bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing Learner-Centred Barriers to Sexuality Education in Rural Areas of South Africa: Learners’ Perspectives on Promoting Sexual Health Outcomes
Authors: Adekola Ayobami Precious , Mavhandu-Mudzusi Azwihangwisi Helen
Published: September 2021

Introduction

The school-based sexuality education programmes in South Africa aim to improve the sexual and reproductive health of school-going adolescents. However, the high rate of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among learners in some schools in rural areas of King Cetshwayo district suggests that the programmes in these schools might not be effective due to certain learner-centred factors.

Method

This qualitative study explored lived experiences of 84 learners from nine public schools in 2020 through focus group interviews. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Results

Learner-centred barriers to effective school-based sexuality education identified in this study were attitudes, age disparity, psychological status, peer pressure, socio-economic status, the exploratory attitude of learners, media, lack of role models, previous experiences, socio-economic status, and lack of parental love. These factors could reduce good sexual health. Learner-targeted interventions such as campaigns, using guest professionals, condom distribution, videos, on-site family planning, formal demonstrations, and on-site counselling could address these barriers.

Conclusions

Addressing these barriers and implementing the proposed interventions will enhance school-based sexuality education and consequently improve adolescents’ sexual health.

Policy Implications

The findings could guide programming, implementation, and delivery of school-based sexuality education leading to improved adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health.
Therapeutic cell engineering: designing programmable synthetic genetic circuits in mammalian cells
Authors: Mansouri Maysam , Fussenegger Martin
Published: September 2021

Cell therapy approaches that employ engineered mammalian cells for on-demand production of therapeutic agents in the patient’s body are moving beyond proof-of-concept in translational medicine. The therapeutic cells can be customized to sense user-defined signals, process them, and respond in a programmable and predictable way. In this paper, we introduce the available tools and strategies employed to design therapeutic cells. Then, various approaches to control cell behaviors, including open-loop and closed-loop systems, are discussed. We also highlight therapeutic applications of engineered cells for early diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in the clinic and in experimental disease models. Finally, we consider emerging technologies such as digital devices and their potential for incorporation into future cell-based therapies.
Mechanical and tribological behavior of Al composites containing varying beryllium aluminum silicate and constant CeO2
Authors: Verma Vikas , Cozza Ronaldo Câmara , Cheverikin Vladimir , Kondratiev Alexander , Penchaliah Ramkumar
Published: September 2021

The main aim of the present work is to see the performance of “Al–Beryl” composites processed via stir casting route with or without CeO2 on their mechanical, wear and corrosive properties for structural applications in heavy machinery and watercrafts. Hardness and ultimate tensile strength increased with 36% and 43%, respectively, with 9% Beryl addition. Further, effect of addition of constant 0.5 wt.% CeO2 in “Al–Beryl” composite was evaluated and remarkably improvement in corrosion resistance was observed. Tribological performance of the composites was investigated by conducting sliding wear tests against steel at different loads in dry and wet conditions. Characteristic features of adhesion, fracture and delamination were observed in SEM micrograph of the worn composite having low beryl content slid in air whereas abrasive wear predominates in water or oil. Addition of increased wt.% of beryl particles led in reduced wear of the composite at all loads. Increase in corrosion resistance by 45% decrease in weight loss with 0.5% CeO2 addition was observed. “Al6061–9% Beryl–0.5% CeO2” composite with high hardness, wear and corrosion resistance is found most promising for structural applications.

Article Highlights

An increase of 36% in hardness and 43% in ultimate tensile strength was found in Al composites with 9% Beryl addition;

Coefficient of friction was found least for “Beryl–CeO2” added composites in wet sliding conditions;

A transition in wear mechanism occurred with adhesion, fracture and delamination of the worn composite with low beryl content slid in air;

Corrosion resistance increased by 45% with 0.5% CeO2 addition in Al composites.
Energy poverty and its relationship with health: empirical evidence on the dynamics of energy poverty and poor health in Australia
Authors: Brown Heather , Vera-Toscano Esperanza
Published: September 2021

Does poor health increase the likelihood of energy poverty or vice versa creating a vicious poverty trap? We use data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) survey from 2005–2018 to explore if these two processes are dynamically related across a number of subjective and objective measures of physical and mental health as well as subjective and objective measures of energy poverty. We employ univariate dynamic models, introduce controls for initial conditions, and explore inter-dependence between energy poverty and health using a dynamic bivariate probit model. Our results show that controlling for initial conditions impacts on the magnitude and significance of the lagged coefficients. We only find cross-dependency effects between energy poverty and health for subjective measures of energy poverty. This suggests that individuals’ feelings about being in energy poverty may impact on their health leading to poor health/energy poverty traps. Targeting individuals in financial stress/debt may be one way to reduce these poor health/energy poverty traps.
SWO1 modulates cell wall integrity under salt stress by interacting with importin ɑ in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Zhidan , Wang Mugui , Yang Changhong , Zhao Lun , Qin Guochen , Peng Li , Zheng Qijie , Nie Wenfeng , Song Chun-Peng , Shi Huazhong , Zhu Jian-Kang , Zhao Chunzhao
Published: September 2021

Maintenance of cell wall integrity is of great importance not only for plant growth and development, but also for the adaptation of plants to adverse environments. However, how the cell wall integrity is modulated under salt stress is still poorly understood. Here, we report that a nuclear-localized Agenet domain-containing protein SWO1 (SWOLLEN 1) is required for the maintenance of cell wall integrity in Arabidopsis under salt stress. Mutation in SWO1 gene results in swollen root tips, disordered root cell morphology, and root elongation inhibition under salt stress. The swo1 mutant accumulates less cellulose and pectin but more lignin under high salinity. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq assays reveal that SWO1 binds to the promoter of several cell wall-related genes and regulates their expression under saline conditions. Further study indicates that SWO1 interacts with importin ɑ IMPA1 and IMPA2, which are required for the import of nuclear-localized proteins. The impa1 impa2 double mutant also exhibits root growth inhibition under salt stress and mutations of these two genes aggravate the salt-hypersensitive phenotype of the swo1 mutant. Taken together, our data suggest that SWO1 functions together with importin ɑ to regulate the expression of cell wall-related genes, which enables plants to maintain cell wall integrity under high salinity.
Outcomes of clinical decision support for outpatient management of Clostridioides difficile infection
Authors: Wu Tiffany , Davis Susan L. , Church Brian , Alangaden George J. , Kenney Rachel M.
Published: September 2021

Objective:

To determine the impact of clinical decision support on guideline-concordant Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment.

Design:

Quasi-experimental study in >50 ambulatory clinics.

Setting:

Primary, specialty, and urgent-care clinics.

Patients:

Adult patients were eligible for inclusion if they were diagnosed with and treated for a first episode of symptomatic CDI at an ambulatory clinic between November 1, 2019, and November 30, 2020.

Interventions:

An outpatient best practice advisory (BPA) was implemented to notify prescribers that “vancomycin or fidaxomicin are preferred over metronidazole for C.difficile infection” when metronidazole was prescribed to a patient with CDI.

Results:

In total, 189 patients were included in the study: 92 before the BPA and 97 after the BPA. Their median age was 59 years; 31% were male; 75% were white; 30% had CDI-related comorbidities; 35% had healthcare exposure; 65% had antibiotic exposure; 44% had gastric acid suppression therapy within 90 days of CDI diagnosis. The BPA was accepted 23 of 26 times and was used to optimize the therapy of 16 patients in 6 months. Guideline-concordant therapy increased after implementation of the BPA (72% vs 91%; P = .001). Vancomycin prescribing increased and metronidazole prescribing decreased after the BPA. There was no difference in clinical response or unplanned encounter within 14 days after treatment initiation. Fewer patients after the BPA had CDI recurrence within 14–56 days of the initial episode (27% vs 7%; P < .001).

Conclusions:

Clinical decision support increased prescribing of guideline-concordant CDI therapy in the outpatient setting. A targeted BPA is an effective stewardship intervention and may be especially useful in settings with limited antimicrobial stewardship resources.
Phase-based control of periodic flows
Authors: Nair Aditya G. , Taira Kunihiko , Brunton Bingni W. , Brunton Steven L.
Published: September 2021

Unsteady bluff-body flows exhibit dominant oscillatory behaviour owing to periodic vortex shedding. The ability to manipulate this vortex shedding is critical to improving the aerodynamic performance of bodies in a flow. This goal requires a precise understanding of how the perturbations affect the asymptotic behaviour of the oscillatory flow and of the ability to control transient dynamics. In this work, we develop an energy-efficient flow-control strategy to alter the oscillation phase of time-periodic fluid flows rapidly. First, we perform a phase-sensitivity analysis to construct a reduced-order model for the response of the flow oscillation to impulsive control inputs at various phases. Next, we introduce a real-time optimal phase-control strategy based on the phase-sensitivity function obtained by solving the associated Euler–Lagrange equations as a two-point boundary-value problem. Our approach is demonstrated for the incompressible laminar flow past a circular cylinder and an airfoil. We show the effectiveness of phase control with different actuation inputs, including blowing and rotary control. Moreover, our control approach is a sensor-based approach without the need for access to high-dimensional measurements of the entire flow field.
Linear stability analysis of a Newtonian ferrofluid cylinder surrounded by a Newtonian fluid
Authors: Canu Romain , Renoult Marie-Charlotte
Published: September 2021

We performed a linear stability analysis of a Newtonian ferrofluid cylinder surrounded by a Newtonian non-magnetic fluid in an azimuthal magnetic field. A wire is used at the centre of the ferrofluid cylinder to create this magnetic field. Isothermal conditions are considered and gravity is ignored. An axisymmetric perturbation is imposed at the interface between the two fluids and a dispersion relation is obtained allowing us to predict whether the flow is stable or unstable with respect to this perturbation. This relation is dependent on the Ohnesorge number of the ferrofluid, the dynamic viscosity ratio, the density ratio, the magnetic Bond number, the relative magnetic permeability and the dimensionless wire radius. Solutions to this dispersion relation are compared with experimental data from Arkhipenko et al. (Fluid Dyn., vol. 15, issue 4, 1981, pp. 477–481) and, more recently, Bourdin et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 104, issue 9, 2010, 094502). A better agreement than the inviscid theory and the theory that only takes into account the viscosity of the ferrofluid is shown with the data of Arkhipenko et al. (Fluid Dyn., vol. 15, issue 4, 1981, pp. 477–481) and those of Bourdin et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 104, issue 9, 2010, 094502) for small wavenumbers.
A posteriori dietary patterns in 71-year-old Swedish men and the prevalence of sarcopenia 16 years later
Authors: Karlsson Mikael , Becker Wulf , Cederholm Tommy E. , Byberg Liisa
Published: September 2021

The role of diet in sarcopenia is unclear, and results from studies using dietary patterns (DP) are inconsistent. We assessed how adherences to a posteriori DP are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia and its components 16 years later. Four DP were defined in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men at baseline (n 1133, average age 71 years). Among 257 men with information at follow-up, 19 % (n 50) had sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on sarcopenia in Older People 2 definition. Adherence to DP2 (mainly characterised by high intake of vegetables, green salad, fruit, poultry, rice and pasta) was non-linearly associated with sarcopenia; adjusted OR and 95 % CI for medium and high v. low adherence: 0·41 (0·17, 0·98) and 0·40 (0·17, 0·94). The OR per standard deviation (sd) higher adherence to DP2 was 0·70 (0·48, 1·03). Adjusted OR (95 % CI) for 1 sd higher adherence to DP1 (mainly characterised by high consumption of milk and cereals), DP3 (mainly characterised by high consumption of bread, cheese, marmalade, jam and sugar) and DP4 (mainly characterised by high consumption of potatoes, meat and egg and low consumption of fermented milk) were 1·04 (0·74, 1·46), 1·19 (0·71, 2·00) and 1·08 (0·77, 1·53), respectively. There were no clear associations between adherence to the DP and muscle strength, muscle mass, physical performance or sarcopenia using EWGSOP1 (sarcopenia n 54). Our results indicate that diet may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for sarcopenia in old Swedish men.
Consumption of avocado and associations with nutrient, food and anthropometric measures in a representative survey of Australians: a secondary analysis of the 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
Authors: Guan Vivienne X. , Neale Elizabeth P. , Probst Yasmine C.
Published: September 2021

Avocados are a rich source of nutrients including monounsaturated fats, dietary fibre, potassium and Mg, as well as phytochemicals. However, no epidemiological analysis for the associations between avocado consumption and participant anthropometric measures has been conducted in Australia. The present study aimed to perform a secondary analysis of the 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) to quantify avocado consumption in the Australian population and explore the associations between avocado intakes, consumption of nutrients and food groups based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and anthropometric measurements. Usual avocado consumption in the 2011–2012, NNPAS was determined using the multiple source method regression model. The relationship between avocado consumption and intakes of key nutrients and food groups and participant weight, BMI and waist circumference were examined using linear regression. Mean avocado intake was 2·56 (95 % CI: 2·37, 2·75) grams per day with 15·9 % of Australians considered to be ‘avocado consumers’ (n 21 526 456 population size; n 12 153 observations). Greater consumption (g) of avocados was associated with significantly higher consumption of monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, dietary fibre, vitamin E, Mg and potassium, as well as ‘whole grains’, ‘vegetables’, ‘fruit’ and ‘meat and alternatives’ food groups. Greater consumption (g) of avocados was associated with significantly lower consumption of carbohydrates and discretionary foods. When adjusted for covariates, greater consumption of avocados was significantly associated with a lower body weight (P = 0·034), BMI (P < 0·001) and waist circumference (P < 0·001). Avocados may be incorporated into an eating pattern and may be beneficial in weight management.
Antibiosis to Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in chickpea genotypes
Authors: Correa Fernanda , Silva Cinthia Luzia Teixeira , Nascimento Warley Marcos , Almeida André Cirilo de Sousa , de Jesus Flávio Gonçalves
Published: September 2021

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) belong to the Fabaceae family and are one of the most grown crops in the world and an important source of protein for humans. Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest that causes significant crop damage. The objective of this study was to examine antibiosis to S. frugiperda in chickpea genotypes. The following genotypes were studied: Jamu 96 and Blanco Sinaloa 92 (Mexico); Nacional 29 (Cuba); BG 1392 (Spain), and BRS Kalifa, BRS Cristalino, BRS Toro, Nacional 27, 004UP, 003UP, BRS Cícero, and BRS Aleppo (Brazil). The chickpea genotypes influenced the biological parameters of S. frugiperda, of which larval period, larval weight, and pupal period were most affected. Nacional 29 caused high mortality in the larval and pupal stages of S. frugiperda. The larvae on BRS Aleppo had the longest larval stage, lowest weight, and longest pupal stage. The genotypes Nacional 29, Nacional 27, and BRS Cícero showed antibiosis resistance to S. frugiperda. These genotypes could be used as a source of resistance to S. frugiperda in conjunction with other methods of pest control in integrated pest management programs for chickpea crops. These resistant genotypes could also be used as donor sources in breeding programs for insect resistance.
Intracapsular tonsillectomy versus extracapsular tonsillectomy: a safety comparison
Authors: Naidoo J , Schlemmer K
Published: September 2021

Objective

Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage remains a significant complication despite modifications of technique and instrumentation. Intracapsular tonsillectomy spares the capsule as a protective barrier for underlying blood vessels and musculature. Its efficacy in children with sleep-disordered breathing has been established, along with lowered rates of haemorrhage and pain, but research pertaining to adults and for recurrent infections has been limited.

Method

This retrospective study, encompassing 730 patients, compared post-operative haemorrhage rates between extracapsular (n = 379) and intracapsular tonsillectomy (n = 351) across all ages and indications using CoblationTM technology.

Results

A significant difference in post-operative haemorrhage rate was observed between extracapsular and intracapsular tonsillectomy techniques (2.1 vs 0.3 per cent; p = 0.025). In addition, an age of 18 years or older was also found to be an independent risk factor for post-operative haemorrhage (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

CoblationTM intracapsular tonsillectomy was shown to be safe and effective across all ages and indications, with a low risk of bleeding and revision surgery.
Lateral temporal bone resection for cutaneous carcinomas of the external auditory canal and peri-auricular region
Authors: Leedman S , Wormald R , Flukes S
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the outcomes for patients after lateral temporal bone resection surgery for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, and to ascertain predictors of survival and treatment failure.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records for all patients who underwent lateral temporal bone resection for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma between 2007 and 2019 in Western Australia.

Results

Thirty-seven patients underwent lateral temporal bone resection surgery. Median follow-up duration was 22 months. Twenty-five patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 12 had basal cell carcinoma. The overall survival rate at two years for patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 68.5 per cent. Pre-operative facial nerve involvement (determined via clinical or radiological evidence) was identified as a predictor of mortality (hazard ratio = 3.411,p= 0.006), with all patients dying before two years post-operatively. Locoregional tumour control was achieved in 81 per cent of cases (n= 30).

Conclusion

Lateral temporal bone resection offers acceptable local control rates and survival outcomes. Caution should be used in offering this surgery to patients with clinical or radiological evidence of facial nerve involvement because of the relatively poorer survival outcomes in this subgroup.
Faraday–Fresnel rotation and splitting of orbital angular momentum carrying waves in a rotating plasma
Authors: Rax J.-M. , Gueroult R.
Published: September 2021

Rotational Fresnel drag – or orbital Faraday rotation – in a rotating magnetised plasma is uncovered and studied analytically for Trivelpiece–Gould and whistler–helicon waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). Plasma rotation is shown to introduce a non-zero phase shift between OAM-carrying eigenmodes with opposite helicities, similarly to the phase shift between spin angular momentum eigenmodes associated with the classical Faraday effect in a magnetised plasma at rest. By examining the dispersion relation for these two low-frequency modes in a Brillouin rotating plasma, this Faraday–Fresnel rotation effect is traced back to the combined effects of Doppler shift, centrifugal forces and Coriolis forces. In addition, the longitudinal group velocity in the presence of rotation is shown to depend both on rotation and azimuthal mode, therefore predicting the Faraday–Fresnel splitting of the envelope of a wave packet containing a superposition of OAM-carrying eigenmodes with opposite helicities.
Spatial variation in the structure of overwintering, remnant Saccorhiza polyschides sporophytes and their associated assemblages
Authors: Salland Nora , Smale Dan
Published: September 2021

Understanding the structure and richness of natural communities is a fundamental goal of marine ecology, and foundation species such as large macroalgae have a disproportionate role in structuring biodiversity. However, high-resolution information on assemblages associated with macroalgae is lacking for many species and regions. Saccorhiza polyschides is a warm-temperate kelp with a relatively short lifespan (12–18 months), large thallus and bulbous holdfast offering habitat for diverse assemblages. In the UK, S. polyschides populations are thought to have proliferated recently. Here, we quantified the density and habitat structure provided by S. polyschides along a gradient of wave exposure within Plymouth Sound, and examined the composition and diversity of associated faunal assemblages. Density varied significantly between sites but not by wave exposure, while biometric measurements were generally highly variable. Senescing holdfasts from sporophytes offered valuable habitat, with high abundance and richness of associated assemblages, although these varied markedly between sporophytes and sites. Faunal abundance, taxon richness and diversity were significantly higher at fully exposed sites than at moderately exposed sites. Internal volume of holdfasts was positively correlated with faunal abundance and taxon richness. We recorded more than 27 distinct taxa and up to ~600 individuals within a single holdfast. Taxa included three fish species, including a novel observation of the pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis. Further work is needed to examine seasonality in habitat structure and associated diversity patterns but our study demonstrates that even remnant holdfasts from decaying sporophytes represent a valuable microhabitat that may provide shelter, protection and food during winter.
Estimates of carnivore densities in a human-dominated agricultural matrix in South Africa
Authors: Faure J. Philip B. , Swanepoel Lourens H. , Cilliers Deon , Venter Jan A. , Hill Russell A.
Published: September 2021

Populations of carnivore species outside protected areas may be of considerable importance for conservation, as many protected areas do not provide sufficient space for viable populations. Data on carnivore population sizes and trends are often biased towards protected areas, and few studies have examined the role of unprotected areas for carnivore conservation. We used camera-trapping data and spatial capture–recapture models to estimate population densities for four sympatric carnivores: the African leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta, brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea and African civet Civettictis civetta in Platjan, a predominantly agricultural, mixed land-use system, South Africa. Mean densities per 100 km2 for the leopard were 2.20 (95% CI 1.32–3.68) and 2.18 (95% CI 1.32–3.61) for left and right flank data, respectively; spotted hyaena, 0.22 (95% CI 0.06–0.81); brown hyaena, 0.74 (95% CI 0.30–1.88); and African civet 3.60 (95% CI 2.34–5.57; left flanks) and 3.71 (95% CI 2.41–5.72; right flanks). Our results indicate that although densities are lower than those reported for protected areas, humans and predators coexist in this unprotected agricultural matrix. We suggest that increased conservation effort should be focused in such areas, to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts. Our study improves the knowledge available for carnivore populations on privately owned, unprotected land, and may benefit conservation planning.
Evidence that infant and early childhood developmental impairments are associated with hallucinatory experiences: results from a large, population-based cohort study
Authors: Carey Eleanor , Healy Colm , Perry Yael , Gillan Diane , Whitehouse Andrew J. O. , Cannon Mary , Lin Ashleigh
Published: September 2021

Background

Cognitive and motor dysfunction are hallmark features of the psychosis continuum, and have been detected during late childhood and adolescence in youth who report psychotic experiences (PE). However, previous investigations have not explored infancy and early childhood development. It remains unclear whether such deficits emerge much earlier in life, and whether they are associated with psychotic, specifically hallucinatory, experiences (HE).

Methods

This study included data from Gen2 participants of The Raine Study (n = 1101), a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Western Australia. Five areas of childhood development comprising: communication; fine motor; gross motor; adaptive (problem-solving); and personal-social skills, were assessed serially at ages 1, 2 and 3 years. Information on HE, depression and anxiety at ages 10, 14 and 17 years was obtained. HE were further subdivided into those with transient or recurrent experiences. Mixed effects logistic regression models and cumulative risk analyses based on multiple domain delays were performed.

Results

Early poorer development in multiple areas was noted from ages 1, 2 and 3 years among youth who reported HE. Early developmental delays significantly increased the risk for later HE. This association was particularly marked in the recurrent HE group, with over 40% having early developmental delays in multiple domains. There was no significant association between early childhood development and later anxiety/depression apart from lower gross motor scores at age 3.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that early pan-developmental deficits are associated with later HE, with the effect strongest for young people who report recurrent HE throughout childhood and adolescence.
Matching overtly headed syntactic phrases in Italian
Authors: Van Handel Nicholas
Published: September 2021

In this paper, I develop an analysis of the Italian syntax–prosody interface in Match Theory, revisiting three φ-diagnostics from previous work: word-final vowel deletion, stress retraction and final lengthening. I show that these processes sometimes diverge in their distribution, supporting the existence of two phrasal domains in Italian. These domains are analysed using prosodic recursion. I then develop a novel formulation of MatchXP, according to which only syntactic XPs with phonologically overt heads, whether lexical or functional, are visible to the syntax–prosody mapping. This formulation is argued to be superior to versions of MatchXP that only match lexical XPs or that attempt to match all XPs, at least in Italian, suggesting that implementation of syntax–prosody mapping constraints may be subject to cross-linguistic variation.
Effects of changing culture medium on preimplantation embryo development in rabbit
Authors: Wang Haixia , Cao Wenbin , Hu Huizhong , Zhou Chenglong , Wang Ziyi , Alam Naqash , Qu Pengxiang , Liu Enqi
Published: September 2021

Many studies have focused on the optimization of the composition of embryo culture medium; however, there are few studies involving the effect of a culture medium changing procedure on the preimplantation development of embryos. In this study, three groups were designed: a non-renewal group, a renewal group and a half-renewal group. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptotic index, blastocyst ratio and blastocyst total cell number were analyzed in each group. The results showed that the ROS level and the apoptotic index of blastocyst in the non-renewal group were significantly higher than in the renewal group and the half-renewal group (P <0.05). The blastocyst ratio and blastocyst total cell number were significantly higher in the half-renewal group than that in non-renewal group and the renewal group (P <0.05). These results demonstrated that the procedure of changing the culture medium influenced ROS level, apoptotic index, blastocyst ratio and total cell number of blastocysts. In addition, the result suggested that changing the culture medium may lead to a loss of important regulatory factors for embryos, while not changing the culture medium may lead to the accumulation of toxic substances. Half-renewal can alleviate the defects of both no renewal and renewal, and benefit embryo development. This study will be of high value as a reference for the optimization of embryo culturein vitro, and is very significant for assisted reproduction.
3D transvenous radiofrequency ablation of manifest epicardial posterior-septal accessory pathways in children: Can technology innovations improve the outcome?
Authors: Drago Fabrizio , Tamborrino Pietro Paolo , Pazzano Vincenzo , Di Mambro Corrado , Silvetti Massimo Stefano
Published: September 2021

Introduction:

The aim of the study was to revise our more recent experience about epicardial posterior-septal accessory pathways radiofrequency transcatheter ablation in children and young patients using a transvenous approach through the coronary sinus, to understand if new mapping and ablation technologies can increase success rate and safety.

Methods and results:

Twenty children (mean age 13 ± 3 years) with epicardial posterior-septal accessory pathways (14 in coronary sinus and 6 in the middle cardiac vein) underwent radiofrequency transcatheter ablation with CARTO-3® system with help of the CARTO-Univu® module. Acute success rate was 73%. No patient was lost to follow-up (mean time 11.4 ± 9 months). The recurrence rate was 19%. Two patients underwent a successful redo-procedure; the overall long-term success rate was 65%. Navistar® catheter presented the highest acute success rate in the coronary sinus. Navistar SmartTouch® was the only catheter that did not present recurrences after the acute success, and it was successfully used in two patients previously unsuccessfully treated with a Navistar ThermoCool®. Acute success rate was 79% without image integration with angio-CT, while it was 63% after the introduction of CARTO-Merge®.

Conclusion:

Epicardial posterior-septal accessory pathways can be definitively eliminated by transvenous radiofrequency transcatheter ablation in more than half of the cases in children. Acute success rate does not seem to depend on catheters used, but contact-force catheter seems to be useful in cases with recurrences. Image integration with cardiac-CT does not increase success rate, but it is useful to detect coronary sinus alterations to better guide ablation strategy.
Charles Dickens, Man of Science
Authors: Buckland Adelene
Published: September 2021

Though there is now a vast body of work detailing Dickens's extensive interests in contemporary science, technology, and medicine, still there is an overriding sense that Dickens was in energetic contact with scientific knowledge but had no precise role in its constitution, creation, or contestation. In this essay, I argue instead that Dickens was one of the most powerful communicators of scientific knowledge in the mid-Victorian period. Drawing on James A. Secord's model of “knowledge in transit,” the idea that the content of scientific knowledge is arrived at at the same time as audiences for knowledge are constituted or imagined, I also argue that Dickens had a significant role to play in shaping the practices, objects, and values of scientific work. If we have lost sight of this Dickens, I argue, it is because the kinds of science he advocated and the power he wielded threatened other literary-scientific practitioners—including G. H. Lewes—who reshaped Dickens's reception in ways that suited their own aims and agendas. Dickens—a vocal exponent of mesmerists, spontaneous combustionists, sanitary campaigners, early-development hypothesizers, and fantastical engineers—had a far more direct and central role in scientific culture than has yet been understood.
LIE-TYPE DERIVATIONS OF NEST ALGEBRAS ON BANACH SPACES AND RELATED TOPICS
Authors: WEI FENG , ZHANG YUHAO
Published: September 2021

Let
$\mathcal {X}$
be a Banach space over the complex field
$\mathbb {C}$
and
$\mathcal {B(X)}$
be the algebra of all bounded linear operators on
$\mathcal {X}$
. Let
$\mathcal {N}$
be a nontrivial nest on
$\mathcal {X}$
,
$\text {Alg}\mathcal {N}$
be the nest algebra associated with
$\mathcal {N}$
, and
$L\colon \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}\longrightarrow \mathcal {B(X)}$
be a linear mapping. Suppose that
$p_n(x_1,x_2,\ldots ,x_n)$
is an
$(n-1)\,$
th commutator defined by n indeterminates
$x_1, x_2, \ldots , x_n$
. It is shown that L satisfies the rule
$$ \begin{align*}L(p_n(A_1, A_2, \ldots, A_n))=\sum_{k=1}^{n}p_n(A_1, \ldots, A_{k-1}, L(A_k), A_{k+1}, \ldots, A_n) \end{align*} $$

for all
$A_1, A_2, \ldots , A_n\in \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}$
if and only if there exist a linear derivation
$D\colon \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}\longrightarrow \mathcal {B(X)}$
and a linear mapping
$H\colon \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}\longrightarrow \mathbb {C}I$
vanishing on each
$(n-1)\,$
th commutator
$p_n(A_1,A_2,\ldots , A_n)$
for all
$A_1, A_2, \ldots , A_n\in \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}$
such that
$L(A)=D(A)+H(A)$
for all
$A\in \text {Alg}\mathcal {N}$
. We also propose some related topics for future research.
Arbeitszufriedenheit und Stresserleben der jungen Hausärztinnen und Hausärzte – Subanalyse aus der Workforce-Studie Schweizer Hausärzteschaft 2020
Authors: Glättli Kathrin , Giezendanner Stéphanie , Zeller Andreas
Published: September 2021

Zusammenfassung. Diese Fragebogen-basierte Querschnittsstudie bei 2037 Schweizer Hausärztinnen und -ärzten fokussierte auf junge Personen (≤40 Jahre) mit der Frage, welche Voraussetzungen ihnen hohe Arbeitszufriedenheit und tiefes Stresserleben ermöglichen. Im Vergleich zu älteren Kolleginnen und Kollegen sind junge Hausärztinnen und -ärzte (n = 206) signifikant häufiger weiblich (57 vs. 34 %), arbeiten in geringeren Pensen (38,2 vs. 44,0 Stunden pro Woche), sind häufiger angestellt (46 vs. 26 %) und planen durchschnittlich längere Konsultationen. Unter 40-Jährige waren zufriedener mit ihrer Arbeitssituation (p = 0,046), gaben aber ein höheres Stresserleben an (p = 0,032) im Vergleich zu den >40-Jährigen. Es besteht ein Trend, dass administrative Arbeiten Stress auslösen (p = 0,054). Zur Sicherung des Nachwuchses ist die Kenntnis der Befindlichkeit der jungen Hausärzteschaft unentbehrlich.
On‐Orbit Radiometric Performance on ICESat‐2
Authors: Gibbons Aimée , Neumann Thomas , Hancock David , Harbeck Kaitlin , Lee Jeffrey
Published: September 2021

NASA's ICESat‐2 mission measures Earth's elevation with the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), a 6‐beam photon‐counting laser altimeter. The Global Geolocated Photon data product (ATL03) is the primary source of photon information used by surface‐type‐specific higher‐level products, along with the Atmospheric Layer Characteristics product (ATL09). ATL03 provides time‐tagged, geolocated photon heights referenced to the ellipsoid and a parameter providing an initial classification of photon events as signal or background. We use this classification to evaluate ATLAS radiometry (number of signal photons per transmitted laser pulse) over short time scales and over the mission to date. The radiometric performance of ATLAS will in part determine what differences in the signal and background photon rates are significant and indicate geophysical, rather than instrumental, changes. We find the ATLAS radiometry is very stable over short time scales and exhibits a long‐term decrease of ∼1 signal photon per laser pulse (∼−12%) in the strong spots over the first 1.5 years of the mission.
Gravity Anomalies and Lithospheric Flexure in Western Yunnan, China, Deduced From a New Dense Gravimetry
Authors: Zhao Qian , She Yawen , Fu Guangyu
Published: September 2021

We conducted a dense gravity/GNSS survey in western Yunnan, China, and improved the precision of Bouguer gravity anomalies (BGAs) and Free‐air gravity anomalies (FGAs) by about 50 mGal. The BGAs showed that there was no significant BGAs abnormal change over the whole study area, and the density structure of BGAs inversion shows low‐density regions at 20–40 km depth beneath Tengchong and its surrounding areas. Meanwhile, we calculated the loading ratio of the lithosphere in western Yunnan based on merged FGAs using the gravity admittance method. The resulting ratios show that the lithospheric flexure in this region results from a combination of the surface, the internal crust, and the mantle, with the internal crust dominating. Combined with other geophysical results, we speculate that the origin of Tengchong volcanoes is not large‐scale mantle upwelling, but limited mantle material rising along the fracture in the process of material migration in the middle‐lower crust.
Ocean Temperature and Color Frontal Zones in the Gulf of Mexico: Where, When, and Why
Authors: Zhang Yingjun , Hu Chuanmin
Published: September 2021

The spatial and temporal patterns of ocean frontal zones in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) are studied using ocean color and sea surface temperature (SST) imagery collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Aqua (MODIS/A) over an 18‐year (2002–2019) period. A gradient‐based front detection algorithm is applied to each daily image to detect frontal features, from which a comprehensive data set of ocean frontal zones (both climatology and time series) is established. Prominent seasonality is found in both ocean color and SST frontal zones while their seasonal variations differ. Major persistent frontal zones are mainly distributed in coastal waters within the 130‐m isobath, and they are often associated with wind forcing, wind‐driven Ekman transport, upwelling/downwelling, river discharge, ocean currents, and topography. The seasonal and interannual variations in frontal distributions are also revealed in the dominant spatial and temporal modes derived from an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition analysis. These findings may have significant implications on fisheries and ocean ecology research. For example, both ocean color and SST frontal features in certain months are found to coincide with a well‐known fishing ground in the eastern GoM, and surface macroalgae features are found to align well with the identified ocean frontal features.
Biophysical Impacts of Historical Disturbances, Restoration Strategies, and Vegetation Types in a Peatland Ecosystem
Authors: Lee Sung‐Ching , Black T. Andrew , Nyberg Marion , Merkens Markus , Nesic Zoran , Ng Darian , Knox Sara H.
Published: September 2021

Rewetting of disturbed peatlands is an important restoration strategy for climate change mitigation. Previous work primarily focuses on the biogeochemical processes altered by rewetting and few studies have investigated the biophysical impacts, which can diminish or amplify biogeochemical effects beyond the ecosystem scale. We used a paired flux tower approach in a restored peatland to collect year‐round eddy covariance data to assess the biophysical impacts of disturbance and management practices. The first site was actively rewetted and is characterized by Sphagnum and white beak‐rush with patches of open water. The second site represents a disturbed ecosystem, which underwent natural regeneration and is dominated by scrub pine, Sphagnum, and low shrubs. We found that the actively restored site had higher net radiation compared to the second site due to more surface water ponding; however, the higher aerodynamic conductance at the passively restored site contributed to enhanced daytime turbulent fluxes, and hence, both sites had similar aerodynamic temperatures during the daytime. The actively restored site experienced warmer nighttime and seasonal aerodynamic temperature as much of the excess radiation during the day was stored in the water column and released at night. To achieve restoration goals, higher water tables are now maintained throughout large sections of the bog. The study implies that water table manipulation has the potential to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the bog, thereby allowing the biophysical impacts of peatland restoration to enhance the biogeochemical benefits. Therefore, it is important to consider both biophysical and biogeochemical changes in peatland restoration management.
SLC25A24 gene methylation and gray matter volume in females with and without conduct disorder: an exploratory epigenetic neuroimaging study
Authors: Farrow Elizabeth , Chiocchetti Andreas G. , Rogers Jack C. , Pauli Ruth , Raschle Nora M. , Gonzalez-Madruga Karen , Smaragdi Areti , Martinelli Anne , Kohls Gregor , Stadler Christina , Konrad Kerstin , Fairchild Graeme , Freitag Christine M. , Chechlacz Magdalena , De Brito Stephane A.
Published: September 2021

Conduct disorder (CD), a psychiatric disorder characterized by a repetitive pattern of antisocial behaviors, results from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The clinical presentation of CD varies both according to the individual’s sex and level of callous-unemotional (CU) traits, but it remains unclear how genetic and environmental factors interact at the molecular level to produce these differences. Emerging evidence in males implicates methylation of genes associated with socio-affective processes. Here, we combined an epigenome-wide association study with structural neuroimaging in 51 females with CD and 59 typically developing (TD) females to examine DNA methylation in relation to CD, CU traits, and gray matter volume (GMV). We demonstrate an inverse pattern of correlation between CU traits and methylation of a chromosome 1 region in CD females (positive) as compared to TD females (negative). The identified region spans exon 1 of theSLC25A24gene, central to energy metabolism due to its role in mitochondrial function. IncreasedSLC25A24methylation was also related to lower GMV in multiple brain regions in the overall cohort. These included the superior frontal gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supramarginal gyrus, secondary visual cortex and ventral posterior cingulate cortex, which are regions that have previously been implicated in CD and CU traits. While our findings are preliminary and need to be replicated in larger samples, they provide novel evidence that CU traits in females are associated with methylation levels in a fundamentally different way in CD and TD individuals, which in turn may relate to observable variations in GMV across the brain.
Translational opportunities in animal and human models to study alcohol use disorder
Authors: Nieto Steven J. , Grodin Erica N. , Aguirre Claudia G. , Izquierdo Alicia , Ray Lara A.
Published: September 2021

Animal and human laboratory paradigms offer invaluable approaches to study the complex etiologies and mechanisms of alcohol use disorder (AUD). We contend that human laboratory models provide a “bridge” between preclinical and clinical studies of AUD by allowing for well-controlled experimental manipulations in humans with AUD. As such, examining the consilience between experimental models in animals and humans in the laboratory provides unique opportunities to refine the translational utility of such models. The overall goal of the present review is to provide a systematic description and contrast of commonly used animal paradigms for the study of AUD, as well as their human laboratory analogs if applicable. While there is a wide breadth of animal species in AUD research, the paradigms discussed in this review rely predominately on rodent research. The overarching goal of this effort is to provide critical analysis of these animal models and to link them to human laboratory models of AUD. By systematically contrasting preclinical and controlled human laboratory models, we seek to identify opportunities to enhance their translational value through forward and reverse translation. We provide future directions to reconcile differences between animal and human work and to improve translational research for AUD.
Tenascin-c knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry of gastric cancer by inhibiting ERK- triggered EMT
Authors: Kang Xing , Xu En , Wang Xingzhou , Qian Lulu , Yang Zhi , Yu Heng , Wang Chao , Ren Chuanfu , Wang Yizhou , Lu Xiaofeng , Xia Xuefeng , Guan Wenxian , Qiao Tong
Published: September 2021

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is considered to be the leading cause for the failure of anti-angiogenesis therapy in advanced gastric cancer patients. In the present study, we investigate the role of tenascin-c (TNC) in the formation of VM in gastric cancer and found that TNC was upregulated in gastric cancer tissue than in the corresponding adjacent tissues and correlated with VM and poor prognosis of gastric cancer. Furthermore, knockdown of TNC significantly inhibited VM formation and proliferation of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, with a reduction in cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, TNC knockdown suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK and subsequently inhibited the process of EMT, both of which play an important role in VM formation. Our results indicated that TNC plays an important role in VM formation in gastric cancer. Combining inhibition of TNC and ERK may be a potential therapeutic approach to inhibit gastric cancer growth and metastasis and decrease antiangiogenic therapeutic resistance.