bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A diversity of diversities: Do complex environmental effects underpin associations between below‐ and above‐ground taxa?
Authors: Seaton Fiona M. , George Paul B. L. , Alison Jamie , Jones Davey L. , Creer Simon , Smart Simon M. , Emmett Bridget A. , Robinson David A.
Published: May 2024

To predict how biodiversity will respond to global change, it is crucial to understand the relative roles of abiotic drivers and biotic interactions in driving associations between the biodiversity of disparate taxa. It is particularly challenging to understand diversity–diversity links across domains and habitats, because data are rarely available for multiple above‐ and below‐ground taxa across multiple sites.

Here, we analyse data from a unique biodiversity data set gathered across a variety of oceanic temperate terrestrial habitats in Wales, comprising 300 sites with co‐located soil microbial, plant, bird and pollinator surveys along with climate and soil physicochemical information. Soil groups are analysed using metabarcoding of the 16S, ITS1 and 18S DNA regions, allowing in‐depth characterisation of microbial and soil animal biodiversity.

We explore biodiversity relationships along three aspects of community composition: First, we assess correlation between the alpha diversity of different groups. Second, we assess whether biotic turnover between sites is correlated across different groups. Finally, we investigate the co‐occurrence of individual taxa across sites. In each analysis, we assess the contribution of linear or nonlinear environmental effects.

We find that a positive correlation between alpha diversity of plants, soil bacteria, soil fungi, soil heterotrophic protists, bees and butterflies is in fact driven by complex nonlinear responses to abiotic drivers. In contrast, environmental variation did not account for positive associations between the diversity of plants and both birds and AM fungi, suggesting a role for biotic interactions.

Both the diversity and taxon‐level associations between the differing soil groups remained even after accounting for nonlinear environmental gradients. Above‐ground, spatial factors played larger roles in driving biotic communities, while linear environmental gradients were sufficient to explain many group‐ and taxon‐level relationships.

Synthesis. Our results show how nonlinear responses to environmental gradients drive many of the relationships between plant biodiversity and the biodiversity of above‐ and below‐ground biological communities. Our work shows how different aspects of biodiversity might respond nonlinearly to changing environments and identifies cases where management‐induced changes in one community could either influence other taxa or lead to loss of apparent biological associations.
Simplifying, Innovating, and Collaborating: Educating the Health Workforce for Medicare's Middle‐age
Authors: Brock Tina , Davidson Sandra , Molloy Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

Australia's Medicare is at a mid‐life reflection point. This is not a moment for existential dread or rash actions. Instead, it is a time for age‐related improvement. Middle‐aged Medicare would benefit from policy that reflects the benefits of subtractive change to reduce its complexity. In addition, policies prioritising the use of data science to enact technologically innovative approaches would improve overall flexibility. Finally, policy can play an important role in strengthening connections between health profession cadres, incentivising them to work together at the top of scope. With education, practice, and policy collaborating, we can enable Medicare's wellbeing for years to come.
Medicare at 40: Are We Showing Our Age?
Authors: Hall Jane , van Gool Kees , Haywood Philip , Fiebig Denzil
Published: May 2024

To understand what Medicare aimed to achieve, we need to revisit the medico‐politics of the time, and the fear of the spectre of socialised medicine. That determined what could be changed (universal insurance and contributions according to means) and what could not (private medical service provision and fee‐for‐service). We consider what Medicare has achieved in terms of community acceptance, fairer contributions, affordability at its establishment; and how those aims can be assessed today. While Medicare is undoubtedly a success, there are inflexibilities in its structure that are challenging in ensuring it is fit for the next four decades.
Examining the association of hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy on cardiovascular disease and all‐cause, cardiovascular or cancer mortality: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Yuge , Li Fengjuan , Liang Lei , Hua Huiling , Liu Shizheng , Yu Zihe , Chen Qiuyu , Huang Shufeng , Qin Pei
Published: May 2024

Background

The associations between hysterectomy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality remains unlcear and a meta‐analysis with cohort studies is lacking.

Objectives

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of cohort studies to investigate the relationship between hysterectomy and CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure, and all‐cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality. We further explored the effect of oophorectomy on the association between hysterectomy and these health outcomes.

Search strategy

PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched up to 24 July 2023.

Selection criteria

Cohort studies.

Data collection and analysis

Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled using a random‐effects model. We used I2 to assess the heterogeneity between studies.

Main results

Forty‐three studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Hysterectomy was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD (pooled HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.09–1.13; n = 6; I2 = 0) and stroke (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.14; n = 7; I2 = 52%), but with a decreased risk of cancer mortality (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86–1.00; n = 4; I2 = 81%). No significant association was observed between hysterectomy and CHD (n = 10; I2 = 83%), all‐cause mortality (n = 8; I2 = 81%) or cardiovascular mortality (n = 7; I2 = 89%). Hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy was significantly associated with CVD and stroke risk, but showed a larger effect size for hysterectomy with oophorectomy. A significantly increased risk of CHD was observed in the subgroup of hysterectomy with oophorectomy, but not for the subgroup of hysterectomy alone.

Conclusions

Hysterectomy may increase the risk of CVD, CHD and stroke, but not all‐cause, cardiovascular or cancer mortality. Hysterectomy with oophorectomy may have a higher risk of CVD, CHD and stroke than hysterectomy alone. However, the results on CHD and mortality related to hysterectomy should be interpreted cautiously because of the high level of heterogeneity and unstable subgroup analyses.
Bimodal alarm signals modulate responses to monomodal alarm signals in Camponotus modoc carpenter ants
Authors: Renyard Asim , Gries Gerhard
Published: May 2024

Distressed western carpenter ants, Camponotus modoc, produce alarm pheromone and substrate‐borne vibrations. The alarm pheromone attracts nestmates but the effects of vibratory signals, or of bimodal pheromonal and vibratory signals, are not known. Worker ants of two Camponotus congeners reportedly stand still (“freeze”) or run fast in response to engineered drumming vibrations inputted on plastic, but many responses to ant‐produced vibratory signals on wood have not yet been investigated. Generally, orientating toward signalers under vertebrate predator attack seems maladaptive and not beneficial to ant colonies. We tested the hypotheses (1) that vibratory alarm signals cause freezing, rapid running but not attraction of nestmates, and (2) that bimodal alarm signals modulate responses to monomodal alarm signals, thereby possibly reducing predation risk. Laser Doppler vibrometry recordings revealed that the ants’ vibratory signals readily propagate through ant nest lamellae, and thus quickly inform nest mates of perceived threats. With a speaker modified to record and deliver vibratory signals, we obtained drumming signals of distressed ants on a Douglas fir veneer, and bioassayed signal effects on ants in an arena with a suspended veneer floor. In response playback of vibratory signals, ants ran rapidly, or froze, but did not approach the vibratory signals. Exposed to alarm pheromone, ants frequently visited the pheromone source. However, concurrently exposed to both alarm pheromone and vibratory signals, ants visited the pheromone source less often but spent more time “frozen.” The ants’ modulated responses to bimodal signals seem adaptive but the reproductive fitness benefits are still to be quantified.
Guidelines for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the Emergency Department (GRACE‐4): Alcohol use disorder and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome management in the emergency department
Authors: Borgundvaag Bjug , Bellolio Fernanda , Miles Isabelle , Schwarz Evan S. , Sharif Sameer , Su Mark K. , Baumgartner Kevin , Liss David B. , Sheikh Hasan , Vogel Jody , Austin Emily B. , Upadhye Suneel , Klaiman Michelle , Vellend Robert , Munkley Anna , Carpenter Christopher R.
Published: May 2024

The fourth Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Guidelines for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the Emergency Department (GRACE‐4) is on the topic of the emergency department (ED) management of nonopioid use disorders and focuses on alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). The SAEM GRACE‐4 Writing Team, composed of emergency physicians and experts in addiction medicine and patients with lived experience, applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations regarding six priority questions for adult ED patients with AWS, AUD, and CHS. The SAEM GRACE‐4 Writing Team reached the following recommendations: (1) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) with moderate to severe AWS who are being admitted to hospital, we suggest using phenobarbital in addition to benzodiazepines compared to using benzodiazepines alone [low to very low certainty of evidence]; (2) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) with AUD who desire alcohol cessation, we suggest a prescription for one anticraving medication [very low certainty of evidence]; (2a) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) with AUD, we suggest naltrexone (compared to no prescription) to prevent return to heavy drinking [low certainty of evidence]; (2b) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) with AUD and contraindications to naltrexone, we suggest acamprosate (compared to no prescription) to prevent return to heavy drinking and/or to reduce heavy drinking [low certainty of evidence]; (2c) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) with AUD, we suggest gabapentin (compared to no prescription) for the management of AUD to reduce heavy drinking days and improve alcohol withdrawal symptoms [very low certainty of evidence]; (3a) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) presenting to the ED with CHS we suggest the use of haloperidol or droperidol (in addition to usual care/serotonin antagonists, e.g., ondansetron) to help with symptom management [very low certainty of evidence]; and (3b) in adult ED patients (over the age of 18) presenting to the ED with CHS, we also suggest offering the use of topical capsaicin (in addition to usual care/serotonin antagonists, e.g., ondansetron) to help with symptom management [very low certainty of evidence].
Development of new hormonal male contraception for the couple
Authors: Kroopnick Jeffrey M. , Lee Min S. , Blithe Diana L.
Published: May 2024

Background

Current options for male contraception are limited to condoms, the withdrawal method, or a vasectomy. Studies indicate that men have expressed growing interest in bearing responsibility for family planning.

Objectives

To review prior studies investigating the role of an androgen‐only or androgen with progestin regimen for hormonal male contraception and to provide an update of a promising new hormonal agent, a transdermal gel.

Discussion

Thus far, there have been six studies conducted in couples evaluating the contraceptive efficacy of an androgen‐only or androgen co‐administered with a progestin regimen for hormonal male contraception. The only ongoing study is by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, in collaboration with the Population Council. They have developed a novel transdermal gel containing testosterone and segesterone acetate (Nestorone), a progestin. An ongoing phase II study enrolling more than 460 couples has shown great potential with respect to the product's efficacy, safety, reversibility, and acceptability. As this agent advances in development, a rapid at‐home test for sperm concentration will provide couples with immediate feedback regarding their potential for pregnancy.

Conclusion

There is promise for the first‐of‐its‐kind hormonal male contraceptive, a transdermal gel, to achieve market approval for distribution in the United States and elsewhere. Its safety, efficacy, reversibility, and user‐control are all appealing qualities that make it readily adoptable for clinical practice.
Striatin knock out induces a gain of function of INa and impaired Ca2+ handling in mESC‐derived cardiomyocytes
Authors: Benzoni P. , Arici M. , Giannetti F. , Cospito A. , Prevostini R. , Volani C. , Fassina L. , Rosato‐Siri M. D. , Metallo A. , Gennaccaro L. , Suffredini S. , Foco L. , Mazzetti S. , Calogero A. , Cappelletti G. , Leibbrandt A. , Elling U. , Broso F. , Penninger J. M. , Pramstaller P. P. , Piubelli C. , Bucchi A. , Baruscotti M. , Rossini A. , Rocchetti M. , Barbuti A.
Published: May 2024

Aim

Striatin (Strn) is a scaffold protein expressed in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and alteration of its expression are described in various cardiac diseases. However, the alteration underlying its pathogenicity have been poorly investigated.

Methods

We studied the role(s) of cardiac Strn gene (STRN) by comparing the functional properties of CMs, generated from Strn‐KO and isogenic WT mouse embryonic stem cell lines.

Results

The spontaneous beating rate of Strn‐KO CMs was faster than WT cells, and this correlated with a larger fast INa conductance and no changes in If. Paced (2–8 Hz) Strn‐KO CMs showed prolonged action potential (AP) duration in comparison with WT CMs and this was not associated with changes in ICaL and IKr. Motion video tracking analysis highlighted an altered contraction in Strn‐KO CMs; this was associated with a global increase in intracellular Ca2+, caused by an enhanced late Na+ current density (INaL) and a reduced Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) activity and expression. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the higher Na+ channel expression and a more dynamic microtubule network in Strn‐KO CMs than in WT. Indeed, incubation of Strn‐KO CMs with the microtubule stabilizer taxol, induced a rescue (downregulation) of INa conductance toward WT levels.

Conclusion

Loss of STRN alters CMs electrical and contractile profiles and affects cell functionality by a disarrangement of Strn‐related multi‐protein complexes. This leads to impaired microtubules dynamics and Na+ channels trafficking to the plasma membrane, causing a global Na+ and Ca2+ enhancement.
Geochemical signature identifying features and archaeological structures in eastern Amazonian Terra Preta sites
Authors: Hosn Majd Nidal Aboul , Figueira Bruno Apolo Miranda , Junior Paulo Sérgio Taube , da Silva José Francisco Berredo Reis , Archanjo Bráulio Soares , Gul Kashif , Malik Sumeet , da Costa Marcondes Lima
Published: May 2024

The present work describes the chemistry and mineralogy of soils such as Terra Preta Arqueológica (TPA) or Terra Preta de Índio (TPI) from the Bitoca I and II sites, located in the Salobo Region (Carajás Mineral Province, Pará‐Brazil). The results revealed chemical and mineralogical characteristics that are similar to other TPAs found throughout the Amazon region, such as relatively high levels of Ca (average of 3600 ppm), P (average of 850 ppm), Mn (average of 730 ppm), Zn (average of 55 ppm), and Cu (average of 63 ppm). In soils related to the characteristics of occupation by huts and campfires, the mineralogical composition is represented by quartz, kaolinite, calcite, muscovite, anatase, hematite, goethite, and gibbsite. Amorphous phases have also been identified mainly as calcium phosphates and organic matter (humic and fulvic acids). The analysis of the features/structures described here helped in the identification/verification of areas destined for different activities within the sites.
Framing consumer empowerment in the digital economy: From networks and engagement toward sustainable purchase
Authors: Vătămănescu Elena‐Mădălina , Dinu Elena , Gazzola Patrizia , Dabija Dan‐Cristian
Published: May 2024

The current study investigates the influence of variety among online providers and customers' access to knowledge on consumer networks, consumer engagement, and sustainable purchasing. Emphasis is on the underlying relationships among these constructs in the digital economy, which has evolved into a complex structure of multifarious nodes and linkages unfolding in the online environment. The underlying theoretical approaches are knowledge‐attitude‐behavior (KAB) and customer sovereignty. Against this backdrop, a questionnaire‐based survey was given to 200 Millennials (i.e., generation Y) and gen Z Italians—approached as empowered stakeholders requiring accurate information and sustainable solutions from online providers—in January 2023. The data was processed via the structural equation modeling technique PLS‐SEM, based on SmartPLS 4. The findings indicated that sustainable purchasing is influenced to some extent by access to knowledge, consumer engagement, and consumer networks. The study endeavors to fill a research gap, as the relationships between variety among online providers and sustainable purchasing, as well as consumer engagement from the empowerment perspective are underexplored. The study provides new evidence of the relationships between consumer networks, consumers' access to knowledge, sustainable purchasing, and consumer engagement in the framework of online retail by inquiring respondents.
Peri‐implantitis and maxillary sinus membrane thickening: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Pons Ramón , Giralt‐Hernando Maria , Nart José , de Tapia Beatriz , Hernández‐Alfaro Federico , Monje Alberto
Published: May 2024

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the association of peri‐implantitis (PI) and sinus membrane thickening and to assess the resolution of membrane thickening following intervention (implant removal or peri‐implantitis treatment) aimed at arresting PI.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐five patients with 61 implants in the posterior maxillary region were retrospectively included in the study. Twenty‐four patients were diagnosed with peri‐implantitis (PI) and 21 had peri‐implant health (PH). Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were evaluated to assess maxillary sinus characteristics, including membrane thickening, sinus occupancy and ostium patency. The CBCT scans taken 6 months after intervention aimed at arresting disease (implant removal or treatment of PI) in the PI group were also appraised and compared to baseline scans.

Results

At baseline, all parameters evaluating membrane thickness disorders yielded significant differences between groups (p < .001). Patients with posterior maxillary implants diagnosed with PI were 7× more likely to present membrane thickening compatible with pathology when compared to patients with healthy implants (OR = 7.14; p = .005). Furthermore, the likelihood was 6x greater in implants diagnosed with PI to exhibit moderate membrane thickening (OR = 6.75, p = .001). The patients receiving interventions aimed at arresting PI experienced significant enhancement in all radiographic parameters related to the sinus cavity at the 6‐month follow‐up (p < .001), though these variations were similarly independent of whether treatment consisted of PI treatment or implant removal.

Conclusions

Maxillary sinus membrane thickening and the permeability/obstruction of the ostium are frequently associated with the presence of PI in posterior implants. Interventions targeting disease resolution effectively reduce membrane thickness to levels compatible with maxillary sinus health.
An update on noninvasive neuromodulation in the treatment of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness
Authors: Wan Xiaoping , Zhang Ye , Li Yanhua , Song Weiqun
Published: May 2024

Background

With the improvement of emergency techniques, the survival rate of patients with severe brain injury has increased. However, this has also led to an annual increase in the number of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC). Hence, recovery of consciousness is an important part of treatment. With advancing techniques, noninvasive neuromodulation seems a promising intervention. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest techniques and provide the basis for protocols of noninvasive neuromodulations in pDoC.

Methods

This review summarized the advances in noninvasive neuromodulation in the treatment of pDoC in the last 5 years.

Results

Variable techniques of neuromodulation are used in pDoC. Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) are very new techniques, while transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are still the hotspots in pDoC. Median nerve electrical stimulation (MNS) has received little attention in the last 5 years.

Conclusions

Noninvasive neuromodulation is a valuable and promising technique to treat pDoC. Further studies are needed to determine a unified stimulus protocol to achieve optimal effects as well as safety.
The health‐related quality of life of early‐onset colorectal cancer patients: an Australian cross‐sectional study
Authors: Garrett Celine , Koh Cherry E. , Solomon Michael J. , Steffens Daniel
Published: May 2024

Aim

Early‐onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients are more likely to have advanced disease and undergo more aggressive treatment modalities. However, current literature investigating the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of EOCRC patients is scarce. This study aimed to determine the HRQoL of an Australian cohort of EOCRC patients including a subset who underwent pelvic exenteration (PE) or cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Method

A cross‐sectional study of EOCRC patients treated at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Australia was performed. Patients were divided into groups based on the time interval from their index operation: ≤2 years and >2 years. HRQoL was evaluated using the SF‐36v2 questionnaire.

Results

A total of 50 patients were included. For patients ≤2 years from surgery, the median physical component summary (PCS) and mental health component summary (MCS) scores were 53.3 (36.4–58.9) and 47.3 (37.5–55.7). In the >2 years group, the median PCS and MCS scores were 50.6 (43.3–57.7) and 50.2 (39.04–56.2), respectively. Stage I (vs. stage II) disease and emergency (vs. elective) surgery conferred poorer PCS scores in patients ≤2 years from surgery. No other variables impacted PCS or MCS scores in EOCRC patients in either group.

Conclusions

HRQoL of EOCRC patients was equivocal to the Australian population. Having an earlier stage of diagnosis and emergency index operation was associated with poorer levels of physical functioning in patients ≤2 years from surgery. However, because of the limitations of this study, these findings require validation in future large‐scale prospective research.
Determinants of serious health outcome‐free status in middle‐aged and older people with dysglycaemia: Exploratory analysis of the ORIGIN trial
Authors: Mohammedi Kamel , Hess Sibylle , McQueen Matthew , Pigeyre Marie , Lee Shun Fu , Pare Guillaume , Gerstein Hertzel C.
Published: May 2024

Aim

To assess clinical and biochemical measurements that can identify people with dysglycaemia (i.e. diabetes or pre‐diabetes) who remain free of serious outcomes during follow‐up.

Materials and Methods

We conducted exploratory analyses using data from the Outcomes Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention (ORIGIN) study to identify independent determinants of outcome‐free status in 12 537 middle‐aged and older adults with prediabetes and early type 2 diabetes from 40 countries. Serious outcome‐free status was defined as the absence of major cardiovascular outcomes, kidney or retinal outcomes, peripheral artery disease, dementia, cancer, any hospitalization, or death during follow‐up.

Results

In total, 3328 (26.6%) participants remained free of serious outcomes during a median follow‐up of 6.2 years (IQR 5.8, 6.7). Independent clinical determinants of outcome‐free status included younger age, female sex, non‐White ethnicity, shorter diabetes duration, absence of previous cardiovascular disease, current or former smokers, higher grip strength, Mini‐Mental State Examination score, and ankle‐brachial index, lower body mass index and kidney disease index, and non‐use of renin‐angiotensin system drugs and beta‐blockers. In a subset of 8401 people with baseline measurements of 238 biomarkers, growth differentiation factor 15, kidney injury molecule‐1, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide, uromodulin, C‐reactive protein, factor VII and ferritin were independent determinants. The combination of clinical determinants and biomarkers best identified participants who remained outcome‐free (C‐statistics 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.70‐0.73; net reclassification improvement 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.48‐0.58).

Conclusions

A set of routinely measured clinical characteristics and seven protein biomarkers identify middle‐aged and older people with prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes as least likely to experience serious outcomes during follow‐up.
Carrion type and extent of breeding success together influence subsequent carrion choice by adult burying beetles
Authors: Park Hyun Woo , Issar Swastika , Kilner Rebecca M.
Published: May 2024

Insects can adjust their behaviour in relation to experience in a wide range of contexts including foraging, mate selection and choice of oviposition site. Here, we investigate whether burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides modulate their choice of carrion type in relation to the outcome of their past breeding experience.

Burying beetles require the carcass of a small vertebrate, such as a mouse or a chick, to reproduce. Beetle parents convert this carrion into an edible nursery for their larvae, whom they typically care for throughout larval development. We tested whether a beetle's past breeding experience influenced its subsequent choice of carrion when presented simultaneously with either a dead mouse or a dead chick.

We found that beetles that bred on a mouse and produced many larvae in their first breeding attempt subsequently favoured mice over chicks for their second breeding attempt. Beetles that had produced fewer larvae on a dead mouse switched to favouring dead chicks in their second breeding attempt. Those that had bred on a dead chick chose carrion at random subsequently, regardless of their previous breeding success.

Our general conclusion is that burying beetles can integrate different sources of information about their past breeding experience with current cues when selecting carrion for reproduction.
Frontex and access to justice: The need for effective monitoring mechanisms
Authors: Guild Elspeth
Published: May 2024

Access to justice depends on the ability of the person who is alleging a breach of human rights to establish to a credible extent the facts of the case. Where the individual is unable to provide supporting documentation about the facts, the claims are likely to be found inadmissible, or at least the defendant's lawyers are likely to seek to have the case dismissed on the basis of no case to answer. The transnational nature of state authorities' violence in external border controls (border violence) complicates the ability of victims to establish what has actually happened. Indeed, victims are often on one side of the border and those seeking to assist them on the other, while border police themselves are most reluctant to assist in establishing facts which may result in liability for themselves. This article examines how the EU can establish effective monitoring mechanisms with the competence to investigate allegations of state agencies' border violence building on existing structures.
Comparison of nature‐inspired algorithms in finite element‐based metaheuristic optimisation of laminated shells
Authors: Pal Subham , Kalita Kanak , Haldar Salil
Published: May 2024

This work presents a unique technique for optimising composite laminates used as structural components, which is critical for situations where failure might result in disastrous effects. Unlike traditional surrogate‐based optimisation approaches, this methodology combines the accurate modelling capabilities of finite element (FE) analysis with the iterative refining capacity of metaheuristic algorithms. By combining these two methodologies, our method intends to improve the design process of laminated shell structures, assuring robustness and dependability is crucial. Compared to existing benchmark solutions, the current FE shows a <1% error for cylindrical and spherical shells. The prime objective of this study is to identify the optimum ply angles for attaining a high fundamental frequency. The problem is NP‐hard because the possible ply angles span a wide range (±90°), making it difficult for optimisation algorithms to find a solution. Seven popular metaheuristic algorithms, namely the genetic algorithm (GA), the ant lion optimisation (ALO), the arithmetic optimisation algorithm (AOA), the dragonfly algorithm (DA), the grey wolf optimisation (GWO), the salp swarm optimisation (SSO), and the whale optimisation algorithm (WOA), are applied to and compared on a wide range of shell design problems. It assesses parameter sensitivity, discovering significant design elements that influence dynamic behaviour. Convergence studies demonstrate the superior performance of AOA, GWO, and WOA optimisers. Rigorous statistical comparisons assist practitioners in picking the best optimisation technique. FE‐GWO, FE‐DA, and FE‐SSA methods surpass the other techniques as well as the layerwise optimisation strategy. The findings obtained, employing the GWO, DA, and SSA optimisers, demonstrate ~3% improvement over the existing literature. With respect to conventional layup designs (cross‐ply and angle‐ply), the current optimised designs are better by at least 0.43% and as much as 48.91%.
Frequency effect on low‐cycle fatigue behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi alloy
Authors: Iasnii Volodymyr , Krechkovska Halyna , Budz Volodymyr , Student Oleksandra , Lapusta Yuri
Published: May 2024

This study presents experimental results on the effect of loading frequency during low‐cycle fatigue on the fracture mechanism and properties of pseudoelastic NiTi wire. The uniaxial tensile tests were performed in stress‐controlled mode over the 0.1–10 Hz frequency range. It was shown that the number of cycles before specimen failure decreased with increasing frequency from 0.1 Hz to 1 Hz but increased at frequencies above 1 Hz. It was fractographically shown that fatigue striations were observed on the fracture surfaces of specimens tested at all loading frequencies. A new type of fatigue striations was described on fracture specimens tested at frequencies up to 1 Hz. They are characterized by different spacing between successive striations with a change in the slope of the fracture at the transitions between them. This feature may be associated with forward and reverse phase transformations during half‐periods of loading and unloading of nitinol.
Unveiling the landscape predictors of resilient vegetation in coastal wetlands to inform conservation in the face of climate extremes
Authors: Cheng Fangyan , Liu Jialin , Ren Junlin , Ma Shuai , Ji Weiwen , Li Bo , He Qiang
Published: May 2024

Unveiling spatial variation in vegetation resilience to climate extremes can inform effective conservation planning under climate change. Although many conservation efforts are implemented on landscape scales, they often remain blind to landscape variation in vegetation resilience. We explored the distribution of drought‐resilient vegetation (i.e., vegetation that could withstand and quickly recover from drought) and its predictors across a heterogeneous coastal landscape under long‐term wetland conversion, through a series of high‐resolution satellite image interpretations, spatial analyses, and nonlinear modelling. We found that vegetation varied greatly in drought resilience across the coastal wetland landscape and that drought‐resilient vegetation could be predicted with distances to coastline and tidal channel. Specifically, drought‐resilient vegetation exhibited a nearly bimodal distribution and had a seaward optimum at ~2 km from coastline (corresponding to an inundation frequency of ~30%), a pattern particularly pronounced in areas further away from tidal channels. Furthermore, we found that areas with drought‐resilient vegetation were more likely to be eliminated by wetland conversion. Even in protected areas where wetland conversion was slowed, drought‐resilient vegetation was increasingly lost to wetland conversion at its landward optimum in combination with rapid plant invasions at its seaward optimum. Our study highlights that the distribution of drought‐resilient vegetation can be predicted using landscape features but without incorporating this predictive understanding, conservation efforts may risk failing in the face of climate extremes.
SEnSCA: Identifying possible ligand‐receptor interactions and its application in cell–cell communication inference
Authors: Zhou Liqian , Wang Xiwen , Peng Lihong , Chen Min , Wen Hong
Published: May 2024

Multicellular organisms have dense affinity with the coordination of cellular activities, which severely depend on communication across diverse cell types. Cell–cell communication (CCC) is often mediated via ligand‐receptor interactions (LRIs). Existing CCC inference methods are limited to known LRIs. To address this problem, we developed a comprehensive CCC analysis tool SEnSCA by integrating single cell RNA sequencing and proteome data. SEnSCA mainly contains potential LRI acquisition and CCC strength evaluation. For acquiring potential LRIs, it first extracts LRI features and reduces the feature dimension, subsequently constructs negative LRI samples through K‐means clustering, finally acquires potential LRIs based on Stacking ensemble comprising support vector machine, 1D‐convolutional neural networks and multi‐head attention mechanism. During CCC strength evaluation, SEnSCA conducts LRI filtering and then infers CCC by combining the three‐point estimation approach and single cell RNA sequencing data. SEnSCA computed better precision, recall, accuracy, F1 score, AUC and AUPR under most of conditions when predicting possible LRIs. To better illustrate the inferred CCC network, SEnSCA provided three visualization options: heatmap, bubble diagram and network diagram. Its application on human melanoma tissue demonstrated its reliability in CCC detection. In summary, SEnSCA offers a useful CCC inference tool and is freely available at https://github.com/plhhnu/SEnSCA.
Francisella salimarina infection in farmed cobia (Rachycentron canadum) and dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in Brazil: A case report
Authors: Rocha Victória Pontes , Gauer Danise , Costa Henrique Lopes , Reis Francisco Yan Tavares , Marcelino Sóstenes Apolo Correia , Nogueira Luiz Fagner Ferreira , Pierezan Felipe , Figueiredo Henrique César Pereira , Tavares Guilherme Campos
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to identify and characterize isolates of Francisella salimarina associated with an outbreak on a marine fish farm in Brazil and to analyse their genetic variability and antimicrobial susceptibility. In 2021, diseased cobias (Rachycentron canadum, n = 10) and dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus, n = 10) were sampled and subjected to bacteriological and pathological examinations. The isolates obtained were morphologically and biochemically characterized and identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐ToF) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The genetic diversity of these isolates was analysed using repetitive extragenic palindromic‐polymerase chain reaction (REP‐PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the disk diffusion technique. Macroscopically, the fish presented skin ulcerations, ocular lesions, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. A pleomorphic, gram‐negative, catalase‐ and oxidase‐positive bacterium was isolated from seven cobias and two groupers. The 16S rRNA gene sequences showed >99% coverage and identity with other deposited sequences of F. salimarina. The results of the biochemical analysis corresponded to these bacterial species. Histologically, granulomas were observed in the spleen, liver and heart of the cobias (n = 6), and necrotizing and fibrinous dermatitis and myositis were identified in some groupers (n = 2). The isolates exhibited the same banding pattern when REP‐PCR was performed, indicating that they were clonally related. Finally, the antibiogram test, no inhibition halo was observed for amoxicillin and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. salimarina infection in cobias and dusky groupers.
A prediction model of abnormal acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Sonoda Michiko , Matsumura Tomoaki , Dao Hang Viet , Shiko Yuki , Do Phuong Nhat , Nguyen Binh Phuc , Okimoto Kenichiro , Akizue Naoki , Ohyama Yuhei , Mamiya Yukiyo , Nakazawa Hayato , Takahashi Satsuki , Horio Ryosuke , Goto Chihiro , Kurosugi Akane , Kaneko Tatsuya , Ohta Yuki , Saito Keiko , Taida Takashi , Kikuchi Atsuko , Fujie Mai , Kato Jun , Dao Long Van , Kato Naoya
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim

The measurement of esophageal acid exposure time (AET) using combined multichannel intraluminal impedance–pH (MII‐pH) tests is the gold standard for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, this catheter‐based 24‐h test can cause considerable patient discomfort. Our aim is to identify factors affecting AET and to develop a scoring model for predicting AET abnormalities before conducting the MII‐pH test.

Methods

Of the 366 patients who underwent MII‐pH test at two facilities in Japan and Vietnam, 255 patients who also had esophagogastroduodenoscopy and high‐resolution manometry were included in this study. Logistic regression analysis was conducted using risk factors for AET > 6% identified from a derivation cohort (n = 109). A scoring system predicting AET > 6% was then constructed and externally validated with a separate cohort (n = 146).

Results

Three variables were derived from the prediction model: male gender, Hill grades III–IV, and weak mean distal contractile integrals. Based on these scores, patients were classified into low (0 point), intermediate (1–3 points), and high (4 points) risk groups. The probabilities of having an AET > 6% were 6%, 34%, and 100% for these groups, respectively. A score of < 1 excluded patients with abnormal AET, with a negative predictive value of 93.8% in the derivation cohort and 80.0% in the validation cohort.

Conclusions

We derived and externally validated a prediction model for abnormal AET. This system could assist in guiding the appropriate treatment strategies for GERD.
The AMSlide for noninvasive time‐lapse imaging of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
Authors: McGaley Jennifer , Schneider Ben , Paszkowski Uta
Published: May 2024

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the nutritional partnership between AM fungi and most plant species, is globally ubiquitous and of great ecological and agricultural importance. Studying the processes of AM symbiosis is confounded by its highly spatiotemporally dynamic nature. While microscopy methods exist to probe the spatial side of this plant–fungal interaction, the temporal side remains more challenging, as reliable deep‐tissue time‐lapse imaging requires both symbiotic partners to remain undisturbed over prolonged time periods. Here, we introduce the AMSlide: a noninvasive, high‐resolution, live‐imaging system optimised for AM symbiosis research. We demonstrate the AMSlide's applications in confocal microscopy of mycorrhizal roots, from whole colonisation zones to subcellular structures, over timeframes from minutes to weeks. The AMSlide's versatility for different microscope set‐ups, imaging techniques, and plant and fungal species is also outlined. It is hoped that the AMSlide will be applied in future research to fill in the temporal blanks in our understanding of AM symbiosis, as well as broader root and rhizosphere processes.
Finite Element Analysis of Six Internal Fixations in the Treatment of Pauwels Type III Femoral Neck Fracture
Authors: Sun Xiang , Han Zhe , Cao Dongdong , Han Chao , Xie Mengqi , Zeng Xiantie , Dong Qiang
Published: May 2024

Objective

The current investigation sought to utilize finite element analysis to replicate the biomechanical effects of different fixation methods, with the objective of establishing a theoretical framework for the optimal choice of modalities in managing Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures.

Methods

The Pauwels type III fracture configuration, characterized by angles of 70°, was simulated in conjunction with six distinct internal fixation methods, including cannulated compression screw (CCS), dynamic hip screw (DHS), DHS with de‐rotational screw (DS), CCS with medial buttress plate (MBP), proximal femoral nail anti‐rotation (PFNA), and femoral neck system (FNS). These models were developed and refined using Geomagic and SolidWorks software. Subsequently, finite element analysis was conducted utilizing Ansys software, incorporating axial loading, torsional loading, yield loading and cyclic loading.

Results

Under axial loading conditions, the peak stress values for internal fixation and the femur were found to be highest for CCS (454.4; 215.4 MPa) and CCS + MBP (797.2; 284.2 MPa), respectively. The corresponding maximum and minimum displacements for internal fixation were recorded as 6.65 mm for CCS and 6.44 mm for CCS + MBP. When subjected to torsional loading, the peak stress values for internal fixation were highest for CCS + MBP (153.6 MPa) and DHS + DS (72.8 MPa), while for the femur, the maximum and minimum peak stress values were observed for CCS + MBP (119.3 MPa) and FNS (17.6 MPa), respectively. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum displacements for internal fixation were measured as 0.249 mm for CCS + MBP and 0.205 mm for PFNA. Additionally, all six internal fixation models showed excellent performance in terms of yield load and fatigue life.

Conclusion

CCS + MBP had the best initial mechanical stability in treatment for Pauwels type III fracture. However, the MBP was found to be more susceptible to shear stress, potentially increasing the risk of plate breakage. Furthermore, the DHS + DS exhibited superior biomechanical stability compared to CCS, DHS, and PFNA, thereby offering a more conducive environment for fracture healing. Additionally, it appeared that FNS represented a promising treatment strategy, warranting further validation in future studies.
The personality of a personality cult? Personality characteristics of Donald Trump's most loyal supporters
Authors: Goldsmith Benjamin E. , Moen Lars J. K.
Published: May 2024

The unusually loyal supporters of Donald Trump are often described as a cult. How can we understand this extreme phenomenon in U.S. politics? We develop theoretical expectations and use the Big Five personality dimensions to investigate whether Trump's most loyal supporters share personality characteristics that might make them inclined to cult‐like support. We find that (1) Trump's supporters share high levels of Conscientiousness; (2) this is substantively and statistically distinguishable from the commonly identified association between Conscientiousness and Conservatism; and (3) the association is highly robust to a range of sensitivity tests. Our main findings are robust across two surveys. Study 1 is an online survey conducted in 2021 designed specifically for this project. Study 2 is the 2016 American National Election Study (ANES).
Centripetalism in Consociational Democracy: The Multiple Proportional Vote and the Belgian Case
Authors: de Briey Laurent , de Briey Aurian
Published: May 2024

Belgium illustrates that using consociational institutions in divided societies may ensure a peaceful political environment, but it fails in reducing its centrifugal tendencies. As communitarian issues threaten to paralyse the political debate, preserving the efficiency of the state will require adding centripetal incentives to the consociational framework. However, the solution usually proposed for this purpose –the creation of a federal constituency– would be insufficient and would raise legitimacy problems analogous to those occurred in Bosnia, the Swiss Canton of Berne or Cyprus. Instead, this paper advocates the adoption of a new electoral system: the Multiple Proportional Vote (MPV). MPV can maintain the consociational goal of including the different communities in the parliament, as well as to strengthen the centripetal trends towards moderation. Indeed, electors of every group are allowed to cast their preferences for candidates of the other communities. As such, MPV suggests that consociationalism and its main theoretical alternative, centripetalism, are far from mutually exclusive.
Discovery of the novel HLA‐C*12:02:53 allele in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Lin Py‐Yu
Published: May 2024

Nucleotide substitution in codon 238 of HLA‐C*12:02:02:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐C*12:02:53.
Cultural conceptualisations and spatial cognition in Ghanaian English
Authors: Ansah Gladys Nyarko
Published: May 2024

Kantian philosophy describes space as a universal cognitive primitive because all humans contend with attributes of space as they navigate their environments and communicate the location of things or their location in relation to the location of things. These spatial conceptualisations are encoded in human language and their grammars as either prepositions or postpositions, where different cultures and languages conceptualise space differently because of their different environments. It also means that linguistic terms about spatial relations, such as prepositions, contain not only linguistic information but also conceptual information as well as cultural schemas. This paper explores the variations in the use of prepositions in Ghanaian English and argues that such variations, which may contribute to marking off the variety of English spoken in Ghana as a distinct variety, may be motivated by the cultural conceptualisations of relational terms in the primary language(s)/culture(s) of the speakers of Ghanaian English.
Triangular maximal operators on locally finite trees
Authors: Meda Stefano , Santagati Federico
Published: May 2024

We introduce the centred and the uncentred triangular maximal operators  and , respectively, on any locally finite tree in which each vertex has at least three neighbours. We prove that both and are bounded on  for every in , that is also bounded on , and that  is not of weak type (1, 1) on homogeneous trees. Our proof of the  boundedness of  hinges on the geometric approach of Córdoba and Fefferman. We also establish bounds for some related maximal operators. Our results are in sharp contrast with the fact that the centred and the uncentred Hardy–Littlewood maximal operators (on balls) may be unbounded on  for every even on some trees where the number of neighbours is uniformly bounded.