bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Mobile Health Units in Conflict Settings - A Scoping Review
Authors: Awad Sarah , Sheerazi Sarika , von Schreeb Johan
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Over the last decade, a global increase in the number of armed conflicts has been recorded and Mobile Health Units (MHU) are deployed to provide aid to people with limited access to health care. However, the service modality has received criticism related to irregular service provision and logistical difficulties. Although MHUs may be of value in conflicts and insecure environments, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding their usefulness to address dominating health needs.

Objectives:

To elucidate the use of MHUs in conflict settings in adherence to WHO Classification for Emergency Medical Teams.

Method/Description:

A scoping review was conducted following the framework by Arksey and O’Malley. Twenty-six bibliographic databases and websites were searched for white and grey literature published between 2000-2021 reporting on the use of MHUs in conflict settings.

Results/Outcomes:

Fourteen publications were included in the final analysis, highlighting seven themes: site of operation and mobility, key characteristics, services, benchmark indicators, staff, community engagement, and safety and security. The mobile approach was reported to increase access to health services. Challenges described primarily concerned access and availability, limited coverage, and logistics. Several studies highlighted the need for more sustainable interventions and a more clearly defined exit strategy.

Conclusion:

There is a paucity of publications reporting on the use of MHUs in conflict settings and inconsistencies in the reported data. The literature adhered to previous research and WHO guidelines to some extent. Further research is needed evaluating the interventions and outcomes of MHUs in conflict settings.
Optimization of Patient Flow through EMT Facilities Applying Dynamic Behavioral Simulation Models
Authors: Bartolucci Andrea , Bernardini Gabriele B. , D’Orazio Marco , Quagliarini Enrico
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

The effectiveness of care provided by EMTs is directly linked to the ability to ensure a controlled, coordinated, and safe patient flow through the post, especially in case of MCIs or disease outbreak. Currently, there are neither frameworks nor tools to analyze such flow that is often visualized on paper using arrows or simply connected to the care pathway, thus missing the impact of people’s interactions with the facility.

Objectives:

This study aims at exploring the use of a behavioral-design-based approach in simulating patient flow through EMTs.1

Method/Description:

It provides a dynamic behavioral simulation model to assess the interactions between patients, staff members, and the related dynamic movements/interactions with the health care facility, each of them having specific features also in relation to the emergency condition faced.2 Data used in this study consist of literature-based information concerning patient characteristics (eg, age), the variation of expected medical conditions and severity in relation to the time and typology of the emergency,3 layouts of existing facilities (eg, UKMed T1), and experimental activities (eg, exercise).

Results/Outcomes:

The analysis of the results will allow to simulate different scenarios and improve the design of health care facilities layouts in order to prevent overcrowding situation, avoid disease spreading, estimate the optimal number of staff for each task, and investigate interactions between patients and staff.

Conclusion:

Optimizing patient flow encompasses quickly, efficiently, and effectively movement meeting the demand for care by moving patients through care pathways while improving coordination of care, patient safety, and health outcomes.
The Role of an EMT1 in a Different Mission, the Coronavirus Pandemic
Authors: Hernández Sara I. Montero , Hernández-Tejedor Alberto , Villar David Caballos
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

During COVID-19 pandemic, the EMS of the city of Madrid decided to make available its human and material resources to the Government. Despite its vast experience in disaster care and management, this mission was challenging. EMT1 SAMUR-PC was deployed, fully trained and self-sufficient inside and outside the city.

Objectives:

To review EMT1 activities during coronavirus disease, checking its adaptation to unusual circumstances.

Method/Description:

Description of settings where our teams (physicians, nurses, emergency care assistants, and logisticians) were deployed.

Results/Outcomes:

As elderly people were highly affected, EMT1 offered assessment and advise at nursing homes in Madrid and other cities. Personalized visits were planned and performed addressing personnel and material needs and processed to authorities in daily meetings.

Logisticians advised about how to control clean and dirty zones, isolating positive cases. Meanwhile, doctors and nurses wearing PPE provided health care and referred severe patients. Quality of care in elderly was measured, improvement areas were notified directly to heads.

We were deployed to some hospitals in the country, reinforcing medical and nursing staff at wards, observation areas, and intensive care units. It was also necessary to transfer critical patients between hospitals.

Decontamination lines were set up by CBN experts. Rapid response teams were ready to provide care to colleagues.

Conclusion:

During COVID-19 pandemic, Spanish EMT1 was able to adapt its normal way of working at different settings, supporting and re-establishing essential health services. It required flexibility, taking advantage of existing structures, and focusing on vulnerable populations. Its role was important for saving lives, preserving health, and alleviating suffering.
Spinal Immobilization in Disasters: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Cuthbertson Joseph , Weimstein Eric
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

A roundtable was hosted by the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) World Congress to explore prehospital spinal immobilization (SI). The participants queried prehospital SI in resource-scarce environments (RSE), whether the disaster or humanitarian setting was applicable to the then recently released ILCOR statement, and identified challenges in maintaining appropriate application of SI in the prehospital RSE. A specific call was requested as an output of the roundtable for WADEM to provide guidance in this area of practice.

Objectives:

This systematic review informed a subsequent Delphi study to develop prehospital guidelines for SI in disaster and humanitarian settings.

Method/Description:

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. The review included English language papers published from January 2000 through July 2019.

Results/Outcomes:

The search strategy yielded a total of 1,029 references. After exclusion of duplicates, 919 titles were identified for further screening. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 14 references underwent evaluation. The reviewed articles comprised six types of studies and represented research from institutions in ten different countries.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of high-level evidence on the utility or effect of spinal motion restriction or immobilization on patient outcomes in disasters. There is a need for robust research to determine the clinical benefit of spinal restriction or immobilization in disasters and across disaster types. This systematic review informed a subsequent Delphi study to develop recommendations and guidance for practice related to prehospital SI in disaster and humanitarian settings.
From 2 Hours to 2 Seconds: Using the Red Cross Red Crescent Health Information System (RCHIS) to Complete the Emergency Medical Teams - Minimum Data Set Reporting
Authors: Clarke Lauren , Holl Felix , Raffort Thomas , Serres Elvire , Archer Laura , Saaristo Panu
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Standardization of data collection and reporting within EMTs is challenging. In past deployments, the Red Cross Red Crescent Type 1 and Type 2 facilities have collected data by hand using paper-based form and Excel spreadsheets. This process can be laborious, time-consuming, and often inaccurate.

Objectives:

To combat this issue with reporting, RCHIS (Red Cross Red Crescent Health Information System) has been designed to ensure that reporting is accurate and also very easy to complete, increasing compliance with the EMT-MDS reporting.

Method/Description:

RCHIS is both an electronic medical record (EMR) and health information system (HIS). RCHIS has been designed to produce pre-made reports including the MDS in seconds, extracting data from the patient records. Through significant testing and pilot deployments in a domestic Type 1 fixed clinic, the rapid production of reports such as the MDS has increased compliance and accuracy with reporting.

Results/Outcomes:

Overall, the utilization of an electronic medical system for increasing compliance and accuracy with the MDS has been hugely successful. An in-depth analysis of the export data was done to confirm the 100% accuracy within the MDS report.

Conclusion:

The utilization of RCHIS within a domestic ERU (equivalent to an EMT Type 1 or Type 2) has been hugely successful. The next steps will involve the deployment of RCHIS within an international deployment.
Introduction of Japan Disaster Medical Assistant Team as a National Emergency Medical Team
Authors: Koido Yuichi , Kondo Hisayoshi , Wakai Akinori , Ono Tatsuo , Toyokuni Yoshiki
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Japan is a country with many disasters. Japan’s disaster medical system has improved significantly over the past 30 years by gaining experience in various disasters. Japan is implementing one of the unique disaster medical teams raised from experience and needs.

Objectives:

Introducing the Japan Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) system and discussing how the domestic disaster medical team should be.

Method/Description:

Referring to the actual response to domestic disasters and the development of disaster medical teams in Japan.

Results/Outcomes:

The National Emergency Medical Teams (National-EMT), Japan DMAT, was established in 2005. Currently, DMAT is 1,754 teams and over 15,862 members were registered. The team usually consists of five to six personnel, including two doctors, two nurses, and two logisticians. Each team carries standardized equipment. Japan DMAT will not set up a field hospital in the disaster area. Japan DMAT will bring a team to the Disaster Base Hospitals (DBHs) and start supporting the affected hospital operation first. Then, if there are other affected patients within DBH’s medical jurisdiction, then the team will mobile and support each hospital and clinic for further medical assistance.

Conclusion:

Having National-EMT in your own country is necessary for disaster-prone countries. Still, it is also required to consider what type of EMT needs to be established, referring already existing emergency medical system of your country.
The Induction Team Member Training Course Fitted to the Scope and Background of the Participants: A Case Study of the African Setting
Authors: Martinez Lazaro , Baldé Thierno , Mbasha Jerry-Jonas , Oyugi Boniface
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

The Induction Team Member (ITM) course is compulsory training for teams setting up an EMT. It encapsulates elements around safety and security, protocols and procedures, and familiarization with equipment and should happen in countries that have undergone the awareness session.1 Tailoring the ITM course to fit different countries settings and professional backgrounds is imperative, particularly in Africa, because countries have heterogeneous characteristics.

Objectives:

To describe the changes to the ITM Course curriculum adapted to the different professional backgrounds and technical scopes of potential team members (TM) and African countries.

Method/Description:

This is an After-Action Review (AAR) of in-depth feedback (n = 10) received from participants in the five trainings that have been conducted at the WHO African Regional EMT Training Center (TC) since 2021 to date. All analyses were done thematically.

Results/Outcomes:

The training experiences in the region have shown the need for three imperative modifications to the ITM course based on the type of EMTs and the background of the participants. These include ITM courses focusing on health workers (Doctors and Nurses); team leads, security, and logistics officials; and support staff that can work during deployment and pre-deployment tasks. An interactive ten steps to building an operational national EMTs initiative developed to fit the context has been shown as significant.

Conclusion:

Conceptualizing ITM course training for EMTs based on teams’ backgrounds, cultural circumstances, and political will is imperative for enhancing the capacity of regional countries’ EMTs. A pragmatic modification to the training to fit the context that captures the countries’ needs is key.
Team Well-Being and Challenges of Deploying an EMT Halfway Around the World
Authors: Marmont Lizzi , Vadi Ramnath , Maddah Diana
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

UK-Med, as part of our UK EMT project, deployed a team to respond to the overwhelming surge in COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea in late 2021. Such deployment was associated with several risks, including natural hazards; earthquakes; societal crisis; tribal fighting and civil unrest; and health risks such as extreme temperatures and poor sanitation infrastructure presented further hazards to personnel safety.

Objectives:

To share lessons learned on enhancing the well-being of an EMT in a challenging context such as PNG.

Method/Description:

Satisfaction survey, bilateral meetings, in addition to weekly meetings with the headquarters held throughout the deployment.

Results/Outcomes:

All deployed team members felt exhausted early in the deployment, including an early lack of clarity on the deployment location which eventually ended up being Mount Hagen, a very risky area only accessible by plane. Utilizing emotional and social support, diversity acceptance within the team, and coherent coordination between team members the deployment delivered upon all agreed objectives. Local staff were integrated and a successful workplan was well-received and evaluated as making a real difference to the staff and patients, with a request for an extension of activities received from the Provincial Health Authority.

Conclusion:

Considerations for staff well-being need to counter-balance the need for strict security protocols. Solid feedback mechanisms should be designed and implemented at an early stage of deployments to avoid any adverse effect on the team’s well-being. Deployment of an assessment team should strengthen coordination, ensuring required needs are being responded to and operational planning is location/context specific.
A Policy Analysis of the Deployment of International EMT in the WHO African Region during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Oyugi Boniface , Kamara Rashidatu Fouad , Tene Larissa , Martinez Lazaro , Mbasha Jerry-Jonas , Baldé Thierno
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Africa, has increased the need for EMTs for surge management, clinical care, and capacity-building support for establishing national EMTs.

Objectives:

To analyze the implementation of EMTs deployments in the AFRO Region during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method/Description:

This is a retrospective policy analysis done from the perspective of the EMT policy implementor using Walt and Gilson’s policy triangle1 (capturing processes, the actors, the context, and the content). Data were collected through document reviews, key informant interviews, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and focus-group discussions. Analysis was done through a priori framework analysis.

Results/Outcomes:

Overall, 22 countries benefited from international EMT deployments since the onset of COVID-19, with deployment periods varying between six to 24 weeks. Development partners, governments, and local authorities supported deployments. Some deployments were hampered by inadequate knowledge of EMTs processes, bureaucratic and administrative barriers, and slow mobilization of resources. Other challenges were the lack of critical care equipment and teams facing resistance due to cultural differences. Some teams only worked in big cities rather than local regions with low capacity and high morbidities from COVID-19. Collaboration between international and national teams resulted in enhanced capacity building, optimistic volunteerism and resilience, and provision of clinical care in constraint settings to save lives.

Conclusion:

The deployments were critical in saving lives in under-resourced settings despite the challenges. COVID-19 has provided an impetus to strengthen national public health response by providing training opportunities, twinning or exchange programs, building health infrastructure, and prepositioning supplies and equipment to ensure national reliance and sustainability.
I’M HERE: IMproving HEalth Communication in REfugee Camps
Authors: Bartolucci Andrea , Ahmed Bayes , Hossain Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Health care delivery in refugee camps is challenging; the setting of a refugee camp is a unique context that presents barriers and one of the main problems is the fragmentation and difficulty in communication and information sharing among HCWs deployed in a camp, especially in contexts where communication networks are not always available and accessible.

Objectives:

The overall objective of this project is to facilitate health communications among health care workers in a refugee camp where the communication network is not always available or accessible.

Method/Description:

A mesh network communication system will be deployed, tested, and evaluated to assess and evaluate the usage, feasibility, and reliability of the system, testing the capacity of the message to reach different parts of the camp.

Results/Outcomes:

During the project’s initial phase, local health care workers (HCWs) will support the project in identifying instances when communication is challenging and will create injects/mock scenarios to use in the following phase. In the second phase, the application of the new technology is evaluated; experimental research will compare the “as is” of the system and the “to be” solution using the new technology measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) (eg, time needed to send/receive information).

Conclusion:

The use of an available, affordable, and usable mobile and internet connectivity system in a context where communication networks are not always available or accessible will facilitate the communication among agencies, improve the coordination of health services, and improve the quality and timing of information sharing.
Integrating Management and Operations of Rapid Response Teams and Emergency Medical Teams Globally
Authors: Shamout Mays , Relan Pryanka , Fitzgerald Bridget , Greiner Ashley , Salio Flavio
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic strain health systems and emergency response mechanisms. Identifying critical points during the response cycle where emergency workforce and operational capacity can be improved can help break the protracted nature of responses. Global health emergency workforce, or health emergency and alert response teams such as multidisciplinary Public Health Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), play critical roles in the response to public health emergencies.

Objectives:

The project aims to explore and understand how countries manage and operationalize their RRT and EMT programs. With anecdotal evidence of countries integrating the two historically disparate groups, we propose to examine how countries are jointly or separately addressing legal frameworks and policies; management practices; reporting processes and protocols; training; as well as program operations and standards.

Method/Description:

Through existing global partnerships and networks, a convenience sample of national focal points responsible for the management of their RRT and EMT program are sent an online survey followed by participating in a one-on-one interview. Quantitative and qualitative analyses will be conducted.

Results/Outcomes:

Twelve countries representing all six World Health Organization regions with both RRT and EMT programs have been selected for engagement.

Conclusion:

Factors contributing to or against countries integration of RRT and EMT programs will be identified. Areas of divergence or synergy of plans and standard operating procedures will be mapped. Recommendations for strengthening global health emergency alert and response teams will be generated.
The Impact of Moral Distress on Clinicians Treating Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Concurrent Armenian War in 2020: Implications for WHO – EMT Teams
Authors: Hartunyunyan Hakob , Hertelendy Attila J. , Hart Alexander , Benham Todd , Muekhaelyan Artak , Ciottone Greg
Published: November 2022

Background/Introduction:

Moral distress is a well-described phenomenon in medical providers. It has been linked to mental health deterioration, decreased job satisfaction, and early retirement. No study has been done on the level of moral distress associated with treating patients in simultaneous disasters.

Objectives:

1.

To learn what is known about the experience of moral distress in frontline health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the concurrent conflict in Armenia during 2020.

2.

To determine how WHO EMTs can support their frontline staff experiencing moral distress.

Method/Description:

A survey was designed to test the moral distress felt by Armenian EMS providers who had cared for both COVID-19 and war casualty patients. This was adapted from the Moral Distress Scale Revised (MDS-R).

Results/Outcomes:

Of the questions asked, respondents most often responded that they were disturbed by: “Continuing to participate in care for a hopelessly ill or injured person who is being sustained on a ventilator when no one will make a decision to withdraw support” (Mean 2.68/Median 3/Mode 4); and “Initiated extensive life-saving actions when I think they only prolong death” (2.47/3/3), which caused the next most distress to subjects.

Conclusion:

It is expected that some health care workers in Armenia are likely facing on-going consequences of the moral distress they faced during this unprecedented period of global pandemic and war. Clinics and teams who are more likely to encounter potentially morally distressing events, such as disaster medicine workers, need to address their moral distress mitigation plan by identifying strategies across the continuum of disaster management.
Contextual legal pedagogy: still radical?
Authors: Armstrong Kenneth A. , Del Mar Maksymilian , Sheldon Sally
Published: November 2022

This is an introduction to the Special Issue on ‘Contextual Legal Pedagogy’. It introduces the themes of the Special Issue and offers summaries of the papers in the collection. The introduction considers whether, and how, contextual legal pedagogy can still be radical, and how addressing pedagogical issues also necessarily involves addressing vital theoretical issues.
Weakness of lower limb muscle in symptomatic peripheral artery disease with media sclerosis detected by ultrasound shear wave elastography
Authors: Piepenburg Sven M. , Maslarska Mariya , Freund Gabriele , Kaier Klaus , von zur Mühlen Constantin , Westermann Dirk , Hehrlein Christoph
Published: November 2022

Summary: Background: Symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is difficult to non-invasively diagnose in the presence of calcified, media sclerotic arteries that are incompressible by blood pressure cuffs. Standard ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements in these PAD patients are very often not helpful. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a modern ultrasound technique to detect peripheral muscle stiffness changes i.e. muscle weakness during exercise. In a pilot study, we examined whether SWE could be a reproducible tool for diagnosing ischemic loss of muscle stiffness in patients with PAD and concomitant arterial media sclerosis. Patients and methods: N=13 consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease and media sclerosis were enrolled in the pilot study. All 13 patients were symptomatic in different stages of their PAD due to hemodynamically relevant arterial stenosis or occlusions of limb arteries as confirmed by oscillography, color-coded duplex sonography or angiography. Results: ABI measurements were invalid in all 13 patients. Mean SWE measurements of medial gastrocnemius muscles showed a significant transient muscle stiffness loss (weakness) at maximum exercise (active dorsal flexion of the foot, 103.4±25.9 kPa on the asymptomatic vs. 62.5±21.9 kPa on the symptomatic limb (p<0.001). Conclusions: SWE can reproducibly detect peripheral muscle weakness during exercise in the symptomatic leg of media sclerotic PAD patients. SWE of lower limb muscles may help to identify symptomatic PAD in patients presenting with invalid ABI measurements and unclear vascular status.
Reduced Marine Molybdenum Inventory Related to Enhanced Organic Carbon Burial and an Expansion of Reducing Environments in the Toarcian (Early Jurassic) Oceans
Authors: Them T. R. , Owens J. D. , Marroquín S. M. , Caruthers A. H. , Alexandre J. P. Trabucho , Gill B. C.
Published: November 2022

Many metals present in trace concentrations in the oceans are sensitive to reduction and oxidation reactions (termed redox‐sensitive trace metals or RSTMs) and can therefore be affected during intervals of expanded oceanic anoxia and euxinia (anoxic and sulfidic waters). These RSTMs are important micronutrients; and their availability plays a significant role in controlling metabolic pathways and therefore ecosystem structure. Understanding the links to ecosystem restructuring and potential collapse is important since past deoxygenation events are associated with biological turnover. The Early Jurassic Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T‐OAE) was one such event. We focus on the RSTM molybdenum (Mo), important in the nitrogen cycle, from a basin transect where local redox conditions permit the tracking of the marine reservoir of Mo. Mo enrichments start to decline in the Pliensbachian, continue to decline in the early Toarcian, drop precipitously during the T‐OAE interval, and remain low afterward before a protracted increase toward the initial values seen in the Pliensbachian. From a compilation of available data, we estimate that ∼41 Gt of Mo was buried during the T‐OAE using a range of possible flux estimates. Given the known correlations of Mo with total organic carbon, the estimated burial of organic carbon during the T‐OAE interval was ∼244,000 Gt. This requires a minimum of 3.25% of the ocean floor to be covered by euxinic waters. Finally, we suggest that the intervals traditionally classified as OAEs are associated with the greatest extent of euxinia.
Validation of Food Compass with a healthy diet, cardiometabolic health, and mortality among U.S. adults, 1999–2018
Authors: O’Hearn Meghan , Erndt-Marino Joshua , Gerber Suzannah , Lauren Brianna N. , Economos Christina , Wong John B. , Blumberg Jeffrey B. , Mozaffarian Dariush
Published: November 2022

The Food Compass is a nutrient profiling system (NPS) to characterize the healthfulness of diverse foods, beverages and meals. In a nationally representative cohort of 47,999 U.S. adults, we validated a person’s individual Food Compass Score (i.FCS), ranging from 1 (least healthful) to 100 (most healthful) based on cumulative scores of items consumed, against: (a) the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015; (b) clinical risk factors and health conditions; and (c) all-cause mortality. Nationally, the mean (SD) of i.FCS was 35.5 (10.9). i.FCS correlated highly with HEI-2015 (R = 0.81). After multivariable-adjustment, each one SD (10.9 point) higher i.FCS associated with more favorable BMI (−0.60 kg/m2 [−0.70,−0.51]), systolic blood pressure (−0.69 mmHg [−0.91,−0.48]), diastolic blood pressure (−0.49 mmHg [−0.66,−0.32]), LDL-C (−2.01 mg/dl [−2.63,−1.40]), HDL-C (1.65 mg/d [1.44,1.85]), HbA1c (−0.02% [−0.03,−0.01]), and fasting plasma glucose (−0.44 mg/dL [−0.74,−0.15]); lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.85 [0.82,0.88]), CVD (0.92 [0.88,0.96]), cancer (0.95 [0.91,0.99]), and lung disease (0.92 [0.88,0.96]); and higher prevalence of optimal cardiometabolic health (1.24 [1.16,1.32]). i.FCS also associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR = 0.93 [0.89,0.96]). Findings were similar by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and BMI. These findings support validity of Food Compass as a tool to guide public health and private sector strategies to identify and encourage healthier eating.
Renewal of planktonic foraminifera diversity after the Cretaceous Paleogene mass extinction by benthic colonizers
Authors: Morard Raphaël , Hassenrück Christiane , Greco Mattia , Fernandez-Guerra Antonio , Rigaud Sylvain , Douady Christophe J. , Kucera Michal
Published: November 2022

The biotic crisis following the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact resulted in a dramatic renewal of pelagic biodiversity. Considering the severe and immediate effect of the asteroid impact on the pelagic environment, it is remarkable that some of the most affected pelagic groups, like the planktonic foraminifera, survived at all. Here we queried a surface ocean metabarcoding dataset to show that calcareous benthic foraminifera of the clade Globothalamea are able to disperse actively in the plankton, and we show using molecular clock phylogeny that the modern planktonic clades originated from different benthic ancestors that colonized the plankton after the end-Cretaceous crisis. We conclude that the diversity of planktonic foraminifera has been the result of a constant leakage of benthic foraminifera diversity into the plankton, continuously refueling the planktonic niche, and challenge the classical interpretation of the fossil record that suggests that Mesozoic planktonic foraminifera gave rise to the modern communities.
Surface faulting earthquake clustering controlled by fault and shear-zone interactions
Authors: Mildon Zoë K. , Roberts Gerald P. , Faure Walker Joanna P. , Beck Joakim , Papanikolaou Ioannis , Michetti Alessandro M. , Toda Shinji , Iezzi Francesco , Campbell Lucy , McCaffrey Kenneth J. W. , Shanks Richard , Sgambato Claudia , Robertson Jennifer , Meschis Marco , Vittori Eutizio
Published: November 2022

Surface faulting earthquakes are known to cluster in time from historical and palaeoseismic studies, but the mechanism(s) responsible for clustering, such as fault interaction, strain-storage, and evolving dynamic topography, are poorly quantified, and hence not well understood. We present a quantified replication of observed earthquake clustering in central Italy. Six active normal faults are studied using36Cl cosmogenic dating, revealing out-of-phase periods of high or low surface slip-rate on neighboring structures that we interpret as earthquake clusters and anticlusters. Our calculations link stress transfer caused by slip averaged over clusters and anti-clusters on coupled fault/shear-zone structures to viscous flow laws. We show that (1) differential stress fluctuates during fault/shear-zone interactions, and (2) these fluctuations are of sufficient magnitude to produce changes in strain-rate on viscous shear zones that explain slip-rate changes on their overlying brittle faults. These results suggest that fault/shear-zone interactions are a plausible explanation for clustering, opening the path towards process-led seismic hazard assessments.
Biodegradation of highly crystallized poly(ethylene terephthalate) through cell surface codisplay of bacterial PETase and hydrophobin
Authors: Chen Zhuozhi , Duan Rongdi , Xiao Yunjie , Wei Yi , Zhang Hanxiao , Sun Xinzhao , Wang Shen , Cheng Yingying , Wang Xue , Tong Shanwei , Yao Yunxiao , Zhu Cheng , Yang Haitao , Wang Yanyan , Wang Zefang
Published: November 2022

The process of recycling poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) remains a major challenge due to the enzymatic degradation of high-crystallinity PET (hcPET). Recently, a bacterial PET-degrading enzyme, PETase, was found to have the ability to degrade the hcPET, but with low enzymatic activity. Here we present an engineered whole-cell biocatalyst to simulate both the adsorption and degradation steps in the enzymatic degradation process of PETase to achieve the efficient degradation of hcPET. Our data shows that the adhesive unit hydrophobin and degradation unit PETase are functionally displayed on the surface of yeast cells. The turnover rate of the whole-cell biocatalyst toward hcPET (crystallinity of 45%) dramatically increases approximately 328.8-fold compared with that of purified PETase at 30 °C. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations explain how the enhanced adhesion can promote the enzymatic degradation of PET. This study demonstrates engineering the whole-cell catalyst is an efficient strategy for biodegradation of PET.
Temporal and spatial impact of lockdown during COVID-19 on air quality index in Haryana, India
Authors: Manjeet  , Airon Anurag , Kumar Rahul , Saifi Ruksar
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the evaluation of air quality in different districts of Haryana. Geo-spatial techniques were used to estimate gaseous and particulate pollutant's spatial and temporal variation during complete nationwide lockdown period and same month of previous year 2019 (March to May). Data of six fixed pollutants were collected from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In this context, the data of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NOx, SO2, and CO) were analyzed for 2019 and 2020. The Spatio-temporal distribution of the Air Quality Index (AQI) clearly depicts difference in lockdown and unlock period. The result was showed that the air quality was very poor to satisfactory in 2019 and an improvement was observed from satisfactory to good in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown. On the basis of result, it will be concluded that automobile and industry are the major contributor in increase the pollutant concentration.
Assessing spermatozoal small ribonucleic acids and their relationship to blastocyst development in idiopathic infertile males
Authors: Hamilton Matthew , Russell Stewart , Menezes Karen , Moskovtsev Sergey I. , Librach Clifford
Published: November 2022

Clinical testing strategies for diagnosing male factor infertility are limited. A deeper analysis of spermatozoa-derived factors could potentially diagnose some cases of ‘unexplained infertility’. Spermatozoa carry a rich and dynamic profile of small RNAs, which have demonstrated potential developmental importance and association with fertility status. We used next-generation sequencing to correlate sperm small RNA profiles of normozoospermic males (n = 54) with differing blastocyst development rates, when using young donor oocytes. While ribosomal RNAs accounted for the highest number of sequencing reads, transfer RNA fragments of tRNAGly/GCCand tRNAVal-CACwere the most abundant sequences across all sperm samples. A total of 324 small RNAs were differentially expressed between samples with high (n = 18) and low (n = 14) blastocyst rates (p-adj < 0.05). Ninety three miRNAs were differentially expressed between these groups (p-adj < 0.05). Differentially expressed transfer RNA fragments included: 5'-tRF-Asp-GTC; 5'-tRF-Phe-GAA; and 3'-tRF-Ser-GCA. Differentially expressed miRNAs included: let-7f-2-5p; miR-4755-3p; and miR-92a-3p. This study provides the foundation on which to validate a clinical panel of fertility-related sperm small RNAs, as well as to pursue potential mechanisms through which they alter blastocyst development.
A butterfly shaped Eu4(OH)2 cluster-based luminescent metal–organic framework with Lewis basic triazole sites demonstrating turn off sensing in the presence of organic amines
Authors: Wang Jie-Ru , Fu Jin , Zhang Yu-Juan , Liang Jia-Chen , Zhou Rui-Sha , Gong Si-Min , Song Jiang-Feng
Published: November 2022

According to hard and soft acid base theory, a novel 3D butterfly shaped Eu4(OH)2 cluster-based metal organic framework with lewis basic triazole sites is successfully obtained and shows sensitive luminescence quenching responses to organic amines.
Enhancement in the water resistance and thermal stability of Na3HTiF8:Mn4+ by co-doping with organic amine cations
Authors: Deng Daishu , Lei Jun , Li Yuelan , Wang Lin , Wang Tianman , Wen Huizhong , Liao Sen , Huang Yingheng
Published: November 2022

Organic amine ions change the structural rigidity and improve the thermal stability and water resistance of phosphors.
Component analysis and anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects of Rosa sterilis juice
Authors: Wang Liqun , Li Yali , Xia Rui , Zheng Xinyue , Li Xingjie , Wu Shouxun , Zhang Qianyu , Li Sha , Deng Yuanle , Yao Yuqin , Ye Tinghong , Yin Wenya
Published: November 2022

High levels of flavonoids, polyphenols, and vitamin C may be the functional components of RSJ, and RSJ exerts anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects by reducing inflammation and inhibiting EMT and fibroblast differentiation through the Smad2/3 pathway.
Dietary methionine restriction improves gut microbiota composition and prevents cognitive impairment ind-galactose-induced aging mice
Authors: Xu Yuncong , Yang Yuhui , Li Bowen , Xie Yanli , Shi Yonghui , Le Guowei
Published: November 2022

Dietary methionine restriction improves gut microbiota composition and prevents cognitive impairment ind-galactose-induced aging mice.
Trapping of protein cargo molecules inside DNA origami nanocages
Authors: Scherf Merle , Scheffler Florian , Maffeo Christopher , Kemper Ulrich , Ye Jingjing , Aksimentiev Aleksei , Seidel Ralf , Reibetanz Uta
Published: November 2022

DNA nanocages are developed for the encapsulation and delivery of freely diffusing drug cargo molecules. The cargo was attached to the nanotube, and subsequently detached via toehold-mediated strand displacement after tube sealing with lids.
Controllable transformation of indoles using iodine(iii) reagent
Authors: Jian Yinxiang , Liang Peng , Li Xiaoyan , Shao Huawu , Ma Xiaofeng
Published: November 2022

An efficient and highly functional group-compatible procedure was developed for the controllable transformation of indoles by PIFA and TBAC.
Regioselective synthesis of N1-substituted-4-nitropyrazole-5-carboxylates via the cyclocondensation of ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)-3-nitro-2-oxobut-3-enoate with substituted hydrazines
Authors: Zhao Rulin , Hong Zhenqiu , Wang Bei , Kempson James , Cornelius Lyndon , Li Jianqing , Li Yi-Xin , Mathur Arvind
Published: November 2022

A simple and expeditious method for the regioselective synthesis of N1-substituted-4-nitropyrazole-5-carboxylates 2 was developed with excellent regioselectivity and good yields.
Aqueous seeded RAFT polymerization for the preparation of self-assemblies containing nucleobase analogues
Authors: Abad Miriam , Nardi Martina , Oriol Luis , Piñol Milagros , Blasco Eva
Published: November 2022

Aqueous formulations of self-assemblies containing the nucleobase analogue 2,6-diacylaminopyridine have been obtained by seeded RAFT polymerization in water with different morphologies depending on the polymerization conditions.
Selective Buchwald–Hartwig arylation ofC-amino-1,2,4-triazoles and other coordinating aminoheterocycles enabled by bulky NHC ligands and TPEDO activator
Authors: Astakhov Alexander V. , Chernenko Andrey Yu. , Kutyrev Vadim V. , Ranny Gleb S. , Minyaev Mikhail E. , Chernyshev Victor M. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: November 2022

A facile method for selective N-(hetero)arylation of coordinating 3(5)-amino-1,2,4-triazoles under Pd/NHC catalysis using TPEDO as a new efficient Pd(ii) to Pd(0) reductant has been developed.
[3 + 2] cycloaddition for the assembly of indolizine-based heterocyclic sulfonyl fluorides
Authors: Xiong Huan , Wu Jianping , Qin Hua-Li
Published: November 2022

A method for the construction of indolizine-based heterocyclic sulfonyl fluorides was developed, featuring mild conditions, high efficiency and broad substrate scope.
Ring-expansion from tellurophenes to telluropyrans: inhibition of C–Te bond cleavages in transition metal-catalyzed reactions
Authors: Liu Si , Zhou Zhanglang , Fang Jing , Wang Min , Zong Hao , Chen Weinan , Zhou Gang
Published: November 2022

Telluropyran derivatives have been facilely synthesized via a ring-expansion cyclization from the corresponding tellurophene compounds and their conjugation can be extended via various transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions.
Selective editing of a peptide skeleton via C–N bond formation at N-terminal aliphatic side chains
Authors: Han Yujie , Shi Junjie , Li Songrong , Dan Tingting , Yang Wenwen , Yang Mingyu
Published: November 2022

We have developed a visible light-promoted selective editing of a peptide skeleton via C–N bond formation at N-terminal aliphatic side chains. A proline skeleton was constructed in peptides under such transition metal free conditions.
Coordination unsaturation of vanadium nitride quantum dots boosts low-temperature aerobic oxidation of thiophenic sulfides
Authors: Yang Huawei , Bai Jiabao , Zhang Qinghua , Yang Lixia , Bai Liangjiu , Wei Donglei , Wang Wenxiang , Liang Ying , Gu Lin , Chen Hou , Guo Shaojun
Published: November 2022

Vanadium nitride quantum dots are immobilized on graphene to controllably create coordination-unsaturated edge/corner V sites for the efficient aerobic oxidation of thiophenic sulfides.
Artificial tongue based on carbon dots and a porphyrin derivative for pattern recognition of metal ions
Authors: Liu Xiaowei , Zhang Zhiwei , Yan Xuetao , Zhang Xinying , Amblard Francois , Chen Yingying , Feng Lingyan
Published: November 2022

An array-based artificial tongue consisting of C-dots, TMPyP (porphyrin derivative) and a C-dot–TMPyP complex for the discrimination of different metal ions.
Language and Communication Deficits in Chromosome 16p11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Jiménez-Romero M Salud , Fernández-Urquiza Maite , Benítez-Burraco Antonio
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

Chromosome 16p11.2 deletion syndrome (OMIM #611913) is a rare genetic condition resulting from the partial deletion of approximately 35 genes located at Chromosome 16. Affected people exhibit a variable clinical profile, featuring mild dysmorphisms, motor problems, developmental delay, mild intellectual disability (ID), socialization deficits and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits, and problems with language. Specifically, a precise characterization of the speech, language, and communication (dis)abilities of people with this condition is still pending.

Method:

We used standardized tests and samples of naturalistic speech to provide a longitudinal profile of the speech, language, and communication problems of a boy with Chromosome 16p11.2 deletion syndrome and without ID or ASD.

Results:

The proband shows impaired expressive abilities as well as problems with receptive language, dysprosody, and ASD-like communication deficits, such as impaired interactive skills, perseverative verbal behavior, overabundance of tangential responses, and lack of metapragmatic awareness and communicative use of gaze, meeting the criteria for social pragmatic communication disorder.

Conclusions:

Our results support the view that language and communication impairment should be regarded as one core symptom of Chromosome 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, even without a diagnosis of ASD or ID. Clinical implications of our results, with a focus on therapeutic interventions for children with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome and no ASD or ID, are also discussed.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21561714
Developing a Real-Time Test to Investigate Conversational Speech Understanding
Authors: Buchholz Joerg M. , Davis Chris , Beadle Julie , Kim Jeesun
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

This study aimed to develop and test a measure of real-time continuous speech understanding to be used with natural dialogues.

Method:

The measure was based on a category monitoring paradigm and employed five existing recordings of natural dialogues from which the different test categories and associated target words were derived. For each dialogue, a listener was first given a semantic category and asked to press a button as quickly as possible whenever they heard an instance of the category. We tested 63 younger adults, using five semantic categories (family, media, season, temperature, and travel) at three noise levels (in quiet, 0 dB, and −5 dB signal-to-noise ratio [SNR]). Performance was measured in terms of accuracy and response time.

Results:

The results showed clear differences between the three noise conditions regardless of the semantic category. The peak of the response distribution was highest and earliest for the quiet condition and was reduced with decreasing SNR. The responses varied across categories, reflecting differences in the complexity of a given category or the typicality of the association between target words and their category. Broad categories and/or target words that were less directly associated with their category had decreased hit rates and increased response times.

Conclusion:

The results were discussed in terms of the sensitivity (hit rate) of the performance measure, as well as whether it picked up higher level semantic, context, and discourse properties of the dialogues.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21561681
Chasing ICM cooling and AGN feedback from the macro to the meso scales in the galaxy cluster ZwCl 235
Authors: Ubertosi F. , Gitti M. , Brighenti F.
Published: November 2022

Aims. We aim to investigate the interplay between the intracluster medium (ICM) and the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in ZwCl 235, a galaxy cluster with high X-ray flux, an extended central radio galaxy, and evidence of multiphase gas at its center.

Methods. Using archival data from the Chandra telescope, the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS), the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LOTSS), and the VLBA telescope, we performed a complete study of ZwCl 235, dissecting the dynamics of the ICM, the thermodynamic state of the central gas, and the properties of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). By means of radial profiles and 2D spectral maps, we measured the temperature, entropy, and cooling time of the ICM, and we compared the morphology of the central radio galaxy with the surrounding medium.

Results. We find evidence that ZwCl 235 is a sloshing cool core cluster in which the activity of the central galaxy has excavated a pair of cavities and possibly uplifted enriched gas to an altitude of ∼30 kpc. In the cluster core, the lowest entropy ICM is preferentially found in a 20 kpc-long filament tangential to the southern radio lobe of the AGN. We argue that the observed cool (∼1.3 keV) filament is likely produced by a combination of sloshing and stimulated ICM cooling, which may be fueling the central supermassive black hole. Additionally, we determined that the X-ray emission of the BCG originates from a ∼1.4 keV plasma kernel, which extends for 5 kpc in radius and has a short cooling time (∼240 Myr), and it could represent the thermal corona of the BCG.

Conclusions. Overall, we propose that several sources (the large-scale ICM, the low entropy filament, and the ∼1.4 keV kernel) of cold material are currently feeding the central AGN, and that the ICM cooling cycle expectations are met from the macro scales (between 5−100 kpc) to the meso scales (≤5 kpc) of AGN feedback.