It is well known that web-based interventions can be effective treatments for depression. However, dropout rates in web-based interventions are typically high, especially in self-guided web-based ...interventions. Rigorous empirical evidence regarding factors influencing dropout in self-guided web-based interventions is lacking due to small study sample sizes. In this paper we examined predictors of dropout in an individual patient data meta-analysis to gain a better understanding of who may benefit from these interventions.
A comprehensive literature search for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy for adults with depression from 2006 to January 2013 was conducted. Next, we approached authors to collect the primary data of the selected studies. Predictors of dropout, such as socio-demographic, clinical, and intervention characteristics were examined.
Data from 2705 participants across ten RCTs of self-guided web-based interventions for depression were analysed. The multivariate analysis indicated that male gender relative risk (RR) 1.08, lower educational level (primary education, RR 1.26) and co-morbid anxiety symptoms (RR 1.18) significantly increased the risk of dropping out, while for every additional 4 years of age, the risk of dropping out significantly decreased (RR 0.94).
Dropout can be predicted by several variables and is not randomly distributed. This knowledge may inform tailoring of online self-help interventions to prevent dropout in identified groups at risk.
Diesel engine cold start is an important issue for current technology at low (below 0°C) temperatures and for future applications. The aim of this work is to develop a description of how, when and ...where does fuel spray ignition occur in a glow-plug assisted engine under simulated low temperature cold start conditions. In-cylinder pressure analysis is combined with high speed visualization in an optical engine. A pilot plus main injection strategy is used. Visualization results show that pilot ignition occurs in the vicinity of the glow plug, and strongly influences main combustion initiation. Main combustion starts from the pilot flame, and propagates to the rest of the combustion chamber showing a strong visible reaction zone. After end of main injection, the rapid leaning of the mixture suppresses the strong radiation, and OH radiation is observed to progress to the rest of the combustion chamber. The combustion process shows a strong scattering, which has been quantified by combustion parameters. At higher rail pressures scattering increases, which eventually inhibits combustion initiation. However, if ignition occurs at higher rail pressures, cycle performance is better.
The paper reports an investigation on the transient evolution of diesel flames in terms of fuel–air mixing, spray penetration and combustion rate. A one-dimensional (1D) spray model, which was ...previously validated for inert diesel sprays, is extended to reacting conditions. The main assumptions of the model are the mixing-controlled hypothesis and the validity of self-similarity for conservative properties. Validation is achieved by comparing model predictions with both CFD gas jet simulations and experimental diesel spray measurements. The 1D model provides valuable insight into the evolution of the flow within the spray (momentum and mass fluxes, tip penetration, etc.) when shifting from inert to reacting conditions. Results show that the transient diesel flame evolution is mainly governed by two combustion-induced effects, namely the reduction in local density and the increase in flame radial width.
The consumption of psychoactive substances is considered a growing problem in many communities. Moreover, new psychoactive substances (NPS) designed as (legal) substitutes to traditional illicit ...drugs are relatively easily available to the public through e-commerce and retail shops, but there is little knowledge regarding the extent and actual use of these substances. This study aims to gain new and complementary information on NPS and traditional illicit drug use at six music festivals across Europe by investigating wastewater and pooled urine. Samples were collected, between 2015 and 2018, at six music festivals across Europe with approximately 465.000 attendees. Wastewater samples were also collected during a period not coinciding with festivals. A wide-scope screening for 197 NPS, six illicit drugs and known metabolites was applied using different chromatography-mass spectrometric strategies. Several illicit drugs and in total 21 different NPS, mainly synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines and tryptamines, were identified in the samples. Ketamine and the traditional illicit drugs, such as amphetamine-type stimulants, cannabis and cocaine were most abundant and/or frequently detected in the samples collected, suggesting a higher use compared to NPS.
The analyses of urine and wastewater is quick and a high number of attendees may be monitored anonymously by analysing only a few samples which allows identifying the local profiles of use of different drugs within a wide panel of psychoactive substances. This approach contributes to the development of an efficient surveillance system which can provide timely insight in the trends of NPS and illicit drugs use.
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•Substance use was assessed at music festivals across six European countries.•Urine and wastewater analyses can provide timely complementary information.•Wastewater-based epidemiology provides information on the pattern of drug use at festivals.•Specific local patterns of substance use were identified.•NPS were identified but cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine were most frequently detected.
Dark matter with Planck-scale mass (≃10^{19} GeV/c^{2}) arises in well-motivated theories and could be produced by several cosmological mechanisms. A search for multiscatter signals from ...supermassive dark matter was performed with a blind analysis of data collected over a 813 d live time with DEAP-3600, a 3.3 t single-phase liquid argon-based detector at SNOLAB. No candidate signals were observed, leading to the first direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter. Leading limits constrain dark matter masses between 8.3×10^{6} and 1.2×10^{19} GeV/c^{2}, and ^{40}Ar-scattering cross sections between 1.0×10^{-23} and 2.4×10^{-18} cm^{2}. These results are interpreted as constraints on composite dark matter models with two different nucleon-to-nuclear cross section scalings.
In low nutritive environments, the uptake of N by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may confer competitive advantages for the host. The present study aims to understand how mycorrhizal tomato plants ...perceive and then prepare for an N depletion in the root environment. Plants colonized by Rhizophagus irregularis displayed improved responses to a lack of N than nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants. These responses were accomplished by a complex metabolic and transcriptional rearrangement that mostly affected the gibberellic acid and jasmonic acid pathways involving DELLA and JAZ1 genes, which were responsive to changes in the C/N imbalance of the plant. N starved mycorrhizal plants showed lower C/N equilibrium in the shoots than starved NM plants and concomitantly a downregulation of the JAZ1 repressor and the increased expression of the DELLA gene, which translated into a more active oxylipin pathway in mycorrhizal plants. In addition, the results support a priorization in AM plants of stress responses over growth. Therefore, these plants were better prepared for an expected stress. Furthermore, most metabolites that were severely reduced in NM plants following the N depletion remained unaltered in starved AM plants compared with those normally fertilized, suggesting that the symbiosis buffered the stress, improving plant development in a stressed environment.
Tomato plants colonized by Rhizophagus irregularis displayed improved responses to a lack of N compared with nonmycorrhizal plants.
AM plants displayed a metabolic and transcriptional rearrangement prioritizing the stress responses over growth under N depletion conditions.
AM plants also showed a more active oxylipin pathway compared with NM plants under N depletion conditions.
Mycorrhizal plants are more prepared to cope with environmental stress than NM plants.
To be protected from biological threats, plants have evolved an immune system comprising constitutive and inducible defenses. For example, upon perception of certain stimuli, plants can develop a ...conditioned state of enhanced defensive capacity against upcoming pathogens and pests, resulting in a phenotype called ‘induced resistance’ (IR). To tackle the confusing lexicon currently used in the IR field, we propose a widely applicable code of practice concerning the terminology and description of IR phenotypes using two main phenotypical aspects: local versus systemic resistance, and direct versus primed defense responses. Our general framework aims to improve uniformity and consistency in future scientific communication, which should help to avoid further misinterpretations and facilitate the accessibility and impact of this research field.
Upon perception of certain stimuli, plants can develop a conditioned state of enhanced defensive capacity against upcoming pathogens and pests, resulting in a phenotype called ‘induced resistance’ (IR).Scientific communication in the IR research domain is flawed with inconsistent use of various conceptualizations and terms.Researchers working on non-model organisms and/or less-studied plant tissues – which often make use of distinct natural defense mechanisms – are struggling to choose the correct term for their observations.Different biological and chemical IR stimuli tend to induce resistance through various pathways and hence terminology can and should not be linked to underlying mechanisms.
The inferior extensor retinaculum (IER) is an aponeurotic structure, which is in continuation with the anterior part of the sural fascia. The IER has often been used to augment the reconstruction of ...the lateral ankle ligaments, for instance in the Broström–Gould procedure, with good outcomes reported. However, its anatomy has not been described in detail and only a few studies are available on this structure. The presence of a non-constant oblique supero-lateral band appears to be important. This structure defines whether the augmentation of the lateral ankle ligaments reconstruction is performed using true IER or only the anterior part of the sural fascia. It is concluded that the use of this structure will have an impact on the resulting ankle stability.
This paper describes the reliable determination of progesterone (P4) in undiluted saliva making use of a disposable amperometric immunosensors implemented on low-cost and portable device/potentiostat ...constructed with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The immunosensor allows the fast (45 min), selective and sensitive determination (5 pg mL−1 LOD) of P4 using amperometry in stirred solutions. The immunosensor was coupled to the COTS-based potentiostat and amperometry was made into drops of quiescent solutions. No significant differences were apparent between the analytical performance achieved with the immunosensor for P4 using both a conventional and the COST-based potentiostats. The practical applicability of the immunosensor coupled with the COTS-based potentiostat was demonstrated by determining the endogenous P4 content in different undiluted saliva samples with highly variable endogenous contents of the target hormone. The obtained results were in good agreement with those provided by the conventional ELISA methodology and with the contents reported in the literature for samples with similar characteristics. This validated the combined device for the reliable and minimally invasive determination of the target hormone involving a very simple protocol and taking only 45 min.
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•Reliable determination of progesterone (P4) in undiluted saliva with a disposable immunosensor.•Portable device/potentiostat constructed with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components.•Fast (45 min) and sensitive determination of P4 using amperometry in stirred solutions or drops of quiescent solutions.•Determination of endogenous P4 in saliva with highly variable contents of the target hormone.
This paper presents the results obtained in the degradation of ibuprofen by ozonation. This study aims to evaluate the degradation of ibuprofen by ozonation once the operating variables have been ...optimized, investigating the degradation and degradation efficiency of the compound and assessing the toxic effect of ibuprofen and of the intermediate compounds generated during oxidative treatment.
Work was carried out to optimize the four operating variables: pH, conductivity, hydraulic retention time and the use of a maze of pipes to enhance contact between the ozone and the drug. All the trials were conducted in a purpose-built pilot-scale reactor. Analyses of the compound were carried out after solid–liquid phase extraction on high resolution liquid chromatography (HPLC). Working under optimal operating conditions (pH=9, HRT=20min and 12±2gN/m3), a degradation value of 99% was obtained, although degradation efficiency or mineralization of the compound was not achieved. The toxicity of ibuprofen and its intermediate compounds formed during the oxidative process was likewise studied. This toxicity was found to increase with increasing initial concentrations of the compound, with the intermediate compounds thus formed being more toxic than the starting compound.
•In this study have been studied degradation of ibuprofen with ozone.•We have optimized different operating variables.•We have a model that allows us to predict the percentage of ibuprofen degradation.•The ozonation of the ibuprofen generates compounds toxic for Selenastrum capricornium.
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