bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does the day-of-the-week effect exist in other asset classes? Investigation of the globally listed private equity markets
Authors: Steinborn Marcel
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the day-of-the-week (DoW) effect in globally listed private equity (LPE) markets using daily data covering the period 2004–2021.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the existence of the DoW effect in globally LPE markets, ordinary least squares regression, generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) regression and robust regressions are used. In addition, robustness audits are conducted by subdividing the sampling period into two sub-periods: pre-financial and post-financial crisis.

Findings

Limited statistically significant evidence is found for the DoW effect. By taking time-varying volatility into account, a statistically significant DoW effect can be observed, indicating that the DoW effect is driven by time-varying volatility. Economic significance is captured through visual inspection of average daily returns, which illustrate that Monday returns are lower than the other weekdays.

Practical implications

The results have important implications on whether to adopt a DoW strategy for investors in LPE. The findings show that higher returns on selected days of the week for certain indices are possible.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper provides the first study to examine the DoW effect for globally LPE markets by using LPX indices and contributes valuable insights on this growing asset class.
The haemodynamic effects of phenylephrine after cardiac surgery
Authors: Juhl‐Olsen Peter , Berg‐Hansen Kristoffer , Nørskov Jesper , Enevoldsen Johannes , Hermansen Johan Lyngklip
Published: April 2023

Background

Phenylephrine increases systemic‐ and pulmonary resistances and therefore may increase blood pressures at the expense of blood flow. Cardio‐pulmonary bypass alters vasoreactivity and many patients exhibit chronotropic insufficiency after cardiac surgery. We aimed to describe the haemodynamic effects of phenylephrine infusion after cardiac surgery.

Methods

Patients in steady state after low‐risk cardiac surgery received incremental infusion rates of phenylephrine up to 1.0 μg/kg/min with the aim of increasing systemic mean arterial blood pressure 20 mmHg. Invasive haemodynamic parameters, including pulmonary wedge pressures, were captured along with echocardiographic measures of biventricular function before, during phenylephrine infusion at target systemic blood pressure, and 20 min after phenylephrine discontinuation.

Results

Thirty patients were included. Phenylephrine increased mean arterial pressure increased from 78 (±9) mmHg to 98 (±10) mmHg with phenylephrine infusion. Also, pulmonary blood pressure as well as systemic‐ and pulmonary resistances increased. The ratio between systemic‐ and pulmonary artery resistances did not change statistically significantly (p = .59). Median cardiac output was 4.35 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.6–5.4) L/min at baseline and increased significantly with phenylephrine infusion (median Δcardiac output was 0.25 [IQR 0.1–0.6] L/min) (p = .012). Pulmonary artery wedge pressure increased from 10.2 (±3.0) mmHg to 11.9 (±3.4) mmHg (p < .001). This was accompanied by significant increases in central venous pressure. Phenylephrine infusion increased left ventricular end‐diastolic volume from 105 (±46) mL to 119 (±44) mL (p < .001). All results of phenylephrine infusion were reversed with discontinuation.

Conclusion

In haemodynamically stable patients after cardiac surgery, phenylephrine increased PVR and SVR, but did not change the PVR/SVR ratio. Phenylephrine increased biventricular filling pressures and left ventricular end‐diastolic area. Consequently, CO increased as ejection fraction was maintained. These findings do not discourage the use of phenylephrine after low‐risk cardiac surgery.

Registration: clinicaltrial.gov (identifier NCT04419662).
Lack of the transcription factor Nfix causes tachycardia in mice sinus node and rats neonatal cardiomyocytes
Authors: Landi Sara , Giannetti Federica , Benzoni Patrizia , Campostrini Giulia , Rossi Giuliana , Piantoni Chiara , Bertoli Giorgia , Bonfanti Chiara , Carnevali Luca , Bucchi Annalisa , Baruscotti Mirko , Careccia Giorgia , Messina Graziella , Barbuti Andrea
Published: April 2023

Aims

Nfix is a transcription factor belonging to the Nuclear Factor I (NFI) family comprising four members (Nfia, b, c, x). Nfix plays important roles in the development and function of several organs. In muscle development, Nfix controls the switch from embryonic to fetal myogenesis by promoting fast twitching fibres. In the adult muscle, following injury, lack of Nfix impairs regeneration, inducing higher content of slow‐twitching fibres. Nfix is expressed also in the heart, but its function has been never investigated before. We studied Nfix role in this organ.

Methods

Using Nfix‐null and wild type (WT) mice we analyzed: (1) the expression pattern of Nfix during development by qPCR and (2) the functional alterations caused by its absence, by in vivo telemetry and in vitro patch clamp analysis.

Results and Conclusions

Nfix expression start in the heart from E12.5. Adult hearts of Nfix‐null mice show a hearts morphology and sarcomeric proteins expression similar to WT. However, Nfix‐null animals show tachycardia that derives form an intrinsic higher beating rate of the sinus node (SAN). Molecular and functional analysis revealed that sinoatrial cells of Nfix‐null mice express a significantly larger L‐type calcium current (Cacna1d + Cacna1c). Interestingly, downregulation of Nfix by sh‐RNA in primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes induced a similar increase in their spontaneous beating rate and in ICaL current. In conclusion, our data provide the first demonstration of a role of Nfix that, increasing the L‐type calcium current, modulates heart rate.
Convenience yield and real exchange rate dynamics: A present‐value interpretation
Authors: Chou Yu‐Hsi , Yen Chia‐Yi
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we empirically investigate the relationship between the convenience yield of government bonds and the real exchange rates using monthly data from 1999 to 2018. We extend the conventional models, based on the present‐value relationship between the real exchange rate and economic fundamentals, while explicitly considering the role of the convenience yield. Empirical results suggest that our present‐value models can capture the dynamic properties of the real exchange rate documented in the literature, including high persistence, excess volatility and excess co‐movement compared with real interest rate differentials. We also find that the sum of expected convenience yields significantly drives real exchange rate movements. Moreover, we find that foreign exchange swap market friction also plays a role in explaining real exchange rates. Finally, we find that monetary policy at the zero lower bound may be essential in real exchange rate modelling.
Performance evaluation of a computer‐aided polyp detection system with artificial intelligence for colonoscopy
Authors: Chino Akiko , Ide Daisuke , Abe Seiichiro , Yoshinaga Shigetaka , Ichimasa Katsuro , Kudo Toyoki , Ninomiya Yuki , Oka Shiro , Tanaka Shinji , Igarashi Masahiro
Published: April 2023

Objectives

A computer‐aided detection (CAD) system was developed to support the detection of colorectal lesions by deep learning using video images of lesions and normal mucosa recorded during colonoscopy. The study's purpose was to evaluate the stand‐alone performance of this device under blinded conditions.

Methods

This multicenter prospective observational study was conducted at four Japanese institutions. We used 326 videos of colonoscopies recorded with patient consent at institutions in which the Ethics Committees approved the study. The sensitivity of successful detection of the CAD system was calculated using the target lesions, which were detected by adjudicators from two facilities for each lesion appearance frame; inconsistencies were settled by consensus. Successful detection was defined as display of the detection flag on the lesion for more than 0.5 s within 3 s of appearance.

Results

Of the 556 target lesions from 185 cases, detection success sensitivity was 97.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 95.8–98.5%). The “successful detection sensitivity per colonoscopy” was 93% (95% CI 88.3–95.8%). For the frame‐based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 86.6% (95% CI 84.8–88.4%), 84.7% (95% CI 83.8–85.6%), 34.9% (95% CI 32.3–37.4%), and 98.2% (95% CI 97.8–98.5%), respectively.

Trial registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000044622).
Participant perspectives on cognitive remediation and social recovery in early psychosis (CReSt‐R): An acceptability study
Authors: Frawley Emma , Heary Caroline , Berry Clio , Cella Matteo , Fowler David , Wykes Til , Donohoe Gary
Published: April 2023

Aim

Psychosis spectrum disorders continue to rank highly among causes of disability. This has resulted in efforts to expand the range of treatment targets beyond symptom remission to include other recovery markers, including social and occupational function and quality of life. Although the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in early psychosis has been widely reported, the acceptability of these interventions is less well‐known. This study explores the participant perspective on a novel, psychosocial intervention combining cognitive remediation and social recovery therapy.

Methods

We employed a qualitative research design, based on semi‐structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis. Six participants with early psychosis were recruited from the intervention arm of a randomized pilot study, three women and three men, aged between 22 and 27 years.

Results

Four themes were developed through the analytical process, namely, (1) a solid therapeutic foundation, (2) multi‐directional flow of knowledge, (3) a tailored toolset, and (4) an individual pathway to recovery. Participants also provided pragmatic feedback about how to improve the delivery of the therapy assessments and intervention. Both the themes and pragmatic feedback are described.

Conclusions

People with early psychosis described the intervention as acceptable, engaging, helpful and person‐centred, suggesting its potential role in a multicomponent therapy model of early intervention in psychosis services. Participants in this study also highlight the importance of an individualized approach to therapy, the vital role of the therapeutic relationship and the ecological validity and value of adopting an assertive outreach delivery, providing therapy outside a conventional clinic setting.
Velocity tracking control best explains the modulation of saccade kinematics during eye–hand coordination
Authors: Vasudevan Varsha , Gopal Atul , Jana Sumitash , Padhi Radhakant , Murthy Aditya
Published: April 2023

Fast movements like saccadic eye movements that occur in the absence of sensory feedback are thought to be controlled by internal feedback. Such internal feedback provides an instantaneous estimate of the output, which serves as a proxy for sensory feedback, that can be used by the controller to correct deviations from the desired plan. In the predominant view, the desired plan/input is encoded in the form of a static displacement signal (endpoint model), believed to be encoded in the spatial map of the superior colliculus (SC). However, recent evidence has shown that SC neurons have a dynamic signal that correlates with saccade velocity, suggesting that information for velocity‐based control is available for generating saccades. Motivated by this observation, we used a novel optimal control framework to test whether saccadic execution could be achieved by tracking a dynamic velocity signal at the input. We validated this velocity tracking model in a task where the peak saccade velocity was modulated by the speed of a concurrent hand movement independent of the saccade endpoint. A comparison showed that in this task, the velocity tracking model performed significantly better than the endpoint model. These results suggest that the saccadic system may have additional flexibility to incorporate a velocity‐based internal feedback control when imposed by task goals or context.
SNP discovery and genetic structure in blue mussel species using low coverage sequencing and a medium density 60 K SNP‐array
Authors: Nascimento‐Schulze Jennifer C. , Bean Tim P. , Peñaloza Carolina , Paris Josephine R. , Whiting James R. , Simon Alexis , Fraser Bonnie A. , Houston Ross D. , Bierne Nicolas , Ellis Robert P.
Published: April 2023

Blue mussels from the genusMytilusare an abundant component of the benthic community, found in the high latitude habitats. These foundation species are relevant to the aquaculture industry, with over 2 million tonnes produced globally each year. Mussels withstand a wide range of environmental conditions and species from theMytilus eduliscomplex readily hybridize in regions where their distributions overlap. Significant effort has been made to investigate the consequences of environmental stress on mussel physiology, reproductive isolation, and local adaptation. Yet our understanding on the genomic mechanisms underlying such processes remains limited. In this study, we developed a multi species medium‐density 60 K SNP‐array including four species of theMytilusgenus. SNPs included in the platform were called from 138 mussels from 23 globally distributed mussel populations, sequenced using a whole‐genome low coverage approach. The array contains polymorphic SNPs which capture the genetic diversity present in mussel populations thriving across a gradient of environmental conditions (~59 K SNPs) and a set of published and validated SNPs informative for species identification and for diagnosis of transmissible cancer (610 SNPs). The array will allow the consistent genotyping of individuals, facilitating the investigation of ecological and evolutionary processes in these taxa. The applications of this array extend to shellfish aquaculture, contributing to the optimization of this industry via genomic selection of blue mussels, parentage assignment, inbreeding assessment and traceability. Further applications such as genome wide association studies (GWAS) for key production traits and those related to environmental resilience are especially relevant to safeguard aquaculture production under climate change.
Tensile and fatigue behaviors of additively manufactured AlSi10Mg: Effect of solutionizing and aging heat treatments
Authors: Baig Shaharyar , Ghiaasiaan Reza , Shao Shuai , Shamsaei Nima
Published: April 2023

The effects of various heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of laser beam powder bed fused AlSi10Mg were investigated. Specimens were solutionized at three different temperatures of 425°C, 475°C, and 525°C followed by natural aging (T4) prior to microstructural and mechanical characterization. In addition, the effect of aging was studied by artificially aging (i.e., T7) some of the solutionized specimens at 165°C. Solutionizing at all temperatures was observed to fully dissolve the additive manufacturing (AM) induced dendritic microstructure, leaving bulky Si and needle‐shaped β‐AlFeSi precipitates in the grain interiors and boundaries. Tensile results revealed that T4 specimens exhibited more ductility, while T7 specimens showed substantially higher strengths with slightly reduced ductility. Interestingly, no significant effect of heat treatment on strain‐life fatigue behavior was observed. Fractography found the Si particles to be responsible for tensile fracture, while AM volumetric defects were the main initiators of fatigue cracks.
Long‐term nitrogen deposition inhibits soil priming effects by enhancing phosphorus limitation in a subtropical forest
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Li Shiyining , Zhu Biao , Homyak Peter M. , Chen Guangshui , Yao Xiaodong , Wu Dongmei , Yang Zhijie , Lyu Maokui , Yang Yusheng
Published: April 2023

It is widely accepted that phosphorus (P) limits microbial metabolic processes and thus soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition in tropical forests. Global change factors like elevated atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can enhance P limitation, raising concerns about the fate of SOC. However, how elevated N deposition affects the soil priming effect (PE) (i.e., fresh C inputs induced changes in SOC decomposition) in tropical forests remains unclear. We incubated soils exposed to 9 years of experimental N deposition in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest with two types of 13C‐labeled substrates of contrasting bioavailability (glucose and cellulose) with and without P amendments. We found that N deposition decreased soil total P and microbial biomass P, suggesting enhanced P limitation. In P unamended soils, N deposition significantly inhibited the PE. In contrast, adding P significantly increased the PE under N deposition and by a larger extent for the PE of cellulose (PEcellu) than the PE of glucose (PEglu). Relative to adding glucose or cellulose solely, adding P with glucose alleviated the suppression of soil microbial biomass and C‐acquiring enzymes induced by N deposition, whereas adding P with cellulose attenuated the stimulation of acid phosphatase (AP) induced by N deposition. Across treatments, the PEglu increased as C‐acquiring enzyme activity increased, whereas the PEcellu increased as AP activity decreased. This suggests that P limitation, enhanced by N deposition, inhibits the soil PE through varying mechanisms depending on substrate bioavailability; that is, P limitation regulates the PEglu by affecting soil microbial growth and investment in C acquisition, whereas regulates the PEcellu by affecting microbial investment in P acquisition. These findings provide new insights for tropical forests impacted by N loading, suggesting that expected changes in C quality and P limitation can affect the long‐term regulation of the soil PE.
Microbial nitrogen and phosphorus co‐limitation across permafrost region
Authors: Zhang Dianye , Wang Lu , Qin Shuqi , Kou Dan , Wang Siyu , Zheng Zhihu , Peñuelas Josep , Yang Yuanhe
Published: April 2023

The status of plant and microbial nutrient limitation have profound impacts on ecosystem carbon cycle in permafrost areas, which store large amounts of carbon and experience pronounced climatic warming. Despite the long‐term standing paradigm assumes that cold ecosystems primarily have nitrogen deficiency, large‐scale empirical tests of microbial nutrient limitation are lacking. Here we assessed the potential microbial nutrient limitation across the Tibetan alpine permafrost region, using the combination of enzymatic and elemental stoichiometry, genes abundance and fertilization method. In contrast with the traditional view, the four independent approaches congruently detected widespread microbial nitrogen and phosphorus co‐limitation in both the surface soil and deep permafrost deposits, with stronger limitation in the topsoil. Further analysis revealed that soil resources stoichiometry and microbial community composition were the two best predictors of the magnitude of microbial nutrient limitation. High ratio of available soil carbon to nutrient and low fungal/bacterial ratio corresponded to strong microbial nutrient limitation. These findings suggest that warming‐induced enhancement in soil nutrient availability could stimulate microbial activity, and probably amplify soil carbon losses from permafrost areas.
What drives the evolution of body size in ectotherms? A global analysis across the amphibian tree of life
Authors: Johnson Jack V. , Finn Catherine , Guirguis Jacinta , Goodyear Luke E. B. , Harvey Lilly P. , Magee Ryan , Ron Santiago , Pincheira‐Donoso Daniel
Published: April 2023

Aim

The emergence of large‐scale patterns of animal body size is the central expectation of a wide range of (macro)ecological and evolutionary hypotheses. The drivers shaping these patterns include climate (e.g. Bergmann's rule), resource availability (e.g. ‘resource rule’), biogeographic settings and niche partitioning (e.g. adaptive radiation). However, these hypotheses often make opposing predictions about the trajectories of body size evolution. Therefore, whether underlying drivers of body size evolution can be identified remains an open question. Here, we employ the most comprehensive global dataset of body size in amphibians, to address multiple hypotheses that predict patterns of body size evolution based on climatic factors, ecology and biogeographic settings to identify underlying drivers and their generality across lineages.

Location

Global.

Time Period

Present.

Major Taxa Studied

Amphibians.

Methods

Using a global dataset spanning 7270 (>87% of) species of Anura, Caudata and Gymnophiona, we employed phylogenetic Bayesian modelling to test the roles of climate, resource availability, insularity, elevation, habitat use and diel activity on body size.

Results

Only climate and elevation drive body size patterns, and these processes are order‐specific. Seasonality in precipitation and in temperature predict body size clines in anurans, whereas caecilian body size increases with aridity. However, neither of these drivers explained variation in salamander body size. In both anurans and caecilians, size increases with elevational range and with midpoint elevation in caecilians only. No effects of mean temperature, resource abundance, insularity, time of activity or habitat use were found.

Main Conclusions

Precipitation and temperature seasonality are the dominant climatic drivers of body size variation in amphibians overall. Bergmann's rule is consistently rejected, and so are other alternative hypotheses. We suggest that the rationale sustaining existing macroecological rules of body size is unrealistic in amphibians and discuss our findings in the context of the emerging hypothesis that climate change can drive body size shifts.
Analytic Element Domain Boundary Conditions for Site‐Scale Groundwater Flow Modeling Los Angeles Basin
Authors: Kraemer Stephen R.
Published: April 2023

Physics‐based groundwater flow modeling is a useful tool for the design and optimization of pump‐and‐treat systems for groundwater site cleanup. Numerical methods like finite differences and finite elements, and hybrid analytic elements, require boundary conditions (BC) to be assigned to the outer domain of the grid, mesh, or line elements. These outer BC do not always correspond with hydrogeologic features. Common practice in model setup is to either: (1) extend the model domain boundary outward such that introduced artificial outer BCs (e.g., first type head specified, second type flux specified) do not have undue influence on near‐field scale simulations; or (2) assign outer BCs to capture the effective far‐field influence (e.g., third type head‐dependent flux). Groundwater flow modeling options for assigning BCs were demonstrated for the extensively documented Dual Site Superfund cleanup in Torrance, California. The existing MODFLOW models for the Dual Site scale and the Los Angeles basin scale document the current hydrogeologic conceptual site model. Simplified analytic element AnAqSim models at the LA Basin scale, West Coast Subbasin scale, and Dual Site scale, were used for mapping near‐field domain velocity vector fields and pathline envelopes. The pump‐treat‐inject system demonstrated hydraulic containment and showed pathline envelopes relatively insensitive to BC choices. However, the near‐field domain boundary groundwater flow fields were sensitive to BC choices. The Los Angeles basin case study demonstrated the use of analytic element groundwater modeling for testing stress dependent boundaries during site pump‐treat‐inject design.
Informing Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program Design and Watershed Planning: Case Study of StreamSmart Data Analysis in the Upper White River Basin, Arkansas
Authors: Grantz Erin , Haggard Brian E. , 4973/5973 BENG
Published: April 2023

The watershed group H2Ozarks founded the StreamSmart Citizen Science Program to establish baseline and long‐term water quality data for the Upper White River Basin, Arkansas. StreamSmart volunteers collect water samples and conduct habitat and macroinvertebrate community assessments at >20 sites across a land use‐land cover (LULC) gradient. Since 2020, H2Ozarks has adaptively assessed the program to ensure that the investment in water quality data meets core goals, with particular interest in planning tools and aligning expectations of volunteer effort with the level of training and support. Study objectives were to use StreamSmart data to 1) facilitate understanding of water quality response to stressors in the basin using a range of methods (Spearman rank correlation, non‐parametric changepoint analysis, and categorical and regression tree analysis) and 2) explore implications for program design and watershed planning. Water chemistry‐LULC relationships were in‐line with prior regional studies, as well as global patterns. Detected thresholds and hierarchy provide potential targets for managing LULC change to protect water quality, but further analysis is warranted to refine these relationships. Macroinvertebrate stressor‐response was most detectable for sensitive and less sensitive taxa and for habitat index components, suggesting potential to streamline these programmatic elements. Study findings for StreamSmart should also be informative for other small‐scale volunteer monitoring programs with limited resources, but which actively evaluate the types of data and program activities that yield a maximum scientific return on investment.
When dehumanization does (and does not) matter: Exploring the relationship between social justice motivations, avoidant behaviors, and intentions to help individuals experiencing homelessness
Authors: Tausen Brittany M. , Lee Jamie H. , Dischinger Anna S. , Dennis Isabelle A.
Published: April 2023

Highly stigmatized groups, such as those experiencing homelessness, commonly encounter both animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization. Yet, how and when each form is related to the treatment of such groups is not well understood. We explored the relative importance of animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization in predicting behaviors to avoid and willingness to help individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, we probed social justice importance and engagement as potential moderators of the relationship between dehumanization and behavior. Study 1 demonstrated that animalistic dehumanization was a more significant predictor of avoidant behaviors than mechanistic dehumanization. Notably, social justice motivations moderated this relationship such that when individuals were low in social justice motivations, avoidance was high irrespective of dehumanizing attitudes. Study 2 aimed to replicate these findings in a more general sample with attention to a new outcome variable—intentions to help individuals experiencing homelessness. Results again demonstrated that animalistic dehumanization was a stronger predictor of behavior than mechanistic dehumanization. Unlike Study 1, social justice motivations did not moderate the relationship between dehumanization and intentions to help. Rather, social justice importance was a stronger predictor of variance in willingness to help than dehumanizing attitudes. Together, our findings suggest that the personal importance of social justice issues may be just as vital as reducing negative attitudes to increase positive engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness and potentially others who belong to similarly dehumanized groups.
miR‐124 mediates the expression of ccBax to regulate Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV‐2)‐induced apoptosis and viral replication
Authors: Fu Yan , Zhang Junzhe , Cheng Wenjie , Cheng Xingyu , Lu Liqun , Gui Lang , Jiang Yousheng , Zhang Ye , Xu Dan
Published: April 2023

Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV‐2), the etiological agent of herpesvirus haematopoietic necrosis (HVHN) in carp and goldfish, has caused significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. During viral infection, the host initiates a series of active or passive defences to regulate the process of virus infection. Apoptosis is a key component of active cellular defence, and members of the Bcl‐2 family have been shown to play a critical role in the apoptotic process. However, the mechanism of action of the Bcl‐2 family in inducing apoptosis during CyHV‐2 infection remains unclear. In this study, we revealed the molecular mechanism of miRNA‐mediated silver crucian carp BAX (ccBax) in CyHV‐2‐induced apoptosis for the first time and demonstrated that the overexpression of miR‐124 suppressed ccBax expression and significantly down‐regulated apoptosis in caudal fin cells of Carassius auratus gibelio (GiCF), while miR‐124 inhibitors were the opposite. These studies indicated that miR‐124 inhibits CyHV‐2‐induced apoptosis by reducing the expression of ccBax. Furthermore, the fact that transfection of miR‐124 mimics promoted CyHV‐2 replication, whereas miR‐124 inhibitors inhibited CyHV‐2 replication, indicated that miR‐124 inhibited CyHV‐2‐induced apoptosis and contributed to viral replication. All these results suggested that miR‐124 suppresses virus‐induced apoptosis and promotes viral replication by targeting and regulating ccBax expression.
Beyond coping: The role of supportive relationships and meaning making in youth well‐being
Authors: Looman Wendy S. , Geiger‐Simpson Elena , Eull Donna J. , Lee Jiwoo , Nersesian Paula V. , Bell Adrianna N. , Miller Angela L.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to identify coping strategies, resources, and strengths that predict well‐being in a community‐based sample of youth with varying levels of adversity.

Design

Grounded in the resilience portfolio model, we used a mixed methods approach with data from a cross‐sectional sample of 231 youth ages 8–17.

Materials and Methods

Data were collected using a survey, participant‐generated timeline activity, and brief interview. Measures included assessments of coping and appraisal, resilience resources and assets, and subjective well‐being and depression.

Results

Active and passive coping strategies predicted subjective well‐being and depression. Controlling for demographics and coping, meaning making strengths and supportive relationships were significant predictors of subjective well‐being and lower depression, and decreased the impact of adversity on these outcomes.

Discussion

The results of this study provide support for the resilience portfolio model in a community‐based sample of youth, with relationships as predicted for subjective well‐being and symptoms of depression. For both outcomes, family relationships held the strongest associations with positive well‐being and lower symptoms of depression. Supportive relationships with peers, meaning making strengths, interpersonal strengths, less passive coping, and fewer adverse life events were also associated with better outcomes.

Conclusions

These findings underscore the need to assess youth resources and strengths and to design interventions that target these protective factors for all youth, regardless of exposure to adversity.

Clinical Relevance

A theory‐informed understanding of resources and strengths that predict youth well‐being is essential to inform strengths‐based interventions for pediatric research and practice. The resilience portfolio model is a useful framework for understanding predictors of youth well‐being.
Understanding retail exclusion and promoting an inclusive customer experience at transforming service encounters
Authors: Lu Fang‐Chi , Sinha Jayati
Published: April 2023

The authors review the marketing practices likely to make customers feel excluded (ignored or rejected) and analyze the potency of retail exclusion in the transforming service encounters due to the infusion of artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and other new technologies. Synthesizing the findings of prior studies, the authors propose an integrative theoretical framework for understanding different perspectives, psychological mechanisms, and outcomes of retail exclusion, and highlight research opportunities for retail exclusion in two contexts of service encounters: interpersonal and technology‐powered. The review aims to provide implications on proactive strategies to minimize the adverse effects of retail exclusions and promote inclusive customer experiences.
The importance of language: A comparison of consumer and academic definitions of mindfulness
Authors: Ryu Kyungin
Published: April 2023

This article created a consumer and an academic mindfulness dictionary to better understand consumers', academics', and marketers' perceptions of mindfulness. A consumer survey and text mining methods were used to create the consumer dictionary, and an extensive review of mindfulness definitions was used for the academic dictionary. The consumer dictionary described mindfulness more in terms of affect and resulting outcomes, while the academic dictionary was more cognitive and process‐oriented. The dictionaries were then applied to marketers' communications from a database of 883 company descriptions that were classified as mindful. The results showed that marketers used more terms from the consumer dictionary than the academic dictionary. The article discusses the potential for consumers to be vulnerable to marketers' communication strategies, characterized as McMindfulness and mindful washing, that can impact consumers' well‐being and brand relationships.
Complete perforated bladder from intrauterine devices: A case series report from a nationwide monitoring system
Authors: Zhang Min , Sun Zhiming , Yang Yuehua , Zhou Jian , Ba Lei
Published: April 2023

Aim

Complete perforation of the bladder caused by an intrauterine device (IUD) is rare. This study examined the characteristics of patients associated with IUD‐related bladder perforation and evaluated the relationship between mislocated IUDs and their potential complications.

Methods

From October 2005 to December 2021, 13 reports regarding complete perforations to the bladder by IUDs were retrieved from the National Contraceptives Adverse Reaction Monitoring System of China. The clinical features of these cases were analyzed.

Results

The median patient age was 30 (range, 27–46) years. There were four cases (4/13, 30.8%) with IUDs placed during lactation, one case (1/13, 7.7%) with an IUD placed after medical abortion, and eight cases (8/13, 61.5%) placed after menstruation. Seven cases (7/13, 53.9%) were first‐time IUD users. The median duration of IUD placement was 47 (range, 1–145) months. Unexpected pregnancy was reported in five cases (5/13, 38.5%). Six cases (6/13, 46.2%) reported bladder stones with varying degrees of abdominal pain or urinary tract infection. Removal methods included laparotomy (four cases), cystoscopy (four cases), laparoscopy (two cases), laparoscopy combined with cystoscopy (two cases), and laparotomy after cystoscopy (one case). All IUDs were successfully removed.

Conclusions

Complete perforation to the bladder by IUDs is a rare adverse event. Regular follow‐up is required after the placement of IUDs. The possibility of uterine perforation should be investigated if IUD users encounter persistent lower abdominal pain or urinary tract infection.
Undereducation is afoot: Assessing the lack of acral lentiginous melanoma educational materials for skin of color
Authors: Elad Vissy M. , Anton Trevena , Ganios Natalie C. , Rebecca Vito W.
Published: April 2023

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma notorious for poor outcomes that disproportionately affect individuals with skin of color (e.g., African‐, Hispanic‐, Asian‐descent) when compared to mortality rates among non‐Hispanic White populations. There are several societal factors that contribute to racial disparities in ALM, including a lack of representative educational material in the context of patient education and medical instruction. This gap in representative information for the US population includes risk of disease, patterns of incidence, and differences in disease presentation in skin of color. The atypical presentation of ALM on acral volar skin sites makes early detection challenging and necessitates an increased index of suspicion on the part of physicians and patients alike. Studies underscoring the importance of early detection in reducing mortality risk make the availability of adequate representative educational materials indispensable.
Intellectual property‐related preferential trade agreements and US offshoring to developing countries
Authors: Canals Claudia , Klein Michael A. , Şener Fuat
Published: April 2023

International standards in the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) are increasingly guided by bilateral and regional preferential trade agreements (PTAs). We estimate the effect of these IP‐related PTAs on US offshoring in developing countries. We utilize a difference‐in‐difference empirical methodology that addresses several sources of endogeneity and exploits industry variation in the importance of IPRs. IP‐related PTAs are associated with a substantial increase in US offshoring in IP‐intensive industries relative to non‐IP‐intensive industries. This increase is concentrated within the boundaries of the multinational firm. PTA‐induced IPRs reform impacts both the intensity and composition of multinational activity in developing countries.
Vibration data‐driven machine learning architecture for structural health monitoring of steel frame structures
Authors: Naresh M. , Sikdar S. , Pal J.
Published: April 2023

A vibration data‐based machine learning architecture is designed for structural health monitoring (SHM) of a steel plane frame structure. This architecture uses a Bag‐of‐Features algorithm that extracts the speeded‐up robust features (SURF) from the time‐frequency scalogram images of the registered vibration data. The discriminative image features are then quantised to a visual vocabulary using K‐means clustering. Finally, a support vector machine (SVM) is trained to distinguish the undamaged and multiple damage cases of the frame structure based on the discriminative features. The potential of the machine learning architecture is tested for an unseen dataset that was not used in training as well as with some datasets from entirely new damages close to existing (i.e., trained) damage classes. The results are then compared with those obtained using three other combinations of features and learning algorithms—(i) histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) feature with SVM, (ii) SURF feature with k‐nearest neighbours (KNN) and (iii) HOG feature with KNN. In order to examine the robustness of the approach, the study is further extended by considering environmental variabilities along with the localisation and quantification of damage. The experimental results show that the machine learning architecture can effectively classify the undamaged and different joint damage classes with high testing accuracy that indicates its SHM potential for such frame structures.
Traj2Traj: A road network constrained spatiotemporal interpolation model for traffic trajectory restoration
Authors: Liao Lyuchao , Lin Yuyuan , Li Weifeng , Zou Fumin , Luo Linsen
Published: April 2023

In transportation, the trajectory data generated by various mobile vehicles equipped with GPS modules are essential for traffic information mining. However, collecting trajectory data is susceptible to various factors, resulting in the lack and even error of the data. Missing trajectory data could not correctly reflect the actual situation and also affect the subsequent research work related to the trajectory. Although increasing efforts are paid to restore missing trajectory data, it still faces many challenges: (1) the difficulty of data restoration because traffic trajectories are unstructured spatiotemporal data and show complex patterns; and (2) the difficulty of improving trajectory restoration efficiency because traditional trajectory interpolation is computationally arduous. To address these issues, a novel road network constrained spatiotemporal interpolation model, namely Traj2Traj, is proposed in this work to restore the missing traffic trajectory data. The model is constructed with a seq2seq network and integrates a potential factor module to extend environmental factors. Significantly, the model uses a spatiotemporal attention mechanism with the road network constraint to mine the latent information in time and space dimensions from massive trajectory data. The Traj2Traj model completes the road‐level restoration according to the entire trajectory information. We present the first attempt to omit the map‐matching task when the trajectory is restored to solve the time‐consuming problem of map matching. Extensive experiments conducted on the provincial vehicle GPS data sets from April 2018 to June 2018 provided by the Fujian Provincial Department of Transportation show that the Traj2Traj model outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art models.
Transdermal drug delivery in horses: An in vitro comparison of skin structure and permeation of two model drugs at various anatomical sites
Authors: Bizley Samuel C. , Dudhia Jayesh , Smith Roger K. W. , Williams Adrian C.
Published: April 2023

Background

Oral and parenteral drug delivery in horses can be difficult. Equine‐specific transdermal drug formulations offer improved ease of treatment; development of such formulations requires a deeper understanding of the structural and chemical tissue barrier of horse skin.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To compare the structural composition and barrier properties of equine skin.

Animals

Six warmblood horses (two males, four females) with no skin diseases.

Materials and Methods

Routine histological and microscopic analyses were carried out with image analysis for skin from six different anatomical locations. In vitro drug permeation was analysed using a standard Franz diffusion cell protocol coupled with reversed phase‐high‐performance liquid chromatography detailing flux, lag times and tissue partitioning ratios of two model drug compounds.

Results

Epidermal and dermal thicknesses varied between sites. The dermal and epidermal thicknesses of the croup were 1764 ± 115 μm and 36 ± 3.6 μm, respectively, and were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the inner thigh thicknesses which were 824 ± 35 μm and 49 ± 3.6 μm. Follicular density and size also varied. The highest flux for the model hydrophilic molecule (caffeine) was for the flank (3.22 ± 0.36 μg/cm2/h), while that for the lipophilic molecule (ibuprofen) was for the inner thigh (0.12 ± 0.02 μg/cm2/h).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Anatomical location differences in equine skin structure and small molecule permeability were demonstrated. These results can aid in the development of transdermal therapies for horses.
Gold Medal 2023: Mark F. Hamilton
Authors: Hamilton Mark F.
Published: April 2023

The Gold Medal is presented in the spring to a member of the Society, without age limitation, for contributions to acoustics. The first Gold Medal was presented in 1954 on the occasion of the Society’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Celebration and biennially until 1981. It is now an annual award.
Monitoring the ocean climate with acoustics
Authors: Sagen Hanne , Dzieciuch Matthew , Worcester Peter F.
Published: April 2023

Underwater acoustics has developed into a powerful tool for monitoring the climate of ocean basins. Acoustic travel-times are a direct indication of ocean temperature and give a large-scale average of heat content. A recent experiment called the Coordinated Arctic Acoustic Thermometry Experiment (CAATEX) is a prime example of the method in a region known to be experiencing the most rapid response to anthropogenic forcing. In CAATEX, two 35 Hz acoustic transceiver moorings, one in the Nansen Basin and one in the Beaufort Sea, were deployed along with four other receiving moorings. The travel-times between these moorings provide an accurate baseline of the environment during the 2019–2020 deployment year that can be compared to past, present, and future measurements and climatologies. Furthermore, other acoustic observables, such as transmission loss and the ambient soundscape, provide important insight into the ice conditions and the changing environment.
A double zero MVDR beamformer that is universal over number of second-order notches
Authors: Erdim Savas , Buck John R.
Published: April 2023

Adaptive beamformers, like the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer, suffer from interferer direction mismatch due to interferer motion. This mismatch reduces interferer suppression and degrades the beamformer’s performance. Applying a flatter and broader notch near the interferer location effectively suppresses moving interferers. The double zero MVDR (DZ MVDR) adaptive beamformer [Tuladhar & Buck, JASA, 2015] produces second-order notches in the interferer’s directions by squaring the array polynomial of a subarray SMI MVDR beamformer. The performance of the DZ MVDR beamformer depends on the chosen number of second-order notches by applying different subarray aperture sizes. If the number of interferers in a dynamic environment is known, then the ideal number of second-order notches can be implemented. In practice, the number of interferers is an unknown and often time-varying parameter. To address this challenge, we propose a universal DZ (UDZ) MVDR beamformer that is universal over the number of second-order notches. This universal beamformer requires fewer degrees of freedom than competing beamformers to suppress the interferers, thus providing a better white noise gain in the array output. We present simulation results illustrating the benefits of the UDZ MVDR beamformer in the presence of multiple moving interferers. [Work supported by ONR 321US.]
Improving sonochemical efficiency by pulsing cylindrically converging acoustic waves
Authors: Wong Cherie , Raymond Jason L. , Usadi Lillian N. , Zong Zhiyuan , Walton Stephanie , Sedgwick Adam , Kwan James
Published: April 2023

Sonochemistry is considered a green alternative for chemical synthesis, water treatment, and hydrogen production. There are several steps for sonochemical reactions. First, the nucleation of a bubble must occur through the application of an intense acoustic pressure field. After further ultrasonic irradiation, the bubble must grow to a diameter beyond a certain threshold so that it undergoes inertial collapse during the compressional phase of the acoustic field. Finally, this inertial collapse must achieve a quasi-adiabatic compression to cause pyrolysis of the gas or vapour molecules into radicals, which is the basis of sonochemical reactions. Conventional sonochemical reactors have sub-optimal acoustic fields and therefore require long reaction times to produce meaningful yields. We present a novel sonochemical reactor design that generates cylindrically converging waves into a reaction vessel. To determine the sonochemical efficiency (SE) of our design, we measured the hydroxyl radical yield under different operating conditions dosimetrically. We also compare the SE from an ultrasonic bath, immersed horn, and cup-horn reactor. These comparisons indicate that our reactor had a SE 200-fold, 3-fold, and 70-fold higher than the conventional reactors, respectively.