bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When and why moral exemplars fail to motivate intergroup reconciliation
Authors: Szabó Zsolt Péter , Witkowska Marta , Szekeres Hanna
Published: May 2023

The present study examines the effectiveness of moral‐exemplar interventions in the context of recurring oppression and historical trauma. Moral exemplars are individuals who have risked important aspects of their lives to save the lives of members of other social groups. In two experimental studies (totalN = 405), we tested the hypothesis that presenting ingroup or outgroup moral exemplars improves intergroup relationships. We also tested the effects of the prototypicality of moral exemplars by manipulating the frequency of helping behavior in the perpetrator group. We used open‐ended questions to qualitatively investigate how participants viewed moral exemplars. We failed to find positive effects of moral‐exemplar interventions. The qualitative analysis confirmed that the in‐group moral exemplar could be used as an “alibi” to justify the in‐group's transgressions, while the outgroup moral exemplar was subtyped. Importantly, our findings do not invalidate, but complement, the moral‐exemplar intervention literature by offering insights into future work with such interventions.
Synthesis of tricyclic and tetracyclic benzo[6,7]cycloheptane derivatives linked morpholine moiety as CDK2 inhibitors
Authors: Farghaly Thoraya A. , Abbas Eman M. H. , Al‐Sheikh Mariam A. , Medrasi Hanadi Y. , Masaret Ghada S. , Pashameah Rami Adel , Qurban Jihan , Harras Marwa F.
Published: May 2023

With the aim of developing cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitors with strong antibreast cancer efficacy, new tricyclic and tetracyclic benzo[6,7]cycloheptane derivatives were synthesized. The newly synthesized tri‐ and tetracyclic derivatives were achieved from the reaction of 4‐(4‐morpholin‐4‐yl‐phenyl)−1,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐d]pyrimidine‐2‐thione (5) with α‐haloketone derivatives as hydrazonyl chlorides, phenacyl bromide derivatives, chloroacetone, and ethyl substituted acetate derivatives. The MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines were utilized to examine the anticancer properties. Compounds 5 and 8 were shown to be the most effective, with half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 5.73 and 9.11 µM, which are on the level with doxorubicin. Mechanistic studies showed that 5 and 8 caused tumor cell death by inducing apoptosis and they also produced cancer arrest in the S phase of the cell cycle. In addition, compounds 5 and 8 showed strong anti‐CDK2 action (IC50 = 0.112 and 0.18 µM, respectively) comparable to roscovitine (IC50 = 0.127 µM). Moreover, the docking result demonstrated that derivatives 5 and 8 fit into the CDK2 active site in the proper orientation.
Seasonal and elevational changes of plant‐pollinator interaction networks in East African mountains
Authors: Dzekashu Fairo F. , Pirk Christian W. W. , Yusuf Abdullahi A. , Classen Alice , Kiatoko Nkoba , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Peters Marcell K. , Lattorff H. Michael G.
Published: May 2023

Across an elevation gradient, several biotic and abiotic factors influence community assemblages of interacting species leading to a shift in species distribution, functioning, and ultimately topologies of species interaction networks. However, empirical studies of climate‐driven seasonal and elevational changes in plant‐pollinator networks are rare, particularly in tropical ecosystems. Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspots in Kenya, East Africa. We recorded plant‐bee interactions at 50 study sites between 515 and 2600 m asl for a full year, following all four major seasons in this region. We analysed elevational and seasonal network patterns using generalised additive models (GAMs) and quantified the influence of climate, floral resource availability, and bee diversity on network structures using a multimodel inference framework. We recorded 16,741 interactions among 186 bee and 314 plant species of which a majority involved interactions with honeybees. We found that nestedness and bee species specialisation of plant‐bee interaction networks increased with elevation and that the relationships were consistent in the cold‐dry and warm‐wet seasons respectively. Link rewiring increased in the warm‐wet season with elevation but remained indifferent in the cold‐dry seasons. Conversely, network modularity and plant species were more specialised at lower elevations during both the cold‐dry and warm‐wet seasons, with higher values observed during the warm‐wet seasons. We found flower and bee species diversity and abundance rather than direct effects of climate variables to best predict modularity, specialisation, and link rewiring in plant‐bee‐interaction networks. This study highlights changes in network architectures with elevation suggesting a potential sensitivity of plant‐bee interactions with climate warming and changes in rainfall patterns along the elevation gradients of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot.
Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare (Equus caballus) fecal microbiota
Authors: Vaziri Grace J. , Jones Maggie M. , Carr Haley A. , Nuñez Cassandra M. V.
Published: May 2023

The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. The maintenance of healthy bacterial communities may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, social relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, and social stressors such as increased competition and rank maintenance. We investigated the effects of increased social instability, as determined by the number of group changes made by females, on the microbiota in free‐living, feral horses (Equus caballus) on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island off the North Carolina coast. Females leaving their groups to join new ones had fecal microbial communities that were similarly diverse but compositionally different than those of females that did not change groups. Changing groups was also associated with the increased abundance of a several bacterial genera and families. These changes may be significant as horses are heavily dependent upon their microbial communities for nutrient absorption. Though we cannot identify the particular mechanism(s) driving these changes, to the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to demonstrate an association between acute social perturbations and the microbiota in a free‐ranging mammal.
Molecular characterization of a new strain of Aspergillus and ricinoleic acid production from castor oil by the fungus
Authors: Singh Shikha , Sharma Sumit , Sarma Saurabh Jyoti , Brar Satinder Kaur
Published: May 2023

The derivatives of castor oil have wide industrial applications. Different strains were isolated that metabolize the castor oil. Among these, Isolate D which was later identified as Aspergillus flavus BU22S was selected for further study. Major metabolite produced by the strain was extracted and identified using mass spectrometry (MS) followed by HPLC analysis. The metabolite was found to be ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid is widely used in polymer industries, cosmetics, pharmaceutical industries, lubricants, and in textiles. The product yield of the selected isolate was studied with different castor oil concentrations under different process conditions. Agitation speed as well as oil concentration were found to have a significant effect on ricinoleic acid production. The best yield, that is, 79.5 g/kg of total oil was obtained at a lower agitation speed. The strain consumed some amount of oil, which can be reduced from 90% to 29% by optimizing the process parameters.
Electrographic seizure duration and inter‐seizure intervals in focal status epilepticus
Authors: Meletti Stefano , Turchi Giulia , Orlandi Niccolò , Vaudano Anna Elisabetta , Cioclu Maria Cristina , Pugnaghi Matteo , Giovannini Giada
Published: May 2023

Objective

To characterize the duration of seizures and inter‐seizure intervals in focal status epilepticus (SE).

Methods

We reviewed consecutive scalp EEG recordings from adult patients who were admitted for a first episode of focal status epilepticus. We identified electrographic seizure duration and inter‐seizure intervals in the first diagnostic pretreatment EEG. We also reviewed isolated focal self‐limiting seizures in epilepsy patients, as a comparison group for seizure duration.

Results

We recorded 307 focal seizures in 100 consecutive focal SE episodes, with a median seizure duration of 107 s (IQR: 54–186), and 134 isolated focal self‐limiting seizures in 42 epilepsy patients, with a median duration of 59 s (IQR: 30–90; p < .001). The only clinical feature of SE that significantly increased seizure duration was acute symptomatic etiology. In SE, 15% and 7% of seizures lasted longer than 300 and 600 s, respectively (t1 of the actual definition for tonic–clonic and focal SE), while only 1% of self‐limiting seizures lasted longer than 300 s, and none lasted longer than 600 s. The analysis of inter‐seizure intervals in SE with multiple seizures showed that 50% of the inter‐seizure periods were shorter than 60 s, and 95% were shorter than 540 s (9 min). Patients who had an increase in seizure duration (last versus first) of at least 1.4 times showed an increased 30‐day mortality.

Significance

Focal seizures within a SE episode showed a wide range of duration, partly overlapping with the duration of focal self‐limiting seizures but with a longer median duration. Inter‐seizure intervals within an episode of SE were shorter than 1 min in 50% of the seizures and never lasted more than 10 min. Finally, an increase in seizure duration could represent an “electrophysiological biomarker” of a more severe SE episode, which may require more aggressive and rapid treatment.
Peri‐ictal EEG in infants with PRRT2‐related self‐limited infantile epilepsy
Authors: Fearn Nicola , Macdonald‐Laurs Emma , Moylan Laura , Howell Katherine B.
Published: May 2023

Objective

Pathogenic PRRT2 variants cause self‐limited (familial) infantile epilepsy (SeLIE), which is responsive to sodium channel blocking antiseizure medications. The interictal EEG is typically normal. We describe a cohort of infants with PRRT2‐related SeLIE with striking peri‐ictal EEG abnormalities.

Methods

We included all infants diagnosed with PRRT2‐related SeLIE during July 2020 to November 2021 at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Clinical features and results of aetiologic investigations were collected from electronic medical records. All EEGs were reviewed independently by two epileptologists.

Results

Ten infants presented with focal seizures at a median age of 5 months (range: 3–6 months). Eight had a family history of epilepsy, paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) or hemiplegic migraine. Seven of the eight infants with an EEG performed within 24 h of the most recent seizure had epileptiform discharges. Their EEGs showed focal sharp waves, spikes, polyspikes or fast activity independently over the left and right temporo‐occipital regions. Conversely, the two infants with last known seizure greater than 24 h prior to their EEG had no epileptiform discharges. Oxcarbazepine was commenced in two infants and was effective. Eight infants were initially treated with levetiracetam, and all were subsequently switched to oxcarbazepine due to ongoing seizures or side effects.

Significance

Posterior polymorphic focal epileptiform discharges on a peri‐ictal EEG recording are a feature of PRRT2‐related SeLIE. This finding, particularly in the presence of a family history of infantile epilepsy, PKD or hemiplegic migraine, suggests a diagnosis of PRRT2‐related SeLIE and has important treatment implications.
Integration of interictal EEG source localization in presurgical epilepsy evaluation – A single‐center prospective study
Authors: Miron Gadi , Baag Thomas , Götz Kara , Holtkamp Martin , Vorderwülbecke Bernd J.
Published: May 2023

Objective

To investigate cost in working hours for initial integration of interictal EEG source localization (ESL) into clinical practice of a tertiary epilepsy center, and to examine concordance of results obtained with three different ESL pipelines.

Methods

This prospective study covered the first year of using ESL in the Epilepsy‐Center Berlin‐Brandenburg. Patients aged ≥14 years with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy referred for noninvasive presurgical evaluation were included. Interictal ESL was based on low‐density EEG and individual head models. Source maxima were obtained from two freely available software packages and one commercial provider. One physician and computer scientist documented their working hours for setting up and processing ESL. Additionally, a survey was conducted among epilepsy centers in Germany to assess the current role of ESL in presurgical evaluation.

Results

Of 40 patients included, 22 (55%) had enough interictal spikes for ESL. The physician's working times decreased from median 4.7 hours [interquartile range 3.9‐6.4] in the first third of cases to 2.0 hours [1.9‐2.4] in the remaining two thirds; P < 0.01. In addition, computer scientist and physician spent a total of 35.5 and 33.0 working hours on setting up the digital infrastructure, and on training and testing. Sublobar agreement between all three pipelines was 20%, mean measurement of agreement (kappa) 0.13. Finally, the survey revealed that 53% of epilepsy centers in Germany currently use ESL for presurgical evaluation.

Significance

This study provides information regarding expected effort and costs for integration of ESL into an epilepsy surgery program. Low result agreement across different ESL pipelines calls for further standardization.
A convection‐permitting dynamically downscaled dataset over the Midwestern United States
Authors: Lauer Abraham , Devaney Jesse , Kieu Chanh , Kravitz Ben , O'Brien Travis A. , Robeson Scott M. , Staten Paul W. , Vu The Anh
Published: May 2023

Climate change is expected to have far‐reaching effects at both the global and regional scale, but local effects are difficult to determine from coarse‐resolution climate studies. Dynamical downscaling can provide insight into future climate projections on local scales. Here, we present a new dynamically downscaled dataset for Indiana and the surrounding regions. Output from the Community Earth System Model (CESM) version 1 is downscaled using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Simulations are run with a 24‐hr reinitialization strategy and a 12‐hr spin‐up window. WRF output is bias corrected to the National Centers for Environmental Protection/National Center for Atmospheric Research 40‐year Reanalysis project (NCEP) using a modified quantile mapping method. Bias‐corrected 2‐m air temperature and accumulated precipitation are the initial focus, with additional variables planned for future releases. Regional climate change signals agree well with larger global studies, and local fine‐scaled features are visible in the resulting dataset, such as urban heat islands, frontal passages, and orographic temperature gradients. This high‐resolution climate dataset could be used for down‐stream applications focused on impacts across the domain, such as urban planning, energy usage, water resources, agriculture and public health.
Saliva biopsy: Detecting the difference of EBV DNA methylation in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Xiao‐Hui , Deng Chang‐Mi , Zhou Ting , Li Xi‐Zhao , Tang Cao‐Li , Jiang Cheng‐Tao , Liao Ying , Wang Tong‐Min , He Yong‐Qiao , Jia Wei‐Hua
Published: May 2023

Saliva sampling is a non‐invasive method, and could be performed by donors themselves. However, there are few studies reporting biomarkers in saliva in the diagnosis of NPC. A total of 987 salivary samples were used in this study. First, EBV DNA methylation was profiled by capture sequencing in the discovery cohort (n = 36). Second, a q‐PCR based method was developed and five representative EBV DNA CpG sites (11 029 bp, 45 849 bp, 57 945 bp, 66 226 bp and 128 102 bp) were selected and quantified to obtain the methylated density in the validation cohort1 (n = 801). Third, a validation cohort2 (n = 108) was used to further verify the differences of EBV methylation in saliva. A significant increase of EBV methylation was found in NPC patients compared with controls. The methylated score of EBV genome obtained by capture sequencing could distinguish NPC from controls (sensitivity 90%, specificity 100%). Further, the methylated density of EBV DNA CpG sites revealed by q‐PCR showed a good diagnostic performance. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting a single CpG site (11 029 bp) could reach 75.4% and 99.7% in the validation cohort1, and 78.2% and 100% in the validation cohort2. Besides, the methylated density of the CpG site was found to decrease below the COV in NPC patients after therapy, and increase above the COV after recurrence. Our study provides an appealing alternative for the non‐invasive detection of NPC without clinical setting. It paves the way for conducting a home‐based large‐scale screening in the future.
Investigating green energy–environment nexus in post‐COP26 era: Can technological innovation, financial development and government expenditure deliver Africa's targets?
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Ibrahim Ridwan Lanre , Oke David Mautin , Al‐Faryan Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh
Published: May 2023

Global warming remains one of the most topical issues in environmental debates because of its unimaginable ecological complications and threats to human existence. The determination to curtail the unwavering ravaging impacts of global warming motivates the 26th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP26). Hence, this study examines explicitly how prominent factors discussed at COP26, such as technological innovation and green energy, will enhance the deliverance of the targets for Africa. While capturing environmental sustainability with CO2 emissions and ecological footprint, the empirical model endogenizes structural change, government expenditures and financial development from 1990 to 2018. The verification of stated hypotheses relies on the cross‐sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS‐ARDL) model, augmented mean group (AMG), common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) and method of moment quantile regression (MMQR) model. Our empirical results reveal that technological innovation, green energy and service‐led growth promote environmental sustainability by mitigating the surge in CO2 emissions and ecological footprint. Besides, government expenditures, financial development, agriculture and manufacturing hinder environmental sustainability. Policies that promote sustainable ecosystem in Africa are suggested based on empirical findings.
Association of mode of delivery with short‐term and neurodevelopmental outcomes in periviable singleton infants: A nationwide database study
Authors: Huang Yi‐Ya , Chang Jui‐Hsing , Chen Chia‐Huei , Peng Chun‐Chin , Hsu Chyong‐Hsin , Ko Mary Hsin‐Ju , Chen Chen‐Yu , Chang Hung‐Yang ,   the Taiwan Premature Infant Follow‐Up Network
Published: May 2023

Objective

To evaluate the association of mode of delivery (MOD) with short‐term and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age (CA) in periviable singleton infants.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study of the Taiwan Premature Infant Follow‐up Network database between 2010 and 2016 compared non‐anomalous singleton deliveries (cesarean delivery [CD] vs vaginal delivery [VD]) between 22 0/7 and 25 6/7 gestational weeks. Major morbidities, mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated at 2‐year CA.

Results

The CD and VD groups included 354 and 472 infants, respectively. The intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) rate was lower in the CD group (54% vs 66%, P = 0.001), but severe IVH differed non‐significantly between groups (20% vs 26%, P = 0.057). In the small‐for‐gestational age subgroup, CD was associated with lower IVH (56% vs 84%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04–0.69) and better survival without neurodevelopmental impairment (29% vs 8%, aOR, 6.64, 95% CI 1.02–43.29) after controlling for potential confounders.

Conclusion

The optimal MOD for periviable singleton birth and its impact are unclear. CD in periviable singleton births is associated with a decreased IVH risk, without improvement in severe IVH, mortality, or neurodevelopment at 2‐year CA. The small‐for‐gestational age subgroup may benefit from CD for better survival without neurodevelopmental impairment.
Irrigation and drainage in the Republic of Tajikistan
Authors: Gaforzoda Bahrom , Yuldashev Rauf
Published: May 2023

The Republic of Tajikistan is an agrarian country in Central Asia with a population of more than 10 million. Ninety‐three per cent of the territory is taken up by mountains. The country is rich in water resources (glaciers, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, mineral springs, etc.) The rivers of Tajikistan form 55.4% of the average annual surface runoff of the Aral Sea basin. The total area of land potentially suitable for irrigation in the country is estimated at 1.57 Mha, of which 763,000 ha were developed by 2021, of which 289,000 ha are irrigated with the help of 390  pumping stations with 1500 pumps and 213,000 ha are irrigated with the help of 228 cascade pumping stations with 922 aggregates. The irrigation and drainage networks are mainly located in the basins of the Syr Darya, Zarafshan, Kafernigan, Vakhsh and Pyanj rivers. In general, 26,700 km of irrigation networks, main canals and 11,400 km of collector‐drainage networks, 7099 hydraulic structures, 505 vertical wells, 169 siphons, 110 aqueducts, 5455 water distribution points and 3858 gauging posts function to serve irrigated lands in the country.
Daily association between parent−adolescent relationship and life satisfaction: The moderating role of emotion dysregulation
Authors: Chiang Shou‐Chun , Chen Wan‐Chen , Wu Pei‐Yu
Published: May 2023

Introduction

In adolescence, life satisfaction is an early indicator of later psychological well‐being. However, researchers know little about how daily family relationships shape adolescent life satisfaction. The current study examined the day‐to‐day associations between parent–adolescent relationships and life satisfaction, and whether adolescent emotion dysregulation moderated these associations.

Methods

A total of 191 adolescents (Mage = 12.93, SDage = 0.75, 53% female) recruited from junior high schools in Taiwan participated in a 10‐day daily diary protocol. We conducted multilevel analyses to examine within‐family and between‐family processes.

Results

At the within‐family level, adolescents reported higher life satisfaction on days when parent–adolescent closeness was higher, but lower life satisfaction on days when parent–adolescent conflict was higher. At the between‐family level, higher parent–adolescent closeness was associated with greater life satisfaction on average, while parent–adolescent conflict was not related to adolescent life satisfaction. Cross‐level interactions indicated that within‐family changes in parent–adolescent closeness and conflict were only associated with life satisfaction for adolescents with higher levels of emotion dysregulation, indicating emotion dysregulation may intensify the role of daily parent–adolescent relationships in shaping adolescent life satisfaction.

Conclusions

This study expands current literature and provides novel evidence that changes in day‐to‐day parent–adolescent relationships have important implications for adolescent life satisfaction, especially for youth higher in emotion dysregulation. The findings underscore the importance of evaluating family and individual characteristics to better support adolescent well‐being.
High‐resolution in vivo imaging of human nailbed microvasculature by using photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Li Dongfang , Zhao Manli , Tao Chao , Qian Xiaoqin , Liu Xiaojun
Published: May 2023

Microcirculation imaging has significantly clinical value in early diagnosis and curative effect judgment of various diseases. The most superficial layer of the nailbed is rich in capillaries, which is suitable as a window on the microcirculation. However, few techniques can noninvasively observe the blood supply distribution of the nailbed, especially for high‐resolution imaging of capillaries. In this study, we adapted an optical‐resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR‐PAM) to image the nailbed microvasculature. The imaging sensitivity was significantly improved by hydration pretreatment of the nail. In vitro phantom experiments demonstrate that the sensitivity was improved about 3.5 times after hydration. In vivo imaging experiments of the nailbed microvasculature were conducted to further examine the enhanced sensitivity and practicability of OR‐PAM. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of capillary loops showed that OR‐PAM can extract the detection indicators including vascular morphology, diameter, and length, which provides a basis for clinical microcirculation detection using OR‐PAM.
A simple and consistent quantum‐chemical fragmentation scheme for proteins that includes two‐body contributions
Authors: Vornweg Johannes R. , Wolter Mario , Jacob Christoph R.
Published: May 2023

The Molecular Fractionation with Conjugate Caps (MFCC) method is a popular fragmentation method for the quantum‐chemical treatment of proteins. However, it does not account for interactions between the amino acid fragments, such as intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Here, we present a combination of the MFCC fragmentation scheme with a second‐order many‐body expansion (MBE) that consistently accounts for all fragment–fragment, fragment–cap, and cap–cap interactions, while retaining the overall simplicity of the MFCC scheme with its chemically meaningful fragments. We show that with the resulting MFCC‐MBE(2) scheme, the errors in the total energies of selected polypeptides and proteins can be reduced by up to one order of magnitude and relative energies of different protein conformers can be predicted accurately.
Prevalence of drug use before and during imprisonment in seven European countries (2014–2018)
Authors: Montanari Linda , Royuela Luis , Mazzilli Sara , Vandam Liesbeth , Alvarez Elena , Llorens Noelia , Carapinha Ludmila , Grohmannova Katerina , Isajeva Laura , Ignataviciute Lina , Kvaternik Ines , Sierosławski Janusz , Malczewski Artur , Plettinckx Els , Sendino Rosario , Torres Analia , Yasemi Ioanna , Tavoschi Lara , Mravcik Viktor
Published: May 2023

Substance use is a global phenomenon that is particularly affecting the prison population. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of drug use among people in prison before and during incarceration in seven European countries and to compare it with the prevalence in the general population. Individual data collection was carried out between 2014 and 2018 with a model European Questionnaire on Drug Use among people in prison. A total of 12,918 people living in prison filled in the survey. People in prison report higher level of drug use when compared with the general population and the use of drug inside prison exist, although at lower levels when compared with predetention. Prisons can represent a point of access to engage individuals who use drugs in interventions that address drug use and risk factors related to both drug use and imprisonment.
Postgraduate education to expand access to dental care: A roadmap to community dental program development
Authors: Page Cristen P. , Koday Mark , Zamierowski Alyssa M. , Weidner Amanda , Hawes Emily M.
Published: May 2023

Evidence indicates an increasing shortage of dentists in communities across the United States with potentially significant implications for oral health, as well as overall health and well‐being. One strategy to increase access to dental care in rural and underserved communities is community‐based postgraduate dental training. However, developing new dental programs requires navigating complex accreditation, financial and community governance, among other, barriers. The Roadmap for Teaching Health Center Dental Program Development presents a framework that guides institutions through the successive steps of developing new postgraduate training programs from identification of need to ultimate maintenance and sustainability. The tool assists programs in anticipating and understanding requirements, reducing time, expense, and uncertainty. While the framework was developed for community‐based programs, the steps are applicable to postgraduate programs sponsored by academic institutions as well.
Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in permanent upslope pasture and downslope riparian buffers with varying vegetation
Authors: Dlamini Jerry Celumusa , Tesfamariam Eyob Habte , Dunn Robert , Evans J. , Hawkins Jane , Blackwell Martin , Collins Adrian , Cardenas Laura
Published: May 2023

Background

Riparian buffers are primarily implemented for their water quality functions in agroecosystems. Their location in the agricultural landscape allows them to intercept and process pollutants from immediately adjacent agricultural land. Vegetated riparian buffers recycle soil organic matter, which elevates soil carbon (C), which upon processing, processes and releases carbon dioxide (CO2). The elevated soil C and seasonally anoxic environments associated with riparian buffers promote denitrification and fermentation, further increasing soil CO2 production.

Aim

Against this context, a replicated plot‐scale experiment was established at North Wyke, UK, to measure the extent of soil CO2 emissions in permanent pasture served by grass, willow, and woodland riparian buffers, as well as a no‐buffer control.

Methods

Soil CO2 was measured using the static chamber technique in conjunction with soil and environmental variables between June 2018 and February 2019.

Results

Cumulative soil CO2 fluxes were in the descending order: woodland riparian buffer; 11,927.8 ± 1987.9 kg CO2 ha–1 > no‐buffer control; 11,101.3 ± 3700.4 kg CO2 ha–1 > grass riparian buffer; 10,826.4 ± 2551.8 kg CO2 ha–1 > upslope pasture; 10,554.6 ± 879.5 kg CO2 ha–1 > willow riparian buffer; 9294.9 ± 1549.2 5 kg CO2 ha–1. There was, however, no evidence of significant differences among all treatments of the current study.

Conclusions

Despite the lack of significant differences, the results from our short‐term study show that the woodland riparian buffer had relatively larger soil CO2 emissions than the remainder of the other riparian buffers and the upslope pasture it serves. Our short‐term findings may be useful in developing soil CO2 mitigation strategies through careful selection of riparian buffer vegetation and may be useful in calibrating mechanistic models for simulating such emissions from similar agro systems.
Effects of da Vinci robot versus thoracoscopic surgery on body trauma and lymphocyte subsets in lung cancer patients: A propensity score matching study
Authors: Hong Ziqiang , Cui Baiqiang , Sheng Yannan , Lu Yingjie , Bai Xiangdou , Wu Xusheng , Cheng Tao , Jin Dacheng , Gou Yunjiu
Published: May 2023

Background

To assess the impact of da Vinci robot versus thoracoscopic surgery on body trauma and lymphocyte subsets in lung cancer patients.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 352 patients with lung cancer treated by minimally invasive surgery completed by the same operator in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital from October 2019 to October 2022. According to the surgical procedure, the patients were divided into a robotic‐assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) group (n = 159) and a video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS) (n = 193), respectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed in both groups, and perioperative indicators were recorded. Levels of inflammatory markers (C‐reactive protein, CRP; interleukin‐6, IL‐6) and lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+) were measured 1 day before surgery and 1, 3, and 5 days after surgery, respectively. To compare the effects of the two surgical procedures on the trauma and lymphocyte subsets of the patient's organism.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐eight patients in each group after PSM. Compared with the VATS group, the RATS group had shorter operative time (p < 0.001), less intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.001), less postoperative chest drainage (p = 0.029), shorter postoperative chest drainage time (p = 0.008), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.005). The levels of CRP and IL‐6 increased in both groups after surgery compared with those before surgery, and the increase was less in the RATS group than that in the VATS group. Postoperative T‐lymphocyte levels were lower in both groups compared with preoperative levels, and T‐lymphocyte levels were significantly lower in the VATS group compared with the RATS group.

Conclusion

Compared with VATS for treating lung cancer, RATS has advantages in short‐term efficacy, and smaller surgical trauma to patients, which can reduce the body's inflammatory response. It also has less impact on T lymphocyte subpopulations, which can better protect patients’ immune function.
An approximate solution for variable‐order fractional optimal control problem via Müntz‐Legendre wavelets with an application in epidemiology
Authors: Vo Thieu N. , Razzaghi Mohsen , Mihai Ion
Published: May 2023

A class of variable‐order fractional optimal control problems (VO‐FOCPs) is solved by applying Müntz‐Legendre wavelets. Different from classical wavelets (such as Legendre and Chebyshev), the Müntz‐Legendre wavelets have an extra parameter representing the fractional order; therefore, they provide more reliable results for certain fractional calculus problems. Using the regularized beta function, the Riemann‐Liouville fractional integral operator (RLFIO) of these wavelets is precisely determined. We then transform the given VO‐FOCPs into parameter optimization problems that can be easily solved. The convergence analysis and error estimation of the proposed method are provided. Four examples are solved to illustrate the high accuracy of the approach. The method is also applied to a cancer‐obesity interaction model to analyze the interactions between the tumor, immune, normal, and fat cells when the chemotherapeutic drugs are injected into a body.
Generalizing Traub's method to a parametric iterative class for solving multidimensional nonlinear problems
Authors: Chicharro Francisco Israel , Cordero Alicia , Garrido Neus , Torregrosa Juan Ramon
Published: May 2023

In this work, we modify the iterative structure of Traub's method to include a real parameter
. A parametric family of iterative methods is obtained as a generalization of Traub, which is also a member of it. The cubic order of convergence is proved for any value of
. Then, a dynamical analysis is performed after applying the family for solving a system cubic polynomials by means of multidimensional real dynamics. This analysis allows to select the best members of the family in terms of stability as a preliminary study to be generalized to any nonlinear function. Finally, some iterative schemes of the family are used to check numerically the previous developments when they are used to approximate the solutions of academic nonlinear problems and a chemical diffusion reaction problem.
Copula‐based importance sampling method for efficient slope reliability analysis
Authors: Zhou Xinlong , Xiao Henglin , Jiang Dongzhu , Yang Jinhui , Tian Mi , Yue Xiao‐Guang
Published: May 2023

Efficient slope reliability analysis that accounts for the interdependencies of random variables is challenging. In this study, an efficient reliability method is proposed based on importance sampling (IS) and copulas. First, the IS method based on the design point is introduced to construct the marginal IS density. Copulas are subsequently adopted to capture the interdependencies and establish both the initial joint distributions and the joint IS densities of random variable pairs. The IS algorithm is modified to consider the dependencies through not only the estimation of the probability distribution but also random sampling. Finally, a framework of the copula‐based IS method is constructed. The applicability, accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the proposed method were validated by a classical slope case. The results showed that with the proposed method, slope reliability could be efficiently assessed with a relatively high accuracy. The dependencies of the variables significantly affected the IS and final slope reliability, whereas the IS density had a significantly lower effect. The proposed method combines the advantages of IS and copulas well. Interdependencies of the variables can be properly characterized during sampling. Moreover, the proposed method was shown to be robust regardless of the system failure probability level. It can be further applied to improve the random finite element method in the future.
Developing a conceptual model for understanding nutritional problems and their negative impacts on quality of life among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study
Authors: Wang Yun , Yuan Xiangping , Gu Xianju , Meng Changxiu , Zheng Yanling
Published: May 2023

Aim

The purpose of this study was to obtain an in‐depth understanding of nutritional problems and concerns among patients with type 2 diabetes and explored the negative impacts of those nutrition issues on health outcomes.

Design

A qualitative research method was used.

Methods

Twenty‐one adult patients with type 2 diabetes participated in a semi structured interview. Recordings were transcribed verbatim, and content analysis was used to identify themes.

Results

Four themes emerged from the analysis to represent nutritional problems and negative impacts: nutrition literacy, sociocultural aspects of nutrition, nutrition behaviours, and negative health outcomes.

Public Contributions

The study promoted further understanding of nutrition issues and negative impacts among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Personal, social, cultural and religious factors should all be taken into consideration when promoting nutrition care.
The effects of nurse‐led family pulmonary rehabilitation intervention on quality of life and exercise capacity in rural patients with COPD
Authors: Zhang Meifang , Mao Xiaoli , Li Fangli , Xianyu Yunyan
Published: May 2023

Aim

To assess the effects of nurse‐led family pulmonary rehabilitation intervention on quality of life and exercise capacity in rural patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design

A non‐randomized clinical trial.

Methods

This study enrolled COPD patients at two hospitals from January 2019 to January 2020. The primary outcome was the quality of life. The secondary outcome was exercise capacity.

Results

Seventy‐four rural COPD patients were enrolled, 38 in the comprehensive nursing group and 36 in the routine nursing group. After the intervention, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores in the comprehensive nursing group were significantly lower than in the routine nursing group, especially in symptoms, activities and total scores. The SGRQ scores of the comprehensive nursing group were significantly lower than baseline, while the SGRQ scores of the routine nursing group were significantly higher than baseline. After the intervention, there was a significant difference in six‐minute walking distance(6MWD) between the two groups.
Stiffness evolution of jet grouting columns performed under port caissons using PS suspension logging
Authors: Tijera Ángel , Asanza Enrique , Galindo Rubén , Burgos Marcelo
Published: May 2023

Jet grouting is one of the ground improvement techniques that are currently more widely used for upgrading gravity quays, especially to increase their berth depth. Irregular columns are formed because of a rotating high‐pressure injection of a cementitious fluid in the ground that mixes with the natural soil. Despite its popularity, there is hardly any field experimentation on the stiffness gain of the mixture, especially under the base of port caissons. As fresh columns behave like a dense fluid with an excess of pore pressure, the evolution of mixture stiffness, especially at early ages after injection, is a key aspect when programming working windows for ground improvement, drill locations, sequencing and timing. Otherwise, crane rails, pavement and other services are at risk of undergoing undesirable local movements. One of the upgrading programs of the Port Authority of Valencia, Spain, is the increase of the berth depth of its quays, many engineered as concrete caissons. The concern about the temporary local loss of the foundation stiffness during the execution of each jet grouting column prompted research to find an in situ procedure capable of measuring the stiffness evolution of the jet grouting columns at early ages. This paper presents a successful procedure using PS suspension logging, expanding its scope of geotechnical engineering applicability in an innovative way. The use of the technique for the intended purpose and the execution process itself stands out as a novelty, with the insertion of the borehole casing pipe through the axis of the recently executed column. The key outcomes of this research are: (1) the novelty of studying the evolution of the stiffness in the early ages of the jet grouting columns executed under port caissons, where it is not possible to execute test columns; and (2) to propose an adequate and reliable method at the beginning of the works to plan the injection sequence of the next columns of jet grouting.
The Swedish Youth with Obesity cohort: Profile of an ongoing prospective study
Authors: Christenson Anne , Bonn Stephanie E. , Torgerson Jarl , Hjort Sofia , Dreber Helena , Trolle Lagerros Ylva
Published: May 2023

Objective

As there is a lack of studies on adolescents and young adults with obesity, the Swedish Youth with Obesity cohort was set up to describe the long‐term results of medical, as well as surgical, obesity interventions in youth. This article describes the study protocol.

Methods

Since 2018, the study has continuously recruited patients aged between 16 and 25 years who have been admitted for obesity treatment at a specialist obesity clinic in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants provide data from blood tests, questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements. Data are collected longitudinally at enrollment and after 18 months and 3, 4, 5, and 10 years.

Results

In the first 500 participants (76% female), the mean age was 21 (SD 3.0) years and the mean BMI was 41.3 (SD 6.1) kg/m2 at enrollment. Almost half of the participants (44.4%) reported that both parents were born outside the Nordic countries. The proportion of participants who smoked at least sometimes was 28.4%.

Conclusions

The longitudinally collected data from the Swedish Youth with Obesity cohort will become a valuable source for answering various research questions regarding long‐term results of medical and surgical obesity treatment in adolescents and young adults with obesity.
Improvements in the lateral crushing behavior of syntactic foam‐filled glass fiber reinforced polymer tubes by the addition of straight and helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zhang DanFeng , Jin Qing , Chen Zhilin , Wang Kairui , Chen Jiye , Wang Jun
Published: May 2023

To diminish the brittleness of glass fiber reinforced polymer tubes and syntactic foams, a novel composite tube filled with syntactic foam was proposed, in which thin‐walled tubes were reinforced by ribs and the syntactic foam core reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The influence of the ribs and the type and content of MWCNTs on the lateral crashworthy characteristics of composite tubes was investigated. Crushing experimental results indicated that the ribs contributed to improving the crashworthy performance for both hollow and foam‐filled tubes. The effect of the ribs on the energy absorption was more pronounced for the hollow tubes. Incorporation of straight or helical MWCNTs lead to improvement of the crush resistance and energy absorption for foam‐filled tubes. With the same MWCNT content, the peak load and absorbed energy of specimens with helical MWCNTs were nearly 14% and 13% higher than those of specimens with straight MWCNTs, respectively. Furthermore, analytical models were proposed to predict the load–displacement responses for foam‐filled tubes in the linear‐elastic, postcrushing, and foam‐compaction stages. The predicted results agreed well with experimental results. The resulting composite tubes are potential light‐weighted and crashworthy structures, which could be applied as collapsible energy absorbers in engineering fields.
Perinatal outcome after selective fetal reduction in monochorionic twin pregnancies: A comparison of techniques over a 20‐year period
Authors: van Hoek M. J. C. , van Klink J. M. M. , Verweij E. J. T. , Middeldorp J. M. , Haak M. C. , Lopriore E. , Slaghekke F.
Published: May 2023

Objective

To assess the perinatal outcome after fetal reduction in complicated monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies by comparing different techniques.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study at a national referral center comparing data between four techniques: interstitial laser coagulation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC) and bipolar cord coagulation (BCC). The primary outcome was the mortality of the co‐twins. Secondary outcomes were preterm pre‐labor rupture of membranes (PPROM), gestational age at delivery and neonatal morbidity.

Results

259 MC twin pregnancies underwent selective fetal reduction: 29 IL, 64 RFA, 85 FLC and 81 BCC. The perinatal mortality rate was 29% and fetal demise of the co‐twins occurred in 19%. The lowest mortality rate was seen after BCC (17%, p = 0.012). PPROM occurred in 18% patients without significant differences between techniques. The mean gestational age at delivery in liveborn children was 35 weeks and did not differ between techniques. Severe cerebral injury and neonatal morbidity were reported in 4% and 14%, respectively, without significant differences between techniques.

Conclusions

Selective fetal reductions in MC twins are precarious procedures with an increased risk of perinatal mortality of the co‐twins. Our results show the lowest mortality rates after BCC. However, high PPROM rates were seen irrespective of the technique.
Correction factors for the drag and pressure flows of power‐law fluids through rectangular ducts
Authors: Marschik Christian , Roland Wolfgang
Published: May 2023

There are many industrial examples of low Reynolds number non‐Newtonian flows through rectangular ducts in polymer processing. They occur in all types of manufacturing processes in which raw polymeric materials are converted into products, ranging from screw extrusion to shaping operations in dies and molds. In addition, they are found in numerous rheological measurement systems. The literature provides various mathematical formulations for non‐Newtonian flows through rectangular ducts, but—if not simplified further—their solution usually requires use of numerical techniques. Removing the need for these time‐consuming techniques, we present novel analytical correction factors for the drag and pressure flows of power‐law fluids in rectangular flow channels. We approximated numerical results for a fully developed flow under isothermal conditions using symbolic regression based on genetic programming. The correction factors can be applied to the analytical theory that describes the flow of power‐law fluids between parallel plates to include effects of the side walls in the prediction of flow rate and viscous dissipation.