Nevin Manimala

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-18296-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Among alternative tillage practices, conservation tillage (CT) is a prominent greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategy advocated in wheat cultivation, largely because of its low energy consumption and minimum soil disturbance during cultural operations. This paper examines the agricultural production and GHG emission trade-off of CT vis-à-vis traditional tillage (TT) on wheat farms of Bangladesh. Using a directional distance function approach, the maximum reduction in GHG emissions was searched for within all available tillage technology options, while increasing wheat production as much as possible. The underlying institutional, technical, and other socio-economic factors determining the efficient use of CT were analyzed using a fractional regression model. The average meta-efficiency score for permanent bed planting (PBP) and strip tillage (ST) was 0.89, while that achieved using power tiller operated seeders (PTOS) is 0.87. This indicates that with the given input sets, there is potential to reduce GHG emissions by about 11% for ST and PTOS; that potential is 13% for farmers using PTOS. The largest share of TT farmers cultivate wheat at lower meta-efficiency levels (0.65-0.70) compared to that observed with farmers practicing CT (0.75-0.80). Fractional regression model estimates indicate that an optimal, timely dose of fertilizers with a balanced dose of nutrients is required to reduce GHG emissions. To develop climate smart sustainable intensification strategies in wheat cultivation, it is important to educate farmers on efficient input management and CT together. Agricultural development programs should focus on addressing heterogeneities in nutrient management in addition to tillage options within CT.

PMID:35089510 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-18296-3

Psychometrika. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s11336-021-09828-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Estimation of the large Q-matrix in cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) with many items and latent attributes from observational data has been a huge challenge due to its high computational cost. Borrowing ideas from deep learning literature, we propose to learn the large Q-matrix by restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) to overcome the computational difficulties. In this paper, key relationships between RBMs and CDMs are identified. Consistent and robust learning of the Q-matrix in various CDMs is shown to be valid under certain conditions. Our simulation studies under different CDM settings show that RBMs not only outperform the existing methods in terms of learning speed, but also maintain good recovery accuracy of the Q-matrix. In the end, we illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of our method through a TIMSS mathematics data set.

PMID:35089496 | DOI:10.1007/s11336-021-09828-4

J Neurooncol. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s11060-022-03948-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Postoperative epilepsy is common in glioma patients and has been suggested to indicate disease progression, yet knowledge of its role as a prognostic factor is limited. This study investigates the association between postoperative epilepsy and survival amongst patients with gliomas.

METHODS: We included 3763 patients with histopathologically diagnosed grade II, III, and IV gliomas from 2009 to 2018 according to the Danish Neuro-Oncology Registry. Information on epilepsy diagnosis was redeemed from the Danish National Patient Registry, the National Prescription Registry and the Danish Neuro-Oncology Registry. We used Cox proportional hazards models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between postoperative epilepsy and risk of death. We examined the role of the timing of epilepsy in three different samples: Firstly, in all glioma patients with postoperative epilepsy; secondly, in patients with postoperative de novo epilepsy; thirdly, exclusively in a homogeneous sub-group of grade IV patients with postoperative de novo epilepsy.

RESULTS: Glioma patients with postoperative epilepsy had an increased risk of death, regardless of prior epilepsy status (HR = 4.03; CI 2.69-6.03). A similar increase in the risk of death was also seen in patients with postoperative de novo epilepsy (HR = 2.08; CI 1.26-3.44) and in the sub-group of grade IV patients with postoperative de novo epilepsy (HR = 1.83; CI 1.05-3.21).

CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative epilepsy may negatively impact survival after glioma diagnosis, regardless of preoperative epilepsy status. Postoperative epilepsy may be an expression of a more invasive growth pattern of the gliomas following primary tumor treatment.

PMID:35089480 | DOI:10.1007/s11060-022-03948-2

Clin Rheumatol. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-06038-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of ⁶⁸ Ga-PSMA-11 positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) in evaluating lacrimal and salivary glands function.

METHODS: Ten patients with pSS and 18 healthy volunteers were recruited in this study. All participants underwent ⁶⁸ Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, and the patients with pSS performed salivary gland scintigraphy the next day. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), average of the standard uptake value (SUVavg), the average CT value (CTavg), and volume (V) in the region of interest (ROI) of each lacrimal and salivary gland were analyzed in⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. The uptake ratio (UR) of the bilateral parotid gland and submandibular gland was calculated in salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS). Statistical analysis was processed by the SPSS software and the MedCalc software. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS: Almost all the parameters of pSS were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The left parotid gland (PG) UR was positive correlation with left PG SUVmax (r = 0.758, p = 0.011) and left PG SUVavg (r = 0.770, p = 0.009); the right PGUR was positive correlation with right PG SUVmax (r = 0.721, p = 0.019) and right PG SUVavg (r = 0.721, p = 0.019). The SUVmax and SUVavg of both sides of acrimal and salivary glands had area under the receiver operating curve values greater than 0.5.

CONCLUSIONS: ⁶⁸ Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can simultaneously enable the visualization of lacrimal glands and salivary glands and be used to evaluate the lacrimal and salivary glands function. Key Points • We have firstly investigated the value of 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in evaluating lacrimal and salivary glands function in patients with pSS 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can simultaneously allow the visualization of lacrimal glands and salivary glands. • The results of the present study imply that 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can be used to evaluate the lacrimal and salivary glands function in patients with pSS meanwhile.

PMID:35089469 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-021-06038-2

Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02214-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In order to align with their inner sense of gender identity, adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria are increasingly being treated with cross-sex hormones and irreversible surgeries to alter their bodies. The present study is the first to examine attitudes about these recently emergent medical practices in a national population. We used data from the 2018 Post-Midterm Election Study, a survey representative of adults in the USA ages 20 to 65 years (N = 5285), to examine the social factors associated with approval or disapproval of hormonal and/or surgical interventions for adolescents seeking medical treatment for gender dysphoria. Higher fertility, race/ethnicity (in this case, black), sex (male), and heterosexual self-identity were each robustly associated with disapproval. Nested regression models revealed that a range of religion measures were statistically significant (toward disapproval). However, all but evangelical self-identification were no longer significant after accounting for support for abortion rights, the spectrum of political self-identification, and voting behavior. These findings, prompted by a high percentage of variance explained, led us to consider perspectives on medical transitions for adolescents as fitting the “culture war” framework, largely polarized between a “progressive” worldview of bodily autonomy and an “orthodox” worldview of bodily integrity.

PMID:35089461 | DOI:10.1007/s10508-021-02214-2

Neurol Sci. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-05913-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, and more than half of stroke patients face distal upper extremity dysfunction. Considering that robot-assisted training may be effective in improving distal upper extremity function, the review evaluated the effect of robot-assisted distal training on motor function, hand dexterity, and spasticity after stroke.

METHODS: Eleven databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from inception until Aug 28, 2021. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to investigate the overall effect and source of heterogeneity, respectively.

RESULTS: Twenty-two trials involving 758 participants were included in this systematic review. The overall effect of robot-assisted distal training on the motor function of the wrists and hands was significant improvement (MD = 3.92; 95% CI, 3.04-4.80; P < 0.001). The robot-assisted training had a significantly beneficial effect on other motor functions (MD = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.54-4.14; P < 0.001); dexterity (MD = 9.01; 95% CI, -12.07–5.95; P < 0.001), spasticity, upper extremity strength (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.07-0.78; P = 0.02) and activities of daily living (SMD = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.29-1.23; P < 0.001). A series of subgroup analyses showed preferable design and effective regime of training. Meta-regression indicated the statistically significant effect of the year of trial, country, and duration on the effectiveness of training.

CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted distal training has a significant effect on motor function, dexterity and spasticity of the upper extremity, compared to conventional therapy.

PMID:35089447 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-022-05913-3

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Jan 28;194(2):131. doi: 10.1007/s10661-021-09646-2.

ABSTRACT

In this study, we evaluate the geochemistry of macro- (Fe, P, Ca, S, K, Na, Mg) and micronutrients (Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, Cd, Sr, Cr, Hg, Se), along with possible health risks of heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils and vegetables of the Mahshahr industrial port in Iran. Calculation of geochemical coefficients revealed the low pollution load of Mahshahr agricultural soils. Most of the investigated elements exhibited lower concentrations in soil than international standards. Element concentrations in plant samples were far below the permissible values set by environmental agencies. Based on permissible values, there was deficiency of several soil elements, including Cu, in vegetables because they are mostly present in the soil residual phase. An exception was Mn, which is the most mobile element in soil. The transfer factor (TF) of elements showed the following trend: K > Na > P > S > Mo > Hg > Se > Zn > Cd > Cu > Mg > Mn > Ca > Cr > Co ≈ Fe = Pb. There was high transfer of major elements from soil to plants, and lower values for micronutrients and heavy metals. The calculated daily intake (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) for ten plant species for adults were < 1, while the HRI was larger than 1 for Mn via radish consumption. According to geochemical investigations and statistical tests such as principal component analysis, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation coefficient calculations, plant species play the most important role in elemental uptake by plants.

PMID:35089440 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-021-09646-2

Nanoscale Res Lett. 2022 Jan 28;17(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s11671-022-03654-y.

ABSTRACT

We present a method to directly visualise a statistical analysis of skyrmion defect alignment at grain boundaries in the skyrmion host [Formula: see text]OSeO₃. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we collected large data sets with several hundreds of frames containing skyrmion lattices with grain boundaries in them. To address the behaviour of strings of dislocations in these grain boundaries, we developed an algorithm to automatically extract and classify strings of dislocations separating the grains. This way we circumvent the problem of having to create configurations with well-defined relative grain orientations by performing a statistical analysis on a dynamically rearranging image sequence. With this statistical method, we are able to experimentally extract the relationship between grain boundary alignment and defect spacing and find an agreement with geometric expectations. The algorithms used can be extended to other types of lattices such as Abrikosov lattices or colloidal systems in optical microscopy.

PMID:35089439 | DOI:10.1186/s11671-022-03654-y

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Jan 28;194(2):130. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-09792-1.

ABSTRACT

The olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, is a vulnerable and endangered species according to the IUCN and Mexican Official Standard NOM-059, respectively. On most solitary nesting beaches of olive ridley turtles, the eggs are removed from the in situ nest to hatcheries due to the high incidence of predation, human poaching, and beach erosion; therefore, it is necessary to collect and analyze information on the protection activities conducted for this species from egg laying to hatchling release. In general, protection activities during nest management can be divided into 5 phases: nest logging (F1), egg collection (F2), egg transfer (F3), egg incubation and hatching (F4), and hatchling release (F5). This work was carried out on two Pacific beaches in northwestern Mexico, Ceuta Beach Sanctuary (CBS) during 2013-2019 and Caimanero Beach (CB) during the 2013-2018 nesting seasons, with the objective of quantitatively evaluating the management phases of the protection program for olive ridley turtles by assessing the nest, egg, and hatchling losses in each of the phases using the model of Godínez-Domínguez et al. (1991). The results of the statistical analyses indicate that the greatest losses occurred during the incubation phase (F4) at both beaches, with a 41.99% loss at CBS and a 33.09% loss at CB, followed by the F2 (with 15.56 and 27.27% losses, respectively) and F1 (21.28 and 25.56% losses, respectively) phases. Significant differences between the beaches were observed in F4, F5 and F3, with greater losses at CBS than at CB, indicating that the success of the management phases may vary among beaches. The results obtained show that it is necessary to focus on strategies for improving the success of mainly phase F4 and phases F1 and F2 at both beaches.

PMID:35089433 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-09792-1

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s00402-022-04361-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) with osteosynthesis material for contemporaneous fractures are a challenging, yet poorly described condition. This study will analyze PJI with co-existing fractures treated with cerclages and two-stage exchange.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with and without cerclages for coexisting periprosthetic fractures, undergoing two-stage exchange for PJI of hip or knee, between 06/2013 and 02/2016, were compared concerning baseline characteristics and re-infection rate in the course of a 2 year follow-up. All patients were treated with a standardized two-stage protocol. A PJI was defined according to the EBJIS criteria. All foreign material, including cerclages, was sent in for sonication for microbiological analysis.

RESULTS: Ninety-six patients treated with two-stage exchange for PJI could be included. Co-existing fractures treated with cerclage were identified in nine patients (9.3%, study group). Diaphyseal femoral simple in five cases (AO2A3) and proximal intertrochanteric in three cases (AO1A3) were the leading fracture locations. In one patient, cerclage implantation was performed prior to prosthesis explantation, in six, during prosthesis explantation, and in two, in the course of prosthesis reimplantation. The study group showed a significantly higher rate of difficult to treat microbes (44.4%; 8.0%; p = .001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (5.4; 3.7; p = .033), relapse infections with the same microbe (22.2%; 1.1%; p = .001), and early-onset infections (< 30 days) (11.1%; 1.1%; p = .046), than the comparison two-stage exchange group without fractures. In contrast, age (72.5 study group; 68.2 comparison group; p = .224), rate of revisions for PJI in the past (55.5%; 51.7%; p = .827), and total re-infection rate (22.2%; 10.3%; p = .287) did not show a difference.

CONCLUSION: PJI with co-existing cerclages for fractures were associated with multi-resistant microbes, relapse by the same microbe and early-onset re-infections. Cerclages might be considered a potential source of re-infection during a two-stage exchange. However, statistical weaknesses and a small study group must be considered limitations of the study.

PMID:35089422 | DOI:10.1007/s00402-022-04361-0