bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of Dirofilaria repens in wild carnivores in Poland
Authors: Alsarraf Mustafa , Dwużnik-Szarek Dorota , Hildebrand Joanna , Mierzejewska Ewa Julia , Kloch Agnieszka , Kot Kamila , Kurek Korneliusz , Nowak Sabina , Mysłajek Robert W. , Myśliwy Izabella , Popiołek Marcin , Rodo Anna , Alsarraf Mohammed , Tołkacz Katarzyna , Topolnytska Mariia , Wężyk Dagmara , Bajer Anna
Published: March 2023

Dirofilaria repensis an expanding vector-borne zoonotic parasite of canines and other carnivores. Sub-clinically infected dogs constitute the most important reservoir of the parasite and the source of infection for its mosquito vectors. However, occurrence ofD. repensinfection in wild animals may contribute to the transmission of the parasite to humans and may explain the endemicity of filariae in newly invaded regions. The aim of the current study was to determine the occurrence ofD. repensin 511 blood and spleen samples from seven species of wild carnivores (wolves, red foxes, Eurasian badgers, raccoons, raccoon dogs, stone martens, and pine martens) from different regions of Poland by means of a PCR protocol targeting the 12S rDNA gene.Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodeships in four of the seven regions of Poland: Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence was found in Masovia region (8%), coinciding with the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs in Central Poland. The DNA ofDirofilariawas detected in 16 samples of three species (total prevalence 3.13%). A low and similar percentage of positive samples (1.9%, 4.2% and 4.8%) was recorded among badgers, red foxes, and wolves, respectively.Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodships. Based on detection in different voivodeships,D. repens–positive animals were recorded in four out of the seven regions of Poland: in Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania, and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence of filariae was found in Masovia region (8%), reflecting the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs (12–50%) in Central Poland. In summary, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the epidemiology ofD. repensin seven species of wild hosts in all seven regions of Poland and identified the first case ofD. repensinfection in Eurasian badgers in Poland and the second in Europe.
Electrochemical sensors for the determination of 4-ethylguaiacol in wine
Authors: Portugal-Gómez Paula , Navarro-Cuñado A. Marta , Alonso-Lomillo M. Asunción , Domínguez-Renedo Olga
Published: March 2023

The development of an electrochemical procedure for the determination of 4-ethylguaiacol and its application to wine analysis is described. Modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with fullerene C60 (C60) have been shown to be efficient in this kind of analysis. The developed activated C60/SPCEs (AC60/SPCEs) were adequate for the determination of 4-ethylguaicol, showing a linear range from 200 to 1000 µg/L, a reproducibility of 7.6% and a capability of detection (CCβ) value of 200 µg/L, under optimized conditions. The selectivity of the AC60/SPCE sensors was evaluated in the presence of possibly interfering compounds, and their practical applicability was demonstrated  in the analysis of different wine samples obtaining recoveries ranging from 96 to 106%.

Graphical Abstract
Data generation framework for inverse modeling of nonlinear systems in structural dynamics applications
Authors: Milicevic Pavle , Altay Okyay
Published: March 2023

In structural dynamics, response modeling relies on parameters, which are to be identified by experiments. However, for satisfactory results, the design of such experiments is laborious and requires a comprehensive physical insight, which is limited. Furthermore, accurate models are high dimensional and can operate only with a large set of parameters, which increases the experimental effort even more. Efficient data sampling methods have been addressed in studies within areas of design of experiments and active learning. However, generating a data set for nonlinear dynamic systems poses an increased degree of difficulty, since the system needs to be guided through unknown dynamics to collect the desired data points. In this paper, we address this challenge by introducing a theoretical data generation framework for testing-integrated modeling. In the proposed framework, we use feedforward neural networks (FNNs) for inverse modeling of the nonlinear restoring force of the systems. By sequentially evaluating the accuracy of the trained model on a given test data set, the excitation signal applied on the system is adapted to generate optimal response data which allow the FNN model to learn the restoring force behavior. Hence, data generation is posed as an optimization problem and pattern search algorithm is used for sampling. The performance of the proposed framework is evaluated, and it is shown that it outperforms unsupervised sampling methods.
Customer-centric and function-oriented development of mechatronic systems
Authors: Zerwas T. , Jacobs G. , Brand L. , Dehn S. , Spütz K. , Höpfner G. , Matz C. , Guist C. , Berroth J. , Konrad C. , Kohl J.
Published: March 2023

Successful products at least precisely meet the customers’ expectations and, in the best case, exceed them. To develop successful products, customer expectations must be translated into requirements. With the increasing functionalities of products in recent years, the customers’ expectations regarding product interaction and its behavior in different environmental conditions have also become more extensive. Current approaches of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) enable developing complex mechatronic products seamlessly from requirements to functions and solutions on a parameter level. However, there is a lack of approaches that systematically translate complex customer expectations into functional and design requirements as a starting point for further development.

In this contribution we present a method and a corresponding meta-model that allows to systematically formalize the dependencies of different stakeholders and their expectations as well as different environmental conditions and constraints. From these dependencies, operating states are elicited that represent a set of simultaneously valid stakeholder expectations with their corresponding constraints. From these operating states, functional and design requirements are systematically derived as a basis for the model-based design of the system under development. Our meta-model is compatible to the established modeling language SysML, thus, existing approaches for the function-oriented model-based system development can benefit directly from these formally modeled requirements.

Our publication signposts the potential for systematic and formal translation of customer expectations into operating states as well as requirements and thus enables a targeted, customer-centric and function-oriented development of mechatronic systems. We applied our method in an interdisciplinary, industrial project using the example of a thermal management system of a battery electric vehicle.
LORA: a local ensemble transform Kalman filter-based ocean research analysis
Authors: Ohishi Shun , Miyoshi Takemasa , Kachi Misako
Published: March 2023

We have produced an eddy-resolving local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF)-based ocean research analysis (LORA) for the western North Pacific (WNP) and Maritime Continent (MC) regions (LORA-WNP and LORA-MC, respectively). This paper describes the system configuration and validation comparisons with Japan Coastal Ocean Predictability Experiment 2M (JCOPE2M) reanalysis and Archiving, Validation, and Interpretation of Satellite Oceanographic Data (AVISO) observational datasets. The results show that the surface horizontal velocity in the LORA-WNP is closer to independent drifter buoy observations in the mid-latitude region, especially along the Kuroshio Extension (KE), and is less close in the subtropical region than the JCOPE2M, although the AVISO is the closest over the whole domain. The sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the LORA-WNP correspond better to assimilated satellite observations than the JCOPE2M over most of the domain except for coastal regions. The results using an independent buoy south of the KE indicate that better fit of temperature in the LORA-WNP may be limited to the upper 300 m depth, probably because of the prescribed vertical localization cutoff length of 370 m. In the MC region, the surface velocity in the LORA-MC is closer to the independent drifter buoys in the equatorial coastal region and is less close in the offshore region than the AVISO. The SSTs in the LORA-MC correspond better to the assimilated satellite observations in the offshore region than the nearshore region. Therefore, the LORA-WNP and LORA-MC have sufficient accuracy for geoscience research applications as well as for fisheries, marine transport, and environment consultants.
On Scaling Properties for Two-State Problems and for a Singularly Perturbed $T_{3}$ Structure
Authors: Raiţă Bogdan , Rüland Angkana , Tissot Camillo
Published: March 2023

In this article we study quantitative rigidity properties for the compatible and incompatible two-state problems for suitable classes of$\mathcal{A}$A-free differential inclusions and for a singularly perturbed$T_{3}$T3structure for the divergence operator. In particular, in the compatible setting of the two-state problem we prove that all homogeneous, first order, linear operators with affine boundary data which enforce oscillations yield the typical$\epsilon ^{\frac{2}{3}}$ϵ23-lower scaling bounds. As observed in Chan and Conti (Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci. 25(06):1091–1124, 2015) for higher order operators this may no longer be the case. Revisiting the example from Chan and Conti (Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci. 25(06):1091–1124, 2015), we show that this is reflected in the structure of the associated symbols and that this can be exploited for a new Fourier based proof of the lower scaling bound. Moreover, building on Rüland and Tribuzio (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 243(1):401–431, 2022); Garroni and Nesi (Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A, Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 460(2046):1789–1806, 2004,https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2003.1249); Palombaro and Ponsiglione (Asymptot. Anal. 40(1):37–49, 2004), we discuss the scaling behavior of a$T_{3}$T3structure for the divergence operator. We prove that as in Rüland and Tribuzio (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 243(1):401–431, 2022) this yields a non-algebraic scaling law.
Exploiting time-varying RFM measures for customer churn prediction with deep neural networks
Authors: Mena Gary , Coussement Kristof , De Bock Koen W. , De Caigny Arno , Lessmann Stefan
Published: March 2023

Deep neural network (DNN) architectures such as recurrent neural networks and transformers display outstanding performance in modeling sequential unstructured data. However, little is known about their merit to model customer churn with time-varying data. The paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the ability of recurrent neural networks and transformers for customer churn prediction (CCP) using time-varying behavioral features in the form of recency, frequency, and monetary value (RFM). RFM variables are the backbone of CCP and, more generally, customer behavior forecasting. We examine alternative strategies for integrating time-varying and non-variant customer features in one network architecture. In this scope, we also assess hybrid approaches that incorporate the outputs of DNNs in conventional CCP models. Using a comprehensive panel data set from a large financial services company, we find recurrent neural networks to outperform transformer architectures when focusing on time-varying RFM features. This finding is confirmed when time-invariant customer features are included, independent of the specific form of feature integration. Finally, we find no statistical evidence that hybrid approaches (based on regularized logistic regression and extreme gradient boosting) improve predictive performance—highlighting that DNNs and especially recurrent neural networks are suitable standalone classifiers for CCP using time-varying RFM measures.
Unpacking Inequities in ADHD Diagnosis: Examining Individual-Level Race/Ethnicity and State-Level Online Information-Seeking Patterns
Authors: Zhao Xin , Hayes Timothy , Timmons Adela C. , Wu Wensong , Frazier Stacy L.
Published: March 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent, persistent, and costly mental health condition. The internet is an increasingly popular source for information related to ADHD. With a nationally representative sample (2018 NSCH), we aimed to separate individual- and state-level effects to examine inequities in ADHD diagnoses. We extracted state-level relative search volumes using “ADHD,” “ADHD treatment,” “ADHD medication,” and “ADHD therapy” from Google Trends, and sociodemographic and clinical variables from the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (N = 26,835). We examined state variation in ADHD-related information-seeking and applied multilevel modeling to examine associations among individual-level race/ethnicity, state-level information-seeking patterns, and ADHD diagnoses. Online information seeking related to ADHD varies by state and search term. Individual-level racial/ethnic background and state-level information-seeking patterns were associated with ADHD diagnoses; however, their cross-level interaction was not significant. This study adds to the strong body of evidence documenting geographical variation and diagnostic disparity in mental health and the growing literature on the impact of the digital divide on population health, indicating an urgent need for addressing inequities in mental health care. Increasing public interest in and access to empirically supported online information may increase access to care, especially among people of color.
Harmonizing multi-stakeholder interests to improve forest conservation in Southern Kenya
Authors: Habel Jan Christian , Schultze-Gebhardt Kathrin , Maghenda Marianne , Shauri Halimu , Kioko Esther , Mwagura Lawrence , Teucher Mike
Published: March 2023

The cloud forests of the Taita Hills are valuable refuges for numerous endemic and rare animal and plant species. They also provide various ecosystem services that support subsistence farming. Due to the large-scale destruction and conversion of these species-rich natural forests into subsistence agriculture and plantations of exotic tree species, most of the natural cloud forest habitats have disappeared and ecosystem services have been significantly diminished. Despite numerous conservation initiatives, the destruction of the Taita Hills forest ecosystem continues, which also lowers livelihood quality of the local people. During a workshop with representatives of GOs, NGOs, researchers and representatives of the local community we identified potential factors which are essential to reverse this negative trend. We found that governance structures urgently need to be strengthened, and that the traditional conservation system needs to get transformed and revitalised. The basic prerequisite is a vital communication among generations, especially between the youth and the elders, as well as and improved communication of scientific knowledge to policy makers and the society. Furthermore, it is essential to harmonize stakeholders’ mandates, policies and actions to efficiently restore this unique forest biodiversity hotspot, and to secure livelihood needs for the local people.
Optimal Frequency-Response Corrections for Eddy Covariance Flux Measurements Using the Wiener Deconvolution Method
Authors: Emad Anas
Published: March 2023

We describe a new direct correction approach to accurately restore frequency attenuated eddy covariance (EC) measurements. The new approach utilizes the Wiener deconvolution method to optimally estimate the original signal from noisy atmospheric measurements. Key features over conventional EC spectral correction methods include (i) the use of physics-based response functions, (ii) the ability to account for the non-linear phase contributions, and (iii) the direct restoration of the original signal rather than simulating the effect on an ideal reference spectrum. The new correction approach is compared to conventional spectral correction methods in a numerical simulation where the magnitude of the key limitations of conventional methods is explored under conditions relevant to common EC set-ups. The simulation results showed that the spectral correction methods commonly used for calculating EC fluxes introduced systematic error up to 10% to the restored fluxes and substantially increased their random uncertainty. The errors are attributed to the effect of using inappropriate response functions, failing to account for the contribution of the non-linear phase, and due to the assumption of spectral similarity on the scale of averaging intervals. The Wiener deconvolution method is versatile, can be applied under non-ideal conditions, and provides an opportunity to unify analytical and “in-situ” spectral correction methods by applying existing transfer functions to directly restore attenuated spectra. Furthermore, the Wiener deconvolution approach is adaptable for use with various micrometeorological measurement techniques such as eddy accumulation and flux profile measurements.
Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms: Status and Future Directions of a Research Field
Authors: Stock Christoph , Pütz Laura , Schell Sabrina , Werner Arndt
Published: March 2023

This systematic literature review contributes to the increasing interest regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) in family firms—a research field that has developed considerably in the last few years. It now provides the opportunity to take a holistic view on the relationship dynamics—i.e., drivers, activities, outcomes, and contextual influences—of family firms with CSR, thus enabling a more coherent organization of current research and a sounder understanding of the phenomenon. To conceptualize the research field, we analyzed 122 peer-reviewed articles published in highly ranked journals identifying the main issues examined. The results clearly show a lack of research regarding CSR outcomes in family firms. Although considered increasingly crucial in family firm research, a study investigating family outcomes (e.g., family community status, family emotional well-being), as opposed to firm outcomes, is missing. This literature review outlines the current state of research and contributes to the actual debate on CSR in family firms by discussing how family firms can use CSR activities as strategic management tools. Moreover, our analysis shows a black box indicating how CSR links different antecedents and outcomes. The black box is significant since firms generally need to know where to allocate their scarce resources to generate the best outcomes. We identify nine research questions based on these findings, which we hope will inspire future research.
Multi-source data approach for personalized outcome prediction in lung cancer screening: update from the NELSON trial
Authors: Sidorenkov Grigory , Stadhouders Ralph , Jacobs Colin , Mohamed Hoesein Firdaus A.A. , Gietema Hester A. , Nackaerts Kristiaan , Saghir Zaigham , Heuvelmans Marjolein A. , Donker Hylke C. , Aerts Joachim G. , Vermeulen Roel , Uitterlinden Andre , Lenters Virissa , van Rooij Jeroen , Schaefer-Prokop Cornelia , Groen Harry J.M. , de Jong Pim A. , Cornelissen Robin , Prokop Mathias , de Bock Geertruida H. , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn
Published: March 2023

Trials show that low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening in long-term (ex-)smokers reduces lung cancer mortality. However, many individuals were exposed to unnecessary diagnostic procedures. This project aims to improve the efficiency of lung cancer screening by identifying high-risk participants, and improving risk discrimination for nodules. This study is an extension of the Dutch-Belgian Randomized Lung Cancer Screening Trial, with a focus on personalized outcome prediction (NELSON-POP). New data will be added on genetics, air pollution, malignancy risk for lung nodules, and CT biomarkers beyond lung nodules (emphysema, coronary calcification, bone density, vertebral height and body composition). The roles of polygenic risk scores and air pollution in screen-detected lung cancer diagnosis and survival will be established. The association between the AI-based nodule malignancy score and lung cancer will be evaluated at baseline and incident screening rounds. The association of chest CT imaging biomarkers with outcomes will be established. Based on these results, multisource prediction models for pre-screening and post-baseline-screening participant selection and nodule management will be developed. The new models will be externally validated. We hypothesize that we can identify 15–20% participants with low-risk of lung cancer or short life expectancy and thus prevent ~140,000 Dutch individuals from being screened unnecessarily. We hypothesize that our models will improve the specificity of nodule management by 10% without loss of sensitivity as compared to assessment of nodule size/growth alone, and reduce unnecessary work-up by 40–50%.
Arriving at a Good Port: Urban and Historical Archaeology in Three Cities of the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Rivera-Sandoval Javier
Published: March 2023

Colombian urban archaeology has been growing since the 1990s, particularly in Caribbean cities such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta. The investigations generally respond to the need to comply with protection regulations of archaeological heritage in restoration projects of Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC, the Spanish acronym for Bienes de Interés Cultural), located in historic centers or urban infrastructure works. The results have allowed for the reconstruction of various aspects of daily life in these cities since their foundation, but they have also uncovered data on previous occupations of those same spaces during the pre-Hispanic period. There is still a need to consolidate adequate work strategies adjusted to the needs and particularities of these contexts, which increasingly require the execution of this type of archaeology project.
'I Have Seen STEM in Action and It's Quite Do-able!' The Impact of an Extended Professional Development Model on Teacher Efficacy in Primary STEM Education
Authors: O’Dwyer Anne , Hourigan Mairéad , Leavy Aisling M. , Corry Edward
Published: March 2023

Interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has gained momentum due to increasing calls for a more STEM-literate society. As teaching integrated STEM poses curricular and pedagogical challenges for most generalist primary teachers, professional development (PD) is essential to support them to develop appropriate knowledge and efficacy to teach STEM. This paper presents a qualitative study of 17 primary teachers, 2 school principals and the PD facilitator. It explores the perceived impact of a customised three-phase STEM PD program on teacher efficacy in STEM education using Bandura’s (1977) sources of efficacy as an analytic lens. The findings illustrate how particular features of the PD model were identified as contributing to the development of participating teachers’ performance accomplishment, emotional arousal, vicarious experiences and verbal persuasion. In particular, there was consensus that the developmental structure of the STEM PD program, in terms of teachers’ assuming increasing ownership for their STEM learning, incrementally enhanced teacher efficacy in STEM education. Implications of this study for STEM education and in particular STEM PD are discussed fully.
Characteristics of Young People who use Family Violence in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: An Age-based Analysis
Authors: Sheed Abigail , McEwan Troy , Simmons Melanie , Spivak Benjamin , Papalia Nina
Published: March 2023

Purpose

There is a lack of research examining age-related differences in the characteristics of young people who use family violence between key developmental periods. This study provides a population-based descriptive overview of young people who come to police attention for using family violence and examines how characteristics differ across early adolescence (10–14 years), late adolescence (15–19 years) and young adulthood (20–24 years).

Method

The sample comprised all youth aged 10–24 years (N = 5014) who were reported to police for using family violence over a four-month period in 2019. Chi-square analyses with odds ratios as a measure of effect size were used to examine age-related differences in sociodemographic, psychosocial, and family violence-related characteristics across the three age groups. A Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to examine age-based differences in time to family violence recidivism.

Results

Findings suggested that young people who used family violence were typically male, disproportionately from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and a significant minority experienced mental health issues. Substance abuse and unemployment/school truancy were higher among those in late adolescence and young adulthood, while accessibility needs, and childhood victimisation were highest among those in early adolescence. Child-to-parent abuse was highest among those in early- and late-adolescence, while intimate partner abuse was highest among those in young adulthood. There was no significant difference in time to family violence recidivism among the groups.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the variation in characteristics of youth family violence according to three key developmental periods. Such information may be used to inform assessment and intervention approaches for this cohort.
Glutathione-Capped ZnS Quantum Dots-Urease Conjugate as a Highly Sensitive Urea Probe
Authors: Metwly Wafaa , Fadl Eman , Soliman Moataz , Ebrahim Shaker , Sabra Sally A.
Published: March 2023

Quantum dots (QDs) possess characteristic chemical and optical features. In this light, ZnS QDs capped with glutathione (GSH) were synthesized via an easy aqueous co-precipitation technique. Fabricated QDs were characterized in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Zeta potential analyses. Optical properties were examined using photoluminescence (PL) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible) spectroscopies. Moreover, GSH-capped ZnS QDs were evaluated as an optical probe for non-enzymatic detection of urea depending on the quenching of PL intensity of ZnS QDs in the presence of urea from concentration range of 0.5–5 mM with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.995, sensitivity of 0.0875 mM−1 and LOD of 0.426 mM. Furthermore, GSH-capped ZnS QDs-urease conjugate was utilized as an optical probe for enzymatic detection of urea in the range from 1.0 µM to 5.0 mM. Interestingly, it was observed that urea has a good affinity towards ZnS QDs-urease conjugate with a linear relationship between the change of PL intensity and urea concentration. It was found that R2 is 0.997 with a sensitivity of 0.042 mM−1 for mM concentration (0.5–5 mM) and LOD of 0.401 mM. In case of µM concentration range (1–100 µM), R2 was 0.971 with a sensitivity of 0.0024 µM−1 and LOD of 0.687 µM. These data suggest that enzyme conjugation to capped QDs might improve their sensitivity and applicability.

Graphical Abstract
New seismic monitoring center in South America to assess the liquefaction risk posed by subduction earthquakes
Authors: Arango-Serna Sebastián , Gallo Leonardo , Zambrano Jose H. , Cruz Alejandro , Sandoval Eimar , Thomson Peter
Published: March 2023

The east of Cali is composed of loose sand deposits with high water table levels. This condition and the high seismic hazard of the city make cyclic liquefaction one of the main hazards in the city, which may affect more than 600,000 citizens and important infrastructures such as the city’s main drinking water treatment plants. Therefore, it was decided to design and implement a seismic monitoring center to study the behavior of liquefiable soils under local seismogenic conditions, in which subduction earthquakes predominate. First, more than 130 earthquakes from two seismic monitoring centers with liquefiable layers in the USA were studied to determine the requirements for the adequate design of the monitoring center. Then, a robust geotechnical and seismic characterization of the study area including SPT, CPTu, and seismic and ambient noise tests were carried out. From this information, the specifications and location of the instruments and, in general, the characteristics of the monitoring center were defined. The monitoring center has been planned to be established in two stages, and the first one has already been built and commissioned. The implementation of the first stage allowed to adequately record 35 earthquakes from different seismogenic sources, most of them from subduction earthquakes, and to verify that the potentially liquefiable layer remains saturated throughout the year. Subsequent ground motion sensors will allow to deeply study and understand large shear strains and excess pore pressures generation in the soil deposit, as well as their relationships with different intensity measures. The experience shared herein can benefit the design, construction, and operation of other seismic monitoring centers across the world.
Habitat connectivity supports the local abundance of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) but also the spread of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
Authors: Bolte Leonard , Goudarzi Forough , Klenke Reinhard , Steinfartz Sebastian , Grimm-Seyfarth Annegret , Henle Klaus
Published: March 2023

Context

Habitat connectivity can stabilise animal populations by facilitating immigration and genetic exchange, but it increases the risk of infectious diseases being spread by hosts. Chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) threatens European salamander diversity. The extent to which the connectivity of populations of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) contributes to the spread of Bsal remains unclear.

Objectives

We analysed the impact of habitat connectivity of fire salamanders on the spread of Bsal. Moreover, we show how local salamander abundance is associated with habitat connectivity over a five-year period.

Methods

We developed fire salamander habitat suitability models (HSMs) for the Eifel area (Germany), currently considered the core of the range of Bsal in Europe. Habitat models were used to calculate pairwise resistance between salamander occurrences to test whether Bsal presence and salamander abundance were associated with habitat connectivity.

Results

Fire salamanders are widely distributed in the Eifel. Solid bedrock and topographic positioning were important predictors of stream suitability as breeding habitats, while deciduous forests and grassland cover determined overall fire salamander habitat suitability along with breeding habitat suitability. Bsal-positive salamander occurrences were better-connected than Bsal-negative or untested occurrences. Nevertheless, fire salamander larvae were more abundant in well-connected sites.

Conclusion

The connection of salamander populations by suitable habitat seems to support local salamander abundance while facilitating the spread of Bsal. In situ conservation measures counteracting host species connectivity to interrupt Bsal transmission pathways must be implemented with caution, as they may weaken the demographic advantages of connectivity.
Effects of multicultural education on student engagement in low- and high-concentration classrooms: the mediating role of student relationships
Authors: Abacioglu Ceren S. , Epskamp Sacha , Fischer Agneta H. , Volman Monique
Published: March 2023

Having positive and meaningful social connections is one of the basic psychological needs of students. The satisfaction of this need is directly related to students’ engagement—a robust predictor of educational achievement. However, schools continue to be sites of interethnic tension and the educational achievement of ethnically-minoritized students still lags behind that of their ethnic majority peers. The goal of the present study was to provide a quantitative account of the current segregated learning environments in terms of multicultural curriculum and instruction, as well as their possible impact on student outcomes that can mitigate these challenges. Drawing upon Self-Determination Theory, we investigated the extent to which the use of multicultural practices can improve students’ engagement and whether this relationship is mediated by students’ peer relationships. With data from 34 upper primary school classroom teachers and their 708 students, our multigroup analysis using structural equation modeling indicated that, in classrooms with a low (compared with high) minoritized student concentration, peer relationships can mediate the positive as well as negative effects of different dimensions of multicultural education on student engagement.
Not every pronoun is always a pronoun
Authors: Ruys E. G.
Published: March 2023

A homonymy analysis is proposed to explain the so-called “demonstrative use” of personal pronouns. This analysis explains why some pronouns (it) do not allow a demonstrative use, as demonstrated in Nunberg (1993). The absence of a demonstrative feature initcan also account for the fact that it does not allow deferred reference. It is argued on the basis of the structure of the nominal demonstrative paradigm that the homonymy analysis is more parsimonious than a single-item analysis.
Forecasting the circum-Mediterranean firs (Abies spp., Pinaceae) distribution: an assessment of a threatened conifers’ group facing climate change in the twenty-first century
Authors: López-Tirado Javier , Moreno-García Manuel , Romera-Romera Daniel , Zarco Virginia , Hidalgo Pablo J.
Published: March 2023

This study examines 10 different taxa within the genus Abies identified in the circum-Mediterranean area: A. alba, A. borisii-regis, A. cephalonica, A. cilicica, A. nebrodensis, A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, A. nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana, A. numidica, A. pinsapo var. marocana and A. pinsapo var. pinsapo. We assess the potential distribution of these species in the Mediterranean Basin, most of Central-Northern Europe and Asia Minor through analysis of 8 bioclimatic variables. First, the potential distribution (suitability area) was calculated with Biomod2 package for R using 10 algorithms. Models were ensembled for the present period and then projected into two climate change scenarios (an intermediate and the most extreme) within two time slices (2041–2060 and 2081–2100) and two Global Circulation Models (GCMs). The analysis showed an increase in total suitable area under both forecasted scenarios. Abies spp. appeared to be resilient against climate change, showing a latitudinal and longitudinal migration trend in response to the loss of current habitats. A proposal of assisted migration (managed relocation) is suggested as an interesting alternative to guarantee the preservation of the most endangered species by promoting the establishment of new populations outside of their historical distribution area.
Religiosity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a cross-country comparison
Authors: Ciećwierska Katarzyna , Lulé Dorothée , Helczyk Olga , Nieporęcki Krzysztof , Bielecki Maksymilian , Baader Susanne , Ludolph Albert C. , Kuźma-Kozakiewicz Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor impairment leading to early death. Religiousness is one of the factors potentially alleviating the psychological burden of patients. However, its role might vary according to cultural context. Our study aimed to analyze religiosity, and its clinical, psychological and socio-demographic correlates in ALS patients and controls, comparing two European countries with different cultural backgrounds.

Methods

268 Polish and German ALS patients, including 18 with locked-in syndrome (LIS) and 198 healthy controls (HC) were interviewed about religiousness, quality of life (Qol), depression, functional status and pain. A follow-up was conducted on 71 patients.

Results

Polish subjects had a significantly higher level of public, private and general religiosity than the German sample. Importantly, we found no difference in total and public religiousness between ALS patients and HC within either population. Only the private religiousness was significantly higher in German patients compared to controls. In the same sample, private religiousness correlated with functional impairment due to disease progression. In ALS groups and LIS patients, religiousness did not correlate with any disease-associated factors: disease duration, pain, Qol or depression. Follow-up comparisons in the ALS group revealed worsening functional status, increased depression and no significant change in religiosity.

Conclusions

Religiosity was linked to the cultural background rather than ALS. Generally, it did not correlate with clinical, psychological and socio-demographic parameters and was stable throughout disease progression. The only exception was the relationship between the functional decline and private religiosity among German patients.
Describing the health-related quality of life of Māori adults in Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu (New Zealand)
Authors: Sullivan Trudy , McCarty Georgia , Wyeth Emma , Turner Robin M. , Derrett Sarah
Published: March 2023

Purpose

In Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu (New Zealand; NZ) there are considerable inequities in health status and outcomes for Māori, the Indigenous peoples of NZ. It is therefore important that the health status and preferences of Māori are specifically considered in healthcare policy and decision making. This paper describes the health-related quality of life of 390 Māori adults who took part in the NZ EQ-5D-5L valuation study.

Methods

Responses on the five dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L were dichotomised into “no problems” and “any problems”, summarised and disaggregated by age group. Mean preference weights were reported by age group and overall. Mean utility values (calculated by applying each participant’s preference weights to their EQ-5D-5L profile) were summed and respective means and standard deviations reported by age, chronic disease status and disability.

Results

The EQ-5D-5L dimensions with the highest proportion of participants reporting any problems were pain/discomfort (61.5%) and anxiety/depression (50%). The most commonly-reported chronic disease was mental illness/distress (24.6%). Anxiety/depression ranked as the most important dimension, with usual activities, the least important. The mean utility value was 0.83 with the lowest value (0.79) found in the 18–24 and 45–54 age groups. For participants with at least one chronic disease the mean utility value was 0.76 compared to 0.91 for those with none.

Conclusion

To reduce inequities experienced by Māori it is crucial that the health status of Māori and the values Māori place on health-related quality of life are properly understood. This can only be achieved using Māori-specific data.
Gender Stereotypes Selectively Affect the Remembering of Highly Valued Professions
Authors: Sebastián-Tirado Alba , Félix-Esbrí Sonia , Forn Cristina , Sanchis-Segura Carla
Published: March 2023

This study includes two experiments designed to assess the effects of occupational gender-related stereotypes on information processing and memory performance. These two experiments were conducted in two separate cohorts of undergraduate students (N = 107 and N = 96, respectively). In each of them, we assessed (and confirmed) the presence of an implicit association preferentially linking high status attributes to men using the Implicit Association Test (IAT). We also assessed the effective incorporation of this association into gender-schemata and its consequences for information processing with a memory task that involved remembering the feminine and masculine forms of high or low status professional occupations. Results indicated that, independently of their gender, participants were more likely to forget and less likely to falsely recall the feminine forms of high status professions, whereas the opposite was true for the masculine forms of high status professions. The magnitude of these memory biases was correlated with the IAT scores. Moreover, in agreement with the predictions of gender-schemata theory, these memory biases (and their correlations with IAT scores) were predominantly observed when participants were not adverted that their recall would be evaluated later on (incidental-encoding memory task; Experiment 1), but less so when participants were explicitly instructed to memorize the same feminine and masculine forms of high or low status professional occupations (intentional encoding memory task; Experiment 2). Taken together, these results call into question the notion that gender stereotypes about professional occupations are declining, and they highlight a “men-high-status” association as a major component of these occupational stereotypes.
A Mean Value Theorem for Tangentially Convex Functions
Authors: Martínez-Legaz Juan Enrique
Published: March 2023

The main result is an equality type mean value theorem for tangentially convex functions in terms of tangential subdifferentials, which generalizes the classical one for differentiable functions, as well as Wegge theorem for convex functions. The new mean value theorem is then applied, analogously to what is done in the classical case, to characterize, in the tangentially convex context, Lipschitz functions, increasingness with respect to the ordering induced by a closed convex cone, convexity, and quasiconvexity.
Fungicide sensitivity of grapevine bacteria with plant growth-promoting traits and antagonistic activity as non-target microorganisms
Authors: Andreolli Marco , Lampis Silvia , Tosi Lorenzo , Marano Viviana , Zapparoli Giacomo
Published: March 2023

This study evaluates the capacity of commercial formulations of synthetic fungicides to inhibit grapevine bacterial growth when sprayed on vineyards to control diseases, such as downy mildew, powdery mildew and secondary rots. Fungicide sensitivity plate assays were carried out on bacteria isolated from vineyards that were also identified and characterized for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and antifungal activity. The high taxonomic variability of bacteria screened with different chemical classes of fungicides is one new finding of this study. Seven out of 11 fungicides were able to inhibit the growth of bacteria at a concentration corresponding to the maximum dose allowed by law in spray treatments of vineyards. Bacterial sensitivity to each fungicide varied greatly. Many sensitive isolates displayed PGP traits and/or antagonistic activity. This study shows the potential impact of fungicidal treatments on grapevine bacterial microbiota. The involvement of bacteria beneficial to the growth and health of plants underlines the importance of this investigation. Our data reveal that the control of a certain disease may be possible using fungicides that have no or low impact on natural non-target microbiota. Understanding the action mechanisms of the active ingredients in these products is a priority for the development of new eco-friendly pesticides.
U.S. House Prices by Census Division: Persistence, Trends and Structural Breaks
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Gil-Alana Luis Alberiko
Published: March 2023

This paper uses fractional integration methods to examine persistence, trends and structural breaks in United States house prices, more specifically the monthly Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index for census divisions, and the United States as a whole over the period from January 1991 to August 2022. The full sample estimates imply that the order of integration of the series is above one in all cases, and is particularly high for the aggregate series, implying high levels of persistence. However, when the possibility of structural breaks is taken into account, segmented trends are detected. The subsample estimates of the fractional differencing parameter tend to be lower, with mean reversion occurring in a number of cases. This means that shocks in the series are expected to be transitory in these subsamples, disappearing in the long run by themselves. In addition, the time trend coefficient is at its highest in the last subsample, which in most cases starts around May 2020 coincident with the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The results provide clear evidence of differences between census divisions, which implies that appropriate housing policies should be designed at the local (rather than at the federal) level.
Dissipation kinetics and exposure of spirotetramat and pymetrozine in open fields, a prelude to risk assessment of green bean consumption
Authors: Malhat Farag , Bakery Mona , Abdallah Osama , Youssef Mohamed , Ghany Walaa Abd El , Abdallah Amira , Greish Sarah , Gaber Mona M. , Purnama Indra , Abdelsalam Shokr , Ahmed Mohamed Tawfic
Published: March 2023

Determination and dissipation kinetics of pymetrozine and spirotetramat in green bean were studied using a QuEChERS method coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pymetrozine recoveries ranged between 88.4–93.7%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5.5–14.4%. For spirotetramat the recoveries ranged between 91.7–103.4%, and the RSD were in the range of 3.2 to 12.4%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01 mg/kg and 0.005 mg/kg for pymetrozine and spirotetramat, respectively.

The developed analytical method was used to study the degradation rates of pymetrozine and spirotetramat in green bean grown in open field. Results showed that pymetrozine and spirotetramat followed the first-order kinetics model with half-lives of 3.3 days and 4.2 days, respectively. Furthermore, risk assessment was carried out which showed that, the chronic risk quotient (RQc) values for pymetrozine and spirotetramat were much lower than 100%. The present results indicated that the health risks posed for consumers by the pymetrozine and spirotetramat residues were negligible at the recommended dosages.
Green composites based on volcanic red algae Cyanidiales, cellulose, and coffee waste biomass modified with magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of methylene blue
Authors: Pietrzyk Paulina , Borowska Ewa Izabela , Hejduk Patrycja , Camargo Bruno Cury , Warczak Magdalena , Nguyen Thu Phuong , Pregowska Agnieszka , Gniadek Marianna , Szczytko Jacek , Wilczewski Sławomir , Osial Magdalena
Published: March 2023

In this paper, green nanocomposites based on biomass and superparamagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and used as adsorbents to remove methylene blue (MB) from water with magnetic separation. The adsorbents were synthesized through the wet co-precipitation technique, in which iron-oxide nanoparticles coated the cores based on coffee, cellulose, and red volcanic algae waste. The procedure resulted in materials that could be easily separated from aqueous solutions with magnets. The morphology and chemical composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, and XPS methods. The adsorption studies of MB removal with UV-vis spectrometry showed that the adsorption performance of the prepared materials strongly depended on their morphology and the type of the organic adsorbent. The adsorption studies presented the highest effectiveness in neutral pH with only a slight effect on ionic strength. The MB removal undergoes pseudo-second kinetics for all adsorbents. The maximal adsorption capacity for the coffee@Fe3O4–2, cellulose@Fe3O4–1, and algae@Fe3O4–1 is 38.23 mg g−1, 41.61 mg g−1, and 48.41 mg g−1, respectively. The mechanism of MB adsorption follows the Langmuir model using coffee@Fe3O4and cellulose@Fe3O4, while for algae@Fe3O4the process fits to the Redlich-Peterson model. The removal efficiency analysis based on UV-vis adsorption spectra revealed that the adsorption effectiveness of the nanocomposites increased as follows: coffee@Fe3O4–2 > cellulose@Fe3O4–1 > algae@Fe3O4–1, demonstrating an MB removal efficiency of up to 90%.