bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citizen action for accountability in challenging contexts: What have we learned?
Authors: Gaventa John , Joshi Anuradha , Anderson Colin
Published: February 2023

Motivation

While much is known about how citizens mobilize and make claims for accountability in more democratic, stable, and peaceful settings, little is known about how accountability dynamics work in more challenging contexts—those more democratically weak, politically fragile, and affected by legacies of violence and conflict.

Purpose

This article introduces a special issue that brings together findings from across the Action for Empowerment and Accountability programme. The programme explored citizen action for accountability and citizens' experiences of governance in Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan and, to a lesser degree, Egypt—countries that reflect challenging conditions now common in many places across the world.

Methods and approach

We introduce and summarize the key findings of eight commissioned articles—some which explore specific themes across the body of research, and some that report findings of particular multi‐country studies. We analyse these findings in relation to what they tell us about the contextual factors that matter, the strategies adopted, and the consequences of citizen‐led social and political action.

Findings

We find a number of contextual challenges for citizen action that are common, though not unique, to these settings. Despite authoritarian governance histories, and norms of fear, low expectations, and patriarchal exclusion we see diverse examples of social and political action, both open questioning of authorities and dissent and more under the radar and mediated responses. Such efforts have led to increased visibility of grievances, increased citizen agency, some concrete responses from authorities, and evidence of progressive norm change.

Policy implications

We argue that even in challenging contexts there are prospects for finding some space for productive citizen engagement and citizen‐led social and political action. These are more likely to be found from taking a “citizen‐eye” view to relevant governance dynamics, actors, and identifying the most important issues. Networks and alliances, including with donors, are significant. But accountability goals in such contexts need to be realistic and recognize the importance of small steps and establishing the building blocks of better governance.
A contrast echocardiography‐based protocol to rule out thrombus in Venous‐Arterial ECMO: A proof of concept
Authors: Baeza‐Herrera Luis Augusto , Hernández‐Reyes José Pablo , Lazcano‐Díaz Emmanuel Adrián , Orihuela‐Sandoval Consuelo , González‐Ruiz Francisco Javier , Manzur‐Sandoval Daniel , Ramos‐Enríquez Ángel , Terrazas‐Cervantes Elías , Rojas‐Velasco Gustavo
Published: February 2023

Using an ultrasound‐enhancing agent (UEA) has several indications, especially in diagnosing left ventricular thrombus. Herein, we present three cases of patients who were candidates for venous–arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, among whom thrombus was ruled out via contrast echocardiography. The use of a UEA in these patients was a novel approach.
The long‐run agglomeration effects of early agriculture in Europe
Authors: Dickens Andrew , Lagerlöf Nils‐Petter
Published: February 2023

We study the effects of an early introduction of agriculture (Neolithic Transition) on modern agglomeration, using a new dataset on carbon dated organic materials found at archeological sites in Northern Europe. We find a positive effect of early agriculture, in particular within countries, which contrasts with a negative or zero correlation found in studies using older data, covering a larger region that includes both Europe and the Middle East. We argue that this reflects a mix of positive long‐run effects on urban agglomeration, and negative effects on state institutions, which show up to different degrees depending on context.
Parentage‐based tagging using mothers balances accuracy and cost for discriminating between natural and stocked recruitment for inland fisheries
Authors: Fitzpatrick Kimberly B. , Overgaard Therkildsen Nina , Marcy‐Quay Benjamin , Borchardt‐Wier Harmony B. , Sethi Suresh A.
Published: February 2023

Hatchery programmes are frequently used to supplement inland fisheries, yet achieving successful management outcomes often requires information on stocked versus naturally reproduced fish abundance. Parentage‐based tagging – genetically assigning offspring to their parents – has potential to be an effective approach for distinguishing stocked and naturally reproduced fish. However, several challenges may limit its application to inland fisheries, including genetic relatedness among populations that can affect identification accuracy and high costs of genotyping large broodstocks. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of parentage‐based tagging based on broodmothers in the Lake Ontario Chinook Salmon fishery, which uses thousands of broodparents and has potential for substantial relatedness between stocked and naturally reproduced fish. Restricting parent sampling to broodmothers reduced costs by two‐thirds, was logistically pragmatic, and achieved >95% accuracy in distinguishing stocked from naturally reproduced salmon. Combined, these results highlight the potential wide applicability of parentage‐based tagging for assessing stocking programmes in inland waters.
Understanding effects of COVID‐19 on undergraduate academic stress, motivation and coping over time
Authors: Fridkin Lisa , Fonts Neus Bover , Quy Katie , Zwiener‐Collins Nadine
Published: February 2023

The rapid and unprecedented shift from face‐to‐face instruction to remote online learning as a consequence of the COVID‐19 pandemic had a substantial impact on teaching and learning in Higher Education: students had to adapt to a new way of learning, away from typical campus settings and their peers, and to new forms of assessments. This study examined academic stress, learning strategies, motivation and ways of coping from a sample of 177 unique students from a large London university, collecting primary data via survey at three time points during the academic year 2020/21 when teaching was remote and online only. Our findings show how patterns in academic stress, learning strategies, motivation and coping vary over the course of the academic year giving novel insight into how student learning and adaptation to the situation changed over time. We also report on differences in these patterns according to year group and for those students who are the first‐in‐family to attend university and those who are not. Based on these findings we identify priority areas where higher education institutions should support undergraduate students and provide evidence that some groups of students may need more and targeted support to secure their ongoing learning and well‐being.
Leadless versus transvenous single‐chamber ventricular pacemakers: 3 year follow‐up of the Micra CED study
Authors: Crossley George H. , Piccini Jonathan P. , Longacre Colleen , Higuera Lucas , Stromberg Kurt , El‐Chami Mikhael F.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The Micra Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) Study is a novel comparative analysis of Micra (leadless VVI) and transvenous single‐chamber ventricular pacemakers (transvenous VVI) using administrative claims data. To compare chronic complications, device reinterventions, heart failure hospitalizations, and all‐cause mortality after 3 years of follow‐up.

Methods

US Medicare claims data linked to manufacturer device registration information were used to identify Medicare beneficiaries with a de novo implant of either a Micra VR leadless VVI or transvenous VVI pacemaker from March 9, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Unadjusted and propensity score overlap‐weight adjusted Fine‐Gray competing risk models were used to compare outcomes at 3 years.

Results

Leadless VVI patients (N = 6219) had a 32% lower rate of chronic complications and a 41% lower rate of reintervention compared with transvenous VVI patients (N = 10 212) (chronic complication hazard ratio [HR] 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59−0.78; reintervention HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.44−0.78). Infections rates were significantly lower among patients with a leadless VVI (<0.2% vs. 0.7%, p < .0001). Patients with a leadless VVI also had slightly lower rates of heart failure hospitalization (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84−0.97). There was no difference in the adjusted 3‐year all‐cause mortality rate (HR 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92−1.03).

Conclusion

This nationwide comparative evaluation of leadless VVI versus transvenous VVI de novo pacemaker implants demonstrated that the leadless group had significantly fewer complications, reinterventions, heart failure hospitalizations, and infections than the transvenous group at 3 years, confirming that the previously reported shorter‐term advantages associated with leadless pacing persist and continue to accrue in the medium‐to‐long‐term.
Early feasibility studies in the United States: Focus on electrophysiology
Authors: Weiss J. Peter , Farb Andrew
Published: February 2023

The care of patients with heart rhythm disorders is often dependent on technologies developed to address their unique clinical needs. Although much innovation occurs in the United States, recent decades have seen a significant proportion of early clinical studies performed outside the United States, driven largely by costly and time‐inefficient processes seemingly inherent to the United States research ecosystem. As a result, the goals of early patient access to novel devices to address unmet needs and efficient technology development in the United States remain incompletely realized. This review will introduce key aspects of this discussion, organized by the Medical Device Innovation Consortium, in an effort to broaden awareness and encourage engagement by stakeholders in an effort to address central issues and therefore further a growing effort to shift Early Feasibility Studies to the United States for the benefit of all involved.
Statin's role on blood pressure levels: Meta‐analysis based on randomized controlled trials
Authors: Liu Hui Ting , Deng Nian Hua , Wu Ze Fan , Zhou Zhan Yang , Tian Zhen , Liu Xi Yan , Wang Yan Xia , Zheng Hong Yu , Ou Yang Shao , Jiang Zhi Sheng
Published: February 2023

Statins have been proven to be effective in minimizing the risk of cardiovascular adverse events, however, their effect on BP variability is debatable with respect to their significance and their use as a potential anti‐hypertensive. Using a meta‐analysis approach, the aim of this study was to explore whether certain statins have the potential to lower blood pressure (BP). For the period 2002–2022, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for the studies that examined the effect of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive individuals. Randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect were included based on our inclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes were changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The final analysis of the study included 49 RCTs involving 45 173 participants randomized to receive either statins or placebo. Among the two groups, the total weighted mean difference (WMD) for systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP) was –1.42 (95% CI: –2.38, –0.46; p = .004) and diastolic blood pressure (ΔDBP) was 0.82 (95% CI: –1.28, –0.36; p = .0005). Despite various studies suggesting the efficacy of statins in blood pressure lowering to be significant and non‐significant both, we observed a decrease in SBP and DBP both, although the change was not as large and could be considered significant. A large multicenter, multi‐ethnic, large sample pool size, and a long period follow‐up study is still required to assert these claims.
Modeling the malleable mental health trajectory – a commentary on Oldehinkel and Ormel (2023)
Authors: Tiemeier Henning
Published: February 2023

In their Annual Research Review titled ‘Stability of psychopathology: Lessons learned from longitudinal population surveys’ (Oldehinkel & Ormel, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2022) argue that psychological and psychiatric researchers should not only compare groups but also focus on the within‐person variability using repeated measurements in longitudinal studies to advance our understanding of emotional and behavioral problems. I argue adopting such within‐person approaches might also change how we think about causality and might lead us to more successful intervention research.
Keeping kin close? Geographies of family networks by race and income, 1981–2017
Authors: Spring Amy , Ackert Elizabeth , Roche Sarah , Parris Dionne , Crowder Kyle , Kravitz‐Wirtz Nicole
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study examined changes in geographic proximity to family members among race and income groups in the United States from 1981 to 2017.

Background

Close geographic proximity to family members can facilitate mutual support and strengthen family bonds. Some scholars argue that institutional sources of support have replaced many core family functions, which might mean that households are likely to live increasingly farther away from family. Advancing technology and changing labor market opportunities might reinforce this pattern. Yet, the ongoing cultural and emotional salience of family might curtail the effects of these factors on the  increasing distance to family.

Method

We conducted a quantitative analysis of longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). We utilized the multigenerational structure of the PSID and restricted‐use geocodes to map kin proximity at every interview from 1981 to 2017. We cross‐classified our sample by race and income, focusing on Black and White respondents across income quartiles (n = 171,501 person‐periods).

Results

High‐income White respondents showed the greatest increases in distance from kin over time, whereas proximity to kin among other race‐income groups was relatively stable.

Conclusion

Proximate kin has become less central in the lives of high‐income White households over time, whereas close proximity to kin has been the norm over time for other racial and income groups. These results have implications for racial and income differences in kin relations over time.
Intraarterial thrombolytics as an adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy in patients with basilar artery occlusion
Authors: Qureshi Adnan I. , Lodhi Abdullah , Ma Xiaoyu , Tao Chunrong , Li Rui , Xu Pengfei , Hu Wei ,   for Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion (ATTENTION) Registry Investigators
Published: February 2023

Background and Purpose

There are limited data regarding safety and effectiveness of concurrent intraarterial thrombolytics as adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with basilar artery occlusion.

Methods

We analyzed data from a prospective multicenter registry to assess the independent effect of intraarterial thrombolysis on (1) favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0‐3) at 90 days; (2) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 72 hours; and (3) death within 90 days post‐enrollment after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

There was no difference in the adjusted odds of achieving favorable outcome at 90 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73‐1.68) in patients who received intraarterial thrombolysis (n = 126) compared with those who did not receive intraarterial thrombolysis (n = 1546) despite significantly higher use in patients with postprocedure modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade <3. There were no differences in adjusted odds of sICH within 72 hours (OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.31‐2.08) or death within 90 days (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.60‐1.37). In subgroup analyses, intraarterial thrombolysis was associated with (nonsignificantly) higher odds of achieving a favorable outcome at 90 days among patients aged between 65 and 80 years, those with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score <10, and those with postprocedure mTICI grade 2b.

Conclusions

Our analysis supported the safety of intraarterial thrombolysis as adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with basilar artery occlusion. Identification of patient subgroups in whom intraarterial thrombolytics appeared to be more beneficial may assist in future clinical trial designs.
Host immune responses to enzootic and invasive pathogen lineages vary in magnitude, timing, and efficacy
Authors: McDonald Coby A. , Becker C. Guilherme , Lambertini Carolina , Toledo L. Felipe , Haddad Célio F. B. , Zamudio Kelly R.
Published: February 2023

Infectious diseases of wildlife continue to pose a threat to biodiversity worldwide, yet pathogens are far from uniform in virulence or host disease outcome. Within the same pathogen species, virulence can vary considerably depending on strain or lineage, in turn eliciting variable host responses. One pathogen that has caused extensive biodiversity loss is the amphibian‐killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is comprised of a globally widespread hypervirulent lineage (Bd‐GPL), and multiple geographically restricted, enzootic lineages. Whereas host immunogenomic responses to Bd‐GPL have been characterized in a number of amphibian species, immunogenomic responses to geographically restricted, enzootic Bd lineages are less clear. To examine lineage‐specific host immune responses to Bd, we exposed a species of pumpkin toadlet, Brachycephalus pitanga, which is endemic to Brazil's Southern Atlantic Forest, to either the Bd‐GPL or the enzootic Bd‐Asia‐2/Brazil (hereafter Bd‐Brazil) lineage. Using temporal samples from early, mid, and late infection stages, we quantified functional immunogenomic responses over the course of infection using differential gene expression tests and coexpression network analyses. Host immune responses varied significantly with Bd lineage. Relative to controls, toadlet responses to Bd‐Brazil were weak at early infection (25 genes significantly differentially expressed), peaked by mid‐stage infection (414 genes), and were nearly fully resolved by late‐stage infection (nine genes). In contrast, responses to Bd‐GPL were magnified and delayed; toadlets significantly differentially expressed 111 genes early, 87 genes at mid‐stage infection, and 726 genes by late‐stage infection relative to controls. Given that infection intensity did not vary between mid‐ and late‐stage disease in either Bd‐Brazil or Bd‐GPL treatments, this suggests that pumpkin toadlets may be at least partially tolerant to the enzootic Bd‐Brazil lineage. In contrast, late‐stage immune activation against Bd‐GPL was consistent with immune dysregulation previously observed in other species. Our results demonstrate that both the timing of immune response and the particular immune pathways activated are specific to Bd lineage. Within regions where multiple Bd lineages co‐occur, and given continued global Bd movement, these differential host responses may influence not only individual disease outcome, but transmission dynamics at the population and community levels.
Diversity, distribution, and expression of opsin genes in freshwater lakes
Authors: He Shaomei , Linz Alexandra M. , Stevens Sarah L. R. , Tran Patricia Q. , Moya‐Flores Francisco , Oyserman Ben O. , Dwulit‐Smith Jeffrey R. , Forest Katrina T. , McMahon Katherine D.
Published: February 2023

Microbial rhodopsins are widely distributed in aquatic environments and may significantly contribute to phototrophy and energy budgets in global oceans. However, the study of freshwater rhodopsins has been largely limited. Here, we explored the diversity, ecological distribution, and expression of opsin genes that encode the apoproteins of type I rhodopsins in humic and clearwater lakes with contrasting physicochemical and optical characteristics. Using metagenomes and metagenome‐assembled genomes, we recovered opsin genes from a wide range of taxa, mostly predicted to encode green light‐absorbing proton pumps. Viral opsin and novel bacterial opsin clades were recovered. Opsin genes occurred more frequently in taxa from clearwater than from humic water, and opsins in some taxa have nontypical ion‐pumping motifs that might be associated with physicochemical conditions of these two freshwater types. Analyses of the surface layer of 33 freshwater systems revealed an inverse correlation between opsin gene abundance and lake dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In humic water with high terrestrial DOC and light‐absorbing humic substances, opsin gene abundance was low and dramatically declined within the first few meters, whereas the abundance remained relatively high along the bulk water column in clearwater lakes with low DOC, suggesting opsin gene distribution is influenced by lake optical properties and DOC. Gene expression analysis confirmed the significance of rhodopsin‐based phototrophy in clearwater lakes and revealed different diel expressional patterns among major phyla. Overall, our analyses revealed freshwater opsin diversity, distribution and expression patterns, and suggested the significance of rhodopsin‐based phototrophy in freshwater energy budgets, especially in clearwater lakes.
Decoding Negotiation Systems in the Middle East and North Africa: A Framework for Analysis
Authors: Bell Arvid , Wolf Dana
Published: February 2023

Regional conflicts are becoming increasingly complex due to the involvement of an ever more numerous and interconnected set of actors. Previous research has focused on regional conflict systems and has generated theoretical approaches such as the regional security complex paradigm. However, when complex, multifaceted, seemingly contradictory webs of relationships are spun in a region, new tools are needed to analyze and evaluate them. Drawing on previous regional conflict models, we propose a negotiation‐oriented framework of regional conflict analysis that explores the type and intensity of relationships between state and nonstate actors in a conflict system. We offer a seven‐step scale of relationships (ranging from ally to active armed opponent) that represents a novel contribution to the methodological efforts to analyze relationships in conflict systems. This framework brings to light the relational imbalance of the MENA region and has the potential to contextualize for negotiators and mediators the complex system of conflicts within, and possibly outside, the region.
Selection of rhizosphere communities of diverse rotation crops reveals unique core microbiome associated with reduced banana Fusarium wilt disease
Authors: Hong Shan , Yuan Xianfu , Yang Jinming , Yang Yue , Jv Hongling , Li Rong , Jia Zhongjun , Ruan Yunze
Published: February 2023

Crop rotation can assemble distinct core microbiota as functionally specific barriers against the invasion of banana Fusarium oxysporum pathogens. However, the taxonomic identity of rotation‐unique core taxa and their legacy effects are poorly understood under field conditions.

Pepper and eggplant rotations were employed to reveal rotation crop‐ and banana‐unique antagonistic core taxa by in situ tracking of the soil microbiome assembly patterns for 2 yr. The rotation crop‐unique antagonistic taxa were isolated and functionally verified by culture‐dependent techniques, high‐throughput sequencing, and pot experiments.

Pepper and eggplant rotations resulted in eight and one rotation‐unique antagonistic core taxa out of 12 507 microbial taxa, respectively. These nine antagonistic taxa were retained the following year and significantly decreased banana wilt disease incidence via legacy effects, although the cultivated strains were exclusively of the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The fermentation broth and volatiles of these two taxa showed strong antagonistic activity, and pot experiments demonstrated high suppression of wilt disease and significant promotion of banana growth.

Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of the identification of rotation crop‐unique antagonistic taxa and highlights the importance of targeted cultivation of beneficial microorganisms for optimizing crop rotation‐based scenarios in support of banana agriculture sustainability.
Cortical thickness of the left parahippocampal cortex links central hearing and cognitive performance in aging
Authors: Li Rui , Miao Xiaoyan , Han Buxin , Li Juan
Published: February 2023

Hearing impairment is considered a leading modifiable risk factor of cognitive decline and dementia. While most evidence has been established on clinical assessment of peripheral hearing loss, understanding of how central hearing in real‐world conditions is associated with cognitive aging is limited. This study analyzed the data of 473 unrelated healthy adults aged 36–100 years old from the Lifespan Human Connectome Project in Aging. Central hearing was evaluated using the Words‐in‐Noise decibel threshold. Cognitive functions were evaluated by the performance on cognitive tests, and cortical thickness was estimated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Here, we show that a higher hearing threshold was associated with a lower performance on immediate and delayed episodic memory retrieval, switching aspect of executive function, working memory, reading decoding, and vocabulary comprehension. Cortical thickness in the left parahippocampal cortex (lPHC) was negatively associated with the hearing threshold and acted as a significant partial mediator in the association of central hearing with immediate recall, switching, reading decoding, and vocabulary comprehension. These findings suggest that cortical thickness in the lPHC, an early target of dementia, partially links central hearing and performance in multiple cognitive domains in aging.
Evaluation of the effects of the toilet training process on the children's quality of life
Authors: Kostekci Yasemin Ezgi , Baskan Sevgi , Topcu Seda , Kose Serdal Kenan , Ozgur Emrah Gokay , Orhon Filiz
Published: February 2023

Background

Toilet training is a significant developmental milestone for children. During the process of toilet training, voiding and defecation problems may develop, which have a major adverse impact on the child's quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess voiding and defecation problems in the process of toilet training and evaluate how these issues influenced the children's QoL.

Methods

The children included in the study were followed up at the Department of Social Pediatrics, Ankara University School of Medicine. Participants were surveyed via a questionnaire that included sociodemographic features, the toilet training process, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.

Results

The study included 177 children and their parents. There was no correlation between the parents' age, sociodemographic features, or the timing of the start of toilet training. Voiding problems were found in 55.6% and defecation problems in 23.6% of the children included in the study. Urinary retention during play and nocturnal enuresis were more frequent in the children toilet trained at 25–36 months of age. The self‐reported QoL scores in children with voiding problems and with both voiding and defecation problems were lower than those in children did not have any problems.

Conclusions

Even if a child has been toilet trained, it is essential to investigate daily urination and defecation habits at every follow‐up visit and to discuss with families when a physician should be consulted.
Mucosal immune systems of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: A review
Authors: Kudo Takahiro , Shimizu Toshiaki
Published: February 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract in chronic or recurrent remission phase and is classified as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD is a multifactorial disease that results from genetic and environmental factors, immunological disorders, and gut microbiota dysregulation called dysbiosis. Recently, the number of patients with IBD in Japan has been increasing. This review describes studies of T cells, such as type 1 helper T (Th1) and type 1 cytotoxic T (Tc1) cells, and cytokines, such as IL‐17 and IL‐21, as representatives of mucosal immunity in IBD. Th1 cells and Tc1 cells are involved in Peyer's patches of CD. IL‐12 significantly reduced the production of IL‐17 but significantly increased in that of IFN‐γ, and IL‐21 reduced IL‐17 production. It also describes genetic analysis studies on the cause of very early‐onset IBD (VEO‐IBD). Furthermore, 11.6% of patients with VEO‐IBD presented with monogenic IBD in Japan. Genetic analysis for patients with VEO‐IBD and suspected monogenic IBD was investigated. XIAP and heterozygous SLCO2A1 were detected owing to the result of functional confirmation, and several candidate genes were detected. Cytokine analysis and genetic analysis studies have revealed several pathophysiologies of IBD. Clinical and basic studies on mucosal immunity as well as immunological and genetic analyses are currently ongoing and are anticipated to provide an elaborate understanding of the pathophysiology of IBD.
Farming wellbeing through and beyond COVID‐19: Stressors, gender differences and landscapes of support
Authors: Rose David Christian , Budge Hannah , Carolan Michael , Hall Jilly , Hammersley Conor , Knook Jorie , Lobley Matt , Nye Caroline , O'Reilly Alexis , Shortland Faye , Wheeler Rebecca
Published: February 2023

Although there has been a recent surge in research on drivers of poor farmer wellbeing and mental health, there is still a limited understanding of the state of wellbeing in farming communities around the world and how it can be best supported. This special issue seeks to extend our knowledge of how a combination of different stressors can challenge the wellbeing of farmers, farming families and farm workers, as well as how negative impacts can be unevenly distributed between different individuals. We advance the state of the art in research on farmer wellbeing, illustrating how social, economic and environmental policy drivers combine to create multiple points of stress, which are experienced differently by different individuals (e.g., age, gender). We move beyond an exploration of stressors towards a consideration of how landscapes of support for farmer wellbeing, and packages of support interventions, can improve the social resilience of farming communities. To be effective, these landscapes of support need to be accessible, well‐funded, joined‐up, and adaptable to evolving crises. This special issue explores farmer wellbeing in the context of global agricultural transitions, which are demanding new ways of farming (e.g., digitalisation, net zero, economic restructuring), and in light of shock events, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, in four countries—Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. In exploring the impacts of future shock events and agricultural transitions on wellbeing, the issue concludes with a call to move beyond broad compilations of stressors and interventions and towards nuanced investigations of why and how poor farmer wellbeing occurs and how it can be best supported in specific contexts. The research from these four countries has wide relevance across European countries (similarity in farming systems, noting some differences), but a key message from the issue is that stressors on farmer wellbeing can be highly context‐dependent according to place‐based social, environmental, economic and political issues.
Protein O‐GlcNAcylation impairment caused by N‐acetylglucosamine phosphate mutase deficiency leads to growth variations in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Jia Xiaochen , Zhang Hongyan , Qin Hongqiang , Li Kuikui , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Wenxia , Ye Mingliang , Yin Heng
Published: February 2023

As an essential enzyme in the uridine diphosphate (UDP)‐GlcNAc biosynthesis pathway, the significant role of N‐acetylglucosamine phosphate mutase (AGM) remains unknown in plants. In the present study, a functional plant AGM (AtAGM) was identified from Arabidopsis thaliana. AtAGM catalyzes the isomerization of GlcNAc‐1‐P and GlcNAc‐6‐P, and has broad catalytic activity on different phosphohexoses. UDP‐GlcNAc contents were significantly decreased in AtAGM T‐DNA insertional mutants, which caused temperature‐dependent growth defects in seedlings and vigorous growth in adult plants. Further analysis revealed that protein O‐GlcNAcylation but not N‐glycosylation was dramatically impaired in Atagm mutants due to UDP‐GlcNAc shortage. Combined with the results from O‐GlcNAcylation or N‐glycosylation deficient mutants, and O‐GlcNAcase inhibitor all suggested that protein O‐GlcNAcylation impairment mainly leads to the phenotypic variations of Atagm plants. In conclusion, based on the essential role in UDP‐GlcNAc biosynthesis, AtAGM is important for plant growth mainly via protein O‐GlcNAcylation‐level regulation.
THE ENTANGLED TRINITY, QUANTUM BIOLOGY, AND DEEP INCARNATION
Authors: Simmons Ernest L.
Published: February 2023

By utilizing the concept of quantum decoherence, augmented by the novel theory of quantum Darwinism, to understand the transition from the quantum to the classical worlds, the scaling up of the concept of quantum entanglement2018 to the biological level offers a fascinating metaphor for the presence of the creative spirit in nature and the “flesh” of Incarnation. This in turn provides helpful theological metaphors for articulating divine presence at the level of life in theistic evolution, partially addressing the issue of evolutionary theodicy by supporting the concept of deep Incarnation. The point of understanding the Incarnation as deeply entangled enfleshment is that it brings the suffering of creation into the life of the Redeemer as well as the Creator, facilitating redemption and hope through the divine life.
A Physics-Driven Method for Determining Wheel—Rail Contact Area With Gradient-Based Optimization
Authors: Liu Long , Yi Bing , Li Daping
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a physics-based method to inversely determine wheel—rail contact area in their lifecycle is proposed by introducing a continuous optimization pipeline including filtering and projection procedures. First, the element connectivity parameterization method is introduced to construct continuous objections with discrete contact pairs and formulate the physics-based optimization model. Second, the radius-based filter equation is employed for smoothing the design variables to improve the numerical stability and the differentiable step function is introduced to project smoothed design variables into 0–1 discrete integer space to ensure the solution of the optimization model yields discrete contact pairs. Finally, the method of moving asymptotes is constructed for iteratively updating wheel—rail contact area by analyzing the sensitivity of relaxed optimization formulation with respect to design variables until the algorithm converged. The experimental result shows the effectiveness of the proposed method to inversely determine the wheel—rail contact points in their lifecycle compared to the line tracing method; to the best of our knowledge, it is the first attempt to consider wheel—rail contact area in lifecycle service with both the measured profile and the predicted profile data by gradient-based optimization method.
Computational Design of Multi-State Lattice Structures With Finite Mechanisms for Shape Morphing
Authors: Lumpe Thomas S. , Shea Kristina
Published: February 2023

Shape-morphing structures are beneficial for applications in aerospace, automotive, and architecture since they allow structures to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Finding structural configurations with intrinsic shape-morphing capabilities is, however, difficult due to the complexity of enabling and controlling target deformations while at the same time maintaining structural integrity. Existing solutions are often unstable, hard to fabricate, or limited to a single target state. Here, we show how lattice structures can be designed that morph from an initial state to one or multiple target states with a single kinematic degrees-of-freedom. Thus, the deformations of a structure can be fully controlled by controlling a single input node for every state. Since the structures are designed at the verge of kinematic determinacy, they become statically and kinematically determinate and hence load-carrying upon fixing the actuation node. As all deformations are described by inextensional mechanism modes, the kinematic and mechanical performance of the structures are decoupled and can be tuned individually. We further show that not only the target shape of a structure can be controlled, but also the kinematic path of a target node between its initial and its final position. The results are verified by fabricating the designs using multi-material 3D printing that enables direct fabrication of complex joints. Our work combines advantages of load-carrying lattice structures and distinct topological and geometric design to generate integrated kinematic solutions for a wide range of applications such as morphing wings, robotic grippers, and adaptive building facades.
A Hybrid Response Surface Methodology and Multi-Criteria Decision Making Model to Investigate the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Fueled With Phenolic Antioxidant Additive and Biodiesel Blends
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Choudhary Akhilesh Kumar
Published: February 2023

Overconsumption of fossil fuels has accelerated global warming and raised environmental air pollution levels. Recent studies have looked into the potential use of alternative, environmentally friendly fuels for diesel engines in response to the rising need for oil. Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel that is environmentally friendly. The significant increase in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions is the most notable disadvantage of biodiesel. This study examined the effect of antioxidant-treated Jatropha biodiesel on the performance and exhaust emission parameters of a VCR diesel engine. For this study, diesel, Jatropha biodiesel (B30), and phenolic antioxidant additive diphenylamine at 100 ppm are added by weight to the B30 blend named as B30 + DPA fuel blend was used. A hybrid RSM was used in conjunction with CCD and MCDM approaches such as AHP and COPRAS techniques to produce a sustainable model to derive the most accurate optimum models for output responses. From experimental findings, the antioxidant significantly reduced NOx emission. The inclusion of DPA in the tested blend lowered the average NOx emissions and brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 7.4% and 7.8%, respectively as compared with B30. Also, the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of B30 + DPA is 5.01% and 0.38% higher than diesel and B30, maximum cylinder pressure (CPMax) is 0.9% higher than B30, but 3.4% lower than diesel. The optimal setting of engine input parameters is recorded at compression ratio of 15, 7.5% EGR-HOT, and 12 kg load, for optimum BP, BMEP, BSFC, CPMax, and NOx emissions. Therefore, the B30 + DPA blend is suitable for enhancing diesel engine performance and minimizing exhaust emissions.
Particle-in-cell method for plasmas in the one-dimensional electrostatic limit
Authors: Gomez Sara , Hoyos Jaime Humberto , Valdivia Juan Alejandro
Published: February 2023

We discuss the particle-in-cell (PIC) method, which is one of the most widely used approaches for the kinetic description of plasmas. The positions and velocities of the charged particles take continuous values in phase space, and spatial macroscopic quantities, such as the charge density and self-generated electric fields, are calculated at discrete spatial points of a grid. We discuss the computer implementation of the PIC method for one-dimensional plasmas in the electrostatic regime and discuss a desktop application (PlasmAPP), which includes the implementation of different numerical and interpolation methods and diagnostics in a graphical user interface. To illustrate its functionality, the electron-electron two-stream instability is discussed. Readers can use PlasmAPP to explore advanced numerical methods and simulate different phenomena of interest.
Experimental study of the effects of the long chimney of a closed tonehole on the sound of a bassoon
Authors: Ernoult Augustin , Grothe Timo
Published: February 2023

The bassoon has side holes a few tens of millimeters long, much longer than in other woodwinds. When they are closed, the “quarter-wave” resonances of these “chimneys” create short circuits in parallel with the bore. At these resonance frequencies, near 2 kHz—within the sensitive range of hearing—it is expected that the waves will not propagate beyond the chimney, affecting both the input impedance and the radiated sound. Using parametric studies with varying chimney lengths, these effects on impedance and radiated sound are measured for a French bassoon and a simplified conical model instrument. The effects are clear on the model instrument, especially when several chimneys have equal length. For the bassoon, the passive filter effect remains, but its importance in the sound is blurred due to changes in the oscillation regime and in the directivity, as simulations confirmed. The effect is audible under laboratory conditions, but on the same order of magnitude as the spatial level variations due to the directivity. It is, therefore, unlikely that the difference in timbre between the French and the German bassoon is mainly due to longer tonehole chimneys.
Genetic architecture of the white matter connectome of the human brain
Authors: Sha Zhiqiang , Schijven Dick , Fisher Simon E. , Francks Clyde
Published: February 2023

White matter tracts form the structural basis of large-scale brain networks. We applied brain-wide tractography to diffusion images from 30,810 adults (U.K. Biobank) and found significant heritability for 90 node-level and 851 edge-level network connectivity measures. Multivariate genome-wide association analyses identified 325 genetic loci, of which 80% had not been previously associated with brain metrics. Enrichment analyses implicated neurodevelopmental processes including neurogenesis, neural differentiation, neural migration, neural projection guidance, and axon development, as well as prenatal brain expression especially in stem cells, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. The multivariate association profiles implicated 31 loci in connectivity between core regions of the left-hemisphere language network. Polygenic scores for psychiatric, neurological, and behavioral traits also showed significant multivariate associations with structural connectivity, each implicating distinct sets of brain regions with trait-relevant functional profiles. This large-scale mapping study revealed common genetic contributions to variation in the structural connectome of the human brain.
Precipitation is the main axis of tropical plant phylogenetic turnover across space and time
Authors: Ringelberg Jens J. , Koenen Erik J. M. , Sauter Benjamin , Aebli Anahita , Rando Juliana G. , Iganci João R. , de Queiroz Luciano P. , Murphy Daniel J. , Gaudeul Myriam , Bruneau Anne , Luckow Melissa , Lewis Gwilym P. , Miller Joseph T. , Simon Marcelo F. , Jordão Lucas S. B. , Morales Matías , Bailey C. Donovan , Nageswara-Rao Madhugiri , Nicholls James A. , Loiseau Oriane , Pennington R. Toby , Dexter Kyle G. , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Hughes Colin E.
Published: February 2023

Early natural historians—Comte de Buffon, von Humboldt, and De Candolle—established environment and geography as two principal axes determining the distribution of groups of organisms, laying the foundations for biogeography over the subsequent 200 years, yet the relative importance of these two axes remains unresolved. Leveraging phylogenomic and global species distribution data for Mimosoid legumes, a pantropical plant clade of c. 3500 species, we show that the water availability gradient from deserts to rain forests dictates turnover of lineages within continents across the tropics. We demonstrate that 95% of speciation occurs within a precipitation niche, showing profound phylogenetic niche conservatism, and that lineage turnover boundaries coincide with isohyets of precipitation. We reveal similar patterns on different continents, implying that evolution and dispersal follow universal processes.
An efficient material search for room-temperature topological magnons
Authors: Karaki Mohammed J. , Yang Xu , Williams Archibald J. , Nawwar Mohamed , Doan-Nguyen Vicky , Goldberger Joshua E. , Lu Yuan-Ming
Published: February 2023

Topologically protected magnon surface states are highly desirable as an ideal platform to engineer low-dissipation spintronics devices. However, theoretical prediction of topological magnons in strongly correlated materials proves to be challenging because the ab initio density functional theory calculations fail to reliably predict magnetic interactions in correlated materials. Here, we present a symmetry-based approach, which predicts topological magnons in magnetically ordered crystals, upon applying external perturbations such as magnetic/electric fields and/or mechanical strains. We apply this approach to carry out an efficient search for magnetic materials in the Bilbao Crystallographic Server, where, among 198 compounds with an over 300-K transition temperature, we identify 12 magnetic insulators that support room-temperature topological magnons. They feature Weyl magnons with surface magnon arcs and magnon axion insulators with either chiral surface or hinge magnon modes, offering a route to realize energy-efficient devices based on protected surface magnons.
Developmental cataract in congenital ichthyosis
Authors: Dandekar Prajakta , Chaurasia Sunita
Published: February 2023

A teenage boy who was previously diagnosed to have congenital ichthyosis presented to the eye clinic with complaints of gradually decreasing vision in both eyes since childhood. The best-corrected distance visual acuity was 20/125 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye. Clinical examination revealed developmental cataracts in both eyes. He underwent cataract surgery in the right eye and visual acuity improved to 20/25. Hence, we conclude that congenital ichthyosis can be associated with developmental cataracts. Cataract surgery helps in restoring vision in those with visually significant cataracts.
Associations between type of childhood adversities and labour market participation and employment conditions in young adults
Authors: de Vries Tjeerd Rudmer , Arends Iris , Oldehinkel Albertine J. , Bültmann Ute
Published: February 2023

Background

Cumulative exposure to childhood adversity is associated with a variety of labour market outcomes in young adulthood. It remains largely unclear whether the type of adversity matters in this association. This prospective study examined the differences in exposure to 14 adverse experiences among groups of young adults aged 22 characterised by distinct labour market participation states and employment conditions.

Methods

We used data from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey, a Dutch prospective cohort study with 15 years of follow-up (N=1524). We included 14 adverse experiences (ages 0–16) across five domains: peer influences, loss or threat of loss, material deprivation, family dynamics and maltreatment. Labour market participation states and employment conditions were assessed at age 22. We used latent class analysis to derive labour market outcome groups, which we subsequently compared on exposure to adverse experiences using pairwise comparisons.

Results

Inactive individuals (n=85, 5.6%), often neither in education (77.4%) nor employment (98.6%) and on benefits (94.4%), were more likely to be exposed to many distinct types of adverse experiences (eg, parental addiction, bullying victimisation) as compared with all other groups. Early workers (n=413, 27.1%), often on temporary contracts and low monthly incomes, were more likely to be exposed to parental divorce (22.7%) compared with students with side jobs (12.9%).

Conclusions

Different adverse experiences are not equally associated with labour market outcomes. Researchers and stakeholders in policy and practice should be aware of the differences between adverse experiences in their importance for labour market outcomes in young adults.