bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physics-based modeling of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines with exhaust throttling
Authors: Chiang Chia-Jui , Singh Anshul Kumar , Wu Jun-Wei
Published: March 2022

Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines create a more efficient power source for either stationary power generators or automotive applications. Due to the absence of direct actuation of ignition, HCCI based combustion control is quite challenging. For the purpose of control synthesis and design, a crank-angle based dynamic model of an HCCI engine with internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is proposed in this paper. The HCCI autoignition timing is controlled by the amount of internal EGR induced by the cost effective exhaust throttling strategy. The zero dimensional single zone model is developed based on conservation of mass and energy and ideal gas law. The model is comprised of five subsystems: cylinder volume, intake, and exhaust runners along with combustion and heat-transfer models. Inputs to the model include engine speed, intake temperature, fueling rate, intake, and exhaust throttle positions. Outputs of the model contain the pressure, temperature, mass and burned gas fraction in the intake, exhaust and cylinder, air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), heat release rate, combustion phasing, and the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP). The model is developed based on MATLAB/Simulink and validated against experimental data under steady-state and transient conditions at various intake temperatures, fueling levels, and exhaust throttle positions. Results demonstrate that by changing the exhaust throttle position, the pressure in the exhaust runner is regulated. As a result, the residual gas fraction is altered, leading to changes in mixture temperature and thus control of the HCCI combustion phasing. In the end, closed loop simulation is conducted with a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller applied to the crank-angle based model for regulation of combustion timing CA50 using exhaust throttle during load (fueling level) changes. In the future, this model can be utilized for control development and hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation.
Challenges Faced by Female Commercial Sex Workers in Puducherry, India: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Swathisha P. , Deb Sibnath
Published: March 2022

Sex work is considered one of the oldest professions in the world. In India, selling sex in private is legal, while all other activities related to sex work, such as pimping, brothel-keeping, are considered to be illegal. Despite their vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, the research has been less focused on the other challenges faced by sex workers. This article aims to understand the major challenges faced by female commercial sex workers (CSWs) through a qualitative study covering 15 CSWs who work in Puducherry Union Territory in South India. The data were collected by using an in-depth interview guide, and the case study method. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The article discusses in detail the challenges CSWs face in terms of economical, psychological and social spheres of their lives.
Modeling the Cluster Size Distribution of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Receptors
Authors: Güven Emine , Wester Michael J , Edwards Jeremy S , Halász Ádám M
Published: March 2022

We previously developed a method of defining receptor clusters in the membrane based on mutual distance and applied it to a set of transmission microscopy images of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. An optimal length parameter was identified, resulting in cluster identification and a procedure that assigned a geometric shape to each cluster. We showed that the observed particle distribution results were consistent with the random placement of receptors within the clusters and, to a lesser extent, the random placement of the clusters on the cell membrane. Here, we develop and validate a stochastic model of clustering, based on a hypothesis of preexisting domains that have a high affinity for receptors. The proximate objective is to clarify the mechanism behind cluster formation and to estimate the effect on signaling. Receptor-enriched domains may significantly impact signaling pathways that rely on ligand-induced dimerization of receptors. We define a simple statistical model, based on the preexisting domain hypothesis, to predict the probability distribution of cluster sizes. The process yielded sets of parameter values that can readily be used in dynamical calculations as the estimates of the quantitative characteristics of the clustering domains.
Healthy emotions and relationships with teens—a guide for parents: An intervention development study of a parent-based intervention for adolescents with depression
Authors: Reigstad Kristina M , Gunlicks-Stoessel Meredith L , Westervelt Ana , Gearity Anne R
Published: March 2022

Problems in parent-adolescent relationships are a significant risk factor for the development of depression in adolescents. This paper describes the development of a novel and innovative intervention for parents of depressed adolescents that targets attachment-related parenting behaviors, including parent responses to adolescents’ emotions (Healthy Emotions and Relationships with Teens-A Guide for Parents [HEART-P]; Reigstad, 2017 ) and provides results of an open pilot study that was conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. 15 parents/parent dyads of adolescents (age 12–18) with a depression diagnosis (14 mothers, and one father) participated in a 10-week open trial of HEART-P. Data regarding acceptability and feasibility were collected. Self-report measures of parenting, stress, family relationships, and adolescent depression were also completed by parents at baseline, week 10, and 2 months post-intervention. Parents completed the intervention with 100% adherence to the protocol and expressed high levels of satisfaction. Parents reported reductions in parenting stress, improvement in the quality of their relationship with their adolescent, and improvement in the perception of their parenting skills, with effect sizes in the medium to large range. Adolescents reported reductions in depression, with effect sizes in the small to medium range. Outcomes appear positive and promising, and the intervention was feasible to implement and acceptable to families. Conducting a full-scale randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of this newly developed intervention is warranted and timely given the public health need for improved depression treatment outcomes.
Exploring kinship and the desire to be parents in Spanish same-sex couples
Authors: Domínguez de la Rosa Laura , Montalbán Peregrín Francisco Manuel
Published: March 2022

Empirical evidence has settled controversy over the effect on children of being raised by same-sex parents. However, other issues have emerged that are related to this family model. The aim of this study was to identify discourses linked to the desire to be parents and to the construction of kinship in lesbian women and gay men parents. We analysed a documentary project (‘Familiarízate’) produced in Spain by the Spanish national Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals, and Bisexuals. We found that the narrative on the desire to be parents was mainly shaped by previously established definitions of marriage and family. We also identified a set of interesting paradoxes and tensions in some of the discourses that challenged traditional models of family and kinship.
Noise shielding of a deflected flap for comparing numerical predictions with flyover experiments
Authors: Mößner Michael , Delfs Jan W , Pott-Pollenske Michael
Published: March 2022

Comparing acoustic simulations against experimental data is an essential step in order to prove the correctness of numerical tools. This can be done with wind tunnel experiments where the environmental conditions can be adjusted very accurately. Ultimately, the tools must be capable of predicting real-word scenarios like aircraft flyovers. However, obtaining precise data from flyover experiments is challenging and often important input data is missing. The current paper shows, that by extracting the shielding effect of a small detail, a deflecting flap of an aircraft with rear-mounted engines, it is possible to reproduce flyover measurements with a boundary element method, even when only little engine information is known. The boundary element method can only take a constant mean flow into account, but by additionally evaluating results of a volume-resolved discontinuous Galerkin method more insights into the expected effects of a realistic mean flow is given.
Critical Mass Claims and Ideological Divides Among Women in the U.S. House of Representatives
Authors: Tate Katherine , Arend Mary
Published: March 2022

Critical mass theories predict that women in government will sponsor and vote for more women and feminist bills as their numbers increase. Using Voteview.com data of roll-call votes measuring left–right ideology from 1977 to 2019 this paper shows that ideological divides among women in the U.S. House of Representatives have deepened rather than veered in a liberal direction. Republican women have moved rightward over time and more conservative ones are winning elections. Belonging to a politicized generation, older Silent Generation and Boomer women are more ideologically extreme than younger women. Parties are also elevating their more ideological female members. As their numbers increase, female House members are expected to remain ideologically diverse in a polarized legislative environment. Critical mass theories are deficient in failing to place female political actors in a dynamic workplace.
Surgeon Assessment of a Novel Multi-Resolution Foveated Laparoscope
Authors: Nguyen Mike , Nabhani Jamal , Hamilton Allan , Lee Sangyoon , Katz Jeremy , Samakar Kamran , Ghlandian Allan , Hua Hong
Published: March 2022

Background

We developed a multi-resolution foveated laparoscope (MRFL) to improve situational awareness in laparoscopic surgery. We assessed surgeon objective task performance and subjective attitudes with MRFL when used for box trainer tasks and porcine surgery.

Methods

The MRFL simultaneously obtains a wide-angle view and a magnified view. The 2 images are displayed simultaneously. 6 urologists and 2 general surgeons performed box trainer and porcine surgery tasks with the MRFL and a standard laparoscope. Task time, use of display options, and subjective assessments were obtained.

Results

Subjectively, surgeons rated situational awareness, depth perception, and instrument interference as comparable between the prototype MRFL and laparoscope for trainer tasks. For porcine surgery, the MRFL was rated as having less interference than the standard laparoscope. The image quality of the MRFL was rated interior to the standard laparoscope. Participants found the different viewing modes useful for different roles and reported that they would likely use the MRFL for conventional laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Objectively, box trainer task time was comparable for 2 of 3 tasks with the remaining task shorter for the standard laparoscope. Porcine nephrectomy and oophorectomy were feasible with the prototype MRFL, although nephrectomy task time was significantly longer than traditional laparoscopy.

Conclusions

The MRFL demonstrated feasibility for performing complex surgery. Surgeons had favorable attitudes toward its features and likelihood to use the device if available. Users utilized different view types for different tasks. Longer MRFL task times were attributed to poorer image quality of the prototype.
Popliteal endarterectomy for isolated popliteal arterial occlusive disease: A retrospective review study
Authors: Vrutant Patel , Hunaiz Patel , Karl Damroth , Marissa Famularo , William Friedman , Shelby Cooper , Joseph Ayers
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aims to assess the safety and viability of popliteal endarterectomy for isolated popliteal disease.

Method

The study is a retrospective review, single-institution review (2010–2020) which assessed all popliteal endarterectomies performed at a rural 180-bed teaching hospital. Cases were identified based on the CPT code. The decision for endarterectomy was based on favorable anatomy including focal disease limited to the popliteal artery able to be approached from a posterior approach. The electronic medical record was used to capture patient characteristics, procedural information, and follow-up data.

Results

A total of 14 patients underwent popliteal endarterectomy (8 males and 6 females). The mean age was 61.9 (range of 29–78). The average follow-up period was 33.3 months. The indications for surgery were claudication in five patients, rest pain in four patients, and tissue loss in five patients. The average ABI preoperatively was 0.66 (range of 0.31–0.94). The average ABI postoperatively was 0.98 (range of 0.58–1.62), with an average change of +0.30 (range of −0.25 to +0.7). Complications included one seroma, one superficial wound infection, one early thrombosis requiring subsequent bypass, and one deep venous thrombosis. Two patients required angioplasty during follow-up for treatment of stenosis in order to maintain patency. The primary patency rate was 92.3% at discharge. At 23 months, the primary patency rate was 78% and the primary-assisted patency rate was 89%. All patients treated for claudication had resolution of symptoms. For patients treated for critical limb ischemia, all patients had resolution of rest pain and all wounds healed by 24 months.

Conclusion

In carefully selected patients, popliteal endarterectomy is a durable open surgical alternative to bypass, which preserves vein conduits with short operative times, low complication rates, and excellent long-term patency.
Media reverberations on the ‘red line’: Syria, metaphor and narrative in news media
Authors: Ferrari Federica
Published: March 2022

This study uses a CADS (Corpus Assisted Discourse Studies) approach to identify a series of axes around which degrees of persuasion can be mapped in debates about international affairs. The author investigates how US and UK news media reported Obama’s use of the term ‘red line’ to describe the potential transgression if Syrian leader Assad used chemical weapons on civilians, which Assad then did. The article examines the connotational, argumentational and rhetorical behaviour of ‘red line’ across news media in the period 4–28 September 2013. In a corpus-assisted analysis of ‘red line’, six discoursal factors emerged as persuasive axes at work: (1) leader’s image; (2) ideological positioning, even in mutual intervention; (3) persuasion consistency; (4) factual investigation; (5) factual interpretation reporting; and (6) evaluated metaphor development. These axes proactively work at the crossroads of metaphor and narrative as transformative and mutually interactive agents in discoursal change. The analysis also identified other subcategories of research potential, plus correlated lexis and concepts such as ‘weakness’ vs ‘strength’. The study’s significance is to ground reflection on the function of metaphor and narrative in steering sense-making in diplomatic practice and to highlight their pragmatic force and dynamics – here in the news genre.
High prevalence of undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Eddy Warman Nur ‘Aini , Baharuddin Hazlyna , Abdul Rahman Thuhairah Hasrah , Ismail Nurhuda , Ch’Ng Shereen Suyin , Rosman Azmillah , Abdul Ghani Rohana
Published: March 2022

Objectives:

Although the risk of diabetes mellitus has been recognised in rheumatoid arthritis, undiagnosed dysglycaemia remained under-reported. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of dysglycaemia among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, utilising the oral glucose tolerance test.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, aged ⩾30 years. Following an oral glucose tolerance test, they were divided into two: dysglycaemia and normoglycaemia. Demographic and laboratory parameters were compared using logistic regression analyses.

Results:

There were 35.5% (55/155) patients with dysglycaemia (including 25.8% impaired glucose tolerance, 7.1% diabetes mellitus and 1.9% with both impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance). Patients with dysglycaemia were heavier (65.5 ± 12.3 versus 60.7 ± 10.6 kg, p = 0.01), had wider waist (89.0 ± 12.5 versus 83.1 ± 9.6 cm, p < 0.01), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.4 ± 0.3 versus 1.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p = 0.02), higher triglyceride (1.3 (0.9–1.8) versus 0.9 (0.8–1.2) mmol/L, p < 0.01) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (361.79 (290.38–481.84) versus 315.92 (251.45–407.93) ng/mL, p = 0.01). History of smoking (odds ratio: 5.70, confidence interval: 1.27–25.7), elevated triglyceride (odds ratio: 2.87, confidence interval: 1.33–6.22) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (odds ratio: 1.003, confidence interval: 1.001–1.006) were significantly associated with dysglycaemia.

Conclusions:

Prevalence of undiagnosed dysglycaemia, particularly impaired glucose tolerance, was high in these patients with rheumatoid arthritis, using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, which was not associated with disease activity or corticosteroid use. Those with high triglyceride, history of smoking and elevated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were the two significant predictors for dysglycaemia in our patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Oral glucose tolerance test could be an important laboratory investigation for dysglycaemia in these high-risk patients.
Successful treatment of a lung abscess without surgical intervention in a cat
Authors: Nishi Reo , Ohmi Aki , Tsuboi Masaya , Yamamoto Kie , Tomiyasu Hirotaka
Published: March 2022

Case summary

An 8-year-old neutered female domestic shorthair cat was referred with complaints of lethargy, anorexia, fever, tachypnoea and a pulmonary mass on thoracic radiography. Whole-body CT revealed the presence of a nodular lesion in the right caudal lobe of the lung. Fine-needle aspiration of the lung mass yielded purulent fluid and cytology showed a large number of mildly to moderately degenerated neutrophils with numerous cocci and bacilli, leading to the diagnosis of a lung abscess. Empirical administration of doxycycline and orbifloxacin was initiated on the day of referral. Bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility tests using the collected fluid sample detected two types of bacteria, which were susceptible to both antibiotics. The clinical signs of the cat improved after the initiation of treatment, and the antibiotics were discontinued 28 days later, after the lung lesions disappeared. No recurrence of lung abscess was observed until 588 days after the discontinuation of treatment.

Relevance and novel information

Only one case of a lung abscess has been previously reported in cats. Furthermore, while surgical resection is the most common treatment for lung abscesses in the field of veterinary medicine, this is the first report of successful treatment with antibiotic administration alone.
An Experimental Test of the Effects of Digital Content Permanency on Perceived Anonymity and Indirect Effects on Cyber Bullying Intentions
Authors: Yu Muheng , Riddle Karyn
Published: March 2022

An online experiment was conducted to examine the causal effects of digital content permanency on perceived anonymity, as well as the correlations between perceived anonymity, perceived consequences of anonymous cyber bullying, normative beliefs about cyber bullying, and cyber bullying intentions. College students in the United States were introduced to a social media platform described as featuring either non-permanent or permanent content. Results showed participants in the non-permanent (vs. permanent) condition were more likely to believe they would remain anonymous. People who believed they could remain anonymous were in turn less likely to believe they would face consequences of anonymous cyber bullying. In addition, normative beliefs about cyber bullying were related to beliefs about facing retaliation and family disapproval. Overall, this study disentangles different concepts related to anonymity and provides causal evidence that a unique feature in digital spaces—content permanency—can impact perceptions of anonymity, which are in turn correlated with factors known to influence cyber bullying intentions.
Identification of Depression Among Elderly During COVID-19
Authors: Kurniawidjaja Meily , Susilowati Indri Hapsari , Erwandi Dadan , Kadir Abdul , Hasiholan Bonardo Prayogo , Al Ghiffari Rijal
Published: March 2022

Elderly population is increasing, while the world has been facing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which causes a greater adverse impact among older population in various aspects of their lives, such as depression, daily routine disruption, illness, and social and emotional issues. The purpose of this study was to assess the elderly’s depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the risk factors including socio-demographic, physical and psychosocial conditions, as well as family support. The method used was cross-sectional design, with a total sampling of 457 participants. The measuring instruments used were ADL (Activities of Daily Living Scale) and IADL (Lowton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale) for physical activities assessment, APGAR (Adaptability, Participation, Growth, Affection, Resolution) for family support function assessment, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for depression level measurement, with additional questions for psychosocial assessment. 212 elderlies (46.4%) were found with no depression tendency, 183 elderlies (40%) had a tendency of depression, and 62 elderlies (13.6%) had depression. These depression issues were significantly linked to retirement and income among elderly, dependency, fitness and health status, family and social support, and sources of funds. In the presence of depression, control measures for social, health, and psychosocial support must be implemented in order to minimize its impact among the elderly.
Adverse Events Relating to Prolonged Hard Collar Immobilisation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Brannigan Jamie F.M. , Dohle Esmee , Critchley Giles R. , Trivedi Rikin , Laing Rodney J. , Davies Benjamin M.
Published: March 2022

Study Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective

To evaluate systematically the complications of prolonged cervical immobilisation in a hard collar.

Methods

Following registration with PROSPERO, a systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE) was conducted. Two reviewers independently screened the search results according to pre-determined search criteria. Data was extracted and tabulated. Joanna Briggs Institute checklists were used for assessing the quality of included studies.

Results

The search identified 773 articles. A total of 25 studies were selected for final inclusion. The results largely comprised a mixture of case reports/series, cohort studies and reviews. The most commonly reported complications were pressure ulcers, dysphagia and increased intracranial pressure. A pressure ulcer pooled prevalence of 7% was calculated. There was insufficient data for quantitative analysis of any other complication.

Conclusions

There is significant morbidity from prolonged hard collar immobilisation, even amongst younger patients. Whilst based upon limited and low-quality evidence, these findings, combined with the low-quality evidence for the efficacy of hard collars, highlights a knowledge gap for future research.
The Age of Satisficing? Juggling Work, Education, and Competing Priorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Schudde Lauren , Castillo Sherri , Shook Lauren , Jabbar Huriya
Published: March 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues to shape individuals’ decisions about employment and postsecondary education. The authors leverage data from a longitudinal qualitative study of educational trajectories to examine how individuals responded to the shifting landscape of work and education. In the final wave of interviews with 56 individuals who started their postsecondary education at a community college 6 years ago, the authors found that most respondents described engaging in satisficing behaviors, making trade-offs to maintain their prepandemic trajectories where possible. More than a quarter of individuals, primarily those with access to fewer resources, described trajectories fraught with insecurity; they struggled to juggle competing obligations, especially in the face of an unpredictable labor market. A small portion of participants described making optimizing decisions, which were sometimes risky, to prioritize their aspirations. These descriptive patterns may partially explain mechanisms shaping recent shifts in employment and postsecondary education, including lower labor-market engagement and declines in college enrollment.
When the exception becomes the norm: A quantitative analysis of the dark side of work from home
Authors: Kossen Cara , van der Berg Alexandra M
Published: March 2022

Although many scholars and practitioners have shown that work from home (WFH) leads to positive organizational outcomes, the COVID-19 outbreak’s consequences suggest important downsides associated with an increased extent of WFH. Utilizing theories of social identity and need to belong, this study aims to investigate the potential dark sides of an increased extent of WFH. In a moderated mediation model, we test how an increased extent of WFH affects feelings of isolation and further influences the employees’ organizational identification. Our study is based on data from an online survey of 382 employees in Germany. Results suggest that a higher extent of WFH during the COVID-19 lockdown leads to more social isolation and less organizational identification. Besides, our results show that task interdependence significantly moderates the correlation between an increased extent of WFH and social isolation. In such manner, our study contributes to the literature on potential counterproductive organizational effects caused by an increased necessity of WFH. Organizations must develop countermeasures to better integrate employees who WFH more intensely into organizational routines to decrease their feelings of social isolation and increase their organizational identification.
Limited genetic diversity and high differentiation in Angelica dahurica resulted from domestication: insights to breeding and conservation
Authors: Huang Rong , Liu Yinrong , Chen Jianling , Lu Zuyu , Wang Jiajia , He Wei , Chao Zhi , Tian Enwei
Published: March 2022

Background

Angelica dahuricabelongs to the Apiaceae family, whose dry root is a famous traditional Chinese medicine named as “Bai zhi”. There are two cultivars (A. dahuricacv. ‘Hangbaizhi’ andA. dahuricacv. ‘Qibaizhi’), which have been domesticated for thousands of years. Long term artificial selection has led to great changes in root phenotypes of the two cultivars, and also decreased their adaptability to environment. We proposed hypothesis that the cultivars may have lost some of the genetic diversity found in the wild species and may be highly differentiated from the latter during the domestication process. However, few studies have been carried out on how domestication affected the genetic variation of this species. Here, we accessed the levels of genetic variation and differentiation within and between wildA. dahuricapopulations and two cultivars using 12 microsatellite markers.

Results

The results revealed that the genetic diversity of the cultivars was much lower than that of wildA. dahurica, andA. dahuricacv. ‘Qibaizhi’ had lower genetic diversity compared toA. dahuricacv. ‘Hangbaizhi’. AMOVA analysis showed significant genetic differentiation between the wild and cultivatedA. dahuricapopulations, and betweenA. dahuricacv. ‘Hangbaizhi’ andA. dahuricacv. ‘Qibaizhi’. Results from Bayesian, UPGMA, NJ and PcoA clustering analysis indicated that all 15 populations were assigned to two genetic clusters corresponding to the wild and cultivated populations. Bayesian clustering analysis further divided the cultivated populations into two sub-clusters corresponding to the two cultivars.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the domestication process is likely the major factor resulting in the loss of genetic diversity in cultivatedA. dahuricapopulations and in significant genetic differentiation from the wild populations due to founder effect and/or artificially directional selections. This large-scale analysis of population genetics could provide valuable information for genetic resources conservation and breeding programs ofAngelica dahurica.
Specific lysophosphatidylcholine and acylcarnitine related to sarcopenia and its components in older men
Authors: Meng Li , Yang Ruiyue , Wang Daguang , Wu Wenbin , Shi Jing , Shen Ji , Dang Yamin , Fan Guoqing , Shi Hong , Dong Jun , Xi Huan , Yu Pulin
Published: March 2022

Background

Metabolic profiling may provide insights into the pathogenesis and identification of sarcopenia; however, data on the metabolic basis of sarcopenia and muscle-related parameters among older adults remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to identify the associations of metabolites with sarcopenia and its components, and to explore metabolic perturbations in older men, who have a higher prevalence of sarcopenia than women.

Methods

We simultaneously measured the concentrations of amino acids, carnitine, acylcarnitines, and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in serum samples from a cross-sectional study of 246 Chinese older men, using targeted metabolomics. Sarcopenia and its components, including skeletal muscle index (SMI), 6-m gait speed, and handgrip strength were assessed according to the algorithm of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. Associations were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Sixty-five (26.4%) older men with sarcopenia and 181 (73.6%) without sarcopenia were included in the study. The level of isovalerylcarnitine (C5) was associated with the presence of sarcopenia and SMI. Regarding the overlapped metabolites for muscle parameters, among ten metabolites associated with muscle mass, six metabolites including leucine, octanoyl-L-carnitine (C8), decanoyl-L-carnitine (C10), dodecanoyl-L-carnitine (C12) and tetradecanoyl-L-carnitine (C14), and LPC18:2 were associated with handgrip strength, and three of which (C12, C14, and LPC18:2) were also associated with gait speed. Specifically, tryptophan was positively associated and glycine was negatively associated with handgrip strength, while glutamate was positively correlated with gait speed. Isoleucine, branched chain amino acids, and LPC16:0 were positively associated with SMI. Moreover, the levels of LPC 16:0,18:2 and 18:0 contributed significantly to the model discriminating between older men with and without sarcopenia, whereas there were no significant associations for other amino acids, acylcarnitines, and LPC lipids.

Conclusions

These results showed that specific and overlapped metabolites are associated with sarcopenic parameters in older men. This study highlights the potential roles of acylcarnitines and LPCs in sarcopenia and its components, which may provide valuable information regarding the pathogenesis and management of sarcopenia.
Assessment of factors associated with depression and anxiety among pwMS in Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlSaeed Safanah , Alkhawajah Nuha M. , Ayyash Mohsen , Aljarallah Salman , Alarieh Rola , Abu-Shaheen Amani
Published: March 2022

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory chronic disease that is characterized by an increased prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes in patients with MS (pwMS). The main aim of this study is to investigate the factors of depression and anxiety in pwMS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Materials and methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in KSA during the period from March to June 2020. Participants were recruited from the Neuroimmunology clinics in King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) and King Saud University medical city (KSUMC)in Riyadh City, KSA. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure depression and anxiety. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was used to measure fatigue in pwMS. A simple random sampling technique was utilized to select participants and the data were analyzed using SPSS v.24.0.

Results

A total of 529 participants participated in this study with a response rate of 53.1%. The prevalences of anxiety and depression were 35.3% and 19.7%, respectively. The findings also revealed that depression was more likely to be significantly affected by being male, low education, unemployment, physical inactivity, and fatigue but the anxiety was significantly affected by region, unemployment, short duration since last MS relapse, physical inactivity, and fatigue.

Conclusion

Anxiety and depression are not uncommon in pwMS. Given their impact on the lives of affected patients, early detection and management of these symptoms and their associated factors are crucial.
Lipid and lipoprotein concentrations during pregnancy and associations with ethnicity
Authors: Waage Christin W. , Mdala Ibrahim , Stigum Hein , Jenum Anne Karen , Birkeland Kåre I. , Shakeel Nilam , Michelsen Trond M. , Richardsen Kåre R. , Sletner Line
Published: March 2022

Background

To describe ethnic differences in concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins, and their changes, during pregnancy to postpartum.

Methods

This was a population-based cohort study conducted in primary antenatal care in Norway. The participants (n = 806) were healthy, pregnant women, 59% were ethnic minorities. Outcomes were triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, analysed from fasting blood samples drawn at gestational age (weeks) 15, 28 and 14 weeks postpartum. We performed linear regression models and linear mixed models to explore the total effect of ethnicity on the outcomes, adjusting for gestational age /week postpartum, maternal age and education. The analyses are corrected for multiple testing using the Bonferroni correction.

Results

At gestational age 15, triglyceride concentrations were lower in women of African origin (1.03 mmol/mol (95% CI: 0.90, 1.16)) and higher in women of South Asian (primarily Pakistan and Sri Lanka) origin (1.42 mmol/mol (1.35, 1.49)) and East Asian (primarily Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand) origin (1.58 mmol/mol (1.43, 1.73)) compared with Western Europeans (1.26 mmol/mol (1.20, 1.32)). Women of Asian and African origin had a smaller increase in triglycerides, LDL- and total cholesterol from gestational age 15 to 28. At gestational age 28, LDL-cholesterol levels were lowest among East Asians (3.03 mmol/mol (2.72, 3.34)) compared with Western Europeans (3.62 mmol/mol (3.50, 3.74)). Triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were lower postpartum than at gestational age 15 in all groups, but the concentration of LDL-cholesterol was higher, except in Africans. South and East Asian women had lower HDL-cholesterol and higher triglycerides postpartum, while African women had lower triglycerides than Western Europeans.

Conclusion

We found significant differences in the concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins and their changes during pregnancy and the early postpartum period related to ethnic origin.
Childbirth fear, birth-related mindset and knowledge in non-pregnant women without birth experience
Authors: Rublein Lisa , Muschalla Beate
Published: March 2022

Background

Childbirth fear and interventions during childbirth might be related to the mindset and knowledge non-pregnant women have regarding childbirth. Non-pregnant women before their first birth experience may be particularly at risk for childbirth fear.

Methods

The present study examined the expressions and associations of birth-related mindset, knowledge, and fear among 316 young, non-pregnant women without birth experience. They participated in a cross-sectional online study and completed the Childbirth Fear Prior to Pregnancy, the Mindset and Birth Questionnaire, and a birth knowledge test.

Results

Most women (44%) had a natural mindset and low fear, 29% had a medical mindset and low fear, 8% natural mindset and higher fear, and 19% medical mindset and higher fear.

There were no differences in knowledge between the four groups. Some gaps in knowledge appeared concerning signs of beginning birth, and non-medical approaches to pain relief. From women with natural mindset and low childbirth fear, a higher percentage (13%) has already watched a birth, as compared to the other groups.

Natural mindset was associated with lower childbirth fear, whereas knowledge was independent from childbirth fear. Higher knowledge was low associated with natural mindset. Mindset and childbirth fear were independent from age and education degree.

Conclusions

Gynecologists, midwifes and other health professionals may develop an awareness for birth as a natural event in their non-pregnant patients, and take birth-related fear into account in their counseling, with focus on women’s self-efficacy and non-medical approaches to pain relief.
Pan-cancer analysis identifies BIRC5 as a prognostic biomarker
Authors: Fäldt Beding Anna , Larsson Peter , Helou Khalil , Einbeigi Zakaria , Parris Toshima Z.
Published: March 2022

Background

TheBIRC5gene encodes for the Survivin protein, which is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family. Survivin is found in humans during fetal development, but generally not in adult cells thereafter. Previous studies have shown that Survivin is abundant in most cancer cells, thereby making it a promising target for anti-cancer drugs and a potential prognostic tool.

Methods

To assess genetic alterations and mutations in theBIRC5gene as well asBIRC5co-expression with other genes, genomic and transcriptomic data were downloaded via cBioPortal for approximately 9000 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) representing 33 different cancer types and 11 pan-cancer organ systems, and validated using the ICGC Data Portal and COSMIC. TCGABIRC5RNA sequencing data from 33 different cancer types and matching normal tissue samples for 16 cancer types were downloaded from Broad GDAC Firehose and validated using breast cancer microarray data from our previous work and data sets from the GENT2 web-based tool. Survival data were analyzed with multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and validated using KM plotter for breast-, ovarian-, lung- and gastric cancer.

Results

Although genetic alterations inBIRC5were not common in cancer,BIRC5expression was significantly higher in cancer tissue compared to normal tissue in the 16 different cancer types. For 14/33 cancer types, higherBIRC5expression was linked to worse overall survival (OS, 4/14 after adjusting for both age and tumor grade and 10/14 after adjusting only for age). Interestingly, higherBIRC5expression was associated with better OS in lung squamous cell carcinoma and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. HigherBIRC5expression was also linked to shorter progressive-free interval (PFI) for 14/33 cancer types (4/14 after adjusting for both age and tumor grade and 10/14 after adjusting only for age). External validation showed that highBIRC5expression was significantly associated with worse OS for breast-, lung-, and gastric cancer.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest thatBIRC5overexpression is associated with the initiation and progression of several cancer types, and thereby a promising prognostic biomarker.
Protein-based prognostic signature for predicting the survival and immunotherapeutic efficiency of endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Lai Jinzhi , Xu Tianwen , Yang Hainan
Published: March 2022

Background

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent malignancy of the female genital tract worldwide. Our study aimed to construct an effective protein prognostic signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapy responsiveness in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Methods

Protein expression data, RNA expression profile data and mutation data were obtained from The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Prognosis-related proteins in EC patients were screened by univariate Cox regression analysis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to establish the protein-based prognostic signature. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to quantify the proportions of immune cells in a mixed cell population. The Immune Cell Abundance Identifier (ImmuCellAI) and The Cancer Immunome Atlas (TCIA) web tools were used to predict the response to immunochemotherapy. The pRRophetic algorithm was used to estimate the sensitivity of chemotherapeutic and targeted agents.

Results

We constructed a prognostic signature based on 9 prognostic proteins, which could divide patients into high-risk and low-risk groups with distinct prognoses. A novel prognostic nomogram was established based on the prognostic signature and clinicopathological parameters to predict 1, 3 and 5-year overall survival for EC patients. The results obtained with Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining data from EC samples in our hospital supported the predictive ability of these proteins in EC tumors. Next, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to estimate the proportions of 22 immune cell types. The proportions of CD8 T cells, T follicular helper cells and regulatory T cells were higher in the low-risk group. Moreover, we found that the prognostic signature was positively associated with high tumor mutation burden (TMB) and high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) status in EC patients. Finally, ImmuCellAI and TCIA analyses showed that patients in the low-risk group were more inclined to respond to immunotherapy than patients in the high-risk group. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis indicated that our signature had potential predictive value for chemotherapeutics and targeted therapy.

Conclusion

Our study constructed a novel prognostic protein signature with robust predictive ability for survival and efficiency in predicting the response to immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. This protein signature represents a promising predictor of prognosis and response to cancer treatment in EC patients.
Impact of personality functioning and pathological traits on mental wellbeing of older patients with personality disorders
Authors: Veenstra Martine S. , van Dijk Silvia D. M. , Bouman Renske , van Alphen Sebastiaan P. J. Bas , van Asselt Antoinette D. I. Thea , van den Brink Rob H. S. , Voshaar Richard C. Oude
Published: March 2022

Background

Although personality disorders are common and consequential, they are largely ignored in geriatric mental healthcare. We examined the relative contributions of different aspects of personality disorders and comorbid mental disorders to the impairment of mental wellbeing in older adults.

Methods

Baseline data were used of 138 patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial on schema therapy for geriatric mental health outpatients with a full or subthreshold cluster B or C personality disorder. Personality was assessed according to both the categorical and dimensional model of DSM-5. Aspects of mental wellbeing assessed were; psychological distress, positive mental health, subjective health, and life satisfaction. The current study uses baseline data of the RCT to examine the associations between different aspects of personality pathology and mental wellbeing by multivariate regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, level of education, and number of chronic somatic illnesses.

Results

The vast majority of patients (79.0%) had one or more mental disorders in addition to personality disorder. Personality pathology was responsible for the core of the mental health burden experienced by patients, and negated the influence of co-occurring mental disorders when entered subsequently in multivariate analysis. Personality dimensions proved to be highly predictive of mental wellbeing, and this contrasted with absence of influence of personality disorder diagnosis. Although the personality functioning dimensions – and in particular Identity integration (large effect size with partial eta-squared = 0.36) – were the primary predictors of mental wellbeing, personality trait dimensions added significant predictive value to that (Disinhibition 0.25 and Negative affect 0.24).

Conclusions

Personality disorders seriously affect the mental wellbeing of patients, and this overshadows the impact of comorbid mental disorders. In particular personality functioning and pathological traits of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) of DSM-5 contribute to this impact on mental wellbeing. Alertness for and treatment of personality disorders in geriatric mental healthcare seems warranted.
Influence and interaction of resting state functional magnetic resonance and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 methylation on short-term antidepressant drug response
Authors: Tan Tingting , Xu Zhi , Gao Chenjie , Shen Tian , Li Lei , Chen Zimu , Chen Lei , Xu Min , Chen Bingwei , Liu Jiacheng , Zhang Zhijun , Yuan Yonggui
Published: March 2022

Background

Most antidepressants have been developed on the basis of the monoamine deficiency hypothesis of depression, in which neuronal serotonin (5-HT) plays a key role. 5-HT biosynthesis is regulated by the rate-limiting enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2). TPH2 methylation is correlated with antidepressant effects. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) is applied for detecting abnormal brain functional activity in patients with different antidepressant effects. We will investigate the effect of the interaction between rs-fMRI and TPH2 DNA methylation on the early antidepressant effects.

Methods

A total of 300 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 100 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled, of which 60 patients with MDD were subjected to rs-fMRI. Antidepressant responses was assessed by a 50% reduction in 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) scores at baseline and after two weeks of medication. The RESTPlus software in MATLAB was used to analyze the rs-fMRI data. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and functional connectivity (FC) were used, and the above results were used as regions of interest (ROIs) to extract the average value of brain ROIs regions in the RESTPlus software. Generalized linear model analysis was performed to analyze the association between abnormal activity found in rs-fMRI and the effect of TPH2 DNA methylation on antidepressant responses.

Results

Two hundred ninety-one patients with MDD and 100 HCs were included in the methylation statistical analysis, of which 57 patients were included in the further rs-fMRI analysis (3 patients were excluded due to excessive head movement). 57 patients were divided into the responder group (n = 36) and the non-responder group (n = 21). Rs-fMRI results showed that the ALFF of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was significantly different between the two groups. The results showed that TPH2–1–43 methylation interacted with ALFF of left IFG to affect the antidepressant responses (p = 0.041, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected p = 0.149).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that the differences in the ALFF of left IFG between the two groups and its association with TPH2 methylation affect short-term antidepressant drug responses.