bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunomodulatory Effects of Metformin Treatment in Pregnant Women With PCOS
Authors: Ryssdal Mariell , Vanky Eszter , Stokkeland Live Marie T , Jarmund Anders Hagen , Steinkjer Bjørg , Løvvik Tone Shetelig , Madssen Torfinn Støve , Iversen Ann-Charlotte , Giskeødegård Guro F
Published: March 2023

Context

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with low-grade systemic inflammation and increased risk of pregnancy complications. Metformin treatment reduces the risk of late miscarriage and preterm birth in pregnant women with PCOS. Whether the protective effect of metformin involves immunological changes has not been determined.

Objective

To investigate the effect of metformin on the maternal immunological status in women with PCOS.

Methods

A post-hoc analysis was performed of two randomized controlled trials, PregMet and PregMet2, including longitudinal maternal serum samples from 615 women with PCOS. Women were randomized to metformin or placebo from first trimester to delivery. Twenty-two cytokines and C-reactive protein were measured in serum sampled at gestational weeks 5 to 12, 19, 32, and 36.

Results

Metformin treatment was associated with higher serum levels of several multifunctional cytokines throughout pregnancy, with the strongest effect on eotaxin (P < .001), interleukin-17 (P = .03), and basic fibroblast growth factor (P = .04). Assessment of the combined cytokine development confirmed the impact of metformin on half of the 22 cytokines. The immunomodulating effect of metformin was more potent in normal weight and overweight women than in obese women. Moreover, normoandrogenic women had the strongest effect of metformin in early pregnancy, whereas hyperandrogenic women presented increasing effect throughout pregnancy.

Conclusion

It appears that metformin has immunomodulating rather than anti-inflammatory properties in pregnancy. Its effect on the serum levels of many multifunctional cytokines demonstrates robust, persisting, and body mass–dependent immune mobilization in pregnant women with PCOS.
Platelet-Lymphocyte and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratios Are Prognostic Markers for Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
Authors: Zhong Xu , Su TingWei , Yang Yifan , Ye Lei , Jiang Lei , Qi Yan , Xie Jing , Jiang Yiran , Zhou Weiwei , Zhang Cui , Wu Luming , Zhu Hongyuan , Ning Guang , Wang Weiqing
Published: March 2023

Context

Preoperative inflammatory markers, such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in different tumors. However, their predictive values in patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are uncertain.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers in PPGL patients.

Methods

Data from 1247 consecutive PPGL patients between 2002 and 2020 were evaluated. The preoperative inflammatory markers were evaluated. The prognostic roles were identified by X-tile software, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox regression models.

Results

A total of 728 patients were included in the analysis, with a median follow-up of 63 months (IQR, 31-111 months); 31 individuals died, 28 patients developed metastases, and 12 patients developed recurrence. Our study showed that deaths were observed significantly more frequently in patients with high NLR(≥3.5) and high PLR (≥217.4) than those with low NLR (<3.5) (P = .003) and low PLR (<217.4) (P = .005). Elevated NLR (≥3.5) and elevated PLR (≥217.4) was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (OS) (P = .005), and elevated PLR (≥238.3) was significantly associated with decreased metastasis-free survival (MFS) (P = .021). Cox models illustrated that NLR and PLR were independent prognostic factors for OS, and PLR was an independent prognostic factor for MFS.

Conclusion

Both elevated NLR and PLR are associated with poor prognosis in PPGLs. They are convenient predictive markers that could be used in daily clinical practice.
Novel MKRN3 Missense Mutations Associated With Central Precocious Puberty Reveal Distinct Effects on Ubiquitination
Authors: Magnotto John C , Mancini Alessandra , Bird Keisha , Montenegro Luciana , Tütüncüler Filiz , Pereira Sidney A , Simas Vitoria , Garcia Leonardo , Roberts Stephanie A , Macedo Delanie , Magnuson Melissa , Gagliardi Priscila , Mauras Nelly , Witchel Selma F , Carroll Rona S , Latronico Ana Claudia , Kaiser Ursula B , Abreu Ana Paula
Published: March 2023

Context

Loss-of-function mutations in the maternally imprinted genes, MKRN3 and DLK1, are associated with central precocious puberty (CPP). Mutations in MKRN3 are the most common known genetic etiology of CPP.

Objective

This work aimed to screen patients with CPP for MKRN3 and DLK1 mutations and analyze the effects of identified mutations on protein function in vitro.

Methods

Participants included 84 unrelated children with CPP (79 girls, 5 boys) and, when available, their first-degree relatives. Five academic medical institutions participated. Sanger sequencing of MKRN3 and DLK1 5′ upstream flanking and coding regions was performed on DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein ubiquitination profiles.

Results

Eight heterozygous MKRN3 mutations were identified in 9 unrelated girls with CPP. Five are novel missense mutations, 2 were previously identified in patients with CPP, and 1 is a frameshift variant not previously associated with CPP. No pathogenic variants were identified in DLK1. Girls with MKRN3 mutations had an earlier age of initial pubertal signs and higher basal serum luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone compared to girls with CPP without MRKN3 mutations. Western blot analysis revealed that compared to wild-type MKRN3, mutations within the RING finger domain reduced ubiquitination whereas the mutations outside this domain increased ubiquitination.

Conclusion

MKRN3 mutations were present in 10.7% of our CPP cohort, consistent with previous studies. The novel identified mutations in different domains of MKRN3 revealed different patterns of ubiquitination, suggesting distinct molecular mechanisms by which the loss of MRKN3 results in early pubertal onset.
Components of General Anesthesia: History of the Concept Transformation
Authors: Kissin Igor
Published: March 2023

The concept that the state of general anesthesia consists of a number of components representing the distinct and desired central effects of general anesthetics was formulated when it was common to believe that all components of anesthesia have a lipid-centered mechanism of action. The transformation of this concept was associated with changes in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying general anesthetic action. First came the shift from a lipid- to a protein-centered mechanism of action, which opened the way to various molecular targets associated with general anesthesia. Then, it was found that different components of anesthesia may have completely different underlying mechanisms, such as blockade of movement in response to noxious stimulation by isoflurane centers at the spinal cord level, not at the brain, as is the case with other components. The chain of discoveries associated with newfound differences between components of anesthesia accompanied general progress toward a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of action of general anesthetics, including anesthetic binding sites, details of receptors and ion channels involved in neurotransmission, and the critical role of neuronal networks. There are several important consequences of our improved understanding. First, a single measurement of anesthetic depth (eg, minimum alveolar concentration index [MAC index]) might not be appropriate for the different component of anesthesia. Second, because the mechanism of action of the components varies, synergy for 1 component does not exclude an additive effect or even antagonism for another component.
Approximate Set Theory
Authors: Tymoczko Dmitri
Published: March 2023

This article describes an approximate set theory modeling intuitions shared by musicians such as Cowell, Schoenberg, Messiaen, and Persichetti. The author considers five approximation strategies, showing that in each case the result resembles an exact seven-tone set theory. Since most seven-tone sets are interval cycles, approximate twelve-tone sets are approximately cyclic as well. The theory explains how to highlight this cyclic structure using voicings, modeled by intervals in the intrinsic scale formed from a chord's own notes. This connection to voicing is what gives approximate chord categories much of their significance. The approach is most useful for chords with five or fewer notes and works tolerably for hexachords, but it breaks down with larger collections. This is not a failure of the model but a reflection of the fact that quality space contracts as cardinality increases.
Naming the Precious Child: New Evidence of Intentional Family Planning in Historical Populations
Authors: Goldstein Joshua R. , Stecklov Guy
Published: March 2023

Can the names parents gave their children give us insights into how parents in historical times planned their families? In this study, we explore whether the names given to the firstborn child can be used as indicators of family-size preferences and, if so, what this reveals about the emergence of intentional family planning over the course of the demographic transition. We analyze historical populations from 1850 to 1940 in the United States, where early fertility control and large sample sizes allow separate analyses of the White and Black populations. We also analyze Norway from 1800 to 1910, where there was a much later fertility transition. A split-sample method allows automated scoring of each name in terms of predicted family size. We find a strong relationship between naming and family size in the U.S. White population as early as 1850, for the Black population beginning in 1940, and for the Norwegian population in 1910. These results provide new evidence of the emergence of “conscious calculation” during the fertility transition. Our methods may also be applicable to modern high-fertility populations in the midst of fertility decline.
Gospodarka polderowa w Polsce – wyzwania naturalnej retencji powodziowej
Authors: Warachowska Weronika , Zwoliński Zbigniew
Published: March 2023

Powódź stanowi jedno z największych zagrożeń naturalnych w Polsce. Z uwagi na przewidywany wzrost ryzyka powodzi poszukiwanie nowych sposobów zarządzania ryzykiem powodziowym jest istotnym wyzwaniem krajowej gospodarki wodnej. Jednym z rozwiązań mogących służyć ograniczaniu ryzyka powodziowego, przy jednoczesnej możliwości utrzymania produkcji rolnej oraz ochronie istniejących ekosystemów i krajobrazu są poldery. Mimo potencjalnych korzyści związanych z wykorzystaniem polderów, ich potencjał jest jednak niewykorzystany z uwagi na liczne bariery dla ich efektywnego wdrażania i zarządzania nimi. Artykuł ma na celu rozpoznanie gospodarki polderowej w Polsce wraz z ustaleniem zdolności retencyjnych na podstawie parametrów morfometrycznych polderów, określeniem ich funkcjonalności oraz możliwości w zakresie ochrony poszczególnych komponentów środowiska. Na podstawie opracowanej charakterystyki zdefiniowano również bariery ograniczające efektywne wykorzystanie polderów, a także podjęto próbę sformułowania rozwiązań problemów związanych z wdrażaniem i zarządzaniem polderami. Rezultatem przeprowadzonych badań jest propozycja definicji polderu oraz rekomendacje w zakresie możliwości usystematyzowania zagadnień związanych z gospodarką polderową w Polsce.
Validation of Quality-of-Life assessment tool for Ethiopian old age people
Authors: Muhye Ahmed , Fentahun Netsanet
Published: March 2023

Background: A valid and reliable quality of life (QOL) assessment tool is critical for identifying health issues, evaluating health interventions, and establishing the best health policies and care plans. One of the tools for this goal is the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Old module (WHOQOL-OLD). It is validated and available in more than 20 languages globally, except Amharic (the widely spoken language in Ethiopia). As a result, the purpose of this study was to translate it into Amharic language and validate it among the elderly people in Bahir Dar City, Northwestern Ethiopia.  

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 180 community-dwelling old age people in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia, from January 16 to March 13, 2021. Psychometric validation was achieved through Cronbach’s alpha of the internal consistency reliability test and construct validity from confirmatory factor analysis.  

Results: The study participants were aged between 60 and 90 years, with a mean age of 69.44. Females made up 61.7% of the study population, and 40% of them could not read or write. The results showed a relatively low level of quality of life, with a total transformed score of 58.58±23.15. The Amharic version of the WHOQOL-OLD showed a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.96 and corrected item-total correlations of more than 0.74. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the six-domain model with a chi-square (X2) of 341.98 and a p-value less than 0.001. The comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.98, Tucker-Lewis’s index (TCL) was 0.97, and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.046.  

Conclusion: The Amharic version of the WHOQOL-OLD indicated good internal consistency reliability and construct validity. The tool can be utilized to provide care to Ethiopian community-dwelling old age people.
ANÁLISIS DE LOS FACTORES ASOCIADOS A LA INTEGRACIÓN CURRICULAR DE DICCIONARIOS BILINGÜES EN LÍNEA EN EILE.
Authors: Buitrago García Hilda Clarena , Alcaraz Mármol Gema
Published: March 2023

El actual incremento en el uso de dispositivos móviles en el aula de lenguas extranjeras ha ampliado la presencia de herramientas léxicas como los diccionarios bilingües online de libre acceso. Desafortunadamente, su uso aún no está adecuadamente explicado y regulado. Esta falta de intencionalidad pedagógica dio lugar a un estudio de investigación centrado en la integración curricular de este tipo de diccionarios en el contexto de la enseñanza del inglés como lengua extranjera en el nivel de educación superior. Este artículo documenta el proceso que se llevó a cabo para diseñar e implementar una matriz de triangulación que permitió obtener una síntesis integradora de los datos proporcionados por la muestra conformada por cuatro docentes a través de los tres instrumentos de recolección de datos utilizados. Esta síntesis integradora permitió identificar una serie de factores asociados al proceso de integración curricular de los diccionarios bilingües en línea. Lo anterior condujo a la elaboración de una serie de propuestas administrativas, pedagógicas y didácticas tendientes a robustecer dicho proceso en contextos de enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras.
Motion Sensor–Based Fall Prevention for Senior Care: A Hidden Markov Model with Generative Adversarial Network Approach
Authors: Yu Shuo , Chai Yidong , Samtani Sagar , Liu Hongyan , Chen Hsinchun
Published: March 2023

Whereas modern medicine has enabled humans to live longer and more robust lives, recent years have seen a significant increase in chronic care costs. The prevention of threats to mobility is critical for chronic disease management. Researchers and physicians often analyze data from wearable motion sensor–based information systems (IS) to prevent falls. However, prior studies on fall prevention often achieve suboptimal performance because of their limited capacities in modeling data distributions. In this study, we adopt the computational design science paradigm to develop a novel fall prevention framework, which includes the hidden Markov model with generative adversarial network (HMM-GAN) that extracts temporal and sequential patterns from sensor signals and recognizes snippet states and a logistic regression that utilizes the snippet states and determines whether and when to trigger protective devices to prevent fall injuries. We evaluate the proposed framework against prevailing fall-prevention models and the HMM-GAN component against state-of-the-art sensor analytics models on large-scale data sets. Through an in-depth case study, we demonstrate how the proposed framework can lead to significantly reduced potentially catastrophic falls. Besides practical health information technology contributions, HMM-GAN offers methodological contributions to the IS knowledge base for scholars designing novel IT artifacts for healthcare applications.
EquineReview
Authors: Parker Russell
Published: March 2023

Introduction: This edition's Equine Review presents papers on the outcomes of exploratory laparotomy in donkeys, complications following sacroiliac joint injection in horses, and the predictors of laminitis development in ponies.
Dark Triad Personality and Online Trolling: The Mediating Role of Empathy
Authors: Hamarta Erdal , Akat Muhammed , Akbulut Ömer Faruk
Published: March 2023

Online trolling is online behavior in which the troll provokes, harms, and pretends to be someone else to achieve their goals. The purpose of trolls may be to harm the other person, but they can also be for entertainment purposes. Online trolling, for whatever purpose, can have significant psychological effects on individuals and people who are socially exposed. In addition, online trolling is becoming more common every day. However, there are very few studies on trolling. Therefore, the study aims to examine the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between dark triad personality traits and levels of online trolling. For this purpose, structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method was used. The participants comprised 516 (%71.6 females; %28.4 males) undergraduates. The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 31 (X̄ = 21.09). The measures used included the Online Trolling Scale, Dirty Dozen Scale, and Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. In the study, it was found that there were significant relationships between the dark triad, online trolling, and empathy. Also, the results of the structural equation model showed that the effect of the dark triad on online trolling was mediated by empathy. This result was found to be significant with bootstrapping.
Relationship between Happy School, General Self Efficacy, Academic Self-Efficacy and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Döş İzzet
Published: March 2023

In this study, the relationship between the happy school variable, which determines the happiness levels of secondary school students in their schools, and academic self-efficacy, general self-efficacy and life satisfaction were examined. The relationship between variables was examined in this correlation study. The population of the study consisted of high school students studying in Anatolian high school in the city center of Kahramanmaras (Turkey). 315 students selected from these schools constituted the study sample. Data were collected with life satisfaction, academic self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and happy school scales. Regression and path analyses were conducted for the data analysis. Study results suggest that each variable has a positive significant relationship with the other variables and that general self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy and life satisfaction predicted happy schools. In the study, a linear model was created considering that a happy school is affected by general self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy and life satisfaction. High fit indices were obtained with the model. These indices suggest that the model is an acceptable model which is fit.
Origin and Trajectories of Secondary Vocational Education and Training in Portugal: The New Normality in the Context of the Coronavirus Disease Framed in a European Scenario
Authors: Silva Fernando Rodrigues , Pinto António
Published: March 2023

This article approaches secondary Vocational Education & Training (VET) in Portugal from a historical-educational perspective, namely the professional courses introduced in 2004 in public secondary schools. Its implementation aimed to obtain a qualified technical workforce and to fight against the high failure rate and school dropouts registered in technological courses. It was also proposed, to complete 12-year compulsory education, qualifying students for the exercise of a profession as level IV technicians of the national qualifications framework (NQF). As a result, the number of students enrolled in this modality has progressed from a residual value of 10% in 2004 to 39.7% in 2018. On average, its attendance in the European Union (EU) was 54.6%, with special emphasis on Finland and the Czech Republic, whose indicators were, 71.6% and 71.3%. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic came the unplanned closure of schools in the spring of 2020, imposed to protect the well-being of society, but which caused discontinuities. This research concludes by taking into account professional education in Portugal and the EU in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, also considering the opinion of educational actors (course directors, teachers, and students) on the functioning of VET in Portugal.
Consensus statements: when and how?
Authors: Murray Iain R. , Makaram Navnit S. , LaPrade Robert F. , Haddad Fares S.
Published: March 2023

The Bone & Joint Journal has published several consensus statements in recent years, many of which have positively influenced clinical practice and policy.1-13 However, even the most valued consensus statements have limitations, and all ultimately represent Level V evidence. Consensus studies add greatest value where higher-order evidence to aid decision making is ambiguous or lacking. In all settings, care must be taken to critically appraise standards of methodology, with particular attention to potential biases that may influence the conclusions which are drawn.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(4):343–346.
Supplemental data for "Using NDVI For Variable Rate Cotton Irrigation Prescriptions"
Authors: Stone Kenneth C. , Billman Eric , Bauer Philip , Sigua Gilbert
Published: March 2023

This is digital research data corresponding to a published manuscript, "Using NDVI For Variable Rate Cotton Irrigation Prescriptions", in Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2022, Volume 38(5): 787-795. doi:10.13031/aea.15071.  

Irrigation timing is crucial for achieving high cotton yields and lint quality. This irrigation timing is more challenging in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain region due to its spatial variable sandy soils with low water and nutrient holding capacities and rainfall variability during the growing season. To address these challenges, we conducted a 2-year (2017 and 2018) study evaluating two irrigation scheduling methods under a variable rate irrigation system. The two irrigation methods were: (1) a uniform irrigation management based on weekly crop water usage, and (2) spatial crop coefficients derived from normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVI). We compared cotton yields and water use efficiency using the two irrigation scheduling methods at two different planting densities. The two plant populations were 5 and 11.5 plants m-1 of row to provide different NDVI readings and water requirements.
Inferring feature importance with uncertainties with application to large genotype data
Authors: Johnsen Pål Vegard , Strümke Inga , Langaas Mette , DeWan Andrew Thomas , Riemer-Sørensen Signe
Published: March 2023

Estimating feature importance, which is the contribution of a prediction or several predictions due to a feature, is an essential aspect of explaining data-based models. Besides explaining the model itself, an equally relevant question is which features are important in the underlying data generating process. We present a Shapley-value-based framework for inferring the importance of individual features, including uncertainty in the estimator. We build upon the recently published model-agnostic feature importance score of SAGE (Shapley additive global importance) and introduce Sub-SAGE. For tree-based models, it has the advantage that it can be estimated without computationally expensive resampling. We argue that for all model types the uncertainties in our Sub-SAGE estimator can be estimated using bootstrapping and demonstrate the approach for tree ensemble methods. The framework is exemplified on synthetic data as well as large genotype data for predicting feature importance with respect to obesity.
Examining neighborhood-level hot and cold spots of food insecurity in relation to social vulnerability in Houston, Texas
Authors: Ramphul Ryan , Highfield Linda , Sharma Shreela
Published: March 2023

Food insecurity is prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes, but little is known about its geographical nature. The aim of this study is to utilize geospatial modeling of individual-level food insecurity screening data ascertained in health care settings to test for neighborhood hot and cold spots of food insecurity in a large metropolitan area, and then compare these hot spot neighborhoods to cold spot neighborhoods in terms of the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. In this cross-sectional secondary data analysis, we geocoded the home addresses of 6,749 unique participants screened for food insecurity at health care locations participating in CMS’s Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, as implemented in Houston, TX. Next, we created census-tract level incidence profiles of positive food insecurity screens per 1,000 people. We used Anselin’s Local Moran’s I statistic to test for statistically significant census tract-level hot/cold spots of food insecurity. Finally, we utilized a Mann-Whitney-U test to compare hot spot tracts to cold spot tracts in relation to the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. We found that hot spot tracts had higher overall social vulnerability index scores (P <0.001), higher subdomain scores, and higher percentages of individual variables like poverty (P <0.001), unemployment (P <0.001), limited English proficiency (P <0.001), and more. The combination of robust food insecurity screening data, geospatial modeling, and the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index offers a solid method to understand neighborhood food insecurity.
Attrition from HIV treatment after enrollment in a differentiated service delivery model: A cohort analysis of routine care in Zambia
Authors: Jo Youngji , Jamieson Lise , Phiri Bevis , Grimsrud Anna , Mwansa Muya , Shakwelele Hilda , Haimbe Prudence , Mukumbwa-Mwenechanya Mpande , Mulenga Priscilla Lumano , Nichols Brooke E. , Rosen Sydney
Published: March 2023

Background

Many sub-Saharan Africa countries are scaling up differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for HIV treatment to increase access and remove barriers to care. We assessed factors associated with attrition after DSD model enrollment in Zambia, focusing on patient-level characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective record review using electronic medical records (EMR) of adults (≥15 years) initiated on antiretroviral (ART) between 01 January 2018 and 30 November 2021. Attrition was defined as lost to follow-up (LTFU) or died by November 30, 2021. We categorized DSD models into eight groups: fast-track, adherence groups, community pick-up points, home ART delivery, extended facility hours, facility multi-month dispensing (MMD, 4–6-month ART dispensing), frequent refill care (facility 1–2 month dispensing), and conventional care (facility 3 month dispensing, reference group). We used Fine and Gray competing risk regression to assess patient-level factors associated with attrition, stratified by sex and rural/urban setting.

Results

Of 547,281 eligible patients, 68% (n = 372,409) enrolled in DSD models, most commonly facility MMD (n = 306,430, 82%), frequent refill care (n = 47,142, 13%), and fast track (n = 14,433, 4%), with <2% enrolled in the other DSD groups. Retention was higher in nearly all DSD models for all dispensing intervals, compared to the reference group, except fast track for the ≤2 month dispensing group. Retention benefits were greatest for patients in the extended clinic hours group and least for fast track dispensing.

Conclusion

Although retention in HIV treatment differed by DSD type, dispensing interval, and patient characteristics, nearly all DSD models out-performed conventional care. Understanding the factors that influence the retention of patients in DSD models could provide an important step towards improving DSD implementation.
Sex-specific effects of a parasite on stress-induced freezing behavior in a natural beetle-nematode system
Authors: Davis Andrew K. , Ladd Richard R. E. , Smith Farran , Shattuck Anna
Published: March 2023

Some animals react to predation threats or other stressors by adopting a freezing posture in an attempt to avoid detection, and the duration of this behavior usually corresponds with individual personality, such that timid individuals freeze longer. Despite decades of research on this or related behaviors (thanatosis), never has the impact of parasitism been considered. Parasites could prolong the duration, if hosts are less motivated to move (i.e. lethargic), or they could reduce it, if hosts are motivated to forage more to compensate for energy drain. We examined this behavior within a natural beetle-nematode system, where hosts (horned passalus beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctus) are parasitized by a nematode, Chondronema passali. We exposed beetles (n = 238) to four stressors in our lab, including noise, vibration, light and inversion, and recorded how long they adopt a frozen stance. Afterward, we determined nematode burdens, which can range from dozens to hundreds of worms. Beetles tended to freeze for 20 seconds on average, with some variation between stressors. We detected no effect of beetle mass on the duration of freezing, and this behavior did not differ in beetles collected during the breeding or non-breeding season. There was a surprising sex-based difference in the impact of nematodes; unparasitized females remained frozen twice as long as unparasitized males, but for beetles with heavy nematode burdens, the opposite was true. From this we infer that heavily parasitized females are more bold, while males with heavy burdens would be more timid. The explanation for this finding remains elusive, though we can rule out many possibilities based on prior work on this host-parasite system.
Defibrillation effectiveness and safety of the shock waveform used in a contemporary wearable cardioverter defibrillator: Results from animal and human studies
Authors: Gleva Marye J. , Sullivan Joseph , Crawford Thomas C. , Walcott Greg , Birgersdotter-Green Ulrika , Branch Kelley R. , Doshi Rahul N. , Kivilaid Kaisa , Brennan Kelly , Rowbotham Ron K. , Gustavson Laura M. , Poole Jeanne E.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is used to protect patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. We examined defibrillation efficacy and safety of a biphasic truncated exponential waveform designed for use in a contemporary WCD in three animal studies and a human study.

Methods

Animal (swine) studies:

#1: Efficacy comparison of a 170J BTE waveform (SHOCK A) to a 150J BTE waveform (SHOCK B) that approximates another commercially available waveform. Primary endpoint first shock success rate.

#2: Efficacy comparison of the two waveforms at attenuated charge voltages in swine at three prespecified impedances. Primary endpoint first shock success rate.

#3: Safety comparison of SHOCK A and SHOCK B in swine. Primary endpoint cardiac biomarker level changes baseline to 6 and 24 hours post-shock.

Human Study: Efficacy comparison of SHOCK A to prespecified goal and safety evaluation. Primary endpoint cumulative first and second shock success rate. Safety endpoint adverse events.

Results

Animal Studies

#1: 120 VF episodes in six swine. First shock success rates for SHOCK A and SHOCK B were 100%; SHOCK A non-inferior to SHOCK B (entire 95% CI of rate difference above -10% margin, p < .001).

#2: 2,160 VF episodes in thirty-six swine. Attenuated SHOCK A was non-inferior to attenuated SHOCK B at each impedance (entire 95% CI of rate difference above -10% margin, p < .001).

#3: Ten swine, five shocked five times each with SHOCK A, five shocked five times each with SHOCK B. No significant difference in troponin I (p = 0.658) or creatine phosphokinase (p = 0.855) changes from baseline between SHOCK A and SHOCK B.

Human Study: Thirteen patients, 100% VF conversion rate. Mild skin irritation from adhesive defibrillation pads in three patients.

Conclusions

The BTE waveform effectively and safely terminated induced VF in swine and a small sample in humans.

Trial registration

Human study clinical trial registration:URL:https://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier:NCT04132466.
Socio-economic determinants for the deployment of Climate-Smart One-Health innovations. A meta-analysis approach prioritizing Ghana and Benin
Authors: Sekabira Haruna , Tepa-Yotto Ghislain T. , Tamò Manuele , Djouaka Rousseau , Dalaa Mustapha , Damba Osman Tahidu , Yeboah Stephen , Obeng Faustina , Asare Richard , Abdoulaye Tahirou , Nazziwa Angella
Published: March 2023

An ecosystem is inhabited by organisms that rely on it for their livelihoods. For an ecosystem to sustain life, its life-supporting components must be alive to be able to preserve both the ecosystem’s life-supporting components like soil, vegetation, water, etc., and the living organisms inhabiting the ecosystem like humans, birds, domestic, and wild animals, termed as the One-Health concept. This is indispensable for the sustainability of life. Several factors determine the ability of the ecosystem to provide ecosystem services and support life, more so amidst climate change. Hence, climate-smart (CS) One-Health innovations are essential to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem to be able to support life. However, factors that could effectively determine the deployment of such CS One-Health innovations are not well identified. This paper, closes the knowledge gap through a systematic review of literature for a meta-analysis of the socio-economic determinants for the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations. Using a scoping review methodology, search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and AgriEcon were explored extensively for literature on CS One-Health innovations. Search results were then screened and only articles that met the inclusion criteria were considered in this study. Subsequently, appropriate articles were identified for data extraction. Results revealed that political will, community participation, knowledge of CS One-Health practices, the willingness of parties to engage in multi-disciplinary collaborative activities, and level of investment (income/funds) were enablers for the deployment of CS One-Health innovations. On the other hand, behavior incompatibility with innovations, policy failure to restrict the use of toxic substances in agriculture, poor community knowledge of CS One-Health innovations, and language barriers between communities and innovators, hindered such deployment. Hence, multiple factors (fostering and hindering) must be addressed in a multi-disciplinary framework to ensure the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations.
A humán erőforrások és a vezető hatalmak a 21. század közepén
Authors: Polónyi István
Published: March 2023

Az írásban megvizsgáljuk a világ vezető hatalmainak fejlődését az iskolázottság, a demográfiai, gazdasági jellemzők és a humán erőforrások következő évtizedekben várható alakulása nyomán. A tanulmány áttekinti a világ legnépesebb államaiban (USA, Kína, India, EU, Indonézia, Nigéria, Oroszország) a népesség, iskolázottság, ezen belül a felsőoktatási hallgatólétszám és doktorandusz létszám, valamint a diplomások számának jövőbeli alakulását. Elemzi ezen országok komplex humán mutatóinak (HDI, HCI), valamint egy számított humántőke értékének tendenciáit. Az elemzések nyomán felvázolja a jövő nagyhatalmainak humánerőforrás arányait. Megállapítja, hogy a 21. század közepén várhatóan az USA és az EU együttesen Kínát meghaladó potenciállal fog bírni. Ez olyan politikát implikál, amely az USA és az EU szoros kapcsolatának irányába hat. Sajnos a jelenlegi magyar külpolitika egyértelműen ellene megy ennek a politikának.
A pályakezdők helyzete és lehetőségei a magyar mezőgazdaság és élelmiszeripar területén
Authors: Urbányi Dávid
Published: March 2023

A magyar mezőgazdaság a Központi Statisztikai Hivatal (KSH) adatai alapján napjainkban körülbelül mintegy 210 ezer főt foglalkoztat, az élelmiszeripar további 145 ezret; ez azt jelenti, hogy a magyar dolgozó lakosság mintegy 8%-ának ez a szektor ad munkát. Szintén beszédes adat, hogy Magyarország teljes területének 55%-a, azaz 5 millió 81 ezer hektár mezőgazdasági hasznosításban van. Hazánk gazdaságának versenyképessége szempontjából tehát kiemelkedően fontos a mezőgazdaság folyamatos fejlődésben tartása. Ennek egyik legfontosabb alapfeltétele, hogy rendelkezésre álljanak azok a képzett szakemberek, akik lépést tudnak tartani a technológiai fejlődés rendkívül gyors ütemével.
What is the optimal fertigation start time and frequency in lettuce seedlings?
Authors: Neto Onésio Francisco da Silva , Moreira Édimo Fernando Alves , Orioli Júnior Valdeci , Castoldi Renata , Torres José Luiz  Rodrigues , Charlo Hamilton Cesar de Oliveira
Published: March 2023

Although lettuce is one of the most important vegetable crops cultivated in Brazil, producers conduct seedling production empirically, as there are no published reports on the optimal start time and management strategy for seedling fertigation. The present aimed to assess the influence of fertigation management on the growth, physiological aspects and nutritional status of lettuce seedlings and to determine the optimal fertigation start time and frequency. Two experiments were conducted, each with a randomized block design and six repetitions. The first consisted of six treatments, namely six fertigation start times at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 d after emergence (DAE), and the second consisted of five treatments, representing different application frequencies at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 d intervals. The assessment of nutrient accumulation levels and biometric and physiological characteristics of the seedlings were performed after transplanting. Fertigation start times significantly affected 14 of the 18 variables assessed, particularly the number of leaves, shoot dry weight, leaf area, initial chlorophyll fluorescence, and P, K, Ca, Mg, and S accumulation. The best results for ten variables were obtained when fertigation began at emergence, with values 17.77 - 35.63% higher than those at fertigation onset at 15 DAE. Application frequency only influenced chlorophyll content and N, P, K, and S accumulation, with optimal results obtained at 3 - 6 d intervals. Beginning fertigation at plant emergence favors dry weight production, nutrition and photosynthesis and shortens the production time of lettuce seedlings. The optimal start time for lettuce seedling fertigation is at emergence, with application performed every 6 d.
Artificial pollination and use of growth regulators in atemoya ‘Gefner’ fruits
Authors: Chagas Pollyana Cardoso , Crane Jonathan , Chagas Edvan Alves , Vendrame Wagner , Costa Barbára Nogueira Souza , Neto Aurélio Rubio , Moura Elias Ariel de
Published: March 2023

The objective was to study the effectiveness of the growth regulator (ANA + GA3) associated or not to the application of adjuvant and artificial pollination in ‘Gefner’ atemoya. The experiment was conducted in the experimental orchard at Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center. The experimental design was in a randomized block, with 14 treatments, 10 repetitions and 3 flowers per plot.  The highest percentages of fixed fruits were obtained with hand pollination – HP and 450 NAA + 1250 GA3 mg L-1 + adjuvant and HP. The use of hand pollination for ‘Gefner’ atemoya tree proved to be the most efficient method so far. Applying growth regulator without artificial pollination produces parthenocarpic fruits, however with high rate of abortions, and small fruits.  Growth regulators together with hand pollination produces small and uneven fruits, and cause reduction in the fruits’ titratable acidity. The use of adjuvant caused low fixation and toxicity to fruits, and its use is not recommended.
Effectiveness of ultrasonic activation associated to glycolic acid on smear layer removal, dentin structure and bond strength to root dentin
Authors: Souza Matheus Albino , Santos Julia Pommer dos , Tissiani Luanda , Magalhães Uillian Rauch , Bischoff Karolina Frick , Ricci Rafaela , Hoffmann Laura Teixeira , Ghiggi Paula Cristine , De Carli João Paulo , Bervian Juliane , Mota Eduardo Gonçalves , Figueiredo José Antonio Poli de , Palhano Huriel Scartazzini
Published: March 2023

This study evaluated the effects of ultrasonic activation (US) associated to glycolic acid (GA) on smear layer, dentin structure and bond strength (BS) of filling/restorative material to root dentin. The roots were used for antimicrobial activity, dentin structure and BS evaluation, being distributed into seven groups, according to irrigation protocols: G1:DW+US; G2:17% EDTA; G3:QMix; G4:17% GA; G5:17% EDTA+US; G6:QMix+US; G7:17% GA+US. Scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy and push-out were performed, with specific statistical analysis for each evaluation. The highest smear layer removal occured in Groups 6 and 7 (p<0.05), and the largest collagen dispersion in Group 7, being similar to Group 2 and 5 (p>0.05). The highest BS of filling and restorative material occurred in Groups 6 and 7, and Groups 5, 6 and 7, respectively, being similars between them (p>0.05). The use of GA+US promoted effective smear layer removal and dentin structure preservation, improving the BS of filling/restorative material to root dentin.
Exposure to the herbicide atrazine induces oxidative imbalance, morphological damage and decreased survival in juvenile fish
Authors: Silva Stella Bicalho , Gregório Kemilli Pio , Freitas Renata Maria Pereira de , Destro Ana Luiza Fonseca , Salaro Ana Lúcia , Zuanon Jener Alexandre Sampaio , Gonçalves Reggiani Vilela , Freitas Mariella Bontempo
Published: March 2023

Synthetic herbicides have been intensively used in weed control, although often involved in environmental contamination, critically affecting non-target species. However, never was investigated the effect of commercial formulation using atrazine on developing juvenile fish exposed for 35 days. Juveniles (Astyanax altiparanae) (n = 600) were assigned to the following ATZ-exposed groups: 0 (CTR-control), 0.56 (ATZ0.56), 1.00 (ATZ1.00), 1.66 (ATZ1.66) and 11.66 (ATZ11.66) μg/L. We found a 36.6% decrease in juvenile survival rate in the ATZ11.66 group compared to control and other groups. Juveniles from ATZ11.66 also showed hyperglycemia and increased cortisol levels. Increased the imbalance oxidative with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and Carbonylated proteins levels markers in muscle, gills, and liver.  We also found increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) in gills and SOD and catalase (CAT) in muscles from ATZ11.66 fish, and increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in the liver from all exposed groups compared to control. The morphological consequences of this were loss of secondary lamella integrity, increased mucus-secreting cells, hyperplasia, and lamellar fusion, as well as increased aneurysms percentage. The liver showed vascular congestion associated with endothelial hyperplasia, steatosis, and a decrease in the nuclei percentage. Our results showed that exposure to a commercial formulation of ATZ at 11.66 μg/L can be causing an imbalance in the oxidative markers and morphological damages and decreased survival in a juvenile Neotropical species of great ecological relevance and commercial interest.
Sap flow and transpiration of young Brazilian mahogany plants submitted to soil water potential variation
Authors: Amaral Alisson Macendo , Melo Vellame Lucas , Jadavi Pereira da Silva Alisson , Antonio Loureiro Soares Frederico , Batista Teixeira Marconi
Published: March 2023

Brazilian mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is a forest species of economic and environmental interest due to its wood’s great finish and its use in recovering and recomposing ecosystems. However, clarification on how this species uses water resources is still necessary. This study proposes to evaluate sap flow and transpiration behavior in young Brazilian mahogany plants under variable conditions of soil water potential. We conducted the study in a protected environment and cultivated the plants in weighing lysimeters wherein the soil underwent potential variations between -10 kPa and -35 kPa during periods of water restriction, rehydration, and full irrigation. To quantify water use in the mahogany plants, we measured sap flow through heat pulses, transpiration through the weighing lysimeters, and evapotranspiration by weather variables. Sap flow and transpiration are affected negatively by soil water potential variation. The leaves lost water to the atmosphere under water deficit conditions, even with the absence of upward sap flow. Sap flow was restored four days after irrigation had resumed.
Qualidade da água subterrânea na área urbana de Uberaba-MG: avaliação de risco à saúde
Authors: Reis Rezende Caroline , Viégas Campos José Cláudio , Souza Reis Melo Vanessa , Sampaio Machado Carolina , Milla dos Santos Senhuk Ana Paula , Carneiro Ferreira Deusmaque
Published: March 2023

Apesar de sua importância do ponto de vista social e econômico, e de serem mais protegidas que as águas superficiais, as águas subterrâneas podem ser contaminadas por diversas fontes, comprometendo sua qualidade para abastecimento e demandando alto investimento financeiro e de recursos humanos para sua remediação. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a qualidade da água subterrânea em 8 (oito) poços distribuídos nos bairros da cidade de Uberaba-MG e avaliar o risco à saúde com base na concentração de metais potencialmente tóxicos e de íons nitrato. Os parâmetros analisados na estação seca e chuvosa foram de caráter microbiológico (Coliformes totais e termotolerantes), físico (condutividade, temperatura, turbidez e cor) e químico (pH, metais potencialmente tóxicos, alcalinidade, demanda química de oxigênio, fósforo total, nitrato, cloreto e dureza). Todos os poços analisados apresentaram coliformes totais e termotolerantes em pelo menos uma estação. Ao comparar com a legislação vigente, os parâmetros cor, DQO, fósforo total, ferro, cádmio, chumbo, níquel, manganês e cromo apresentaram valores acima dos limites permitidos, principalmente no período seco. A análise de risco à saúde mostrou-se significativa para quatro poços estudados, sendo cádmio o parâmetro com os maiores coeficientes de risco, seguido por cromo. Essas alterações precisam ser constantemente monitoradas a fim de conhecer a real qualidade da água subterrânea para consumo. Assim, os resultados encontrados contribuem para o delineamento de estudos futuros, servindo como subsídio para gestores ambientais e de saúde pública.
Asymptotic behavior of solutions to the Monge-Ampère equations with slow convergence rate at infinity
Authors: Liu Zixiao , Bao Jiguang
Published: March 2023

We consider the asymptotic behavior of solutions to the Monge-Ampère equations with slow convergence rate at infinity and fulfill previous results under faster convergence rate by Bao et al. [Monge-Ampère equation on exterior domains, Calc. Var PDE. 52 (2015), 39–63]. Different from known results, we obtain the limit of Hessian and/or gradient of solution at infinity relying on the convergence rate. The basic idea is to use a revised level set method, the spherical harmonic expansion, and the iteration method.