bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
UPTAKE AND DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOSTRONTIUM IN TOMATO TREATED WITH ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI
Authors: Dulanská Silvia , Gomola Igor , Gubišová Marcela , Ondreičková Katarína , Pánik Ján , Mátel Ľubomír , Horník Miroslav 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were inoculated into the root system of edible tomato plants to investigate their effect on the uptake and distribution of strontium radionuclide in the tissues of plants grown under laboratory conditions. The experiments were carried out in a sterile mixture of topsoil and sand, where in one series of experiments contaminated soil with 85Sr was used. Seeds were inoculated with a mixture of AMF at sowing, the second, control series was without application of AMF. Determination of radioactivity in soil and in different parts of tomato plants was carried out by gamma-spectrometric measurement. The obtained results and statistical analysis indicated a significant association between AMF inoculation of plants and the change in the distribution of 85Sr. The presence of AMF reduced the translocation of 85Sr from the root system to the aerial parts of tomato plants.
ESTIMATION OF RADIATION DOSES IN THE AREA OF THE MAIN PRODUCTION BLOCK OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AFTER A REACTOR ACCIDENT
Authors: Urban Tomáš , Klusoň Jaroslav 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The aim of this work is to propose methodology for estimations the characteristics of the radiation fields (and derived quantities from the field of dosimetry and radiation protection) in knowledge of a distribution of radionuclides released into the main production unit (or just a containment) area after a nuclear reactor accident. For such task stochastic Monte Carlo method has been chosen. Because of dimensions and thick shielding (concrete) barriers in the facility, application of the variance reduction techniques has been necessary. Monte Carlo code Monaco in sequence MAVRIC (from package SCALE 6.2.3) with variance reduction techniques using CADIS methodology has been employed for designing the proposed methodology. Procedure has been tested on a simulation model of a main production unit described by inspiration from the block of a nuclear power plant with a VVER-1000 reactor (installed in the Czech Republic, Central Europe).
Recovery After Stress—Autonomic and Subjective Arousal in Individuals With Psychosis Compared to Healthy Controls
Authors: Bahlinger Katrin , Lincoln Tania M , Clamor Annika 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis
Heightened stress levels in individuals with psychosis (PSY) are associated with psychotic symptom occurrence and may be partially attributed to well-established deficits in resting-state heart rate variability (HRV) and emotion regulation. In healthy participants, resting-state HRV and self-reported emotion regulation skills have been linked to recovery after a stressor; however, it is unclear whether stress recovery is altered in PSY. Thus, we compared the autonomic and subjective recovery of PSY to healthy controls (HC) and investigated the predictive value of resting-state HRV and emotion regulation skills.

Study Design
We assessed resting-state HRV and self-reported emotion regulation one week prior to a combined physical and cognitive stress induction. After the stress exposure, we assessed the autonomic (decrease in heart rate [HR], increase in HRV) and subjective (decrease in subjective stress and negative affect) recovery in PSY (n = 50) and HC (n = 50) over 60 min.

Study Results
Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed the expected interaction of time × group for subjective stress but not negative affect or autonomic stress. Resting-state HRV predicted recovery of HR, and emotion regulation skills predicted recovery of HRV but not of the other parameters.

Conclusions
Although subjective stress recovery was delayed in PSY, the absence of autonomic recovery deficits suggests that a prolonged stress response may not contribute to heightened stress levels to the expected extent. Improving resting-state HRV and emotion regulation may support autonomic recovery, but further investigation is required to test the impact of such improvements on psychotic symptoms.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Early Intervention Services On Insight in First Episode Psychosis
Authors: DeTore N R , Bain K , Wright A , Meyer-Kalos P , Gingerich S , Mueser K T 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis
Impaired insight into one’s illness is common in first episode psychosis (FEP), is associated with worse symptoms and functioning, and predicts a worse course of illness. Despite its importance, little research has examined the effects of early intervention services (EIS) on insight.

Designs
This paper evaluated the impact of EIS (NAVIGATE) on insight compared to usual community care (CC) in a large cluster randomized controlled trial. Assessments were conducted at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years.

Results
A multilevel regression model including all time points showed a significant time by treatment group interaction (P &lt; .001), reflecting greater improvement in insight for NAVIGATE than CC participants. Impaired insight was related to less severe depression but worse other symptoms and functioning at baseline for the total sample. At 6 months, the same pattern was found within each group except insight was no longer associated with depression among NAVIGATE participants. Impaired insight was more strongly associated with worse interpersonal relationships at 6 months in NAVIGATE than in CC, and changes in insight from baseline to 6 months were more strongly correlated with changes in relationships in NAVIGATE than CC.

Conclusions
The NAVIGATE program improved insight significantly more than CC. Although greater awareness of illness has frequently been found to be associated with higher depression in schizophrenia, these findings suggest EIS programs can improve insight without worsening depression in FEP. The increased association between insight and social relationships in NAVIGATE suggests these 2 outcomes may synergistically interact to improve each other in treatment.
Melatonin suppression does not automatically alter sleepiness, vigilance, sensory processing, or sleep
Authors: Blume Christine , Niedernhuber Maria , Spitschan Manuel , Slawik Helen C , Meyer Martin P , Bekinschtein Tristan A , Cajochen Christian 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPresleep exposure to short-wavelength light suppresses melatonin and decreases sleepiness with activating effects extending to sleep. This has mainly been attributed to melanopic effects, but mechanistic insights are missing. Thus, we investigated whether two light conditions only differing in the melanopic effects (123 vs. 59 lx melanopic EDI) differentially affect sleep besides melatonin. Additionally, we studied whether the light differentially modulates sensory processing during wakefulness and sleep. Twenty-nine healthy volunteers (18–30 years, 15 women) were exposed to two metameric light conditions (high- vs. low-melanopic, ≈60 photopic lx) for 1 h ending 50 min prior to habitual bed time. This was followed by an 8-h sleep opportunity with polysomnography. Objective sleep measurements were complemented by self-report. Salivary melatonin, subjective sleepiness, and behavioral vigilance were sampled at regular intervals. Sensory processing was evaluated during light exposure and sleep on the basis of neural responses related to violations of expectations in an oddball paradigm. We observed suppression of melatonin by ≈14% in the high- compared to the low-melanopic condition. However, conditions did not differentially affect sleep, sleep quality, sleepiness, or vigilance. A neural mismatch response was evident during all sleep stages, but not differentially modulated by light. Suppression of melatonin by light targeting the melanopic system does not automatically translate to acutely altered levels of vigilance or sleepiness or to changes in sleep, sleep quality, or basic sensory processing. Given contradicting earlier findings and the retinal anatomy, this may suggest that an interaction between melanopsin and cone-rod signals needs to be considered.Clinical Trial Registry: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00023602, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023602.
Application of Pyraclostrobin Fungicide at Miniature Floral Head Development Growth Stage Is Efficacious Against Phomopsis Stem Canker Fungi in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Authors: Kashyap Ruchika , Markell Samuel G. , Harveson Robert M. , Rekabdarkolaee Hossein M. , Mathew Febina M. 
Published: August 2022

Phomopsis stem canker, caused by multiple species of Diaporthe, is a yield-limiting disease of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) in the U.S. Northern Great Plains. To develop fungicide recommendations, we performed meta-analyses on data collected from 56 foliar fungicide efficacy trials conducted in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota between 2009 and 2021. The specific objectives were to compare the fungicide application timings and active ingredients with a nontreated control (NTC) and determine their impact on the disease severity index (DSI) and yield. Effect sizes, Cohen's f or Hedges’ g, were calculated as the difference in DSI or yield between the fungicide treatment and NTC. We observed that fungicide application timings (DSI [ f = 0.43] and yield [ f = 0.26]) and active ingredients (DSI [ f = 0.51] and yield [ f = 0.39]) had a significant effect on DSI and yield ( P < 0.0001). In addition, application of pyraclostrobin (DSI [ g = −0.65] and yield [ g = 0.43]), pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxad (DSI [ g = −0.55] and yield [ g = 0.36]), and mefentrifluconazole + pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxad (DSI [ g = −2.23] and yield [ g = 0.85]) at the R1 (miniature floral head formation) growth stage outperformed NTC. This study suggests that farmers can rely on a single application of pyraclostrobin at R1 for Phomopsis stem canker management. Future studies on the economic benefits from fungicide use are important to help enhance farmer decisions.
Pregabalin synchronizes the regeneration of nerve and muscle fibers optimizing the gait recovery of MDX dystrophic mice
Authors: Assis Alex Dias , Chiarotto Gabriela Bortolança , da Silva Natalia Scanavachia , Simões Gustavo Ferreira , Oliveira Alexandre Leite Rodrigues 
Published: August 2022

AbstractDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X‐linked genetic disorder induced by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to a degeneration of muscle fibers, triggering retrograde immunomodulatory, and degenerative events in the central nervous system. Thus, neuroprotective drugs such as pregabalin (PGB) can improve motor function by modulating plasticity, together with anti‐inflammatory effects. The present work aimed to study the effects of PGB on axonal regeneration after axotomy in dystrophic and non‐dystrophic mice. For that, MDX and C57BL/10 mouse strains were subjected to peripheral nerve damage and were treated with PGB (30 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 28 consecutive days. The treatment was carried out in mice as soon as they completed 5 weeks of life, 1 week before the lesion, corresponding to the peak period of muscle degeneration in the MDX strain. Six‐week‐old mice were submitted to unilateral sciatic nerve crush and were sacrificed in the 9th week of age. The ipsi and contralateral sciatic nerves were processed for immunohistochemistry and qRT–PCR, evaluating the expression of proteins and gene transcripts related to neuronal and Schwann cell activity. Cranial tibial muscles were dissected for evaluation of neuromuscular junctions using α‐bungarotoxin, and the myelinated axons of the sciatic nerve were analyzed by morphometry. The recovery of motor function was monitored throughout the treatment through tests of forced locomotion (rotarod) and spontaneous walking track test (Catwalk system). The results show that treatment with PGB reduced the retrograde cyclic effects of muscle degeneration/regeneration on the nervous system. This fact was confirmed after peripheral nerve injury, showing better adaptation and response of neurons and glia for rapid axonal regeneration, with efficient muscle targeting and regain of function. No side effects of PGB treatment were observed, and the expression of pro‐regenerative proteins in neurons and Schwann cells was upregulated. Morphometry of the axons was in line with the preservation of motor endplates, resulting in enhanced performance of dystrophic animals. Overall, the present data indicate that pregabalin is protective and enhances regeneration of the SNP during the development of DMD, improving motor function, which can, in turn, be translated to the clinic.
Hispanic/Latino Perspectives on Hearing Loss and Hearing Healthcare: Focus Group Results
Authors: Arnold Michelle L. , Arianna Reyes Cruz , Lugo-Reyes Natalia , Sanchez Victoria A. 
Published: August 2022

Objectives:
To better understand the hearing health learning needs of Hispanic/Latino adults by assessing hearing healthcare (HHC) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to inform the development of a culturally and linguistically appropriate self-management program. Through a series of focus groups with members of the target audience, this study explored knowledge about hearing loss and interventions, cultural facilitators and barriers to HHC utilization, and preferences for hearing health education and information delivery. Opinions were also received on patient education materials designed to increase self-efficacy for managing hearing loss in daily life.

Design:
This work was guided by a practical framework of culturally competent interventions for addressing disparities in health and healthcare, centered on structural, clinical, and organizational barriers to care. A hybrid individualistic social psychology and social constructionist approach was used to build programmatic theory related to the primary research objective. Focus group goals were to generate a combination of personal opinions and collective experiences from participants with an a priori plan to analyze data using combined content analysis/grounded theory methods. Purposive sampling was used to select 31 participants who were Spanish-speaking, identified as Hispanic/Latino, and who had normal hearing or self-reported hearing difficulties. Thirteen focus groups were conducted using Microsoft Teams, and each group was audio and video recorded for later off-line transcription, translation, and analysis. A constant comparison approach was used to systematically organize focus group data into a structured format for interpretation. Transcripts were coded independently by two investigators, and emergent themes were derived and interpreted from the coded data.

Results:
Major and minor themes tied to the framework for culturally competent interventions included those related to sociocultural barriers to care. Structural barriers, including inconsistent access to quality care, lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate patient education materials, appointment wait times and intake processes, and referrals to specialty care, were most frequently experienced by participants. Clinical barriers most frequently cited were a lack of culturally and linguistically congruent healthcare providers and lack of language access during healthcare visits. Other major themes included hearing loss lived experiences, family and familism, and hearing-related patient education needs and preferences.

Conclusions:
Focus group results were integrated into a Spanish-language hearing loss self-management program that is currently being evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The themes uncovered provided insight regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about hearing loss and HHC, including hearing-related learning needs, of Hispanic/Latino adults in this sample.
Prenatal exposure to nitrate from drinking water and the risk of preterm birth
Authors: Coffman Vanessa R. , Søndergaard Jensen Anja , Trabjerg Betina B. , Pedersen Carsten Bøcker , Hansen Birgitte , Sigsgaard Torben , Olsen Jørn , Schullehner Jörg , Pedersen Marie , Stayner Leslie T. 
Published: August 2022

Background:
Evidence is emerging that preterm birth (PTB, birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation), a risk factor for neonatal mortality and future morbidity, may be induced by maternal nitrate (

) exposure from drinking water. The objective of this study is to assess the association between maternal exposure to nitrate and the risk of PTB in a nationwide study of liveborn singletons.

Methods:
We estimated maternal nitrate exposure from household tap water for 1,055,584 births in Denmark to Danish-born parents during 1991–2015 by linkage of individual home address(es) with nitrate concentrations from a national monitoring database. Nitrate exposure during pregnancy was modeled using four categories and continuously. Logistic models adjusted for sex, birth year, birth order, urbanicity, and maternal age, smoking, education, income, and employment, with generalized estimating equations were used to account for sibling clusters.

Results:
A total of 1,009,189 births were included, comprising 51,747 PTB. An increase in the risk of PTB was seen across categories of exposure (P < 0.001) with an odds ratio (OR) in the uppermost category (>25 mg/L nitrate) of 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00, 1.10). Evidence of an exposure–response relationship was observed in models using continuous nitrate (OR = 1.01 [95% CI = 1.00, 1.03] per 10 mg/L nitrate). In sensitivity analyses, results were robust to the addition of variables for short inter-pregnancy interval (<1 year between births), maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, paternal socioeconomic status and age, season of birth, and inclusion of post-term births. Results were virtually unchanged when the analysis was restricted to women exposed to less than the current European Union standard of 50 mg/L.

Conclusion:
We observed an increasing risk of PTB with increases in nitrate in household tap water. These findings add to a growing body of evidence of adverse effects from nitrate in drinking water at levels below current regulatory levels.
In-line spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis methods for endpoint determination in column chromatographic adsorption processes for herbal medicine
Authors: Jiang Cheng , Qu Haibin 
Published: August 2022

Objective:
In a chromatographic cycle, the adsorption process is a critical unit operation that has a significant impact on downstream processes and, ultimately, the quality of the final products. The development of a rapid method to determine the endpoints of adsorption processes in large-scale manufacturing is of substantial importance for herbal medicine (HM) manufacturers.

Methods:
In this study, the adsorption of saponins on a macroporous resin column chromatograph, a critical unit operation in Panax Notoginseng injection manufacturing, was considered as an example. The evaluation results of in-line ultraviolet and visible spectra combined with various multivariate analysis methods, including the moving block standard deviation (MBSD), difference between the moving block average and the target spectrum (DMBA-TS), soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), were compared.

Results:
MBSD was unsuitable for adsorption processes. The relative standard errors of prediction between the predicted and experimental endpoints were 13.2%, 4.67%, and 5.71% using DMBA-TS, SIMCA, and PLS-DA, respectively.

Conclusions:
Among the considered analysis methods, SIMCA and PLS-DA were more effective for endpoint determination. The results of this study provide a more comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of various multivariate analysis methods to facilitate the selection of the most suitable method. This study was also conducive to addressing the issues of the in-line detection of adsorption endpoints to guide practical HM manufacturing.
Reasons for Surgical Delay in Patients With Hip Fracture
Authors: Yonai Yaniv , Ben Natan Merav , Shadmi Nurit , Berkovich Yaron , Steinfeld Yaniv 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
15% of patients with hip fracture older than 65 years in Israel have delayed surgery. The aim of this study was to determine which patient and/or organizational factors are associated with a delay of beyond 48 hours in hip fracture repair surgery.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of 281 patients with hip fracture who underwent surgery during 2019–2020. Characteristics of patients with early surgery (n = 40) and patients with delayed surgery (n = 241) were compared.

Results:
Presence of a cardiac disease (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38), pulmonary disease (OR = 1.21), or obesity (OR = 1.18) was identified as risk factors for surgical delay. Each additional comorbidity increased the risk. Most of the documented reasons for delay were medical, with antiplatelet therapy the most common (n = 8, 20%). Unavailable operating rooms were another common reason for delays (n = 8, 20%). In addition, a higher percentage of patients with delayed surgery were admitted in August and September (42.5%).

Conclusions:
It seems that most delays were for medical reasons. However, it is unclear whether allegedly clinically justified delays were indeed of benefit to the patients. Health care organizations should strive to minimize the impact of organizational factors on surgical delay.
Older Age at First Screening Colonoscopy is Associated With an Increased Risk of Colorectal Adenomas and Cancer
Authors: Obadina David , Haider Haider , Micic Dejan , Sakuraba Atsushi 
Published: August 2022

Introduction:
The goal of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is to detect precancerous polyps before cancer development or identification of cancer at an early stage. Guidelines have recommended screening colonoscopy to start at age 45. Our aim was to determine the impact of delays in performing the first screening colonoscopy on the risk of adenoma or CRC detection.

Methods:
We analyzed colonoscopy and histopathology data of average CRC risk patients who had their first screening colonoscopy between 2010 and 2017. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between demographic variables and the risk of adenomas or CRC.

Results:
A total of 1155 average risk patients underwent their initial screening colonoscopy during the study period. Median age was 54 years (range of 45-87) and 58.2% were females. In multivariable analysis, older age at first screening colonoscopy was significantly associated with the detection of adenomatous polyps (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.07, P<0.001) and CRC (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.16, P<0.001). The association between age and risk of adenomatous polyps (F-test 35.43, P=0.0019) and CRC (F-test 36.94, P=0.0017) fit an exponential growth model. It was estimated that the detection rate doubled every 14.20 years and 4.75 years for adenomas and CRC, respectively.

Conclusion:
We found that older age at the initial performance of a screening colonoscopy was associated with increased detection of adenomatous polyps and CRC. This work highlights the need for guideline adherence for the prevention of CRC development.