bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Embedding comprehensive smoking cessation programs into community clinics: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Authors: Baskerville Wave-Ananda , Friedman Theodore C. , Hurley Brian , Hsieh Susan , Dixon Tasha , Mtume Norma , Lee Martin L. , Rodriguez Luz , Lopez Briana , Ray Lara A.
Published: February 2022

Background

Cigarette smoking among adults in the USA is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide, even though there has been a decline in prevalence since 2005. The addictive nature of nicotine is the chief reason smokers continue to use tobacco. Although the majority of smokers report a desire to quit smoking, a small minority who attempt to quit achieve long-term cessation. Combined, smoking cessation best practices include coordinated medication and behavioral treatments. However, these treatments are not currently adequately delivered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the publicly funded patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) and community mental health clinics operated by Los Angeles County (LAC)-Department of Health Services (LACDHS) and LAC-Department of Mental Health (LACDMH).

Methods

This is a 5-year implementation, cluster-randomized comparative effectiveness trial that will support the implementation of smoking cessation services delivered in LAC-LACDHS-operated outpatient primary care clinics and in LAC-LACDMH-operated community mental health clinics. We will enroll 1000 participants from clinics that will offer smoking cessation services and 200 from clinics that will offer treatment as usual. Participants will be asked to complete assessments at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The assessments will include self-reports on smoking history, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and participant satisfaction. Participants who are assigned to clinics that provide smoking cessation services will also be asked about the frequency of their participation in the smoking cessation services during the 12-month period.

Discussion

This study will evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing smoking cessation services in outpatient primary care and community mental health clinics. It will also determine if there will be higher rates of smoking cessation in the implementation sites as compared to the sites with treatment as usual. If the implementation proves to be effective, the plan is to sustain these services using a workflow we will develop in the LAC-operated sites. This would lead to ameliorating the significant smoking cessation treatment gaps among those served within the LAC Health Agency departments.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04717544 “Embedding comprehensive smoking cessation programs into community clinics.” Registered on January 22, 2021
Ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy sampling to study the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: a well-tolerated valuable research tool
Authors: Fiechter Renée H. , Bolt Janne W. , van de Sande Marleen G. H. , Aalbers Caroline J. , Landewé Robert B. M. , Maas Mario , Tas Sander W. , van Baarsen Lisa G. M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Analyses of lymphoid organs are required to further elucidate the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Yet, invasive tissue collection methods are scarcely applied, because they are often considered burdensome, although patients do not always consider invasive methods as a high burden. We aimed to investigate the perspectives of study participants undergoing ultrasound-guided inguinal lymph node (LN) needle biopsy sampling and determine the molecular and cellular quantity and quality of LN biopsies.

Methods

Together with patient research partners, questionnaires were developed to evaluate the motives, expectations, and experiences of participants undergoing a LN biopsy. Healthy controls and RA(-risk) patients were asked to complete these questionnaires before and after the procedure. RNA and lymphocyte yields from obtained LN biopsies were also calculated.

Results

We included 50 individuals, of which 43 (86%) reported their pre- and post-procedure experiences. The median reported pain on a 5-point Likert scale (1 not to 5 very painful) was 1. Interestingly, almost all (n = 32; 74%) study participants would undergo a second procedure and more than half (n = 23; 54%) would encourage others to take part in the LN biopsy study. Motives for current and future participation were mostly altruistic. Inguinal hematoma occurred frequently, but no other significant or unexpected complications ensued. The LN biopsies yielded sufficient and high-quality RNA and lymphocyte numbers.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided inguinal LN biopsy sampling is well-tolerated, safe, and provides sufficient material for further molecular and cellular analyses. Our participants’ positive experiences endorse the application of this research tool to further elucidate the pathogenesis of RA and other inflammatory diseases.
Aquatic community structure and stream habitat in a karst agricultural landscape
Authors: Mundahl Neal D. , Mundahl Erik D.
Published: February 2022

Background

Watersheds dominated by agriculture often have significant, negative impacts on local stream habitats and fauna. Our study examined stream biota and habitats within an entire stream in a karst agricultural landscape to determine if several decades of watershed conservation and management had reversed the severe degradation caused by poor land use and catastrophic soil erosion during the 1920s and 1930s.

Results

Fish communities and stream habitats were degraded at over half of the 22 stream sites examined, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities were mostly poor throughout the entire stream. Poor fish communities were associated with missing or narrow riparian buffers, high percent fine sediments, high embeddedness of coarse substrates, and homogeneous run habitat. Invertebrate communities were dominated by filter-feeding taxa and those adapted to life on or within fine sediments. Stream sites with wide buffers and influenced by groundwater springs had higher fish community integrity and good to excellent instream habitat.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that wide riparian buffers and karstic springs may have allowed recovery of some stream reaches, but more extensive buffers and additional soil conservation practices in upland areas likely are necessary to protect most stream segments and their biota from on-going agricultural activities. New state stream buffer laws instituted after this study resulted in establishment of vegetated buffers at all study sites, which may lead to improved stream habitat and biotic communities in future years. Benthic invertebrate community improvement also may require translocation of sensitive taxa from nearby watersheds due to limited dispersal abilities of many species currently absent from the study stream. Increased frequency and intensity of storm events and flooding may hinder future recovery of stream habitats and biota.
Implementation of personalised medicine policies in mental healthcare: results from a stated preference study in the UK
Authors: McMichael Alan J. , Kane Joseph P. M. , Rolison Jonathan J. , O'Neill Francis A. , Boeri Marco , Kee Frank
Published: February 2022

Background

Public support for the implementation of personalised medicine policies (PMPs) within routine care is important owing to the high financial costs involved and the potential for redirection of resources from other services.

Aims

We aimed to determine the attributes of a PMP most likely to elicit public support for implementation. We also aimed to determine whether such support differed between a depression PMP and one for cystic fibrosis.

Method

In a discrete-choice experiment, paired vignettes illustrating both the current model of care (CMoC) and a hypothetical PMP for either depression or cystic fibrosis were presented to a representative sample of the UK public (n = 2804). Each vignette integrated varying attributes, including anticipated therapeutic benefit over CMoC, and the annual cost to the taxpayer. Respondents were invited to express their preference for either the PMP or CMoC within each pair.

Results

The financial cost was the most important attribute influencing public support for PMPs. Respondents favoured PMP implementation where it benefited a higher proportion of patients or was anticipated to be more effective than CMoC. A reduction in services for non-eligible patients reduced the likelihood of support for PMPs. Respondents were more willing to fund PMPs for cystic fibrosis than for depression.

Conclusions

Cost is a significant factor in the public's support for PMPs, but essential caveats, such as protection for services available to PMP-ineligible patients, may also apply. Further research should explore the factors contributing to condition-specific nuances in public support for PMPs.
Preparation and spectral properties of CuSe/ZnSe core-shell nanomaterials
Authors: Zhang Xiao-kai , Xia Lei , Li Xue , Liu Lian-dong
Published: February 2022

In this research, first, CuSe nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using the reflux condensation method. Then, a ZnSe shell was grown on the CuSe NPs by using a simple, rapid photochemical approach. Synthesized CuSe/ZnSe core-shell NPs were characterized by means of different analyses, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The XRD analysis of the sample shows the formation of core-shell NPs with the structure of hexagonal CuSe and cubic ZnSe. The core-shell structure of the product has been formed and the size of the synthesized core-shell NPs is about 20–50 nm. The band gap of the CuSe/ZnSe core-shell NPs was higher than that for CuSe or ZnSe in bulk. The fluorescence properties were greatly enhanced by successful growth of the ZnSe shell and decreased with the extension of illumination time.
The Long-Term Outcome of Radiofrequency Ablation in Multiple Sclerosis–Related Symptomatic Trigeminal Neuralgia
Authors: Mousavi Seyed H. , Gehling Paxton , Burchiel Kim J.
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND:

Radiofrequency lesioning (RFL) is used to surgically manage trigeminal neuralgia (TN) secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the long-term outcome of RFL has not been established.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the long-term clinical outcome of RFL in MS-related TN (symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia [STN]).

METHODS:

During a 23-yr period, institutional data were available for 51 patients with STN who underwent at least one RFL procedure to treat facial pain. Patient outcome was evaluated at a mean follow-up of 69 mo (95% confidence interval; range 52-86 mo). No pain with no medication (NPNM) was the primary long-term outcome measure.

RESULTS:

After an initial RFL procedure, immediate pain relief was achieved in 50 patients (98%), and NPNM as assessed at 1, 3, and 6 yr was 86%, 52%, and 22%, respectively. At the last clinical visit after an initial RFL, 23 patients (45%) with pain recurrence underwent repeat RFL; NPNM at 1, 3, and 6 yr after a repeat RFL was 85%, 58%, and 32%, respectively. There was no difference in pain outcome after an initial and repeat RFL (P = .77). Ten patients with pain recurrence underwent additional RFL procedures. Two patients developed mastication muscle weakness, one patient experienced a corneal abrasion, which resolved with early ophthalmological interventions, and one patient experienced bothersome numbness.

CONCLUSION:

RFL achieves NPNM status in STN and can be repeated with similar efficacy.
The H3.3 chaperone Hira complex orchestrates oocyte developmental competence
Authors: Smith Rowena , Susor Andrej , Ming Hao , Tait Janet , Conti Marco , Jiang Zongliang , Lin Chih-Jen
Published: February 2022

Successful reproduction requires an oocyte competent to sustain early embryo development. By the end of oogenesis, the oocyte has entered a transcriptionally silenced state, the mechanisms and significance of which remain poorly understood. Histone H3.3, a histone H3 variant, has unique cell cycle-independent functions in chromatin structure and gene expression. Here, we have characterised the H3.3 chaperone Hira/Cabin1/Ubn1 complex, showing that loss of function of any of these subunits causes early embryogenesis failure in mouse. Transcriptome and nascent RNA analyses revealed that transcription is aberrantly silenced in mutant oocytes. Histone marks, including H3K4me3 and H3K9me3, are reduced and chromatin accessibility is impaired in Hira/Cabin1 mutants. Misregulated genes in mutant oocytes include Zscan4d, a two-cell specific gene involved in zygote genome activation. Overexpression of Zscan4 in the oocyte partially recapitulates the phenotypes of Hira mutants and Zscan4 knockdown in Cabin1 mutant oocytes partially restored their developmental potential, illustrating that temporal and spatial expression of Zscan4 is fine-tuned at the oocyte-to-embryo transition. Thus, the H3.3 chaperone Hira complex has a maternal effect function in oocyte developmental competence and embryogenesis, through modulating chromatin condensation and transcriptional quiescence.
The prophase oocyte nucleus is a homeostatic G-actin buffer
Authors: Scheffler Kathleen , Giannini Federica , Lemonnier Tom , Mogessie Binyam
Published: February 2022

Formation of healthy mammalian eggs from oocytes requires specialised F-actin structures. F-actin disruption produces aneuploid eggs, which are a leading cause of human embryo deaths, genetic disorders and infertility. We found that oocytes contain prominent nuclear F-actin structures that are correlated with meiotic developmental capacity. We demonstrate that nuclear F-actin is a conserved feature of healthy mammalian oocytes and declines significantly with female reproductive ageing. Actin monomers used for nuclear F-actin assembly are sourced from an excess pool in the oocyte cytoplasm. Increasing monomeric G-actin transfer from the cytoplasm to the nucleus or directly enriching the nucleus with monomers led to assembly of stable nuclear F-actin bundles that significantly restrict chromatin mobility. By contrast, reducing G-actin monomer transfer by blocking nuclear import triggered assembly of a dense cytoplasmic F-actin network that is incompatible with healthy oocyte development. Overall, our data suggest that the large oocyte nucleus helps to maintain cytoplasmic F-actin organisation and that defects in this function are linked with reproductive age-related female infertility.

This article has an associated First Person interview with Federica Giannini, joint first author of the paper.
Microleakage beneath orthodontic brackets in high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) AT 1.5 & 3 Tesla
Authors: Bolat Gümüş Esra , Şatir Samed , Kuştarci Alper
Published: February 2022

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of 1.5 T and 3 T MRI on the adhesion between the orthodontic brackets and the teeth by evaluating the microleakage between the enamel, adhesive and brackets interfaces.

Methods:

58 extracted human premolars which were received a standard bracket bonding procedure were randomly divided into three groups; control group (n = 20; no MRI), 1.5 T MRI group (n = 19; 20 min MRI exposure of 1.5 T) and 3 T MRI group (n = 19; 20 min MRI exposure of 3 T). The teeth were kept in distiled water for 2 weeks, and thereafter subjected to 500 thermal cycles. Then, specimens were sealed with nail varnish, stained with 0.5% basic fuchsin for 24 h, sectioned and photographed under a stereomicroscope. Microleakage was scored with regard to the adhesive–enamel and bracket–adhesive interfaces at the occlusal and gingival levels. Statistical analysis was accomplished by Kruskal–Wallis and Bonferroni–Dunn tests.

Results:

All of the groups exhibited statistically similar microleakage scores in the adhesive–enamel interface along occlusal margins (p>0.05, p = 0.331). The mean microleakage scores along gingival margins in the 3 T MRI group was significantly higher compared to the control group both in the adhesive–enamel and bracket–adhesive interfaces (p<0.05, p = 0.019 and p = 0.020 respectively). The microleakage scores along the gingival margins were also significantly higher than the occlusal margins in the 3 T MRI group (p<0.05, p = 0.029).

Conclusions:

3 T MRI may weaken the adhesion between the enamel and the stainless steel orthodontic brackets.
Memory in Polish multiple sclerosis patients - correlations with mood and fatigue
Authors: Betscher Ewa , Guenter Wojciech , Bonek Robert
Published: February 2022

Cel pracy

Ocena wybranych aspektów pamięci wśród polskich pacjentów ze stwardnieniem rozsianym (MS) oraz związków pomiędzy pamięcią a przebiegiem klinicznym, stanem neurologicznym, nastrojem, objawami zespołu zmęczenia i aktywnością zawodową.

Metoda

U 100 pacjentów z MS i 150 zdrowych ochotników przeprowadzono początkowe pięć prób uczenia się z Kalifornijskiego Testu Uczenia się Językowego (CVLT), początkowe trzy próby uczenia się ze zrewidowanego Krótkiego Testu Pamięci Wzrokowo-Przestrzennej (BVMT-R), Szpitalną Skalę Lęku i Depresji (HADS) oraz Zmodyfikowaną Skalę Wpływu Zmęczenia (MFIS).

Wyniki

Pacjenci z MS wykonali istotnie gorzej testy CVLT i BVMT-R w porównaniu do grupy kontrolnej. Najniższe wyniki uzyskali pacjenci z wtórnie postępującym MS. Stwierdzono istotne różnice pomiędzy pacjentami z MS i grupą kontrolną w zakresie zespołu zmęczenia i nasilenia objawów depresyjnych, natomiast w przypadku objawów lękowych nie zaobserwowano rożnic. Analiza wieloczynnikowa wykazała, że jedynym klinicznym predyktorem zaburzeń pamięci był gorszy stan neurologiczny. Wyniki CVLT były istotnie związane z aktywnością zawodową.

Wnioski

Zaburzenia pamięci występują u pacjentów z MS i wpływają na ich aktywność zawodową. Objawy depresyjne, lękowe i zespół zmęczenia nie są bezpośrednio związane z funkcjonowaniem pamięci, w odróżnieniu od stanu neurologicznego.
Review of studies on the impact of climbing as a complementary form of depression treatment and their evaluation according to the QUADAS-2 tool
Authors: Zieliński Grzegorz , Zięba Estera , Byś Aleksandra
Published: February 2022

Według Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia (World Health Organization, WHO) objawy depresji wykazuje 4,3% globalnej populacji, podczas gdy w Polsce cierpi na nią około 1,5 miliona osób. Leczenie omawianej choroby generuje znaczne koszty liczone w miliardach złotych. Według Międzynarodowej Statystycznej Klasyfikacji Chorób i problemów Zdrowotnych depresja charakteryzuje się: obniżonym nastojem, obniżonym napędem psychoruchowym, utratą zainteresowań - objawy osiowe; oraz zaniżoną samooceną, pesymistycznym nastawieniem, osłabieniem koncentracji, zaburzeniami snu i utratą apetytu - objawy dodatkowe. Celem niniejszej pracy był przegląd i ocena badań dotyczących wpływu wspinaczki sportowej jako formy uzupełniającej leczenie na zmniejszenie objawów depresji. Jest to pierwszy przegląd literatury podejmujący zbiorczą ocenę prac w tej tematyce. Wyodrębnienie odpowiednich prac nastąpiło w procesie trzystopniowym. Przeszukano bazy danych PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar. Ostatecznie do przeglądu zakwalifikowano 4 badania, które następnie oceniono za pomocą narzędzia QUADAS-2 opracowanego przez Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences. Analiza badań daje podstawę do tego, aby rozważyć wprowadzenie dodatkowej formy leczenia depresji w postaci wspinaczki boulderowej. Ocena wg kwestionariusza QUADAS - 2 wskazuje na niską możliwość popełnienia błędów we wszystkich ocenianych pracach.
Activity of selected metalloproteinases in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system as exemplified by dementia and schizophrenia
Authors: Tylec Aneta , Skałecki Maciej , Kocot Joanna , Kurzepa Jacek
Published: February 2022

Cel pracy

Celem pracy było oznaczenie i analiza korelacji pomiędzy stężeniami wybranych metaloproteinaz oraz ich inhibitorów (TIMP-1 i TIMP-2) w grupie osób leczonych z powodu zespołu otępiennego i schizofrenii. W badaniu określono stężenie dwóch kolagenaz oraz metaloendopeptydazy.

Metoda

Badaniem objęto 29 pacjentów leczonych z powodu zespołu otępiennego o późnym początku i po 25: osób leczonych z powodu schizofrenii paranoidalnej oraz osób bez zaburzenia psychicznego, zgodnych wiekowo z grupami badanymi. Objawy zespołu otępiennego oceniono za pomocą krótkiej skali oceny stanu psychicznego, a objawy schizofrenii– za pomocą skali objawów pozytywnych i negatywnych. Od uczestników badania pobrano próbkę krwi i oznaczono stężenie MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-13, TIMP -1 i TIMP-2 w surowicy krwi metodą ELISA.

Wyniki

U osób z otępieniem zaobserwowano: dwukrotny wzrost stężenia MMP-1 i niewielki wzrost MMP-13 w porównaniu do pozostałych grup, a także niższe stężenie MMP-7 i TIMP-1 oraz wyższe stężenie TIMP-2 w porównaniu do osób z grupy kontrolnej. Natomiast w grupie osób leczonych z powodu schizofrenii w porównaniu do osób z grupy kontrolnej wykazano niższe stężenie MMP-7, wyższe stężenie TIMP-2 oraz nie wykazano różnic w stężeniu MMP-1, MMP-13 i TIMP-1.

Wnioski

U osób z zespołem otępiennym o późnym początku wykazano wzrost aktywności kolagenolitycznej co może wskazywać na nasilenie zjawiska remodelingu w obrębie ośrodkowego układu nerwowego w tej grupie pacjentów. Odmienność fluktuacji stężeń badanych enzymów oraz ich inhibitorów w zespole otępiennym oraz schizofrenii wskazuje na ich różny udział w patogenezie wyżej wymienionych zaburzeń.
Can’t get enough. Addiction to physical exercises: phenomenon, diagnostic criteria, etiology, therapy and research challenges
Authors: Martyniak Ewa , Wyszomirska Julia , Krzystanek Marek , Piekarska-Bugiel Katarzyna , Stolarczyk Aleksander
Published: February 2022

Regularne uprawianie ćwiczeń fizycznych ma wiele zalet zdrowotnych i słusznie jest postrzegane jako pozytywne, akceptowane społecznie zachowanie. Jednak z tego samego powodu istnieje duże ryzyko, że pacjenci i klinicyści mogą przeoczyć niebezpieczeństwo uzależnienia od ćwiczeń, które powoduje szkody w sferze somatycznej, emocjonalnej i interpersonalnej. Obecny stan wiedzy nie pozwolił na włączenie uzależnienia od ćwiczeń jako sprecyzowanej kategorii w obowiązujących klasyfikacjach ICD-10, ICD-11 i DSM-5. Jednak zaburzenie to spełnia ogólne kryteria uzależnień i na tej podstawie jest włączone do kanonu uzależnień behawioralnych. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wiedzy, która pomoże w rozpoznaniu i zrozumieniu mechanizmów fizjologicznych i psychologicznych związanych z uzależnieniem od ćwiczeń fizycznych oraz przybliży dostępne metody psychoterapii. Praca ma charakter przeglądowy i przedstawia, terminologię, kryteria rozpoznawania, dane epidemiologiczne, mechanizmy rozwijania się uzależnienia, najbardziej popularne narzędzia pomocne w diagnozie przesiewowej lub autodiagnozie oraz czynniki ryzyka pojawienia się uzależnienia od ćwiczeń. Autorzy uwzględnili także specyficzne umiejscowienie uzależnienia od ćwiczeń w kontekście innych zaburzeń psychicznych, kontrowersje, niespójności wyników badań i braki w danych naukowych związane z omawianym zjawiskiem. W podsumowaniu zaproponowano dalsze ścieżki rozwoju badań.
¿Localidades informales, excedentarias o segregadas? La heterogeneidad urbana en Uruguay según el Censo de 1963
Authors: Fernández Aguerre Tabaré , Wilkins Masse Andrés , Biramontes Duré Tania
Published: February 2022

Con base en el Censo de 1963, el análisis de clúster es utilizado para poner a prueba tres hipótesis que proponían explicar la emergencia de microlocalidades a principios del siglo xx en Uruguay: la informalidad, el excedente rural y la segregación urbana. Los hallazgos son solo parcialmente consistentes con aquellas. Estas localidades serían en forma significativa, un fenómeno de la omisión reguladora del Estado, aunque solo una proporción pequeña puede ser tratada como asiento de la población rural excedentaria y al menos un tercio de las localidades constituirían una expresión de un fenómeno nuevo para la época: la segregación urbana.
A Solution Approach to Distributionally Robust Joint-Chance-Constrained Assignment Problems
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Li Jinlin , Mehrotra Sanjay
Published: February 2022

We study the assignment problem with chance constraints (CAP) and its distributionally robust counterpart DR-CAP. We present a technique for estimating big-M in such a formulation that takes advantage of the ambiguity set. We consider a 0-1 bilinear knapsack set to develop valid inequalities for CAP and DR-CAP. This is generalized to the joint chance constraint problem. A probability cut framework is also developed to solve DR-CAP. A computational study on problem instances obtained from using real hospital surgery data shows that the developed techniques allow us to solve certain model instances and reduce the computational time for others. The use of Wasserstein ambiguity set in the DR-CAP model improves the out-of-sample performance of satisfying the chance constraints more significantly than the one possible by increasing the sample size in the sample average approximation technique. The solution time for DR-CAP model instances is of the same order as that for solving the CAP instances. This finding is important because chance constrained optimization models are very difficult to solve when the coefficients in the constraints are random.
Concepto unificado de especie y el venado bura
Authors: Sánchez-Rojas Gerardo , Gallina Sonia , Hernández Silva Dante Alfredo
Published: February 2022

El concepto de especie es muy usado, sin embargo, no hay un concepto universal, existiendo diferentes definiciones que complican su aplicación en la conservación, se plantea que el concepto unificado de especie, podría ser una alternativa de definición con gran aplicación en la conservación Para ejemplificarlo utilizamos al venado bura (Odocoileus hemionus).
El murciélago zapotero y el harem del sultán
Authors: Ortega Jorge , Morelos-Martínez Mercedes , Barrera Carlos A. , Aguilar García Martin Camilo
Published: February 2022

La infidelidad por parte de los machos de los mamíferos es una práctica común y en algunas sociedades aceptada con normalidad.  ¿Es posible que existan factores genéticos que deriven este comportamiento entre los machos? ¿Qué tan frecuente es este comportamiento en otros mamíferos?
Moby Dick está basada en hechos reales, en los que se describen de manera fidedigna los métodos y formas de la caza comercial de los cetáceos y la vida abordo de las embarcaciones- No solo es una novela, también es un libro de historia
Authors: Álvarez-Castañeda Sergio Ticul
Published: February 2022

Moby Dick está basada en hechos reales, en los que se describen de manera fidedigna los métodos y formas de la caza comercial de los cetáceos y la vida abordo de las embarcaciones- No solo es una novela, también es un libro de historia
The vaccine mandate
Authors: Moore Luke
Published: February 2022

Luke Moore asks what it means for dentistry
Sustainability in dentistry
Authors: Frisby Claire
Published: February 2022

Claire Frisby looks at the impact the industry has on the environment
Advanced thread lifting in medical aesthetic practice
Authors: Glancey Lucy
Published: February 2022

Dr Lucy Glancey discusses the use of silicone-coated barbed threads for longer-lasting facial lifting
Five trending facial treatments and their relationship with skin health
Authors: Casha Eve
Published: February 2022

Eve Casha explores five popular skin treatments and reveals the potentially detrimental long-lasting effects of each
Implementation of Wound Hygiene in clinical practice: early use of an antibiofilm strategy promotes positive patient outcomes
Authors: Murphy Chris , Mrozikiewicz-Rakowska Beata , Kuberka Izabela , Czupryniak Leszek , Gómez Paz Beaskoetxea , Vega de Ceniga Melina , Walker Angela , Tomkins Annabelle , Hurlow Jenny , Abdo Raymond , Sandroni Sara , Marinelli Elisa
Published: February 2022

Non-healing wounds are devastating for patients, potentially causing long-term morbidity and an impaired quality of life. They also incur a huge health economic burden for health-care services. Understanding of the causes of non-healing wounds has increased significantly. While the need to address the underlying aetiology has always been acknowledged, the role of biofilm in delaying or preventing healing is now accepted. There is a consensus on the need to debride the wound to remove biofilm and then prevent its reformation, to kickstart healing. The potential benefits of incorporating an antibiofilm component within the wound bed preparation framework are clear. However, such a strategy needs to be flexible enough so that it can be implemented by all practitioners, regardless of their expertise or specialty. Wound Hygiene does this. This supplement describes the Wound Hygiene protocol, and includes a selection of case studies on different wound types, demonstrating its ease of use and effectiveness in clinical practice.
Transformative Experiences of EFL Lecturers’ Professional Identity in Online Education
Authors: Celebi Ezgi , Eraldemir-Tuyan Seden
Published: February 2022

English teachers had to retrain and build a new normal in order to prepare for an online classroom while keeping their teaching pedagogy and professional identity as a result of the sudden changes brought by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in education. In this study, the effect of English teachers' professional identity transformations, attitudes toward online teaching was explored. The study's sample comprises 130 English as a foreign language (EFL) lecturers from a state and a foundation university in Turkey. The research data was gathered from a questionnaire, the Teacher Professional Identity scale, and a semi-structured interview with 12 volunteers. Qualitative data collected via semi-structured interviews were apportioned into pattern coding and analyzed through content analysis. EFL lecturers did not appear to be properly prepared for their online pedagogical and technological difficulties, which had a deeply corrosive effect on teachers' professional identities as they shift away from face-to-face education. The results showed that participants who were educated on EduTech during their undergraduate education or as professional development affected their perceptions of professional identity throughout the transition to online language teaching. Future studies can broaden the field of study by making use of exploratory action research, awareness of the teaching community, and continued professional development.
New species and records of Hygrodromicus Tronquet, 1981 from China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini)
Authors: SHAVRIN ALEXEY V.
Published: February 2022

New taxonomic and faunistic data for seven species of the genus Hygrodromcus Tronquet, 1981 from China are provided. Five species are (re-) described and illustrated: H. feldmanni sp. nov., H. fulvescens sp. nov. and H. graciliformis sp. nov. (Sichuan), H. maderi (Bernhauer, 1943) comb. nov. (from Geodromicus), and H. tuntalashanensis sp. nov. (Xizang). A new synonymy is established: H. maderi = Liophilydrodes uenoi Watanabe, 1995 syn. nov. A key to Chinese species of Hygrodromicus is given. The geographical distribution of all species is mapped. Two species are recorded for the first time from certain area: H. danlangi Cheng, Li & Peng, 2021 from Sichuan and H. maderi from Qinghai, Hubei and Yunnan.
Plantar Fasciopathy, General Concepts, Shock Wave Treatment and Other Additional Therapeutic Considerations
Authors: Toledo Osvaldo Valle
Published: February 2022

Plantar fasciopathy is the most common cause of heel pain. It is a primarily degenerative and mechanical overuse pathology. The plantar fascia fulfills important biomechanical functions in the foot, being its “windlass” mechanism, the most important function in this regard, allowing the foot to act as a single and efficient motor unit during gait. Its clinical and imaging diagnosis is fully defined, being Baxter’s nerve entrapment neuropathy, its most significant differential diagnosis. The elongation exercises constitute the basic treatment, being the extracorporeal shock wave therapy of significant utility, amplified in its effects by the association with the referred therapeutic exercises. Keywords: Plantar fasciitis, shock waves, fasciopathy.
Monitoring the deposited energy in laser-induced plasmas with an
acoustic approach
Authors: Wu Wendong , Chai Shu , Zhou Yuegui
Published: February 2022

The monitoring of energy deposition behavior during the plasma formation process is the basis of recently developed laser-induced breakdown thermometry techniques. Utilizing the acoustic waveforms from laser-induced plasmas, a method to monitor the deposited energy was proposed. The linear relationships between the acoustic energy and the deposited energy were established under four different focal lengths. After the distortions in the sound propagation were corrected, the applicable range of this method was extended to a deposited energy from 10 to 240 mJ. The further spectra analysis in the deposited energy space suggested that the total number density of excited species increased with the deposition energy, without significant fluctuations in plasma temperature in the high-energy region.
In-lab demonstration of coherent one-way protocol over free space with turbulence simulation
Authors: Tello Castillo Alfonso , Eso Elizabeth , Donaldson Ross
Published: February 2022

Over the last decade, free-space quantum key distribution (QKD), a secure key sharing protocol, has risen in popularity due the adaptable nature of free-space networking and the near-term potential to share quantum-secure encryption keys over a global scale. While the literature has primarily focused on polarization based-protocols for free-space transmission, there are benefits to implementing other protocols, particularly when operating at fast clock-rates, such as in the GHz. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate a time-bin QKD system, implementing the coherent one-way (COW) at 1 GHz clock frequency, utilizing a free-space channel and receiver. We demonstrate the receiver’s robustness to atmospheric turbulence, maintaining an operational visibility of 92%, by utilizing a lab-based turbulence simulator. With a fixed channel loss of 16 dB, discounting turbulence, we obtain secret key rate (SKR) of 6.4 kbps, 3.4 kbps, and 270 bps for three increasing levels of turbulence. Our results highlight that turbulence must be better accounted for in free-space QKD modelling due to the additional induced loss.
High-speed silicon microresonator modulators with high optical modulation amplitude (OMA) at input powers >10 mW
Authors: Wang Xiaoxi , Mookherjea Shayan
Published: February 2022

A high-speed silicon photonic microdisc modulator is used with more than 10 mW optical power in the bus waveguide, extending the optical power handling regime used with compact silicon resonant modulators at 1550 nm. We present an experimental study of the wavelength tuning range and biasing path required to shift the resonant frequency to the optimal point versus on chip power. We measure the optical modulation amplitude (OMA) along different biasing trajectories of the microdisc under active modulation and demonstrate an OMA of 4.1 mW with 13.5 mW optical power in the bus waveguide at 20 Gbit/s non-return to zero (NRZ) data modulation.
Lineshape study of optical force spectra on resonant structures
Authors: Fan Lingling , Zhao Zhexin , Rituraj  , Jin Weiliang , Orenstein Meir , Fan Shanhui
Published: February 2022

Understanding the frequency spectrum of the optical force is important for controlling and manipulating micro- and nano-scale objects using light. Spectral resonances of these objects can significantly influence the optical force spectrum. In this paper, we develop a theoretical formalism based on the temporal coupled-mode theory that analytically describes the lineshapes of force spectra and their dependencies on resonant scatterers for arbitrary incident wavefronts. We obtain closed-form formulae and discuss the conditions for achieving symmetric as well as asymmetric lineshapes, pertaining, respectively, to a Lorentzian and Fano resonance. The relevance of formalism as a design tool is exemplified for a conceptual scheme of the size-sorting mechanism of small particles, which plays a role in biomedical diagnosis.
A feature of maternal sleep apnea during gestation causes autism-relevant neuronal and behavioral phenotypes in offspring
Authors: Vanderplow Amanda M. , Kermath Bailey A. , Bernhardt Cassandra R. , Gums Kimberly T. , Seablom Erin N. , Radcliff Abigail B. , Ewald Andrea C. , Jones Mathew V. , Baker Tracy L. , Watters Jyoti J. , Cahill Michael E.
Published: February 2022

Mounting epidemiologic and scientific evidence indicates that many psychiatric disorders originate from a complex interplay between genetics and early life experiences, particularly in the womb. Despite decades of research, our understanding of the precise prenatal and perinatal experiences that increase susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders remains incomplete. Sleep apnea (SA) is increasingly common during pregnancy and is characterized by recurrent partial or complete cessations in breathing during sleep. SA causes pathological drops in blood oxygen levels (intermittent hypoxia, IH), often hundreds of times each night. Although SA is known to cause adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, the long-term consequences of maternal SA during pregnancy on brain-based behavioral outcomes and associated neuronal functioning in the offspring remain unknown. We developed a rat model of maternal SA during pregnancy by exposing dams to IH, a hallmark feature of SA, during gestational days 10 to 21 and investigated the consequences on the offspring’s forebrain synaptic structure, synaptic function, and behavioral phenotypes across multiples stages of development. Our findings represent a rare example of prenatal factors causing sexually dimorphic behavioral phenotypes associated with excessive (rather than reduced) synapse numbers and implicate hyperactivity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in contributing to the behavioral aberrations. These findings have implications for neuropsychiatric disorders typified by superfluous synapse maintenance that are believed to result, at least in part, from largely unknown insults to the maternal environment.
Meta-analysis reveals an extreme “decline effect” in the impacts of ocean acidification on fish behavior
Authors: Clements Jeff C. , Sundin Josefin , Clark Timothy D. , Jutfelt Fredrik
Published: February 2022

Ocean acidification—decreasing oceanic pH resulting from the uptake of excess atmospheric CO2—has the potential to affect marine life in the future. Among the possible consequences, a series of studies on coral reef fish suggested that the direct effects of acidification on fish behavior may be extreme and have broad ecological ramifications. Recent studies documenting a lack of effect of experimental ocean acidification on fish behavior, however, call this prediction into question. Indeed, the phenomenon of decreasing effect sizes over time is not uncommon and is typically referred to as the “decline effect.” Here, we explore the consistency and robustness of scientific evidence over the past decade regarding direct effects of ocean acidification on fish behavior. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis of 91 studies empirically testing effects of ocean acidification on fish behavior, we provide quantitative evidence that the research to date on this topic is characterized by a decline effect, where large effects in initial studies have all but disappeared in subsequent studies over a decade. The decline effect in this field cannot be explained by 3 likely biological explanations, including increasing proportions of studies examining (1) cold-water species; (2) nonolfactory-associated behaviors; and (3) nonlarval life stages. Furthermore, the vast majority of studies with large effect sizes in this field tend to be characterized by low sample sizes, yet are published in high-impact journals and have a disproportionate influence on the field in terms of citations. We contend that ocean acidification has a negligible direct impact on fish behavior, and we advocate for improved approaches to minimize the potential for a decline effect in future avenues of research.
From musk to body odor: Decoding olfaction through genetic variation
Authors: Li Bingjie , Kamarck Marissa L. , Peng Qianqian , Lim Fei-Ling , Keller Andreas , Smeets Monique A. M. , Mainland Joel D. , Wang Sijia
Published: February 2022

The olfactory system combines input from multiple receptor types to represent odor information, but there are few explicit examples relating olfactory receptor (OR) activity patterns to odor perception. To uncover these relationships, we performed genome-wide scans on odor-perception phenotypes for ten odors in 1000 Han Chinese and validated results for six of these odors in an ethnically diverse population (n = 364). In both populations, consistent with previous studies, we replicated three previously reported associations (β-ionone/OR5A1, androstenone/OR7D4, cis-3-hexen-1-ol/OR2J3 LD-band), but not for odors containing aldehydes, suggesting that olfactory phenotype/genotype studies are robust across populations. Two novel associations between an OR and odor perception contribute to our understanding of olfactory coding. First, we found a SNP in OR51B2 that associated with trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, a key component of human underarm odor. Second, we found two linked SNPs associated with the musk Galaxolide in a novel musk receptor, OR4D6, which is also the first human OR shown to drive specific anosmia to a musk compound. We noticed that SNPs detected for odor intensity were enriched with amino acid substitutions, implying functional changes of odor receptors. Furthermore, we also found that the derived alleles of the SNPs tend to be associated with reduced odor intensity, supporting the hypothesis that the primate olfactory gene repertoire has degenerated over time. This study provides information about coding for human body odor, and gives us insight into broader mechanisms of olfactory coding, such as how differential OR activation can converge on a similar percept.
Empirical estimation of marine phytoplankton assemblages in coastal and offshore areas using an in situ multi-wavelength excitation fluorometer
Authors: Kodama Taketoshi , Taniuchi Yukiko , Kasai Hiromi , Yamaguchi Tamaha , Nakae Misato , Okumura Yutaka
Published: February 2022

Phytoplankton assemblages are essential for understanding the quality of primary production in marine ecosystems. Here, we describe the development of a methodology for monitoring marine phytoplankton assemblages using an in situ multi-wavelength excitation fluorometer (MEX). The MEX recorded the fluorescence excited with nine light-emitting diodes, temperature, and sensor depth. We prepared reference datasets comprising MEX fluorescence and plant pigment-based phytoplankton assemblages of nine chemotaxonomy groups (diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, chlorophytes, haptophytes type 3, haptophytes type 4, prasinophytes, cyanophytes, and prochlorophytes). Conversions from the MEX fluorescence to the phytoplankton assemblages were conducted with two processes. First, target MEX fluorescence was decomposed using a linear inverse model for calculating coefficients. Second, pigment-based chemotaxonomy of the target MEX fluorescence was reconstructed using the coefficients and the chemotaxonomy assemblages of the reference data. Cross-validation analyses indicated good estimation of the proportion of diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, cyanophytes, and prochlorophytes with MEX, and when chlorophytes, haptophytes and prasinophytes were summarized as other eukaryotes, the positive correlation was seen between proportions estimated with MEX and pigments as same as other five chemotaxonomy groups. Repeated MEX observations were conducted in the Kuroshio, the Sea of Japan, the Oyashio, and the Okhotsk Sea. The water-column integrated biomass indicated that the diatoms were an important primary producer in the Oyashio and the Okhotsk Sea, while eukaryotes were important in the Sea of Japan and prochlorophytes were important in the Kuroshio. Our method with the MEX will be a powerful tool to understand and estimate the chemotaxonomy-level assemblages and biomass in the ocean.
Pre-training Model Based on Parallel Cross-Modality Fusion Layer
Authors: Li Xuewei , Han Dezhi , Chang Chin-Chen
Published: February 2022

Visual Question Answering (VQA) is a learning task that combines computer vision with natural language processing. In VQA, it is important to understand the alignment between visual concepts and linguistic semantics. In this paper, we proposed a Pre-training Model Based on Parallel Cross-Modality Fusion Layer (P-PCFL) to learn the fine-grained relationship between vision and language. The P-PCFL model is composed of three Encoders: Object Encoder, Language Encoder, and Parallel Cross-Modality Fusion Encoder, with Transformer as the core. We use four different Pre-training missions, namely, Cross-Modality Mask Language Modeling, Cross-Modality Mask Region Modeling, Image-Text Matching, and Image-Text Q&A, to pre-train the P-PCFL model and improve its reasoning and universality, which help to learn the relationship between Intra-modality and Inter-modality. Experimental results on the platform of Visual Question Answering dataset VQA v2.0 show that the Pre-trained P-PCFL model has a good effect after fine-tuning the parameters. In addition, we also conduct ablation experiments and provide some results of Attention visualization to verify the effectiveness of P-PCFL model.
Tolerability of nintedanib in the elderly with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Komatsu Masamichi , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Ichiyama Takashi , Kawakami Satoshi , Uehara Takeshi , Yoshikawa Yumi , Kitaguchi Yoshiaki , Ushiki Atsuhito , Yasuo Masanori , Hanaoka Masayuki
Published: February 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fibrosing interstitial lung disease, predominantly affects the elderly and is associated with a high mortality risk. Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, significantly reduces IPF progression. However, data on the tolerability and efficacy of nintedanib in the elderly with IPF are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the tolerability and efficacy of nintedanib in the elderly with IPF in a real-world setting. Medical records of 19 elderly IPF patients (≥ 75 years) and 46 non-elderly IPF patients (< 75 years) newly administered nintedanib were retrospectively analyzed. We compared the forced vital capacity (FVC) level, incidence and severity of adverse events, and continuation rates of nintedanib between the two groups. FVC and percent predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) were lower in the elderly IPF group at baseline. Although the elderly IPF patients had a significantly higher incidence of adverse events, such as diarrhea, nausea, and elevation of hepatic enzymes, the rate of discontinuation of nintedanib owing to adverse events was not different between the groups. The continuation rates of nintedanib treatment at 6 months and 1 year in the elderly IPF group were equivalent. Furthermore, there was a similar trend in the reduction of the annual FVC decline after nintedanib initiation between the groups. Our study demonstrated that nintedanib was tolerable in both the IPF patient groups in a real-world setting. Proper management of adverse events in the elderly with IPF would lead to a better clinical outcome.