bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining relations between performance on non‐verbal executive function and verbal self‐regulation tasks in demographically‐diverse populations
Authors: Dutra Natália B. , Chen Lydia , Anum Adote , Burger Oskar , Davis Helen E. , Dzokoto Vivian A. , Fong Frankie T. K. , Ghelardi Sabrina , Mendez Kimberly , Messer Emily J. E. , Newhouse Morgan , Nielsen Mark G. , Ramos Karlos , Rawlings Bruce , dos Santos Renan A. C. , Silveira Lara G. S. , Tucker‐Drob Elliot M. , Legare Cristine H.
Published: January 2022

Self‐regulation is a widely studied construct, generally assumed to be cognitively supported by executive functions (EFs). There is a lack of clarity and consensus over the roles of specific components of EFs in self‐regulation. The current study examines the relations between performance on (a) a self‐regulation task (Heads, Toes, Knees Shoulders Task) and (b) two EF tasks (Knox Cube and Beads Tasks) that measure different components of updating: working memory and short‐term memory, respectively. We compared 107 8‐ to 13‐year‐old children (64 females) across demographically‐diverse populations in four low and middle‐income countries, including: Tanna, Vanuatu; Keningau, Malaysia; Saltpond, Ghana; and Natal, Brazil. The communities we studied vary in market integration/urbanicity as well as level of access, structure, and quality of schooling. We found that performance on the visuospatial working memory task (Knox Cube) and the visuospatial short‐term memory task (Beads) are each independently associated with performance on the self‐regulation task, even when controlling for schooling and location effects. These effects were robust across demographically‐diverse populations of children in low‐and middle‐income countries. We conclude that this study found evidence supporting visuospatial working memory and visuospatial short‐term memory as distinct cognitive processes which each support the development of self‐regulation.
Socioeconomic status predicts children's moral judgments of novel resource distributions
Authors: Peretz‐Lange Rebecca , Harvey Teresa , Blake Peter R.
Published: January 2022

Children's moral judgments of resource distributions as having “fair” or “unfair” origins play an important role in early social cognition. What factors shape these judgments? The present study advances research on this question in two primary ways: First, while prior work has typically assigned children to an advantaged or disadvantaged position in an experimental setting, here we also investigated how relative objective and Subjective Socioeconomic Status (OSS and SSS) predicted children's judgments. Second, while prior work has asked children to judge distributions with known origins, here we presented children with novel and causally ambiguous distributions, thereby simulating children's initial encounter of resource distributions in the social world. We assessed participants’ (n = 113, 6‐ to 9‐year‐olds) OSS and SSS and then introduced them to a machine that distributed Skittles on an unknown basis. Participants received half as many, twice as many, or the same number of Skittles as a peer in three between‐subjects conditions, and then rated the machine's fairness. Results revealed that children who rated their families as wealthier relative to their neighborhoods (higher SSS) rated the machine as more fair. However, children from families that were actually wealthier relative to their neighborhoods (higher OSS) were more likely to rate the disadvantage‐giving machine as unfair. Together, results represent the first evidence that OSS and SSS shape children's moral judgments of resource distributions, consistent with evidence that these two forms of socioeconomic status have unique impacts on adults’ judgments of inequality. Implications for moral and social development are discussed.
Diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cao Jingli , Sun Junjie , Wang Yuanyuan , Wang Lihong
Published: January 2022

Background

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound has shown varying results in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism patients around the world. Hence, the current review was done to assess the diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism among suspected patients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search for all studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for pulmonary embolism in the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane library from inception till May 2021. Meta‐analysis was performed using STATA software “midas” package.

Results

Ten studies with 4216 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity was 77% (95% CI, 50–92%) and specificity was 99% (95% CI, 97–100%), respectively. The pooled DOR was 382 (95% CI, 77–1883). Pooled LRP was 90 (95% CI, 24–326) and pooled LRN was .23 (.09–.58). There was significant heterogeneity found with the outcome with significant chi‐square test and I2 statistic > 75%.

Conclusion

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound has the ability to be used as an adjunct to CTPA especially in resource constrained settings. Further reviews comparing multiple non‐invasive imaging modalities are required to pick the best tool for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
The Melancholy of Bones: Forensic Exhumation as an Elegiac Transformative Experience
Authors: Hagerty Alexa
Published: January 2022

Since the early 1990s, forensic exhumation of mass graves in the wake of violent conflict has become an increasingly important humanitarian intervention. Exhumation has two stated aims: to document evidence of atrocity for judicial proceedings and to return bodies to families to bring psychological closure. Exhumation is premised on the idea that opening graves bring mourners’ closure, but little research has been done to examine how humanitarian exhumation affects the families of the missing. In this article, I consider the return of the exhumed remains to families and reflect on the relationship between mourning, violence, and transformation. I argue that humanitarian forensic exhumation is underwritten by a model of grief derived from Freud's distinction between mourning and melancholy. Drawing on fieldwork in Argentina, I claim that this model ultimately proves inadequate to capture the varieties of experience described by families of the missing. I develop “elegiac transformation” as a theoretical lens to explore experiences of exhumation. While forensic discourse emphasizes “closure,” the return of bodies to families may be more generatively conceived as opening memories, old wounds, and new possibilities for healing, transforming its participants. [death forced disappearance mourning forensic exhumation and transformative experience]

Résument Desde la década de 1990, la exhumación forense de fosas comunes después de conflictos violentos se ha convertido en una intervención humanitaria de creciente importancia. La exhumación tiene dos objetivos explícitos: documentar evidencia de atrocidades para los procedimientos judiciales y devolver los cuerpos a las familias para lograr un cierre psicológico. La exhumación se basa en la idea de que la apertura de las fosas produce un cierre psicológico para los dolientes, pero se han realizado pocas investigaciones para examinar cómo afecta la exhumación humanitaria a las familias de los desaparecidos. En este artículo, abordo el tema de la devolución de los restos exhumados a las familias y reflejo la relación entre el duelo, la violencia y la transformación. Sostengo que la exhumación forense humanitaria está suscrita por un modelo de duelo derivado de la distinción de Freud entre el duelo y la melancolía. Basándome en el trabajo de campo en Argentina, afirmo que este modelo finalmente resulta inadecuado para aprehender las variedades de experiencias descritas por las familias de los desaparecidos. Elaboro la "transformación elegíaca" como una lente teórica para explorar las experiencias de la exhumación. Mientras que el discurso forense hace énfasis en el "cierre", el retorno de los cuerpos a las familias puede ser conceptualizado de manera más generativa como la apertura de recuerdos, antiguas heridas y nuevas posibilidades de sanación, transformando a sus participantes.
Multiple evolutionary origins of glyphosate resistance in Lolium multiflorum
Authors: Brunharo Caio A. C. G. , Streisfeld Matthew A.
Published: January 2022

The multitude of herbicide resistance patterns that have evolved in different weed species is a remarkable example of the rapid adaptation to anthropogenic‐driven disturbance. Recently, resistance to glyphosate was identified in multiple populations of Lolium multiflorum in Oregon. We used phenotypic approaches, as well as population genomic and gene expression analyses, to determine whether known mechanisms were responsible for glyphosate resistance and whether resistance phenotypes evolved independently in different populations, and to identify potential loci contributing to resistance. We found no evidence of genetic alterations or expression changes at known target and non‐target‐site resistance mechanisms of glyphosate. Population genomic analyses indicated that resistant populations tended to have largely distinct ancestry from one another, suggesting that glyphosate resistance did not spread among populations by gene flow. Rather, resistance appears to have evolved independently on different genetic backgrounds. We also detected potential loci associated with the resistance phenotype, some of which encode proteins with potential effects on herbicide metabolism. Our results suggest that Oregon populations of L. multiflorum evolved resistance to glyphosate due to a novel mechanism. Future studies that characterize the gene or genes involved in resistance will be necessary to confirm this conclusion.
Comparing effectiveness of first‐line antiretroviral therapy between peri‐urban and rural clinics in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Authors: Brijkumar Jaysingh , Edwards Johnathan A. , Johnson Brent A. , Ordonez Claudia , Sunpath Henry , Lee Mitch , Dudgeon Mathew R. , Rautman Lydia , Pillay Selvan , Moodley Pravi , Sun Y. V. , Castillo‐Mancilla José , Li Jonathan Z. , Kuritzkes Daniel R. , Moosa Mohamed Y. S. , Marconi Vincent Charles
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Viral suppression (VS) is the hallmark of successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes. We sought to compare clinic retention, virological outcomes, drug resistance and mortality between peri‐urban and rural settings in South Africa after first‐line ART.

Methods

Beginning in July 2014, 1000 (500 peri‐urban and 500 rural) ART‐naïve patients with HIV were enrolled and managed according to local standard of care. Clinic retention, virological suppression, virological failure (VF), genotypic drug resistance and mortality were assessed. The definition of VS was a viral load ≤1000 copies/ml. Time to event analyses were stratified by site, median age and gender. Kaplan–Meier curves were calculated and graphed with log‐rank modelling to compare curves.

Results

Based on 2741 patient‐years of follow‐up, retention and mortality did not differ between sites. Among all 1000 participants, 47%, 84% and 91% had achieved VS by 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively, which was observed earlier in the peri‐urban site. At both sites, men aged < 32 years had the highest proportion of VF (15.5%), while women aged > 32 years had the lowest, at 7.1% (p = 0.018). Among 55 genotypes, 42 (76.4%) had at one or more resistance mutations, which did not differ by site. K103N (59%) and M184V (52%) were the most common mutations, followed by V106M and K65R (31% each). Overall, death was infrequent (< 4%).

Conclusions

No significant differences in treatment outcomes between peri‐urban and rural clinics were observed. In both settings, young men were especially susceptible to clinic attrition and VF. More effective adherence support for this important demographic group is needed to achieve UNAIDS targets.
Interpreting the optical properties of oxide glasses with machine learning and Shapely additive explanations
Authors: Zaki Mohd , Venugopal Vineeth , Bhattoo Ravinder , Bishnoi Suresh , Singh Sourabh Kumar , Allu Amarnath R. , Jayadeva  , Krishnan N. M. Anoop
Published: January 2022

Due to their excellent optical properties, glasses are used for various applications ranging from smartphone screens to telescopes. Developing compositions with tailored Abbe number (Vd) and refractive index at 587.6 nm (nd), two crucial optical properties, is a major challenge. To this extent, machine learning (ML) approaches have been successfully used to develop composition–property models. However, these models are essentially black boxes in nature and suffer from the lack of interpretability. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of ML models to predict the composition‐dependent variations of Vd and nd. Further, using Shapely additive explanations (SHAP), we interpret the ML models to identify the contribution of each of the input components toward target prediction. We observe that glass formers such as SiO2, B2O3, and P2O5 and intermediates such as TiO2, PbO, and Bi2O3 play a significant role in controlling the optical properties. Interestingly, components contributing toward increasing the nd are found to decrease the Vd and vice versa. Finally, we develop the Abbe diagram, using the ML models, allowing accelerated discovery of new glasses for optical properties beyond the experimental pareto front. Overall, employing explainable ML, we predict and interpret the compositional control on the optical properties of oxide glasses.
Cell components, interaction types and functional groups involved in the in vitro binding of bisphenol A by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RS20D and DL7X
Authors: Lai Jinghui , Zhu Yuanting , Liao Xuduo , Zhang Mengmei , Li Jianlong , Li Qin , Liu Aiping , He Li , Liu Shuliang
Published: January 2022

Aims

The current study aimed to evaluate the capacity of two Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains to remove Bisphenol A (BPA) and to determine the preliminary removal mechanisms underlying this process.

Methods and Results

The BPA removal capacity of L. plantarum RS20D and DL7X was assessed by HPLC analysis. The effect of various treatments (physical, chemical and enzymatic) on two strains were studied to understand which interaction types worked. The different cellular components of them were also subjected to binding assays. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to identify the functional groups related to the BPA-binding process. Results show that various treatments enhanced the binding capacity of two strains, the effect of sodium dodecyl sulphate was the most outstanding (p < 0.05). Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions likely occurred. Peptidoglycans showed the highest binding capability, protoplasts and teichoic acids might also exert a binding effect. –OH, C=O, –CH, –NH, C–N, C–O and P=O participated in BPA binding by the two L. plantarum lines.

Conclusions

Peptidoglycans, protoplasts and teichoic acid played a vital role in the binding of BPA.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Our results provided a theoretical foundation for developing effective dietary strategies with foodborne L. plantarum to remove food contaminants.
Anu taila, an herbal nasal drop, suppresses mucormycosis by regulating host TNF-α response and fungal ergosterol biosynthesis
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Rastogi Shubhangi , Kharayat Bhawana , Tomer Meenu , Varshney Yash , Singh Kanchan , Kumari Priya , Dev Rishabh , Srivastava Jyotish , Haldar Swati , Varshney Anurag
Published: January 2022

Aim

The intractable, mucormycosis, caused by Mucorales primarily targets immunocompromised individuals. The first-line therapy, intravenous liposomal amphotericin B and surgical debridement of necrotic tissue, is contraindicative in individuals with compromised kidneys. This invokes a pressing need to identify safer treatment options.

Methods and Results

The antifungal effect of the classical nasal drop, Anu taila, against Mucor spp. was investigated through microbiological, cytological, analytical chemical (HPLC and GS–MS/MS) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) approaches. Anu taila-pretreated spores germinated late, resulting in reduced infectivity, observed as milder monocytic immune response. Conversely, Anu taila-pretreated human THP-1 cells exhibited an improved immune response against Mucor spores, through TNF-α. Repeated Anu taila application rapidly abolished fungal microarchitectures than amphotericin B, evident from swift replacement of hyphae, sporangiophores and sporangia with fused biomass, in the SEM images. HPLC analysis showed that Anu taila treatment significantly reduced overall ergosterol content in Mucor biomass. Anu taila also downregulated sterol-C5-desaturase-coding ERG3 gene, crucial for ergosterol biosynthesis and resultant structural integrity, in Mucor spp.

Conclusion

Taken together, Anu taila was found effective against Mucor spp., with both prophylactic and curative implications, which is attributable to the phytochemical composition of this classical nasal drop.

Significance and Impact Statement

The potential remedial effects of a classical nasal drop against an obdurate and challenging fungal infection are identified.
Biosurfactant production by Lactobacillus plantarum MGL-8 from mango waste
Authors: Sittisart Priyada , Gasaluck Piyawan
Published: January 2022

Aims

Enhancing biosurfactant production from indigenous Lactobacillus plantarum MGL-8 using mango waste substrate, and evaluating its characteristics as food sanitizer.

Methods and Results

Mango juice (a mixture of mango paste, sucrose, glycerol and deionized water) was used for batch fermentation with L. plantarum MGL-8 (L-MJ) and uninoculated (MC-MJ). Agitation, aeration and temperature were controlled. Maximum lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth was observed in MC-MJ and L-MJ at 48 h, and the L-MJ fermentation provided the highest biosurfactant yield of 4.22 g L−1 at 120 h. The dried crude biosurfactant (BSF) provided surface tension 36.6 mN m−1, a maximum emulsification index (E24%) of 41% and zone of inhibition of 15.53 mm. Preliminary characterization by Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) indicated a multi-component glycolipoprotein BSF associated with fatty dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, proteins and polysaccharides. The BSF also displayed bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes at 400 μg ml−1.

Conclusions

Mango waste substrate enhanced biosurfactant production by indigenous L. plantarum MGL-8.

Significance and Impact of the Study

The study identifies a production process and characteristics of the biosurfactant, which can be employed as a food sanitizer.
Connecting Amazonian historical biogeography and local assemblages of understorey birds: Recurrent guild proportionality within areas of endemism
Authors: Braga Pilar L. M. , Borges Sérgio H. , Peres Carlos A. , Loiselle Bette A. , Blake John G. , Menger Juliana , Bueno Anderson S. , Anciães Marina , Teófilo Fernando H. , Maximiano Marina F. A. , Souza Affonso H. N. , Boss Roberta L. , Baccaro Fabricio B.
Published: January 2022

Aim

Current diversity patterns in local communities result from historical and contemporary events that operate at distinct spatial and temporal scales. However, the contribution of local and large‐scale processes in structuring species diversity remain a contentious topic in ecology. We investigated diversity patterns (species richness, composition and number of captures) of understorey bird assemblages in Amazonian unflooded (terra firme) forests. We sought to understand whether understorey bird assemblages in distinct areas of endemism show distinct patterns of diversity, and whether species replacements among areas of endemism occur while the proportion of species within guilds remains stable.

Location

Amazonia.

Taxon

Understorey birds.

Methods

To investigate diversity patterns, we compiled studies that mist‐netted birds at 11 regions across seven Amazonian areas of endemism. We used coverage‐based rarefaction curves, non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and created a heatmap based on the proportion of captures in each area of endemism to access patterns of richness, composition and captures of understorey birds, respectively. The relative variance (RVgp index) was calculated to investigate the existence of guild proportionality within each area of endemism.

Results

Bird assemblages diverged across the seven areas of endemism, in terms of species richness, composition and captures. However, the proportion of species and individuals within guilds was similar among areas of endemism, indicating that species replacements across areas of endemism occur while maintaining the same ecological functions. Guild proportionality suggests that interspecific competition and resource availability are more important than environmental heterogeneity in structuring understorey bird assemblages.

Main conclusions

The similar proportion of species within guilds suggest that interspecific competition and resource availability are more important than environmental heterogeneity in structuring local assemblages, possibly via a process of limiting similarity in morphological and functional traits. The observed congruent structure in understorey bird assemblages across areas of endemism shows that coupled historical and ecological processes, operating at local to large scales, have led to current patterns of diversity and composition in Amazonian bird communities.
The utility of 3D, haptic‐enabled, virtual reality technologies for student knowledge gains in the complex biological system of the human heart
Authors: Hite Rebecca L. , Jones Melissa Gail , Childers Gina M. , Ennes Megan E. , Chesnutt Katherine M. , Pereyra Mariana , Cayton Emily M.
Published: January 2022

Background

Knowledge of the structure and function of the human heart is fundamental to accurately understanding human physiology. As a complex biological system, naïve conceptions abound regarding cardiac anatomy and physiology for K‐12 learners and medical students alike.

Objective

Textbooks and lectures, as well models and simulations, have had limited success in aiding learners in constructing accurate and cohesive knowledge of the human heart. Three dimensional (3D) modelling, haptic‐enabled (HE) feedback, and interactive virtual reality (VR) experiences aid tertiary learners, yet it is unknown if secondary learners benefit from learning with these technologies.

Methods

An exploratory study examined secondary student knowledge of cardiac anatomy and physiology after participation in an interactive lesson on cardiac structure and function using a 3D, HE, VR technology system. Students from sixth grade (11–12 years old; n = 75) and ninth grade (14–15 years old; n = 76) completed a pre‐ and post‐assessment on cardiac knowledge, anatomy, and physiology punctuated by technology‐delivered instruction on the human heart.

Results and Conclusions

Significant gains were found in knowledge from both groups in cardiac anatomy and blood circulation within the chambers of the heart; however, only ninth grade students demonstrated significant knowledge gains in pulmonary circulation.

Takeaways

Results suggest that 3D HE VR technologies provide learners robust representations of and student‐driven interactions with complex biological systems that are innovative instructionally for strong conceptual and systematic learning. This study offers insight on technology‐assisted science visualizations for the promotion of knowledge acquisition and systems thinking of the human heart among secondary science students.
Novel exon mutation in SYCE1 gene is associated with non‐obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Feng Ke , Ge Hengtao , Chen Huanhuan , Cui Chenchen , Zhang Shan , Zhang Cuilian , Meng Li , Guo Haibin , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2022

Non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a common cause of male infertility, and genetic problems, such as chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations, are important causes of NOA. Our centre received a case of NOA, in which no mature sperm was found during microdissection testicular sperm extraction. A postoperative pathological examination revealed that testicular spermatogenesis was blocked. Target region capture combined with high‐throughput sequencing was used to screen for male infertility‐related gene mutations. Sanger sequencing further confirmed that the SYCE1 gene, a central component of the synaptonemal complex (SC) during meiosis, had a homozygous deletion mutation in the tenth exon (c.689_690del; p.F230fs). Through molecular biological studies, we discovered altered expression and nuclear localization of the endogenous mutant SYCE1. To verify the effects in vitro, wild‐ and mutated‐type SYCE1 vectors were constructed and transfected into a human cell line. The results showed that the expression and molecular weight were decreased for SYCE1 containing c.689_690del. In addition, mutated SYCE1 was abnormally located in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus. In summary, our research suggests that the novel homozygous mutation (c.689_690del; p.F230fs) altered the SYCE1 expression pattern and may have disturbed SC assembly, leading to male infertility and to a barrier to gamete formation. We reported for the first time that a frameshift mutation occurred in the exon region of SYCE1 in an NOA patient. This study is beneficial for accurate NOA diagnosis and the development of corresponding gene therapy strategies.
Mutual complementarity among diverse pollinators as a mechanism underlying open insect pollination in Japanese pear orchards
Authors: Sonoda Shoji , Kagawa Kiyohiko , Furui Yuki , Nakada Ken , Koyama Mitsuko , Toda Seishi , Sugiura Naoyuki , Nakamura Shoko , Sueyoshi Masahiro , Mita Toshiharu , Toyama Masatoshi
Published: January 2022

Cultivated Japanese pear varieties, mostly showing self‐incompatibility, require pollen transfer from other varieties. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of open Japanese pear insect pollination, we first collected flower‐visiting insects using plastic vials and sticky traps in orchards located at different regions in Japan. Results showed that insects assigned to the families Andrenidae (Hymenoptera), Apidae (Hymenoptera), Halictidae (Hymenoptera), Syrphidae (Diptera) and Empididae (Diptera) are abundant in the orchards. Second, we restricted the flower‐visiting insects to access Japanese pear flowers using bags with mesh sizes of 0, 2 and 3.5 mm. Results indicated that insects which allowed to pass through bags with 3.5‐mm mesh size but not through bags with 2‐mm mesh size contribute primarily to pollination, represented as the fruit‐set ratio and seed number. Third, we measured head and thorax widths of the flower‐visiting insects and counted pollen grains on their body surfaces to estimate their pollination potential. Results indicated that insects assigned to the families Andrenidae, Halictidae, Syrphidae, Bibionidae (Diptera) and Muscidae (Diptera), including species with both widths smaller than 3.5 mm, harbour large quantities of Pyrus pollen grains, in addition to Apis mellifera (Apidae) with both widths greater than 3.5 mm. Consequently, the families Andrenidae, Apidae, Halictidae and Syrphidae might be the most important insect families for Japanese pear pollination. However, species identification of the flower‐visiting insects showed no common key species that contribute remarkably to pollination services other than A. mellifera. Consecutive insect collection using plastic vials and sticky traps demonstrated that compositions of the flower‐visiting insects are fluctuating continuously in the orchards. Nevertheless, year‐to‐year fluctuation of the fruit‐set ratio was less pronounced in open‐pollinated orchards than in hand‐pollinated orchards. These results suggest that mutual complementation among diverse pollinator species might be the mechanism underlying open Japanese pear insect pollination.
Using Noninvasive Depth–Sensors to Quantify Human Productivity Levels in Desk–Related Workspaces
Authors: Khoudi Andrew
Published: January 2022

Numerous neuroscientific studies demonstrate the interaction between movement, memory, and environmental conditions. We present a new in–the–field tool that can be used by interior designers, environmental psychologists, and architects to understand and quantify human productivity in desk–related work and study spaces. In this investigation, an interior space, equipped with a new generation of nonintrusive sensors and analytical algorithms synchronously measured multiple individuals and working groups. We tested the hypothesis that a positive correlation exists between stillness and cognitive function associated with self–reported productivity. We explored, which design attributes, Seat Orientation, Zones, Table Crowdedness, and Table Types were associated with statistically significant changes in users’ self–reported productivity and micro–movements. A mathematical model was developed to map a “stillness value” for each person across time, deriving a measurable productivity factor (PF) that could be used to synchronously assess the impact of design features in multiple users. Experiments were conducted over 12 days involving 640 academic students in a semi–enclosed reading/study room within a recently built city public library with extensive views of the waterfront, harbor, and bay. Three–dimensional depth–cameras anonymously measured head and body movement while subjects worked and completed productivity surveys. Methods were validated using video recordings, sensor data, questionnaires, and observations. The results showed the PF was significantly correlated to the time spent in different Zones and was greatest at Seat Orientations furthest away from walk–through traffic and in Zones with the highest exposure to the window wall and views. Users in these settings experienced a higher and longer–lasting PF during the high–performance phase of their stay.
ABO blood group does not influence Child‐Pugh A cirrhosis outcome: An observational study from CIRRAL and ANRS CO12 CIRVIR cohorts
Authors: Ollivier‐Hourmand Isabelle , Repesse Yohann , Nahon Pierre , Chaffaut Cendrine , Dao Thông , Nguyen Thi Thu Nga , Marcellin Patrick , Roulot Dominique , De Ledinghen Victor , Pol Stanislas , Guyader Dominique , Archambeaud Isabelle , Zoulim Fabien , Oberti Frédéric , Tran Albert , Bronowicki Jean‐Pierre , D'Alteroche Louis , Ouzan Denis , Peron Jean‐Marie , Zarski Jean‐Pierre , Bourliere Marc , Larrey Dominique , Louvet Alexandre , Cales Paul , Abergel Armand , Mathurin Philippe , Mallat Ariane , Blanc Jean‐Frederic , Nguyen‐Khac Eric , Riachi Ghassan , Alric Laurent , Serfaty Lawrence , Antonini Teresa , Moreno Christophe , Attali Pierre , Thabut Dominique , Pilette Christophe , Grange Jean‐Didier , Silvain Christine , Carbonell Nicolas , Bernard‐Chabert Brigitte , Goria Odile , Wartelle Claire , Moirand Romain , Christidis Christos , Perlemuter Gabriel , Ozenne Violaine , Henrion Jean , Hillaire Sophie , Di Martino Vincent , Amiot Xavier , Sutton Angela , Barget Nathalie , Chevret Sylvie , Ganne‐Carrie Nathalie ,   and the ANRS CO12 CIRVIR, CIRRAL groups
Published: January 2022

Background and aims

Non‐O blood group promotes deep vein thrombosis and liver fibrosis in both general population and hepatitis C. We aimed to evaluate the influence of Non‐O group on the outcome of Child‐Pugh A cirrhotic patients.

Methods

We used two prospective cohorts of Child‐Pugh A cirrhosis due to either alcohol or viral hepatitis. Primary end point was the cumulated incidence of ‘Decompensation’ at 3 years, defined as the occurrence of ascites , hydrothorax, encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding related to portal hypertension, or bilirubin >45 μmol/L. Secondary end points were the cumulated incidences of (1) ‘Disease Progression’ including a « decompensation» or « the occurrence of one or more parameters » among: prothrombin time (PT) <45%, albumin <28 g/L, Child‐Pugh worsening (B or C vs A or B, C vs B), hepatorenal syndrome, and hepato‐pulmonary syndrome, (2) other events such as non‐malignant portal vein thrombosis (nmPVT), and (3) overall survival.

Results

Patients (n = 1789; 59.9% Non‐O group; 40.1% group O) were followed during a median of 65.4 months. At 3 years cumulated incidence of Decompensation was 8.3% in Non‐O group and 7.2% in group O (P = .27). Cumulated incidence of Disease Progression was 20.7% in Non‐O group and 18.9% in group O (P = .26). Cumulated incidence of nmPVT was 2.7% in Non‐O group and 2.8% in group O (P = .05). At 3 years overall survival was 92.4% in Non‐O group and 93.4% in group O (P = 1).

Conclusion

Non‐O group does not influence disease outcome in Child‐Pugh A cirrhotic patients.

Clinicals trial number NCT03342170.
Shared Relations: Trauma and Kinship in the Afterlife of Death
Authors: Lloyd Stephanie , Larivée Alexandre
Published: January 2022

Since 2013, we have studied the logic and narratives of an environmental epigenetics research team that studies the correlations between early childhood adversity (ECA), specific biomarkers, and suicide risk. Within this research program, kin of the deceased participate in psychological autopsies, which researchers use to establish to classify the deceased within a typology of suicide with or without abuse. We focus on the words of these family respondents and their reflections on the life and death of their loved ones, and life after that death, to consider the slippery, transgressive, and relational character of trauma and its effects. Studies of the residues of past experiences provide crucial insights into the complex, unpredictable, and unsettled nature of kin relations. These relations are based in entwined biographies of the living and the dead and illustrate the holds that people have on each other and destabilize biomedical models of individualized trajectories of suicide risk. [suicide, psychological autopsies, trauma, care, kinship]
Physical assessment skills practised by critical care nurses: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rosli Syeril Nadia , Soh Kim Lam , Ong Swee Leong , Halain Azura Abdul , Abdul Raman Rosna , Soh Kim Geok
Published: January 2022

Background

Physical assessment skills are essential to clinical decision‐making in nursing as they help nurses to identify and respond to patients' deterioration. Nurses develop confidence and can detect any out‐of‐range parameters in diagnosing and treating patients. Prior studies surveyed 120 skills but did not explicitly assess critical care.

Aim

To determine the range of physical assessment skills practised by critical care nurses and their adoption factors.

Study design

This study uses a cross‐sectional survey design. A self‐administered questionnaire evaluating 40 physical assessment skills was conducted with 133 staff nurses (response rate: 96.4%) in three critical care units at a Malaysian government hospital between November 2019 and January 2020.

Results

Most nurses applied 32 (80%) skills during every working shift, involving the vital signs and all body systems except the gastrointestinal system. Five skills (12.5%) were occasionally applied, while three skills (7.5%) were rarely applied or not part of most nurses' clinical practice. About 20% of the nurses did not routinely check the respiration rate. Medical and surgical intensive care unit nurses (U = 1129, p < .001) and nurses who had served over 10 years (H (2) = 9.60, p = .008) used more physical assessment skills than others. Nurses felt that continuing nursing education, participating in relevant courses and implementing standardised forms to record physical assessments would improve the application of such skills.

Conclusion

Clinical practice in these critical care settings challenges the assertion that physical assessment is vital to critical care nursing roles. Concerns highlighted by the nurses should be addressed by nursing management so that the application of physical assessment skills can be enhanced, especially in critical care settings.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The findings indicated that physical assessment skills in critical care need to be improved. Education and training should emphasise these skills.
Selaginella ophioderma (Selaginellaceae–Lycopodiophyta), a tropical rainforests new species from the Eastern slopes of the Andes mountains of northwestern South America in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
Authors: Valdespino Iván A. , López Christian A. , Ceballos Jorge , Palacios José M. , Slippey Todd
Published: January 2022

The Selaginella flabellata species group occurs throughout the Neotropics and is particularly species‐rich in South America, especially in the northwestern part of the continent (i.e. Colombia, Ecuador and Peru). In that region, S. praestans and S. quadrifaria are not well understood taxonomically due to similar habit and median leaves, as well as overlapping distribution ranges. As a result, they are frequently confused. Furthermore, S. quadrifaria, as currently conceived, is an extremely variable species. Nonetheless, our extensive study of 148 duplicates corresponding to 73 gatherings of S. praestans and S. quadrifaria, as currently conceived, allowed us to clearly separate them. In addition, based on our analyses, we segregated S. quadrifaria into two morphologically distinct taxa, including S. ophioderma, which is described here as a new species. Selaginella ophioderma is characterized by its leaves spreading along main stems and broadly ovate‐oblong to rotund or orbicular median leaves with broadly acute or obtuse to rounded apices. Moreover, its median leaf lower surfaces are covered by stomata at both sides of the midribs of the leaf laminae. Thus, we conclude that although S. ophioderma, S. praestans and S. quadrifaria have overlapping distribution ranges in the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, they represent morphologically distinct taxa.
Long‐term effects of rewilding on species composition: 22 years of raptor monitoring in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Authors: Dombrovski Valery C. , Zhurauliou Dzmitry V. , Ashton‐Butt Adham
Published: January 2022

Large‐scale rewilding has been proposed as an effective method to combat the global biodiversity crisis, although there is a lack of data to support this. Rewilding generally refers to a process that allows nature to recover by reducing human interference, without the predefined end‐goal that more traditional restoration projects usually have. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) is perhaps the most famous example of passive rewilding (rewilding with little or no management), but until now, most research has focused on the impact of radiation on wildlife rather than on rewilding. Here, we analyze species composition change of raptors in the Belarusian CEZ over a 22‐year period, starting 12 years after the accident, alongside national raptor monitoring data. Generalist and farmland‐associated mesopredators, super‐abundant at the beginning of our study, strongly declined, as open habitats (former agricultural land) rewetted or became overgrown. Increase in waterlogged areas saw wetland specialists increase in abundance, including two species locally extinct from the area before the accident: Greater Spotted Eagle (Endangered in Europe) and White‐tailed Eagle. Greater Spotted Eagles are an indicator of wetland habitat quality, and while declining throughout Europe in recent decades, they have increased from zero to at least 13 pairs, over the whole Belarusian CEZ. Our research is evidence that rewilding could be an effective way of restoring species and species interactions found in near‐natural habitats, and if human interferences in ecological processes are reduced, a priori restoration goals and continued management are not always necessary to conserve threatened species.
Adapting for sustainability: Ensuring provision of research skills development for undergraduate medical students
Authors: Haugh Meg , O'Tuathaigh Colm
Published: January 2022

Background

The Covid‐19 pandemic forced undergraduate medical students and staff to adapt and adjust to new strategies for conducting research. The aim of this study was to investigate its impact on student research opportunities across Irish and UK medical schools and how these programmes have responded, both in terms of innovation and practical solutions.

Methods

A 17‐item online mixed methods survey was distributed to academic staff across 31 Irish and UK medical schools. Participants were asked about (a) the effect of the pandemic on undergraduate research teaching and project opportunities, (b) measures taken to mitigate pandemic effects on these curricular elements. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise quantitative data, and free‐text responses were thematically grouped.

Findings

We received a 66.74% (n = 21) response rate to our survey. Over 75% of respondents stated that the availability of clinical research, lab‐based research, summer research programmes and QI/clinical audit projects was negatively impacted by Covid‐19. Mitigation strategies included adaptation and adjustment in design of research projects; migration to online content delivery and collaborative platforms; virtualisation of research dissemination opportunities; increased workload for staff involved in delivery of research programmes; flexibility around assessment of research‐based assignments; and importance of open communication.

Discussion and conclusions

Covid‐19 has affected traditional clinical research opportunities for medical students, particularly patient‐facing projects, as well as laboratory‐based research options. Mitigation strategies included the introduction of time‐ and cost‐efficient virtual data collection methods. Some of these innovations have potential for ongoing and future development, but others are short‐term responsive solutions that may prove less sustainable.
At Home in Renaissance Bruges
Authors: De Groot Julie
Published: January 2022

How did citizens in Bruges create a home? What did an ordinary domestic interior look like in the sixteenth century? And more importantly: how does one study the domestic culture of bygone times by analysing documents such as probate inventories? These questions seem straightforward, yet few endeavours are more challenging than reconstructing a sixteenth-century domestic reality from written sources. This book takes full advantage of the inventory as a source and convincingly frames household objects in their original context of use. Meticulously connecting objects, people and domestic spaces, the book introduces the reader to the rich material world of Bruges citizens in the Renaissance, their sensory engagement, their religious practice, the daily activities of men and women, and other social factors. By weaving insights from material culture studies with urban history, At Home in Renaissance Bruges offers an appealing and holistic mixture of in-depth socio-economic, cultural and material analysis. In its approach the book goes beyond heavy-handed theories and stereotypes about the exquisite taste of aristocratic elites, focusing instead on the domestic materiality of Bruges’ middling groups. Evocatively illustrated with contemporary paintings and images of furniture and textiles from Bruges and beyond, this monograph shows a nuanced picture of domestic materiality in a remarkable European city.
The Clear Line in Comics and Cinema
Authors: Barros David Pinho
Published: January 2022

The “clear line”, a term coined in 1977 by Dutch essayist and artist Joost Swarte, has become shorthand in the field of comics studies for the style originally developed by Hergé and the École de Bruxelles. It refers to certain storytelling strategies that generate a deceptively simple, lucid, and hygienic narration: in Philippe Marion’s words, it is a style “made out of light, fluidity and limpid clarity”. By cataloguing and critically analysing clear line comics from historical and theoretical perspectives, this book offers a new outlook on the development of the style in the 20th and 21st centuries, especially focused on the context of the European bande dessinée. In addition, it pioneeringly expands the concept of “clear line” to other artistic domains by introducing and defending its transmedial use, which is particularly relevant for the understanding of the oeuvres of certain filmmakers of the 20th century working in the postwar period, such as Yasujirô Ozu in Japan, Jacques Tati in France and Frank Tashlin in the United States. The Clear Line in Comics and Cinema is therefore a key theoretical work for both bande dessinée enthusiasts and comics scholars, as well as a fundamental contribution to present-day film studies and transmedial narratology.
Leaving Spain
Authors: Riemann Me-Linh Hannah
Published: January 2022

Since the beginning of the economic crisis of 2008, Spain, like other Southern European countries, has witnessed a mass departure of mostly young people looking for opportunities abroad. Leaving Spain is based on 58 autobiographical narrative interviews with recent Spanish migrants who went to the UK and Germany, and sometimes returned. By presenting a combination of in-depth case studies and comparative analyses, the author demonstrates the potential of biographical research and narrative analysis in studying contemporary Europe, including its overlapping crises. The scope of the sociological study is not limited to examining how those who left Spain experienced single phases of their migration. Instead, it focuses on the significance of migration projects in the context of their life histories and how they make sense of these experiences in retrospect. This book will not only be of great interest to social scientists and students in different disciplines and interdisciplinary studies such as sociology, anthropology, human geography, European studies, education, and social work, but also to professionals, European and national policy makers, and those interested in learning more about migrants’ experiences, perspectives, and (often invisible) contributions.
Initial Results on a New Light-Duty 2.7-L Opposed-Piston Gasoline Compression Ignition Multi-Cylinder Engine
Authors: Salvi Ashwin , Hanson Reed , Zermeno Rodrigo , Regner Gerhard , Sellnau Mark , Redon Fabien
Published: January 2022

Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) is a cost-effective approach to achieving diesel-like efficiencies with low emissions. The fundamental architecture of the two-stroke Achates Power Opposed-Piston (OP) Engine enables GCI by decoupling piston motion from cylinder scavenging, allowing for flexible and independent control of cylinder residual fraction and temperature leading to improved low-load combustion. In addition, the high peak cylinder pressure and noise challenges at high-load operation are mitigated by the lower brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) operation and faster heat release for the same pressure rise rate of the OP Engine. These advantages further solidify the performance benefits of the OP Engine and demonstrate the near-term feasibility of advanced combustion technologies, enabled by the opposed-piston architecture. This paper presents initial results from steady-state testing on a brand new 2.7-L OP GCI multi-cylinder engine (MCE) designed for light-duty truck applications. Successful GCI operation calls for a high compression ratio (CR), leading to higher combustion stability at low loads, higher efficiencies, and lower cycle HC + NOX emissions. Initial results show a cycle average brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 31.7%, which is already greater than 11% conventional engines, after only ten weeks of testing. Emissions results suggest that Tier 3 Bin 160 levels can be achieved using a traditional diesel after-treatment system. Combustion noise was well controlled at or below the United States Council for Automotive Research limits. In addition, initial results on catalyst light-off mode with GCI are also presented.