bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for suicide attempts among U.S. military veterans: A 7‐year population‐based, longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Nichter Brandon , Stein Murray B. , Monteith Lindsey L. , Herzog Sarah , Holliday Ryan , Hill Melanie L. , Norman Sonya B. , Krystal John H. , Pietrzak Robert H.
Published: December 2021

Background

Population‐based data on risk factors for suicide attempts among veterans remains limited.

Methods

A national probability sample of 2307 veterans was followed over the course of four timepoints spanning seven years to examine how a range of baseline risk factors predict incident suicide attempt. Suicide attempt data were aggregated into a single follow‐up timepoint.

Results

Sixty‐two veterans (3.1%) reported attempting suicide during the 7‐year period. The strongest risk factors for suicide attempts were higher baseline levels of loneliness, lower baseline levels of adaptive psychosocial traits (e.g., dispositional gratitude), baseline thoughts of self‐harm, and greater post‐baseline trauma exposures (12.3%–41.3% of explained variance). Veterans with multiple co‐occurring risk factors were at greatest risk for attempts; of veterans with 0, 1, 2, 3, and all 4 of these factors, the predicted probability of suicide attempt was 2.0%, 5.3%, 13.5%, 30.4%, and 55.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

Baseline loneliness, dispositional gratitude, thoughts of self‐harm, and new‐onset traumas emerged as the strongest risk factors for suicide attempts among veterans, underscoring the potential importance of targeting these factors in prevention efforts. Veterans with multiple co‐occurring risk factors have substantially greater risk for suicide attempts, suggesting that examination of multiple coinciding vulnerability factors may help improve suicide risk prediction models.
How to foster perceived partner responsiveness: High‐quality listening is key
Authors: Itzchakov Guy , Reis Harry T. , Weinstein Netta
Published: December 2021

Social psychologists have a longstanding interest in the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of positive social connections. This article reviews and integrates two emerging but to this point disparate lines of work that focus on these mechanisms: high‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness. We also review research investigating the downstream consequences of high‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness: the how and why of understanding the process by which these downstream benefits are obtained. High‐quality listening and perceived partner responsiveness, though not isomorphic, are related constructs in that they both incorporate several key interpersonal processes, such as understanding, positive regard, and expressions of caring for another person. We develop a theoretical model for representing how listening embodies one form of interactive behavior that can promote (or hinder) perceived partner responsiveness and its downstream affective, cognitive, and behavioral effects. Finally, we discuss our model’s implications for various social‐psychological domains, such as social cognition, self‐evaluation, constructive disagreements, and interpersonal relationships.
Energy and mineral metabolism of peripartum mares and foals of the Quarter Horse breed
Authors: Nasciutti Nayara R. , Garcia Felipe G. , da Silva Elisa S. M. , de Miranda Renata L. , Fontes Lucas A. R. , Rosa Junara B. , Headley Selwyn A. , Mundim Antonio V. , Saut João P. E.
Published: December 2021

Background

Several studies have demonstrated variations in peripartum blood biochemical analytes used to monitor the health status of mares and their foals of different breeds.

Objectives

We aimed to characterize the physiologic changes of peripartum energy and mineral metabolism in healthy Quarter Horse mares and their neonatal foals.

Methods

Blood samples were initially collected from 17 mares on days 60 and 30 prepartum, and from mares and their foals on the day of parturition (after colostrum ingestion), and on days 15, 30, and 60 postpartum. The serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, total cholesterol (T‐Cho), triglyceride, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured using commercial kits. Statistical differences were analyzed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (parametric variables) or the Kruskal‐Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison test (nonparametric variables).

Results

Fourteen of 17 healthy Quarter Horse mares and their neonatal foals remained in the study until termination. Serum BHBA, T‐Cho, and calcium concentrations in mares showed significant differences during the observation period. Serum BHBA concentrations increased from 60 days prepartum to 60 days postpartum. Postpartum serum T‐Cho and calcium concentrations significantly decreased until day‐30 postpartum. In the foals, NEFA, T‐Cho, calcium, and magnesium concentrations significantly differed between sampling times. In the foals, serum NEFA concentrations decreased from parturition until day‐60 postpartum, while serum T‐Cho, calcium, and magnesium concentrations were lowest at day‐30 postpartum.

Conclusions

The temporal changes observed in the blood biochemical analytes of this study could be used to improve the clinical evaluation of periparturient mare and neonatal foal Quarter Horses.
Uncertainty Quantification for Additive Manufacturing Process Improvement: Recent Advances
Authors: Mahadevan Sankaran , Nath Paromita , Hu Zhen
Published: December 2021

This paper reviews the state of the art in applying uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods to additive manufacturing (AM). Physics-based as well as data-driven models are increasingly being developed and refined in order to support process optimization and control objectives in AM, in particular to maximize the quality and minimize the variability of the AM product. However, before using these models for decision-making, a fundamental question that needs to be answered is to what degree the models can be trusted, and consider the various uncertainty sources that affect their prediction. UQ in AM is not trivial because of the complex multiphysics, multiscale phenomena in the AM process. This article reviews the literature on UQ methodologies focusing on model uncertainty, discusses the corresponding activities of calibration, verification, and validation, and examines their applications reported in the AM literature. The extension of current UQ methodologies to additive manufacturing needs to address multiphysics, multiscale interactions, increasing presence of data-driven models, high cost of manufacturing, and complexity of measurements. The activities that need to be undertaken in order to implement verification, calibration, and validation for AM are discussed. Literature on using the results of UQ activities toward AM process optimization and control (thus supporting maximization of quality and minimization of variability) is also reviewed. Future research needs both in terms of UQ and decision-making in AM are outlined.
Fundamental study on the selective etching of SiGe and Si in ClF3 gas for nanosheet gate-all-around transistor manufacturing: A first principle study
Authors: Tsai Yu-Hao , Wang Mingmei
Published: December 2021

We conduct an atomic-level investigation on how a Ge atom impacts on the SiGe etching rate. The plasmaless dry-etching process in ClF3 gas is considered in this study. We perform the density functional theory to model the elementary reactions of an etchant molecule fluorinating Si/Ge atom. Based on the modeling results, the activation energy (Ea) of a single-F-transfer breaking Ge-Ge bond is 0.4 eV lower than the Si-Si bond, with the Ea of Si-Ge cases fall between. The overall smaller Ea suggests that the relatively active fluorination reaction enabled by a Ge atom facilitates the selective etching. In addition, a unique double-F-transfer from ClF3 is identified, which simultaneously fluorinates two adjacent Ge atoms. The reaction enhances selective etching with the drastically lowered Ea and the more negative total energy change. We modeled different locations of a Ge atom with respect to the fluorinated Si atom. The results show that the effect of the Ge atom on lowering the Si fluorination Ea has a long-range nature. The calculation predicts a reduced Ea even when the Ge atom is on the second-nearest-neighbor site to the fluorinated Si atom. The finding implies that the Ge-induced Ea reduction can continuously assist the selective etching with a Ge-percentage as low as 6 at. %. Details of the surface chemical reactions and byproduct formation are discussed in the report.
Why Do Antibiotics Exist?
Authors: Spagnolo Fabrizio , Trujillo Monica , Dennehy John J.
Published: December 2021

In the struggle with antibiotic resistance, we are losing. There is now a serious threat of moving into a postantibiotic world.
A New Class of Cell Wall-Recycling
l
,
d
-Carboxypeptidase Determines β-Lactam Susceptibility and Morphogenesis in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Dai Yunfei , Pinedo Victor , Tang Amy Y. , Cava Felipe , Geisinger Edward
Published: December 2021

To grow efficiently, resist antibiotics, and control the immune response, bacteria recycle parts of their cell wall. A key step in the typical recycling pathway is the reuse of cell wall peptides by an enzyme known as an
l
,
d
-carboxypeptidase (LDC).
Acinetobacter baumannii
, an “urgent-threat” pathogen causing drug-resistant sepsis in hospitals, was previously thought to lack this enzymatic activity due to absence of a known LDC homolog.
Fecal Streptococcus Alteration Is Associated with Gastric Cancer Occurrence and Liver Metastasis
Authors: Yu Dandan , Yang Jinru , Jin Min , Zhou Bin , Shi Linli , Zhao Lei , Zhang Jieying , Lin Zhenyu , Ren Jinghua , Liu Li , Zhang Tao , Liu Hongli
Published: December 2021

The gut microbiome plays an indispensable role in the occurrence and progression of various diseases. However, its ability to predict gastric cancer (GC) and liver metastasis (GCLM) has not been fully identified.
The Retropepsin-Type Protease APRc as a Novel Ig-Binding Protein and Moonlighting Immune Evasion Factor ofRickettsia
Authors: Curto Pedro , Barro Andreia , Almeida Carla , Vieira-Pires Ricardo S. , Simões Isaura
Published: December 2021

ManyRickettsiaorganisms are pathogenic to humans, causing severe infections, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediterranean spotted fever. However, immune evasion mechanisms and pathogenicity determinants in rickettsiae are far from being resolved.
The Cellular and Viral circRNAome Induced by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Authors: Yao Wenxia , Pan Jinghui , Liu Zhaoyu , Dong Zhijie , Liang Min , Xia Shu , Xiao Yao , Cai Xiaodan , Peng Tao , Zhou Xinke , Cai Hua
Published: December 2021

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) demonstrate substantial roles in cell-virus interactions. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly identified class of ncRNAs that have gained increased attention recently.
Plasma Membrane Anchoring and Gag:Gag Multimerization on Viral RNA Are Critical Properties of HIV-1 Gag Required To Mediate Efficient Genome Packaging
Authors: Duchon Alice , Santos Steven , Chen Jianbo , Brown Matthew , Nikolaitchik Olga A. , Tai Sheldon , Chao Jeffrey A. , Freed Eric O. , Pathak Vinay K. , Hu Wei-Shau
Published: December 2021

To generate infectious virions, HIV-1 must package its full-length RNA as the genome during particle assembly. HIV-1 Gag:RNA interactions mediate genome packaging, but the mechanism remains unclear.
Adapting Macroecology to Microbiology: Using Occupancy Modeling To Assess Functional Profiles across Metagenomes
Authors: Hilts Angus S. , Hunjan Manjot S. , Hug Laura A.
Published: December 2021

Metagenomics is maturing rapidly as a field but is hampered by a lack of available statistical tools. A primary area of uncertainty is around missing genes or functions from a metagenomic data set.
Cross-Kingdom Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Conserved Genetic Modules in Response to Cadmium Stress
Authors: Chen Miaomiao , Wang Likun , Zheng Xin , Cohen Michael , Li Xiaofang
Published: December 2021

Research is establishing a systems biology view of biological response to Cd stress. It is meaningful to explore whether there is regulatory isomorphy among distantly related organisms.
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and the early history of three-dimensional paleontological art
Authors: Peck Robert M. , Rowland Stephen M.
Published: December 2021

Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807–1894) was a British scientific illustrator and sculptor who illustrated many British exploration reports in the 1830s and 1840s. In the early 1850s, Hawkins was commissioned to create life-size, concrete sculptures of Iguanodon, ichthyosaurs, and other extinct animals for a permanent exhibition in south London. They were the first large sculptures of extinct vertebrates ever made, and they are still on view today.

Inspired by his success in England, Hawkins launched a lecture tour and working trip to North America in 1868. Soon after his arrival, he was commissioned to “undertake the resuscitation of a group of animals of the former periods of the American continent” for public display in New York City. Had it been built, this would have been the first paleontological museum in the world.

As part of this ambitious project, with the assistance of the American paleontologist Joseph Leidy, Hawkins cast the bones of a recently discovered Hadrosaurus specimen and used them to construct the first articulated dinosaur skeleton ever put on display in a museum. It was unveiled at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in November 1868.

Hawkins worked tirelessly on New York’s proposed “Paleozoic Museum” for two years, until his funding was cut by William “Boss” Tweed, the corrupt leader of the Tammany Hall political machine, who grew hostile to the project and abolished the Central Park Commission that had made it possible. When Hawkins defiantly continued to work, without funding, Tweed dispatched a gang of thugs to break into his studio and smash all of the sculptures and molds. Although Hawkins would create several copies of his articulated Hadrosaurus skeleton for other institutions, the prospect of building a grand museum of paleontology in America was forever destroyed by Tweed’s actions.
Joint earthquake ruptures of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults, California, USA
Authors: Rodriguez Padilla Alba M. , Oskin Michael E. , Rockwell Thomas K. , Delusina Irina , Singleton Drake M.
Published: December 2021

Large, multi-fault earthquakes increase the threat of strong ground shaking and reshape the probability of future events across a system of faults. Fault junctions act as conditional barriers, or earthquake gates, that stop most earthquakes but permit junction-spanning events when stress conditions are favorable. Constraining the physical conditions that favor multi-fault earthquakes requires information on the frequency of isolated events versus events that activate faults through the junction. Measuring this frequency is challenging because dating uncertainties limit correlation of paleoseismic events at different faults, requiring a direct approach to measuring rupture through an earthquake gate. We show through documentation and finite-element modeling of secondary fault slip that co-rupture of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults (California, USA) through the Cajon Pass earthquake gate occurred at least three times in the past 2000 yr, most recently in the historic 1812 CE earthquake. Our models show that gate-breaching events taper steeply and halt abruptly as they transfer slip between faults. Comparison to independent chronologies shows that 20%–23% of earthquakes on the San Andreas and the San Jacinto faults are co-ruptures through Cajon Pass.
Supplemental Material: Are fluid inclusions in gypsum reliable paleoenvironmental indicators? An assessment of the evidence from the Messinian evaporites
Authors: Bigi Diego , al. et
Published: December 2021

Additional information on the samples (Sr data, geographic and geological settings), a detailed description of the methods, and all microthermometric data obtained in this work.
Supplemental Material: Portable optically stimulated luminescence age map of a paleoseismic exposure
Authors: DuRoss Christopher B. , al. et
Published: December 2021

Geochronological methods, data, and modeling results for samples extracted from the Deep Creek exposure of the Wasatch fault zone, Utah.
Post-COVID-19 vaccination occurrence of splenic infarction due to arterial thrombosis
Authors: Anderson Alexander , Seddon Mary , Shahzad Khalid , Lunevicius Raimundas
Published: December 2021

We present the case of an 82-year-old woman admitted to a regional emergency general surgery centre with severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness within 21 days of receiving the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca). Following further investigation through CT imaging, a thrombus was discovered in the patient’s splenic artery resulting in a large splenic infarct. Splenic infarcts are rare and it is important to note the association between time of administration of the first dose of vaccine and the occurrence of thromboembolic complications in the noted absence of other risk factors for this condition. We hypothesise a link between Vaxzevria vaccine injection and a rare form of thromboembolic complication: thrombosis of the splenic artery.
Aesthetic root coverage with acellular dermal matrix allograft: a shield for gingival recession
Authors: Sachdeva Shivani , Saluja Harish , Mani Amit , Mukhi Pravin
Published: December 2021

Awareness about root coverage is increasing in day-to-day clinical practice. Patients are more motivated and concerned about aesthetics nowadays along with the issues of sensitivity of teeth. The conventional flap designs and techniques including lateral sliding flaps, coronally advanced flap, subepithelial connective tissue grafts and free gingival grafts are being adopted for root coverage. The newer material including resorbable and non-resorbable guided tissue regenerative membranes, amniotic membrane, platelet-rich fibrin membrane, enamel matrix derivative protein, xenogenic collagen matrix graft along with the soft tissue substitute like acellular dermal matrix allograft are also being used for recession coverage. The present case report describes a case of 22-year-old female patient with the chief complaint of denudation of gums exposing the root surface over the mandibular left central incisor. The soft tissue substitute acellular dermal matrix allograft was used for root coverage as the patient was not willing to procure an autogenous palatal graft. The results were satisfactory with complete root coverage.
Sterile tuberculous granuloma in a patient with XDR-TB treated with bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid
Authors: Howell Pauline , Upton Caryn , Mvuna Nokuphiwa , Olugbosi Morounfolu
Published: December 2021

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to pose a threat to the global eradication of TB. Regimens for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB are lengthy and poorly tolerated, often with unsuccessful outcomes. The TB Alliance Nix-TB trial investigated the safety and efficacy of a 26-week regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid (BPaL) in participants with XDR-TB, multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB treatment failure or intolerance. In this trial 9 out of 10 participants were cured. We describe a trial participant with XDR-TB who presented with new-onset seizures soon after BPaL treatment completion. Imaging showed a right temporal ring-enhancing lesion, and a sterile tuberculous granuloma was confirmed after a diagnostic, excisional biopsy. Learning points include management of a participant with a tuberculoma after BPaL completion, efficacy of new medications for central nervous system (CNS) TB and a review of their CNS penetration. This is the first case of pretomanid use in CNS TB.
Complete splenic infarction in association with COVID-19
Authors: Prentice Graham , Wilson Stephen , Coupland Alexander , Bicknell Stephen
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 predominantly affects the respiratory system. As a novel disease, understanding of its management and complications continues to grow. Herein, we present a case of almost complete splenic infarction in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia. This case highlights the need to maintain diagnostic vigilance whilst investigating secondary complications of COVID-19. It is also important to stress the high incidence of thromboembolic complications in patients with COVID-19, which may occur anywhere in the vasculature.
Multifactorial falls prevention programme compared with usual care in UK care homes for older people: multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation
Authors: Logan Pip A , Horne Jane C , Gladman John R F , Gordon Adam L , Sach Tracey , Clark Allan , Robinson Katie , Armstrong Sarah , Stirling Sue , Leighton Paul , Darby Janet , Allen Fran , Irvine Lisa , Wilson Ed C F , Fox Chris , Conroy Simon , Mountain Gail , McCartney Karen , Godfrey Maureen , Sims Erika
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of a multifactorial fall prevention programme compared with usual care in long term care homes.

Design

Multicentre, parallel, cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Long term care homes in the UK, registered to care for older people or those with dementia.

Participants

1657 consenting residents and 84 care homes. 39 were randomised to the intervention group and 45 were randomised to usual care.

Interventions

Guide to Action for Care Homes (GtACH): a multifactorial fall prevention programme or usual care.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome measure was fall rate at 91-180 days after randomisation. The economic evaluation measured health related quality of life using quality adjusted life years (QALYs) derived from the five domain five level version of the EuroQoL index (EQ-5D-5L) or proxy version (EQ-5D-5L-P) and the Dementia Quality of Life utility measure (DEMQOL-U), which were self-completed by competent residents and by a care home staff member proxy (DEMQOL-P-U) for all residents (in case the ability to complete changed during the study) until 12 months after randomisation. Secondary outcome measures were falls at 1-90, 181-270, and 271-360 days after randomisation, Barthel index score, and the Physical Activity Measure-Residential Care Homes (PAM-RC) score at 91, 180, 270, and 360 days after randomisation.

Results

Mean age of residents was 85 years. 32% were men. GtACH training was delivered to 1051/1480 staff (71%). Primary outcome data were available for 630 participants in the GtACH group and 712 in the usual care group. The unadjusted incidence rate ratio for falls between 91 and 180 days was 0.57 (95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.71, P<0.001) in favour of the GtACH programme (GtACH: six falls/1000 residents
v
usual care: 10 falls/1000). Barthel activities of daily living indices and PAM-RC scores were similar between groups at all time points. The incremental cost was £108 (95% confidence interval −£271.06 to 487.58), incremental QALYs gained for EQ-5D-5L-P was 0.024 (95% confidence interval 0.004 to 0.044) and for DEMQOL-P-U was 0.005 (−0.019 to 0.03). The incremental costs per EQ-5D-5L-P and DEMQOL-P-U based QALY were £4544 and £20 889, respectively.

Conclusions

The GtACH programme was associated with a reduction in fall rate and cost effectiveness, without a decrease in activity or increase in dependency.

Trial registration

ISRCTN34353836
.
Perception and knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer prevention among fully vaccinated female university students in the era of HPV vaccination: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chew Kah Teik , Kampan Nirmala , Shafiee Mohamad Nasir
Published: December 2021

Objective

To assess the perception and knowledge of cervical cancer prevention among fully vaccinated female university students in the era of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.

Design

Cross-sectional using a validated questionnaire.

Setting

Face-to-face interview at a public university in Malaysia.

Participants

384 fully vaccinated female students were included in the study.

Results

The total knowledge score in the questionnaire was 18 and was ranked according to score level into three groups: poor (score ≤5), moderate (score 6–10) and good (score ≥11). Mean score for knowledge of cervical cancer prevention was 8.24 (SD ±3.85), with 170 respondents (44.3%) scoring moderate knowledge level. The mean score for knowledge of HPV infection and its association with cervical cancer was 4.56±2.47, while the mean score for knowledge of HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention was 3.68 (SD ±1.98). A total of 186 (48.4%) respondents perceived that regular Pap smear was unnecessary after HPV vaccination. Respondents’ perceived seriousness and susceptibility of HPV infection correlated well with knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Two main reasons for their acceptance of HPV vaccine were self-health awareness and free vaccination.

Conclusion

The knowledge of HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention was average among vaccinated university students. Many of them had poor knowledge about Pap smear and did not consider regular Pap smear as an important cervical cancer screening tool following HPV vaccination. There is still a need for continued health education to improve the perception and knowledge about HPV infection and cervical cancer prevention among young adults in the community.
Reliability and validity of the Healthy Fitness Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (HFMS V1.0) in Chinese people
Authors: Qiu Heng , Huang Chen , Liu Qian , Jiang Lijie , Xue Yunlian , Wu Weixuan , Huang Zhuomin , Xu Jun
Published: December 2021

Objective

To investigate the reliability and validity of Healthy Fitness Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (HFMS V1.0) for different population cohorts in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China and to provide evidence and tools for further evaluation of healthy fitness of Chinese population and related factors.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Urban neighbourhood and Medical University.

Participants

Elderly people (n=393; mean age 68.27±6.38 years; 53.18% male), university students (n=390; mean age 19.29±1.29 years; 38.21% male) and urban residents (n=393; mean age 32.23±9.41 years; 44.78% male).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were evaluated the reliability and validity of HFMS V1.0 by internal consistency evaluation, split-half reliability, test–retest reliability, convergent and discriminant construct validity, and factor analysis.

Results

The Cronbach’s α coefficients for HFMS V1.0 were all greater than 0.85 for overall scale of total samples and three individual groups, and the split-half reliability and intragroup correlation coefficients were both greater than 0.70 (p<0.01). The correlation of each item, dimension and subscales ranged from 0.52 to 0.91 (p< 0.01). A total of 10 factors were screened by exploratory factor analysis with the cumulative contribution rate of 61.40%, basically consistent with the theoretical structure of scale. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit: CMIN/DF=3.45, root mean square error of approximation=0.05, GFI=0.91, AGFI=0.90, IFI=0.90, comparative fit index=0.90.

Conclusion

HFMS V1.0 showed acceptable reliability and validity in the test of healthy fitness of general population in Guangzhou. This scale could be a reliable measurement tool for evaluation of healthy fitness and potential risk factors.
Statin prescription in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and risk of exacerbations: a retrospective cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors: Smith Margaret C , Ashdown Helen Frances , Sheppard James Peter , Butler Christopher C , Bankhead Clare
Published: December 2021

Objective

Observational studies have suggested a beneficial effect of taking statins on frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. However, clinical trials of statins in people with COPD did not confirm those results. This study aimed to investigate this association using a methodological approach, which reduces the biases associated with some previous observational study designs.

Design

Retrospective cohort study comparing new-users of statins with non-users.

Setting

General practices in England contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in 2007–2017, with linkage to data on Hospital Episode Statistics inpatient episodes.

Participants

48 124 people with COPD, aged over 40 years, who had not been prescribed statin in the previous year.

Exposure

Participants became new-users of statins at their first prescription for a statin during follow-up. They were then assumed to remain statin users. Statin users were compared with non-users.

Outcomes

Primary outcomes were COPD exacerbation, or severe exacerbation requiring hospitalisation. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause (for comparison with other studies) and urinary tract infection (negative-control). Maximum follow-up was 3 years. Adjusted HR were calculated using time-dependent Cox regression. The Andersen-Gill model was used for recurrent exacerbations. Covariates included demographic variables, variables related to COPD severity, cardiovascular comorbidities as time-dependent variables, and other comorbidities at baseline.

Results

7266 participants became new-users of statins over an average 2.5 years of follow-up. In total, 30 961 people developed an exacerbation, 8110 severe exacerbation, 3650 urinary tract infection and 5355 died. Adjusted HR (95% CI) in statin users compared with non-users were first exacerbation 1.01 (0.96–1.06), severe exacerbation 0.92 (0.84–0.99), number of exacerbations 1.00 (0.97–1.04), urinary tract infection 1.10 (0.98–1.23) and death 0.63 (0.57–0.70).

Conclusions

In this study of health records from a Primary Care database, statin use in people with COPD was not associated with a lower risk of COPD exacerbation.
Association between medication adherence and non-drug healthcare utilisation and costs: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study among US women age 65 and older
Authors: Ma Siyu , Shepard Donald S , Ritter Grant A , Martell Robert E , Thomas Cindy
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To explore the association between hormone therapy (HT) adherence and non-drug healthcare utilisation and healthcare costs among patients with breast cancer.

Design

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

The US Medicare beneficiaries in the SEER-Medicare-linked database

Participants

Women aged ≥ 65 with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer from 2007 through mid-2009 in the USA.

Interventions

We examined the relationship between HT and adherence and outcomes of our interests.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Our study cohort’s HT adherence, non-drug healthcare utilisation and healthcare costs for the first year of HT and each year, thereafter, for a total of 5 years.

Results

6045 eligible Medicare beneficiaries that met our selection criteria were included. We found that patients who were adherent to HT were associated with lower healthcare utilisation of all kinds (inpatient (0.35 vs 0.43, p<0.001), length of study during hospitalisation (4.19 vs 4.89, p<0.01), physician office visits (25.16 vs 26.17, p<0.001)), and significant reductions in many types of medical costs and neutral total healthcare costs despite the increased pharmacy costs. Half of the total medical cost reduction came from savings in hospitalisation costs.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the added cost of HT adherence was all but offset by the reduced cost for other medical care. Our study provides evidence on the potential success of implementing value-based insurance design (VBID) plans among patients with breast cancer to improve their long-term oral medication adherence. Policymakers should consider adherence improvement strategies such as VBID plans, given that the costs likely will not surpass the total savings.
Microbiological and clinical evaluation of ultrasonic debridement with/without erythritol air polishing during supportive periodontal therapy in arches with full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Yang Jingwen , Jia Pingyi , Yue Zhaoguo , Liu Jianzhang , Liu Zhongning , Tang Lin , Liu Qi , Hou Jianxia
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Implant-supported prostheses are often successfully used in edentulous patients. However, the incidences of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis increase over time. The accumulation of pathogenic bacteria adjacent to prostheses can induce peri-implant disease. Plaque removal is recommended to prevent and manage peri-implant diseases. The purpose of this study is to compare the plaque removal efficacy of ultrasonic debridement with/without erythritol air-polishing powder around implants and bridges in patients with full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses as well as the effects of these two methods on the rates of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, and the submucosal microbiota composition over 5 years in patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy.

Methods and analysis

We plan to enrol 10 edentulous (maxilla and/or mandible) patients seeking full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses. The study will use a split-mouth model in which contralateral quadrants are randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1: one contralateral quadrant of full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses will undergo ultrasonic debridement combined with erythritol air-polishing powder. Group 2: a separate contralateral quadrant of full-arch fixed implant-supported prostheses will undergo ultrasonic debridement. The 5-year trial will involve a total of 10 re-examinations per participant. The mucosal conditions around the implants will be recorded at 6-month intervals after restoration. Peri-implant submucosal plaque will be collected at each re-examination, and the bacterial flora will be analysed by 16s ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. X-ray examinations will be conducted at 12-month intervals to evaluate the marginal bone level around implants.

Ethics and dissemination

This prospective single-centre, randomised controlled trial (PKUSSIRB-202054045) has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Stomatology School and Hospital of Peking University. Data will be registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Additionally, we will disseminate the results via publication in scientific journals.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR-2000032431.
Early-term birth and its association with universal two-child policy: a national cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Zhang Jie , Williams Gareth J , Wang Guanghua , Chen Jingjing , Zhang Mengyu , Du Wenchong , Zhu Jing , Zhang Jun , Hua Jing
Published: December 2021

Objective

To describe the epidemiology of early-term birth (ETB) at the national level in China, and explore the association and mediating factors between ETB and policy between universal two-child policy and ETB, so as to explain the potential reason for such a relationship and provide evidence for future ETB interventions in the era of the new birth control policy.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

The cross-sectional study used data from China Labour and Delivery Survey between 2015 and 2016. A total of 75 132 survey data collected from 89 hospitals in 25 provinces were included in the analysis. We further explored the association between the universal two-child policy and ETB.

Results

The weighted incidence of ETB was 30.1 per 100 all births (95% CI 30.06% to 30.14%) or 29.88 per 100 live births (95% CI 29.97% to 30.05%) between 2015 and 2016 in China. There was an association between the universal two-child policy and ETB (relative risk, RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.23), which was not mediated by maternal age (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.22), previous uterine scars (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.22), parity (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.24) and other measured conditions (each p<0.05). Stratified analysis showed that the association between universal two-child policy and ETB were the strongest in multiparous young women or women without previous uterine scars (each p<0.05), and disappeared in all women of advanced maternal age (each p>0.05).

Conclusion

The incidence of ETB was high in China when compared with most of reported countries, and there might be a link between two-child policy and ETB. Obstetric practice such as selective induced labour and caesarean section should be revised with ETB risks in mind, when ETB is more likely to happen under the universal two-child policy. Preventing ETB should not be neglected in multiparous young women or those without previous uterine scars under the new policy.
BiallelicANGPT2loss-of-function causes severe early-onset non-immune hydrops fetalis
Authors: Smeland Marie F. , Brouillard Pascal , Prescott Trine , Boon Laurence M , Hvingel Bodil , Nordbakken Cecilie V , Nystad Mona , Holla Øystein L. , Vikkula Miikka
Published: December 2021

Background

Hydrops fetalis, a pathological fluid accumulation in two or more body compartments, is aetiologically heterogeneous. We investigated a consanguineous family with recurrent pregnancy loss due to severe early-onset non-immune hydrops fetalis.

Methods and results

Whole exome sequencing in four fetuses with hydrops fetalis revealed that they were homozygous for the angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) variant Chr8 (GRCh37/Hg19): 6385085T>C, NM_001147.2:c.557A>G. The substitution introduces a cryptic, exonic splice site predicted to result in loss of 10 nucleotides with subsequent shift in reading frame, leading to a premature stop codon. RNA analysis in the heterozygous parents demonstrated loss of detectable mutant allele, indicative of loss-of-function via nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Serum ANGPT2 levels were reduced in the parents. In a pregnancy with a healthy, heterozygous child, transiently increased fetal nuchal translucency was noted.

Conclusion

Pathogenic heterozygousANGPT2missense variants were recently shown to cause autosomal dominant primary lymphoedema.ANGPT2is a ligand of the TIE1-TIE2 (tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor-like domains 1 and 2) pathway. It is critical to the formation and remodelling of blood and lymphatic vessels and is involved in vessel maintenance. ANGPT2 knockout mice die from generalised lymphatic dysfunction. We show here that a homozygous pathogenic variant causes loss-of-function and results in severe early-onset hydrops fetalis. This is the first report of an autosomal recessiveANGPT2-related disorder in humans.
First-order formalism for thick branes in $$f(T,{\mathscr {T}})$$ gravity
Authors: Moreira A. R. P. , Lima F. C. E. , Silva J. E. G. , Almeida C. A. S.
Published: December 2021

In this paper we study the thick brane scenario constructed in the recently proposed $$f(T,{\mathscr {T}})$$

f
(
T
,
T
)

theories of gravity, where T is called the torsion scalar and $${\mathscr {T}}$$
T
is the trace of the energy–momentum tensor. We use the first-order formalism to find analytical solutions for models that include a scalar field as a source. In particular, we describe two interesting case in which in the first we obtain a double-kink solution, which generates a splitting in the brane. In the second case, proper management of a kink solution obtained generates a splitting in the brane intensified by the torsion parameter, evinced by the energy density components satisfying the weak and strong energy conditions. In addition, we investigate the behavior of the gravitational perturbations in this scenario. The parameters that control the torsion and the trace of the energy–momentum tensor tend to shift the massive modes to the core of the brane, keeping a gapless non-localizable and stable tower of massive modes and producing more localized massless modes.
Effects of static and dynamic femtosecond laser modifications of Ti/Zr multilayer thin films
Authors: Petrović Suzana , Tsibidis G. D. , Kovačević A. , Božinović N. , Peruško D. , Mimidis A. , Manousaki A. , Stratakis E.
Published: December 2021

The experimental study of the static and dynamic femtosecond laser ablation of the multilayer 15x(Ti/Zr)/Si system is reported. The layer-by-layer selective laser ablation mechanism was studied by analysis of the surface morphology and elemental composition in static single pulse irradiation in a range of pulse energy from 10 to 17$$\upmu $$μJ. The selective ablations, as number of concentric circles in modified spots are increased with the pulse energy. The boundary between the circles was shown a change in the depth, comparable to the thickness of the individual layers. Changes in the elemental composition at the edges are associated with the removal of the layer by layer. The dynamic multipulse irradiation was observed via the production of lines with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) at different laser parameters (scan velocities and laser polarization). The spatial periodicity of the formed LIPSS depends on changes in the effective number of pulses and laser polarization, as well as the nature of the material. For better interpretation of the experimental results, simulations have been conducted to explore the thermal response of the multiple layered structure 15x(Ti/Zr) after static single pulse irradiation.

Graphic Abstract
Rényi and von Neumann entropies of thermal state in Generalized Uncertainty Principle-corrected harmonic oscillator
Authors: Kim MuSeong , Hwang Mi-Ra , Jung Eylee , Park DaeKil
Published: December 2021

The Rényi and von Neumann entropies of thermal state in generalized uncertainty principle (GUP)-corrected single harmonic oscillator system are explicitly computed within the first order of GUP parameter [Formula: see text]. While the von Neumann entropy with [Formula: see text] exhibits a monotonically increasing behavior in external temperature, the nonzero GUP parameter makes a decreasing behavior at large temperature region. As a result, for the case of [Formula: see text], the von Neumann entropy is maximized at the finite temperature [Formula: see text]. The Rényi entropy [Formula: see text] with nonzero [Formula: see text] also exhibits similar behavior at large temperature region. In this region, the Rényi entropy exhibits a decreasing behavior with increasing temperature. The decreasing rate becomes larger when the order of the Rényi entropy is smaller.
The investigation of Carnot engine in the presence of deformed formalism
Authors: Karimvand H. Naseri , Lari B. , Hassanabadi H. , Chung W. S.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, after introducing a kind of [Formula: see text]-deformation in quantum mechanics, first [Formula: see text]-deformed form of Schrödinger equation for a single particle in a box is derived. Then, the energy eigenvalues and wave function in Schrödinger equation are studied. Also, we discuss the Carnot cycle by using of the energy eigenvalues. We obtain the thermodynamic properties such as force, heat transferred, work done and efficiency in the cycle. Finally, all results have satisfied what we had expected before.
On the competition of anti-lift-up mechanism and Reynolds stress mechanism in Spiral Poiseuille flow
Authors: Chen Cheng , He Cheng-Jun , Gao Li-Hua
Published: December 2021

This work is devoted to the studies of optimal perturbation and its transient growth characteristics in Spiral Poiseuille flow (SPF). The Poiseuille number [Formula: see text], representing the dimensionless axial pressure gradient, is varied from 0 to 20,000. The results show that for the axisymmetric case, with the increase of axial shear, the peaks of the amplitudes of azimuthal and radial velocities are both shifted towards the inner cylinder, and a second peak appears near the outer cylinder for both velocity components. Viewing the time evolution of azimuthal shear contribution [Formula: see text] and axial shear contribution [Formula: see text] to the kinetic energy growth of the optimal perturbation, while [Formula: see text] is large enough ([Formula: see text], 20,000), the Reynolds stress mechanism in the meridional plane [Formula: see text] is dominant for the transient growth behavior in SPF relative to anti-lift-up mechanism, which is dominant in the absence of axial flow for co-rotating Taylor–Couette flow with wide gap. For the oblique mode with azimuthal wave number [Formula: see text], which becomes the optimal azimuthal mode over a wide range of azimuthal wave number ([Formula: see text]–10) when [Formula: see text] is large enough, the peaks of the amplitudes of azimuthal and radial velocities are both shifted towards the outer cylinder, opposite to the axisymmetric case.
Accumulation and diffusion of charges in kinetics of polymer electric breakdown
Authors: Aliyeva I. K. , Veliyev T. M.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the distribution in electric durability [Formula: see text] of polymers in constant electric field at low temperatures has been measured. The results of continuous experiments and experiments of field discontinuous effect on polymer samples being remained not disruptive after exposure for time equal to mean value [Formula: see text] have been compared. During the interval, we have varied the time interval, temperature [Formula: see text] and electric intensity of opposite sign [Formula: see text] according to which various degree of regeneration of polymer electric strength properties has been observed. By the degree of regeneration, relaxation time [Formula: see text] of the accumulated charges in polymers causing breakdown has been found. It is established that the process of charge diffusion, which accumulation leads to breakdown has a thermofluctuation behavior and the activation energy of given process depends on the counter field intensity magnitude.
Effective field theory of the Higgs mode in a two-dimensional dilute Bose gas
Authors: Yang Ji-Chong , Shi Yu
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we investigate the spectral function of the Higgs mode in a two-dimensional Bose gas by using the effective field theory in the zero-temperature limit. Our approach explains the experimental feature that the peak of the spectral function is a soft continuum rather than a sharp peak, broadens and vanishes in the superfluid phase, which cannot be explained in terms of the [Formula: see text] model. We also find that the scalar susceptibility is the same as the longitudinal susceptibility.
Bifurcation Analysis of an Energy Harvesting System with Fractional Order Damping Driven by Colored Noise
Authors: Yang Yong-Ge , Sun Ya-Hui , Xu Wei
Published: December 2021

Vibration energy harvester, which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy so as to achieve self-powered micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), has received extensive attention. In order to improve the efficiency of vibration energy harvesters, many approaches, including the use of advanced materials and stochastic loading, have been adopted. As the viscoelastic property of advanced materials can be well described by fractional calculus, it is necessary to further discuss the dynamical behavior of the fractional-order vibration energy harvester. In this paper, the stochastic P-bifurcation of a fractional-order vibration energy harvester subjected to colored noise is investigated. Variable transformation is utilized to obtain the approximate equivalent system. Probability density function for the amplitude of the system response is derived via the stochastic averaging method. Numerical results are presented to verify the proposed method. Critical conditions for stochastic P-bifurcation are provided according to the change of the peak number for the probability density function. Then bifurcation diagrams in the parameter planes are analyzed. The influences of parameters in the system on the mean harvested power are discussed. It is found that the mean harvested power increases with the enhancement of the noise intensity, while it decreases with the increase of the fractional order and the correlation time.