bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crop Residue Cover Percentage Estimation from RGB Images Using Transfer Learning and Ensemble Ordinal Regression
Authors: Upadhyay Parth C. , Lagaunne T.A.P. , Lory John A. , DeSouza Guilherme N.
Published: July 2024

Highlights

A transfer learning strategy improved residue estimates from high-resolution RGB imagery.

The best method used probabilistic estimates of expert classifiers to estimate residue cover.

This research confirms the utility of RGB imagery to quantify residue cover in agricultural fields.

Abstract. Plant residue on the soil surface increases the sustainability of food and fiber production in agricultural systems. Automated assessments of residue cover based on imagery have the potential to reduce labor and human bias associated with in-field measurements. We evaluate the capacity of a transfer learning strategy to improve the determination of residue level from high-resolution RGB images. The imagery for the study was collected from 88 field locations in 40 row crop fields in five Missouri counties between mid-April and early July in 2018 and 2019. At each field location, 50 contiguous 0.3 m × 0.2 m region of interest (ROI) images (ground sampling distance of 0.014 cm pixel--1) were extracted from imagery, resulting in a dataset of 4,400 ROI images; 3,000 were used for cross-validation and training (data collected in 2018) and 1,400 were used for testing (data collected in 2019). The percentage residue for each ROI image (ground truth) was determined by a bullseye grid method (n = 100). Features were extracted from ROI images using the VGGNet-16 CNN model, a pre-trained convolutional neural network model. We extracted 1,472 features per ROI using a global averaging and pooling strategy. The optimum feature set was identified using recursive feature elimination using a support vector machine (RFE-SVM). To estimate crop residue percentage using selected features, expert two-class SVMs were trained to separate adjacent levels of residue cover, where the rationale of the ensemble was to allow each of the two-class SVMs to find the hyperplanes that maximize the margin between the corresponding two consecutive classes. Based on the distance of the samples to these hyperplanes, probabilistic estimates of the data-point belonging to the class were computed. With the combined knowledge of probabilistic estimates from each expert classifier, the percentage crop residue cover of each ROI image was calculated. We tested our approach with 3-, 4-, 5-, and 8-class problems, achieving the best results with the 8-class problem with r2 = 0.93 at the ROI level, r2 = 0.97 at the field-location level, and minimal bias in residue estimates in low residue conditions. These results are superior to other reported estimates of percent residue derived from imagery. This research confirms the utility of high-resolution RGB imagery to quantify residue cover in agricultural systems. Keywords: Convolutional neural network, Soil erosion, Support vector machine, Transfer learning.
Forensic Poetics
Authors: Jaussen Paul
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The concept of forensic aesthetics has emerged in recent decades to describe investigative art and design practices that address violence in the public sphere. Forensic art works do not simply seek to document and represent violence; instead, they also construct alternative forums in which violence can appear and be evaluated. Drawing from the theorizations of forensics by Thomas Keenan, Eyal Weizman, and the Forensic Architecture agency, this article argues that a forensic aesthetic can also be found in contemporary poetry, as exemplified by C. D. Wright, Maggie Nelson, and Robin Coste Lewis. By investigating public spaces like the prison, the courtroom, and the art museum, these authors create literary works that extend the established traditions of documentary poetry into new arenas of disputation. Forensic poetics opens alternative ways of conceptualizing fundamental questions in art and literary theory, including the relationships between poetic form and public forum, aesthetic and legal judgment, and linguistic and visual representation.
Dynamitic Reading: Suspicion, Sociology, and Urgency in Ida B. Wells’s Antilynching Campaign
Authors: Class Claire Marie
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Inspired by an exchange between antilynching reformers Ida B. Wells and Jane Addams, this article uncovers a debate about reading methods—and the utility of reading suspiciously for marginalized groups—that occurred over a century ago. Responding to an opinion piece Addams wrote for The Independent in 1901, Wells delineates the limits of sympathetic approaches to the lynching crisis. Reading both Addams and Southern lynchers suspiciously and supplementing her readings with a new sociological tool, crime statistics, Wells demonstrates that lynchings of Black men were economically motivated. She develops her suspicious reading specifically to disrupt the bigoted sociology of race that fueled prolynching propaganda. However, she also sought better possibilities for the young social science discipline, advancing a sociology that analyzes the roots of Black oppression. Critics like Rita Felski have condemned the ubiquity of suspicious reading, which they associate with a distanced critical posture. At the same time, critics like Caroline Levine and Autumn Womack are leaning toward sociological methods. Unlike the adversarial mode typically associated with suspicious reading, Wells models an urgent suspicious reading that is deeply invested and, in her own words, “dynamitic.” For Wells, dynamitic reading helpfully intervenes against both the purported scientific objectivity of fin-de-siècle sociology and the indiscriminate affection of Addams, herself a sociological practitioner. It can also counter the inertness of now routinized critical practices. Wells provides us with a newly useful hermeneutics of suspicion. Moreover, she helps us to historicize and unpack the long relationship between sociology and literary studies.
Word Frequency Modulates the Selection of Semantic Access Pathways of Spoken Words in the Second Language
Authors: Yan Hao , Huang Yingying , Feng Yanqin , Zhang Limin , Zhang Yanlong , Zhen Anna , Dong Jie
Published: July 2024

大多数第二语言学习者理解单词的口语形式比书面形式更困难。基于以往的研究结果，我们认为词频和语言熟练度可能是口语词汇识别的两个关键因素。为了研究这两个因素是如何调节第二语言口语单词识别的，我们招募了具有不同英语熟练度的汉-英双语者为被试，并操纵了单词的正字法一致性和词频这两个因素。我们的研究结果支持语音重构理论，表明只有高频的二语口语词汇才能实现语音重构，并依赖正字法信息获取意义。而低频单词的拼写与其发音之间的联系较弱，这使得原始的音-义直接通路成为唯一的选择。这种出现的词频效应可能与语言熟练度、正字法信息和语音信息获得的顺序或语言系统无关。以上结果表明，汉-英双语者在加工二语口语时，既依赖于直接通路，也依赖于正字法中介通路。且通路的选择是由词频调节的。
Generalized denoising network LGCT-Net for various types of ESPI wrapped phase patterns
Authors: He Hongxuan , Tang Chen , Liu Le , Zhang Liao , Lei Zhenkun
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we propose a generalized network based on our proposed Local-Global Channel Transformer (LGCT) module for denoising various types of ESPI wrapped phase patterns (including low-density, medium-density, high-density, variable-density, and discontinuous phase patterns). The Conv + BN + ReLU layer consists of convolution (Conv), batch normalization (BN), and the rectified linear unit (Relu) in series. The generalized network LGCT-Net interleaves four LGCT modules with five Conv + BN + ReLU layers in a dense connection manner. We propose the LGCT Module by stacking three Dilated-Group Convolution blocks (DGC block), a Contextual Transformer block (CoT block), and an Efficient Channel Attention block (ECA block). The LGCT module simultaneously leverages the local context extraction capability of convolutions and the powerful global information extraction capability of a transformer. Additionally, it performs feature extraction in both spatial and channel dimensions. We also create a diverse ESPI wrapped phase pattern denoising dataset with various densities, shapes, noise levels, and discontinuity. We successfully train the LGCT-Net without any preprocessing or postprocessing steps. We evaluate the performance of our method on simulated and experimental ESPI wrapped phase patterns with discontinuity and different densities. Then we compare it with previously published denoising methods PEARLS, HDCNN, ADCNN, and DBDNet quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that our method facilitates the reduction of speckle noise and the enhancement of fine details while preserving structure and shape, outperforming the compared methods. In the end, we apply our method to dynamic measurements of nuclear graphite ESPI phase patterns at different times. And then performing phase unwrapping on the filtered phase patterns, we achieve successful results.
Single-carrier 220-Gbit/s sub-THz wireless transmission over 214 m using a photonics-based system
Authors: Maekawa Keisuke , Yoshioka Toki , Nakashita Tomoya , Ohara Takahiro , Nagatsuma Tadao
Published: July 2024

We have demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, a single-carrier 220-Gbit/s wireless link over 214-m distance within hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) limit using a 300-GHz-band photonics-based system incorporated with on-line digital signal processing (DSP). The approach to obtaining these results was to optimize the transmission system by using a low-noised two-tone laser system to the transmitter and receiver and to apply the unique Fresnel region of the antenna to achieve longer distances. These research results are expected to serve as a low-cost and basic communication system technology for promising backhaul wireless communications in the sixth-generation era.
Active broadband unidirectional focusing of terahertz surface plasmons based on a liquid-crystal-integrated on-chip metadevice
Authors: Wang Yi-Ming , Fan Fei , Zhao Hui-Jun , Liu Jing , Ji Yun-Yun , Cheng Jie-Rong , Chang Sheng-Jiang
Published: July 2024

Surface plasmons have been given high expectations in terahertz (THz) on-chip photonics with highly bound integrated transmission and on-chip wavefront engineering. However, most surface plasmonic coupling strategies with tailorable polarization-dependent features are challenged in broadband propagation and dynamic manipulation. In this work, a liquid crystal (LC)-integrated surface plasmonic metadevice based on arc-arrayed pair-slit resonators (APSRs) is demonstrated. The mirror-symmetry structures of this metadevice achieve the spin-selective unidirectional achromatic focusing, of which the broadband characteristic is supported by containing multiple APSRs with slits of different sizes corresponding to different excitation frequencies. Moreover, arc radii are precisely designed to meet the phase matching condition of constructive interference, so that the operating frequency of this on-chip metadevice is broadened to 0.33–0.60  THz. Furthermore, the LC integration provides the active energy distribution between the left and right focal spots, and the actual modulation depth reaches up to 73%. These THz active, wideband, on-chip manipulation mechanisms and their devices are of great significance for THz-integrated photonic communication, information processing, and highly sensitive sensing.
Achieving Occam’s razor: Deep learning for optimal model reduction
Authors: Antal Botond B. , Chesebro Anthony G. , Strey Helmut H. , Mujica-Parodi Lilianne R. , Weistuch Corey
Published: July 2024

All fields of science depend on mathematical models. Occam’s razor refers to the principle that good models should exclude parameters beyond those minimally required to describe the systems they represent. This is because redundancy can lead to incorrect estimates of model parameters from data, and thus inaccurate or ambiguous conclusions. Here, we show how deep learning can be powerfully leveraged to apply Occam’s razor to model parameters. Our method, FixFit, uses a feedforward deep neural network with a bottleneck layer to characterize and predict the behavior of a given model from its input parameters. FixFit has three major benefits. First, it provides a metric to quantify the original model’s degree of complexity. Second, it allows for the unique fitting of data. Third, it provides an unbiased way to discriminate between experimental hypotheses that add value versus those that do not. In three use cases, we demonstrate the broad applicability of this method across scientific domains. To validate the method using a known system, we apply FixFit to recover known composite parameters for the Kepler orbit model and a dynamic model of blood glucose regulation. In the latter, we demonstrate the ability to fit the latent parameters to real data. To illustrate how the method can be applied to less well-established fields, we use it to identify parameters for a multi-scale brain model and reduce the search space for viable candidate mechanisms.
Fixation times on directed graphs
Authors: Brewster David A. , Nowak Martin A. , Tkadlec Josef
Published: July 2024

Computing the rate of evolution in spatially structured populations is difficult. A key quantity is the fixation time of a single mutant with relative reproduction rate r which invades a population of residents. We say that the fixation time is “fast” if it is at most a polynomial function in terms of the population size N. Here we study fixation times of advantageous mutants (r > 1) and neutral mutants (r = 1) on directed graphs, which are those graphs that have at least some one-way connections. We obtain three main results. First, we prove that for any directed graph the fixation time is fast, provided that r is sufficiently large. Second, we construct an efficient algorithm that gives an upper bound for the fixation time for any graph and any r ≥ 1. Third, we identify a broad class of directed graphs with fast fixation times for any r ≥ 1. This class includes previously studied amplifiers of selection, such as Superstars and Metafunnels. We also show that on some graphs the fixation time is not a monotonically declining function of r; in particular, neutral fixation can occur faster than fixation for small selective advantages.
Genomic evidence reveals three W-autosome fusions in Heliconius butterflies
Authors: Rueda-M Nicol , Pardo-Diaz Carolina , Montejo-Kovacevich Gabriela , McMillan W. Owen , Kozak Krzysztof M. , Arias Carlos F. , Ready Jonathan , McCarthy Shane , Durbin Richard , Jiggins Chris D. , Meier Joana I. , Salazar Camilo
Published: July 2024

Sex chromosomes are evolutionarily labile in many animals and sometimes fuse with autosomes, creating so-called neo-sex chromosomes. Fusions between sex chromosomes and autosomes have been proposed to reduce sexual conflict and to promote adaptation and reproductive isolation among species. Recently, advances in genomics have fuelled the discovery of such fusions across the tree of life. Here, we discovered multiple fusions leading to neo-sex chromosomes in the sapho subclade of the classical adaptive radiation of Heliconius butterflies. Heliconius butterflies generally have 21 chromosomes with very high synteny. However, the five Heliconius species in the sapho subclade show large variation in chromosome number ranging from 21 to 60. We find that the W chromosome is fused with chromosome 4 in all of them. Two sister species pairs show subsequent fusions between the W and chromosomes 9 or 14, respectively. These fusions between autosomes and sex chromosomes make Heliconius butterflies an ideal system for studying the role of neo-sex chromosomes in adaptive radiations and the degeneration of sex chromosomes over time. Our findings emphasize the capability of short-read resequencing to detect genomic signatures of fusion events between sex chromosomes and autosomes even when sex chromosomes are not explicitly assembled.
Knowledge of female genital cutting among health and social care professionals in Francophone Belgium: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: O’Neill Sarah , Richard Fabienne , Alexander Sophie , Godin Isabelle
Published: July 2024

The provision of optimal, equitable and gender-sensitive health-care to women and girls with FGM/C is challenging. Research indicates that health-professionals in receiving countries lack knowledge, confidence and competence in managing FGM/C. In order to develop policies that are suitable to the wide heterogeneity of women from FGM/C practising groups, it is paramount to identify what appropriate care might consist of and what are the knowledge gaps of health and social-care providers. The study-objective was to gain an understanding of the knowledge and practices of professionals working in the area of health in Francophone Belgium where no previous KAP has been done. An anonymous questionnaire with 24 questions was developed targeting healthcare and social-care professionals. The questionnaire was distributed between 6 May and 30 August 2021 via professional organisations for midwifery, social work, GPs, infectious disease specialists, paediatricians and gynaecologists. The results are presented as frequencies, differences in proportions between groups were tested with Pearson’s Chi-square, when applicable. Correlations were tested by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The threshold of statistical significance is 5%. Four-hundred-and-sixty individuals filled in the questionnaire of which 42% were medical-doctors, 6% nurses, 27% midwives and 25% non-medical professionals (social-workers and psychologists). 55% of non-medical professionals had provided support for women with FGM/C. Almost 40% of health-professionals knew that there were 4 types of FGM and were able to correctly describe them, 15% were unable to correctly describe any of the 4 types. Those who had already provided care for women with FGM/C were more numerous to know that there were 4 types (52%). Two health-professionals had received requests to perform FGM/C. Twenty-seven midwives and medical-doctors had received requests for re-infibulation. Growing numbers of health and social-care professionals are providing care for women with FGM/C. However, knowledge of FGM/C is suboptimal. Continuous professional training is crucial.
Effect of mode of healthcare delivery on stress and intention to quit among physicians in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ali-Hassan Hossam , Clayton Shauna , Zangiabadi Safoura
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted adaptations to the delivery of healthcare services across Canada. In response to associated health risks and physical distancing protocols, some physicians adopted telemedicine procedures into their practice where possible. The present study aimed to investigate the impact that mode of healthcare delivery had on physicians’ intention to quit their jobs due to stress, burnout, or mental health. The study utilized data collected by Statistics Canada from the Health Care Workers’ Experience (SHCWEP) survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 2,198 participants, weighted to represent 93,952 Canadian physicians aged 18 and above. Modes of healthcare delivery were categorized as either in-person, online, or blended. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between mode of healthcare delivery and intention to quit due to stress, burnout, or mental health, after adjusting for sociodemographic, job-, and health-related factors. Intention to quit within the next two years due to stress, burnout, or mental health was reported by 7.5% of physicians. Compared to the in-person modality, online or blended healthcare delivery was associated with decreased the odds of intention to quit (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.63–0.72 and OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.58–0.75, respectively). The present study sheds light on factors associated with medical frontline worker well-being and retention, factors which can subsequently impact the quality of patient care. Future considerations regarding healthcare policy should incorporate strategies that protect and enhance physicians’ mental health into its framework to mitigate future risks.
Development of resident and migratory three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus
Authors: Barnes Megan , Chakrabarti Lisa , MacColl Andrew D. C.
Published: July 2024

The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a teleost fish and a model organism in evolutionary ecology, useful for both laboratory and natural experiments. It is especially valued for the substantial intraspecific variation in morphology, behaviour and genetics. Classic work of Swarup (1958) has described the development in the laboratory of embryos from a single freshwater population, but this was carried out at higher temperature than many stickleback would encounter in the wild and variation between populations was not addressed. Here we describe the development of embryos from two sympatric, saltwater ecotypes of stickleback from North Uist, Scotland raised at 14°C, the approximate temperature of North Uist lochs in the breeding season. The two ecotypes were (a) a large, migratory form in which the adults are completely plated with bony armour and (b) a smaller, low-plated form that is resident year-round in saltwater lagoons. By monitoring embryos every 24-hours post fertilisation, important characteristics of development were observed and photographed to provide a reference for North Uist ecotypes at this temperature. Hatching success was greater than 85% and did not differ between resident and migratory stickleback, but migratory eggs hatched significantly earlier than the resident ecotype. Our work provides a framework that can now be used to compare stickleback populations that may also grow in distinct environmental conditions, to help understand the breadth of normal developmental features and to characterise abnormal development.
Theory on the rate equations of Michaelis-Menten type enzyme kinetics with competitive inhibition
Authors: Murugan Rajamanickam
Published: July 2024

We derive approximate expressions for pre- and post-steady state regimes of the velocity-substrate-inhibitor spaces of the Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetic scheme with fully and partial competitive inhibition. Our refinement over the currently available standard quasi steady state approximation (sQSSA) seems to be valid over wide range of enzyme to substrate and enzyme to inhibitor concentration ratios. Further, we show that the enzyme-inhibitor-substrate system can exhibit temporally well-separated two different steady states with respect to both enzyme-substrate and enzyme-inhibitor complexes under certain conditions. We define the ratios fS = vmax/(KMS + e0) and fI = umax/(KMI + e0) as the acceleration factors with respect to the catalytic conversion of substrate and inhibitor into their respective products. Here KMS and KMI are the Michaelis-Menten parameters associated respectively with the binding of substrate and inhibitor with the enzyme, vmax and umax are the respective maximum reaction velocities and e0, s0, and i0 are total enzyme, substrate and inhibitor levels. When (fS/fI) < 1, then enzyme-substrate complex will show multiple steady states and it reaches the full-fledged steady state only after the depletion of enzyme-inhibitor complex. When (fS/fI) > 1, then the enzyme-inhibitor complex will show multiple steady states and it reaches the full-fledged steady state only after the depletion of enzyme-substrate complex. This multi steady-state behavior especially when (fS/fI) ≠ 1 is the root cause of large amount of error in the estimation of various kinetic parameters of fully and partial competitive inhibition schemes using sQSSA. Remarkably, we show that our refined expressions for the reaction velocities over enzyme-substrate-inhibitor space can control this error more significantly than the currently available sQSSA expressions.
Convex-based lightweight feature descriptor for Augmented Reality Tracking
Authors: S. Indhumathi , Clement J. Christopher
Published: July 2024

Feature description is a critical task in Augmented Reality Tracking. This article introduces a Convex Based Feature Descriptor (CBFD) system designed to withstand rotation, lighting, and blur variations while remaining computationally efficient. We have developed two filters capable of computing pixel intensity variations, followed by the covariance matrix of the polynomial to describe the features. The superiority of CBFD is validated through precision, recall, computation time, and feature location distance. Additionally, we provide a solution to determine the optimal block size for describing nonlinear regions, thereby enhancing resolution. The results demonstrate that CBFD achieves a average precision of 0.97 for the test image, outperforming Superpoint, Directional Intensified Tertiary Filtering (DITF), Binary Robust Independent Elementary Features (BRIEF), Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints (BRISK), Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF), and Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), which achieve scores of 0.95, 0.92, 0.72, 0.66, 0.63 and 0.50 respectively. Noteworthy is CBFD’s recall value of 0.87 representing at the maximum of a 13.6% improvement over Superpoint, DITF, BRIEF, BRISK, SURF, and SIFT. Furthermore, the matching score for the test image is 0.975. The computation time for CBFD is 2.8 ms, which is at least 6.7% lower than that of other algorithms. Finally, the plot of location feature distance illustrates that CBFD exhibits minimal distance compared to DITF and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). These results highlight the speed and robustness of CBFD across various transformations.
Determinants of sleep quality among pregnant women in a selected institution in the Southern province, Sri Lanka
Authors: Peiris M. S. K. , Sundarapperuma Thamudi Darshi.
Published: July 2024

Background

Sleep is a vital requirement during pregnancy for the betterment of the fetus and the mother. Sleep quality could vary due to pregnancy-specific psychological and physiological changes. To introduce a tailored programme to enhance the sleep quality of mothers, it is paramount to assess the sleep quality and determinants of sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the determinants of sleep quality among pregnant women in a selected institution in the Southern province of Sri Lanka.

Methods

Hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out with 245 antenatal women, selected using a systematic random sampling method. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data which contains four parts. Below variables were involved and both continuous and categorical data were collected as required. ‘Maternal sleep quality, socio-demographic data and gestational age, maternal depression and anxiety.’ Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 for Windows by using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Chi-square test, and independent sample T-test (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis was used to find the relationship with sleep quality and other variables. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant, at 95% CI.

Results

The majority of women (60.8%) had good sleep quality and they didn’t have either depressive symptoms (63.4%) or anxiety (64.2%). Aged between 34–41 years and third-trimester women had higher rates of poor sleep quality. Varying quality of sleep was identified among three-trimesters with subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbances. In comparison with the first and second trimester, pregnant women in the third trimester had higher score of global PSQI (5.22 ± 2.35), subjective sleep quality (1.23 ± 0.70), sleep latency (1.25 ± 0.86), habitual sleep efficiency (0.14 ± 0.43), and sleep disturbances (1.39 ± 0.58). There was a significant association between gestational age (P = .006), maternal age (P = .009), antenatal depression (P = .034), and anxiety (P = .013) with sleep quality. However, multinomial logistic regression revealed that only gestational age affected on quality of sleep. The first trimester was a protective factor for good quality sleep (Adjusted OR = 3.156) compared to the other two trimesters.

Conclusion

This study revealed that the majority of women had good sleep quality but quality of sleep was deprived with gestational age. It is expected that the findings of this research will be helpful for health and social care policymakers when formulating guidelines and interventions regarding improving the quality of sleep among pregnant women in Sri Lanka.
Unravelling long-term impact of water abstraction and climate change on endorheic lakes: A case study of Shortandy Lake in Central Asia
Authors: Baigaliyeva Marzhan , Mount Nick , Gosling Simon N. , McGowan Suzanne
Published: July 2024

Endorheic lakes, lacking river outflows, are highly sensitive to environmental changes and human interventions. Central Asia (CA) has over 6000 lakes that have experienced substantial water level variability in the past century, yet causes of recent changes in many lakes remain unexplored. Modelling hydrological processes for CA lakes poses challenges in separating climatic change impacts from human management impacts due to limited data and long-term variability in hydrological regimes. This study developed a spatially lumped empirical model to investigate the effects of climate change and human water abstraction, using Shortandy Lake in Burabay National Nature Park (BNNP) as a case study. Modelling results show a significant water volume decline from 231.7x106m3 in 1986 to 172.5x106m3 in 2016, primarily driven by anthropogenic water abstraction, accounting for 92% of the total volume deficit. The highest rates of water abstraction (greater than 25% of annual outflow) occurred from 1989 to 1993, coinciding with the driest period. Since 2013, the water volume has increased due to increased precipitation and, more importantly, reduced water abstraction. Despite limited observational data with which to calibrate the model, it performs well. Our analysis underscores the challenges in modelling lakes in data-sparse regions such as CA, and highlights the importance and benefits of developing lake water balance models for the region.
Experimental study on the failure process and modes of loess spoil slope induced by rainfall and engineering disturbance
Authors: Xiao Wei , Tian Weiping
Published: July 2024

In this paper, indoor model tests were conducted using image analysis, pore pressure, and displacement measurement methods to investigate the failure evolution process and modes of loess spoil slopes with various components under the influence of rainfall and artificial excavation. The results of the experiments reveal that, under the action of rainfall, there are two types of cracks-to-failure modes for pure loess spoil slopes. One involves the formation of a large gully through the dominant channel, while the other is characterized by step-by-step retreating soil damage between cracks. The failure exhibits three distinct stages, and after failure, the slope angle is relatively large (>45°). The process of rainfall-induced destruction affecting loess spoil containing 25% coarse-grained content similarly unfolds in three stages, ultimately resulting in the formation of a regional landslide. This landslide typically encompasses a broader damage range compared to pure loess spoil, albeit with a shallower depth of damage. After the landslide stops and stabilizes, a tiny slope (45°) is created (<45°). The excavation at the toe of the slope induces loess spoil damage in a progressive multi-stage receding manner. This study provides a reference and basis for disaster prevention and warning of spoiled ground in loess areas.
How is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia delivered to adults with comorbid persistent musculoskeletal pain and disordered sleep? A scoping review
Authors: Browne Abigail , Cahalan Roisin , O’ Sullivan Kieran
Published: July 2024

Background

Disordered sleep and persistent musculoskeletal pain are highly comorbid. Behavioural interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) have shown promise in the management of both disordered sleep and persistent musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this review was to examine how CBT-I is delivered in randomised controlled trials involving people with comorbid disordered sleep and persistent musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

The protocol for this scoping review was registered with the Open Science Framework. Electronic searches of ten database and three clinical trials registries were performed up to 25 October 2023. The methodological quality of each study was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the PEDro tool. The reporting of CBT-I interventions was evaluated using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.

Results

Twelve studies met the eligibility criteria. TIDieR scores ranged from 7-11/12, with a mean score of 8.8/12. CBT-I always involved two core components–sleep restriction and stimulus control. Furthermore, an additional five components were usually involved–a cognitive component, sleep hygiene, sleep education, relaxation/deactivation procedures and relapse planning. There was also considerable consistency in the frequency (weekly) and duration (5–9 weeks) of CBT-I programmes. Aspects inconsistently reported included who delivered the intervention; what modifications were made, if any; and the session content and duration. PEDro scores ranged from 5-8/10, with a mean score of 6.7/10.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate considerable consistency in the components of CBT-I delivered in clinical trials along with the number of sessions. The frequency of sessions was also consistent where almost all studies held weekly session. However, some aspects were either not reported (e.g., precise content of components) or inconsistent (e.g., use of terminology). CBT-I was delivered both individually and in groups. Greater consistency, and more detailed reporting regarding who delivered the intervention, the training provided, and the specific content of CBT-I components would add clarity, and may enhance CBT-I efficacy and allow better replication.
Association between personality traits and symptoms of depression and anxiety via emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Authors: Aguirre Paula , Michelini Yanina , Bravo Adrian J. , Pautassi Ricardo Marcos , Pilatti Angelina
Published: July 2024

The Big Five personality traits have shown associations with symptoms of depression and anxiety among college students, but it is unclear which factors mediate these relationships. Past research suggests that psychological distress is closely related to difficulties in affect regulation (e.g., low distress tolerance). Therefore, the present study examined the associations between personality traits and depression and anxiety via emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Participants were 694 (81.4% females; Mean age = 23.12 [SD 2.75]) Argentinian college students who completed an online survey examining mental health and personality variables. A sizeable percentage of students endorsed moderate to severe symptoms of depression (45.1%) or anxiety (25.9%). Utilizing path analyses, we found that appraisal, a dimension of distress tolerance, atemporally mediated the association between emotional stability and symptoms of depression/anxiety (i.e., higher levels of emotional stability → higher appraisal distress tolerance → fewer symptoms of depression/anxiety). Further, expressive suppression (a dimension of emotion regulation) significantly mediated the associations between personality traits (i.e., agreeableness and extraversion) and symptoms of depression (higher levels of agreeableness/extraversion → lower use of expressive suppression → fewer symptoms of depression). Taken together, the results suggest that higher levels of emotional stability, extraversion and agreeableness could protect students from the development of symptoms of depression/anxiety via lower maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and higher distress tolerance (particularly appraisal). These findings highlight the relevance of intervention strategies specifically tailored to improve distress tolerance and emotion regulation for those students undergoing mental health problems.
A mixed-methods study to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of delivering the optimal health program (OHP) for youth at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis: A study protocol
Authors: Husain Muhammad. Omair , Hawke Lisa D. , Lu Yun , Kozloff Nicole , Strudwick Gillian , Kiang Michael , Wang Wei , Castle David , Foussias George
Published: July 2024

Individuals with clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis experience significant distress, impaired general functioning and a high lifetime risk of self-harm and attempted suicide. The CHR period is an important phase in an individual’s mental health where appropriate interventions may reduce the risk of progression to several negative outcomes, including the development of schizophrenia. Given that up to 80% of individuals with CHR have another diagnosable mental illness and almost half experience poor psychosocial functioning, developing interventions that address psychosocial functioning in young people with CHR is of great importance. This mixed-methods study aims to employ qualitative and quantitative methods to adapt an evidence-based comprehensive psychosocial and mental health self-efficacy program, the Optimal Health Program (OHP), and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary clinical efficacy in young people with CHR. We aim to recruit 30 CHR participants (age 16–29 years) in a single-arm 12-week exploratory clinical trial. Feasibility metrics will include recruitment, retention, and data completion rates. Acceptability will be informed by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Clinical assessments (psychosis spectrum symptoms, depression, and anxiety), functional measures, and cognitive outcomes will be completed at study entry and repeated post-intervention at 12-weeks. We will run pre-post test data analysis to examine changes following engagement in the OHP intervention. Qualitative interviews will be conducted post-intervention to further evaluate the acceptability of the intervention and the trial design, and will be analyzed using thematic analysis. OHP may enhance the long-term mental health, well-being and functioning of CHR youth. However, the intervention must first be adapted to a CHR population; then, the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of delivering an intervention tailored around the varied needs of the CHR group must be established before a larger-scale appropriately powered study is pursued.

Trial registration: The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05757128.
Determining the societal value of a prospective drug for ME/CFS in Germany
Authors: Gandjour Afschin
Published: July 2024

Background

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) imposes a substantial societal and economic burden. The aim of this study is to ascertain the optimal level of public research and development (R&D) investment in Germany for a prospective drug, given the pressing need for effective treatments.

Methods

This study calculates the societal value from a German perspective by integrating health and economic outcomes in the context of public R&D investment for ME/CFS. It considers factors such as direct medical costs, productivity loss, and the effectiveness of a prospective drug.

Results

The anticipated introduction of a prospective drug is estimated to yield a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain of approximately 29,000 and a societal value of about €2.6 billion. The optimal R&D investment in Germany is estimated at €676 million, which represents about a quarter of the total investment required to bring a significant drug to market, considering diminishing returns and market constraints. Results were confirmed in the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

The study concludes that a coordinated international approach is imperative to address the funding and market size limitations effectively in developing treatments for ME/CFS and to realize the substantial societal and economic benefits.
Exploration of weekly variation in naloxone possession and carriage among people who use opioids in New York City before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Roth Alexis M. , Ward Kathleen M. , Hensel Devon J. , Elliott Luther , Bennett Alex S.
Published: July 2024

Background

Naloxone is critical for reversing opioid-related overdoses. However, there is a dearth of research examining how naloxone possession and carriage are impacted by time-varying individual and social determinants, and if this differed during the height of the COVID-related mitigation measures (e.g., shutdowns).

Methods

We utilized weekly ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to measure factors associated with naloxone possession and carriage among 40 people who use illicit opioids in New York City, for 24 months. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the frequency of weeks with consistent naloxone possession and carriage. Mixed effects binary and multivariable logistic regression was used to test for the impact of time-varying EMA- and baseline-level factors on each outcome.

Results

Approximately 70% of weekly EMAs were associated with consistent naloxone possession or carriage. In multivariable models, compared to during the height of the COVID-related shutdowns (March 12, 2020-May 19, 2021), the time before was associated with lower odds of consistent possession (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.05, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.01–0.15) and consistent carriage (OR = 0.06, CI = 0.01–0.25). Additionally, being female (OR = 11.15, CI = 2.85–43.42), being White versus being Black or Hispanic/Latinx (OR = 8.05, CI = 1.96–33.06), and lifetime overdose (OR = 1.96, CI = 1.16–19.80) were associated with higher odds of consistent possession. Recent opioid injection (OR = 3.66, CI = 1.34–9.94), being female (OR = 7.91, CI = 3.91–8.23), and being White (OR = 5.77, CI = 1.35–24.55) were associated with higher odds of consistent carriage. Not wanting to be perceived as a drug user was reported in nearly one third (29.0%; 190/656) of EMAs where inconsistent possession was reported.

Conclusions

Our findings paint a relatively positive picture of possession and carriage during COVID-related shutdowns, particularly among white and female participants, and highlight the importance of capturing time-varying factors to understand naloxone-related behavior. To curb growing disparities, outreach to equip Black and Hispanic/Latinx people with naloxone is needed as well as interventions to reduce stigma as a barrier to naloxone engagement.
UGT1A4*3 polymorphism influences serum concentration and therapeutic effect of lamotrigine for epilepsy treatment: A meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Zhimei , Fu Yuzhi , Shen Hongxin
Published: July 2024

Background

Lamotrigine as a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug, is widely applied and its clinical efficacy is highly recognized. However, significant differences are observed in blood drug concentration of lamotrigine among individuals, which may have an impact on its efficacy. UGT1A4 is the main metabolic enzyme. However, it was inconsistent for the influence of UGT1A4 genetic polymorphism on concentration and efficacy of lamotrigine therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the influences of UGT1A4*3 genetic polymorphisms on lamotrigine concentration and therapeutic effect through meta-analysis.

Methods

The literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Wan Fang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database until January 2024. The primary outcome included the mean serum concentration, concentration-to-dose-ratio by body weight (CDR), or efficacy related to different UGT1A4*3 genotype for lamotrigine therapy. Data were collected to access the Mean Difference or odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2.

Results

A total of eleven studies were enrolled. The meta-analysis for mean serum concentration of lamotrigine showed no significant difference between patients carrying TT genotypes and TG and GG genotypes group (MD: 0.12, 95% [-0.35, 0.58], P = 0.62). There was significant difference in CDR (MD: 0.49, 95% [0.03, 0.94], P = 0.04) and therapeutic efficacy (OR: 7.18, 95% [4.01, 12.83], P<0.00001) of lamotrigine, however no significant difference was found in subgroup analysis of CDR of children (MD: 0.03, 95% [-0.35, 0.42], P = 0.87) between patients carrying TT genotypes and TG and GG genotypes group.

Conclusions

Polymorphism of UGT1A4*3 influenced the CDR and therapeutic efficacy of lamotrigine for antiepileptic therapy. Genotype analysis provided reference for personalized medication in the future. However, more high-quality evidences are necessary for precise and definitive conclusion.
Cardiometabolic diseases and associated risk factors in transitional rural communities in tropical coastal Ecuador
Authors: Gualan Monsermin , Ster Irina Chis , Veloz Tatiana , Granadillo Emily , Llangari-Arizo Luz M. , Rodriguez Alejandro , Critchley Julia A. , Whincup Peter , Martin Miguel , Romero-Sandoval Natalia , Cooper Philip J.
Published: July 2024

Background

There is a growing epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases in low and middle-income countries, often attributed to urbanization, although there are limited data from marginalized rural populations. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases and associated risk factors in transitional rural communities.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of Montubio adults aged 18–94 years living in agricultural communities in a tropical coastal region of Ecuador. Data were collected by questionnaires and anthropometry, and fasting blood was analyzed for glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, and lipid profiles. Population-weighted prevalences of diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were estimated. Associations between potential risk factors and outcomes were estimated using multilevel regression techniques adjusted for age and sex.

Results

Out of 1,010 adults recruited, 931 were included in the analysis. Weighted prevalences were estimated for diabetes (20.4%, 95% CI 18.3–22.5%), hypertension (35.6%, 95% CI 29.0–42.1%), and metabolic syndrome (54.2%. 95% CI 47.0–61.5%) with higher prevalence observed in women. Hypertension prevalence increased with age while diabetes and metabolic syndrome peaked in the 6th and 7th decades of life, declining thereafter. Adiposity indicators were associated with diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

We observed an unexpectedly high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome in these marginalized agricultural communities. Transitional rural communities are increasingly vulnerable to the development of cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. There is a need for targeted primary health strategies to reduce the burden of premature disability and death in these communities.