bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22: translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation in Polish-speaking patients
Authors: Morawska Joanna , Jeruzal-Świątecka Joanna , Politański Piotr , Pietruszewska Wioletta
Published: August 2024

Purpose

There are many specific instruments for assessing the quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Of all these tests, the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test–22 (SNOT-22) is the most widely used internationally. The purpose of the study was linguistic adaptation and validation of the SNOT-22 scale in the Polish language.

Methods

The SNOT-22 was adapted into Polish and was administered to 148 subjects (108 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and 40 asymptomatic controls. Seventy-one patients completed the SNOT-22 a second time to evaluate test-retest reliability. The Polish SNOT-22 was assessed for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, discriminant validity, criterion validity, and sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The Polish SNOT-22 exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties. A high Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α = 0.89) was obtained. Significantly higher scores (p < 0.01) were revealed in the Study Group with a median score of 32 (range 15–53) points in comparison with controls: 5 (range 0–20). A moderate correlation was found between SNOT-22 and the Lund-Kennedy test score (r = 0.334; p < 0.001) and a strong correlation between SNOT-22 and the Lund–Macay test score (r = 0.469; p < 0.001). The best cut-off point was set at a 16 score with a sensitivity of 0.981 and a specificity of 0.995. The determined Area Under Curve (AUC = 0.997; p < 0.001) confirms the diagnostic accuracy of the Polish SNOT-22.

Conclusions

The Polish version of the SNOT-22 is a valid and reliable tool for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with CRSwNP in the Polish-speaking population.
Depression and anxiety in transgender and non-binary adolescents: prevalence and associations between adolescent and caregiver reports
Authors: Liles Sophia M. , Olsavsky Anna L. , Chen Diane , Grannis Connor , Hoskinson Kristen R. , Leibowitz Scott F. , Nelson Eric E. , Stanek Charis J. , Strang John F. , Nahata Leena
Published: August 2024

Transgender/non-binary (TNB) adolescents are at increased risk for mental health concerns, and caregiver awareness is important to facilitate access to care. Yet, limited research has examined caregiver awareness of TNB mental health. Thus, we examined (1) the prevalence of internalizing symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety) among TNB adolescents and (2) associations between adolescent and caregiver reports of adolescent mental health symptoms. TNB adolescents (N = 75) aged 12–18 and a caregiver were recruited from a multidisciplinary gender clinic in Ohio. Adolescents self-reported their mental health symptoms via the CDI and SCARED. Caregivers reported their perceptions of the adolescent’s mental health symptoms via the CASI-5. Descriptive statistics assessed participant characteristics, adolescent self-reported mental health symptoms, and caregiver proxy reports of adolescent mental health symptoms. Pearson’s correlations and scatterplots were used to compare adolescent and caregiver reports and McNemar tests assessed if the differences were statistically significant. Most TNB adolescents reported elevated symptoms of depression (59%), generalized anxiety (75%), separation anxiety (52%), and social anxiety (78%). Caregiver and adolescent reports were significantly correlated for depression (r = .36, p = .002), separation anxiety (r = .39, p < .001), and social anxiety (r = .47, p < .001). Caregiver and adolescent reports of generalized anxiety were not significantly correlated (r = .21, p = .08). McNemar tests were significant (all p < .001), such that adolescents’ reports met clinical cutoffs far more than their caregivers’ reports.
Conclusions: Though adolescent and caregiver reports were low to moderately correlated, youth reports were consistently higher, suggesting the importance of interventions to increase caregiver understanding of TNB adolescent mental health.

What is Known:• Transgender/non-binary adolescents are at high risk for mental health concerns and caregivers are essential to coordinate care.

What is New:• This study expands the diagnostic mental health sub-categories examined in transgender/non-binary adolescents, noting elevated symptoms of separation and social anxiety.• Transgender/non-binary adolescents reported more symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety than caregivers.
Dementia diagnosis in young adults: a machine learning and optimization approach
Authors: Talaat Fatma M. , Ibraheem Mai Ramadan
Published: August 2024

Individuals who are younger and have dementia often start experiencing its symptoms before they turn 65, with cases even documented in people as young as their thirties. Researchers strive for accurate dementia diagnosis to slow or halt its progression. This paper presents a novel Enhanced Dementia Detection and Classification Model (EDCM) comprised of four modules: data acquisition, preprocessing, hyperparameter optimization, and feature extraction/classification. Notably, the model uses texture information from segmented brain images for improved feature extraction, leading to significant gains in both binary and multi-class classification. This is achieved by selecting optimal features via a Gray Wolf Optimization (GWO)-driven enhancement model. Results demonstrate substantial accuracy improvements after optimization. For instance, using an Extra Tree Classifier for "normal" cases, the model achieves 85% accuracy before optimization. However, with GWO-optimized features and hyperparameters, the accuracy jumps to 97%.
Nonlinear steering control law under input magnitude and rate constraints with exponential convergence
Authors: Suyama Rin , Satoh Satoshi , Maki Atsuo
Published: August 2024

A ship steering control law is designed for a nonlinear maneuvering model whose rudder manipulation is constrained in both magnitude and rate. In our method, the tracking problem of the target heading angle with input constraints is converted into the tracking problem for a strict-feedback system without any input constraints. To derive this system, hyperbolic tangent ($$\tanh$$
tanh
) function and auxiliary variables are introduced to deal with the input constraints. Furthermore, using the feature of the derivative of $$\tanh$$
tanh
function, auxiliary systems are successfully derived in the strict-feedback form. The backstepping method is utilized to construct the control input for the resulting cascade system. The proposed steering control law is verified in numerical experiments, and the result shows that the tracking of the target heading angle is successful using the proposed control law.
Rethinking feminized service bots: user responses to abstract and gender-ambiguous chatbot avatars in a large-scale interaction study
Authors: Aumüller Anna , Winklbauer Andreas , Schreibmaier Beatrice , Batinic Bernad , Mara Martina
Published: August 2024

Companies increasingly rely on chatbots to enable efficient and engaging communication with customers. Previous research has highlighted a trend towards female-gendered designs of customer service chatbots, adding to concerns about the reinforcement of outdated gender stereotypes in human-computer interactions. Against this background, the present study explores design alternatives to traditionally gendered chatbot avatars. In an online experiment, N = 1064 participants interacted with a bank service chatbot, where one half saw a gender-ambiguous anthropomorphic face as the chatbot’s default avatar, and the other half an abstract non-anthropomorphic icon. Contrary to earlier studies, which linked anthropomorphism to higher user acceptance, our manipulation of avatars did not significantly alter intentions to use the chatbot. After the interaction, participants could select their preferred avatar image from a set of six, including non-anthropomorphic icons (speech bubbles) and anthropomorphic faces (female, male, gender-ambiguous). While many adhered to their initially viewed image, a clear majority opted for abstract non-anthropomorphic icons. This overall preference was consistent across all user genders, although men were more likely than women to favor a traditionally female-looking avatar. Notably, less than a quarter of participants recognized the gender-ambiguous avatar as such. In accordance with traditional gender binaries, most identified it as either male or female. Those who perceived it as female reported higher intentions to use the chatbot. As a practical implication, our findings advocate for the adoption of more abstract and gender-neutral chatbot designs, as they not only help to avoid problematic stereotypes but also seem to align with customer preferences for non-gendered chatbot interactions.
Application of deep learning reduced-order modeling for single-phase flow in faulted porous media
Authors: Ballini Enrico , Formaggia Luca , Fumagalli Alessio , Scotti Anna , Zunino Paolo
Published: August 2024

Our research is positioned within the framework of subsurface resource utilization for sustainable economies. We concentrate on modeling the underground single-phase fluid flow affected by geological faults using numerical simulations. The study of such flows is characterized by strong uncertainites in the data defing the problem due to the difficulty of taking precise measurements in the subsoil. We aim to demonstrate the feasibility of a reduced order model that is both reliable and computationally efficient, thereby facilitating the incorporation of uncertainties. We account for the uncertainities of the properties of the rock and the geometry of the fault. The latter is achieved by using a radial basis function mesh deformation method. This approach benefits from a mixed-dimensional framework to model the rock matrix and faults as n and $${n-1}$$

n
-
1

dimensional domains, allowing for non-conforming meshes. Our primary focus is on a reduced-order model capable of reproducing flow variables across the entire domain. We utilize the Deep Learning Reduced Order Model (DL-ROM), a nonintrusive neural network-based technique, and we compare it against the traditional Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) method across various scenarios. The most relevant contributions of this work are: the proof of concept of the use of neural network for reduced order models for subsoil flow, dealing with non-affine problems and mixed dimensional domain. Additionally, we generalize an existing mesh deformation method for discontinuous deformation maps. Our analysis highlights the capability of reduced order model, highlighting DL-ROM’s capacity to expedite complex analyses with promising accuracy and efficiency, making multi-query analyses with various quantities of interest affordable.
zk-Oracle: trusted off-chain compute and storage for decentralized applications
Authors: Gu Binbin , Nawab Faisal
Published: August 2024

Blockchain and Decentralized Applications (DApps) are increasingly important for creating trust and transparency in data storage and computation. However, on-chain transactions are often costly and slow. To overcome this challenge, off-chain nodes can be used to store and compute data. Unfortunately, this introduces the risk of untrusted nodes. To address this, authenticated data structures have been proposed, however, this ignores the compute of data from the raw data. We tackle this challenge by introducing zk-Oracle, which provides an efficient and trusted compute and storage off-chain. There is a challenge in using zero-knowledge proofs (zk-proof for short), which is the large proof generation time. We aim to overcome it with novel designs in zk-Oracle. zk-Oracle builds on zk-proofs technologies to achieve two goals. First, the computation of data structures from raw data and the corresponding proof generation is improved in terms of performance. Second, the verification on-chain is inexpensive and fast. Our experiments show that we can speed up zk-proof generation by up to $$550 \times $$

550
×

faster than the baseline method.
Reassessing Bronze Age Metallurgy in Upland Southwest China on the Basis of Excavations at Longbohe, Yunnan
Authors: Jie Fu , Yingfu Li , Changcheng Hu , Yang Wan , Fan Yang , Yunsheng Zhu , Pigott Vincent C. , Higham Charles , Yuniu Li
Published: August 2024

Longbohe is a newly discovered copper mining, smelting and production site located strategically beside the Red River on the China–Vietnam border in Southeast Yunnan, China. Recent excavations have dated it from the second half of the second millennium to the end of the first millennium BC, making it the earliest copper mining and processing site in Upland Southwest China and Southeast Asia. The metallurgical production tradition in Upland Southwest China and Southeast Asia is recognized and detailed with reference to the chaîne opératoire revealed at the Longbohe site. The location of Longbohe provides evidence for a route along which metallurgy was introduced from Southwest China into Southeast Asia. Current evidence further suggests that metallurgy probably arrived on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau along the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau corridors, and then entered Southeast Asia along south-flowing rivers. The Longbohe site is thus a most significant find in the southward dissemination of metallurgical technological systems into Southwest China and Southeast Asia in the later second millennium BC.
Persistence conditions: what they are, and what it is to have them
Authors: Franken Dirk
Published: August 2024

It is common among metaphysicians to talk about objects having persistence conditions or, equivalently, about the persistence conditions of objects. However, as frequent as these statements are, as rare are the attempts to clarify their meaning in a systematic manner. In the present paper, I try to provide such an explanation by considering in detail the question of what it is for an object to have persistence conditions. The central results are the following. First: that an object has (in contrast to merely fulfil) certain conditions of Fness means that it lies in the essence of this object that these conditions hold—that is, that it is part of this object’s essence that it is F, if it is F, in virtue of the fulfilment of these very conditions. Second: persistence is the staying in existence of an already existing object, which is why an object’s persistence conditions are just that: conditions of the staying in existence of this very object. On the emerging view, the persistence conditions of objects exhibit an interesting parallel to the conditions of satisfaction of intentional states or entities. As the latter, they are imposed upon the world by entities existing in the world, viz. objects.
A Mathematical Model of Diel Activity and Long Time Survival in Phototrophic Mixed-Species Subaerial Biofilms
Authors: Tenore A. , Russo F. , Jacob J. , Grattepanche J. D. , Buttaro B. , Klapper I.
Published: August 2024

Subaerial biofilms (SAB) are intricate microbial communities living on terrestrial surfaces, of interest in a variety of contexts including cultural heritage preservation, microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycling, and biotechnology. Here we propose a mathematical model aimed at better understanding the interplay between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria, common microbial SAB constituents, and their mutual dependence on local environmental conditions. SABs are modeled as thin mixed biofilm-liquid water layers sitting on stone. A system of ordinary differential equations regulates the dynamics of key SAB components: cyanobacteria, heterotrophs, polysaccharides and decayed biomass, as well as cellular levels of organic carbon, nitrogen and energy. These components are interconnected through a network of energetically dominant metabolic pathways, modeled with limitation terms reflecting the impact of biotic and abiotic factors. Daily cylces of temperature, humidity, and light intensity are considered as input model variables that regulate microbial activity by influencing water availability and metabolic kinetics. Relevant physico-chemical processes, including pH regulation, further contribute to a description of the SAB ecology. Numerical simulations explore the dynamics of SABs in a real-world context, revealing distinct daily activity periods shaped by water activity and light availability, as well as longer time scale survivability conditions. Results also suggest that heterotrophs could play a substantial role in decomposing non-volatile carbon compounds and regulating pH, thus influencing the overall composition and stability of the biofilm.
Identifying behavior change interventions with deep leverage: a conceptual and qualitative case study with farmers from Germany
Authors: Baaken Marieke Cornelia , Vollan Björn
Published: August 2024

Successful transformation of agriculture toward a more sustainable trajectory requires agri-environmental practices and interventions that are deemed supportive by farmers, have the potential for a transformative change and are based on a solid understanding of farmers’ behavior and decision-making. This article reports on in-depth semi-structured interviews with German farmers to uncover key facilitators of and barriers to the adoption of agri-environmental practices. In a first step, 10 themes were identified using a qualitative content analysis, which were then assessed for their potential leverage point from a system perspective and integrated into the diagnostic Behavior Change Wheel to identify targets for behavioral interventions. The paper shows that adding the transformative potential to behavioral interventions is useful. According to our analyses, deep leverage interventions are most likely to be associated with the theme Land stewardship and Identity, and the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior)—element Reflective motivation, referring to the conscious cognitive processes that direct and inspire behavior.
In vitro propagation of triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Feng Jiayu , Luo Yiran , Duan Xiaomeng , He Chengzhong , Zong Dan
Published: August 2024

Triploid lacquer trees have a higher yield of raw lacquer and greater stress resistance; however, it is challenging to develop efficient and rapid seedling culture techniques because of the influence of metabolites with raw lacquer. In this study, the stem segments of a triploid lacquer tree were used to investigate the effects of explant sterilization treatment, different combinations of exogenous hormone concentrations on the induction of axillary buds, seedling development, and rooting, as well as transplanting substrate ratios. The results showed that the optimal combination of disinfection treatment for triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl explants involves 75% alcohol immersion for 10 s, followed by 2.0% benzalkonium chloride treatment for 1 min and 0.1% HgCl2 treatment for 4 min. The suitable medium for axillary bud induction was Murashige and Skoog (MS) containing 0.1 mg•L−1 zeatin (ZT) and 0.1 mg•L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), resulting in a high induction rate of 95.0%. Use of 1/2 MS supplemented with 0.5 mg•L−1 6-BA and 0.3 mg•L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was the most effective for axillary bud proliferation. The combination of 1/2 MS containing 0.1 mg•L−1 6-BA, 0.5 mg•L−1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg•L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.2% activated carbon (AC) was an optimum for hardening-off. With woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.5 mg•L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg•L−1 2,4-D and 0.5 g•L−1 AC as a rooting medium, the rooting rate was 67.8%. Also, the appropriate transplanting substrate ratio for triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl was grass charcoal:laterite:humus = 1:1:1. Collectively, the results provided the technical assurance for seedling scale multiplication and propagation, facilitating its application in production.
Comparative Study of E-beam and Optical Probing Approaches in Attacking the ICs
Authors: Amini Elham , Jatzkowski Jörg , Kiyan Tuba , Renkes Lars , Krachenfels Thilo , Tajik Shahin , Boit Christian , Altmann Frank , Brand Sebastian , Seifert Jean-Pierre
Published: August 2024

Optical probing methods through the chip backside have been demonstrated to be powerful attack techniques in the field of electronic security. However, these attacks typically require specific circuit conditions, such as enforcing gate or register switching at certain frequencies or repeating measurements over multiple executions to achieve an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Meeting these requirements can pose challenges, such as low-frequency switching or inaccessibility of the control signals. This study evaluates these requirements for contactless electron- and photon-based probing attacks by performing extensive experiments and discussing the advantages and drawbacks of each approach. Our findings demonstrate that E-beam probing has the potential to outperform optical methods in scenarios involving static or low-frequency circuit activities. Nevertheless, E-beam probing requires the assistance of optical techniques for area localization and requires aggressive thinning and trenching to the STI level.
The Authenticity Problem: Authenticity as a Methodological Trap in People-Centred Research on Working-Class Football Supporting Communities
Authors: Bland Josh
Published: August 2024

This paper seeks to make a methodological contribution to archaeological praxis of working-class communities, by illuminating how archaeologists engaged in oral history-based research with working-class communities may encounter authenticity as a methodological challenge. Drawing on my PhD research on football as cultural heritage, I will outline the authenticity problem I encountered in the field: the enforcement of hierarchies of authenticity by working-class football supporters in response to their experiences of marginalisation in the sport. In turn, I will not only show how these hierarchies of authenticity present obstacles to researchers looking to build relationships of trust with their subjects, but also indicate some solutions to this authenticity problem. Specifically, I will show how it is often useful to “fall into the trap of authenticity” as a researcher and use the interview setting to discursively construct yourself as authentic on your subject communities’ own terms.
Real-Time and Long-Term Challenges of Remote Learning and Innovation: Cases from Police and Technology Organisations
Authors: Lemmetty Soila
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the evolving landscape of learning and innovation within organisations that are particularly affected by the increasing digitalisation and prevalence of remote work and trainings. Focusing on the police and technology sectors, in this research 20 individuals were interviewed, identifying both real-time and long-term challenges associated with remote learning and innovation. In the police sector, the real-time challenges included one-way efficiency, encompassing impracticality, unidimensional learning situations, and efficiency-driven multitasking. A long-term challenge was individualistic performance orientation, suggesting a shift in learning responsibility from the organisation to the individual. In the technology sector, the real-time challenges involved incomplete detections during remote innovation, encompassing missing artefacts, unlikely coincidences, and narrow observations. A long-term challenge was the weakening of social bonds, with subthemes such as community distancing and a decline in social skills. The study emphasises the critical need for appropriate remote workplace pedagogy, community reinforcement and well-planned training to address these challenges, emphasising that the values guiding remote work and virtual environments play a crucial role in shaping learning outcomes.
Design of a Socially Inclusive Climate Risk Transfer Mechanism: A Case Study in La Guajira, Colombia
Authors: Lopera Cristian Camilo Fernández , Mendes José Manuel , Barata Eduardo Jorge
Published: August 2024

The primary aim of this study was to develop a model of a socially inclusive climate risk insurance (CRI) mechanism based on the differential risk transfer approach. This study focused on the department of La Guajira, Colombia, as a case study. La Guajira is the department in Colombia that, due to its critical disaster risk conditions, presents the adequate configuration for implementing a climate risk transfer mechanism. The article starts by analyzing risk conditions by using secondary data. Based on fieldwork, this research explored the perspectives of the most vulnerable sectors in La Guajira Department on the socioeconomic impacts and needs they experience regarding climate-related hazards, their adaptive measures for risk reduction, and their willingness to adopt CRI. This represents the fundamental input for the formulation of the CRI model. Consequently, this research proposed an operational structure as input for future implementations of the model. The results indicate that national and local disaster risk management public policies align with the sectors’ needs and priorities. Strengthening sectoral associations can enhance representation in CRI projects. In-kind indemnization is preferred for women entrepreneurs and the indigenous community. The CRI model includes a risk pool through the family compensation fund of La Guajira as a sectoral agglomerator, with contingent credit and traditional/parametric insurance. The methodology developed in this study can be applied in different contexts worldwide as a guidance for informing national and international climate risk finance initiatives.
Long-lasting antistatic hydrophilic polyethylene terephthalate fabric using greener reagents
Authors: Abou-Taleb Marwa , El-Sayed Hosam
Published: August 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most common synthetic polymer used in the textile sector by virtue of its unique superior performance attributes. However, the comfort characteristics of PET fabrics, such as their inadequate sweat-absorbing capability, low affinity for most dyestuff classes, and susceptibility to the accumulation of electrostatic charge, make them unfavorable compared to natural fibers. Rendering PET fabrics with hydrophilic and antistatic properties is difficult due to the lack of reactive functional groups. Herein, a long-lasting eco-friendly strategy to impart some desirable properties to PET fabrics was developed. The PET fabric was saponified in an aqueous caustic soda solution, followed by treatment with an amino acid, namely lysine, aspartic acid, serine, tyrosine, or cysteine, as a coupling agent, and eventually, the fabric was finished with the protein biopolymer gelatin using the pad-dry-cure method. The effects of treatment of PET fabric with the aforementioned reagents on its surface hydrophilicity, roughness, antistatic, thermal stability, ultraviolet protection, air permeability, yellowness, bending stiffness, and tensile properties were monitored. The discrepancy between the chemical structures of the untreated and finished fabrics was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as by determining the carboxylic and nitrogen contents. The morphological and crystal structures of the treated fabrics were examined using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern, respectively. The results indicate that a maximum add-on was obtained upon treatment of the saponified PET fabrics with 0.5 M lysine followed by 7.5% (on the weight of the fiber) gelatin using the pad-dry-cure method.The finished PET fabrics exhibited improved hydrophilic and antistatic properties with adequate protection against UV rays.Ingeneral, treatment of PET fabrics with gelatin, using a bi-functional amino acid as a coupling agent, is an effective and durable method to improve some performance and comfort features of PET fabric without having a remarkable negative effect on the fabric’s mechanical properties.
Impact of initial outbreak locations on transmission risk of infectious diseases in an intra-urban area
Authors: Liu Kang , Shi Yepeng , Wang Shang , Zhao Xizhi , Yin Ling
Published: August 2024

Infectious diseases usually originate from a specific location within a city. Due to the heterogenous distribution of population and public facilities, and the structural heterogeneity of human mobility network embedded in space, infectious diseases break out at different locations would cause different transmission risk and control difficulty. This study aims to investigate the impact of initial outbreak locations on the risk of spatiotemporal transmission and reveal the driving force behind high-risk outbreak locations. First, we built a SLIR (susceptible-latent-infectious-removed)-based age-stratified meta-population model, integrating mobile phone location data, to simulate the spreading process of an infectious disease across fine-grained intra-urban regions (i.e., 649 communities of Shenzhen City, China). Based on the simulation model, we evaluated the transmission risk caused by different initial outbreak locations by proposing three indexes including the number of infected cases (CaseNum), the number of affected regions (RegionNum), and the spatial diffusion range (SpatialRange). Finally, we investigated the contribution of different influential factors to the transmission risk via machine learning models. Results indicate that different initial outbreak locations would cause similar CaseNum but different RegionNum and SpatialRange. To avoid the epidemic spread quickly to more regions, it is necessary to prevent epidemic breaking out in locations with high population-mobility flow density. While to avoid epidemic spread to larger spatial range, remote regions with long daily trip distance of residents need attention. Those findings can help understand the transmission risk and driving force of initial outbreak locations within cities and make precise prevention and control strategies in advance.
Psychosoziale Belastung und Arbeitsbedingungen des Pflegepersonals in Pflegeheimen in der Covid-19-Pandemie
Authors: Sappl Isabella , Uhlenbrock Greta , Thier Anne , Schulze Susanne , Rapp Michael A. , Spallek Jacob , Holmberg Christine
Published: August 2024

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Mit Beginn der Covid-19-Pandemie im März 2020 kam es zu zahlreichen Veränderungen im beruflichen Alltag von medizinischem Fachpersonal. Fragestellung: Da bisher das Augenmerk vor allem auf dem Klinikpersonal lag, ist es wichtig auch die Pflegesituation in den Alten- und Pflegeheimen zu betrachten. In dieser Studie wurden die Auswirkungen der Covid-19-Pandemie auf den beruflichen Alltag, die psychosoziale Situation und die interpersonellen Beziehungen des Pflegepersonals in Alten- und Pflegeheimen in Brandenburg untersucht. Methoden: Querschnittsbefragung von Pflegepersonal aus Alten- und Pflegeheimen im Land Brandenburg im Zeitraum von August bis Dezember 2020. Analyse der Fragebögen mittels deskriptiver Statistik und qualitativer thematischer Analyse. Ergebnisse: Einerseits führte die erhöhte Arbeitsbelastung bei erschwerten Arbeitsbedingungen durch Covid-19-Hygienemaßnahmen oder erhöhte Arbeitszeiten zu physischer und psychosozialer Belastung. Im Privatleben zeigte sich eine zunehmende soziale Isolation und die Veränderungen in den interpersonellen Beziehungen waren belastend. Andererseits berichteten die Teilnehmenden von Anerkennung und zunehmendem berufspolitischem Interesse. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Covid-19-Pandemie stellte bereits vorher bestehende Belastungen des Pflegepersonals besonders heraus. In Zukunft ist es wichtig, die bekannten Arbeitsbelastungen für das Pflegepersonal in Alten- und Pflegeheimen zu verbessern und Maßnahmen herauszuarbeiten, um einer Zunahme der Belastung in Situationen wie der Covid-19-Pandemie entgegenzuwirken.
Synthesis of In Situ Marine Calcium Carbonate Dissolution Kinetic Measurements in the Water Column
Authors: Cala Ben A. , Sulpis Olivier , Wolthers Mariette , Humphreys Matthew P.
Published: August 2024

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dissolution is an integral part of the ocean's carbon cycle. However, laboratory measurements and ocean alkalinity budgets disagree on the rate and loci of dissolution. In situ dissolution studies can help to bridge this gap, but so far published studies have not been utilized as a whole because they have not previously been compiled into one data set and lack carbonate system data to compare between studies. Here, we compile all published measurements of CaCO3 dissolution rates in the water column (11 studies, 752 data points). Combining World Ocean Atlas data (temperature, salinity) with the neural network CANYON‐B (carbonate system variables), we estimate seawater saturation state (Ω) for each rate measurement. We find that dissolution rates at the same Ω vary by 2 orders of magnitude. Using a machine learning approach, we show that while Ω is the main driver of dissolution rate, most variability can be attributed to differences in experimental design, above all bias due to (diffusive) transport and the synthetic or biogenic nature of CaCO3. The compiled data set supports previous findings of a change in the mechanism driving dissolution at Ωcrit = 0.8 that separates two distinct dissolution regimes: rslow = 0.29 · (1 − Ω)0.68(±0.16) mass% day−1 and rfast = 2.95 · (1 − Ω)2.2(±0.2) mass% day−1. Above the saturation horizon, one study shows significant dissolution that cannot solely be explained by established theories such as zooplankton grazing and organic matter degradation. This suggests that other, non‐biological factors may play a role in shallow dissolution.
Solar Wind With Field Lines and Energetic Particles (SOFIE) Model: Application to Historical Solar Energetic Particle Events
Authors: Zhao Lulu , Sokolov Igor , Gombosi Tamas , Lario David , Whitman Kathryn , Huang Zhenguang , Toth Gabor , Manchester Ward , van der Holst Bart , Sachdeva Nishtha , Liu Weihao
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability of the data‐driven solar energetic particle (SEP) model, SOlar‐wind with FIeld‐lines and Energetic‐particles (SOFIE), to simulate the acceleration and transport processes of SEPs and make forecast of the energetic proton flux at energies ≥10 MeV that will be observed near 1 AU. The SOFIE model is built upon the Space Weather Modeling Framework developed at the University of Michigan. In SOFIE, the background solar wind plasma in the solar corona and interplanetary space is calculated by the Stream‐Aligned Aflvén Wave Solar‐atmosphere Model(‐Realtime) driven by the near‐real‐time hourly updated Global Oscillation Network Group solar magnetograms. In the background solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are launched by placing an force‐imbalanced magnetic flux rope on top of the parent active region, using the Eruptive Event Generator using Gibson‐Low model. The acceleration and transport processes are modeled by the Multiple‐Field‐Line Advection Model for Particle Acceleration. In this work, nine SEP events (Solar Heliospheric and INterplanetary Environment challenge/campaign events) are modeled. The three modules in SOFIE are validated and evaluated by comparing with observations, including the steady‐state background solar wind properties, the white‐light image of the CMEs, and the flux of solar energetic protons, at energies of ≥10 MeV.
The Validity of Optical Properties as Tracers of Terrigenous Dissolved Organic Carbon During Extensive Remineralization in Coastal Waters
Authors: Chen Yuan , Zhou Yongli , Martin Patrick
Published: August 2024

Terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (tDOC) is significant for coastal carbon cycling, and spectroscopy of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (CDOM, FDOM) is widely used to study tDOC cycling. However, CDOM and FDOM are often amongst the more labile components of tDOC. Because few studies have compared spectroscopy to measurements of both bulk tDOC concentration and tDOC remineralization, it remains unclear how accurately CDOM and FDOM actually trace tDOC in coastal waters when tDOC undergoes extensive remineralization. We collected a 4‐year coastal timeseries in Southeast Asia, where tropical peatlands provide a large tDOC input. A carbon stable isotope mass balance shows that on average 53% of tDOC was remineralized upstream of our site, while 74% of CDOM was bleached. Despite this extensive tDOC remineralization and preferential CDOM loss, optical properties could still reliably quantify tDOC. CDOM spectral slope properties, such as S275–295, are exponentially related to tDOC; these are highly sensitive tDOC tracers at low, but not at high, tDOC concentrations. Other properties are linearly related to tDOC, and both specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA254) and DOC‐normalized fluorescence intensity may be suitable to quantify tDOC over a wider range of concentrations. However, the optical properties did not show consistent changes with the extent of tDOC remineralization. Our data support the validity of CDOM and FDOM spectroscopy to trace tDOC across coastal gradients even after the majority of tDOC has been remineralized, but they also show that these measurements may not provide direct information about the degree of natural tDOC processing.
Does menu calorie labelling cause or exacerbate eating disorders?
Authors: Brealey Jane , Evans Rebecca , Finlay Amy , Gough Thomas , Polden Megan , Putra I. Gusti Ngurah Edi , Tzavella Loukia , Witkam Rozemarijn , Robinson Eric
Published: August 2024

ER and JB were responsible for conceptualisation and study design. JB screened prospective eligible studies, conducted the literature review and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. RE, AF, TG, MP, IP, LT and RW reviewed the literature and contributed to writing. All authors contributed to the manuscript writing, revision, editing, and approved the submitted version.
Exaggerated frontoparietal control over cognitive effort-based decision-making in young women with anorexia nervosa
Authors: King Joseph A. , Bernardoni Fabio , Westbrook Andrew , Korb Franziska M. , Boehm Ilka , Doose Arne , Geisler Daniel , Gramatke Katrin , Hellerhoff Inger , Wolff Sylvia , Strobel Alexander , Goschke Thomas , Roessner Veit , Ehrlich Stefan
Published: August 2024

Effortful tasks are generally experienced as costly, but the value of work varies greatly across individuals and populations. While most mental health conditions are characterized by amotivation and effort avoidance, individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) persistently engage in effortful behaviors that most people find unrewarding (food restriction, excessive exercise). Current models of AN differentially attribute such extreme weight-control behavior to altered reward responding and exaggerated cognitive control. In a novel test of these theoretical accounts, we employed an established cognitive effort discounting paradigm in combination with fMRI in young acutely underweight female patients with AN (n = 48) and age-matched healthy controls (HC; n = 48). Contrary to the hypothesis that individuals with AN would experience cognitive effort (operationalized as N-back task performance) as less costly than HC participants, groups did not differ in the subjective value (SV) of discounted rewards or in SV-related activation of brain regions involved in reward valuation. Rather, all group differences in both behavior (superior N-back performance in AN and associated effort ratings) and fMRI activation (increased SV-related frontoparietal activation during decision-making in AN even for easier choices) were more indicative of increased control. These findings suggest that while effort discounting may be relatively intact in AN, effort investment is high both when performing demanding tasks and during effort-based decision-making; highlighting cognitive overcontrol as an important therapeutic target. Future research should establish whether exaggerated control during effort-based decision-making persists after weight-recovery and explore learning the value of effort in AN with tasks involving disorder-relevant effort demands and rewards.
Cooperative thalamocortical circuit mechanism for sensory prediction errors
Authors: Furutachi Shohei , Franklin Alexis D. , Aldea Andreea M. , Mrsic-Flogel Thomas D. , Hofer Sonja B.
Published: August 2024

The brain functions as a prediction machine, utilizing an internal model of the world to anticipate sensations and the outcomes of our actions. Discrepancies between expected and actual events, referred to as prediction errors, are leveraged to update the internal model and guide our attention towards unexpected events1–10. Despite the importance of prediction-error signals for various neural computations across the brain, surprisingly little is known about the neural circuit mechanisms responsible for their implementation. Here we describe a thalamocortical disinhibitory circuit that is required for generating sensory prediction-error signals in mouse primary visual cortex (V1). We show that violating animals’ predictions by an unexpected visual stimulus preferentially boosts responses of the layer 2/3 V1 neurons that are most selective for that stimulus. Prediction errors specifically amplify the unexpected visual input, rather than representing non-specific surprise or difference signals about how the visual input deviates from the animal’s predictions. This selective amplification is implemented by a cooperative mechanism requiring thalamic input from the pulvinar and cortical vasoactive-intestinal-peptide-expressing (VIP) inhibitory interneurons. In response to prediction errors, VIP neurons inhibit a specific subpopulation of somatostatin-expressing inhibitory interneurons that gate excitatory pulvinar input to V1, resulting in specific pulvinar-driven response amplification of the most stimulus-selective neurons in V1. Therefore, the brain prioritizes unpredicted sensory information by selectively increasing the salience of unpredicted sensory features through the synergistic interaction of thalamic input and neocortical disinhibitory circuits.
Introducing a sleep disorder screening and management strategy for workers with future shift work requirements: a feasibility and acceptability study
Authors: Brown Brandon W. J. , Adams Robert J. , Wanstall Sian , Crowther Meagan E. , Rawson Georgina , Vakulin Andrew , Rayner Tim , McEvoy R. Doug , Eastwood Peter , Reynolds Amy C.
Published: August 2024

Sleep disorders are common, and largely undiagnosed in early-career workers. The combination of sleep disorders and shift work has implications for mental health, workplace safety, and productivity. Early identification and management of sleep disorders is likely to be beneficial to workers, employers and the community more broadly. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored sleep disorder screening and management pathway for individuals with future shift work requirements. Paramedic students were invited to complete an online sleep health survey, which included validated sleep disorder screening questionnaires for insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Participants were able to express interest in participating in a sleep monitoring and management study. Participants at risk for a sleep disorder were identified, contacted by the study physician (RJA), notified of their sleep disorder screening results and provided with information regarding management options. Feasibility of the screening and management pathways were determined by completion of the 12 week follow-up, and ability to engage with health services for diagnostic testing or treatment. Acceptability of these pathways was assessed with a semi-structured interview on completion of the study at 12 weeks. Screening was completed in thirty participants (mean age 22.5 ± 6.7, 63% female), 17 of whom were ‘at-risk’ for a sleep disorder and offered a management pathway. All participants engaged with the study physician (RJA), with 16 completing the study (94% completion rate). Three participants with excessive daytime sleepiness received feedback from the study physician (RJA) and no further care required. Of the remaining 14 participants, 11 (78%) engaged with health services after speaking with the study physician (RJA). Those who engaged with diagnostic and management services reported that a structured pathway with online screening was convenient and easy to follow. Facilitating screening and management of sleep disorders in students with future shift work requirements is both feasible and acceptable. These findings can inform the development of a preventive strategy for sleep disorders and ideally, a health services feasibility trial for future shift workers.
The pro-differentiating capability of a flavonoid-rich extract of Citrus bergamia juice prompts autophagic death in THP-1 cells
Authors: Musumeci Laura , Russo Caterina , Schumacher Udo , Lombardo Giovanni Enrico , Maugeri Alessandro , Navarra Michele
Published: August 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic neoplasm, characterized by a blockage of differentiation and an unconstrained proliferation of immature myeloid cells. Recently, the survival of leukemia patients has increased thanks to the use of differentiating agents, though these may cause serious side effects. Hence, the search for safer differentiating compounds is necessary. Our aim was to assess the pro-differentiating effects of a flavonoid-rich extract of bergamot juice (BJe) in human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells, an in vitro AML model. For the first time, we showed that treatment with BJe induced differentiation of THP-1 cells, changes in cell morphology and increased expression of differentiation-associated surface antigens CD68, CD11b and CD14. Moreover, BJe enhanced protein levels of autophagy-associated markers, such as Beclin-1 and LC3, as well as induced the phosphorylation of the MAPKs JNK, ERK and p38, hence suggesting a potential mechanism underlying its antiproliferative effects. Indeed, parallel experiments highlighted that BJe was able to hamper THP-1 cell growth. In conclusion, our study suggests that BJe induces the differentiation of THP-1 cells and reduces their proliferation, highlighting its potential in differentiation therapy of AML.
Genotyping single point mutations in rd1 and rd8 mice using melting curve analysis of qPCR fragments
Authors: Schwämmle Melanie E. , Bucher Felicitas , Schlunck Günther , Martin Gottfried
Published: August 2024

PCR is tolerant to single nucleotide mismatches. Therefore, genotyping of point mutations by PCR requires special conditions for the amplification of allele-specific PCR fragments. MS-PCR (mutagenically separated PCR) is an improved version of ARMS (amplification refractory mutation system) in which additional nucleotide mismatches near the mutation site are used to separate the wt fragments from the mutant fragments in a single-tube PCR. In the originally described procedure, the resulting fragments are resolved on agarose gels according to differences in size introduced by different lengths of the allele-specific primers. In order to evaluate the PCR fragments by melting curve analysis, we enlarged the difference in the melting temperatures of the fragments of the two alleles by increasing the GC content of the longer allele-specific primer resulting in a higher melting temperature of the corresponding fragment. Using the murine retinal degeneration mutations rd1 and rd8 as an example, we show that such primers result in an easy to handle genotyping procedure: qPCR followed by melting curve analysis. In summary, MS-PCR is a simple and easy-to-use method for detecting single nucleotide variants.