bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing whole-of-river conservation
Authors: Pearson Richard G. , Davis Aaron M. , Birtles R. Alastair
Published: May 2022

We argue for improved conservation of freshwater ecosystems at catchment or eco-regional scales by explicit assignment of values to all river sections and wetlands, recognising current disturbance, and aiming for ‘no further harm’ to the commons. The need is indicated by the global deterioration of biodiversity and ecosystem services of rivers and wetlands, increasing demands on water and land resources, and climate change. Regional pressures include multiple jurisdictions, competing demands, piecemeal management, pollution and habitat impacts. Effective resource and conservation management needs to integrate multiple uses via governance of activities of stakeholders, recognising hydrogeomorphic, water quality and ecological properties of ecosystems. Complete ecological protection is impractical amidst water-resource and land-use development, but we suggest that all river reaches and wetlands be given a conservation rating based on habitat, biodiversity and connectivity values. We present a straightforward approach to spatial conservation rating of freshwaters, using hydrogeomorphic typology and assignment of conservation values on the basis of available information and expert elicitation. We illustrate the approach by using the large Burdekin River catchment in north-eastern Australia. This approach is complementary to more spatially focused conservation prioritisation and could greatly improve management for sustainability, reduce further decline in conservation values, and facilitate rehabilitation.
Corrigendum to: Constraining nitrogen sources to a seagrass-dominated coastal embayment by using an isotope mass balance approach
Authors: Russell Douglas G. , Kessler Adam J. , Wong Wei Wen , Van Oevelen Dick , Cook Perran L. M.
Published: May 2022

Nitrogen (N) is often the key nutrient limiting primary production in coastal waters. Quantifying sources and sinks of N is therefore critical to understanding the factors that underpin the productivity of coastal ecosystems. Constraining nitrogen inputs can be difficult for some terms such as N fixation and marine exchange as a consequence of uncertainties associated with scaling and stochasticity. To help overcome these issues, we undertook a N budget incorporating an isotope and mass balance to constrain N sources in a large oligotrophic coastal embayment (Western Port, Australia). The total N input to Western Port was calculated to be 1400Mg Nyear−1, which is remarkably consistent with previous estimates of sedimentation rates within the system. Catchment inputs, N fixation, marine sources and atmospheric deposition comprised 44, 28, 28 and 13% of N inputs respectively. Retention of marine-derived N equated to ~3 and ~10% of total N and NOx flushed through the system from the marine end-member. The relatively high contribution of N fixation compared with previous studies was most likely to be due to the high proportion of nutrient-limited intertidal sediments where N is mediated by seagrasses and sediment cyanobacteria.
Species richness response to human pressure hides important assemblage transformations
Authors: Cazalis Victor
Published: May 2022

Significance

Human activities are causing biodiversity loss, but there is still strong debate on their effect on species richness. Here, I propose a unification of five trajectories of species richness response to increasing human pressure under the “replace then remove framework.” It consists in a first phase of assemblage transformation (with the replacement of “loser” by “winner” species), often followed by a second phase of steep decline in species richness (with the decline of many winner species) when human pressure exceeds a certain threshold. The empirical results presented in this study provide an outstanding illustration of assemblage transformations that may cause biotic homogenization, demonstrating how habitat specialist, endemic, sensitive, and threatened species are replaced by others with increasing human pressure.
Revisiting the recombinant history of HIV-1 group M with dynamic network community detection
Authors: Olabode Abayomi S. , Ng Garway T. , Wade Kaitlyn E. , Salnikov Mikhail , Grant Heather E. , Dick David W. , Poon Art F. Y.
Published: May 2022

Significance

Recombination is a major mechanism through which HIV type 1 (HIV-1) maintains genetic diversity and interferes with viral eradication efforts. There is growing evidence demonstrating a recombinant origin of primate lentiviruses including HIV-1 group M (HIV-1/M). Inferring the extent of recombination across the entire HIV-1/M genome is of great importance as it provides deeper insights into the origin, dynamics, and evolution of the global pandemic. Here we propose an alternative method that can reconstruct the extent of genome-wide recombination in HIV-1, uncover reticulate patterns, and serve as a framework for HIV-1 classification. Our method provides an alternative approach for understanding the roles of virus recombination in the early evolutionary history of zoonosis for other emerging viruses.
A synthetic lethality screen reveals ING5 as a genetic dependency of catalytically dead Set1A/COMPASS in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Cenik Bercin K. , Sze Christie C. , Ryan Caila A. , Das Siddhartha , Cao Kaixiang , Douillet Delphine , Rendleman Emily J. , Zha Didi , Khan Nabiha Haleema , Bartom Elizabeth , Shilatifard Ali
Published: May 2022

Significance

Pluripotency and development can be governed at the level of epigenetics. Growing lines of evidence underscore the importance of the Set1A/complex of proteins associated with SET1 (COMPASS) histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complex in embryogenesis and neurodevelopment. We show that the catalytic SET domain of Set1A is essential for mouse embryogenesis; however, having this domain extends the viability of embryos compared to complete loss of Set1A. We additionally show that Ing5, a core component of several complexes involved in histone acetylation, can functionally interact with

Set1A
ΔSET

in regulating ESC viability and developmental gene expression. Insights into their physiological activity and regulation will assist our understanding of their dysfunction in disease and ultimately facilitate the discovery of new targets for future therapy.
Emergency Department Presentations of Patients with Alcohol use Disorders in an Australian Regional Health District
Authors: Zhang Jingxiang , Qian Siyu , Su Guoxin , Deng Chao , Reid David , Curtis Kate , Sinclair Barbara , Yu Ping
Published: May 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal changes in emergency department (ED) presentations incurred by patients with alcohol use disorders. Methods: A retrospective quantitative analysis was conducted on patients’ ED presentations between December 2011 and January 2019 in an Australian regional health district. The health district has five EDs serving rural, regional, and metropolitan areas. Patients with alcohol use disorders were divided into two groups for comparison: those who had interactions with the community-based Drug and Alcohol (D&A) services and those who did not. Results: A total of 2,519 individual patients with alcohol use disorders made 21,715 ED presentations. Among these patients, 75.4% did not have interactions with the community-based D&A services. Compared with those who had, these patients were older, more likely to be diagnosed with abdominal pain (26.9% vs 12.0%, p < 0.001) and chest pain (16.2% vs 8.6%, p < 0.001), and had longer mean length of ED stay (7 hours and 41.7 minutes vs 6 hours and 25.6 minutes, p < 0.001). For the patients who had interactions with the community-based D&A services, their 28-day re-presentation rates decreased from 55.5% (2013–14) to 45.1% (2017–18); however, were higher than that of those who had no interactions (41.1% to 32.8%). Overall, 21.9%−24.5% of the patients were frequent ED presenters (i.e., ≥4 visits per year). Frequent ED presenters were proportionately higher among the patients who had interactions with the community-based D&A services, consistently over the relevant years. Although patients with alcohol use disorders frequently presented to EDs, their alcohol use disorders were only identified in 8.9% of their presentations. Conclusions: Patients with alcohol use disorders were often unidentified in EDs. Those who did not have interactions with the community-based D&A services were less likely to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorders when presenting to EDs.
Associations between Elevated Depressive Symptoms and Substance Use, Prescription Opioid Misuse, Overdose History, Pain, and General Health among Community Pharmacy Patients Prescribed Opioids
Authors: Brown Jennifer L. , Cochran Gerald , Bryan M. Aryana , Charron Elizabeth , Winhusen T. John
Published: May 2022

Background: Individuals with pain prescribed opioids experience high rates of comorbid depression. The aim of this study was to characterize pain, substance use, and health status as a function of depressive symptom level in individuals filling an opioid prescription at a community pharmacy. Methods: Participants ( N = 1268) filling an opioid prescription enrolled in a study validating a prescription drug monitoring metric completed an online survey assessing sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, substance use, prescription opioid misuse, overdose history, general health, and pain severity and interference. Results: Approximately one-fifth (19.3%) had a positive depression screen result. In covariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses, individuals with a positive depression screen result were more likely to have moderate/high substance use risk scores for prescription opioids (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51–2.79); street opioids (AOR = 7.18; 95% CI, 2.57–20.01); cannabis (AOR = 2.00; 95% CI, 1.34–3.00); cocaine (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.46–8.22); tobacco (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18–2.15); methamphetamine (AOR = 7.59; 95% CI, 2.58–22.35); prescription stimulants (AOR = 2.95; 95% CI, 1.59–5.49); and sedatives (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI, 2.43–4.79). Individuals with a positive depression screen were more likely to misuse prescription opioids (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI, 2.33–5.15), experience a prior overdose (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.76–4.11), report poorer general health (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI, 0.18–0.35), and report moderate/severe pain severity (AOR = 4.36, 95% CI, 2.80–6.77) and interference (AOR = 6.47, 95% CI, 4.08–10.26). Conclusions: Individuals prescribed opioids with heightened depression were more likely to report other substance use, prescription opioid misuse, prior overdose, greater pain, and poorer health.
Detection of oncogenic and clinically actionable mutations in cancer genomes critically depends on variant calling tools
Authors: Garcia-Prieto Carlos A , Martínez-Jiménez Francisco , Valencia Alfonso , Porta-Pardo Eduard
Published: May 2022

Motivation

The analysis of cancer genomes provides fundamental information about its etiology, the processes driving cell transformation or potential treatments. While researchers and clinicians are often only interested in the identification of oncogenic mutations, actionable variants or mutational signatures, the first crucial step in the analysis of any tumor genome is the identification of somatic variants in cancer cells (i.e. those that have been acquired during their evolution). For that purpose, a wide range of computational tools have been developed in recent years to detect somatic mutations in sequencing data from tumor samples. While there have been some efforts to benchmark somatic variant calling tools and strategies, the extent to which variant calling decisions impact the results of downstream analyses of tumor genomes remains unknown.

Results

Here, we quantify the impact of variant calling decisions by comparing the results obtained in three important analyses of cancer genomics data (identification of cancer driver genes, quantification of mutational signatures and detection of clinically actionable variants) when changing the somatic variant caller (MuSE, MuTect2, SomaticSniper and VarScan2) or the strategy to combine them (Consensus of two, Consensus of three and Union) across all 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Our results show that variant calling decisions have a significant impact on these analyses, creating important differences that could even impact treatment decisions for some patients. Moreover, the Consensus of three calling strategy to combine the output of multiple variant calling tools, a very widely used strategy by the research community, can lead to the loss of some cancer driver genes and actionable mutations. Overall, our results highlight the limitations of widespread practices within the cancer genomics community and point to important differences in critical analyses of tumor sequencing data depending on variant calling, affecting even the identification of clinically actionable variants.

Availability and implementation

Code is available at https://github.com/carlosgarciaprieto/VariantCallingClinicalBenchmark.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Colour of Eco-Crime
Authors: Bertenthal A
Published: May 2022

In taking up the mantle of ‘green,’ criminologists concerned with environmental harm have succeeded in shifting criminology away from its anthropocentric focus on crime and harms committed to and by humans. While this framework has generated a large body of scholarship, it has also occluded important discussions about the significance of race and racial ideologies in the ongoing construction of crime, even—and especially—when depictions of crime do not explicitly reference humans. This article employs semiotic analysis of media images of eco-crime to demonstrate that the ways in which we see eco-crime—like ways of seeing crime more generally—construct images of race and contribute to the establishment of racialized relations. By placing eco-crime in a visual context and deconstructing the implicit and explicit racial imagery of eco-crime, I prompt criminologists to consider more critically issues of race and racialization in green criminology.
Long-term exposure to air pollutants and increased risk of chronic kidney disease in a community-based population using a fuzzy logic inference model
Authors: Lin Hsueh-Chun , Hung Peir-Haur , Hsieh Yun-Yu , Lai Ting-Ju , Hsu Hui-Tsung , Chung Mu-Chi , Chung Chi-Jung
Published: May 2022

Background

Fuzzy inference systems (FISs) based on fuzzy theory in mathematics were previously applied to infer supplementary points for the limited number of monitoring sites and improve the uncertainty of spatial data. Therefore we adopted the FIS method to simulate spatiotemporal levels of air pollutants [particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and (NO2)] and investigated the association of levels of air pollutants with the community-based prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

A Complex Health Screening program was launched during 2012–2013 and a total of 8284 community residents in Chiayi County, which is located in southwestern Taiwan, received a series of standard physical examinations, including measurement of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CKD cases were defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and were matched for age and gender in a 1:4 ratio of cases:controls. Data on air pollutants were collected from air quality monitoring stations during 2006–2016. The longitude, latitude and recruitment month of the individual case were entered into the trained FIS. The defuzzification process was performed based on the proper membership functions and fuzzy logic rules to infer the concentrations of air pollutants. In addition, we used conditional logistic regression and the distributed lag nonlinear model to calculate the prevalence ratios of CKD and the 95% confidence interval. Confounders including Framingham Risk Score (FRS), diabetes, gout, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic syndrome and vegetables consumption were adjusted in the models.

Results

Participants with a high FRS (>10%), diabetes, heart disease, gout, arthritis or metabolic syndrome had significantly increased CKD prevalence. After adjustment for confounders, PM2.5 levels were significantly increased in CKD cases in both single- and two-pollutant models (prevalence ratio 1.31–1.34). There was a positive association with CKD in the two-pollutant models for NO2. However, similar results were not observed for SO2.

Conclusions

FIS may be helpful to reduce uncertainty with better interpolation for limited monitoring stations. Meanwhile, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 appears to be associated with an increased prevalence of CKD, based on a FIS model.
Tailoring the dialysate bicarbonate eliminates pre-dialysis acidosis and post-dialysis alkalosis
Authors: Cuadrado Elena , Broseta José Jesús , Rodríguez-Espinosa Diana , Montagud-Marrahi Enrique , Rodas Lida , Fontseré Néstor , Arias-Guillén Marta , Rico Naira , Maduell Francisco
Published: May 2022

Background

Both metabolic acidosis and alkalosis increase hospitalizations, haemodynamic instability and mortality in haemodialysis patients. Unfortunately, current practices opt for a one-size-fits-all approach, leaving many patients either acidotic before or alkalotic after dialysis sessions. Therefore an individualized adjustment of these patients’ dialysate bicarbonate prescriptions could reduce these acid–base imbalances.

Methods

This is a prospective single-cohort study of patients on a chronic haemodiafiltration programme. The dialysate bicarbonate prescription was modified according to the pre- and post-dialysis total carbon dioxide (TCO2) values of 19–25 mEq/L and ≤29 mEq/L, respectively, with an adjustment formula calculated with the data obtained from previously published work by our group. In addition, we analysed this adjustment's effect on plasma sodium, potassium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium.

Results

At baseline, only 67.9% of patients were within the desired pre- and post-dialysis TCO2 target range. As of the first month, every followed patient met the TCO2 target range objective in pre-dialysis measurements and ˃95% met the post-dialysis TCO2 target. At the end of the study, 75% of the patients were on dialysate bicarbonate of 32–34 mEq/L. There were no clinically significant changes in calcium, phosphate, PTH, sodium or potassium levels. Also, we did not notice any increase in intradialytic adverse events.

Conclusions

We suggest an individualized adjustment of the dialysate bicarbonate concentration according to the pre- and post-dialysis TCO2 values. With it, nearly every patient in our cohort reached the established range, potentially reducing their mortality risk.
On Log-Algebraic Identities for Anderson t-Modules and Characteristic p Multiple Zeta Values
Authors: Green Nathan , Ngo Dac Tuan
Published: May 2022

Based on the notion of Stark units, we present a new approach that obtains refinements of log-algebraic identities for Anderson $t$-modules. As a consequence, we use our techniques to recover many earlier results and prove stronger results in some cases. Further, we devise a direct and conceptual way to get logarithmic interpretations for multiple zeta values in positive characteristic. This generalizes the work of Anderson and Thakur for Carlitz zeta values.
As right as rain: deciphering drought-related metabolic flexibility in the C4–CAMPortulaca
Authors: Reyna-Llorens Ivan , Aubry Sylvain
Published: May 2022

This article comments on:

Ferrari RC, Kawabata AB, Ferreira SS, Hartwell J, Freschi L. 2022. A matter of time: regulatory events behind the synchronization of C4 and crassulacean acid metabolism gene expression in Portulaca oleracea. Journal of Experimental Botany 73,4867–4885.
On the relation of host properties and environment of AGN galaxies across the standard optical diagnostic diagram
Authors: Perez Noelia R , Coldwell Georgina
Published: May 2022

We study the host properties and environment of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) galaxies, taken from SDSS-DR12, across the [O iii]/H β versus [N ii]/H α diagnostic diagram. We select AGN subsamples defined as parallel and perpendicular to the star-forming locus on the BPT diagram based on the Kauffmann et al. and Schawinski et al. criteria. For parallel subsamples we find that AGN host properties exhibit a morphological evolution as they become more distant to the star-forming sequence. The local density environment shows a more evident morphology–density relationship for subsamples mainly formed by Composite and Spiral galaxies than those containing LINERs and Seyferts, where the AGN emission is the dominant source. We also analyse the properties of the five closest AGN neighbours observing no significant differences in the environment, although the AGN host properties of every subsample have noticeable variations. The AGNs belonging to perpendicular subsamples show clear differences on their host properties from left top to right bottom on the diagram. However, the analysis of the local density environment do not reflect strong dependency with the host AGN properties. This result is reinforced by the characteristics of the AGN neighbouring galaxies. These findings suggest that mixed AGN/star-forming galaxies present environmental features more similar to that of non-active galaxies. However, as AGNs at the centre of the more evolved galaxies become the dominant source, the environment tends to provide suitable conditions for the central black hole feeding with an increasing content of gas and likelihood of a higher merger rate.
CO excitation and line energy distributions in gas-selected galaxies
Authors: Klitsch A , Christensen L , Valentino F , Kanekar N , Møller P , Zwaan M A , Fynbo J P U , Neeleman M , Prochaska J X
Published: May 2022

While emission-selected galaxy surveys are biased towards the most luminous part of the galaxy population, absorption selection is a potentially unbiased galaxy selection technique with respect to luminosity. However, the physical properties of absorption-selected galaxies are not well characterized. Here, we study the excitation conditions in the interstellar medium (ISM) in damped Ly α (DLA) absorption-selected galaxies. We present a study of the CO spectral-line energy distribution (SLED) in four high-metallicity absorption-selected galaxies with previously reported CO detections at intermediate (z ∼ 0.7) and high (z ∼ 2) redshifts. We find further evidence for a wide variety of ISM conditions in these galaxies. Two out of the four galaxies show CO SLEDs consistent with that of the Milky Way inner disc. Interestingly, one of these galaxies is at z ∼ 2 and has a CO SLED below that of main-sequence galaxies at similar redshifts. The other two galaxies at z > 2 show more excited ISM conditions, with one of them showing thermal excitation of the mid-J (J = 3, 4) levels, similar to that seen in two massive main-sequence galaxies at these redshifts. Overall, we find that absorption selection traces a diverse population of galaxies.
Polarization, polarizing efficiency, and grain alignment towards the direction of the cluster NGC 2345
Authors: Singh Sadhana , Pandey Jeewan C , Hoang Thiem
Published: May 2022

We have investigated the grain alignment and dust properties towards the direction of the cluster NGC 2345 using the multiband optical polarimetric observations. For the majority of the stars, the observed polarization is found to be due to the interstellar medium with average values of maximum polarization and wavelength corresponding to it as 1.55 per cent and 0.58 $\mu$m, respectively. This reveals a similar size distribution of dust grains to that in the general interstellar medium in the direction of NGC 2345. Alteration of dust properties near the distance of 1.2 kpc towards the direction of NGC 2345 has been noticed. The dust grains located beyond this distance are found to be aligned with the Galactic magnetic field, whereas a dispersion in the orientation of the dust grains lying in the foreground of this distance is found. Polarizing efficiency of grains in this direction is found to be close to the average efficiency for our Galaxy. The decreased grain size along with the increased polarizing efficiency towards the core region of the cluster indicates the local radiation field is higher within the cluster, which is responsible for the increased alignment efficiency of small grains. The wavelength of maximum polarization (associated with the average size of aligned grains) is also found to increase with extinction and reduces with the increase in polarizing efficiency, which can be explained by the radiative torque alignment mechanism.
High-resolution X-ray study of supernova remnant J0453.6−6829 with unusually high forbidden-to-resonance ratio
Authors: Koshiba Yosuke , Uchida Hiroyuki , Tanaka Takaaki , Amano Yuki , Sano Hidetoshi , Tsuru Takeshi Go
Published: May 2022

Recent high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy has revealed that several supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) show unusually high forbidden-to-resonance (f/r) line ratios. While their origin is still uncertain and debated, most of these SNRs have asymmetric morphology and/or show evidence of interaction with dense material, which may hint at the true nature of the anomalous f/r ratios. Here we report on a detailed spectral analysis of the LMC SNR J0453.6−6829 with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) onboard XMM-Newton. We find that the f/r ratio of O vii ($=1.06^{+0.09}_{-0.10}$) is significantly higher than expected from the previously reported thermal model. The spectrum is suitably explained by taking into account a charge exchange (CX) emission in addition to the thermal component. Analyzing archival ATCA and Parkes radio data, we also reveal that an H i cloud is possibly interacting with J0453.6−6829. These results support the presence of CX in J0453.6−6829, as the origin of the obtained high f/r ratio. Although a contribution of the resonance scattering (RS) cannot be ruled out at this time, we conclude that CX seems more likely than RS considering the relatively symmetric morphology of this remnant.
Real-time processing pipeline for automatic streak detection in astronomical images implemented in a multi-GPU system
Authors: Cegarra Polo Manuel , Yanagisawa Toshifumi , Kurosaki Hirohisa
Published: May 2022

Detecting and tracking objects in low Earth orbit is an increasingly important task. Telescope observations contribute to its accomplishment, and telescope imagers produce a large amount of data for this task. Thus, it is convenient to use fast computer-aided processes to analyze it. Telescopes tracking at the sidereal rate usually detect these objects in their imagers as streaks, their lengths depending on the exposure time and the slant range to the object. We have developed a processing pipeline to automatically detect streaks in astronomical images in real time (i.e., faster than the images are produced) by a graphics processing unit parallel processing system. After the detection stage, streak photometric information is obtained, and object candidate identification is provided through matches with a two-line element set database. The system has been tested on a large set of images, consisting of two hours of observation time, from the Tomo-e Gozen camera of the 105 cm Schmidt telescope at Kiso Observatory in Japan. Streaks were automatically detected in approximately 0.5% of the images. The process detected streaks down to a minimum apparent magnitude of +11.3 and matched the streaks with objects from the space-track catalog in 78% of the cases. We believe that this processing pipeline can be instrumental in detecting new objects and tracking existing ones when processing speed is important, for instance, when a short handover time is required between follow-up observation stations, or when there is a large number of images to process. This study will contribute to consolidating optical observations as an effective way to control and alleviate the space debris problem.
ON THE ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE FROM LTE 800-MHZ DOWNLINK FREQUENCY BAND THROUGH THE TIME-AVERAGED AND INTEGRAL-BASED MEASURE
Authors: Šuka Darko , Simić-Pejović Mirjana , Pejović Predrag
Published: May 2022

Exposure assessment should consider the stochastic nature of the emitted signals. Therefore, the long-term temporal variability of E-field strength, obtained by band selective measurements for long-term evolution in a real mobile network environment, is considered in this paper. Intensive measurements were carried out 24 h a day for 2 weeks at an indoor location in the urban area. The repeatability of the measurement results was achieved through descriptive statistics of the 24-h instantaneous, time-averaged and integral-based values. More specifically, we addressed the uncertainties on the temporal variability of the instantaneous exposure levels and the effects of duration of averaging and time-integrating on it. To this aim, a huge amount of signal levels (120 960 samples) was collected during the measurement campaign by considering three operators in the 800 MHz downlink band. Results have shown how some factors, such as the time interval in which the measurements are taken, can significantly affect the measurement results and their repeatability. Furthermore, in some cases, such effects become comparable to, or even larger than typical measurement uncertainty. By applying both the 24-h time-averaged and integral-based measure, the variability of daily exposure levels could be reduced to values lower than the measurement uncertainty (i.e. lower than ± 20% of the mean week value obtained with either measure). Based on such results, an indicator depending on the exposure duration should better quantify the far-field exposure in each location.
Oldest fossil loon documents a pronounced ecomorphological shift in the evolution of gaviiform birds
Authors: Mayr Gerald , Kitchener Andrew C
Published: May 2022

We describe a stem group representative of Gaviiformes (loons or divers) from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). The holotype of Nasidytes ypresianus gen. et sp. nov. is a partial skeleton including the mandible and all major limb bones. The new species is the oldest unambiguously identified loon and the most substantial Palaeogene fossil record of Gaviiformes. The mandible of Nasidytes is proportionally wider than that of extant loons and resembles that of extant coots (Fulica spp.), which indicates that the new taxon was less piscivorous than crown group Gaviiformes. Hypotarsus morphology suggests that N. ypresianus is the sister taxon of a clade including all other Cenozoic fossil loons and crown group Gaviiformes. According to its plesiomorphic leg morphology, and unlike extant loons, the new species was not a specialized pursuit predator of fishes. The evolution of advanced diving capabilities in the stem lineage of Gaviiformes is likely to have been correlated with an increased piscivory of loons, and the skeletal morphology of Nasidytes conforms to multiple independent origins of specialized piscivory and a highly aquatic ecology in the waterbird clade (Aequornithes).
An Evaluation of Audiovisual Discussion Boards in a Graduate-Level Nursing Course: Innovation During the Pandemic
Authors: Hodges Alexis , Powell Shannon , Williams Sarah
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged nurse educators to develop and implement effective learning environments at a distance and refine distance education instructional strategies that were used in the past. A quality improvement project implemented in a graduate-level nursing course incorporated audiovisual discussions as an innovative pedagogy. Students chose whether to participate in class discussions by either a narrative discussion board or an audiovisual discussion method with faculty feedback in the same format. Students who chose the audiovisual discussion board found the ability to see and hear others to be helpful, suggesting audiovisual methods may improve student satisfaction and learning outcomes.
The Influence of Sleep Quality on Patient Safety Learning of Nursing Students
Authors: Alenezi Atallah , Alquwez Nahed , Rivera Pedro P. , Catimbang Conrado C. , Alsolais Abdulellah , Cruz Jonas Preposi
Published: May 2022

We investigated the influence of nursing students’ sleep quality on their patient safety (PS) competence (i.e., knowledge of the dimensions of PS). The investigation surveyed 242 nursing students in a Saudi university. The majority of the surveyed students were characterized as having poor sleep quality. Notably, more male students experienced poor sleep quality than female students. The students reported the highest confidence in “culture of safety” and “managing safety risk”; they exhibited the poorest confidence in “working in teams.” Increased length of sleep latency decreased sleep efficiency, and increased daytime sleepiness-related dysfunction was associated with reduced PS competence.
Paid Mentors Develop Leadership Skills and Promote Socialization Into Nursing
Authors: Napierkowski Daria , Migliore Debra A.
Published: May 2022

Peer mentoring encourages relationships among novice and senior nursing students, provides emotional support, and develops leadership skills. The research design was a pretest/posttest, interventional study to evaluate a supervised peer-mentoring program among nursing students to determine socialization of mentees into the nursing discipline. The second purpose was to evaluate if financial reimbursement was an incentive for participation by mentors. The pretest mean was significantly lower than the posttest mean; the difference was statistically significant. Success was achieved for both mentors and mentees. A paid peer-mentoring program allows students to relinquish time that would otherwise be spent in outside employment.
The Lived Experience of DACA Recipients Who Are US Nursing Program Graduates and Their Pathways to Professional Licensure: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Richardson Deborah C. , Welch Susan
Published: May 2022

AIM

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who are nursing program graduates in the United States and their pathways to professional licensure.

BACKGROUND

DACA is a federal program facilitating lawful employment and higher education to qualified US immigrants. Understanding the experience of DACA recipients who have become registered nurses will inform nurse educators’ advocacy to create a more diverse nursing workforce.

METHOD

DACA recipients (n = 17) who were US nursing program graduates were interviewed to explore the phenomenon of a pathway to professional licensure.

RESULTS

The pathway to professional licensure emerged within four themes: pursuing the dream, finding support, figuring it out, and advocating for others.

CONCLUSION

To contribute to a diverse nursing workforce, the authors recommend that nurse educators advocate for policies to support DACA recipients who graduate from US nursing programs to achieve professional nursing licensure.
Evaluating the Effect of Pre-Exam Adaptive Quizzing on Nursing Student Exam Scores
Authors: Parcell Hillary , Morton Kelly , Froble Dana , Sheaves Crystal
Published: May 2022

Adaptive quizzing as a course requirement is presumed to proactively engage students to learn effectively while also promoting the mastery of course content. This study evaluates the strength of correlation between adaptive quizzing as a pre-exam course requirement and course exam success. Results showed a positive correlation between the number of adaptive quizzes completed and mastery level attained on course exam scores in the adaptive quizzing program.
Course of Headaches and Predictive Factors Associated With Analgesia Failure Following Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bouchier Baptiste , Demarquay Geneviève , Dailler Frédéric , Lukaszewicz Anne-Claire , Ritzenthaler Thomas
Published: May 2022

Background:

Headache is the most common presenting symptom of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and managing this acute pain can be challenging. The aim of this study was to describe the course of headaches and factors associated with analgesic failure in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective observational study in patients admitted to a neurocritical care unit (between April 2016 and March 2017) within 48 hours of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. Headache intensity was assessed using a Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) ranging from 0 to 10. Analgesic failure was defined as any day average NPRS score >3 after 72 hours of hospitalization despite analgesic treatment.

Results:

Sixty-three patients were included in the analysis. Thirty-six (56.25%) patients experienced at least 1 episode of severe headache (NPRS ≥7), and 40 (63.5%) patients still reported moderate to severe headache on the final day of the study (day 12). Forty-six (73.0%) patients required treatment with opioids and 37 (58.7%) experienced analgesic failure. Multivariable analysis showed that analgesic failure was associated with smoking history (odds ratio [OR]=4.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-17.07; P=0.027), subarachnoid blood load (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24; P=0.032) and secondary complications, including rebleeding, hydrocephalus, delayed cerebral ischemia, hyponatremia, or death (OR=4.06, 95% CI: 1.17-15.77; P=0.032).

Conclusions:

Headaches following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage are severe and persist during hospitalization despite standard pain-reducing strategies. We identified risk factors for analgesic failure in this population.
Performance of Statistical Indicators in the Objective Detection of Speech-Evoked Envelope Following Responses
Authors: Urichuk Matthew , Easwar Vijayalakshmi , Scollie Susan , Purcell David
Published: May 2022

Objectives:

To assess the sensitivity of statistical indicators used for the objective detection of speech-evoked envelope following responses (EFRs) in infants and adults.

Design:

Twenty-three adults and 21 infants with normal hearing participated in this study. A modified/susa∫i/speech token was presented at 65 dB SPL monoaurally. Presentation level in infants was corrected using in-ear measurements. EFRs were recorded between high forehead and ipsilateral mastoid. Statistical post-processing was completed using F-test, Magnitude-Square Coherence, Rayleigh test, Rayleigh-Moore test, and Hotelling’s T2 test. Logistic regression models assessed the sensitivity of each statistical indicator in both infants and adults as a function of testing duration.

Results:

The Rayleigh-Moore and Rayleigh tests were the most sensitive statistical indicators for speech-evoked EFR detection in infants. Comparatively, Magnitude-Square Coherence and Hotelling’s T2 also provide clinical benefit for infants in all conditions after ~30 minutes of testing, whereas the F-test failed to detect responses to EFRs elicited by vowels with accuracy greater than chance. In contrast, the F-test was the most sensitive for vowel-elicited response detection for adults in short tests (<10 minute) and performed comparatively with the Rayleigh-Moore and Rayleigh test during longer test durations. Decreased sensitivity was observed in infants relative to adults across all testing durations and statistical indicators, but the effects were largest in low frequency stimuli and seemed to be mostly, but not wholly, caused by differences in response amplitude.

Conclusions:

The choice of statistical indicator significantly impacts the sensitivity of speech-evoked EFR detection. In both groups and for all stimuli, the Rayleigh test and Rayleigh-Moore tests have high sensitivity. Differences in EFR detection are present between infants and adults regardless of statistical indicator; however, these effects are largest for low-frequency EFR stimuli and for amplitude-based statistical indicators.
Resident physicians’ advice seeking and error making: A social networks approach
Authors: Katz-Navon Tal , Naveh Eitan
Published: May 2022

Background

Resident physicians are especially at risk of being involved in medical errors because they bear tremendous responsibility for patient care yet are still in the process of learning and mastering their profession. To increase knowledge and gain information, they create a professional-instrumental network, that is, the deliberate initiation of advice ties with senior physicians.

Purpose

We aim to explore whether and how residents’ networking with senior physicians is associated with their error rates. Specifically, we aim to identify whether the centralities of residents (advice seekers) and senior physicians (advice givers) in the social network are associated with residents’ error rates.

Methodology

We surveyed 142 resident physicians working in 22 wards in two general hospitals about whom and how frequently they consult using a sociometric technique. Information about errors made in a 3-month period was collected independently.

Results

Residents made less errors when they sought advice from few senior physicians but consulted more frequently with focal senior physicians (those whom many other advice seekers frequently consult). However, when residents sought advice from many senior physicians, their frequency of consultation with focal senior physicians was not associated with their number of errors. These effects were more pronounced for residents at the beginning of their residency period.

Conclusions

Results of this study provide evidence of a specific association between resident physicians’ consultation patterns and their error rates.

Practice Implications

Results inform ward managers about ways to leverage opportunities and remove constraints for residents to ask for advice and for focal physicians to provide it.
The Effects of Partial Immersion Aquatic Intervention on Perceived Physical Competence and Quality of Life in Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Shelef Niv
Published: May 2022

Background and Purpose:

The efficiency of free sitting on function and reaching is restricted in those skills during activities of daily living (ADL) for children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). No longitudinal study so far has examined the stability of perceived competence (PC) and quality-of-life (QOL) domains for this population following water and land intervention environments more than 12 months of follow-up.

Case Description:

A mixed-methods multiple case design was employed. Five children with severe bilateral spastic CP subtypes (male: n = 4; female: n = 1) aged 10 to 15.4 years (mean = 11.7 years old, SD = 2.1), Gross Motor Function Classification System level IV, participated in the study.

Intervention:

The innovative “partial immersion approach” (PIA) uses Archimedes' principle to create a restorative therapeutic chair. This therapeutic chair enhances learned functional skills during sitting adaptation in an aquatic environment. It enables the adjustment of weight-bearing by 30 mm, which is transferred to a land environment for practice.

Outcomes:

All participants experienced adaptation improvement in ADL skills and task movement during free sitting on land and demonstrated quantitative psychological enhancement of PC, with a total increase of 70.60% (161 points) for all participants and a mean increase of 17.65% (40.25 points). Childrenʼs subjective qualitative responses were reinforced by comparing them with proxy objective reports. Each qualitative category that emerged was verified by quantitative data and matched positively and corresponded with major domains across data of QOL instruments.

Discussion:

Generalization from the findings is limited. The PIA regulates the percentage of weight-bearing from unloading-water toward loading-land and modified the environment for each childʼs needs. This customized environment improved the psychological enhancement of PC and QOL of the participants with severe CP. The successes were retained at the follow-up assessment 12 months after intervention, as participants still exhibited ADL motor acquisition of sitting skills.
Ai Chi for Balance, Pain, Functional Mobility, and Quality of Life in Adults
Authors: Dunlap Emily , Lambeck Johan , Ku Pei-Hsin , Gobert Denise
Published: May 2022

Background:

Ai Chi is a specific form of mindful aquatic intervention related to Qigong and Tai Chi. Although evidence suggests that Qigong and Tai Chi are effective in reducing pain and improving balance, functional mobility, and quality of life (QOL), limited studies have explored the therapeutic benefits of Ai Chi.

Purpose:

To summarize available research on Ai Chi for balance, pain, functional mobility, and QOL in adults.

Methods:

Systematic search included PubMed, CINAHL, Health Source Nursing, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus databases. Selection criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized controlled trials (NRCTs), and cohort studies with Ai Chi as the main intervention for adults with report of at least one standardized outcome measure for balance, pain, functional mobility, or QOL.

Results:

Twenty-two articles, with a total of 710 participants, met the inclusion criteria including 11 RCTs, 5 NRCTs, and 6 cohort studies. The age of participants ranged from 20 to 75 years. The most frequent study population was persons with Parkinson disease. This review also included studies with other populations such as adults with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic stroke, chronic low back pain, balance deficits, intellectual disability, and knee osteoarthritis, as well as healthy adults. Ai Chi intervention treatment dosage varied from 20 to 60 minutes, 1 to 12 times per week, for 1 to 20 weeks. Comparison groups included alternative aquatic interventions, land-based exercise, acupuncture, and nonintervention control. Six of the 22 studies were considered moderate to high quality.

Discussion:

The qualitative analysis reveals a number of favorable results with benefits from Ai Chi intervention and can guide future research.

Conclusions:

Heterogeneity between all studies precludes conclusive findings of results about the efficacy of Ai Chi from this review. Current evidence suggests a need for better designed controlled trials with a larger sample size to carefully control for bias and judiciously select outcomes.
Association of Preadmission Factors With Physician Assistant Student Diversity
Authors: Luck Morgan
Published: May 2022

Purpose

A new physician assistant (PA) program accreditation standard requires institutional support for PA student diversity. Therefore, preadmission factors associated with diversity should be identified to inform decision-making. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between preadmission factors of interest and percentages of underrepresented minority (URM) students in PA programs.

Methods

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) survey responses from 169 PA programs were analyzed by using simultaneous multiple regression. The variables included the standardized testing requirement of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), undergraduate preprofessional phase, public or private institution, writing sample requirement, mission statement inclusive of care for underserved populations, and local racial or ethnic demographics.

Results

GRE score requirements were found to be negatively associated with percentages of African American and total non-White, non-Asian students (p < .05). Local URM racial and ethnic population demographics were shown to be positively associated with African American, Hispanic, and total non-White, non-Asian students (p < .05). Undergraduate preprofessional phase, type of institution, writing sample requirement, and mission statement supportive of underserved populations did not show significant associations with URM diversity.

Conclusions

Faculty and administration members who are involved in decision-making in PA admissions processes should consider the potentially negative impact of a GRE requirement as it relates to the percentages of African American and total non-White, non-Asian matriculants. Educational institutions might also consider exploring new PA program development in geographic areas with supportive local demographics as an approach to achieving more student diversity.