bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Adhesive Interaction Between Metals in Atomistic Simulations of Friction and Wear
Authors: Aramfard Mohammad , Avanzi Luca , Nicola Lucia
Published: June 2024

Atomistic simulations are performed to assess how the main characteristics of a pairwise interatomic potential function can affect the occurrence of wear. A Morse-like potential is tailored in its attractive part such as to vary independently the cut-off radius and the maximum value of the attractive (adhesive) force. An ideal numerical experiment is then performed where the interaction between a metal crystal and a probe changes, while their material properties are not affected, to isolate the behavior of the interface. Force functions with larger adhesive force can loosely be interpreted as describing dry contacts while those with smaller adhesive force can be interpreted as describing lubricated contacts. Results demonstrate that the occurrence of wear is strongly dependent on the shape of the interatomic force field, and more specifically on the combination of maximum adhesive force and effective length of the interatomic attraction. Wear can initiate also at small adhesive energy, provided that the maximum adhesive force between atoms is large. When the surface of the crystal is taken to be rough instead of flat, the effect of the interatomic potential function on friction and wear becomes smaller, as the atoms belonging to the roughness are weakly bound to the rest of the crystal and are easily dislodged with any of the force functions we used.
Collaborative Problem-Solving in Knowledge-Rich Domains: A Multi-Study Structural Equation Model
Authors: Brandl Laura , Stadler Matthias , Richters Constanze , Radkowitsch Anika , Fischer Martin R. , Schmidmaier Ralf , Fischer Frank
Published: June 2024

Collaborative skills are crucial in knowledge-rich domains, such as medical diagnosing. The Collaborative Diagnostic Reasoning (CDR) model emphasizes the importance of high-quality collaborative diagnostic activities (CDAs; e.g., evidence elicitation and sharing), influenced by content and collaboration knowledge as well as more general social skills, to achieve accurate, justified, and efficient diagnostic outcomes (Radkowitsch et al., 2022). However, it has not yet been empirically tested, and the relationships between individual characteristics, CDAs, and diagnostic outcomes remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to test the CDR model by analyzing data from three studies in a simulation-based environment and to better understand the construct and the processes involved (N = 504 intermediate medical students) using a structural equation model including indirect effects. We found various stable relationships between individual characteristics and CDAs, and between CDAs and diagnostic outcome, highlighting the multidimensional nature of CDR. While both content and collaboration knowledge were important for CDAs, none of the individual characteristics directly related to diagnostic outcome. The study suggests that CDAs are important factors in achieving successful diagnoses in collaborative contexts, particularly in simulation-based settings. CDAs are influenced by content and collaboration knowledge, highlighting the importance of understanding collaboration partners’ knowledge. We propose revising the CDR model by assigning higher priority to collaboration knowledge compared with social skills, and dividing the CDAs into information elicitation and sharing, with sharing being more transactive. Training should focus on the development of CDAs to improve CDR skills.
Mediation role of work engagement in the effect of healthcare professionals’ perception of organizational trust and organizational support on perception of organizational cynicism
Authors: Filiz Mustafa , Karagöz Yalçın , Budak Olkan , Erdal Nurgül
Published: June 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of work engagement in the effect of healthcare workers’ perceptions of organizational trust and organizational support on organizational cynicism. A total of 306 healthcare workers participated in the research. Data was collected using scales for organizational trust, organizational support, organizational cynicism, and work engagement. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to validate the structure of the scales. The study employed PATH analysis to determine the mediating role of work engagement. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. The findings established a negative relationship between perceptions of organizational trust and organizational support with organizational cynicism, which is partially mediated by the level of work engagement. Additionally, the study identified a negative relationship between the level of work engagement and organizational cynicism. Conversely, the study concluded that perceptions of organizational trust and support have a positive impact on work engagement levels. This research makes a significant contribution to understanding the effects of healthcare workers’ perceptions of organizational trust and support on organizational cynicism and work engagement. Furthermore, these results could provide a valuable foundation for developing effective strategies in the management and practice of health organizations.
Speed and contextual information of a crime-related video bias the responsibility judgments
Authors: Ribatti Raffaella Maria , Lanciano Tiziana , de’Sperati Claudio , Curci Antonietta
Published: June 2024

Courts often rely on video evidence, assuming it accurately shows important legal details. Yet, studies suggest that video isn’t inherently “objective” and people, including legal professionals, might misinterpret its objectivity due to video quality or context. This study aimed to explore how video speed variations and contextual information affect judgments of responsibility in a video portraying a bus assault. The study employed a 5 × 3 mixed design, with video speed (Very Slow, 0.88x; Slow, 0.96x; Neutral, 1.00x; Fast, 1.04x; Very Fast, 1.12x) as a between-subject variable, contextual information (Hit, Harm, Kill) attributed to the perpetrator’s action as a within-subject factor, and dimensions of accountability, predictability, criminal intent, and severity as dependent variables. ANOVA results from a sample of 300 participants (60 per video speed condition) revealed that the highest levels of accountability, criminal intent, and predictability were attributed when the contextual information was “hit” as compared to the “harm” and “kill” actions. Furthermore, the greatest difference in accountability and criminal intent scores for the kill action was between the very fast and very slow conditions. These findings raise significant concerns about the use of video evidence in criminal proceedings, as video speed manipulation and contextual information can have a substantial impact on responsibility judgments.
Feeling blue? Arts attendance as a moderator of the effect of neuroticism on subjective well-being: evidence from two national panel studies
Authors: Manolika Maria , Wagner Valentin , Jacobsen Thomas
Published: June 2024

Neuroticism has long been known as a risk factor for reduced happiness and impaired health. And yet, despite the growing evidence linking arts engagement to happiness, the question remains: Do people high in neuroticism benefit from arts engagement? Using data from two nationally representative panel studies from Germany (N = 874) and Switzerland (N = 6,336) we examined whether arts attendance moderates the relation between neuroticism and subjective well-being. Results showed that popular arts attendance moderated the effect of neuroticism on life satisfaction and positive affect in the German sample. Quite similar results were observed in the Swiss sample, where arts attendance acted as a protective factor but only for life satisfaction. Arts attendance, however, did not serve as a moderator of the relation between neuroticism and negative affect in both samples. Even so, taken together, these findings further confirm the contribution of arts engagement to subjective well-being and illustrate the importance of its promotion among people scoring high in neuroticism.
Hydrolytic-Assisted Fractionation of Textile Waste Containing Cotton and Polyester
Authors: Villar Lorena , Pita Marta , González Begoña , Sánchez Pablo B.
Published: June 2024

Resulting properties of cotton and polyester blends make polycotton the most common fabric in textile industry. Separation technologies are key for the chemical processing of the massive amount of polycotton waste produced worldwide. The very different chemical nature of cellulose and polyethylene terephthalate determines the fractionation strategies to obtain two valuable monomaterial streams. In this work, we propose separation pathways seeking the conversion both polymers. First, polyester was depolymerised into its monomeric units through catalytic alkaline hydrolysis. The combined effect of alkali concentration and the catalyst was analysed to overcome the hydrophobic nature of polyester and optimise its conversion rate minimising the damaged caused to the cellulose chains. Conversion rates up to 80% were reached in a single separation stage with a limited effect of the polymer chain distribution of cellulose which remains a fiber-grade feedstock. Alternatively, cellulose was fully removed by selective dissolution in ionic solvent and subsequent filtration resulting in a spinnable mixture. Finally, enzymatic treatments for the conversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars were studied. Single stage conversions of 65% were achieved after maximizing the enzymatic activity. Structural and spectroscopic analysis showed that crystalline domains of textile-grade cotton limit the enzymatic activity. Optimal fractionation process is, in our view, highly context dependent what conveys to seek a variety of alternatives seeking for chemical processes driven by the ulterior up-cycling of the monomaterial streams
The efficacy of hyaluronic acid fragments with amino acid in combating facial skin aging: an ultrasound and histological study
Authors: Scarano Antonio , Qorri E. , Sbarbati A. , Gehrke S. A. , Frisone Alessio , Amuso D. , Tari Sergio Rexhep
Published: June 2024

Background

Various techniques have been employed in aesthetic medicine to combat skin aging, in particular that of the facial region. Hyaluronic acid is utilized to enhance moisture levels and extracellular matrix molecules. This study aims to histologically assess the effects of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid fragments combined with amino acids (HAAM) on facial skin rejuvenation through intradermal microinjections.

Methods

A total of twenty women, with an average age of 45 and ranging from 35 to 64 years old, participated in the study, including 8 in menopause and 12 in the childbearing age group. Mesotherapy was used to administer HAAM to the patients. Prior to and three months after the treatment, each patient underwent small circular punch biopsies. Ultrasound examinations were conducted using B-mode, capturing 2D images in longitudinal or transverse orientations with frequencies ranging from 5 to 13 Mega-hertz (MY LAB X8, ESAOTE, Genova, Italy). A total of 60 ultrasound examinations were taken, with 30 collected before treatment and 30 after treatment.

Results

The histological analysis demonstrates an increase in fibroblast activity resulting in the production of Type III reticular collagen, as well as an increased number of blood vessels and epidermal thickness. However, the analysis of ultrasound data before and after treatment showed no statistical difference in skin thickness in malar area, chin and mandibular angle.

Conclusions

Histological assessments indicate that subcutaneous infiltration of HAAM has a substantial impact on the dermis of facial skin.
Shell stand: Stable thin shell models for 3D fabrication
Authors: Xing Yu , Wang Xiaoxuan , Lu Lin , Sharf Andrei , Cohen-Or Daniel , Tu Changhe
Published: June 2024

A thin shell model refers to a surface or structure, where the object’s thickness is considered negligible. In the context of 3D printing, thin shell models are characterized by having lightweight, hollow structures, and reduced material usage. Their versatility and visual appeal make them popular in various fields, such as cloth simulation, character skinning, and for thin-walled structures like leaves, paper, or metal sheets. Nevertheless, optimization of thin shell models without external support remains a challenge due to their minimal interior operational space. For the same reasons, hollowing methods are also unsuitable for this task. In fact, thin shell modulation methods are required to preserve the visual appearance of a two-sided surface which further constrain the problem space. In this paper, we introduce a new visual disparity metric tailored for shell models, integrating local details and global shape attributes in terms of visual perception. Our method modulates thin shell models using global deformations and local thickening while accounting for visual saliency, stability, and structural integrity. Thereby, thin shell models such as bas-reliefs, hollow shapes, and cloth can be stabilized to stand in arbitrary orientations, making them ideal for 3D printing.
Association between social jetlag and weight and fat reduction in dieting
Authors: Minabe Kai , Shimura Akiyoshi , Sugiura Ko , Hino Hiroko , Akatsuka Yusaku , Seto Takeshi , Yanai Miho , Masuya Jiro , Tamada Yu , Inoue Takeshi
Published: June 2024

Objectives: Social jetlag (SJL), the discrepancy between an individual’s inherent circadian rhythm and external social schedule, is associated with obesity. This study aimed to investigate whether SJL also influences body weight and body fat loss during dieting. Methods: This was an observational study from 2015 to 2018 with participants who had joined an exercise and nutrition program at a private personal training gym. Data from 11,829 individuals provided by the gym along with their sleep logs were analyzed. Differences in change in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%body fat) were compared by the degree of SJL. Regression was conducted for the change in BMI and %body fat on SJL, adjusted for gender, age, engagement duration in the program, initial BMI, initial %body fat, chronotype, and dietary intakes. Results: The subjects comprised 3,696 men and 8,133 women with a mean age of 40.4 years. Greater SJL was associated with a lower efficacy of BMI and %body fat reduction. The change in BMI (+ 0.56 / hour: SJL) and %body fat (+ 1.40 / hour: SJL) was associated with SJL after adjusting for each variable including dietary intake. Conclusion: SJL was associated with the effect of exercise and nutrition instruction on BMI and body fat reduction, even after adjustment for covariates related to dietary intake. Maintaining consistent sleep–wake rhythms may be crucial for enhancing the efficacy of weight loss programs.
Material Dissonances in the Post-Conflict City: Re-Presencing Social Injustice in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Authors: McAtackney Laura
Published: June 2024

The city of Belfast in Northern Ireland has been made and remade through cycles of violence during its 400-year “history.” The most recent manifestation of violent conflict associated with the city was a low-level civil war euphemistically known as “the Troubles” (ca. 1968–ca. 1998). Alongside the enduring markers of bombings, civil unrest, and attempts to police and disrupt them, presences and absences can also be assigned to forced and facilitated movements of communities, the “planned violence” (O’Neill 2018) of road-building schemes, and what were designated at the time as “slum clearances.” But there have been attempts to disrupt—and reinsert—attempted erasures of conflict when associated with enduring social injustices. This article will examine a site associated with the bombing of McGurk's Bar in 1971 to reveal how the material memory of the past has been “re-presenced” to disrupt attempts to disappear sectarian violence as a form of activism in the contemporary.
Hybrid Nonlinear Model Predictive Motion Control of a Heavy-duty Bionic Caterpillar-like Robot
Authors: Li Dongyi , Lu Kun , Cheng Yong , Wu Huapeng , Handroos Heikki , Yang Songzhu , Zhang Yu , Pan Hongtao
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the motion control of the heavy-duty Bionic Caterpillar-like Robot (BCR) for the maintenance of the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR). Initially, a comprehensive nonlinear mathematical model for the BCR system is formulated using a physics-based approach. The nonlinear components of the model are compensated through nonlinear feedback linearization. Subsequently, a fuzzy-based regulator is employed to enhance the receding horizon optimization process for achieving optimal results. A Deep Neural Network (DNN) is trained to address disturbances. Consequently, a novel hybrid controller incorporating Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC), the Fuzzy Regulator (FR), and Deep Neural Network Feedforward (DNNF), named NMPC-FRDNNF is developed. Finally, the efficacy of the control system is validated through simulations and experiments. The results indicate that the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the controller with FR and DNNF decreases by 33.2 and 48.9%, respectively, compared to the controller without these enhancements. This research provides a theoretical foundation and practical insights for ensuring the future highly stable, safe, and efficient maintenance of blankets.
The application for innovative methods and materials for greater sustainability in residential buildings in the UK: “a bibliometric review”
Authors: Turner Jordan , Daniel Emmanuel Itodo , Chinyio Ezekiel
Published: June 2024

The provision of sustainable housing should factor energy efficiency, the use of sustainable building methods and materials and address the current associated barriers. This consideration triggered an ongoing study in UK which has so far conducted a bibliometric analysis of 275 papers using the VOSviewer software. More papers have been published in the last 5 years compared to the previous 15, and the UK is less engaged in successful collaborations in comparison to other economically developed nations. The lesser use of innovation in the UK has been identified. Also, the uses of sustainable methods and materials in residential housing are not fully exploited for achieving energy efficiency. A future research direction emerging is the potential to study the combined impact of using innovative materials and methods to achieve greater energy efficiency in UK housing provision. Through technological innovations and the need to move from fossil fuels (for example, through the use of heat pumps) a new approach can move the UK closer to achieving net-zero in housing provision and operations.
A thermogravimetric analysis of residual char formation by gilsonite-filled, polyfurfuryl alcohol composites: acid treatment of gilsonite
Authors: Ghazi Shiva , Marefat Seyedlar Roghayyeh , Naderpour Navid , Imani Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Gilsonite (GLS), a natural bitumen containing a considerable amount of asphaltenes, is expected to leave heavy char after pyrolysis; however, its high potential as an efficient filler to enhance the thermal properties of composite materials is surprisingly neglected throughout the literature. On the other hand, polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) has attracted much attention as a thermosetting resin due to its excellent char-leaving characteristics, the renewable nature of the monomer(s), and high accessibility at an affordable cost. This study aimed to investigate the thermal stability and char-forming performance of composites made of a PFA resin matrix filled with chemically modified GLS. To modify the ash and sulfur contents of GLS, the nitric acid leaching process was performed according to a D-optimal experimental design approach. The nitric acid concentration (10, 20, and 30 wt.%), treatment time (30, 75, and 120 min), and reaction temperature (30 °C, 50 °C, and 70 °C) were set as the input variables. The morphology (SEM), chemical structure (FTIR), thermal stability (TGA), sulfur content, and ash content of the GLS particles were characterized before and after acid treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the lowest ash content for GLS after treatment with 10 wt.% acid conc. at 75 °C for 75 min. The nitric acid concentration, reaction temperature, and time were the most influential parameters for improving the ash content of GLS according to their order of appearance. In addition, the inorganic form of sulfur, pyrite, was separated through the acid leaching process. Then, the PFA resin matrix was filled with modified GLS particles at different weight percentages (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) and cured in the presence of an acid catalyst. The thermal stability of the PFA resin was negatively affected by the presence of GLS, probably due to oxidation reactions and disruption of the integrity of the resin structure.
CFNAM-PG: Bridging Phonetic and Glyphic Information for Chinese Full Name and Abbreviation Matching Based on Simbert and DenseNet
Authors: Wang Dongsheng , Feng Yue , Li Jiawei , Liu Sha , Zhou Miaomiao , Zhang Diming , Li Huige
Published: June 2024

Matching abbreviated names with their full names (full-abbr matching) plays a key role in data integration, address matching, information retrieval, and other fields. Traditional full-abbr matching technology often encounters issues related to near homophones and near homoglyphs. First, a near-homophone full-abbr matching model based on Simbert and VGG was first proposed, which integrates character and speech features, leveraging a speech recognition model and combining a brain-like cognitive learning dual-process mechanism which involves linguistic knowledge and neural network together. Second, to address the problem of near-homoglyph full-abbr matching in Chinese, a DenseNet-based model that fuses glyph structure and image features was proposed, in which statistical feature extractors are employed to extract feature vectors for glyphic features including stroke, Wubi and structural features separately. Lastly, the near-homophone model and the near-homoglyph model are coupled to work together in the full-abbr matching task, in which expert knowledge is used as a component of the feature optimizer. Experimental results showed that the integrated model significantly increased the matching accuracy to 87.5%, demonstrating a 12.3% improvement.
Enhancing the Performance and Accuracy in Real-Time Football and Player Detection Using Upgraded YOLOv5 Architecture
Authors: Zhao Keyan
Published: June 2024

The study presents a significantly improved version of the YOLOv5 real-time object detection model for football player recognition. The proposed technique includes feature-tuning and hyper-parameter optimization methods that have been carefully selected to enhance both speed and accuracy, resulting in a superior real-time performance of the YOLOv5 architecture. Furthermore, the YOLOv5 model incorporates a SimSPPF module that enables multi-scale feature extraction with less computational power, making it a highly efficient and effective solution. We selected the GhostNet module to reduce complexity and the Slim scale detection layer for precise bounding box prediction. Our tests, conducted with recordings of multiple football matches, demonstrate that our model accurately detects both the football and players even in complex scenarios with occlusions and dynamic illumination. The suggested method outperforms the original YOLOv5n model in terms of precision, recall, and mean average precision at 0.5 IoU. It is also more computationally efficient. This method has potential applications in live broadcasting, player monitoring, and sports analytics. The upgraded YOLOv5 model demonstrates superior accuracy and efficiency compared to previous methods that rely on traditional image processing techniques or two-stage detectors. This makes it highly suitable for practical, real-world deployments.
An appraisal of the problems related to the application of Casagrande Plasticity Chart and Unified Soil Classification System in classifying lateritic soils in Nigeria
Authors: Afolagboye Lekan Olatayo , Ilesanmi Babafemi Issac , Abdu‑Raheem Yusuf Ademola
Published: June 2024

Lateritic soil is the predominant soil type in Nigeria, making its accurate classification crucial for understanding its engineering properties in foundation and construction applications. Various classification systems for residual soils exist, based on pedological, geochemical, or engineering criteria. However, the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) is widely used globally for classifying lateritic soil. It has been noted that the field behavior of many lateritic soils classified under the USCS often does not correspond with their positions on the Casagrande Chart. This review paper examines the classification challenges associated with lateritic soils in Nigeria using both the Casagrande Plasticity Chart and the USCS, focusing on the soil properties that contribute to these difficulties. Existing literature detailing the consistency limits, plasticity characteristics, and grain size distributions of lateritic soils derived from various parent rocks was analyzed to construct a Casagrande Plasticity (CP) classification chart specific to Nigerian lateritic soils. The analysis indicates that most lateritic soils fall above the A-line, in regions typically designated for clay soils, leading to their classification as either low plasticity clay (CL) or high plasticity clay (CH). However, these classifications often do not reflect the primary compositional characteristics of the soils. This discrepancy is likely due to the limitations of the classification tests used for lateritic soils. Factors such as coating and cementing agents, degree of pre-drying, chemical treatment, and mechanical instability can affect the test results. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution when using the Casagrande chart for classifying lateritic soils, considering the unique attributes of residual soils, including their in-situ structures and properties influenced by weathering effects. Recognizing the limitations and understanding the weaknesses of current classification systems can facilitate the development of more appropriate methods and better evaluation techniques for these critical construction materials.
Process‐Based Atmosphere‐Hydrology‐Malaria Modeling: Performance for Spatio‐Temporal Malaria Transmission Dynamics in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Dieng Mame Diarra Bousso , Tompkins Adrian M. , Arnault Joël , Sié Ali , Fersch Benjamin , Laux Patrick , Schwarz Maximilian , Zabré Pascal , Munga Stephen , Khagayi Sammy , Diouf Ibrahima , Kunstmann Harald
Published: June 2024

With the goal of eradication by 2030, Malaria poses a significant health threat, profoundly influenced by meteorological and hydrological conditions. In support of malaria vector control efforts, we present a high‐resolution, coupled physically‐based modeling approach integrating WRF‐Hydro and VECTRI. This model approach accurately captures topographic details at the scale of larvae habitats in the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Our study demonstrates the proficiency of the high‐resolution hydrometeorological model, WRF‐Hydro, in replicating observed climate characteristics. Comparisons with in‐situ local weather data reveal root mean square errors between 0.6 and 0.87 mm/day for rainfall and correlations ranging from 0.79 to 0.87 for temperatures. Additionally, WRF‐Hydro's surface hydrology reproduces the seasonal and intraseasonal variability of the ponded water fraction with 96% accuracy, validated against Sentinel‐1 data at a 100‐m resolution. The VECTRI model demonstrates sensitivity to surface hydrology representation, particularly when comparing conceptual and detailed physical process models, for variables such as larvae density, mosquito abundance, and EIR. The model's ability to replicate the seasonality of malaria transmission aligns well with available cohort malaria data suggesting its potential for predicting the impacts of climate change on mosquito abundance and transmission intensity in endemic tropical and subtropical zones. This integrated approach opens avenues for enhanced understanding and proactive management of malaria.
First Observations of Severe Scintillation Over Low‐to‐Mid Latitudes Driven by Quiet‐Time Extreme Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: Conjugate Measurements Enabled by Citizen Science Initiatives
Authors: Sousasantos J. , Rodrigues F. S. , Gomez Socola J. , Pérez C. , Colvero F. , Martinis C. R. , Wrasse C. M.
Published: June 2024

Low‐cost instrumentation combined with volunteering and citizen science educational initiatives allowed the deployment of L‐band scintillation monitors to remote sense areas that are geomagnetically conjugated and located at low‐to‐mid latitudes in the American sector (Quebradillas in Puerto Rico and Santa Maria in Brazil). On 10 and 11 October, 2023, both monitors detected severe scintillations, some reaching dip latitudes beyond 26°N. The observations show conjugacy in the spatio‐temporal evolution of the scintillation‐causing irregularities. With the aid of collocated all‐sky airglow imager observations, it was shown that the observed scintillation event was caused by extreme equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) reaching geomagnetic apex altitudes exceeding 2,200 km. The observations suggest that geomagnetic conjugate large‐scale structures produced conditions for the development of intermediate scale (few 100 s of meters) in both hemispheres, leading to scintillation at conjugate locations. Finally, unlike previous reports, it is shown that the extreme EPBs‐driven scintillation reported here developed under geomagnetically quiet conditions.
Placebo effects in randomized trials of pharmacological and neurostimulation interventions for mental disorders: An umbrella review
Authors: Huneke Nathan T. M. , Amin Jay , Baldwin David S. , Bellato Alessio , Brandt Valerie , Chamberlain Samuel R. , Correll Christoph U. , Eudave Luis , Garner Matthew , Gosling Corentin J. , Hill Catherine M. , Hou Ruihua , Howes Oliver D. , Ioannidis Konstantinos , Köhler-Forsberg Ole , Marzulli Lucia , Reed Claire , Sinclair Julia M. A. , Singh Satneet , Solmi Marco , Cortese Samuele
Published: June 2024

There is a growing literature exploring the placebo response within specific mental disorders, but no overarching quantitative synthesis of this research has analyzed evidence across mental disorders. We carried out an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of biological treatments (pharmacotherapy or neurostimulation) for mental disorders. We explored whether placebo effect size differs across distinct disorders, and the correlates of increased placebo effects. Based on a pre-registered protocol, we searched Medline, PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Web of Knowledge up to 23.10.2022 for systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses reporting placebo effect sizes in psychopharmacological or neurostimulation RCTs. Twenty meta-analyses, summarising 1,691 RCTs involving 261,730 patients, were included. Placebo effect size varied, and was large in alcohol use disorder (g = 0.90, 95% CI [0.70, 1.09]), depression (g = 1.10, 95% CI [1.06, 1.15]), restless legs syndrome (g = 1.41, 95% CI [1.25, 1.56]), and generalized anxiety disorder (d = 1.85, 95% CI [1.61, 2.09]). Placebo effect size was small-to-medium in obsessive-compulsive disorder (d = 0.32, 95% CI [0.22, 0.41]), primary insomnia (g = 0.35, 95% CI [0.28, 0.42]), and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (standardized mean change = 0.33, 95% CI [0.22, 0.44]). Correlates of larger placebo response in multiple mental disorders included later publication year (opposite finding for ADHD), younger age, more trial sites, larger sample size, increased baseline severity, and larger active treatment effect size. Most (18 of 20) meta-analyses were judged ‘low’ quality as per AMSTAR-2. Placebo effect sizes varied substantially across mental disorders. Future research should explore the sources of this variation. We identified important gaps in the literature, with no eligible systematic reviews/meta-analyses of placebo response in stress-related disorders, eating disorders, behavioural addictions, or bipolar mania.
Climate change and inequality
Authors: Parsons Ella Sandrine , Jowell Ashley , Veidis Erika , Barry Michele , Israni Sonoo Thadaney
Published: June 2024

This review explores how climate change is manifesting along existing lines of inequality and thus further exacerbating current health disparities with a particular focus on children and future generations. Climate change risk and vulnerability are not equally distributed, nor is the adaptive capacity to respond to its adverse effects, which include health consequences, economic impacts, and displacement. Existing lines of inequality are already magnifying the adverse effects of climate change. Today’s children and future generations will experience a disproportionate number of adverse climate events than prior generations, especially children in lower-income populations, communities of color, and Indigenous communities. In order to mitigate the crisis of inequity accompanying the climate crisis, systemic action must be taken on a global scale – with a focus on protecting children and future generations, and in empowering youth-led environmental activism and engagement in climate policy.

Impact statement

Our review offers a current summary of the ways in which inequality is manifesting with respect to climate change in children and future generations.

Rather than use a systematic review, we opted to use a theoretical framework to guide our review. We divided the effects of climate change into three effect pathways: via disruptions in (i) climate and weather, (ii) ecosystems, and (iii) society.

By dividing our review in this theoretical framework, we can better suggest targeted public health interventions at each effect level. Furthermore, we are able to successfully identify literature gaps and areas of future research.
Photoacoustic imaging for non-invasive assessment of biomarkers of intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Weis Jared A. , Rauh Jessica L. , Ellison Maryssa A. , Cruz-Diaz Nildris , Yamaleyeva Liliya M. , Welch Cherrie D. , Zeller Kristen A. , Weis Victoria G.
Published: June 2024

Background

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an often-lethal disease of the premature infant intestinal tract, exacerbated by significant diagnostic difficulties. In NEC, the intestine exhibits hypoperfusion and dysmotility, contributing to disease pathogenesis. However, these features cannot be accurately and quantitively assessed with current imaging modalities. We have previously demonstrated the ability of photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to non-invasively assess intestinal tissue oxygenation and motility in a healthy neonatal rat model.

Methods

In this first-in-disease application, we evaluated NEC using PAI to assess intestinal health biomarkers in an experimental model of NEC. NEC was induced in neonatal rats from birth to 4-days. Healthy breastfed (BF) and NEC rat pups were imaged at 2- and 4-days.

Results

Intestinal tissue oxygen saturation was measured with PAI, and NEC pups showed significant decreases at 2- and 4-days. Ultrasound and PAI cine recordings were used to capture intestinal peristalsis and contrast agent transit within the intestine. Intestinal motility, assessed using computational intestinal deformation analysis, demonstrated significant reductions in both early and established NEC. NEC damage was confirmed with histology and dysmotility was confirmed by small intestinal transit assay.

Conclusion

This preclinical study presents PAI as an emerging diagnostic imaging modality for intestinal disease assessment in premature infants.

Impact

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease affecting premature infants with significant mortality.

NEC presents significant clinical diagnostic difficulties, with limited diagnostic confidence complicating timely and effective interventional efforts.

This study is an important foundational first-in-disease preclinical study that establishes the utility for PAI to detect changes in intestinal tissue oxygenation and intestinal motility with NEC disease induction and progression.

This study demonstrates the feasibility and exceptional promise for the use of PAI to non-invasively assess oxygenation and motility in the healthy and diseased infant intestine.
Social determinants of health inequalities in early phase clinical trials in Northern England
Authors: Rae S. , Shaya S. , Taylor E. , Hoben J. , Oluwashegun D. , Lowe H. , Haris N. , Bashir S. , Oing C. , Krebs M. G. , Thistlethwaite F. C. , Carter L. , Cook N. , Greystoke A. , Graham D. M. , Plummer R.
Published: June 2024

Background

Early phase clinical trials in Oncology represent a subspecialised area where UK patient selection is influenced by access to Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs). Equity of access with respect to social determinants of health (SDoH) were explored for two major ECMCs.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study including all referrals to Newcastle and Manchester ECMCs in 2021 was completed. Consent to screening or pre-screening was stratified against SDoH characteristics, including: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile, ethnicity and distance to centre.

Results

1243 patients were referred for trials. IMD quintile 1 (most deprived) patients had reduced likelihood of referral compared to expected population models (OR, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.80, p = <0.0001). IMD quintile 5 (least deprived) had increased likelihood of referral (OR, 1.46; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.82, p = 0.0007). Living beyond median distance from Manchester reduced the likelihood of consenting to trials (OR, 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.94, p = 0.015). Ethnicity data represented a White British propensity.

Conclusions

Inequalities in socioeconomic and geographic factors influence referral and enrolment to early phase clinical trials in Northern England. This has implications for equity of access and generalisability of trial results internationally and warrants further study.
Hormone replacement therapy and cancer mortality in women with 17 site-specific cancers: a cohort study using linked medical records
Authors: Cardwell Chris R. , Ranger Tom A. , Labeit Alexander M. , Coupland Carol A. C. , Hicks Blánaid , Hughes Carmel , McMenamin Úna , Mei Xue W. , Murchie Peter , Hippisley-Cox Julia
Published: June 2024

Background

There is limited evidence on the safety of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in women with cancer. Therefore, we systematically examined HRT use and cancer-specific mortality in women with 17 site-specific cancers.

Methods

Women newly diagnosed with 17 site-specific cancers from 1998 to 2019, were identified from general practitioner (GP) records, hospital diagnoses or cancer registries in Scotland, Wales and England. Breast cancer patients were excluded because HRT is contraindicated in breast cancer patients. The primary outcome was time to cancer-specific mortality. Time-dependent Cox regression models were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer-specific mortality by systemic HRT use.

Results

The combined cancer cohorts contained 182,589 women across 17 cancer sites. Overall 7% of patients used systemic HRT after their cancer diagnosis. There was no evidence that HRT users, compared with non-users, had higher cancer-specific mortality at any cancer site. In particular, no increase was observed in common cancers including lung (adjusted HR = 0.98 95% CI 0.90, 1.07), colorectal (adjusted HR = 0.79 95% CI 0.70, 0.90), and melanoma (adjusted HR = 0.77 95% CI 0.58, 1.02).

Conclusions

We observed no evidence of increased cancer-specific mortality in women with a range of cancers (excluding breast) receiving HRT.
A replication-deficient gammaherpesvirus vaccine protects mice from lytic disease and reduces latency establishment
Authors: Bland Wesley A. , Mitra Dipanwita , Owens Shana , McEvoy Kyle , Hogan Chad H. , Boccuzzi Luciarita , Kirillov Varvara , Meyer Thomas J. , Khairallah Camille , Sheridan Brian S. , Forrest J. Craig , Krug Laurie T.
Published: June 2024

Gammaherpesviruses are oncogenic viruses that establish lifelong infections and are significant causes of morbidity and mortality. Vaccine strategies to limit gammaherpesvirus infection and disease are in development, but there are no FDA-approved vaccines for Epstein-Barr or Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. As a new approach to gammaherpesvirus vaccination, we developed and tested a replication-deficient virus (RDV) platform, using murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68), a well-established mouse model for gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis studies and preclinical therapeutic evaluations. We employed codon-shuffling-based complementation to generate revertant-free RDV lacking expression of the essential replication and transactivator protein encoded by ORF50 to arrest viral gene expression early after de novo infection. Inoculation with RDV-50.stop exposes the host to intact virion particles and leads to limited lytic gene expression in infected cells yet does not produce additional infectious particles. Prime-boost vaccination of mice with RDV-50.stop elicited virus-specific neutralizing antibody and effector T cell responses in the lung and spleen. In contrast to vaccination with heat-inactivated WT MHV68, vaccination with RDV-50.stop resulted in a near complete abolishment of virus replication in the lung 7 days post-challenge and reduction of latency establishment in the spleen 16 days post-challenge with WT MHV68. Ifnar1−/− mice, which lack the type I interferon receptor, exhibit severe disease and high mortality upon infection with WT MHV68. RDV-50.stop vaccination of Ifnar1−/− mice prevented wasting and mortality upon challenge with WT MHV68. These results demonstrate that prime-boost vaccination with a gammaherpesvirus that is unable to undergo lytic replication offers protection against acute replication, impairs the establishment of latency, and prevents severe disease upon the WT virus challenge. Our study also reveals that the ability of a gammaherpesvirus to persist in vivo despite potent pre-existing immunity is an obstacle to obtaining sterilizing immunity.
De novo DNA-based catch bonds
Authors: van Galen Martijn , Bok Annemarie , Peshkovsky Taieesa , van der Gucht Jasper , Albada Bauke , Sprakel Joris
Published: June 2024

All primary chemical interactions weaken under mechanical stress, which imposes fundamental mechanical limits on the materials constructed from them. Biological materials combine plasticity with strength, for which nature has evolved a unique solution—catch bonds, supramolecular interactions that strengthen under tension. Biological catch bonds use force-gated conformational switches to convert weak bonds into strong ones. So far, catch bonds remain exclusive to nature, leaving their potential as mechanoadaptive elements in synthetic systems untapped. Here we report the design and realization of artificial catch bonds. Starting from a minimal set of thermodynamic design requirements, we created a molecular motif capable of catch bonding. It consists of a DNA duplex featuring a cryptic domain that unfolds under tension to strengthen the interaction. We show that these catch bonds recreate force-enhanced rolling adhesion, a hallmark feature of biological catch bonds in bacteria and leukocytes. This Article introduces catch bonds into the synthetic domain, and could lead to the creation of artificial catch-bonded materials.
Improving postharvest quality and vase life of cut rose flowers by pre-harvest foliar co-applications of γ-aminobutyric acid and calcium chloride
Authors: Ehsanimehr Narges , Hosseinifarahi Mehdi , Abdipour Moslem , Eshghi Saeid , Jamali Babak
Published: June 2024

Rose flowers (Rosa hybrida L.) are highly perishable and have a limited vase life. This study evaluated the effects of preharvest foliar applications of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2), individually and combined, on antioxidant responses and vase life of cut Jumilia rose flowers. Treatments included foliar sprays of GABA at 0, 20, 40, and 60 mM and CaCl2 at 0, 0.75%, and 1.5%, applied in a factorial design within a completely randomized setup before harvest. Results showed GABA and CaCl2 interaction (especially, 60 mM GABA and 1.5% CaCl2) significantly increased enzymatic antioxidants including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity in petals compared to control. SOD activity in roses, treated with CaCl2 (1.5%) and GABA (60 mM), peaked at 7.86 units. mg−1 protein min−1, showing a nearly 2.93-fold increase over the control (2.68 units. mg−1 protein min−1). A parallel trend was observed for CAT activity. These treatments also reduced petal malondialdehyde content and polyphenol oxidase activity. Protein content and vase life duration increased in all treatments. Plants treated with a combination of GABA (20 mM) and CaCl2 (0.75%), GABA (60 mM) and CaCl2 (1.5%), or GABA (40 mM) individually exhibited the longest vase life duration. The co-application of GABA and CaCl2 improved the antioxidant activity and postharvest quality of cut roses by reducing PPO activity and MDA contents, increasing protein content and prolonging vase life. This treatment is a potential postharvest strategy to improve antioxidant capacity and delay senescence in cut roses.
CMCS: contrastive-metric learning via vector-level sampling and augmentation for code search
Authors: Song Qihong , Hu Haize , Dai Tebo
Published: June 2024

Code search aims to search for code snippets from large codebase that are semantically related to natural query statements. Deep learning is a valuable method for solving code search tasks in which the quality of training data directly impacts the performance of deep-learning models. However, most existing deep-learning models for code search research have overlooked the critical role of training data within batches, particularly hard negative samples, in optimizing model parameters. In this paper, we propose contrastive-metric learning CMCS for code search based on vector-level sampling and augmentation. Specifically, we propose a sampling method to obtain hard negative samples based on the K-means algorithm and a hardness-controllable sample augmentation method to obtain positive and hard negative samples based on vector-level augmentation techniques. We then design an optimization objective composed of metric learning and multimodal contrastive learning using obtained positive and hard negative samples. Extensive experiments were conducted on the large-scale dataset CodeSearchNet using seven advanced code search models. The results show that our proposed method significantly enhances the training efficiency and search performance of code search models, which is conducive to promoting software engineering development.