bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drivers of global pre‐industrial patterns of species turnover in planktonic foraminifera
Authors: Rillo Marina C. , Woolley Skipton , Hillebrand Helmut
Published: December 2021

Anthropogenic climate change is altering global biogeographical patterns. However, it remains difficult to quantify how bioregions are changing because pre‐industrial records of species distributions are rare. Marine microfossils, such as planktonic foraminifera, are preserved in seafloor sediments and allow the quantification of bioregions in the past. Using a recently compiled data set of pre‐industrial species composition of planktonic foraminifera in 3802 worldwide seafloor sediments, we employed multivariate and statistical model‐based approaches to study spatial turnover in order to 1) quantify planktonic foraminifera bioregions and 2) understand the environmental drivers of species turnover. Four latitudinally banded bioregions emerge from the global assemblage data. The polar and temperate bioregions are bi‐hemispheric, supporting the idea that planktonic foraminifera species are not limited by dispersal. The equatorial bioregion shows complex longitudinal patterns and overlaps in sea surface temperature (SST) range with the tropical bioregion. Compositional‐turnover models (Bayesian bootstrap generalised dissimilarity models) identify SST as the strongest driver of species turnover. The turnover rate is constant across most of the SST gradient, showing no SST threshold values with rapid shifts in species composition, but decelerates above 25°C, suggesting SST is less predictive of species composition in warmer waters. Other environmental predictors affect species turnover non‐linearly, and their importance differs across regions. In the Pacific ocean, net primary productivity below 500 mgC m−2 day−1 drives fast compositional change. Water depth values below 3000 m (which affect calcareous microfossil preservation) increasingly drive changes in species composition among death assemblages in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Together, our results suggest that the dynamics of planktonic foraminifera bioregions are expected to be highly responsive to climate change; however, at lower latitudes, environmental drivers other than SST may affect these dynamics.
EEG‐based automatic multi‐class classification of epileptic seizure types using recurrence plots
Authors: Khosla Ashima , Khandnor Padmavati , Chand Trilok
Published: December 2021

There is an urgent need to develop an efficient system for accurate recognition of epileptic seizure type that could play a significant role in reducing the adversial effects of the disease. A lot of work is available for EEG based automatic seizure detection but very less attempts have been made towards the classification of variants of seizures. Moreover, none of the authors have included the EEG signals for myoclonic seizure type in their classification studies. Our study aims to propose the automatic machine learning based multi‐class classification system for classifying six types of epileptic seizures (such as absence, focal non‐specific, complex‐partial, generalized, tonic–clonic and including myoclonic too) through the use of recurrence plots (RPs). In our study, we have collected 19‐channel EEG data from a huge database of Temple University Hospital. Two classification modalities have been proposed depending upon the feature extraction approach followed for RPs‐ (a) Traditional approach using the recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) method; (b) Texture based approach using the hybrid method named as Unthresholded Recurrence Plot with Fractal Weighted Local Binary Pattern (URP‐FWLBP), that has been proposed in our work using a combination of Unthresholded RPs (URPs) and Fractal Weighted Local Binary Pattern (FWLBP) method. Thereby, an indirect variant of support vector machine (one‐vs‐rest approach) has been used as the multi‐class classifier in both the approaches. The performance of the proposed modalities has been validated using five‐fold cross‐validation method in the light of seven metrics‐ accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Matthews correlation coefficient, geometric‐mean, precision and f1‐score. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed system following hybrid URP‐FWLBP method in performing multi‐class epileptic seizure type classification with 100% efficiency, thereby outperforming the traditional RQA method based system as well the existing state‐of‐the‐art systems.
Long‐term acclimation might enhance the growth and competitive ability of Microcystis aeruginosa in warm environments
Authors: Drugă Bogdan , Ramm Elisabeth , Szekeres Edina , Chiriac Cecilia , Hegedüs Adriana , Stockenreiter Maria
Published: December 2021

The positive effect of global warming on the growth of cyanobacteria has been widely predicted, but long‐term studies targeting their adaptive potential to higher temperature have not been carried out so far. Predicting the magnitude and impact of cyanobacterial blooms in the future as a response to global warming requires an understanding of how cyanobacteria might change in the long term due to climate change.

Here we examined the effect of exposing three Microcystis aeruginosa strains isolated in Romania to ambient (22°C) and high (26°C) temperature for 6 months. Then, the competitive ability of the strains after heat acclimation was evaluated, by analysing their impact on plankton community composition.

One of the three strains displayed significantly higher growth rates after 6 months of cultivation at higher temperatures. Following inoculation into a natural plankton community, the overall cyanobacterial abundance significantly increased in the cultures inoculated with this heat‐acclimated strain of M. aeruginosa as compared to the ambient‐acclimated version. The structure of eukaryotic communities was impacted by both inoculated cyanobacteria and temperature during the experiments.

The results of this study emphasise the high potential of cyanobacteria to respond to stressors, and highlight the fact that previous acclimation to warming is a critical factor in shaping the overall structure of plankton communities.

Our study strongly advocates for including a step of culture acclimation to future experimental conditions in research programmes aiming to better understand the long‐term impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems.
Divided loyalties? The role of national IO staff in aid‐funded procurement
Authors: Heinzel Mirko
Published: December 2021

Many operational International Organizations (IOs) rely on national staff when implementing projects in member states. However, fears persist that the loyalties of national IO staff may be divided when working in their home countries. The article studies differences in more than 50,000 procurement decisions taken in 1729 projects overseen by World Bank staff working as expatriates or in their home countries. The empirical results show that when staff work in their home countries, national suppliers' probability of winning procurement contracts increases. However, these increases are not driven by restricted procurement processes—that exclude competition—which are often seen as red flags for corruption. Instead, restricted procurement processes seem to be less likely when staff work in their home countries. These findings imply that national IO staff use their country‐specific knowledge to increase the development effectiveness of procurement in line with the mandate of the World Bank.
Wildfire catalyzes upward range expansion of trembling aspen in southern Rocky Mountain beetle‐killed forests
Authors: Nigro Katherine M. , Rocca Monique E. , Battaglia Mike A. , Coop Jonathan D. , Redmond Miranda D.
Published: December 2021

Aim

Climate warming is expected to drive upward and poleward shifts at the leading edge of tree species ranges. Disturbance has the potential to accelerate these shifts by altering biotic and abiotic conditions, though this potential is likely to vary by disturbance type. In this study, we assessed whether recent wildfires and spruce beetle outbreaks promoted upward range expansion of trembling aspen.

Location

The San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, USA (37°34′–37°50′N, 106°49′–107°21′W).

Taxon

Populus tremuloides.

Methods

We used aerial imagery to determine the upper elevational limit of adult aspen and conducted seedling surveys at and above this upper limit in burned and unburned areas, which had already incurred high canopy mortality due to spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreaks. We compared characteristics of burned versus unburned bark beetle‐killed sites and assessed microsite conditions related to aspen seedling establishment using generalized linear models and interaction indices.

Results

Aspen seedling establishment occurred upslope of its previous range within burns, but not in unburned areas, despite severe beetle‐driven canopy mortality across all sites before the fire. Aspen seedling establishment was associated more with the light and mineral soil created by fire than the presence of nearby seed sources. Aspen seedlings were associated with nurse objects such as logs and rocks at the highest elevations, where these objects may ameliorate a range of stressors associated with the high elevation range boundary.

Main conclusions

Not all disturbance types are equal in promoting tree species migrations at the leading edge. Range shifts can be highly localized, and microsites are important for driving local range expansions in transitional environments. The mosaic of future disturbances across the landscape will drive forest compositional shifts, depending on the disturbance types and the species they promote.
Investigating the value of immersive virtual reality tools for organizational training: An applied international study in the biotech industry
Authors: Baceviciute Sarune , Cordoba Ainara Lopez , Wismer Philip , Jensen Tine Vitved , Klausen Mikkel , Makransky Guido
Published: December 2021

Background

Immersive virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in organizational training interventions. However, few studies have systematically investigated VR compared to standard training methods in actual organizational contexts.

Objectives

The focus of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a VR simulation for training professionals in the biotech industry. Aligning training needs to unique media affordances, the study designed an immersive story‐based VR simulation for training customer‐facing employees on a new product and tested it in an international biotech company.

Methods

The system was evaluated by comparing its effectiveness to a traditional video presentation with the same content in a randomized between subjects experiment. The sample consisted of 95 employees across three locations: Brazil, Denmark, and USA.

Results

The VR simulation group performed better than the video presentation group on the outcomes of conceptual knowledge (d = 0.41) spatial knowledge (d = 0.61), transfer intentions (d = 0.57), enjoyment (d = 1.74), self‐efficacy (d = 0.68), perceived learning (d = 0.89), personal value (d = 0.83), and organizational value (d = 0.82), but no significant difference was found for factual knowledge (d = −0.10).

Implications

Results suggest that VR simulations can be effective across cultures in organizational training interventions. VR is specifically effective when the goals of the training are to increase conceptual and spatial understanding as well as enjoyment, and self‐efficacy, but not factual knowledge. Furthermore, employees report higher levels of perceived learning, personal and organizational value and transfer intentions after VR training compared to standard video‐based training.
How Do Supranational Regulators Keep Companies in Line? An Analysis of the Enforcement Styles of EU Agencies
Authors: Joosen Rik , Zhelyazkova Asya
Published: December 2021

National governments have increasingly transferred enforcement powers to EU agencies that monitor and penalize non‐compliance by private actors. How do EU agencies apply enforcement competences in practice? Based on the Eurolegalism thesis, pressures for deeper integration have led to the emergence of a more adversarial enforcement style in Europe. Consequently, supranational regulators are expected to employ formal and coercive enforcement instruments. Conversely, studies of EU enforcement suggest that EU agencies may be reluctant to antagonize national governments by prosecuting private actors. In this study, we analyze the enforcement practices of supranational agencies with direct enforcement powers: the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). We find that EU agencies apply a legalistic approach, but they vary in coerciveness of enforcement. Whereas EU agencies tend to apply more coercive measures against non‐conform products, they are generally not adversarial toward non‐compliant organizations.
Self‐management interventions for issues identified in a geriatric assessment: A systematic review
Authors: Donison Valentina , Chesney Tyler R. , Wills Aria , Santos Brenda , McLean Bianca , Alqurini Naser , Hossain Nazia , Durbano Sara , Lemonde Manon , Alibhai Shabbir M. H. , Puts Martine
Published: December 2021

Background

With the development of electronic geriatric assessment (GA), recommendations for self‐management can be provided to patients without the presence of health care providers. Our research question was to identify what self‐management interventions can be used by patients to address issues identified in GA and to determine their effect on patient‐centered outcomes such as quality of life, health, mood, cognition, and functional status.

Methods

Searches were conducted on July 13, 2021, by a health sciences librarian in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library. A combination of database‐specific subject headings and text word searches was used such as self‐management, a key word for each of the geriatric assessment domains and older adults. Two independent reviewers reviewed abstracts and full texts for inclusion and abstracted data. Narrative synthesis was used to summarize findings.

Results

Among 28,520 abstracts reviewed, 34 randomized controlled trials were included. The most frequently studied geriatric domains were mood (n = 13 studies), mobility/falls (n = 12), quality of life (n = 11), and functional status (n = 7). The majority of studies demonstrated positive effects on mobility/falls (9 of 12), pain (3 of 5), comorbidity (4 of 4), and medication management (4 of 4). Most studies were of low to moderate quality. All geriatric domains were targeted in at least one study.

Conclusions

Low‐ to moderate‐quality studies show a variety of effective self‐efficacy‐targeted interventions exist for older adults to improve several important geriatric domains and related outcomes. However, long‐term effects, validation, and scalability of these interventions remain largely unknown.
Medication use quality and safety in older adults: 2020 update
Authors: Eshetie Tesfahun C. , Marcum Zachary A. , Schmader Kenneth E. , Gray Shelly L.
Published: December 2021

Improving the quality of medication use and medication safety are important priorities for prescribers who care for older adults. The objective of this article was to identify four exemplary articles with this focus in 2020. We selected high‐quality studies that moved the field of research forward and were not merely replication studies. The chosen articles cover domains related to deprescribing, medication safety, and optimizing medication use. The first study, a noninferiority randomized clinical trial in England, evaluated whether antihypertensive medication reduction is possible without significant changes in systolic blood pressure control or adverse events over the 12‐week follow‐up (domain: deprescribing). The second study, a prospective cohort study of women at Kaiser Permanente Southern, California, examined the association between bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fracture (domain: medication safety). The third study examined the effectiveness and safety of a multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship and quality improvement initiative in reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use for unlikely cystitis cases in noncatheterized residents in 25 nursing homes across the United States (domain: optimizing medication use). Lastly, the fourth study, a population‐based cohort study in the United Kingdom, examined the association of tramadol use with risk of hip fracture (domain: medication safety). Collectively, this review succinctly highlights pertinent topics related to promoting safe use of medications and promotes awareness of optimizing older adults' medication regimens.
Geriatric conditions do not predict stroke or bleeding in long‐term care residents with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Kapoor Alok , Patel Jay , Chen Zhiyong , Crawford Sybil , McManus David , Gurwitz Jerry , Shireman Theresa I. , Zhang Ning
Published: December 2021

Background

Long‐term care (LTC) providers prescribe anticoagulation (AC) less frequently in residents with atrial fibrillation (AF) and geriatric conditions independent of CHA2DS2‐VASc stroke risk score. Geriatric conditions include recent fall, activities of daily living dependency, mobility impairment, cognitive impairment, low body mass index, and weight loss. Multiple publications have suggested that patients with geriatric conditions are at increased risk for stroke. Understanding better the risk of stroke and bleeding in residents with AF and geriatric conditions would be valuable to LTC providers for AC decision‐making.

Methods and results

We measured the association of geriatric conditions with composite of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)/systemic embolism and bleeding in residents with AF and elevated stroke risk (CHA2DS2‐VASc score ≥ 2) living in American LTC facilities in 2015. After merging nursing home assessments (Minimum Data Set) with medication and hospital utilization records, we identified 209,413 eligible residents. Using generalized estimating equations, we found that the incidence of stroke/TIA/systemic embolism ranged from 0.13% to 0.26% over 30 days (1.43%–3.08%/year) in residents off AC with and without geriatric conditions adjusting for other resident characteristics including CHA2DS2‐VASc score and propensity to receive AC. Similarly, the monthly incidence of bleeding on AC ranged from 0.22% to 0.28% (2.61%–3.31%/year) without increased risk with geriatric conditions. Residents with a CHA2DS2‐VASc score of ≥7 had a 2.4‐fold increased risk of stroke compared with those with score of 2–4 (0.30% vs. 0.12%/month).

Conclusion

Calculating a CHA2DS2‐VASc score can be helpful in AC decision‐making for residents with and without geriatric conditions.
Effects of e‐learning on the support of midwives and nurses to perinatal women suffering from intimate partner violence: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Maruyama Naoko , Kataoka Yaeko , Horiuchi Shigeko
Published: December 2021

Aims

To examine the effects of e‐learning on intimate partner violence (IPV) knowledge, preparatory/reinforcing behaviors for supporting IPV victims, and IPV screening of midwives and nurses.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG: e‐learning) and control group (CG: no e‐learning). The primary outcome was the mean change in knowledge score. The secondary outcomes were the mean number of types of practiced preparatory/reinforcing behaviors and the proportions of participants who practice screening. Unpaired t tests were performed in intention‐to‐treat analysis.

Results

Of the 88 participants, 45 were randomly assigned to the IG and 43 to the CG. For the post‐1‐test, the IG had a mean change in the knowledge score of 8.5 points with a significant difference from the 1.4 points in the CG (mean difference [MD] 7.1, 95% CI [4.1, 10.1]). The mean change between the pre‐test and the post‐2‐test was significantly larger in the IG (7.9 points) than in the CG (1.3 points) (MD 6.6, 95% CI [3.3, 9.9]). The mean number of types of practiced behaviors at the post‐1‐test and post‐2‐test was significantly higher in the IG than in the CG (MD 1.4, 95% CI [0.1, 2.8]). There was no significant difference in the proportions of participants who practice screening between the two groups postintervention.

Conclusions

The e‐learning effectively improved knowledge and promoted preparatory/reinforcing behaviors.
Responses to Eliminating Saving Commitments: Evidence from Mortgage Run‐offs
Authors: Andersen Steffen , d'Astous Philippe , Martínez‐Correa Jimmy , Shore Stephen H.
Published: December 2021

We study consumers’ responses to removing a saving constraint. Mortgage run‐offs predictably relax a saving constraint for borrowers whose mortgage committed them to save by paying down principal. Using the entire Danish population, we identify mortgages on track to run off between 1995 and 2014. We measure the effect of run‐offs on earnings and the household balance sheet. We find that borrowers use 39% of previous mortgage payments to decrease labor income and use 53% to pay down other debts. Borrowers run up nonmortgage debt prior to the run‐off and this run‐up stops once the mortgage is repaid.
Effect of deep breathing exercise with Triflo on dyspnoea, anxiety and quality of life in patients receiving covid‐19 treatment: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Öner Cengiz Hatice , Ayhan Müge , Güner Rahmet
Published: December 2021

Aims and objectives

Determination of the effect of deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo on dyspnoea, anxiety and quality of life in patients who are hospitalized for COVID‐19 and have dyspnoea.

Backround

COVID‐19 is a viral infection that can cause severe pulmonary disease. Deep breathing exercise with Triflo in patients with COVID‐19 may contribute to the reduction/elimination of dyspnoea and anxiety, and improvement of respiratory and quality of life.

Design

The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial and conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 guidelines.

Methods

The study was conducted in the clinic of COVID‐19 of a tertiary hospital. A total of 44 eligible participants were enrolled from January to April 2021. Primary outcomes included oxygen saturation in the blood, respiratory assessment and dyspnoea level. Secondary outcomes included anxiety and quality of life. In the statistical analysis of the data, the independent sample t‐test, Wilcoxon test, Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation were used to examine the intervention effect on primary outcomes and secondary outcomes, according to numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation and conformity to normal distribution.

Results

It was determined that the patients in the deep breathing group had a statistically significant shorter hospitalization time (3.04 ± 0.65), higher SpO2 level (97.05 ± 1.46) and higher quality of life (77.82 ± 6.77) compared with the patients in the usual care group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Deep breathing exercise with Triflo increases the SpO2 level and quality of life in patients with COVID‐19 and contributes to a decrease in dyspnoea and anxiety levels. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay is shortened in patients who are applied deep breathing exercise with Triflo.

Relevance to clinical practice

With deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo, respiratory rate reaches normal limits in a short time, SpO2 levels increase significantly, and quality of life improves significantly in patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia.

Clinical trials registration number

https://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT04696562.
Caring for parents with end‐stage renal disease: What do adult children face and how do they cope?
Authors: Sousa Helena , Ribeiro Oscar , Christensen Alan J. , Figueiredo Daniela
Published: December 2021

Aim

This study aimed to explore the stressors and coping strategies of adult children who care for their parents with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing in‐centre haemodialysis.

Background

Given the growing number of older patients with ESRD, adult children are increasingly providing more care and assistance to their parents with this condition. However, little is still known about the experiences of caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis.

Design

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.

Methods

Semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews with nineteen adult children (44.9 ± 11.7 years old) were carried out. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Four stressors (managing disease and treatment‐related requirements, patients’ reaction to treatment, lack of support from family members, and additional challenges to personal and family life) and five coping strategies (active coping and planning, seeking social support for emotional use, accepting the situation as it is, venting emotions, and maintaining interests outside caring) were identified.

Conclusion

Caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis is an experience with several challenges, marked by educational needs, emotional distress, lack of support from close relatives and the need to manage multiple responsibilities.

Relevance to clinical practice

Findings highlight the importance of developing interdisciplinary educational and supportive interventions to support this group of caregivers. These interventions should facilitate access to disease and treatment‐related information, provide emotional support, and train coping skills to prevent burden and promote healthy adjustment to the demands of ESRD care.
Growth Resilience of Subarctic Rhodoliths (Lithothamnion glaciale, Rhodophyta) to Chronic Low Sea Temperature and irradiance
Authors: Arnold Cassidy L. , Bélanger David , Gagnon Patrick
Published: December 2021

Rhodolith beds are pervasive marine biological systems in the subarctic North Atlantic. Limited knowledge about effects of temperature and irradiance on rhodolith growth limits the ability to anticipate the response of rhodolith beds to this ocean's chronic low, yet changing sea temperature and irradiance regimes. We carried out a 149‐d laboratory experiment with Newfoundland Lithothamnion glaciale rhodoliths to test the predictions that growth (i) is inhibited at temperatures of ~0.5°C and (ii) resumes as temperature increases above 0.5°C, albeit at a higher rate under high than low irradiances. Rhodoliths were grown in experimental tanks at near‐zero (~0.7°C) seawater temperatures during the first 85 d and at temperatures increasing naturally to ~6°C for the remaining 64 d. Rhodoliths in those tanks were exposed to either low (0.02 mol photons·m−2·d−1) or high (0.78 mol photons·m−2·d−1) irradiances during the entire experiment. Rhodoliths grew at a linear rate of ~281 μm·year−1 (0.77 μm·d−1) throughout the experiment under both irradiance treatments despite daily seawater temperature variation of up to 3°C. Near‐zero temperatures of ~0.5 to 1.0°C did not inhibit rhodolith growth. Model selection showed that PAR‐day (a cumulative irradiance index) was a better predictor of growth variation than Degree‐day (a cumulative thermal index). Our findings extend to ~0.5°C the lower limit of the known temperature range (~1 to at least 16°C) over which growth in L. glaciale rhodoliths remains unaffected, while suggesting that the growth–irradiance relationship in low‐light environments at temperatures below 6°C is less irradiance‐driven than recently proposed.
Primary orthostatic tremor and orthostatic tremor‐plus in dogs: 60 cases (2003‐2020)
Authors: Liatis Theofanis , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo , Mari Lorenzo , Czopowicz Michał , Polidoro Dakir , Bhatti Sofie F. M. , Cozzi Francesca , Tirrito Federica , Brocal Josep , José‐López Roberto , Kaczmarska Adriana , Cappello Rodolfo , Harris Georgina , Alves Lisa , Rusbridge Clare , Rossmeisl John H.
Published: December 2021

Background

Orthostatic tremor (OT) is a rare movement disorder characterized by high‐frequency (>12 Hz) involuntary, rhythmic, sinusoidal movements affecting predominantly the limbs while standing.

Objective

To describe the signalment, presenting complaints, phenotype, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome of a large sample of dogs with OT.

Animals

Sixty dogs diagnosed with OT based on conscious electromyography.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective case series study. Dogs were included if they had a conscious electromyography consistent with muscle discharge frequency >12 Hz while standing.

Results

Fifty‐three cases were diagnosed with primary OT (POT). Giant breed dogs represented most cases (83%; 44/53). Most dogs (79%; 42/53) were younger than 2 years of age at onset of signs, except for Retrievers which were all older than 3.5 years of age. The most common presenting complaints were pelvic limb tremors while standing (85%; 45/53) and difficulty when rising or sitting down (45%; 24/53). Improvement of clinical signs occurred in most dogs (85%; 45/53) treated medically with phenobarbital, primidone, gabapentin, pregabalin or clonazepam, but it was mostly partial rather than complete. Orthostatic tremor‐plus was seen in 7 dogs that had concurrent neurological diseases.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Primary OT is a progressive disease of young, purebred, giant/large‐breed dogs, which appears to begin later in life in Retrievers. Primary OT apparently responds partially to medications. Orthostatic tremor‐plus exists in dogs and can be concomitant or associated with other neurological diseases.
Diaspora formation and mobilisation: The emerging Hong Kong diaspora in the anti‐extradition bill movement
Authors: Fong Brian C. H.
Published: December 2021

Over the years, literature studying stateless diaspora formation through a transborder social movement studies approach is growing. The recent rise of Hong Kong diaspora provides an emerging case of stateless diaspora that introduces new empirical insights into the scholarly literature. Using a mixed‐method research strategy, this study empirically investigates the formation of the Hong Kong diaspora as a ‘historically contingent process’, through which overseas Hongkongers were mobilised during the 2019–20 Anti‐Extradition Bill Movement (critical event) to join global protests (mobilising practices) by diaspora groups and activists (mobilising agents). Achieved transborder outreach across the Global North by mobilising their strong moral and cultural resources, it remains to be seen whether the emerging Hong Kong diaspora will move towards a full‐fledged, sustained identity‐based movement. The case study of Hong Kong diaspora offers new comparative insights and establishes a mixed‐method analytical framework for comparing stateless diaspora worldwide.
Transformations to regenerative food systems—An outline of the FixOurFood project
Authors: Doherty Bob , Bryant Maria , Denby Katherine , Fazey Ioan , Bridle Sarah , Hawkes Corinna , Cain Michelle , Banwart Steven , Collins Lisa , Pickett Kate , Allen Myles , Ball Peter , Gardner Grace , Carmen Esther , Sinclair Maddie , Kluczkovski Alana , Ehgartner Ulrike , Morris Belinda , James Anthonia , Yap Christopher , Suzanne Om Eugyen , Connolly Annie
Published: December 2021

This paper provides an outline of a new interdisciplinary project called FixOurFood, funded through UKRI’s ‘Transforming UK food systems’ programme. FixOurFood aims to transform the Yorkshire food system to a regenerative food system and will work to answer two main questions: (1) What do regenerative food systems look like? (2) How can transformations be enabled so that we can achieve a regenerative food system? To answer these questions, FixOurFood will work with diverse stakeholders to change the Yorkshire food system and use the learning to inform change efforts in other parts of the UK and beyond. Our work will focus on shifting trajectories towards regenerative dynamics in three inter‐related systems of: healthy eating for young children, hybrid food economies and regenerative farming. We do this by a set of action‐orientated interventions in schools and the food economy, metrics, policies and deliverables that can be applied in Yorkshire and across the UK. This article introduces the FixOurFood project and concludes by assessing the potential impact of these interventions and the importance we attach to working with stakeholders in government, business, third sector and civil society.
Ponerorchis wolongensis (Orchidaceae, Orchidinae), a new species with variable labellum from the Hengduan Mountains, western Sichuan, China
Authors: Peng Shuai , Cheng Yue‐Hong , Mutie Fredrick Munyao , Yang Jia‐Xin , Wang Jun‐Jie , Lin Hong‐Qiang , He Ting‐Mei , Hu Guang‐Wan , Wang Qing‐Feng
Published: December 2021

Ponerorchis wolongensis, a new orchid species from the Hengduan Mountains, western Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated here based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Morphologically, the new species is similar to P. capitata, but they can easily be differentiated by the number of leaves and flowers, the shape of leaves, and the mid‐lobe of the labellum. Phylogenetically, based on seven DNA sequences, the new species is more close to P. sichuanica, but these two species are very different in both growth habit and morphological characteristics.
New synonymies in Sanchezia (Acanthaceae)
Authors: Azevedo Igor Henrique Freitas , de Moraes Pedro Luís Rodrigues
Published: December 2021

As the first step towards solving the taxonomic problems in the genus Sanchezia (Acanthaceae), neglected for more than 50 years, new synonymies are proposed in this study. Based on an extensive morphological revision, 11 names are synonymized, as follows: S. stenomacra under S. aurea; S. cyathibractea under S. macrocnemis; S. bicolor, S. flava, S. megalia and S. speciosa under S. oblonga; S. capitata and S. stenantha under S. ovata; S. lutea under S. parviflora; S. skutchii under S. putumayensis; and S. arborea and S. decora under S. scandens. With these nomenclatural changes, the number of accepted names within Sanchezia decreases from 55 to 44. Lectotypes are designated for Ancylogyne macrocnemis and S. ovata. Diagnostic characters are provided to identify the treated species, and their taxonomic problems are discussed, highlighting the need for a taxonomic revision of the genus.
Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defect With a Free Vascularized Anterolateral Thigh Flap After Resection of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Extremities
Authors: Qiao Jun , Mao Haijun , Wen Li , Xu Leilei , Zhu Zezhang , Qiu Yong , Xiong Jin , Wang Shoufeng
Published: December 2021

Objective

This study aims to determine outcomes and complications in functional reconstruction of soft tissue defects after surgical resection for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of extremities.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with STSs of extremities from May 2015 to April 2019 who underwent radical resection of STSs and reconstruction of soft tissue defect with free vascularized anterolateral thigh flap (FVALTP). A minimum 3‐month follow‐up was required for all the patients. Patient demographics and comorbidities, flap characteristics, postoperative complications, and time to heal were recorded. The functional outcomes of the reconstructed limbs were assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society（MSTS） scoring system.

Results

A total of 11 patients (four males and seven females) were included in the study. The mean age was 62 years (range: 29–84 years). The mean surface area was 151.4 cm2 (range: from 64 cm2 to 418cm2). The mean operation time was 126 min (range: 95–296 min). The mean follow‐up was 17.5 months (range: 6–34 months). The mean score of MSTS at last follow‐up was 26.2 (range: 12–29). Incision healed by first intention in eight patients. Incision healed by second intention in three patients. A patient who had received preoperative radiotherapy experienced delayed union. After debridement, the patient successfully got union. Another two patients experienced marginal necrosis of flap due to vascular crisis. After 3‐week dressing changes, the patients also got satisfactory union. One case suffered from vascular crisis during surgery in which the procedure was changed into skin grafting to cover resection site.

Conclusion

FVALTP technique can be effectively applied to the reconstruction of soft tissue defect after STSs resection. The short‐term follow‐up indicated satisfactory functional outcome and low incidence of previously known complications. It was necessary to further validate its efficacy in reconstruction of soft tissue defect after malignant extremity soft tissue sarcoma resection.
Early postnatal proliferation of rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma
Authors: Matarneh Bayan , Lillis Anna P. , Fernandez Faith Esteban
Published: December 2021

Congenital hemangiomas (CH) are benign vascular tumors characterized by being fully developed at birth and following a variable postnatal course. We present the case of a newborn with a CH who experienced proliferation before developing an ulceration followed by rapid involution. This case expands the clinical spectrum of CH, highlighting the variable course of this vascular tumor.
Novice public health nurses’ home‐visit skills in Japan: A one‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Miyata Takako , Hirano Michiyo , Saeki Kazuko
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the status of novice public health nurses’ home‐visit skills during their first year of practice.

Design and sample: A one‐year longitudinal observational study was conducted with 80 novice public health nurses. The participants were recruited from the four Japanese prefectures and their affiliated municipalities selected by using stratified sampling.

Measurements: Self‐administered questionnaires were distributed three times between April 2016 and March 2017, asking about home‐visit experiences, understandings of the significance of home‐visit, and the levels of home‐visit skills. Data were analyzed with paired t‐tests and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests.

Results: All of twenty skills’ self‐ratings significantly increased between the fourth and eighth months; five skills continually increased between the eighth and twelfth months. Both of Physical Assessment and Relationship Development Skills improved to the “Can do, almost by myself” level at the twelfth month; other skills remained at the “Can do, with a little advice” level.

Conclusion: Although novice public health nurses improved to conducted home‐visits independently, they didn't perceive themselves as being able to do so in their first year. Therefore, through preparing guideline, organizations should provide intentional support to assist their skill acquisition during their first, and even in their second year.
Survey of intention among public health nurses in providing solution‐focused parenting support
Authors: Theuns‐Boumans Liesbeth , Mathijssen Jolanda , Rots‐de Vries Carin , van de Goor Ien
Published: December 2021

Objective

Parenting support has shifted from a problem‐focused to a strengths‐based solution‐focused approach. This study surveyed public health nurses to explain their intention to provide solution‐focused parenting support in their practice.

Design

The design of this study was cross‐sectional.

Sample

The initial sample included 781 public health nurses who were employed with various youth healthcare organizations in the Netherlands.

Measurements

Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, a questionnaire was developed and administered to measure (a) behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, (b) attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, and (c) intention. The data were subjected to structural equation modeling.

Results

A total of 449 (57.5%) public health nurses completed questionnaires. Associations as indicated by the Theory of Planned Behavior were confirmed with the exception of that between perceived behavioral control and intention. Statistically significant paths and correlations were added. The final model accounted for 53% of the variance in the intention to perform solution‐focused parenting support.

Conclusions

In this study, public health nurses strongly intended to provide solution‐focused parenting support, thus indicating their acceptance of the approach. Their intention was predominantly associated with subjective norm.
Under Pressure: Centralizing Regulation in Response to Presidential Priorities
Authors: Selin Jennifer L. , Drolc Cody A. , Butcher Jordan , Brothers Nicholas L. , Brant Hanna K.
Published: December 2021

The modern presidency is one of administration, where presidents seek to further their own agendas by directing administrative behavior throughout the executive branch. Yet little research explores how executive agencies organize their policy processes in response to publicly articulated presidential priorities. Using two novel datasets that allow us to examine the regulatory priorities of presidents and how executive agencies organize their rulemaking processes, we find that executive agencies respond to presidential policy preferences by centralizing policymaking to the top of an agency's hierarchy, placing regulation in the hands of political appointees.
Leveraging the value of conservation physiology for ecological restoration
Authors: Tomlinson Sean , Tudor Emily P. , Turner Shane R. , Cross Sophie , Riviera Fiamma , Stevens Jason , Valliere Justin , Lewandrowski Wolfgang
Published: December 2021

The incorporation of conservation physiology into environmental management, particularly ecological restoration, is underutilized, despite the capacity of such approaches to discern how populations respond to the challenges of unpredictable and potentially inhospitable environments. We explore several examples where detailed mechanistic understanding of the physiological constraints of keystone and foundational species, ecological service providers such as insect pollinators, and species of conservation concern has been used to optimize the return of these species to landscapes following the cessation of mineral extraction. Using such data can optimize the rapid return of functioning ecosystems during restoration or increase the conservation value of restoration by returning insurance populations of threatened species. Integrating this level of mechanistic understanding with fine‐resolution spatial data in the form of biophysical modeling can help plan recovery and identify targets that can subsequently be used in assessing restoration success, particularly in situations that require substantial investment over long periods, such as post‐mining restoration. There is growing recognition of the valuable insights offered by conservation physiology to broader practice and policy development, and there have been substantial technical developments in conservation physiology leading up to and into the twenty‐first century as a result. The global challenge facing restoration ecology has, however, also grown in that time. Rapidly and efficiently meeting ambitious global restoration objectives will require a targeted approach, and we suggest that the application of physiological data will be most strategic for rare species, keystone species, and ecosystem service providers more broadly.
Using Extremum Seeking Control to Improve the Power Capture of Midsize Hydrostatic Wind Turbines
Authors: Escobar-Naranjo Daniel , Mohanty Biswaranjan , Stelson Kim A.
Published: December 2021

Adaptive control strategies are commonly used for systems that change over time, such as wind turbines. Extremum Seeking Control (ESC) is a model-free real-time adaptive control strategy commonly used in conventional gearbox wind turbines for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). ESC optimizes the rotor power by constantly tuning the torque control gain (k) when operating below rated power. The same concept can be applied for hydrostatic wind turbines. This paper studies the use of ESC for a 60-kW hydrostatic wind turbine. First, a systematic approach to establish the ideal ESC is shown. Second, a comparison of the power capture performance of ESC versus the conventional torque control law (the kω2 law) is shown. The simulations include a timesharing power capture coefficient (Cp) to clearly show the advantages of using ESC. Studies under steady and realistic wind conditions show the main advantages of using ESC for a hydrostatic wind turbine.
Composite Adaptive Dynamic Surface Control for a Multi-DOF Hydraulic Manipulator With Disturbance Observer
Authors: Zhang Xiaofu , Shi Guanglin
Published: December 2021

This paper presents an adaptive dynamic surface control strategy based on composite adaptive method for a multi-DOF hydraulic manipulator with the unknown disturbance and uncertainties. The manipulator is driven by multiple hydraulic actuators so that the system can have the advantages of the hydraulic system such as the high-power density. Dynamic characteristics of the hydraulic system have a non-negligible impact on the performance of the manipulator. Considering the hydraulic actuator dynamics, the mathematical model of the hydraulic manipulator is derived at first. The dynamic model is high nonlinear, and has unmatched and matched disturbances and parameter uncertainties such as the mass and length of each articulated arm and the elastic modulus of hydraulic oil. Then, a composite adaptive control law is designed to estimate the uncertain parameters of the hydraulic manipulator, and a disturbance observer is explored to compensate the unknown disturbances without acceleration measurement that generally introduces the high noise into the system. Besides, the dynamic surface controller is proposed to account for the system nonlinearity and stabilize the closed-loop system. Finally, comparative experiments of the position tracking of the hydraulic manipulator are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Efficient Control of a Switched Inertance Hydraulic Converter With a Time-Varying Load
Authors: Yuan Chenggang , Plummer Andrew , Pan Min
Published: December 2021

Switched inertance hydraulic converters (SIHC) are new digital hydraulic devices which provide an alternative to conventional proportional or servo valve-controlled systems in hydraulic fluid power. SIHCs can adjust and control flow and pressure by means of using digital control signals that do not rely on throttling the flow and dissipation of power, and provide hydraulic systems with high-energy efficiency, good controllability, and insensitivity to contamination. A flow booster is one configuration of SIHCs which can deliver more flow than the supply flow. In this article, the loading effects of SIHCs are investigated by applying a time-varying load on the flow booster. A control system consisting of a PI controller and a switching frequency optimizer was designed to operate a flow booster at its optimal switching frequencies and switching ratios to maximize system efficiency when the load varies. Simulated results showed that the flow booster with the proposed controller has very good dynamic response and can be operated at an average efficiency of 70% with a time-varying load. Compared with only using a PI controller, the proposed controller can improve the overall efficiency by up to 20%. As time-varying loading conditions are commonly found in hydraulic applications, this work constitutes an important contribution to the design and development of high-efficiency SIHCs.