bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships between objective and subjective socioeconomic status and physical health among adolescents in South Korea
Authors: Kim Sue‐Lynn , Yoo Joan P.
Published: May 2022

This study seeks to broaden the understanding of socioeconomic health disparities among Korean adolescents. Specifically, we examine the pathways from objective SES and subjective SES to physical health through a psychosocial perspective. To this end, stress and self‐efficacy, which have been identified as critical psychosocial factors associated with SES, and physical activity, one of the most representative health behaviors during this period, are included as mediating variables in the research model. We utilize data from the 3rd year survey of the Seoul Education and Health Welfare Panel (2016), which consists of responses from 680 adolescents and parents. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the responses. The results show that sSES is directly associated with the physical health of adolescents. Meanwhile, oSES is indirectly associated with physical health and has two distinct psychosocial pathways to physical health according to whether or not the effect is mediated by sSES. Finally, we discuss the implications of the study findings.
Mothers' and fathers' views on the importance of play for their children's development: Gender differences, academic activities, and the parental role
Authors: Waters Gillian M. , Tidswell Georgina R. , Bryant Eleanor J.
Published: May 2022

Background

Play is a main driver of children's cognitive and social development and is crucial for educational success (Paediatrics, 119, 2007 and 182). In recent years, however, parents and schools are under pressure to prioritize academic targets over play.

Aims

The current research investigated parents' views about three aspects of their children's play and academic activities.

Sample

Predominantly highly educated UK parents (109 mothers and 49 fathers) were recruited via social media.

Method

Participants were asked to complete an amended online version of the Preschool Play and Learning Questionnaire (International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28, 2004 and 97). The questionnaire consisted of 25 items covering three themes: the importance of play for children's development, the importance of academic activities, and the importance of parents' role in their children's development. The independent variables were the gender of the parent, the gender of their child, and the age group of their child (4–7 years, or 8–11 years).

Results

Parents rated play higher than academic activities or their own roles, but the difference was not noteworthy. However, fathers rated academic activities and the parents' role significantly higher than mothers did. In addition, parents of girls rated academic activities and their own role significantly higher than parents of boys.

Conclusions

The findings of the current research highlight gender divisions between parents and towards boys and girls regarding the importance of education. Gender roles appear to influence the way parents think about the academic activities their children partake in.
Application of qualitative value of information to prioritize uncertainties about eastern black rail population recovery
Authors: Lawson Abigail J. , Kalasz Kevin , Runge Michael C. , Schwarzer Amy C. , Stantial Michelle L. , Woodrey Mark , Lyons James E.
Published: May 2022

Natural resource management decisions are often made in the face of uncertainty. The question for the decision maker is whether the uncertainty is an impediment to the decision and, if so, whether it is worth reducing uncertainty before or while implementing actions. Value of information (VoI) methods are decision analytical tools to evaluate the benefit to the decision maker of resolving uncertainty. These methods, however, require quantitative predictions of the outcomes as a function of management alternatives and uncertainty, in which predictions which may not be available at early stages of decision prototyping. Here we describe the first participatory application of a new qualitative approach to VoI in an adaptive management workshop for Atlantic Coast eastern black rail populations. The eastern black rail is a small, cryptic marsh bird that was recently listed as federally threatened, with extremely little demographic data available. Workshop participants developed conceptual models and nine hypotheses related to the effects of habitat management alternatives on black rail demography. Here, we describe the qualitative VoI framework, how it was implemented in the workshop, and the analysis outcomes, and describe the benefits of qualitative VoI in the context of adaptive management and co‐production of conservation science.
Assessment of the prevalence of burnout and well‐being in solid organ transplant pharmacists
Authors: Harris Matt , Pilch Nicole , Doligalski Christina T. , Henricksen Erik , Melaragno Jennifer , Lichvar Alicia
Published: May 2022

Background

Solid organ transplant (SOT) pharmacist burnout and well‐being has not been described.

Methods

A survey of SOT pharmacists was distributed to transplant pharmacy organization listservs. Burnout was assessed with the full 22 item Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI‐HSS‐MP) and well‐being was assessed with the Mayo Well‐Being Index (WBI). Logistic multivariate regression was constructed to identify risk factors for a composite burnout assessment.

Results

In total, 230 responses were included (estimated response rate 36.2%). Survey participants were predominantly Caucasian (80.4%), female (79.1%), married/partnered (67.4%), and were within the first 5 years of practice (32.2%) as clinical pharmacist/specialists (87%). According to the MBI‐HSS‐MP, 63% met criteria for burnout. Comparing the groups with or without burnout, low quality of life (40.4% vs. 9.5%; P<.001), extreme fatigue (52.1% vs. 19%; P<.001), and likelihood of leaving the job for reasons other than retirement (38.5% vs. 10.7%; P<.001) were more common. The incidence of SOT pharmacists with WBI scores ≥ 5 (decreased well‐being) was 26.5%. Among clinical pharmacists, risk factors for burnout included > 10 h per week of clinical duties outside of transplant (OR 2.669, P = .021) and extreme fatigue (OR 3.473, P<.001).

Conclusions

Pharmacist burnout in SOT practice was similar to that reported in various pharmacy specialties (53–61%), which impacts clinical workforce retention and personal well‐being.
The latitudinal gradient in plant community assembly processes: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Nishizawa Keita , Shinohara Naoto , Cadotte Marc W. , Mori Akira S.
Published: May 2022

Beta(β)‐diversity, or site‐to‐site variation in species composition, generally decreases with increasing latitude, and the underlying processes driving this pattern have been challenging to elucidate because the signals of community assembly processes are scale‐dependent. In this meta‐analysis, by synthesising the results of 103 studies that were distributed globally and conducted at various spatial scales, we revealed a latitudinal gradient in the detectable assembly processes of vascular plant communities. Variations in plant community composition at low and high latitudes were mainly explained by geographic variables, suggesting that distance decay and dispersal limitations causing spatial aggregation are influential in these regions. In contrast, variation in species composition correlated most strongly with environmental variables at mid‐latitudes (20–30°), reflecting the importance of environmental filtering, although this unimodal pattern was not statistically significant. Importantly, our analysis revealed the effects of different spatial scales, such that the correlation with spatial variables was stronger at smaller sampling extents, and environmental variables were more influential at larger sampling extents. We concluded that plant communities are driven by different community assembly processes in distinct biogeographical regions, suggesting that the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity is created by a combination of multiple processes that vary with environmental and species size differences.
Prospective longitudinal study on prognostic factors of visual recovery and structural change after a first episode of optic neuritis
Authors: Deschamps Romain , Shor Natalia , Vignal Catherine , Guillaume Jessica , Boudot de la Motte Marine , Salviat Flore , Lecler Augustin , Marignier Romain , Hage Rabih , Coulette Sarah , Bidot Samuel , Gueguen Antoine , Mauget‐Faysse Martine , Bensa Caroline , Vasseur Vivien , Gout Olivier , Lamirel Cedric
Published: May 2022

Background and purpose

This study was undertaken to determine the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in predicting the final visual and structural outcome, and to evaluate the correlation between functional eye outcome and retinal changes, in patients with a first episode of optic neuritis (ON).

Methods

In this prospective study, consecutive adult patients with acute ON underwent ophthalmological evaluation at baseline and at 1 and 12 months, including OCT measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer, and inner nuclear layer thicknesses; high‐ and low‐contrast visual acuity; visual field assessment; and baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to assess predictive factors of outcome. Correlations between 12‐month visual function and retinal structure were estimated by Spearman coefficients. Two groups of patients were analyzed, with or without multiple sclerosis (MS).

Results

Among 116 patients, 79 (68.1%) had MS, and 37 (31.9%) had ON not related to MS (including 19 idiopathic [i.e., isolated] ON, and 13 and five with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and aquaporin‐4 antibodies, respectively). We found no independent predictive factor of visual and retinal outcome. Analysis of the relationship between the visual field test (mean deviation) and pRNFL thickness demonstrated a threshold of 75.4 μm and 66.4 μm, below which the mean deviation was worse, for patients with MS (p = 0.007) and without MS (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

We found that inner retinal layer measurements during the first month are not predictive of final outcome. The critical threshold of axonal integrity, below which visual function is damaged, is different between patients with and without MS.
Developer load balancing bug triage: Developed load balance
Authors: Yadav Asmita , Baljon Mohammed , Mishra Shailendra , Singh Sandeep Kumar , Saxena Sharad , Sharma Sunil Kumar
Published: May 2022

During the software development process, numerous bugs are reported daily in the software bug repositories. Bug triage assigned these bugs to the most relevant and expert developer for resolution. Moreover, assigning bugs to an incompetent or an over‐engaged developer causes repeated reassignment to other developers until it is resolved. This problem can be solved by devising a triage process that assigns bugs to not only expert developers but also to those who are either under‐engaged or reasonably engaged but are not over‐engaged in work. This paper has designed and implemented work engagement sensitive bug triage that resolves the issue of assigning bugs to developers considering their due work engagement, expertise as well as the current state of activity. For this purpose, a developer profile is built by using metrics to generate three types of scores: technical skill, work engagement and work experience. Metadata features like developer‐name, email, developer‐work‐experience in bug resolution, last and present‐work‐activity, timestamp, component and priority are used for it. A multi‐criteria‐based Henry–Garret technique is used to generate a single ranked list of developers from three ranked lists. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated on four large OOS projects: Mozilla, Eclipse, Netbeans, and Open Office covering 895,439 bug reports accumulated for 33 years of development. The overall system accuracy of the proposed triage using all four datasets is 91.96 ± 0.05% which is 5.87% better than previously published work. The proposed method is achieved up to 90.30 ± 0.05 and 97.1 ± 0.05 MRR and accuracy of reassignment respectively that indicates how significantly it re‐assigns the bug to the relevant developers. The results demonstrate improvement in the accuracy of software‐bugs triaging as well as a reduction in the probability of bug‐tossing.
A genetic algorithm‐based on‐orbit self‐repair implementation for SRAM FPGAs
Authors: Zhang Fan , Guo Chenguang , Zhang Shifeng , Zeng Qinqin , Nguyen Tri Gia
Published: May 2022

The reconfigurable capability of static random‐access memory (SRAM) field programmable gate array (FPGA) can be used for its fault self‐repair method. As a machine learning method, the genetic algorithm (GA) is an FPGA fault repair method that can be automatically executed on‐orbit without any ground support. However, the GA‐based fault repair method has disadvantages, such as the dependency on processors, the knowledge requirement for user designs in FPGAs, and the small size of repaired circuits. To address these issues, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the FPGA bitstream in the aerospace industry. An accurate on‐orbit fault location can be identified by bitstream copying and exhaustive test and the executed area of the GA can be reduced to one tile. In addition, the probability function of the algorithm is optimized, which converts floating‐point operations into integer arithmetic operations that are easily implemented in FPGAs without processors. The method is outstanding compared with existing ones, considering: (1) The size of repaired circuits is hundreds of times larger than those from other methods. (2) Its implementations are totally up to FPGAs' own logic, with no requirement for processors. (3) There is no knowledge requirement for user design. (4) It reaches the leading level with a success rate of 81%–93%. The method has been verified by various applications in XC7VX330T, which demonstrates its engineering practicability.
A novel multi‐view ordinal classification approach for software bug prediction
Authors: Yildirim Taser Pelin
Published: May 2022

Software bug prediction aims to enhance software quality and testing efficiency by constructing predictive classification models using code properties. This enables the prompt detection of fault‐prone modules. There are several machine learning‐based software bug prediction studies, which mainly focus on single view data by disregarding the natural ordering relation among the class labels in the literature. Thus, these studies cause losing each view's own intrinsic structure and the inherent order of the labels that positively affect the prediction performance. To overcome this drawback, this study focuses on integrating ordering information and a multi‐view learning strategy. This paper proposes a novel approach multi‐view ordinal classification (MVOC), which learns from different views (complexity, coupling, cohesion, inheritance and scale) of the software dataset separately and predicts software bugs taking the inherent order of class labels (non‐buggy, less buggy and more buggy) into consideration. To demonstrate its prediction performance, the MVOC approach was executed on the 40 different real‐world software datasets using six different classification algorithms as base learners. In the experiments, the MVOC approach was compared with traditional classifiers and their multi‐view implementations in terms of precision, recall, f‐measure and accuracy rate metrics. The results indicate that the MVOC approach presents better prediction performance on average than the multi‐view‐based and traditional classifiers. It is also observed from the results that the MVOC.RF model achieved the highest classification performance with an average accuracy rate of 85.65%.
RFFS: Recursive random forest feature selection based ensemble algorithm for chronic kidney disease prediction
Authors: Theerthagiri Prasannavenkatesan , Ruby A. Usha
Published: May 2022

Chronic kidney disease is a global health issue that affects millions of people worldwide and causes significant social, economic, and medical issues. Several automated detection systems can diagnose chronic kidney disease. This paper proposes the recursive random forest feature selection (RFFS) based ensemble learning algorithm to diagnose chronic kidney diseases (CKD). In the decision point, decision tree‐based classifiers are used. The accuracy and kappa scores are used to determine the classification results. According to the results of the proposed algorithm's performance analyses, the ensemble learning classifiers outperform other classifiers for classifying CKD. The proposed RFFS algorithm achieves 6%–40% improved prediction accuracy using the feature selection algorithm. Further, it attains 15%–39% of reduced mean square error. The performance metrics, precision, sensitivity, specificity, f1 score, and Jaccard scores, have been analysed and show greater results for the RFFS algorithm. Thus, the proposed RFE‐GB algorithm results prove it as a prominent model for CKD estimation and treatment.
Examining mechanisms linking economic insecurity to interparental conflict among couples with low income
Authors: Lee Joyce Y. , Lee Shawna J. , Volling Brenda L. , Grogan‐Kaylor Andrew C.
Published: May 2022

Objective

The current study used the family stress model to test the mechanisms by which economic insecurity contributes to mothers' and fathers' mental health and couples' relationship functioning.

Background

Although low household income has been a focus of poverty research, material hardship—defined as everyday challenges related to making ends meet including difficulties paying for housing, utilities, food, or medical care—is common among American families.

Methods

Participants were from the Building Strong Families project. Couples were racially diverse (43.52% Black; 28.88% Latinx; 17.29% White; 10.31% Other) and living with low income (N = 2794). Economic insecurity included income poverty and material hardship. Bayesian mediation analysis was employed, taking advantage of the prior evidence base of the family stress model.

Results

Material hardship, but not income poverty, predicted higher levels of both maternal and paternal depressive symptoms. Only paternal depressive symptoms were linked with higher levels of destructive interparental conflict (i.e., moderate verbal aggression couples use that could be harmful to the partner relationship). Mediation analysis confirmed that material hardship operated primarily through paternal depressive symptoms in its association with destructive interparental conflict.

Conclusion

The economic stress of meeting the daily material needs of the family sets the stage for parental mental health problems that carry over to destructive interparental conflict, especially through paternal depressive symptoms.

Implications

Family‐strengthening programs may want to consider interventions to address material hardship (e.g., comprehensive needs assessments, connections to community‐based resources, parents' employment training) as part of their efforts to address parental mental health and couples' destructive conflict behaviors.
Modeling of crack path in layered architectures composed of dissimilar materials
Authors: Lu Songsong , Reed Philippa , Cook Richard , Zhang Yi
Published: May 2022

In order to make full use of the potential fatigue crack growth resistance provided by layered architectures, a validated crack path simulation algorithm for crack propagation through different elements of the layered architectures was established. The crack path approaching a material interface was predicted by using the maximum tangential strain (MTSN) criterion and the crack behavior at the interface was simulated by a developed two‐step method (a modified stress‐and‐energy‐based cohesive zone method considering the change in direction of an interface penetrating crack). The crack path simulation by using this algorithm in layered example architectures indicates (1) there are two criteria zones for the transition between crack deflection and penetration in terms of the relationship between interfacial strength and toughness; (2) the likelihood of a crack deflecting out of the interface will increase with the propagation of an interfacial crack; and (3) the architecture difference which affects shielding or anti‐shielding behavior has a significant effect on crack deflection or penetration events.
Bioclimatic context of species' populations determines community stability
Authors: Evans Luke Christopher , Melero Yolanda , Schmucki Reto , Boersch‐Supan Philipp H. , Brotons Lluís , Fontaine Colin , Jiguet Frédéric , Kuussaari Mikko , Massimino Dario , Robinson Robert A. , Roy David B. , Schweiger Oliver , Settele Josef , Stefanescu Constanti , van Turnhout Chris A. M. , Oliver Tom Henry
Published: May 2022

Aim

It is important to understand the factors affecting community stability because ecosystem function is increasingly at risk from biodiversity loss. Here, we evaluate how a key factor, the position of local environmental conditions within the thermal range of the species, influences the stability of butterfly communities at a continental scale.

Location

Spain, UK and Finland.

Time period

1999–2017.

Major taxa studied

Butterflies.

Methods

We tested the following hypotheses about how species responses to temperature anomalies aggregate to influence stability: Hypothesis 1, species have contrasting responses to local temperature anomalies at opposing edges of their thermal range; hypothesis 2, communities with central thermal range positions have higher community stability; and the impacts of thermal range position on community stability are driven by hypothesis 3, population asynchrony, or hypothesis 4, additive population stability. Data were analysed at 876 sites for 157 species.

Results

We found some support for hypothesis 1, because there were interactions between thermal range and response to temperature anomalies such that species at different range edges could provide weak compensatory dynamics. However, responses were nonlinear, suggesting strong declines with extreme anomalies, particularly at the hot range edge. Hypothesis 2 was supported in part, because community stability increased with central thermal range positions and declined at the edges, after accounting for species richness and community abundance. Thermal range position was weakly correlated with asynchrony (hypothesis 3) and population stability (hypothesis 4), although species richness and population abundance had larger impacts.

Main conclusions

Future extreme heat events will be likely to impact species negatively across their thermal range, but might be particularly impactful on populations at the hottest end of the thermal range. Thermal range position influenced community stability because range edge communities were stable. However, the prediction of community stability from thermal range position is challenging because of nonlinear responses to temperature, with small temperature anomalies producing weak compensatory dynamics, but large extreme events synchronizing dynamics.
Infants preferentially learn from surprising teachers
Authors: Stahl Aimee E. , Woods Larissa
Published: May 2022

Infants have sophisticated knowledge about the physical world, and show enhanced learning about objects that violate physical principles. However, it is unknown whether infants also preferentially learn from the individual who produces an outcome that violates expectations. We investigated whether 15‐month‐old infants (N = 48) selectively imitate individuals who produce surprising outcomes. In Experiment 1, infants watched an experimenter hide a ball and produce an expected outcome in which the ball was revealed where it was hidden, or a surprising outcome in which the ball was revealed in a different location. The experimenter then demonstrated a novel action: using her head to activate a light while her hands were free. Infants imitated that novel action more if the experimenter had previously produced a surprising than an expected outcome. In Experiment 2, infants witnessed the experimenter produce the surprising outcome, then use her head to activate the light while her hands were occupied. Infants did not differentially imitate the head‐touch action relative to either condition in Experiment 1, perhaps indicating a tension between surprise‐induced learning and rational imitation. These experiments show that surprising events are pedagogical opportunities: infants selectively learn from surprising individuals, but also may account for rationality in their surprise‐induced social learning.
Carbon‐containing droplet combustion–carbothermal synthesis of well‐distributed AlN nanometer powders
Authors: Chu Aimin , Zhao Yuping , Ud‐din Rafi , Hu Hairong , Zhi Qian , Wang Zerui
Published: May 2022

A novel three‐step technique was employed to synthesize the well‐distributed AlN nanopowders. First, the hollow spherical precursor particles with an average diameter of 2–5 μm, consisting of an amorphous structure mixture of Al2O3 and C, was prepared by carbon‐containing droplet combustion method by using glucose, urea, and aluminum nitrate as starting materials. The carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) was carried out at 1500°C under N2 flow for 2 h and subsequently the CRN product was calcined at 700°C in air for 1 h to remove residual carbon and transform the CRN product to high‐purity AlN powders consisting of nanostructured hollow spheres. The formation mechanism of precursor and AlN hollow spheres was discussed in detail. The AlN powder exhibited well‐distributed spherical particles with a size of 30–50 nm and good sinterability. After additive‐free and pressureless sintering at 1800°C for 2 h, the relative density of the sintered AlN sample was measured to be 99.02%.
Climate refugia for three Afromontane forest‐dependent bird species in south‐eastern South Africa
Authors: Mulvaney Jake M. , Cherry Michael I. , Matthee Conrad A.
Published: May 2022

Aim

Pleistocene climate shifts were influential in shaping biodiversity patterns for forest‐dependent species. Within southern Africa, palaeoclimatic shifts possibly homogenised subtropical Afromontane forest biodiversity, yet these forests continue to harbour unique diversity. For the three songbird species with different natural histories, we investigated the refugial role of subtropical Afromontane and scarp forests and explored specifically how palaeoclimatic events impacted genetic connectivity among forest patches.

Location

Maputaland‐Pondoland‐Albany Biodiversity Hotspot, south‐eastern South Africa.

Taxon

Batis capensis, Phylloscopus ruficapilla and Pogonocichla stellata.

Methods

Mitochondrial control region sequences and microsatellite data were used to assess genetic diversity and population structure among 406 birds. Demographic change was inferred using Bayesian skyline plots (BSPs), and approximate Bayesian computations (ABCs) were used to identify gene flow trends among putative refugia. Environmental niche models (ENMs) were used to infer past occurrence probabilities.

Results

Species BSPs supported regional presence predating the Last Glacial Maximum (21 kya) and indicated post‐glacial population expansions. ABC modelling revealed that present‐day gene flow trends emerged largely during the current interglacial (<12 kya), suggesting that thermal maxima promote regional forest expansion. The north‐eastern source of gene flow in all the three species suggested a post‐glacial influx from refugia further north, while southern scarp forests sustained secondary source populations for B. capensis and P. ruficapilla. High gene flow signatures from south‐western forests in B. capensis and especially P. stellata alluded to hidden source populations in the under‐surveyed southern Afrotemperate forests—the southernmost Afromontane forest bloc. ENMs corroborated both scarp and southern Afrotemperate forests as glacial refugia and demonstrated persistent regional population presence over the past 120 kya.

Main Conclusions

The population genetics and palaeodistribution of the three bird species indicate their regional persistence throughout the late Pleistocene, suggesting that Afromontane and scarp forests of south‐eastern South Africa served as refugia for subtropical African avian forest biota.
A novel DNA damage and repair‐related gene signature to improve predictive capacity of overall survival for patients with gliomas
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Wang Yichang , Wu Wei , Xiang Jianyang , Wang Maode , Yu Hai
Published: May 2022

Gliomas, as the most lethal and malignant brain tumours in adults, remain a major challenge worldwide. DNA damage and repair‐related genes (DDRRGs) appear to play a significant role in gliomas, but the studies of DDRRGs are still insufficient. Herein, we systematically explored and analysed 1547 DDRRGs in 938 glioma samples from TCGA and CGGA datasets. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, we identified a 16‐DDRRG signature, characterized by high‐risk and low‐risk patterns. This risk model harbours robust predictive capability for overall survival of glioma patients. We found the high‐risk score is strongly associated with well‐known malignant features of gliomas, such as the mesenchymal subtype, IDH‐wildtype, 1p/19q non‐codeletion and MGMT promoter unmethylated status. In addition, we found that the high‐risk score is also linked with multiple oncogenic pathways and therapeutic resistance. Significantly, we found the high‐risk group has higher enrichment of immunosuppressive cells (M2‐type macrophages, Tregs and MDSCs) and immune inhibition biomarkers (PD‐1, PD‐L1 and CTLA‐4). Lastly, we proved that SMC4, which has the highest positive regression coefficient in our risk model, is strongly linked with malignant progression and TMZ resistance of gliomas in a E2F1‐dependent manner.
Development and validation of a chewing robot for mimicking human food oral processing and producing food bolus
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Yu Jinghu
Published: May 2022

More and more studies have being done on the deformation process of food and the formation of food bolus during chewing. However, it is hard to observe the food oral processing (FOP) of subjects and obtain related data directly. A bionic chewing robot based on a six‐axis parallel mechanism was proposed in this paper. The robot can not only simulate the movement of the lower jaw but also set a variety of oral processing parameters, such as the number and shape of teeth, oral temperature, saliva volume, chewing cycles, speed and force. Meanwhile, dental wax and peanuts were taken as food samples, and the chewing experiments were carried out by the bionic chewing robot and subjects, respectively. The results showed that the bionic chewing robot could be used to mimic human FOP and produce food bolus. Especially when the chewing cycles met the requirement of swallowing, the median particle size of the peanut bolus and the mixing effect index of the dental wax bolus in the two different experiments were highly consistent. In addition, the robot was proved to have the same food texture detection function as the texture analyzer.
Inter‐temporal mutual‐fund management
Authors: Bensoussan Alain , Cheung Ka Chun , Li Yiqun , Yam Sheung Chi Phillip
Published: May 2022

Traditionally, mutual funds are mostly managed via an ad hoc approach, namely a terminal‐only optimization. Due to the intricate mathematical complexity of a continuum of constraints imposed, effects of the inter‐temporal reward for the managers are essentially neglected in the previous literature. For instance, the inter‐temporal optimal investment problem from the fund manager's viewpoint, who earns proportional management fees continuously (a golden rule in practice), has been outstanding for long. This article completely resolves this challenging question especially under generic running and terminal utilities, via the Dynamic Programming Principle which leads to a nonconventional, highly nonlinear HJB equation. We develop an original mathematical analysis to establish the unique existence of the classical solution of the primal problem. Further numerical calibrations and simulations for both the portfolio weight and the value functions illustrate the robustness of the optimal portfolio towards the manager's risk attitude, which allows different managers with various risk characteristics to sell essentially the same investment vehicle. Simulation studies also indicate that the policy of charging a substantial terminal‐only management fee can be replaced by another one with only a negligible amount over the interim period, which substantially reduces the total management fee paid by the clients without lowering the manager's satisfaction at all; this last observation echoes the magic of the alchemy of finance.
Do changes in women's household status in Nepal improve access to food and nutrition?
Authors: Diamond‐Smith Nadia , Puri Mahesh , Neuhaus John , Weiser Sheri , Kadiyala Suneetha
Published: May 2022

Women's nutritional status remains poor in South Asia, impacting maternal and infant health outcomes. Women's household status is also low, as evidenced by eating behaviours. We started with triadic qualitative interviews with newly married women, husbands and mothers‐in‐law to explore the link between women's status and eating patterns, followed by longitudinal data from a cohort of 200 newly married women in rural Nepal to measure associations over time. Quantitative data were collected every 6 months for 18 months (four rounds of data) between 2018 and 2020. Interviews suggested that household relationships, women's status, and how much and what types of food she was given were intricately linked. Using mixed effects logistic regression models, we explore the association between markers of changing women's status (becoming pregnant, giving birth and working outside the home) on two outcomes (eating last always/usually and achieving minimum dietary diversity). We also explore for interaction between women's status and household food insecurity. Pregnancy increases women's dietary diversity, but this is not sustained post‐partum. Women who work outside the home are less likely to eat last in the household. Food insecurity is associated with both the order of household eating and dietary diversity. Interactions between food insecurity and giving birth suggested that women who give birth in food insecure households are more likely to eat last in the household. Changes in women's household status are associated with some improvements in dietary diversity and order of household eating, but the associations are not long‐lasting and depend on food security status.
AvrRps4 effector family processing and recognition in lettuce
Authors: Nguyen Quang‐Minh , Iswanto Arya Bagus Boedi , Son Geon Hui , Vuong Uyen Thi , Lee Jihyun , Kang Jin‐Ho , Gassmann Walter , Kim Sang Hee
Published: May 2022

During pathogenesis, effector proteins are secreted from the pathogen to the host plant to provide virulence activity for invasion of the host. However, once the host plant recognizes one of the delivered effectors, effector‐triggered immunity activates a robust immune and hypersensitive response (HR). In planta, the effector AvrRps4 is processed into the N‐terminus (AvrRps4N) and the C‐terminus (AvrRps4C). AvrRps4C is sufficient to trigger HR in turnip and activate AtRRS1/AtRPS4‐mediated immunity in Arabidopsis; on the other hand, AvrRps4N induces HR in lettuce. Furthermore, AvrRps4N‐mediated HR requires a conserved arginine at position 112 (R112), which is also important for full‐length AvrRps4 (AvrRps4F) processing. Here, we show that effector processing and effector recognition in lettuce are uncoupled for the AvrRps4 family. In addition, we compared effector recognition by lettuce of AvrRps4 and its homologues, HopK1 and XopO. Interestingly, unlike for AvrRps4 and HopK1, mutation of the conserved R111 in XopO by itself was insufficient to abolish recognition. The combination of amino acid substitutions arginine 111 to leucine with glutamate 114 to lysine abolished the XopO‐mediated HR, suggesting that AvrRps4 family members have distinct structural requirements for perception by lettuce. Together, our results provide an insight into the processing and recognition of AvrRps4 and its homologues.
Two chloroplast‐localized MORF proteins act as chaperones to maintain tetrapyrrole biosynthesis
Authors: Yuan Jiarui , Ma Tingting , Ji Shuiling , Hedtke Boris , Grimm Bernhard , Lin Rongcheng
Published: May 2022

Tetrapyrroles have essential functions as pigments and cofactors during plant growth and development, and the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway is tightly controlled. Multiple organellar RNA editing factors (MORFs) are required for editing of a wide variety of RNA sites in chloroplasts and mitochondria, but their biochemical properties remain elusive.

Here, we uncovered the roles of chloroplast‐localized MORF2 and MORF9 in modulating tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. The lack or reduced transcripts of MORF2 or MORF9 significantly affected biosynthesis of the tetrapyrrole precursor 5‐aminolevulinic acid and accumulation of Chl and other tetrapyrrole intermediates.

MORF2 directly interacts with multiple tetrapyrrole biosynthesis enzymes and regulators, including NADPH:PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE OXIDOREDUCTASE B (PORB) and GENOMES UNCOUPLED4 (GUN4). Strikingly, MORF2 and MORF9 display holdase chaperone activity, alleviate the aggregation of PORB in vitro, and are essential for POR accumulation in vivo. Moreover, both MORF2 and MORF9 significantly stimulate magnesium chelatase activity.

Our findings reveal a previously unknown biochemical property of MORF proteins as chaperones and point to a new layer of post‐translational control of the tightly regulated tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in plants.
Hybrid ablation procedure for the treatment of nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hao Junhai , Xi Yue , Chen Wanwen , Liang Yuanfeng , Lin Zhanyi , Wei Wei
Published: May 2022

Background

Hybrid ablation combines the advantages of surgical and catheter ablation. Many studies have explored the efficiency and safety of hybrid ablation in patients with nonparoxysmal AF.

Methods

We systematically searched for prospective controlled trials that compared hybrid ablation with catheter/surgical ablation in PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Library, and CNKI. Our main assessment indicators included maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) without antiarrhythmic drugs for more than 12 months, major adverse events (MAEs), procedure time and fluoroscopy time.

Results

Of 1214 identified studies, five were eligible and were included in our analysis (N = 451 participants). The pooled results showed that hybrid ablation was more effective in maintaining SR than a single procedure (surgical ablation or catheter ablation) (OR = 2.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63–3.89, p < .001). Little significant heterogeneity was revealed (p = .32 for heterogeneity, I2 = 14%). More MAEs occurred in the hybrid group than in the single procedure group (OR = 7.47, 95% CI: 1.90–29.41, p = .004; I2 = 0%). Two trials reported the procedure and fluoroscopy times, and the procedure time for hybrid ablation was significantly longer than that of a single procedure (mean difference = 107.42, 95% CI: 88.62 to 126.22, p < .001; I2 = 82%). There was no significant difference in fluoroscopy time between the 2 groups (mean difference = –1.00, 95% CI: –5.37 to 3.36, p = .65; I2 = 12%).

Conclusions

Hybrid ablation was more effective than catheter ablation and was as effective as surgical ablation in patients with nonparoxysmal AF. Meanwhile, hybrid ablation, especially concomitant hybrid ablation, increases the incidence of MAEs and prolongs the procedure time.
Controllable Synthesis of BiOCl with Z‐Scheme (001)/(110) Facet Homojunction and their Photocatalytic Killing Effect on HePG2 Cells in vitro
Authors: Dong Wei , Liang Erli , Zhang Qiong , Li Rui , Wang Yunfang , Liu Jianxin , Zhang Xiaochao , Wang Yawen , Fan Caimei
Published: May 2022

In this study, a set of BiOCl with controllable ratios of (001) and (110) facets was prepared by adjusting the content of diethylene glycol (DEG) during the preparation process. The degradation experiment of bisphenol A (BPA) shows that under simulated sunlight, when the ratio of (001) to (110) is 0.61, BiOCl (BOC‐2) has the best degradation activity, which can degrade 96.2% BPA within 20 min. After theoretical calculations and experimental characterization, a Z‐scheme (001)/(110) facet homojunction is proposed. Then, three typical samples were selected to test the biological toxicity of HepG2 cells and the activity of killing HepG2 cells under ultraviolet light conditions. Studies have found that exposed facets play a more important role in the biotoxicity of BiOCl to cells; with a (001)/(110) ratio of 0.61, BOC‐2 exhibits excellent endocytosis and phototoxicity but no obvious dark cytotoxicity, while with a (001)/(110) ratio of 0.15, BiOCl (BOC‐4) has poor endocytosis and strong cytotoxicity under dark conditions. Through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay detection, the process of photocatalytic killing cells of BOC‐2 more looks like an apoptosis mechanism, while BOC‐4 mainly causes cell necrosis.
Exploring the Context‐Sensitivity of Collective Action Motivations and the Mobilizing Role of Social Media: A Comparative Interview Study With Activists in Germany and Turkey
Authors: Odağ Özen , Uluğ Özden Melis , Kanık Betül , Maganić Mia Marina
Published: May 2022

Western scholarship has underlined the relevance of social identity, perceived efficacy, emotions, and cost–benefit assessments as central catalysts of collective action. Little has been done to understand the context‐sensitivity of these catalysts by means of cross‐culturally comparative designs. The current study explores their context‐sensitivity. It aims to find out whether existing opportunity structures in a democratic, nonrepressive country like Germany produce catalysts of collective action different from those produced in an autocratic, repressive country like Turkey. It also aims to understand the role of social media in mobilizing people in these two contexts. Semistandardized interviews with activists were carried out in both countries (n = 18 in Germany and n = 15 in Turkey) and analyzed by means of a cross‐culturally comparative inductive coding procedure including initial and focused coding. Results show that collective action is related to different configurations of collective‐action catalysts in the two countries. Solidarity concerns at the face of existential risks are more pronounced in Turkey, whereas political‐change concerns are more important in Germany. The role of social media accordingly differs, adhering to the different activist goals. Theoretical implications for the role of context in studying collective action are discussed.
Disruption of cell proliferation and apoptosis balance in the testes of crossbred cattle‐yaks affects spermatogenic cell fate and sterility
Authors: Shimazaki Megumi , Wittayarat Manita , Sambuu Rentsenkhand , Sugita Asami , Kawaguchi Masaki , Hirata Maki , Tanihara Fuminori , Takagi Mitsuhiro , Taniguchi Masayasu , Otoi Takeshige , Sato Yoko
Published: May 2022

The balance between proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis is well‐coordinated in spermatogenesis for the timely production of appropriate numbers of sperm in animals. Disruption or decrease in sperm production is due to many conditions, including changes in testicular cell fate balance. Interspecies hybridization of domestic yaks and cattle results in sterility in males because of spermatogenic arrest; however, the underlying mechanisms involved in sterility are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the proliferation and apoptosis status during the development of yaks and crossbred cattle‐yaks using immunohistochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling assays. Testicular tissues from yaks (immature: 1 year old, mature: 2–3 years old) and backcrossed hybrids (2 year old) were collected and used to investigate the expression of each parameter in testicular cells. During the maturation of yak testes, proliferation and apoptosis became active only in spermatogenic cells, and not in other somatic cells, such as Sertoli cells, myoid cells and Leydig cells. Furthermore, hybrid cattle‐yak testes maintained proliferation ability but less apoptotic ability in spermatogenic cells when compared to yaks of the same age, suggesting that normal spermatogenic cell fate control is disrupted by changes in the balance between proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, Leydig cell proliferation rate was higher than apoptosis rate in the cattle‐yak testes, indicating an increased number of Leydig cells, which may affect spermatogenesis through changes in steroidogenesis. Although epigenetic changes may be involved in cattle‐yak testes, further studies are needed to clarify the modulation of proliferation and apoptosis to elucidate the mechanisms of infertility in hybrid cattle‐yak males.
Are Epidemic Growth Rates More Informative than Reproduction Numbers?
Authors: Parag Kris V. , Thompson Robin N. , Donnelly Christl A.
Published: May 2022

Summary statistics, often derived from simplified models of epidemic spread, inform public health policy in real time. The instantaneous reproduction number, Rt, is predominant among these statistics, measuring the average ability of an infection to multiply. However, Rt encodes no temporal information and is sensitive to modelling assumptions. Consequently, some have proposed the epidemic growth rate, rt, that is, the rate of change of the log-transformed case incidence, as a more temporally meaningful and model-agnostic policy guide. We examine this assertion, identifying if and when estimates of rt are more informative than those of Rt. We assess their relative strengths both for learning about pathogen transmission mechanisms and for guiding public health interventions in real time.
Beyond financial constraints: The politics of Irish health system reform in the aftermath of the great recession
Authors: Devitt Camilla
Published: May 2022

This article investigates the main factors influencing the success of welfare reforms in the context of crises. It focuses on the healthcare reform plan proposed in Ireland in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which aimed at the establishment of a universal health system but was only very partially implemented. As the plan would have required an increase in public expenditure, it may be expected that cost concerns explain the overall reform outcome in the context of an economic crisis. However, analysis of the process leading to the abandonment of a central element of the plan and the partial introduction of another component shows that, apart from financial concerns, the outcome is explained by three politico‐institutional factors: the political orientation of the parties in government; electoral (dis)incentives in pursuing different elements of the reform; and the extent of institutional change associated with them.