bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collaborative behaviour and coalitions in male jaguars (Panthera onca)—evidence and comparison with other felids
Authors: Jędrzejewski Włodzimierz , Hoogesteijn Rafael , Devlin Allison L. , Tortato Fernando , Concone Henrique Villas Boas , Azevedo Fernando , Eriksson Charlotte E. , Fragoso Carlos Eduardo , Abarca Maria , Morato Ronaldo G. , Giordano Anthony J. , Hoogesteijn Almira , Rampim Lilian , Gamarra Gertrudis , Carreño Rafael , Velásquez Grisel , Schmidt Krzysztof
Published: August 2022

Most large felids are classified as solitary species, with only lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) exhibiting social, collaborative behaviours. Herein, we present evidence of the formation of male coalitions by jaguars (Panthera onca), based on data from five studies conducted with camera trapping, GPS telemetry, and direct observations in the Venezuelan Llanos and Brazilian Pantanal. Out of 7062 male records obtained with camera traps or visual observations, we detected 105 cases of male-male interactions, of which we classified 18 as aggression, nine as tolerance, 70 as cooperation/coalition, and eight as unidentified. In two studies, two male jaguars formed stable coalitions lasting over 7 years each. In the Llanos, each coalition male paired and mated with several females. For male jaguar coalitions, we documented similar behaviours as recorded earlier in lions or cheetahs, which included patrolling and marking territory together, invading territories of other males, collaborative chasing and killing other jaguars, and sharing prey. However, different from lions or cheetahs, associated male jaguars spent less time together, did not cooperate with females, and did not hunt cooperatively together. Our analysis of literature suggested that male jaguar coalitions were more likely to form when females had small home range size, a proxy of females’ concentration, while in lions, the male group size was directly correlated with the female group size. Similarly, locally concentrated access to females may drive formation of male coalitions in cheetahs. We conclude that high biomass and aggregation of prey are likely drivers of sociality in felids.

Significance statement

The division into social and solitary species in large felids has so far seemed unambiguous, with only lions and cheetahs classified as social species, in which male coalitions also occurred. Our data show that, under certain conditions, male coalitions may also form in jaguar populations. Factors that drive formation of male coalitions in lions and cheetahs, but not in other species of large cats, have not been clear until now. Our analyses indicate that in jaguars, lions, and cheetahs, the concentration of females likely plays the most important role. In jaguars, the probability of male coalition occurrence is highest in populations with the smallest mean female home range size (and thus likely high local density of females), while in lions, male group size is most strongly correlated with female group size.
Evaluation of an artificial intelligence coronary artery calcium scoring model from computed tomography
Authors: Ihdayhid Abdul Rahman , Lan Nick S. R. , Williams Michelle , Newby David , Flack Julien , Kwok Simon , Joyner Jack , Gera Sahil , Dembo Lawrence , Adler Brendan , Ko Brian , Chow Benjamin J. W. , Dwivedi Girish
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores derived from computed tomography (CT) scans are used for cardiovascular risk stratification. Artificial intelligence (AI) can assist in CAC quantification and potentially reduce the time required for human analysis. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a fully automated model that identifies and quantifies CAC.

Methods

Fully convolutional neural networks for automated CAC scoring were developed and trained on 2439 cardiac CT scans and validated using 771 scans. The model was tested on an independent set of 1849 cardiac CT scans. Agatston CAC scores were further categorised into five risk categories (0, 1–10, 11–100, 101–400, and > 400). Automated scores were compared to the manual reference standard (level 3 expert readers).

Results

Of 1849 scans used for model testing (mean age 55.7 ± 10.5 years, 49% males), the automated model detected the presence of CAC in 867 (47%) scans compared with 815 (44%) by human readers (p = 0.09). CAC scores from the model correlated very strongly with the manual score (Spearman’s r = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89–0.91, p < 0.001 and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98, 95% CI 0.98–0.99, p < 0.001). The model classified 1646 (89%) into the same risk category as human observers. The Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated little difference (1.69, 95% limits of agreement: −41.22, 44.60) and there was almost excellent agreement (Cohen’s κ = 0.90, 95% CI 0.88–0.91, p < 0.001). Model analysis time was 13.1 ± 3.2 s/scan.

Conclusions

This artificial intelligence–based fully automated CAC scoring model shows high accuracy and low analysis times. Its potential to optimise clinical workflow efficiency and patient outcomes requires evaluation.

Key Points

• Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores are traditionally assessed using cardiac computed tomography and require manual input by human operators to identify calcified lesions.

• A novel artificial intelligence (AI)–based model for fully automated CAC scoring was developed and tested on an independent dataset of computed tomography scans, showing very high levels of correlation and agreement with manual measurements as a reference standard.

• AI has the potential to assist in the identification and quantification of CAC, thereby reducing the time required for human analysis.
Low bone mineral density is a prognostic factor for elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE: results from a multicenter study
Authors: Müller Lukas , Mähringer-Kunz Aline , Auer Timo Alexander , Fehrenbach Uli , Gebauer Bernhard , Haubold Johannes , Theysohn Jens M. , Kim Moon-Sung , Kleesiek Jens , Diallo Thierno D. , Eisenblätter Michel , Bettinger Dominik , Steinle Verena , Mayer Philipp , Zopfs David , Pinto dos Santos Daniel , Kloeckner Roman
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Low bone mineral density (BMD) was recently identified as a novel risk factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this multicenter study, we aimed to validate the role of BMD as a prognostic factor for patients with HCC undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

This retrospective multicenter trial included 908 treatment-naïve patients with HCC who were undergoing TACE as a first-line treatment, at six tertiary care centers, between 2010 and 2020. BMD was assessed by measuring the mean Hounsfield units (HUs) in the midvertebral core of the 11th thoracic vertebra, on contrast-enhanced computer tomography performed before treatment. We assessed the influence of BMD on median overall survival (OS) and performed multivariate analysis including established estimates for survival.

Results

The median BMD was 145 HU (IQR, 115–175 HU). Patients with a high BMD (≥ 114 HU) had a median OS of 22.2 months, while patients with a low BMD (< 114 HU) had a lower median OS of only 16.2 months (p < .001). Besides albumin, bilirubin, tumor number, and tumor diameter, BMD remained an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

BMD is an independent predictive factor for survival in elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE. The integration of BMD into novel scoring systems could potentially improve survival prediction and clinical decision-making.

Key Points

• Bone mineral density can be easily assessed in routinely acquired pre-interventional computed tomography scans.

• Bone mineral density is an independent predictive factor for survival in elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE.

• Thus, bone mineral density is a novel imaging biomarker for prognosis prediction in elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE.
Enhanced linear and nonlinear optical properties of erbium/ytterbium lead phosphate glass by gamma irradiation for optoelectronics applications
Authors: Sallam O. I. , Abdel Maksoud M. I. A. , Kassem Said M. , Awed A. S. , Elalaily N. A.
Published: August 2022

Herein, this study intends to reveal the impact of gamma irradiation on the structural, linear, and nonlinear optical characteristics of 47P2O5−23Na2O−6Al2O3−22PbO−0.5Er2O3−1.5Yb2O3glass. The Er/Yb-doped lead phosphate glass samples were produced using the traditional melt quenching procedure and then treated to different doses of gamma irradiation (0, 20, 50, and 100) kGy. The amorphous phase structure of the Er/Yb-doped lead phosphate glass samples was verified through XRD patterns. Also, the shift of the FTIR peaks due to the change in bond angles, and the change in the bond length of the P–O–P bridges means the glass network stability against radiation. With increasing irradiation dosages, the energy gap dropped from 4.11 eV to 3.42 eV and then enhanced to 3.48 at 100 kGy. At the same time, the Urbach energy enhanced from 10.23 eV to 37.03 eV. The oscillator energy Eo was found between 1.55 and 1.62 eV. Also, the dispersion energy Edvaried between 2.11 eV at 100 kGy and 2.71 eV at the dose of 50 kGy. The percentage of free carrier ions to effective mass (N/m*) is in the range (4.82–8.66) × 1047cm3/g. Besides, the lattice dielectric constant ($${\varepsilon }_{l}$$εl) increased from 5.54 to 6.63 as the gamma dosages increased. Furthermore, increasing gamma doses up to 50 kGy promotes susceptibility, which subsequently declines at 100 kGy, suggesting that increasing gamma doses over 50 kGy weakens polarizability potential. While the increasing gamma doses up to 50 kGy reduces the nonlinear refractive index and then improves at 100 kGy. Overall, the nonlinear and linear research revealed that Er/Yb lead phosphate glass is being used as a promising material for gain media and optical amplifiers.
Venting during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Lüsebrink Enzo , Binzenhöfer Leonhard , Kellnar Antonia , Müller Christoph , Scherer Clemens , Schrage Benedikt , Joskowiak Dominik , Petzold Tobias , Braun Daniel , Brunner Stefan , Peterss Sven , Hausleiter Jörg , Zimmer Sebastian , Born Frank , Westermann Dirk , Thiele Holger , Schäfer Andreas , Hagl Christian , Massberg Steffen , Orban Martin
Published: August 2022

Cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest contribute pre-dominantly to mortality in acute cardiovascular care. Here, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has emerged as an established therapeutic option for patients suffering from these life-threatening entities. VA-ECMO provides temporary circulatory support until causative treatments are effective and enables recovery or serves as a bridging strategy to surgical ventricular assist devices, heart transplantation or decision-making. However, in-hospital mortality rate in this treatment population is still around 60%. In the recently published ARREST trial, VA-ECMO treatment lowered mortality rate in patients with ongoing cardiac arrest due to therapy refractory ventricular fibrillation compared to standard advanced cardiac life support in selected patients. Whether VA-ECMO can reduce mortality compared to standard of care in cardiogenic shock has to be evaluated in the ongoing prospective randomized studies EURO-SHOCK (NCT03813134) and ECLS-SHOCK (NCT03637205). As an innate drawback of VA-ECMO treatment, the retrograde aortic flow could lead to an elevation of left ventricular (LV) afterload, increase in LV filling pressure, mitral regurgitation, and elevated left atrial pressure. This may compromise myocardial function and recovery, pulmonary hemodynamics—possibly with concomitant pulmonary congestion and even lung failure—and contribute to poor outcomes in a relevant proportion of treated patients. To overcome these detrimental effects, a multitude of venting strategies are currently engaged for both preventive and emergent unloading. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and structured synopsis of existing venting modalities and their specific hemodynamic characteristics. We discuss in detail the available data on outcome categories and complication rates related to the respective venting option.

Graphical abstract
FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy regimens alter the frequency of CD27+ and CD69+ T cells in oesophagogastric adenocarcinomas: implications for combination with immunotherapy
Authors: Davern Maria , Donlon Noel E. , Sheppard Andrew S. , Majcher Klaudia D. , Connell Fiona O’ , Heeran Aisling B. , Grant Malika , Farrell Robert A. , Hayes Conall , Bracken-Clarke Dara , Conroy Melissa J. , Foley Emma , Toole Dermot O’ , Bhardwaj Anshul , Ravi Narayanasamy , Reynolds John V. , Maher Stephen G. , Sullivan Jacintha O’ , Lysaght Joanne
Published: August 2022

Combining immunostimulatory chemotherapies with immunotherapy is an attractive strategy to enhance treatment responses in oesophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma (OGJ). This study investigates the immunostimulatory properties of FLOT, CROSS and MAGIC chemotherapy regimens in the context of OGJ using in vitro and ex vivo models of the treatment-naïve and post-chemotherapy treated tumour microenvironment. FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy regimens increased surrogate markers of immunogenic cell death (HMGB1 and HLA-DR), whereas the MAGIC treatment regimen decreased HMGB1 and HLA-DR on OGJ cells (markedly for epirubicin). Tumour-infiltrating and circulating T cells had significantly lower CD27 expression and significantly higher CD69 expression post-FLOT and post-CROSS treatment. Similarly, the supernatant from FLOT- and CROSS-treated OGJ cell lines and from FLOT- and CROSS-treated OGJ biopsies cultured ex vivo also decreased CD27 and increased CD69 expression on T cells. Following 48 h treatment with post-FLOT and post-CROSS tumour conditioned media the frequency of CD69+ T cells in culture negatively correlated with the levels of soluble immunosuppressive pro-angiogenic factors in the conditioned media from ex vivo explants. Supernatant from FLOT- and CROSS-treated OGJ cell lines also increased the cytotoxic potential of healthy donor T cells ex vivo and enhanced OGJ patient-derived lymphocyte mediated-killing of OE33 cells ex vivo. Collectively, this data demonstrate that FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy regimens possess immunostimulatory properties, identifying these chemotherapy regimens as rational synergistic partners to test in combination with immunotherapy and determine if this combinatorial approach could boost anti-tumour immunity in OGJ patients and improve clinical outcomes.
Lower limb post-traumatic osteomyelitis: a systematic review of clinical outcomes
Authors: Rodham Paul , Panteli Michalis , Vun James S. H. , Harwood Paul , Giannoudis Peter V.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the patient-reported outcomes of patients presenting with post-traumatic osteomyelitis (PTOM) of the lower limb over the past 15 years. This period was chosen to reflect modern treatment principles and increased centralisation of care.

Methods

An electronic literature search of the relevant databases (PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library) was conducted to identify studies published between January 2006 and July 2021 reporting series of greater than 10 patients with PTOM of the tibia or femur at the site of a previous fracture. Studies reporting septic non-union were excluded.

Results

Sixteen eligible studies were identified and included in the final report. Remission of infection was achieved in 93.2% of cases (range 70–100%), whilst amputation was reported in 1–7% of cases. A variety of patient-reported outcome measures were utilised including the lower extremity functional scale, short musculoskeletal functional assessment, Enneking score, and EQ-5D-3L. Limb-specific functional outcomes returned to levels similar to that of the general population although poorer outcomes were noted in specific cohorts including those with complex anatomic disease and active medical comorbidities.

Conclusion

Infection following fracture fixation remains a difficult problem to treat. Regardless, using modern treatments and techniques patients can have comparable functional outcomes to that of the general population. High-quality studies are required to advance our knowledge into which types of treatments offer a benefit and how to further improve outcomes.
Training is not enough: child and adolescent psychiatry clinicians’ impressions of telepsychiatry during the first COVID-19 related lockdown
Authors: Rusu Vlad-Alexandru , van der Lans R. M. , Vermeiren R. R. J. M. , Hauber K. , de Lijster J. M. , Lindauer R. J. L. , Nugter A. , Hoekstra P. J. , Nooteboom L. A.
Published: August 2022

To ensure the continuity of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) were forced to immediately adapt in-person treatment into remote treatment. This study aimed to examine the effects of pre-COVID-19 training in- and use of telepsychiatry on CAP clinicians’ impressions of telepsychiatry during the first two weeks of the Dutch COVID-19 related lockdown, providing a first insight into the preparations necessary for the implementation and provision of telepsychiatry during emergency situations. All clinicians employed by five specialized CAP centres across the Netherlands were invited to fill in a questionnaire that was specifically developed to study CAP clinicians’ impressions of telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1065 clinicians gave informed consent and participated in the study. A significant association was found between pre-COVID-19 training and/or use of telepsychiatry and CAP clinicians’ impressions of telepsychiatry. By far, the most favourable impressions were reported by participants that were both trained and made use of telepsychiatry before the pandemic. Participants with either training or use separately reported only slightly more favourable impressions than participants without any previous training or use. The expertise required to provide telepsychiatry is not one-and-the-same as the expertise that is honed through face-to-face consultation. The findings of this study strongly suggest that, separately, both training and (clinical) practice fail to sufficiently support CAP clinicians in the implementation and provision of telepsychiatry. It is therefore recommended that training and (clinical) practice are provided in conjunction.
Investigation and numerical simulation of debris flow events in Rochefort basin (Aosta Valley—NW Italian Alps) combining detailed geomorphological analyses and modern technologies
Authors: Vagnon Federico , Kurilla Laurie Jayne , Clusaz Alain , Pirulli Marina , Fubelli Giandomenico
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a multidisciplinary approach using modern technologies for the analysis and modelling of the debris flow that occurred at Torrent Rochefort (Aosta Valley—Italy) September 2015. A detailed on-site geological and geomorphological study was performed to highlight the main characteristics of the basin, useful for validating and calibrating dynamic simulations. The total mobilized volume was estimated by comparing a pre-event DTM and a post-event DTM generated from an unmanned aerial vehicle. A digital terrain model comparative analysis provided a quantitative estimation of erodible depths in different sectors of the Rochefort basin. Numerical modelling of the event was performed using the continuum mechanics-based code RASH3D that enabled a simulation of the dynamic debris motion on complex topography. The results demonstrate the importance of a detailed geomorphological study for the validation and calibration of numerical results. Finally, some considerations were inferred about the magnitude of unstable debris and the possible consequences on local infrastructures.
Multivariate systemic optimal risk transfer equilibrium
Authors: Doldi Alessandro , Frittelli Marco
Published: August 2022

A Systemic Optimal Risk Transfer Equilibrium (SORTE) was introduced in: “Systemic optimal risk transfer equilibrium”, Mathematics and Financial Economics (2021), for the analysis of the equilibrium among financial institutions or in insurance-reinsurance markets. A SORTE conjugates the classical Bühlmann’s notion of a risk exchange equilibrium with a capital allocation principle based on systemic expected utility optimization. In this paper we extend such a notion to the case when the value function to be optimized is multivariate in a general sense, and it is not simply given by the sum of univariate utility functions. This takes into account the fact that preferences of single agents might depend on the actions of other participants in the game. Technically, the extension of SORTE to the new setup requires developing a theory for multivariate utility functions and selecting at the same time a suitable framework for the duality theory. Conceptually, this more general framework allows us to introduce and study a Nash Equilibrium property of the optimizer. We prove existence, uniqueness, and the Nash Equilibrium property of the newly defined Multivariate Systemic Optimal Risk Transfer Equilibrium.
Large Eddy Simulation of a Reacting Kerosene Spray in Hot Vitiated Cross-Flow
Authors: Fredrich Daniel , Miniero Luigi , Pandey Khushboo , Jones William P. , Noiray Nicolas , Giusti Andrea
Published: August 2022

The evaporation and combustion characteristics of a kerosene spray injected perpendicularly into a cross-flow of high-temperature vitiated air is investigated. This fundamental flow configuration has wider implications for the future development of ultra-low emission aeronautical combustors, particularly with respect to technologies involving MILD combustion. Large eddy simulations with a Eulerian–Lagrangian framework are performed to investigate the spray evolution and the characteristics of the reaction zone for a range of conditions. For the closure of turbulence-chemistry interactions at the sub-grid scales, a transported probability density function approach solved by the Eulerian stochastic fields method is applied. A configuration based on the use of airblast atomisation is assessed first and compared with experimental observations. The effect of the atomiser air-to-liquid mass flow ratio is studied in greater detail, both in terms of the resulting gas-phase properties and the droplet evaporation process. Then, the effect of ambient pressure on the global spray flame behaviour is examined. For this part of the study, no atomising air is included in the simulation to separate the effects of ambient pressure on the spray from the interaction with the air jet. Analysis of the flame and spray properties at cross-flow operating pressures of 1 atm, 2 bar and 4 bar highlights the strong coupling between the reacting flow and droplet evaporation characteristics, which are highly affected by the penetration of the spray into a flow field characterised by relatively large gradients of temperature. The results reported in this work provide fundamental understanding for the development of novel low-emission combustion technologies and demonstrate the feasibility of applying large eddy simulation with detailed chemistry for the investigation of reacting aviation fuel sprays in hot vitiated cross-flow.
Molecular insights into the invasion dynamics of Carcinus crabs in South Africa
Authors: Mabin Clova A. , Robinson Tamara B. , Wilson John R. U. , Hirsch Heidi , Castillo Maria L. , Jooste Michelle , Le Roux Johannes J.
Published: August 2022

Knowledge of the introduction history and spread dynamics of invasive species can provide important insights for management (Ens et al. in Environ Rev (in press), 2022), however such information is often unavailable for accidental introductions. Here we infer how the European shore crab, Carcinus maenas, and its congener, the Mediterranean shore crab, C. aestuarii, were introduced to and spread within South Africa. We do this using nuclear microsatellite data and Bayesian assignment tests and Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) modelling that included samples from the native and other invasive ranges of these two species. We also compared the genetic diversity and structure of one of the South African populations during and after intensive management, with that of another, unmanaged, population. South African populations had higher genetic diversity than invasive Carcinus populations from elsewhere in the world. Moreover, the ABC analyses suggest that South African populations originated from an admixture event between individuals of C. maenas from a population in the native range and an invasive population from Canada. We also identified instances of hybridisation between Carcinus maenas and C. aestuarii in South Africa. South African populations showed no genetic structure, suggesting either extensive migration between them or that populations arose from the same initial introduction. Management of Carcinus did not affect genetic diversity or structure, and we suspect that the management duration was insufficient to target a full generation of crabs. Together these results suggest multiple introductions and/or high propagule pressure to South Africa, crab (larval or adult) movement between existing populations, and some hybridisation. For eradication from South Africa to be achieved, management would need to concurrently target all known invasive populations and clearly establish that new introductions could be prevented.
Deficient Novelty Detection and Encoding in Early Alzheimer’s Disease: An ERP Study
Authors: Tautvydaitė Domilė , Adam-Darqué Alexandra , Andryszak Paulina , Poitrine Léa , Ptak Radek , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Schnider Armin
Published: August 2022

Patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have difficulty in learning new information and in detecting novel stimuli. The underlying physiological mechanisms are not well known. We investigated the electrophysiological correlates of the early (< 400 ms), automatic phase of novelty detection and encoding in AD. We used high-density EEG Queryin patients with early AD and healthy age-matched controls who performed a continuous recognition task (CRT) involving new stimuli (New), thought to provoke novelty detection and encoding, which were then repeated up to 4 consecutive times to produce over-familiarity with the stimuli. Stimuli then reappeared after 9–15 intervening items (N-back) to be re-encoded. AD patients had substantial difficulty in detecting novel stimuli and recognizing repeated ones. Main evoked potential differences between repeated and new stimuli emerged at 180–260 ms: neural source estimations in controls revealed more extended MTL activation for N-back stimuli and anterior temporal lobe activations for New stimuli compared to highly familiar repetitions. In contrast, AD patients exhibited no activation differences between the three stimulus types. In direct comparison, healthy subjects had significantly stronger MTL activation in response to New and N-back stimuli than AD patients. These results point to abnormally weak early MTL activity as a correlate of deficient novelty detection and encoding in early AD.
Treatment of HR+/HER2− breast cancer in urban mainland China: results from the CancerMPact Survey 2019
Authors: Murali Bhavna , Durbin Laura , Vijaykumar Sapna , Yang Linda , Li Song , Zhao Linda , Hawthorne Stephanie , Kanas Gena , Davis Christine , Clark Otávio
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To report the treatment utilization patterns for hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer in urban mainland China (CancerMPact®).

Methods

The results presented are from an online survey conducted in September 2019 with 45 physicians treating breast cancer patients from 11 cities in mainland China.

Results

Surveyed physicians reported that Stage I HR+/HER2(−) breast cancer patients are often treated with surgery alone (42%), whereas the use of surgery in combination with systemic therapy with or without radiotherapy increases in later stages (Stage II 67%, Stage III 77%). Doxorubicin–cyclophosphamide (AC)-based regimens were the most common in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings in HR+/HER2(−) breast cancer patients, across all stages. In metastatic patients, use of surgery and radiotherapy decreases in favor of utilization of systemic therapy alone. Pre- and post-menopausal metastatic patients were frequently treated with hormone therapy or AC-based regimens in first line. Regardless of the first-line therapy administered, capecitabine-based regimens were commonly used in second line. In third line, chemotherapy regimens containing capecitabine or gemcitabine were given to nearly 40% of HR+/HER2(−) breast cancer patients. There were no standard of care regimens established for fourth or greater lines of treatment. In metastatic HR+/HER2(−) breast cancer, physicians reported 50% objective response rates in first-line settings with a progression-free survival of 16 months.

Conclusion

HR+/HER2(−) breast cancer patients in urban mainland China were prescribed chemotherapy regimens more frequently than CDK4/6 inhibitors. Treatment practices varied, with physicians reporting the use of multiple modalities and treatment regimens for their patients.
Contribution to understanding the influence of fires on the mercury cycle: Systematic review, dynamic modelling and application to sustainable hypothetical scenarios
Authors: Francisco López Ahinara , Heckenauer Barrón Eric G. , Bello Bugallo Pastora M.
Published: August 2022

Mercury (Hg) mobilization and accumulation in the environment is directly related to forest fires. Biomass burning accounts for about 13% of the total contribution of Hg from natural sources. The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of how wildfires modify mercury compounds behaviour and the effects it has in the Hg cycle, based on a systematic bibliographic review and analysis. Systems dynamics is an adequate focus to analyze the mobilization of Hg due to wildfires, which meets all the requirements to be studied by multimedia modelling. The development and application for the first time of a dynamic multimedia model of Hg taking into account specifically the influences of wildfires is one of the novelties of this work. Different scenarios show that an increase in the number of fires will consequently increase the mercury emitted into the atmosphere, modifying its natural cycle, producing a long-term modification of Hg compositions and concentrations in the different media. Hg movement caused by wildfires can cause complications in living beings and alter the ecosystems. This study found that the Hg soil content could as well be an indicator to measure the impact of fire on the environment. This model can also be generalized to conduct additional studies under comparable conditions, helping to understand the importance of forest fires in global Hg cycles.

Graphical abstract
Assessment of accumulation of heavy metals in soil, irrigation water, and vegetative parts of lettuce and cabbage grown along Wawan Rafi, Jigawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Sagagi Balarabe Sarki , Bello Abdu Muhammad , Danyaya Haruna Abubakar
Published: August 2022

Human exposure to heavy metal toxicity has been linked to the consumption of vegetables grown on polluted soils. The goal of this study was to see how much heavy metals accumulated in the soil, irrigation water, and vegetative sections of lettuce and cabbage planted in Wawan Rafi, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The concentrations of potentially harmful metals in soil, water, and crops are in the order Mn > Pb > Zn > Ni > Cd > Cu, except for lettuce, where Pb was found to be greater than Mn. Furthermore, the majority of the hazardous elements analyzed were below the allowed limit. Nevertheless, the presence of high levels of metals revealed evidence of contamination, which was attributed to human activities. The potential ecological risk index values for lettuce and cabbage are 86.488 and 225.463, respectively, and both are considered safe because the RI values for both lettuce and cabbage are below or within the range of 200 ≤ RI ˂ 400. This implies consumption of these vegetables may not pose a high health risk to the local public when individual heavy metal is considered, but the risk could multiply when all of the heavy metals are considered together.
A new challenge in melon resistance breeding: the ToLCNDV case
Authors: Siskos Lampros , Cui Lei , Wang Chen , Visser Richard G. F. , Bai Yuling , Schouten Henk J.
Published: August 2022

Tomato leaf curl New Dehli virus (ToLCNDV) is a whitefly transmitted plant virus that is affecting European melon cultivation for over a decade. Since its first introduction in the Mediterranean basin the virus has been associated with significant economic losses including lower yields and cracked non-marketable fruits in Spain and other key cucurbits production areas. Since there is no chemical application against viral pathogens the focus is geared towards resistance breeding. Various QTLs associated with ToLCNDV resistance have been reported over the recent years in melon and other cucurbits. In the current review we summarize the latest advances in melon breeding for ToLCNDV resistance and present all relevant loci known so far in cucurbits. As a way forward in the future we propose an alternative to traditional resistance gene introgression breeding by exploiting the knowledge on genes that confer susceptibility to the virus in melon and other cucurbits.
Resonant Column Tests on Mixtures of Different Sands with Coarse Tyre Rubber Chips
Authors: Banzibaganye Gerard , Vrettos Christos
Published: August 2022

The dynamic behaviour of unsaturated sand rubber chips mixtures at various gravimetric contents is evaluated through an experimental study comprising resonant column tests in a fixed-free device. Chips were irregularly shaped with dimensions ranging from 5 to 14 mm. Three types of sand with different gradation have been considered. Relative density amounted to 0.5 for all specimens. Due to the large size of the chips, the diameter of the specimens had to be equal to 100 mm, which in turn required a re-calibration of the device assuming a frequency-dependent drive head inertia. The effects of confining stress, rubber chips content, and sand gradation on shear modulus and damping ratio are determined over wide ranges of the shear strain. At small strains, as known for sands, increasing the confining stress stiffens the mixtures. Increasing the rubber chips content reduces significantly the shear modulus and increases the damping ratio. At higher strains, increasing the confining stress or the rubber content flattens the reduction of the shear modulus with strain. Damping at high strains does not show any appreciable dependence on rubber content. Unloading–reloading sequences are used to assess shear modulus degradation and threshold strains. Finally, design equations are derived from the test results to predict the dynamic response of the composite material.
Effect of annealing temperature on the physical properties of NiO thin films and ITO/NiO/Al Schottky diodes
Authors: Salunkhe Parashurama , Kekuda Dhananjaya
Published: August 2022

Herein, fabrication and characterisation of p-NiO/Al Schottky barrier diodes have been realised by dc reactive magnetron sputtering. In addition, effect of post-annealing temperature was studied. A detailed investigation on the physical properties of the NiO thin films was carried out using structural, morphological, optical, and spectroscopic characterisation tools. The metal–semiconductor interface behaviour has been analysed by current–voltage characterisation by implementing the Thermionic emission and Chueng model. The fabricated diode rectification ratio of 103 has been recorded at $$\pm 3V$$

±
3
V

, and barrier height varied from 0.53 to 1.10 eV as a function of annealed treatment. A space charge-limited conduction mechanism and tunnelling through the interface trap density of p-NiO/Al Schottky diodes were explained by power law characteristics. Furthermore, we have evaluated the Schottky device's electrical characteristics through the ac measurements which include capacitance densities, dielectric constants, tangent loss, AC conductivity, and Nyquist plots. The present work could provide a better understanding and insight into the p-NiO/Al Schottky junction.
Natural zeolites as host matrices for the development of low-cost and stable thermochemical energy storage materials
Authors: Kouchachvili Lia , Bardy D. A. , Djebbar Reda , Hogg LuVerne E. W.
Published: August 2022

Advanced thermal energy storage technologies based on physical adsorption and chemical reactions of thermochemical materials (TCMs) are capable of storing large shares of renewable energy with high energy density. Further research and development is required to improve the performance and reduce the cost of these materials. A promising approach to developing low-cost TCM is to use natural zeolite adsorbents as host matrices in the development of salt-loaded composite TCM. In this study, the thermal properties of various species of low-cost zeolites from natural deposits across Canada were investigated. Two high purity crystal (HPC) zeolites from the Trans Canada (TC-HPC) and Juniper Creek (J-HPC) deposits in British Columbia were determined to have the highest water uptake capacity (0.145 g/g and 0.113 g/g, respectively) and enthalpy of adsorption (408 J/g and 304 J/g, respectively). Despite having approximately half of the water uptake capacity and adsorption enthalpy of the commercially available synthetic zeolite 13X, the cost of thermal energy storage ($CAD/kWhth) of the natural zeolites was determined to be 72–79% lower than that of the synthetic zeolite. Repeated adsorption and desorption experiments demonstrated the hydrothermal stability of the HPC zeolites over multiple charge and discharge cycles. Overall, the experimental results and cost analysis indicate that Canadian HPC zeolites are promising alternatives to synthetic zeolites in the pursuit of low-cost and stable TCM.
Perceived Teacher Discrimination and Depressive Feelings in Adolescents: The Role of National, Regional, and Heritage Identities in Flemish Schools
Authors: Maene Charlotte , D’hondt Fanny , Van Lissa Caspar J. , Thijs Jochem , Stevens Peter A. J.
Published: August 2022

Adolescents’ identities are multiple, yet there is very little research that investigates the importance of intersecting identities, especially in relationship to teacher ethnic/racial discrimination and mental health. Multiplicity is often approached bi-dimensional (heritage and national identities) yet this study highlights the importance of regional identity. Regions are distinct socio-political contexts in relation to migration and integration dynamics. Hence, this study investigates for different combinations of national, heritage and regional identities (i.e. Flemish, Belgian and Turkish or Moroccan) the relationship between students’ experiences with teacher ethnic/racial discrimination and students’ depressive feelings. Latent Class Analysis of survey data involving a sample of 439 adolescents (Mage = 18, SD = 0.93; Girls = 49%) with Turkish (41%) or Moroccan origin in Flanders, shows three identification classes: full integration (35%), national integration (40%) and (weak) separation (24%). All these identity profiles had in common that heritage identification was high, yet they were highly distinct due to variation in national and regional identification. Additional, multilevel modelling showed that nationally integrated adolescents were less depressed than fully integrated adolescents. This finding illustrates the importance of adolescents’ identity multiplicity for understanding their resilience in relation to teacher discrimination.
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence: The Role of Pre-Existing Vulnerabilities and COVID-19-Related Stress
Authors: De Luca Lisa , Giletta Matteo , Nocentini Annalaura , Menesini Ersilia
Published: August 2022

For many adolescents, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a uniquely challenging period, and concerns have been raised about whether COVID-19-related stress may increase the risk for self-injurious behaviors among adolescents. This study examined the impact of pre-existing vulnerabilities on the occurrence and frequency of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) through COVID-19-related stress, and whether the impact of COVID-19-related stress on NSSI was buffered by the perceived social support during the pandemic. Participants were 1061 adolescents (52.40% females; Mage = 15.49 years, SD = 0.76) from a two-wave longitudinal study, which included assessments before the COVID-19 onset and one year later the declaration of the pandemic. Path analyses showed that adolescents with a prior history of NSSI, higher levels of internalizing symptoms, and poor regulatory emotional self-efficacy before the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher levels of COVID-19-related stress which in turn increased their risk to engage in NSSI. Besides, the findings did not support the role of social support as a moderator of the association between COVID-19 related stress and the occurrence/frequency of NSSI. These findings suggest that enhanced stress perception may serve as a key pathway for the continuation and development of NSSI among vulnerable adolescents facing adverse life events.
Calcium and strontium contractile activation properties of single skinned skeletal muscle fibres from elderly women 66–90 years of age
Authors: Ronaldson Susan M. , Stephenson D. George , Head Stewart I.
Published: August 2022

The single freshly skinned muscle fibre technique was used to investigate Ca2+- and Sr2+-activation properties of skeletal muscle fibres from elderly women (66–90 years). Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle. Three populations of muscle fibres were identified according to their specific Sr2+-activation properties: slow-twitch (type I), fast-twitch (type II) and hybrid (type I/II) fibres. All three fibre types were sampled from the biopsies of 66 to 72 years old women, but the muscle biopsies of women older than 80 years yielded only slow-twitch (type I) fibres. The proportion of hybrid fibres in the vastus lateralis muscle of women of circa 70 years of age (24%) was several-fold greater than in the same muscle of adults (< 10%), suggesting that muscle remodelling occurs around this age. There were no differences between the Ca2+- and Sr2+-activation properties of slow-twitch fibres from the two groups of elderly women, but there were differences compared with muscle fibres from young adults with respect to sensitivity to Ca2+, steepness of the activation curves, and characteristics of the fibre-type dependent phenomenon of spontaneous oscillatory contractions (SPOC) (or force oscillations) occurring at submaximal levels of activation. The maximal Ca2+ activated specific force from all the fibres collected from the seven old women use in the present study was significantly lower by 20% than in the same muscle of adults. Taken together these results show there are qualitative and quantitative changes in the activation properties of the contractile apparatus of muscle fibres from the vastus lateralis muscle of women with advancing age, and that these changes need to be considered when explaining observed changes in women’s mobility with aging.
Variants of string assembling systems
Authors: Kutrib Martin , Wendlandt Matthias
Published: August 2022

String assembling systems are biologically inspired mechanisms that generate strings from copies out of finite sets of assembly units. The underlying mechanism is based on piecewise assembly of a double-stranded sequence of symbols, where the upper and lower strand have to match. The generation is additionally controlled by the requirement that the first symbol of a unit has to be the same as the last symbol of the strand generated so far, as well as by the distinction of assembly units that may appear at the beginning, during, or at the end of the assembling process and by a length restriction on the units. We investigate the power of these model-inherent control mechanisms by considering variants where one or more of these mechanisms are relaxed. The generative capacities and the relative power of the variants are our main interest. In particular, we prove that the power gained in the different control mechanisms may yield strictly more powerful systems and incomparable capacities. Additionally, we generalize these systems to multi-stranded systems. We obtain a strong connection to one-way multi-head finite automata and show an infinite, dense, and strict strand hierarchy. Finally, we examine the closure properties of the different variants of string assembling systems.
The effect of local samples in the accuracy of mid-infrared (MIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) -based spectral prediction models
Authors: Vona V. , Sarjant S. , Tomczyk B. , Vona M. , Kalocsai R. , Kulmány I. M. , Jakab G. , Ver A. , Milics G. , Centeri Cs.
Published: August 2022

Within the soil spectroscopy community, there is an ongoing discussion addressing the comparison of the performance of prediction models built on a global calibration database, versus a local calibration database. In this study, this issue is addressed by spiking of global databases with local samples. The soil samples were analysed with MIR and XRF sensors. The samples were further measured using traditional wet chemistry methods to build the prediction models for seventeen major parameters. The prediction models applied by AgroCares, the company that assisted in this study, combine spectral information from MIR and XRF into a single ‘fused-spectrum’. The local dataset of 640 samples was split into 90% train and 10% test samples. To illustrate the benefits of using local calibration samples, three separate prediction models were built per element. For each model, 0%, 50% (randomly selected) and 100% of the local training samples were added to the global dataset. The remaining 10% local samples were used for validation. Seventeen soil parameters were selected to illustrate the differences in performance across a range of soil qualities, using the validation set to measure performance. The results showed that many models already exhibit an excellent level of performance (R2 ≥ 0.95) even without local samples. However, there was a clear trend that, as more local calibration samples were added, both R2 and ratio of performance to interquantile distance (RPIQ) increase.
The assessment of psychometric properties for the subjective wellbeing-5 dimensions (SWB-5D) questionnaire in the general Dutch population
Authors: Haspels Heleen N. , de Vries Marieke , van den Akker-van Marle M. Elske
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Financial resources for health care are limited, so assessment of intervention effectiveness in terms of health in relation to its costs is important. Measuring health outcomes in cost-effectiveness analyses is usually done by health-related quality of life measures, like the EQ-5D. However, over the past decade, innovations on the conceptual level of health have evolved and novel approaches are rising such as the capability approach, subjective wellbeing, and Positive Health. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the subjective wellbeing-5 dimension (SWB-5D) outcome measure.

Methods

A quantitative, cross-sectional study design was used to determine the concurrent and construct (convergent and known group) validity for the SWB-5D. Concurrent and convergent validity were estimated as correlations between the SWB-5D and the Dutch version of the EQ-5D, ICECAP-A, and PH-17. Assessment of known-groups validity was based on the variables illness, education, and the overall happiness (Cantril Ladder) and overall health scale (EQ-5D VAS).

Results

A representative sample of 1016 respondents of the Dutch population completed an online questionnaire. The SWB-5D showed reasonable concurrent validity and showed good convergent and known-group validity. The SWB-5D had a lower ceiling effect compared to the EQ-5D and ICECAP-A.

Conclusion

Compared to traditional health measurement approaches, novel approaches are more focused on the mental and social pillars of health. The SWB-5D shows psychometric feasibility of comprehensive measurement of health, as indicated by a range of validity measures in a large representative sample of the Dutch population.