful stimuli than adequate threats of the modern type, but they function specifically. Thus, snakes and heights as fear-inducing ancestral threats form separate factors in a multivariate analysis, whereas all ancestral disgust stimuli group together. The threat of a pandemic forms a specific category and people process it emotionally and cognitively. These insights contribute to our understanding of human psychology and behavior in an ever-changing world.
Work-related participation impairments and support needs of patients in a Swiss psychiatric university hospital
Authors: Hug Niki , Imfeld Lukas , Holinger Benjamin , Jäckel Dorothea , Huber Christian G. , Nienaber André
Published: January 2024

Objective

To assess work-related participation impairments and support needs of adult patients in inpatient and day-care treatment at a Swiss psychiatric university hospital.

Methodology

Cross-sectional survey on a department-dependent cut-off date in May and June 2022 using a standardized structured interview.

Results

Data were available for 93 patients (response rate 59%), of which 51% (n = 47) stated that they had a job or training place. Patients in first hospitalization and with a job or training place were approached significantly more often. Regardless of age and first hospitalization, 76% of the patients expressed a need for support, of which 92% expressed interest in job coaching. A total of 54% of the patients stated that they had received support from the treatment team.

Conclusion

From the patients’ point of view, work and education were not addressed by the treatment team across the board and independently of patient characteristics. The need for support was insufficiently met. There is a considerable interest for support programs through job coaching, and this offers opportunities to promote the inclusion of patients in the regular labor market.
ChatGPT is not ready yet for use in providing mental health assessment and interventions
Authors: Dergaa Ismail , Fekih-Romdhane Feten , Hallit Souheil , Loch Alexandre Andrade , Glenn Jordan M. , Fessi Mohamed Saifeddin , Ben Aissa Mohamed , Souissi Nizar , Guelmami Noomen , Swed Sarya , El Omri Abdelfatteh , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Ben Saad Helmi
Published: January 2024

Background

Psychiatry is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders. With advancements in technology and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been a growing interest in exploring the potential of AI language models systems, such as Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT), to assist in the field of psychiatry.

Objective

Our study aimed to evaluates the effectiveness, reliability and safeness of ChatGPT in assisting patients with mental health problems, and to assess its potential as a collaborative tool for mental health professionals through a simulated interaction with three distinct imaginary patients.

Methods

Three imaginary patient scenarios (cases A, B, and C) were created, representing different mental health problems. All three patients present with, and seek to eliminate, the same chief complaint (i.e., difficulty falling asleep and waking up frequently during the night in the last 2°weeks). ChatGPT was engaged as a virtual psychiatric assistant to provide responses and treatment recommendations.

Results

In case A, the recommendations were relatively appropriate (albeit non-specific), and could potentially be beneficial for both users and clinicians. However, as complexity of clinical cases increased (cases B and C), the information and recommendations generated by ChatGPT became inappropriate, even dangerous; and the limitations of the program became more glaring. The main strengths of ChatGPT lie in its ability to provide quick responses to user queries and to simulate empathy. One notable limitation is ChatGPT inability to interact with users to collect further information relevant to the diagnosis and management of a patient’s clinical condition. Another serious limitation is ChatGPT inability to use critical thinking and clinical judgment to drive patient’s management.

Conclusion

As for July 2023, ChatGPT failed to give the simple medical advice given certain clinical scenarios. This supports that the quality of ChatGPT-generated content is still far from being a guide for users and professionals to provide accurate mental health information. It remains, therefore, premature to conclude on the usefulness and safety of ChatGPT in mental health practice.
Addressing mental health need after COVID-19: a systematic review of remote EMDR therapy studies as an emerging option
Authors: Kaptan Safa Kemal , Kaya Zehra Merve , Akan Ayşe
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a substantial rise in mental health challenges, prompting a need for accessible and effective therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the evidence on remote Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy delivered in response to the increased need.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases including PsychINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies assessing the efficacy of EMDR therapy administered online.

Results

Sixteen articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected, involving 1,231 participants across various age groups. Studies covered remote individual and group EMDR sessions and self-administered computerized protocols. Findings indicate promising outcomes in reducing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression.

Discussion

The analysis of the selected studies demonstrates the feasibility and potential efficacy of online EMDR as an accessible therapeutic option for addressing mental health difficulties, particularly during times of limited in-person interaction. However, the studies revealed limitations such as small sample sizes, absence of control groups, and reliance on self-reported measures.

Systematic review registration: The present review was registered on “The International Database to Register Your Systematic Reviews” (INPLASY) with the registration number 2023120018 and DOI number 10.37766/inplasy2023.2.0068.
Social anxiety and suicidal ideation among middle-school students in China: a mediation model of internet addiction
Authors: Tan Yafei , Deng Jingjing , Zhang Dan , Peng Chang , Peng Anna
Published: January 2024

Background

Suicide is a fatal public health issue for adolescents, and it is of great significance to explore the precursors of suicidal behaviors, especially suicidal ideation. However, the relationship between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and its mechanism are still unclear. The study aims to examine the association between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and the mediating effect through Internet addiction.

Methods

A total of 2,278 middle-school students aged 12 to 16 years were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method in this cross-sectional study. Logistical regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of social anxiety.

Results

During the past year, 262 (11.50%) participants reported suicidal ideation. Females had a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation than males (12.9% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.034), and urban adolescents reported a higher prevalence than their rural counterparts (13.4% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.006). In the total sample, social anxiety and Internet addiction were independently associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the association between social anxiety and suicidal ideation was significant only among rural females and urban males (p < 0.05). SEM demonstrated that social anxiety had direct and indirect effects on suicidal ideation, and Internet addiction partially mediated the relationship, with a mediating ratio of 30.53%. The partial mediating effect was also significant only in rural females and urban males.

Conclusion

Adolescents may overuse the Internet to cope with social anxiety and further have suicidal ideation. Limiting Internet use and improving interpersonal skills in real life may be efficient for suicide prevention. In addition, targeted interventions should be tailored by different sexes across urban and rural regions.
Availability of Access, Watch, and Reserve groups of essential antibiotics: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Rafi Sunaina , Anjum Syed Muneeb , Usman Muhammad , Nawaz Hafiz Awais , Chaudhry Mamoona , Babar Zaheer-Ud-Din , Rasheed Huma
Published: January 2024

Background

Lower-middle income countries face drastic challenges in Access to essential medicines. Data regarding Pakistan is scarce with no comprehensive study in this regard. The objectives of the study are to document and compare public and private sector availability of all essential antibiotics as well as to conduct a comparison among the AWaRe groups.

Methods

The study analyzed 103 essential antibiotics comprising 51 Access, 29 Watch, 6 Reserve, and 17 anti-tuberculosis drugs from 15th August to 10th September 2020 in Lahore, Pakistan. It included on-spot physical availability and availability trend surveys. The survey sites included five public tertiary care hospitals with one as anchor and four randomly selected. Their hospital pharmacies and one randomly selected private retail pharmacy from the vicinity each hospital comprised the ten sampling sites. Percentage availability for each antibiotic was categorized as high (>80%), fairly high (50–80%), low (30–<50%), very low (<30–>0%), and not available (0%).

Results

The mean percentage on-spot availability was 23.76% ± 5.19 (14–25%) for public facilities and 59.20% ± 4.45 (54–66%) for private sector retail pharmacies. The overall percentage of available essential antibiotics varied significantly (p** < 0.001) in public and private sector sampling sites. Except for the Watch group, all other groups showed the mode of 0% availability. A significant difference (p**** < 0.00001) was seen in percentage availability by Access, Watch, Reserve, and anti-TB-all groups of essential antibiotics. The availability trend survey revealed a list of 18 medicines as ‘as never been available’, and five medicines were ‘not available for 5 years or more than 5 years.’ Fourteen medicines as ‘never been heard.’

Conclusion

Non-availability of essential medicines is a significant public health challenge at public-sector facilities in Pakistan. It was observed that a number of essential antibiotics were not available in both public and private sectors. A number of corrective strategies are required. This includes the engagement of stakeholder and government bodies. This can help to improve supply chain barriers.
A reliable and valid tool to assess the sexual acceptability of contraceptive methods
Authors: Lahoz-Pascual Isabel , Jurado-Lopez Ana Rosa , Juárez-Vela Raúl , Santolalla-Arnedo Iván , Ruiz de Viñaspre-Hernández Regina , Repollés-Lasheras Sira , Tejero Sancho Susana , Diaz-Vega Miguel , Lou-Mercade Ana Cristina , Mendoza-Ladrón de Guevara Nicolás
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Adequate identification of the sexual acceptability of contraceptive methods is key for designing health promotion interventions, assessing their impacts, and increasing their effectiveness. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to explore the preferences of women depending on their epidemiological characteristics and their partner relationships—the Sexual Acceptability of Contraceptive Methods Questionnaire [in Spanish, Aceptabilidad Sexual de los Métodos Anticonceptivos (ASMA)].

Methods

Psychometric validation was conducted using Exploratory Factorial Analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability of the final version of the questionnaire was explored using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald omega to estimate internal consistency.

Results

A three-factor model was identified. Factor 1 (explaining 28.32% of the model) corresponds to questions concerning the use and placement of the contraceptive and includes 6 items; Factor 2 (explaining 24.23%) corresponds to other factors that affect the relationship such as bleeding and side effects of the contraceptive method and includes 10 items; and Factor 3 (explaining 18.94%) corresponds to the couple relationship and includes 8 items.

Conclusion and implications

The ASMA questionnaire provides a valid and reliable tool for assessing the sexual acceptability of various contraceptive methods. This instrument gathers data that provide information on various aspects of women’s sexuality, health, education, and beliefs, all of which can determine the preference for one contraceptive method over another. Moreover, the tool can help to identify profiles of women who have different preferences when selecting a particular method.
State-Aware Deep Item Response Theory using student facial features
Authors: Zhou Yan , Suzuki Kenji , Kumano Shiro
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach to Item Response Theory (IRT) by incorporating deep learning to analyze student facial expressions to enhance the prediction and understanding of student responses to test items. This research is based on the assertion that students' facial expressions offer crucial insights into their cognitive and affective states during testing, subsequently influencing their item responses. The proposed State-Aware Deep Item Response Theory (SAD-IRT) model introduces a new parameter, the student state parameter, which can be viewed as a relative subjective difficulty parameter. It is latent-regressed from students' facial features while solving test items using state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. In an experiment with 20 students, SAD-IRT boosted prediction performance in students' responses compared to prior models without the student state parameter, including standard IRT and its deep neural network implementation, while maintaining consistent predictions of student ability and item difficulty parameters. The research further illustrates the model's early prediction ability in predicting the student's response result before the student answered. This study holds substantial implications for educational assessment, laying the groundwork for more personalized and effective learning and assessment strategies that consider students' emotional and cognitive states.
Archaea membranes in response to extreme acidic environments
Authors: Chong Parkson Lee-Gau
Published: January 2024

Bipolar tetraether lipids (BTL), such as glycerol dialkyl calditol tetraether (GDNT) and glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT), are the dominating lipid species in thermoacidophiles that inhabit at pH ≤ 4 and temperatures ≥65°C. BTL containing archaea membranes respond to environmental pH changes by varying the number of cyclopentane rings in the isoprenoids, the amount of GDNT relative to GDGT, the ratio of tetraethers to diethers, and the level of glycosylation in polar headgroups. These structural and compositional adjustments can alter the hydrogen bond networks in the membrane polar headgroup regions and the packing tightness and rigidity in the membrane hydrophobic core. It is likely that these changes in non-covalent interactions among archaea lipids are made to retain low membrane volume fluctuations and their low sensitivity to temperature, as illustrated in the case of liposomes made of the polar lipid fraction E (PLFE) of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. As such, a low passive proton permeability and a near neutral intracellular pH can be maintained, and, as a result, optimal activities of soluble and membrane-bound proteins in thermoacidophiles can be retained in acidic growth conditions at elevated growth temperatures.
Versatile vacuum-powered artificial muscles through replaceable external reinforcements
Authors: Mendoza Mijaíl Jaén , Cancán Sergio , Surichaqui Steve , Centeno Esteban , Vilchez Ricardo , Bertoldi Katia , Vela Emir A.
Published: January 2024

Soft pneumatic artificial muscles are a well actuation scheme in soft robotics due to its key features for robotic machines being safe, lightweight, and conformable. In this work, we present a versatile vacuum-powered artificial muscle (VPAM) with manually tunable output motion. We developed an artificial muscle that consists of a stack of air chambers that can use replaceable external reinforcements. Different modes of operation are achieved by assembling different reinforcements that constrain the output motion of the actuator during actuation. We designed replaceable external reinforcements to produce single motions such as twisting, bending, shearing and rotary. We then conducted a deformation and lifting force characterization for these motions. We demonstrated sophisticated motions and reusability of the artificial muscle in two soft machines with different modes of locomotion. Our results show that our VPAM is reusable and versatile producing a variety and sophisticated output motions if needed. This key feature specially benefits unpredicted workspaces that require a soft actuator that can be adjusted for other tasks. Our scheme has the potential to offer new strategies for locomotion in machines for underwater or terrestrial operation, and wearable devices with different modes of operation.
Exploring the engagement behaviours of Smile4life practitioners: lessons from an evaluation of the national oral health improvement programme for people experiencing homelessness in Scotland
Authors: Beaton Laura , Rodriguez Andrea , Humphris Gerry , Anderson Isobel , Freeman Ruth
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Smile4life is Scotland's national oral health improvement programme for people experiencing homelessness, aimed at reducing oral health inequalities experienced by this population. This study forms part of an evaluation of how the Smile4life intervention was being implemented within Scottish NHS Boards. The aim was to investigate the influence of the Smile4life intervention upon the engagement behaviours of Smile4life practitioners.

Methods

Focus groups were conducted with Smile4life practitioners, to provide an insight into how the Smile4life intervention affected their skills, attitudes and experiences while interacting with people experiencing homelessness and their services providers. A purposive sample of oral health practitioners, including dental health support workers, oral health promoters/educators, and oral health improvement coordinators working in three NHS Boards were invited to take part. One focus group was conducted in each of the three NHS Boards. The focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. The COM-B model of behaviour was used as a framework for analysis.

Results

Eleven Smile4life practitioners took part in the focus groups. All had first-hand experience of working with the Smile4life intervention. The average focus group length was 67 min. Working on the Smile4life intervention provided the Smile4life practitioners with: (i) the capability (physical and psychological), (ii) the opportunity (to establish methods of communication and relationships with service providers and service users) and (iii) the motivation to engage with Third Sector homelessness services and service users, by reflecting upon their positive and negative experiences delivering the intervention. Enablers and barriers to this engagement were identified according to each of the COM-B categories. Enablers included: practitioners' sense of responsibility, reflecting on positive past experiences and success stories with service users. Barriers included: lack of resources, negative past experiences and poor relationships between Smile4life practitioners and Third Sector staff.

Conclusion

The Smile4life programme promoted capability, provided opportunities and increased motivation in those practitioners who cross disciplinary boundaries to implement the Smile4life intervention, which can be conceptualised as “boundary spanning”. Practitioners who were found to be boundary spanners often had a positive mindset and proactive attitude towards the creation of strategies to overcome the challenges of implementation by bridging the gaps between the NHS and the Third Sector, and between oral health and homelessness, operating across differing fields to achieve their aims.
Modulation of the nutritional and functional values of common bean by farming system: organic vs. conventional
Authors: Rodríguez Madrera Roberto , Campa Negrillo Ana , Ferreira Fernández Juan José
Published: January 2024

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a crop of high nutritional interest which is widespread throughout the world as a result of which it is considered as a potential crop for ensuring future food security. The effect of organic and conventional farming systems on the nutritional and functional composition of two cultivars of market class fabada (a landrace and a modern elite cultivar) is described. The findings of our study have shown that the common beans from organic farming have a higher content of protein, phenolic compounds, and relevant microelements such as iron and zinc than the seeds from conventional farming trial. However, in conventional crops a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower concentrations of phytic acid and raffinose oligosaccharides were also detected. In contrast, no significant differences were detected in the proximate composition of the two genotypes tested, nor in their antioxidant activity or levels of phenolic compounds. The elite cultivar maintains the nutritional characteristics of the landrace from which it derives, suggesting the genomic regions modified in the improvement do not play an important role in their genetic control.
Case Report: Transcatheter closure of a giant post-traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistula using ventricular septal occluder
Authors: Chen Zewei , Huang Yiyuan , Ye Chenxi , Liu Jiale , Liu Yuxin , Tang Yirui , Fang Zhenfei
Published: January 2024

Giant femoral arteriovenous fistulas are comparatively uncommon, typically treated through covered stents, coil embolization, and open surgical repair. Nevertheless, these options may not be appropriate for all patients. Herein, we describe a case of traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistulas that led to drastic dilatation of the femoral arteriovenous system and considerable heart failure symptoms due to prolonged lack of treatment. Given the intricate anatomical location of the fistula and the patient's severe cardiac dysfunction, surgical repair is often unfeasible. Consequently, we adopted an innovative approach in this case, utilizing a ventricular septal occluder device for fistula closure. This constitutes the first report of an arteriovenous fistula transcatheter closure with a septal occluder.
Correlation analysis of surgical outcomes and spino-pelvic parameters in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis
Authors: Zhou Hang , Liang Zhancheng , Li Pengfei , Shi Huihong , Liang Anjing , Gao Wenjie , Huang Dongsheng , Peng Yan
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The study aims to analyze factors that affect the postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) patients and explore the appropriate pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) value for Chinese DLS patients.

Methods

DLS patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. General information, spino-pelvic parameters, and HRQOL were collected. Correlation analysis was used to explore the spino-pelvic parameters that affect the postoperative HRQOL. Thresholds of each parameter were obtained using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Regardless of the effect of age, DLS patients were classified into three groups according to the SRS-Schwab classification: group 0 means PI-LL < 10°, group+means PI-LL = 10–20°, and group ++ means PI-LL > 20°. Postoperative HRQOL was analyzed using variance methods. The ROC curve was used to measure the appropriate PI-LL threshold. When considering the effect of age, the patients with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) < 75% percentile were considered to have a satisfactory clinical outcome, which was drawn to an equation between PI-LL, age, and PI by multiple linear regression equation.

Results

A total of 71 patients were included. Compared with the control group, there were significant differences in both postoperative ODI and Scoliosis Research Society 22 (SRS-22) scores when the postoperative Cobb angle ≤11°, postoperative lumbar lordosis index (LLI) > 0.8, postoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA) ≤ 5 cm, postoperative T1 pelvic angle (TPA) ≤ 16° and postoperative global tilt (GT) ≤ 22°, respectively. Regardless of the effect of age, there was a statistical difference in postoperative HRQOL between group 0 and group ++. The PI-LL threshold derived from the ROC curve was 14.4°. Compared with the PI-LL > 14° group, the PI-LL ≤ 14° group achieved a lower postoperative ODI score and a higher postoperative SRS-22 score. Considering the influence of age, the equation for ideal PI-LL was PI-LL = 0.52age + 0.38PI-39.4 (R = 0.509, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

PI-LL was an important parameter that affects the postoperative HRQOL of DLS patients. Sufficient LL should be restored during the operation (LL ≥ PI-14°). The appropriate PI-LL value was affected by age. Smaller LL needed to be restored as the age increased.
Postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome predicts increased mortality in patients after elective craniotomy
Authors: Peng Liyuan , Gan Qi , Xiao Yangchun , He Jialing , Cheng Xin , Wang Peng , Chen Lvlin , Li Tiangui , He Yan , Chong Weelic , Hai Yang , You Chao , Fang Fang , Zhang Yu
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Patients undergoing craniotomy are at high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality due to excessive inflammatory responses. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the prognostic utility of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients undergoing craniotomy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent craniotomy between January 2011 and March 2021. SIRS was diagnosed based on two or more criteria (hypo-/hyperthermia, tachypnea, leukopenia/leukocytosis, tachycardia). We used univariate and multivariate analysis for the development of SIRS with postoperative 30-day mortality.

Results

Of 12,887 patients who underwent craniotomy, more than half of the patients (n = 6,725; 52.2%) developed SIRS within the first 7 days after surgery, and 157 (1.22%) patients died within 30 days after surgery. In multivariable analyses, SIRS (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12–2.21) was associated with 30-day mortality. Early SIRS was not predictive of 30-day mortality, whereas delayed SIRS was predictive of 30-day mortality. Abnormal white blood cell (WBC) counts contributed the most to the SIRS score, followed by abnormal body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate.

Conclusion

Postoperative SIRS commonly occurs after craniotomy and is an independent predictor of postoperative 30-day mortality. This association was seen only in delayed SIRS but not early SIRS. Moreover, increased WBC counts contributed the most to the SIRS score.
Isolation of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria from head lymph nodes of wild ruminants and badgers in Switzerland
Authors: Lienhard Julia , Friedel Ute , Paganini Claudio , Hilbe Monika , Scherrer Simone , Schmitt Sarah
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The family Mycobacteriaceae contains over 188 species, most of which are saprophytic non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). In wildlife, a variety of different NTM can be found, with different reports about their pathogenic potential. A pathogenic member of NTM is Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), which can infect farmed and wild ruminants. It causes paratuberculosis which is an economically important chronic disease. Infected farm animals are considered to be the source of infection in wild animals. Wildlife, on the other hand, is thought to be a reservoir for certain members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), such as M. caprae, which causes tuberculosis in cattle and red deer.

Methods

Switzerland implemented a surveillance program for tuberculosis in wild animals in 2014. Here, we describe the results from the mycobacterial culture of lymph node samples collected from red deer, roe deer, chamois, ibex, and badgers collected within this surveillance program from 2020 to 2022. Overall, samples from 548 animals were checked macroscopically for tuberculosis-like lesions.

Results

In total, 88 animals (16.1%), which either had lesions in their lymph nodes or were male and aged older than 5 years, were investigated using mycobacterial culture. In total, 25 animals (28.4%) were positive for NTM, while no MTBC was detected. The most often identified NTM was M. vaccae, followed by M. avium. Most animals positive for NTM did not show any macroscopic lesions. Furthermore, MAP was isolated from the head lymph nodes of two male red deer. Neither of the two MAP-positive animals had any macroscopic lesions in their head lymph nodes or any other signs of disease.

Discussion

The shooting sites of the two MAP-positive animals were located in Alpine pastures used for grazing of cattle during summer, which confirms that species transmission can occur when contaminated pastures are used by different species. In agreement with other studies, the occurrence of MAP in red deer was quite low. However, so far, MAP was mostly isolated from feces and intestinal lymph nodes of wild animals. This is the first detection of MAP in the head lymph nodes of red deer in Switzerland.
Direct Adaptive Fuzzy Control with Prescribed Tracking Accuracy for Orbit Adjustment of Satellites
Authors: Yang Weijun , Zou Shizhuan , Li Liang , Huang Kai , Lai Guanyu
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we investigate the orbit-adjustment problem of satellite systems in the presence of nonlinear uncertainties in kinematics and dynamics. We propose a novel direct adaptive fuzzy control scheme with prescribed tracking accuracy to address uncertain nonlinear dynamics by employing advanced fuzzy logic systems and integrating a class of sophisticated smooth functions, thereby ensuring convergence of the tracking error within a precisely defined interval. The ingeniously designed control scheme guarantees negative semi-definiteness of the Lyapunov function, ensuring boundedness for all variables. Moreover, our groundbreaking control approach requires only one adaptive law, completely eliminating any direct correlation with the number of nonlinear functions. Simulation results unequivocally validate the remarkable effectiveness and superiority of our innovative control approach.
As a Transitional Host, Weed Solanum nigrum L. Increases the Population Base of Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii for the Next Season
Authors: Pei Yueling , Sun Yanfang , Chen Yuan , Feng Tuizi , Che Haiyan , Long Haibo
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the status of weed Solanum nigrum L. as a transitional host for Meloidogyne enterolobii and its effect on the population base of the nematodes in the next season. The nematode species infecting S. nigrum L. in a fallow field was identified by morphological identification and molecular diagnosis, and parasitic characteristics of the nematodes in S. nigrum L., including development of the nematode in S. nigrum L., the histopathological response of S. nigrum L. to M. enterolobii, and the host suitability of S. nigrum L., were studied. The M. enterolobii soil population density was evaluated before and after S. nigrum L. planting. Species identification revealed that it was M. enterolobii infection. Developmental observation indicated that juveniles of M. enterolobii developed fast in S. nigrum L., establishing feeding sites by 5 days after inoculation (DAI) and forming obvious egg masses on the root at 25 DAI. Histopathological observation showed the typical susceptible response of S. nigrum L., including giant cells with thick cell walls, uniformly dense cytoplasm, and less vacuolation, mainly inside the vascular cylinder. Host suitability assays suggested that S. nigrum L. is a good host for M. enterolobii with an average reproduction factor (RF) of 48.04 ± 14.71. Population densities assays revealed that S. nigrum L. increased the population density of M. enterolobii for two consecutive years from 0.48 ± 0.25 and 0.53 ± 0.31 J2/cm3 to 1.33 ± 0.16 and 1.56 ± 0.43 J2/cm3 of soil. These results indicated that M. enterolobii could reproduce well by infecting S. nigrum L. during the fallow season, and it increased the population base of M. enterolobii to the next season during vegetable production, which suggested a novel direction for the control of root-knot nematodes by controlling weeds as transitional hosts of M. enterolobii in the fallow season.
Long-Term Study of the Crop Forcing Technique on cv. Tempranillo (Vitis vinifera L.) Vines and Suggested Irrigation Strategies to Improve Water Use Efficiency of Forced Vines
Authors: Oliver-Manera Jordi , García-Tejera Omar , Mata Mercè , Girona Joan
Published: January 2024

Recently, the crop forcing technique (summer pruning that “forces” the vine to start a new cycle) has proven to be effective in delaying the harvest date and increasing must acidity, but also reducing the yield. However, recent information on deficit irrigation strategies combined with the crop forcing technique reveals that the crop forcing technique reduces irrigation water use efficiency. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was a 4-year trial to test the effect of the forcing pruning date on the phenology, yield, yield components and water requirements when post-veraison water stress is applied. In this experiment, the treatments were unforced vines (UF-RDI) and forced vines with a forcing pruning date about 70 (F1-RDI) and 100 (F2-RDI) days after budburst. The harvest date was delayed 34 (F1) and 66 (F2) days increasing the must acidity and malic acid concentration in the forced treatments. However, both forced treatments had a reduced yield (36% in F1 and 49% in F2) and irrigation water use efficiency (12% in F1 and 65% in F2). Experiment 2 was a 2-year trial in which irrigation was suppressed before the forcing pruning in F1 (F1-Pre) and F2 (F2-Pre) and after veraison. The yield, yield components, must quality and irrigation were compared to forced vines with irrigation suppression only after veraison (F1-RDI and F2-RDI). For the entire experiment, both treatments in which irrigation was suppressed before the forcing pruning reduced the amount of irrigation supplied (10% in F1-Pre and 30% in F2-Pre) with no negative effects on the yield, yield components or must quality when compared to F-RDI treatments.