bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the potential of biodiversity offsets to achieve net gain
Authors: Souza Barbara Almeida , Rosa Josianne Claudia Sales , Campos Pedro Bueno R. , Sánchez Luis Enrique
Published: April 2023

Evaluating the outcomes and tracking the trajectory of biodiversity offsets is essential to demonstrating their effectiveness as a mechanism to conciliate development and conservation. We reviewed the literature to determine the principles that should underpin biodiversity offset planning and the criteria for offset evaluation at the project level. According to the literature, the core principles of equivalence, additionality, and permanence are used as criteria to evaluate conservation outcomes of offsets. We applied the criteria to evaluate offsets of a large iron ore mining project in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. We examined equivalence in terms of the amount of area per biodiversity value affected and fauna and flora similarity, additionality in terms of landscape connectivity, and permanence in terms of guarantees to ensure protection and restoration offsets lasting outcomes. We found an offset ratio (amount of affected area:offset area) of 1:1.8 for forests and 1:2 for grasslands. Ecological equivalence (i.e., similarity between affected and offset areas) was found for forested areas, but not for ferruginous rupestrian grasslands or for fauna. Landscape metrics showed that connectivity improved relative to the preproject situation as a result of locating restoration offsets in the largest and best‐connected forest patch. Permanence of offsets was addressed by establishing covenants and management measures, but financial guarantees to cover maintenance costs after mine closure were lacking. Offsets should be equivalent in type and size, provide conservation outcomes that would not be obtained without them (additionality), and be lasting (permanence). To monitor and evaluate offsets, it is necessary to determine how well these 3 principles are applied in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of offsets. Achieving measurable conservation outcomes from offsets is a long‐term endeavor that requires sustained management support, and is information intensive. Thus, offsets require ongoing monitoring and evaluation as well as adaptive management.
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) dyeing of cellulose acetate: An opportunity for a “greener” circular textile economy
Authors: Broadbent Peter J. , Carr Chris M. , Lewis David M. , Rigout Muriel L. , Siewers Ernst J. , Shojai Kaveh Narjes
Published: April 2023

This article compares the dyeing of cellulose diacetate (cellulose‐based) and polyester fabrics using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) and aqueous media. The benefits of dyeing in SC‐CO2 were clearly demonstrated in laboratory‐based and pilot‐scale studies in terms of increased colour strength, uniformity, fastness and the absence of auxiliaries such as dispersing agents or surfactants. In addition, the “super‐levelling” nature of the SC‐CO2 medium was demonstrated in the reprocessing of polyester “waste textile” and the re‐use of the “locked‐in waste” colourant. The SC‐CO2 processing medium can be utilised to accurately colour “multiple life” polyester and cellulose acetate uniformly and to creatively tie‐dye polyester and cellulose acetate fabrics. Through SC‐CO2 fluid technology, we can envisage a viable waterless circular manufacturing and recycling/remanufacturing framework for the predominantly polyester global fibre market coupled to the sustainably sourced, biodegradable cellulose diacetate as a replacement for cotton. The key technical and commercial advantages being the use of a single solvent dye class for both polyester and the cellulose diacetate, saving on energy costs, integrated simpler processing, reduced water usage and associated efficient recycling. Further, repositioning the cellulosic fibre industry towards using sustainable forests is attractive in terms of improved land, water and environmental management.
Effectiveness of wheeled mobility skill interventions in children and young people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Authors: Naaris Mari , Bekteshi Saranda , Aufheimer Maria , Gerling Kathrin , Hallez Hans , Ortibus Els , Konings Marco , Monbaliu Elegast
Published: April 2023

Aim

To systematically review the effectiveness of wheeled mobility interventions in children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO, PEDro, and Web of Science using database‐specific concepts such as ‘child’ and ‘wheelchair’. Studies focusing on wheeled mobility skill interventions with participants aged 6 to 21 years with CP were included.

Results

Twenty studies with 203 participants were included. The impact of wheeled mobility skill interventions was assessed on mobility skills (n = 18), activity and participation (n = 10), and quality of life (n = 3). No studies reported effects on stress, fatigue, and motivational aspects. Interventions included power wheelchair skill training (n = 12), computer‐based training (n = 5), smart wheelchair training (n = 2), and manual wheelchair training (n = 1), showing positive wheeled mobility intervention effects. Study quality based on the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized Studies scale was 9 out of 16 and 14 out of 24 for non‐comparative and comparative studies respectively. Risk of bias was serious‐to‐critical on the Risk of Bias in Non‐Randomized Studies of Interventions.

Interpretation

Wheeled mobility interventions showed promising beneficial effects on wheeled mobility, activity and participation, and quality of life for children and young people with CP. Future studies with structured and standardized training programmes and assessment tools are warranted to further accelerate the wheeled mobility skill acquisition process in this population.

What this paper adds

Wheeled mobility interventions improve wheeled mobility skills in individuals with cerebral palsy.

The mobility skill acquisition process benefits from structured and standardized training.

Knowledge of the intervention effects on participation and quality of life is limited.

Most studies had moderate quality of evidence because of methodological limitations.
Sex‐based electroclinical differences and prognostic factors in epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia
Authors: Cerulli Irelli Emanuele , Cocchi Enrico , Ramantani Georgia , Morano Alessandra , Riva Antonella , Caraballo Roberto H. , Giuliano Loretta , Yilmaz Tülay , Panagiotakaki Eleni , Operto Francesca F. , Giraldez Beatriz Gonzalez , Balestrini Simona , Silvennoinen Katri , Casciato Sara , Comajuan Marion , Fortunato Francesco , Giallonardo Anna T. , Gamirova Rimma , Coppola Antonietta , Di Gennaro Giancarlo , Labate Angelo , Sofia Vito , Kluger Gerhard J. , Gambardella Antonio , Kasteleijn‐Nolst Trenite Dorothee , Baykan Betul , Sisodiya Sanjay M. , Arzimanoglou Alexis , Striano Pasquale , Di Bonaventura Carlo ,   the EEM Study Group
Published: April 2023

Although a striking female preponderance has been consistently reported in epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (EEM), no study has specifically explored the variability of clinical presentation according to sex in this syndrome. Here, we aimed to investigate sex‐specific electroclinical differences and prognostic determinants in EEM. Data from 267 EEM patients were retrospectively analyzed by the EEM Study Group, and a dedicated multivariable logistic regression analysis was developed separately for each sex. We found that females with EEM showed a significantly higher rate of persistence of photosensitivity and eye closure sensitivity at the last visit, along with a higher prevalence of migraine with/without aura, whereas males with EEM presented a higher rate of borderline intellectual functioning/intellectual disability. In female patients, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed age at epilepsy onset, eyelid myoclonia status epilepticus, psychiatric comorbidities, and catamenial seizures as significant predictors of drug resistance. In male patients, a history of febrile seizures was the only predictor of drug resistance. Hence, our study reveals sex‐specific differences in terms of both electroclinical features and prognostic factors. Our findings support the importance of a sex‐based personalized approach in epilepsy care and research, especially in genetic generalized epilepsies.
Insecticide resistance management strategies for public health control of mosquitoes exhibiting polygenic resistance: A comparison of sequences, rotations, and mixtures
Authors: Hobbs Neil Philip , Weetman David , Hastings Ian Michael
Published: April 2023

Malaria control uses insecticides to kill Anopheles mosquitoes. Recent successes in malaria control are threatened by increasing levels of insecticide resistance (IR), requiring insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies to mitigate this problem. Field trials of IRM strategies are usually prohibitively expensive with long timeframes, and mathematical modeling is often used to evaluate alternative options. Previous IRM models in the context of malaria control assumed IR to have a simple (monogenic) basis, whereas in natural populations, IR will often be a complex polygenic trait determined by multiple genetic variants. A quantitative genetics model was developed to model IR as a polygenic trait. The model allows insecticides to be deployed as sequences (continuous deployment until a defined withdrawal threshold, termed “insecticide lifespan”, as indicated by resistance diagnosis in bioassays), rotations (periodic switching of insecticides), or full‐dose mixtures (two insecticides in one formulation). These IRM strategies were compared based on their “strategy lifespan” (capped at 500 generations). Partial rank correlation and generalized linear modeling was used to identify and quantify parameters driving the evolution of resistance. Random forest models were used to identify parameters offering predictive value for decision‐making. Deploying single insecticides as sequences or rotations usually made little overall difference to their “strategy lifespan”, though rotations displayed lower mean and peak resistances. Deploying two insecticides in a full‐dose mixture formulation was found to extend the “strategy lifespan” when compared to deploying each in sequence or rotation. This pattern was observed regardless of the level of cross resistance between the insecticides or the starting level of resistance. Statistical analysis highlighted the importance of insecticide coverage, cross resistance, heritability, and fitness costs for selecting an appropriate IRM strategy. Full‐dose mixtures appear the most promising of the strategies evaluated, with the longest “strategy lifespans”. These conclusions broadly corroborate previous results from monogenic models.
A citywide TD‐learning based intelligent traffic signal control for autonomous vehicles: Performance evaluation using SUMO
Authors: Reza Selim , Ferreira Marta Campos , Machado J. J. M. , Tavares João Manuel R. S.
Published: April 2023

An autonomous vehicle can sense its environment and operate without human involvement. Its adequate management in an intelligent transportation system could significantly reduce traffic congestion and overall travel time in a network. Adaptive traffic signal controller (ATSC) based on multi‐agent systems using state‐action‐reward‐state‐action (SARSA ()) are well‐known state‐of‐the‐art models to manage autonomous vehicles within urban areas. However, this study found inefficient weights updating mechanisms of the conventional SARSA () models. Therefore, it proposes a Gaussian function to regulate the eligibility trace vector's decay mechanism effectively. On the other hand, an efficient understanding of the state of the traffic environment is crucial for an agent to take optimal actions. The conventional models feed the state values to the agents through the MinMax normalization technique, which sometimes shows less efficiency and robustness. So, this study suggests the MaxAbs scaled state values instead of MinMax to address the problem. Furthermore, the combination of the A‐star routing algorithm and proposed model demonstrated a good increase in performance relatively to the conventional SARSA ()‐based routing algorithms. The proposed model and the baselines were implemented in a microscopic traffic simulation environment using the SUMO package over a complex real‐world‐like ‐intersections network to evaluate their performance. The results showed a reduction of the vehicle's average total waiting time and total stops by a mean value of % and % compared to the considered baselines. Also, the A‐star combined with the proposed controller outperformed the conventional approaches by increasing the vehicle's average trip speed by %.
Talking through the tough: Identifying facilitating factors to preparation for bias and racial–ethnic discrimination conversations among families from minoritized ethnic–racial groups
Authors: Coard Stephanie Irby , Kiang Lisa , Martin Romero Michelle Y. , Gonzalez Laura M. , Stein Gabriela Livas
Published: April 2023

Parent–child conversations about race‐related issues serve a protective function for minoritized families and are needed to help children of color thrive in the United States (Hughes et al., Advances in Child Development and Behavior, 51, 2016 and 1). Despite the difficulties that parents experience in having such conversations to prepare youth to cope with discrimination (Priest et al., International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 43, 2014 and 139), parents are actively engaging in these courageous conversations with the aim of protecting their youth. In order to fully understand and support parents having these conversations, our study sought to identify conversation facilitators (i.e., strategies currently being implemented and viewed as successful and/or viewed as potentially helpful) to engage in preparation for bias and racial–ethnic discrimination conversations from the perspective of parents and youth. The current qualitative study draws upon focus group data collected from parents and youth from African American, Chinese American, Mexican American, and Indian American (South Asian) families (N = 138 individuals; 30 focus groups). Reflections were transcribed and coded by a racially and ethnically diverse research team using an inductive thematic analysis approach (Braun & Clarke, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 2006 and 77). Shared and unique facilitators to engaging in preparation for bias and racial–ethnic discrimination conversations were identified across the four racial–ethnic groups. Shared facilitators broadly centered on parent–youth relationship quality, conversation characteristics, and quality, and conversation content and relevance. Unique facilitators broadly centered on communication style and needs and conversation content. Shared and unique facilitators warrant more attention to best support minoritized families. The use of findings in developing interventions to support marginalized parents, youth, and families is addressed.
Interpersonal trust, invention, and innovation across European regions
Authors: Dindaroglu Burak
Published: April 2023

Many studies in economics and regional science claim a positive link between interpersonal trust and innovation by demonstrating a positive effect of trust on patenting. This contrasts many findings from organization level studies on trust and innovation, who report a variety of findings including inverted‐U type relations. A possible explanation is that trust exhibits different roles in invention and innovation, as the former relies on knowledge commons while the latter directly embeds commercialization and the market context. This study attempts to reconcile the two set of findings by studying indicators of invention and innovation in relation to trust at the same unit of observation, by using the regional variation in Europe. I study the relationship between interpersonal trust and patent applications (a measure of invention), trademark applications (a composite indicator) and the share of innovative sales in turnover by SMEs (a direct indicator of commercialization), across European regions. I show that trust positively affects trademark applications with an effect that is comparable to that on patent applications. However, trust exhibits an inverted‐U type relationship with innovative sales. Results collectively point to a strong role of trust in all three creative activities, including a negative effect at the higher end when the indicator is directly contingent on commercialization and sales. I also estimate the extent of spatial spillovers in the effect of trust on all three creative outcomes.
Thermodynamic properties of aluminum titanate‐mullite composite ceramics containing heat stabilizer
Authors: Huang Xuehui , Yang Xinke , Wang Xuefang
Published: April 2023

Using Al2O3 and TiO2 as raw materials, adding MgO as heat stabilizer and mullite as enhancer, aluminum titanate‐mullite multiphase ceramics were successfully prepared by solid phase synthesis. The effects of MgO and mullite were systematically studied on the phase composition, microstructure, thermal stability, sintering properties, and mechanical properties of aluminum titanate ceramics. The results showed that the introduction of Mg2+ can partially replace Al3+ to form MgxAl2(1‐x)Ti(1+x)O5 solid solution, improved the thermal stability of aluminum titanate ceramics, and promoted the formation and growth of grains, which reduced the sintering temperature. The crack deflections caused by mullite particles improved the mechanical properties. The filling effect of mullite particles and the formation of silica in mullite raw materials were conducive to ceramic densification. The statistics of Mg4M10 sample were as follows: the porosity was only 2.9%, the flexural strength was as high as 64.15 MPa, and the thermal expansion coefficient was 1.35 × 10−6 K−1 (RT‐700°C), encouraging the application of ceramics with high thermal mechanical properties.
Healthcare resource use and associated costs for patients with an ileostomy experiencing peristomal skin complications
Authors: Rolls N. , de Fries Jensen L. , Mthombeni F. , Vardanega V. , Håkan‐Bloch J. , van Hest N. , Karlsmark T.
Published: April 2023

Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) have a significant impact on quality of life and ostomy treatment costs. This study aimed to assess the healthcare resource use for patients with an ileostomy and PSCs symptoms. Two surveys were developed and, after validation by healthcare professionals and patients, data were collected on healthcare resource use while not experiencing any PSCs symptoms and while experiencing complications of various severities, as defined by the modified Ostomy Skin Tool. Costs applied to resource use were assigned from relevant United Kingdom sources. Additional healthcare resource use associated with PSCs, relative to no complications, was estimated to result in a total cost per instance of £258, £383, and £505 for mild, moderate, or severe PSC, respectively. The average estimated total cost per complication instance, weighted across mild, moderate, and severe PSCs, was £349. Severe‐level PSCs were associated with the highest cost, because of the treatment‐level required and the longer duration of symptoms. There is potential for clinical benefits and economising in stoma care if interventions are implemented that reduce the incidence and/or severity of PSCs.
Recent insights into the networking of CLN genes and proteins in mammalian cells
Authors: Huber Robert J.
Published: April 2023

Ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal (CLN) genes encode 13 proteins that localize throughout the endomembrane system to regulate a variety of cellular processes. In humans, mutations in CLN genes cause a devastating form of neurodegeneration called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), commonly known as Batten disease. Each CLN gene is associated with a specific subtype of the disease that differ from each other in severity and age of onset. The NCLs affect all ages and ethnicities worldwide but primarily affect children. The pathology underlying the NCLs is poorly understood, which has prevented the development of a cure or effective therapy for most subtypes of the disease. A growing body of literature supports the networking of CLN genes and proteins within cells, which aligns with the broadly similar cellular and clinical manifestations among the different subtypes of NCL. Here, all relevant literature is reviewed to provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of how CLN genes and proteins are networked in mammalian cells with an aim toward revealing new molecular targets for therapy development. Intriguingly, CLN gene and protein networking extends beyond the NCLs as recent work has linked several CLN genes and proteins to other forms of neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Thus, a deeper understanding of the pathways and cellular processes impacted by mutations in CLN genes will not only strengthen our knowledge of the pathological mechanisms underlying the NCLs but may also provide new insight into related forms of neurodegeneration.

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Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in pregnancy: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Minervini Giuseppe , Franco Rocco , Marrapodi Maria Maddalena , Fiorillo Luca , Cervino Gabriele , Cicciù Marco
Published: April 2023

Background

Over the past few years, researchers have investigated whether varying menstrual statuses and oestrogen levels could affect the likelihood of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), with conflicting results. While some studies suggest a potential link between increased oestrogen levels and higher TMD risk, others have found no correlation. It is worth noting that oestrogen levels can impact the structure and function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In the light of these findings, our study seeks to investigate the prevalence of TMDs among pregnant women.

Methods

We searched in PubMed, Web of Science and Lilacs for articles published from the inception until 20 January 2023. We applied the Population, Exposure, Comparator and Outcomes (PECO) model to assess the document eligibility: (P) Participants: female human subjects. (E) Exposure: pregnancy. (C) Comparison: pregnant women compared to non‐pregnant women in the childbearing age. (O) Outcome: TMDs diagnosis. Only study providing data about the prevalence in both group (pregnant and non‐pregnant) were included. We set the following exclusion criteria: (1) diagnosis of rheumatic diseases or chronic inflammatory disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile, idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis); (2) diagnosis of fibromyalgia; (3) congenital abnormality or neoplastic conditions in the TMJ region; (4) studies including subjects undergoing arthrocentesis or intra‐articular infiltrations; (5) studies including local pressure pain assessment; (6) studies including women in menopause in the control group (7) cross‐over study design; (8) language different from English; (9) full‐ text unavailability (i.e. posters and conference abstracts); (10) studies involving animals; (11) review (topical or systematic) article; (12) case reports/series; (13) studies evaluating TMDs prevalence in subjects not pregnant. The software Review Manager version 5.2.8 (Cochrane Collaboration) was used to perform the pooled analysis. We measured the risk ratio (RR) between the two groups (pregnant and non‐pregnant).

Results

The included subjects in this review were 440. Among them, 244 were pregnant while the remaining 196 were age matched non‐pregnant women. Among those pregnant 102 presented sign/symptoms of TMD or TMD diagnosis (41.8%) whereas 80 of those not pregnant were diagnosed with (40.8%). The overall effect showed that there was no difference in TMD prevalence between pregnant and non‐pregnant women in childbearing age (RR 1.12; 95% CI: 0.65–1.93), suggesting that pregnant is neither a risk factor nor a protective factor for TMD.

Conclusions

Overall, we did not find an association between TMD and pregnancy, neither positive nor negative. Further studies on larger samples are needed to clarify our results.
Caffeine consumption and sleep in a submarine environment: An observational study
Authors: Chabal Sarah , Folstein Jonathan R. , Chinoy Evan D. , Markwald Rachel R. , Lieberman Harris R.
Published: April 2023

Submariners face many environmental and operational challenges to maintaining good sleep, including suboptimal lighting, shift work, and frequent interruptions. Anecdotally, many Sailors consume caffeine to alleviate the effects of poor sleep on alertness, mood, and performance; however, caffeine itself may also degrade sleep quantity and/or quality. This study provides the first exploration of the potential relationship between caffeine use and sleep onboard submarines. Objective measures (wrist actigraphy, available from 45 participants), self‐report sleep metrics, and self‐reported caffeine consumption were collected from 58 US Navy Sailors before and during a routine submarine underway at sea lasting 30 days. Contrary to expectations, less caffeine was reportedly consumed at sea (232.8 ± 241.1 mg) than on land prior to the underway (M = 284.4 ± 251.7 mg; X2(1) = 7.43, p = 0.006), positive rather than negative relationships were observed between caffeine consumption and sleep efficiency (F = 6.11, p = 0.02), and negative relationships were observed between caffeine consumption and wake after sleep onset (F = 9.36, p = 0.004) and sleep fragmentation (F = 24.73, p < 0.0001). However, in contrast, higher caffeine consumption was also negatively related to self‐reported sleep duration while at sea (F = 4.73, p = 0.03). This observational study is the first to measure relationships between caffeine consumption and sleep quantity and/or quality in a submarine environment. We propose that the unique submarine environment and the unique caffeine consumption patterns of submariners should be considered in the development of potential countermeasures for sleepiness.
Why patent waiver for Covid‐19 vaccines and pharmaceuticals?
Authors: Kumar Mrityunjay , Bharti Nalin
Published: April 2023

Patent protection emerged as one of the most challenging barriers to the access to medicines, medical equipment, and vaccines as well for the treatment and containment of Covid‐19 when it became a pandemic. The severe scarcity of vaccines and pharmaceutical products were weakening the fight against Covid‐19, and endeavor to contain the recurrence of pandemic waves while mutation of the SARS‐CoV‐2 was also on the full swing. Therefore, India and South Africa jointly proposed for patent waiver at WTO in October 2020 to effectively deal with the short‐supply of medicines, medical equipment, vaccines and high price concern related to these products. After 20 months of consultation and negotiations with major stakeholders, the WTO came up with decision on patent waiver in 12th Ministerial Conference (12th MC). The time taken to reach to the decision in the pandemic situation and the narrow scope of the decision is a serious concern for the entire world to deal effectively with Covid‐19 and its variants. This paper attempts to analyse the patent waiver in the context of the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). It discusses patent barriers, alternative measures and needs for equitable access to vaccines and pharmaceuticals amidst the pandemic. Paper applies the qualitative methodology of research mainly content analysis method in the framework of contextualisation, decontextualisation, and recontextualisation. Results show that suspending certain provisions of the TRIPS required for the production of vaccines and medicines would prove a crucial tool for economies to return to its pre‐Covid‐19 era. Paper concludes that, patent waiver can be one of the most important tool to fight the Covid‐19 (as WHO has not yet declared the end of pandemic) and will pave the way to deal with any such unknown future pandemic effectively.
Nowcasting Daily Population Displacement in Ukraine through Social Media Advertising Data
Authors: Leasure Douglas R. , Kashyap Ridhi , Rampazzo Francesco , Dooley Claire A. , Elbers Benjamin , Bondarenko Maksym , Verhagen Mark , Frey Arun , Yan Jiani , Akimova Evelina T. , Fatehkia Masoomali , Trigwell Robert , Tatem Andrew J. , Weber Ingmar , Mills Melinda C.
Published: April 2023

In times of crisis, real‐time data mapping population displacements are invaluable for targeted humanitarian response. The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, forcibly displaced millions of people from their homes including nearly 6 million refugees flowing across the border in just a few weeks, but information was scarce regarding displaced and vulnerable populations who remained inside Ukraine. We leveraged social media data from Facebook's advertising platform in combination with preconflict population data to build a real‐time monitoring system to estimate subnational population sizes every day disaggregated by age and sex. Using this approach, we estimated that 5.3 million people had been internally displaced away from their baseline administrative region in the first three weeks after the start of the conflict. Results revealed four distinct displacement patterns: large‐scale evacuations, refugee staging areas, internal areas of refuge, and irregular dynamics. While the use of social media provided one of the only quantitative estimates of internal displacement in the conflict setting in virtual real time, we conclude by acknowledging risks and challenges of these new data streams for the future.
Auxin participates in regulating the leaf curl development of Wucai (Brassica campestris L.)
Authors: Hou Jinfeng , Xu Ying , Zhang Shengnan , Yang Xiaona , Wang Shuangshuang , Hong Jie , Dong Cuina , Zhang Ping , Yuan Lingyun , Zhu Shidong , Chen Guohu , Tang Xiaoyan , Huang Xingxue , Zhang Jinlong , Wang Chenggang
Published: April 2023

Wucai (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. rosularis Tsen) belongs to the Brassica genus of the Cruciferae family, and its leaf curl is a typical feature that distinguishes Wucai from other nonheading cabbage subspecies. Our previous research found that plant hormones were involved in the development of the leaf curl in Wucai. However, the molecular mechanisms and the hormones regulating the formation of leaf curl in Wucai have not yet been reported. This study aimed to understand the molecular functions related to hormone metabolism during the formation of leaf curl in Wucai. A total of 386 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome sequencing of two different morphological parts of the same leaf of Wucai germplasm W7‐2, and 50 DEGs were found to be related to plant hormones, which were mainly involved in the auxin signal transduction pathway. Then, we measured the content of endogenous hormones in two different forms of the same leaf of Wucai germplasm W7‐2. A total of 17 hormones with differential content were identified, including auxin, cytokinins, jasmonic acids, salicylic acids, and abscisic acid. And we found that treatment with auxin transport inhibitor N‐1‐naphthylphthalamic acid can affect the leaf curl phenotype of Wucai and pak choi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. Chinensis). These results indicated that plant hormones, especially auxin, are involved in developing the leaf curl of Wucai. Our findings provide a potentially valuable reference for future research on the development of leaf curls.
A systematic review of drying in aquatic products
Authors: Zeng Junpeng , Song Yu , Cong Peixu , Cao Yunrui , Xu Jie , Xue Changhu
Published: April 2023

Drying is an essential method for the process and storage of aquatic products. With the removal of water, the occurrence of oxidation, hydrolysis and browning reaction also accompanies it. This article reviews the applications of emerging drying methods in aquatic products, emphasising high‐quality drying. In addition, it summarises the effects of the drying process on the quality of aquatic products, including appearance, nutritional components, flavour and microorganisms. Especially, non‐destructively monitoring technologies are introduced and discussed, including near‐infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance and computer vision system, which are applied to detect and predict the quality of aquatic products. A comprehensive review of recent advances in the research of the drying process of aquatic products is presented, and some perspectives are made for future research.
Fate and effects of fish farm organic waste in marine systems: Advances in understanding using biochemical approaches with implications for environmental management
Authors: Elvines Deanna M. , MacLeod Catriona K. , Ross Donald. J. , Hopkins Grant A. , White Camille A.
Published: April 2023

Particulate waste from open‐cage fish farms in marine systems can cause organic enrichment of seabed habitats and enter the food web through consumption by wild organisms, with potential for broader ecosystem changes. Effects on biogeochemistry and benthic ecology are reasonably well understood in inshore, sheltered and soft sediment systems. However, food web effects and interactions with epifauna and larger consumers is less well understood, as is the fate of these discharges in more dynamic coastal areas with complex hydrodynamic regimes. Expected expansion of the aquaculture industry globally includes farming new areas that are more environmentally dynamic and biodiverse, with potentially sensitive habitats. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine how biochemical tools can assist in identifying and managing impacts. Biochemical tools such as bulk stable isotopes and fatty acids can reliably trace the fate of fish waste in the environment and the food web, and have advanced our understanding of waste dispersal, as well as providing greater insights into biological interactions with fish wastes. This includes elucidating trophic subsidies to wild organisms, candidate species for co‐culture and waste assimilation mechanisms in native communities. Ultimately, biochemical tools can support improved environmental management, by helping to identify the zone of influence for spatial planning, providing additional ‘forensic’ evidence for farm‐related change, and by identifying potential risks to high‐value species and habitats. In this way, they can inform targeted research to link fish waste inputs meaningfully to potential ecosystem changes to better understand the consequences to support sustainable industry expansion.
Affected by and affecting forest fires in Sweden and Spain: A critical feminist analysis of vulnerability to fire
Authors: González‐Hidalgo Marien
Published: April 2023

Usually, vulnerability is equated to weakness and resistance to strength. Drawing on a feminist critique of this conceptualisation, this article aims to discuss how vulnerability to forest fires and local action are mutually and contradictorily related. I analyse the ways in which people in two rural communities surrounded by tree monocultures in Sweden and Spain think, feel and act after being exposed to acute forest fires in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Attentively listening to the experiences of vulnerability during and after the fire in the two cases helps to explain vulnerability to forest fires as an emotional, care‐related process that opens up contradictory and transformative interconnections between peoples, nature and the state. Also, looking at the two cases together, this article shows how vulnerability to fire is mediated through unequal expectations across Europe's North–South divide. By re‐signifying the implications of vulnerability, disasters such as those analysed here can be seen as facilitators of radical transformations towards new rural futures in Europe's forests.
A Phytophthora infestansRXLR effector AVR8 suppresses plant immunity by targeting a desumoylating isopeptidase DeSI2
Authors: Jiang Rui , He Qin , Song Jingyi , Liu Zeng , Yu Jian , Hu Kefan , Liu Huiming , Mu Yang , Wu Jiahui , Tian Zhendong , Song Botao , Vleeshouwers Vivianne G. A. A. , Xie Conghua , Du Juan
Published: April 2023

The potato's most devastating disease is late blight, which is caused by Phytophthora infestans. Whereas various resistance (R) genes are known, most are typically defeated by this fast‐evolving oomycete pathogen. However, the broad‐spectrum and durable R8 is a vital gene resource for potato resistance breeding. To support an educated deployment of R8, we embarked on a study on the corresponding avirulence gene Avr8. We overexpressed Avr8 by transient and stable transformation, and found that Avr8 promotes colonization of P. infestans in Nicotiana benthamiana and potato, respectively. A yeast‐two‐hybrid (Y2H) screen showed that AVR8 interacts with a desumoylating isopeptidase (StDeSI2) of potato. We overexpressed DeSI2 and found that DeSI2 positively regulates resistance to P. infestans, while silencing StDeSI2 downregulated the expression of a set of defense‐related genes. By using a specific proteasome inhibitor, we found that AVR8 destabilized StDeSI2 through the 26S proteasome and attenuated early PTI responses. Altogether, these results indicate that AVR8 manipulates desumoylation, which is a new strategy that adds to the plethora of mechanisms that Phytophthora exploits to modulate host immunity, and StDeSI2 provides a new target for durable resistance breeding against P. infestans in potato.
Comparison and localization of invariant functions on strongly pseudoconvex domains
Authors: Nikolov Nikolai
Published: April 2023

Comparison and localization results for the Lempert function, the Carathéodory distance, and their infinitesimal forms on strongly pseudoconvex domains are obtained. Related results for visible and strongly complete domains are proved.
Experimental Investigation of Control Rod Drops Into Perturbed Fuel Assemblies
Authors: Park Namgyu , Kwon Ohjoon , Yoo Youngik , Kim Taesoon
Published: April 2023

This paper discusses permanent deformation of the fuel assembly of pressurized water reactors that have to satisfy a drop time requirement of the control rod assembly. During a seismic event, the fuel assemblies and the reactor core exhibit transient vibration. When the fuel assemblies collide, they develop impact forces in the spacer grids along the fuel assemblies. If the impact forces on some spacer grids of the fuel assembly exceed an allowable strength, the buckling occurs in the corresponding spacer grids, followed by permanent deformation. The geometry change of the buckled spacer grids leads to the movement of the guide tube positions in the fuel assembly. Therefore the geometry change is associated with the distortion of the control rod drop path. In this study, the permanent deformation of the spacer grids was measured during the impact tests, and the maximum deviation of the guide tube from the original position was investigated. Control rod drop tests were also performed to measure the change in drop time according to the deformation of the fuel assembly. Using actuators in the loop test facility, the authors realized the first and second bending mode shapes of the fuel assembly under the flowing water condition. Based on a series of drop tests, the critical fuel assembly deformation was identified that could lead to a violation of an allowable drop time of the control rod.
The Role of Endwall Shape Optimization in the Design of Supersonic Turbines for Rotating Detonation Engines
Authors: Mushtaq Noraiz , Persico Giacomo , Gaetani Paolo
Published: April 2023

Rotating detonation engines (RDEs) are characterized by a thermodynamic cycle with an efficiency gain up to 15% at medium pressure ratios with respect to systems based on the conventional Joule–Bryton cycle. Multiple turbine designs can be considered, and this article deals with the supersonic inlet configuration. After having reviewed the main design steps of an exemplary RDE supersonic turbine, the article focuses on the considerable effects that endwall losses have on the performance of supersonic-inlet turbines and on the reasons why endwall contouring is strongly recommended for an efficient design. Parametric analyses, carried out by a novel in-house mean-line code validated against computational fluid dynamics (CFD), reveal that endwall friction losses contribute significantly to the overall stage loss. Endwall boundary layers also reduce the effective area, which can be critical for the self-starting capability of the supersonic channel. Therefore, a variable blade height geometry is necessary to extend the design space and guarantee a higher efficiency with respect to a constant-span configuration. The in-house CFD-based evolutionary shape optimization code was adapted to search for the optimal endwall shape for these unconventional machines. The optimal shape reduces shock losses and deviation angles and provides a significant gain in efficiency and work extraction. Finally, a novel technique is proposed to design the three-dimensional shape of the rotor based on the method of characteristics and tailored on the flow delivered by the stator.
Determining longitudinal and transverse elastic wave attenuation from zero-group-velocity Lamb waves in a pair of plates
Authors: Ryzy Martin , Veres István , Berer Thomas , Salfinger Michael , Kreuzer Susanne , Yan Guqi , Scherleitner Edgar , Grünsteidl Clemens
Published: April 2023

A method for the determination of longitudinal and transverse bulk acoustic wave attenuation from measurements of the decay-rate of two independent zero-group-velocity resonances in a couple of matched plates is presented. A linear relation is derived, which links the bulk-wave attenuation coefficients to the decay-rate of plate-resonances. The relation is used to determine the acoustic loss of tungsten at GHz frequencies from noncontact laser-ultrasonic measurements in plates with thicknesses of about 1 µm. The longitudinal and transverse attenuation was found to amount to 1918 m−1 and 7828 m−1 at 2.16 GHz and 3265 m−1 and 12181 m−1 at 2.46 GHz. The presented approach is validated with calculated responses to a thermoelastic source, and the accuracy of the obtained attenuation values is estimated to be in the range of 10%.
Variability of Spatiotemporal Gait Kinematics During Treadmill Walking: Is There a Hawthorne Effect?
Authors: Farhan Saaniya , Avalos Marco A. , Rosenblatt Noah J.
Published: April 2023

Spatiotemporal gait kinematics and their variability are commonly assessed in clinical and laboratory settings to quantify fall risk. Although the Hawthorne effect, or modifications in participant behavior due to knowledge of being observed, has the potential to impact such assessments, it has received minimal attention in the study of gait—particularly gait variability. The purpose of this study was to quantify the Hawthorne effect on variability and central tendency measures of fall-related spatiotemporal gait parameters. Seventeen healthy young adults walked on a treadmill at a self-selected velocity for 2 minutes under covert evaluation (ie, without awareness of being evaluated) and 2 minutes under overt evaluation. The movement was recorded using motion capture technology, from which we calculated mean value and step-to-step variability (using standard deviation and mean absolute deviation) of step length, step width, percent double support, percent stance phase, and stride time. Although central tendencies were unaffected by evaluation type, four-of-five measures of variability were significantly lower during overt evaluation for at least one-of-two metrics. Our results suggest a Hawthorne effect on locomotor control. Researchers should be aware of this phenomenon when designing research studies and interpreting gait assessments.
Mechanisms of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Professional National Basketball Association Players: A Video Analysis
Authors: Petway Adam J. , Jordan Matthew J. , Epsley Scott , Anloague Philip , Rimer Ernest
Published: April 2023

A systematic search was performed of online databases for any anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries within the NBA. Video was obtained of injuries occurring during competition and downloaded for 2-dimensional video analysis. Thirty-five in-game videos were obtained for analysis. Of the reviewed cases, 19% were noncontact ACL injuries where there was no player-to-player contact from an opposing player. Three injury mechanism categories were found based on the events at the point of initial ground contact of the foot of the injured limb: single-leg casting (mean dorsiflexion angle 18.9° (14.4°); mean knee flexion angle 15.6° (7.8°); and mean trunk lateral flexion 18.2° (8.4°)); bilateral hop (mean dorsiflexion angle 18.2° (15.2°), mean knee flexion angle 21° (14.5°), mean trunk extension angle 6.9° (11.4°), and landing angle from the athlete’s center of mass 47.9° (10.1°)); and single-leg landing after contact (mean abduction angle of the swing leg 105.4° (18.1°), mean knee flexion angle of the injured limb 34.2° (8.0°), and mean trunk ipsilateral flexion angle 22.2° (7.0°)).
Statistical Learning Methods to Identify Nonwear Periods From Accelerometer Data
Authors: Randhawa Sahej , Sharma Manoj , Fiterau Madalina , Banda Jorge A. , Haydel Farish , Kapphahn Kristopher , Matheson Donna , Moore Hyatt , Ball Robyn L. , Kushida Clete , Delp Scott , Wall Dennis P. , Robinson Thomas , Desai Manisha
Published: April 2023

Background: Accelerometers are used to objectively measure movement in free-living individuals. Distinguishing nonwear from sleep and sedentary behavior is important to derive accurate measures of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. We applied statistical learning approaches to examine their promise in detecting nonwear time and compared the results with commonly used wear time (WT) algorithms. Methods: Fifteen children, aged 4–17, wore an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT monitor on their hip during overnight polysomnography. We applied Hidden Markov Models (HMM) and Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) to classify states of nonwear and wear in triaxial acceleration data. Performance of methods was compared with WT algorithms across two conditions with differing amounts of consecutive nonwear. Clinical scoring of polysomnography served as the gold standard. Results: When the length of nonwear was less than or equal to WT algorithms’ predefined thresholds for consecutive nonwear time, GMM methods yielded improved classification error, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value over commonly used algorithms. HMM was superior to one algorithm for sensitivity and negative predictive value. When the length of nonwear was longer, results were mixed, with the commonly used algorithms performing better on some parameters but GMM with the greatest specificity. However, all approached the upper limits of performance for almost all metrics. Conclusions: GMM and HMM demonstrated robust, consistently strong performance across multiple conditions, surpassing or remaining competitive with commonly used WT algorithms which had marked inaccuracy when nonwear time periods were shorter. Of the two statistical learning algorithms, GMM was superior to HMM.