bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial origin of the extracellular ATP‐induced cytosolic calcium signature in Arabidopsis thaliana roots: wave formation and variation with phosphate nutrition
Authors: Matthus E. , Wilkins K. A. , Mohammad‐Sidik A. , Ning Y. , Davies J. M. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Extracellular ATP (eATP) increases cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) as a specific second messenger ‘signature’ through the plasma membrane DORN1/P2K1 receptor. Previous studies revealed a biphasic signature in Arabidopsis thaliana roots that is altered by inorganic phosphate (Pi) deprivation. The relationship between the two phases of the signature and possible wave formation have been tested as a function of Pi nutrition.

The bioluminescent aequorin and intensiometric GCaMP3 reporters were used to resolve the spatial origin of the eATP [Ca2+]cyt signature in Arabidopsis root tips. Application of eATP only to the root apex allowed [Ca2+]cyt wave resolution without the confounding effects of eATP delivery by superfusion.

The first apical millimetre of the root generates the first [Ca2+]cyt increase by eATP, regardless of nutritional status. The second increase occurs sub‐apically in the root hair zone, has some autonomy and is significantly reduced in Pi‐starved roots. A significant component of the Pi‐replete signature does not require DORN1/P2K1, but Pi‐starved roots appear to have an absolute requirement for that receptor. Application of eATP specifically to the root apex provides evidence for cell‐to‐cell propagation of a [Ca2+]cyt wave that diminishes sub‐apically.

The apex maintains a robust [Ca2+]cyt increase (even under Pi starvation) that is the basis of a propagative wave, with implications for the ability of the root’s eATP signalling systems to signal systemically. Partial autonomy of the sub‐apical region may be relevant to the perception of eATP from microbes. eATP‐induced [Ca2+]cyt increase may not have always have an obligate requirement for DORN1/P2K1.
Imagined paralysis reduces motor cortex excitability
Authors: Hartmann Matthias , Falconer Caroline J. , Kaelin‐Lang Alain , Müri René M. , Mast Fred W. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractMental imagery is a powerful capability that engages similar neurophysiological processes that underlie real sensory and motor experiences. Previous studies show that motor cortical excitability can increase during mental imagery of actions. In this study, we focused on possible inhibitory effects of mental imagery on motor functions. We assessed whether imagined arm paralysis modulates motor cortical excitability in healthy participants, as measured by motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the hand induced by near‐threshold transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex hand area. We found lower MEP amplitudes during imagined arm paralysis when compared to imagined leg paralysis or baseline stimulation without paralysis imagery. These results show that purely imagined bodily constraints can selectively inhibit basic motor corticospinal functions. The results are discussed in the context of motoric embodiment/disembodiment.
Machine Learning Assisted Analysis of an Ammonia Engine Performance
Authors: Liu Zhentao , Liu Jinlong 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Currently, the interest in utilizing ammonia in internal combustion engines stems from the trend toward decarbonization, as ammonia is a zero-carbon footprint fuel. Existing studies on ammonia engines are limited and most of the available literature mainly considers the application of ammonia in gasoline converted engines. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to increase the knowledge of diesel engines modified for dedicated ammonia operation. A spark plug was added to the original compression ignition engine to control and initiate the ammonia combustion process. The available experimental results of such a modified engine including noise and the test conditions were randomly distributed without careful design. As a result, the machine learning model was utilized to assist in analyzing the ammonia engine performance by reducing the experimental uncertainty. The results showed that the random forest algorithm suffered from boundary underfitting, while the gradient boosting regression trees algorithm encountered overfitting problems. Moreover, the artificial neural network algorithm performed better than support vector regression, effectively learning the relationship between engine control variables and the ammonia engine performance. The parametric studies conducted by the well-trained machine learning model suggested that the combustion law of heavy-duty ammonia engines was consistent with that of traditional spark ignition engines. Most importantly, the regular compression ratio of diesel engines allowed efficient dedicated ammonia combustion with an equivalence ratio as lean as 0.7 despite the slow laminar flame speed of ammonia–air mixtures. Furthermore, a compression ratio of 18 contributed to optimal spark timing at 8 crank angle deg before top dead center when operated at stoichiometry, rather than a very large spark advance, which was favorable for engine control. Overall, the conversion of compression ignition engines to ammonia spark ignition operation is promising.
U-Pb zircon ages and Sm-Nd isotopic data from the Cobequid Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada: New contributions to understanding the Neoproterozoic geologic history of Avalonia
Authors: White Chris E. , Barr Sandra M. , Crowley James L. , van Rooyen Deanne , MacHattie* Trevor G. 
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT
Forty-three new U-Pb zircon ages from metasedimentary and igneous rock units throughout the Cobequid Highlands of northern mainland Nova Scotia, Canada, provide new insights into the Neoproterozoic evolution of this long-enigmatic part of Avalonia in the northern Appalachian orogen. Contrasts in ages and rock types resulted in the identification of fault-bounded Neoproterozoic assemblages of units forming the Bass River, Jeffers, and Mount Ephraim blocks. In the Bass River block, quartzite, metawacke, and minor calc-silicate rocks and marble (Gamble Brook Formation) with a maximum depositional age of 945 ± 12 Ma are associated with subaqueous mafic volcanic rocks, siltstone, and ironstone (Folly River Formation) and intruded by 615–600 Ma calc-alkalic subduction-related dioritic to granitic rocks of the Bass River plutonic suite. The contrasting Jeffers block forms most of the Cobequid Highlands and consists mainly of intermediate to felsic volcanic, epiclastic, and minor plutonic rocks. The western and eastern areas of that block yielded ages mainly ca. 607–592 Ma for both volcanic and plutonic rocks, whereas the central area has ages of ca. 630–625 Ma from both volcanic and plutonic rocks and inheritance in overlying Devonian conglomerate. The Mount Ephraim block forms the eastern part of the highlands and includes possible ca. 800 Ma quartzofeldspathic, semipelitic and pelitic gneiss and schist of the Mount Thom Formation, ca. 752 Ma volcanic arc rocks of the Dalhousie Mountain Formation and related 752–730 Ma gabbroic/dioritic to granitic plutons of the Mount Ephraim plutonic suite and Six Mile Brook pluton, as well as ca. 631 Ma granitoid rocks of the Gunshot Brook pluton. The pre–750 Ma high-grade regional metamorphism and deformation and 752–730 Ma subduction-related magmatism recorded in the Mount Ephraim block were previously unrecognized in Avalonia. Evidence from zircon inheritance and Sm-Nd isotopic data in igneous units suggests linkages among these now-separate areas, and comparison with other parts of Avalonia in the northern Appalachian orogen suggests similarity to southeastern New England.
From Indigenization to Sovereignization: How the Disintegration of the Soviet Union Was Prepared
Authors: Mironov B. N. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Having analyzed the unique statistical material of the 20th century, the author examines the national composition of the USSR institutions of governance: executive, legislative, and judicial authorities, the CPSU apparatus at the level of the highest authorities of the Soviet Union; and republican and local institutions, as well as in the army and law enforcement bodies. According to the author, since the 1930s, there has been a gradual displacement of Russians and their replacement with representatives of the “titular nations” in all the union republics, which turned the USSR federal structure into the “cradle” of new states that appeared on the ruins of the Soviet Union.
“Industrial Revolution” as an Element of the Soviet Project (Based on the Materials of the Soviet Aviation Industry)
Authors: Mukhin M. Yu. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The author examines a combination of factors that influenced the formation of high-tech production in the former Soviet Union. The complex processes related to the provision of the domestic aviation industry with qualified personnel are analyzed. The data on the staffing of the aviation industry during the Great Patriotic War are of particular interest.
On the History of the Entry of Soviet Troops into Afghanistan. Commentary
Authors: Rurikov D. B. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe author analyzes in detail the circumstances of the April Revolution in Afghanistan, believing that it was a coup carried out by revolutionary-minded officers of the Afghan army in spring 1987, which predetermined the subsequent entry of Soviet troops in 1979. This event, as the author argues, was completely unexpected not only for the Soviet leadership, but also for the USSR Embassy in Kabul. Relations between the USSR and former Afghan leadership were quite successful. Neither the USSR embassy nor Soviet advisers in various state structures provided assistance to the rebels. However, the course proclaimed by the new leaders of Afghanistan, N.-M. Taraki and Amin towards building socialism, demonstrative orientation towards the USSR, and reliance on its support in combating political opponents turned the Soviet Union into a forced ally of the government led by the PDPA. D.B. Ryurikov explores the gradual escalation of the Soviet–American conflict. In his opinion, a mixture of truthful information and seemingly plausible “bogus stories” from various sources, which led Soviet decision-making bodies to military intervention, assessed the situation and its prospects as very difficult, which led to the entry of a limited Soviet army contingent into Afghanistan.
Mucus fishing syndrome
Authors: Chiew Ryan L. J. , Au Eong Denise T. M. , Au Eong Kah Guan 
Published: April 2022

Mucus fishing syndrome is a chronic inflammatory ocular surface condition characterised by repetitive self-extraction of mucous strands from the eye.A man in his 30s presented with bilateral ocular redness, itch, irritation, tearing and sticky mucoid discharge for 3 months. Examination disclosed bilateral bulbar and tarsal conjunctival injection. Fluorescein staining disclosed a well-circumscribed area of tarsal conjunctival epithelial defect near the inferior lacrimal punctum in both eyes. The patient admitted to a habit of mechanically removing mucus from his eyes several times a day. Demonstration of the mucus extraction process disclosed direct contact of his fingers with the excoriated tarsal conjunctiva in each eye. He was diagnosed with mucus fishing syndrome and his condition resolved within a month after he stopped fishing mucus from his eyes and had a course of topical antibiotics and steroids.Mucus fishing syndrome is an important diagnostic consideration in patients with chronic conjunctivitis.
Design and validity of an instrument to assess healthcare professionals’ perceptions, behaviour, self-efficacy and attitudes towards evidence-based health practice: I-SABE
Authors: Ruano Arielly Souza Mariano , Motter Fabiane Raquel , Lopes Luciane Cruz 
Published: April 2022

ObjectivesTo develop and validate an instrument to measure Brazilian healthcare professionals’ perceptions, behaviour, self-efficacy and attitudes towards evidence-based health practice.DesignValidation of an instrument using the Delphi method to ensure content validity and data from a cross-sectional survey to evaluate psychometric characteristics (psychometric sensitivity, factorial validity and reliability).SettingNational Register of Health Establishments database.ParticipantsWe included clinical health professionals who were working in the Brazilian public health system.ResultsThe Instrument to assess Evidence-Based Health (I-SABE) was constructed with five domains: self-efficacy; behaviour; attitude; results/benefits and knowledge/skills. Content validity was done by 10–12 experts (three rounds). We applied I-SABE to 217 health professionals. Bartlett’s sphericity test and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index were adequate (χ2=1455.810, p<0.001; KMO=0.847). Considering the factorial loads of the items and the convergence between the Scree Plot and the Kaiser criterion the four domains tested in this analysis, explaining 59.2% of the total variance. The internal consistency varied between the domains: self-efficacy (α=0.76), behaviour (α=0.30), attitudes (α=0.644), results/benefits to the patient (α=0.835).ConclusionsThe results of the psychometric analysis of the I-SABE confirm the good quality of this tool. The I-SABE can be used both in educational activities as well as an assessment tool among healthcare professionals in the Brazilian public health settings.
Comparing effects of obesity treatment with very low energy diet and bariatric surgery after 2 years: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Höskuldsdottir Gudrun , Engström My , Rawshani Araz , Lenér Frida , Wallenius Ville , Fändriks Lars , Mossberg Karin , Eliasson Björn 
Published: April 2022

ObjectivesTo compare long-term effects and complications of medical treatment (MT) of obesity including very low energy diet with bariatric surgery.Design and settingThis prospective study conducted in a clinical setting recruited individuals with body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2referred for obesity treatment. Demographic and anthropometric data, laboratory samples, and questionnaire replies were collected at baseline and 2 years.Participants and interventions971 individuals were recruited 2015–2017. 382 received MT, 388 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and 201 sleeve gastrectomy (SG).Main outcome measuresPrimary outcomes included changes in anthropometric measures, metabolic variables and safety. These were analysed using a linear regression model. A logistic regression model was used to analyse composite variables for treatment success (secondary outcomes). A random forest (RF) model was used to examine the importance of 15 clinical domains as predictors for successful treatment.ResultsTwo-year data were available for 667 individuals (68.7%). Regarding primary outcomes, the decrease in excess BMI was 27.5%, 82.5% and 70.3% and proportion achieving a weight of >10% was 45.3%, 99.6% and 95.6% for MT, RYGB and SG, respectively (p<0.001). The groups were comparable regarding levels of vitamins, minerals and haemoglobin or safety measures. Likelihood for success (secondary outcome) was higher in the surgical groups (RYGB: OR 5.3 (95% CI 3.9 to 7.2) vs SG: OR 4.3 ((95% CI 3.0 to 6.2)) in reference to MT. Baseline anthropometry had the strongest predictive value for treatment success, according to the RF model.ConclusionsIn clinical practice, bariatric surgery by RYGB or SG is most effective, but meaningful weight loss is achievable by MT with strict caloric restriction and stepwise introduction of a normal diet. All treatments showed positive effects on well-being, cardiovascular risk factors, and levels of vitamins and minerals at 2-year follow-up and groups were similar regarding safety measures.Trial registration numberNCT03152617.
Head-to-head comparison of 14 prediction models for postoperative delirium in elderly non-ICU patients: an external validation study
Authors: Wong Chung Kwan , van Munster Barbara C , Hatseras Athanasios , Huis in 't Veld Else , van Leeuwen Barbara L , de Rooij Sophia E , Pleijhuis Rick G 
Published: April 2022

ObjectivesDelirium is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalisation and increased healthcare costs. The number of clinical prediction models (CPM) to predict postoperative delirium has increased exponentially. Our goal is to perform a head-to-head comparison of CPMs predicting postoperative delirium in non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) elderly patients to identify the best performing models.SettingSingle-site university hospital.DesignSecondary analysis of prospective cohort study.Participants and inclusionCPMs published within the timeframe of 1 January 1990 to 1 May 2020 were checked for eligibility (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). For the time period of 1 January 1990 to 1 January 2017, included CPMs were identified in systematic reviews based on prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. An extended literature search for original studies was performed independently by two authors, including CPMs published between 1 January 2017 and 1 May 2020. External validation was performed using a surgical cohort consisting of 292 elderly non-ICU patients.Primary outcome measuresDiscrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.Results14 CPMs were eligible for analysis out of 366 full texts reviewed. External validation was previously published for 8/14 (57%) CPMs. C-indices ranged from 0.52 to 0.74, intercepts from −0.02 to 0.34, slopes from −0.74 to 1.96 and scaled Brier from −1.29 to 0.088. Based on predefined criteria, the two best performing models were those of Daiet al(c-index: 0.739; (95% CI: 0.664 to 0.813); intercept: −0.018; slope: 1.96; scaled Brier: 0.049) and Litakeret al(c-index: 0.706 (95% CI: 0.590 to 0.823); intercept: −0.015; slope: 0.995; scaled Brier: 0.088). For the remaining CPMs, model discrimination was considered poor with corresponding c-indices <0.70.ConclusionOur head-to-head analysis identified 2 out of 14 CPMs as best-performing models with a fair discrimination and acceptable calibration. Based on our findings, these models might assist physicians in postoperative delirium risk estimation and patient selection for preventive measures.
Prevalence and associated relating factors in patients with hereditary retinal dystrophy: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan
Authors: Woon Peng Yeong , Chien Jia-Ying , Wang Jen-Hung , Chou Yu-Yau , Lin Mei-Chen , Huang Shun-Ping 
Published: April 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence, incidence and relating factors that are associated with hereditary retinal dystrophy (HRD) in Taiwan from 2000 to 2013.Design, setting and participantsThis is a nationwide, population-based, retrospective case–control study using National Health Insurance Database. Study groups are patients with HRD as case group; age-matched patients without any diagnosis of HRD as control group. We enrolled 2418 study subjects, of which 403 were HRD patients. Important relating factors such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, stroke, hyperlipidaemia, asthma, depression and dementia are also included.ExposurePatients diagnosed with HRD were retrieved from National Health Insurance Database.Main outcomes and measuresOR calculated between the relating factors and HRD for objects and stratified by age and sex group between 2000 and 2013.ResultsFour hundred and three patients were included in the study group and 2015 in the control group. The incidence of HRD was 3.29/100 000, and the prevalence of HRD was 40.5/100 000 persons. The tendency of study group to have more cataract, cystoid macula oedema (CME) as compared with the control group. Among the subgroup with comorbidities, the relating factors such as hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney disease was significantly higher among HRD patients with age 55 and above.Conclusions74% of the diagnosed HRD are retinitis pigmentosa. Population-based data suggested an increased incidence of cataract in younger patients, whereas older HRD patients are more susceptible to develop CME. Further work is needed to elucidate the mechanism between these ophthalmological disorders and HRD.
Acceptability of family planning in a changing context in Uganda: a realist evaluation at two time points
Authors: Krishnaratne Shari , Hoyt Jenna , Hamon Jessie K , Ariko Angela Barbra , Atayo Carol , Morukileng Job , Spilotros Nathaly , Webster Jayne 
Published: April 2022

ObjectivesThis study sought to understand, during an intervention which integrated family planning (FP) and immunisation, (1) if and how prevailing contextual factors influenced acceptability and use of modern contraceptive methods (MCMs) in a pastoral community in Uganda, (2) what mechanisms were triggered by these contextual factors (3) if these contextual factors changed between two time points 2 years apart and (4) the impact of contextual changes on mechanisms triggered and acceptability and use outcomes.DesignQualitative realist evaluation over two time points.SettingGovernment health facilities in Moroto District, Karamoja, Uganda.Participants69 participants involved in the delivery and uptake of integrated FP and childhood immunisation services.InterventionIntegrated delivery of FP and childhood immunisation services offered to women accessing immunisation services in health facilities between January 2016 and December 2019.ResultsFour key themes were identified that encompassed context and mechanisms influencing acceptability of MCMs across both time points of the evaluation. These were: (1) fear of side effects of MCMs; (2) preference for natural FP methods; (3) pastoral lifestyles in the community and (4) food insecurity. The context of these themes changed over time leading to the triggering of mechanisms with an overall increase in acceptability of MCMs over time. Key mechanisms of acceptability triggered included: affective attitude, intervention coherence, self-efficacy, perceived effectiveness and opportunity cost, leading to the development of three context-acceptability theories.ConclusionsIn this study, social and cultural norms played a strong role in influencing acceptability of the intervention. The context combined with intervention components were found to trigger several mechanisms that mapped to constructs of diffusion of innovations and acted as catalysts for mechanisms of acceptability. The context in which the intervention was implemented changed leading to the triggering of mechanisms and an increase in the perceived value and acceptability of MCM use.