bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
F‐words e ingredientes de las intervenciones tempranas dirigidas a niños no ambulantes con parálisis cerebral: Una revisión exploratoria
Authors: de Campos Ana Carolina , Hidalgo‐Robles Álvaro , Longo Egmar , Shrader Claire , Paleg Ginny
Published: July 2023

Objetivos

Explorar los ingredientes de las intervenciones tempranas realizadas a niños pequeños con parálisis cerebral (PC) clasificados en el Sistema de Clasificación de la Función Motora Gruesa (GMFCS) niveles IV y V, e identificar las ‘F‐words’ abordadas por las intervenciones.

Método

Se realizaron búsquedas en cuatro bases de datos electrónicas. Los criterios de inclusión fueron estudios experimentales originales que cumplieran los siguientes componentes PCC: población: niños pequeños (edades 0–5 años, al menos el 30% de la muestra) con PC y alteraciones motoras significativas (niveles GMFCS IV o V, al menos 30% de la muestra); concepto: servicios de intervención temprana no quirúrgicos y no farmacológicos que midieran resultados de cualquier dominio de la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, Discapacidad y Salud; y contexto: estudios publicados de 2001 a 2021, en todos los entornos y sin limitaciones geográficas específicas.

Resultados

Ochenta y siete artículos fueron incluidos en la revisión, con diseños cualitativos (n = 3), de métodos mixtos (n = 4), cuantitativos descriptivos (n = 22), cuantitativos no aleatorizados (n = 39), y cuantitativos aleatorizados (n = 19). Los ingredientes de estado físico (n = 59), familia (n = 46) y funcionamiento (n = 33) fueron abordados por la mayoría de los estudios experimentales, mientras que los estudios sobre diversión (n = 6), amigos (n = 5) y futuro (n = 14) fueron escasos. Otros factores (n = 55) relacionados con el entorno, por ejemplo, la prestación de servicios, formación profesional, dosis de terapia y modificaciones del entorno, fueron también relevantes.

Interpretación

Muchos estudios respaldaron positivamente el entrenamiento formal de los padres y el uso de tecnología de apoyo para promover varias F‐words. Se proporcionó un menú de ingredientes de intervención, con sugerencias para investigaciones futuras, para incorporarlo en un contexto real dentro de la familia y la práctica clínica.

Qué aporta este artículo

La atención centrada en la familia (incluyendo coaching e intervenciones realizadas por los cuidadores) y el entrenamiento formal de los padres son estrategias efectivas para los niños con niveles IV y V de la GMFCS.

Los ingredientes de la tecnología de apoyo pueden promover varias “F‐words” (funcionamiento, estado físico, familia, diversión, amigos y futuro).

Se encontró el nivel más bajo de evidencia para diversión, amigos y futuro.

Otros factores (provisión de servicios, formación profesional, dosis de terapia, modificaciones del entorno) son relevantes para los niños pequeños con niveles IV y V de la GMFCS.
F‐words e ingredientes das intervenções precoces para crianças com paralisia cerebral não deambuladoras: uma revisão de escopo
Authors: De Campos Ana Carolina , Hidalgo‐Robles Álvaro , Longo Egmar , Shrader Claire , Paleg Ginny
Published: July 2023

Objetivos

Explorar os ingredientes das intervenções precoces fornecidas a crianças pequenas com paralisia cerebral (PC) classificadas nos níveis IV e V do Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa (GMFCS) e identificar as F‐words abordadas pelas intervenções.

Método

As buscas foram concluídas em quatro bases de dados eletrônicas. Os critérios de inclusão foram os estudos experimentais originais que se encaixavam nos seguintes componentes do PCC: População: crianças pequenas (de 0 a 5 anos, pelo menos 30% da amostra) com PC e comprometimento motor significativo (GMFCS níveis IV ou V, pelo menos 30% da amostra); Conceito: serviços de intervenção precoce não cirúrgicos e não farmacológicos que medem os resultados de qualquer um dos domínios da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde; e Contexto: estudos publicados de 2001 a 2021, de todos os cenários e não limitados a nenhuma localização geográfica específica.

Resultados

Oitenta e sete artigos foram incluídos para revisão, com desenhos qualitativos (n = 3), mistos (n = 4), descritivos quantitativos (n = 22), quantitativos não randomizados (n = 39) e randomizados quantitativos (n = 19). Ingredientes de saúde (n = 59), família (n = 46) e funcionalidade (n = 33) foram abordados pela maioria dos estudos experimentais, enquanto estudos sobre diversão (n = 6), amigos (n = 5) e futuro (n = 5) =14) foram escassos. Vários outros fatores (n = 55) relacionados ao ambiente, por exemplo, prestação de serviços, treinamento profissional, dose terapêutica e modificações ambientais, também foram relevantes.

Interpretação

Muitos estudos apoiaram positivamente o treinamento formal dos pais e o uso de tecnologia assistiva para promover várias das F‐words. Foi fornecido um menu de ingredientes de intervenção, com sugestões para que pesquisas futuras as incorporem em um contexto real na família e na prática clínica.

O que este artigo acrescenta:

Cuidados centrados na família (incluindo coaching e intervenções fornecidas pelo cuidador) e treinamento parental formal são estratégias eficazes para crianças nos níveis IV e V do GMFCS.

Os ingredientes de tecnologia assistiva podem promover várias F‐words (funcionalidade, saúde, família, diversão, amigos e futuro).

O menor nível de evidência foi encontrado para diversão, amigos e futuro.

Outros fatores (prestação de serviços, treinamento profissional, dose de terapia, modificações ambientais) são relevantes para crianças pequenas nos níveis IV e V do GMFCS.
Iatrogenic cerebral amyloid angiopathy: An illustrative case of a newly introduced disease
Authors: Storti Benedetta , Canavero Isabella , Gabriel Maria Magdalena , Capozza Antonella , Rifino Nicola , Stanziano Mario , Tagliabue Luca , Bersano Anna
Published: July 2023

Background and purpose

Iatrogenic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (iCAA) is a specific type of cerebral amyloid angiopathy which is becoming increasingly diagnosed. It has been hypothesized that iCAA might arise as a late consequence of past neurosurgical interventions involving dural patch grafts. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans with amyloid tracers and the assay of beta‐amyloid levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are auxiliary criteria, however, definite diagnosis remains histopathologically determined.

Methods

Case report.

Results

We present a 48‐year‐old patient who suffered multiple lobar cerebral haemorrhages from the age of 47. The patient had undergone surgery for remolval of hemangioblastoma with lyophilized dural graft at the age of 11, in 1987. Brain MRI, amiloid PET and CSF analysis led to a diagnosis of probable iCAA.

Conclusion

It is necessary to increase the awareness of iCAA, in order to avoid overlooking the potential causal involvement of surgical procedures which took place far back in time. Moreover, the diagnostic relevance of amyloid PET and beta‐amyloid levels in CSF must be emphasised.
Multiple large shareholders, blockholder trading and stock price crash risk
Authors: Ji Jiao , Sun Hanwen , Xu Haofeng
Published: July 2023

We show that in a setting with a strong concern for controlling shareholder entrenchment, firms with multiple large shareholders (MLS) are more likely to experience stock price crashes. As a result, when anticipating future revelations of bad news concerning corporate misconduct on information disclosure, large shareholders can exploit their information advantage and initiate their sales ex ante as far as eight quarters ahead. The positive association between MLS and crashes is more pronounced in the presence of noncontrolling shareholders' sales. Also, the positive predictive power of MLS on crash risk is more potent in firms with weak internal or external governance.
Nature‐inspired artificial bee colony‐based hyperparameter optimization of CNN for anomaly detection in induction motor
Authors: Choudhary Anurag , Mian Tauheed , Fatima Shahab , Panigrahi B. K.
Published: July 2023

The Induction Motor (IM) is one of the most frequently used prime movers in most industrial and transportation systems. The motor's stable and safe operation directly influences the secure and reliable operation of such prime movers. Developing an intelligent fault diagnosis system for such motors is very significant. This paper presents an intelligent fault diagnosis method based on the improved functionality of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) through its hyperparameter optimization using a nature‐inspired Artificial Bee Colony Optimization (ABCO) algorithm. The proposed diagnostic method introduces and analyses various possible mechanical and electrical faults in the IM. The validation of the proposed method is presented with three different modalities, including vibration, acoustic, and infrared thermography, with their comparative performance analysis. Vibration and acoustic‐based detection are done with time‐frequency scalograms using Constant Q Transform (CQT), which provides enhanced time resolution for lower and higher frequencies. The obtained result indicates that the infrared thermography‐based anomaly detection outperforms the vibration and acoustic‐based diagnosis with 100% classification accuracy. The results signify the potential to diagnose different mechanical and electrical faults in IM with substantial reliability and robustness.
Re‐imagining the precautionary approach to make collaborative fisheries management inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Authors: Frid Alejandro , Wilson Kyle L. , Walkus Jennifer , Forrest Robyn E. , Reid Mike
Published: July 2023

Fisheries science uses quantitative methods to inform management decisions that reflect cultural preferences which, in turn, indirectly influence the states of ecosystems. To date, it has largely supported Eurocentric preferences for the commodification of marine organisms under the tenets of maximum sustainable yield, whereby abundances are intentionally maintained far below their historical baselines despite broader socio‐ecological trade‐offs. In contrast, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) adhere to the principle of “take only what you need and leave lots for the ecosystem,” implementing lower fishery removals to support socio‐ecological resilience. Despite the power imbalance favouring Eurocentric preferences in decision‐making, fisheries scientists increasingly recognize that the pairing of IKS and Western science, or Two‐Eyed Seeing, would lead to more holistic management goals. For recognition to transcend tokenism, meaningful collaborations and co‐governance structures underlying knowledge co‐production must carry through to legislated policy changes. Using recent co‐governance developments for fisheries management and spatial protections involving federal, provincial and Indigenous governments in Pacific Canada, we illustrate how the precautionary approach, including reference points and harvest control rules broadly applied in international fisheries, could be revised to make collaborative fisheries management compatible with IKS and improve biodiversity and fisheries protections. Our recommendations may create socio‐economic trade‐offs at different timescales for commercial fishers. Pre‐empting that challenge, we discuss IKS‐compatible economic approaches for addressing shorter term costs arising from reduced exploitation rates. Although our case study derives from Pacific Canada, the insights provided here are broadly applicable elsewhere in the world.
The low cycle fatigue property, damage mechanism, and life prediction of additively manufactured Inconel 625: Influence of temperature
Authors: Liu Meng , Cai Yifang , Wang Quanyi , Jiang Yunqing , Zou Tongfei , Wang Yunru , Li Qingsong , Pei Yubing , Zhang Hong , Liu Yongjie , Wang Qingyuan
Published: July 2023

Symmetrical high‐temperature low‐cycle fatigue tests were performed in this study to examine the influence of temperature on the fatigue failure mechanism of the additively manufactured Inconel 625. According to the fracture analysis, cracks initiate from the crystallographic plane at room temperature. At 600°C, oxidation of carbides leads to crack initiation. The strengthening effect of γ″ precipitation prevents crack propagating within the matrix. At 750°C, the crack becomes transgranular propagating, as a consequence of γ″‐δ transformation. Geometrically necessary dislocations distribution on the fracture supports this result. Furthermore, a modified life prediction formula considering effect of temperature and strain amplitude was established. It was observed that the modified model predicted the fatigue life of the studied materials well in both test conditions.
New species, new story: The impact of invasive non‐host predators on host‐trematode interactions
Authors: Stanicka Anna , Soldánová Miroslava , Migdalski Łukasz , Szopieray Katarzyna , Lesiak Kinga , Cichy Anna , Żbikowska Elżbieta , Jermacz Łukasz
Published: July 2023

Predation is considered one of the key drivers shaping the relationships between animals. There is increasing evidence that non‐host aquatic taxa use free‐living parasite stages as prey, including motile cercariae of digenean trematodes. However, species‐specific predator differences in cercarial consumption are poorly understood, especially when invasive consumers are involved.

We used experimental approaches to investigate the possible predator‐induced reduction in trematode‐host encounters in freshwater benthic communities. Four gammarid species, two native European (Gammarus jazdzewskii and G. pulex) and two invasive Ponto‐Caspian (Dikerogammarus villosus and Pontogammarus robustoides), were selected as predators of echinostomatid cercariae (Echinoparyphium aconiatum).

We hypothesised that (i) all predators will prey on cercariae, but the amount of prey consumed will vary, the invaders will be more voracious than native species, and (ii) the effect of predator‐induced dilution of cercariae will depend on the environmental condition, i.e., the presence of the natural target host (the planorbid snail Planorbarius corneus) and alternative food resource; the exposure of predators to these two basic environmental factors will reduce their consumption rates of cercariae.

The extent of the dilution effect caused by gammarids was highly predator species‐dependent and also varied depending on experimental conditions. Overall, all gammarids preyed on cercariae and reduced infection levels in the target snail host, but the invaders were more efficient than the native species. Furthermore, decreased consumption rates of cercarial prey were observed in the presence of both the target snail hosts and alternative food resources, except for invasive P. robustoides consuming more cercariae when a snail host was present.

The observed differences among predators in the consumption of cercariae may be a result of complex interaction traits of parasites, predators and target hosts, such as different predatory behaviour of invasive and native amphipods, change in parasite behaviour in response to the presence/chemical signals of the target host and a predator‐induced “ecology of fear” interfering with the dilution effect of parasites.

We provided evidence that gammarids can cause a significant reduction in parasite‐host encounters. The high consumption rates, especially in the presence of easily available alternative food resources, emphasise the importance of free‐living cercariae as an energy resource in aquatic food webs. The observed predator differences in the consumption of cercariae are further evidence of the higher competitive ability of invasive species. Simultaneously, our results indicate that the appearance of new predators in the environment may interfere with established host‐parasite interactions.
Impact of postmenopausal osteoporosis on the lives of Omani women and the use of cultural and religious practises to relieve pain: A hermeneutic phenomenological study
Authors: Zadjali Faiza Al , Brooks Jane , O'Neill Terence W. , Stanmore Emma
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a significant clinical and public health concern worldwide. Despite the impact of this condition on women's lives, most studies have focused on its clinical manifestations, drug efficacy, and medical treatment. Furthermore, most studies have been conducted in the West. This study aimed to uncover the personal experiences of postmenopausal Omani women living with osteoporosis.

Methods

In this interpretive phenomenological study, a purposive sample of 15 postmenopausal Omani women with osteoporosis was recruited from primary and secondary care facilities in Muscat, Oman. Semi‐structured one‐to‐one interviews were conducted via Zoom and telephone because of coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions. The interviews were audio‐recorded, and the Ajjawi and Higgs framework was used to analyse the data thematically.

Results

The following key themes were constructed from the interviews: the impact of osteoporosis on religious practices, cultural and social life, and financial status, and the benefits derived from religious and cultural practices and rituals, including Muslim prayer, recitation of Quranic verses, and herbal remedies to cope with osteoporosis‐related pain and suffering.

Conclusion

Osteoporosis and fragility fractures have a significant impact on the religious, cultural, and financial lives of postmenopausal Omani women with osteoporosis. Muslim prayers, recitation of Quranic verses, and herbal remedies are coping strategies for pain in this population.

Patient or Public Contribution

Postmenopausal Omani women with osteoporosis participated in this study through interviews and contributed their lived experiences. Orthopaedic doctors helped recruit patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Development of a sustainable consumption measurement scale
Authors: Hamza Kavita Miadaira , de Melo Pereira Lhamas Fernando Antonio , Parackal Mathew
Published: July 2023

Sustainable consumption has been recognized since the 1990s; however, advances in the studies have been modest and have not yielded significant breakthroughs. The urgent need to adopt sustainable consumption has been emphasized by consumers, practitioners, and researchers, but despite efforts by social and government agencies, progress in relation to adoption remains insufficient. The multivariate nature of sustainable consumption is one reason for this insufficient progress. Previously developed literature‐based instruments have been univariate or limited in their dimensions and inadequate for measuring the phenomena they purport to measure. Hence, in this study, we develop a measurement scale to address this gap. The scale encompasses dimensions relevant to contemporary society and is informed by prior research and primary data. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews with sustainability specialists, a nominal group technique with engaged consumers, a survey of 255 students, and a survey of 808 consumers from diverse regions of Brazil, all resulting in a heterogeneous sample. The final data analysis included an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis, which resulted in a final model that comprised eight dimensions: activism, personal sacrifice, communitarianism, environmental concern, healthy food, perceived consumer effectiveness, search for information, and social concern. Of these dimensions, personal sacrifice, environmental concern, and social concern are the archetypes of the present generation. The variables of these dimensions have not been accounted for in previous scales, making our new scale more comprehensive and contributing to a better understanding of sustainable consumption. This new comprehensive scale will aid future studies in sustainable consumption, contributing to a better understanding of this construct. We expect that this scale will help improve the monitoring of the progress made in sustainable behavior and the assessment of management practices of sustainable consumption. Future studies should be carried out to validate the dimensions in different cultural contexts.
Topic tones of analyst reports and stock returns: A deep learning approach
Authors: Iwasaki Hitoshi , Chen Ying , Tu Jun
Published: July 2023

We present a novel approach that analyzes topics and tones of analyst reports using a deep neural network in a supervised learning approach. By letting trained classifiers evaluate topics and tones of the reports, we find that incorporation of topic tones significantly enhances the accuracy of predicting cumulative abnormal returns, increasing adjusted from 6.1% without considering textual information to 17.9% with detailed topic tones. This improvement is primarily driven by the inclusion of opinion and corporate fact type of topics. Our findings highlight importance of topic assessment to make the most use of analyst reports for informed investment decisions.
A tripartite evolutionary game model of ginger transaction under the “regulation + target price insurance ” policy
Authors: Huang Jianhua , Liu Ruihan , Zhang Tingting
Published: July 2023

This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model of government, dealers, and ginger farmers under asymmetric price transmission and explores the impact of the target price insurance on the stabilization strategy of the tripartite evolutionary game. It is also demonstrated that farmers’ interests can be effectively protected under long‐term government regulation and issuance of reasonable insurance subsidy coefficients. Finally, the model is assigned according to the actual data to systematically reveal the factors affecting the decision of each actor. The research shows that: long‐term government regulation is necessary to effectively curb speculation, while the implementation of target price insurance can improve farmers’ trading position; the probability of government regulation and implementation is not only related to the cost and social benefits but also influenced by ginger trading volume, while the probability of ginger dealers choosing to hoard speculation increases with the increase of ginger trading volume.
Thermodynamics of surface and oxygen vacancy in rare earth stannates by first‐principles calculations
Authors: Zhao Juanli , Ching Wai‐Yim , Li Jiancheng , Fan Yun , Li Yiran , Li Wenxian , Liu Bin
Published: July 2023

The research of nanocrystalline pyrochlores highlights the importance of the surface structure, composition and segregated point defect in their thermal, electrical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic performances. In order to provide a basic view on the surface‐related phenomena, thermodynamic stabilities of three low‐index (100), (110), and (111) surfaces for A2Sn2O7 (A = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, or Gd), together with their configurations, electronic structures and related oxygen vacancies are investigated using first‐principles calculations. The (111) surfaces with A3SnO8 and ASn3O6 terminations are predicted to be stable due to their low surface energies. Meanwhile, the (110) surfaces with A2Sn2O8 and A2Sn2O6 terminations are found to may also form. For these surface structures, the amount of broken bonds play the main role in their structural stability, and the local coordination environment variation also has minor contribution to it. Moreover, oxygen vacancies are observed to segregate on the surface layer, owing to lower energy of breaking bonds accompanying with oxygen vacancy formation and the larger relaxation space comparing to the counterpart in bulk. These results are expected to provide guidance on optimizing the performances of these compounds through surface engineering.
Direct current cardioversion practices following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure
Authors: Bhuta Sapan , Shaaban Adnan , Binda Nkongho C. , Antaki James , Augostini Ralph S. , Kalbfleisch Steven J. , Savona Salvatore J. , Okabe Toshimasa , Houmsse Mahmoud , Afzal Muhammad R. , Daoud Emile G. , Hummel John D.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Among patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) undergoing direct current cardioversion (DCCV), the need for and use of LAA imaging and oral anticoagulation (OAC) is unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the real‐world use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) before DCCV and use of OAC pre‐ and post‐DCCV in patients with AF status post percutaneous LAAC.

Methods

This retrospective single center study included all patients who underwent DCCV after percutaneous LAAC from 2016 to 2022. Key measures were completion of TEE or CCTA pre‐DCCV, OAC use pre‐ and post‐DCCV, incidence of left atrial thrombus (LAT) or device‐related thrombus (DRT), incidence of peri‐device leak (PDL), and DCCV‐related complications (stroke, systemic embolism, device embolization, major bleeding, or death) within 30 days.

Results

A total of 76 patients with AF and LAAC underwent 122 cases of DCCV. LAAC consisted of 47 (62%), 28 (37%), and 1 (1%) case of Watchman 2.5, Watchman FLX, and Lariat, respectively. Among the 122 DCCV cases, 31 (25%) cases were identified as “non‐guideline based” due to: (1) no OAC for 3 weeks and no LAA imaging within 48 h before DCCV in 12 (10%) cases, (2) no OAC for 4 weeks following DCCV in 16 (13%) cases, or (3) both in 3 (2%) cases. Among the 70 (57%) cases that underwent TEE or CCTA before DCCV, 16 (23%) cases had a PDL with a mean size of 3.0 ± 1.1 mm, and 4 (6%) cases had a LAT/DRT on TEE resulting in cancellation. There were no DCCV‐related complications within 30 days.

Discussion

There is a widely varied practice pattern of TEE, CCTA, and OAC use with DCCV after LAAC, with a 6% rate of LAT/DRT. LAA imaging before DCCV appears prudent in all cases, especially within 1 year of LAAC, to assess for device position, PDL, and LAT/DRT.
Optimization of superior vena cava isolation with aid of ablation index guidance
Authors: Liu Jun , Guan Wenchi , Guo Jinrui , Li Xiaofeng , Xia Yu , Niu Guodong , Yao Yan
Published: July 2023

Introduction

To investigate the optimal range of quantitative ablation index (AI) value during superior vena cava (SVC) electrical isolation by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods

First, in a development cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the RFCA with 40 W was performed to complete SVC isolation guided by the conduction breakthrough point from the right atrium to SVC. Then, the range of AI value was calculated by offline analysis on different segments of SVC. Lastly, for the validation of AF patients, the safety and effectiveness of SVC isolation with the optimized target range of AI value were evaluated with an additional adenosine test.

Results

A total of 101 patients with AF were included in the study (44 patients in the development cohort/57 in the validation cohort). The segmental ablation strategy was applied in 70% of the patients. According to the offline analysis of the AI values in the development cohort, the target AI value range was set as 350–400. The success rate of SVC isolation in the validation cohort was significantly higher than that in the exploration cohort (100% vs. 90.9%, p = .02), and no complications occurred in the exploration cohort. During the adenosine test, the recovery rate of electrical conduction in SVC was significantly lower than that in the pulmonary vein (3.5% vs. 17.5%).

Conclusion

The target AI value with a range from 350 to 400 is safe and effective for high‐power RFCA to complete SVC isolation.
Data‐driven decisions about individual patients: The case of medical AI
Authors: Holm Sune
Published: July 2023

There are high hopes that clinical decisions can be improved by adopting algorithms trained to estimate the likelihood that a patient suffers a condition C. Introducing work on the epistemic value of purely statistical evidence in legal epistemology I show that a certain type of AI devices for making medical decisions about persons rely on purely statistical evidence and that it raises an important question about the appropriateness of relying on such devices for allocating health resources. If the argument I present is sound, then it suggests a radical rethinking of the use of prevalent types of AI devices as well as the use of statistical evidence in medical practice more generally.
Feeding of mussel‐associated leeches Hemiclepsis kasmiana on bitterling embryos: Novel interaction between parasites in a shared host
Authors: Nishino Daiki , Nishida Takayoshi , Yoshiyama Kohei
Published: July 2023

We investigated an interaction between bitterlings and a parasitic leech Hemiclepsis kasmiana in freshwater mussel hosts. We found that leeches fed on bitterling eggs and embryos; this may exert a considerable negative effect on bitterling fitness. Host choices by females of three bitterling species may be differently affected by the presence of leeches within mussels; Tanakia limbata apparently avoided laying eggs in infested mussels while T. lanceolata and Acheilognathus rhombeus did not. Our novel findings suggest that relationships between the parasitic leech and the host mussel may be context dependent.
Crack identification of Yunnan walnuts based on acoustic vibration and feature fusion
Authors: Zhang Hao , Li Lixia , Tian Liquan , Zhang Fujie , Shi Lei , Wu Wenqiang , Zhan Zicheng
Published: July 2023

Cracks in walnuts during processing and storage can adversely affect their quality and cause economic losses. To achieve efficient identification of cracked walnuts, this study proposed a method of walnut crack identification based on acoustic vibration and feature fusion. First, the sound signals of intact and cracked walnuts were collected using an acoustic signal acquisition system, and 44 time‐domain features, 13 frequency‐domain features, and 768 Mel spectrogram features (the number of pixel frequencies corresponding to the gray‐scale values of R, G, and B channels) of the sound signals were extracted. Then, the classification models of support vector machines (SVM), least squares support vector machines (LSSVM), and extreme learning machines (ELM) were established based on single class features data and fusion of different feature groups data respectively. The results indicated that the LSSVM model with the fusion of the three feature sets was optimal, with an accuracy of 85% in the testing set. Next, three feature selection methods were employed to reduce the dimensionality of the best fused feature data. Subsequently, the LSSVM classification model was established based on the feature selection data. Finally, arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and gray wolf optimization (GWO) were introduced to optimize the parameters c and of the classification model. The results indicated that the best classification model was VISSA‐IRIV‐GWO‐LSSVM, with 95% accuracy in the testing set. This study provides theoretical support for the research and development of online detection equipment for walnut crack in Yunnan Yangbi.

Practical applications

Cracks in walnut during harvesting, transportation and peeling may lead to economic losses and food safety problems. Aiming at the difficulty and low accuracy of crack identification in Yunnan walnut, this paper proposed a method for crack detection based on acoustic vibration identification combine with feature fusion. The features of time domain, frequency domain and Mel spectrogram were extracted from the effective sound signal, and the features were fused. The influence of three feature selection methods, three models and three optimization algorithms on walnut sound signal recognition was analyzed and compared. The results indicated that the best classification model was VISSA‐IRIV‐GWO‐LSSVM, and the method proposed in this study provides theoretical support for the research and development of online detection equipment for walnut crack in Yunnan Yangbi.
Ontogeny reveals the origin of Gemminger bones in Mormyridae
Authors: Koch Ann‐Katrin , Kirschbaum Frank , Moritz Timo
Published: July 2023

Mormyridae are well known and intensively studied for their weak electric organ discharges, which facilitate communication and orientation. The Gemminger bones of Mormyridae are located next to the electrical organ in the caudal peduncle; however, they have not attracted much interest until recently. Therefore, we investigated the diversity of Gemminger bones in mormyrids and studied their ontogenetic development in Mormyrus rume proboscirostris. Gemminger bones are paired, thin, elongated ossifications lying on the dorsal and ventral sides of the caudal peduncle, and usually reach anterior well below the dorsal and anal fin bases. Ontogeny revealed that they are not intermuscular ossifications, as suspected based on the anatomical position of this structure and the systematic position of the mormyrids. Instead, they are membrane ossifications that originate from the fin stays of the dorsal and anal fins.
Efficacy, mechanism, and safety of melatonin‐loaded on thermosensitive nanogels for rabbit VX2 tumor embolization: A novel design
Authors: Chen Lei , Sun Tao , Lv Yongning , Lu Xin , Li Xixuan , Zhang Hongsen , Qian Kun , Guo Xiaopeng , Sun Bo , Zhang Weihua , Zhu Licheng , Huang Jia , Liu Yiming , Zhao Huangxuan , Zhao Yanbin , Liang Bin , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: July 2023

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma. Reducing hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment after TACE remains a challenge as tumor progression is common in post‐TACE patients due to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In this study, melatonin loaded on p(N‐isopropyl‐acrylamide‐co‐butyl methylacrylate) (PIB‐M) was used for tumor embolism. Two types of human hepatoma cell lines were used to explore the mechanism by which melatonin prevents the growth and metastasis of cancer cells in vitro. A VX2 rabbit tumor model was used to evaluate the efficacy, mechanism, and safety of PIB‐M in vivo. We found that under hypoxic condition, melatonin could inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration by targeting hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) in vitro. In vivo, PIB‐M inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in rabbit VX2 tumors by promoting apoptosis of tumor cells and targeting related angiogenic proteins and vascular permeability proteins. A high concentration of melatonin in the PIB‐M group could be maintained in tumor tissue for 72 h after embolization. The liver and kidney functions were most damaged on the first day but recovered to normal on the seventh day after embolization in the PIB‐M group. This novel method may open avenues for reduction of tumor growth and metastasis after TACE and is efficacy and safety, which may be used for treatment for other solid tumors and clinical translation.
Drug disposal deserts: An assessment of receptacle availability in Kentucky community pharmacies
Authors: Miracle Dustin K. , Smith Noah , Slavova Svetla , Stinson Laura K. , Roberts Monica F. , Rock Peter , Walsh Sharon L. , Freeman Patricia R.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe the county‐level availability of drug disposal receptacles in Kentucky community pharmacies and show the relationship between installed receptacles and opioid analgesic (OA)/controlled substance dispensing rates, stratifying where possible by urban‐rural classification.

Methods

Using 2020 data from the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting program and disposal receptacle data from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, county‐level comparisons were made between number of receptacles and OA/controlled substance dispensing rates. Logistic and negative binomial regression models were used to assess for differences between rural/urban county designation and odds of ≥1 disposal receptacle and compare the rates of receptacles per dispensed OA dose in rural/urban counties.

Findings

While rural counties saw higher OA and controlled substance dispensing rates, the majority (55.6%) of disposal receptacles were in urban locations. The odds of having at least 1 receptacle were higher in urban counties (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.15, 5.92) compared to rural. The estimated rate of disposal receptacles per million dispensed OA doses was found to be 0.47 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.61) in urban counties compared to 0.32 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.42) in rural counties, with an estimated rate ratio of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.10).

Conclusions

A mismatch between the availability of county‐level disposal receptacles in community pharmacies and the volume of dispensed OAs/controlled substances exists, resulting in fewer receptacles per dispensed OA in rural counties compared to urban counties. Future efforts are necessary to increase access to convenient disposal receptacles located in community pharmacies, particularly in rural communities.
DNA barcoding of recently diverging legume genera: Assessing the temperate Asian Caragana (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae)
Authors: Rather Shabir A. , Saina Josphat K. , Adit Arjun , Liu Hong‐Mei , Chang Zhao‐Yang , Schneider Harald
Published: July 2023

Obtaining reliable species identification of the legume genus Caragana has been challenging. Until now, species identification was mostly carried out utilizing diagnostic morphological characteristics, in addition to some successful applications of secondary chemical compounds. This study was designed to establish a DNA barcoding protocol enabling unambiguous identification of 238 accessions belonging to 67 species of Caragana. The performance of four DNA barcoding regions nrITS, trnH‐psbA, matK, and rbcL was explored using three analytical approaches, Pairwise Genetic Distance, Sequence Similarity and Phylogenetic Tree method. The chloroplast regions rbcL and matK showed lower discriminatory power compared with the nuclear region internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the chloroplast region trnH‐psbA. The nrITS outperformed the other regions in the resolution rate. The present study brings forth an efficient barcode locus for Caragana. A barcode based either on a single‐locus nrITS or the combination of nrITS and trnH‐psbA was found to be most suitable for species discrimination with distinctive barcoding gaps. An attempt has also been made to resolve taxonomic issues in the Caragana opulens complex. DNA barcoding tools when complemented with alpha taxonomic evidence can aid in solving complex systematic problems, especially when taxa are characterized by overlapping traits, such as species belonging to the Fabaceae family.
Interactions between insomnia, sleep duration and emotional processes: An ecological momentary assessment of longitudinal influences combining self‐report and physiological measures
Authors: Baglioni Chiara , Johann Anna F. , Benz Fee , Steinmetz Lisa , Meneo Debora , Frase Lukas , Kuhn Marion , Ohler Michelle , Huart Sonja , Speiser Nathalie , Tuschen‐Caffier Brunna , Riemann Dieter , Feige Bernd
Published: July 2023

Previous studies indicated that further investigation is needed to understand how insomnia disorder interacts with emotional processes. The present study is an ecological momentary assessment evaluating the link between emotional and sleep alterations in patients with insomnia. Physiological (heart rate and heart rate variability) and subjective (sleep and emotions) indices were observed for 5 days in patients with insomnia disorder (n = 97), good sleepers under self‐imposed sleep restriction (n = 41), and good sleepers with usual amount of sleep (n = 45). We evaluated differences in emotion regulation strategies and in valence and variability of emotional experiences. Over 5 days, patients with insomnia showed increased sleep and emotional difficulties compared with both control groups. Independent from group allocation, days with more negative emotions were associated with higher sleep alterations. Longer wake episodes at night and higher diurnal heart rate were associated with increased variations in emotion experienced during the day. Only in patients with insomnia, use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was associated with higher sleep efficiency. Our data showed that alterations in sleep and emotional processes are closely linked. A combination of strategies targeting both sleep and emotional processes appears promising in the prevention and treatment of insomnia disorder.
Intraguild scavenging on carnivore carcasses is delayed enough to allow successful dispersal of maggots for pupation
Authors: Hashizume A. , Koda R. , Nakashima Y.
Published: July 2023

Vertebrate carcasses are a valuable resource for a wide range of organisms, although their consumption rates can vary greatly by the type of carcasses. Studies have indicated that mammalian carnivores rarely consume carnivore carcasses, particularly in the early stages of decay, and thus these carcasses may potentially serve as a reproductive resource for necrophagous arthropods such as blowflies. However, it is unknown whether delays in consumption by carnivores are sufficient for necrophagous arthropods to complete their life cycle in the carcasses. This study addressed this question by monitoring 69 raccoon carcasses using camera traps in Yakumo, southern Hokkaido, Japan, during the summer seasons of 2016–2019. The decay stages of the carcasses were categorized by carefully observing the videos captured by the camera traps, and the timing of maggot dispersion was estimated. The first visitation and first consumption of vertebrate scavengers were also modelled, and the proportion of carcasses visited or consumed by vertebrate scavengers prior to maggot dispersion was determined each year. The proportion of carcasses visited by vertebrate scavengers before maggot dispersal ranged between c. 50% in 2017 and c. 30% in other years. However, only c. 20% of carcasses in each year were consumed before maggot dispersal, and consumption was only partial. The first species to scavenge at carcasses were red foxes and raccoon dogs, with the exception of two carcasses that were first scavenged by large‐billed crows. These results suggest that while delayed visitation of carcasses may partly explain delayed consumption, active avoidance of phylogenetically related species may increase the chances of successful maggot dispersal. Our approach of using careful video observations and statistical modelling may apply to a wide range of habitats and could improve our understanding of the ecological consequences of the taboo against cannibalism.
The quest for good genes: Epigamic traits, fitness, MHC and multilocus heterozygosity in the guppy
Authors: Przesmycka Karolina , Herdegen‐Radwan Magdalena , Phillips Karl P. , Mohammed Ryan S. , Radwan Jacek
Published: July 2023

The ‘good genes’ hypothesis for the evolution of male secondary sexual traits poses that female preferences for such traits are driven by indirect genetic benefits. However, support for the hypothesis remains ambiguous, and, in particular, the genetic basis for the benefits has rarely been investigated. Here, we use seminatural populations of Trinidadian guppies to investigate whether sexually selected traits (orange, black and iridescent colouration, gonopodium length and body size) predict fitness measured as the number of grandoffspring, a metric that integrates across fitness components and sexes. Furthermore, we tested whether two potential sources of genetic benefits—major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes and multilocus heterozygosity (MLH)—are significant predictors of fitness and of the size of sexually selected traits. We found a significant, nonlinear effect of the area of black pigmentation and male body size on the number of grandoffspring, suggesting stabilizing selection on black area, and nonlinear selection favouring small body size. MLH was heritable (h2 = 0.14) and significantly predicted the number of grandoffspring, indicating the potential for genetic benefits based on heterozygosity. We also found support for local heterozygosity effects, which may reflect a noneven distribution of genetic load across the genome. MHC genotype was not significantly associated with any tested fitness component, or with the load of Gyrodactylus parasites. Neither MHC nor MLH was significant predictor of sexually selected traits. Overall, our results highlight the role of heterozygosity in determining fitness, but do not provide support for male sexually selected traits being indicators of genetic quality.
Microvascular dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Azuma Mai , Kato Shingo , Fukui Kazuki , Horita Nobuyuki , Utsunomiya Daisuke
Published: July 2023

Background

Although microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is considered an essential pathophysiology in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the frequency and prognostic impact of MVD are not fully understood. This meta‐analysis evaluated the frequency of MVD in patients with HFpEF and its utility in risk stratification.

Materials and Methods

On May 26, 2022, a literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane library, and Embase using the search terms such as “Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction,” “HFpEF,” “microvascular dysfunction,” and “MVD.” The prevalence of MVD in patients with HFpEF was calculated using the general inverse variance method. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the association between MVD and prognosis in patients with HFpEF.

Results

Data pertaining to a total of 941 patients diagnosed with HFpEF were extracted from the collective pool of 9 studies. The results of the meta‐analysis revealed that the frequency of MVD among patients with HFpEF was found to be 55.5% (95% CI: 34.8%–76.2%), with a substantial degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 98%, p for heterogeneity <.001). Among the five studies that provided data on the association between MVD and prognosis, a significant statistical association was observed in four of them.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis revealed that approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with HFpEF exhibited MVD. Moreover, the presence of MVD demonstrated significant prognostic implications in multiple studies conducted on patients with HFpEF. These findings strongly suggest that MVD plays a crucial role in the underlying pathophysiology of patients with HFpEF.
Utility of open‐window mapping for catheter ablation of an accessory pathway in patients with Wolff‐Parkinson‐White syndrome
Authors: Yagishita Atsuhiko , Yamauchi Yasuteru , Sagawa Yuichiro , Lee Kyong Hee , Sakama Susumu , Ayabe Kengo , Amino Mari , Ikari Yuji , Yoshioka Koichiro
Published: July 2023

Background

Open‐window mapping (OWM) is a novel automated mapping method for catheter ablation of an accessory pathway (AP), in which the local signal is annotated with window‐of‐interest parameters to analyze both atrial and ventricular signals. This study aimed to determine the utility of OWM in visualizing the location and width of APs in patients with Wolff‐Parkinson‐White syndrome.

Methods

This two‐center study enrolled 30 patients (20 males; mean age: 56 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 22–69 years) who underwent high‐density OWM with the extended early‐meets‐late (EEML) algorithm using a 20‐electrode, 5‐spline catheter (PENTARAY, Biosense Webster). The lower threshold of the EEML was set to adjust the EEML gap to match the propagation mapping, and broad APs were defined as an EEML gap > 1 cm.

Results

The median mapping points, mapping time, and lower threshold of the EEML were 2482 (IQR: 1755–4000) points, 23 (IQR: 15–30) min, and 23 (IQR: 18–25), respectively. All 30 APs (24 in the mitral annulus and 6 in the tricuspid annulus) were successfully eliminated. Of these APs, 21 (70%) were eliminated by the first radio frequency (RF) application. OWM revealed broad APs in 11 patients (37%), in four of whom (36%) the first RF application achieved a loss of AP conduction (vs. 90% of patients without broad APs; p = .004).

Conclusion

OWM facilitates the visualization of the location and width of APs, which may be particularly useful for predicting whether multiple RF applications are required for broad APs.