bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of biochar on nitrogen availability and bacterial community in farmland
Authors: Hu Tian , Wei Jiating , Du Li , Chen Jibao , Zhang Jun
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Nitrification and denitrification in soil are key components of the global nitrogen cycle. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of biochar application on soil nitrogen and bacterial diversity.

Methods

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different biochar-based rates 0% (CK), 0.5% (BC1), 1.0% (BC2), 2.0% (BC3), and 4.0% (BC4) on soil nutrient and bacterial community diversity and composition.

Results

The results indicate that the total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium nitrogen (AN) contents in the soil increased by 4.7–32.3% and 8.3–101.5%, respectively. The microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) content increased with increased amounts of biochar rate. The application of biochar also significantly changed the soil bacterial community composition. The copy number of 16S marker gene of related enzymes to the nitrification process in BC2 was reduced by 20.1%. However, the gene expressions of nitric oxide reductase and nitrous oxide reductase in BC3 increased by 16.4% and 16.0%, respectively, compared to those in CK. AN, nitrate nitrogen (NN), and NN/TN were the main factors affecting the structure of the soil bacterial community. In addition, the expressions of nitrite reductase, hydroxylamine, and nitric oxide reductase (cytochrome c) were also significantly correlated.

Conclusion

Therefore, the applied biochar improved soil nitrogen availability and which ultimately resulted in an environmental risk decrease by soil nitrogen release inhibition.
Impact of glycemic control on biventricular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking study
Authors: Zhu Jing , Li Wenjia , Chen Fang , Xie Zhen , Zhuo Kaimin , Huang Ruijue
Published: January 2023

Background

Poor glycemic control is associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nonetheless, the association between glycemic control and right ventricular (RV) function in T2DM has not been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between glycemic control and biventricular function and assess whether one ventricular function was mediated by the other ventricular changes using cardiac magnetic resonance.

Materials and methods

A total of 91 T2DM patients with normal ejection fraction were enrolled and divided into two groups according to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with a cut off 7%. Twenty controls were included. Biventricular ventricular strain parameters, including global peak systolic radial strain, global peak systolic circumferential strain (GCS), global peak systolic longitudinal strain (GLS), peak diastolic radial strain rate (RSR), peak diastolic circumferential strain rate (CSR) and peak diastolic longitudinal strain rate (LSR) were measured.

Results

Compared with controls, patients with both HbA1c < 7% and HbA1c ≥ 7% showed significantly lower LVGCS, LVGLS, LVCSR, LVLSR, RVGLS, RVRSR, RVCSR and RVLSR. Patients with HbA1c ≥ 7% elicited significantly higher RVGCS than controls and lower LVGLS, LVCSR, LVLSR, RVGLS and RVLSR. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that HbA1c was independently associated with LVGLS, LVLSR, RVGLS and RVLSR after adjustment for traditional risk factors. LV (RV) was not statistically mediated by the other ventricular alterations.

Conclusion

In T2DM patients, glycemic control was independently associated with impaired LV and RV systolic and diastolic function and these associations were not mediated by the other ventricular changes.
Physical function management for elderly dialysis patients: prevention and improvement of frailty and disability
Authors: Nitta Kosaku , Hanafusa Norio , Kawaguchi Yuki , Tsuchiya Ken
Published: January 2023

Frailty has become an emerging public health problem in the aging society and is regarded as a state of vulnerability to developing increased dependency and/or mortality when exposed to a stressor. As the proportion of elderly dialysis patients is increasing worldwide, frailty has recently influenced on the clinical outcomes among those patients also caused great attention. The prevalence of frailty among dialysis patients has ranged from 3.0- to 10-fold higher than in community-dwelling elderly. Since frailty has been found to be associated with higher mortality, independent of clinical characteristics and comorbidity, interventions to improve frailty have the potential to contribute to better quality of life and lower mortality among dialysis patients. Moreover, clinical research should be focused on the possibility that early rehabilitation of dialysis patients might improve poor outcomes. Current clinical question should aim to take an appropriate strategy to address frailty, including identifying the optimal timing for intervention.
Comparison of immunophenotypes between Rag2 knockout mice derived from two different sources
Authors: Roh Yu Jeong , Gong Jeong Eun , Kim Ji Eun , Jin You Jeong , Song Hee Jin , Seol Ayun , Park Jumin , Lim Yong , Hwang Dae Youn
Published: January 2023

Background

Recombination activating gene2 (Rag2) knockout (KO) mice are used widely in various research fields, including vaccine development, transplantation studies, and hematopoiesis research, but few studies have compared their phenotypes. This study examined whether there were differences in the immunophenotypes between Rag2 KO mice derived from different sources. In particular, the changes in the organ weight, histological structure, and subpopulation of T and B cells were compared in the spleen and thymus of C57BL/6-Rag2em1hwl/Korl (Rag2/Korl KO) and B6.Cg-Rag2tm1.1Cgn/J (Rag2/J KO) mice.

Results

The weight of the spleen and thymus similarly decreased in the Rag2/Korl and Rag2/J KO mice compared to their wild type (WT) mice, even though the other organs were kept at the same weight. A slight difference between the Rag2/Korl and Rag2/J KO group were detected in the number of white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (LYM), red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelets (PLT). In addition, the white pulp of the spleen and the cortex region of the thymus decreased in both Rag2 KO mice compared to WT mice. On the other hand, significant differences in the number of CD8+ T and B cell subpopulations between WT and Rag2 KO mice were observed between Rag2/Korl and Rag2/J KO group, while the CD4+ T subpopulation was maintained similarly in both groups.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Rag2/Korl and Rag2/J KO mice exhibit similar immunophenotypes in the spleen and thymus except for the differences in the number of CD8+ T and B cell subpopulations.
Passive buildings: a state-of-the-art review
Authors: Anand Vishwajit , Kadiri Vishnu Lakshmi , Putcha Chandrasekhar
Published: January 2023

Passive buildings are proving to be a solution to menaces of energy crisis and greenhouse gas emissions across the world. Such buildings tend to exhibit low energy demand owing to their cleverly designed envelopes, which comprise of walls, roofs, doors, windows and other openings. This requires use of new materials and technology, leading to an increased initial construction cost. However, with reduced energy consumption, the lifecycle cost of a passive building may be lower than that of a conventional building. These passive buildings also need to cater to occupants’ comfort which is subject to local climatic conditions and climate change. This article discusses economic feasibility and climatic adaptability of a passive building, in addition to advances in passive building strategies. Owing to lack of general awareness and standards related to passive building construction, these buildings have not achieved enough popularity. While many countries are striving hard to bring passive buildings to common masses, a large number of countries are yet to initiate the move. This article outlines several active organizations, standards and rating systems for passive buildings. This article also presents some of the recent research trends and a comprehensive bibliography for the benefit of researchers and practitioners.
Does social cognition change? Evidence after 4 years from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses
Authors: Rocca Paola , Rucci Paola , Montemagni Cristiana , Rossi Alessandro , Bertolino Alessandro , Aguglia Eugenio , Altamura Carlo A. , Amore Mario , Andriola Ileana , Bellomo Antonello , Brasso Claudio , Carpiniello Bernardo , Del Favero Elisa , Dell’Osso Liliana , Di Fabio Fabio , Fabrazzo Michele , Fagiolini Andrea , Giordano Giulia Maria , Marchesi Carlo , Martinotti Giovanni , Monteleone Palmiero , Pompili Maurizio , Roncone Rita , Rossi Rodolfo , Siracusano Alberto , Tenconi Elena , Vita Antonio , Zeppegno Patrizia , Galderisi Silvana , Maj Mario ,   Italian Network for Research on Psychoses
Published: January 2023

Background

Deficits in social cognition (SC) are significantly related to community functioning in schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies investigated longitudinal changes in SC and its impact on recovery. In the present study, we aimed: (a) to estimate the magnitude and clinical significance of SC change in outpatients with stable SZ who were assessed at baseline and after 4 years, (b) to identify predictors of reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC), and (c) to determine whether changes in SC over 4 years predicted patient recovery at follow-up.

Methods

The reliable change index was used to estimate the proportion of true change in SC, not attributable to measurement error. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of RCSC in a SC domain (The Awareness of Social Inference Test [TASIT]) and the effect of change in TASIT on recovery at follow-up.

Results

In 548 participants, statistically significant improvements were found for the simple and paradoxical sarcasm of TASIT scale, and for the total score of section 2. The reliable change index was 9.8. A cut-off of 45 identified patients showing clinically significant change. Reliable change was achieved by 12.6% and RCSC by 8% of participants. Lower baseline TASIT sect. 2 score predicted reliable improvement on TASIT sect. 2. Improvement in TASIT sect. 2 scores predicted functional recovery, with a 10-point change predicting 40% increase in the probability of recovery.

Conclusions

The RCSC index provides a conservative way to assess the improvement in the ability to grasp sarcasm in SZ, and is associated with recovery.
International Collaboration on Palliative Care Development Between ASCO and the Land of Hornbills
Authors: Wong Yin Yee , Chiew Aaron Zi Jian , Eaton Vanessa , Ferris Frank D. , Kremzier Megan , Lim Boon Leong , Ling Winnie Hui Yee , Said Asri , Sarchet Vanessa , Tiong Tung Hui , Voon Pei Jye , Choo Yoke Ling
Published: January 2023

PURPOSE

Palliative care in Sarawak is mainly provided by health care professionals with limited formal training in palliative care. Therefore, in 2020, collaborative work between Sarawak General Hospital, University Malaysia Sarawak, and ASCO began. This study reports on the outcome of this collaboration.

METHODS

The collaboration was initiated with the first ASCO Palliative Care e-course, Train the Trainer program, International Development and Education Award—Palliative Care and translation of ASCO Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Curriculum resources.

RESULTS

This collaboration has resulted in the change of practice of palliative care among the oncology team of Sarawak General Hospital.

CONCLUSION

It encourages more timely palliative care referrals to ensure that patients with complex physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs have the necessary input and support from the palliative care team throughout the course of patients’ illnesses.
The Reception of Lyotard'sDiscours, figureduring the Spanish Transition to Democracy
Authors: Meijide Casas Sergio
Published: January 2023

Unlike its English version, first published in 2011, Discours, figure was published in Spanish in 1979, four years after Francisco Franco's death, during the Spanish transition to democracy. The relevance of this information is connected to the fact that the man who introduced Lyotard to the Spanish intellectual scene was the now controversial Spanish liberal-conservative journalist Federico Jiménez Losantos. However, at the time, Losantos was not only known for being an unwavering supporter of Maoism, but he was also among the first promoters of Lacanian psychoanalysis in Barcelona and one of the main theorists devoted to the study of reductive abstraction in Spain. The purpose of this article is threefold, as it intends to (1) break down the publishing dynamics that led to Lyotard's work being translated into Spanish so early on; (2) delve into the context of that translation within a very specific framework, which is the shift toward liberalism of many post-’68 Maoists; and (3) analyze the poor reception of Lyotard's work by the Spanish-speaking public. To approach these questions, this article resorts to one of the fundamental premises of the economy of desire that Lyotard postulated in the 1970s: that any research on political economy must be paired with an analysis of its libidinal economy.
On the Struggle for Epokhē and the Crisis of the Savoirs
Authors: Bradley Joff P. N.
Published: January 2023

Reflecting on the mental ecologies of digital life and the crisis of spirit in the contemporary era, this article principally addresses the question of the possibility of epokhē (ἐποχή), the crisis of formation or self-cultivation (Bildung) and the possibility of a “third world,” which can be opened up by the phenomenological practice of epokhē. This will be undertaken idiosyncratically through a comparison between the thoughts of the British novelist and professor of contemporary thought at Brunel University in London, Will Self, and the late French philosopher Bernard Stiegler (1952–2020). Both thinkers, albeit in different ways and with different emphases—one literary, one more philosophical—address the psychical and traumatogenic consequences of epokhē. We can understand this as a suspension of disbelief in the present as we live through an “epoch without epoch,” a time witnessing the seizure of the symbolic by industrial technologies of the spirit. This is the time of the simulacrum of the real and the circulation of symbolic exchange and death. Both thinkers are interested in reinterpreting the concept of epokhē to consider psychic individuation or the psycho-pathological effects of technology upon the embodied human sensorium. I proffer some original thoughts drawn from the paradigm of critical postmedia philosophy and ecosophy on how to take the best elements from these thinkers to mount a sustained critique of technical life in the traumatized present that is without epoch.
Physical and numerical modelling of shear behaviour of saw-toothed filled rock joint
Authors: Βοσνιάκος Κωνσταντίνος
Published: January 2023

Μεγάλης κλίμακας γεωτεχνικά προβλήματα μπορεί να προσεγγιστούν αποτελεσματικά με τη χρήση αριθμητικών μεθόδων ανάλυσης που έχουν αναπτυχθεί κατά τη διάρκεια των τελευταίων τριών δεκαετιών, προσφέροντας πολλά οφέλη, όπως η ταχύτητα και η ακρίβεια της πρόβλεψης. Ο βασικός σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η δημιουργία ενός φυσικού και αριθμητικού μοντέλου για τη διερεύνηση της διατμητικής συμπεριφοράς πριονωτών ασυνεχειών με υλικό πλήρωσης με την χρήση πειραματικών αποτελεσμάτων ως δεδομένα για την κατασκευή ενός αριθμητικού μοντέλου.Μια τεχνητή πριονωτή βραχώδη ασυνέχεια βασισμένη σε μείγμα τσιμέντου-άμμου παρασκευάστηκε με σκοπό να εξεταστεί εργαστηριακά όσον αφορά τις φυσικές και μηχανικές ιδιότητες της. Ως υλικό πλήρωσης χρησιμοποιήθηκε λεπτόκοκκη, ομοιόμορφη ποταμίσια άμμος, της οποίας οι ιδιότητες προσδιορίστηκαν μέσα από εργαστηριακές δοκιμές. Αρκετές σειρές άμεσων δοκιμών διάτμησης διεξήχθησαν στο εργαστήριο χρησιμοποιώντας σχετικά μεγάλα δοκίμια (400 mm μήκος) τεχνητής πριονωτής, βραχώδους ασυνέχειας με αμμώδες υλικό πλήρωσης. Πληθώρα εργαστηριακών δοκιμών εκτελέστηκαν ώστε να χρησιμοποιήσουν τα αποτελέσματά τους ως δεδομένα για την κατασκευή του αριθμητικού μοντέλου και επίσης για την επαλήθευση των αποτελεσμάτων από τα αριθμητικά μοντέλα προσομοίωσης. Ως εκ τούτου, η διατμητική συμπεριφορά των μεγάλων βραχωδών δοκιμίων με υλικό πλήρωσης εξετάστηκε πειραματικά και αριθμητικά.Η μέθοδος των διακεκριμένων στοιχείων (DEM) χρησιμοποιήθηκε μέσα από ένα εμπορικά διαθέσιμο πρόγραμμα υπολογιστή (UDEC), για την αριθμητική προσομοίωση της δοκιμής άμεσης διάτμησης μιας πριονωτής βραχώδους ασυνέχειας με υλικό πλήρωσης. Το μοντέλο «χτίστηκε» χρησιμοποιώντας ως δεδομένα τα αποτελέσματα των πειραματικών δοκιμών . Η καταλληλότητα του προγράμματος ελέγχθηκε συγκρίνοντας τα αποτελέσματα της αριθμητικής ανάλυσης με τα αντίστοιχα αποτελέσματα των εργαστηριακών δοκιμών.Μια παραμετρική μελέτη πραγματοποιήθηκε επίσης με την χρήση του UDEC. Εξετάστηκε, από άποψη αριθμητικής ανάλυσης, το αποτέλεσμα των επτά παραμέτρων (είδος και πάχος του υλικού πλήρωσης, ταχύτητα διάτμησης, τραχύτητα, εφαρμοζόμενη ορθή τάση, είδη ασυνεχειών και διακριτοποίηση στοιχείων) στην διατμητική συμπεριφορά μιας πριονωτής βραχώδους ασυνέχειας με υλικό πλήρωσης, αξιοποιώντας τα αποτελέσματα 140 προσομοιώσεων.Η παρούσα έρευνα επιχείρησε να διερευνήσει την διατμητική συμπεριφορά μιας πριονωτής βραχώδους ασυνέχειας με αμμώδες υλικό πλήρωσης, με την προσομοίωση του διατμητικού μηχανισμού της, τόσο πειραματικά στο εργαστήριο όσο και αριθμητικά (UDEC) με την χρήση της μεθόδου των διακεκριμένων στοιχείων.
Restoration of endometrial receptivity and reproductive function in infertile women with excess body weightand complex non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia
Authors: Nosenko O. , Yurchenko S.
Published: January 2023

To date, there are several approaches to the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia, but it is quite unclear which approach provides a higher clinical response with a lower recurrence rate, in addition to preservation and restoration of fertility in infertile women with complex non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia (NEH) and excess body weight. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the restoration of reproductive function in patients with infertility, complex NEH and with excess body weight according to the proposed method. Material and methods. 74 women of reproductive age with complex NEH, infertility and excess body weight were under observation, of which 34 patients of the main group after hysteroscopic resection of the lesion at the first stage of treatment, at the second stage of treatment received gonadotropin-releasing hormone  agonists (aGnRH) and adjuvant therapy with drugs indole-3-carbinol, metformin, fenofibrate for three months, and then at the third stage of treatment dydrogesterone, metformin, a vitamin-mineral complex that included myo-inositol, banaba leaves, extract of 1% corosolic acid, vitamin D3, methylfolate-quatrafolic, chromium for 6 months. 40 patients of the control group after hysteroscopic resection of the lesion at the first stage of treatment were prescribed aGnRH for 3 months in the second stage of treatment, then methylfolate-mvatrafolic for 6 months. Anthropometric data, echometric and morphofunctional characteristics of the endometrium during the expected window of implantation, hormonal profile and levels of peripheral blood lipokines in the dynamics of treatment were studied. Reproductive results were evaluated within a year after the end of treatment. The results. Treatment of complex NEH in the main group led, compared to the control group, to a decrease in body mass index, improvement in echometric and morphofunctional characteristics of the endometrium, its receptivity during the expected window of implantation, hormonal profile and lipokines level in peripheral blood, a decrease in insulin resistance, and an increase in the frequency of pregnancy. Conclusion. The proposed scheme for the treatment of complex NEH in infertile women with excess body weight allowed to improve their reproductive results, is effective and can be recommended for implementation in wide clinical practice.
¿Cómo fomentar las competencias profesionales? Aplicación del aprendizaje basado en problemas en contabilidad de costes
Authors: Pérez-Espés Cristina , Cea D’Ancona Francisca , Cervera Oliver Mercedes
Published: January 2023

: El Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (ABP) es un método basado en el principio de usar problemas como punto de partida para el desarrollo y adquisición de competencias. Este sistema de aprendizaje se ha utilizado en la educación superior en diferentes áreas especialmente para el entrenamiento de competencias profesionales. Lo anterior, nos lleva a plantearnos la aplicación de la metodología del ABP en la asignatura de Contabilidad de Costes (CC) con el objetivo de propiciar la adquisición y mejora de habilidades profesionales de nuestros estudiantes. Además, la propia definición de la metodología ABP (resolución de un problema específico relacionado con el área de conocimiento) está alineada con la finalidad de CC (toma de decisiones en la gestión interna). Este trabajo presenta los resultados obtenidos tras la aplicación del ABP a los alumnos del tercer curso del Grado en Administración y Dirección de Empresas de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. La muestra está compuesta por un total de 78 alumnos, de los cuales, 33 actuaron como grupo experimental y 45 como grupo de control. Los principales resultados obtenidos de este estudio muestran que el ABP, por un lado, contribuye a la adquisición de competencias profesionales alineadas con las establecidas por el IAESB en la IES 3. Y, por otro, es una metodología que fomenta tanto el aprendizaje individual como el colaborativo.
Inteligencia artificial: Cuando los algoritmos se convierten en neuronas.
Authors: Castagnedi Ramirez Alessandra Esther
Published: January 2023

En los últimos años, el uso de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) ha supuesto cambios muy significativos en distintos ámbitos de la vida de los seres humanos. La medicina es uno de esos sectores donde más han repercutido dichos cambios. El objeto del presente trabajo es el análisis de herramientas basadas en eHealth y neurorobótica que pueden reducir la carga de trabajo humano y contribuir a una mejor gestión de la salud pública, considerando determinados problemas ético-jurídicos que deben ser tenidos en consideración. En este sentido, se lleva a cabo un estudio sobre la cuestión de la responsabilidad en caso de daños causados por el uso de sistemas de IA a través de determinadas herramientas de soft law, llevadas a cabo por el legislador europeo. A este respecto, se analiza, la nueva propuesta de Directiva COM (2022) 496 final del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, relativa a la adaptación de las normas de responsabilidad civil extracontractual a la IA (Directiva sobre responsabilidad en materia de IA), por considerar que puede dar lugar a innovaciones muy significativas.
Customer Liquidity Provision: Implications for Corporate Bond Transaction Costs
Authors: Choi Jaewon , Huh Yesol , Seunghun Shin Sean
Published: January 2023

The convention when calculating corporate bond trading costs is to estimate bid–ask spreads that customers pay, implicitly assuming that dealers always provide liquidity to customers. We show that, contrary to this assumption, customers increasingly provide liquidity following the adoption of post-2008 banking regulations, and thus, conventional bid–ask spread measures underestimate the cost of dealers’ liquidity provision. Among large trades wherein dealers use inventory capacity, customers pay 40%–60% wider spreads than before the crisis. Customers’ balance-sheet capacity and their trading relationships with dealers are important determinants of customer liquidity provision.

This paper was accepted by Bruno Biais, finance.

Supplemental Material: The internet appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4646 .
Lemons, Trade-Ins, and Certified Pre-Owned Programs
Authors: Huang Ximin (Natalie) , Atasu Atalay , Tereyağoğlu Necati , Toktay L. Beril
Published: January 2023

Problem definition: We study the economic rationale for certified pre-owned (CPO) programs and characterize the mechanism through which they influence secondary markets to create value for durable goods firms and consumers. Academic/practical relevance: Our study on understanding the market impact of CPO programs is highly relevant for industry given their prevalence in practice. Our work also contributes to the adverse selection literature in the context of the “lemons problem” by uncovering the mechanism underpinning CPO programs and how they improve market efficiency. Methodology: We use a game-theoretic durable goods model that captures CPO program features to identify how CPO programs improve market efficiency. We further investigate how CPO program size, as determined by program qualification criteria, plays a role in improving market efficiency. Results: We show that the mechanism underpinning CPO programs consists of two mutually reinforcing effects: a more effective segmentation of used product buyers through high- and low-quality product differentiation and a higher trade-in discount to used product owners. The former effect generates a higher revenue, which, in turn, allows for a higher trade-in discount. This translates to more high-quality products being traded in, more new products being purchased, and more used products being sold in the secondary market (i.e., increased market efficiency). We also show that these two effects are strengthened as the CPO program size increases. Finally, we test hypotheses deriving from our theoretical results in the context of the U.S. automotive industry. Our empirical findings are consistent with the conclusions of our theoretical work. Managerial implications: Durable goods firms can proactively manage their CPO programs by appropriately setting trade-in discounts and managing price discrimination between CPO and non-CPO products. CPO program qualification criteria can be used to alter CPO program size and, hence, the level of market efficiency improvement induced by these choices.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.1176 .
Determinants of Low Disease Activity And Remission in Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Authors: KAPLAN Melike , GÜNGÖRER Vildan , ÇELİKEL Elif , EKİCİ TEKİN Zahide , KURT Tuba , TEKGÖZ Nilüfer , SEZER Müge , KARAGÖL Cüneyt , COŞKUN Serkan , ÖNER Nimet , POLAT Merve Cansu , ÇAYCI Fatma Şemsa , ACAR Banu
Published: January 2023

Amaç: Çalışmamızda pediatrik sistemik lupus eritematozus (SLE) hastalarında, hastalık prezentasyon bulgularının, hastalığın 2. yılındaki düşük hastalık aktivitesi ve remisyona ulaşmadaki etkilerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Merkezimizde takipli olan pediatrik SLE hastalarının elektronik tıbbi kayıtları ve hasta dosyalarından demografik, klinik ve laboratuvar verileri kaydedildi. Hastalığın 2. yılındaki aktivite ölçümü SLE Hastalığı Aktivite İndeksi-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) skoru baz alınarak hesaplandı. Prezentasyon bulguları ile düşük hastalık aktivitesi ve remisyon arasında ilişki olup olmadığı istatiksel yöntemlerle incelendi.Sonuçlar: Bu çalışmaya merkezimizde pediatrik SLE tanısı almış ve en az 2 yıl düzenli takibe gelmiş 29 hastayı dahil ettik. Tanıdan sonraki 2. yılda hastalarda SLE aktivite ölçümüne göre 14 hastada (%48.2) HDAS, 15 hastada (%51,7) LDAS-remisyon elde edilmişti. İki grup arasında başlangıçtaki prezentasyon bulguları açısından anlamlı istatiksel farklılık saptanmadı. 5. yılda 15 hastadan 6’sında (%40) LDAS-remisyon, 9’unda (%60) HDAS mevcuttu. 2. yılda HDAS’a sahip hastaların 5. yıl SLEDAI-2K skorları, 2. yılda LDAS-remisyona sahip hastaların 5. yıl SLEDAI-2K skorlarına göre anlamlı olarak yüksekti (p= 0.028). Ayrıca 2. yılda aktif olan 8 hastanın (%80) 5. yılda HDAS’ın devam ettiği gözlendi.Tartışma: Çalışmamızda pediatrik SLE prezentasyon bulgularının hastalığın 2. yılındaki düşük hastalık aktivitesi ve remisyon üzerine belirleyici etkilerinin olmadığını gösterildi. Ayrıca 2. yılda elde edilen düşük hastalık aktivitesi ve remisyon 5. yıldaki düşük hastalık aktivitesi ve remisyonun belirleyicisi olabilir.
Extensive severe intraorbital arteriovenous malformations: report of a rare laser complication and successful management
Authors: Mataro Ilaria , Di Franco Livia , Cavaliere Annachiara , Razzano Sergio , Schonauer Fabrizio , D'Andrea Francesco , d'Alessio Roberto
Published: January 2023

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare congenital errors of vascular morphogenesis, characterised by abnormal direct communications between arteries and veins, bypassing the normal capillary bed. Apart from the central nervous system, typical locations include the head and neck, and less frequently limbs, trunk or internal organs. AVMs of the head and neck often become clinically evident and symptomatic only in later childhood and are characterised by a history of variable growth, sometimes leading to large, deforming, pulsating masses with a propensity to massive haemorrhage. Therapeutic strategy is based on selective embolisation, surgical excision, or a combination of both. Radical surgical excision of local AVMs is the only effective treatment but it may be mutilating, especially for AVMs of the head and neck. Laser therapy represents a good option to treat the cutaneous aspects of AVMs nevertheless, its efficacy is limited. To the date, pharmacological therapy for AVMs is still on debate due to its controversial outcomes as it seems not as effective as other treatments and usually requires a longer course of application. However, pharmacological therapy could be useful in selected patients and for AVMs nonresponsive to traditional treatment, allowing them to obtain acceptable results without serious complications. This paper reports the case of a serious laser complication of extensive intraorbital AVM successfully treated by local reconstruction and topical pharmacological treatment.
Neglected Acromion Fracture Causing Chronic Post-traumatic Shoulder Pain – A Case Report
Authors: Amirthalingam Sivabalaganesh , Suriyakumar Sundar , Harshavardhan J K Giriraj , Sameer Mohamed
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Patient presented with persistent shoulder pain 8 months following an injury which was diagnosed to be an old non-united missed acromion fracture. The difficulties in diagnosing such fracture, the functional and radiological outcome of surgical fixation of this type of missed acromion fracture with 6-month follow-up has been discussed in this case report. Case Report: We report a case of 48-year-old male who presented to us with chronic shoulder pain following an injury which was later diagnosed to be a missed non-united acromion fracture. Conclusion: Acromion fractures are commonly missed. Non-united acromion fractures can cause significant chronic post-traumatic shoulder pain. Reduction and internal fixation can alleviate the pain with a good functional result. Keywords: Acromion non-union, acromion fixation, chronic shoulder pain, acromion fracture
An Approximate Optimization Method for Solving Stiff Ordinary Differential Equations With Combinational Mutation Strategy of Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Febrianti Werry , Sidarto Kuntjoro Adji , Sumarti Novriana
Published: January 2023

This paper examines the implementation of simple combination mutation of differential evolution algorithm for solving stiff ordinary differential equations. We use the weighted residual method with a series expansion to approximate the solutions of stiff ordinary differential equations. We solve the problems from an ordinary stiff differential equation for linear and nonlinear problems. Then, we also implement our method for solving stiff systems of ordinary differential equations. We find that our algorithm can approximate the exact solution of a stiff ordinary differential equation with the smallest error for each length of series that we have chosen. Thus, this approximation method, by using the optimization method of simple combination differential evolution, can be a good tool for solving stiff ordinary differential equations.
Study of using different colors of fluorescent fibers as optical antennas in white LED based-visible light communications
Authors: He Cuiwei , Lim Yuto , Murata Hideyuki
Published: January 2023

A fluorescent fiber can be used as an optical antenna in visible light communication (VLC) for simultaneous optical filtering and light concentration and therefore to build a compact receiver. Since its light concentration principle is based on fluorescence, it can exceed the étendue limit and achieve both a high concentration gain and a wide field-of-view (FOV). In addition, because the photoluminescence (PL) lifetime of the fluorophore is typically only several nanoseconds, it can support high-speed data transmissions. When a fluorescent fiber antenna is used in a white light-emitting diode (LED)-based VLC system, the transmission performance highly depends on how the absorption and emission spectra of the fluorophore are associated with both the spectrum of the LED and the responsivity of the silicon photodetector. In this paper, we analyze the performance of several different commercially available fluorescent fibers. We show that, when the data rate is low or the transmission distance is long, since the light emitted from a red fluorescent fiber is associated with high silicon responsivities, it can result in high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) at the receiver output and therefore lead to low transmission error rates. In contrast, when the data rate is high or the transmission distance is relatively short, the bandwidth dominates the overall performance and consequently the green fluorescent fiber has better performance since it only absorbs the light emitted from the blue LED rather than the light emitted from the yellow phosphor.
A silicon source of frequency-bin entangled photons: publisher’s note
Authors: Sabattoli Federico Andrea , Gianini Linda , Simbula Angelica , Clementi Marco , Fincato Antonio , Boeuf Frederic , Liscidini Marco , Galli Matteo , Bajoni Daniele
Published: January 2023

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett. 47, 6201 (2022)10.1364/OL.471241.
Revisiting the agro-climatic zones of Ghana: A re-classification in conformity with climate change and variability
Authors: Yamba Edmund I. , Aryee Jeffrey N. A. , Quansah Emmanuel , Davies Patrick , Wemegah Cosmos S. , Osei Marian A. , Ahiataku Maureen A. , Amekudzi Leonard K.
Published: January 2023

The Ghana Meteorological Agency delineated Ghana’s geographical space into four agro-climatic zones namely the north, transition, forest and coastal zones. Since the demarcation in the 1960s, previous studies have rarely provided a more dis-aggregated agro-climatic zone map in tandem with contemporary climate change and variability. The continued use of this age-old classified zones is a disservice to the public. In this study, therefore, we evaluated the existing agro-climatic zone map of Ghana and reconstructed it to a more appropriate and dis-aggregated map that reflect current climate change and variability impact. This was achieved by quantifying the contrast in rainfall and temperature amount over a 30 year period for different climate windows and mapped out areas with similar rainfall and temperature regimes. Our findings revealed significant changes in the existing agro-climatic zones especially in terms of number, the boundary size and geographical orientation of the zones. The newly proposed map consist of five distinctive climate zones namely: the Sudan Savannah, Guinea Savannah, Transition, Forest and Coastal zones. The Sudan and Guinea Savannah zones showed a southerly expansion. The transition zone shriveled in size as the Guinea Savannah zone took over most of it, notably in the southeast. The forest zone shrank in size with a northwest shift while the coastal belt grew to encompass the whole coast of Ghana. These changes are strong evidence of climate change and possible food production changes. These findings are useful to agriculture sector in planning their activities, the health sector in predicting specific diseases caused by changes in weather and climate, Ghana Meteorological Agency for weather forecasting purposes, and the National Disaster Management in identifying disaster prone zones.
Errors in soil maps: The need for better on-site estimates and soil map predictions
Authors: Buenemann Michaela , Coetzee Marina E. , Kutuahupira Josephat , Maynard Jonathan J. , Herrick Jeffrey E.
Published: January 2023

High-quality soil maps are urgently needed by diverse stakeholders, but errors in existing soil maps are often unknown, particularly in countries with limited soil surveys. To address this issue, we used field soil data to assess the accuracy of seven spatial soil databases (Digital Soil Map of the World, Namibian Soil and Terrain Digital Database, Soil and Terrain Database for Southern Africa, Harmonized World Soil Database, SoilGrids1km, SoilGrids250m, and World Inventory of Soil Property Estimates) using topsoil texture as an example soil property and Namibia as a case study area. In addition, we visually compared topsoil texture maps derived from these databases. We found that the maps showed the correct topsoil texture in only 13% to 42% of all test sites, with substantial confusion occurring among all texture categories, not just those in close proximity in the soil texture triangle. Visual comparisons of the maps moreover showed that the maps differ greatly with respect to the number, types, and spatial distribution of texture classes. The topsoil texture information provided by the maps is thus sufficiently inaccurate that it would result in significant errors in a number of applications, including irrigation system design and predictions of potential forage and crop productivity, water runoff, and soil erosion. Clearly, the use of these existing maps for policy- and decision-making is highly questionable and there is a critical need for better on-site estimates and soil map predictions. We propose that mobile apps, citizen science, and crowdsourcing can help meet this need.
Effects of maternal depression on maternal responsiveness and infants’ expressive language abilities
Authors: Brookman Ruth , Kalashnikova Marina , Levickis Penny , Conti Janet , Xu Rattanasone Nan , Grant Kerry-Ann , Demuth Katherine , Burnham Denis
Published: January 2023

High levels of maternal responsiveness are associated with healthy cognitive and emotional development in infants. However, depression and anxiety can negatively impact individual mothers’ responsiveness levels and infants’ expressive language abilities. Australian mother-infant dyads (N = 48) participated in a longitudinal study examining the effect of maternal responsiveness (when infants were 9- and 12-months), and maternal depression and anxiety symptoms on infant vocabulary size at 18-months. Global maternal responsiveness ratings were stronger predictors of infants’ vocabulary size than levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. However, depression levels moderated the effect of maternal responsiveness on vocabulary size. These results highlight the importance of screening for maternal responsiveness–in addition to depression–to identify infants who may be at developmental risk. Also, mothers with elevated depression need support to first reduce their symptoms so that improvements in their responsiveness have the potential to be protective for their infant’s language acquisition.
Cost-analysis of real time RT-PCR test performed for COVID-19 diagnosis at India’s national reference laboratory during the early stages of pandemic mitigation
Authors: Minhas Naveen , Gurav Yogesh K. , Sambhare Susmit , Potdar Varsha , Choudhary Manohar Lal , Bhardwaj Sumit Dutt , Abraham Priya
Published: January 2023

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is one of the most accurate and extensively used laboratory procedures for diagnosing COVID-19. This molecular test has high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) and is considered as the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. During COVID-19 surge in India, rRT-PCR service was encouraged and supported by the government of India through existing healthcare setup at various levels of healthcare facilities. The primary purpose of this research was to determine the per-unit cost of providing COVID-19 rRT-PCR services at the national reference laboratory at ICMR-National Institute of Virology in Pune during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation, from the provider’s perspective. The monthly cost for rRT-PCR testing as well as an estimated annual average unit cost for testing that takes account of peaks and troughs in pandemic were investigated. The time frame used to estimate unit cost was one year (July 2020-June 2021). For data collection on all resources spent during the early phase of pandemic, a conventional activity-based bottom-up costing technique was used. Capital costs were discounted and annualized over the estimated life of the item. Apportioning statistics were selected for cost heads like human resources, capital, and equipment based on time allocation, sharing of services, and utilization data. The data was also used to understand the breakdown of costs across inputs and over time and different levels of testing activity. During the initial phase of pandemic mitigation, the per unit cost of providing the COVID-19 rRT-PCR test was estimated to be ₹566 ($7.5) in the month of July 2020, where the total 56318 COVID-19 rRT-PCR tests was performed. The major proportion (87%) of funds was utilized for procuring laboratory consumables, followed by HR (10%), and it was least for stationary & allied items (0.02%). Unit cost was found to be the most sensitive to price variations in lab consumables (21.7%), followed by the number of samples tested (3.9%), salaries paid to HR (2.6%), price of equipment (0.23%), and building rental price (0.14%) in a univariate sensitivity analysis. The unit cost varies over the period of the pandemic in proportion with the prices of consumables and inversely proportional with number of tests performed. Our study would help the Government to understand the value for money they invested for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, budget allocation, integration and decentralization of laboratory services so as to help for achieving universal health coverage.
Predictors of educational failure at 16 and 19 years of age—SESBiC longitudinal study
Authors: Bladh Marie , Svedin Carl Göran , Agnafors Sara
Published: January 2023

Background

Educational attainment is highly associated with future health and independence. Throughout childhood, children are exposed to factors that may promote educational attainment and factors that may be associated with a reduced likelihood of being able to complete their education. The purpose of the current study was to investigate which factors, measured from birth up to finishing upper secondary school, were associated with a lower mean grade point average from lower and upper secondary school as well as eligibility to upper secondary school and college/university.

Methods

This is a longitudinal study on 1723 children born in 1995/1996 who have been followed until they were 20 years old. Information with respect to maternal sociodemographics, maternal stress factors during pregnancy and childhood, birth characteristics of the child, child behavior at 3 and 12 years of age, and mean grade point average from lower and upper secondary school, including eligibility to upper secondary school and college/university was collected.

Results

Children exhibiting high problems scores on the child behavior checklist at 12 years of age and children or having other living arrangements (e.g. foster parents or institutional care) were less likely to fulfill the requirements for upper secondary school (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.17–0.71 and OR = 0.33 95% CI = 0.17–0.65, respectively). The likelihood of fulfilling the requirements to college/university was lower if the child had divorced parents at three years of age (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.16–0.58) and exhibited externalizing problems at 12 years of age (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.24–0.86) and if the mother had experienced high level of stress at (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14–0.77).

Conclusion

Identifying mothers with high level of stressors as well as children with externalizing behaviour problems to provide guidance and support is very important as these two factors appear to be associated with future study performance in both lower and upper secondary school.
The association of chronotype and social jet lag with body composition in German students: The role of physical activity behaviour and the impact of the pandemic lockdown
Authors: Krueger Bettina , Stutz Bianca , Jankovic Nicole , Alexy Ute , Kilanowski Anna , Libuda Lars , Buyken Anette E.
Published: January 2023

Young adults with a later chronotype are vulnerable for a discrepancy in sleep rhythm between work- and free days, called social jet lag (SJL). This study analysed (i) chronotype/SJL association with visceral fat/skeletal muscle mass, (ii) the attribution to physical activity behaviour, and (iii) chronotype-specific changes in physical activity behaviour in young adults during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Chronotype and SJL were derived from the Munich-Chrono-Type-Questionnaire in 320 German students (age 18–25 years) from September 2019 to January 2020, 156 of these participated in an online follow-up survey in June 2020. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance analysis at baseline. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to relate chronotype/SJL to body composition; the contribution of self-reported physical activity was tested by mediation analysis. At baseline, a later chronotype and a larger SJL were associated with a higher visceral fat mass (P<0.05), this relation was notably mediated by the attention to physical activity (P<0.05). Chronotype (P = 0.02) but not SJL (P = 0.87) was inversely associated with skeletal muscle mass. During the pandemic lockdown, chronotype hardly changed, but SJL was reduced. Timing and physical activity behaviour remained in most participants and changes were unrelated to chronotype (all P>0.07). A later chronotype/higher SJL may increase the risk of a higher visceral fat mass even in this relatively healthy sample, which may be partly due to their physical activity behaviour. Despite a reduction in SJL during the pandemic lockdown, later chronotypes did not change their physical activity behaviour more than earlier chronotypes.