bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining Surgical Workforce Density Targets to Meet Child and Neonatal Mortality Rate Targets in the Age of the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Truche Paul , Smith Emily R. , Ademuyiwa Adesoji , Buda Alexandra , Nabukenya Mary T. , Kaseje Neema , Ameh Emmanuel A. , Greenberg Sarah , Evans Faye , Bickler Stephen , Meara John G. , Rice Henry E.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To reduce preventable deaths of newborns and children, the United Nations set a target rate per 1000 live births of 12 for neonatal mortality (NMR) and 25 for under‐5 mortality (U5MR). The purpose of this paper is to define the minimum surgical workforce needed to meet these targets and evaluate the relative impact of increasing surgeon, anesthesia, and obstetrician (SAO) density on reducing child mortality.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 192 countries to define the association between surgical workforce density and U5MR as well as NMR using unadjusted and adjusted B‐spline regression, adjusting for common non‐surgical causes of childhood mortality. We used these models to estimate the minimum surgical workforce to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for U5MR and NMR and marginal effects plots to determine over which range of SAO densities the largest impact is seen as countries scale‐up SAO workforce.

Results

We found that increased SAO density is associated with decreased U5MR and NMR (P < 0.05), adjusting for common non‐surgical causes of child mortality. A minimum SAO density of 10 providers per 100,000 population (95% CI: 7–13) is associated with an U5MR of < 25 per 1000 live births. A minimum SAO density of 12 (95% CI: 9–20) is associated with an NMR of < 12 per 1000 live births. The maximum decrease in U5MR, on the basis of our adjusted B‐spline model, occurs from 0 to 20 SAO per 100,000 population. The maximum decrease in NMR based on our adjusted B‐spline model occurs up from 0 to 18 SAO, with additional decrease seen up to 80 SAO.

Conclusions

Scale‐up of the surgical workforce to 12 SAO per 100,000 population may help health systems meet the SDG goals for childhood mortality rates. Increases in up to 80 SAO/100,000 continue to offer mortality benefit for neonates and would help to achieve the SDGs for neonatal mortality reduction.
Photosynthesis is not the unique useful trait for discriminating salt tolerance capacity between sensitive and tolerant quinoa varieties
Authors: Agirresarobe Aitor , Miranda-Apodaca Jon , Odriozola Iñaki , Muñoz-Rueda Alberto , Pérez-López Usue
Published: June 2022

Main conclusion

Growth was not strictly linked to photosynthesis performance under salinity conditions in quinoa. Other key traits, which were varieties-specific, rather than photosynthesis explained better growth performance.

Phenotyping for salinity stress tolerance in quinoa is of great interest to select traits contributing to overall salinity tolerance and to understand the response mechanisms to salinity at a whole plant level. The objective of this work was to dissect the responses of specific traits and analyse relations between these traits to better understand growth response under salinity conditions in quinoa. Growth response to salinity was mostly related to differences in basal values of biomass, being reduced the most in plants with higher basal biomass. Regarding the relationship between growth and specific traits, in Puno variety, better photosynthetic performance was related to a better maintenance of growth. Nevertheless, in the rest of the varieties other traits rather than photosynthesis could better explain growth response. In this way, the development of succulence in F-16 and Collana varieties, also the osmotic adjustment but in smaller dimensions in Pasankalla, Marisma and S-15-15 helped to maintain better growth. Besides, smaller increases of Cl− could have caused a limited nitrate uptake reducing more growth in Vikinga. Ascorbate was considered a key trait as a noticeable fall of it was also related to higher reductions in growth in Titicaca. These results suggest that, due to the genetic variability of quinoa and the complexity of salinity tolerance, no unique and specific traits should be taken into consideration when using phenotyping for analysing salinity tolerance in quinoa.
Clinical characteristics of a large cohort of patients with narcolepsy candidate for pitolisant: a cross-sectional study from the Italian PASS Wakix® Cohort
Authors: Mutti Carlotta , Brunetti Valerio , Figorilli Michela , Liguori Claudio , Pizza Fabio , Proserpio Paola , Sacco Tommaso , Pedrazzi Giuseppe , Lecomte Isabelle , Blanchard Nora , Agostoni Elio Clemente , Bonanni Enrica , Centonze Diego , Cicolin Alessandro , Della Marca Giacomo , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , Ferri Raffaele , Gigli Gian Luigi , Izzi Francesca , Liguori Rocco , Lodi Raffaele , Nobili Lino , Parrino Liborio , Placidi Fabio , Puligheddu Monica , Romigi Andrea , Savarese Maria Antonietta , Terzaghi Michele , Plazzi Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Narcolepsy is a chronic and rare hypersomnia of central origin characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and a complex array of symptoms as well as by several medical comorbidities. With growing pharmacological options, polytherapy may increase the possibility of a patient-centered management of narcolepsy symptoms. The aims of our study are to describe a large cohort of Italian patients with narcolepsy who were candidates for pitolisant treatment and to compare patients’ subgroups based on current drug prescription (drug-naïve patients in whom pitolisant was the first-choice treatment, switching to pitolisant from other monotherapy treatments, and adding on in polytherapy).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey based on Italian data from the inclusion visits of the Post Authorization Safety Study of pitolisant, a 5-year observational, multicenter, international study.

Results

One hundred ninety-one patients were enrolled (76.4% with narcolepsy type 1 and 23.6% with narcolepsy type 2). Most patients (63.4%) presented at least one comorbidity, mainly cardiovascular and psychiatric. Pitolisant was prescribed as an add-on treatment in 120/191 patients (62.8%), as switch from other therapies in 42/191 (22.0%), and as a first-line treatment in 29/191 (15.2%). Drug-naive patients presented more severe sleepiness, lower functional status, and a higher incidence of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Our study presents the picture of a large cohort of Italian patients with narcolepsy who were prescribed with pitolisant, suggesting that polytherapy is highly frequent to tailor a patient-centered approach.
Alteration of interoceptive sensitivity: expanding the spectrum of behavioural disorders in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Moretta Pasquale , Spisto Myriam , Ausiello Francesco Pio , Iodice Rosa , De Lucia Natascia , Santangelo Gabriella , Trojano Luigi , Salvatore Elena , Dubbioso Raffaele
Published: June 2022

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Non-motor-symptoms, such as cognitive, emotional, autonomic, and somatosensory alterations, have been also described.

Interoception represents the link between the body and brain, since it refers to the ability to consciously perceive the physical condition of the inner body, including one’s heartbeat (i.e., interoceptive sensitivity, IS).

Objectives

To evaluate IS in ALS patients by means of a well-established task: the heartbeat perception task. Moreover, we evaluated possible correlations between IS and neuropsychological, affective, and disease-related characteristics.

Methods

Fifty-five ALS patients (mean-age = 60.3 ± 12.5 years; mean disease-duration = 20.9 ± 18.8 months) and 41 caregivers (CG) underwent the heartbeat perception task and an extensive evaluation of motor, cognitive, body awareness, affective, and emotion domains.

Results

ALS patients showed lower IS than CG (0.68 ± 0.24 vs 0.82 ± 0.16; p = 0.003). Significant correlations were found between IS and self-reported measures of alexithymia (subscale of Toronto Alexithymia scale-20 “difficulties in describing feelings”; rho =  − .391, p = .003) and interoceptive awareness (subscale of Multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness “not worrying about pain”; rho = .405, p = .002). No significant differences were found on questionnaires for depression and anxiety between patients with ALS and their caregivers (p > .05).

Conclusions

ALS patients show reduced interoceptive sensitivity that is associated with poorer ability to describe feelings and with lower focalization on pain, regardless of cognitive and motor impairment. Alteration of interoception may represent a specific behavioural sign within the spectrum of emotion processing deficits described in ALS patients.
Fire Hawk Optimizer: a novel metaheuristic algorithm
Authors: Azizi Mahdi , Talatahari Siamak , Gandomi Amir H.
Published: June 2022

This study proposes the Fire Hawk Optimizer (FHO) as a novel metaheuristic algorithm based on the foraging behavior of whistling kites, black kites and brown falcons. These birds are termed Fire Hawks considering the specific actions they perform to catch prey in nature, specifically by means of setting fire. Utilizing the proposed algorithm, a numerical investigation was conducted on 233 mathematical test functions with dimensions of 2–100, and 150,000 function evaluations were performed for optimization purposes. For comparison, a total of ten different classical and new metaheuristic algorithms were utilized as alternative approaches. The statistical measurements include the best, mean, median, and standard deviation of 100 independent optimization runs, while well-known statistical analyses, such as Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, and Post-Hoc analysis, were also conducted. The obtained results prove that the FHO algorithm exhibits better performance than the compared algorithms from literature. In addition, two of the latest Competitions on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), such as CEC 2020 on bound constraint problems and CEC 2020 on real-world optimization problems including the well-known mechanical engineering design problems, were considered for performance evaluation of the FHO algorithm, which further demonstrated the superior capability of the optimizer over other metaheuristic algorithms in literature. The capability of the FHO is also evaluated in dealing with two of the real-size structural frames with 15 and 24 stories in which the new method outperforms the previously developed metaheuristics.
Designing chickpea for a hotter drier world
Authors: Akinlade Oluwaseun J. , Voss-Fels Kai , Costilla Roy , Kholova Jana , Choudhary Sunita , Varshney Rajeev K. , Hickey Lee T. , Smith Millicent R.
Published: June 2022

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important grain legumes in the world, but its current and future production is threatened due to the increased incidence of drought and heat stress. To address this challenge, an integrated crop improvement strategy encompassing breeding, genomics, physiology and agronomy is required. Here, we review the physiological traits known to confer drought and heat adaptation in chickpea and identify areas of drought and heat adaptation research that may be prioritised in the future. Furthermore, we underscore approaches to efficiently phenotype chickpea adaptation traits and highlight the significant challenges and importance of understanding the nexus between canopy and root development. Finally, we present the opportunity to adopt multi-trait genomic prediction approaches to efficiently utilise key physiological traits, that can be assayed using high-throughput phenotyping platforms, to accelerate genetic gain in drought and heat prone environments.
Improvement of ferroelectric properties via Zr doping in barium titanate nanoparticles
Authors: Reda Mahasen , El-Dek S. I. , Arman M. M.
Published: June 2022

Barium titanate is still the prototype of a piezoelectric crystalline material that has attracted many researchers and industrial partners to use. A modified citrate method was used to create barium titanate nanoparticles BaTi1−xZrxO3. The samples were crystallized in a single-phase tetragonal structure, as revealed using X-ray powder diffraction. The crystallite size decreases with increasing Zr concentration. Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed the main absorption bands of the samples BaTi1−xZrxO3. Field emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs illustrate that the doped sample BaTi0.9Zr0.1O3 is more porous and finer than the parent. For low Zr doping concentrations (x = 0.1), the ferroelectric properties of barium titanate are improved. The conduction mechanisms in the samples are small polaron hopping and correlated barrier hopping. The Zr/Ti ratio is a crucial parameter for tailoring the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition.
Utility of Silver-nanoparticles for Nano-fluorimetric Determination of Vancomycin Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Biological Fluids: Greenness Assessment
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed R.
Published: June 2022

Vancomycin hydrochloride (VANH) is a glycopeptide antibiotic commonly employed in the prophylaxis and therapy of various gram-positive bacterial life-threatening infections. Due to the narrow therapeutic window of VANH, its serum levels should be well-monitored to avoid its toxicity and to optimize its therapy. Herein, an innovative silver-nanoparticles enhanced fluorescence technique was designed for VANH rapid analysis in its pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids. This technique is based on reinforcement of VANH fluorescence intensity with silver-nanoparticles that were synthesized by a redox reaction between VANH and silver nitrate in NaOH alkaline medium using polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer. The produced silver-nanoparticles were characterized by using UV–visible spectroscopy where they have an intense absorption maximum at 415 nm and transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrograph where they are spherical in shape with smooth surface morphology and size of 10.74 ± 2.44 nm. The fluorescence intensity was measured at 394 nm after excitation at 259 nm. Under optimum conditions, a good linear relationship was accomplished between the VANH concentration and the fluorescence intensity in a range of (1–36) ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.29 ng/mL. Greenness assessment was performed using two assessment tools namely; eco-scale scoring and green analytical procedure index revealing excellent greenness of the proposed technique. The proposed technique was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) recommendations and statistically compared with the reported HPLC method revealing no significant difference concerning accuracy and precision at p = 0.05. The proposed technique depended primarily on water as a cheap and eco-friendly solvent.
Religiosity, Religious Coping and Distress Among Outpatients with Psychosis in Singapore
Authors: Cetty Laxman , Jeyagurunathan Anitha , Roystonn Kumarasan , Devi Fiona , Abdin Edimansyah , Tang Charmaine , Verma Swapna , Chong Siow Ann , Ramsay Jonathan , Subramaniam Mythily
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of religious coping and explore the association between religious coping, religiosity, and distress symptoms amongst 364 outpatients diagnosed with psychosis in Singapore. Positive and Negative Religious Coping (PRC and NRC), religiosity (measuring the constructs of Organised Religious Activity (ORA), Non-Organised Religious Activity (NORA), and Intrinsic Religiosity (IR)) and severity of distress symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress) were self-reported by the participants. The majority of participants (68.9%) reported religion to be important in coping with their illness. Additionally, multiple linear regression analyses found that NRC was significantly associated with higher symptoms of distress. In contrast, ORA was significantly associated with lower anxiety symptom scores. Overall, the study indicates the importance of religion in coping with psychosis and the potential value in incorporating religious interventions in mental health care.
Classroom-based physical activity and teachers’ instructions on students’ movement in conventional classrooms and open learning spaces
Authors: Hartikainen Jani , Haapala Eero A. , Poikkeus Anna-Maija , Sääkslahti Arja , Laukkanen Arto , Gao Ying , Finni Taija
Published: June 2022

As a result of educational reforms in many countries, including Finland, new or renovated comprehensive schools have increasingly begun to incorporate open and flexible designs and principles. Multipurpose and adaptable open learning spaces can provide children with amplified opportunities to be physically active during general education. Classroom-based physical activity has been associated with better academic-related outcomes and students’ on-task behaviour, while overall physical activity has been associated with better health. In the present study, we investigated the effects of classroom type, gender and grade level on classroom-based physical activity, and the associations between systematically-observed teachers’ instructions about students’ movement and classroom-based physical activity. The participants consisted of 182 3rd and 5th grade students in one school with open learning space and two schools with conventional classrooms. Overall, classroom-based physical activity, assessed with accelerometery, was not higher in open learning space than in conventional classrooms. However, 5th grade students had more sedentary time and less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in open learning spaces than conventional classrooms, but both 3rd and 5th graders had more breaks from sedentary time in open learning spaces than conventional classrooms. Girls were more sedentary than boys, while 5th graders were less physically active than 3rd graders. Teachers’ instructions regarding 5th graders’ movement in open learning spaces were more restrictive and both 3rd and 5th graders had more instructed transitions in open learning spaces. In conventional classrooms, students had more teacher-organised physical activity. Teachers’ restrictive guidance was associated with less light physical activity, while teachers’ organised physical activity was associated with more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Neural Bases of Sector Bias in Perceptions of Public Versus Private-Sector Service Performance
Authors: Casado-Aranda Luis-Alberto , de la Higuera-Molina Emilio José , Sánchez-Fernández Juan , Zafra-Gómez José Luis
Published: June 2022

Governments, political parties and public institutions regularly design and launch communication campaigns emphasising their successes, fostering participation in democratic acts, promoting the use of public services and seeking to boost electoral support. Accordingly, researchers in the fields of politics and public administration have long sought to enhance our understanding of how individuals perceive the performance of services offered by the private and public sectors. In this respect, conflicting findings have been reported: some studies affirm there is an anti-public sector bias, others detect a preference towards public-sector providers, and some have found no evidence of a sector bias, pro or anti. We believe it crucially important to understand the mechanisms underlying sector bias, if it exists. To address the current research gap in this area, we make use of theories and tools drawn from neuropolitics (namely, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fMRI) to elucidate the neurobiological foundations of perceptions regarding the performance of public-sector service providers. The neural findings obtained reveal that brain networks associated with reward and positive values provide a neurobiological explanation for pro-public sector bias, while neural mechanisms linked to aversion, risk, ambiguity and motivated reasoning are associated with an anti-public-sector bias. The implications of these findings should be considered by policymakers; for example, to promote acceptance of public-sector service provision, people must be clearly informed about the goals achieved and other positive aspects.
A comparison of precision and conventional irrigation in corn production in Southeast Alabama
Authors: Bondesan Luca , Ortiz Brenda V. , Morlin Franciele , Morata Guilherme , Duzy Leah , van Santen Edzard , Lena Bruno P. , Vellidis George
Published: June 2022

Adoption of water-conservation irrigation practices could potentially reduce water and energy use and increase profitability, as well as protect the environment. Precision irrigation consisting of soil sensors (SS) for irrigation scheduling and variable rate irrigation (VRI) was compared with conventional uniform irrigation (URI). The study was conducted in South Alabama during the 2018 and 2019 corn growing seasons. The SS-VRI and URI treatments spanned the length of the field and were compared across five different management zones (MZ) that exhibited soil and terrain differences. Soil water tension sensors were installed on each MZ-treatment area to monitor hourly soil water changes. Results showed that on the two zones covering 55% of the study field, MZ 1 and MZ 2, the SS-VRI treatment, on a two-year average, resulted in 26% less irrigation water applied compared to the URI treatment; however, there were no statistical differences between yields or yield variability among treatments. Even though in MZ 4, there was not a substantial difference in irrigation water applied among treatments, soil sensors increased the precision of irrigation rate determination during the peak of high crop water demand. Findings from this study showed that as rainfall amount and distribution change over a crop growing period, soil sensor-based irrigation scheduling could be used to prevent over- or under irrigation. With proper management, the combination of soil sensors and VRI provides farmers with the opportunity to reduce water use, while increasing or maintaining yields; however, farmers must consider the investment and operating costs relative to the benefits.
Measurement properties of the Dutch PROMIS-29 v2.1 profile in people with and without chronic conditions
Authors: Elsman Ellen B. M. , Roorda Leo D. , Smidt Nynke , de Vet Henrica C. W. , Terwee Caroline B.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To investigate the structural validity, internal consistency, measurement invariance, and construct validity of the Dutch PROMIS-29 v2.1 profile, including seven physical (e.g., pain, physical function), mental (e.g., depression, anxiety), and social (e.g., role functioning) domains of health, in a Dutch general population sample including subsamples with and without chronic diseases.

Methods

The PROMIS-29 was completed by 63,602 participants from the Lifelines cohort study. Structural validity of the PROMIS-29, including unidimensionality of each domain and the physical and mental health summary scores, was evaluated using factor analyses (criteria: CFI ≥ 0.95, TLI ≥ 0.95, RMSEA ≤ 0.06, SRMR ≤ 0.08). Internal consistency, measurement invariance (no differential item functioning (DIF) for age, gender, administration mode, educational level, ethnicity, chronic diseases), and construct validity (hypotheses on known-groups validity and correlations between domains) were assessed per domain.

Results

The factor structure of the seven domains was supported (CFI = 0.994, TLI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.046, SRMR = 0.031) as was unidimensionality of each domain, both in the entire sample and the subsamples. Model fit of the physical and mental health summary scores reached the criteria, and scoring coefficients were obtained. Cronbach’s alpha for the seven PROMIS-29 domains ranged from 0.75 to 0.96 in the complete sample. No DIF was detected. Of the predefined hypotheses, 78% could be confirmed.

Conclusion

Sufficient structural validity, internal consistency and measurement invariance were found, both in the entire sample and in subsamples with and without chronic diseases. Requirements for sufficient evidence for construct validity were (almost) met for most subscales. Future studies should investigate test–retest reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness of the PROMIS-29.
A Numerical Investigation on Effective Diffusion in Cement-Based Composites: The Role of Aggregate Shape
Authors: Liu Qingchen , Wei Deheng , Zhang Hongzhi , Zhai Chongpu , Gan Yixiang
Published: June 2022

Diffusive behaviour is the fundamental mechanism of ionic-induced corrosion in cement–granular composites. Aggregate characteristics, including shape anisotropy, spatial orientation, and size distribution, significantly influence effective diffusivity. However, influences of all such types of aggregate irregularity have rarely been systematically quantified, and most of the representative aggregate shapes in numerical simulations are convex than realistic concave. In this study, we apply the finite element method (FEM) to investigate diffusion behaviour of 2D cement-based composites. Realistic multi-scale aggregate shapes, characterised by fractal dimension (Fd) and relative roughness (Rr), are generated to highlight the influence of aggregate morphology on the effective diffusivity. The spatial distribution is evaluated by the disorder index. From numerical results, samples with a larger disorder index, indicating a broader throat size distribution, show smaller effective diffusivities. Meanwhile, aggregate shape irregularity causes much smaller effective diffusivities, highlighting the necessity of the realistic concave particle shapes in numerical simulations. Sensitivity studies show Fd and Rr are more related to the effective diffusivity than other single-scale classical shape parameters. At last, a model with only these two shape parameters is proposed to predict effective diffusivity. This work further improves the understanding of the role of aggregate morphology on the effective diffusivity, towards applications in ionic-induced corrosion in two-phase composites.

Highlights

Realistic grain shapes in composites are generated using Fourier transformation.

Effects of aggregate characteristics on the effective diffusivity are investigated.

Fd and Rr are key geometrical parameters influencing the effective diffusivity.
Relapses of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies after vaccination against COVID-19: a real-life multicenter Italian study
Authors: Conticini Edoardo , d’Alessandro Miriana , Grazzini Silvia , Fornaro Marco , Sabella Daniele , Lopalco Giuseppe , Giardina Federico , Colafrancesco Serena , Rizzo Chiara , Guggino Giuliana , Priori Roberta , Conti Fabrizio , Iannone Florenzo , Bargagli Elena , Cantarini Luca , Frediani Bruno
Published: June 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination plays a crucial role as pivotal strategy to curb the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study described the clinical status of patients affected by idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) after COVID-19 vaccination to assess the number of relapses. We included all patients affected by IIM and followed by Myositis Clinic, Rheumatology and Respiratory Diseases Units, Siena University Hospital, Bari University Hospital, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, and Policlinico Paolo Giaccone, Palermo. They underwent a telephone survey. A total of 119 IIM patients (median, IQR 58 (47–66) years; 32males; 50 dermatomyositis, 39 polymyositis and 30 anti-synthetase syndrome) were consecutively enrolled. Except four patients who refused the vaccination, 94 (81.7%) received Comirnaty, 16 (13.9%) Spikevax, 5 (4.4%) Vaxzevria. Seven (6.1%) patients had flare after vaccination. One of them had life-threatening systemic involvement and died two months after second dose of COVID-19 vaccination. From logistic regression analysis, Chi2-log ratio = 0.045,the variable that most influences the development of flare was the number of organs involved (p = 0.047). Sixty-eight patients received the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination: 51(75%) Comirnaty and 17 (25%) Moderna. No patients had flares after third dose. Our study represents the largest cohort of IIM patients in which the incidence of recurrence after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was assessed. In line with real-life data from other diseases, we found a clinical non-statistically significant risk of relapse in our patients, which occurred seldom, usually mild and in patients with a more severe and aggressive course of disease.
Targeted phenolic profile of radler beers by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS: the added value of hesperidin to beer antioxidants
Authors: Di Matteo Paola , Bortolami Martina , Di Virgilio Ludovica , Petrucci Rita
Published: June 2022

The well-known health beneficial properties of beer are mainly due to phenolic antioxidants. Citrus-flavored beers represent a growing side-market in the beer industry, sparingly investigated to date. The phenolic profile of commercial radler beers (R1, R2) was investigated to evaluate the impact of the lemon juice added to beer in the industrial production. Results were compared to those obtained for opportunely chosen commercial beer (B) and lemonade (L). The study was carried out by an HPLC-MS/MS with an electrospray ionization source in selected ion recording mode, analyzing in a single chromatographic run 26 compounds belonging to the different phenolic classes of hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic and caffeoylquinic acids, flavonoids and prenylflavonoids. Different phenolic profiles were found for R1 and R2, mainly ascribed to different malt/hop/recipe used for the beer. High to very high level of hesperidin were found in the radlers, so that a major impact on phenolic antioxidants of the radlers was due to the lemon. Similarly, a major impact of the lemon aromas was found, D-limonene being the dominant peak resulting from the GC-MS analysis of the volatile fraction of the radlers.

Graphical Abstract
Critical Reflection: The Importance of Case Reviews and Reflective Practice in Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Investigations
Authors: Norman Jenny , Fox Andy , Harding Richard , Majid Asmaa , Williams Emma , Davies Kari , Horvath Miranda A. H.
Published: June 2022

Using methods and data from Operation Soteria Bluestone in Avon and Somerset Constabulary in 2021, this paper proposes two key approaches to critical reflection that we suggest all police forces should be using in rape and serious sexual offences investigations: individual critical reflection throughout investigations using ‘Reflective Practice Points’ and regular ‘Case Reviews’. One of the main themes from the data examined is the cumulative impact rape and serious sexual offences investigations have on officers. Given the high case load and lack of staff to manage the work means officers default to a 'can do attitude', but this is often at the expense of the officers' wellbeing. Reflective practice points embed critical reflection in day-to-day investigations, whilst case reviews allow for routine identification of strengths and areas for improvement across the force, basic strategies which should already be familiar to policing. Fundamentally, they are tools which can be incorporated and normalised into policing that strives to embed critical reflection in its normal operation. Simultaneously implementing these two approaches will introduce processes to support staff wellbeing, learning, and development, which will in turn contribute to the improvement of rape and serious sexual offence investigations. Having a blend of regular, informal, and formal avenues for critical reflection is key in the early identification of the different stressors experienced throughout the investigation process of rape and serious sexual offences.
Homogeneous Ordered Graphs, Metrically Homogeneous Graphs, and Beyond
Authors: Cherlin Gregory
Published: June 2022

This is the second of two volumes by Professor Cherlin presenting the state of the art in the classification of homogeneous structures in binary languages and related problems in the intersection of model theory and combinatorics. Researchers and graduate students in the area will find in these volumes many far-reaching results and interesting new research directions to pursue. This volume continues the analysis of the first volume to 3-multi-graphs and 3-multi-tournaments, expansions of graphs and tournaments by the addition of a further binary relation. The opening chapter provides an overview of the volume, outlining the relevant results and conjectures. The author applies and extends the results of Volume I to obtain a detailed catalogue of such structures and a second classification conjecture. The book ends with an appendix exploring recent advances and open problems in the theory of homogeneous structures and related subjects.
Impacts of Long‐Term Urbanization on Summer Rainfall Climatology in Yangtze River Delta Agglomeration of China
Authors: Han Longfei , Wang Luhan , Chen Huimin , Xu Youpeng , Sun Fengpeng , Reed Kyle , Deng Xiaojun , Li Wenkai
Published: June 2022

In this study, we investigated the urbanization‐induced summer rainfall changes in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) by analyzing long‐term observations and numerical simulations. The observation‐based analysis showed that long‐term urbanization increased the region's summer rainfall, particularly through the intensification of heavy rainfall, which is noted as the urban rain island (URI) effect. A series of numerical sensitivity experiments with three historical land use and land cover scenarios (1990, 2000, and 2010) were designed to further understand the urbanization impacts on rainfall. The observed URI effect was well reproduced by the numerical simulations, and on average, urban expansion during 1990–2010 increased summer rainfall over urban areas by 51.91 mm. The URI effect slightly weakened in the late stage of urbanization (2000–2010) compared to the early stage (1990–2000). We conclude that the strengthening of precipitation‐inhibiting effects during the late period offset the precipitation‐enhancing effects, which led to the weakening of the URI effect.
Compound Wind and Precipitation Extremes Across the Indo‐Pacific: Climatology, Variability, and Drivers
Authors: Li Delei , Chen Yang , Messmer Martina , Zhu Yuchao , Feng Jianlong , Yin Baoshu , Bevacqua Emanuele
Published: June 2022

Compound wind and precipitation extremes (CWPEs) can severely impact multiple sectors and regions, often causing critical infrastructure failure and fatalities, especially in the Indo‐Pacific region, which is a hotspot for CWPEs of various synoptic origins. Results show that the northwestern Pacific Ocean and its coasts have experienced the most frequent, strongest, and longest‐lasting CWPEs in summer in recent decades, which are induced by cyclones. Landfalling atmospheric rivers are one of the main drivers for frequent occurrences of CWPEs in central and western China and the northwestern Indo‐China Peninsula in both boreal summer and winter. The frequency of CWPEs over southern China exhibits significant decreasing trends in contrast to increasing trends in equatorial tropical areas. Moreover, the magnitude and pattern for the observed changes in the frequency of CWPEs result primarily from the variations in the dependence between univariate extremes, when evaluating the Indo‐Pacific as a whole.
Isotopic Records of Ancient Wildfires in C4 Grasses Preserved in the Sediment of the Ross Sea, Antarctica
Authors: Ren Peng , Luo Chunle , Zhang Hongmei , Cui Chao , Sun Shuwen , Song Hongying , Xu Liping , Rebesco Michele , De Santis Laura , Liu Yanguang , Wang Xuchen
Published: June 2022

We report carbon isotopic values in total organic carbon (TOC) and pyrogenic carbon (PyC) preserved in two sediment cores from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The δ13C values of PyC ranged from −10.9‰ to −17.2‰, with distinct differences from the δ13C values of TOC (−24.1‰ to −26.1‰) in the sediments. The radiocarbon ages of PyC were 9,128 and 8,410 years old on average in the two cores but were thousands of years younger than the ages of TOC at the same core depth. These isotopic records provide strong evidence indicating that the PyC was produced from ancient wildfires predominantly in C4 vegetation and transported to Antarctica in the atmosphere. We suggest that ancient wildfires in predominantly C4 grasslands likely frequently occurred on a large scale and at a high intensity in the Southern Hemisphere during the last deglaciation to mid‐Holocene period of 14,800–4,200 years ago.
Deepening the Late Quaternary's Deep Ocean Carbon Mysteries
Authors: Farmer Jesse R.
Published: June 2022

Changes to the carbon content of the deep ocean, the largest reservoir in the surficial carbon cycle, are capable of altering atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and thereby Earth's climate. While the role of the deep ocean's carbon inventory in the last ice age has been thoroughly investigated, comparatively little is known about whether the deep ocean contributed to the change in the pacing and intensity of ice ages around 1 million years ago during the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition (MPT). Qin et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097121) provide new reconstructions of deep ocean carbonate ion saturation, a proxy for carbon content, from the deep Pacific Ocean across the MPT. Intriguingly, their results show that a reduction in deep Pacific carbonate ion saturation across the MPT occurred at different intervals from carbonate ion saturation decline in the deep Atlantic Ocean. These results suggest a more nuanced contribution of whole‐ocean carbon sequestration to the climate changes reconstructed across the MPT.
Water Level Modulation of Wave Transformation, Setup and Runup Over La Saline Fringing Reef
Authors: Bruch William , Cordier Emmanuel , Floc'h France , Pearson Stuart G.
Published: June 2022

Coral reefs represent an efficient natural mechanical coastal defense against ocean waves. The focus of this study is La Saline fringing coral reef, located in the microtidal West of La Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, frequently exposed to Southern Ocean swell and cyclonic events. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the reef's coastal defense characteristics for several Southern Ocean swell events. Pressure sensors were placed across the reef to measure water level fluctuations and to study wave transformation. A numerical model (XBeach surfbeat), validated using field observations, was used to deepen understanding of wave transformation, wave setup and runup. Field measurements and model outputs show that as gravity waves dissipate over the reef, and frequency‐dependent dissipation of infragravity waves by bottom‐friction occurs, the reef acts as a low‐pass filter. Wave‐induced setup is found to be the dominant hydrodynamic component. Setup and runup are each 98% and 79% driven by the offshore significant wave height, and 2% and 21% driven by the tide. The modulation of the water level by setup is the main contributor to runup in the fringing reef. At semidiurnal timescales, setup and runup are in antiphase with tidal variations as lower water levels result in higher gravity wave energy dissipation, setup and runup. Simple‐to‐use transfer functions relating incident wave characteristics to these hydrodynamic components are proposed. The effects of bottom friction and water level on the defensive capacity of the coral reef highlight future implications of structural damage and sea level rise.
Neonatal Staphylococcus Aureus Sepsis: a 20-year Western Australian experience
Authors: Shadbolt Rachel , We Michael Lee Shee , Kohan Rolland , Porter Michelle , Athalye-Jape Gayatri , Nathan Elizabeth , Shrestha Damber , Strunk Tobias
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to characterise neonatal Staphylococcus aureus (SA) sepsis in Western Australia (WA) between 2001 and 2020 at the sole tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), examine risk factors for sepsis in the cohort, and compare short- and long-term outcomes to control infants without any sepsis.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study at the Neonatal Directorate at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Perth Children’s Hospital, using electronic databases and patient medical records.

Results

The overall incidence of SA sepsis was 0.10 per 1000 live births (62/614207). From 2001 to 2010 the incidence was 0.13/1000 live births, reducing to 0.07/1000 live births from 2011 to 2020. SA was most frequently isolated from endotracheal aspirates, and infants with SA sepsis had longer median duration of ventilatory support than those without any sepsis (31 days vs 18 days respectively, p < 0.001). In our cohort, SA sepsis was associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to infants without any sepsis.

Conclusions

The incidence of neonatal SA sepsis has reduced over the last 20 years, suggesting potential effectiveness of the preventative interventions implemented. Endotracheal tube (ETT) colonisation and prolonged ventilation may be under-recognised as potential sources of SA infection. Our study suggests SA sepsis may negatively impact neurodevelopmental outcomes.
The key role of concentrated Zn(OTF)2 electrolyte in the performance of aqueous Zn–S batteries
Authors: Xu Zhao , Zhang Yan , Gou Wenshan , Liu Mengmeng , Sun Yifei , Han Xuguang , Sun Wei , Li Changming
Published: June 2022

In this communication, the electrolyte chemistry in aqueous Zn–S batteries was illustrated systematically.
A low-temperature thermal ALD process for nickel utilizing dichlorobis(triethylphosphine)nickel(ii) and 1,4-bis(trimethylgermyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazine
Authors: Vihervaara Anton , Hatanpää Timo , Mizohata Kenichiro , Chundak Mykhailo , Popov Georgi , Ritala Mikko
Published: June 2022

Novel precursors enable the low-temperature ALD of metallic nickel thin films.
GaiaData Release 3
Authors: Ripepi V. , Clementini G. , Molinaro R. , Leccia S. , Plachy E. , Molnár L. , Rimoldini L. , Musella I. , Marconi M. , Garofalo A. , Audard M. , Holl B. , Evans D. W. , Jevardat de Fombelle G. , Lecoeur-Taibi I. , Marchal O. , Mowlavi N. , Muraveva T. , Nienartowicz K. , Sartoretti P. , Szabados L. , Eyer L.
Published: June 2022

Context.Cepheids are pulsating stars that play a crucial role in several astrophysical contexts. Among the different types, the Classical Cepheids are fundamental tools for the calibration of the extragalactic distance ladder. They are also powerful stellar population tracers in the context of Galactic studies. TheGaiaThird Data Release (DR3) publishes improved data on Cepheids collected during the initial 34 months of operations.

Aims.We present theGaiaDR3 catalogue of Cepheids of all types, obtained through the analysis carried out with the Specific Object Study (SOS) Cep&RRL pipeline.

Methods.We discuss the procedures adopted to clean the Cepheid sample from spurious objects, to validate the results, and to re-classify sources with an incorrect outcome from the SOS Cep&RRL pipeline.

Results.TheGaiaDR3 includes multi-band time-series photometry and characterisation by the SOS Cep&RRL pipeline for a sample of 15 006 Cepheids of all types. The sample includes 4663, 4616, 321, and 185 pulsators, distributed in the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud, Messier 31, and Messier 33, respectively, as well as 5221 objects in the remaining All Sky subregion which includes stars in the Milky Way field and clusters and in a number of small satellites of our Galaxy. Among this sample, 327 objects were known as variable stars in the literature but with a different classification, while, to the best of our knowledge, 474 stars have not been reported as variable before now and therefore they likely are new Cepheids discovered byGaia.
Sufficient conditions for graphs with {P2, P5}-factors
Authors: Dai Guowei , Hang Yicheng , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Zan-Bo , Wang Wenqi
Published: June 2022

For a graph G, a spanning subgraph F of G is called an {P2, P5}-factor if every component of F is isomorphic to P2 or P5, where Pk denotes the path of order k. It was proved by Egawa and Furuya that if G satisfies 3c1 (G − S) + 2c3 (G − S) ≤ 4|S| + 1 for all S ⊆ V(G), then G has a {P2, P5}-factor, where ck (G − S) denotes the number of components of G − S with order k. By this result, we give some other sufficient conditions for a graph to have a {P2, P5}-factor by various graphic parameters such as toughness, binding number, degree sums, etc. Moreover, we obtain some regular graphs and some K(1,r)-free graphs having {P2, P5}-factors.
The Association between Glycosylated Hemoglobin Level and Platelets Reactivity in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Mihaljevic Martina Zrno , Petricevic Mate , Konosic Sanja , Svetina Lucija , Urlic Marjan , Starcevic Zrinka , Krzelj Kristina , Milosevic Milan , Kalamar Viktor , Gasparovic Hrvoje , Biocina Bojan
Published: June 2022

Background Diabetic patients tend to have increased platelet reactivity after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to determine the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values and platelet reactivity and to evaluate the consequent impact on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing CABG.

Methods This prospective observational trial consecutively enrolled 225 diabetic patients undergoing CABG, between February 2014 and October 2018. HbA1c levels and platelet function (multiple electrode aggregometry [MEA]) were analyzed the day before surgery and on postoperative day 4 (POD 4). Patients were divided into two groups according to the HbA1c value: HBA1c < 7% and HbA1c ≥ 7%.

Results Significantly higher postoperative ASPI (platelet function test based on arachidonic acid) and ADP (platelet function test based on adenosine diphosphate) test values were observed at POD 4 compared with preoperative values (ASPI test: p < 0.001; ADP test: p < 0.001). The prevalence of preoperative aspirin resistance (AR) was 46.4% relative to 57.2% after surgery showing consistent increase in postoperative AR by approximately 10%. In addition, the prevalence of AR in the HbA1c < 7% group was higher by 10% compared with the HbA1c ≥ 7% group, both before and after surgery. We did not demonstrate differences in clinical outcomes between the HbA1c groups.

Conclusion Perioperative assessment of platelet reactivity in diabetic patients detects those with AR who may be at increased risk of adverse ischemic events. A personalized approach guided by MEA and administration of early and more potent antiaggregation therapy after CABG can be beneficial in this group of patients.
Long-Term Results after Fallot Repair
Authors: Kleinöder Jonas Markus , Purbojo Ariawan , Blumauer Robert , Cuomo Michela , Alkassar Muhannad , Dittrich Sven , Cesnjevar Robert
Published: June 2022

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome and freedom from pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) after initial repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

Patients and Methods The cohort of 306 patients treated between 1980 and 2017 was divided into anatomical subgroups according to the diagnosis of TOF-pulmonary stenosis, TOF-pulmonary atresia and TOF-double outlet right ventricle. Patients were treated with transannular patch (TAP), valve sparing repair (VSR), or conduits from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries (RVPA conduits).

Results There were 21 deaths (6.9%), 14 being hospital deaths (4.6%) after primary correction and four deaths (1.3%) occurred after PVR. One patient died after a non-cardiac operation (0.3%). There were two late deaths (0.7%). During the past 12 years no early mortality has been observed. Ninety-one patients (30.4%) received PVR after a median of 12.1 ± 7.0 years with an early mortality of 4.4% (n = 4) and no late mortality. A significant difference in freedom from reoperation after TAP, VSR, and RVPA-conduits could be identified. Multivariate analysis displayed transannular repair (p = 0.016), primary palliation (p <0.001), the presence of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA; p = 0.023), and pulmonary valve Z-scores < − 4.0 (p = 0.040) as significant risk factors for PVR.

Conclusion TOF repair has a beneficial long-term prognosis with low morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary valve Z-scores < − 4.0, transannular repair, and presence of MAPCAs are associated with earlier PVR. Non-VSRs and TOF-pulmonary atresia lead to earlier reoperation but have no negative impact on survival.