bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformative Emergence: Research Challenges for Enabling Social-ecological Tipping Points Toward Regional Sustainability Transformations
Authors: Tàbara J. David , Mangalagiu Diana , Frantal Bohumil , Mey Franziska , Maier Raphaela , Lilliestam Johan , Sarrica Mauro , Mandel Antoine , Lieu Jenny , Cottone Paolo , Veland Siri , Martínez-Reyes Amanda
Published: March 2024

A crucial task to accelerate global decarbonisation is to understand how to enable fast, equitable, low-carbon transformations in Coal and Carbon Intensive Regions (CCIRs). In this early literature review we underlined the relevance of the boundary concept of social-ecological tipping points (SETPs) and showed that the research and policy usage of SETPs applied to accelerate structural regional sustainability transformations faces three key challenges: (I) integrating theoretical and empirical contributions from diverse social and ecological sciences, together with complexity theory (II) designing open transdisciplinary assessment processes able to represent multiple qualities of systemic change and enable regionally situated transformative capacities, and (III) moving away from one-directional metaphors of social change, or static or homogeneous conceptions of individual agency and single equilibrium in energy transitions; and instead, focus on understanding the conditions and capacities for the emergence of systemic transformations and regenerative processes across multiple levels and forms of agency. We refer to these complex and place-situated processes as learning to enable regional transformative emergence.
Artificial-intelligence-enabled dynamic demand response system for maximizing the use of renewable electricity in production processes
Authors: Wicaksono Hendro , Trat Martin , Bashyal Atit , Boroukhian Tina , Felder Mine , Ahrens Mischa , Bender Janek , Groß Sebastian , Steiner Daniel , July Christoph , Dorus Christoph , Zoerner Thorsten
Published: March 2024

The transition towards renewable electricity provides opportunities for manufacturing companies to save electricity costs through participating in demand response programs. End-to-end implementation of demand response systems focusing on manufacturing power consumers is still challenging due to multiple stakeholders and subsystems that generate a heterogeneous and large amount of data. This work develops an approach utilizing artificial intelligence for a demand response system that optimizes industrial consumers’ and prosumers’ production-related electricity costs according to time-variable electricity tariffs. It also proposes a semantic middleware architecture that utilizes an ontology as the semantic integration model for handling heterogeneous data models between the system’s modules. This paper reports on developing and evaluating multiple machine learning models for power generation forecasting and load prediction, and also mixed-integer linear programming as well as reinforcement learning for production optimization considering dynamic electricity pricing represented as Green Electricity Index (GEI). The experiments show that the hybrid auto-regressive long-short-term-memory model performs best for solar and convolutional neural networks for wind power generation forecasting. Random forest, k-nearest neighbors, ridge, and gradient-boosting regression models perform best in load prediction in the considered use cases. Furthermore, this research found that the reinforcement-learning-based approach can provide generic and scalable solutions for complex and dynamic production environments. Additionally, this paper presents the validation of the developed system in the German industrial environment, involving a utility company and two small to medium-sized manufacturing companies. It shows that the developed system benefits the manufacturing company that implements fine-grained process scheduling most due to its flexible rescheduling capacities.
Confinement tonicity on epidemic spreading
Authors: Almocera Alexis Erich S. , González Alejandro H. , Hernandez-Vargas Esteban A.
Published: March 2024

Emerging and re-emerging pathogens are latent threats in our society with the risk of killing millions of people worldwide, without forgetting the severe economic and educational backlogs. From COVID-19, we learned that self isolation and quarantine restrictions (confinement) were the main way of protection till availability of vaccines. However, abrupt lifting of social confinement would result in new waves of new infection cases and high death tolls. Here, inspired by how an extracellular solution can make water move into or out of a cell through osmosis, we define confinement tonicity. This can serve as a standalone measurement for the net direction and magnitude of flows between the confined and deconfined susceptible compartments. Numerical results offer insights on the effects of easing quarantine restrictions.
Comparing major and mild cognitive impairment risks in older type-2 diabetic patients: a Danish register-based study on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors vs. glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues
Authors: Battini Vera , Barbieri Maria Antonietta , Carnovale Carla , Spina Edoardo , Clementi Emilio , Sessa Maurizio
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The prevalence of major and mild cognitive impairment (CI) in type-2 diabetes older patients is 15–25% and 30–60%, respectively, thus affecting quality of life and health outcomes. There is, therefore, the need of head-to-head studies aiming at identifying the optimal treatment for individuals with type-2 diabetes at increased risk of mild and major CI. This study focuses on the risk of developing mild and major CI in Danish patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues (GLP-1a) using administrative and healthcare registers.

Methods

An active comparator design with a 3-year follow-up period was used. The main outcome was the hospital admission with a diagnosis of mild CI or major CI. Multivariate Cox Regression analysis was performed using the high-dimensional propensity score to obtain adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) estimates. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and marginal structured model were used to calculate risk differences while accounting for the variations of confounders throughout the follow-up period.

Results

Our results show a significant higher risk of major CI between DPP-4i and GLP-1a in unadjusted [HR (95% CI) = 3.13 (2.45–4.00), p < 0.001] and adjusted analyses [HR (95% CI) = 1.58 (1.22–2.06), p = 0.001]. No statistically significant differences were observed for mild CI. IPTW resulted stable throughout the follow-up period. Marginal structure modeling (β (95% CI) = 0.022 (0.020–0.024), p < 0.001) resulted in a higher risk of major CI for DPP-4i when compared to GLP-1a.

Discussion

DPP-4i was associated with an increased risk of developing major CI when compared to GLP-1a among older individuals with type-2 diabetes.
An overload of missense variants in the OTOG gene may drive a higher prevalence of familial Meniere disease in the European population
Authors: Parra-Perez Alberto M. , Gallego-Martinez Alvaro , Lopez-Escamez Jose A.
Published: March 2024

Meniere disease is a complex inner ear disorder with significant familial aggregation. A differential prevalence of familial MD (FMD) has been reported, being 9–10% in Europeans compared to 6% in East Asians. A broad genetic heterogeneity in FMD has been described, OTOG being the most common mutated gene, with a compound heterozygous recessive inheritance. We hypothesize that an OTOG-related founder effect may explain the higher prevalence of FMD in the European population. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the allele frequency (AF) and distribution of OTOG rare variants across different populations. For this purpose, the coding regions with high constraint (low density of rare variants) were retrieved in the OTOG coding sequence in Non-Finnish European (NFE).. Missense variants (AF < 0.01) were selected from a 100 FMD patient cohort, and their population AF was annotated using gnomAD v2.1. A linkage analysis was performed, and odds ratios were calculated to compare AF between NFE and other populations. Thirteen rare missense variants were observed in 13 FMD patients, with 2 variants (rs61978648 and rs61736002) shared by 5 individuals and another variant (rs117315845) shared by two individuals. The results confirm the observed enrichment of OTOG rare missense variants in FMD. Furthermore, eight variants were enriched in the NFE population, and six of them were in constrained regions. Structural modeling predicts five missense variants that could alter the otogelin stability. We conclude that several variants reported in FMD are in constraint regions, and they may have a founder effect and explain the burden of FMD in the European population.
A decade of neonatal sepsis in Stockholm, Sweden: Gram-positive pathogens were four times as common as Gram-negatives
Authors: Oldendorff Frida , Nordberg Viveka , Giske Christian G , Navér Lars
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To assess Gram-positive bacterial (GPB) bloodstream infection (BSI) in neonates, covering incidence, morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance patterns and biomarkers in Region Stockholm, Sweden between 2006 and 2016.

Methods

A population-based retrospective epidemiological study including infants with GPB-BSI, admitted to the neonatal units at Karolinska University Hospital (KUH). Data were collected from patient records, the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register, the microbiological laboratory at KUH and the Swedish Public Health Agency.

Results

We identified 357 infants with GPB-BSI, representing an incidence of 1.47/1000 live births (LB). Group B streptococcus (GBS) was the most common pathogen causing BSI in full-term infants and early-onset sepsis (EOS) (0.20/1000 LB), while coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were predominant in infants born very preterm and in late-onset sepsis (LOS) (0.79/1000 LB). There were no fatal GBS BSI cases, but 10.2% developed meningitis. The GPB case fatality rate was 9.5% and the sepsis fatality rate 2.8%. In GPB-BSI, 1/10 did not have an elevated C-reactive protein level. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) BSI increased during the study period, but no methicillin or vancomycin resistant strains were found. The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rate was highest in CoNS isolates.

Conclusion

GPB-BSI was four times more common than Gram-negative BSI in neonates but resulted in lower mortality rate. GBS was the most common pathogen in full-term infants and in EOS. CoNS was the most common pathogen in LOS and infants born very preterm, and the AMR rate was high in these isolates. The increasing trend of S. aureus BSI indicates a need of further investigation.
Diurnal temperature fluctuations improve predictions of developmental rates in the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus
Authors: Hofmann Sven , Schebeck Martin , Kautz Markus
Published: March 2024

The European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is a widespread pest in Norway spruce-dominated forests in Eurasia. Predicting its phenology and voltinism is crucial to plan forest management measures and to mitigate mass outbreaks. Current phenology models are based on constant temperatures inferred from laboratory experiments; however, insect life cycles under natural conditions are rather driven by diurnal and seasonal temperature fluctuations. Therefore, phenology models based on fluctuating temperatures would reflect field conditions more realistically and might thus improve model predictions. In a laboratory experiment, we investigated the development of I. typographus, applying mean temperatures between 3 and 35 °C and diurnal temperature oscillations of up to ± 15 °C. Subsequently, we calibrated developmental rate models and applied them to climate data, in order to assess the effect of temperature fluctuations on voltinism under field conditions. Our results showed that diurnal temperature oscillations significantly affected developmental rates. Compared to constant temperatures, development was faster at temperature oscillations falling below the lower developmental threshold, and slower at temperature oscillations exceeding the developmental optimum. Furthermore, short exposures to suboptimal temperatures affected I. typographus less than expected from constant conditions. Natural temperature fluctuations thus accelerate development under cool, shaded conditions, whilst slowing it under hot, sun-exposed conditions, thereby ultimately affecting voltinism. Our findings highlight the importance to account for diurnal temperature fluctuations for more accurate predictions of developmental rates of I. typographus in natural thermal environments, and provide the fundament for improving current phenology models to support effective bark beetle management in a warming climate.
Plane Stress Problems for Isotropic Incompressible Hyperelastic Materials
Authors: Horgan C. O. , Murphy J. G.
Published: March 2024

The analysis of plane stress problems has long been a topic of interest in linear elasticity. The corresponding problem for non-linearly elastic materials is considered here within the context of homogeneous incompressible isotropic elasticity. It is shown that when the problem is posed in terms of the Cauchy stress, a semi-inverse approach must be employed to obtain the displacement of a typical particle. If however the general plane stress problem is formulated in terms of the Piola-Kirchhoff stress, the deformation of a particle requires the solution of a non-linear partial differential equation for both simple tension and simple shear, the trivial solution of which yields a homogeneous deformation. It is also shown that the general plane stress problem can be solved for the special case of the neo-Hookean material.
Probabilistic Transport-Induced Emissions and Health Risks for Adelaide, South Australia
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Rahman Md. Mizanur
Published: March 2024

The research aims to assess the risks associated with the transport-induced emissions (major criteria pollutants) in Adelaide, South Australia. A stochastic emission modelling strategy was implemented for a probabilistic risk assessment of the transport system for current and future scenarios, by analysing the road specific transport system data. The simulated result suggests that NOx and PM2.5 risks are significant at about 35% of city areas, especially along the roads with heavy vehicle concentration and higher traffic. The risk will significantly increase in 10 years if the current practice persists, demonstrating a high probability (more than 60%) of emissions above 150% of the air quality standard. The research suggests that appropriate planning is necessary to cope with the development needs for the system’s future sustainability.
The Dynamic Influence of Personality on Psychological Contract Evaluations: a 2-Study Investigation of Approach/Avoidance Goals and Emotion Regulation Strategies
Authors: Griep Yannick , Hansen Samantha D. , Kraak Johannes M.
Published: March 2024

Consistent with recent developments, we question the validity of trait neuroticism (N) and conscientiousness (C) as antecedents of psychological contract breach (PCB) and violation feelings. We investigate how key mediating (i.e., approach/avoidance goals) and moderating (i.e., emotion regulation strategies) mechanisms of the personality-PCB relationship operate over time. In Study 1 (550 observations), state N or C was associated positively with PCB and state N was associated positively with violation feelings. In study 2 (394 observations), state N was positively related to momentary avoidance goals, which in turn were related negatively to PCB and related positively to violation feelings. Moreover, suppression moderated the latter relationship; as suppression increased, the relationship between avoidance goals and violation feelings grew stronger. In contrast, state C was related positively to approach goals, which in turn were related positively to PCB and negatively to violation feelings. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
Effects of slight ski boot weight variations on ski mountaineering energy cost and mechanical work at race intensity
Authors: Bortolan Lorenzo , Savoldelli Aldo , Fornasiero Alessandro , Nanni Sofia , Gazzi Laura , Decet Marco , Zoppirolli Chiara , Schena Federico , Pellegrini Barbara
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Uphill ski mountaineering performance appears to be related to metabolic cost of locomotion and skiers’ weight. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of slight variations in equipment weight on metabolic and mechanical work (MW) of ski mountaineering, at race pace.

Methods

Thirteen male ski mountaineers were asked to ski on a treadmill at 25% slope and 80% of their maximal aerobic speed. They completed four 5-min bouts with additional weights of 0 kg (control), 0.2 kg, 0.4 kg, and 0.6 kg added to each ski boot in a blind mode and random order. Ski mountaineering energy cost (EC) was determined by gas exchange measurements, while MW was determined from the changes in the mechanical energy of body centre of mass (COM), body segments and equipment.

Results

EC and total MW were significantly (all p < 0.001) and largely (η2 = 0.712 and η2 = 0.704, respectively) increased for every 0.2 kg of mass added, by around 2% and 1%, respectively. The increase in the MW was related to a significant increase in the work needed to lift the weight against gravity and to the increased work done to move the segments of the lower body with respect to COM.

Conclusion

The present investigation shows that even small increments in racing gear weight are associated with an increase in ski mountaineering EC, possibly leading to a consequent decreased performance on uphill terrains.
Analyzing the nexus between environmental sustainability and clean energy for the USA
Authors: Dogan Eyup , Mohammed Kamel Si , Khan Zeeshan , Binsaeed Rima H.
Published: March 2024

Environmental sustainability is a key target to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, achieving these targets needs tools to pave the way for achieving SDGs and COP28 targets. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study is to examine the significance of clean energy, research and development spending, technological innovation, income, and human capital in achieving environmental sustainability in the USA from 1990 to 2022. The study employed time series econometric methods to estimate the empirical results. The study confirmed the long-run cointegrating relationship among CO2 emissions, human capital, income, R&D, technological innovation, and clean energy. The results are statistically significant in the short run except for R&D expenditures. In the long run, the study found that income and human capital contribute to further aggravating the environment via increasing CO2 emissions. However, R&D expenditures, technological innovation, and clean energy help to promote environmental sustainability by limiting carbon emissions. The study recommends investment in technological innovation, clean energy, and increasing R&D expenditures to achieve environmental sustainability in the USA.
The effect of anaerobic digestate as an organic soil fertilizer on the diversity and structure of the indigenous soil microbial and nematode communities
Authors: Nikolaidou Charitini , Mola Magkdi , Papakostas Spiros , Aschonitis Vassilis G. , Monokrousos Nikolaos , Kougias Panagiotis G.
Published: March 2024

Anaerobic digestate is a popular soil additive which can promote sustainability and transition toward a circular economy. This study addresses how anaerobic digestate modifies soil health when combined with a common chemical fertilizer. Attention was given to soil microbes and, a neglected but of paramount importance soil taxonomic group, soil nematodes. A mesocosm experiment was set up in order to assess the soil’s microbial and nematode community. The results demonstrated that the microbial diversity was not affected by the different fertilization regimes, although species richness increased after digestate and mixed fertilization. The composition and abundance of nematode community did not respond to any treatment. Mixed fertilization notably increased potassium (K) and boron (B) levels, while nitrate (NO3−) levels were uniformly elevated across fertilized soils, despite variations in nitrogen input. Network analysis revealed that chemical fertilization led to a densely interconnected network with mainly mutualistic relationships which could cause ecosystem disruption, while digestate application formed a more complex community based on bacterial interactions. However, the combination of both orchestrated a more balanced and less complex community structure, which is more resilient to random disturbances, but on the downside, it is more likely to collapse under targeted perturbations.
Bioaugmentation and vermicompost facilitated the hydrocarbon bioremediation: scaling up from lab to field for petroleum-contaminated soils
Authors: Curiel-Alegre Sandra , Khan Aqib Hassan Ali , Rad Carlos , Velasco-Arroyo Blanca , Rumbo Carlos , Rivilla Rafael , Durán David , Redondo-Nieto Miguel , Borràs Eduard , Molognoni Daniele , Martín-Castellote Soledad , Juez Blanca , Barros Rocío
Published: March 2024

The biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil is very challenging due to the complex recalcitrant nature of hydrocarbon, hydrophobicity, indigenous microbial adaptation and competition, and harsh environmental conditions. This work further confirmed that limited natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) (15% removal) necessitates efficient bioremediation strategies. Hence, a scaling-up experiment for testing and optimizing the use of biopiles for bioremediation of TPH polluted soils was conducted with three 500-kg pilots of polluted soil, and respective treatments were implemented: including control soil (CT), bioaugmentation and vermicompost treatment (BAVC), and a combined application of BAVC along with bioelectrochemical snorkels (BESBAVC), all maintained at 40% field capacity. This study identified that at pilot scale level, a successful application of BAVC treatment can achieve 90.3% TPH removal after 90 days. BAVC’s effectiveness stemmed from synergistic mechanisms. Introduced microbial consortia were capable of TPH degradation, while vermicompost provided essential nutrients, enhanced aeration, and, potentially, acted as a biosorbent. Hence, it can be concluded that the combined application of BAVC significantly enhances TPH removal compared to natural attenuation. While the combined application of a bioelectrochemical snorkel (BES) with BAVC also showed a significant TPH removal, it did not differ statistically from the individual application of BAVC, under applied conditions. Further research is needed to optimize BES integration with BAVC for broader applicability. This study demonstrates BAVC as a scalable and mechanistically sound approach for TPH bioremediation in soil.
Sexual health behaviours and partner notification practices related to sexually transmitted infections in young adults in Ireland
Authors: Nearchou Finiki , Flinn Clodagh , Mc Laughlin Diarmuid , Niland Rachel
Published: March 2024

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) impose burdens on individuals and communities, while their prevalence in young people has risen continually in recent years. Partner notification is an effective public health strategy which can limit STI transmission.

Aims

This study aimed to explore young adults’ sexual health behaviours, attitudes toward STI testing, and feelings toward visiting a sexual health clinic. It also aimed to investigate preferences for partner notification and the role of self-efficacy in people’s intentions to notify a partner for STIs including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods

A quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied. Participants were 400 adults aged 18–34 years (M = 23 years; SD = 4.27), recruited from the Republic of Ireland.

Results

Over half of the participants reported never being tested for STIs. These young people placed less importance on undergoing regular STI testing and testing after unprotected sex than their counterparts who had been tested for STIs. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with intentions to notify partner(s) for STIs including HIV.

Conclusions

As STIs are becoming increasingly prevalent in young adults, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the interventions used to break the transmission chain and how different beliefs and attitudes may affect them. Self-efficacy was a key component in PN intentions, suggesting that the belief in someone’s ability or skillset to perform a sexual health behaviour is positively related to their intention to perform the behaviour.
Late orbital radiotherapy combined with intravenous methylprednisolone in the management of long-lasting active graves’ orbitopathy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Verrienti Martina , Gagliardi Irene , Valente Luisa , Stefanelli Antonio , Borgatti Luca , Franco Elena , Galiè Manlio , Bondanelli Marta , Zatelli Maria Chiara , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To present a case and review the literature on Orbital Radiotherapy (OR) combined with intravenous methylprednisolone, focusing on its late application in patients with long-lasting active Graves’ Orbitopathy (GO). Additionally, we suggest emerging perspective for future research in this context.

Method

Relevant literature (randomized controlled studies, retrospective studies and reviews) was explored on PubMed from January 1973 to January 2024, searching “orbital radiotherapy” & “Graves disease”.

Results

OR is a well-established second-line treatment for moderate-to-severe active GO, providing response rates comparable to glucocorticoids. Its anti-inflammatory effect makes OR particularly suitable for early active GO, and when combined with glucocorticoids, outcomes are synergistically improved. The emergence of the new Volumetric Modulated Arc Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (VMAT-IGRT) technique enables precise radiation delivery to the target, significantly reducing associated toxicity. This technological advancement enhances the feasibility of radiotherapy in benign diseases like GO. A retrospective study indicated that late OR in patients with long-lasting active GO may improve diplopia and visual acuity, decreasing disease activity. Our case report supports this conclusion.

Conclusions

This report and literature review underscores the importance of considering late OR combined with intravenous methylprednisolone as a viable treatment option for GO patients with prolonged disease activity, emphasizing the crucial role of personalized therapy in managing GO. However, further investigations are warranted to validate this approach in cases of long-lasting active GO.
Acute Administration of HIV-1 Tat Protein Drives Glutamatergic Alterations in a Rodent Model of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Authors: Duffy Brenna C. , King Kirsten M. , Nepal Binod , Nonnemacher Michael R. , Kortagere Sandhya
Published: March 2024

HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a major comorbidity of HIV-1 infection, marked by impairment of executive function varying in severity. HAND affects nearly half of people living with HIV (PLWH), with mild forms predominating since the use of anti-retroviral therapies (ART). The HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein is found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients adherent to ART, and its administration or expression in animals causes cognitive symptoms. Studies of Tat interaction with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) suggest that glutamate toxicity contributes to Tat-induced impairments. To identify changes in regional glutamatergic circuitry underlying cognitive impairment, we injected recombinant Tat86 or saline to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats were assessed with behavioral tasks that involve intact functioning of mPFC including the novel object recognition (NOR), spatial object recognition (SOR), and temporal order (TO) tasks at 1 and 2 postoperative weeks. Following testing, mPFC tissue was collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Results showed Tat86 in mPFC-induced impairment in SOR, and upregulation of Grin1 and Grin2a transcripts. To further understand the mechanism of Tat toxicity, we assessed the effects of full-length Tat101 on gene expression in mPFC by RNA sequencing. The results of RNAseq suggest that glutamatergic effects of Tat86 are maintained with Tat101, as Grin2a was upregulated in Tat101-injected tissue, among other differentially expressed genes. Spatial learning and memory impairment and Grin2a upregulation suggest that exposure to Tat protein drives adaptation in mPFC, altering the function of circuitry supporting spatial learning and memory.
Global Diversity and Distribution of Rhizosphere and Root-Associated Fungi in Coastal Wetlands: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lumibao Candice Y. , Harris Georgia , Birnbaum Christina
Published: March 2024

Coastal wetlands have been long recognized for their importance to biodiversity and many biogeochemical processes including carbon sequestration; however, our understanding of plant-microbe interactions that govern many processes in these ecosystems remains elusive. Fungal communities are known to play critical roles in coastal wetlands, particularly due to their close relationships with plants, yet, systematic understanding of their distributional patterns and the factors shaping these patterns in natural coastal wetland environments has been rarely assessed. We synthesized existing published literature from fifty-one studies spanning 60 years to examine global fungal distributional patterns in coastal wetlands, draw linkages between fungi, the plant communities, and their environment, and identify gaps in fungal research and suggest future research directions. We focused on studies that reported root-associated fungi and fungi from the plant rhizosphere (i.e., soil surrounding roots) in coastal dunes, intertidal flats, salt marshes, and tidal wetlands. Our synthesis has revealed that (1) 203 fungal species were reported from salt marshes, 59 fungal species from coastal dunes, 32 from tidal wetlands, and ten from intertidal flats; (2) rhizosphere fungal communities were more species-rich and reported more often for all ecosystems except in salt marshes; and (3) nineteen different fungal guilds, which are predominantly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We conclude that more research is needed to better understand root-associated fungal diversity in less studied ecosystems reviewed here. We have identified knowledge gaps in reported data and outlined suggestions to facilitate future plant-fungal research in these declining, but important, coastal ecosystems.
Patient Preferences for Lifestyle Management in a Multi-site Randomized Lifestyle Trial for Remission of the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Iannuzzelli Katherine , Suzuki Sumihiro , Karavolos Kelly , Powell Lynda H.
Published: March 2024

Background

Randomized behavioral clinical trials are the gold standard for evaluating efficacy of a behavioral treatment. However, because participants are generally unblinded to treatment, preference for a specific treatment option can lead to biased results and/or reduced treatment efficacy. The purpose was to describe the relative frequency and correlates of existence of a preference and patient preference for either an in-person group-based or a remote self-directed, lifestyle treatment prior to randomization to one of these treatments.

Methods

The Enhanced Lifestyles for Metabolic Syndrome (ELM) trial is a multi-site behavioral clinical trial that compares efficacy of a group-based vs. a self-directed approach to lifestyle change on 2-year remission of the metabolic syndrome. Prior to randomization, participants were asked whether they had a preference for a particular treatment and, if so, which approach they preferred. Baseline data were used for a series of logistic regression models to determine behavioral correlates of treatment preference, independent of socioeconomic factors.

Results

Of the 331 participants, 131 (39.6%) had no preference for either treatment. Among the 200 with a preference, 56 (28.0%) preferred the self-directed program. Strength of a pre-existing habit of eating vegetables on most days was an independent correlate of no preference (adjusted OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01–1.61; p = 0.03) and preference for a self-directed program (adjusted OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.09–2.22; p = 0.01).

Conclusion

A pre-existing habit of eating vegetables was associated with no preference and preference for a less intensive lifestyle treatment. Post-treatment follow-up of the trial results will determine if concordance between preference and treatment assignment influences outcomes.
Successful DNA amplification of DNA from non-destructive buccal swabbing in Vespertilionid and Rhinolophid bats
Authors: Hughes Morgan , Brown Scott K , Martin Rémi , Young Christopher H , Maddock Simon
Published: March 2024

Acquiring DNA from wild bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) is typically undertaken utilizing highly invasive (but non-lethal) sampling techniques comprising wing biopsies and occasional blood samples. While non-invasive sampling is possible through the extraction of DNA from faecal samples, it is not always possible to acquire samples from individual bats whilst conducting fieldwork, and as such, this method is primarily applicable to roost occupancy identification. Similarly, wing swabbing is liable to cross-contamination from roost mates. Here we present the first use of oral (buccal) swabbing for successful, species-resolution DNA sequencing of Vespertilionidae and Rhinolophidae in 10 bat species (nine Vespertilionidae and one Rhinolophidae) from the UK.
Surgical Treatment of Adenomyosis
Authors: Bischiniotis Stavros , Mikos Themistoklis , Grimbizis Grigoris F.
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Adenomyosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium. The aim of the review is to describe contemporary surgical approaches for adenomyosis.

Recent Findings

Hysterectomy has been standard practice for the treatment of adenomyosis for many years. However, uterine-sparing interventions have emerged recently allowing patients to retain or even enhance their fertility. If there is no wish for further fertility and no desire for uterine preservation, hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic adenomyosis. Otherwise, the objectives of surgery are (a) to remove most (ideally the whole) of the adenomyotic tissue, (b) to preserve the integrity of the endometrial cavity, (c) to reconstruct the uterus, and (d) to preserve the functionality of the ovaries and the tubes. The following surgical methods have been proposed for uterus-sparing treatment of adenomyosis: classical excision of adenomyotic tissue after a single incision of the uterus, wedge resection, double- or triple-flap method, transverse H incision, and the PUSH technique. Post-operative clinical outcomes are in favor of fertility-sparing surgery of adenomyosis. The reduction of dysmenorrhea after uterus-sparing surgery for adenomyosis ranges from 54.6 to 84.6%. The reduction of menorrhagia ranges from 50.0 to 73.7%. The total delivery rate in patients who have undergone any uterus-sparing surgery for adenomyosis is 46.9%.

In conclusion, hysterectomy has traditionally been the primary treatment for adenomyosis in women. However, contemporary medicine offers several excisional and non-excisional techniques for patients who wish to preserve their fertility.
Lucrezia Marinella
Authors: Deslauriers Marguerite
Published: March 2024

Lucrezia Marinella's (1571–1653) most important contributions to philosophy were two polemical treatises: The Nobility and excellence of Women, and the Defects and Vices of Men, and the Exhortations to Women and to Others if They Please. Marinella argues for the superiority of women over men in every respect: psychologically, physiologically, morally, and intellectually. She is particularly effective in using the resources of ancient philosophy to support her various arguments, in which she draws conclusions about the souls and the bodies of women, the nature and significance of women's beauty, the virtue of women and the liberty to which women as well as men are entitled. This Element showcases that her claim of superiority is intended ultimately to justify the possibility of political rule by women.
Multidimensional random motions with a natural number of finite velocities
Authors: Cinque Fabrizio , Cintoli Mattia
Published: March 2024

We present a detailed analysis of random motions moving in higher spaces with a natural number of velocities. In the case of the so-called minimal random dynamics, under some broad assumptions, we give the joint distribution of the position of the motion (for both the inner part and the boundary of the support) and the number of displacements performed with each velocity. Explicit results for cyclic and complete motions are derived. We establish useful relationships between motions moving in different spaces, and we derive the form of the distribution of the movements in arbitrary dimension. Finally, we investigate further properties for stochastic motions governed by non-homogeneous Poisson processes.
Partial Wh-Movement in Indonesian, Criterial Freezing, and Sub-Extraction
Authors: Sato Yosuke
Published: March 2024

This paper develops a new analysis of partial wh-movement in Indonesian, a construction which raises seemingly challenging problems for criterial freezing. It is proposed that partially-moving wh-phrases in Indonesian are structured as focused expressions properly containing a wh-interrogative phrase. It is argued that the derivation of partial wh-movement in Indonesian involves sub-extraction, or movement out of a moved element, to evade a freezing violation that would otherwise ensue. More specifically, it involves focus movement of the focused XP to the intermediate non-interrogative C-system, followed by sub-extraction of the QP from the XP to the matrix interrogative C-system. The analysis receives independent empirical support from the amelioration of freezing effects observed in focused wh-questions in Japanese.
Do the Effects of Unpopular Supreme Court Rulings Linger? The Dobbs Decision Rescinding Abortion Rights
Authors: GIBSON JAMES L.
Published: March 2024

New evidence suggests that the world recently changed for the U.S. Supreme Court owing to its decision to abrogate the abortion rights first announced in Roe v. Wade. In contrast to the conventional wisdom that Court support is little undermined by unpopular rulings, the Dobbs decision generated a substantial knock on the Court’s legitimacy. Two crucial frailties limit these findings, however. First, no one has determined whether the lost legitimacy has persisted, since earlier research relied on a one-shot survey conducted shortly after the decision. Second, no analysis has addressed the “values-based regeneration” hypothesis—that support reemerges not long after a legitimacy hit is inflicted. Based on a nationally representative 2023 survey, my analysis finds that the lost legitimacy has lingered, but institutional support may be being rebuilt owing to its close connection with democratic values. Overall, I conclude that understanding persistence is more complicated than many may have assumed.
Shifting the paradigm of research-to-policy impact: Infrastructure for improving researcher engagement and collective action
Authors: Scott Taylor , Crowley Max , Long Elizabeth , Balma Brandon , Pugel Jessica , Gay Brittany , Day Angelique , Noll Jennie
Published: March 2024

The body of scientific knowledge accumulated by the scholarly disciplines such as Developmental Psychopathology can achieve meaningful public impact if wielded and used in policy decision-making. Scientific study of how policymakers use research evidence underscores the need for researchers’ policy engagement; however, barriers in the academy create conditions in which there is a need for infrastructure that increases the feasibility of researchers’ partnership with policymakers. This need led to the development of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration model, a systematic approach for developing “boundary spanning” infrastructure, which has been experimentally tested and shown to improve policymakers’ use of research evidence and bolster researchers’ policy skills and engagement. This paper presents original research regarding the optimization of the RPC model, which sought to better serve and engage scholars across the globe. Trial findings shed light on ways to improve conditions that make good use of researchers’ time for policy engagement via a virtual platform and enhanced e-communications. Future directions, implications, and practical guidelines for how scientists can engage in the political process and improve the impact of a collective discipline are also discussed.
Toward a multi-level approach to the study of the intergenerational transmission of trauma: Current findings and future directions
Authors: Beeghly Marjorie
Published: March 2024

A central goal in the field of developmental psychopathology is to evaluate the complex, dynamic transactions occurring among biological, psychological, and broader social-cultural contexts that predict adaptive and maladaptive outcomes across ontogeny. Here, I briefly review research on the effects of a history of childhood maltreatment on parental, child, and dyadic functioning, along with more recent studies on the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Because the experience and sequelae of child maltreatment and the intergenerational transmission of trauma are embedded in complex biopsychosocial contexts, this research is best conceptualized in a developmental psychopathology framework. Moreover, there is a pressing need for investigators in this area of study to adopt dynamic, multi-level perspectives as well as using developmentally guided, sophisticated research methods. Other directions for research in this field are suggested, including the implementation of collaborative interdisciplinary team science approaches, as well as community-based participatory research, to increase representation, inclusion, and equity of community stakeholders. A greater focus on cultural and global perspectives is also recommended.
The growing interdisciplinarity of developmental psychopathology: Implications for science and training
Authors: Gotlib Ian H. , Buthmann Jessica L. , Uy Jessica P.
Published: March 2024

The field of developmental psychopathology has grown exponentially over the past decades, and has become increasingly multifaceted. The initial focus on understanding abnormal child psychology has broadened to the study of the origins of psychopathology, with the goals of preventing and alleviating disorder and promoting healthy development. In this paper, we discuss how technological advances and global events have expanded the questions that researchers in developmental psychopathology can address. We do so by describing a longitudinal study that we have been conducting for the past dozen years. We originally planned to examine the effects of early adversity on trajectories of brain development, endocrine function, and depressive symptoms across puberty; it has since become an interdisciplinary study encompassing diverse domains like inflammation, sleep, biological aging, the environment, and child functioning post-pandemic, that we believe will advance our understanding of neurobehavioral development. This increase in the breadth in our study emerged from an expansion of the field; we encourage researchers to embrace these dynamic changes. In this context, we discuss challenges, opportunities, and institutional changes related to the growing interdisciplinarity of the field with respect to training the next generation of investigators to mitigate the burden of mental illness in youth.
Anticipatory processing of cataphora is constrained by binding principles in L2 English
Authors: Lyu Jun , Fuchs Zuzanna , Kaiser Elsi
Published: March 2024

Language processing studies show that native speakers anticipate linguistic elements before their occurrence. However, it is debated to what extent second language (L2) learners do the same. To address this question, this study examines the processing of cataphora by Chinese-speaking L2 English learners. Additionally, we query whether L2 learners’ expectations of upcoming antecedents are modulated by first language (L1) influence and constrained by Principle B of the Binding Theory (Chomsky, 1981). Two self-paced reading studies show that L1 English speakers’ anticipation of upcoming referents is active and strictly constrained by Principle B. Crucially, L2 English learners also actively predict upcoming referents and are sensitive to Principle B. However, L2 processing patterns suggest that Principle B competes with semantics at later processing stages. Together with data from L1 Chinese and English control participants, these results support the view that anticipatory processing in English is not fundamentally different between monolinguals and bilinguals.
Energie und Engagement
Authors: Hahn Sabine , Zuaboni Gianfranco
Published: March 2024

Mit dem vorliegenden Heft der Zeitschrift „Psychiatrische Pflege“ verlässt Dorothea Sauter die Runde der Herausgeber_innen. Die Mitherausgeber_innen Sabine Hahn und Gianfranco Zuaboni nehmen dies zum Anlass, Dorothea Sauter für ihr Mitwirken zu danken.
Stress, Entwicklung und psychische Gesundheit
Authors: Seehagen Sabine
Published: March 2024

Zusammenfassung: Stresserleben ist bereits im Kindesalter verbreitet. Ob und in welchem Ausmaß Stress nachhaltig die Entwicklung und psychische Gesundheit beeinflusst, hängt von verschiedenen Faktoren ab wie Auftretenszeitpunkt und -länge, dem Schweregrad des Stressors oder der Stressoren und den Ressourcen zur Bewältigung, die einem Kind oder Jugendlichen zur Verfügung stehen. Einige aktuelle Befunde deuten auf spezifische Zusammenhänge zwischen zugrundeliegenden Dimensionen früher Belastungen und Entwicklungsergebnissen hin. Positive psychische Gesundheit könnte eine bedeutsame Ressource für den Umgang mit Stress und Belastung im Entwicklungsverlauf sein. Die Beiträge in dem vorliegenden Themenheft adressieren aktuelle Forschungslücken im Themenbereich Stresserleben, Entwicklung und psychische Gesundheit im Kindes- und Jugendalter.