bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling continual learning in humans with Hebbian context gating and exponentially decaying task signals
Authors: Flesch Timo , Nagy David G. , Saxe Andrew , Summerfield Christopher
Published: January 2023

Humans can learn several tasks in succession with minimal mutual interference but perform more poorly when trained on multiple tasks at once. The opposite is true for standard deep neural networks. Here, we propose novel computational constraints for artificial neural networks, inspired by earlier work on gating in the primate prefrontal cortex, that capture the cost of interleaved training and allow the network to learn two tasks in sequence without forgetting. We augment standard stochastic gradient descent with two algorithmic motifs, so-called “sluggish” task units and a Hebbian training step that strengthens connections between task units and hidden units that encode task-relevant information. We found that the “sluggish” units introduce a switch-cost during training, which biases representations under interleaved training towards a joint representation that ignores the contextual cue, while the Hebbian step promotes the formation of a gating scheme from task units to the hidden layer that produces orthogonal representations which are perfectly guarded against interference. Validating the model on previously published human behavioural data revealed that it matches performance of participants who had been trained on blocked or interleaved curricula, and that these performance differences were driven by misestimation of the true category boundary.
Gene burden analysis identifies genes associated with increased risk and severity of adult-onset hearing loss in a diverse hospital-based cohort
Authors: Hui Daniel , Mehrabi Shadi , Quimby Alexandra E. , Chen Tingfang , Chen Sixing , Park Joseph , Li Binglan ,   Regeneron Genetics Center,   Penn Medicine Biobank, Ruckenstein Michael J. , Rader Daniel J. , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Brant Jason A. , Epstein Douglas J. , Mathieson Iain
Published: January 2023

Loss or absence of hearing is common at both extremes of human lifespan, in the forms of congenital deafness and age-related hearing loss. While these are often studied separately, there is increasing evidence that their genetic basis is at least partially overlapping. In particular, both common and rare variants in genes associated with monogenic forms of hearing loss also contribute to the more polygenic basis of age-related hearing loss. Here, we directly test this model in the Penn Medicine BioBank–a healthcare system cohort of around 40,000 individuals with linked genetic and electronic health record data. We show that increased burden of predicted deleterious variants in Mendelian hearing loss genes is associated with increased risk and severity of adult-onset hearing loss. As a specific example, we identify one gene–TCOF1, responsible for a syndromic form of congenital hearing loss–in which deleterious variants are also associated with adult-onset hearing loss. We also identify four additional novel candidate genes (COL5A1, HMMR, RAPGEF3, and NNT) in which rare variant burden may be associated with hearing loss. Our results confirm that rare variants in Mendelian hearing loss genes contribute to polygenic risk of hearing loss, and emphasize the utility of healthcare system cohorts to study common complex traits and diseases.
Transcriptome analysis reveals increased abundance and diversity of opportunistic fungal pathogens in nasopharyngeal tract of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Hoque M. Nazmul , Rahman M. Shaminur , Sarkar Md. Murshed Hasan , Habib Md Ahashan , Akter Shahina , Banu Tanjina Akhtar , Goswami Barna , Jahan Iffat , Hossain M. Anwar , Khan M. Salim , Islam Tofazzal
Published: January 2023

We previously reported that SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces human nasopharyngeal commensal microbiomes (bacteria, archaea and commensal respiratory viruses) with inclusion of pathobionts. This study aimed to assess the possible changes in the abundance and diversity of resident mycobiome in the nasopharyngeal tract (NT) of humans due to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Twenty-two (n = 22) nasopharyngeal swab samples (including COVID-19 = 8, Recovered = 7, and Healthy = 7) were collected for RNA-sequencing followed by taxonomic profiling of mycobiome. Our analyses indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly increased (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test) the population and diversity of fungi in the NT with inclusion of a high proportion of opportunistic pathogens. We detected 863 fungal species including 533, 445, and 188 species in COVID-19, Recovered, and Healthy individuals, respectively that indicate a distinct mycobiome dysbiosis due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remarkably, 37% of the fungal species were exclusively associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, where S. cerevisiae (88.62%) and Phaffia rhodozyma (10.30%) were two top abundant species. Likewise, Recovered humans NT samples were predominated by Aspergillus penicillioides (36.64%), A. keveii (23.36%), A. oryzae (10.05%) and A. pseudoglaucus (4.42%). Conversely, Nannochloropsis oceanica (47.93%), Saccharomyces pastorianus (34.42%), and S. cerevisiae (2.80%) were the top abundant fungal species in Healthy controls nasal swabs. Importantly, 16% commensal fungal species found in the Healthy controls were not detected in either COVID-19 patients or when they were cured from COVID-19 (Recovered). We also detected several altered metabolic pathways correlated with the dysbiosis of fungal mycobiota in COVID-19 patients. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes significant dysbiosis of mycobiome and related metabolic functions possibly play a determining role in the progression of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. These findings might be helpful for developing mycobiome-based diagnostics, and also devising appropriate therapeutic regimens including antifungal drugs for prevention and control of concurrent fungal coinfections in COVID-19 patients.
Mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in a correctional facility in South Africa: A cluster analysis
Authors: Shishane Kwanele , John-Langba Johannes , Onifade Eyitayo
Published: January 2023

The contribution of mental illness, substance use, and appetitive aggression to recidivism has significant policy and practice implications. Offenders with untreated mental illness have a higher recidivism rate and a greater number of criminogenic risk factors than those without mental illness. Previous research has demonstrated that the likelihood of appetitive aggression increases in violent contexts where individuals perpetrate aggressive acts. Using the Ecological Systems Theory, this study investigated the association between mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in South Africa, and the intervening role of appetitive aggression and substance use. Using a cross-sectional quantitative research design, a sample of 280 incarcerated male and female adult offenders aged 18–35 with no known psychiatric disorders were sampled at a correctional facility in South Africa. The re-incarceration rate, mental health disorders, substance use, and appetitive aggression symptomology were assessed using the Hopkins symptoms checklist, the CRAFFT measure of substance use, and the appetitive aggression scale. Findings indicate a 32.4% recidivism rate (n = 82). Cluster analysis indicated that the combination of anxiety, depression, substance use, and appetitive aggression increased the likelihood of recidivism. Appetitive aggression median differences between clusters 2 and 3 played a key role in distinguishing recidivism risk among recidivist and non-recidivist participants. Chi-square analysis highlighted group differences in education levels among the established clusters [x2(3, n = 217) = 12.832, p = .005, which is < .05] as well as group differences in the type of criminal offence [x2(3, n = 187) = 24.362, p = .000, which is < .05] and cluster membership. Combined factors that increase the likelihood of recidivism provide a typology for classifying offenders based on particular recidivism risk determinants, which offers insights for developing tailored interventions that address a combination of factors.
Psychomotor and visual skills underlying position specialization in 1352 elite youth baseball players
Authors: Ho Jessica , Liu Sicong , Feng Zeyu , Appelbaum Lawrence Gregory
Published: January 2023

Baseball is an international sport with participation from tens of thousands of people worldwide. In the United States, the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) is a collaborative effort between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball to establish a developmental pipeline leading to the professional draft. Players participating in the PDP undergo comprehensive evaluations that measure athletic performance, speed-of-processing, visual function, and on-field talent. The present study evaluated data from 1352 elite junior male PDP participants (aged 14 to 21) who signed informed consent, collected between 2017 and 2020, to identify latent abilities and their association with player specialization. Data were first subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to reduce the 22 measured variables to a smaller set of latent abilities. The resulting factors were evaluated using multiple linear regression to predict each factor using age, height, weight, and position. EFA revealed a combination of physical and psychomotor skills accounting for 52% of the overall variance that grouped into four abilities: grip strength, functional vision, explosiveness, and rapid decision-making. Regression analyses demonstrated that these skills are associated with position assignments, controlling for age, weight, and height, and revealed that outfielders are the most explosive, infielders perform best on psychomotor measures, and catchers perform best on functional vision tests (ps < 0.001). These findings indicate skills that contribute to player specialization, providing new information about the developmental trajectory of junior elite baseball athletes that can be used for scouting and player development.
Knowledge sharing behaviour among head nurses in online health communities: The moderating role of knowledge self-efficacy
Authors: Shehab Salah , Al-Bsheish Mohammad , Meri Ahmed , Dauwed Mohammed , Aldhmadi Badr K. , Kareem Haitham Mohsin , Alsyouf Adi , Al-Mugheed Khalid , Jarrar Mu’taman
Published: January 2023

Background

Head nurses are vital in understanding and encouraging knowledge sharing among their followers. However, few empirical studies have highlighted their contribution to knowledge-sharing behaviour in Online Health Communities (OHCs). In addition, scant literature has examined the moderating role of knowledge self-efficacy in this regard.

Purposes

This study examines the moderating role of self-efficacy between the association of four selected individual factors of head nurses (i.e., Trust, Reciprocity, Reputation, and Ability to Share) and their knowledge-sharing behaviour in OHCs in Jordan.

Method

The data were obtained by using a self-reported survey from 283 head nurses in 22 private hospitals in Jordan. A moderation regression analysis using a structural equation modelling approach (i.e. Smart PLS-SEM, Version 3) was utilised to evaluate the study’s measurement and structural model.

Results

Knowledge self-efficacy moderates the relationship between the three individual factors (i.e., Trust, Reciprocity, and Reputation) and knowledge-sharing behaviours. However, self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between the ability to share and knowledge-sharing behaviours.

Implications

This study contributes to understanding the moderating role of knowledge self-efficacy among head nurses in online healthcare communities. Moreover, this study provides guidelines for head nurses to become active members in knowledge sharing in OHCs. The findings of this study offer a basis for further research on knowledge sharing in the healthcare sector.
The trehalose glycolipid C18Brar promotes antibody and T-cell immune responses to Mannheimia haemolytica and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae whole cell antigens in sheep
Authors: Gupta Sandeep K. , Parlane Natalie , Bridgeman Benjamin , Lynch Amy T. , Dangerfield Emma M. , Timmer Mattie S. M. , Stocker Bridget L. , Wedlock D. Neil
Published: January 2023

Bronchopneumonia is a common respiratory disease in livestock.Mannheimia haemolyticais considered the main causative pathogen leading to lung damage in sheep, withMycoplasma ovipneumoniaeand ParaInfluenza virus type 3, combined with adverse physical and physiological stress, being predisposing factors. A balance of humoral and cellular immunity is thought to be important for protection against developing respiratory disease. In the current study, we compared the ability of the trehalose glycolipid adjuvant C18Brar (C18-alkylated brartemicin analogue) and three commercially available adjuvant systemsi.e., Quil-A, Emulsigen-D, and a combination of Quil-A and aluminium hydroxide gel, to stimulate antibody and cellular immune responses to antigens from inactivated whole cells ofM.haemolyticaandM.ovipneumoniaein sheep. C18Brar and Emulsigen-D induced the strongest antigen-specific antibody responses to bothM.haemolyticaandM.ovipneumoniae, while C18Brar and Quil-A promoted the strongest antigen-specific IL-17A responses. The expression of genes with known immune functions was determined in antigen-stimulated blood cultures using Nanostring nCounter technology. The expression levels ofCD40,IL22,TGFB1, andIL2RAwere upregulated in antigen-stimulated blood cultures from animals vaccinated with C18Brar, which is consistent with T-cell activation. Collectively, the results demonstrate that C18Brar can promote both antibody and cellular responses, notably Th17 immune responses in a ruminant species.
Long-term potentiation and depression regulatory microRNAs were highlighted in Bisphenol A induced learning and memory impairment by microRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Luo Mengxin , Li Ling , Ding Muyao , Niu Yurong , Xu Xuezhu , Shi Xiaoxia , Shan Ning , Qiu Zewen , Piao Fengyuan , Zhang Cong
Published: January 2023

The mechanisms of Bisphenol A (BPA) induced learning and memory impairment have still not been fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding small RNA molecules involved in the process of toxicant-induced neurotoxicity. To investigate the role of miRNAs in BPA-induced learning and memory impairment, we analyzed the impacts of BPA on miRNA expression profile by high-throughput sequencing in mice hippocampus. Results showed that mice treated with BPA displayed impairments of spatial learning and memory and changes in the expression of miRNAs in the hippocampus. Seventeen miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed after BPA exposure, of these, 13 and 4 miRNAs were up- and downregulated, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway suggests that BPA exposure significantly triggered transcriptional changes of miRNAs associated with learning and memory; the top five affected pathways involved in impairment of learning and memory are: 1) Long-term depression (LTD); 2) Thyroid hormone synthesis; 3) GnRH signaling pathway; 4) Long-term potentiation (LTP); 5) Serotonergic synapse. Eight BPA-responsive differentially expressed miRNAs regulating LTP and LTD were further screened to validate the miRNA sequencing data using Real-Time PCR. The deregulation expression levels of proteins of five target genes (CaMKII, MEK1/2, IP3R, AMPAR1 and PLCβ4) were investigated via western blot, for further verifying the results of gene target analysis. Our results showed that LTP and LTD related miRNAs and their targets could contribute to BPA-induced impairment of learning and memory. This study provides valuable information for novel miRNA biomarkers to detect changes in impairment of learning and memory induced by BPA exposure.
Teacher attitudes toward inclusion of students with disabilities in Jeddah elementary schools
Authors: Alsolami Abdulaziz , Vaughan Michael
Published: January 2023

This study aims to investigate teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in general school settings in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from a sample of teachers in Jeddah. A stratified random technique was utilized to choose the target sample, however, 187 teachers completely responded on the study questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were utilized to assess teachers’ demographic profile. Also, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to examine the association between teachers’ demographic characteristics and their perceptions of SEN. Results revealed that teachers are more likely to believe that they lack the academic qualifications and training required for the inclusion of students with disabilities. They reported being trained only to teach students with learning difficulties rather than intellectual disabilities. The reported barriers to inclusion are lack of appropriate educational materials, limited time to devote sufficient attention to students with SEN, limited knowledge regarding SEN, and classrooms that are not designed for students with disabilities. The study findings therefore indicate the need for not only training teachers to teach students with disabilities but also, more importantly, ways to implement these strategies more effectively in typical school settings.
Supporting lifestyle change in obese pregnant mothers through the wearable internet-of-things (SLIM) -intervention for overweight pregnant women: Study protocol for a quasi-experimental trial
Authors: Saarikko Johanna , Axelin Anna , Huvinen Emilia , Rahmani Amir M. , Azimi Iman , Pasanen Miko , Niela-Vilén Hannakaisa
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To assess, in terms of self-efficacy in weight management, the effectiveness of the SLIM lifestyle intervention among overweight or obese women during pregnancy and after delivery, and further to exploit machine learning and event mining approaches to build personalized models. Additionally, the aim is to evaluate the implementation of the SLIM intervention.

Methods

This prospective trial, which is a non-randomized, quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention, includes an embedded mixed-method process evaluation. The SLIM Intervention is delivered by public health nurses (n = 9) working in maternity clinics. The public health nurses recruited overweight women (n = 54) at their first antenatal visit using convenience sampling. The core components of the intervention i.e. health technology, motivational interviewing, feedback, and goal setting, are utilized in antenatal visits in maternity clinics starting from gestational week 15 or less and continuing to 12 weeks after delivery. Mixed effect models are used to evaluate change over time in self-efficacy, weight management and weight change. Simple mediation models are used to assess calories consumed and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as mediators between self-efficacy and weight change. Signal processing and machine learning techniques are exploited to extract events from the data collected via the Oura ring and smartphone-based questionnaires.

Discussion

The SLIM intervention was developed in collaboration with overweight women and public health nurses working in maternity clinics. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the intervention among overweight women in increasing self-efficacy and achieving a healthy weight; thus, impacting the healthy lifestyle and long-term health of the whole family. The long-term objective is to contribute to women’s health by supporting weight-management through behavior change via interventions conducted in maternity clinics.

Trial registration

The trial was registered at the Clinicaltrials.gov register platform (ID NCT04826861) on 17 March 2021.
Reproductive health care appointments: How the institutional organization of obstetric/gynecological work shapes the experiences of women with female genital cutting in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Jacobson Danielle , Grace Daniel , Boddy Janice , Einstein Gillian
Published: January 2023

We investigated the social relations shaping the reproductive health care experiences of women with female genital cutting (FGC) in Toronto, Canada. Using Institutional Ethnography, we interviewed eight women with FGC and seven obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN). We found a disjuncture between women’s needs during appointments that extended beyond the reproductive body and range of care that doctors were able to provide. Women engaged in emotional healthwork during appointments by explaining FGC to doctors, reading doctors’ body language, and getting through vulvar/vaginal examinations. Women reported that if they had emotional reactions during appointments, they were often referred to a mental health specialist, a referral on which they did not act. OB/GYNs described their specialty as “surgical”—training centered around treating reproductive abnormalities and not mental health issues. Therefore, the disjuncture between women’s needs and OB/GYNs’ institutional training highlights the difficulties inherent when bodies of “difference” encounter the reproductive health care system.
Coal gangue recognition based on spectral imaging combined with XGBoost
Authors: Zhou Minghao , Lai Wenhao
Published: January 2023

The identification of coal gangue is of great significance for its intelligent separation. To overcome the interference of visible light, we propose coal gangue recognition based on multispectral imaging and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). The data acquisition system is built in the laboratory, and 280 groups of spectral data of coal and coal gangue are collected respectively through the imager. The spectral intensities of all channels of each group of spectral data are averaged, and then the dimensionality is reduced by principal component analysis. XGBoost is used to identify coal and coal gangue based on the reduced dimension spectral data. The results show that PCA combined with XGBoost has the relatively best classification performance, and its recognition accuracy of coal and coal gangue is 98.33%. In this paper, the ensemble-learning algorithm XGBoost is combined with spectral imaging technology to realize the rapid and accurate identification of coal and coal gangue, which is of great significance to the intelligent separation of coal gangue and the intelligent construction of coal mines.
Identification and characterization of probiotics isolated from indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) of Nepal
Authors: Gupta Mohan , Raut Roji , Manandhar Sulochana , Chaudhary Ashok , Shrestha Ujwal , Dangol Saubhagya , G. C. Sudarshan , Budha Keshab Raj , Karki Gaurab , Díaz-Sánchez Sandra , Gortazar Christian , de la Fuente José , Rajbhandari Pragun , Manandhar Prajwol , Napit Rajindra , Karmacharya Dibesh
Published: January 2023

Background

Excessive and irrational use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry has been one of key factors contributing to increased emergence of antibiotics resistant bacteria. Several alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters are being sought, and the search for effective probiotics to be used as feed additives is amongst the promising ones. Our study aimed to isolate and test potential probiotics bacteria from cloacal swabs of various indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) breeds from rural outskirts of the Kathmandu valley (Nepal).

Methods

Selective isolation of probiotics was conducted by micro-aerophilic enrichment of sample in MRS Broth at 37°C, followed by culturing on MRS agar supplemented with 5 g/L of CaCO3. Isolated bacterial colonies producing transparent halo were selected as potential lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and tested for their antibacterial activity, phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, acidic yield, and tolerance to acid and bile.

Results

A total of 90 potential LAB were isolated from cloacal samples collected from 41 free-ranging chickens of indigenous breeds. Of these, 52 LAB isolates (57%) showed variable antibacterial activity to at least one bacterial pathogen. Of 52 LAB, 46 isolates fulfilled phenotypic and biochemical criteria of Lactobacillus spp. Of these, 37 isolates produced varying percentage yields of lactic acid, 27 isolates showed survival at pH 3.0, and 17 isolates showed survival tolerances in the presence of 0.3% and 0.5% bile salts for 24 hours. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing of LAB isolates fulfilling in vitro probiotics properties showed that 3 isolates had genetic identity of 99.38% with Lactobacillus plantarum, while one isolate was genetically similar (99.85%) with the clade of L. reuteri, L. antri and L. panis.

Conclusion

Our study identified four Lactobacillus spp. strains having potential probiotics properties. Further investigations are needed to evaluate these isolates to be used as poultry probiotics feed supplement.
Post-intervention acceptability of multicomponent intervention for management of hypertension in rural Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka- a qualitative study
Authors: Jafar Tazeen H. , Tavajoh Saeideh , de Silva H. Asita , Naheed Aliya , Jehan Imtiaz , Kanatiwela de Silva Chamini , Chakma Nantu , Huda Maryam , Legido-Quigley Helena ,   on behalf of COBRA-BPS Study Group
Published: January 2023

Background

COBRA-BPS (Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), a multicomponent, community health-worker (CHW)-led hypertension management program, has been shown to be effective in rural communities in South Asia. This paper presents the acceptability of COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention among the key stakeholders.

Methods

We conducted post-implementation interviews of 87 stakeholder including 23 community health workers (CHWs), 19 physicians and 45 patients in 15 rural communities randomized to COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention in in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. We used Theoretical Framework for Acceptability framework (TFA) with a focus on affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity cost, perceived effectiveness and self-efficacy.

Results

COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention was acceptable to most stakeholders. Despite some concerns about workload, most CHWs were enthusiastic and felt empowered. Physicians appreciated the training sessions and felt trusted by their patients. Patients were grateful to receive the intervention and valued it. However, patients in Pakistan and Bangladesh expressed the need for supplies of free medicines from the primary health facilities, while those in Sri Lanka were concerned about supplies’ irregularities. All stakeholders favoured scaling-up COBRA-BPS at a national level.

Conclusions

COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention is acceptable to the key stakeholders in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Community engagement for national scale-up of COBRA-BPS is likely to be successful in all three countries.
Content categorization for memory retrieval: A method for evaluating design performance
Authors: Shen Danni , Yao Xuelin , Bao Defu , Yu Yuxiang
Published: January 2023

Designers search for memories and retrieve appropriate mental information during design brainstorming. The specific contents of retrieved memories can serve as stimuli for new ideas, or act as barriers to innovation. These contents can be divided into different categories, which are reflected in designers’ creativities, and derived from individual lives and design experiences. Appropriate categorization of retrieved memory exemplars remains a fundamental research issue. This study tentatively divided retrieved memory exemplars into eight categories from brainstorming on the topic of library desk and chair design. A verification questionnaire was performed and validated the accuracy of categorization. The categorization result could be applied to design education in terms of understanding students’ design performances and capabilities.
Secular trends in body image dissatisfaction and associated factors among adolescents (2007–2017/2018)
Authors: Gonzaga Isadora , Ribovski Marina , Claumann Gaia Salvador , Folle Alexandra , Beltrame Thais Silva , Laus Maria Fernanda , Pelegrini Andreia
Published: January 2023

Objective

To assess secular trends in body image dissatisfaction and associated factors among adolescents over a 10-year period (2007-2017/2018).

Methods

The sample included 1,479 (2007, n = 531; 2017/2018, n = 948) high school adolescents of both sexes, aged 14 to 18 years, of schools in a city in southern Brazil, in 2007 and 2017/2018. Data were collected on sex, age, physical activity (IPAQ, short form), anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds), and body image dissatisfaction (figure rating scale). The variables were compared with Independent samples t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test. The associations between sex and other variables were examined with chi-square test, and the factors associated with body image were identified with multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Most adolescents were dissatisfied with their body image in 2007 (65,2%) and 2017/2018 (71,1%). The prevalence of body dissatisfaction increased by 9.2% over the 10-year period, particularly dissatisfaction with thinness (21.3%). After stratification by sex, in 2017/2018 sample, dissatisfaction with overweight was 46.1% greater in boys, and dissatisfaction with thinness was 66.9% greater in girls. Factors found to be significantly associated with body image dissatisfaction were physical activity level, and body adiposity.

Conclusions

There was a secular trend toward increased body image dissatisfaction in both sexes. Future efforts should go beyond scientific production, in public and private environments aimed at increasing awareness of health issues related to body care in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains.
Perspectives on dental health and oral hygiene practice from US adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zhang Long , Waselewski Marika , Nawrocki Jack , Williams Ian , Fontana Margherita , Chang Tammy
Published: January 2023

Background

Adolescence is a critical time for adopting health behaviors which continue through adulthood. There is a lack of data regarding perspectives of US adolescents and young adults on their dental health and oral hygiene practice.

Methods

Adolescents and young adults, age 14–24, from MyVoice, a nationwide text message poll of youth. were asked five open-ended questions on the importance of dental health and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis. Chi-square test was used to examine differences in experiences by demographics.

Results

Of 1,148 participants, 932 responded to at least one question. The mean age was 19 years. Respondents were largely male (49.5%) and non-Hispanic white (62.4%). Most (92%) respondents perceived dental health as important or somewhat important and emphasized overall dental health and hygiene (38.6%) and aesthetics (18.3%). About half (49.2%) of respondents stated they have had at least one cavity since middle school. Just over half (54.8%) reported brushing and flossing to care for their dentition. 58% visited a dentist at least every 6 months, while 38% visited a dentist less frequently or not at all. Being non-cisgender, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and receipt of free or reduced lunch was associated with less frequent dental visits. 44% stated COVID-19 impacted their dental health, with many mentioning scheduling difficulties or worsened dental hygiene.

Conclusions

Most youth in our study consider dental health important, though their oral hygiene practice may not follow ADA guidelines and self-reported dental caries are high. Dental healthcare among youth has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with interruption in regular dental visits and changes in hygiene habits. Re-engagement of adolescents and young adults by dental care providers via greater access to appointments and youth-centered messaging reinforcing hygiene recommendations may help youth improve dental health now and in the future.
Promiscuous feeding on multiple adult honey bee hosts amplifies the vectorial capacity of Varroa destructor
Authors: Lamas Zachary S. , Solmaz Serhat , Ryabov Eugene V. , Mowery Joseph , Heermann Matthew , Sonenshine Daniel , Evans Jay D. , Hawthorne David J.
Published: January 2023

Varroa destructor is a cosmopolitan pest and leading cause of colony loss of the European honey bee. Historically described as a competent vector of honey bee viruses, this arthropod vector is the cause of a global pandemic of Deformed wing virus, now endemic in honeybee populations in all Varroa-infested regions. Our work shows that viral spread is driven by Varroa actively switching from one adult bee to another as they feed. Assays using fluorescent microspheres were used to indicate the movement of fluids in both directions between host and vector when Varroa feed. Therefore, Varroa could be in either an infectious or naïve state dependent upon the disease status of their host. We tested this and confirmed that the relative risk of a Varroa feeding depended on their previous host’s infectiousness. Varroa exhibit remarkable heterogeneity in their host-switching behavior, with some Varroa infrequently switching while others switch at least daily. As a result, relatively few of the most active Varroa parasitize the majority of bees. This multiple-feeding behavior has analogs in vectorial capacity models of other systems, where promiscuous feeding by individual vectors is a leading driver of vectorial capacity. We propose that the honeybee-Varroa relationship offers a unique opportunity to apply principles of vectorial capacity to a social organism, as virus transmission is both vectored and occurs through multiple host-to-host routes common to a crowded society.
Insect egg-induced innate immunity: Who benefits?
Authors: Stahl Elia , Maier Louis-Philippe , Reymond Philippe
Published: January 2023

Plants perceive the presence of insect eggs deposited on leaves as a cue of imminent herbivore attack. Consequential plant signaling events include the accumulation of salicylic acid and reactive oxygen species, transcriptional reprogramming, and cell death. Interestingly, egg-induced innate immunity shows similarities with immune responses triggered upon recognition of microbial pathogens, and in recent years, it became apparent that egg perception affects plant–microbe interactions. Here, we highlight recent findings on insect egg-induced innate immunity and how egg-mediated signaling impacts plant–microbe interactions. Ecological considerations beg the question: Who benefits from egg perception in these complex interactions?
Suppression of KSHV lytic replication and primary effusion lymphoma by selective RNF5 inhibition
Authors: Li Xiaojuan , Wang Fan , Zhang Xiaolin , Sun Qinqin , Kuang Ersheng
Published: January 2023

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare aggressive B-cell lymphoma in immunosuppressed patients, is etiologically associated with oncogenic γ-herpesvirus infection. Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat PEL but usually results in poor prognosis and survival; thus, novel therapies and drug development are urgently needed for PEL treatment. Here, we demonstrated that inhibition of Ring finger protein 5 (RNF5), an ER-localized E3 ligase, suppresses multiple cellular pathways and lytic replication of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in PEL cells. RNF5 interacts with and induces Ephrin receptors A3 (EphA3) and EphA4 ubiquitination and degradation. RNF5 inhibition increases the levels of EphA3 and EphA4, thereby reducing ERK and Akt activation and KSHV lytic replication. RNF5 inhibition decreased PEL xenograft tumor growth and downregulated viral gene expression, cell cycle gene expression, and hedgehog signaling in xenograft tumors. Our study suggests that RNF5 plays the critical roles in KSHV lytic infection and tumorigenesis of primary effusion lymphoma.
Impact of a Novel Digital Therapeutics System on Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: The NASH App Clinical Trial
Authors: Sato Masaya , Akamatsu Masatoshi , Shima Toshihide , Ikegami Tadashi , Yanase Mikio , Mikami Shintaro , Imamura Jun , Nakatsuka Takuma , Tateishi Ryosuke , Yamauchi Naoko , Ushiku Tetsuo , Okanoue Takeshi , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Hida Eisuke , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Management of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a currently unmet clinical need. Digital therapeutics (DTx) is an emerging class of medicine that delivers evidence-based therapeutic interventions. This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy of DTx in patients with NASH.

METHODS:

We conducted a multicenter, single-arm, 48-week trial in 19 patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH. All patients received a DTx intervention with a newly developed smartphone application. The primary endpoint was change in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) without worsening of liver fibrosis. The secondary endpoints included improvement of the NAS by ≥2 points without worsening of liver fibrosis, change in the body weight, and regression of fibrosis.

RESULTS:

After the 48-week DTx intervention, improvement of the NAS was observed in 68.4% (13/19) of patients. The mean change in the NAS from baseline to the end of the intervention was −2.05 ± 1.96 (P < 0.001 when compared with the threshold of −0.7). A decrease in the NAS by ≥ 2 points was achieved in 11 (57.9%). The average weight loss at the end of the intervention was 8.3% (P < 0.001). Reduction of the fibrosis stage was observed in 58.3% when the analysis was limited to patients with stage F2/3 fibrosis. There were no serious adverse events that could be considered as being related to the DTx intervention.

DISCUSSION:

DTx for NASH was found to be highly efficacious and well-tolerated. Further evaluation of the DTx intervention for NASH in a phase 3 trial is warranted.
Opinions of Pre-service English Teachers on Distance Practicum in the Covid-19 period: An example from Turkey
Authors: DÜNDAR Sinem , GUVENDİR Emre
Published: January 2023

Within the context of distant practicum procedures implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) period, the aim of this study is to highlight the experiences and views of pre-service English teachers on e-practicum. The study also examines whether pre-service teachers’ experiences contrasted with what they expected from the standard practicum procedures. The participants of the study included 20 fourth-year prospective English teachers studying at a Turkish university. Data were collected through standardized open-ended interview questions and content analysis was used to categorize the responses. The findings of this study in general show that teaching practicum is a significant part of teacher education programs as pre-service teachers believe that it particularly supports gaining teaching experience in a real school environment. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led teaching practicum to be sustained as a part of distance education which has caused certain drawbacks especially in terms of lacking face-to face teaching experience. Findings revealed that distant practicum during the COVID-19 had more negative sides for the participants than positive ones. Participants expressed their demands for e-practicum regulations that address all aspects of the teaching profession and give them the opportunity to put theory into practice.
Assessment of Geography Perceptions of Primary School Teacher Candidates by Draw-Write-Tell Technique
Authors: AVCI Görkem
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to introduce the geography perceptions of primary school teacher candidates. The working group of the study that adopted a qualitative research method consisted of 160 primary school teacher candidates from all grade levels studying at a university in northern Turkey during the 2021-2022 academic year. In the first stage of the study, completed in three steps, students were asked to draw items that came to their minds with the word geography, clarifying their perceptions of geography. In the second stage, they were instructed to elucidate the connection between their drawings and geography term in detail through writing. In the third stage, however, unstructured interviews were conducted with 13 participants voluntarily selected from the study group to comprehend their motivations for choosing the drawings. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. The drawing results demonstrated that it is possible to classify the broad geography perceptions of the students into nine different themes. In their drawings, the participants identified the most political events and phenomena with geography and reflected their perspectives in this direction. The reasons underlying the geography perceptions of the participants were divided into six different categories, including political and economic aspects. The study outcomes revealed that participants’ geography perceptions took shape on the axis of modern-day political and economic issues, that geography is a critical power source at both local and global levels, and that it is a significative and determining factor for the future of living creatures.
Instructor’s Written Feedback in Emergency Remote Teaching: EFL Learners’ Perspectives
Authors: BALIKCIOĞLU AKKUŞ Gülin , ALTAY İsmail Firat
Published: January 2023

In language education, instructor’s feedback is considered to be of high value as it provides learners with individualized attention. Regarding the absence of personal interaction between learners and instructors in remote teaching, it is expected that instructor’s feedback plays a more significant role compared to the case in face-to-face education because it does not only help to increase learners’ performance in the target language and but it also serves as a tool in building a strong relationship between learners and instructor. Based on this, the present paper which was designed as a case study attempted to reveal university level English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ perspectives on written feedback given by their instructor on their writing assignments on the distance education platform of the university in emergency remote teaching. The data were collected through interviews conducted with eight English preparatory class students and the instructor’s research diary. Thematic analysis was carried out on the collected data. The findings showed the interviewees had positive viewpoints about the instructor’s written feedback. They stated that the instructor’s feedback had an interpersonal side, gave them affective support and helped them improve in the target language. Moreover, the use of online distance education platform for giving feedback was found to be useful by the interviewees in that it provided the learners with the opportunity to have access to the feedback documents whenever they wanted. The results may imply new insights into the way foreign language instructors give written feedback.
Wind Speed Prediction Based on Statistical and Deep Learning Models
Authors: Tyass Ilham , Khalili Tajeddine , Rafik Mohamed , Abdelouahed Bellat , Raihani Abdelhadi , Mansouri Khalifa
Published: January 2023

Wind is a dominant source of renewable energy with a high sustainability potential. However, the intermittence and unstable nature of wind source affect the efficiency and reliability of wind energy conversion systems. The prediction of the available wind potential is also heavily flawed by its unstable nature. Thus, evaluating the wind energy trough wind speed prevision, is crucial for adapting energy production to load shifting and user demand rates. This work aims to forecast the wind speed using the statistical Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model and the Deep Neural Network model of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). In order to shed light on these methods, a comparative analysis is conducted to select the most appropriate model for wind speed prediction. The errors metrics, mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) are used to evaluate the effectiveness of each model and are used to select the best prediction model. Overall, the obtained results showed that LSTM model, compared to SARIMA, has shown leading performance with an average of absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 14.05%.
On-demand continuous-variable quantum entanglement source for integrated circuits
Authors: Günay Mehmet , Das Priyam , Yüce Emre , Polat Emre Ozan , Bek Alpan , Tasgin Mehmet Emre
Published: January 2023

Integration of devices generating non-classical states (such as entanglement) into photonic circuits is one of the major goals in achieving integrated quantum circuits (IQCs). This is demonstrated successfully in recent decades. Controlling the non-classicality generation in these micron-scale devices is also crucial for the robust operation of the IQCs. Here, we propose a micron-scale quantum entanglement device whose nonlinearity (so the generated non-classicality) can be tuned by several orders of magnitude via an applied voltage without altering the linear response. Quantum emitters (QEs), whose level-spacing can be tuned by voltage, are embedded into the hotspot of a metal nanostructure (MNS). QE-MNS coupling introduces a Fano resonance in the “nonlinear response”. Nonlinearity, already enhanced extremely due to localization, can be controlled by the QEs’ level-spacing. Nonlinearity can either be suppressed or be further enhanced by several orders. Fano resonance takes place in a relatively narrow frequency window so that ∼meV voltage-tunability for QEs becomes sufficient for a continuous turning on/off of the non-classicality. This provides as much as 5 orders of magnitude modulation depths.
The crystal structure of (2R,6′R)-2′,7-dichloro-4,6-dimethoxy-6′-methyl-3H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-cyclohexan]-2′-ene-3,4′-dione, C16H14Cl2O5
Authors: Zhang Meng , Bai Yu-Bin
Published: January 2023

C16H14Cl2O5, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 23.2297(5) Å, b = 16.3509(3) Å, c = 8.7300(2) Å, V = 3315.89(12) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt
(F) = 0.0472, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1268, T = 293 K.
Typography and meaning-making in Arabic children’s literature: the covert communication!
Authors: Al-Jafar Ali A. , Jouhar Mohammed R.
Published: January 2023

Little is known about typography and its contribution to the meaning-making process in children’s storybooks. This study applied the systematic framework for a distinctive feature analysis of typography to explore the manifestations of typography in 24 recently published Arabic children’s storybooks and outline typography’s ideational, interpersonal, and textual functions as interpreted according to the Arabic sociocultural context. The findings show a pattern of visually manipulated typographic representations in terms ofweight, expansion and spacing, curvature, connectivity, orientation, irregularity,andcolors. In its ideational function, the typography constructed, reflected, and evoked visual images of real-life representations. In its interpersonal function, the typography communicated educative, social, and cultural messages and values to young readers. In its textual function, the typography supported dramatic atmospheres, matched the tone and rhythm of the story, harmonized with the stories’ themes, reflected the characters’ emotions and thoughts, and highlighted or differentiated incidents, concepts, and characters. The typography was found to be a promising communicative resource in Arabic children’s storybooks.