bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of nitrate supplementation on skeletal muscle motor unit activity during isometric blood flow restriction exercise
Authors: Esen Ozcan , Faisal Azmy , Zambolin Fabio , Bailey Stephen J. , Callaghan Michael J.
Published: April 2022

Background

Nitrate (NO3−) supplementation has been reported to lower motor unit (MU) firing rate (MUFR) during dynamic resistance exercise; however, its impact on MU activity during isometric and ischemic exercise is unknown.

Purpose

To assess the effect of NO3− supplementation on knee extensor MU activities during brief isometric contractions and a 3 min sustained contraction with blood flow restriction (BFR).

Methods

Sixteen healthy active young adults (six females) completed two trials in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Trials were preceded by 5 days of either NO3− (NIT) or placebo (PLA) supplementation. Intramuscular electromyography was used to determine the M. vastus lateralis MU potential (MUP) size, MUFR and near fibre (NF) jiggle (a measure of neuromuscular stability) during brief (20 s) isometric contractions at 25% maximal strength and throughout a 3 min sustained BFR isometric contraction.

Results

Plasma nitrite (NO2−) concentration was elevated after NIT compared to PLA (475 ± 93 vs. 198 ± 46 nmol L−1, p < 0.001). While changes in MUP area, NF jiggle and MUFR were similar between NIT and PLA trials (all p > 0.05), MUP duration was shorter with NIT compared to PLA during brief isometric contractions and the sustained ischemic contraction (p < 0.01). In addition, mean MUP duration, MUP area and NF jiggle increased, and MUFR decreased over the 3 min sustained BFR isometric contraction for both conditions (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings provide insight into the effect of NO3− supplementation on MUP properties and reveal faster MUP duration after short-term NO3− supplementation which may have positive implications for skeletal muscle contractile performance.
Spontaneous Swallowing Frequency in Post-Stroke Patients with and Without Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: An Observational Study
Authors: Alvarez-Larruy Marta , Tomsen Noemí , Guanyabens Nicolau , Palomeras Ernest , Clavé Pere , Nascimento Weslania
Published: April 2022

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a frequent complication after stroke (PSOD) that increases morbidity and mortality. Early detection of PSOD is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with acute stroke. In recent years, an association between reduced spontaneous swallowing frequency (SSF) and OD has been described. Likewise, the reduction of saliva substance P (SP) concentration has been associated with an increased risk of aspiration and a decrease in SSF. In this study we aimed to compare SSF, salivary SP concentration, hydration and nutritional status in post-stroke (PS) patients with and without OD. We included 45 acute PS patients (4.98 ± 2.80 days from stroke onset, 62.22% men, 71.78 ± 13.46 year). The Volume-Viscosity Swallowing Test (V-VST) was performed for clinical diagnosis of OD. SSF/minute was assessed through 10-min neurophysiological surface recordings including suprahyoid-electromyography and cricothyroid-accelerometry. Saliva samples were collected with a Salivette® to determine SP by ELISA. Hydration status was assessed by bioimpedance. Nutritional status was evaluated by Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-sf) and blood analysis. Twenty-seven PS patients (60%) had OD; 19 (40%), impaired safety of swallow. SSF was significantly reduced in PSOD, 0.23 ± 0.18 and PSOD with impaired safety, 0.22 ± 0.18 vs 0.48 ± 0.29 swallows/minute in PS without OD (PSnOD); (both p < 0.005). Nutritional risk was observed in 62.92% PSOD vs 11.11% PSnOD (p = 0.007) and visceral protein markers were also significantly reduced in PSOD (p < 0.05). Bioimpedance showed intracellular dehydration in 37.50% PSOD vs none in PSnOD. There were no differences for saliva SP concentrations. SSF is significantly reduced in PSOD in comparison with PSnOD. Acute PSOD patients present poor nutritional status, hydropenia, and high risk for respiratory complications.
From the tyrosine hydroxylase hypothesis of Parkinson’s disease to modern strategies: a short historical overview
Authors: Rausch Wolf-Dieter , Wang Feixue , Radad Khaled
Published: April 2022

A time span of 60 years covers the detection of catecholamines in the brain, their function in movement and correlation to Parkinson’s disease (PD). The clinical findings that orally given l-DOPA can alleviate or even prevent akinesia gave great hope for the treatment of PD. Attention focused on the role of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) as the rate-limiting enzyme in the formation of catecholamines. It became evident that the enzyme driven formation is lowered in PD. Such results could only be obtained from studying human brain samples demonstrating the necessity for human brain banks. Originally, a TH enzyme deficiency was suspected in PD. Studies were conducted on the enzyme properties: its induction and turnover, the complex regulation starting with cofactor requirements as tetrahydrobiopterin and ferrous iron, and the necessity for phosphorylation for activity as well as inhibition by toxins or regulatory feedback inhibition by catecholamines. In the course of time, it became evident that neurodegeneration and cell death of dopaminergic neurons is the actual pathological process and the decrease of TH a cophenomenon. Nevertheless, TH immunochemistry has ever since been a valuable tool to study neuronal pathways, neurodegeneration in various animal models of neurotoxicity and cell cultures, which have been used as well to test potential neuroprotective strategies.
The effect of water temperature on orthostatic tolerance: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Parsons Iain T. , Hockin Brooke C. D. , Taha Omnia M. , Heeney Natalie D. , Williams Erin L. , Lucci Vera-Ellen M. , Lee Rebekah H. Y. , Stacey Michael J. , Gall Nick , Chowienczyk Phil , Woods David R. , Claydon Victoria E.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Bolus water drinking, at room temperature, has been shown to improve orthostatic tolerance (OT), probably via sympathetic activation; however, it is not clear whether the temperature of the water bolus modifies the effect on OT or the cardiovascular responses to orthostatic stress. The aim of this study was to assess whether differing water temperature of the water bolus would alter time to presyncope and/or cardiovascular parameters during incremental orthostatic stress.

Methods

Fourteen participants underwent three head-up tilt (HUT) tests with graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) continued until presyncope. Fifteen minutes prior to each HUT, participants drank a 500 mL bolus of water which was randomised, in single-blind crossover fashion, to either room temperature water (20 °C) (ROOM), ice-cold water (0–3 °C) (COLD) or warm water (45 °C) (WARM). Cardiovascular parameters were monitored continuously.

Results

There was no significant difference in OT in the COLD (33 ± 3 min; p = 0.3321) and WARM (32 ± 3 min; p = 0.6764) conditions in comparison to the ROOM condition (31 ± 3 min). During the HUT tests, heart rate and cardiac output were significantly reduced (p < 0.0073), with significantly increased systolic blood pressure, stroke volume, cerebral blood flow velocity and total peripheral resistance (p < 0.0054), in the COLD compared to ROOM conditions.

Conclusions

In healthy controls, bolus cold water drinking results in favourable orthostatic cardiovascular responses during HUT/LBNP without significantly altering OT. Using a cold water bolus may result in additional benefits in patients with orthostatic intolerance above those conferred by bolus water at room temperature (by ameliorating orthostatic tachycardia and enhancing vascular resistance responses). Further research in patients with orthostatic intolerance is warranted.
Integration and convergence in efficiency and technology gap of European life insurance markets
Authors: Cummins J. David , Rubio-Misas María
Published: April 2022

This paper applies the meta-frontier Data Envelopment Analysis and the main concepts of convergence from the economic growth literature (β-convergence and σ-convergence) to analyze integration and convergence both in efficiency and in technology gap of European Union (EU) insurance markets. We evaluate 10 EU life insurance markets over the 17-year-period 1998–2014. Results show convergence in cost/revenue efficiency among major EU life insurance markets during the sample period. These findings indicate that the least efficient countries in 1998 have shown a higher improvement in cost/revenue efficiency than the most efficient countries in the same year as well as that the dispersion of the mean efficiency scores among EU life insurance markets decreased over the sample period. We also find convergence in cost/revenue technology gap among these markets, suggesting that they become more technologically homogeneous during the sample period. However, results show that the global financial crisis has led to a slowdown in the progress of integration and convergence in efficiency and technology gap of EU life insurance markets in terms of cost efficiency but not in terms of revenue efficiency.
A Methodology for Providing Surface-Cover-Corrected Net Radiation at Heterogeneous Eddy-Covariance Sites
Authors: Ramtvedt Eirik Næsset , Pirk Norbert
Published: April 2022

A one-point measurement of net radiation is typically not representative of radiative energy available for the turbulent exchange of latent and sensible heat at eddy-covariance sites with heterogeneous surface cover. We propose a methodology for providing surface-cover-corrected net radiation matching the footprint of turbulent fluxes at a heterogenous eddy-covariance site. This is demonstrated at a complex sub-alpine site in southern central Norway over a week. The methodology is assessed by comparing the energy balance closure calculated with the regular one-point net radiation measurement at the flux tower against the surface-cover-corrected net radiation. The assessment indicates a decrease in the energy imbalance by 8% when assessed with the energy balance ratio, but no improvement is revealed when assessed with regression methods. However, only a small dataset serves as basis for this demonstration, and the findings therefore cannot necessarily be generalized. Further testing and application of the methodology is required to understand the full effect of surface-cover-correcting mismatching footprints of turbulent fluxes and net radiation at heterogeneous eddy-covariance sites.
Constructing a ‘Different’ Strength: A Feminist Exploration of Vulnerability, Ethical Agency and Care
Authors: Johansson Janet , Wickström Alice
Published: April 2022

This article explores how ethical agency, as ‘other-oriented’ caring, emerged from feelings of being ‘different’ in a cultural organization by drawing on feminist ethics of care. By analyzing interview material from an ethnographic study, we centralize the relationship between feelings of being ‘different,’ vulnerability and the development of sensibilities, practices and imaginaries of care. We elaborate on how vulnerability serves as a ground for caring with rather than for others, and illustrate how it allowed individuals to challenge both organizational, normative diversity discourses and essentialization of differences. We contribute to the literature on critical diversity management by furthering problematizations of instrumental diversity management from the perspective of care, and to the organizational literature on feminist care ethics by empirically exploring how ethical agency emerges from tensions related to feeling ‘different.’ While previous studies have shown how marginalized individuals use their sense of ‘otherness’ to negotiate, conform to and resist organizational norms, practices and discourses, we provide further insights on how it also can drive concern and care for others, and thus serve as possible ground for ethical change initiatives within organizations.
Full ultraviolet shielding potency of highly durable cotton via self- implantation of palladium nanoclusters
Authors: Emam Hossam E. , Zaghloul Saad , Ahmed Hanan B.
Published: April 2022

Unique technique is currently demonstrated for preparation of ultraviolet protective cotton fabrics with full shielding effect, via self-implantation of palladium (Pd) nanoclusters. Palladium nanoclusters were in-situ immobilized within native and cationized cotton using two different concentrations of palladium precursor (20 and 60 mM) under strong acidic (pH 2) and basic (pH 11.5) media. Cationization (50 and 100%) of cotton fabrics was performed in order to increase the accessibility of fabric for controllable implantation of palladium nanoclusters. Size distribution of palladium nanoclusters in supernatant solution was estimated via Transmission electron microscopy to be 3.2 nm. The estimated data showed that the sample prepared with the highest cationization percent and highest concentration of palladium precursor in strong alkaline medium exhibited the highest yellowness index, color strength and excellent ultraviolet shielding effects. The yellowness index was significantly increased from 15.67 for cationized cotton to 74.99 for the sample prepared with the highest cationization percent and highest concentration of Pd+2in alkaline medium (Pd-CC (100)4). Tensile strength was insignificantly decreased from 93.2 MPa for cationized cotton to 84.5 MPa for Pd-CC (100)4. Ultraviolet shielding effect was superiorly enhanced with implantation of palladium nanoclusters. The UV protection factor (UPF) was excellency increased from 1.3 (insufficient) for native cotton to 256.6 (excellent) for Pd-CC (100)4. The effect of repetitive washing cycles on the colorimetric data and the results of ultraviolet protection was also studied to affirm the effect of fabric cationization in preparation of highly durable UV-protective fabrics.

Graphical abstract
Concise integer linear programming formulation for clique partitioning problems
Authors: Koshimura Miyuki , Watanabe Emi , Sakurai Yuko , Yokoo Makoto
Published: April 2022

A Clique Partitioning Problem (CPP) finds an optimal partition of a given edge-weighted undirected graph, such that the sum of the weights is maximized. This general graph problem has a wide range of real-world applications, including correlation clustering, group technology, community detection, and coalition structure generation. Although a CPP is NP-hard, due to the recent advance of Integer Linear Programming (ILP) solvers, we can solve reasonably large problem instances by formulating a CPP as an ILP instance. The first ILP formulation was introduced by Grötschel and Wakabayashi (Mathematical Programming, 45(1-3), 59–96, 1989). Recently, Miyauchi et al. (2018) proposed a more concise ILP formulation that can significantly reduce transitivity constraints as compared to previously introduced models. In this paper, we introduce a series of concise ILP formulations that can reduce even more transitivity constraints. We theoretically evaluate the amount of reduction based on a simple model in which edge signs (positive/negative) are chosen independently. We show that the reduction can be up to 50% (dependent of the ratio of negative edges) and experimentally evaluate the amount of reduction and the performance of our proposed formulation using a variety of graph data sets. Experimental evaluations show that the reduction can exceed 50% (where edge signs can be correlated), and our formulation outperforms the existing state-of-the-art formulations both in terms of memory usage and computational time for most problem instances.
Living Death at the Intersection of Necropower and Disciplinary Power: A Qualitative Exploration of Racialised and Detained Groups in Australia
Authors: O’Donnell Samantha
Published: April 2022

This article challenges state-sponsored violence in Australia by exploring the experiences of young Indigenous people in youth detention and refugees in immigration detention in Australia as a form of living death. This article examines how this living death manifests by qualitatively analysing publicly accessible first-hand accounts from Indigenous young people about their experiences of youth imprisonment and from refugees about their experiences of immigration detention onshore and offshore. The findings suggest that when necropower and disciplinary power intersect four overlapping expressions of violence emerge: structural violence, epistemic violence, physical violence and brutality, and disciplinary violence. It is the complex overlapping of these multiple forms of harm that creates an experience of living death. In privileging the voices of young Indigenous people and refugees, this article also recognises their continued refusal of past and present colonial structures and the associated violence of carceral spaces.
Power(ful) Connections: Exploring the Revolving Doors Phenomenon as a Form of State-Corporate Crime
Authors: Pons-Hernández Mònica
Published: April 2022

The ‘revolving doors’ phenomenon is the name given to the movement of individuals from public office to private companies and vice versa. It is believed that this phenomenon impacts the decision-making process to the detriment of the public interest. While it has largely been framed as a corrupt practice, this research seeks to explore it as a form of state-corporate crime by employing the case study of the Spanish government and the fossil fuel industry. The study finds that the explored case of revolving doors causes harm by driving social and economic instability and climate inaction and proposes the creation of a 'state-capture corporate crime'. Overall, the paper highlights the need to broaden the revolving doors and state-corporate crime concepts to allow its inclusion in the criminological agenda.
Ranking with submodular functions on a budget
Authors: Zhang Guangyi , Tatti Nikolaj , Gionis Aristides
Published: April 2022

Submodular maximization has been the backbone of many important machine-learning problems, and has applications to viral marketing, diversification, sensor placement, and more. However, the study of maximizing submodular functions has mainly been restricted in the context of selecting a set of items. On the other hand, many real-world applications require a solution that is a ranking over a set of items. The problem of ranking in the context of submodular function maximization has been considered before, but to a much lesser extent than item-selection formulations. In this paper, we explore a novel formulation for ranking items with submodular valuations and budget constraints. We refer to this problem asmax-submodular ranking($$\text {MSR}$$MSR). In more detail, given a set of items and a set of non-decreasing submodular functions, where each function is associated with a budget, we aim to find a ranking of the set of items that maximizes the sum of values achieved by all functions under the budget constraints. For the$$\text {MSR}$$MSRproblem with cardinality- and knapsack-type budget constraints we propose practical algorithms with approximation guarantees. In addition, we perform an empirical evaluation, which demonstrates the superior performance of the proposed algorithms against strong baselines.
Global and local sustainable certification systems: Factors influencing RSPO and Thai-GAP adoption by oil palm smallholder farmers in Thailand
Authors: Nupueng Somjai , Oosterveer Peter , Mol Arthur P. J.
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the factors that influence the adoption of RSPO and Thai-GAP certification by oil palm smallholder farmers in Thailand. A random sample of 77 RSPO certified, 108 non-certified RSPO, 87 Thai-GAP certified, and 67 non-certified Thai-GAP smallholder farmers were interviewed to investigate the factors explaining the RSPO and Thai-GAP scheme adoption, respectively. The logit model was used to analyse the relationships between the adoption and the decision-making factors of the farmers. The results show that membership of farmer groups, the goal of the scheme, and trust in the scheme are the most significant factors affecting the adoption of RSPO certification. Scheme payments have a negative influence on adoption. In case of Thai-GAP, the results show the scheme payment, the image, concerns about the quality of land and water, and trust in the scheme are the most significant factors affecting the adoption. Finally, these findings suggest new factors may be attributed to several issues, including trust in the scheme, membership of farmer groups, the scheme’s goal, and trust in the scheme are the most significant. Designing and extension in influencing factors may play multiple roles in driving smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable certification schemes. This finding repeats that the usability of sustainable certification schemes in developing countries needs to be mobilised around a particular socio-cultural context. Including, understanding the factors affecting smallholder farmers’ intention to adopt Thai-GAP or RSPO certification is very important to plan and promote these schemes among other farmers and transform the current cultivation practices into more sustainable palm oil production.
Schrödinger’s Equation as a Consequence of the Central Limit Theorem Without Assuming Prior Physical Laws
Authors: Grinwald P. M.
Published: April 2022

The central limit theorem has been found to apply to random vectors in complex Hilbert space. This amounts to sufficient reason to study the complex–valued Gaussian, looking for relevance to quantum mechanics. Here we show that the Gaussian, with all terms fully complex, acting as a propagator, leads to Schrödinger’s non-relativistic equation including scalar and vector potentials, assuming only that the norm is conserved. No physical laws need to be postulated a priori. It thereby presents as a process of irregular motion analogous to the real random walk but executed under the rules of the complex number system. There is a standard view that Schrödinger’s equation is deterministic, whereas wavefunction “collapse” is probabilistic (by Born’s rule)—we have now a demonstrated linkage to the central limit theorem, indicating a stochastic picture at the foundation of Schrödinger’s equation itself. It may be an example of Wheeler’s “It from bit” with “No underlying law”. Reasons for the primary role of $$\mathbf {C}$$
C
are open to discussion. The present derivation is compared with recent reconstructions of the quantum formalism, which have the aim of rationalizing its obscurities.
Erasmus students’ motivations in motion: understanding super-mobility in higher education
Authors: Cuzzocrea Valentina , Krzaklewska Ewa
Published: April 2022

This paper looks at youth mobility as an ongoing, dynamic, processual experience in the making of an educational trajectory. By exploring the experiences of students who have undertaken more than one mobility experience under the Erasmus + program, we reflect on how underlying motivations change over the course of subsequent mobility experiences. In contrast to existing research, where the focus has been on reported motivations for one-off mobility experience, we discuss the latent motivations driving super-mobile educational trajectories. In doing so, we observe the ongoing reconfiguration of these trajectories through the concept of spatial reflexivity, which results in articulated and augmentative dynamics over time. Methodologically, the paper is based on qualitative material collected in person and online with such mobile young people across Europe.
Attitudes Toward Inclusion and Benefits Perceived by Families in Schools with Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Simón Cecilia , Martínez-Rico Gabriel , McWilliam R. A. , Cañadas Margarita
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to find out about attitudes toward inclusion and benefits perceived by families with children enrolled in schools attended by students with ASD at different educational stages (from kindergarten to high school). 323 families of classmates of students with ASD from different educational stages of 16 mainstream schools participated. The analysis of the attitudes, perceived benefits, relationship with the teacher, and relationship with the school was carried out through questionnaires. The results show positive attitudes toward the inclusive education of students with ASD in all families, but especially among families of children with SEN. All the families identified the benefit of inclusion. Attitudes are related to collaboration with the school and satisfaction with teachers.
Impact of right ventricular pacing site on the subcutaneous ICD sensing—a step towards personalised device therapy?
Authors: ElRefai Mohamed , Abouelasaad Mohamed , Menexi Christina , Morgan John , Roberts Paul R.
Published: April 2022

Background

Patients with an existing subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) may develop a pacing indication. When transvenous pacing is not feasible, combining an S-ICD and a leadless pacemaker (LP) can be a reasonable option. There are reports of concomitant use of both devices. However, the effect of pacing on the S-ICD sensing is not well studied. We hypothesise that pacing changes R and T-wave amplitudes, causing changes in R:T ratios as perceived by a S-ICD, increasing the risk for T wave oversensing (TWO) during paced rhythm with a subsequent risk of inappropriate shocks.

Methods

This is a prospective study in patients undergoing electrophysiological studies. Participants were fitted with a Holter®, and the leads were placed to correspond to the vectors of an S-ICD. The right ventricle was paced at four positions for 10 beats each at 8 mA/2 ms. The Holter® traces were analysed, using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the effect of pacing on the R:T ratio.

Results

Forty-seven patients (age 56.02 ± 16.02, 72% male) were enrolled (81% structurally normal heart, 15% dilated cardiomyopathy, 2% ischaemic cardiomyopathy, and 2% adult congenital heart disease). Age, sex, and aetiology had no effect on the R:T ratio. Pacing caused significant changes in the R:T ratio. There was no significant difference in the R:T ratios between the pacing sites (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pacing alters the R:T ratio significantly in most patients, theoretically increasing the risk for TWO and inappropriate shocks. Tailored programming for both devices is important for concomitant use of LPs and S-ICDs.
The Influence of Attachment Style, Self-protective Beliefs, and Feelings of Rejection on the Decline and Growth of Trust as a Function of Borderline Personality Disorder Trait Count
Authors: Abramov Gamze , Kautz Jason , Miellet Sebastien , Deane Frank P.
Published: April 2022

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with paradoxical trust behaviours, specifically a faster rate of trust growth in the face of trust violations. The current study set out to understand whether attachment style, self-protective beliefs, and feelings of rejection underpin this pattern. Young adults (N=234) played a 15-round trust game in which partner cooperation was varied to create three phases of trust: formation, dissolution, and restoration. Discontinuous growth modelling was employed to observe whether the effect of BPD trait count on trust levels and growth is moderated by fearful or preoccupied attachment style, self-protective beliefs, and feelings of rejection. Results suggest that the slower rate of trust formation associated with BPD trait count was accounted for by feelings of rejection or self-protective beliefs, both of which predicted a slower rate of trust growth. The faster rate of trust growth in response to trust violations associated with BPD trait count was no longer significant after self-protective beliefs were accounted for. Interventions targeting self-protective beliefs and feelings of rejection may address the trust-based interpersonal difficulties associated with BPD.
Phase-space Rényi entropy, complexity and thermodynamic picture of density functional theory
Authors: Nagy Á.
Published: April 2022

Phase-space Rényi entropy and complexity are defined within the thermodynamic picture of density functional theory. The structural entropy defined by Pipek, Varga and Nagy, the LMC statistical complexity introduced by López-Ruiz, Mancini and Calbet and generalized complexity proposed by López-Ruiz, Nagy, Romera and Sanudo are extended to the phase space. It is shown that in case of constant local temperature the logarithm of the phase-space LMC complexity reduces to the position-space structural entropy defined by Pipek et al.
Experiences of Food-Insecure Pregnant Women and Factors Influencing Their Food Choices
Authors: Zinga Julia , McKay Fiona H. , Lindberg Rebecca , van der Pligt Paige
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Food insecurity (FI), an inadequate access to healthy, affordable food, is a public health concern primarily driven by material hardship. Optimal antenatal nutrition promotes best health outcomes for the mother and baby. Pregnant women experiencing FI are less able to access healthy foods, increasing the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and preterm labour. Little is known about the experiences of food-insecure pregnant women in obtaining sufficient, nutritious food, their perceptions regarding antenatal nutrition and how this contributes to their food choices.

Methods

This qualitative study conducted from August to November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, examined the experiences and coping strategies of food-insecure pregnant women, and the factors influencing their food choices. Seven English-speaking food-insecure pregnant women participated in semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed, informed by grounded theory methodology.

Results

Three themes were identified through analysis of the interviews related to strategies that managed household food supply, factors that influenced food choices, and experiences of pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of a limited food budget, pregnancy symptoms, the cognitive overload that attends the FI experience, and the acute yet significant impact of the pandemic, food-insecure pregnant women in this study defaulted to cheap and convenient food choices despite acknowledging the importance of eating well for pregnancy.

Conclusion

FI during pregnancy is burdensome, relentless and undermines women’s wellbeing. Supportive strategies within antenatal healthcare settings are urgently required to deliver an equitable health response for vulnerable women.
Root hairs matter at field scale for maize shoot growth and nutrient uptake, but root trait plasticity is primarily triggered by texture and drought
Authors: Vetterlein Doris , Phalempin Maxime , Lippold Eva , Schlüter Steffen , Schreiter Susanne , Ahmed Mutez A. , Carminati Andrea , Duddek Patrick , Jorda Helena , Bienert Gerd Patrick , Bienert Manuela Desiree , Tarkka Mika , Ganther Minh , Oburger Eva , Santangeli Michael , Javaux Mathieu , Vanderborght Jan
Published: April 2022

Aims

Root hairs are important for uptake, especially for nutrients with low mobility in soils with high sorption capacity. Mutants with defective root hairs are expected to have lower nutrient uptake, unless they compensate with more root growth. Since root hairs can also contribute to the plant's water uptake their importance could change over the course of a growing season. It was our objective to investigate the role of root hairs under field conditions.

Methods

The root hair mutant rth3 of Zea mays and the corresponding wild-type were grown for two years under field conditions on sand and loam.

Results

Shoot growth and P and K uptake of the plants were promoted by the presence of hairs at all growth stages. Differences between genotypes were greater on loam than on sand until tassel emergence, presumably as additional exploitation by hairs is more relevant in loam. Compensation for the absence of root hairs by increased root growth was not observed in absolute terms. The root to shoot ratio was higher for rth3 than for wild-type. Root traits showed high plasticity in response to texture, the most salient being a greater mean root diameter in sand, irrespective of genotype. The mechanism causing the increase in mean root diameter is still unknown. Root length density was higher in sand, which can be explained by a greater need for exploration than exploitation in this substrate.

Conclusion

The role of hairs for nutrient uptake could be confirmed under field conditions. The large impact of texture on root growth and consequences for carbon balance require further investigations.
The Uncanny Challenge of Self-Cultivation in the Anthropocene
Authors: Varpanen Jan , Saari Antti , Jurvakainen Katri , Kallio Johanna
Published: April 2022

Self-cultivation—taking pedagogical action to educate oneself—is an integral part of non-formal adult education. Ever since Greek antiquity, it has been a central ingredient in the western philosophical and educational tradition. However, we argue that the global challenges that have emerged in the present era of the ecological crisis call for a new kind of understanding of this basic educational phenomenon. Based in particular on recent work in dark ecology and its central concept of the ‘uncanny’, we outline a few key features of our time in relation to the contemporary challenge of self-cultivation. We then review extant literature on self-cultivation to ascertain whether the theoretical resources that have been used to conceptualise it in the past are capable of addressing these new aspects of self-cultivation. We conclude that each of the theoretical resources analysed here offer valuable insights into the novel challenges facing self-cultivation, though not all important questions can be answered. By specifying the contributions and limitations of these theoretical resources, we pave the way for future work on conceptualising self-cultivation for our times.
A forgotten logical expressivist: Strawson’s philosophy of logic and its challenges
Authors: Heyndels Sybren
Published: April 2022

P.F. Strawson contributed to many philosophical domains, including the philosophy of language, the history of philosophy, metaphysics, moral philosophy and philosophical methodology. Most of his contributions in these areas have influenced contemporary debates, either because his views are still defended or because they are still considered worthy of detailed responses. His views on the philosophy of logic have been only rarely discussed, however. My aim in this paper is threefold. First, I provide a systematic account of Strawson’s philosophy of logic. I argue that Strawson is an important predecessor of logical expressivism, a contemporary position in the philosophy of logic most notably defended by Robert Brandom. My main focus is on Strawson’s largely-neglected 1982 paper ‘Logical Form and Logical Constants’, which contains his most mature ideas on the topic. Second, while Strawson’s position is of historical and independent philosophical interest, I argue that he leaves many points unclear. Finally, I propose several clarifications of Strawson’s position.
Plesiochorus irwinorum n. sp. (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae) from the urinary bladder of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (Testudines: Cheloniidae), off the east coast of Australia
Authors: Corner Richard D. , Booth Rosemary J. , Cutmore Scott C.
Published: April 2022

Plesiochorus Looss, 1901 is a genus of Gorgoderidae infecting the urinary bladders of marine turtles globally. Currently, just two morphologically similar species are recognised, Plesiochorus cymbiformis (Rudolphi, 1819) Looss, 1901 and Plesiochorus elongatus Pigulevsky, 1953, which have been distinguished by molecular data and subtle morphological differences. Here we describe a new species, Plesiochorus irwinorumn. sp., infecting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata (L.)), which is primarily distinguished from the other two species of Plesiochorus on the basis of ITS2, cox1 and 28S sequence data. Morphometric data for specimens examined during this study overlap between P. cymbiformis and P. irwinorumn. sp. for every measured feature, rendering them functionally cryptic. However, principal components analysis clearly distinguishes the two species. Additionally, we report new specimens of P. cymbiformis, and provide new sequence data for specimens from Australian loggerhead (Caretta caretta (L.)) and hawksbill turtles. There is little understanding of the host-specificity or geographical distribution of the three species of Plesiochorus, and it remains possible that some of the previously reported sequences have been attributed to the wrong species.
Non-destructive methods to assess health of wild tropical frogs (túngara frogs: Engystomops pustulosus) in Trinidad reveal negative impacts of agricultural land
Authors: Orton Frances , Mangan Stephanie , Newton Laura , Marianes Alexis
Published: April 2022

Amphibians are threatened globally with at least 43% of species declining and the most important stressor being habitat loss or degradation. Amphibians inhabiting highly biodiverse tropical regions are disproportionately threatened; however, the effects of landscape alterations on amphibian health are virtually unknown. In this study, we utilised non-destructive techniques to compare size (weight, snout-vent length [SVL]), body condition, male secondary sexual features (forelimb width, nuptial pad length) and breeding success (egg number, fertility [percentage fertilised eggs], hatching success) in túngara frogs (Engystomops pustulosus) collected from reference (n = 5), suburban (n = 6) and agricultural (n = 4) sites in Trinidad; characterised by presence/absence of crops/houses. All measured endpoints were negatively impacted in frogs collected from agricultural sites. The largest effect was observed for hatching success (2.77-fold lower) and egg number (2.5-fold lower). Less pronounced effects were observed on male frogs (weight: 1.77-fold lower; SVL: 1.18-fold lower; forelimb width: 1.33-fold lower; nuptial pad length: 1.15-fold lower). Our findings demonstrate negative impacts of agricultural sites on túngara frog health, with the number of viable offspring reduced by almost one third. The methods outlined here are technically simple and low-cost and thereby have potential for application to other species in order to investigate the potential impacts of habitat degradation on amphibian health. Furthermore, as these methods are non-destructive, they could be used to investigate the potential contribution of frog size and/or reproductive capability as a causative factor contributing to population declines in threatened species, which is particularly pressing in tropical regions.
Explainability of deep neural networks for MRI analysis of brain tumors
Authors: Zeineldin Ramy A. , Karar Mohamed E. , Elshaer Ziad , Coburger ·Jan , Wirtz Christian R. , Burgert Oliver , Mathis-Ullrich Franziska
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular deep neural networks, has achieved remarkable results for medical image analysis in several applications. Yet the lack of explainability of deep neural models is considered the principal restriction before applying these methods in clinical practice.

Methods

In this study, we propose a NeuroXAI framework for explainable AI of deep learning networks to increase the trust of medical experts. NeuroXAI implements seven state-of-the-art explanation methods providing visualization maps to help make deep learning models transparent.

Results

NeuroXAI has been applied to two applications of the most widely investigated problems in brain imaging analysis, i.e., image classification and segmentation using magnetic resonance (MR) modality. Visual attention maps of multiple XAI methods have been generated and compared for both applications. Another experiment demonstrated that NeuroXAI can provide information flow visualization on internal layers of a segmentation CNN.

Conclusion

Due to its open architecture, ease of implementation, and scalability to new XAI methods, NeuroXAI could be utilized to assist radiologists and medical professionals in the detection and diagnosis of brain tumors in the clinical routine of cancer patients. The code of NeuroXAI is publicly accessible at https://github.com/razeineldin/NeuroXAI.
European Union’s imminent ban on glyphosate: Hormesis should be considered in new chemical screening and selection
Authors: Agathokleous Evgenios
Published: April 2022

The European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) called for the immediate ban on glyphosate in the 2022 renewal process, promoting the use of natural herbicides and recommending against the use of other harmful or hazardous chemicals. The new chemical testing and selection research agendas should consider the hormetic effects of individual natural herbicides, and their potential mixtures, on targeted and non-targeted organisms to avoid stimulation of pests and negative effects on non-targeted organisms. New scientific research programs are needed to study the effects of mixtures of natural pesticides on soils, plants, animals, and microorganisms within the context of agroforestry.
Supporting women’s health outcomes after breast cancer treatment comparing a text message intervention to usual care: the EMPOWER-SMS randomised clinical trial
Authors: Singleton Anna C. , Raeside Rebecca , Partridge Stephanie R. , Hyun Karice K. , Tat-Ko Justin , Sum Stephanie Che Mun , Hayes Molly , Chow Clara K. , Thiagalingam Aravinda , Maka Katherine , Sherman Kerry A. , Elder Elisabeth , Redfern Julie
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a co-designed lifestyle-focused text message intervention (EMPOWER-SMS) for breast cancer survivors’ self-efficacy, quality of life (QOL), mental (anxiety, depression, stress) and physical (endocrine therapy medication adherence, physical activity, BMI) health.

Methods

Single-blind randomised controlled trial (1:1) comparing EMPOWER-SMS to usual care at 6-months (intention-to-treat). Setting: public Breast Cancer Institute (Sydney, Australia). Eligibility criteria: adult (> 18 years) females, < 18-months post-active breast cancer treatment (stage I-III), owned a mobile phone, written informed consent. Primary outcome: Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease Scale at 6 months. Process data: message delivery analytics, cost, and post-intervention survey.

Results

Participants (N = 160; mean age ± SD 55.1 ± 11.1 years) were recruited 29th-March-2019 to 7th-May-2020 and randomised (n = 80 EMPOWER-SMS: n = 80 control). Baseline mean self-efficacy was high (I: 7.1 [95%CI 6.6, 7.5], C: 7.4 [7, 7.8]). Six-month follow-up: no significant differences between groups for self-efficacy (I: 7.6 [7.3, 7.9], C: 7.6 [7.3, 7.9], adjusted mean difference 0 (95%CI 0.4, 0.4), QOL, mental health, physical activity, or BMI. Significantly less EMPOWER-SMS participants missed ≥ 1 endocrine therapy medication doses compared to control (I: 3/42[7.1%], C: 8/47[17.0%], Adjusted RR 0.13 [95%CI 0.02, 0.91]). Text messages were delivered successfully (7925/8061, 98.3%), costing $13.62USD/participant. Participants strongly/agreed EMPOWER-SMS was easy-to-understand (64/64; 100%), useful (58/64; 90.6%), motivating for lifestyle change (43/64; 67.2%) and medication adherence (22/46; 47.8%).

Conclusion

EMPOWER-SMS was feasible, inexpensive, acceptable for delivering health information to breast cancer survivors between medical appointments, with minor improvements in medication adherence.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Text messages offer a feasible strategy for continuity-of-care between medical appointments.
FLT3-inhibitor therapy for prevention and treatment of relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Biavasco Francesca , Zeiser Robert
Published: April 2022

The curative potential of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relies on the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL)-effect. Relapse after allo-HCT occurs in a considerable proportion of patients, and has a dismal prognosis with very limited curative potential, especially for patients with FLT-ITD-mutated AML. Since the first description of sorafenib for treatment of FLT3-ITD-mutated AML, several clinical trials have tried to determine the efficacy of FLT3 inhibitors for preventing and treating AML relapse after allo-HSCT, but many questions regarding differences among compounds and mechanisms of action remain unanswered. This review provides an overview on the established and evolving use of FLT3 inhibitors to prevent or treat relapse of AML in the context of allo-HCT, focusing on the recently discovered immunogenic potential of some FLT3 inhibitors and addressing the possible mechanisms of leukemia drug-escape.
Humanoid Robots – Artificial. Human-like. Credible? Empirical Comparisons of Source Credibility Attributions Between Humans, Humanoid Robots, and Non-human-like Devices
Authors: Finkel Marcel , Krämer Nicole C.
Published: April 2022

Source credibility is known as an important prerequisite to ensure effective communication (Pornpitakpan, 2004). Nowadays not only humans but also technological devices such as humanoid robots can communicate with people and can likewise be rated credible or not as reported by Fogg and Tseng (1999). While research related to the machine heuristic suggests that machines are rated more credible than humans (Sundar, 2008), an opposite effect in favor of humans’ information is supposed to occur when algorithmically produced information is wrong (Dietvorst, Simmons, and Massey, 2015). However, humanoid robots may be attributed more in line with humans because of their anthropomorphically embodied exterior compared to non-human-like technological devices. To examine these differences in credibility attributions a 3 (source-type) x 2 (information’s correctness) online experiment was conducted in which 338 participants were asked to either rate a human’s, humanoid robot’s, or non-human-like device’s credibility based on either correct or false communicated information. This between-subjects approach revealed that humans were rated more credible than social robots and smart speakers in terms of trustworthiness and goodwill. Additionally, results show that people’s attributions of theory of mind abilities were lower for robots and smart speakers on the one side and higher for humans on the other side and in part influence the attribution of credibility next to people’s reliance on technology, attributed anthropomorphism, and morality. Furthermore, no main or moderation effect of the information’s correctness was found. In sum, these insights offer hints for a human superiority effect and present relevant insights into the process of attributing credibility to humanoid robots.