bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between endothelin and nitric oxide pathways in the onset and maintenance of hypertension in children and adolescents
Authors: Genovesi Simonetta , Giussani Marco , Orlando Antonina , Lieti Giulia , Viazzi Francesca , Parati Gianfranco 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe mechanisms that regulate blood pressure are numerous and complex; one mechanism that plays an important role in this scenario is represented by the balance between the vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1 and the vasodilator effect of nitric oxide. While there is agreement on the fact that increased endothelin-1 activity and decreased nitric oxide bioavailability are present in hypertensive adults, the situation is less clear in children and adolescents. Not all studies agree on the finding of an increase in plasma endothelin-1 levels in hypertensive children and adolescents; in addition, the picture is often confused by the concomitant presence of obesity, a condition that stimulates the production of endothelin-1. Furthermore, there is recent evidence that, in younger obese and hypertensive subjects, there is an overproduction of nitric oxide, rather than a reduction. This condition may change over time, causing endothelial dysfunction due to a reduced availability of nitric oxide in hypertensive adolescents. The purpose of this review is to address the main biochemical and pathophysiological aspects of endothelin and nitric oxide involvement in hypertension and to summarize the available scientific evidence on their role in the onset and maintenance of high blood pressure in children and adolescents.
High-throughput phenotyping of two plant-size traits of Eucalyptus species using neural networks
Authors: Borges Marcus Vinicius Vieira , de Oliveira Garcia Janielle , Batista Tays Silva , Silva Alexsandra Nogueira Martins , Baio Fabio Henrique Rojo , da Silva Junior Carlos Antônio , de Azevedo Gileno Brito , de Oliveira Sousa Azevedo Glauce Taís , Teodoro Larissa Pereira Ribeiro , Teodoro Paulo Eduardo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn forest modeling to estimate the volume of wood, artificial intelligence has been shown to be quite efficient, especially using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Here we tested whether diameter at breast height (DBH) and the total plant height (Ht) of eucalyptus can be predicted at the stand level using spectral bands measured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral sensor and vegetation indices. To do so, using the data obtained by the UAV as input variables, we tested different configurations (number of hidden layers and number of neurons in each layer) of ANNs for predicting DBH and Ht at stand level for different Eucalyptus species. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replicates, with 20 trees in each experimental plot. The treatments comprised five Eucalyptus species (E. camaldulensis, E. uroplylla, E. saligna, E. grandis, and E. urograndis) and Corymbria citriodora. DBH and Ht for each plot at the stand level were measured seven times in separate overflights by the UAV, so that the multispectral sensor could obtain spectral bands to calculate vegetation indices (VIs). ANNs were then constructed using spectral bands and VIs as input layers, in addition to the categorical variable (species), to predict DBH and Ht at the stand level simultaneously. This report represents one of the first applications of high-throughput phenotyping for plant size traits in Eucalyptus species. In general, ANNs containing three hidden layers gave better statistical performance (higher estimated r, lower estimated root mean squared error–RMSE) due to their greater capacity for self-learning. Among these ANNs, the best contained eight neurons in the first layer, seven in the second, and five in the third (8 − 7 − 5). The results reported here reveal the potential of using the generated models to perform accurate forest inventories based on spectral bands and VIs obtained with a UAV multispectral sensor and ANNs, reducing labor and time.
Staying neutral or intervening?
Authors: Hoogsteyns Maartje , Muhaimin Amalia 
Published: June 2021

AbstractEthics teachers are regularly confronted with disturbing cases brought in by medical students in class. These classes are considered confidential, so that everyone can speak freely about their experiences. But what should ethics teachers do when they hear about a situation they consider to be outright alarming, for example where patients/students’ safety is at stake or where systematic power abuse seems to be at hand? Should they remain neutral or should they step in and intervene? In the Netherlands, as in many other countries, there are no clear guidelines for ethics teachers on how to respond. To get more insight into what teachers themselves think a proper response would be, we interviewed 18 Dutch medical ethics teachers. We found that Dutch ethics teachers will address the issue in class, but that they are overall reluctant to intervene; take action outside the scope of class. This reluctance is partly rooted in the conviction that ethicists should stay neutral and facilitate reflection, instead of telling students or physicians what to do. At the same time, this neutral position seems a difficult place to leave for those teachers who would want to or feel they need to. This has to do with various organizational and institutional constraints tied up with their position. The study invites medical ethics teachers to reflect on these constraints together and think about how to proceed from there. This study seeks to contribute to research on cultural change in medicine and medical students’ experiences of moral distress.
A Comparative Analysis on Organic and Inorganic Core Binders for a Gravity Diecasting Al Alloy Component
Authors: Fortini A. , Merlin M. , Raminella G. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe last two decades have seen a growing trend toward the use of inorganic binders in core making for the metalcasting field. Despite the health and environmental benefits of the inorganic binders, wider commercial use requires ongoing technical improvements to address some potential inherent limitations of this technology. Considering that inorganic cores can suffer from storage stability, this study sets out to check whether inorganic core binders are fit to replace organic ones in producing a gravity diecasting Al alloy component. First, the humidity resistance of both organic and inorganic sand cores, within a typical time-frame storage in the foundry, was evaluated by moisture absorption tests. Then, 3D optical measurements were performed to assess the relative dimensional changes of inorganic cores. Last, the influence of the core system was analyzed through microstructural and mechanical investigations on castings manufactured by using organic and inorganic binders. The experimental findings have shown that the moisture absorption during storage in the foundry warehouse, which lasted up to 14 days, was not enough to jeopardize the functionality of the cores. Furthermore, the tensile and microstructural outcomes revealed that inorganic cores could comply with both high component design requirements and even more stringent environmental regulations of foundries.
Culturally relevant pedagogies in science education as a response to global migration
Authors: Marosi Nelly , Avraamidou Lucy , Galani Lia 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLargescale movement of diverse groups of people continue to redefine the demographics of an increasing number of societies all around the world. Global migration has an impact on education as the shift in ethnic demographics profiles comes with dramatic demographic shifts in the student population worldwide as well. Situated within these current geosociopolitical realities, in this position paper we argue for the urgency of culturally relevant pedagogies as a response to the challenge of meeting the needs of increasingly diverse and multicultural science classrooms. In doing so, we first provide a definition of culturally relevant pedagogies alongside a historical overview of how the term has been framed and utilized in science education over the past two decades. Following on these theoretical underpinnings, we synthesize the findings of contemporary empirical research studies that are situated both in and out-of-school contexts. In doing so, we aim to respond to the question ofwhat might be the value of adopting CRP in science education? As the synthesis of related literature shows, there exists a strong relation between CRP and multiple kinds of benefits related to students’ engagement in science, both in out-of-school and in school contexts. These benefits include the three tenets of CRP: increasing academic achievement, cultural competence, and sociopolitical consciousness. Other benefits refer to increasing students’ interest in science, motivation and engagement as well as self-identification with science. We end the paper by offering recommendations for future research based on identified gaps in existing knowledge base.
Couple Counseling and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Men Operated for Prostate Cancer and for Their Female Partners: Results From the Randomized ProCan Trial
Authors: Karlsen Randi V. , Bidstrup Pernille E. , Giraldi Annamaria , Hvarness Helle , Bagi Per , Lauridsen Susanne Vahr , Albieri Vanna , Frederiksen Marie , Krause Eva , Due Ulla , Johansen Christoffer 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Patients with prostate cancer (PC) who undergo radical prostatectomy (RP) experience impaired sexual and urinary function.

Aim
To compare the effect of early couple counseling and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with usual care for sexual and urinary dysfunction after RP.

Methods
The ProCan study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel treatment arms and 1:1 allocation. Between January 2016 and December 2017, candidates for RP were invited to a longitudinal questionnaire study and provided baseline measures before surgery. Patients who underwent RP, had a female partner, and were sexually active were invited to the ProCan RCT. Couples who provided informed consent were allocated to usual care or usual care and up to six couple counseling sessions, up to three instructions in PFMT and a video home-training program. All couples filled in follow-up questionnaires at 8 and 12 months and non-participants provided 12 months’ follow-up. Linear mixed-effect models and 95% confidence intervals were used to measure effects of the intervention.

Main Outcome Measure
Primary outcome was erectile function, measured with The International Index of Erectile Function, at 8 and 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were sexual and urinary function and use of treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) by patients; sexual function in female partners; and relationship function, health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy in both patients and female partners.

Results
Thirty-five couples were randomized. No significant effect of the intervention was found on erectile function at 8 months (estimated difference in change, 1.41; 95% CI; –5.51 ; 8.33) or 12 months (estimated difference in change, 0.53; 95% CI; –5.94; 6.99) or in secondary outcomes, except for significantly increased use of ED treatment at 8 months.

Conclusion
We found no effect of early couple counseling and PFMT, possibly because of the limited number of participants.
Safety and Efficacy Study of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Applied With an Intensive Protocol in the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease
Authors: Melgarejo-Segura Mª Teresa , Funes-Padilla Carlos , Morales-Martínez Ana , López-Carmona-Pintado Fernando , Arrabal-Martín Miguel 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is a treatment for Peyronie's disease (PD) whose efficacy and safety has been demonstrated using a classic protocol and a shortened protocol.

Aim
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an even more intense protocol in which a CCH injection is applied for 3 separate cycles of 1 week.

Methods
Prospective, nonrandomized, clinical study of a cohort of 13 patients with PD and non-ventral curvatures, between 30 and 90 degrees and with stable disease were included. Under local anesthesia, 0.9 mg of CCH is infiltrated in 3 parallel and equidistant transverse bands across the plaque in 3 sessions separated by 1 week. Between sessions the patient is instructed to perform home modeling and penis stretching.

Main Outcome Measures
The measurements collected were from girth, length of the penis and length of the plaque. Side and degree of curvature. Ultrasound evaluation of the plaque characteristics and assessing the interface between the tunica albuginea and Buck's fascia. Furthermore, questionnaires were collected: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and 15-question and Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ). All these parameters were evaluated before and after treatment.

Results
An improvement in curvature was obtained in 76.9% of patients, reaching an improvement in the angle of curvature after the treatment cycles by an average of 19 ° (range 0-35 °) from the beginning. There are also improvements in the results of the IIEF and PDQ questionnaires. Length, penis girth, and plate length measurements hardly changed after treatment. Reported adverse effects are mild and limited to the penis.

Conclusions
We demonstrate the safety and efficacy of CCH in the treatment of PD using a more intense protocol than the previous ones. In addition, reducing the overall duration of allows for greater adherence and compliance of patients.
Landing gear ground manoeuvre statistics from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transponder data
Authors: Hoole J. , Sartor P. , Booker J.D. , Cooper J.E. , Gogouvitis X.V. , Schmidt R.K. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTLanding gear are exposed to cyclic loads from the ground manoeuvres that aircraft perform in-service. Variability is observed in the loading magnitude associated with ground manoeuvres, along with the per-flight variability in ground manoeuvre occurrence and sequencing. Whilst loading magnitude variability has been widely characterised, significant assumptions are required regarding manoeuvre occurrence and sequencing when constructing landing gear load spectra for fatigue design. These assumptions are required due to the limited availability of data concerning ground manoeuvre occurrence and sequencing relating to aircraft in-service and require validation to facilitate the design of more efficient components. ‘Big-Data’ approaches, employing Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder data, enable aircraft ground tracks to be identified. This paper presents a methodology to characterise the variability in ground manoeuvre occurrence and sequencing using ADS-B data sourced from Flightradar24® for a wide-body aircraft fleet. Using statistics generated for the fleet, it was identified that significant variability exists in the occurrence and sequencing of turning and braking manoeuvres. The statistics also validate existing assumptions, including that the proportional share of left and right turning manoeuvres is equal. Finally, this paper discusses the utility of ADS-B datasets for constructing landing gear load spectra and monitoring of landing gear in-service.
Geographic variability of antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections within a direct-to-consumer telemedicine practice
Authors: Hamdy Rana F. , Park Daniel , Dean Kristin , Thompson James , Kambala Anusha , Yan Lily D. , Tong Ian , Liu Cindy M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to a national direct-to-consumer medical practice, we found that provider geographic location is a stronger driver of antibiotic prescribing than patient location. Physicians in the Northeast and South are significantly more likely than physicians in the West to prescribe antibiotics for upper respiratory infection and bronchitis.
Trichuris murisand comorbidities – within a mouse model context
Authors: Hayes Kelly S. , Grencis Richard K. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTrichuris murisis a mouse intestinal parasitic nematode that inhabits the large intestine of its host and induces a strong immune response. The effects of this strong anti-parasite response can be found locally within the intestinal niche and also systemically, having effects on multiple organs. Additionally, the anti-parasite response can have multiple effects on infectious organisms and on microbiota that the host is harbouring. It has been shown that Th1 responses induced byT. muriscan affect progression of bowel inflammation, cause colitic-like intestinal inflammation, reduce barrier function and intestinal mucosal responses. In the brain,T. muriscan exacerbate stroke outcome and other neurological conditions. In the lung,T. muriscan suppress airway inflammation and alter immune responses to other parasites. Additionally,T. murisinduced responses can inhibit anti-tumour immunity. Although this parasite maintains a localized niche in the large intestine, its effects can be far-reaching and substantially impact other infections through modulation of bystander immune responses.
Feeding the team: Analysis of a Spratt’s dog cake from Antarctica
Authors: Fraser-Miller Sara J. , Rooney Jeremy S. , Gordon Keith C. , Bunt Craig R. , Haley Jill M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe use of Spratt’s dog cakes is well documented in the diaries and reminiscences of many early Antarctic expedition members. Commercially produced dog food was promoted by the likes of Spratt’s as an advanced form of animal nutrition and would have been of interest to expedition planners who were already concerned with the nutritional requirements of expedition members. An approximately 100-year-old dog cake recovered from Antarctica was compared by chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods with a series of model dog cakes and a commercial dog biscuit to determine the composition and calorific content. The presence of bone fragments within the dog cake was confirmed, whereas starch in the bulk matrix of the sample was consistent with being a mixture of wheat and oat flour, while only minimal fat or oil was present. Calorific content, while insufficient compared to a modern feed for high-performance dogs, would nonetheless have been a valuable addition to the use of dried or frozen whole meat such as seal, fish, or pemmican and contributed additional energy compared to meat alone.
Metabolomics dissection of depression heterogeneity and related cardiometabolic risk
Authors: Alshehri Tahani , Mook- Kanamori Dennis O. , Willems van Dijk Ko , Dinga Richard , Penninx Brenda W. J. H. , Rosendaal Frits R. , le Cessie Saskia , Milaneschi Yuri 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundA recent hypothesis postulates the existence of an ‘immune-metabolic depression’ (IMD) dimension characterized by metabolic dysregulations. Combining data on metabolomics and depressive symptoms, we aimed to identify depressions associated with an increased risk of adverse metabolic alterations.MethodClustering data were from 1094 individuals with major depressive disorder in the last 6 months and measures of 149 metabolites from a 1H-NMR platform and 30 depressive symptoms (IDS-SR30). Canonical correlation analyses (CCA) were used to identify main independent metabolite-symptom axes of variance. Then, for the replication, we examined the association of the identified dimensions with metabolites from the same platform and cardiometabolic diseases in an independent population-based cohort (n = 6572).ResultsCCA identified an overall depression dimension and a dimension resembling IMD, in which symptoms such as sleeping too much, increased appetite, and low energy level had higher relative loading. In the independent sample, the overall depression dimension was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk, such as (i.e. per s.d.) HOMA-1B −0.06 (95% CI −0.09 – −0.04), and visceral adipose tissue −0.10 cm2 (95% CI −0.14 – −0.07). In contrast, the IMD dimension was associated with well-known cardiometabolic diseases such as higher visceral adipose tissue 0.08 cm2 (95% CI 0.04–0.12), HOMA-1B 0.06 (95% CI 0.04–0.09), and lower HDL-cholesterol levels −0.03 mmol/L (95% CI −0.05 – −0.01).ConclusionsCombining metabolomics and clinical symptoms we identified a replicable depression dimension associated with adverse metabolic alterations, in line with the IMD hypothesis. Patients with IMD may be at higher cardiometabolic risk and may benefit from specific treatment targeting underlying metabolic dysregulations.
Gambling and ageing: less illusion but more risk
Authors: Fontaine Maylis , Floch Valérie Le , Lemercier Céline 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSeniors are a population of concern due to exposure to both increasing gambling venues and powerful age-specific risk factors. There has been only limited research on this population so far, but studies conducted among younger adults suggest that the illusion of control is a key factor, leading players to develop strategies that increase their risk-taking in gambling. Time perspective (TP) is a good indicator of risky behaviours in a number of different areas, including health and the environment. In the present study, we sought to identify the age-specific cognitive mechanisms underlying gambling behaviour in normal ageing. We asked 115 emerging adults (mean age = 20.86 years), 86 young adults (mean age = 30.59), 82 middle-aged adults (mean age = 44.57) and 108 seniors (mean age = 65.19) to play an online game. We rated their illusion of control, risk-taking and TP. Analysis revealed that seniors took more risks and had less illusion of control than younger adults. The fatalistic-present TP positively influenced the illusion of control, such that perceiving the present as being determined by uncontrollable forces increased the perceived level of control. Finally, we found an influence of age on TP. These results suggest that seniors constitute a specific population in terms of gambling-related cognitions and behaviours. Including TP in risky behaviour assessments would allow the development of tailor-made preventive measures.
Equality or priority about competing claims?
Authors: Segall Shlomi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAccording to the Competing Claims View (CCV) we decide between alternatives by looking at the competing claims held by affected individuals. The strength of these claims is a function of two features: how much they stand to benefit (or lose) by each alternative, and how badly off they would be in its absence. The view can be, and is, endorsed by both egalitarians and prioritarians. For the former the second condition will concern looking at how badly off the person is relative to others, whereas for the latter it will be how badly off she is in absolute terms. In this paper I want to argue that neither should be endorsed. The egalitarian version of CCV breaks down when attempting to assess the competing claims of possible persons who may never exist. Also, the view, on at least one plausible interpretation, leads to intransitive judgements. The prioritarian version of CCV, in turn, is vulnerable to its own unique objection, namely delivering an anti-prioritarian and rather implausible verdict in certain Single Person Cases.