bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consistent spatial scaling of high‐severity wildfire can inform expected future patterns of burn severity
Authors: Buonanduci Michele S. , Donato Daniel C. , Halofsky Joshua S. , Kennedy Maureen C. , Harvey Brian J.
Published: June 2023

Increasing wildfire activity in forests worldwide has driven urgency in understanding current and future fire regimes. Spatial patterns of area burned at high severity strongly shape forest resilience and constitute a key dimension of fire regimes, yet remain difficult to predict. To characterize the range of burn severity patterns expected within contemporary fire regimes, we quantified scaling relationships relating fire size to patterns of burn severity. Using 1615 fires occurring across the Northwest United States between 1985 and 2020, we evaluated scaling relationships within fire regimes and tested whether relationships vary across space and time. Patterns of high‐severity fire demonstrate consistent scaling behaviour; as fire size increases, high‐severity patches consistently increase in size and homogeneity. Scaling relationships did not differ substantially across space or time at the scales considered here, suggesting that as fire‐size distributions potentially shift, stationarity in patch‐size scaling can be used to infer future patterns of burn severity.
Personalized dynamic network models of the human brain as a future tool for planning and optimizing epilepsy therapy
Authors: Dallmer‐Zerbe Isa , Jiruska Premysl , Hlinka Jaroslav
Published: June 2023

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, with one third of patients not responding to currently available antiepileptic drugs. The proportion of pharmacoresistant epilepsies has remained unchanged for many decades. To cure epilepsy and control seizures requires a paradigm shift in the development of new approaches to epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. Contemporary medicine has benefited from the exponential growth of computational modeling, and the application of network dynamics theory to understanding and treating human brain disorders. In epilepsy, the introduction of these approaches has led to personalized epileptic network modeling that can explore the patient's seizure genesis and predict the functional impact of resection on its individual network's propensity to seize. The application of the dynamic systems approach to neurostimulation therapy of epilepsy allows designing stimulation strategies that consider the patient's seizure dynamics and long‐term fluctuations in the stability of their epileptic networks. In this article, we review, in a nontechnical fashion suitable for a broad neuroscientific audience, recent progress in personalized dynamic brain network modeling that is shaping the future approach to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.
Current and future effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of endemic owls from the Atlantic Forest
Authors: Penagos López Angie Paola , Jiménez García Daniel , Carlos Caio Jose
Published: June 2023

Protected areas are essential conservation tools for mitigating the rapid decline of biodiversity. However, climate change represents one of the main challenges to their long‐term effectiveness, as it induces rapid changes in the geographical distribution of many species. We used ecological niche modelling to predict the impacts of climate change on the distribution of five endemic owls in the Atlantic Forest and evaluated the effectiveness of the protected areas network for their conservation. The results indicate that the protected areas network is currently effective in terms of representativeness for most species; however, there will be a decline for all species in the coming decades because of climate change. We found that the ecoregions in the northern part of the Atlantic Forest will experience a higher loss of species, whereas those ecoregions in the southern part will be important stable climatic refuges in the future. Therefore, we emphasize the need to complement the network of protected areas to increase their representativeness in the distribution of species that will be affected by climate change, reducing species loss and increasing connectivity between suitable areas. We hope the results presented herein will serve as a basis for decision‐makers to re‐evaluate and improve current conservation policies and decisions in order to address the challenges posed by climate change and secure the survival of these species.
Nurses' clinical decision‐making in the use of rapid tranquillization in adult mental health inpatient settings: An integrative review
Authors: Pedersen Martin Locht , Gildberg Frederik Alkier , Laulund Ronni , Jørgensen Kim , Tingleff Ellen Boldrup
Published: June 2023

Rapid tranquillization is a restrictive practice that remains widely used in mental health inpatient settings worldwide. Nurses are the professionals most likely to administer rapid tranquillization in mental health settings. To improve mental health practices, an enhanced understanding of their clinical decision‐making when using rapid tranquillization is, therefore, important. The aim was to synthesize and analyse the research literature on nurses' clinical decision‐making in the use of rapid tranquillization in adult mental health inpatient settings. An integrative review was conducted using the methodological framework described by Whittemore and Knafl. A systematic search was conducted independently by two authors in APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, Embase, PubMed and Scopus. Additional searches for grey literature were conducted in Google, OpenGrey and selected websites, and in the reference lists of included studies. Papers were critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and the analysis was guided by manifest content analysis. Eleven studies were included in this review, of which nine were qualitative and two were quantitative. Based on the analysis, four categories were generated: (I) becoming aware of situational changes and considering alternatives, (II) negotiating voluntary medication, (III) administering rapid tranquillization and (IV) being on the other side. Evidence suggests that nurses' clinical decision‐making in the use of rapid tranquillization involved a complex timeline with various impact points and embedded factors that continuously influenced and/or were associated with nurses' clinical decision‐making. However, the topic has received scant scholarly attention, and further research may help to characterize the complexities involved and improve mental health practice.
Machine learning‐based prediction models for pressure injury: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pei Juhong , Guo Xiaojing , Tao Hongxia , Wei Yuting , Zhang Hongyan , Ma Yuxia , Han Lin
Published: June 2023

Despite the fact that machine learning (ML) algorithms to construct predictive models for pressure injury development are widely reported, the performance of the model remains unknown. The goal of the review was to systematically appraise the performance of ML models in predicting pressure injury. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, Grey literature and other databases were systematically searched. Original journal papers were included which met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST). Meta‐analysis was performed with Metadisc software, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity and specificity as effect measures. Chi‐squared and I2 tests were used to assess the heterogeneity. A total of 18 studies were included for the narrative review, and 14 of them were eligible for meta‐analysis. The models achieved excellent pooled AUC of 0.94, sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI [0.78–0.80]) and specificity of 0.87 (95% CI [0.88–0.87]). Meta‐regressions did not provide evidence that model performance varied by data or model types. The present findings indicate that ML models show an outstanding performance in predicting pressure injury. However, good‐quality studies should be conducted to verify our results and confirm the clinical value of ML in pressure injury development.
Settlement schemas: How laypeople understand civil settlement
Authors: Robbennolt Jennifer K. , Bregant Jessica , Winship Verity
Published: June 2023

What does the public think it means to “settle” a civil case? Most legal disputes in the United States end in an agreement to settle, but little is known about what laypeople think about settlement. To fill this gap, we took a direct approach: we asked a nationally representative sample of US adults—more than 1000 of them—basic questions about settlement. We found widespread understanding about the essential nature and frequency of settlement, but persistent, though not universal, misconceptions about the details, including the role of a jury and settlement scope. Because settlement is such a pervasive part of the US legal system, the system's legitimacy turns in part on how the public understands and views civil settlement. The survey reported here provides a foundational study of the understandings and framework—the schemas—that the public bring to settlement.
Effects of barium sulfate on rheological properties and IDDSI flow consistency of liquid stimuli prepared using commercial thickening powders
Authors: Kongjaroen Akapong , Methacanon Pawadee , Gamonpilas Chaiwut
Published: June 2023

During videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), barium sulfate (BaSO4) is commonly added into food samples as a radiopaque contrast media for bolus visualization and examination. Accordingly, the consistency and flow behavior of barium stimuli can differ significantly from their non‐barium counterparts. Such differences may have a subsequent impact on the validity of VFSS. Therefore, in this study, effects of barium sulfate on the shear and extensional rheological properties and IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative) flow consistency of liquids prepared using various commercial thickening powders were investigated. Results showed that all barium stimuli exhibited shear thinning behavior but with significantly higher shear viscosity compared to the non‐barium counterparts. A shift factor of viscosity at shear rate 50 s−1 with values in range of 1.21–1.73 could be used to describe the increase in the viscosity for samples thickened with gum‐based thickeners. However, the change in the viscosity was not invariant for the stimuli prepared starch‐based thickener. The addition of BaSO4 had a negative impact on extensional properties of samples by demonstrating a faster filament rupture. The extent of impact on the decrease in filament breakup time was more pronounced in xanthan > guar gum ≈ tara gum‐based thickeners. Based on the IDDSI flow test, no significant effect of BaSO4 was found on the gum‐based thickeners, whereas there was a marked effect in the starch‐based sample. These results can be used beneficially to assist clinicians in the dysphagia diagnosis for matching rheological properties of the barium stimuli to enhance effectiveness dysphagia interventions.
Socialising epistemic risk: On the risks of epistemic injustice
Authors: Mitova Veli
Published: June 2023

Epistemic risk is of central importance to epistemology nowadays: one common way in which a belief can fail to be knowledge is by being formed in an epistemically risky way, that is, a way that makes it true by luck. Recently, epistemologists have been expanding this rather narrow conception of risk in every direction, except arguably the most obvious one—to enable it to accommodate the increasingly commonplace thought that knowledge has an irreducibly social dimension. This paper fills this lacuna by bringing issues of epistemic injustice to bear on epistemic risk. In particular, it draws on the phenomenon of white ignorance, to sketch a more social notion of epistemic risk, on which the interests of one's epistemic community partly determine whether a belief‐forming procedure is epistemically risky.
Shaping influence in governance networks: The role of motivations and information exchange
Authors: Reyes‐Gonzalez Jose Antonio , Agneessens Filip , Esteve Marc
Published: June 2023

In governance networks, some actors might have more influence than others in the group's collective decision‐making. This paper investigates whether an actor's prosocial and/or self‐interested motivations to participate in a governance network help predict its level of influence in the group. We argue that information exchange is an important mediator in this relationship because an actor's tendency to actively diffuse information will depend on its motivations; while other participants being exposed to information from an actor are likely to increase the actor's influence on them. Using a unique relational dataset from 10 anti‐corruption multi‐stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) in Latin America, Africa and Eurasia, we find that self‐interested actors, rather than prosocially motivated ones, take the lead in information‐exchange activities. The data also shows how this central role in turn increases perceived influence of self‐interested actors among other participants, conditioning potentially the direction of agreed‐upon collective objectives.
ZmRPN1 confers quantitative variation in pollen number and boosts hybrid seed production in maize
Authors: Guo Ting , Jiang Lu‐Guang , Li Bo , Jiang Huan , Zheng Tong‐Xin , Luo Jin‐Hong , He Yan
Published: June 2023

The number of pollen grains is a critical determinant of reproductive success in seed plants and varies among species and individuals. However, in contrast with many mutant‐screening studies relevant to anther and pollen development, the natural genetic basis for variations in pollen number remains largely unexplored. To address this issue, we carried out a genome‐wide association study in maize, ultimately revealing that a large presence/absence variation in the promoter region of ZmRPN1 alters its expression level and thereby contributes to pollen number variation. Molecular analyses showed that ZmRPN1 interacts with ZmMSP1, which is known as a germline cell number regulator, and facilitates ZmMSP1 localization to the plasma membrane. Importantly, ZmRPN1 dysfunction resulted in a substantial increase in pollen number, consequently boosting seed production by increasing female–male planting ratio. Together, our findings uncover a key gene controlling pollen number, and therefore, modulation of ZmRPN1 expression could be efficiently used to develop elite pollinators for modern hybrid maize breeding.
High potential for foliar water uptake in early stages of leaf development of three woody angiosperms
Authors: Losso Adriano , Dämon Birgit , Hacke Uwe , Mayr Stefan
Published: June 2023

Foliar water uptake (FWU) is a widespread mechanism that may help plants cope with drought stress in a wide range of ecosystems. FWU can be affected by various leaf traits, which change during leaf development. We exposed cut and dehydrated leaves to rainwater and measured FWU, changes in leaf water potential after 19 h of FWU (ΔΨ), minimum leaf conductance (gmin), and leaf wettability (abaxial and adaxial) of leaves of Acer platanoides, Fagus sylvatica, and Sambucus nigra at three developmental stages: unfolding (2–5‐day‐old), young (1.5‐week‐old) and mature leaves (8‐week‐old). FWU and gmin were higher in younger leaves. ΔΨ corresponded to FWU and gmin in all cases but mature leaves of F. sylvatica, where ΔΨ was highest. Most leaves were highly wettable, and at least one leaf surface (adaxial or abaxial) showed a decrease in wettability from unfolding to mature leaves. Young leaves of all studied species showed FWU (unfolding leaves: 14.8 ± 1.1 μmol m−2 s−1), which may improve plant water status and thus counterbalance spring transpirational losses due to high gmin. The high wettability of young leaves probably supported FWU. We observed particularly high FWU and respective high ΔΨ in older leaves of F. sylvatica, possibly aided by trichomes.
Protective role of quercetin and kaempferol against oxidative damage and photosynthesis inhibition in wheat chloroplasts under arsenic stress
Authors: Arikan Busra , Yildiztugay Evren , Ozfidan‐Konakci Ceyda
Published: June 2023

Arsenic (As) toxicity negatively impacts plant development, limits agricultural production, and, by entering the food chain, endangers human health. Studies on the use of natural and bioactive molecules in increasing plants' resistance to abiotic stressors, such as As, have gained increasing attention in the last few years. Flavonols are plant secondary metabolites with high potential in stress tolerance due to their roles in signal transmission. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine the effects of two flavonols, quercetin (Q, 25 μM) and kaempferol (K, 25 μM), on growth parameters, photosynthesis, and chloroplastic antioxidant activity in wheat leaves under As stress (100 μM). As stress reduced the relative growth rate by 50% and relative water content by 25% in leaves. However, applying Q and/or K alleviated the As‐induced suppression of growth and water relations. Exogenous phenolic treatments reversed the effects of As toxicity in photochemistry and maintained the photochemical quantum efficiency of the Photosystem II (Fv/Fm). As exposure increased, the H2O2 content in wheat chloroplasts by 42% and high levels of H2O2 accumulation were also observed in guard cells in confocal microscopy images. Analysis of the chloroplastic antioxidant system has shown that Q and K applications increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Phenolic applications have induced the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA‐GSH) cycle in charge of the protection of the cellular redox balance in different ways. It has been determined that Q triggers the AsA renewal, and K maintains the GSH pool. As a result, Q and K applications provide tolerance to wheat plants under As stress by increasing the chloroplastic antioxidant system activity and protecting photosynthetic reactions from oxidative damage. This study reveals the potential use of plant phenolic compounds in agricultural systems as a biosafe strategy to enhance plant stress tolerance, hence increasing yield.
Effectiveness, efficiency, and equity tradeoffs in public programs: A citizen experiment
Authors: Meier Kenneth J. , Davis Jourdan , Xu Xiaoyang
Published: June 2023

Debates over public programs frequently focus on questions of effectiveness, equity, and efficiency and the tradeoff among these objectives. Missing from the literature is whether the general public cares about these tradeoffs, can perceive such differences, and will act on them. This article reports on two pre‐registered vignette experiments where the effectiveness, equity, and efficiency are assessed relative to experimental treatments focused on U.S. K‐12 education involving test scores, equality of test scores, and program costs. One experiment focuses on equity in race and the other on equity in income. The experiments show that the general public perceives differences in program effectiveness and equity, values both, and is unwilling to tradeoff one for the other. The public cares about program costs, but it lacks a sophisticated understanding of efficiency as a concept. Inequalities in income appear to influence equity concerns more than those involving race.
The global sanctions data base–Release 3: COVID‐19, Russia, and multilateral sanctions
Authors: Syropoulos Constantinos , Felbermayr Gabriel , Kirilakha Aleksandra , Yalcin Erdal , Yotov Yoto V.
Published: June 2023

This paper introduces the third update/release of the Global Sanctions Data Base (GSDB‐R3). The GSDB‐R3 extends the period of coverage from 1950–2019 to 1950–2022, which includes two special periods—COVID‐19 and the new sanctions against Russia. This update of the GSDB contains a total of 1325 cases. In response to multiple inquiries and requests, the GSDB‐R3 has been amended with a new variable that distinguishes between unilateral and multilateral sanctions. As before, the GSDB comes in two versions, case‐specific and dyadic, which are freely available upon request at GSDB@drexel.edu. To highlight one of the new features of the GSDB, we estimate the heterogeneous effects of unilateral and multilateral sanctions on trade. We also obtain estimates of the effects on trade of the 2014 sanctions on Russia.
Revisiting negative experiences: A sociocultural cognitive framework
Authors: Choi Jeong Ha (Steph) , Miyamoto Yuri
Published: June 2023

Several researchers have demonstrated that revisiting and making meaning out of negative experiences can be helpful, while others have suggested that such “dwelling in the past” (e.g., rumination) is associated with a range of negative outcomes, such as depression. In addition to such inconsistent findings, negative effects of revisiting negative experiences have been shown to be weaker in non‐Western cultures compared to Western cultures. This paper employs a sociocultural cognitive framework to understand the mechanisms of such cultural differences, as well as potentially shed light on some of the paradoxes behind revisiting negative experiences observed in Western cultures. We specified how the different perspectives towards change, context, and contradiction between holistic/dialectical versus analytic thinking styles may have an impact on the effects of recalling and reflecting upon past negative events. We integrated a wide range of empirical evidence that implies how the cognitive differences serve as mechanisms for cultural differences in revisiting negative experiences, generated a set of hypotheses, and outlined possible directions for future research.
Machines and metaphors: Challenges for the detection, interpretation and production of metaphors by computer programs
Authors: Hesse Jacob
Published: June 2023

Powerful transformer models based on neural networks such as GPT‐4 have enabled huge progress in natural language processing. This paper identifies three challenges for computer programs dealing with metaphors. First, the phenomenon of Twice‐Apt‐Metaphors shows that metaphorical interpretations do not have to be triggered by syntactical, semantic or pragmatic tensions. The detection of these metaphors seems to involve a sense of aesthetic pleasure or a higher‐order theory of mind, both of which are difficult to implement into computer programs. Second, the contexts relative to which metaphors are interpreted are not simply given but must be reconstructed based on pragmatic considerations that can involve presuppositional pretence. If computer programs cannot produce or understand such a form of pretence, they will have problems dealing with certain metaphors. Finally, adequately interpreting and reacting to some metaphors seems to require the ability to have internal, first‐personal experiential and affective states. Since it is questionable whether computer programs have such mental states, it can be assumed that they will have problems with these kinds of metaphors.
Syntaxin‐5's flexibility in SNARE pairing supports Golgi functions
Authors: D'Souza Zinia , Pokrovskaya Irina , Lupashin Vladimir V.
Published: June 2023

Deficiency in the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex that orchestrates SNARE‐mediated tethering/fusion of vesicles that recycle the Golgi's glycosylation machinery results in severe glycosylation defects. Although two major Golgi v‐SNAREs, GS28/GOSR1, and GS15/BET1L, are depleted in COG‐deficient cells, the complete knockout of GS28 and GS15 only modestly affects Golgi glycosylation, indicating the existence of an adaptation mechanism in Golgi SNARE. Indeed, quantitative mass‐spectrometry analysis of STX5‐interacting proteins revealed two novel Golgi SNARE complexes—STX5/SNAP29/VAMP7 and STX5/VTI1B/STX8/YKT6. These complexes are present in wild‐type cells, but their usage is significantly increased in both GS28‐ and COG‐deficient cells. Upon GS28 deletion, SNAP29 increased its Golgi residency in a STX5‐dependent manner. While STX5 depletion and Retro2‐induced diversion from the Golgi severely affect protein glycosylation, GS28/SNAP29 and GS28/VTI1B double knockouts alter glycosylation similarly to GS28 KO, indicating that a single STX5‐based SNARE complex is sufficient to support Golgi glycosylation. Importantly, co‐depletion of three Golgi SNARE complexes in GS28/SNAP29/VTI1B TKO cells resulted in severe glycosylation defects and a reduced capacity for glycosylation enzyme retention at the Golgi. This study demonstrates the remarkable plasticity in SXT5‐mediated membrane trafficking, uncovering a novel adaptive response to the failure of canonical intra‐Golgi vesicle tethering/fusion machinery.
Infection by human polyomaviruses JCPyV and BKPyV in blood donors of Argentina
Authors: Frutos María C. , Blanco Sebastián , Barahona Nubia Yandar , Mangeaud Arnaldo , Carrizo Luis Horacio , Gallego Sandra
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives

A spectrum of blood‐borne infectious agents may be transmitted through transfusion of blood components from asymptomatic donors. Despite the persistence of polyomaviruses in blood cells, no studies have been conducted in Argentina to assess the risk of transfusion infection.

Materials and Methods

We investigated BKPyV and JCPyV in 720 blood donors, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for a region of T antigen common to both viruses. Positive T‐antigen samples were subjected to two additional PCR assays targeting the VP1 region. Viral genotypes were characterized by phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Polyomaviruses were detected in 1.25% (9/720) of the blood samples selected; JCPyV was identified in 0.97% (7/720) and BKPyV in 0.28% (2/720) of them. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the JCPyV sequences clustered with 2A genotype and Ia of BKPyV.

Conclusion

This study describes for the first time the prevalence of polyomavirus DNA in blood donors of Córdoba, Argentina. The polyomavirus DNAemia in healthy populations suggests that those viruses are present in blood components eligible for transfusion. Therefore, the epidemiological surveillance of polyomavirus in blood banks might be incorporated into haemovigilance programmes, to determine the infectious risk and implement newer interventions to ensure the safety of blood supplies, if required.
Analytical and Numerical Investigations of Circular Metal Foam Sandwich Tube Under Free Inversion
Authors: Bai Jinwen , Zhang Jianxun
Published: June 2023

The foam sandwich tube contains inner and outer tubes and filling foam. The foam sandwich tube is widely used in engineering, due to its lightweight, high specific strength, energy absorption, and other excellent characteristics. In this paper, the free inversion of the circular metal foam sandwich tube (CMFST) under axial loading is studied analytically and numerically. The plastic deformation occurs in the CMFST, and its main deformation modes include circumferential expansion, radial bending of the CMFST, and compression of the metal sandwich foam. An analytical model for the free inversion of the CMFST under axial loading is established, considering metal tube expansion, the radial bending of metal circular tube wall, and metal foam compression. The commercial abaqus software is adopted to numerically study the free inversion behavior of the CMFST. The analytical predictions agree well with the numerical ones. It is shown that the specific energy absorption (SEA) of the CMFST under free inversion is significantly better than the empty tube. When the non-dimensional foam strength is 0.05, the SEA of the CMFST under free inversion is 107.68% higher than the empty tube. Thus, the metal foam sandwich tube under free inversion is an excellent energy-absorbing device.
A Brief History of the Progress of Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Metals in Europe
Authors: Rothfelder Richard , Nahr Florian , Chechik Lova , Bartels Dominic , Schmidt Michael
Published: June 2023

The progress of additive manufacturing (AM) within the last few decades has been phenomenal, progressing from a polymeric technique to a method for manufacturing metallic aerospace components. We take a look at various technological advances which have helped paved the way for this growth, focussing on European input, as currently, 54% of AM machines are sold by European manufacturers (Wohlers, Campbell, Diegel, Kowen, Mostow, and Fidan, 2022, “Wohlers Report 2022: 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Global State of the Industry,” Wohlers Associates, ASTM International, Fort Collins, Colo., Washington, DC). We take deep dives into several critical topics including sensing and monitoring, preheating, and multi-laser technology and illustrate how these develop from research ideas into industrial products. Finally, an outlook is provided, highlighting the topics currently gaining research traction, and which are expected to be the next key breakthroughs.
Evaluation of the efficacy of gastric lymphoma treated with non-surgical therapy using oral and double contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography
Authors: Wen Ziwei , He Xuemei , Chen Chongqing , Sun Jing , Yin Jiangyan , Wang Tiantian , Liu Ziyu , Wang Li , Yang Nanlan
Published: June 2023

Aim: To investigate the feasibility of assessing the ecacy of non-surgical treatment for gastric lymphoma using oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound (OCEUS) and double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS). Material and methods: A total of 27 patients with gastric lymphoma treated nonoperatively were included in this retrospective study. The ecacy was evaluated using OCEUS and CT, respectively, and the results were tested for kappa concordance. Sixteen of the 27 patients underwent multiple DCEUS examinations before and after treatment. Micro-perfusion of the lesion in DCEUS is represented by the Echo Intensity Ratio (EIR), (echo intensity of the lymphoma lesion/echo intensity of the normal gastric wall), and one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences between groups in EIR values before and after treatment. Results: OCEUS and CT were highly consistent in assessing the efficacy of gastric lymphoma, with a Kappa value of 0.758. During a median follow-up of 8.8 months, there was no statistical difference between the complete remission rate obtained by OCEUS and that obtained by endoscopic and CT (25.93% vs. 44.44%, p=0.154; 25.93% vs. 33.33%, p=0.766). There was also no statistical difference in the time to achieve complete remission using OCEUS assessment and endoscopy and CT (4.71±1.03 months vs. 6.01±2.14 months, p=0.088; 4.47±1.84 months vs. 6.01±2.14 months p=0.143). The difference in EIR between the groups before treat-ment and after different numbers of treatments was statistically signifficant (p<0.05), and post hoc analysis revealed this dif-ference as early as after the second treatment (p<0.05). Conclusions: Transabdominal OCEUS and CT are comparable in the assessment of gastric lymphoma treatment ecacy. DCEUS is a noninvasive, cost-effective, and widely available method for gastric lymphoma therapeutic effect evaluation. Therefore, transabdominal OCEUS and DCEUS have the potential to be used for the early assessment of the ecacy of the non-surgical treatment of gastric lymphoma
Increase in convective extreme El Niño events in a CO
2
removal scenario
Authors: Pathirana Gayan , Oh Ji-Hoon , Cai Wenju , An Soon-Il , Min Seung-Ki , Jo Seo-Young , Shin Jongsoo , Kug Jong-Seong
Published: June 2023

Convective extreme El Niño (CEE) events, characterized by strong convective events in the eastern Pacific, are known to have a direct link to anomalous climate conditions worldwide, and it has been reported that CEE will occur more frequently under greenhouse warming. Here, using a set of CO
2
ramp-up and ramp-down ensemble experiments, we show that frequency and maximum intensity of CEE events increase further in the ramp-down period from the ramp-up period. These changes in CEE are associated with the southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone and intensified nonlinear rainfall response to sea surface temperature change in the ramp-down period. The increasing frequency of CEE has substantial impacts on regional abnormal events and contributed considerably to regional mean climate changes to the CO
2
forcings.
The Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Early and Late Stages of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Zhang Li , Lu Qi-Yu , Wu Hao , Cheng Yan-Li , Kang Jing , Xu Zhong-Gao
Published: June 2023

It is not clear as to whether gut microbiota dysbiosis is involved in the progression of DKD. This study may be the first to explore gut microbiota compositional changes in diabetes, early-DKD, and late DKD.
Absence of Staphylococcus aureus in Wild Populations of Fish Supports a Spillover Hypothesis
Authors: Matuszewska Marta , Dabrowska Alicja , Murray Gemma G. R. , Kett Steve M. , Vick Andy J. A. , Banister Sofie C. , Pantoja Munoz Leonardo , Cunningham Peter , Welch John J. , Holmes Mark A. , Weinert Lucy A.
Published: June 2023

Staphylococcus aureus
is a human and livestock commensal but also an important pathogen responsible for high human mortality rates and economic losses in farming. Recent studies show that
S. aureus
is common in wild animals, including fish.
Supplemental Material: U-Pb and Re-Os geochronology and geochemistry of the Ulgen hidden porphyry Mo deposit in the Derbugan metallogenic belt (NE China): Insights into petrogenesis and tectonic setting
Authors: Xia Tianjiao , Liang Xinquan , et al.
Published: June 2023

Table S1: Lithology, occurrences, and locations of samples selected for zircon U-Pb, molybdenite Re-Os, whole-rock major- and trace-element analysis, zircon Hf, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope analysis. Table S2: Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data of the granitoids. Table S3: Re-Os data of molybdenite from the Ulgen porphyry Mo deposit. Table S4: Whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions of the monzogranitic porphyry, muscovite monzonitic granite, and biotite granitic porphyry. Table S5: Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of the granitoids in the Ulgen deposit. Table S6: Zircon Lu-Hf isotopic composition of the granitoids. Table S7: Trace-element (ppm) data of zircon grains from the granitoids. 
Possibility of Clear Air Turbulence Localization with Lidar
Authors: Banakh V. A. , Smalikho I. N. , Zaloznaya I. V.
Published: June 2023

The ranges of the parameters of wind and temperature (refractive) turbulence are estimated corresponding to the four-point scale of turbulence intensity at flight altitudes in the free atmosphere. It is shown that the estimates of both the variance of the radial velocity measured with a coherent lidar in the flight direction and of the structural constant of the refractive index from the lidar measurements of the intensity of refractive turbulence in the flight direction make it possible to judge the potential danger of bumpy flight of aircraft in clear-air turbulence zones ahead of the aircraft.
Repeat corneal collagen cross-linking after failure of primary cross-linking in keratoconus
Authors: Maskill David , Okonkwo Arthur , Onsiong Charlotte , Hristova Stella , Dodd Amy , Anand Seema
Published: June 2023

Background

Primary corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) stabilises 96% of progressive keratoconus. There is limited evidence for the treatment of choice when this fails. We present 10 years of repeat CXL and compare with our published experience of primary CXL to (1) identify perioperative risk factors of primary CXL failure and (2) demonstrate the safety and efficacy of repeat CXL.

Methods

Patients undergoing repeat accelerated epithelium-off CXL at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK January 2012–August 2022 were identified through electronic patient record, and compared with a previously published cohort of primary CXL patients at the same site.

Results

Twenty-one eyes underwent repeat CXL. The mean interval between primary and repeat CXL treatments was 47.1 months (SD 22.5). Twenty (95%) eyes stabilised after repeat CXL at a mean follow-up of 29.9 months. These cases were compared with 151 cases of primary CXL from our previous study. Patients failing primary CXL were significantly younger (21.3 years (SD 7.0) vs 26.7 years (SD 6.5), p=0.0008). Repeat CXL and primary CXL induced a similar amount of flattening of Kmax (−1.2 D (SD 3.9) vs −0.7 D (SD 4.4), p=0.22). A small, but clinically insignificant, improvement in best-corrected visual acuity was found in the repeat CXL group (−0.04 (SD 0.17) vs −0.05 (SD 0.13), p=0.04). No complications of repeat CXL were noted.

Conclusion

Younger age may be associated with failure of primary CXL. Repeat CXL is an effective and safe treatment for progressive keratoconus despite primary CXL.
Communication and engagement of community members from ethnic minorities during COVID-19: a scoping review
Authors: Seale Holly , Harris-Roxas Ben , Mustafa Kinza , McDermid Pippa
Published: June 2023

Objectives

This review examined the factors influencing communication and engagement with ethnic and racial minority groups in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to answer two main questions: (1) what communication problems people from these communities typically faced during the pandemic? and (2) what strategies and recommendations were suggested to enhance communication and engagement for ethnic and racial minorities during the current COVID-19 pandemic and any similar events in the future?

Design

Scoping review.

Data sources

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO and CINAHL. Grey literature was searched within organisations’ websites and a Google search of key terms.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

We included original research, case studies, reports (including government and charity reports), systematic and scoping articles and literature reviews in English, published from January 2020 to August 2022.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two researchers independently assessed the literature for eligibility and extracted data from the included literature. The selected papers were analysed and summarised into themes relevant to the research questions. The final review included 38 studies combining published academic papers and grey literature.

Results

Key themes relating to communication and engagement issues included a lack of trust in authority, a lack of access to information and ineffective communication channels and a lack of timely and culturally responsive materials. To reduce the issues, the papers spoke about the key role of community organisations to provide local support and community leaders as trusted spokespersons. Lastly, key recommendations to reduce inequity and strengthen future pandemic responses focused on the need for collaborations and consultations, increasing the number of bilingual workers and supporting community-led communication efforts.

Conclusions

The insights gained from the activities and experiences documented in this review during the COVID-19 pandemic should be incorporated into future decision-making and interventions to enhance communication and engagement strategies.
Efficacy of vibrotactile positional therapy devices on patients with positional obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: ALQarni Abdullah S , Turnbull Chris D , Morrell Mary J , Kelly Julia L
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Vibrotactile positional therapy (PT) devices are a new treatment modality for positional obstructive sleep apnoea (POSA). This review aimed to determine the effect of vibrotactile PT on the Apnoea Hypopnoea Index (AHI) and the percentage of time spent in the supine position (%Tsupine) in patients with POSA, compared with baseline. Secondary aims were to investigate the effect on daytime sleepiness, quality of life and sleep quality.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that investigated the effect of vibrotactile PT in POSA patients. Searches were performed via MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Embase up to 29 October 2022.

Results

1119 studies were identified, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria (10 RCTs, 8 cohort studies). The use of vibrotactile PT significantly reduced the AHI at follow-up compared with baseline (mean difference (95% CI) −9.19 events/hour (–11.68 to –6.70); p<0.00001). The mean %Tsupine was also significantly reduced (mean difference (95% CI) −32.79% (–38.75% to –26.83%); p<0.00001). The percentage changes in the AHI and %Tsupine were 43% and 70%, respectively. Secondary outcomes were daytime sleepiness, quality of life and sleep indices. These showed minimal change, although follow-up was short.

Conclusion

Vibrotactile PT devices are effective in treating POSA; reducing both AHI and %Tsupine. The effect on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and disease-specific quality of life was minimal. However, there were limited data and follow-up was often brief, meaning that further research is needed to determine the effect of vibrotactile PT on patient-centred outcomes.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020188617.
Outcomes from a national screening program for Ukrainian refugees at risk of drug resistant tuberculosis in Wales
Authors: Barry Simon M , Davies Gareth , Barry Tamas D , Evans Jennifer , Backx Matthijs , Brouns Mattheus , Mughal Ahsan , Kelly Stephen , Collier Gareth , Ambalavanan Sakkarai , Davies Chris , Sharp Hannah , Lloyd Pam , Hester Yvonne , Murray Natalie , Goddard Kelly , Johnstone Linzi , Parry Jane , Davies Olwen , Williams Rhian , Ahern George , Smith Josie
Published: June 2023

High rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ukraine suggest screening is necessary to mitigate public health hazards for host populations. A pathway was implemented in Wales and data prospectively collected Between 8 April and 21 December 2022. Of 5425 Ukrainian arrivals, notifications were received by TB teams on 2395 (44%) of whom 1955 (82%) were screened. The refugees were young (median age 30, IQR 14–41), and predominantly female (66.1%). Interferon- gamma release assay (IGRA) tests were positive in 112 (6.5%). One Case of active tuberculosis was identified (0.05%). Our data supports European guidelines that routine screening of this population is not recommended, but we remain uncertain as to the risks of this population going forwards.
Exact spin polarization of massive and massless particles in relativistic fluids at global equilibrium
Authors: Palermo Andrea , Becattini Francesco
Published: June 2023

We present the exact form of the spin polarization vector and the spin density matrix of massive and massless free particles of any spin and helicity at general global equilibrium in a relativistic fluid with non-vanishing thermal vorticity, thus extending the known expression at the linear order. The exact form is obtained by means of the analytic continuation of the relativistic density operator to imaginary thermal vorticity and the resummation of the obtained series. The phenomenological implications for the polarization of the $$\Lambda$$
Λ
hyperon in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are addressed.
Immediate effect of craniocervical flexion exercise and Mulligan mobilisation in patients with mechanical neck pain — A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Shelke Ashwini , B Anupama Prabhu , M Ganesh Balthillaya , Kumaran Senthil D. , G Prabu Raja
Published: June 2023

Background: Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal pathologies in the present time. Physiotherapy management strategies comprising manual therapy and exercise therapy are routinely administered in patients with MNP.

Objective: To compare the immediate effect of craniocervical flexion (CCF) exercise and Mulligan mobilisation on pain, active cervical range of motion (CROM) and CCF test performance in patients with MNP.

Methods: This prospective, randomised, single-blinded study involved 26 patients with MNP (16 females; mean age; [Formula: see text] years) randomised to a single session of active CCF exercise (3 sets of 10 repetitions) or Mulligan mobilisation (3 sets of 6–10 repetitions). Pain intensity was measured on a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), active CROM was measured using CROM device, and CCF test performance with surface electromyography (EMG) from bilateral sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS) muscles recorded pre- and immediately post-intervention by an assessor blinded to the treatment groups. Mann–Whitney U test was used to analyse between groups and Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyse within-group significance for pain and CROM, Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel correlation test was used to analyse the CCF test performance on EMG from the bilateral SCM and AS muscles.

Results: Comparison between pre- and post-intervention readings revealed statistically significant within-group ([Formula: see text]) and no between-group significant difference for pain, ROM, and CCF test performance, indicating both interventions were equally effective.

Conclusion: Patients with MNP who received active CCF exercise or Mulligan mobilisation exhibited similar reduction in pain intensity and increased CROM and CCF test performance post-intervention. Surprisingly, AS surface EMG amplitudes were increased post-intervention in both groups warranting further exploration of its role in neck pain.
An examination of impact of gold and oil prices on the stock markets indices during COVID-19
Authors: Fatima Samreen , Sohail Fouzia , Sajid Yumna
Published: June 2023

Understanding stock market volatility has remained significantly important because of its diverse implications. The current pandemic COVID-19 has brutally exaggerated the financial market across the board. This study inspects the volatility of Pakistan, India and USA stock markets due to pandemic of COVID-19 using the GARCH model. Furthermore, the price of oil and gold is used as exogenous variables in the conditional mean equation of the GARCH (1,1) model to assess the volatility of stock indices KSE-100 (Pakistan), BSESN (India) and NASDAQ (USA). Moreover, the data covering the period from 1st June 2018 to 31st December 2022 are divided into pre-COVID-19 (1st June 2018 to 30th January 2020) and during-COVID-19 (31st January 2020 to 31st December 2022. Findings reveal that the stock market dependency of NASDAQ experienced oil and gold impact followed by pre-COVID-19 and during-COVID-19 periods, respectively. Whereas, the Indian stock market had a significant impact on gold and oil during the COVID-19 period but the Pakistani stock market was not influenced by oil and gold in the entire considered study period. In addition, NASDAQ market and BSESN have the highest risk-return trade-off and are more persistent followed by pre-COVID-19 and during-COVID-19 periods, respectively.