bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circadian clock does not play an essential role in daylength measurement for growth-phase transition in Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Kanesaka Yuki , Inoue Keisuke , Tomita Yuki , Yamaoka Shohei , Araki Takashi
Published: November 2023

Daylength is perceived as a seasonal cue to induce growth-phase transition at a proper time of a year. The core of the mechanism of daylength measurement in angiosperms lies in the circadian clock-controlled expression of regulators of growth-phase transition. However, the roles of the circadian clock in daylength measurement in basal land plants remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the contribution of circadian clock to daylength measurement in a basal land plant, the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. In M. polymorpha, transition from vegetative to reproductive phase under long-day conditions results in differentiation of sexual branches called gametangiophores which harbor gametangia. First, we showed that a widely used wild-type accession Takaragaike-1 is an obligate long-day plant with a critical daylength of about 10 hours and requires multiple long days. Then, we compared the timing of gametangiophore formation between wild type and circadian clock mutants in long-day and short-day conditions. Mutations in two clock genes, MpTIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 and MpPSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR, had no significant effects on the timing of gametangiophore formation. In addition, when M. polymorpha plants were treated with a chemical which lengthens circadian period, there was no significant effect on the timing of gametangiophore formation, either. We next observed the timing of gametangiophore formation under various non-24-h light/dark cycles to examine the effect of phase alteration in circadian rhythms. The results suggest that daylength measurement in M. polymorpha is based on the relative amount of light and darkness within a cycle rather than the intrinsic rhythms generated by circadian clock. Our findings suggest that M. polymorpha has a daylength measurement system which is different from that of angiosperms centered on the circadian clock function.
Genetic diversity of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum depends on habitat hydrology and habitat fragmentation
Authors: Engloner Attila I. , Németh Kitti , Kós Péter B. , Meglécz Emese , Bereczki Judit
Published: November 2023

The adaptability of plant populations to a changing environment depends on their genetic diversity, which in turn is influenced by the degree of sexual reproduction and gene flow from distant areas. Aquatic macrophytes can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and their reproductive fragments are spread in various ways (e.g. by water). Although these plants are obviously exposed to hydrological changes, the degree of vulnerability may depend on the types of their reproduction and distribution, as well as the hydrological differences of habitats. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of the cosmopolitan macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in hydrologically different aquatic habitats, i.e. rivers and backwaters separated from the main river bed to a different extent. For this purpose, the first microsatellite primer set was developed for this species. Using 10 developed primer pairs, a high level of genetic variation was explored in C. demersum populations. Overall, more than 80% of the loci were found to be polymorphic, a total of 46 different multilocus genotypes and 18 private alleles were detected in the 63 individuals examined. The results demonstrated that microsatellite polymorphism in this species depends on habitat hydrology. The greatest genetic variability was revealed in populations of rivers, where flowing water provides constant longitudinal connections with distant habitats. The populations of the hydrologically isolated backwaters showed the lowest microsatellite polymorphism, while plants from an oxbow occasionally flooded by the main river had medium genetic diversity. The results highlight that in contrast to species that spread independently of water flow or among hydrologically isolated water bodies, macrophytes with exclusive or dominant hydrochory may be most severely affected by habitat fragmentation, for example due to climate change.
Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality
Authors: Verdonk Julian C. , van Ieperen Wim , Carvalho Dália R. A. , van Geest Geert , Schouten Rob E.
Published: November 2023

The cut flower industry has a global reach as flowers are often produced in countries around the equator and transported by plane or ship (reefer) mostly to the global north. Vase-life issues are often regarded as linked to only postharvest conditions while cultivation factors are just as important. Here, we review the main causes for quality reduction in cut flowers with the emphasis on the importance of preharvest conditions. Cut flower quality is characterised by a wide range of features, such as flower number, size, shape, colour (patterns), fragrance, uniformity of blooming, leaf and stem colour, plant shape and developmental stage, and absence of pests and diseases. Postharvest performance involves improving and preserving most of these characteristics for as long as possible. The main causes for cut flower quality loss are reduced water balance or carbohydrate availability, senescence and pest and diseases. Although there is a clear role for genotype, cultivation conditions are just as important to improve vase life. The role of growth conditions has been shown to be essential; irrigation, air humidity, and light quantity and quality can be used to increase quality. For example, xylem architecture is affected by the irrigation scheme, and the relative humidity in the greenhouse affects stomatal function. Both features determine the water balance of the flowering stem. Light quality and period drives photosynthesis, which is directly responsible for accumulation of carbohydrates. The carbohydrate status is important for respiration, and many senescence related processes. High carbohydrates can lead to sugar loss into the vase water, leading to bacterial growth and potential xylem blockage. Finally, inferior hygiene during cultivation and temperature and humidity control during postharvest can lead to pathogen contamination. At the end of the review, we will discuss the future outlook focussing on new phenotyping tools necessary to quantify the complex interactions between cultivation factors and postharvest performance of cut flowers.
Microparticle-mediated CRISPR DNA delivery for genome editing in poplar
Authors: Hoengenaert Lennart , Van Doorsselaere Jan , Vanholme Ruben , Boerjan Wout
Published: November 2023

The use of CRISPR/Cas9 is currently the method of choice for precise genome engineering in plants, including in the biomass crop poplar. The most commonly used method for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 and its components in poplar is via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, that besides the desired gene-editing event also results in stable T-DNA integration. Here we explore the delivery of the gene-editing reagents via DNA-coated microparticle bombardment into the model tree Populus tremula x P. alba to evaluate its potential for developing transgene-free, gene-edited trees, as well as its potential for integrating donor DNA at specific target sites. Using an optimized transformation method, which favors the regeneration of plants that transiently express the genes on the delivered donor DNA, we regenerated gene-edited plants that are free of the Cas9 and the antibiotic resistance-encoding transgenes. In addition, we report the frequent integration of donor DNA fragments at the Cas9-induced double-strand break, opening opportunities toward targeted gene insertions.
A normative theory of luck
Authors: Liu Chengwei , Tsay Chia-Jung
Published: November 2023

Psychologists have identified heuristics and biases that can cause people to make assumptions about factors that contribute to the success of individuals and firms, whose outcomes may have actually resulted primarily from randomness. Yet the interpretation of these biases becomes ambiguous when they represent reasonable cognitive shortcuts that offer certain advantages. This paper addresses this ambiguity by presenting four versions (weak, semi-weak, semi-strong, strong) of a normative theory of luck that integrates insights from psychology with the chance model approach to predict the circumstances under which performance non-monotonicity occurs: higher performance may not only indicate greater luck, but also lower expected merit or quality. The semi-strong version is illustrated by examining the decoupling of citations of academic publications and their impact, illuminating when higher citations indicate lower quality. We conclude by discussing the broader implications of a normative theory of luck, emphasizing strategies to address situations where people mistake luck for skill.
Life history impacts on infancy and the evolution of human social cognition
Authors: Hawkes Kristen
Published: November 2023

Greater longevity, slower maturation and shorter birth intervals are life history features that distinguish humans from the other living members of our hominid family, the great apes. Theory and evidence synthesized here suggest the evolution of those features can explain both our bigger brains and our cooperative sociality. I rely on Sarah Hrdy’s hypothesis that survival challenges for ancestral infants propelled the evolution of distinctly human socioemotional appetites and Barbara Finlay and colleagues’ findings that mammalian brain size is determined by developmental duration. Similar responsiveness to varying developmental contexts in chimpanzee and human one-year-olds suggests similar infant responsiveness in our nearest common ancestor. Those ancestral infants likely began to acquire solid food while still nursing and fed themselves at weaning as chimpanzees and other great apes do now. When human ancestors colonized habitats lacking foods that infants could handle, dependents’ survival became contingent on subsidies. Competition to engage subsidizers selected for capacities and tendencies to enlist and maintain social connections during the early wiring of expanding infant brains with lifelong consequences that Hrdy labeled “emotionally modern” social cognition.
Mindfulness and technostress in the workplace: a qualitative approach
Authors: Ioannou Athina
Published: November 2023

Information Technology (IT) has been vastly characterized as a double-edged sword, offering significant benefits to individuals but at the same time bringing certain negative consequences, such as technostress. Technostress can severely affect individuals in the workplace, causing fatigue, loss of motivation, inability to concentrate, dissatisfaction at work and reduced productivity among others; thus significantly affecting individual well-being work as well as increasing costs for organisations. Recently, studies have shown the beneficial role of mindfulness in reducing technostress experiences of individuals; however, the evidence that exists until today is very limited, and mostly focused on evaluating the impact of mindfulness on technostress and its negative consequences. As the current research stands, at the moment it is relatively unknown how mindfulness affects the underlying mechanisms of technostress experiences of individuals. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 knowledge workers, the current study explores how mindfulness alleviates technostress within the workplace, by investigating the experiences of more mindful employees and learning from their practices. Findings offer a deeper insight into the relationship of mindfulness and technostress, revealing a toolkit of the underlying strategies that more mindful and IT mindful individuals deploy as well as their perceptions during technostress experiences at work thus shedding light on the path between mindfulness and technostress. The study contributes both to academia and practice, offering important implications to managers and practitioners that strive to improve employee well-being within organisations.
Iranian scientists and French showers: collaborative fact-checking of identity-salient online information
Authors: Gottlieb Eli , Baker Michael , Détienne Françoise
Published: November 2023

In this study, we investigate what leads people to fact-check online information, how they fact-check such information in practice, how fact-checking affects their judgments about the information’s credibility, and how each of the above processes is affected by the salience of the information to readers’ cultural identities. Eight pairs of adult participants were recruited from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate online in joint fact-checking of suspect Tweets. To examine their collaborative deliberations we developed a novel experimental design and analytical model. Our analyses indicate that the salience of online information to people’s cultural identities influences their decision to fact-check it, that fact-checking deliberations are often non-linear and iterative, that collaborative fact-checking leads people to revise their initial judgments about the credibility of online information, and that when online information is highly salient to people’s cultural identities, they apply different standards of credibility when fact-checking it. In conclusion, we propose that cultural identity is an important factor in the fact-checking of online information, and that joint fact-checking of online information by people from diverse cultural backgrounds may have significant potential as an educational tool to reduce people’s susceptibility to misinformation.
Piloting a mental health intervention for young adults in poverty enrolled in post-secondary education in post-conflict regions in Colombia: a study protocol
Authors: Zimmerman Annie , García Durán María Camila , Araya Ricardo , Avendano Mauricio , Hessel Philipp , Díaz Yadira , Peña Niño Omar Dario , Donetto Sara , Escobar Lux Martha , Idrobo Fabio
Published: November 2023

Background

Colombia has endured more than five decades of internal armed conflict, which led to substantial costs for human capital and mental health. There is currently little evidence about the impact of incorporating a mental health intervention within an existing public cash transfer program to address poverty, and this project aims to develop and pilot a mental health support intervention embedded within the human capital program to achieve better outcomes among beneficiaries, especially those displaced by conflict and the most socioeconomically vulnerable.

Methods

The study will consist of three phases: semi-structured one-to-one interviews, co-design and adaptations of the proposed intervention with participants and pilot of the digital intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy and transdiagnostic techniques to determine its feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and usefulness in ‘real settings’. Results will inform if the intervention improves clinical, educational and employment prospects among those who use it.

Results

Knowledge will be generated on whether the mental health intervention could potentially improve young people’s mental health and human capital in conflict-affected areas? We will evaluate of the impact of potential mental health improvements on human capital outcomes, including educational and employment outcomes.

Conclusion

Findings will help to make conclusions about the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, and it will assess its effectiveness to improve the mental health and human capital outcomes of beneficiaries. This will enable the identification of strategies to address mental health problems among socioeconomically vulnerable young people that can be adapted to different contexts in in low and middle-income countries.
Effectiveness and impact of community-based health insurance on health service utilization in northwest Ethiopia: a quasi-experimental evaluation
Authors: Fetene Samrawit Mihret , Mengistu Mezgebu Yitayal , Aschalew Andualem Yalew
Published: November 2023

Background

Addressing the health challenges of lower socioeconomic groups in Ethiopia is still a huge problem. In that regard, the government piloted the community-based health insurance (CBHI) in 2011 in a few districts and subsequently scaled up. However, the effectiveness of the program on the utilization of health services and its impact was not well explored. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CBHI toward health services’ utilization and its impact in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A quasi-experimental matched comparison group evaluation design with sequential explanatory mixed methods was employed. To evaluate the CBHI program, the effectiveness and impact dimensions from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development framework were used. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 332 households enrolled in the CBHI program; 341 comparison households who did not enroll in the program were also randomly selected. A structured interviewer-administrated questionnaire was used to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of CBHI on health service utilization. The Propensity score matching model was employed for the estimation of the effect of the CBHI program on health service utilization. Challenges for program achievement toward health service utilization were explained through qualitative data and these were then analyzed thematically.

Results

The evaluation showed 1.3 visits per capita per year of health service utilization among CBHI members. Households enrolled in CBHI increased health service utilization by 6.9 percentage points (ATT = 0.069; 95% CI: 0.034, 0.114). There was an improvement in health service utilization after the introduction of CBHI, however, there are challenges: (i) shortage of human resources, (ii) out-of-stock of drugs and medical supplies, and (iii) long waiting times for service and reimbursement claims. These issues limit the success of the program toward health service utilization.

Conclusion

The CBHI program contributed to health service utilization improvement among CBHI members. However, the utilization rate of health services among CBHI members is still less than the target stated for the program and also the WHO recommendation. Therefore, the findings of this evaluation can be used by program implementers, policy makers, and other stakeholders to overcome the identified challenges and to increase the success of the program.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute mental health admissions in Croatia
Authors: Kalanj Karolina , Ćurković Marko , Peček Mirta , Orešković Stjepan , Orbanić Ante , Marshall Rick
Published: November 2023

Background

The pandemic of COVID-19 had a profound impact on our community and healthcare system. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric care in Croatia by comparing the number of acute psychiatric cases before coronavirus disease (2017–2019) and during the pandemic (2020–2022).

Materials and methods

The paper is a retrospective, comparative analyzes of the hospital admission rate in Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) classes related to mental diseases, and organic mental disorders caused by alcohol and drug use. This study used DRG data from all acute hospitals in Croatia accredited to provide mental health care services and relevant publicly available data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). All hospital admissions for acute psychiatric patients in Croatia were tracked during both periods under study.

Results

During the pandemic, the average number of all such cases decreased by 28% in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and by 11% in specialist psychiatric hospitals. It was also found that during COVID-19, there was a decrease in case numbers in DRG classes related to major affective disorders and anxiety, alcohol, and drug intoxication (31, 48, 34 and 45%, respectively). However, the same period saw an increase in hospital activity for eating disorders and for involuntary admissions related to schizophrenia and paranoia (30, 34 and 39% respectively). There were no changes in the admission rate for cases related to opioid use.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in both a steep decrease in the overall number of psychiatric cases inpatient treatment at mental health facilities and their DRG casemix. Increasing our understanding of how pandemics and isolation affect demand for psychiatric care will help us better plan for future crises and provide more targeted care to this vulnerable group.
Ergonomic risk management process for safety and health at work
Authors: Bazaluk Oleg , Tsopa Vitaliy , Cheberiachko Serhii , Deryugin Oleg , Radchuk Dmytro , Borovytskyi Oleksandr , Lozynskyi Vasyl
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The paper aims to provide the main principles and practical aspects of the model, to present the process of identifying, determining the level, as well as assessing and managing occupational and ergonomic risks.

Methods

To conduct the research, as well as to identify the influence of various dangerous factors related to the working posture, pace, rhythm of work performance, equipment and individual characteristics of the employee’s health condition, methods of complex analysis and synthesis, formal and dialectical logic are used to study the essence of the concept of occupational and ergonomic risks. Additionally, induction and deduction methods are used to examine the cause-and-effect relationships between dangers, dangerous factors, dangerous event, and the severity of consequences to determine the level of occupational and ergonomic risks based on the improved bow-tie model. The proposed approach effectiveness is tested based on the assessment of occupational and ergonomic risks of forest workers (loggers) with the participation of five experts to identify dangerous factors and develop precautionary measures.

Results

An algorithm for managing occupational and ergonomic risks has been developed, consisting of eleven steps, which can be divided into three steps: preparatory, main and documented. It has been determined that occupational and ergonomic risk is the probability of a dangerous event occurring due to employee’s physical overload and its impact on the severity of damage to the employee’s physical health. The level of occupational and ergonomic risk management is determined taking into account the probability (frequency), intensity and duration of physical overload, as well as the employee’s adaptation index to physical overload and his/her health index.

Conclusion

The novelty is the substantiation of the principles of occupational and ergonomic risk management, which are based on the bow-tie model and predict the impact on the probability and severity of consequences of a dangerous event, taking into account dangerous factors. Forms for drawing up occupational and ergonomic risk maps have been developed, in which it is necessary to consider interaction of occupational hazards and occupational-ergonomic risk – physical overload.
Levels of handwashing and vaccine uptake in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to prevent and control COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Muchangi Josphat Martin , Mturi James , Mukasa Hajra , Kithuki Kioko , Kosgei Sarah Jebet , Kanyangi Lennah Muhoja , Mararo Rogers , Nankanja Maureen
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a massive challenge in Africa due to overwhelmed and underresourced health systems, as well as the existing burden of communicable and non- communicable diseases. Self-inoculation may occur when an individual touches their mucous membrane following direct contact between their hands and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-contaminated surfaces. Therefore, handwashing can be used along with COVID-19 vaccines to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the burden of COVID-19. We were interested in investigating the levels of handwashing and vaccine uptake to control and prevent COVID-19 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, African Index Medicus and African Journals Online for studies published since inception to 31st January 2023. We included all studies that assessed: the levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitance as indicators of vaccine uptake; and studies on the levels of handwashing to prevent and control COVID-19 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Study findings were synthesized by meta-analysis to get the pooled effect measure. Three studies were synthesized qualitatively due to high level of heterogeneity in effect measure precluding a quantitative meta-analysis.

Results

Our search identified 128 articles of which 17 studies with 18,305 participants and 622 vaccination sites were reviewed with 14 of them being meta-analyzed. This systematic review and meta-analysis reports high levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and handwashing in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania at 67% (95% CI: 55, 78) and 88% (95% CI: 73, 97), respectively. Vaccine hesitance among the participants was low at 31% (95% CI: 15, 49).

Discussion

Despite their importance in the control and prevention of COVID-19, some countries do not implement handwashing and vaccination effectively. There is a need for public health strategies to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing and the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO ID CRD42023394698.
Optimizing the solvent extraction process for high-value compounds from sweet cherry press cake treated with pulsed electric fields using response surface methodology
Authors: Rrucaj Ervehe , Carpentieri Serena , Siano Francesco , Ferrari Giovanna , Pataro Gianpiero
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Cherry juice production generates substantial cherry processing by-products, presenting a significant environmental challenge. The valorization of these by-products can not only reduce management costs but also enhance profitability by recovering valuable intracellular compounds.

Methods: This study aimed at the extraction of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant activity from sweet cherry press cake using Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF)-assisted extraction. PEF pre-treatment, carried out using a predetermined field strength (E = 3 kV/cm) and total specific energy input (WT = 10 kJ/kg), was applied to the cherry press cake prior to the subsequent solid-liquid extraction (SLE) stage. To optimize the SLE process for both untreated and PEF-treated samples, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to determine the most effective extraction parameters, including extraction temperature (20–50°C), solvent concentration (0–50% ethanol in water), solid-liquid ratio (0.05–0.2 g/mL), and diffusion time (30–360 min). The objective was to maximize key response variables: total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP). The extracts obtained from both untreated and PEF-treated samples under optimal conditions underwent HPLC-DAD analysis.

Results and discussion: The results revealed that, under optimized SLE conditions (50°C, 50% ethanol-water mixture, 0.2 g/mL solid-liquid ratio, and 360 min extraction time), PEF pre-treatment significantly enhanced the extractability of high-value compounds. This resulted in notable increases in TPC (+26%), FC (+27%), TAC (+42%), and antioxidant activity (+44%) compared to conventional SLE. Additionally, the application of PEF reduced extraction time (by 5–18 min) and solvent usage (by 2%). HPLC analysis identified cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as the predominant phenolic compound in both untreated and PEF-treated extracts, with a remarkable increase (+2.3-fold) after PEF application. These findings underscore the potential of PEF-assisted extraction as a promising approach to maximize the recovery of valuable compounds from sweet cherry press cake, contributing to food waste reduction and enhanced value generation from by-products.
From social engineering to neoliberal governance, and then what? Mapping a sustainability shift in urban planning in a medium-sized Swedish city
Authors: Sjöberg Ida
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This paper focuses on how a (assumed) entrepreneurial shift in urban planning and development has been implemented in a medium-sized city in northern Sweden, and how sustainability-as in sustainable urban development-can be argued to be a second shift in urban planning and development or represents an alternative form of neoliberal governance.

Method

To explore how and when urban entrepreneurialism and sustainability are interlinked, as well as when they are not, urban policy documents from 1988, 2007 and 2016 focusing on the development of Sundsvall city center has been examined using thematic content analysis.

Results

The result shows that the 1988 document is significantly influenced by social democratic welfare politics, with prioritizing social bonds and the Sundsvall resident being the focus, while the newer documents emphasize visitors, potential residents and architectural design to promote the flow of people, money and goods. In this sustainability is put forward as a mobilizing metaphor, and serves to conceal the potential paradoxes of the priorities of the strategy, which involve the contradictions between economic, environmental and social values.

Discussion

Consequently, it is possible to claim that sustainability, as a concept, has acquired a new function: to disguise the less palatable consequences of growth by evoking sustainability as a guarantee of the strategy's quality.
Who is Alyx? A new behavioral biometric dataset for user identification in XR
Authors: Rack Christian , Fernando Tamara , Yalcin Murat , Hotho Andreas , Latoschik Marc Erich
Published: November 2023

Introduction: This paper addresses the need for reliable user identification in Extended Reality (XR), focusing on the scarcity of public datasets in this area.

Methods: We present a new dataset collected from 71 users who played the game “Half-Life: Alyx” on an HTC Vive Pro for 45 min across two separate sessions. The dataset includes motion and eye-tracking data, along with physiological data from a subset of 31 users. Benchmark performance is established using two state-of-the-art deep learning architectures, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU).

Results: The best model achieved a mean accuracy of 95% for user identification within 2 min when trained on the first session and tested on the second.

Discussion: The dataset is freely available and serves as a resource for future research in XR user identification, thereby addressing a significant gap in the field. Its release aims to facilitate advancements in user identification methods and promote reproducibility in XR research.
How Alcohol Affects the Adolescent Mind
Authors: Seabra Sofia , Vaz Miguel , Almeida-Antunes Natália , López-Caneda Eduardo
Published: November 2023

Have you ever heard about executive functions (EFs)? These are skills that you use every single day! They allow you to achieve your goals, resist your impulses, and make wise decisions. During adolescence, your brain is still developing. In particular, the area of your brain responsible for your EFs is still maturing and becoming more efficient. This means that, as an adolescent, you are still getting better at exercising your EFs. This ongoing brain and skill development is probably one of the reasons why adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including drug abuse and binge drinking (BD). BD is a pattern of excessive alcohol use that negatively affects EFs and other aspects of brain structure and function. In this article, we describe three important EFs and explain how development of these skills is related to brain maturation. We discuss how BD may impact EFs and potentially disrupt an adolescent’s transition to adult life.
Nuclear data resources and initiatives for nuclear astrophysics
Authors: Smith Michael S.
Published: November 2023

Research into the cosmic synthesis of the elements, the evolution and explosion of stars, the nature of the early Universe, and other important topics in nuclear astrophysics are at the forefront of nuclear science. These studies are motivating laboratory measurements and theoretical calculations that, after significant investments, are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The latest nuclear results, however, must be specially prepared before they can be used to advance our knowledge of the cosmos. This processing requires a set of resources unique to nuclear astrophysics, and an impressive collection of nuclear reaction and nuclear structure datasets, processing codes, thermonuclear reaction rate libraries, and simulation codes and services have been developed for the field. There are, however, some serious challenges to these efforts that will only worsen in the future, making it important to develop strategies and act now to ensure a sustainable future for this work. After detailing the specific data types needed for nuclear astrophysics and the available data resources, the major challenges in this work and their implications are discussed. A set of initiatives are proposed to meet those challenges along with suggested implementations and possible ways that they may advance our understanding of the Universe and strengthen the field of nuclear astrophysics.
Empowering women, challenging caste? The experience of a dairy cooperative in India
Authors: Farnworth Catherine Rozel , Bharati Preeti , Galiè Alessandra
Published: November 2023

The empowerment of women in agri-food systems is essential to enhance the well-being of women and their households, reduce hunger, boost incomes and strengthen resilience. The empowerment of women in the livestock sector is key to the progress of the sector. Livestock in turn provide a unique entry point to support the empowerment of women. Yet evidence shows that in low and middle income countries (LMIC) gender discriminatory norms and practices reduce the ability of women in livestock to rear and maintain healthy and productive animals, as well as to access the markets needed to obtain income. Cooperatives are one mechanism for overcoming some of these constraints. Yet, little is known on the extent to which women’s empowerment can be supported through cooperatives in the livestock sector. In this paper we studied how membership in Mulukanoor Dairy had changed gender dynamics within households. Caste was selected as a significant cross-cutting variable that affects power dynamics in interaction with gender. The study therefore also analyzed how Mulukanoor Dairy improved caste relations between members, and whether gender relations have changed in similar ways across households belonging to different castes. We framed our study in a conceptual framework structured around six concepts of power; power with, power over, power within, power to act, power to empower, power through, and a related concept termed a gender norms façade. Focus group discussions and Key informant interviews were held with women members of Mulukanoor in caste-based groups. The findings show that gender norms are quite fluid while caste norms are less so thereby differentially affecting the ability of Mulukanoor as an organization, and women members in different castes, to achieve various forms of empowerment. Despite these differentials, Mulukanoor has radically shifted gender relations in dairy.
In-field assessment of the variability in water and nutrient use efficiency among potato farmers in a semi-arid climate
Authors: Franke A. C. , Machakaire A. T. B. , Mukiibi A. , Kayes M. J. , Swanepoel P. A. , Steyn J. M.
Published: November 2023

Precise water management is imperative for sustainable crop production under irrigation in semi-arid regions with increasingly variable rainfall. Water use efficiencies achieved by farmers often differ widely, even within regions with homogenous agro-ecological conditions. To better understand the drivers of this variability and derive management recommendations, detailed measurements of water and associated nutrient dynamics were conducted on 20 potato farms in two regions of South Africa. Crop characteristics and typical growing conditions in South Africa make potato cultivation sensitive to water and nutrient losses. Water and nutrient inputs and losses through drainage and plant uptake were measured in potato and the follow-up crop, along with yield and weather variables. Seasonal mean irrigation and evapotranspiration were lower in winter crops (240 mm irrigation, 236 mm evapotranspiration) than in summer crops (598 mm irrigation, 608 mm evapotranspiration). Seasonal field water balances were often close to zero, indicating that estimations of evapotranspiration and drainage were representative for the greater field. Lysimeter observations however appeared more representative in sandy unstructured soils than in heavier structured soils. Rainfall during cropping reduced demand for irrigation and increased water use efficiency based on irrigation water, but caused substantial drainage. Leaching of N and K was considerable (on average 30 kg N, 55 kg K ha−1, much higher in some fields), while P leaching was negligible, with the exception of one field (51 kg P ha−1). Variation in water and nutrients use efficiencies was the result of management decisions and environmental factors, such as rainfall and soil type. Without substantial rainfall, application of irrigation scheduling tools can keep drainage and nutrient losses to a minimum, as was observed on almost half the fields, even on sandy soils with a low water holding capacity. Potato yields greatly varied among farmers (9.1–24.7 t dry matter tuber ha−1). Efficient farmers included those who used water sparsely and had minimal drainage, but also farmers who used inputs judiciously and obtained excellent productivity. The role of follow-up crops as users of surplus nutrients and water left behind by the potato crop was not always evident.
Comparing the contribution of formal and local seed systems to household seed security in eastern Zimbabwe
Authors: Ncube Bulisani L. , Wynberg Rachel , McGuire Shawn
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Interventions aimed at improving the seed security of smallholder farmers do not always yield positive results. Governments, donors, and other actors have neglected local seed systems as they are assumed to be incapable of addressing farmers’ seed challenges. Instead, external actors use seed aid and formal seed provisioning outlets, such as agro-input dealers, to channel seed to farmers. This paper compares the “formal” seed systems, mainly comprising certified seed obtained from government and non-governmental organisations and agro-input dealers, with local seed systems that include farm-saved seed, local informal markets, and social networks.

Methods

A seed security assessment was used to determine the contributions of seed systems to household-level seed security. A stratified sample was conducted of 227 randomly selected smallholder farming households from the Chimanimani district, eastern Zimbabwe, complemented by group discussions and individual life histories.

Results

We show the superiority of local seed systems in ensuring greater access to affordable and timely seed at household level, in comparison to formal sources. Cluster analysis enabled determination of the seed security status of farming households, providing a more granular analysis beyond the standard seed security assessments that are applied to wider geographical locations. Farmers assessed the quality of locally sourced seed favourably when compared to seed obtained from formal sources.

Discussion

We show that local seed systems play a critical role in contributing to household seed security for resource-constrained households, and in supporting the use of diverse crop species. However, such systems have not been fully drawn upon by government and development agencies in seed security endeavours. More efforts are needed to understand how different seed systems interact in contributing to the seed security of smallholder farming households.
Growing resilient futures: agroforestry as a pathway towards climate resilient development for smallholder farmers
Authors: Taillandier Chloé , Cörvers Ron , Stringer Lindsay C.
Published: November 2023

Climate change is increasing pressure on communities that are already experiencing high levels of vulnerability and poverty, threatening their subsistence. Among the most vulnerable are smallholder farmers in the Global South, who rely on their yields for food and income. Smallholders need to adapt to changes in rainfall, temperature, and weather patterns and their knock-on effects, and at the same time, ensure that their on-farm climate adaptations do not make climate change worse by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasises the need for Climate Resilient Development Pathways (CRDPs) to support vulnerable communities, including smallholder farmers, in balancing climate adaptation, mitigation and development. CRDPs comprise reactive and/or preventive actions that key stakeholders (e.g., government, business, civil society and individuals, including smallholder farmers) can take to become more resilient in the context of a changing climate while not compromising their development or increasing emissions. The CRDP framework has so far remained conceptual, providing little information on how to actually create these pathways in practice. This paper addresses this gap, and with a focus on agroforestry projects and smallholders in the Global South, assesses how CRDPs can become more concrete and actionable through a focus on agroforestry: the voluntary combination of crop and/or pasture with trees and/or shrubs, considering its contribution to climate adaptation, mitigation and development. We draw on literature review and focus group data, analysed using Atlas.ti 23 and a coding process to present a tool relevant to project designers, policymakers and researchers to assess agroforestry projects according to different aspects of climate resilient development, with particular focus on smallholder farmers in the Global South. Evaluation of the tool found it is relevant and useful for project developers and funders to check that their projects follow the components of CRD, but the tool needs to be translated to the local context to better address local demands and reflect regional specificities, which focus group participants deemed possible.
Chronic postoperative pain after non-intubated uniportal VATS lobectomy
Authors: Farkas Attila , Csókási Tímea , Fabó Csongor , Szabó Zsolt , Lantos Judit , Pécsy Balázs , Lázár György , Rárosi Ferenc , Kecskés László , Furák József
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are at increased risk of developing, long-lasting pain. Beyond the non-surgical factors, the type of operation, including the number of incisions, and the anesthetic assessment seemed to be important factors, although some studies are controversial. The aim of our study was to examine the presence of chronic postoperative pain after non-intubated uniportal VATS lobectomy. We examined the difference between the intubated, relaxed and non-intubated spontaneous ventilation surgical approaches in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) uniportal lobectomy.

Methods

Demographic and postoperative data were retrospectively collected and analyzed, focusing on the use of pain medications, in 67 patients of the 140 patients selected by propensity score matching who underwent intubated (iVATS) or non-intubated (NITS) uniportal VATS lobectomy. This study focused on the use of analgesic medications 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Results

Thirty-five intubated and 32 non-intubated patients were compared. Although the analgesic consumption was nearly 2% higher among the iVATS patients during the follow-up period, there were no statistically significant differences at 3 months (15.6 vs. 17.1%) (p = 0.868), at 6 months (9.4 vs. 12.4%) (p = 0.785), and at 12 months (3.3 vs. 5.9%) (p = 0.633) between the NITS and iVATS groups, respectively. More female than male patients reported chronic pain, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.616). Diabetes mellitus was a statistically significant cofactor associated with chronic pain (p = 0.03), while cardiac disease (p = 0.6), perioperative morbidity (p = 0.228), prolonged air leak (p = 0.057), and repeat drainage (p = 0.626) were not.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that after non-intubation VATS lobectomies, the postoperative pain was less at 3, 6, and 12 months in NITS patients compared to iVATS patients. The 2% difference was not significant, so it may not be appropriate to claim the advantages of NITS in terms of postoperative pain.
Hunger, Food Sovereignty and COVID-19 Pandemic: Food Risks During Lockdown
Authors: Chavarro Mónica Juliana , Mosquera-Becerra Janeth
Published: November 2023

Objective: This article focuses on describing the food scenario of families in Cali (Colombia), where almost half of the city’s population could not guarantee their access to adequate feeding during COVID-19 crisis.

Methods: Involved 1. Analyze laws to understand their relationship with access to food in Cali during lockdown; and 2. Identify changes in the eating practices of families from different socioeconomic levels and the strategies used by the city’s public institutions during lockdown.

Results: Feeding was not considered from the beginning of the lockdown, which generated a food crisis. Institutional responses were insufficient in quality and coverage, since feeding aid focused on calories and logistic aspects. The solutions implemented by households were guided by collective action and social organization around the community pots.

Conclusion: The contrast between food security strategies (focused on availability and access) and food sovereignty (with an emphasis on the collective) shows the need for structural transformations in food policies and in the collective imagination that allow for designing new food models focused on community wellbeing and not on economic growth to future emergencies.
Traditional Chinese medicine for treating aplastic anemia
Authors: Guan Jing , Zhao YiHui , Wang Ting , Fu Rong
Published: November 2023

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure disease caused by T cell hyperfunction. Although the overall response rate has been improved by immunosuppressive therapy (IST) plus Eltrombopag, 30% of patients have either no response or relapse. We therefore attempted to find other ways to improve the outcomes of AA patients. Traditional Chinese medicine has the advantages of low cost, reasonable effects, and few side effects. More and more clinical studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine has a beneficial role in treating AA patients. This article reviews the potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine or its active ingredients in the treatment of AA. These include improving the bone marrow microenvironment, regulating immunity, and affecting the fate of hematopoietic stem cells. This provides useful information for further treatment of AA with integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the development of new treatment strategies.