bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of beliefs in a just world among Chinese early adolescents and the predictive role of family factors: A three‐wave longitudinal study
Authors: Sun Peng , Yao Xiaonan , Yuan Mingliang , Kou Yu
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study explored how belief in a just world (BJW) develops among Chinese adolescents and the predictive role of family factors.

Background

The development of BJW in adolescence is an important but understudied topic, especially in non‐Western contexts.

Method

Using a three‐wave longitudinal design, 1525 participants (48% girls; Mage = 12.47) were recruited to report their BJW, childhood SES, only‐child or not, and parental psychological control in Wave 1 (Wave 2: N = 1262; Wave 3: N = 1124).

Results

The mean slope for personal BJW is positive and significant, but not significant for general BJW. Childhood SES predicted initial level of personal and general BJW and the rate of growth of personal BJW. Only‐child predicted initial level and the growth rate of personal BJW. Parental psychological control negatively predicted personal and general BJW at three time points.

Conclusion

Personal BJW increased during the observation period, whereas general BJW was stable. Individuals with lower levels of childhood SES had lower initial personal and general BJW but a higher growth rate in personal BJW than those with higher SES. Individuals having siblings had lower levels of initial personal BJW but a higher growth rate in personal BJW than those from only‐child family. Parental psychological control may exert consistent and contemporaneous negative effect on BJW across time.
Rural and urban differences in disparities in substance use and substance use disorders affecting sexual minority populations
Authors: Dyar Christina , Morgan Ethan
Published: December 2023

Background

Sexual minority populations are at elevated risk for substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) compared to heterosexual populations. These disparities are theorized to be amplified for rural sexual minority populations due to their increased exposure to minority stress and reduced access to sexual minority communities. However, there is a lack of research examining differences in SU disparities affecting sexual minority populations by urbanicity, and little research has examined differences in SUD treatment utilization by sexual minority status or urbanicity.

Methods

We utilized data from 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine disparities in SU, SUD, SUD treatment utilization, and unmet SUD treatment need between sexual minority and heterosexual populations and test whether such disparities vary by urbanicity.

Results

Results indicate that disparities in SU and SUD affecting sexual minority populations generalize across urbanicities. A subset of disparities differed by urbanicity, and the direction of these differences varied, with some disparities being stronger in urban than rural populations and vice versa. Despite elevated treatment utilization among some sexual minority groups, disparities in unmet SUD treatment need were prevalent across urbanicities and sexual identity groups.

Conclusions

Study findings highlight the ubiquity of disparities in SU, SUD, and unmet SUD treatment need affecting rural and urban sexual minority populations, while also demonstrating nuanced differences in disparities by urbanicity. The persistence of disparities in unmet SUD treatment need emphasizes the need for future research to identify factors contributing to this disparity and for policies that alleviate these disparities.
The Futures of English: Introduction from the UK
Authors: Gagnier Regenia
Published: December 2023

Will students raised on social media still read English literature?

What is the role of English/American literature in the PRC, India, Australasia, the USA?

What is the role of English language in relation to other global and local languages?

What is the role of decolonising efforts?

How do our respective state apparatuses affect language and literature teaching?

Part I ‘International Perspectives on English Language and Literature’ summarises the global spread of English since the eighteenth century and outlines the concerns of the special issue: the global futures of English language and literature in information society in Africa, Australia, India, the PRC, Europe and the UK, and the USA; the role of decolonising efforts; and the role of our respective state apparatuses in higher education policy. Part II, ‘English Studies in Britain Today’, discusses the findings of the recent (June 2023) British Academy reportEnglish Studies Provision in UK Higher Education, including the decline in literary studies among students and the rise of Creative Writing in part in response to political‐economic rhetoric. Part III, ‘Global and World Englishes’, returns to global and transnational practices beyond Britain and Europe to argue for more inclusive, decolonising practices around world literatures. We might take the lived histories of global and world Englishes to transcend both romantic revolutionary and far‐right exclusionary nationalisms in literary and language studies in favour of more cosmopolitan, multilingual, and convivial approaches.
NAFLD and NASH are obesity‐independent risk factors in COVID‐19: Matched real‐world results from the large PINC AI™ Healthcare Database
Authors: Brozat Jonathan F. , Ntanios Fady , Malhotra Deepa , Dagenais Simon , Katchiuri Nino , Emir Birol , Tacke Frank
Published: December 2023

Background & Aims

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are potential risk factors for severe pneumonia and other infections. Available data on the role of NAFLD/NASH in worsening outcomes for COVID‐19 are controversial and might be confounded by comorbidities.

Methods

We used the PINC AI™ Healthcare Data Special Release (PHD‐SR) to identify patients with COVID‐19 (ICD‐10) at approximately 900 hospitals in the United States. We performed exact matching (age, gender, and ethnicity) for patients with or without NAFLD/NASH, adjusting for demographics (admission type, region) and comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes) through inverse probability of treatment weighting and then analysed hospitalisation‐related outcomes.

Results

Among 513 623 patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19), we identified 14 667 with NAFLD/NASH who could be matched to 14 667 controls. Mean age was 57.6 (±14.9) years, 50.8% were females and 43.7% were non‐Hispanic whites. After matching, baseline characteristics (e.g., age, ethnicity, and gender) and comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) were well balanced (standard difference (SD) <.10), except for cirrhosis and malignancies. Patients with COVID‐19 and NAFLD/NASH had higher FIB‐4 scores, a significantly longer hospital length of stay (LOS) and intensive care LOS than controls (9.4 vs. 8.3 days, and 10.4 vs. 9.3, respectively), even after adjusting for cirrhosis and malignancies. Patients with COVID‐19 and NAFLD/NASH also had significantly higher risk of needing invasive mandatory ventilation (IMV) (odds ratio 1.0727; 95% CI 1.0095–1.1400). Other outcomes were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

In this large real‐world cohort of patients hospitalised for COVID‐19 in the United States, NAFLD/NASH were obesity‐independent risk factors for complicated disease courses.
Genomic variation in montane bumblebees in Scandinavia: High levels of intraspecific diversity despite population vulnerability
Authors: Liu Yuanzhen , Olsson Anna , Larva Tuuli , Cantwell‐Jones Aoife , Gill Richard J. , Cederberg Björn , Webster Matthew T.
Published: December 2023

Populations of many bumblebee species are declining, with distributions shifting northwards to track suitable climates. Climate change is considered a major contributing factor. Arctic species are particularly vulnerable as they cannot shift further north, making assessment of their population viability important. Analysis of levels of whole‐genome variation is a powerful way to analyse population declines and fragmentation. Here, we use genome sequencing to analyse genetic variation in seven species of bumblebee from the Scandinavian mountains, including two classified as vulnerable. We sequenced 333 samples from across the ranges of these species in Sweden. Estimates of effective population size (NE) vary from ~55,000 for species with restricted high alpine distributions to 220,000 for more widespread species. Population fragmentation is generally very low or undetectable over large distances in the mountains, suggesting an absence of barriers to gene flow. The relatively high NE and low population structure indicate that none of the species are at immediate risk of negative genetic effects caused by high levels of genetic drift. However, reconstruction of historical fluctuations in NE indicates that the arctic specialist species Bombus hyperboreus has experienced population declines since the last ice age and we detected one highly inbred diploid male of this species close to the southern limit of its range, potentially indicating elevated genetic load. Although the levels of genetic variation in montane bumblebee populations are currently relatively high, their ranges are predicted to shrink drastically due to the effects of climate change and monitoring is essential to detect future population declines.
Molecular refinement of pilocytic astrocytoma in adult patients
Authors: Bode Helena , Kresbach Catena , Holdhof Dörthe , Dorostkar Mario M. , Harter Patrick N. , Hench Jürgen , Frank Stephan , Suwala Abigail K. , Schweizer Leonille , Eckhardt Alicia , Neyazi Sina , Bockmayr Michael , Wefers Annika K. , Schüller Ulrich
Published: December 2023

Aim

Pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) in adults are rare and may be challenging to identify based only on histomorphology. Compared to their paediatric counterparts, they are reportedly molecularly more diverse and associated with a worse prognosis. We aimed to describe the characteristics of adult PAs more precisely by comprehensively profiling a series of 79 histologically diagnosed adult cases (≥18 years).

Methods

We performed global DNA methylation profiling and DNA and RNA panel sequencing and integrated the results with clinical data. We further compared the molecular characteristics of adult and paediatric PAs that had a significant match to one of the established PA methylation classes in the Heidelberg brain tumour classifier.

Results

The mean age in our cohort was 33 years, and 43% of the tumours were located supratentorially. Based on methylation profiling, only 39% of the cases received a significant match to a PA methylation class. Sixteen per cent matched a different tumour type, and 45% had a Heidelberg classifier score <0.9 with an affiliation to diverse established methylation classes in t‐SNE analyses. Although the KIAA1549::BRAF fusion was found in 98% of paediatric PAs, this was true for only 27% of histologically defined and 55% of adult PAs defined by methylation profiling.

Conclusions

A particularly high fraction of adult tumours with histological features of PA do not match current PA methylation classes, indicating ambiguous histology and an urgent need for molecular profiling. Moreover, even in adult PAs with a match to a PA methylation class, the distribution of genetic drivers differs significantly from their paediatric counterparts (p < 0.01).
Correlation of plasticities to drought and shade: implications for environmental niche overlap in drylands
Authors: Escobedo Víctor M. , Rios Rodrigo S. , Salgado‐Luarte Cristian , Gianoli Ernesto
Published: December 2023

Phenotypic plasticity can increase the extent of the environmental gradient occupied by a species (niche breadth) and modify the portion of niche space shared among co‐occurring species (niche overlap). Thus, phenotypic plasticity may play a role in community assembly processes. Given that plants deal with a multivariate environment, and that functional traits are often correlated, plastic responses to different environmental factors are likely correlated. However, the implications of correlations of plasticities for niche overlap remain unexplored. Here, we present and evaluate a conceptual framework that links correlations of plasticities and niche overlap patterns among co‐occurring plant species. We specifically tested in an arid shrubland whether positive, negative, or null correlations between plasticity to light and water availability would be associated with patterns of high, low, or random niche overlap, respectively. Field data identified light and water availability as key factors shaping herbaceous plant community structure. We estimated species' niche breadth and niche overlap using two‐dimensional kernel–density estimations (NOK) and standardised effect sizes of Pianka's niche overlap index (OSES). We measured phenotypic plasticity to light and water availability in the six most abundant species in a greenhouse experiment. We used the plasticity index (PI) to test 1) the relationship between plasticity to light and water availability, and 2) the association between overall plasticity (average PI across traits) and niche breadth. We found a positive relationship between plasticity to light and water availability. Increased overall plasticity was associated with a broader niche breadth. Both NOK and OSES estimations indicated a significant niche overlap pattern. Results supported one of the predictions of our conceptual framework: that a positive correlation of plasticities would lead to increased niche overlap. The verified conceptual framework broadens our understanding of the role of phenotypic plasticity in plant community coexistence.
Fine root presence and increased phosphorus availability stimulate wood decay in a central Amazonian rainforest
Authors: Martins Nathielly P. , Valverde‐Barrantes Oscar , Fuchslueger Lucia , Lugli Laynara. F. , Grandis Adriana , Hofhansl Florian , Takeshi Bruno , Ushida Gabriela , Quesada Carlos. A.
Published: December 2023

In the Amazon basin, approximately 60% of rainforest thrives on geologically old and highly weathered soils, thus decomposition represents an important mechanism for recycling nutrients from organic matter. Although dead logs and branches constitute up to 14% of the carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems, woody debris decomposition and mainly the effect of direct nutrient cycling by plant root interaction is poorly studied and often overlooked in ecosystem carbon and nutrient budgets. Here we monitored the decomposition of five different local woody species covering a range of wood density by conducting a long‐term wood decomposition experiment over two years with factorial root presence and phosphorous (P) addition treatments in a central Amazonian rainforest. We hypothesized that woody debris decomposition is accelerated by colonizing fine roots mining for nutrients, possibly strongly affecting wood debris with lower density and higher nutrient concentration (P). We found that root colonization and P addition separately increased wood decay rates, and although fine root colonization increased when P was added, this did not result in a change in wood decay. Nutrient loss from wood was accelerated by P addition, whereas a root presence effect on nutrient mobilization was only detectable at the end of the experiment. Our results highlight the role of fine roots in priming wood decay, although direct nutrient acquisition by plants seems to only occur in more advanced stages of decomposition. On the other hand, the positive effect of P addition may indicate that microbial nutrient mobilization in woody material is driven mainly by wood stoichiometry rather than priming by root activity.
Direct and higher‐order interactions in plant communities under increasing weather persistence
Authors: Reynaert Simon , Lembrechts Jonas J. , De Boeck Hans J. , Donnelly Chase , Zi Lin , Li Lingjuan , Nijs Ivan
Published: December 2023

Climate change is increasing the weather persistence in the mid‐latitudes, prolonging both dry and wet spells compared to historic averages. These newly emerging environmental conditions destabilize plant communities, but the role of species interactions in this process is unknown. Here, we tested how direct and higher‐order interactions (HOIs) between species may change in synthesized grassland communities along an experimental gradient of increasing persistence in precipitation regimes. Our results indicate that species interactions (including HOIs) are an important determinant of plant performance under increasing weather persistence. Out of the 12 most parsimonious models predicting species productivity, 75% contained significant direct interactions and 92% significant HOIs. Inclusion of direct interactions or HOIs respectively tripled or quadrupled the explained variance of target species biomass compared to null models only including the precipitation treatment. Drought was the main driver of plant responses, with longer droughts increasing direct competition but also HOI‐driven facilitation. Despite these counteracting changes, drought intensified net competition. Grasses were generally more involved in competitive interactions whereas legumes were more involved in facilitative interactions. Under longer drought, species affinity for nutrient rich or wet environments resulted in more negative direct interactions or HOIs, respectively. We conclude that HOIs, crucially depending on species identity, only partially stabilize community dynamics under increasing weather persistence.

Keywords: drought, facilitation and competition, grasslands, higher‐order interactions, increasing weather persistence, species interactions
Warming had contrasting effects on the importance of facilitative interactions with a cushion nurse species on native and non‐native species in the high‐Andes of central Chile
Authors: Cavieres Lohengrin A. , Sanhueza Carolina E. , Hernández‐Fuentes Carolina
Published: December 2023

Alpine habitats are regarded as particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. On one hand, global warming is supposed to contributes to alpine environments becoming less stressful. On the other hand, altered snowpack due to warmer temperatures can intensify the stress in these habitats. The presence of non‐native plants on some of these habitats is due to the facilitative effects exerted by native nurse plants, becoming an additional threat. According to the stress gradient hypothesis the importance of facilitative interactions with nurse species is expected to diminish as environmental harshness decreases due to climate change yet remains important if climate change heightens the stress in alpine habitats. However, the responses also depend on climate change's impact on the nurse species. We conducted an experimental warming experiment in the Andes of the central Chile to assess the effects of warmer temperatures on the growth, reproduction and photochemical efficiency of the cushion nurse plant Azorella madreporica. Further we performed a cushion removal experiment involving three native species (Gamocarpha ventosa, Nocaccea magellanica and Rytidosperma pictum) and two non‐native species (Cerastium arvense and Taraxacum officinale) to assess whether facilitative interactions changed with warming. We expected that under warmer conditions facilitation continued be important for the native species but decreased for the non‐natives as the latter are abundant at warmer low elevations. We found that warmer conditions increased the photochemical efficiency and growth of the nurse cushions. Removal of cushions resulted in high mortality rates for all species. However, under warmer conditions, native species exhibited lower survival rates, whereas non‐natives showed no significant changes compared to control groups. In summary, warmer temperatures were beneficial for the nurses maintaining the importance of facilitative interactions for native species, but not for the non‐natives.
Changes in the Lateral Acromion Angle in Rotator Cuff Tear Patients with Acromioplasty
Authors: Hong Gang , Kong Xiaochuan , Zhang Le , Zheng Yingfeng , Fan Ning , Zang Lei
Published: December 2023

Background

Arthroscopic surgery has been established as an efficacious intervention for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the modifications in the lateral acromial angle (LAA) subsequent to rotator cuff repair surgery using single‐row rivet fixation and double‐row rivet fixation techniques. Furthermore, we sought to investigate the influence of LAA on the prognosis of rotator cuff repair surgery.

Method

This observational study retrospectively enrolled 105 patients diagnosed with degenerative rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2016 and 2019. Following the exclusion of two patients with subscapularis or superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tears, as well as three patients who were lost to follow‐up, a cohort of 100 patients was included for clinical and imaging evaluation. Among these individuals, 50 were assigned to the double‐row repair group, whereas the remaining 50 comprised the single‐row repair group. Bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were conducted no less than 24 months post‐surgery. Experienced arthroscopic surgeons, blinded to the LAA measurements, assessed the rotator interval (RI) using a control MRI. Functional assessment was performed using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) quick disability of the shoulder and arm, shoulder and hand (qDASH) score. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test for dependent samples was employed to compare data between the pre‐ and post‐intervention groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationship between different parameters.

Results

The study population consisted of 73 female patients and 27 male patients, with a mean age of 58.32 ± 5.29 years and a mean follow‐up duration of 25.88 ± 8.11 months. Preoperatively, the mean LAA was 75.81° ± 11.28°, RI was 4.78 ± 0.62, UCLA score was 17.54 ± 2.44, and qDASH score was 2.45 ± 0.25. The average tear size was 8.95 ± 2.11 mm. A statistically significant difference in LAA was observed between the preoperative and postoperative measurements, with the double‐row repair group exhibiting a greater LAA than the single‐row repair group. Finally, a significant correlation was identified between LAA, RI, and qDASH scores after a 24‐month follow‐up period.

Conclusion

According to our findings, the utilization of double‐row rivet fixation has a greater LAA angle than single‐row rivet fixation. Moreover, this preservation of LAA is significantly associated with the functional recovery of the shoulder joint.
Clinical outcomes of left bundle branch area pacing: Prognosis and specific applications
Authors: Yang Zhen , Liang Jiadong , Chen Ruizhe , Pang Naidong , Zhang Nan , Guo Min , Gao Jia , Wang Rui
Published: December 2023

Cardiac pacing has become a widely accepted treatment strategy for bradyarrhythmia and heart failure. However, conventional right ventricular pacing (RVP) has been associated with electrical dyssynchrony, which may result in atrial fibrillation and heart failure. To achieve physiological pacing, Deshmukh et al. reported the first case of His bundle pacing (HBP) in 2000. This strategy was reported to have preserved ventricular synchronization by activating the conventional conduction system. Nonetheless, due to the anatomical location of the His bundle (HB), several issues such as high pacing thresholds, lead fixation, and early battery depletion may pose a challenge. Recently, left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged as a novel physiological pacing strategy to achieve conduction system pacing by capturing the left bundle branch through the deep septum. Additionally, several studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of LBBAP. In this paper, we describe the pacing parameters, QRS duration (QRSd), cardiac function, complications, and specific applications of LBBAP in recent years.
Redox regulation in chloroplast thylakoid lumen: The pmf changes everything, again
Authors: Hoh Donghee , Froehlich John E. , Kramer David M.
Published: December 2023

Photosynthesis is the foundation of life on Earth. However, if not well regulated, it can also generate excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause photodamage. Regulation of photosynthesis is highly dynamic, responding to both environmental and metabolic cues, and occurs at many levels, from light capture to energy storage and metabolic processes. One general mechanism of regulation involves the reversible oxidation and reduction of protein thiol groups, which can affect the activity of enzymes and the stability of proteins. Such redox regulation has been well studied in stromal enzymes, but more recently, evidence has emerged of redox control of thylakoid lumenal enzymes. This review/hypothesis paper summarizes the latest research and discusses several open questions and challenges to achieving effective redox control in the lumen, focusing on the distinct environments and regulatory components of the thylakoid lumen, including the need to transport electrons across the thylakoid membrane, the effects of pH changes by the proton motive force (pmf) in the stromal and lumenal compartments, and the observed differences in redox states. These constraints suggest that activated oxygen species are likely to be major regulatory contributors to lumenal thiol redox regulation, with key components and processes yet to be discovered.
PHR1 involved in the regulation of low phosphate‐induced leaf senescence by modulating phosphorus homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Jian‐Feng , Wang You‐Yi , He Le , Yan Jing‐Yi , Liu Ying‐Ying , Ruan Zhao‐Yang , Liu Wen‐Cheng , Yi Long , Ren Feng
Published: December 2023

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, development, and reproduction. The effects of low P (LP) stress on leaf senescence and the role of PHR1 in LP‐induced leaf senescence are still unknown. Here, we report that PHR1 plays a crucial role in LP‐induced leaf senescence, showing delayed leaf senescence in phr1 mutant and accelerated leaf senescence in 35S:PHR1 transgenic Arabidopsis under LP stress. The transcriptional profiles indicate that 763 differentially expressed SAGs (DE‐SAGs) were upregulated and 134 DE‐SAGs were downregulated by LP stress. Of the 405 DE‐SAGs regulated by PHR1, 27 DE‐SAGs were involved in P metabolism and transport. PHR1 could bind to the promoters of six DE‐SAGs (RNS1, PAP17, SAG113, NPC5, PLDζ2, and Pht1;5), and modulate them in LP‐induced senescing leaves. The analysis of RNA content, phospholipase activity, acid phosphatase activity, total P and phosphate content also revealed that PHR1 promotes P liberation from senescing leaves and transport to young tissues under LP stress. Our results indicated that PHR1 is one of the crucial modulators for P recycling and redistribution under LP stress, and the drastic decline of P level is at least one of the causes of early senescence in P‐deficient leaves.
Proteasome‐associated autoinflammatory syndrome 2 in a neonate
Authors: Zhang Feihong , Ma Na , Zhang Li , Xia Bin , Yang Rong , Hu Yong
Published: December 2023

Proteasome‐associated autoinflammatory syndrome‐2 (PRAAS2) is characterized by early onset combined immunodeficiency, inflammatory neutrophilic dermatosis, and autoimmunity. We report the case of a premature baby (GA 35+5 weeks) born with disseminated and confluent red papules, diagnosed with PRAAS2. A novel de novo frameshift proteasome maturation protein (POMP) mutation (c.333delT (p.t111fs)) was detected, confirming the diagnosis.
Pro‐environmental practice among young population: A scoping review
Authors: Upendra Sheela , Kaur Jasneet , Barde Sheetal
Published: December 2023

Intro

There is an inequality between pro‐environmental knowledge acquisition and behavior. A change in behavior is required to solve both current and future environmental challenges since human behavior has an influence on pro‐environmental practices.

Objective

Of the study was to carry out a critical analysis of current literature on Pro‐environmental practices among the Young population.

Method

The research question formulation on PICO served as the foundation for the search approach. Keywords were searched in different combinations from the popular databases SCOPUS, PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Google and Cochrane library Boolean operators (AND and OR) and keywords were employed in the search to avoid oversaturating the data. Fifteen full‐text articles were selected for the study.

Result

Review studies confirmed that youth engagement is highly valued, with evidence from increasing usage of information and communication technologies (education and environmental consciousness among young people. Analysis of pro‐environmental practices and environmental behavior has to be given greater attention considering to the adverse impacts of the existing lifestyle on the environment. This made it possible to incorporate and simultaneously explore a variety of variables and effects on environmental practices, furthering the understanding of how these are interpreted.

Conclusion

This study pointed up and made contributions to the expanding field of environmental practices barriers. The challenges found should be taken into account in its entirety and utilized to directly inform policies and procedures in order to promote adoption for practices reduction and remove the obstacles inhibiting change.
Instability of near‐extreme solutions to the Whitham equation
Authors: Carter John D.
Published: December 2023

The Whitham equation is a model for the evolution of small‐amplitude, unidirectional waves of all wavelengths in shallow water. It has been shown to accurately model the evolution of waves in laboratory experiments. We compute ‐periodic traveling wave solutions of the Whitham equation and numerically study their stability with a focus on solutions with large steepness.

We show that the Hamiltonian oscillates at least twice as a function of wave steepness when the solutions are sufficiently steep. We show that a superharmonic instability is created at each extremum of the Hamiltonian and that between each extremum the stability spectra undergo similar bifurcations. Finally, we compare these results with those from the Euler equations.
Examining state self‐criticism and self‐efficacy as factors underlying hopelessness and suicidal ideation
Authors: Brott Katherine Hyde , Veilleux Jennifer C.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

When people feel hopeless, they are more likely to think about suicide. Prior work has shown that both hopelessness and suicidal ideation fluctuate over time; however, there are likely other contextual factors underlying increased hopelessness and suicidal ideation in moments of time.

Method

In two studies using retrospective recall of a real event (Study 1, n = 268) and an experimental imaginal vignette design (Study 2, n = 356), we examined self‐criticism and self‐efficacy for self‐regulation as crucial factors underlying hopelessness in people vulnerable to suicidal ideation.

Results

In both studies, greater state self‐criticism and lower state self‐efficacy were associated with greater hopelessness. In Study 2, we also measured suicidal ideation, and found that higher self‐criticism and lower self‐efficacy for self‐regulation scores were associated with greater suicidal ideation, even when controlling for negative affect. Evidence of an interaction between self‐criticism and self‐efficacy was found with scores in Study 2 but not in Study 1; specifically, lower self‐efficacy was associated with greater ideation when self‐criticism was high but not when self‐criticism was low.

Conclusion

Overall, results support self‐criticism and self‐efficacy as important contextual factors underlying hopelessness and suicidal ideation and attending to the potential interactive effect between self‐criticism and self‐efficacy.
Chromosome‐level genome of putative autohexaploid Actinidia deliciosa provides insights into polyploidisation and evolution
Authors: Liu Yongbo , Zhou Yi , Cheng Feng , Zhou Renchao , Yang Yinqing , Wang Yanchang , Zhang Xingtan , Soltis Douglas E. , Xiao Nengwen , Quan Zhanjun , Li Junsheng
Published: December 2023

Actinidia (‘Mihoutao’ in Chinese) includes species with complex ploidy, among which diploid Actinidia chinensis and hexaploid Actinidia deliciosa are economically and nutritionally important fruit crops. Actinidia deliciosa has been proposed to be an autohexaploid (2n = 174) with diploid A. chinensis (2n = 58) as the putative parent. A CCS‐based assembly anchored to a high‐resolution linkage map provided a chromosome‐resolved genome for hexaploid A. deliciosa yielded a 3.91‐Gb assembly of 174 pseudochromosomes comprising 29 homologous groups with 6 members each, which contain 39 854 genes with an average of 4.57 alleles per gene. Here we provide evidence that much of the hexaploid genome matches diploid A. chinensis; 95.5% of homologous gene pairs exhibited >90% similarity. However, intragenome and intergenome comparisons of synteny indicate chromosomal changes. Our data, therefore, indicate that if A. deliciosa is an autoploid, chromosomal rearrangement occurred following autohexaploidy. A highly diversified pattern of gene expression and a history of rapid population expansion after polyploidisation likely facilitated the adaptation and niche differentiation of A. deliciosa in nature. The allele‐defined hexaploid genome of A. deliciosa provides new genomic resources to accelerate crop improvement and to understand polyploid genome evolution.
Double modals in Australian and New Zealand English
Authors: Morin Cameron , Coats Steven
Published: December 2023

This paper reports the first large‐scale corpus study of double modal usage in Australian and New Zealand Englishes, based on a multi‐million‐word corpus of geolocated automatic speech recognition transcripts from YouTube. Double modals are considered rare grammatical features of English, which have long been extremely difficult to observe in natural language due to low frequencies, non‐standardness, and restriction to oral speech registers. In addition, it has generally been assumed that they make up small sets of diachronically related forms, whose geographical distribution is mainly restricted to the Southern US and the North of the UK. Our results challenge these long‐standing assumptions by presenting the first inventory of double modals observed outside of these regions, thanks to computational sociolinguistic methods. Overall, we identify and map 474 double modal tokens distributed in 51 types, an unexpectedly large collection of forms used with varying frequencies across Australia and New Zealand. We consider the relevance of our results for three specific new claims concerning the diversity, complexity, and origins of double modals in English world‐wide.
Long‐term trends and spatial patterns of West Nile Virus emergence in California, 2004–2021
Authors: Bayles Brett R. , George Michaela F. , Christofferson Rebecca C.
Published: December 2023

Aims

West Nile Virus (WNV) has remained a persistent source of vector‐borne disease risk in California since first being identified in the state in 2003. The geographic distribution of WNV activity is relatively widespread, but varies considerably across different regions within the state. Spatial variation in human WNV infection depends upon social‐ecological factors that influence mosquito populations and virus transmission dynamics. Measuring changes in spatial patterns over time is necessary for uncovering the underlying regional drivers of disease risk.

Methods and Results

In this study, we utilized statewide surveillance data to quantify temporal changes and spatial patterns of WNV activity in California. We obtained annual WNV mosquito surveillance data from 2004 through 2021 from the California Arbovirus Surveillance Program. Geographic coordinates for mosquito pools were analysed using a suite of spatial statistics to identify and classify patterns in WNV activity over time.

Conclusions

We detected clear patterns of non‐random WNV risk during the study period, including emerging hot spots in the Central Valley and non‐random periods of oscillating WNV risk in Southern and Northern California subregions. Our findings offer new insights into 18 years of spatio‐temporal variation in WNV activity across California, which may be used for targeted surveillance efforts and public health interventions.
THE EFFECT OF BILEAFLET MECHANICAL HEART VALVE DESIGNS ON BIOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOURS – A FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Authors: Hasni Nurul Aisyah , Ahmad Shafi Aisyah , Ishak Muhammad Ikman
Published: December 2023

Heart valve replacement is a popular treatment modality for patients with valvular heart disease. One of the prominent issues of mechanical heart valve is blood clotting around the valve that could lead to operation failure. Different valve design affects the valve structural behaviour differently which could be associated to the valve leaflet movement and its attachment to the housing. This study aimed to analyse the stress and total deformation of a fixed and expandable heart valve designs under a closed and opened leaflet conditions using three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis (FEA). Geometrical valve models were created in SolidWorks 2020 and then exported into Ansys 2022 R2. All models were assigned with linearly elastic, isotropic, and homogenous properties. A pressure of 16 kPa was applied on the top (closed condition) and bottom (opened condition) surfaces of the leaflets. The results exhibited that the expandable design recorded about 98% and 8.6% higher stress than the fixed design under the closed and opened conditions, respectively. The expandable valve was also observed to generate approximately 186% and 182% greater total deformation compared to the fixed valve under the closed and opened conditions, respectively. Of the valve designs evaluated, the fixed valve was found to be more satisfactory. However, the expandable valve could also be of interest with relevant modifications imposed if the adverse functionality impacts are concerned.
PREDICTION OF FATIGUE IN RAIL PAD USING SIMULATION
Authors: Amran Muhammad Faiz Anuar , Abdul Wahab Abdul Malek , Adull Manan Nor Fazli , Hp Manurung Yupiter
Published: December 2023

The primary purpose of rail pads is to prevent cracking in concrete connections, which is assumed to be caused by the passing train's impact and vibration generated by movement from its wheels. To ensure the usage of rail pads is reliable and safe, failure and fatigue life prediction need to be done. However, analyzing fatigue conditions using the experimental method is time-consuming and costly. Thus, this work aims to develop a finite element model for analyzing the fatigue and life cycle of the rail pads. By using the simulation method, the time and cost of analyzing the process can be reduced. The rail fastening system model comprises a steel rail, rail pad, and concrete sleeper. The Mooney-Rivlin model was used to develop the rail pad, and the isotropic elasticity model was used for the steel rail and concrete sleeper. Using the modified Goodman theory, this study was able to estimate the fatigue life of the rail pad in terms of the number of cycles for a range of compressive forces and toe load. The findings show that a toe load at 18 kN shows more life cycle compared to a higher toe load of 35 kN with more than 50% difference. The life cycle also reduces as the load applies increases. This concludes that the fatigue life of the rail pad is greatly dependent on the toe load condition and compressive load. The rail pad is less durable under greater compressive load circumstances.
Influence of Radio Music Broadcasting On COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Women in Rural Communities of Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Ojoboh Lucky Ogheneruemu , Egbon Kasiari Jessica , Erubami Joshua Aghogho , Ugwuoke Joel Chinedum , Idemudia Sandra , Olu Vera Chinyere
Published: December 2023

Music broadcasting is an essential feature of radio communication, and musical lyrics constitute an essential component of public health-related media campaigns. This study explores the influence of radio music broadcasting on the perception, attitudes and behaviour of women towards COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in twelve rural communities of Delta State, Nigeria. Anchored on the Theory of Reasoned Action/Behaviour, the study utilises the survey research design to critically analyse responses obtained from 400 respondents drawn through multistage sampling. Findings showed that radio is a major source of information on COVID-19 vaccines among the respondents, and radio music broadcasting has a significant positive influence on the respondents’ perception, attitude and behaviour towards COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and willingness to be vaccinated. Specifically, the findings suggest that increased exposure to radio music broadcasting on COVID-19 vaccine tends to enhance the respondents’ overall acceptance of the vaccine as well as their willingness to get vaccinated. The study recommends the need for improved access to radio music broadcasting programmes in rural communities and the development of more suitable programming contents to promote the acceptance of recommended public health behaviours among rural dwellers.
Row‐Hamiltonian Latin squares and Falconer varieties
Authors: Allsop Jack , Wanless Ian M.
Published: December 2023

A Latin square is a matrix of symbols such that each symbol occurs exactly once in each row and column. A Latin square is row‐Hamiltonian if the permutation induced by each pair of distinct rows of is a full cycle permutation. Row‐Hamiltonian Latin squares are equivalent to perfect 1‐factorisations of complete bipartite graphs. For the first time, we exhibit a family of Latin squares that are row‐Hamiltonian and also achieve precisely one of the related properties of being column‐Hamiltonian or symbol‐Hamiltonian. This family allows us to construct non‐trivial, anti‐associative, isotopically ‐closed loop varieties, solving an open problem posed by Falconer in 1970.
Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and South Asian Megacities: Impact of Heat Stress on Inhabitants and Their Productivity
Authors: Debnath Kumar Biswajit , Jenkins David , Patidar Sandhya , Peacock Andrew D. , Bridgens Ben
Published: December 2023

Of the 33 global megacities, 10 were situated in South Asia. Extreme heat waves have become an annual phenomenon due to climate change in South Asian megacities, causing severe health issues and even deaths. In this study, we evaluated 29 years (1990–2019) of historical data on heat stress in ten selected megacities (existing and prospective)—New Delhi, Dhaka, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chittagong, and Pune—in India and Bangladesh. We used heat index (HI) and environmental stress index (ESI) analyses to evaluate stress and vulnerability. Our results showed New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Chennai in India; Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh were already experiencing an elevated number of hours of “danger” levels of heat stress, which may lead to heat cramps, exhaustion, stroke, and even death. Furthermore, the frequency of “danger” levels of heat stress and vulnerable levels of ESI has increased significantly since 2011 in the selected megacities, which elevated the heat-related vulnerability among the millions of inhabitants in terms of work hours lost for light, moderate, and heavy work due to heat stress. The vulnerable population in the studied megacities might have to reduce annual work hours by 0.25–860.6 h (light work), 43–1595.9 h (moderate work), and 291–2402 h (heavy work) due to extreme heat in 1990–2019. We also discussed the implication of the work-hour loss on productivity, income, gross domestic product, and sustainable development goal progress because of heat stress and its causes and suggested recommendations to reduce its impact.
Improvements in the Prediction of Steady and Unsteady Transition and Mixing in Low-Pressure Turbines by Means of Machine-Learnt Closures
Authors: Pacciani Roberto , Marconcini Michele , Arnone Andrea , Bertini Francesco , Spano Ennio , Rosa Taddei Simone , Sandberg Richard D.
Published: December 2023

In this article, novel machine-learnt transition and turbulence models are applied to the prediction of boundary-layer transition and wake mixing in a low-pressure turbine (LPT) cascade, including unsteady inflow cases with incoming wakes. A laminar kinetic energy (LKE) transport approach is employed as baseline transition framework. The application of the machine-learnt explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models (EARSMs) takes advantage of a zonal strategy based on a newly developed sensing function that allows automated wake demarcation. This work compares the performance of several approaches that are based on the application of improved transition models without machine learnt EARSMs, baseline transition model with EARSMs trained for improved wake mixing, and new transition and turbulence closures that are simultaneously developed in a fully coupled way and aimed at improving both transition and wake mixing predictions in LPTs. The investigation is carried out on a cascade of industrial footprint, representative of modern LPT bladings. First, the various modeling frameworks are evaluated, without bar wakes (steady conditions), over a wide range of Reynolds number values. Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) analyses have also been carried out to investigate the predictive capabilities of machine-learnt closures in the presence of incoming bar wakes. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)/URANS results are scrutinized against large eddy simulation (LES) calculations and experimental data. It will be demonstrated that machine-learnt EARSMs are capable of producing realistic wake mixing when simply applied on top of the baseline transition models. However, the most accurate predictions will be shown to be provided by fully integrated machine-learnt transition/turbulence closures.
Effects of Downstream Vortex Generators on Film Cooling a Flat Plate Fed by Crossflow
Authors: Straub Douglas , Weber Justin , Roy Arnab , Lee Chien-Shing , Shih Tom I-P.
Published: December 2023

Counter-rotating vortices, formed by the interaction of film-cooling jets and the hot gas flow, adversely affect the performance of conventional film-cooling designs. Downstream vortex generators have been shown to improve cooling effectiveness by mitigating the effects of the counter-rotating vortices and by deflecting the cooling jet laterally. In this study, computational and experimental methods were used to examine how cylindrical film-cooling holes (D = 3.2 mm, L/D = 6, p/D = 3, α = 30 deg) with and without downstream vortex generators perform when the coolant supply channel is perpendicular to the direction of the hot gas. For this study, the hot gas had a temperature of 650 K and an average Mach number of 0.23. The hot-gas-to-coolant temperature ratio was 1.9, and two blowing ratios (0.75 and 1.0) were studied. Results from the computational fluid dynamics study show how crossflow affects the interaction between the film-cooling jet and hot gas flow with and without downstream vortex generators. The experimental measurements were based on infrared thermography in a conjugate heat transfer environment. Results were obtained for film-cooling performance in terms of overall effectiveness, film effectiveness, and local heat transfer coefficients. The downstream vortex generators can increase the laterally averaged effectiveness by a factor of 1.5 relative to cylindrical holes, but this higher performance is restricted to low crossflow velocities and higher blowing ratios.