bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual pruning of 3D trees as a tool for managing shading effects in agroforestry systems
Authors: Bohn Reckziegel Rafael , Sheppard Jonathan P. , Kahle Hans-Peter , Larysch Elena , Spiecker Heinrich , Seifert Thomas , Morhart Christopher
Published: October 2021

Light is a limiting resource for crops within integrated land use systems especially those including woody perennials. The amount of available light at ground level can be modified by artificially pruning the overstory. Aiming to increase the understanding of light management strategies, we simulated the pruning of wild cherry trees and compared the shading effects of the resulting tree structures over a complete growing season, with fine spatiotemporal resolution. Original 3D-tree structures were retrieved employing terrestrial laser scanning and quantitative structure models, and subjected to two pruning treatments at low and high intensities. By using the ‘shadow model’, the analogous tree structures created diverse shaded scenarios varying in size and intensity of insolation reduction. Conventional pruning treatments reduced the crown structure to the uppermost portion of the tree bole, reducing the shading effects, and thus, shrinking the shaded area on the ground by up to 38%, together with the shading intensity. As an alternative, the selective removal of branches reduced the shading effects, while keeping a more similar spatial distribution compared to the unpruned tree. Hence, the virtual pruning of tree structures can support designing and selecting adequate tending operations for the management of light distribution in agroforestry systems. The evidence assembled in this study is highly relevant for agroecosystems and can be strategically used for maintaining, planning and designing integrated tree-crop agricultural systems.
Atypical cyclin P regulates cancer cell stemness through activation of the WNT pathway
Authors: Sánchez-Botet Abril , Quandt Eva , Masip Núria , Escribá Rubén , Novellasdemunt Laura , Gasa Laura , Li Vivian S. W. , Raya Ángel , Clotet Josep , Ribeiro Mariana P. C.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Cancer stem cells represent a cancer cell subpopulation that has been found to be associated with metastasis and chemoresistance. Therefore, it is vital to identify mechanisms regulating cancer stemness. Previously, we have shown that the atypical cyclin P (CCNP), also known as CNTD2, is upregulated in lung and colorectal cancers and is associated with a worse clinical prognosis. Given that other cyclins have been implicated in pluripotency regulation, we hypothesized that CCNP may also play a role in cancer stemness.

Methods

Cell line-derived spheroids, ex vivo intestinal organoid cultures and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were used to investigate the role of CCNP in stemness. The effects of CCNP on cancer cell stemness and the expression of pluripotency markers and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters were evaluated using Western blotting and RT-qPCR assays. Cell viability was assessed using a MTT assay. The effects of CCNP on WNT targets were monitored by RNA-seq analysis. Data from publicly available web-based resources were also analyzed.

Results

We found that CCNP increases spheroid formation in breast, lung and colorectal cancers, and upregulates the expression of stemness (CD44, CD133) and pluripotency (SOX2, OCT4, NANOG) markers. In addition, we found that CCNP promotes resistance to anticancer drugs and induces the expression of multidrug resistance ABC transporters. Our RNA-seq data indicate that CCNP activates the WNT pathway, and that inhibition of this pathway abrogates the increase in spheroid formation promoted by CCNP. Finally, we found that CCNP knockout decreases OCT4 expression in iPSCs, further supporting the notion that CCNP is involved in stemness regulation.

Conclusion

Our results reveal CCNP as a novel player in stemness and as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.
The utility of PET imaging in the diagnosis and management of psychosis: a brief review
Authors: Rigney Grant , Ayubcha Cyrus , Werner Thomas J. , Alavi Abass , Revheim Mona-Elisabeth
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Advances in the pathophysiological characterization of psychosis has led to a newfound role of biomarkers in diagnostic and prognostic contexts. Further, advances in the accuracy and sensitivity of nuclear medicine imaging techniques, and specifically positron emission tomography (PET), have improved the ability to diagnose and manage individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis or those at greater risk for developing psychosis.

Methods

Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify papers related to the use of PET imaging in the diagnosis or management of psychosis. Search terms used included “positron emission tomography”, “PET imaging”, “psychosis”, “disorders of psychosis”, “schizophrenia”, “biomarkers”, “diagnostic biomarkers”, “prognostic biomarker”, “monitoring biomarker”, “outcome biomarker”, and “predictive biomarker.”

Results

Studies included fell into three categories: those examining microglia, those studying dopamine synthesis capacity, and those examining acetylcholine receptor activity. Microglial imaging has been shown to be ineffective in all patients with psychosis, but some believe it shows promise in a subset of patients with psychosis, although no defining characteristics of said subset have been postulated. Studies of dopamine synthesis capacity suggest that presynaptic dopamine is reliably elevated in patients with psychosis, but levels of dopamine active transporter are not. Further, positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluoro-l-dihydroxyphenylalanine ([18F]FDOPA)-PET has been recently used successfully as a predictive biomarker of dopaminergic treatment response, although more work is needed to validate such findings. Finally, existing studies have also documented lower levels of binding to the α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (α7-nAChR) via [18F]-ASEM PET in patients with psychosis, however there is a dearth of prospective, randomized studies evaluating the efficacy of [18F]-ASEM as a diagnostic or monitoring biomarker of any kind.

Conclusion

Molecular imaging has become a useful tool in the diagnosis and management of psychosis. Further work must be done to improve the comparative prognostic value and diagnostic accuracy of different radiotracers.
A confirmatory composite analysis for the Italian validation of the interactions anxiousness scale: a higher-order version
Authors: Ciavolino Enrico , Ferrante Lucrezia , Sternativo Giovanna Alessia , Cheah Jun-Hwa , Rollo Simone , Marinaci Tiziana , Venuleo Claudia
Published: October 2021

This study examined the factor structure and model specifications of the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) with confirmatory composite analysis (CCA) using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with a sample of Italian adolescents ($$n = 764$$

n
=
764

). The CCA and PLS-SEM results identified the reflective nature of the IAS sub-scale scores, supporting an alternative measurement model of the IAS scores as a second-order reflective–reflective model.
Artificial Neural Networks on FPGAs for Real-Time Energy Reconstruction of the ATLAS LAr Calorimeters
Authors: Aad Georges , Berthold Anne-Sophie , Calvet Thomas , Chiedde Nemer , Fortin Etienne Marie , Fritzsche Nick , Hentges Rainer , Laatu Lauri Antti Olavi , Monnier Emmanuel , Straessner Arno , Voigt Johann Christoph
Published: October 2021

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is operated at CERN and measures proton–proton collisions at multi-TeV energies with a repetition frequency of 40 MHz. Within the phase-II upgrade of the LHC, the readout electronics of the liquid-argon (LAr) calorimeters of ATLAS are being prepared for high luminosity operation expecting a pileup of up to 200 simultaneous proton–proton interactions. Moreover, the calorimeter signals of up to 25 subsequent collisions are overlapping, which increases the difficulty of energy reconstruction by the calorimeter detector. Real-time processing of digitized pulses sampled at 40 MHz is performed using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). To cope with the signal pileup, new machine learning approaches are explored: convolutional and recurrent neural networks outperform the optimal signal filter currently used, both in assignment of the reconstructed energy to the correct proton bunch crossing and in energy resolution. The improvements concern in particular energies derived from overlapping pulses. Since the implementation of the neural networks targets an FPGA, the number of parameters and the mathematical operations need to be well controlled. The trained neural network structures are converted into FPGA firmware using automated implementations in hardware description language and high-level synthesis tools. Very good agreement between neural network implementations in FPGA and software based calculations is observed. The prototype implementations on an Intel Stratix-10 FPGA reach maximum operation frequencies of 344–640 MHz. Applying time-division multiplexing allows the processing of 390–576 calorimeter channels by one FPGA for the most resource-efficient networks. Moreover, the latency achieved is about 200 ns. These performance parameters show that a neural-network based energy reconstruction can be considered for the processing of the ATLAS LAr calorimeter signals during the high-luminosity phase of the LHC.
Moving beyond (id)entities, toward emergent becomingsofthe world and its mattering
Authors: Davies Bronwyn
Published: October 2021

In the last 30 years we have increasingly, as humans, been individualised and set in competition with each other in the quest for ever increasing productivity. Neoliberalism has exacerbated those very liberal humanist features that feminist poststructuralist theory set out to dismantle with its critique of binary thought and the ascendance of white, male, elite, western consciousness. While transferring the responsibility for individual survival to the individual, away from the social, it weakened our responsibility, our response-ability, to each other and to the earth and our earth others. In this paper I tease my way, through stories, and through new materialist concepts, to a sense of self as emergent, as process rather than (id)entity, as response-able and responsible in the mattering of the world.
Transformative Choices and the Specter of Regret
Authors: HOWARD DANA
Published: October 2021

When people are making certain medical decisions—especially potentially transformative ones—the specter of regret may color their choices. In this essay, I ask whether predicting that we will regret a decision in the future serve any justificatory role in our present decision making. And if so, what role? While there are many pitfalls to such reasoning, I ultimately conclude that considering future retrospective emotions like regret in our decision making can be both rational and authentic. Rather than indicating that one is about to make a mistake or that there is some underlying value that one already cares about but is overlooking, the prediction that one will regret a decision in the future makes one confront how her present values and priorities may change as a result of her choice in ways she cannot at present anticipate.
Corporate Repertoires of Control and Performances of Power in a Contested Land Deal in Senegal
Authors: Gagné Marie
Published: October 2021

Farmland investments have attracted numerous entrepreneurs and companies to Africa in the past two decades. However, acquiring, retaining, and exploiting large-scale landholdings is more complicated than it seems. Investors need to persuade governments and populations of their anticipated benefits and limit dissenting voices when they emerge. Focusing on a contested land project in Senegal, Gagné develops the concept of “repertoires of control” to analyze the different performances of power that companies deploy to assert and legitimize their land claims. She argues that to survive, companies must continually adapt these performances to changes in the political environment of their host countries.
Monitoring carbon dioxide to quantify the risk of indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19
Authors: Bazant Martin Z. , Kodio Ousmane , Cohen Alexander E. , Khan Kasim , Gu Zongyu , Bush John W.M.
Published: October 2021

A new guideline for mitigating indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19 prescribes a limit on the time spent in a shared space with an infected individual (Bazant & Bush,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 118, issue 17, 2021, e2018995118). Here, we rephrase this safety guideline in terms of occupancy time and mean exhaled carbon dioxide (${\rm CO}_{2}$) concentration in an indoor space, thereby enabling the use of${\rm CO}_{2}$monitors in the risk assessment of airborne transmission of respiratory diseases. While${\rm CO}_{2}$concentration is related to airborne pathogen concentration (Rudnick & Milton,Indoor Air, vol. 13, issue 3, 2003, pp. 237–245), the guideline developed here accounts for the different physical processes affecting their evolution, such as enhanced pathogen production from vocal activity and pathogen removal via face-mask use, filtration, sedimentation and deactivation. Critically, transmission risk depends on the total infectious dose, so necessarily depends on both the pathogen concentration and exposure time. The transmission risk is also modulated by the fractions of susceptible, infected and immune people within a population, which evolve as the pandemic runs its course. A mathematical model is developed that enables a prediction of airborne transmission risk from real-time${\rm CO}_{2}$measurements. Illustrative examples of implementing our guideline are presented using data from${\rm CO}_{2}$monitoring in university classrooms and office spaces.
The Delphic nature of the language of psychiatry
Authors: Huttunen Matti
Published: October 2021

In this perspective piece, the language used in psychiatric classification is considered from a linguistic and anthropological perspective. It is important for psychiatrists to consider how ambiguous language can impact on their view of clinical presentations and the delivery of treatments. Ultimately, delivering care using an empathic and humane approach should always be a primary consideration when treating mental illness.
FRAGMENTS OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM BC FROM NIGIN
Authors: Nadali Davide , Verderame Lorenzo
Published: October 2021

The ancient city of Nigin in the State of Lagash is largely attested in the epigraphic sources of the rulers of the First Dynasty of Lagash. Conversely, the archaeological evidence of the Early Dynastic Period is so far very scanty and limited. This paper presents a small group of documents to be dated to the Early Dynastic Period IIIb that were found out of context, but that nevertheless point to a phase of occupation of Nigin in the third millennium BC and are coherent with the information we already know about history of the city and the State of Lagash.
Goldilocks mixing in oceanic shear-induced turbulent overturns
Authors: Mashayek A. , Caulfield C.P. , Alford M.H.
Published: October 2021

We present a new, simple and physically motivated parameterization, based on the ratio of Thorpe and Ozmidov scales, for the irreversible turbulent flux coefficient

$\varGamma _{\mathcal {M}}= {\mathcal {M}}/\epsilon$

, i.e. the ratio of the irreversible rate

${\mathcal {M}}$

at which the background potential energy increases in a stratified flow due to macroscopic motions to the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy

$\epsilon$

. Our parameterization covers all three key phases (crucially, in time) of a shear-induced stratified turbulence life cycle: the initial, ‘hot’ growing phase, the intermediate energetically forced phase and the final ‘cold’ fossilization decaying phase. Covering all three phases allows us to highlight the importance of the intermediate one, to which we refer as the ‘Goldilocks’ phase due to its apparently optimal (and so neither too hot nor too cold, but just right) balance, in which energy transfer from background shear to the turbulent mixing is most efficient. The value of

$\varGamma _{\mathcal {M}}$

is close to 1/3 during this phase, which we demonstrate appears to be related to an adjustment towards a critical or marginal Richardson number for sustained turbulence

${\sim }0.2\text {--}0.25$

. Importantly, although buoyancy effects are still significant at leading order for the turbulent dynamics during this intermediate phase, the marginal balance in the flow ensures that the turbulent mixing of the (density) scalar is nevertheless effectively ‘locked’ to the turbulent mixing of momentum. We present supporting evidence for our parameterization through comparison with six oceanographic datasets that span various turbulence generation regimes and a wide range of geographical location and depth. Using these observations, we highlight the significance of parameterizing an inherently variable flux coefficient for capturing the turbulent flux associated with rare energetic, yet fundamentally shear-driven (and so not strongly stratified) overturns that make a disproportionate contribution to the total mixing. We also highlight the importance of representation of young turbulent patches in the parameterization for connecting the small scale physics to larger scale applications of mixing such as ocean circulation and tracer budgets. Shear-induced turbulence is therefore central to irreversible mixing in the world's oceans, apparently even close to the seafloor, and it is critically important to appreciate the inherent time dependence and evolution of mixing events: history matters to mixing.
Impact of ACE2 genetic variant on antidepressant efficacy of SSRIs
Authors: Firouzabadi Negar , Farshadfar Parisa , Haghnegahdar Maral , Alavi-Shoushtari Ali , Ghanbarinejad Vahid
Published: October 2021

Identification of a new axis of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin (1–7)/Mas receptor, in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), has opened a new insight regarding the role of RAS and angiotensin in higher brain functions. ACE2 catabolizes angiotensin II and produces angiotensin (1–7), an agonist of Mas receptor. Mice lacking the Mas receptor (angiotensin 1–7 receptor) exhibit anxiety-like behaviours. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis of the involvement of ACE2 genetic variant (G8790A) on response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In a randomised control trial, 200 newly diagnosed Iranian patients with major depressive disorder completed 6 weeks of fluoxetine or sertraline treatment. Patients with a reduction of 50% or more in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score were considered responsive to treatment. G8790A polymorphism was determined in extracted DNAs using restriction fragment length polymerase chain reaction method. Our results show that the A allele and AA and GA genotypes were significantly associated with better response to SSRIs (p = 0.008; OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.4–8.5 and p = 0.027; OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.2–9.2, respectively). Moreover, patients with GA and AA genotypes responded significantly better to sertraline (p = 0.0002; OR = 9.1; 95% CI = 2.4–33.7). The A allele was significantly associated with better response to sertraline (p = 0.0001; OR = 7.6; 95% CI = 2.5–23.3). In conclusion, our results confirm the role of G8790A in response to some SSRIs.
New results for FBS late-type stars using Gaia EDR3 data
Authors: Gigoyan Kamo S. , Lebzelter T. , Kostandyan G. R. , Karapetyan E. , Baghdasaryan D. , Gigoyan K. K.
Published: October 2021

We study in this paper bright late-type giants found in the First Byurakan Survey (FBS) data base. Phase dependent light-curves from large sky area variability data bases such as Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) and All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), and the early installment of the third Gaia data release (Gaia EDR3) photometric and astrometric data have been used to characterize our sample of 1 100 M-type giants and 130 C-type stars found at high latitudes. Gaia radial velocities (RV) are available for 134 and luminosities for 158 stars out of 1 100. We show the behaviour of our sample stars in a Gaia color–absolute magnitude diagram (CaMD), the Gaia-2MASS-diagram from Lebzelter et al. with some alternative versions. In this way we explore the potential of these diagrams and their combination for the analysis and interpretation of datasets of LPVs. We show the possibility to classify stars into M- and C-types and to identify the mass of the bulk of the sample stars.
Trial to Encourage Adoption and Maintenance of a MEditerranean Diet (TEAM-MED): a randomised pilot trial of a peer support intervention for dietary behaviour change in adults from a Northern European population at high CVD risk
Authors: McEvoy Claire T. , Moore Sarah , Erwin Christina , Kontogianni Meropi , Wallace Sara Megan , Appleton Katherine M. , Cupples Margaret , Hunter Steven , Kee Frank , McCance David R. , Patterson Christopher C. , Young Ian S. , McKinley Michelle C. , Woodside Jayne V.
Published: October 2021

Adhering to a Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with reduced CVD risk. This study aimed to explore methods of increasing MD adoption in a non-Mediterranean population at high risk of CVD, including assessing the feasibility of a developed peer support intervention. The Trial to Encourage Adoption and Maintenance of a MEditerranean Diet was a 12-month pilot parallel group RCT involving individuals aged ≥ 40 year, with low MD adherence, who were overweight, and had an estimated CVD risk ≥ 20 % over ten years. It explored three interventions, a peer support group, a dietician-led support group and a minimal support group to encourage dietary behaviour change and monitored variability in Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) over time and between the intervention groups, alongside measurement of markers of nutritional status and cardiovascular risk. 118 individuals were assessed for eligibility, and 75 (64 %) were eligible. After 12 months, there was a retention rate of 69 % (peer support group 59 %; DSG 88 %; MSG 63 %). For all participants, increases in MDS were observed over 12 months (P< 0·001), both in original MDS data and when imputed data were used. Improvements in BMI, HbA1c levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the population as a whole. This pilot study has demonstrated that a non-Mediterranean adult population at high CVD risk can make dietary behaviour change over a 12-month period towards an MD. The study also highlights the feasibility of a peer support intervention to encourage MD behaviour change amongst this population group and will inform a definitive trial.
An investigation of a Devonian/Carboniferous Boundary section on the Bolivian Altiplano
Authors: Lakin Jon A. , Marshall John E.A. , Troth Ian
Published: October 2021

The Devonian/Carboniferous Boundary (DCB) interval is associated with mass extinction, isotope excursions and a short glacial episode. This study investigates how boundary extinction and environmental change is expressed in the glacial high-palaeolatitudinal record of the Bolivian Altiplano (western Gondwana). A latest Devonian and early Carboniferous section has been investigated using sedimentology, palynology, total organic carbon and bulk δ13Corganic. The Colpacucho Formation is a Late Devonian shelfal–marine siliciclastic sequence. It is overlain in the study area by a unit of coarse sandstones and sandy diamictites, interpreted as glaciomarine. This distinctive glaciomarine unit is at least 7 km wide and 60–120 m thick with a variably incisive basal contact (<100 m). It is of very latest Famennian age and is a stratigraphic equivalent of proven glacigenic deposits across central South America. The offshore marine Kasa Formation overlies the glacigenic unit above a basal flooding surface. The DCB is 12 m above this flooding surface on the last occurrence of Retispora lepidophyta and significant palynological assemblage changes. This includes the loss of the Umbellasphaeridium saharicum phytoplankton bioprovince, endemic to Gondwana. Marine and terrestrial palynological extinctions are synchronous with a 2 ‰ positive carbon isotope excursion interpreted to be reflective of changes in organic matter delivery and preservation during an interval of environmental stress. These results inform wider debates on global environmental change and mass extinction at the DCB.
Tom F. Wright'sTransatlantic Rhetoricas an American Studies Teaching Resource
Authors: ROBBINS SARAH RUFFING
Published: October 2021

I first read Tom F. Wright'sTransatlantic Rhetoric: Speeches from the American Revolution to the Suffragettesin late summer 2020, while drafting the syllabus for a new undergraduate rhetoric course in my university's Writing major. I proposed “Writing across Cultural Differences” several years ago and had been waiting eagerly to teach it, only to find myself delivering the inaugural version over Zoom during the coronavirus pandemic. As I write this essay in December 2020, I am in the midst of syllabus-building email exchanges with a now-frequent teaching partner (Victorian literature specialist Linda Hughes), as we prepare to offer a graduate seminar in nineteenth-century transatlantic literature for the fourth time. (Our first foray into collaborative transatlanticism was in 2010.) While we plan for the upcoming class (also – sigh – being taught over Zoom), I am rereading Wright's book, this time focussed more on the “transatlantic” side of his title. A generative resource for my teaching in both these classes,Transatlantic Rhetoricenacts a global brand of American studies, modeling content and methodologies crucial to the field today. To illustrate, I will revisit some ways in which Wright's anthology is informing my pedagogy in this challenging COVID-shaped year.
When Think Tanks Refuse Thinking: Why American Pro-Market Conservatives Oppose Market Integration
Authors: Springer Benedikt
Published: October 2021

American pro-market conservatives often oppose use of federal authority to rein in anti-competitive behavior by market actors. Competitive barriers, whether created by local jurisdictions or the absence of national competitive rules, go unaddressed. In international comparison, especially considering the European Union's use of central authority for market openness, this is quite puzzling. Based on interviews and archival research, I trace inattention to market barriers to contradictions within Hayek's neoliberalism and an enthusiastic reception within the American academy of one possible interpretation of those writings. This conception of markets—competitive federalism—diffused into the conservative law and economics movements, think tanks, and eventually mainstream conservative politics. It permitted conservatism to align a strong pro-market rhetoric with demands for states’ rights and federal retrenchment, albeit side-stepping many significant issues in economic theory and policy. Thus, conservatives pursue spending and tax cuts, deregulation and decentralization, often to the detriment of market openness.
Association of family characteristics with health status and needs among children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Peterson Ashley , Cochran Elizabeth , Tumin Dmitry , Sarno Lauren A.
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Low socio-economic status is associated with poorer quality of life among children with congenital heart disease (CHD), but this finding is based on disparities among children remaining under cardiology follow-up. We used a population-based health survey data set to analyse the impact of socio-economic status on health and functional status among children with CHD.

Materials and methods:

We used 2007–2018 National Health Interview Survey data, selecting children 2–17 years of age who had been diagnosed with CHD. Outcomes included caregiver-rated general health, presence of functional limitations, number of missed school days, need for special education, and need for special equipment related to the child’s health conditions. Socio-economic status measures included maternal educational attainment, food stamp programme participation, poverty status, and insurance coverage.

Results:

Based on a sample of 233 children with CHD, 10% had fair or poor health, 38% reported having any health-related limitation on their usual activities, 11% needed special equipment, and 27% received special education services. On multivariable analysis, lower maternal educational attainment was correlated with worse caregiver-rated health, and children without insurance were especially likely to experience functional limitations. Black children with CHD had significantly worse caregiver-rated health compared to White children (ordered logit odds ratio: 0.19; 95% confidence interval: 0.08, 0.45; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

In a population-based survey of children with CHD, race and several measures of socio-economic status disadvantage were associated with worse health outcomes. Further evaluation of social determinants of health during cardiology follow-up may help improve outcomes for children with CHD in socio-economically disadvantaged families.
Determinants of oxygen uptake and prognostic factors in cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with Fontan surgery
Authors: Martin Talavera Maria , Manso Begoña , Cejudo Ramos Pilar , Rodriguez Puras Maria Jose , Wals Rodriguez Amadeo J , Garcia de Vinuesa Pastora Gallego
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) allows quantification of functional capacity of patients with Fontan. The objective of this study was to determine the role of CPET parameters in predicting a higher maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and to analyse the role of CPET parameters in predicting an unfavourable outcome.

Methods:

A retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on 57 patients with Fontan, who had undergone incremental CPET with cycloergometer between 2010 and 2020. Determinants of VO2 max and determinants of clinical deterioration were analysed.

Results:

In the univariate analysis, the variables significantly related to VO2 max were: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), years of Fontan evolution, intracardiac Fontan, oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold (VO2AT), CO2 equivalents at anaerobic threshold (VE/VCO2) and chronotropic insufficiency. The multiple linear regression model that best fitted the relationship between VO2 max and independent variables (correlation coefficient 0.73) included sex (correlation index 3.35; p = 0.02), BMI (−0.27; p = 0.02), chronotropic failure (−2.79; p = 0.01) and VO2AT (0.92; p < 0.0001). In the univariate analysis of the prognostic CPET variables related to an unfavourable clinical situation, significance was only obtained with chronotropic insufficiency (p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, chronotropic insufficiency maintains its association [p= 0.017, OR = 4.65 (1.3–16.5)].

Conclusions:

In conclusion, together with the anthropometric parameters universally related to VO2 max, chronotropic insufficiency and VO2AT are the main determinants of functional capacity in patients with Fontan. Moreover, chronotropic insufficiency is closely related to unfavourable clinical evolution. Our data would support the intensive treatment of chronotropic insufficiency in order to improve the quality of life and the clinical situation of patients with Fontan.
Dextrose 50% versus Dextrose 10% or Dextrose Titration for the Treatment of Out-of-Hospital Hypoglycemia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hurtubise Marissa , Stirling Jeffery , Greene Jennifer , Carter Alix JE , Swain Janel , Brown Ryan , Fidgen Dana , Goldstein Judah P.
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Paramedics commonly administer intravenous (IV) dextrose to severely hypoglycemic patients. Typically, the treatment provided is a 25g ampule of 50% dextrose (D50). This dose of D50 is meant to ensure a return to consciousness. However, this dose may cause harm and lead to difficulties regulating blood glucose levels (BGLs) post-treatment. It is hypothesized that a lower concentration, such as 10% dextrose (D10), may improve symptoms while minimizing harm.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central were systematically searched on September 15, 2020. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. GRADE and risk of bias were applied to determine the certainty of the evidence. Primary literature investigating the use of IV dextrose in hypoglycemic diabetic patients presenting to paramedics or the emergency department was included. Outcomes of interest included safety, efficacy (symptom resolution), and BGL.

Results:

Of 680 abstracts screened, 51 full-text articles were reviewed, with eleven studies included. Data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and eight observational studies were analyzed. A single RCT comparing D10 to D50 was identified. The primary significant finding of the study was an increased post-treatment glycemic profile by 3.2mmol/L in the D50 group; no other outcomes had significant differences between groups. When comparing pooled data from all the included studies, there was greater symptom resolution in the D10 group (95.9%) compared to the D50 group (88.8%). However, the mean time to resolution was approximately four minutes longer in the D10 group (4.1 minutes [D50] versus 8.0 minutes [D10]). There was a greater need for subsequent doses with the use of D10 (19.5%) compared to D50 (8.1%). The post-treatment glycemic profile was lower in the D10 group at 6.2mmol/L versus 8.5mmol/L in the D50 group. Both treatments had nearly complete resolution of hypoglycemia: 98.7% (D50) and 99.2% (D10). No adverse events were observed in the D10 group (0/1057) compared to 13/310 adverse events in the D50 group.

Conclusion:

Studies show D10 may be as effective as D50 at resolving symptoms and correcting hypoglycemia. Although the desired effect can take several minutes longer, there appear to be fewer adverse events. The post-D10-treatment BGL may result in fewer untoward hyperglycemic episodes.
Assessing Racial/Ethnic and Gender Gaps in Political Science PhD Students’ Methodological Self-Efficacy
Authors: Smith Amy Erica , Gillooly Shauna N. , Hardt Heidi
Published: October 2021

Most research on diversity within political methodology focuses on gender while overlooking racial and ethnic gaps. Our study investigates how race/ethnicity and gender relate to political science PhD students’ methodological self-efficacy, as well as their general academic self-efficacy. By analyzing a survey of 300 students from the top 50 US-based political science PhD programs, we find that race and ethnicity correlate with quantitative self-efficacy: students identifying as Black/African American and as Middle Eastern/North African express lower confidence in their abilities than white students. These gaps persist after accounting for heterogeneity among PhD programs, professional and socioeconomic status, and preferred methodological approach. However, small bivariate gender gaps disappear in multivariate analysis. Furthermore, gaps in quantitative self-efficacy may explain racial/ethnic disparities in students’ broader academic self-efficacy. We argue that the documented patterns likely lead to continued underrepresentation of marginalized groups in the political methodology student body and professoriate.
Efficient bilingual lexicon extraction from comparable corpora based on formal concepts analysis
Authors: Chebel Mohamed , Latiri Chiraz , Gaussier Eric
Published: October 2021

Bilingual corpora are an essential resource used to cross the language barrier in multilingual natural language processing tasks. Among bilingual corpora, comparable corpora have been the subject of many studies as they are both frequent and easily available. In this paper, we propose to make use of formal concept analysis to first construct concept vectors which can be used to enhance comparable corpora through clustering techniques. We then show how one can extract bilingual lexicons of improved quality from these enhanced corpora. We finally show that the bilingual lexicons obtained can complement existing bilingual dictionaries and improve cross-language information retrieval systems.
The protein gap—increasing protein intake in the diet of community-dwelling older adults: a simulation study
Authors: Verwijs Marije H , de van der Schueren Marian AE , Ocké Marga C , Ditewig Jacco , Linschooten Joost O , Roodenburg Annet JC , de Groot Lisette CPGM
Published: October 2021

Objective:

Approximately 50 % of Dutch community-dwelling older adults does not meet protein recommendations. This study assesses the effect of replacing low protein foods with protein-rich alternatives on the protein intake of Dutch community-dwelling older adults.

Design:

The Dutch National Food Consumption Survey—Older Adults 2010–2012 (DNFCS-OA) was used for scenario modelling. Dietary intake was estimated based on two 24-h recalls. Commonly consumed products were replaced by comparable products rich in protein (scenario 1), foods enriched in protein (scenario 2) and a combination of both (scenario 3). Replacement scenarios were confined to participants whose dietary protein intake was < 1·0 g/kg BW/d (n 391). Habitual protein intake of all older adults was estimated, adjusting for effects of within-person variation in the 2-d intake data.

Setting:

A simulation study based on the DNFCS-OA.

Participants:

727 Dutch community-dwelling older adults aged 70+.

Results:

Mean protein intake of the total population increased from 1·0 to 1·2 g/kg BW/d (scenarios 1 and 2) and to 1·3 g/kg BW/d (scenario 3). The percentage of participants with intakes of ≥ 1·0 g/kg BW/d increased from 47·1 % to 91·4 %, 90·2 % and 94·6 %, respectively, in scenarios 1, 2 and 3. The largest increases in protein intake were due to replacements in food groups: yoghurt, cream desserts and pudding, potatoes, vegetables and legumes and non-alcoholic beverages and milk in scenario 1 and bread; yoghurt, cream desserts and pudding and soups in scenario 2.

Conclusions:

This simulation model shows that replacing low protein foods with comparable alternatives rich in protein can increase the protein intake of Dutch community-dwelling older adults considerably. Results can be used as a basis for nutritional counselling.
Utilizing cover crops for weed suppression within buffer areas of 2,4-D-resistant soybean
Authors: Hodgskiss Connor L. , Young Bryan G. , Armstrong Shalamar D. , Johnson William G.
Published: October 2021

Cover crops can be utilized to suppress weeds via direct competition for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. Research was conducted to determine if cover crops can be used in label-mandated buffer areas in 2,4-D-resistant soybean cropping systems. Delaying termination of cover crops containing cereal rye to at or after soybean planting resulted in a 25 to more than 200 percentage point increase in cover crop biomass compared to a control treatment. Cover crops generally improved horseweed control when 2,4-D was not used. Cover crops reduced grass densities up to 54% at four of six site-years when termination was delayed to after soybean planting. Cover crops did not reduce giant ragweed densities. Cover crops reduced waterhemp densities by up to 45%. Cover crops terminated at or after planting were beneficial within buffer areas for control of grasses and waterhemp, but not giant ragweed. Yield reductions of 14% to 41% occurred when cover crop termination was delayed to after soybean planting at three of six site-years. Terminating the cover crops at planting time provided suppression of grasses and waterhemp within buffer areas and had similar yield to the highest-yielding treatment in five out of six site-years.
Digitale Selbsthilfe bei psychischen Störungen
Authors: Eichenberg Christiane , Auersperg Felicitas
Published: October 2021

Digitale Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien haben sich im Alltag der meisten Menschen etabliert. Dementsprechend findet auch die Beschäftigung mit gesundheitlichen Problemen zunehmend im Internet sowie mit anderen neuen Medien, z.B. mobilen Apps, statt. Für Therapeutinnen und Therapeuten stellt sich damit zunehmend die Frage, welche Auswirkungen die Online-Aktivitäten auf die Behandlung haben.
Um die Chancen und Grenzen des Internets als Selbsthilfemedium einzuschätzen, muss zwischen den unterschiedlichen Nutzungsmöglichkeiten differenziert werden. Entsprechend stellt das Buch das Spektrum digitaler Selbsthilfeangebote dar und geht auf die Besonderheiten von Online-Selbsthilfeaktivitäten im Vergleich zu traditioneller Selbsthilfe ein. Ebenso wird aufgezeigt, in welchem Ausmaß psychisch erkrankten Personen inzwischen auf digitale Selbsthilfeangebote zurückgreifen. Ein weiteres Kapitel stellt digitale Selbsthilfeanwendungen v.a. im Bereich psychischer Störungen vor und illustriert diese anhand von Beispielen. Diese Informationen werden mit wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen aus der Klinischen Psychologie und Sozialpsychologie verknüpft und es wird darüber informiert, welche Auswirkungen die Online-Selbsthilfeaktivitäten der Patientinnen und Patienten auf die therapeutische Beziehung haben können. Sollen Therapeutinnen und Therapeuten z.B. Apps und Online-Selbsthilfeprogramme empfehlen? Oder fördern sie damit eher eine Fokussierung der Patientinnen und Patienten auf das Selbstmonitoring? Wie soll während der Psychotherapie mit paralleler Selbsthilfe oder Selbstbehandlung umgegangen werden? Wie soll reagiert werden, wenn eine Patientin auf einem Youtube-Channel ihre psychischen Probleme darstellt und mit Followern ihre Erfahrungen in der Therapie öffentlich teilt? Das Buch mündet in Empfehlungen für Behandelnde zum Umgang mit den Online-Selbsthilfeaktivitäten ihrer Patientinnen und Patienten.
Upper‐Tropospheric Troughs and North American Monsoon Rainfall in a Long‐Term Track Dataset
Authors: Igel Matthew R. , Ullrich Paul A. , Boos William R.
Published: October 2021

The North American monsoon is frequently affected by transient, propagating upper tropospheric vorticity anomalies. Sometimes called Tropical Upper‐Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs), these features have been claimed to episodically enhance monsoon rainfall. Here, we track long‐lived TUTTs in 40 years of reanalysis data, producing composites and case studies from 340 TUTTs which last, on average, 7 days as they move westward across the North American monsoon region. TUTTs are thought to form from midlatitude Rossby wave breaking; case studies from our dataset support this theory. TUTTs move westward within the easterly upper‐level flow in which they are embedded. In vortex‐centered composites along the full tracks of long‐lived TUTTs, we find no detectable increase in rainfall within the main TUTT circulation. Instead, negative precipitation anomalies lie within about 500 km of the TUTT center. Quasi‐geostrophic ascent occurs in the southeast quadrant of TUTTs but is confined to the upper troposphere and does not appear to interact with precipitation. Positive anomalies of ascent and rainfall occur south and southeast of TUTTs but lie outside the main TUTT vortex, perhaps indicating concurrent variations in nearby climatological precipitation maxima. In contrast with previous case studies and subjective analyses that showed TUTTs enhance precipitation in parts of northwestern Mexico, our composites along the tracks of long‐lived TUTTs portray these systems, to first order, as strong vorticity anomalies trapped in the upper troposphere that interact only weakly and indirectly with precipitation.
Psilocin, LSD, mescaline, and DOB all induce broadband desynchronization of EEG and disconnection in rats with robust translational validity
Authors: Vejmola Čestmír , Tylš Filip , Piorecká Václava , Koudelka Vlastimil , Kadeřábek Lukáš , Novák Tomáš , Páleníček Tomáš
Published: October 2021

Serotonergic psychedelics are recently gaining a lot of attention as a potential treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders. Broadband desynchronization of EEG activity and disconnection in humans have been repeatedly shown; however, translational data from animals are completely lacking. Therefore, the main aim of our study was to assess the effects of tryptamine and phenethylamine psychedelics (psilocin 4 mg/kg, LSD 0.2 mg/kg, mescaline 100 mg/kg, and DOB 5 mg/kg) on EEG in freely moving rats. A system consisting of 14 cortical EEG electrodes, co-registration of behavioral activity of animals with subsequent analysis only in segments corresponding to behavioral inactivity (resting-state-like EEG) was used in order to reach a high level of translational validity. Analyses of the mean power, topographic brain-mapping, and functional connectivity revealed that all of the psychedelics irrespective of the structural family induced overall and time-dependent global decrease/desynchronization of EEG activity and disconnection within 1–40 Hz. Major changes in activity were localized on the large areas of the frontal and sensorimotor cortex showing some subtle spatial patterns characterizing each substance. A rebound of occipital theta (4–8 Hz) activity was detected at later stages after treatment with mescaline and LSD. Connectivity analyses showed an overall decrease in global connectivity for both the components of cross-spectral and phase-lagged coherence. Since our results show almost identical effects to those known from human EEG/MEG studies, we conclude that our method has robust translational validity.
Exploration of alcohol use disorder-associated brain miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks
Authors: Lim Yolpanhchana , Beane-Ebel Jennifer E. , Tanaka Yoshiaki , Ning Boting , Husted Christopher R. , Henderson David C. , Xiang Yangfei , Park In-Hyun , Farrer Lindsay A. , Zhang Huiping
Published: October 2021

Transcriptomic changes in specific brain regions can influence the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD), but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. We investigated AUD-associated miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks in multiple brain regions by analyzing transcriptomic changes in two sets of postmortem brain tissue samples and ethanol-exposed human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cortical interneurons. miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes were profiled in 192 tissue samples (Set 1) from eight brain regions (amygdala, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, putamen, and ventral tegmental area) of 12 AUD and 12 control European Australians. Nineteen differentially expressed miRNAs (fold-change>2.0 &P < 0.05) and 97 differentially expressed mRNAs (fold-change>2.0 &P < 0.001) were identified in one or multiple brain regions of AUD subjects. AUD-associated miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks in each brain region were constructed using differentially expressed and negatively correlated miRNA–mRNA pairs. AUD-relevant pathways (includingCREB Signaling,IL-8 Signaling, andAxonal Guidance Signaling) were potentially regulated by AUD-associated brain miRNA–mRNA pairs. Moreover, miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes were mapped in additional 96 tissue samples (Set 2) from six of the above eight brain regions of eight AUD and eight control European Australians. Some of the AUD-associated miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks were confirmed. In addition, miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes were analyzed in hESC-derived cortical interneurons with or without ethanol exposure, and ethanol-influenced miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks were constructed. This study provided evidence that alcohol could induce concerted miRNA and mRNA expression changes in reward-related or alcohol-responsive brain regions. We concluded that altered brain miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks might contribute to AUD development.