bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assuring Measurement Quality in Person-Centered Care
Authors: Pendrill Leslie R. , Melin Jeanette
Published: December 2022

The quality-assurance of measurement in person-centered care (PCC) – is introduced firstly by “bookending” the topic in the overall context of the quality assurance of the care itself. At the start the chapter we ask: What are the end-user objects and constructs of PCC – for instance as specified by the profession and in legislation? At the end: What decisions about PCC objects and constructs can be made and how reliable are they? Examples and illustrations from PCC have included (i) neuropsychological cases (dealt with in more detail in the accompanying chapter by Melin and Pendrill (Person centered outcome metrology. Springer, 2022)) and (ii) patient participation. In the two central sections of the chapter, assuring the quality of measurement in PCC has obliged consideration of how traditional metrological concepts – particularly metrological references for comparability via traceability and reliable estimates of uncertainty – need to be extended. In providing an overview of the benefits of combining Rasch measurement theory and quality assurance, the unique properties of Rasch Measurement Theory are exploited to the full. Replacing the instrument at the heart of a traditional measurement system with a human being provides a truly “person-centered” model of the metrology. This in turn enables a viable procedure to establish metrological references in fields such as PCC in the form of “recipes” analogous to certified reference materials or procedures in analytical chemistry and materials science. It also informs the measurement uncertainties which determine the final decisions about PCC taken at the end of the chapter.
Generation of SU(3) sum rule for charmed baryon decay
Authors: Wang Di
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Flavor SU(3) symmetry is a powerful tool to analyze charmed baryon decays. In this work, we propose an approach to generate SU(3) sum rules for the singly and doubly charmed baryon decays without writing the Wigner-Eckhart invariants explicitly. The SU(3) sum rules are computed routinely in several master formulas. Hundreds of SU(3) sum rules are found to serve as test of the flavor symmetry in the charmed baryon decays.
Exact Basilar Artery Occlusion Location Indicates Stroke Etiology and Recanalization Success in Patients Eligible for Endovascular Stroke Treatment
Authors: Mutke Matthias A. , Potreck Arne , Schmitt Niclas , Seker Fatih , Ringleb Peter A. , Nagel Simon , Möhlenbruch Markus A. , Bendszus Martin , Weyland Charlotte S. , Jesser Jessica
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Endovascular stroke treatment (EST) is commonly performed for acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). We aimed to identify the role of the exact location of BAO in patients receiving EST regarding the stroke etiology, recanalization success and prediction of favorable clinical outcome.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 191 consecutive patients treated for BAO with EST from 01/2013 until 06/2021 in a tertiary stroke center. Groups were defined according to exact location of BAO in I: proximal third, II: middle third, III: distal third and IV: tip of the basilar artery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for BAO location comparing stroke etiology, recanalization result and favorable clinical outcome according to mRS 0–3 90 days after stroke onset.

Results

Occlusion sides types I–IV were evenly distributed (37, 36, 60 and 58 patients). Types I and II were more often associated with large artery atherosclerosis (50 vs. 10 patients, p < 0.001). Distal/tip occlusion (types III/IV) occurred mostly in cardiac embolism or embolic stroke of unknown source (89 vs. 12 in types I/II, p < 0.001). Occlusion site correlated with the underlying stroke etiology (AUC [Area under the curve] 0.89, p < 0.0001, OR [odds ratio] for embolism in type IV: 245). Recanalization rates were higher in patients with distal occlusions (type III/IV OR 3.76, CI [95% confidence interval] 1.51–9.53, p = 0.0076). The BAO site is not predicting favorable clinical outcome.

Conclusion

The exact basilar artery occlusion site in patients eligible for endovascular stroke treatment reflects the stroke etiology and is associated with differing recanalization success but does not predict favorable clinical outcome.
Economic integration and FDI location: Is there a border effect within the enlarged EU?
Authors: Serwicka Ilona Elzbieta , Jones Jonathan , Wren Colin
Published: December 2022

This paper examines how integration affects Foreign Direct Investment location in relation to a newly internalised border. It focuses on the fifth European Union enlargement that integrated the Central and Eastern European Countries. Using a spatial autoregressive model, 35,103 FDI location decisions are analysed for Europe at a NUTS-2 regional level over 1997–2010. It finds no distance effect in FDI location prior to enlargement, but after this time FDI is 37% higher in the CEEC regions that are contiguous with the newly internalised border. This is not explained by a national border effect that occurs throughout the union, nor by a drop in FDI in the border regions of the old Member States, but rather it is consistent with improved market access from the removal of the border checks. Along the internalised border it amounts to an extra 60 FDI projects and 13,600 gross jobs per annum, which is up to 2000 investments in the long-run. The results have implications for economic development and cohesion of the enlarged union.
Primary versus deferred ureteroscopy for the management of obstructive anuria secondary to ureteric urolithiasis in children: a prospective randomized study
Authors: AbdelRazek Mostafa , Fathi Atef , Mohamed Mostafa , Abdel-Kader Mohammad S.
Published: December 2022

To compare the role of primary and deferred ureteroscopy (URS) in the management of obstructive anuria secondary to ureteric urolithiasis in pediatric patients. This prospective randomized study included 120 children aged ≤ 12 years who presented with obstructive anuria secondary to ureteric urolithiasis between March 2019 and January 2021. The children were subdivided into group A, which included children who had undergone primary URS without pre-stenting, and group B, which included children who had undergone URS after ureteric stenting. All children were clinically compensated and sepsis-free. Patients with underlying urological structural abnormalities were excluded. The operative time, improvement of renal functions, stone-free rate, and complications were compared between the two groups. At the 1-month follow-up, urine analysis; kidney, ureter, and bladder radiography; and ultrasonography were performed. The patient characteristics of both groups did not show any significant difference. Primary URS had failed in ten children (16.6%) in group A. Moreover, failure of stenting was noted in six patients (11%) in group B. The mean operative time for group B was significantly lower than that for group A (p ≤ 0.001). The stone-free rate was significantly higher in group B (p ≤ 0.001). The rate of overall complications was higher in group A. Deferred URS is preferable over primary URS in the management of obstructive anuria secondary to ureteric urolithiasis”. In children because of the lower need for ureteric dilatation, higher stone- free rate, shorter procedure time, and lower complication rate.
The diagnostic significance of circulating miRNAs and metabolite profiling in early prediction of breast cancer in Egyptian women
Authors: El-Toukhy Safinaz E. , El-Daly Sherien M. , Kamel Mahmoud M. , Nabih Heba K.
Published: December 2022

Objective

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed solid malignancies in women worldwide.

Purpose

Finding new non-invasive circulating diagnostic biomarkers will facilitate the early prediction of BC and provide valuable insight into disease progression and response to therapy using a safe and more accessible approach available every inspection time. Therefore, our present study aimed to investigate expression patterns of potentially circulating biomarkers that can differentiate well between benign, malignant, and healthy subjects.

Methods

To achieve our target, quantitative analyses were performed for some circulating biomarkers which have a role in the proliferation and tumor growth, as well as, glutamic acid, and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) in blood samples of BC patients in comparison to healthy controls using qRT-PCR, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), and ELISA.

Results

Our findings showed that the two miRNAs (miRNA-145, miRNA-382) were expressed at lower levels in BC sera than healthy control group, while miRNA-21 was expressed at higher levels in BC patients than control subjects. Area under ROC curves of BC samples revealed that AUC of miRNA-145, miRNA-382, miRNA-21, and glutamic acid was evaluated to equal 0.99, 1.00, 1.00 and 1.00, respectively. Besides, there was a significantly positive correlation between miRNA-145 and miRNA-382 (r = 0.737), and a highly significant positive correlation between miRNA-21 and glutamic acid (r = 0.385).

Conclusion

Based on our results, we conclude that the detection of serum miRNA-145, -382 and -21 as a panel along with glutamic acid, and circulating HER2 concentrations could be useful as a non-invasive diagnostic profiling for early prediction of breast cancer in Egyptian patients. It can provide an insight into disease progression, discriminate between malignancy and healthy control, and overcome the use limitations (low sensitivity and specificity, repeated risky exposure, and high cost) of other detecting tools, including mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound.
New statistical deterministic method for estimating human thermal load and sensation — application in the Carpathian region
Authors: Ács Ferenc , Kristóf Erzsébet , Szabó Amanda Imola , Zsákai Annamária
Published: December 2022

A new statistical deterministic model is presented for estimating human thermal load and sensation. Human thermal load is simulated in terms of clothing resistance (rcl) and operative temperature (To). The model’s input data are wind speed, air temperature, mass of the human body, body length, sex, age, and the latitude of the site. To is statistically linked to potential evapotranspiration, whilst human thermal perception to rcl. The model has been validated in the Carpathian Mountains region for the period 1971–2000 comparing it with the original deterministic rcl model. Thermal perceptions of the representative Hungarian male and female are estimated by using individual thermal perception–rcl point clouds. Metabolic heat flux density differences between persons are less than 15 Wm−2. Human thermal perception area distribution has a topography-based configuration. The prevailing annual perception of Hungarians (for both men and women) in lowland and hilly areas is “cool,” although “neutral” may also occur; in mountains, perception is mostly “cool” or “cold,” with “very cold” being also possible. In the month of July, the perception type in mountains is “neutral” or “cool” depending on the person. In lowland areas, the methodology cannot be applied since the energy balance is not met. The model can also be applied in other heat-deficient regions if the region-specific operative temperature–potential evapotranspiration and the human-specific thermal perception-rcl statistical relationships are determined for the new region.
How does Tourette syndrome impact adolescents’ daily living? A text mining study
Authors: Atkinson-Clement Cyril , Duflot Marion , Lastennet Eloise , Patsalides Leïla , Wasserman Emma , Sartoris Therese-Marie , Tarrano Clément , Rosso Charlotte , Burbaud Pierre , Deniau Emmanuelle , Czernecki Virginie , Roze Emmanuel , Hartmann Andreas , Worbe Yulia
Published: December 2022

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disease in which clinical manifestations are essentially present during childhood and adolescence, corresponding to one of the critical development phases. However, its consequences on the daily lives of young patients have been insufficiently investigated. Here, we aimed to investigate this using a statistical text mining approach, allowing for the analysis of a large volume of free textual data. Sixty-two adolescents with Tourette syndrome participated in an interview in which they discussed their daily life (i) in school, (ii) at home, and (iii) with strangers, (iv) the aspect of Tourette syndrome which caused the most difficulty, and (v) their thoughts regarding their future as adults. Following data pre-processing, these corpora were analyzed separately using the IRAMUTEQ software through factorial correspondence analysis to identify the most commonly recurring topics of each corpus, and their relations with clinical features. The main difficulty corpus was directly related to comorbidities of Tourette syndrome. Daily life at home was correlated with executive functioning. Difficulties at school were related to a higher severity of tics. Thoughts regarding future daily life were worst for the youngest patients and were correlated with executive functioning and a higher depression score. Taken altogether, our results highlighted that social stigma was a pervasive topic among our corpora. From a clinical standpoint, tic severity was especially related to difficulties at school, while comorbidities had a high impact on social daily living and cost for managing both tics and symptoms of comorbidities.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04179435.
Equitability and welfare maximization for allocating indivisible items
Authors: Sun Ankang , Chen Bo , Doan Xuan Vinh
Published: December 2022

We study fair allocations of indivisible goods and chores in conjunction with system efficiency, measured by two social welfare functions, namely utilitarian and egalitarian welfare. To model preference, each agent is associated with a cardinal and additive valuation function. The fairness criteria we are concerned with are equitability up to any item (EQX) and equitability up to one item (EQ1). For the trade-off between fairness and efficiency, we investigate efficiency loss under these fairness constraints and establish the price of fairness. From the computational perspective, we provide a complete picture of the computational complexity of (i) deciding the existence of an EQX/EQ1 and welfare-maximizing allocation; (ii) computing a welfare maximizer among all EQX/EQ1 allocations.
Active control of flow past an elliptic cylinder using an artificial neural network trained by deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Wang Bofu , Wang Qiang , Zhou Quan , Liu Yulu
Published: December 2022

The active control of flow past an elliptical cylinder using the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) method is conducted. The axis ratio of the elliptical cylinder Γ varies from 1.2 to 2.0, and four angles of attack α = 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° are taken into consideration for a fixed Reynolds number Re = 100. The mass flow rates of two synthetic jets imposed on different positions of the cylinder θ1 and θ2 are trained to control the flow. The optimal jet placement that achieves the highest drag reduction is determined for each case. For a low axis ratio ellipse, i.e., Γ = 1.2, the controlled results at α = 0° are similar to those for a circular cylinder with control jets applied at θ1 = 90° and θ2 = 270°. It is found that either applying the jets asymmetrically or increasing the angle of attack can achieve a higher drag reduction rate, which, however, is accompanied by increased fluctuation. The control jets elongate the vortex shedding, and reduce the pressure drop. Meanwhile, the flow topology is modified at a high angle of attack. For an ellipse with a relatively higher axis ratio, i.e., Γ ⩾ 1.6, the drag reduction is achieved for all the angles of attack studied. The larger the angle of attack is, the higher the drag reduction ratio is. The increased fluctuation in the drag coefficient under control is encountered, regardless of the position of the control jets. The control jets modify the flow topology by inducing an external vortex near the wall, causing the drag reduction. The results suggest that the DRL can learn an active control strategy for the present configuration.
Impact of ionizers on prevention of airborne infection in classroom
Authors: Ren Chen , Haghighat Fariborz , Feng Zhuangbo , Kumar Prashant , Cao Shi-Jie
Published: December 2022

Infectious diseases (e.g., coronavirus disease 2019) dramatically impact human life, economy and social development. Exploring the low-cost and energy-saving approaches is essential in removing infectious virus particles from indoors, such as in classrooms. The application of air purification devices, such as negative ion generators (ionizers), gains popularity because of the favorable removal capacity for particles and the low operation cost. However, small and portable ionizers have potential disadvantages in the removal efficiency owing to the limited horizontal diffusion of negative ions. This study aims to investigate the layout strategy (number and location) of ionizers based on the energy-efficient natural ventilation in the classroom to improve removal efficiency (negative ions to particles) and decrease infection risk. Three infected students were considered in the classroom. The simulations of negative ion and particle concentrations were performed and validated by the experiment. Results showed that as the number of ionizers was 4 and 5, the removal performance was largely improved by combining ionizer with natural ventilation. Compared with the scenario without an ionizer, the scenario with 5 ionizers largely increased the average removal efficiency from around 20% to 85% and decreased the average infection risk by 23%. The setup with 5 ionizers placed upstream of the classroom was determined as the optimal layout strategy, particularly when the location and number of the infected students were unknown. This work can provide a guideline for applying ionizers to public buildings when natural ventilation is used.
The soft-sediment deformation structures and the siliceous concretion presence as indicators of the depositional processes during Middle Paleocene to Middle Eocene in the Apulian Platform Margins in Kefalonia Island, Greece
Authors: Dimopoulos Nikolaos , Zoumpouli Elena , Iliopoulos George , Bourli Nicolina , Zelilidis Avraam
Published: December 2022

Kefalonia Island is situated in western Greece and geologically corresponds to the Apulian Platform Margins (APM), with the Apulian Platform lying to the west and the Ionian Basin to the east. The studied deposits, with a thickness up to 164.5, extend along the 650 m long Agia Efimia bay, ranging from the Middle Paleocene (Selandian) to the uppermost Eocene (Priabonian), during the latest part of the rift stage. Fieldwork measurements of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), paleocurrent directions, the size and abundance of siliceous concretions (SC) and siliceous beds (SB), and shale horizons were correlated with the age of selected samples, and thus, the relation of the tectonic regime with the depositional conditions was presented. As SSDS could represent an indicator of tectonic activity and instability of the basin floor instability, the size and the abundance of the SSDS whereas used to identify the parameters that produced the basin floor instability like the intensity of tectonic activity. The studied section, with a general NE-SW orientation, was subdivided into five (5) different units. The changes of these units in paleocurrent directions, the size, the abundance, and the thickness of SSDS, SC, and SB and the presence of shale horizons in the upper unit, characterize a gradual change of the depositional conditions in the APM, from the Upper Paleocene (Selandian) to the Upper Eocene (Priabonian). The factor that influenced the abovementioned changes was related with the presence and the activity of normal faults that produced instability of the basin floor. Therefore, a reduction in tectonic activity from the Paleocene to the Eocene is suggested.
EasyRights: Information Technology Could Facilitate Migrant Access to Human Rights in a Greek Refugee Camp
Authors: Nikolopoulou Kleopatra , Kehagia Olga , Gavrilut Laura
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to describe the context for the migrant camp in a small municipality, and it discusses the challenge of adopting the easyRights information technology (IT) to make it easier for migrants to exercise their human rights. The easyRights project “Enabling immigrants to easily know and exercise their rights” (https://www.easyrights.eu/) is an ongoing European Horizon 2020 project that addresses the challenge of migrant integration through IT-enabled solutions. This project aims to combine co-creation and intelligent language-oriented technologies to make it easier for migrants to understand and access the services to which they are entitled. The easyRights IT–enabled solutions and toolkits for the implementation of inclusion policies can facilitate the management of the integration of migrants, and improve their autonomy and inclusion. Initial interviews with two stakeholders and one migrant in the city of Kavala (in northern Greece) were conducted. Aspects of the information described in this study are intended to be utilized within the Work Package WP7 of the project, which is with regard to the communication and dissemination plan. We recommend for the easyRights IT tools to be adopted in Kavala, so as to facilitate migrants’ exercise of their human rights, and alleviate the tasks of public administrations and local authorities. Possible solutions to avoid migrant marginalization within Kavala’s municipality include adoption of the easyRights IT solutions and investigation of stakeholders’ and migrants’ use of these technology tools.
A Prototype Network Enhanced Relation Semantic Representation for Few-shot Relation Extraction
Authors: He Haitao , Niu Haoran , Feng Jianzhou , Wang Qian , Wei Qikai
Published: December 2022

Few-shot relation extraction is one of the current research focuses. The key to this research is to fully extract the relation semantic information through very little training data. Intuitively, raising the relation semantics awareness in sentences can improve the efficiency of the model to extract relation features to alleviate the overfitting problem in few-shot learning. Therefore, we propose an enhanced relation semantic feature model based on prototype network to extract relations from few-shot texts. Firstly, we design a multi-level embedding encoder with position information and Transformer, which uses local information in the text to enhance the relation semantics representation. Secondly, the encoded relation features are fed into the novel prototype network, which designs a method that utilizes query prototype-level attention to guide the extraction of supporting prototypes, thereby enhancing the prototypes representation to better classify the relations in query sentences. Finally, through experimental comparison and discussion, we prove and analyze the effectiveness of the proposed multi-level embedding encoder, and prototype-level attention can enhance the stability of the model. Furthermore, our model has substantial improvements over baseline methods.
Stability criteria of Samara-like decelerator in unsteady transitions
Authors: Wang H.-C. , Breidenthal R.E.
Published: December 2022

The physics behind the transitions of natural Samaras, or the bio-inspired counterparts, to steady autorotation has been unclear. Theoretical and experimental investigations explore the inertial and aerodynamic characteristics required to guarantee stable transitions of an artificial Samara-like decelerator from chaotic tumbling motions to azimuthal autorotation. A non-dimensional inertial criterion is proposed, which is in accord with experiments.
Small-fibre Neuropathy in Patients with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Type 8
Authors: Machado-Costa Marcela Câmara , Mitne-Neto Miguel , Costa Luiza Helena Degani , Alves Luciana Moura , Oliveira Acary Souza Bulle , Zatz Mayana , Silva Helga Cristina Almeida
Published: December 2022

Background:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that primarily affects motor neurons. ALS type 8 (ALS8) is a familiar form with predominant involvement of lower motor neurons, tremor, and slow progression.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to describe sensory involvement in a cohort of ALS8 patients and compare it with the characteristics of sporadic ALS (sALS) patients and controls.

Methods:

We compared data from 40 ALS8 and 10 sALS patients assessed by neurological evaluation and electrophysiological study. Skin biopsies were performed in these patients and 12 controls for analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density by protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) immunohistochemistry.

Results:

The ALS8 group was younger than the sALS group at the onset of symptoms (p < 0.05) and had a longer disease evolution (p < 0.01). Sensory abnormalities were evident in 35% of the ALS8 and 30% of the sALS patients by neurological examination, and all ALS patients presented normal sensory nerve action potentials. Despite being similar in the ALS8 and sALS groups, IENF density in the ALS8 group was lower than that in the controls (p < 0.0005). In the ALS8 group, IENF density was significantly lower in patients with impairment of vibratory sensation than in those without this finding (p < 0.05) and in females than in males (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Sensory impairment and decreased IENF density are present in ALS8 patients at a frequency and intensity similar to that in the sALS group.
Stability condition on Calabi–Yau threefold of complete intersection of quadratic and quartic hypersurfaces
Authors: Liu Shengxuan
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we prove a Clifford type inequality for the curve

$X_{2,2,2,4}$

, which is the intersection of a quartic and three general quadratics in

$\mathbb {P}^5$

. We thus prove a stronger Bogomolov–Gieseker inequality for characters of stable vector bundles and stable objects on Calabi–Yau complete intersection

$X_{2,4}$

. Applying the scheme proposed by Bayer, Bertram, Macrì, Stellari and Toda, we can construct an open subset of Bridgeland stability conditions on

$X_{2,4}$

.
The Divisible College: A Day in the Lives of Public International Law
Authors: Beckett Jason
Published: December 2022

This is an article about two things. First, the bifurcation of public international law (PIL) into two distinct forms: The material and the narrative. And second, the methodological fragmentation of international lawyers into discrete communities. After setting the substantive fragmentation of PIL as the context of analysis, I deploy Susan Marks’ concept of “false contingency” to distinguish material and narrative PIL. I briefly examine each, and their interactions, before turning to a specific manifestation of material PIL that I call the Global Legal Order (GLO).

I then sketch the radical indeterminacy of narrative PIL, its manifestations in the ontological indeterminacy of the commonly accepted sources of PIL, and its source in PIL’s lack of authority and institutionalization. This contrasts with the determinacy and authority of the GLO. Next, I turn to the “fragmentation” of international lawyers into distinct “communities of practice.” In fact, this process turns out to be one of agglomeration, international lawyers are constructed within communities of practice, which glom together to create the appearance of PIL.

Finally, I turn to how these communities function by pitting “performances of legality” in “vicarious litigation,” using the Chagos Islands case as an illustration. This is contrasted with the functioning of the operative legal system that is the GLO. I examine the constituent institutions of this system, and how they operate together to produce direct and indirect governance in under-developed states. In practice, this policy imposition immiserates states and antagonizes local populations. It necessitates oppressive governance which entails what narrative PIL determines to be “human rights abuses.”
Functional constipation and the effect of prebiotics on the gut microbiota: a review
Authors: Erhardt Rene , Harnett Joanna E , Steels Elizabeth , Steadman Kathryn J
Published: December 2022

Functional constipation is a significant health issue impacting the lives of an estimated 14 % of the global population. Non-pharmaceutical treatment advice for cases with no underlying medical conditions focuses on exercise, hydration and an increase in dietary fibre intake. An alteration in the composition of the gut microbiota is thought to play a role in constipation. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth of a limited number of bacteria in the colon with a benefit for host health. Various types of dietary fibre, though not all, can act as a prebiotic. Short-chain fatty acids produced by these microbes play a critical role as signalling molecules in a range of metabolic and physiological processes including laxation, although details are unclear. Prebiotics have a history of safe use in the food industry spanning several decades and are increasingly used as supplements to alleviate constipation. Most scientific research on the effects of prebiotics and gut microbiota has focussed on inflammatory bowel disease rather than functional constipation. Very few clinical studies evaluated the efficacy of prebiotics in the management of constipation and their effect on the microbiota, with highly variable designs and conflicting results. Despite this, broad health claims are made by manufacturers of prebiotic supplements. This narrative review provides an overview of the literature on the interaction of prebiotics with the gut microbiota and their potential clinical role in the alleviation of functional constipation.
Residential Exodus from Dublin Circa 1900: Municipal Annexation and Preferences for Local Government
Authors: Berger Silvi K. , Mariuzzo Franco , Ormosi Peter L.
Published: December 2022

Dublin experienced a marked stagnation in population growth in the second half of the nineteenth century, accompanied by decaying infrastructure and poor public health. Historians have emphasized that this crisis was coupled with poor governance of the city of Dublin—manifested by eroding public services together with increasing tax burdens to counteract growing debt. This paper studies the municipal boundary expansion of Dublin in 1901, which occurred as a way to alleviate the city’s financial distress. It saw multiple relatively wealthy townships annexed by the city via royal order to increase Dublin’s tax base. Using a sample of census records matched to city streets, we show that wealthy residents and Protestant residents were more likely to leave annexed areas compared to areas that remained independent. Moreover, we offer anecdotal evidence that at least some of the wealthy Protestant households departing annexed townships sorted into jurisdictions that remained independent. Our findings offer support to arguments that the municipal annexation by the city of Dublin may have accelerated the decline of annexed areas in the early twentieth century and contributed to municipal fragmentation in metropolitan Dublin.
Factors Associated with Outdoor Winter Walking in Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Authors: Bergen Kyle , Jubenvill Megan , Shaw Kyle , Steen Erin , Loewen Hal , Mbabaali Sophia , Barclay Ruth
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify internal and external factors associated with outdoor winter walking in older adults. In this scoping review, 12 databases were searched. Inclusion criteria included English language, focus on adults 65 years of age or older, and evaluation of factors associated with outdoor winter walking. Two authors screened titles/abstracts and full text. Conflicts were resolved by consensus. Data were extracted, organized into tables, and summarized as pertaining to barriers/facilitators and internal/external factors associated with outdoor winter walking. A total of 6,843 articles were identified, 1,898 duplicates were removed, 4,789 were excluded during title/abstract screening, and 148 were excluded during full-text review. Eight studies were included. Four categories of factors affecting outdoor winter walking in older adults were identified: adverse weather conditions, physical environment, physical function, and perceptions relating to winter walking conditions. Rehabilitation and exercise professionals can use the results to educate their clients and implement the facilitators of and alternatives and solutions to barriers to outdoor winter walking.
How might enhanced interprofessional collaboration between primary care physicians and registered dietitian nutritionists impact clinical outcomes related to obesity and associated illnesses? A commentary
Authors: Qubty Leah , Hicks-Roof Kristen
Published: December 2022

The unsettling worldwide prevalence of obesity and obesity-related illnesses seems to be well-understood. What seems to be lacking, however, is a strategy of how best to fix the issue. Meagre nutrition content in medical school curricula may contribute to limited primary care physician (PCP) knowledge of the role nutrition has in health ailments and the understanding of a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) scope of practice. In USA, RDN are health care practitioners specialised in nutrition and who are experts in treating obesity and obesity-related illnesses. An increased RDN involvement in patient care has been shown to promote improvements in nutrition-related clinical outcomes. Therefore, enhanced collaboration between PCP and RDN has the potential to ameliorate the obesity epidemic. Tactics to promote collaboration may include enhancing nutrition education in medical school and providing nutrition-focussed continuing education for practicing physicians. The seriousness of the obesity epidemic underscores the need for interprofessional collaboration between PCP and allied health professionals who are uniquely trained to address obesity and obesity-related illnesses.
Earth and Space Science Open Archive Takes a Big Step Forward
Authors: Jiang Jonathan , Violette Nick
Published: December 2022

The ESS Open Archive is moving to a new publishing platform where it will continue to accelerate the open discovery of Earth and space science research.
Transient regulation of RNA methylation in human hematopoietic stem cells promotes their homing and engraftment
Authors: Wang Xuepeng , Cooper Scott , Broxmeyer Hal E. , Kapur Reuben
Published: December 2022

Enhancing the efficiency of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homing and engraftment is critical for cord blood (CB) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Recent studies indicate that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modulates the expression of mRNAs that are critical for stem cell function by influencing their stability. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of RNA decay by regulation of RNA methylation, enhances the expression of the homing receptor chemokine C-X-C receptor-4 (CXCR4) in HSCs. We show that YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2), a m6A reader and FTO α-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (FTO), a m6A eraser play an opposite role in this process. Through screening, we identified several FDA-approved compounds that regulate the expression of YTHDF2 and FTO in CB CD34+ cells. We show that transient downregulation of YTHDF2 or activation of FTO by using these compounds inhibits CXCR4 decay in CB HSCs and promotes their homing and engraftment. Our results demonstrate a novel regulation strategy to enhance the function of CB HSCs and provide a translational approach to enhance the clinical efficacy of HCT.
A comparison of the International Consensus and 5th World Health Organization classifications of mature B-cell lymphomas
Authors: Falini Brunangelo , Martino Giovanni , Lazzi Stefano
Published: December 2022

Several editions of the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications of lympho-hemopoietic neoplasms in 2001, 2008 and 2017 served as the international standard for diagnosis. Since the 4th WHO edition, here referred as WHO-HAEM4, significant clinico-pathological, immunophenotypic and molecular advances have been made in the field of lymphomas, contributing to refining diagnostic criteria of several diseases, to upgrade entities previously defined as provisional and to identify new entities. This process has resulted in two recent classifying proposals of lymphoid neoplasms, the International Consensus Classification (ICC) and the 5th edition of the WHO classification (WHO-HAEM5). In this paper, we review and compare the two classifications in terms of diagnostic criteria and entity definition, with focus on mature B-cell neoplasms. The main aim is to provide a tool to facilitate the work of pathologists, hematologists and researchers involved in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphomas.
Machine learning modeling practices to support the principles of AI and ethics in nutrition research
Authors: Thomas Diana M. , Kleinberg Samantha , Brown Andrew W. , Crow Mason , Bastian Nathaniel D. , Reisweber Nicholas , Lasater Robert , Kendall Thomas , Shafto Patrick , Blaine Raymond , Smith Sarah , Ruiz Daniel , Morrell Christopher , Clark Nicholas
Published: December 2022

Background

Nutrition research is relying more on artificial intelligence and machine learning models to understand, diagnose, predict, and explain data. While artificial intelligence and machine learning models provide powerful modeling tools, failure to use careful and well-thought-out modeling processes can lead to misleading conclusions and concerns surrounding ethics and bias.

Methods

Based on our experience as reviewers and journal editors in nutrition and obesity, we identified the most frequently omitted best practices from statistical modeling and how these same practices extend to machine learning models. We next addressed areas required for implementation of machine learning that are not included in commercial software packages.

Results

Here, we provide a tutorial on best artificial intelligence and machine learning modeling practices that can reduce potential ethical problems with a checklist and guiding principles to aid nutrition researchers in developing, evaluating, and implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning models in nutrition research.

Conclusion

The quality of AI/ML modeling in nutrition research requires iterative and tailored processes to mitigate against potential ethical problems or to predict conclusions that are free of bias.
Postnatal growth of small for gestational age late preterm infants: determinants of catch-up growth
Authors: Vizzari Giulia , Morniroli Daniela , Tiraferri Valentina , Macchi Marta , Gangi Silvana , Consales Alessandra , Ceroni Federica , Cerasani Jacopo , Mosca Fabio , Giannì Maria Lorella
Published: December 2022

Background

Failure to recover growth is a risk reported in late preterm population. This study aimed to evaluate the auxological outcome of late preterm infants and identify factors associated with failure to recover growth.

Methods

We enrolled late preterm infants with birth weight ≤10th percentile, followed up at High-Risk Infant Follow-up Service. We collected data at birth and at follow-up visits. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess variables independently associated with growth failure.

Results

The population consisted of 175 preterms. The percentage of children showing no weight recovery was 34% at 36 months. At logistic regression analysis, infants who had not regained weight at 12 months had a higher risk of not regaining weight even at 36 months. The same risk factor was highlighted for length catch-up growth. Moreover, infants fed any human milk at discharge were protected from not achieving both weight and length catch-up growth at 36 months.

Conclusion

These results indicate that children born late preterm and small for gestational age could fail to recover weight and stature growth in the first 36 months. The protective effect of human milk on failure to thrive highlights the importance of promoting breastfeeding in this population.

Impact

A significant number of SGA late preterms show a failure to recover weight and statural growth.

Having experienced intrauterine growth restriction is associated with a greater chance of achieving statural catch-up growth.

Being born singleton represents a risk factor for slower weight and height growth velocity.

Breastmilk has a protective effect on failure to recover adequate weight and length in preterm SGA infants. This finding highlights the importance of promoting breastfeeding in this population.
A global survey of diurnal offshore propagation of rainfall
Authors: Fang Junying , Du Yu
Published: December 2022

Diurnal rainfall offshore propagation (OP) shapes the timing and intensity of coastal rainfall and thus impacts both nature and society. Previous OP studies have rarely compared various coasts, and a consensus regarding physical mechanisms has not been reached on a global scale. Here, we provide the global climatology of observed OP, which propagates across ~78% of all coasts and accounts for ~59% of the coastal precipitation. Generally, OP is facilitated by low latitudes, high moisture conditions and offshore background winds. OP at low latitudes in a high-moisture environment is mainly caused by inertia–gravity waves due to the land–sea thermal contrast, whereas OP at higher latitudes is significantly influenced by background winds under trapped land–sea breeze circulation conditions. Slower near-shore OP might be modulated by density currents. Our results provide a guide for global OP hotspots and suggest relative contributions of mechanisms from a statistical perspective.
An NKX-COUP-TFII morphogenetic code directs mucosal endothelial addressin expression
Authors: Dinh Thanh Theresa , Xiang Menglan , Rajaraman Anusha , Wang Yongzhi , Salazar Nicole , Zhu Yu , Roper Walter , Rhee Siyeon , Brulois Kevin , O’Hara Ed , Kiefel Helena , Dinh Truc M. , Bi Yuhan , Gonzalez Dalila , Bao Evan P. , Red-Horse Kristy , Balogh Peter , Gábris Fanni , Gaszner Balázs , Berta Gergely , Pan Junliang , Butcher Eugene C.
Published: December 2022

Immunoglobulin family and carbohydrate vascular addressins encoded byMadcam1andSt6gal1control lymphocyte homing into intestinal tissues, regulating immunity and inflammation. The addressins are developmentally programmed to decorate endothelial cells lining gut post-capillary and high endothelial venules (HEV), providing a prototypical example of organ- and segment-specific endothelial specialization. We identify conserved NKX-COUP-TFII composite elements (NCCE) in regulatory regions ofMadcam1andSt6gal1that bind intestinal homeodomain protein NKX2-3 cooperatively with venous nuclear receptor COUP-TFII to activate transcription. TheMadcam1element also integrates repressive signals from arterial/capillary Notch effectors. Pan-endothelial COUP-TFII overexpression induces ectopic addressin expression in NKX2-3+capillaries, while NKX2-3 deficiency abrogates expression by HEV. Phylogenetically conserved NCCE are enriched in genes involved in neuron migration and morphogenesis of the heart, kidney, pancreas and other organs. Our results define an NKX-COUP-TFII morphogenetic code that targets expression of mucosal vascular addressins.
Protein-Peptide Turnover Profiling reveals the order of PTM addition and removal during protein maturation
Authors: Hammarén Henrik M. , Geissen Eva-Maria , Potel Clement M. , Beck Martin , Savitski Mikhail M.
Published: December 2022

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate various aspects of protein function, including degradation. Mass spectrometric methods relying on pulsed metabolic labeling are popular to quantify turnover rates on a proteome-wide scale. Such data have traditionally been interpreted in the context of protein proteolytic stability. Here, we combine theoretical kinetic modeling with experimental pulsed stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (pSILAC) for the study of protein phosphorylation. We demonstrate that metabolic labeling combined with PTM-specific enrichment does not measure effects of PTMs on protein stability. Rather, it reveals the relative order of PTM addition and removal along a protein’s lifetime—a fundamentally different metric. This is due to interconversion of the measured proteoform species. Using this framework, we identify temporal phosphorylation sites on cell cycle-specific factors and protein complex assembly intermediates. Our results thus allow tying PTMs to the age of the modified proteins.
DOT1L regulates chamber-specific transcriptional networks during cardiogenesis and mediates postnatal cell cycle withdrawal
Authors: Cattaneo Paola , Hayes Michael G. B. , Baumgarten Nina , Hecker Dennis , Peruzzo Sofia , Aslan Galip S. , Kunderfranco Paolo , Larcher Veronica , Zhang Lunfeng , Contu Riccardo , Fonseca Gregory , Spinozzi Simone , Chen Ju , Condorelli Gianluigi , Dimmeler Stefanie , Schulz Marcel H. , Heinz Sven , Guimarães-Camboa Nuno , Evans Sylvia M.
Published: December 2022

Mechanisms by which specific histone modifications regulate distinct gene networks remain little understood. We investigated how H3K79me2, a modification catalyzed by DOT1L and previously considered a general transcriptional activation mark, regulates gene expression during cardiogenesis. Embryonic cardiomyocyte ablation ofDot1lrevealed that H3K79me2 does not act as a general transcriptional activator, but rather regulates highly specific transcriptional networks at two critical cardiogenic junctures: embryonic cardiogenesis, where it was particularly important for left ventricle-specific genes, and postnatal cardiomyocyte cell cycle withdrawal, with Dot1L mutants having more mononuclear cardiomyocytes and prolonged cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity. Mechanistic analyses revealed that H3K79me2 in two distinct domains, gene bodies and regulatory elements, synergized to promote expression of genes activated by DOT1L. Surprisingly, H3K79me2 in specific regulatory elements also contributed to silencing genes usually not expressed in cardiomyocytes. These results reveal mechanisms by which DOT1L successively regulates left ventricle specification and cardiomyocyte cell cycle withdrawal.
Prior exposure to B. pertussis shapes the mucosal antibody response to acellular pertussis booster vaccination
Authors: van Schuppen Evi , Fröberg Janeri , Venkatasubramanian Prashanna Balaji , Versteegen Pauline , de Graaf Hans , Holubová Jana , Gillard Joshua , van Gageldonk Pieter G. M. , Joosten Irma , de Groot Ronald , Šebo Peter , Berbers Guy A. M. , Read Robert C. , Huynen Martijn A. , de Jonge Marien I. , Diavatopoulos Dimitri A.
Published: December 2022

Bordetella pertussis(Bp), the causative agent of pertussis, continues to circulate despite widespread vaccination programs. An important question is whether and how (sub)clinical infections shape immune memory to Bp, particularly in populations primed with acellular pertussis vaccines (aP). Here, we examine the prevalence of mucosal antibodies against non-vaccine antigens in aP-primed children and adolescents of the BERT study (NCT03697798), using antibody binding to a Bp mutant strain lacking aP antigens (Bp_mut). Our study identifies increased levels of mucosal IgG and IgA binding toBp_mutin older aP-primed individuals, suggesting different Bp exposure between aP-primed birth cohorts, in line with pertussis disease incidence data. To examine whether Bp exposure influences vaccination responses, we measured mucosal antibody responses to aP booster vaccination as a secondary study outcome. Although booster vaccination induces significant increases in mucosal antibodies to Bp in both cohorts, the older age group that had higher baseline antibodies toBp_ mutshows increased persistence of antibodies after vaccination.