bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weighted and Choquet $$L^p$$ distance representation of comparative dissimilarity relations on fuzzy description profiles
Authors: Coletti Giulianella , Petturiti Davide , Bouchon-Meunier Bernadette
Published: January 2024

We consider comparative dissimilarity relations on pairs on fuzzy description profiles, the latter providing a fuzzy set-based representation of pairs of objects. Such a relation expresses the idea of “no more dissimilar than” and is used by a decision maker when performing a case-based decision task under vague information. We first limit ourselves to those relations admitting a weighted $$\varvec{L}^p$$

L

p

distance representation, for which we provide an axiomatic characterization in case the relation is complete, transitive and defined on the entire space of pairs of fuzzy description profiles. Next, we switch to the more general class of comparative dissimilarity relations representable by a Choquet $$\varvec{L}^p$$

L

p

distance, parameterized by a completely alternating normalized capacity.
“The Videos Made Me Feel Less Alone”: Feasible Executive Function Supports For Families
Authors: Smith Jessica V. , Dahlman Tennyson , Holmes Jessica , Armour Chelsea A. , Verbalis Alyssa , Ratto Allison B. , Hardy Kristina K. , Gunn Meredith , Decker Kaitlyn , Brown Dennard , Elliott Te’Andis , Werner Monica A. , Alexander Katie C. , Cannon Lynn , Anthony Bruno J. , Kenworthy Lauren , Anthony Laura G.
Published: January 2024

Executive function challenges are linked to important outcomes in adulthood, including mental and physical health and employment. Executive function skills can be taught but require support for generalization into home and school settings. The present study examined the feasibility of a series of brief videos (e.g., animations, expert and caregiver interviews) for caregivers of children with symptoms consistent with a neurodevelopmental disorder and flexibility or planning/organization problems. Caregivers (n = 102) viewed 12 videos over a four-month time period that describe ways to support and model executive function skills for their children. Quantitative and qualitative feedback suggest caregivers found the videos acceptable, feasible, and that they changed their view of their child’s EF challenges. In addition, caregiver knowledge of key executive function strategies and concepts improved. Results suggested these videos show promise to reduce caregiver-reported sense of strain and child executive function problems; however, caregiver competence did not improve from pre- to post-video review. These findings suggest even brief, online, and asynchronous caregiver-oriented instructional videos on executive function supports may improve caregiver and child outcomes. Moreover, they raise the possibility that low-cost, highly accessible caregiver support tools may yield important benefits for a common and potent childhood difficulty. Given the present study is a preliminary feasibility study of the caregiver support videos, future randomized controlled trials are necessary to fully examine caregiver- and child-related outcomes.
Refolding, Crystallization, and Crystal Structure Analysis of a Scavenger Receptor Cysteine-Rich Domain of Human Salivary Agglutinin Expressed in Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhang Changyu , Lu Peng , Wei Sibo , Hu Chaoyue , Miyoshi Mitsuko , Okamoto Ken , Itoh Hideaki , Okuda Suguru , Suzuki Michio , Kawakami Hiroshi , Nagata Koji
Published: January 2024

Scavenger receptors are a protein superfamily that typically consists of one or more repeats of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich structural domain (SRCRD), which is an ancient and highly conserved protein module. The expression and purification of eukaryotic proteins containing multiple disulfide bonds has always been challenging. The expression systems that are commonly used to express SRCRD proteins mainly consist of eukaryotic protein expression systems. Herein, we established a high-level expression strategy of a Type B SRCRD unit from human salivary agglutinin using the Escherichia coli expression system, followed by a refolding and purification process. The untagged recombinant SRCRD was expressed in E. coli using the pET-32a vector, which was followed by a refolding process using the GSH/GSSG redox system. The SRCRD expressed in E. coli SHuffle T7 showed better solubility after refolding than that expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3), suggesting the importance of the disulfide bond content prior to refolding. The quality of the refolded protein was finally assessed using crystallization and crystal structure analysis. As proteins refolded from inclusion bodies exhibit a high crystal quality and reproducibility, this method is considered a reliable strategy for SRCRD protein expression and purification. To further confirm the structural integrity of the refolded SRCRD protein, the purified protein was subjected to crystallization using sitting-drop vapor diffusion method. The obtained crystals of SRCRD diffracted X-rays to a resolution of 1.47 Å. The solved crystal structure appeared to be highly conserved, with four disulfide bonds appropriately formed. The surface charge distribution of homologous SRCRD proteins indicates that the negatively charged region at the surface is associated with their calcium-dependent ligand recognition. These results suggest that a high-quality SRCRD protein expressed by E. coli SHuffle T7 can be successfully folded and purified, providing new options for the expression of members of the scavenger receptor superfamily.
Debittering of “Ayvalık” and “Gemlik” olives with caustic, brine, and NaOH solutions affects oil content and fatty acid profiles at the beginning and end of fermentation
Authors: Ahmed Isam A. Mohamed , Özcan Mehmet Musa , Uslu Nurhan , Mohammed Belal M. , Karrar Emad
Published: January 2024

The oil results of the scratched “Ayvalık” and “Gemlik” olive varieties on the 0th day of fermentation were determined between 50.01 (lye) and 67.57% (NaOH) to 57.35 (salt) and 72.95% (NaOH), respectively. The oil results of scratched “Ayvalık” and “Gemlik” olives on the 60th day of fermentation were determined between 61.04 (salt) and 64.03% (water) to 55.89 (salt) and 61.95% (NaOH), respectively. While the oil contents of “Ayvalık” and “Gemlik” olive cultivars that were scratched and crushed at the beginning of fermentation (0 day) were higher than the control, the oil results of whole olives were lower than the control. Significant changes were observed in the fatty acid compositions of olive oils depending on the olive variety and the bittering process (p < 0.01). The dominant fatty acids of the oils obtained from olives on the 0th and 60th days of fermentation were oleic, palmitic and linoleic acid. The fatty acid composition of the oils depending on the applied process and olive types differed at days 0 and 60 of fermentation. It can be said that on the 0th and 60th days of fermentation, the oleic acid results of olives of both varieties increased compared to the control. The oleic acid contents of the oils obtained from “scratched” olives of “Ayvalık” varieties at the beginning and end of fermentation varied between 70.10 (NaOH) and 71.66% (lye) to 64.91 (NaOH) and 71.51% (normal water), respectively. It can be seen that debittering processes significantly reduced the amounts of unsaturated fatty acids. In general, it has been observed that olive oils have higher oil contents and better fatty acid compositions.

Graphical abstract

The oil content and fatty acid profile distributions of the olives, which give taste and flavor to the olives, must also be monitored before and after fermentation. Research work was carried out to investigate the oil results and fatty acid compositions of the oils obtained from “Ayval?k” and “Gemlik” olives debittered with different solutions and fermented.
Income Trajectories and Precarity in Later life
Authors: Marshall Alan , Eke Chima , Guthrie Bruce , Pugh Carys , Seth Sohan
Published: January 2024

This paper captures trajectories of income in later-life and considers how membership of particular income trajectories is patterned by social class, sex and precarity in housing, pensions relationships, care and retirement. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2002-19) for over-50s, latent class analysis identifies 10 income trajectory clusters and on the basis of comparable income levels from around statutory retirement age (65), we further condense these clusters to four income trajectory groups of ‘Luxury’ (at or above £500 per week in retirement; 14%), Comfortable (£300-£500 per week in retirement; 28%), ‘Boom-to-Bust’ (increasing to £600 per week at age 70, falling to around £200 over age 80; 4%) and ‘Always Poor’ (typically less than £300 per week in retirement; 54%). Experiences of precarity and lower socio-economic position are independently associated with greater relative risks of being ‘Always Poor’ and lower relative risks of being in the ‘Luxury’ group, compared to the ‘Comfortable’ group. For example, those who always rent a house are 2 times (p < 0.001) more likely to be ‘Always Poor’ and 0.32 times (p < 0.001) less likely to be in the ‘Luxury’ than ‘Comfortable group. Women are at more risk of being ‘Always Poor’ (RRR = 1.34, p < 0.001) in an unadjusted model, but the association attenuates and is not significant after controlling for pensions and partnership dissolution. Within groups, there are differences in the extent of volatility in income trajectories around retirement age across the ten clusters, that is associated with social class, pension type, involuntary retirement and partnership dissolution.
Der Professionelle Blick von Sportlehrkräften – Revisited
Authors: Reuker Sabine , Schicklinski Karin
Published: January 2024

Der Beitrag schließt an konzeptionelle Überlegungen zum Professionellen Blick an, die vor mehr als zehn Jahren in dieser Zeitschrift veröffentlicht wurden. Mit der selektiven Aufmerksamkeit, fundierten Deutung und – etwas später – reflektierten Entscheidungsfindung umfasst das Konzept drei zentrale Fähigkeiten, die als Voraussetzungen dafür gesehen werden, dass Lehrkräfte situationsangepasst und pädagogisch reflektiert handeln können. Dabei dient das Konzept unter einer kognitiv-psychologischen Perspektive insbesondere als theoretischer Orientierungsrahmen zur Untersuchung und Förderung individueller Fähigkeiten der Lehrkräfte im Kontext der Lernförderung. Der Professionelle Blick auf Bildungsgerechtigkeit oder Diskriminierungsprozesse wird unter diesem konzeptionellen Verständnis allerdings nicht ausreichend berücksichtigt. Hierzu wird von Wissenschaftler*innen die Einbeziehung einer sozio-kulturellen Perspektive eingefordert, die die gesellschaftliche sowie fachkulturelle Eingebundenheit des Professionellen Blicks und die Multidimensionalität der drei Fähigkeiten hervorhebt. Die Weiterentwicklungen werden in diesem Beitrag in Kürze skizziert und anhand ausgewählter Interviewpassagen aus bereits vorliegenden Daten fachspezifisch veranschaulicht. Anliegen des Beitrags ist es, unter Bezugnahme auf die Weiterentwicklungen Konsequenzen für die Professionalisierung des Professionellen Blicks von Sportlehrkräften zu diskutieren.
Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA
Authors: Becker Darien N. , Brown Donald J. , Anderson James T.
Published: January 2024

Wetland management practices often alter habitat characteristics to improve the function of the wetland (e.g., removing emergent vegetation for aesthetics or dredging for fish stocking), potentially at the cost of reducing habitat quality for wetland-dependent species such as freshwater turtles. We identified wetland and surrounding landscape characteristics related to painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) relative abundance and snapping turtle movement among wetlands. We surveyed turtles at 29 wetland sites (0.04–1.71 ha) in a mixed-use watershed in north-central West Virginia, USA, where hardwood forests and wetlands have been heavily fragmented by agriculture and roads. We also applied radio transmitters to 33 adult snapping turtles (17 females and 16 males) across 17 wetlands. Snapping turtle relative abundance was best estimated with mean substrate depth, mean wetland depth, and minimum distance from roads. Painted turtle relative abundance was best estimated with the null model. We documented movement among wetlands for 22 snapping turtles (67%), including 10 females and 12 males. The probability of inter-wetland movement decreased with increased minimum distance from wetlands. Our results suggest that the focal turtle species readily used shallow, mucky wetlands with deep substrate and that increasing the density of wetlands could increase snapping turtle population connectivity. Managers could consider restoring a diversity of wetland types that result in reduced travel distance between wetlands and that collectively have characteristics conducive to multiple species.
Safety and efficacy of non-reduced use of caspofungin in patients with Child–Pugh B or C cirrhosis: a real-world study
Authors: Yuan Shi-Dan , Wen Ke-Li , Cao Yun-Xing , Huang Wen-Qi , Zhang An
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose

The need for dose adjustment of caspofungin in patients with hepatic impairment is controversial, especially for those with Child–Pugh B or C cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of standard-dose caspofungin administration in Child–Pugh B and C cirrhotic patients in a real-world clinical setting.

Patients and methods

The electronic medical records of 258 cirrhotic patients, including 67 Child–Pugh B patients and 191 Child–Pugh C patients, who were treated with standard-dose of caspofungin at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, from March 2018 to June 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. The white blood cells (WBC), hepatic, renal and coagulation function results before administration and post administration on days 7, 14 and 21 were collected, and the efficacy was assessed in all patients at the end of caspofungin therapy.

Results

Favorable responses were achieved in 137 (53.1%) patients while 34 (13.2%) patients died. We observed that some patients experienced an increase of prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR), or a decrease of WBC, but no exacerbation of hepatic or renal dysfunction were identified and no patient required dose interruption or adjustment because of an adverse drug reaction during treatment with caspofungin.

Conclusions

Standard-dose of caspofungin can be safely and effectively used in patients with Child–Pugh B or C cirrhosis, and we appealed to re-assess the most suitable dosing regimen in this population to avoid a potential subtherapeutic exposure.
Clinical importance in Alzheimer’s disease: effects of anchor agreement and disease severity
Authors: Stojanovic Marta , Mikula Cynthia , John Samantha , Kiselica Andrew
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Methods of evaluating clinically meaningful decline are critical in research on Alzheimer’s disease. A common method of quantifying clinically meaningful change is to calculate an anchor-based minimal clinically important difference (MCID) score. In this approach, individuals who report a meaningful change serve as the “anchors”, and the mean level of change for this group serves as the MCID. In research on Alzheimer’s disease, there are several possible anchors, including patients, knowledgeable observers (e.g., a family member), and clinicians. The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which agreement among anchors impacts MCID estimation and whether this relationship is moderated by cognitive severity status.

Methods

Analyses were completed on a longitudinal sample of 2247 adults, aged 50–103, from the Uniform Data Set. Outcome measures included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Clinical Dementia Rating—Sum of Boxes, and Functional Activities Questionnaire.

Results

For all of the outcomes, the MCID estimate was significantly higher when meaningful decline was endorsed by all of the anchors compared to when there was disagreement among the anchors. In addition, the MCID estimate was higher with increasing severity of cognitive impairment. Finally, cognitive severity status moderated the influence of agreement among anchors on MCID estimation; as disease severity increased, anchor agreement demonstrated less influence on the MCID.

Conclusions

MCID estimates based on one anchor may underestimate meaningful change, and researchers should consider the viewpoints of multiple anchors in constructing MCIDs, particularly in the early stages of cognitive decline.
Toxicological Effects of Inhaled Crude Oil Vapor
Authors: Fedan Jeffrey S. , Thompson Janet A. , Sager Tina M. , Roberts Jenny R. , Joseph Pius , Krajnak Kristine , Kan Hong , Sriram Krishnan , Weatherly Lisa M. , Anderson Stacey E.
Published: January 2024

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to assess the toxicological consequences of crude oil vapor (COV) exposure in the workplace through evaluation of the most current epidemiologic and laboratory-based studies in the literature.

Recent Findings

Crude oil is a naturally occuring mixture of hydrocarbon deposits, inorganic and organic chemical compounds. Workers engaged in upstream processes of oil extraction are exposed to a number of risks and hazards, including getting crude oil on their skin or inhaling crude oil vapor. There have been several reports of workers who died as a result of inhalation of high levels of COV released upon opening thief hatches atop oil storage tanks. Although many investigations into the toxicity of specific hydrocarbons following inhalation during downstream oil processing have been conducted, there is a paucity of information on the potential toxicity of COV exposure itself.

This review assesses current knowledge of the toxicological consequences of exposures to COV in the workplace.
Housing, Homelessness and Disability: the Commodification of a Core Human Right and Breach of This Right for People with Disability
Authors: O’Donovan Mary-Ann , Whittle Erin Louise
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Access to housing is a recognised human right across international conventions. Yet this right is rarely legislated for within individual countries. In parallel, housing has increasingly become a much sought-after commodity, one in which the accumulation of multiple properties or “homes” is a way of future-proofing for retirement. Large inequities exist across society in terms of who has a home, those who have multiple homes and those who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless. People with disability are particularly more likely to be (over-)represented in the latter group.

Methods

An environmental scan of contemporary policy, practise and developments on homelessness and disability in Australia sought to examine the current government response to structural and systematic issues which lead to homelessness and neglect for people with disability. A comparison between international practise and policy is made, with a particular focus on examples of effective rights-based interventions, where they exist.

Results

Ninety-six documents of varying types were included in the environmental scan.

Conclusions

People with disability are frequently excluded from current disability and homelessness policy. Policies can and should be amended to instigate structural change which incorporates them. Embedding the human right to housing within national legislation is one way to enforce structural change.
Je weniger Grenzen umso länger? Die Wirkung von arbeitgeber:innenseitig flexiblen und entgrenzten Arbeitszeiten auf die wöchentliche Arbeitszeit
Authors: Stadler Bettina
Published: January 2024

Der Beitrag untersucht anhand repräsentativer Daten für Österreich die Auswirkungen von arbeitgeber:innenseitiger Flexibilisierung und Entgrenzung auf die Länge der Arbeitszeit. Eingebettet wird dieses Thema in die aktuelle Diskussion zu Entgrenzung zwischen Arbeit und Leben. Der Begriff Entgrenzung von Arbeit bezieht sich auf das zunehmende Verschwimmen der Grenze zwischen Zeiten der Erwerbsarbeit und anderen Zeiten. Getrieben wird dies sowohl von Anforderungen der Arbeitnehmer:innen als auch der Arbeitgeber:innen. Im Beitrag wird die Frage nach einem direkten Zusammenhang zwischen der Stärke der arbeitgeber:innenseitigen Flexibilität und Entgrenzung und der Dauer der Arbeitszeit herausgegriffen und empirisch bearbeitet. Zusätzlich wird der Einfluss weiterer Faktoren für längere bzw. kürzere Arbeitszeiten geprüft. Abschließend werden auf Basis der Ergebnisse der Untersuchung Vorschläge für Maßnahmen für die Gestaltung flexibler und mit einem guten, gesunden Leben vereinbarer Arbeitszeiten formuliert.

Praktische Relevanz:

Arbeitszeiten werden innerhalb von Unternehmen festgelegt, die Rahmenbedingungen und Möglichkeiten der betrieblichen Gestaltung von Arbeitszeiten sind Gegenstand von Vereinbarungen zwischen den Interessenvertretungen der Arbeitgeber- und Arbeitnehmer:innen und von politischen Entscheidungen. Für gute betriebliche und (interessen-)politische Entscheidungen ist empirische Evidenz erforderlich, die die Möglichkeiten aber auch die Gefahren der Gestaltung von Arbeitszeiten aufzeigt. Die vorliegende Arbeit leistet dazu einen Beitrag.
“It Just Makes It Feel Like You’re Not Alone”: A Qualitative Study of a Social Support Group for High-Achieving, Low-Income STEM Majors
Authors: LaDue Nicole D. , Zocher Erika , Dugas Daryl
Published: January 2024

The higher education community continues to pursue solutions to the alarming number of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) undergraduates leaving their degree programs. This qualitative study investigated the experiences of 12 STEM scholarship recipients in a near-peer-mentored social support group at a large Midwestern university. The goal of this study was to investigate the scholars’ challenges and supports prior to and while participating in a weekly peer group through the lens of the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory model. This case study triangulated the experiences of the peer group participants using pre-group individual interviews, peer leader reflections, and a focus group. The pre-group interviews revealed that the participants experienced challenges associated with the rigor of their courses, self-imposed pressure, and unsupportive relationships. Supports for their persistence prior to the peer group included their internal drive to achieve their goals and supportive relationships, particularly with family. The focus group revealed that the peer group provided a non-academic space to connect with peers, facilitated sense of belonging, and normalized their struggle as STEM majors, broadening their perception of science identity. Paradoxically, although participants highlighted personal disclosure as key to promoting social support, they indicated their greatest challenge in the peer group was discomfort with sharing.
What Makes a Good Theory, and How Do We Make a Theory Good?
Authors: Guest Olivia
Published: January 2024

I present an ontology of criteria for evaluating theory to answer the titular question from the perspective of a scientist practitioner. Set inside a formal account of our adjudication over theories, a metatheoretical calculus, this ontology comprises the following: (a) metaphysical commitment, the need to highlight what parts of theory are not under investigation, but are assumed, asserted, or essential; (b) discursive survival, the ability to be understood by interested non-bad actors, to withstand scrutiny within the intended (sub)field(s), and to negotiate the dialectical landscape thereof; (c) empirical interface, the potential to explicate the relationship between theory and observation, i.e., how observations relate to, and affect, theory and vice versa; (d) minimising harm, the reckoning with how theory is forged in a fire of historical, if not ongoing, abuses—from past crimes against humanity, to current exploitation, turbocharged or hyped by machine learning, to historical and present internal academic marginalisation. This work hopes to serve as a possible beginning for scientists who want to examine the properties and characteristics of theories, to propose additional virtues and vices, and to engage in further dialogue. Finally, I appeal to practitioners to iterate frequently over such criteria, by building and sharing the metatheoretical calculi used to adjudicate over theories.
Chemical control of the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle (PSHB, Euwallacea fornicatus) and Fusarium euwallaceae in American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Authors: Roberts Elise , Paap Trudy , Roets Francois
Published: January 2024

The polyphagous shot hole borer beetle (PSHB, Euwallacea fornicatus) is a pest of global significance. PSHB is an ambrosia beetle which, together with its mutualistic fungi (including Fusarium euwallaceae), can cause the death of more than 100 tree species in invaded ranges. Management of PSHB mostly relies on the removal of infested plant material. Chemical control options have been investigated only in the USA and Israel and only on a few tree species. This study evaluated four chemical treatments for the therapeutic control of PSHB on American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in South Africa (1) bifenthrin + surfactant (alcohol ethoxylate), (2) cypermethrin + surfactant (vitamin E) + salicylic acid, (3) emamectin benzoate, and (4) propiconazole. Trees were inoculated with F. euwallaceae and mature PSHB females using a novel technique to document fungal lesion development and PSHB colony establishment success. The bifenthrin and cypermethrin treatments reduced additional PSHB colonisation attempts on treated trees by ca. 40%, while the other treatments had no effect. Colony establishment success was reduced in all treatments by between 20 and 40%. Fungal growth was inhibited only after the application of propiconazole by ca. 36%. Gallery length and the number of PSHB individuals in successful colonies were unaffected by any of the chemical treatments. These results indicate that chemical control of PSHB is only partially effective. Successful PSHB management will likely depend on a combination of chemical control options and other control strategies in an integrated pest management program.
A literature review on the design and implementation of central bank digital currencies
Authors: Genc Huseyin Oguz , Takagi Soichiro
Published: January 2024

Within the last five years, research on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has increased with increased momentum. Particular events, such as the growth of private digital currencies, Facebook’s attempt to release a stablecoin, the long-term development of Chinese CBDC, and Covid-19, are the leading causes for this growing significant interest. Most recently, the interest converged in more specific design and implementation directions. Many scholars show particular interest in account-based retail CBDCs with interest-bearing capabilities. In contrast, few others urge caution by favoring a wholesale model that is representative of the setting of the current financial system. Unsurprisingly, the primary source of such literature stems from global financial institutions and their close central banking networks. Academia and research institutions have recently increased their focus on the potential economic and social impacts of such purported design choices. As specific design principles for CBDCs have started to take shape, the policy objectives of implementing different CBDC designs are studied from the perspective of benefits and risks. These trade-offs are either generic or related to macroeconomic and financial stability implications. Evidence exists that purported generic benefits can often be achieved without CBDCs, while the purported monetary and fiscal policy benefits rely on theoretical results that lack real-world data. Some of the risks could be amplified depending on CBDC design choices. Theoretical and alternative literature is reviewed along with the evidence from use-case applications to spot the possible shortcomings in the current stage of the design and implementation literature of CBDCs. The scope is limited to the impact on economic policies and the relevant potential socioeconomic impact. The results show that further research and debate are needed from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Setting priorities and evaluation of habitats for the conservation of orthopterans: case study in the Aggtelek National Park (N Hungary)
Authors: Nagy A. , Rácz I. A. , Arnóczkyné Jakab Dóra , Szanyi Sz
Published: January 2024

The biodiversity conservation needs recent high-quality data and efficient methods for prioritizing species and sites for conservation. Here we prioritized Orthoptera habitats of the Aggtelek National Park, based on revised and actualized distribution data of 69 Orthoptera species living at 98 sites. The simple ranking and complementary areas methods were used with species richness (S), rarity weighted species richness (SR), and number of rare species (SQ). Additionally, the Grasshopper Conservation Indexes (GCI” and GCIn”) combining European and local rarity and dispersal capacity of the species were also tested. Contrary to simple ranking the complementary areas method represented the whole fauna and significant part of the species-site data records. All the used indices performed similar except the standardized GCIn” which is highly affected by the differences in study intensity of sites. High-priority areas of the Aggtelek National Park were designated in the plateau above Jósvafő and Aggtelek villages and in the small, isolated hill near Jósvafő (Szőlő-hegy) covered with remained mosaic of former vineyards, orchards and hayfields. The combined use of the efficient indices provides additional ranking that allows the best selection of hotspots to support efficient use of limited resources in nature conservation.
Patient-specific rods in adult spinal deformity: a systematic review
Authors: Picton Bryce , Stone Lauren E. , Liang Jason , Solomon Sean S. , Brown Nolan J. , Luzzi Sophia , Osorio Joseph A. , Pham Martin H.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of patient-specific rods for adult spinal deformity.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed through an electronic search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Human studies between 2012 and 2023 were included. Sample size, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT), operation time, blood loss, follow-up duration, and complications were recorded for each study when available.

Results

Seven studies with a total of 304 adult spinal deformity patients of various etiologies were included. All studies reported SVA, and PT; two studies did not report PI-LL. Four studies reported planned radiographic outcomes. Two found a significant association between preoperative plan and postoperative outcome in all three outcomes. One found a significant association for PI-LL alone. The fourth found no significant associations. SVA improved in six of seven studies, PI-LL improved in all five, and three of seven studies found improved postoperative PT. Significance of these results varied greatly by study.

Conclusion

Preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits of PSRs in achieving optimal spino-pelvic parameters in ASD surgery. Nevertheless, conclusions regarding the superiority of PSRs over traditional rods must be judiciously drawn, given the heterogeneity of patients and study methodologies, potential confounding variables, and the absence of robust randomized controlled trials. Future investigations should concentrate on enhancing preoperative planning, standardizing surgical methodologies, isolating specific patient subgroups, and head-to-head comparisons with traditional rods to fully elucidate the impact of PSRs in ASD surgery.
The impact of diversity on group decision-making in the face of the free-rider problem
Authors: Stolle Chris M. , Gula Bartosz , Yu Rongjun , Huang Yi
Published: January 2024

Although diversity has often been proposed to improve group performance, its impact on group cooperation has largely been overlooked. This article uses a theoretical approach to examine the effects of diversity on group tasks in the context of the free-rider problem. We identified 3 kinds of diversity that have been commonly reported to improve a group’s performance: (1) ability, (2) cognitive style, and (3) information sources. Each type of diversity was formalized within an evolutionary simulation based on a foraging metaphor. The simulations were run under different environmental assumptions, covering complexity, costs for cooperation, cue redundancy, and cue compensatory level. Our results indicate that diversity in cognitive style and information sources generally increase cooperation. Both diversity factors also improve group members’ average outcome in non-compensatory environments. However, the outcome results are mixed in compensatory environments. We did not find robust and reliable effects of diversity in ability. Our study provides the first approach to modeling isolated diversity effects on group decision-making in the face of the free-rider problem. It may serve as a theoretical framework for future studies.
Momentum analysis of complex time-periodic flows
Authors: Freeman Benjamin R.S. , Martinuzzi Robert J. , Hemmati Arman
Published: January 2024

Several methods have been proposed to characterize the complex interactions in turbulent wakes, especially for flows with strong cyclic dynamics. This paper introduces the concept of Fourier-averaged Navier–Stokes (FANS) equations as a framework to obtain direct insights into the dynamics of complex coherent wake interactions. The method simplifies the interpretations of flow physics by identifying terms contributing to momentum transport at different time scales. The method also allows for direct interpretation of nonlinear interactions of the terms in the Navier–Stokes equations. By analysing well-known cases, the characteristics of FANS are evaluated. Particularly, we focus on physical interpretation of the terms as they relate to the interactions between modes at different time scales. Through comparison with established physics and other methods, FANS is shown to provide insight into the transfer of momentum between modes by extracting information about the contributing pressure, convective and diffusive forces. The FANS equations provide a simply calculated and more directly interpretable set of equations to analyse flow physics by leveraging momentum conservation principles and Fourier analysis. By representing the velocity as a Fourier series in time, for example, the triadic model interactions are apparent from the governing equations. The method is shown to be applicable to flows with complex cyclic waveforms, including broadband spectral energy distributions.
Sequence – dynamics – function relationships in protein tyrosine phosphatases
Authors: Crean Rory M. , Corbella Marina , Calixto Ana R. , Hengge Alvan C. , Kamerlin Shina C. L.
Published: January 2024

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are crucial regulators of cellular signaling. Their activity is regulated by the motion of a conserved loop, the WPD-loop, from a catalytically inactive open to a catalytically active closed conformation. WPD-loop motion optimally positions a catalytically critical residue into the active site, and is directly linked to the turnover number of these enzymes. Crystal structures of chimeric PTPs constructed by grafting parts of the WPD-loop sequence of PTP1B onto the scaffold of YopH showed WPD-loops in a wide-open conformation never previously observed in either parent enzyme. This wide-open conformation has, however, been observed upon binding of small molecule inhibitors to other PTPs, suggesting the potential of targeting it for drug discovery efforts. Here, we have performed simulations of both enzymes and show that there are negligible energetic differences in the chemical step of catalysis, but significant differences in the dynamical properties of the WPD-loop. Detailed interaction network analysis provides insight into the molecular basis for this population shift to a wide-open conformation. Taken together, our study provides insight into the links between loop dynamics and chemistry in these YopH variants specifically, and how WPD-loop dynamic can be engineered through modification of the internal protein interaction network.
EXCERPTS FROM THE LIBRETTO OF …(IPHIGENIA)
Authors: spalding esperanza
Published: January 2024

the stage-set for each sacrifice-cycle is disassembled.
IMPROVISATIONAL SOLIDARITY: IN CONVERSATION WITH JUDITH BUTLER
Authors: Telò Mario
Published: January 2024

Mario Telò:

Maybe we can just talk about your general thoughts and your general impressions of seeing this performance of …(Iphigenia).
BLACK, GENDERQUEER, HUMANIMAL IPHIGENIA
Authors: Mameni Salar
Published: January 2024

Iphigenia is not one. She is multiple. Central to Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding's opera titled …(Iphigenia) is the layered multiplicity of Iphigenias who are sacrificed/martyred, time and again, for the cause of Grecian nation building. Unlike other stage and filmic renditions of the opera that tell Iphigenia's story once, emphasizing the psychic drama of what it means to give one's blood for the ideological cause of nation building, …(Iphigenia) repeats the story piling up bodies on stage. Dressed in pink, red, white, silver, fur and more (Fig. 4), Iphigenia's body becomes multiple, becomes collective, becomes sisterhood, becomes interspecies.
“Nothing I Could Teach Him”: Good Burns and Best Readings
Authors: Holt Jason
Published: January 2024

Steven Burns argues that rich works of art tend to yield best readings rather than ambiguous interpretations. This is no mere statistical claim. Rather, Burns holds that such richness makes ambiguity less likely or sustainable. As a champion of multiple interpretability, I criticize Burns’s account. Adding detail to an ambiguous work may not disambiguate it and may in fact increase the range of equally rewarding interpretations. Ambiguous works are furthermore numerous and noteworthy, and range across various artforms. All else being equal, ambiguity appears to add to rather than detract from the richness of artworks.
Multi-trait selection for agronomic performance and drought tolerance among durum wheat genotypes evaluated under rainfed and irrigated environments
Authors: Mohammadi Reza , Geravandi Mahdi
Published: January 2024

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) is a major crop in the Mediterranean region, widely grown for its nutritional value and economic importance. Durum wheat breeding can contribute to global food security through the introduction of new cultivars exhibiting drought tolerance and higher yield potential in the Mediterranean environments. In this study, 25 durum wheat genotypes (23 elite breeding lines and two national checks) were evaluated for five drought-adaptive traits (days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield) and eight drought tolerance indices including stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), stress susceptibility index, tolerance index, yield index, yield stability index and drought response index under rainfed and irrigated conditions during three cropping seasons (2019–2022). Multi-trait stability index (MTSI) technique was applied to select genotypes with higher grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, plant stature and early flowering and maturity simultaneously; as well as for higher drought tolerance in each and across years. A heat map correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to study the relationships among drought tolerance indices and the pattern of variation among genotypes studied. Factor analysis was applied for identification of traits that contributed most in stability analyses. Significant and positive correlations were observed among the three drought tolerance indices of STI, GMP and MP with mean yields under both rainfed and irrigated conditions in each and across years, suggest the efficiency of these indices as selection criteria for improved drought tolerance and yield performance in durum wheat. The genotypes ranked based on MTSI varied from environment to environment, showing the impact of environment on genotypes performance, but several of the best performing lines were common across environments. According to MTSI for agronomic traits, the breeding lines G20, G6, G25 and G18 exhibited highest performance and trait stability across environmental conditions, and the selected genotypes had strength towards grain yield, 1000-kernel weight and earliness. Using the MTSI, breeding lines G20, G5, G16 and G7 were selected as drought tolerant genotypes with high mean performance. Breeding line G20 from ICARDA germplasm showed highest trait stability performance and drought tolerance across environments. The MTSI was a useful tool for selecting genotypes based on their agronomic performance and drought tolerance that could be exploited for identification and selection of elite genotypes with desired multi-traits. Based on the results, breeding lines G20 and G6 should be recommended for short-term release programme and/ or utilized in durum wheat population improvement programme for agronomic performance and drought tolerance traits that tolerate climate variations.
Influence of tides on the dissemination and related health risks of intestinal helminths along the Kribi beaches (Atlantic Coast, Southern Cameroon)
Authors: Nana P.A. , Tchakonté S. , Pahane Mbiada M. , Fotseu Kouam A.L. , Mouchili Palena R.S. , Bricheux G. , Nola M. , Sime-Ngando T.
Published: January 2024

Kribi is a seaside town that welcomes thousands of tourists each year. However, the poor sanitation condition of its beaches along the Atlantic coast is not without risk for visitors. In this study, we used the formol-ether concentration technique to identify and quantify larvae or eggs of intestinal helminths in waters of three regularly visited Kribi beaches (Mpalla, Ngoyè, and Mboamanga). Results revealed that all identified larvae and eggs were cestodes (Hymenolepis nana) and nematodes (Strongyloides sp., Ascaris sp., Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura). All the helminth eggs and larvae showed high abundance at low tide during rainy seasons. Ancylostoma duodenale eggs, totally absent at Mpalla, were densely present at low tide at Ngoyè (301 ± 15 eggs/L). Trichuris trichiura eggs showed the lowest abundance (0 to 62 eggs/L) at all sites. Abiotic variables indicated that waters at the various beaches were basic (pH: 8.75–9.77), generally warmer (32.44°C at Mpalla in the Short Rainy Season), more oxygenated at low tide, and moderately mineralized at high tide. Positive and significant correlations were observed at Ngoyè at low tide between Strongyloides sp. larvae and dissolved oxygen (P ˂ 0.05); and between Ancylostoma duodenale eggs and temperature (P ˂ 0.05). The overall results indicated that the beaches studied are subjected to fecal pollution. This pollution is more accentuated during low tides than during high tides. Depending on tidal movements, swimmers risk exposure to helminth eggs and larvae known to be responsible for gastroenteritis.
One-shot sim-to-real transfer policy for robotic assembly via reinforcement learning with visual demonstration
Authors: Xiao Ruihong , Yang Chenguang , Jiang Yiming , Zhang Hui
Published: January 2024

Reinforcement learning (RL) has been successfully applied to a wealth of robot manipulation tasks and continuous control problems. However, it is still limited to industrial applications and suffers from three major challenges: sample inefficiency, real data collection, and the gap between simulator and reality. In this paper, we focus on the practical application of RL for robot assembly in the real world. We apply enlightenment learning to improve the proximal policy optimization, an on-policy model-free actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithm, to train an agent in Cartesian space using the proprioceptive information. We introduce enlightenment learning incorporated via pretraining, which is beneficial to reduce the cost of policy training and improve the effectiveness of the policy. A human-like assembly trajectory is generated through a two-step method with segmenting objects by locations and iterative closest point for pretraining. We also design a sim-to-real controller to correct the error while transferring to reality. We set up the environment in the MuJoCo simulator and demonstrated the proposed method on the recently established The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) gear assembly benchmark. The paper introduces a unique framework that enables a robot to learn assembly tasks efficiently using limited real-world samples by leveraging simulations and visual demonstrations. The comparative experiment results indicate that our approach surpasses other baseline methods in terms of training speed, success rate, and efficiency.
Lodging houses as facilitators of global and local entanglements in harbour districts: evidence from the port of Antwerp c. 1860–1910
Authors: Segerink Jasper , Loockx Kristof
Published: January 2024

The late nineteenth-century harbour districts, or so-called ‘sailortowns’, are generally depicted as deterritorialized ‘enclaves’ of heightened globalized transience. However, these neighbourhoods were just as much shaped by semi-durable local labouring communities. This article studies lodging houses as facilitators of global and local entanglements in harbour districts from a socio-cultural perspective, with Antwerp in the late nineteenth century as a case-study. Analysing the spatiality, materiality, sociability and people of the lodging phenomenon, it reveals that next to the highly transient seafarers, sailortown accommodated a diverse yet largely local population of small entrepreneurs and their families right between transience and permanence.
Cognate facilitation in bilingual reading: The influence of orthographic and phonological similarity on lexical decisions and eye-movements
Authors: Tiffin-Richards Simon P.
Published: January 2024

A central finding of bilingual research is that cognates – words that share semantic, phonological, and orthographic characteristics across languages – are processed faster than non-cognate words. However, it remains unclear whether cognate facilitation effects are reliant on identical cognates, or whether facilitation simply varies along a continuum of cross-language orthographic and phonological similarity. In two experiments, German–English bilinguals read identical cognates, close cognates, and non-cognates in a lexical decision task and a sentence-reading task while their eye movements were recorded. Participants read the stimuli in their L1 German and L2 English. Converging results found comparable facilitation effects of identical and close cognates vs. non-cognates. Cognate facilitation could be described as a continuous linear effect of cross-language orthographic similarity on lexical decision accuracy and latency, as well as fixation durations. Cross-language phonological similarity modulated the continuous orthographic similarity effect in single word recognition, but not in sentence processing.