bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Core–Shell CaFe1.925Sm0.05Gd0.025O4 @ Polymer from Synthesis to Applications
Authors: Ateia Ebtesam E. , Saeid Y. A.
Published: July 2023

A novel core/shell nanoferrite material has been developed for use in various potential applications. Rare-earth doped calcium-ferrite with the compositional formula$$\text{Ca}{\text{Fe}}_{1.925}{\text{Sm}}_{0.05}{\text{Gd}}_{0.025}{\text O}_4$$CaFe1.925Sm0.05Gd0.025O4 was prepared as a core using the citrate auto-combustion method before being coated with PVA as a polymeric shell. High crystalline and single-phase orthorhombic nanoparticles are confirmed by XR-D (X-ray diffraction). An estimate has been made for the mean size of the crystal structures by analyzing the broadening of XR-D lines within a range of 20 nanometers. HR-TEM (high-resolution tunnelling electron microscope) micrographs also showed that the particles had an orthorhombic shape with well-defined boundaries. EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray) and FT-IR were used to investigate the elemental constitution and the molecular structure of samples. The dielectric properties were discussed in the basics of interfacial polarization and Koop`s model. The anti-ferromagnetic nature of the samples was identified by a VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer). The proposed composition was found to improve the electromagnetic absorption performance, which was confirmed with the measurements of optical parameters from the absorbance spectrum recorded by the UV–VIS–NIR spectroscope. The optical band-gap and Urbach energies of the synthesized samples have been investigated, in addition to the refractive index and the extinction coefficient. The Wemple-DiDomenico oscillator model was used to examine the dispersion energies.
Frequency of Private Prayer Predicts Survival Over 6 Years in a Nationwide U.S. Sample of Individuals with a Chronic Illness
Authors: Ironson Gail , Ahmad Salman Shaheen
Published: July 2023

Prayer is central to religious/spiritual life, and there are many claims for its effectiveness. However, few studies have examined whether frequency of prayer predicts survival in people with a chronic illness. This study follows a nationwide United States sample of people with a chronic illness (N = 1931) from 2014 to 2020. Those who prayed on a daily basis or more were significantly more likely to survive over 6 years (Hazard Ratio = 1.48; 95% Confidence Intervals: 1.08–2.03) compared with those who prayed less often, after controlling for biomedical variables (age, medical symptoms), sociodemographics (sex, race, and education), psychosocial variables (depression, social support), and health behaviors (alcohol use, smoking, exercise, and body mass index/weight).
On the Provable Contradictions of the Connexive Logics C and C3
Authors: Niki Satoru , Wansing Heinrich
Published: July 2023

Despite the tendency to be otherwise, some non-classical logics are known to validate formulas that are invalid in classical logic. A subclass of such systems even possesses pairs of a formula and its negation as theorems, without becoming trivial. How should these provable contradictions be understood? The present paper aims to shed light on aspects of this phenomenon by taking as samples the constructive connexive logic C, which is obtained by a simple modification of a system of constructible falsity, namely N4, as well as its non-constructive extension C3. For these systems, various observations concerning provable contradictions are made, using mainly a proof-theoretic approach. The topics covered in this paper include: how new contradictions are found from parts of provable contradictions; how to characterise provable contradictions in C3 that are constructive; how contradictions can be seen from the relative viewpoint of strong implication; and as an appendix an attempt at generating provable contradictions in C3.
Group Well Child Care for Mothers with Opioid Use Disorder: Framework for Implementation
Authors: Goyal Neera , Gannon Meghan , Sood Erica , Harris Grace , Franko Elizabeth , Abatemarco Diane J. , Hand Dennis J. , Leib Susan , Short Vanessa L.
Published: July 2023

Objective

For parents with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their children, group well child care (WCC) is an under-studied intervention that may reduce stigma, increase quality of care, and improve clinical outcomes. We explored barriers and facilitators to this intervention using an implementation science framework.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted from October 2020–March 2021 as part of the planning phase of a cluster-randomized trial of group WCC. Parent participants were recruited from one urban, university-affiliated OUD treatment center to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews. Eligible parents had a child under two years old and were English speaking. Clinician participants were recruited from a nearby pediatric primary care practice. Inductive thematic analysis of interview responses was led by two investigators using open coding procedures.

Results

Thirty-one parents and thirteen pediatric clinicians participated in the interviews. Most parents (68%) reported that they would be likely or very likely to bring their child to the OUD treatment center for WCC. Six themes emerged describing perceived implementation barriers, including intervention difficulty, complexity, and potential negative outcomes such as loss of privacy. Six themes emerged as implementation facilitators: (1) focus on parental OUD and recovery, (2) peer support, (3) accessibility and coordination of care, (4) clinician skill and expertise in parental OUD, (5) increased time for patient care, and (6) continuity of care.

Conclusions for Practice

Parents and clinicians expressed multiple perceived benefits of this intervention. Identified barriers and facilitators will inform implementation and evaluation of group WCC within one OUD treatment program.
An overview of ensemble and feature learning in few-shot image classification using siamese networks
Authors: Valero-Mas Jose J. , Gallego Antonio Javier , Rico-Juan Juan Ramón
Published: July 2023

Siamese Neural Networks (SNNs) constitute one of the most representative approaches for addressing Few-Shot Image Classification. These schemes comprise a set of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models whose weights are shared across the network, which results in fewer parameters to train and less tendency to overfit. This fact eventually leads to better convergence capabilities than standard neural models when considering scarce amounts of data. Based on a contrastive principle, the SNN scheme jointly trains these inner CNN models to map the input image data to an embedded representation that may be later exploited for the recognition process. However, in spite of their extensive use in the related literature, the representation capabilities of SNN schemes have neither been thoroughly assessed nor combined with other strategies for boosting their classification performance. Within this context, this work experimentally studies the capabilities of SNN architectures for obtaining a suitable embedded representation in scenarios with a severe data scarcity, assesses the use of train data augmentation for improving the feature learning process, introduces the use of transfer learning techniques for further exploiting the embedded representations obtained by the model, and uses test data augmentation for boosting the performance capabilities of the SNN scheme by mimicking an ensemble learning process. The results obtained with different image corpora report that the combination of the commented techniques achieves classification rates ranging from 69% to 78% with just 5 to 20 prototypes per class whereas the CNN baseline considered is unable to converge. Furthermore, upon the convergence of the baseline model with the sufficient amount of data, still the adequate use of the studied techniques improves the accuracy in figures from 4% to 9%.
Towards spatio-temporal crime events prediction
Authors: Alghamdi Jawaher , Al-Dala’in Thair
Published: July 2023

The importance of early prediction in reducing the impact of crime cannot be overstated. Machine learning algorithms have proven to be effective in this regard, but their inability to capture key features automatically can be a hindrance. To overcome this challenge, we propose a deep neural network model that is capable of extracting salient features automatically for predicting crime categories using real-world crime data sourced from the Chicago open data portal. To ensure the robustness of our proposed model, we carried out an extensive exploratory data analysis to determine the impact of socioeconomic indicators on crime occurrences. Additionally, we implemented a data upsampling technique to handle class imbalance issues, and we leveraged hyperparameter optimization algorithms to fine-tune the model. The results of our study were impressive. Our proposed model outperformed the baseline model and other algorithms, with an average improvement of 6% in macro F1 score. This suggests that our model is highly effective, if not superior, in predicting crime categories accurately. Overall, our study provides a solid framework for using deep neural network models in crime prediction, while highlighting the importance of automatic feature extraction in enhancing the accuracy of predictions. By reducing the impact of crime through early prediction, we can help to create a safer and more secure society.
Exploring available landslide inventories for susceptibility analysis in Gipuzkoa province (Spain)
Authors: Bornaetxea Txomin , Remondo Juan , Bonachea Jaime , Valenzuela Pablo
Published: July 2023

Similar to many mountainous regions of the world, landslides are a recurrent geological hazard in the Gipuzkoa province (northern Spain) that commonly cause damage to communication infrastructure, such as roads and railways. This geomorphological process also threatens buildings and human beings, albeit to a lesser degree. Over time, different institutions and academic research groups have individually collected crucial information on historic and ancient landslides in this region, resulting in various landslide inventories. However, these inventories have not been collectively assessed, and their suitability for landslide susceptibility modelling projects has often been assumed without comprehensive evaluation. In this study, we propose a simplified method to explore, describe, and compare the various landslide inventories in a specific study area to assess their suitability for landslide susceptibility modelling. Additionally, we present the results of an illustrative experiment that demonstrates the direct effect of using different inventories in landslide susceptibility modelling through a data-driven approach. We found that out of the five digitally available inventories in the study area, only three provide sufficient guarantees to be used as input data for susceptibility modelling. Furthermore, we observed that each individual inventory exhibited inherent biases, which directly influenced the resulting susceptibility map. We believe that our proposed methods can be easily replicated in other study areas where multiple landslide inventory sources exist, and that our work will induce other researchers to conduct preliminary assessments of their inventories as a critical step prior to any landslide susceptibility modelling project.
An investigation into model extrapolation and stability in the system identification of a nonlinear structure
Authors: Anastasio D. , Marchesiello S. , Gatti G. , Gonçalves P. J. P. , Shaw A. D. , Brennan M. J.
Published: July 2023

Estimating a nonlinear model from experimental measurements of a vibrating structure remains a challenge, despite huge progress in recent years. A major issue is that the dynamical behaviour of a nonlinear structure strongly depends on the magnitude of the displacement response. Thus, the validity of an identified model is generally limited to a certain range of motion. Also, outside this range, the stability of the solutions predicted by the model are not guaranteed. This raises the question as to how a nonlinear model derived using data from relatively low amplitude excitation can be used to predict the dynamical behaviour for higher amplitude excitation. This paper focuses on this problem, investigating the extrapolation capabilities of data-driven nonlinear state-space models based on a subspace approach. The experimental vibrating structure consists of a cantilever beam in which magnets are used to generate strong geometric nonlinearity. The beam is driven by an electrodynamic shaker using several levels of broadband random noise. Acceleration data from the beam tip are used to derive nonlinear state-space models for the structure. It is shown that model predictions errors generally tend to increase when extrapolating towards higher excitation levels. Furthermore, the validity of the estimated nonlinear models become poor for very strong nonlinear behaviour. Linearised models are also estimated to have a complete view of the performance of each candidate model for each level of excitation.
Affect, desire and interpretation
Authors: Williams J. R. G.
Published: July 2023

Are interpersonal comparisons of desire possible? Can we give an account of how facts about desires are grounded that underpins such comparisons? This paper supposes the answer to the first question is yes, and provides an account of the nature of desire that explains how this is so. The account is a modification of the interpretationist metaphysics of representation that the author has recently been developing. The modification is to allow phenomenological affective valence into the “base facts” on which correct interpretation is grounded. To use this extra resource within that theory to vindicate interpersonal comparisons, we will need to appeal rational connections between level of valence and level of desire, which this paper sets out and examines.
Basking in the sun: how mosses photosynthesise and survive in Antarctica
Authors: Yin Hao , Perera-Castro Alicia V. , Randall Krystal L. , Turnbull Johanna D. , Waterman Melinda J. , Dunn Jodie , Robinson Sharon A.
Published: July 2023

The Antarctic environment is extremely cold, windy and dry. Ozone depletion has resulted in increasing ultraviolet-B radiation, and increasing greenhouse gases and decreasing stratospheric ozone have altered Antarctica’s climate. How do mosses thrive photosynthetically in this harsh environment? Antarctic mosses take advantage of microclimates where the combination of protection from wind, sufficient melt water, nutrients from seabirds and optimal sunlight provides both photosynthetic energy and sufficient warmth for efficient metabolism. The amount of sunlight presents a challenge: more light creates warmer canopies which are optimal for photosynthetic enzymes but can contain excess light energy that could damage the photochemical apparatus. Antarctic mosses thus exhibit strong photoprotective potential in the form of xanthophyll cycle pigments. Conversion to zeaxanthin is high when conditions are most extreme, especially when water content is low. Antarctic mosses also produce UV screening compounds which are maintained in cell walls in some species and appear to protect from DNA damage under elevated UV-B radiation. These plants thus survive in one of the harshest places on Earth by taking advantage of the best real estate to optimise their metabolism. But survival is precarious and it remains to be seen if these strategies will still work as the Antarctic climate changes.
The psychosocial experiences of adults diagnosed with coeliac disease: a qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Rose Catharine , Law Gary U. , Howard Ruth A.
Published: July 2023

Background

Coeliac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition associated with intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms. Coeliac Disease is managed through strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, which, though usually effective, is challenging to maintain. This review synthesised qualitative research on the psychosocial experiences of adults living with coeliac disease.

Methods

Keyword searches were conducted of the academic databases CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SCOPUS and Web of Science for articles published (2005–2021), followed by forward and backward searches. Thematic synthesis of included articles was carried out on sections reporting findings or results, discussion, conclusions, and supporting data. The inductive thematic synthesis identified descriptive and analytical themes from the included studies.

Results

Of 1284 records identified, 17 articles from 15 original studies were included in the thematic synthesis. The majority of studies were from Europe (76%), with the remainder from North America and Australia. Data represented 371 adults with coeliac disease (72% female; 17–85 years old, diagnosed < 1–42 years ago) across eight countries. Findings identified six analytical themes relating to the psychosocial experience of coeliac disease: ‘Living with ongoing risk’; ‘Losing more than gluten’; ‘A changed identity’; ‘A changed relationship with food’; ‘The gluten-free diet creates a multifaceted burden’; and ‘Learning how to live well with Coeliac Disease’.

Conclusions

Coeliac disease changes adults’ psychosocial experiences. Adaptation involves ongoing learning, and development of psychological acceptance facilitates adjustment. Increased public education about coeliac disease may reduce stigma and risk. Psychosocial assessment and support could improve quality of life post-diagnosis.
Aminopolycarboxylate zinc(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl: kinetic studies in the surfactants solutions systems
Authors: Malinowski Jacek , Drzeżdżon Joanna , Jacewicz Dagmara
Published: July 2023

Aminopolycarboxylate zinc(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl {[Zn(IDA)(H2O)2], [Zn(IDA)(bipy)(H2O)]·2H2O and [Zn(IDA)(phen)(H2O)]·2H2O} were synthesized. In order to confirm the composition and purity of the synthesized complex compounds, elemental analysis was used. Next, the kinetics of the substitution reaction of two water molecules in the zinc(II) iminodiacetate complex for 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl in two surfactant solvents: CTAB and Triton X-100 were investigated. The kinetic studies were carried out using the stopped flow method. The kinetic research were carried out at 3 different temperatures: 288.15, 293.15 and 298.15 K and at different molar concentrations of the complex compound [Zn(IDA)(H2O)2]: 1 mM; 0.75 mM, 0.5 mM and 0.25 mM and at a constant molar concentration of ligands: i.e. 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl, were 0.05 mM. Changes in absorbance during the kinetic run of the tested reactions were measured at a wavelength of 260 nm. Thanks to the conducted kinetic studies, the order of the reaction was determined, and the observable rate constants of the reaction rates of the substitution of two aqua molecules into the N-donor ligand were determined by the stopped—flow method using the Glint program. In the next step the thermodynamic parameters of complexes: {[Zn(IDA)(H2O)2], [Zn(IDA)(bipy)(H2O)]·2H2O and [Zn(IDA)(phen)(H2O)]·2H2O} in aqueous solutions by use potentiometric titrations were determined. The Hyperquad2018 program was used for determining of stability constants. In addition, the stoichiometry of complexes of zinc(II) with N-heterocyclic ligands in aqueous solutions was determined using the conductometric titrations.
Characterization and properties of a new insensitive explosive co-crystal composed of trinitrotoluene and pyrene
Authors: Şen Nilgün , Aslan Nazife , Yüksel Bayram , Teciman Irem
Published: July 2023

A new energetic co-crystal of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and pyrene (PYRN) with a 1:1 molar ratio was prepared by a slow solvent evaporation technique. Co-crystal physicochemical properties have also been examined using optical microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and non-covalent interaction calculations showed that non-covalent interactions (donor–acceptor π-π interaction) govern the structures of the TNT:PYRN co-crystal. The experimental and theoretical outcomes supported each other in the study. Thermal stability, impact sensitivity, and detonation performance of the co-crystal were investigated. DSC measurement indicates that the co-crystal has a melting point of 167 °C and a decomposition temperature of 293 °C, indicating outstanding thermal stability. The co-crystal was found to be less impact-sensitive than TNT using the BAM fall hammer instrument. Furthermore, the calculated detonation velocity and detonation pressure of the co-crystal are 5.29 km·s−1 and 8.48 G Pa, respectively. As an outcome, the TNT:PYRN co-crystal may be a promising intermediate energy explosive with low sensitivity and, as such, may be a desirable explosive alternative in the future instead of TNT for low-vulnerability formulations.
Effect of stress hormones on the metabolome of a suspension culture of the aromatic medicinal plant Cymbopogon schoenanthus subsp. proximus
Authors: Abdelsalam Asmaa , Chowdhury Kamal , Boroujerdi Arezue , El‑Bakry Ahmed
Published: July 2023

The current study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of different concentrations (0.0–200.0 µM) of jasmonic acid (JA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and salicylic acid (SA) on suspension culture mass production and untargeted metabolic profiling of the medicinal plant Cymbopogon schoenanthus subsp. proximus. The addition of 50 µM MeJA improved the fresh weight of embryogenic tissue significantly. MeJA and SA did not affect tissue dry weight, whereas JA significantly decreased it. Based on 1H and 1H–13C NMR data and NMR databases, 50 compounds were identified. The addition of stress hormones resulted in the biosynthesis of novel metabolites like theophylline and syringate that were absent in control samples. In addition, significant variations in the concentrations of numerous compounds, including sugars, amino acids, organic acids, phenols, and alkaloids, were observed. The upregulation of trigonelline concentration was observed upon the addition of a higher concentration of MeJA (200 µM), whereas all tested concentrations of SA resulted in its upregulation. Addition of JA and SA causes significant changes in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway and amino acid metabolism pathways, such as alanine-aspartate and glutamate metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. MeJA had significant impacts on glycolysis and starch-glucose metabolism pathways in addition to amino acids metabolism pathways. The present findings were successful in demonstrating a correlation and distinction between the effects of JA, MeJA, and SA, on the metabolome of Cymbopogon schoenanthus, a valuable medicinal plant. The identified metabolites and their associated pathways would be valuable in future biotechnology applications of the genus Cymbopogon.
Dissecting the role of microorganisms in tea production of different fermentation levels: a multifaceted review of their action mechanisms, quality attributes and future perspectives
Authors: Assad Matta , Ashaolu Tolulope Joshua , Khalifa Ibrahim , Baky Mostafa H. , Farag Mohamed A.
Published: July 2023

Tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, with several health benefits attributed for its rich chemical composition and further associated with fermentation process to improve its quality attributes. Most tea types originate from the leaves of Camellia sinensis with differences in fermentation levels yielding black tea, green tea, pouchong tea, oolong tea. Teas like pu-erh or kombucha to encompass both green and red types are further post-fermented. Tea fermentation is a traditional process involving physical, biochemical, and microbial changes which are associated with improved organoleptic characters, nutritive value, and health outcomes. The production of fermented tea relies on naturally occurring enzymes and microbial metabolic activities. This review focuses on presenting a holistic overview on the effect of different microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, and fungi on the biochemical changes and sensory attributes of fermented tea products reported in research articles along the last 15 years. Moreover, production conditions and major biochemical changes are dissected to present the best factors influencing fermented tea quality. This review presents an evidence-based reference for specialists in tea industry to optimize tea fermentation process for targeted attributes.

Graphical abstract
Microaerobic degradation of crude oil and long chain alkanes by a new Rhodococcus strain from Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Juárez Katy , Reza Lizeth , Bretón-Deval Luz , Morales-Guzmán Daniel , Trejo-Hernández María R. , García-Guevara Fernando , Lara Paloma
Published: July 2023

Bacterial degradation of crude oil is a promising strategy for reducing the concentration of hydrocarbons in contaminated environments. In the first part of this study, we report the enrichment of two bacterial consortia from deep sediments of the Gulf of Mexico with crude oil as the sole carbon and energy source. We conducted a comparative analysis of the bacterial community in the original sediment, assessing its diversity, and compared it to the enrichment observed after exposure to crude oil in defined cultures. The consortium exhibiting the highest hydrocarbon degradation was predominantly enriched with Rhodococcus (75%). Bacterial community analysis revealed the presence of other hydrocarbonoclastic members in both consortia. In the second part, we report the isolation of the strain Rhodococcus sp. GOMB7 with crude oil as a unique carbon source under microaerobic conditions and its characterization. This strain demonstrated the ability to degrade long-chain alkanes, including eicosane, tetracosane, and octacosane. We named this new strain Rhodococcus qingshengii GOMB7. Genome analysis revealed the presence of several genes related to aromatic compound degradation, such as benA, benB, benC, catA, catB, and catC; and five alkB genes related to alkane degradation. Although members of the genus Rhodococcus are well known for their great metabolic versatility, including the aerobic degradation of recalcitrant organic compounds such as petroleum hydrocarbons, this is the first report of a novel strain of Rhodococcus capable of degrading long-chain alkanes under microaerobic conditions. The potential of R. qingshengii GOMB7 for applications in bioreactors or controlled systems with low oxygen levels offers an energy-efficient approach for treating crude oil-contaminated water and sediments.
Microbial mechanisms to transform the super-trace element tellurium: a systematic review and discussion of nanoparticulate phases
Authors: Wei Yuru , Yu Sihan , Guo Qian , Missen Owen P. , Xia Xian
Published: July 2023

Tellurium is a super-trace metalloid on Earth. Owing to its excellent physical and chemical properties, it is used in industries such as metallurgy and manufacturing, particularly of semiconductors and – more recently – solar panels. As the global demand for tellurium rises, environmental issues surrounding tellurium have recently aroused concern due to its high toxicity. The amount of tellurium released to the environment is increasing, and microorganisms play an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of environmental tellurium. This review focuses on novel developments on tellurium transformations driven by microbes and includes the following sections: (1) history and applications of tellurium; (2) toxicity of tellurium; (3) microbial detoxification mechanisms against soluble tellurium anions including uptake, efflux and methods of reduction, and reduced ability to cope with oxidation stress or repair damaged DNA; and (4) the characteristics and applications of tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs) produced by microbes. This review raises the awareness of microorganisms in tellurium biogeochemical cycling and the growing applications for microbial tellurium nanoparticles.
Association of short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure with hospitalization for urolithiasis in Xinxiang, China: a time series study
Authors: Li Yangdong , Wang Yongbin , Fan Maochuan , Li Weisheng , Meng Xiangzhen , Zhou Hao , Zhang Shaohua , Dou Qifeng
Published: July 2023

Urolithiasis accounts for the highest incidence of all urologic-associated hospitalizations. However, few studies have explored the effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on hospitalizations for urolithiasis. We included 5956 patients with urolithiasis, collected daily meteorological and air pollution data between 2016 and 2021, and analyzed the associations between air pollutants and hospitalization, length of the hospital stay, and hospitalization costs attributable to urolithiasis. NO2 exposure was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for urinary tract stones. For each 10-μg/m3 increase and 1-day lag of NO2, the maximum daily effect on the risk of hospitalization for urolithiasis was 1.020 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001–1.039), and the cumulative effect peaked on lag day 4 (relative risk [RR]: 1.061; 95% CI: 1.003–1.122). Attribution scores and quantitative analysis revealed that the mean number of hospital days and mean hospital costs were 16 days and 21,164.39 RMB, respectively. Up to 5.75% of all urolithiasis hospitalizations were estimated to be attributable to NO2, and the cost of NO2-related urolithiasis hospitalizations reached approximately 3,430,000 RMB. Stratified analysis showed that NO2 had a more sensitive impact on urolithiasis hospitalizations in women and in those aged ≥65 years. Notably, men and those younger than 65 years of age (exclude people aged 65) incurred more costs for urolithiasis hospitalizations. In the population level, the association between NO2 and risk of urolithiasis hospitalization was more pronounced during the warm season. NO2 can increase hospitalizations for urolithiasis for Xinxiang City residents, and there is a cumulative lag effect. Focusing on air pollution may have practical significance in terms of the prevention and control of urolithiasis.
Synthesis of a new biocomposite for fertiliser coating: assessment of biodegradability and thermal stability
Authors: Ketabchi Mohammad Reza , Masoudi Soltani Salman , Chan Andy
Published: July 2023

The bio- and thermal degradation as well as the water absorption properties of a novel biocomposite comprising cellulose nanoparticles, natural rubber and polylactic acid have been investigated. The biodegradation process was studied through an assembled condition based on the soil collected from the central Malaysian palm oil forests located in the University of Nottingham Malaysia. The effects of the presence of the cellulose nanoparticles and natural rubber on the biodegradation of polylactic acid were investigated. The biodegradation process was studied via thermal gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was understood that the reinforcement of polylactic acid with cellulose nanoparticles and natural rubber increases the thermal stability by ~ 20 °C. Limited amorphous regions on the surface of the cellulose nanoparticles accelerated the biodegradation and water absorption processes. Based on the obtained results, it is predicted that complete biodegradation of the synthesised biocomposites can take place in 3062 h, highlighting promising agricultural applications for this biocomposite.
A non-isothermal phase-field hydraulic fracture modeling in saturated porous media with convection-dominated heat transport
Authors: Nguyen Cam-Lai , Heider Yousef , Markert Bernd
Published: July 2023

This research aims to extend the isothermal continuum mechanical modeling framework of hydraulic fracturing in porous materials to account for the non-isothermal processes. Whereas the theory of porous media is used for the macroscopic material description, the phase-field method is utilized for modeling the crack initiation and propagation. We proceed in this study from a two-phase porous material consisting of thermomechanically interacting pore fluid and solid matrix. The heat exchange between the fluid in the crack and the surrounding porous environment through the diffusive fracture edges is carefully studied, and new formulations here are proposed. Besides, temperature-dependent solid and fluid material parameters are taken into account, which is of particular importance in connection with fluid viscosity and its effect on post-cracking pressure behavior. This continuum mechanical treatment results in strongly coupled partial differential equations of the mass, the momentum, and the energy balance of the thermally non-equilibrated constituents. Using the finite element method, two-dimensional initial-boundary-value problems are presented to show, on the one hand, the stability and robustness of the applied numerical algorithm in solving the emerged strongly coupled problem in the convection-dominated heat transport state. On the other hand, they show the capability of the modeling scheme in predicting important instances related to hydraulic fracturing and the role of the temperature field in this process. Additionally, they show the importance of using stabilization techniques, such as adding an artificial thermo-diffusivity term, to mitigate temperature fluctuations at high flow velocity.
Pancreatic cancer detection with a non-contrast MR protocol: is it reliable?
Authors: Maio Francesca , Pasqualino Vincenzo , Bertana Luca , Venturini Silvia , Cantoni Valeria , Fusaro Michele , Morana Giovanni
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The pancreatic cancer (PC) is the 4th leading cancer-related death, becoming the second one by 2030, with a 5 year survival rate of 8%. Considering its increased incidence in high-risk categories compared to the general population, we aimed to validate a non-contrast MR protocol, to detect PC in its earliest phase, which could be suitable as a screening tool in high-risk patients.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, we selected 200 patients (> 40 years) from our radiological database, which performed upper abdominal MRI between 2012 and 2017. 100 were negative for pancreatic lesions and 100 positive for pancreatic lesion (< 30 mm). The latter group included: 40 PDAC (pancreatic adenocarcinoma), 42 BD-IPMN (Branch Duct- Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm), 10 PNET(pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor), 4 SCN(serous cystic neoplasm), 3 IPS(intrapancreatic spleen), 1 MCN(mucinous cystic neoplasm). Three readers (R1, R2 and R3) with a high, medium and low experience, respectively, analysed, first, the non-contrast MR sequences (single-shot T2w breath-hold, GE T1w FS, DWI and 2D/3D MRCP), and then the standard MR protocol, independently, randomly and anonymously. Readers identified or excluded the presence of pancreatic lesion, in both reading sessions. These results were compared with the histopathological diagnosis, and then divided into 3 different classes of lesions: all lesions, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and solid lesion. Mcnemar’s test was used to compare the results. The inter-observer agreement was determined according to the kappa statistic in both protocols, and then the inter-protocol agreement was calculated.

Results

The non-contrast MR protocol has reached statistical parameters values ranging between 83% in SE (sensitivity) by R3 and 99% in NPV (negative predictive value) by R1. The standard MR protocol has reported slight increasing statistical parameters compared to those of the proposed one. However, there are not significant statistical differences between the both protocols. The proposed non-contrast MR protocol has reported the highest NPVs in the PDAC group detection (R1: 99%, R2: 99%, R3: 98%). In all groups of lesions, the agreement between the two protocols was excellent for each Reader ranging from 96 to 98%.

Conclusion

The proposed non-contrast MR protocol showed high PC detection values and a time execution ≤ 20 min. Therefore, it can be proposed as a screening tool in high-risk patients.
Secondary fracture prevention with osteoporosis medication after a fragility fracture in Sweden remains low despite new guidelines
Authors: Ek Stina , Meyer Anna C. , Sääf Maria , Hedström Margareta , Modig Karin
Published: July 2023

Summary

This national register study investigated osteoporosis medication prescriptions for secondary fracture prevention among older Swedish adults. Although prescription proportions are increasing for both men and women, they remain low, especially among individuals aged 90 and older. Improved Fracture Liaison Services could increase the prescription proportions and should be bolstered.

Purpose

Despite clear guidelines for secondary fracture prevention among older adults, it seems undertreatment persists. We aimed to describe secondary fracture prevention with medical osteoporosis treatment in the older Swedish population. Specifically, how prescription has changed over time and if these patterns differ in sociodemographic subgroups.

Methods

Between 2007 and 2020, osteoporosis medication use was studied among all Swedish residents aged 70 and older who had a fragility fracture in the previous 5 years. Previous fragility fractures were defined as fractures of the humerus, wrist, hip, or vertebrae. Osteoporosis medication was defined as any prescription of bone-enhancing medications (including bisphosphonates and denosumab).

Results

Osteoporosis medication increased over the study period, especially among men. Prescription among individuals 90 + was consistently two- to threefold lower compared to 70–79- and 80–89-year-olds. In 2018–2020, 8–17% of women and 5–9% of men, depending on age, received osteoporosis medication. At the beginning of the study period, women with higher education were more likely to be prescribed osteoporosis medication, though this difference decreased over time. Prescription of vitamin D and/or calcium as the only treatment was more common than osteoporosis medications throughout the study period.

Conclusion

Despite increasing prescription proportions, medical treatment for secondary fracture prevention remains low. In addition, it is more common to be prescribed vitamin D or calcium than osteoporosis medication after a fragility fracture, contrary to current guidelines. These results indicate that there is room for improvement for Fracture Liaison Services in Sweden.
Mid-Term Outcomes After Conversion Procedures Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Dirnberger Amanda S. , Süsstrunk Julian , Schneider Romano , Poljo Adisa , Klasen Jennifer M. , Slawik Marc , Billeter Adrian T. , Müller-Stich Beat P. , Peterli Ralph , Kraljević Marko
Published: July 2023

Purpose

In the long term, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) may be associated with insufficient weight loss (IWL), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and persistence or relapse of associated medical problems. This study’s objective is to present mid-term results regarding weight loss (WL), evolution of associated medical problems, and reoperation rate of patients who underwent a conversion after SG.

Methods

Retrospective single-center analysis of patients with a minimal follow-up of 2 years after conversion.

Results

In this series of 549 SGs, 84 patients (15.3%) underwent a conversion, and 71 met inclusion criteria. They were converted to short biliopancreatic limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (short BPL RYGB) (n = 28, 39.4%), biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) (n = 19, 26.8%), long biliopancreatic limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (long BPL RYGB) (n = 17, 23.9%), and re-sleeve gastrectomy (RSG) (n = 7, 9.9%). Indications were GERD (n = 24, 33.8%), IWL (n = 23, 32.4%), IWL + GERD (n = 22, 31.0%), or stenosis/kinking of the sleeve (n = 2, 2.8%). The mean pre-revisional body mass index (BMI) was 38.0 ± 7.5 kg/m2. The mean follow-up time after conversion was 5.1 ± 3.1 years. The overall percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) was greatest after BPD/DS (36.6%) and long BPL RYGB (32.9%) compared to RSG (20.0%; p = 0.004; p = 0.049). In case of GERD, conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) led to a resolution of symptoms in 79.5%. 16.9% of patients underwent an additional revisional procedure.

Conclusion

In the event of IWL after SG, conversion to BPD/DS provides a significant and sustainable additional WL. Conversion to RYGB leads to a reliable symptom control in patients suffering from GERD after SG.

Graphical Abstract
The interaction of bile acids and gut inflammation influences the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Di Ciaula Agostino , Bonfrate Leonilde , Khalil Mohamad , Portincasa Piero
Published: July 2023

Bile acids (BA) are amphipathic molecules originating from cholesterol in the liver and from microbiota-driven biotransformation in the colon. In the gut, BA play a key role in fat digestion and absorption and act as potent signaling molecules on the nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and membrane-associated G protein-coupled BA receptor-1 (GPBAR-1). BA are, therefore, involved in the maintenance of gut barrier integrity, gene expression, metabolic homeostasis, and microbiota profile and function. Disturbed BA homeostasis can activate pro-inflammatory pathways in the gut, while inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can induce gut dysbiosis and qualitative and/or quantitative changes of the BA pool. These factors contribute to impaired repair capacity of the mucosal barrier, due to chronic inflammation. A better understanding of BA-dependent mechanisms paves the way to innovative therapeutic tools by administering hydrophilic BA and FXR agonists and manipulating gut microbiota with probiotics and prebiotics. We discuss the translational value of pathophysiological and therapeutic evidence linking BA homeostasis to gut inflammation in IBD.
Surgical treatment of primary cardiac tumors in children
Authors: Fu Jian , Li HongBo , Pan ZhengXia , Wu Chun , Li YongGang , Wang Gang , Dai JiangTao , Zhao Lu
Published: July 2023

Objective

Summarizing the treatment experience of primary cardiac tumors in children.

Methods

The date of 24 children with primary cardiac tumors who underwent surgery in our department from July 2003 to September 2022 was collected and analyzed treatment efficacy.

Results

All patients completed the surgery successfully, including 21 cases of complete tumor resection, 2 cases of partial tumor resection, and 1 case of tumor biopsy. The location: 5 cases in the right atrium, 5 cases in the right ventricle, 6 cases in the left atrium, 6 cases in the left ventricle, 1 case in the left, right ventricle and ventricular septum, and 1 case in the ventricular septum. 23 cases were benign: 11 cases of myxoma, 7 cases of fibroma, 3 cases of rhabdomyoma, 1 case of infantile capillary hemangioma, and 1 case of lipoma. There was 1 case of borderline or malignant tumor. 23 patients were discharged successfully, 1 patient died of cardiac failure on the first day after operation. Follow-up was done from 5 months to 19 years and 2 months, 2 cases were lost to follow-up, and 1 case died of cardiac failure in the second year after operation due to severe mitral regurgitation. There was 1 case of tumor biopsy with space-occupying lesion gradually shrinking during follow-up. The prognosis of another 19 children with complete or partial tumor resection was good. There was no recurrence, enlargement, or reoperation of the tumor during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Primary cardiac tumors in children are mostly benign. Surgery is effective, but the timing of surgery depends on the patient's condition.
Knockdown of SDC-1 Gene Alleviates the Metabolic Pathway for the Development of MODS
Authors: Xie Jiangang , Ma Yuexiang , Huang Yang , Wang Qianmei , Xu Yunyun , Zhang Qi , Yang Jing , Yin Wen
Published: July 2023

This study aims to reveal the metabolic differences between SDC-1 knockout mice and wild-type mice and the metabolic differences caused by shock in SDC-1 knockout mice by integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics. A total of 1009 differential metabolites were differentially expressed based on untargeted metabolomics and high-resolution mass spectrometry detection techniques. According to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment, SDC-1 knockout significantly altered fat digestion and absorption, GnRH signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and some other amino-related metabolic pathways and significantly modulated positively regulated longevity regulatory pathways, longevity regulatory pathways-worm, nicotinamide and niacinamide metabolism, and vitamin digestion and absorption pathways after its shock. Our findings indicate that SDC-1 knockout may have potential therapeutic effects in hemorrhagic shock by increasing nicotinamide metabolism.
Amplifying the Heat Shock Response Ameliorates ALS and FTD Pathology in Mouse and Human Models
Authors: Ahmed Mhoriam , Spicer Charlotte , Harley Jasmine , Taylor J. Paul , Hanna Michael , Patani Rickie , Greensmith Linda
Published: July 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are now known as parts of a disease spectrum with common pathological features and genetic causes. However, as both conditions are clinically heterogeneous, patient groups may be phenotypically similar but pathogenically and genetically variable. Despite numerous clinical trials, there remains no effective therapy for these conditions, which, in part, may be due to challenges of therapy development in a heterogeneous patient population. Disruption to protein homeostasis is a key feature of different forms of ALS and FTD. Targeting the endogenous protein chaperone system, the heat shock response (HSR) may, therefore, be a potential therapeutic approach. We conducted a preclinical study of a known pharmacological amplifier of the HSR, called arimoclomol, in mice with a mutation in valosin-containing protein (VCP) which causes both ALS and FTD in patients. We demonstrate that amplification of the HSR ameliorates the ALS/FTD-like phenotype in the spinal cord and brain of mutant VCP mice and prevents neuronal loss, replicating our earlier findings in the SOD1 mouse model of ALS. Moreover, in human cell models, we demonstrate improvements in pathology upon arimoclomol treatment in mutant VCP patient fibroblasts and iPSC-derived motor neurons. Our findings suggest that targeting of the HSR may have therapeutic potential, not only in non-SOD1 ALS, but also for the treatment of FTD.
Supply chain responses to global disruptions and its ripple effects: an institutional complexity perspective
Authors: Herold David M. , Marzantowicz Łukasz
Published: July 2023

The recent disruption of global supply chains and its ripple effects has led to multiple new, often conflicting, demands from governments, businesses, and society for more resilient supply chains, thereby elevating the debate about supply chains to a broader institutional level. As a response, this article aims to broaden how supply chain scholars view decision-making for supply chain resilience from an institutional perspective – in particular, using the construct of institutional complexity. We argue that the inherent complexity in supply chains, consisting of multiple organizations and multiple institutional environments, represents a different playing field and results in different responses, in particular when confronted with disruptions. We provide a systematic and structured understanding of how the interactions of institutional logics, influenced by field-levels structures and processes, impact global supply chains and its constituents. Using existing literature on institutional complexity and works on the effects of institutional logics, we present not only field-level structures and attributes influencing and shaping institutional logics in the supply chain, but also discuss and contrast existing theories and concepts by highlighting the differences between supply chain and organizational responses both on an institutional and an overarching operational level.