bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flammability and explosion characteristics of softwood dust
Authors: Przybysz Jan , Celiński Maciej , Mizera Kamila , Gloc Michał , Borucka Monika , Gajek Agnieszka
Published: September 2023

In technical terms, wood is a natural composite material with a polymer matrix, reinforced with fibres made of uniaxially oriented longitudinal cells. Due to the ease of obtaining and relatively low technological requirements related to its processing, wood is a common material used for various types of construction materials. An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the evolution of the ignition sensitivity and the explosion of three types of softwood dusts. Two of those dusts come from conifers and one from a deciduous tree. Complete fire characteristic requires several parameters describing wood dust behaviour under fire conditions including heat release rate (HRR), ignition time, or fire growth index. To determine those parameters, a cone calorimeter was used. Explosion characteristic was tested for representative wood as a dust sample in 20-L spherical vessel. Minimum ignition energy (MIE) was tested on MINOR II apparatus, which is a modified Hartman’s tube. Minimum ignition temperatures were tested with the use of layer ignition temperature apparatus and Godbert–Greenwald apparatus for minimum ignition temperature of a dust layer and dust cloud (MIT), respectively. Dust with the highest KST value, lowest MIE in the widest concentration range, and lowest MIT was pine wood dust. It also shows the shortest ignition time and a timespan between ignition and HRR peak.
Challenges of instruments that should tackle multi-hazard and multi-risk situations: an assessment of the recent reforms of the European Solidarity Fund and the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve
Authors: Hochrainer-Stigler Stefan , Zhu Qinhan , Reiter Karina , Ciullo Alessio
Published: September 2023

The European Union has some dedicated tools and mechanisms available to respond to natural hazard events including the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF). It follows the objective of granting financial assistance to Member States in the event of a major disaster with serious consequences. In the latest EU long-term budget plan—the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021–2027—the EUSF was merged with the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) to form the new Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR). One additional significant change was made in 2020 which saw an extension of the scope of the EUSF. This extension allowed the EUSF to cover losses incurred due to major public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore now a multi-hazard and multi-risk financing instrument designed to financially assist during the emergency phase in case of an emergency event. We assess the consequences of these changes in the light of potential advantages as well as disadvantages compared to the prior EUSF structure. The results will be used to provide some policy recommendations as to how to move forward with the identified challenges. We especially recommend separating the EUSF from the coverage of large-scale public health emergencies and the emergencies covered by the EAR. Instead, we suggest establishing a new flexibility instrument that covers emergencies such as public health related ones as well as the ones within the EAR. The analysis gives some important insights, scientific as well as policy wise, about advantages as well as limitations of financial instruments that simultaneously should tackle different types of hazards and risks.
Neuropsychological Deficits in Disordered Screen Use Behaviours: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Moshel Michoel L. , Warburton Wayne A. , Batchelor Jennifer , Bennett Joanne M. , Ko Katherine Y.
Published: September 2023

Over the last few decades, excessive and disordered screen use has become more prevalent, prompting investigations into its associated consequences. The extent to which disordered screen use behaviours impact neuropsychological functioning has been reportedly mixed and at times inconsistent. This review sought to synthesise the literature and estimate the magnitude of overall cognitive impairment across a wide range of disordered screen use behaviours. We also sought to determine the cognitive domains most impacted, and whether the observed impairments were moderated by the classification of screen-related behaviours (i.e., Internet or gaming) or the format of cognitive test administration (i.e., paper-and-pencil or computerised). A systematic search of databases (Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE) identified 43 cross-sectional articles that assessed neuropsychological performance in disordered screen use populations, 34 of which were included in the meta-analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis revealed significant small/medium (g = .38) cognitive deficits for individuals with disordered screen use behaviours relative to controls. The most affected cognitive domain with a significant medium effect size (g = .50) was attention and focus followed by a significant reduction in executive functioning (g = .31). The classification of disordered screen use behaviours into Internet or gaming categories or the format of cognitive testing did not moderate these deficits. Additionally, excluding disordered social media use in an exploratory analysis had little effect on the observed outcomes. This study highlights a number of methodological considerations that may have contributed to disparate findings and shows that disordered screen use can significantly impact cognitive performance. Recommendations for future research are also discussed. Data for this study can be found at https://osf.io/upeha/.
Group belief and direction of fit
Authors: Brown Jessica
Published: September 2023

We standardly attribute beliefs to both individuals and organised groups, such as governments, corporations and universities. Just as we might say that an individual believes something, for instance that oil prices are rising, so we might say that a government or corporation does. If groups are to genuinely have beliefs, then they need states with the characteristic features of beliefs. One feature standardly taken to characterise beliefs is their mind to world direction of fit: they should fit the way the world is. By contrast, desires are standardly taken to have a world to mind direction of fit: they aim for the world to be a certain way and are satisfied when the world fits them. Recently, Lackey (2021) has appealed to direction of fit to argue against certain nonsummative accounts of group belief. Here, I argue that on deeper inspection, belief’s mind to world direction of fit is difficult to accommodate on summative accounts of group belief including Lackey’s own neo-summative account. Further, I argue that direction of fit considerations in fact motivate the main non-summative approaches to belief, namely functionalism and interpretationism. Along the way, we see how addressing the issue of the direction of fit of group beliefs raises important questions about how to understand group evidence and its relationship to the evidence of members.
High-precision estimation of grass quality and quantity using UAS-based VNIR and SWIR hyperspectral cameras and machine learning
Authors: Oliveira Raquel Alves , Näsi Roope , Korhonen Panu , Mustonen Arja , Niemeläinen Oiva , Koivumäki Niko , Hakala Teemu , Suomalainen Juha , Kaivosoja Jere , Honkavaara Eija
Published: September 2023

Miniaturised hyperspectral cameras are becoming more easily accessible and smaller, enabling efficient monitoring of agricultural crops using unoccupied aerial systems (UAS). This study’s objectives were to develop and assess the performance of UAS-based hyperspectral cameras in the estimation of quantity and quality parameters of grass sward, including the fresh and dry matter yield, the nitrogen concentration (Ncont) in dry matter (DM), the digestibility of organic matter in DM (the D-value), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Next-generation hyperspectral cameras in visible-near-infrared (VNIR, 400–1000 nm; 224 bands) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR; 900–1700 nm; 224 bands) spectral ranges were used, and they were compared with commonly used RGB and VNIR multispectral cameras. The implemented machine-learning framework identified the most informative predictors of various parameters, and estimation models were then built using a random forest (RF) algorithm for each camera and its combinations. The results indicated accurate estimations; the best normalised root-mean-square errors (NRMSE) were 8.40% for the quantity parameters, and the best NRMSEs for the quality parameters were 7.44% for Ncont, 1% for D-value, 1.24% for NDF, and 12.02% for WSC. The hyperspectral datasets provided the best results, whereas the worst accuracies were obtained using the crop height model and RGB data. The integration of the VNIR and SWIR hyperspectral cameras generally provided the highest accuracies. This study showed for the first time the performance of novel SWIR range hyperspectral UAS cameras in agricultural application.
A comparative study of Chinese medicine quality of life assessment scale (CQ-11D) and EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D scales based on Chinese population
Authors: Zhou Jiameng , Xu Longchen , Pan Jie , Wang Muqing , Zhou Pingda , Wang Wei , Lu Siqi , Zhu Wentao
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To measure health-related quality of life in the Chinese population using three universal health utility scales (CQ-11D, EQ-5D-5L, and SF-6D) and to compare the differences in the results obtained by the different scales to provide a reference for future utility on health-related quality of life in the Chinese population.

Methods

According to the Chinese population's distribution area, gender, and age, quota sampling was conducted. Three scales, CQ-11D, EQ-5D-5L, and SF-6D, whose results were self-reported, were collected in succession after collecting respondents' demographic information. The health utility value and floor/ceiling effect were explained. Bland–Altman was used to evaluate the consistency, the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the discriminative validity of the scale.

Results

The mean utility values of the CQ-11D, EQ-5D-5L, and SF-6D scales, respectively, were 0.891, 0.927, and 0.841. The floor effect did not appear in any of the three scales, but the ceiling effect did, and the EQ-5D-5L ceiling effect was the most severe. The limits of the agreement interval for CQ-11D versus EQ-5D-5L in the total sample population were (-0.245,0.172); for CQ-11D versus SF-6D, they were (− 0.256,0.354); and for EQ-5D-5L versus SF-6D, they were (-0.199,0.371). The consistency of the three scales is satisfactory overall. In the total population, the intraclass correlation coefficient between CQ-11D and EQ-5D-5L was 0.709, while EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D were 0.0.565 and that between EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D was 0.472. According to the subject operation curve results, the area under the curve for the total sample population of CQ-11D was 0.746, EQ-5D-5L was 0.669, and SF-6D was 0.734.

Conclusion

The CQ-11D is inferior to the EQ-5D-5L, but superior to the SF-6D. There is a strong correlation between the health utility values of the total population as measured by the three scales and those of the healthy population. The CQ-11D scale is the most sensitive to differences between populations and diseases.
On restricted approximation measures of Jacobi’s triple product
Authors: Leinonen Leena , Leinonen Marko
Published: September 2023

We obtain rational approximations for Jacobi’s triple product $$\begin{aligned} \Pi _q(t):= \prod _{m=1}^\infty (1-q^{2m})(1+q^{2m-1}t)(1+q^{2m-1}t^{-1}), \end{aligned}$$

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Elderly vs. Working-Age Generation: Homeownership and Housing Asset Inequality in a Cross-Country Perspective
Authors: Marcinkiewicz Edyta
Published: September 2023

This study contributes to the discussion about wealth inequality, albeit from a more detailed housing perspective. It explores tenure inequality, as well as housing assets inequality. The latter includes a different approach than the one that prevails in the previous literature on wealth inequalities, which most often considers total net worth or net housing wealth. This study focuses on gross housing asset distribution, irrespective of mortgage debt, which corresponds with the potential of housing equity accumulation as a source of income in old age. It emphasises the intergenerational context, but simultaneously involves cross-country comparisons that allow for relative assessment of the intergenerational differences. Drawing from the Luxembourg Wealth Study (LWS) dataset the paper presents the results for fourteen developed countries. They suggest that the current working-age generation is to a lesser extent involved into homeownership, as compared to the older generation, which results in a smaller housing equity per household, but simultaneously it experiences greater housing inequality. Furthermore, as shown in a cross-country perspective, homeownership rates and housing asset inequality are negatively correlated. Consequently, higher housing asset inequality by lower homeownership rates are the factors that undermine the usefulness of the asset-based welfare concepts in a policy application. Such findings imply that in the macro perspective the potential of housing as a source of additional income in cash and in kind tends to shrink.
Increased bat activity at urban water sources: implications for cross-species transmission of bat rabies to mesocarnivores
Authors: Hastings Lias A. , Chambers Carol L. , Bergman David L. , Theimer Tad C.
Published: September 2023

We examined the potential for urban water sources, specifically golf course ponds, to act as centers for rabies transmission from bats to mesocarnivores in the arid southwestern United States where surface water is often limited. Because residential housing can act as den and roost sites for both mesocarnivores and bats, we also examined the effect of housing density around water sources on activity. Using ultrasonic acoustic recorders to assess bat activity and camera traps to estimate mesocarnivore activity, we compared 14 pairs of wet and dry locations over two years by surveying twice during the summer, once prior to summer monsoons and once during the monsoon season, when surface waters were more available. Number of calls for all bat species combined were greater at wet sites compared to dry sites and calls of two bat species often associated with rabies, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), were recorded more at wet sites than dry sites in the monsoon season. In both years, raccoons (Procyon lotor) were photographed more often at wet sites while striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were less likely to be detected at wet sites. Bat, fox and raccoon activity was not associated with housing density while striped skunks showed a positive correlation. Finally, we examined potential for contact between mesocarnivores and big brown bats, a species implicated in cross-species rabies transmission in our area, by combining call activity of this bat species and photo detections of mesocarnivores during individual hours of the night into a Potential Contact Index (PCI) and found no significant effect of season (pre-monsoon vs. monsoon), species, or treatment (dry versus wet) but did find a significant species by treatment interaction, with raccoon PCI 3–30 times higher at wet sites and no effect on the other two mesocarnivores’ PCI. Overall, we found higher activity of bats at urban waters could increase potential for cross-species transmission of rabies from bats to raccoons but not for gray foxes and striped skunks.
Domain-Specific Optimisations for Image Processing on FPGAs
Authors: Ali Teymoor , Bhowmik Deepayan , Nicol Robert
Published: September 2023

Image processing algorithms on FPGAs have increasingly become more pervasive in real-time vision applications. Such algorithms are computationally complex and memory intensive, which can be severely limited by available hardware resources. Optimisations are therefore necessary to achieve better performance and efficiency. We hypothesise that, unlike generic computing optimisations, domain-specific image processing optimisations can improve performance significantly. In this paper, we propose three domain-specific optimisation strategies that can be applied to many image processing algorithms. The optimisations are tested on popular image-processing algorithms and convolution neural networks on CPU/GPU/FPGA and the impact on performance, accuracy and power are measured. Experimental results show major improvements over the baseline non-optimised versions for both convolution neural networks (MobileNetV2 & ResNet50), Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and filter algorithms. Additionally, the optimised FPGA version of SIFT significantly outperformed an optimised GPU implementation when energy consumption statistics are taken into account.
Towards an understanding of the enzymatic degradation of complex plant mannan structures
Authors: Mafa Mpho Stephen , Malgas Samkelo
Published: September 2023

Plant cell walls are composed of a heterogeneous mixture of polysaccharides that require several different enzymes to degrade. These enzymes are important for a variety of biotechnological processes, from biofuel production to food processing. Several classical mannanolytic enzyme functions of glycoside hydrolases (GH), such as β-mannanase, β-mannosidase and α-galactosidase activities, are helpful for efficient mannan hydrolysis. In this light, we bring three enzymes into the model of mannan degradation that have received little or no attention. By linking their three-dimensional structures and substrate specificities, we have predicted the interactions and cooperativity of these novel enzymes with classical mannanolytic enzymes for efficient mannan hydrolysis. The novel exo-β-1,4-mannobiohydrolases are indispensable for the production of mannobiose from the terminal ends of mannans, this product being the preferred product for short-chain mannooligosaccharides (MOS)-specific β-mannosidases. Second, the side-chain cleaving enzymes, acetyl mannan esterases (AcME), remove acetyl decorations on mannan that would have hindered backbone cleaving enzymes, while the backbone cleaving enzymes liberate MOS, which are preferred substrates of the debranching and sidechain cleaving enzymes. The nonhydrolytic expansins and swollenins disrupt the crystalline regions of the biomass, improving their accessibility for AcME and GH activities. Finally, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases have also been implicated in promoting the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass or mannan degradation by classical mannanolytic enzymes, possibly by disrupting adsorbed mannan residues. Modelling effective enzymatic mannan degradation has implications for improving the saccharification of biomass for the synthesis of value-added and upcycling of lignocellulosic wastes.
Self-reported physical activity level, emotions, feelings and self-perception of older active women: is the water-based exercise a better enhancer of psychophysical condition?
Authors: Del Bianco Marco , Lovecchio Nicola , Pirazzi Agnese , Gatti Alessandro , Pellino Vittoria Carnevale , Cucco Laura , Locatelli Elisabetta , Bombardieri Federico , Bombardieri Laura , Vandoni Matteo
Published: September 2023

Background

Aquatic exercise programs can enhance health and improve functional fitness in older people, while there is limited evidence about the efficacy of aquatic-exercise programs on improving well-being and quality of life.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a supervised water fitness program on subjective well-being in older women.

Methods

The study group included 166 active older women (> 65 years), divided into water-based (WFG) and land-based (CG) training groups. They filled out 3 questionnaires to assess their amount of physical activity (IPAQ), subjective well-being (PANAS) and mental and physical health status (SF-12).

Results

Results showed that subjective well-being, physical activity level, perceived mental and physical status had higher values in the WFG compared to CG.

Conclusions

We found that older women practicing water fitness tend to have a better subjective physical and mental well-being than those who exercise in a land-based context.
FABP7 drives an inflammatory response in human astrocytes and is upregulated in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Hamilton Haylee L. , Kinscherf Noah A. , Balmer Garrett , Bresque Mariana , Salamat Shahriar M. , Vargas Marcelo R. , Pehar Mariana
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, is characterized by the accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, extracellular amyloid plaques, and neuroinflammation. In partnership with microglial cells, astrocytes are key players in the regulation of neuroinflammation. Fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) belongs to a family of conserved proteins that regulate lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, and inflammation. FABP7 expression is largely restricted to astrocytes and radial glia-like cells in the adult central nervous system. We observed that treatment of primary hippocampal astrocyte cultures with amyloid β fragment 25–35 (Aβ25–35) induces FABP7 upregulation. In addition, FABP7 expression is upregulated in the brain of APP/PS1 mice, a widely used AD mouse model. Co-immunostaining with specific astrocyte markers revealed increased FABP7 expression in astrocytes. Moreover, astrocytes surrounding amyloid plaques displayed increased FABP7 staining when compared to non-plaque-associated astrocytes. A similar result was obtained in the brain of AD patients. Whole transcriptome RNA sequencing analysis of human astrocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (i-astrocytes) overexpressing FABP7 identified 500 transcripts with at least a 2-fold change in expression. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis identified (i) positive regulation of cytokine production and (ii) inflammatory response as the top two statistically significant overrepresented biological processes. We confirmed that wild-type FABP7 overexpression induces an NF-κB-driven inflammatory response in human i-astrocytes. On the other hand, the expression of a ligand-binding impaired mutant FABP7 did not induce NF-κB activation. Together, our results suggest that the upregulation of FABP7 in astrocytes could contribute to the neuroinflammation observed in AD.
A physics-inspired machine learning approach for water-tightness estimation of defective cut-off walls with random construction errors
Authors: Tao Rui , Pan Yutao , Liu Zhongqiang , Liu Yong , Ritter Stefan
Published: September 2023

Underground cut-off walls are widely used in various geotechnical applications to hinder groundwater flow, contaminant transportation and possibly heat conduction. Cut-off walls were usually found defective due to construction errors during the installation phase, leading to significant leakages in subsequent operation phase. Existing physics-based leakage evaluation approaches, such as the finite element analysis and three-dimensional discretized algorithm, are computationally expensive and may not satisfy the need for instant on-site leakage risk assessment. In this regard, a more efficient mapping between construction errors and performance of cut-off walls is highly demanded. A natural option for such mapping is the artificial intelligence approach. Several novel physics-inspired neural network models are proposed based on the well-designed physical layers with varying complexity, to strike a balance between benefits of machine learning and physical approaches. The result shows that introducing physical layers with clearer physical meaning helps mitigating overfitting problems, improving prediction accuracy, result interpretability and model capacity, at the price of increasing the calculation efficiency during training. An optimized degree of physical meaning clarity can be achieved to strike a balance between fitting effect and training computation cost.
Early kinetics of C-reactive protein as prognosticator for survival in a real-world cohort of patients with metastatic renal cell cancer under first-line therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Schüttke Vayda , Kusiek Cathrin , Fuessel Susanne , Thomas Christian , Buerk Bjoern Thorben , Erdmann Kati
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study investigated the prognostic potential of baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and early CRP kinetics in a real-world cohort of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) under first-line (1L) therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI).

Methods/patients

Analyses were performed retrospectively in a cohort of 61 mRCC patients under CPI-based 1L therapy. Patients were stratified based on baseline CRP (< 10 vs ≥ 10 mg/l) and CRP change within the initial three months of CPI therapy (normal: baseline < 10 mg/l, normalized: baseline ≥ 10 mg/l and nadir < 10 mg/l, non-normalized: baseline and nadir ≥ 10 mg/l). Finally, the association of baseline CRP and CRP change with progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated.

Results

Baseline CRP was not significantly associated with both PFS (p = 0.666) and OS (p = 0.143). Following stratification according to early CRP kinetics, 23, 25 and 13 patients exhibited normal, normalized and non-normalized CRP levels, respectively. Patients with normal and normalized CRP had a markedly prolonged PFS (p = 0.091) and OS (p = 0.008) compared to patients with non-normalized CRP. Consequently, significantly better PFS (p = 0.031) and OS (p = 0.002) were observed for the combined normal-normalized group. In multivariate analysis including ECOG and IMDC risk, normalized CRP kinetics alone or in combination with the normal group was identified as significant independent risk factor for OS, whereas a statistical trend was observed for PFS.

Conclusions

The present study emphasizes the prognostic potential of early CRP kinetics in CPI-treated mRCC. As a standard laboratory parameter, CRP can be easily implemented into clinical routine to facilitate therapy monitoring.
Anaerobic Digestion of Hemp and Flax Straw and Shives and Rapeseed Straw by the Ruminal Microbiota
Authors: Figueiredo Aline Fernandes , Brede Melanie , Heller Jannika , Redzepovic Larissa , Illi Lukas , Weichgrebe Dirk
Published: September 2023

To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy supply security, there is an increasing effort toward the use of non-fossil energy sources. Crop residues have a great potential to be exploited as biomass for biogas production. However, due to their lignocellulosic structures they are difficult to degrade and do not reach competitive performance. A feasible option to mine these substrates is present in the forestomach of ruminants. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to use rumen microorganisms to improve anaerobic digestion (AD) of crop residues. For this purpose, hemp straw, mechanically pre-treated hemp fibers and shives, flax straw, flax shives, and aged and fresh rapeseed straw were evaluated using the rumen simulation technique. The AD of the substrates was divided into three batches. In two batches, hay was added as a control substrate. In summary, none of the analyzed substrates had an equivalent performance as the control hay, but pre-treated hemp fibers and shives had better AD parameters compared to all other alternative substrates, with the lowest pH (mean: 6.81), highest short chain fatty acid (20.0 mmol/day) and H2 production (25.6 mM) and highest degradability (25.2%). Flax straw had the second-best performance (6.81, 17.4 mmol/day, 20.6 mM and 22.2%, respectively), followed by fresh rapeseed straw, hemp straw, aged rapeseed straw and flax shives. Therefore, hemp fibers and shives demonstrated to be the most suitable substrates for AD. However, since pre-treatment can represent significant additional costs for biogas production, flax straw also demonstrated to be a good alternative.
An Algebraic Geometric Foundation for a Classification of Second-Order Superintegrable Systems in Arbitrary Dimension
Authors: Kress Jonathan , Schöbel Konrad , Vollmer Andreas
Published: September 2023

Second-order (maximally) superintegrable systems in dimensions two and three are essentially classified. With increasing dimension, however, the non-linear partial differential equations employed in current methods become unmanageable. Here we propose a new, algebraic-geometric approach to the classification problem—based on a proof that the classification space for irreducible non-degenerate second-order superintegrable systems is naturally endowed with the structure of a quasi-projective variety with a linear isometry action. On constant curvature manifolds our approach leads to a single, simple and explicit algebraic equation defining the variety classifying those superintegrable Hamiltonians that satisfy all relevant integrability conditions generically. In particular, this includes all non-degenerate superintegrable systems known to date and shows that our approach is manageable in arbitrary dimension. Our work establishes the foundations for a complete classification of second-order superintegrable systems in arbitrary dimension, derived from the geometry of the classification space, with many potential applications to related structures such as quadratic symmetry algebras and special functions.
Carbonate Chemistry and the Potential for Acidification in Georgia Coastal Marshes and the South Atlantic Bight, USA
Authors: Reimer Janet J. , Medeiros Patricia M. , Hussain Najid , Gonski Stephen F. , Xu Yuan-Yaun , Huang Ting-Hsuan , Cai Wei-Jun
Published: September 2023

In coastal regions and marginal bodies of water, the increase in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in many instances is greater than that of the open ocean due to terrestrial (river, estuarine, and wetland) influences, decreasing buffering capacity and/or increasing water temperatures. Coastal oceans receive freshwater from rivers and groundwater as well as terrestrial-derived organic matter, both of which have a direct influence on coastal carbonate chemistry. The objective of this research is to determine if coastal marshes in Georgia, USA, may be “hot-spots” for acidification due to enhanced inorganic carbon sources and if there is terrestrial influence on offshore acidification in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). The results of this study show that dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) are elevated in the marshes compared to predictions from conservative mixing of the freshwater and oceanic end-members, with accompanying pH around 7.2 to 7.6 within the marshes and aragonite saturation states (ΩAr) <1. In the marshes, there is a strong relationship between the terrestrial/estuarine-derived organic and inorganic carbon and acidification. Comparisons of pH, TA, and DIC to terrestrial organic material markers, however, show that there is little influence of terrestrial-derived organic matter on shelf acidification during this period in 2014. In addition, ΩAr increases rapidly offshore, especially in drier months (July). River stream flow during 2014 was anomalously low compared to climatological means; therefore, offshore influences from terrestrial carbon could also be decreased. The SAB shelf may not be strongly influenced by terrestrial inputs to acidification during drier than normal periods; conversely, shelf waters that are well-buffered against acidification may not play a significant role in mitigating acidification within the Georgia marshes.
Age and liver graft: a systematic review with meta-regression
Authors: Neri Ilaria , Pascale Marco Maria , Bianco Giuseppe , Frongillo Francesco , Agnes Salvatore , Giovinazzo Francesco
Published: September 2023

Increasing organ shortage results in extended criteria donors (ECD) being used to face the growing demand for liver grafts. The demographic change leads to greater use of elderly donors for liver transplantation, historically considered marginal donors. Age is still considered amongst ECD in liver transplantation as it could affect transplant outcomes. However, what is the cutoff for donor age is still unclear and debated. A search of PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library was performed. The primary outcome was 1-year graft survival (GS). The secondary outcome was overall biliary complications and 3–5 years of graft and overall survival. A meta-regression model was used to analyse the temporal trend relation in the survival outcome. The meta-analysis included 11 studies. Hazard ratios for 1-year (age cutoff of 70 and 80,) and 5-year GS (I2:0%) were similar irrespectively of the age group. The meta-regression analysis showed a significant correlation between the 1-year graft survival and the year of publication. (coef. 0.00027, 95% CI − 0.0001 to − 0.0003 p = 0.0009). Advanced-age donors showed an increased risk of overall biliary complications with an odd ratio (OR) of 1.89 (95% CI 1–3.65). Liver grafts potentially discharged because of high-risk failure show encouraging results, and GS in ECD has progressively improved with a temporal trend. Currently, the criteria of marginality vary amongst centres. Age alone cannot be considered amongst the extended criteria. First of all, because of the positive results in terms of septuagenarian graft survival. Moreover, the potential elderly donor-related adjunctive risk can be balanced by reducing other risk factors. A prospective multicentre study should investigate a multi-factorial model based on donor criteria, recipient features and new functional biomarkers to predict graft outcome, as proper donor–recipient matching seems to be the critical point for good outcomes.
Exercise in the Management of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Adults: A Position Statement from Exercise and Sport Science Australia
Authors: Keating Shelley E. , Sabag Angelo , Hallsworth Kate , Hickman Ingrid J. , Macdonald Graeme A. , Stine Jonathan G. , George Jacob , Johnson Nathan A.
Published: September 2023

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting 25% of people globally and up to 80% of people with obesity. MAFLD is characterised by fat accumulation in the liver (hepatic steatosis) with varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis. MAFLD is strongly linked with cardiometabolic disease and lifestyle-related cancers, in addition to heightened liver-related morbidity and mortality. This position statement examines evidence for exercise in the management of MAFLD and describes the role of the exercise professional in the context of the multi-disciplinary care team. The purpose of these guidelines is to equip the exercise professional with a broad understanding of the pathophysiological underpinnings of MAFLD, how it is diagnosed and managed in clinical practice, and to provide evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for exercise therapy in MAFLD management. The majority of research evidence indicates that 150–240 min per week of at least moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can reduce hepatic steatosis by ~ 2–4% (absolute reduction), but as little as 135 min/week has been shown to be effective. While emerging evidence shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) approaches may provide comparable benefit on hepatic steatosis, there does not appear to be an intensity-dependent benefit, as long as the recommended exercise volume is achieved. This dose of exercise is likely to also reduce central adiposity, increase cardiorespiratory fitness and improve cardiometabolic health, irrespective of weight loss. Resistance training should be considered in addition to, and not instead of, aerobic exercise targets. The information in this statement is relevant and appropriate for people living with the condition historically termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), regardless of terminology.
Effect of SIRT1 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in a Han Chinese population
Authors: Li J. , Yang Y. , Xia Y. , Luo S. , Lin J. , Xiao Y. , Li X. , Huang G. , Yang L. , Xie Z. , Zhou Z.
Published: September 2023

Aims

SIRT1 deficiency has been associated with diabetes, and a variant of the SIRT1 gene has been found to be involved in human autoimmune diabetes; however, it is unclear whether this genetic variation exists in Han Chinese with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and whether it contributes to development of T1D. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association of the SIRT1 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs10997866 and rs3818292 in a Han Chinese population with T1D.

Methods

This study recruited 2653 unrelated Han Chinese individuals, of whom 1289 had T1D and 1364 were healthy controls. Allelic and genotypic distributions of SIRT1 polymorphisms (rs10997866 and rs3818292) were determined by MassARRAY. Basic characteristics, genotype and allele frequencies of selected SNPs were compared between the T1D patients and healthy controls. Further genotype–phenotype association analysis of the SNPs was performed on the T1D patients divided into three groups according to genotype. Statistical analyses included the chi-square test, Mann‒Whitney U test, Kruskal‒Wallis H test and logistic regression.

Results

The allelic (G vs. A) and genotypic (GA vs. AA) distributions of SIRT1 rs10997866 were significantly different in T1D patients and healthy controls (P = 0.039, P = 0.027), and rs10997866 was associated with T1D susceptibility under dominant, overdominant and additive models (P = 0.026, P = 0.030 and P = 0.027, respectively). Moreover, genotype–phenotype association analysis showed the GG genotype of rs10997866 and the GG genotype of rs3818292 to be associated with higher titers of IA-2A (P = 0.013 and P = 0.038, respectively).

Conclusion

SIRT1 rs10997866 is significantly associated with T1D susceptibility, with the minor allele G conferring a higher risk of T1D. Moreover, SIRT1 gene rs10997866 and rs3818292 correlate with the titer of IA-2A in Han Chinese individuals with T1D.
A novel group decision-making approach based on partitioned Hamy mean operators in q-rung orthopair fuzzy context
Authors: Rawat Sukhwinder Singh , Komal  , Liu Peide , Stevic Zeljko , Senapati Tapan , Moslem Sarbast
Published: September 2023

In multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM), the attributes can be placed into independent groups based on their properties through partitioning. First, the partitioned dual Hamy mean (PDHM) operator is introduced, along with its essential properties. This operator integrates these separate groups while preserving the relationships between the attributes within each group. Furthermore, the partitioned Hamy mean (PHM) and the PDHM operators are also constructed in the generalized orthopair fuzzy environment, namely the q-rung orthopair fuzzy PHM (q-ROFPHM), the q-rung orthopair fuzzy PDHM (q-ROFPDHM), and their weighted forms. Their essential properties are verified to ensure the validity of the proposed aggregation operators (AOs). Subsequently, a new MAGDM approach is developed, employing the proposed AOs. The MAGDM problem of selecting the best person is examined. Moreover, the research includes a sensitivity analysis in three directions and a comparative analysis of the proposed MAGDM approach with five different approaches. The findings indicate that applying attribute partitioning in the proposed approach mitigates the adverse impact of irrelevant attributes, leading to more feasible and reliable outcomes. Additionally, a practical case study focuses on selecting a suitable industry for investment among the five available options. This case study demonstrates the approach’s effectiveness by considering five distinct qualities and results that make the Internet industry the best place to invest. Furthermore, a comparative analysis with four similar papers is also performed, indicating that the developed method’s results are more reliable and consistent.
Primary recognition, morality and AI
Authors: O’Hara Neil
Published: September 2023

This paper aims to show that the experience of ‘primary recognition’ (O’Hara in Moral certainty and the foundations of morality, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2018) can be extended to human AI interactions. That is, I argue that human beings can (and do) experience non-rational, reflex moral responses to AI and social robots that fit O’Hara’s description of primary recognition. I give two plausible examples, one involving a military mine-sweeping robot and the other, a toy dinosaur called a ‘Pleo’. These experiences of primary recognition do not, however, settle the question of whether any particular AI can be considered a true moral patient or a ‘person’.
History of Avalanches in the Eastern Spanish Pyrenees
Authors: Blasco Mariño Robert , Martínez Iñigo Soteras , Bacardit Montserrat , Zafren Ken , Paal Peter
Published: September 2023

Avalanches have caused injuries and deaths in mountain areas throughout history. We have examined the historical effects of avalanches on communities in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees. Surviving written records began in the year 1444 when an avalanche destroyed the village of Gessa. Many other avalanches since then have destroyed houses and other buildings and have caused injuries and deaths. In the 20th and 21st centuries, many villages evolved from agrarian areas to destinations for winter sports. The first known deaths during winter recreation likely occurred in 1930. Because of avalanche mitigation efforts, including relocating settlements, physical barriers, avalanche control measures, efforts to increase avalanche awareness, and avalanche warnings, avalanches now seldom affect inhabited areas in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees. Avalanche injuries and fatalities are now mainly limited to backcountry skiers and others traveling out of bounds near avalanche-controlled ski resorts.
Comparison of habitual physical activity in French Bulldogs, Pugs and normocephalic dogs by accelerometry
Authors: Aromaa Mimma , Putro Heikki , Lilja-Maula Liisa , Rajamäki Minna M
Published: September 2023

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a major welfare concern in flat-faced dog breeds. As BOAS causes respiratory difficulties and exercise intolerance, it can reduce dogs’ daily quality of life (QOL). However, evaluation of QOL in dogs is difficult, and many owners perceive BOAS signs as ‘normal’ for the breed. Accelerometers that measure frequency, duration and intensity of activities can offer an objective way of evaluating dogs’ daily activity and thereby deliver potential insights into QOL. The aim of this study was to assess habitual physical activity of 48 brachycephalic and 23 non-brachycephalic dogs using accelerometers. The accelerometers were used for one week and owners filled in a questionnaire regarding their dog’s well-being and activities. Veterinary-assessed BOAS grading for brachycephalic dogs was determined. Compared with controls, more severely affected French Bulldogs and Pugs had significantly lower total activity counts and spent less time in high activity. In Pugs, mildly affected dogs were also less active, but age can be a contributing factor here, as older age decreased activity in Pugs and controls showed a wider age range. In French Bulldogs, those dogs with no or mild signs of BOAS did not differ from controls regarding their daily activity. In conclusion, accelerometers were easy to use for objective measurement of daily activity in bracycephalic dogs, although a degree of discomfort due to the collar was reported. Results showed that BOAS signs were associated with decreased habitual physical activity. These findings emphasise the importance of actions taken to reduce incidence of BOAS in brachycephalic breeds.
In the Patented Bag: Peanuts, Packaging, and Intellectual Property in the United States, 1906–1932
Authors: Brown Tad
Published: September 2023

This article explores the early history of two American peanut companies: Planters and Tom’s. Both food manufacturers developed major commercial brands through the ownership of intellectual property. In this case, the sourcing of different peanut types figured into the marketing of salted peanuts. Through a legal dispute involving Tom’s patented retail bag, I examine how food packaging changed the way that peanuts were advertised, distributed, and consumed in the United States. The argument is made for an historical analysis of food brands that considers how intellectual property domains interacted with one another and with the material properties of food itself.
How Surface-Level and Deep-Level Faultlines Influence Team Performance through Subgroup Formation and Team Interaction Quality: A Meta-analytic Review
Authors: Zhang Yue , Chen Hui
Published: September 2023

This article develops a framework to test how surface-level and deep-level faultlines impact team performance through subgroup formation and team interaction quality. We test it with 96 empirical articles on team faultlines from 2002 to 2022, using meta-analytic techniques. Firstly, results suggest that subgroup formation and team interaction quality act as serial mediums through which surface-level and deep-level faultlines exert negative indirect effects on team performance. Secondly, moderator analyses reveal that increasing interaction time will mitigate the effects of surface-level faultlines but enhance the effects of deep-level faultlines. Finally, surface- and deep-level social faultlines and deep-level task faultlines are detrimental to team interaction quality, and these negative effects are mediated by subgroup formation. Surface-level task faultlines are beneficial to team interaction, and this positive effect does not work through subgroup formation.
Replacing red and processed meat with lean or fatty fish and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Norwegian women. The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (NOWAC): a prospective cohort study
Authors: Enget Jensen Torill M. , Braaten Tonje , Jacobsen Bjarne Koster , Ibsen Daniel Borch , Skeie Guri
Published: September 2023

Nordic Nutrition Recommendations recommend reducing red and processed meat and increasing fish consumption, but the impact of this replacement on mortality is understudied. This study investigated the replacement of red and processed meat with fish in relation to mortality. Of 83 304 women in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (NOWAC) study, 9420 died during a median of 21·0 years of follow-up. The hazard ratios (HR) for mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression with analyses stratified on red and processed meat intake due to non-linearity. Higher processed meat (> 30 g/d), red and processed meat (> 50 g/d), and fatty fish consumption were associated with higher mortality, while red meat and lean fish consumption were neutral or beneficial. Among women with higher processed meat intake (> 30 g/d), replacing 20 g/d with lean fish was associated with lower all-cause (HR 0·92, 95 % CI 0·89, 0·96), cancer (HR 0·92, 95 % CI 0·88, 0·97) and CVD mortality (HR 0·82, 95 % CI 0·74, 0·90), while replacing with fatty fish was associated with lower CVD mortality (HR 0·87, 95 % CI 0·77, 0·97), but not with all-cause or cancer mortality. Replacing processed meat with fish among women with lower processed meat intake (≤ 30 g/d) or replacing red meat with fish was not associated with mortality. Replacing processed meat with lean or fatty fish may lower the risk of premature deaths in Norwegian women, but only in women with high intake of processed meat. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce processed meat intake should target high consumers.