bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A scoping and web-based review of current practices and lessons learnt in development and sustainability of global health emergency medicine fellowships
Authors: Khan Haniya , McKnight Alex , Gamble Kathleen , Puchalski Ritchie Lisa M
Published: July 2023

Background: Despite a high perceived interest in advanced global health training among Canadian emergency medicine trainees, only one global health emergency medicine (GHEM) fellowship existed in Canada at the time of this review. We conducted a scoping and web-based review to summarize the components of, and lessons learnt through development and implementation of global health emergency medicine fellowship programs to date, to inform program development.

Methods: We conducted a scoping and web-based review by systematically searching electronic databases from inception to 2021 for articles and websites (2022) describing global health emergency medicine training programs based in high income countries.

Results: From 2957 articles and 62 websites identified, eight articles and 43 websites were included in the review. Fellowships are generally structured as follows: 1–2 years duration curriculum including clinical skills, and course and field work focused on education, research or administration, funded by fellows’ clinical hours. Details on trainees’ experiences, international work, and program outcomes were lacking.

Conclusions: This review highlights the need for information on lessons learnt through development and implementation of GHEM fellowship programs, and experiences and outcomes of trainees to date, to inform program improvements to optimize the benefits of GHEM fellowship training.

Registration: Open science framework; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UAH35 February 19th, 2018.
Where next for partial randomisation of research funding? The feasibility of RCTs and alternatives
Authors: Stafford Tom , Rombach Ines , Hind Dan , Mateen Bilal , Woods Helen Buckley , Dimario Munya , Wilsdon James
Published: July 2023

We outline essential considerations for any study of partial randomisation of research funding, and consider scenarios in which randomised controlled trials (RCTs) would be feasible and appropriate. We highlight the interdependence of target outcomes, sample availability and statistical power for determining the cost and feasibility of a trial. For many choices of target outcome, RCTs may be less practical and more expensive than they at first appear (in large part due to issues pertaining to sample size and statistical power). As such, we briefly discuss alternatives to RCTs. It is worth noting that many of the considerations relevant to experiments on partial randomisation may also apply to other potential experiments on funding processes (as described in The Experimental Research Funder’s Handbook. RoRI, June 2022).
„Veram exhibens carnem”. Chrystofania w Wieczerniku (Łk 24,36-49) w duszpasterskiej interpretacji Augustyna z Hippony
Authors: Kamczyk Wojciech
Published: July 2023

Artykuł podejmuje analizę homilii Augustyna, w których kaznodzieja objaśnia wydarzenie ukazania się Zmartwychwstałego uczniom w Wieczerniku. Duszpasterz Hippony wykorzystał je duszpastersko, akcentując zachowanie Jezusa potwierdzające realność Jego zmartwychwstałego ciała. Duszpasterski wysiłek koncentrował się więc z jednej strony na polemice z niektórymi herezjami, z drugiej na ukazaniu właściwej nauki na temat bóstwa i człowieczeństwa Chrystusa. Poza tym kaznodzieja wykorzystał biblijną perykopę, by wskazać na znaczenie wspólnoty Kościoła oraz wyjaśnić niektóre wątpliwości związane z wiarą w zmartwychwstanie umarłych.
Encontrando un terreno común: La relación de la humanidad con la naturaleza: una comparación de Tomás de Aquino y la ética ambiental
Authors: Ramírez Téllez Alberto Rene , Toro Carlos Mario , Triana Domínguez Fredy Camilo
Published: July 2023

La problemática ambiental y la responsabilidad humana en el uso de recursos y sostenimiento ambiental se han vuelto cada vez más relevantes y apremiantes debido al acelerado ritmo de industrialización y urbanización, y al crecimiento de la población mundial. La falta de planeación adecuada amortigua el impacto en el entorno, lo que conlleva al agotamiento de los recursos naturales y la degradación del ambiente, generando desigualdades sociales y económicas. En este contexto, la comunidad mundial tiene que lidiar con sinnúmero de compromisos en su intento por garantizar una distribución justa de los recursos y las oportunidades. El pensamiento de Aquino en su doctrina y la lectura que de él han hechos pensadores contemporáneos, proponen principios éticos que se derivan del propio mundo natural y que guían el comportamiento humano hacia la realización del bien común, con implicaciones significativas para la ética medioambiental. La idea de que el mundo natural existe para beneficio de todos los seres humanos, y que es responsabilidad humana utilizarlo de forma que promueva el bien común, sigue siendo una perspectiva oportuna y valiosa en los actuales planteamientos sobre la responsabilidad ecológica.
Książnica Pedagogiczna w Kaliszu placówką propagującą czytelnictwo wśród różnych grup użytkowników
Authors: Zimna Aldona
Published: July 2023

The article presents issues concerning the promotion of reading through diverse library activities. The selected initiatives, using both the rich resources of the Alfons Parczewski Pedagogical Library in Kalisz and the creativity of librarians, have been discussed. The analysis allows to become acquainted with actions undertaken by the Kalisz library within the scope of the reading development. A part of the projects is directed to the development of skills and reading competences among pupils. The other projects concern the promotion of the book and library among adult groups of users.
Student jako użytkownik biblioteki pedagogicznej – potrzeby a możliwości
Authors: Bociek Klaudyna
Published: July 2023

The article discusses different forms of work of the Warmian-Masurian Prof. Tadeusz Kotarbiński Pedagogical Library in Olsztyn with a specific group of users, i.e. students – future teachers. This is not only traditional help, provided for students by all pedagogical libraries, but also innovative activities, using competencies and creativity of the staff of the abovementioned library in Olsztyn, as well as needs of this increasing group of our users (filmic promotion of reading, methodological help, cooperation with universities).
A Supervised Tensor Dimension Reduction-Based Prognostic Model for Applications with Incomplete Imaging Data
Authors: Zhou Chengyu , Fang Xiaolei
Published: July 2023

Imaging data-based prognostic models focus on using an asset’s degradation images to predict its time to failure (TTF). Most image-based prognostic models have two common limitations. First, they require degradation images to be complete (i.e., images are observed continuously and regularly over time). Second, they usually employ an unsupervised dimension reduction method to extract low-dimensional features and then use the features for TTF prediction. Because unsupervised dimension reduction is conducted on the degradation images without the involvement of TTFs, there is no guarantee that the extracted features are effective for failure time prediction. To address these challenges, this article develops a supervised tensor dimension reduction-based prognostic model. The model first proposes a supervised dimension reduction method for tensor data. It uses historical TTFs to guide the detection of a tensor subspace to extract low-dimensional features from high-dimensional incomplete degradation imaging data. Next, the extracted features are used to construct a prognostic model based on (log)-location-scale regression. An optimization algorithm for parameter estimation is proposed, and analytical solutions are discussed. Simulated data and a real-world data set are used to validate the performance of the proposed model.

History: Bianca Maria Colosimo served as the senior editor for this article

Funding: This work was supported by National Science Foundation [2229245].

Data Ethics & Reproducibility Note: The code capsule is available on Code Ocean at https://github.com/czhou9/Code-and-Data-for-IJDS and in the e-Companion to this article (available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijds.2022.x022 ).
The Impact of Educational Robotics on Cognitive Outcomes in Primary Students: A Meta-Analysis of Recent Studies
Authors: Mukhasheva Meruyert , Ybyraimzhanov Kalibek , Naubaeva Khapiza , Mamekova Assem , Almukhambetova Bibigul
Published: July 2023

In recent years, educational robotics has gained ground in educational policy around the world, and primary education is no exception. However, there has not yet been a thorough synthesis of methodologically appropriate empirical research on the effects of robotics upon cognitive performance among primary school students, which this paper attempted to do. Following literature screening, a total of eight studies published between 2018 and 2022 with a sample size of 567 children met inclusion criteria and were meta-analyzed. Resultantly, a medium aggregate effect size in favor of robotics experiments emerged (standardized mean difference of .641), which was significantly higher compared to non-robotics learning (p <.01). No between-study heterogeneity was detected. Subgroup analysis revealed a slightly larger overall effect for interventions on first- to third-graders rather than those in grades 4-6. Additionally, the analysis indicates that in order to enhance cognitive abilities in primary students, robotics interventions should be no longer than four weeks and involve robot construction. Based on the findings, implications, and suggestions are outlined for future research and practice.
Examining the Impact of Interactive Multimedia Instruction on the Performance of Secondary School Students in Biology in Dedza District, Malawi
Authors: Ntaila Yamikani Willie , Mbaraka Saidi Rumanzi
Published: July 2023

This study examined the impact of teaching biology using interactive multimedia on the students’ academic performance in biology at Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS). This study was conducted in three secondary schools in the Dedza district, in the central region of Malawi. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental approach was used in this investigation. A total number of 189 Form Four students were selected from the three schools. The schools were categorized into three groups, namely: (a) urban, (b) rural, and (c) control. The control group received instruction using a teacher-centered approach, while the experimental groups received instruction using interactive multimedia resources. The pretest was conducted for three weeks, after which the posttest was administered. One-way ANOVA in IBM-SPSS software was used to analyse the data. Our findings showed that multimedia instruction packages had a significant impact on student performance (F (2, 188) = 126.557, p < .001). Furthermore, after the intervention, the scores of the rural group and the urban group significantly varied (p < .001). Gender had a significant influence on the performance of students in biology (F (1, 188) = 8.78, p = .003). Therefore, the study concludes that the use of multimedia instructional packages helps learners understand abstract concepts in biology, and the study further recommends that multimedia instructional packages be used to teach hard-to-grasp concepts in biology in CDSS.
Relationship between Mentors’ Roles and Mentees’ Leadership Development: The Mediating Role of Mentees’ Self-efficacy
Authors: Mokhtar Aminudin , Ismail Azman , Tunca Mustafa Zihni , Krishnan Suja Unni , Othman Nurul Aini
Published: July 2023

Limited latest studies circulated in the 21st century of world university ranking reveal that well-designed mentoring programs will not increase mentees’ leadership development if mentors have not implemented effective roles in the mentoring programs. Although many studies have been done, the mediating effect of mentors’ roles is little known in the tertiary education mentoring research literature. This study is done to examine the correlation between mentors’ roles, mentees’ self-efficacy, and mentees’ leadership development. This study employed a cross-sectional research design. A purposive sampling plan was employed to collect 761 survey questionnaires from undergraduate students at non-research-based public universities in Sarawak. The survey data were analyzed by the SmartPLS package to determine the validity and reliability of the study instrument, and thus test hypotheses for the direct effects model and mediating model. The outcomes of the SmartPLS path model analysis showed that the majority of participants felt that the levels of information exchange, help, self-efficacy, and leadership development are high. This situation explains that the ability of mentors to appropriately implement information exchange and help in mentoring programs has strongly evoked mentees’ self-efficacy. Consequently, this self-efficacy can lead to higher leadership development. This finding can help practitioners to understand the diverse paradigms of mentees’ self-efficacy concept and plan the integration of academic and social-based approaches in formulating mentoring programs to prepare successful graduates in a time of rapid global change.
Introducing Contextual Teaching and Learning as a Transition from Textbook-Based Curriculum to the National Curriculum
Authors: Yasin Burhanuddin , Mustafa Faisal , Safina Diva , Yusuf Yusri , Khairuddin Khairuddin , Sarinauli Barep
Published: July 2023

The teaching of speaking in English as a foreign language (EFL) classes in the Province of Aceh did not rely on the suggested techniques and methods. This teacher-designed technique, which was mainly textbook-based, has left an unpleasant learning experience among students. Therefore, we conducted a quantitative research study to experiment with how students responded to contextual teaching and learning (CTL) to see the effect of transitioning from a teacher-established method to a systematically planned learning approach and compare how students progressed over time. The experiment was carried out by teachers who had received assistance in preparing the lesson and practicing the lesson plan. The six-meeting experiment was conducted in 11 small classes, with a total sample of 132 students. The student improvement after the first four meetings (cycle 1) was compared using inferential statistical analyses with that after eight meetings (cycle 2). The results show that the student’s achievement significantly improved in the first cycle and continued to improve, although at a lower rate, in the second cycle. This result suggests that CTL can be used to transition from a traditional teaching method to a more established method in EFL teaching. Therefore, teachers need help planning their teaching and practicing how to implement the teaching plan accurately.
Differential Evolution and Engineering Problems
Authors: Bujok Petr , Lacko Martin , Kolenovský Patrik
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the performance of the Differential Evolution algorithm is evaluated when solving real-world problems. A Set of 13 engineering optimisation problems was selected from the fields of mechanics and industry to illustrate the usability of the Differential Evolution algorithm. Twelve variants of the standard Differential Evolution with various settings of the control parameters are compared with 19 state-of-the-art adaptive variants of this algorithm. The results are analysed statistically to achieve significant differences. Three variants of adaptive Differential Evolution provided better results compared to other algorithms. Some adaptive variants of Differential Evolution perform significantly worse than the original Differential Evolution with the fixed setting of the control parameters.
Tectonic and lithologic controls on the landscape adjustment along the eastern terrain of the Mae Tha fault, northern Thailand
Authors: Manopkawee Pichawut , Mankhemthong Niti , Pattarakamolsen Chanin
Published: July 2023

Understanding the interaction between tectonics, climatically-driven surficial processes, and bedrock erodibilityprovides insight into how the landscape develops over space and time. Although numerous active faults, lithologicand climatic variability control the landscape across Northern Thailand, the influence of these factors on thespatial adjustment of a dynamic landscape is largely unknown. In the study, we focus on lower-order channelsdeveloped across the eastern terrain of the Mae Tha fault, in which spatial variability in rock mass quality and faultcharacteristics strongly control the landscape. We combine topographic data analysis from channel profiles andgeologic field observations to determine variations in bedrock watershed characteristics and any linear structuresacross the site. Our results reveal that channels in the northern and central zones of the terrain are relatively steeperbecause a west-dipping fault controls them with less fracture density of granite. Channels in the south, however,are less steep as an oblique-slip fault governs their profiles with a higher fracture density of bedrock. Moreover,channels flowing across different lithologic bedrocks exhibit steeper channel profiles than channels developed inuniform lithology. Our study highlights the use of topographic adjustment as one of the efficient tools to describethe dynamics of active deformation on the landscape over space and time. According to the mutual analysis, ourfinding suggests that lithologic resistance and spatial differences in fault lineaments ultimately control charactersof channel profiles and overall landscape topography.
Violencia, historia y humanismo. Aportes desde el pensamiento Merleau-Ponty
Authors: Cladakis Maximiliano Basilio
Published: July 2023

El trabajo aborda la relación entre violencia, historia y humanismo desde los denominados escritos existencialistas de Maurice Merleau-Ponty. La condición de ser situado del ser humano abre un campo de reflexión donde el pensamiento se entrelaza con la experiencia histórica. Esta experiencia se nos aparece atravesada por la violencia. En nuestro artículo nos detendremos en señalar el modo en que el filósofo francés lleva a cabo una crítica al humanismo liberal e intenta proponer un pensamiento que dé cuenta de la experiencia concreta del ser humano. Esto no significa un abandono de los valores pregonados por el humanismo sino del modo en que al no considerar las condiciones materiales, simbólicas y políticas se convierten en discursos que no se encarnan en la realidad efectiva de la vida comunitaria
Lightweight deep learning model incorporating an attention mechanism and feature fusion for automatic classification of gastric lesions in gastroscopic images
Authors: Wang Lingxiao , Yang Yingyun , Yang Aiming , Li Ting
Published: July 2023

Accurate diagnosis of various lesions in the formation stage of gastric cancer is an important problem for doctors. Automatic diagnosis tools based on deep learning can help doctors improve the accuracy of gastric lesion diagnosis. Most of the existing deep learning-based methods have been used to detect a limited number of lesions in the formation stage of gastric cancer, and the classification accuracy needs to be improved. To this end, this study proposed an attention mechanism feature fusion deep learning model with only 14 million (M) parameters. Based on that model, the automatic classification of a wide range of lesions covering the stage of gastric cancer formation was investigated, including non-neoplasm(including gastritis and intestinal metaplasia), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and early gastric cancer (including high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and early gastric cancer). 4455 magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging(ME-NBI) images from 1188 patients were collected to train and test the proposed method. The results of the test dataset showed that compared with the advanced gastric lesions classification method with the best performance (overall accuracy = 94.3%, parameters = 23.9 M), the proposed method achieved both higher overall accuracy and a relatively lightweight model (overall accuracy =95.6%, parameter = 14 M). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia were 94.5%, 93.0%, and 96.5%, respectively, achieving state-of-the-art classification performance. In conclusion, our method has demonstrated its potential in diagnosing various lesions at the stage of gastric cancer formation.
Imaging and quantification of the tumor microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer using TPEF and scanning laser optical tomography
Authors: Kamin Hannes , Nolte Lena , Bleilevens Andreas , Stickeler Elmar , Heinemann Dag , Maurer Jochen , Johannsmeier Sonja , Ripken Tammo
Published: July 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has a poor five-year survival rate. The tumor’s extracellular matrix is a major compartment of its microenvironment and influences the proliferation, migration and the formation of metastases. The study of such dependencies requires methods to analyze the tumor matrix in its native form. In this work, the limits of SHG-microscopy, namely limited penetration depth, sample size and specificity, are addressed by correlative three-dimensional imaging. We present the combination of scanning laser optical tomography (SLOT) and multiphoton microscopy, to depict the matrix collagen on different scales. Both methods can be used complementarily to generate full-volume views and allow for in-depth analysis. Additionally, we explore the use of SHG as a contrast mechanism for complex samples in SLOT. It was possible to depict the overall collagen structure and specific fibers using marker free imaging on different scales. An appropriate sample preparation enables the fixation of the structures while simultaneously conserving the fluorescence of antibody staining. We find that SHG is a suitable contrast mechanism to depict matrix collagen even in complex samples and using SLOT. The insights presented here shall further facilitate the study of the tumor extracellular matrix by correlative 3d imaging.
Analytical design framework for metasurface projection optics
Authors: Yang Fan , Gu Tian , Hu Juejun
Published: July 2023

Beam steering and pattern/image projection have recently emerged as promising applications for optical metasurfaces, potentially bringing significant benefits to fields such as automotive and consumer electronics. To date, designs of metasurfaces for these applications have resorted to iterative numerical optimization. In this paper, we derive analytical solutions to enable computationally efficient design of flat optics systems for optical beam steering and pattern projection. For a single-layer metasurface, we show that a quadratic phase profile yields optimal beam quality. Doublet metasurfaces offer additional control over the beam forming characteristics, and as an example, we demonstrate on-demand distortion correction following analytically derived designs.
Underwater image enhancement via red channel maximum attenuation prior and multi-scale detail fusion
Authors: Tao Yu , Chen Honggang , Peng Zijun , Tan Renxuan
Published: July 2023

The underwater environment poses great challenges, which have a negative impact on the capture and processing of underwater images. However, currently underwater imaging systems cannot adapt to various underwater environments to guarantee image quality. To address this problem, this paper designs an efficient underwater image enhancement approach that gradually adjusts colors, increases contrast, and enhances details. Based on the red channel maximum attenuation prior, we initially adjust the blue and green channels and correct the red channel from the blue and green channels. Subsequently, the maximum and minimum brightness blocks are estimated in multiple channels to globally stretch the image, which also includes our improved guided noise reduction filtering. Finally, in order to amplify local details without affecting the naturalness of the results, we use a pyramid fusion model to fuse local details extracted from two methods, taking into account the detail restoration effect of the optical model. The enhanced underwater image through our method has rich colors without distortion, effectively improved contrast and details. The objective and subjective evaluations indicate that our approach surpasses the state-of-the-art methods currently. Furthermore, our approach is versatile and can be applied to diverse underwater scenes, which facilitates subsequent applications.
Research on the color gamut volume and light efficiency in four-primary laser display systems
Authors: Zhu Liquan , Yao Binghui , Li Ting , Deng Linxiao , Yang Yuhua , Xu Lixin , Gu Chun
Published: July 2023

The color gamut volume (CGV) and light efficiency of a four-primary display system were theoretically simulated with different wavelength configuration. Given the wavelengths of the blue and red primaries, we optimized the other two primary colors; the wavelength set with the largest CGV was chosen. The maximum CGV, 2.346 × 106, was obtained at (660, 530, 507, 465) nm. The maximum light efficiency was also determined. A trade-off between CGV and light efficiency should be made according to the requirement of the devices. This study provides guidance for the construction of a four-primary laser display system and the optimization of the CGV in multi-primary display systems.
Continuous programmable mid-infrared thermal emitter and camouflage based on the phase-change material In3SbTe2
Authors: Zhou Sihong , Guo Yanming , Zhu Liangwei , Liu Yi , Pan Qinghui , Shuai Yong , Hu Guangwei
Published: July 2023

In3SbTe2 (IST), a new non-volatile phase-change material (PCM), promises highly tunable infrared optical properties and offers a distinct path to the significant modulation of its optical scattering fingerprint, suggesting tremendous applications. In this Letter, we demonstrate and optimize a four-layer emitter based on IST, achieving an ultra-wide average emissivity variation of more than 94% in the middle-infrared region (MIR, 3–5 µm). This remarkable emissivity difference can be further continuously modified by changing the structural composition in terms of the amorphous and crystalline states of the IST layers. Based on this continuous programmable emission, the MIR emission characteristics of marble, maple leaf, and blue polyvinyl chloride are successfully imitated together on a desert background, demonstrating the programmable and multi-level MIR optical camouflage capabilities of IST. This work provides a promising platform for continuously modulating emission characteristics and offers a reference for the subsequent application of programmable optical devices.
Solar thermionic energy converters with micro-gap spacers
Authors: Zhang Xin , Rahman Ehsanur
Published: July 2023

We present a solar thermionic energy converter (STEC) incorporating
interelectrode spacer structures for solar energy harvesting. We
demonstrate the impact of spacer loss on the optimal performance and
gap size of STECs with and without interelectrode spacers. Under a
solar concentration factor of 100, we show that the maximum efficiency
of STECs with a spacer (5.3%) is significantly lower than that of
STECs without a spacer (8.7%) at different optimal gaps due to the
interelectrode spacer that conducts heat parasitically. The optimal
gap ranges from a few tenths of a micron to a few microns for STECs
without spacers, while the optimal gap is around 8μm for STECs with spacers. Furthermore,
the device operation with an internal support structure offers new, to
the best of our knowledge, insights into the resulting behavior of
different energy exchange mechanisms in STECs, which distinguishes
them from devices without spacers.
A single-shot terahertz time-domain spectrometer using 1550 nm probe pulses and diversity electro-optic sampling
Authors: Roussel Eleonore , Szwaj Christophe , Di Pietro Paola , DHLAKHA Nidhi , Cinquegrana Paolo , Veronese Marco , Evain Clément , Di Mitri Simone , Perucchi Andrea , Bielawski Serge
Published: July 2023

Classical terahertz spectroscopy usually requires the use of Fourier transform or Time-Domain Spectrometers. However, these classical techniques become impractical when using recent high peak power terahertz sources – based on intense lasers or accelerators – which operate at low repetition rate. We present and test the design of a novel Time-Domain Spectrometer (TDS), that is capable of recording a whole terahertz spectrum at each shot of the source, and that uses a 1550 nm probe fiber laser. Single-shot operation is obtained using chirped-pulse electro-optic sampling in Gallium Arsenide, and high bandwidth is obtained by using the recently introduced Diversity Electro-Optic Sampling (DEOS) method. We present the first real-time measurements of THz spectra at the TeraFERMI Coherent Transition Radiation source. The system achieves 4 THz bandwidth, and a 25 dB dynamic range. By reducing the required measurement time from minutes to a split-second, this strategy dramatically expands the application range of high power low-repetition rate THz sources.
Commentary on a Classic JHC Article on Intracellular Hyaluronan Associated With the Mitotic Spindle
Authors: Evanko Stephen P. , Wight Thomas N.
Published: July 2023

The authors of the accompanying classic paper from the Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (Evanko SP, Wight TN. Intracellular Localization of Hyaluronan in Proliferating Cells. Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry. 1999;47[10]:1331–1341) comment on the impact and significance of their findings on the intracellular localization of hyaluronan in arterial smooth muscle cells using immunohistochemical techniques. These seminal findings signaled the potential for a role of hyaluronan in the functions of microtubules and mitosis.
Structural and biochemical characterization of the key components of an auxin degradation operon from the rhizosphere bacterium Variovorax
Authors: Ma Yongjian , Li Xuzichao , Wang Feng , Zhang Lingling , Zhou Shengmin , Che Xing , Yu Dehao , Liu Xiang , Li Zhuang , Sun Huabing , Yu Guimei , Zhang Heng
Published: July 2023

Plant-associated bacteria play important regulatory roles in modulating plant hormone auxin levels, affecting the growth and yields of crops. A conserved auxin degradation (iad) operon was recently identified in theVariovoraxgenomes, which is responsible for root growth inhibition (RGI) reversion, promoting rhizosphere colonization and root growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying auxin degradation byVariovoraxremains unclear. Here, we systematically screenedVariovorax iadoperon products and identified 2 proteins, IadK2 and IadD, that directly associate with auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Further biochemical and structural studies revealed that IadK2 is a highly IAA-specific ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter solute-binding protein (SBP), likely involved in IAA uptake. IadD interacts with IadE to form a functional Rieske non-heme dioxygenase, which works in concert with a FMN-type reductase encoded by geneiadCto transform IAA into the biologically inactive 2-oxindole-3-acetic acid (oxIAA), representing a new bacterial pathway for IAA inactivation/degradation. Importantly, incorporation of a minimum set ofiadC/D/Egenes could enable IAA transformation byEscherichia coli, suggesting a promising strategy for repurposing theiadoperon for IAA regulation. Together, our study identifies the key components and underlying mechanisms involved in IAA transformation byVariovoraxand brings new insights into the bacterial turnover of plant hormones, which would provide the basis for potential applications in rhizosphere optimization and ecological agriculture.
How to engineer the unknown: Advancing a quantitative and predictive understanding of plant and soil biology to address climate change
Authors: Alamos Simon , Shih Patrick M.
Published: July 2023

Our basic understanding of carbon cycling in the biosphere remains qualitative and incomplete, precluding our ability to effectively engineer novel solutions to climate change. How can we attempt to engineer the unknown? This challenge has been faced before in plant biology, providing a roadmap to guide future efforts. We use examples from over a century of photosynthesis research to illustrate the key principles that will set future plant engineering on a solid footing, namely, an effort to identify the key control variables, quantify the effects of systematically tuning these variables, and use theory to account for these observations. The main contributions of plant synthetic biology will stem not from delivering desired genotypes but from enabling the kind of predictive understanding necessary to rationally design these genotypes in the first place. Only then will synthetic plant biology be able to live up to its promise.
Secondary motor integration as a final arbiter in sensorimotor decision-making
Authors: Balsdon Tarryn , Verdonck Stijn , Loossens Tim , Philiastides Marios G.
Published: July 2023

Sensorimotor decision-making is believed to involve a process of accumulating sensory evidence over time. While current theories posit a single accumulation process prior to planning an overt motor response, here, we propose an active role of motor processes in decision formation via a secondary leaky motor accumulation stage. The motor leak adapts the “memory” with which this secondary accumulator reintegrates the primary accumulated sensory evidence, thus adjusting the temporal smoothing in the motor evidence and, correspondingly, the lag between the primary and motor accumulators. We compare this framework against different single accumulator variants using formal model comparison, fitting choice, and response times in a task where human observers made categorical decisions about a noisy sequence of images, under different speed–accuracy trade-off instructions. We show that, rather than boundary adjustments (controlling the amount of evidence accumulated for decision commitment), adjustment of the leak in the secondary motor accumulator provides the better description of behavior across conditions. Importantly, we derive neural correlates of these 2 integration processes from electroencephalography data recorded during the same task and show that these neural correlates adhere to the neural response profiles predicted by the model. This framework thus provides a neurobiologically plausible description of sensorimotor decision-making that captures emerging evidence of the active role of motor processes in choice behavior.
Intrinsic rewards explain context-sensitive valuation in reinforcement learning
Authors: Molinaro Gaia , Collins Anne G. E.
Published: July 2023

When observing the outcome of a choice, people are sensitive to the choice’s context, such that the experienced value of an option depends on the alternatives: getting $1 when the possibilities were 0 or 1 feels much better than when the possibilities were 1 or 10. Context-sensitive valuation has been documented within reinforcement learning (RL) tasks, in which values are learned from experience through trial and error. Range adaptation, wherein options are rescaled according to the range of values yielded by available options, has been proposed to account for this phenomenon. However, we propose that other mechanisms—reflecting a different theoretical viewpoint—may also explain this phenomenon. Specifically, we theorize that internally defined goals play a crucial role in shaping the subjective value attributed to any given option. Motivated by this theory, we develop a new “intrinsically enhanced” RL model, which combines extrinsically provided rewards with internally generated signals of goal achievement as a teaching signal. Across 7 different studies (including previously published data sets as well as a novel, preregistered experiment with replication and control studies), we show that the intrinsically enhanced model can explain context-sensitive valuation as well as, or better than, range adaptation. Our findings indicate a more prominent role of intrinsic, goal-dependent rewards than previously recognized within formal models of human RL. By integrating internally generated signals of reward, standard RL theories should better account for human behavior, including context-sensitive valuation and beyond.
Continuous action with a neurobiologically inspired computational approach reveals the dynamics of selection history
Authors: Makwana Mukesh , Zhang Fan , Heinke Dietmar , Song Joo-Hyun
Published: July 2023

Everyday perception-action interaction often requires selection of a single goal from multiple possibilities. According to a recent framework of attentional control, object selection is guided not only by the well-established factors of perceptual salience and current goals but also by selection history. Yet, underlying mechanisms linking selection history and visually-guided actions are poorly understood. To examine such interplay and disentangle the impact of target and distractor history on action selection, we employed a priming-of-popout (PoP) paradigm combined with continuous tracking of reaching movements and computational modeling. Participants reached an odd-colored target among homogeneous distractors while we systematically manipulated the sequence of target and distractor colors from one trial to the next. We observed that current reach movements were significantly influenced by the interaction between attraction by the prior target feature and repulsion by the prior distractor feature. With principal component regression, we found that inhibition led by prior distractors influenced reach target selection earlier than facilitation led by the prior target. In parallel, our newly developed computational model validated that current reach target selection can be explained best by the mechanism postulating the preceded impact of previous distractors followed by a previous target. Such converging empirical and computational evidence suggests that the prior selection history triggers a dynamic interplay between target facilitation and distractor inhibition to guide goal-directed action successfully. This, in turn, highlights the necessity of an explicitly integrated approach to determine how visual attentional selection links with adaptive actions in a complex environment.
There’s an App for it: A systematic review of mobile apps providing information about abortion using a revised MARS scale
Authors: Stifani Bianca M. , Peters Melanie , French Katherine , Gill Roopan K.
Published: July 2023

Mobile applications (apps) are increasingly being used to access health-related information, but it may be challenging for consumers to identify accurate and reliable platforms. We conducted a systematic review of applications that provide information about abortion. We searched the iTunes and Google Play stores and queried professional networks to identify relevant apps. To evaluate the apps, we used the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and added relevant abortion-specific elements. Two reviewers independently rated each app, and we report mean scores on a 5-point scale across the domains of engagement, functionality, esthetics, and information. We also rated app characteristics (including target population and reach), and number of desirable abortion-specific features. We defined recommended apps as those that achieved a score of 4.0 or above for the question: “would you recommend this app to people who may benefit from it?” Our search initially yielded 282 apps and we identified two additional apps through professional mailing lists. Most were irrelevant or not abortion-specific. We excluded 37 apps that sought to discourage users from seeking abortion. Only 10 apps met inclusion criteria for this review. The Euki app had the highest overall score (4.0). Half of the apps achieved a score of 3.0 or greater. Most of the apps had few desirable design features. Some apps provided significant information but had poor functionality. Only four apps met criteria for being recommended: Euki, Safe Abortion by Hesperian, Ipas Mexico, and Marie Stopes Mexico. In conclusion, we found few apps that provide unbiased information about abortion, and their quality varied greatly. App developers and abortion experts should consider designing additional apps that are clinically accurate, unbiased and well-functioning. We registered this review in the PROSPERO database (Registration # CRD42020195802).
Combined genome-wide association study of 136 quantitative ear morphology traits in multiple populations reveal 8 novel loci
Authors: Li Yi , Xiong Ziyi , Zhang Manfei , Hysi Pirro G. , Qian Yu , Adhikari Kaustubh , Weng Jun , Wu Sijie , Du Siyuan , Gonzalez-Jose Rolando , Schuler-Faccini Lavinia , Bortolini Maria-Catira , Acuna-Alonzo Victor , Canizales-Quinteros Samuel , Gallo Carla , Poletti Giovanni , Bedoya Gabriel , Rothhammer Francisco , Wang Jiucun , Tan Jingze , Yuan Ziyu , Jin Li , Uitterlinden André G. , Ghanbari Mohsen , Ikram M. Arfan , Nijsten Tamar , Zhu Xiangyu , Lei Zhen , Jia Peilin , Ruiz-Linares Andres , Spector Timothy D. , Wang Sijia , Kayser Manfred , Liu Fan
Published: July 2023

Human ear morphology, a complex anatomical structure represented by a multidimensional set of correlated and heritable phenotypes, has a poorly understood genetic architecture. In this study, we quantitatively assessed 136 ear morphology traits using deep learning analysis of digital face images in 14,921 individuals from five different cohorts in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Through GWAS meta-analysis and C-GWASs, a recently introduced method to effectively combine GWASs of many traits, we identified 16 genetic loci involved in various ear phenotypes, eight of which have not been previously associated with human ear features. Our findings suggest that ear morphology shares genetic determinants with other surface ectoderm-derived traits such as facial variation, mono eyebrow, and male pattern baldness. Our results enhance the genetic understanding of human ear morphology and shed light on the shared genetic contributors of different surface ectoderm-derived phenotypes. Additionally, gene editing experiments in mice have demonstrated that knocking out the newly ear-associated gene (Intu) and a previously ear-associated gene (Tbx15) causes deviating mouse ear morphology.
Effect of environmental factors in reducing the prevalence of schistosomiasis in schoolchildren: An analysis of three extensive national prevalence surveys in Brazil (1950–2018)
Authors: Santos Mariana Cristina Silva , Oliveira Guilherme Lopes de , Mingoti Sueli Aparecida , Heller Léo
Published: July 2023

Background

Over seven decades, Brazil has made admirable progress in controlling schistosomiasis, and a frequent question about the explanation for this reduction refers to the effect of improving environmental factors in the country. This article seeks to identify factors related to the change in the epidemiological situation of schistosomiasis mansoni infection by analyzing three national prevalence surveys conducted since 1950.

Methodology/principal findings

This is an ecological study analyzing an unbalanced panel of data based on national surveys and considering the municipality as the unit of analysis. The sample consisted of 1,721 Brazilian municipalities, in which a total of 1,182,339 schoolchildren aged 7–14 were examined during the three periods corresponding to each survey (1947–1953, 1975–1979, and 2010–2015). The percentage of municipalities with zero cases of schistosomiasis was: 45.4%, 54.2% and 73.7%, respectively for those periods. A zero-inflated Poisson regression model, with fixed and random effects, was fitted to assess the association between candidate factors and disease prevalence using a significance level of 5%. There was a significant decrease in disease prevalence between the first and last periods analyzed (RR 0.214, CI 0.184–0.249), with a protective association with access to sanitation (RR 0.996, CI 0.994–0.998), urbanization (RR 0.991, CI 0.989–0.993), and living in own households (RR 0.986, CI 0.983–0.989); and an inverse association with piped water supply (RR 1.010, CI 1.008–1.011).

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate a decrease in the prevalence of schistosomiasis over seven decades in schoolchildren from the analyzed Brazilian municipalities, associated with environmental factors and social conditions. The increased access to piped water in the municipalities apparently triggers other ways of contact with unsafe water bodies, generating new transmission routes and suggesting the need for a systemic approach concerning contact with water.
A long-term observational study of paediatric snakebite in Kilifi County, south-east Kenya
Authors: Abouyannis Michael , Boga Mwanamvua , Amadi David , Ouma Nelson , Nyaguara Amek , Mturi Neema , Berkley James A. , Adetifa Ifedayo M. , Casewell Nicholas R. , Lalloo David G. , Hamaluba Mainga
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Estimates suggest that one-third of snakebite cases in sub-Saharan Africa affect children. Despite children being at a greater risk of disability and death, there are limited published data. This study has determined the: population-incidence and mortality rate of hospital-attended paediatric snakebite; clinical syndromes of snakebite envenoming; and predictors of severe local tissue damage.

Methods

All children presenting to Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya with snakebite were identified through the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS). Cases were prospectively registered, admitted for at least 24-hours, and managed on a paediatric high dependency unit (HDU). Households within the KHDSS study area have been included in 4-monthly surveillance and verbal autopsy, enabling calculation of population-incidence and mortality. Predictors of severe local tissue damage were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Between 2003 and 2021, there were 19,606 admissions to the paediatric HDU, of which 584 were due to snakebite. Amongst young children (≤5-years age) the population-incidence of hospital-attended snakebite was 11.3/100,000 person-years; for children aged 6–12 years this was 29.1/100,000 person-years. Incidence remained consistent over the study period despite the population size increasing (98,967 person-years in 2006; and 153,453 person-years in 2021). Most cases had local envenoming alone, but there were five snakebite associated deaths. Low haemoglobin; raised white blood cell count; low serum sodium; high systolic blood pressure; and an upper limb bite-site were independently associated with the development of severe local tissue damage.

Conclusion

There is a substantial burden of disease due to paediatric snakebite, and the annual number of cases has increased in-line with population growth. The mortality rate was low, which may reflect the species causing snakebite in this region. The identification of independent predictors of severe local tissue damage can help to inform future research to better understand the pathophysiology of this important complication.