bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-objective optimization of heat sink with multi-cross-ribbed-fins for a motor controller
Authors: Zhang Chao , Chen Liang , Tong Zhiting
Published: March 2022

A novel multi-cross-ribbed-fin layout was proposed to supersede the original smooth fin to fulfill the lightweight requirement of the air-cooled heat sink for the electrical vehicle motor controller. The thermal design with multi-cross-ribbed-fins was optimized using the multi-objective optimization method to minimize the chip’s temperature rise and the weight of the heat sink simultaneously. The design variables are the number of multi-cross-ribbed-fins ranging from 12 to 24, the number of cross ribs on either side varying from 1 to 4, and cross rib height in the region of 1.00–2.50mm. The standard k-ε turbulence model was validated compared to the experimental data for the original heat sink with smooth fins. The Pareto front solution set was obtained by performing the mixed-level orthogonal design procedure with the numerical simulations, constructing the surrogated-based model with backpropagation neural net training, and implementing the genetic algorithm. The numerical results showed that the recommended optimal designs have the multi-cross-ribbed-fin number of 17–19, the number of cross ribs of 2–3, and a cross rib height of 2.13–2.50mm. The maximum decreases in the temperature rise and weight are 7.63% and 9.45%, respectively. For verifying the superiority of current optimal designs, one of the optimal designs of the heat sink, which yields comparative temperature rise of the chip but reduced weight, was selected to be experimentally tested and compared with the data for the original heat sink.
Vertebrate lonesome kinase modulates the hepatocyte secretome to prevent perivascular liver fibrosis and inflammation
Authors: Pantasis Sophia , Friemel Juliane , Brütsch Salome Mirjam , Hu Zehan , Krautbauer Sabrina , Liebisch Gerhard , Dengjel Joern , Weber Achim , Werner Sabine , Bordoli Mattia Renato
Published: March 2022

Vertebrate lonesome kinase (VLK) is the only known extracellular tyrosine kinase, but its physiological functions are largely unknown. We show that VLK is highly expressed in hepatocytes of neonatal mice, but downregulated during adulthood. To determine the role of VLK in liver homeostasis and regeneration, we generated mice with a hepatocyte-specific knockout of the VLK gene (Pkdcc). Cultured progenitor cells established from primary hepatocytes of Pkdcc knockout mice produced a secretome, which promoted their own proliferation in 3D spheroids and proliferation of cultured fibroblasts. In vivo, Pkdcc knockout mice developed liver steatosis with signs of inflammation and perivascular fibrosis upon aging, combined with expansion of liver progenitor cells. In response to chronic CCl4-induced liver injury, the pattern of deposited collagen was significantly altered in these mice. The liver injury marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was increased in the secretome of VLK-deficient cultured progenitor cells and in liver tissues of aged or CCl4-treated knockout mice. These results support a key role for VLK and extracellular protein phosphorylation in liver homeostasis and repair through paracrine control of liver cell function and regulation of appropriate collagen deposition.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Global SLAM-seq for accurate mRNA decay determination and identification of NMD targets
Authors: Alalam Hanna , Zepeda-Martínez Jorge A. , Sunnerhagen Per
Published: March 2022

Gene expression analysis requires accurate measurements of global RNA degradation rates, earlier problematic with methods disruptive to cell physiology. Recently, metabolic RNA labeling emerged as an efficient and minimally invasive technique applied in mammalian cells. Here, we have adapted SH-linked alkylation for the metabolic sequencing of RNA (SLAM-seq) for a global mRNA stability study in yeast using 4-thiouracil pulse-chase labeling. We assign high-confidence half-life estimates for 67.5% of expressed ORFs, and measure a median half-life of 9.4 min. For mRNAs where half-life estimates exist in the literature, their ranking order was in good agreement with previous data, indicating that SLAM-seq efficiently classifies stable and unstable transcripts. We then leveraged our yeast protocol to identify targets of the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway by measuring the change in RNA half-lives, instead of steady-state RNA level changes. With SLAM-seq, we assign 580 transcripts as putative NMD targets, based on their measured half-lives in wild-type and upf3Δ mutants. We find 225 novel targets, and observe a strong agreement with previous reports of NMD targets, 61.2% of our candidates being identified in previous studies. This indicates that SLAM-seq is a simpler and more economic method for global quantification of mRNA half-lives. Our adaptation for yeast yielded global quantitative measures of the NMD effect on transcript half-lives, high correlation with RNA half-lives measured previously with more technically challenging protocols, and identification of novel NMD regulated transcripts that escaped prior detection.
Inovações na governança ambiental global
Authors: Menezes Pagotto Lívia , Teixeira Izabella
Published: March 2022

A iniciativa “Uma Concertação pela Amazônia” mostra como surgem novos arranjos de atores – envolvendo governos, mercado, sociedade civil, academia e mídia – para lidar com desafios de sustentabilidade, em especial, em um contexto complexo emsua diversidade como é a Região Amazônica.
Como implantar o local de trabalho digital
Authors: Santiago Claudia , Wood Jr. Thomaz , Maria Braga Beatriz
Published: March 2022

Para construir o futuro, é preciso evitar abordagens simplistas, focadas unicamente na tecnologia, e adotar uma perspectiva integrada de transformação organizacional.
Ανάπτυξη καινοτόμων μεθόδων για προσδιορισμό λιποδιαλυτών και υδατοδιαλυτών βιταμινών σε τρόφιμα με τεχνικές φασματομετρίας μάζας
Authors: Κάτσα Μαρία
Published: March 2022

Οι βιταμίνες είναι ενώσεις με υψηλή διατροφική αξία και γι’ αυτό το λόγο χρησιμοποιούνται ως πρόσθετα σε τρόφιμα και συμπληρώματα διατροφής. Στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής ήταν η ανάπτυξη ευαίσθητων, εκλεκτικών και αποτελεσματικών μεθόδων για τον προσδιορισμό των λιποδιαλυτών και υδατοδιαλυτών βιταμινών σε τρόφιμα φυτικής και ζωικής προέλευσης με τη χρήση υγροχρωματογραφικών τεχνικών. Αρχικά, πραγματοποιήθηκε βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση των υπάρχοντων μεθοδολογιών για τον προσδιορισμό των βιταμινών και στην συνέχεια ανάπτυξη, βελτιστοποίηση και επικύρωση των μεθόδων που προέκυψαν. Το πειραματικό μέρος της διατριβής αποτελείται από πέντε μέρη: (1) Συγκριτική μελέτη για τον προσδιορισμό των λιποδιαλυτών βιταμινών σε παιδικές τροφές με βάση το ρύζι με HPLC-DAD και UHPLC-APCI-MS/MS (Κεφάλαιο 2), (2) Ανάπτυξη και επικύρωση μεθόδου για τον προσδιορισμό της λιποδιαλυτής βιταμίνης Κ σε παιδικές τροφές με Υγροχρωματογραφία συζευγμένη με φασματομετρία μάζας (UHPLC-APCI-MS/MS) (Κεφάλαιο 3), (3) Ανάπτυξη και επικύρωση μεθόδου για τον προσδιορισμό υδατοδιαλυτών βιταμινών σε δημητριακά με χρήση Υγροχρωματογραφίας συζευγμένη με Φασματομετρία Μάζας (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) (Κεφάλαιο 4), (4) Ανάπτυξη και επικύρωση μεθόδου για τον προσδιορισμό της βιταμίνης Β12 σε γιαούρτι με χρήση Υγροχρωματογραφίας συζευγμένη με Φασματομετρία Μάζας (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) (Κεφάλαιο 5) και (6) Προσδιορισμός υδατοδιαλυτών βιταμινών σε τρόφιμα με Υγροχρωματογραφία συζευγμένη με Φασματομετρία Υψηλής Διακριτικής Ικανότητας (HRMS) (Κεφάλαιο 6). Στόχος είναι οι μελέτες αυτές να αποτελέσουν ένα βήμα προόδου στην ανάλυση των βιταμινών παρέχοντας αξιόπιστα αποτελέσματα με την χρήση κατάλληλων μεθόδων για αναλύσεις ρουτίνας.
China’s economic connectivity to the world economy
Authors: Andreosso-O'Callaghan Bernadette , Morales Lucía
Published: March 2022

The ambition of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is to revive the silk road of Roman times which was used by merchants to carry trade across Eurasia. China’s proclaimed aspiration is to reconnect to the world through its ancient trade corridors, and to emphasize its role as a world trade power. Should the BRI or “new silk road” be understood as efforts from President Xi Jinping to project China’s power into both Eurasia and at the global level? Should it moreover be understood as China’s step forward to fill the leadership vacuum left by a perceived weakening USA in terms of international relations? The present economic climate is characterised by uncertainty and turbulence at the global level, with some economies shifting towards protectionist practices, and others, such as the United Kingdom, trying to regain some international recognition outside the EU. This turbulent climate appears to benefit Beijing who can position itself as a new leader in the global political economy, notably through its BRI. The article discusses the issues raised by China’s ambition to shape  the current international economic order.
Case Report: Medicolegal evaluation in a pediatric case of fatal scald injury from rural Nepal
Authors: Atreya Alok , Gyawali Lokaratna , Menezes Ritesh G , Ateriya Navneet , Shreshtha Jamuna , Ghimire Sristi
Published: March 2022

Thermal injuries in young children involving the buttocks, perineum, and lower limbs raise suspicion of child abuse. Determining the manner of death and ruling out homicide in a fatal case of scalding remains a challenge for forensic practitioners. In the present article, the medicolegal evaluation in a case of fatal scald injury involving a two-year-old child from rural Nepal is discussed. Young children sustaining serious injuries from scalds is a grave social concern. Such young lives need to be protected from scald injuries whether accidental or purposeful. Differences in injury patterns on the basis of their distribution and their characteristics are important to determine the manner of death in such cases.
Pathomorphological features of the uterus’ wall structure in case of fetuses with a gestational term of 37-40 weeks from mothers with a chronic infection of the lower genital tracts
Authors: Kupriianova L. , Ivanchenko S.
Published: March 2022

In the following article we have provided a data towards a comprehensive research of the pathomorphological features of the uterus’ wall structure in case of fetuses from mothers with HILGT comparing to ones in case of fetuses from healthy mothers.

The research methods: macroscopic, organometric, histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric, statistical.

On the basis of the organometric research we have revealed a probable decrease of the weight, length and thickness indexes likewise one of the main components of the uterus wall in case of fetuses from mothers with a complicated pregnancy comparing to ones in case of fetuses from healthy mothers.

By applying histological method we have revealed an increased growth of the connective tissue both in the endometrium and myometrium in case of fetuses from mothers with HILGT relatively to one in case of fetuses from mothers with a physiological pregnancy. Moreover, the massive growth of the collagen fibers leads to the disorder in the strucutral organization of the muscle component. The uterus’ endometrium in case of fetuses from the main group could be characterized by a few glands without features of the functional activity comparing to one in case of fetuses from the group of comparison. In the structure of the connective tissue in case of uterus of fetuses from mothers with a complicated pregnancy we have revealed mainly the collagen of the III type, while the collagen of the I type could be revealed in the form of small loci of reduced intensity of glow.

By applying the immunohistochemical method we have revealed an increase of the apoptotic index in the endometrium of fetuses from mothers with a chronic infection of the lower genital tracts comparing to one in case of fetuses from healthy mothers. By applying MCAT to endotheline-1 we have revealed an increased glow of the endtheliocytes in the vessels both of arterial and venous types, in case of fetuses from the main group comparing to one in case of fetuses from the group of comparison. In the uterus of fetuses from mothers with HILGT we could observe a decreased hormon producing activity comparing to one in case of fetuses from mothers with a physiological pregnancy. All changes, that were revealed in the uterus of fetuses from mothers with an infectious pathlogy declare an existance of the severe disorder in the implementation and formation of main organ’s components, as well as are caused mainly by a chronic hypoxia as well as influence of the infectious agent. All pathomorphological features of the uterus wall structure in case of fetuses from mothers with HILGT, that were revealed, could contribute subsequently to the complications in the pregnancy’s onset as well as could lead to the disruption of one.
Moving enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to the cloud: the challenge of infrastructural embeddedness
Authors: Hustad Eli , Sørheller Vegard Uri , Jørgensen Emeli Høvik , Vassilakopoulou Polyxeni
Published: March 2022

Cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions allow organizations to support and coordinate key business processes by leveraging virtualization. Nevertheless, moving ERPs to the cloud is not straightforward, and organizational cloud ERP initiatives raise multiple concerns. We conducted an in-depth systematic review of relevant research literature and identified six key concerns related to cloud ERP implementation: a) the introduction of new ERP work arrangements, b) the migration of legacy data, c) the assurance of compliance with extant rules and regulations for security, d) the continuous alignment between ERP functionality and business processes, e) the ongoing integration between ERPs and the rest of the organization’s application portfolio, and f) the establishment of adequate reliability levels. The identified concerns are associated with both transition management and operations supported by cloud ERPs. All the identified concerns are also related to the need to achieve infrastructural embeddedness. This need sets ERPs apart from other types of cloud-based applications, such as office automation solutions that do not have as many dependencies and exchanges with other systems and repositories within an organization’s information infrastructure. We argue that the challenge of embeddedness has different implications for organizations of different sizes, and we call for further empirical research.
W4RM: A prescriptive framework based on a wiki to support collaborative risk management in information technology projects
Authors: Soares Rogério Alves , Chaves Marcirio Silveira , Pedron Cristiane Drebes
Published: March 2022

Despite the positive influence of risk management in Information Technology (IT) project results, many project managers are not managing risks or are managing them partially. To enhance risk management, collaborative project management has gained attention in recent years with the introduction of Web 2.0 tools. Project managers have used such tools to facilitate open communication and distribution of activities. This research introduces a prescriptive framework (W4RM – Wiki for Risk Management) based on a wiki to support collaborative risk management in IT projects. An exploratory focus group was set up and a series of interviews with practitioners was conducted to explore how a wiki can support risk management in IT projects. Findings show that project managers are facing difficulties managing risks and are the only ones responsible for identifying, registering and monitoring risks. By implementing a collaborative tool, managers can disseminate a collaboration culture and participate in risk management processes. This sense of collaboration may be used to keep the community identifying new risks, relating these risks to one or more projects, and facilitating continuous risk management. Practitioners can also adopt W4RM as a tool to support communication regarding risks status to be established for internal team stakeholders.
MIDST: an enhanced development environment that improves the maintainability of a data science analysis
Authors: Saltz Jeffrey S. , Crowston Kevin , Heckman Robert , Hegde Yatish
Published: March 2022

With the increasing ability to generate actionable insight from data, the field of data science has seen significant growth. As more teams develop data science solutions, the analytical code they develop will need to be enhanced in the future, by an existing or a new team member. Thus, the importance of being able to easily maintain and enhance the code required for an analysis will increase. However, to date, there has been minimal research on the maintainability of an analysis done by a data science team. To help address this gap, data science maintainability was explored by (1) creating a data science maintainability model, (2) creating a new tool, called MIDST (Modular Interactive Data Science Tool), that aims to improve data science maintainability, and then (3) conducting a mixed method experiment to evaluate MIDST. The new tool aims to improve the ability of a team member to update and rerun an existing data science analysis by providing a visual data flow view of the analysis within an integrated code and computational environment. Via an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative survey results, the experiment found that MIDST does help improve the maintainability of an analysis. Thus, this research demonstrates the importance of enhanced tools tohelp improve the maintainability of data science projects.
Skills of junior project management professionals and project success achieved by them
Authors: Hefley William E. , Bottion Mário
Published: March 2022

New graduates are often placed into project management roles, but may face challenges in these roles. This study surveyed managers from Brazilian organizations and gathered information on the environment, practices and results of projects where new graduates were in project management roles. In-depth interviews were executed with a subset of these managers to further collect insights into issues surrounding new graduates’ performance in project management. This paper examines the preparation and performance of new graduates in project management roles. It addresses specific project management skills and competencies that are involved in delivering successful projects and how these relate to project success or failure. The conclusions determined that new graduates are often not fully prepared for project management roles and fail to conduct comprehensive project preparations, often missing risk management; their soft skills are not fully developed creating further challenges; and the corporate environment towards project management may not lead to developing well-prepared project managers.
Bin Packing Problem with Time Lags
Authors: Letelier Orlando Rivera , Clautiaux François , Sadykov Ruslan
Published: March 2022

We introduce and motivate several variants of the bin packing problem where bins are assigned to time slots, and minimum and maximum lags are required between some pairs of items. We suggest two integer programming formulations for the general problem: a compact one and a stronger formulation with an exponential number of variables and constraints. We propose a branch-cut-and-price approach that exploits the latter formulation. For this purpose, we devise separation algorithms based on a mathematical characterization of feasible assignments for two important special cases of the problem: when the number of possible bins available at each period is infinite and when this number is limited to one and time lags are nonnegative. Computational experiments are reported for instances inspired from a real-case application of chemical treatment planning in vineyards, as well as for literature instances for special cases of the problem. The experimental results show the efficiency of our branch-cut-and-price approach, as it outperforms the compact formulation on newly proposed instances and is able to obtain improved lower and upper bounds for literature instances.

Summary of Contribution: The paper considers a new variant of the bin packing problem, which is one of the most important problems in operations research. A motivation for introducing this variant is given, as well as a real-life application. We present a novel and original exact branch-cut-and-price algorithm for the problem. We implement this algorithm, and we present the results of extensive computational experiments. The results show a very good performance of our algorithm. We give several research directions that can be followed by subsequent researchers to extend our contribution to more complex and generic problems.
Body mass index, clusters of health behaviour among school-age children and young people in Sweden
Authors: Olofsson Niclas , Holmström Malin Rising
Published: March 2022

Background:

A healthy lifestyle for children is important for future health.

Aims:

To identify temporal patterns of change in body mass index (BMI) and associated health behaviour among 6–16-year-old children and young people in Sweden.

Methods:

A quantitative design with longitudinal cluster analysis.

Findings:

School-age children and young people tended to maintain their BMI categories established at the age of 6 years or when they entered the fourth grade, and the categories were stable in age and gender over time.

Conclusions:

Healthy behaviours affecting BMI should be established before children begin school. Although slight changes in children's categories of BMI may occur once they reach school age, the categories established at preschool generally persist at least until the age of 16 years. Because school-age children and young people generally maintain their categories throughout their school years, early preventive work regarding BMI and health behaviour is needed with particular focus on overweight and obese children and young people.
Using digital interventions to encourage healthy eating
Authors: Jackson Jessica Eve , Jackson Sophie
Published: March 2022

Background:

YouTube content has become increasingly popular among children who are not only viewers but producers of this digital medium However, there is no research exploring the use of this medium to aid healthy behaviours.

Aims:

To evaluate how families responded to taking part in an online educational healthy eating intervention by creating YouTube-style digital vlogs.

Methods:

The intervention was delivered online to five families with child/ren aged between 6–16 years. Focus groups were conducted with the families after the intervention to explore their learning and experiences.

Findings:

The families indicated initial challenges in making the vlogs, however, there was evidence of child attitude change and sustained behavioural change as well as enhanced awareness for parents. The families produced vlogs which aimed to educate on and provide a challenge for healthy eating.

Conclusions:

This intervention shows great potential for delivering online public health interventions which engage the whole family in behavioural change.
Screening children for mental health difficulties in school settings
Authors: King Kate
Published: March 2022

Rates of probable mental health problems in children and young people in England are increasing while failure to identify and address mental health difficulties early in life affects individuals' long-term functioning and wellbeing.

Despite reported benefits of early identification and intervention, there is no school entry screening programme. The aim was to review the evidence for mental health screening and identification programmes based in schools against the UK NSC criteria.

We found mixed evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of screening and limited evidence on programmes' effectiveness and cost effectiveness. While there is evidence of effective interventions, there is work to do to enable timely and equitable access to mental health support.

Currently there is insufficient evidence to recommend a universal screening programme and any use of validated screening tools in schools should be accompanied by a clear pathway into early intervention services and a robust evaluation of the whole programme.
Helping children and young people to appraise risk in difficult times
Authors: Thornton Stephanie
Published: March 2022

Anxiety and depression have been on the rise in recent years and it is important to support children and young people to cope with the substantial challenges that have arisen from the current pandemic and climate change.
Journal scan
Authors: Welyczko Nikki
Published: March 2022

A brief overview of recently published articles on gastroenterology, hepatology and stoma care
Coaching for specialist nurses
Authors: Harrison Penny
Published: March 2022

Penny Harrison explores the value and application of coaching as an educative strategy in gastrointestinal nursing services
Be part of the Association of Coloproctology Nurses
Authors: Thorpe Gabrielle
Published: March 2022

Gabrielle Thorpe shows how the Association of Coloproctology Nurses can help nurses to shape practice, network, strengthen their professional profile and enhance their career opportunities
Managing erectile dysfunction in people with diabetes
Authors: Morris David
Published: March 2022

David Morris explains how diabetic patients can be treated if they experience this common problem
Covid 2 years on: What is the evidence?
Authors: Boddy Bethany
Published: March 2022

March 2022 marks 2 years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. What is the evidence around the impact on maternal, infant and child health?
Enhancing the estimation precision of an unknown phase shift in multipartite Glauber coherent states via skew information correlations and local quantum Fisher information
Authors: El Bakraoui Mehdi , Slaoui Abdallah , El Hadfi Hanane , Daoud Mohammed
Published: March 2022

Local quantum uncertainty (LQU) and local quantum Fisher information (LQFI) are both tools used to capture purely quantum correlations in multipartite quantum systems. In this paper, we study these quantifiers in the case of multipartite Glauber coherent states, which include the Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger and Werner states. We perform a comparative study between LQFI and LQU in an isolated system. By using the Kraus operator representation, we study the behavior of these quantifiers on the dephasing channel to investigate their performances under the decoherence effect. In addition, the robustness to the decoherence effect of these two quantifiers is studied. We further examine the situation involving the multipartite Glauber coherent state to decide the sensitivity of the probe state as a resource for quantum estimation protocols.
Phase-combining unit for aliasing suppression in an optical phased array
Authors: Wu Dachuan , Yu Bowen , Yi Yasha
Published: March 2022

Integrated optical phased array (OPA) devices have been widely studied
as a solution for solid-state light detection and ranging technology
in the autonomous driving application. In this work, a phase-combining
unit (PCU) is proposed and studied. With a given number (N) of phase shifters, instead of the general
N (phase shifters) to N (emitters) control, the PCU can enable an
N to 2N–1
control, which efficiently suppresses the aliasing effect. The
theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and experimental
proof-of-concept have been completed in this work. The results show
that a maximum suppression of 92.54% can be achieved for the grating
lobes in simulation, and an average 53.76% is tested for one grating
lobe in the experiment. In conclusion, the PCU can be used as a
universal aliasing suppression unit on many types of integrated OPA
devices.
Understanding reasons for suboptimal tuberculosis screening in a low-resource setting: A mixed-methods study in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Authors: Andom Afom T. , Gilbert Hannah N. , Ndayizigiye Melino , Mukherjee Joia S. , Nthunya Jonase , Marole Tholoana A. , Smith Fawzi Mary C. , Yuen Courtney M.
Published: March 2022

Lesotho has one of the highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates in the world, estimated at 654/100,000 population. However, TB detection remains low, with only 51% of people with TB being diagnosed and treated. The aim of this study was to evaluate implementation of TB screening and identify drivers of suboptimal TB screening in Lesotho. We used a convergent mixed methods study design. We collected data on the number of health facility visits and the number of clients screened for TB during March-August, 2019 from one district hospital and one health center. We conducted interviews and focus group discussions with patients and health workers to elucidate the mechanisms associated with suboptimal screening. Out of an estimated 70,393 visitors to the two health facilities, only 22% of hospital visitors and 48% of health center visitors were asked about TB symptoms. Only 2% of those screened at each facility said that they had TB symptoms, comprising a total of 510 people. Lack of training on tuberculosis screening, overall staff shortages, barriers faced by patients in accessing care, and health care worker mistrust of tuberculosis screening procedures were identified as drivers of suboptimal TB screening. TB screening could be improved by ensuring the availability of well-trained, incentivized, and dedicated screeners at health facilities, and by providing TB screening services in community settings.
Are socio-demographic and economic characteristics good predictors of misinformation during an epidemic?
Authors: Maffioli Elisa M. , Gonzalez Robert
Published: March 2022

We combine data on beliefs about the origin of the 2014 Ebola outbreak with two supervised machine learning methods to predict who is more likely to be misinformed. Contrary to popular beliefs, we uncover that, socio-demographic and economic indicators play a minor role in predicting those who are misinformed: misinformed individuals are not any poorer, older, less educated, more economically distressed, more rural, or ethnically different than individuals who are informed. However, they are more likely to report high levels of distrust, especially towards governmental institutions. By distinguishing between types of beliefs, distrust in the central government is the primary predictor of individuals assigning a political origin to the epidemic, while Muslim religion is the most important predictor of whether the individual assigns a supernatural origin. Instead, educational level has a markedly higher importance for ethnic beliefs. Taken together, the results highlight that government trust might play the most important role in reducing misinformation during epidemics.
How the expertise heuristic accelerates decision-making and credibility judgments in social media by means of effort reduction
Authors: Meinert Judith , Krämer Nicole C.
Published: March 2022

Real-time communication, unlimited distribution of information, and the lack of editorial supervision in social media communication aggravate recipients’ credibility evaluations and information selection by what aspects of the source such as expertise have emerged as important anchors for evaluations. It has long been assumed that credibility judgments in social media are specifically guided by heuristics. However, the existing studies merely give indications, for example, based on individuals’ self-report but do not test whether important attributes and prerequisites of heuristic decision-making, such as effort reduction, are present. Against this background, the current study (N= 185) analyses by applying a reduced two-alternative choice paradigm whether the relation between the expertise cue and credibility judgments and the choice of information sources is guided by a heuristic, namely the expertise heuristic. Findings indicate that the presence of the expertise cue reduced respondents’ task latencies significantly, although participants’ decision behavior was not independent from additional information. This is discussed in detail with recourse to theoretical conceptualizations of cognitive heuristics.
Diversity of blaCTX-M-1-carrying plasmids recovered from Escherichia coli isolated from Canadian domestic animals
Authors: Cormier Ashley C. , Chalmers Gabhan , Zamudio Roxana , Mulvey Michael R. , Mather Alison E. , Boerlin Patrick
Published: March 2022

Conserved IncI1 and IncHI1 plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-1 have been found circulating in chickens and horses from continental Europe, respectively. In Canada, blaCTX-M-1 is overwhelmingly the most common blaCTX-M variant found in Escherichia coli from chicken and horses and can be recovered at lower frequencies in swine, cattle, and dogs. Whole-genome sequencing has identified a large genetic diversity of isolates carrying this variant, warranting further investigations into the plasmids carrying this gene. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the genetic profiles of blaCTX-M-1 plasmids circulating in E. coli from Canadian domestic animals and compare them to those recovered in animals in Europe. Fifty-one blaCTX-M-1 positive E. coli isolates from chicken (n = 14), horses (racetrack horses n = 11; community horses n = 3), swine (n = 7), turkey (n = 6), dogs (n = 5), beef cattle (n = 3), and dairy cattle (n = 2) were selected for plasmid characterization. Sequences were obtained through both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies. Genomes were assembled using either Unicycler hybrid assembly or Flye with polishing performed using Pilon. blaCTX-M-1 was found residing on a plasmid in 45 isolates and chromosomally located in six isolates. A conserved IncI1/ST3 plasmid was identified among chicken (n = 12), turkey (n = 4), swine (n = 6), dog (n = 2), and beef cattle (n = 2) isolates. When compared against publicly available data, these plasmids showed a high degree of similarity to those identified in isolates from poultry and swine in Europe. These results suggest that an epidemic IncI1/ST3 plasmid similar to the one found in Europe is contributing to the spread of blaCTX-M-1 in Canada. A conserved IncHI1/FIA(HI1)/ST2 plasmid was also recovered from nearly all racetrack horse isolates (n = 10). Although IncHI1/ST2 plasmids have been reported among European horse isolates, IncHI1/ST9 plasmids appear to be more widespread. Further studies are necessary to understand the factors contributing to these plasmids’ success in their respective populations.
Social gradients in ADHD by household income and maternal education exposure during early childhood: Findings from birth cohort studies across six countries
Authors: Spencer Nicholas James , Ludvigsson Johnny , Bai Guannan , Gauvin Lise , Clifford Susan A. , Abu Awad Yara , Goldhaber-Fiebert Jeremy D. , Markham Wolfgang , Faresjö Åshild , White Pär Andersson , Raat Hein , Jansen Pauline , Nikiema Béatrice , Mensah Fiona K. , McGrath Jennifer J. ,   EPOCH Collaborative Group
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to examine social gradients in ADHD during late childhood (age 9–11 years) using absolute and relative relationships with socioeconomic status exposure (household income, maternal education) during early childhood (<5 years) in seven cohorts from six industrialised countries (UK, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, USA, Sweden).

Methods

Secondary analyses were conducted for each birth cohort. Risk ratios, pooled risk estimates, and absolute inequality, measured by the Slope Index of Inequality (SII), were estimated to quantify social gradients in ADHD during late childhood by household income and maternal education measured during early childhood. Estimates were adjusted for child sex, mother age at birth, mother ethnicity, and multiple births.

Findings

All cohorts demonstrated social gradients by household income and maternal education in early childhood, except for maternal education in Quebec. Pooled risk estimates, relating to 44,925 children, yielded expected gradients (income: low 1.83(CI 1.38,2.41), middle 1.42(1.13,1.79), high (reference); maternal education: low 2.13(1.39,3.25), middle 1.42(1.13,1.79)). Estimates of absolute inequality using SII showed that the largest differences in ADHD prevalence between the highest and lowest levels of maternal education were observed in Australia (4% lower) and Sweden (3% lower); for household income, the largest differences were observed in Quebec (6% lower) and Canada (all provinces: 5% lower).

Conclusion

Findings indicate that children in families with high household income or maternal education are less likely to have ADHD at age 9–11. Absolute inequality, in combination with relative inequality, provides a more complete account of the socioeconomic status and ADHD relationship in different high-income countries. While the study design precludes causal inference, the linear relation between early childhood social circumstances and later ADHD suggests a potential role for policies that promote high levels of education, especially among women, and adequate levels of household income over children’s early years in reducing risk of later ADHD.
Self-selected interval judgments compared to point judgments: A weight judgment experiment in the presence of the size-weight illusion
Authors: Gonzalez Nichel , Svenson Ola , Ekström Magnus , Kriström Bengt , Nilsson Mats E.
Published: March 2022

Measurements of human attitudes and perceptions have traditionally used numerical point judgments. In the present study, we compared conventional point estimates of weight with an interval judgment method. Participants were allowed to make step by step judgments, successively converging towards their best estimate. Participants estimated, in grams, the weight of differently sized boxes, estimates thus susceptible to the size-weight illusion. The illusion makes the smaller of two objects of the same weight, differing only in size, to be perceived as heavier. The self-selected interval method entails participants judging a highest and lowest reasonable value for the true weight. This is followed by a splitting procedure, consecutive choices of selecting the upper or lower half of the interval the individual estimates most likely to include the true value. Compared to point estimates, interval midpoints showed less variability and reduced the size-weight illusion, but only to a limited extent. Accuracy improvements from the interval method were limited, but the between participant variation suggests that the method has merit.
NK-92 cells retain vitality and functionality when grown in standard cell culture conditions
Authors: Kotzur Rebecca , Duev-Cohen Alexandra , Kol Inbal , Reches Adi , Mandelboim Ofer , Stein Natan
Published: March 2022

NK-92 cells are an off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapy currently in clinical trials for a variety of cancer types. As the most ‘NK-like’ cell line available, it is also an important research tool. To date, NK-92 cells have been cultivated in a costly and time-consumingly prepared specialized medium, complicating research with these cells. Here we show that NK-92 cells grow in the comparatively user-friendly RPMI medium supplemented with IL-2. We demonstrate that their metabolic activity and replication rates are even improved in RPMI. Furthermore, they can be grown in cell culture dishes and do not need to be expanded in ventilated flasks. We show that in RPMI the cells retain functional characteristics relating to receptor expression, IFN-γ secretion, and killing. Our findings will enable more researchers to work with and manipulate this cell line, hopefully leading to further discoveries and improved therapies.
Reliability and validation of an attitude scale regarding responsible conduct in research
Authors: Abd ElHafeez Samar , Salem Mohamed , Silverman Henry J.
Published: March 2022

Background

Several studies reveal a problematic prevalence of research misbehaviors. There are several potential causes of research misconduct but ensuring that scientists hold attitudes that reflect norms of acceptable behaviors is fundamental.

Aim

Our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties (factor structure and reliability) of an “attitude” scale that we adopted from a questionnaire we previously used to investigate the prevalence of research misbehaviors in the Middle East.

Methods

We used data from participants (n = 254) who were involved in our prior questionnaire study to determine the validity of an attitude scale that we adapted from this previous study. We performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the factor structure of the attitude scale followed by measures of convergent and concurrent validity. We assessed reliability by computing the Cronbach’s alphas of each construct of the attitude scale.

Results

EFA indicated that the attitude scale consists of two factors (constructs). Convergent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations of item-item and item-total. Correlation analysis revealed that the attitude constructs were significantly correlated with the Research Misbehavior Severity Score, thereby demonstrating concurrent validity. Cronbach’s alphas were greater than 0.75 for both constructs.

Conclusion

We demonstrated a valid and reliable 20-item attitude scale with two factors related to “acceptability of practices in responsible conduct in research” and “general attitudes regarding scientific misconduct”. The use of a validated attitude scale can help assess the effectiveness of educational programs that focus on participants acquiring attitudes that are instrumental in responsible conduct in research.
Are shared decision making studies well enough described to be replicated? Secondary analysis of a Cochrane systematic review
Authors: Agbadjé Titilayo Tatiana , Riganti Paula , Adisso Évèhouénou Lionel , Adekpedjou Rhéda , Boucher Alexandrine , Nunciaroni Andressa Teoli , Franco Juan Victor Ariel , Yanzi Maria Victoria Ruiz , Légaré France
Published: March 2022

Background

Interventions to change health professionals’ behaviour are often difficult to replicate. Incomplete reporting is a key reason and a source of waste in health research. We aimed to assess the reporting of shared decision making (SDM) interventions.

Methods

We extracted data from a 2017 Cochrane systematic review whose aim was to determine the effectiveness of interventions to increase the use of SDM by healthcare professionals. In a secondary analysis, we used the 12 items of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist to analyze quantitative data. We used a conceptual framework for implementation fidelity to analyze qualitative data, which added details to various TIDieR items (e.g. under “what materials?” we also reported on ease of access to materials). We used SAS 9.4 for all analyses.

Results

Of the 87 studies included in the 2017 Cochrane review, 83 were randomized trials, three were non-randomized trials, and one was a controlled before-and-after study. Items most completely reported were: “brief name” (87/87, 100%), “why” (rationale) (86/87, 99%), and “what” (procedures) (81/87, 93%). The least completely reported items (under 50%) were “materials” (29/87, 33%), “who” (23/87, 26%), and “when and how much” (18/87, 21%), as well as the conditional items: “tailoring” (8/87, 9%), “modifications” (3/87, 4%), and “how well (actual)” (i.e. delivered as planned?) (3/87, 3%). Interventions targeting patients were better reported than those targeting health professionals or both patients and health professionals, e.g. 84% of patient-targeted intervention studies reported “How”, (delivery modes), vs. 67% for those targeting health professionals and 32% for those targeting both. We also reported qualitative analyses for most items. Overall reporting of items for all interventions was 41.5%.

Conclusions

Reporting on all groups or components of SDM interventions was incomplete in most SDM studies published up to 2017. Our results provide guidance for authors on what elements need better reporting to improve the replicability of their SDM interventions.
Focal lesion size poorly correlates with motor function after experimental traumatic brain injury in mice
Authors: Walter Johannes , Mende Jannis , Hutagalung Samuel , Grutza Martin , Younsi Alexander , Zheng Guoli , Unterberg Andreas W. , Zweckberger Klaus
Published: March 2022

Background

It remains unclear whether neurobehavioral testing adds significant information to histologic assessment of experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) and if automated gait assessment using the CatWalk XT®, while shown to be effective in in the acute phase, is also effective in the chronic phase after experimental TBI. Therefore, we evaluated the correlation of CatWalk XT® parameters with histologic lesion volume and analyzed their temporal and spatial patterns over four weeks after trauma induction.

Methods

C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI). CatWalk XT® analysis was performed one day prior to surgery and together with the histological evaluation of lesion volume on postoperative days one, three, seven, 14 and 28. Temporal and spatial profiles of gait impairment were analyzed and a total of 100 CatWalk XT® parameters were correlated to lesion size.

Results

While in the first week after CCI, there was significant impairment of nearly all CatWalk XT® parameters, impairment of paw prints, intensities and dynamic movement parameters resolved thereafter; however, impairment of dynamic single paw parameters persisted up to four weeks. Correlation of the CatWalk XT® parameters with lesion volume was poor at all timepoints.

Conclusion

As CatWalk XT® parameters do not correlate with focal lesion size after CCI, gait assessment using the CatWalk XT® might add valuable information to solitary histologic evaluation of the injury site. While all CatWalk XT® parameters can be used for gait assessments in the first week after CCI, dynamic single paw parameters might be more relevant in the chronic phase after experimental TBI.
Salivary surprise: Symmerista caterpillars anoint petioles with red saliva after clipping leaves
Authors: Dussourd David E.
Published: March 2022

After feeding on a tree leaf, caterpillars in ten families sever the petiole and allow the remaining leaf fragment to fall to the ground. Previous researchers proposed that the caterpillars thereby reduced bird predation by eliminating visual evidence of feeding. In this study, 26 species of caterpillars in five families were filmed clipping leaves. Caterpillar behavior did not conform to the visual cue hypothesis. Some caterpillars clipped midribs and petioles repeatedly even though a single clip would suffice to reduce visual cues for birds. Every caterpillar that clipped a leaf rubbed its spinneret (which secretes saliva from the labial glands) over the petiole or midrib stub. In the notodontids Symmerista albifrons and S. leucitys, petiole stubs were bathed in red fluid. Cauterizing the spinneret eliminated fluid application. Dissections documented that the anterior portion of their labial glands contained red pigment, thereby confirming that the red secretion is saliva. When applied to petiole stubs, the red pigment in Symmerista saliva travelled several mm in five minutes within the petiole xylem demonstrating the potential for rapid movement of salivary constituents into the plant. In diverse caterpillars, including species that clip leaves, saliva contains substances reported to suppress plant defenses. Thus, leaf clipping likely functions primarily not to remove visual cues, but to introduce salivary constituents into the plant that prevent defenses from being mobilized in nearby leaves where the caterpillar feeds next.