bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unpacking the point of no return under drought in poplar: insight from stem diameter variation
Authors: Andriantelomanana Tsiky , Améglio Thierry , Delzon Sylvain , Cochard Hervé , Herbette Stephane
Published: February 2024

A specific, robust threshold for drought‐induced tree mortality is needed to improve the prediction of forest dieback. Here, we tested the relevance of continuous measurements of stem diameter variations for identifying such a threshold, their relationship with hydraulic and cellular damage mechanisms, and the influence of growth conditions on these relationships.

Poplar saplings were grown under well‐watered, water‐limited, or light‐limited conditions and then submitted to a drought followed by rewatering. Stem diameter was continuously measured to investigate two parameters: the percentage loss of diameter (PLD) and the percentage of diameter recovery (DR) following rewatering. Water potentials, stomatal conductance, embolism, and electrolyte leakage were also measured, and light microscopy allowed investigating cell collapse induced by drought.

The water release observed through loss of diameter occurred throughout the drought, regardless of growth conditions. Poplars did not recover from drought when PLD reached a threshold and this differed according to growth conditions but remained linked to cell resistance to damage and collapse.

Our findings shed new light on the mechanisms of drought‐induced tree mortality and indicate that PLD could be a relevant indicator of drought‐induced tree mortality, regardless of the growth conditions.
An interesting dynamic retrograde His bundle potential during the transventricular‐septal process for left bundle branch pacing in a patient with right bundle branch block: A case report
Authors: Peng Xinhui , Jiang Longfu , Chen Sujun , Feng Haiming
Published: February 2024

A 67‐year‐old male presented with symptomatic bradycardia caused by atrial fibrillation and underwent His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP). Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed a complete right bundle branch block (RBBB). John Jiang's connecting cable was used during the transventricular septal process. An interesting dynamic retrograde His bundle potential (RHP) was recorded with uninterrupted lead screws.
Do monetary or nonmonetary incentives promote citizens' use of a government crowdsourcing: A case of the City of Omaha's 311‐type of crowdsourcing platform
Authors: Lee Danbee , Kim Yeonkyung , Lee Jooho
Published: February 2024

Increasing numbers of local governments have adopted crowdsourcing platforms to engage citizens in public service provisions. As citizen engagement plays a critical role in the success of government crowdsourcing, we focus on incentive strategies to facilitate it. While studies have considered monetary incentives the primary motivator traditionally, recent research has examined the potency of nonmonetary strategies that stimulate citizens' territorial or civic motivation. Linking the coproduction framework of incentives to expectancy theories as a theoretical framework, we compare the effects of those incentives with vignette experiments that include Omahahotline—a 311‐type of government crowdsourcing platform run by the City of Omaha. The results show that not just a material incentive but also a solidary incentive increases residents' willingness to participate in the platform effectively. By conducting experiments with Omaha residents, we offer implications for local governments to use effective incentive strategies to engage citizens in the government crowdsourcing platform.
Effects of functional polymorphisms of opioid receptor mu 1 and catechol‐O‐methyltransferase on the neural processing of pain
Authors: Cheong Yongjeon , Lee Seonkyoung , Okazawa Hidehiko , Kosaka Hirotaka , Jung Minyoung
Published: February 2024

Aim

Pain is reconstructed by brain activities and its subjectivity comes from an interplay of multiple factors. The current study aims to understand the contribution of genetic factors to the neural processing of pain. Focusing on the single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of opioid receptor mu 1 (OPRM1) A118G (rs1799971) and catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) val158met (rs4680), we investigated how the two pain genes affect pain processing.

Method

We integrated a genetic approach with functional neuroimaging. We extracted genomic DNA information from saliva samples to genotype the SNP of OPRM1 and COMT. We used a percept‐related model, in which two different levels of perceived pain intensities (“low pain: mildly painful” vs “high pain: severely painful”) were employed as experimental stimuli.

Results

Low pain involves a broader network relative to high pain. The distinct effects of pain genes were observed depending on the perceived pain intensity. The effects of low pain were found in supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) for OPRM1 and in middle temporal gyrus for COMT. For high pain, OPRM1 affected the insula and cerebellum, while COMT affected the middle occipital gyrus and ACC.

Conclusion

OPRM1 primarily affects sensory and cognitive components of pain processing, while COMT mainly influences emotional aspects of pain processing. The interaction of the two pain genes was associated with neural patterns coding for high pain and neural activation in the ACC in response to pain. The proteins encoded by the OPRM1 and COMT may contribute to the firing of pain‐related neurons in the human ACC, a critical center for subjective pain experience.
Does the risk of basal cell carcinoma increase in patients with psoriasis under treatment?
Authors: Sevdem Gülcan Aliye , Ozlem Kucuk Su , Nazan Yilmaz , Nahide Onsun
Published: February 2024

Background

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory disease. Although it mainly affects the skin, it has been associated with a large number of comorbidities. In addition to comorbidities such as depression and psoriatic arthritis, it is known that there is an increased prevalence of cancer in psoriasis patients. Skin cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, have been associated with psoriasis. However, basal cell carcinoma data are limited.

Methods

346 psoriasis patients and 306 individuals were selected as the control group. There were no differences between the patient and control groups in terms of age and gender. The mean age of the psoriasis patients was 49.9 ± 15.8 years and the control group was 49.4 ± 13.4 years. Sociodemographic data of the patients were recorded. Pharmacological agents used in the treatment of psoriasis were included in the analysis. Disease severity was assessed by the psoriasis area severity index (PASI). In the physical examination of the patients, biopsies were taken from lesions suspicious for BCC. BCC diagnosis was made by histopathologically.

Results

The frequency of BCC was higher in psoriasis patients than in the control group (6.6% vs. 2.9%, p < .001). Advanced age (p < .001), smoking (p = .003), and arthritis (p < .001) were associated with BCC in psoriasis patients. However, there was no relationship between PASI and BCC (p = .142). Among the psoriasis treatments, only UV therapy was associated with BCC (p = .038). The frequency of PUVA (p < .001) and number of PUVA session (p = .010) was higher in psoriasis patients with BCC rather than NB‐UVB.

Conclusion

The frequency of BCC is increased in psoriasis patients. Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of BCC, especially when treated with PUVA therapy for a long time.
Expectancy and attention bias to spiders: Dissecting anticipation and allocation processes using ERPs
Authors: Abado Elinor , Aue Tatjana , Pourtois Gilles , Okon‐Singer Hadas
Published: February 2024

The current registered report focused on the temporal dynamics of the relationship between expectancy and attention toward threat, to better understand the mechanisms underlying the prioritization of threat detection over expectancy. In the current event‐related potentials experiment, a‐priori expectancy was manipulated, and attention bias was measured, using a well‐validated paradigm. A visual search array was presented, with one of two targets: spiders (threatening) or birds (neutral). A verbal cue stating the likelihood of encountering a target preceded the array, creating congruent and incongruent trials. Following cue presentation, preparatory processes were examined using the contingent negative variation (CNV) component. Following target presentation, two components were measured: early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP), reflecting early and late stages of natural selective attention toward emotional stimuli, respectively. Behaviorally, spiders were found faster than birds, and congruency effects emerged for both targets. For the CNV, a non‐significant trend of more negative amplitudes following spider cues emerged. As expected, EPN and LPP amplitudes were larger for spider targets compared to bird targets. Data‐driven, exploratory, topographical analyses revealed different patterns of activation for bird cues compared to spider cues. Furthermore, 400–500 ms post‐target, a congruency effect was revealed only for bird targets. Together, these results demonstrate that while expectancy for spider appearance is evident in differential neural preparation, the actual appearance of spider target overrides this expectancy effect and only in later stages of processing does the cueing effect come again into play.
Enhancing ecological complexity in soft‐bottom coastal ecosystems: the impact of introducing hard substrates
Authors: Witte Sterre , Dickson Jon , Franken Oscar , Holthuijsen Sander , Govers Laura L. , Olff Han , van der Heide Tjisse
Published: February 2024

Coastal ecosystems globally face pressures, with natural coastal habitats being replaced by engineered structures. While hard structures for navigation‐purposes and coastal defense can negatively impact native communities, they can also be applied in ecological restoration as artificial reefs. This way substrates may facilitate establishment of biogenic (shellfish) reefs and provide habitat heterogeneity in soft‐sediment ecosystems. In a 1.5‐year experiment, we introduced six different types of natural or biodegradable hard substrates in a subtidal soft‐sediment system. We compared the substrates with surrounding soft sediment and evaluated differences among substrate types using biodiversity indices, community composition analyses, and food web indicators. This offers a comprehensive understanding of how the introduced hard substrates affect ecosystem complexity. Overall ecological complexity indicators were higher in the second year of the experiment. We found a significant increase in species richness, community composition, and link density (number of feeding interactions per species) on hard substrates compared to the surrounding sediment. However, Shannon diversity index and food web connectance (measure of food web saturation) did not differ between substrates and the surrounding sediment. Although differences among types of hard substrates were small, certain species were uniquely associated with specific substrates with wood and granite performing best. While there was no establishment of epibenthic shellfish reefs within 1.5 years, we conclude that introducing hard substrates effectively enhances ecological complexity in soft‐bottom coastal ecosystems within that timeframe. We recommend the use of substrates with a historical ecological relevance in the system for scaling up introduction of substrates for ecological restoration.
Targeted Liberalization: China's foreign investment regulation reform and its post‐WTO‐accession export surge
Authors: Liang Yang , Lovely Mary E. , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: February 2024

To gain membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China substantially modified its regulation of foreign direct investment. These reforms coincided with rapid changes in the composition of capital inflows, as the dominant entry mode shifted from joint venture to wholly foreign owned affiliate. Foreign‐invested enterprises contributed a rising share of China's rapidly growing exports. We investigate how much China's foreign ownership liberalization contributed to these observed trends in foreign investment flows and Chinese exports. Accounting for both the set of activities from which it removed foreign equity caps and those into which it newly encouraged investment, we estimate the impact of China's reforms on firm entry and exports using a difference‐in‐differences estimator. To eliminate bias resulting from heterogeneous and dynamic treatment effects, we also apply novel dynamic difference‐in‐differences estimators. We find that removal of foreign equity caps induced entry of wholly foreign owned firms, while having no significant effect on entry of new joint ventures. Concurrently, the designation of new activities for investment incentives induced foreign entry, particularly in the form of joint ventures. Reduced‐form calculations imply that FDI policy changes explain almost 9% of the increase in exports from foreign‐invested firms over the decade studied. The effect was larger in sectors identified as “high‐tech industries” by the Chinese government, as they contribute most of the estimated policy‐driven export growth from foreign‐invested firms. Thus, China's FDI regulation reform following WTO entry was targeted liberalization: elimination of equity share limits induced new foreign entry, while investment incentives encouraged formation of joint ventures.
Differences in the annotation between facial images and videos for training an artificial intelligence for skin type determination
Authors: Lehner Gabriele Maria , Gockeln Laura , Naber Bettina Marie , Thamm Janis Raphael , Schuh Sandra , Duttler Gabriel , Rottenkolber Anna , Hartmann Dennis , Kramer Frank , Welzel Julia
Published: February 2024

Background

The Grand‐AID research project, consisting of GRANDEL‐The Beautyness Company, the dermatology department of Augsburg University Hospital and the Chair of IT Infrastructure for Translational Medical Research at Augsburg University, is currently researching the development of a digital skin consultation tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the user's skin and ultimately perform a personalized skin analysis and a customized skin care routine. Training the AI requires annotation of various skin features on facial images. The central question is whether videos are better suited than static images for assessing dynamic parameters such as wrinkles and elasticity. For this purpose, a pilot study was carried out in which the annotations on images and videos were compared.

Materials and Methods

Standardized image sequences as well as a video with facial expressions were taken from 25 healthy volunteers. Four raters with dermatological expertise annotated eight features (wrinkles, redness, shine, pores, pigmentation spots, dark circles, skin sagging, and blemished skin) with a semi‐quantitative and a linear scale in a cross‐over design to evaluate differences between the image modalities and between the raters.

Results

In the videos, most parameters tended to be assessed with higher scores than in the images, and in some cases significantly. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the raters.

Conclusion

The present study shows significant differences between the two evaluation methods using image or video analysis. In addition, the evaluation of the skin analysis depends on subjective criteria. Therefore, when training the AI, we recommend regular training of the annotating individuals and cross‐validation of the annotation.
Metrics to evaluate constitutive model fitness based on DIC experiments
Authors: Peshave Amar , Pierron Fabrice , Lava Pascal , Moens David , Vandepitte Dirk
Published: February 2024

Full‐field optical experimental techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) enable measurement of information‐rich heterogeneous strain states. The aim of Material Testing 2.0 is to capitalise on this and design experimental setups for efficient material characterisation using inverse identification techniques such as the Virtual Fields Method (VFM). In that case, however, a priori knowledge of the constitutive model is required, which sometimes is not a trivial task. This limitation can be overcome by identifying multiple constitutive models using the same DIC strain fields and comparing their performance. In this work, we present a methodology to evaluate model performance and compare different constitutive models based on quantitative metrics. DIC experiments were performed on an S‐shaped high density polyethylene test sample under uniaxial load. The heterogeneous DIC strain fields were used in combination with the VFM to identify parameters of hyperelastic constitutive models with increasing complexity. Two deterministic metrics, the equilibrium gap indicator (EGI) and the reconstructed axial force ratio (RAFR), were defined and used to compare the performance of these constitutive models. The impact of spatial smoothing on DIC strain fields was studied by calculating the EGI and RAFR using a digital twin of the DIC experiments. EGI and RAFR metrics provide complementary information regarding the material behaviour, and both are necessary to make an informed choice. In this case study, hyperelastic constitutive models were found not to capture the material stiffness well in the small strain regime. A linear‐elastic contribution exponentially decaying with the equivalent shear stress was added to the hyperelastic models and the corresponding model parameters identified using the VFM. The elastic‐hyperelastic constitutive models were found to perform better than their purely hyperelastic counterparts.
The novel HLA‐C*14:02:01:33 allele identified by Pacific Biosciences HiFi sequencing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Li Zihang , Zhao Yuanli , Yang Long , Wang Xiaoning , Gao Peng
Published: February 2024

HLA‐C*14:02:01:33 differs from HLA‐C*14:02:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in intron 2.
A study of knowledge and acceptance of kidney xenotransplantation among Chinese kidney transplant recipients and candidates
Authors: Tu Yuhao , Zhao Xiangli , Chen Gang , Zhu Lan
Published: February 2024

Background

In recent years, the implementation of the first case of pig‐to‐human heart xenotransplantation and the report of three cases of pig‐to‐brain‐dead human recipient kidney transplantation indicate that xenotransplantation is getting closer to clinical application. In the near future, China may also launch clinical trials of kidney xenotransplantation. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the level of knowledge and acceptance of xenotransplantation among kidney transplant recipients and candidates in China. This study aims to investigate the level of comprehension and acceptance of kidney xenotransplantation in kidney transplant recipients and explore related factors, providing a reference for promoting the application and clinical trials of xenotransplantation in the near future.

Methods

A questionnaire was completed by 211 kidney transplant recipients and 21 candidates. Answers to the questionnaires were self‐administered by the respondents. Scores were compared using nonparametric tests, as well as using Chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test to compare differences in answers.

Results

Respondents demonstrated a high score of 75 (out of 100) on knowledge and acceptance of kidney xenotransplantation. The sector “Knowledge and Attitude” received the overall highest score from respondents (85.0 out of 100), while “Risks and Concerns” received the lowest score (50 out of 100). Interestingly, respondents paid more attention to infection risks but showed less concern about rejection or unknown risks. Furthermore, 191 respondents (82.3%) expected that pig kidney xenografts could function for at least 5 years or more. The scores were statistically significant in terms of age, gender, level of education, level of knowledge on the case of xenotransplantation clinical trial, and willingness to donate organs. cognition

Conclusions

The awareness rates of xenotransplantation are high among kidney transplant recipients and candidates, for which the majority showed a generally favorable attitude towards this procedure. Respondents did not have a comprehensive understanding of the specific knowledge of xenotransplantation and expressed more concern about the risk of infection compared to the risk of rejection and other unknown risks, while also expecting long‐term survival similar to allograft transplantation for pig kidney xenografts.
Marketing Communication Through Intellectual Brand Experiences: The Impact of Pleasure and Arousal on Repurchase Intention
Authors: Ligaraba Neo
Published: February 2024

Intellectual brand experiences aim to stimulate thinking, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of the brand. The goal for marketers is to create meaningful and thoughtful connections with consumers based on knowledge, information, and intellectual engagement. When a consumer feels intellectually connected to a brand, they are likely to remain loyal and advocate for the brand within their social circles. Drawing upon the pleasure-arousal-dominance (PAD) approach, this study aims to investigate the effect of intellectual brand experiences on pleasure, arousal, and repurchase intention. Data was collected from 196 Red Bull consumers, aged between 18 and 25 years, and the proposed hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This study found that intellectual experiences had direct significant impacts on pleasure, arousal, and repurchase intention. By following intellectual branding and communication as an essential positioning tool and implementing several thinking, curiosity and problem-solving strategies, marketers of energy drinks could drive repurchase intention. This research contributes to research in the field of intellectual brand experience and offers strategies for marketers to develop intellectual brand experiences.
Effects of periodic breathing on sleep at high altitude: a randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover study using inspiratory CO2
Authors: Ibrahim Abubaker , Stefani Ambra , Cesari Matteo , Roche Johanna , Gatterer Hannes , Holzknecht Evi , Turner Rachel , Vinetti Giovanni , Furian Michael , Heidbreder Anna , Högl Birgit , Siebenmann Christoph
Published: February 2024

Hypoxia at high altitude facilitates changes in ventilatory control that can lead to nocturnal periodic breathing (nPB). Here, we introduce a placebo‐controlled approach to prevent nPB by increasing inspiratory CO2 and used it to assess whether nPB contributes to the adverse effects of hypoxia on sleep architecture. In a randomized, single‐blinded, crossover design, 12 men underwent two sojourns (three days/nights each, separated by 4 weeks) in hypobaric hypoxia corresponding to 4000 m altitude, with polysomnography during the first and third night of each sojourn. During all nights, subjects’ heads were encompassed by a canopy retaining exhaled CO2, and CO2 concentration in the canopy (i.e. inspiratory CO2 concentration) was controlled by adjustment of fresh air inflow. Throughout the placebo sojourn inspiratory CO2 was ≤0.2%, whereas throughout the other sojourn it was increased to 1.76% (IQR, 1.07%–2.44%). During the placebo sojourn, total sleep time (TST) with nPB was 54.3% (37.4%–80.8%) and 45.0% (24.5%–56.5%) during the first and the third night, respectively (P = 0.042). Increased inspiratory CO2 reduced TST with nPB by an absolute 38.1% (28.1%–48.1%), the apnoea–hypopnoea index by 58.1/h (40.1–76.1/h), and oxygen desaturation index ≥3% by 56.0/h (38.9.1–73.2/h) (all P < 0.001), whereas it increased the mean arterial oxygen saturation in TST by 2.0% (0.4%–3.5%, P = 0.035). Increased inspiratory CO2 slightly increased the percentage of N3 sleep during the third night (P = 0.045), without other effects on sleep architecture. Increasing inspiratory CO2 effectively prevented hypoxia‐induced nPB without affecting sleep macro‐architecture, indicating that nPB does not explain the sleep deterioration commonly observed at high altitudes.

image

Key points

Periodic breathing is common during sleep at high altitude, and it is unclear how this affects sleep architecture.

We developed a placebo‐controlled approach to prevent nocturnal periodic breathing (nPB) with inspiratory CO2 administration and used it to assess the effects of nPB on sleep in hypobaric hypoxia.

Nocturnal periodic breathing was effectively mitigated by an increased inspiratory CO2 fraction in a blinded manner.

Prevention of nPB did not lead to relevant changes in sleep architecture in hypobaric hypoxia.

We conclude that nPB does not explain the deterioration in sleep architecture commonly observed at high altitude.
Future research perspective on the interfacial physics of non-invasive glaucoma testing in pathogen transmission from the eyes
Authors: Roy Durbar , Basu Saptarshi
Published: February 2024

Non-contact tonometry (NCT) is a non-invasive ophthalmologic technique to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) using an air puff for routine glaucoma testing. Although IOP measurement using NCT has been perfected over many years, various phenomenological aspects of interfacial physics, fluid structure interaction, waves on corneal surface, and pathogen transmission routes to name a few are inherently unexplored. Research investigating the interdisciplinary physics of the ocular biointerface and of the NCT procedure is sparse and hence remains to be explored in sufficient depth. In this perspective piece, we introduce NCT and propose future research prospects that can be undertaken for a better understanding of the various hydrodynamic processes that occur during NCT from a pathogen transmission viewpoint. In particular, the research directions include the characterization and measurement of the incoming air puff, understanding the complex fluid-solid interactions occurring between the air puff and the human eye for measuring IOP, investigating the various waves that form and travel; tear film breakup and subsequent droplet formation mechanisms at various spatiotemporal length scales. Further, from an ocular disease transmission perspective, the disintegration of the tear film into droplets and aerosols poses a potential pathogen transmission route during NCT for pathogens residing in nasolacrimal and nasopharynx pathways. Adequate precautions by opthalmologist and medical practioners are therefore necessary to conduct the IOP measurements in a clinically safer way to prevent the risk associated with pathogen transmission from ocular diseases like conjunctivitis, keratitis, and COVID-19 during the NCT procedure.
A robust, scalable, and cost-efficient approach to whole genome sequencing of RSV directly from clinical samples
Authors: Köndgen Sophie , Oh Djin-Ye , Thürmer Andrea , Sedaghatjoo Somayyeh , Patrono Livia V. , Calvignac-Spencer Sébastien , Biere Barbara , Wolff Thorsten , Dürrwald Ralf , Fuchs Stephan , Reiche Janine
Published: February 2024

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections causing significant morbidity and mortality among children and the elderly; two RSV vaccines and a monoclonal antibody have recently been approved. Thus, there is an increasing need for a detailed and continuous genomic surveillance of RSV circulating in resource-rich and resource-limited settings worldwide. However, robust, cost-effective methods for whole genome sequencing of RSV from clinical samples that are amenable to high-throughput are still scarce. We developed Next-RSV-SEQ, an experimental and computational pipeline to generate whole genome sequences of historic and current RSV genotypes by in-solution hybridization capture-based next generation sequencing. We optimized this workflow by automating library preparation and pooling libraries prior to enrichment in order to reduce hands-on time and cost, thereby augmenting scalability. Next-RSV-SEQ yielded near-complete to complete genome sequences for 98% of specimens with Cp values ≤31, at median on-target reads >93%, and mean coverage depths between ~1,000 and >5,000, depending on viral load. Whole genomes were successfully recovered from samples with viral loads as low as 230 copies per microliter RNA. We demonstrate that the method can be expanded to other respiratory viruses like parainfluenza virus and human metapneumovirus. Next-RSV-SEQ produces high-quality RSV genomes directly from culture isolates and, more importantly, clinical specimens of all genotypes in circulation. It is cost-efficient, scalable, and can be extended to other respiratory viruses, thereby opening new perspectives for a future effective and broad genomic surveillance of respiratory viruses.

IMPORTANCE

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe acute respiratory tract infections in children and the elderly, and its prevention has become an increasing priority. Recently, vaccines and a long-acting monoclonal antibody to protect effectively against severe disease have been approved for the first time. Hence, there is an urgent need for genomic surveillance of RSV at the global scale to monitor virus evolution, especially with an eye toward immune evasion. However, robust, cost-effective methods for RSV whole genome sequencing that are suitable for high-throughput of clinical samples are currently scarce. Therefore, we have developed Next-RSV-SEQ, an experimental and computational pipeline that produces reliably high-quality RSV genomes directly from clinical specimens and isolates.
Associations between physical activity and development in preschool-aged children born <30 weeks’ gestation: a cohort study
Authors: FitzGerald Tara L , Cameron Kate L , Albesher Reem A , Mentiplay Benjamin F , Mainzer Rheanna M , Burnett Alice C , Treyvaud Karli , Clark Ross A , Anderson Peter J , Cheong Jeanie LY , Doyle Lex W , Spittle Alicia J
Published: February 2024

Objective

To investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) on development (motor, cognitive, social-emotional) in children 4–5 years old born <30 weeks’ gestation, and to describe subgroups of children at risk of low PA in this cohort.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Patients

123 children born <30 weeks were recruited at birth and assessed between 4 and 5 years’ corrected age.

Main outcome measures

Development was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2), Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (L-DCDQ), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (Fourth Edition; WPPSI-IV), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). To measure PA, children wore an accelerometer and parents completed a diary for 7 days. Effects of PA on developmental outcomes, and associations between perinatal risk factors and PA, were estimated using linear regression.

Results

More accelerometer-measured PA was associated with better MABC-2 aiming and catching scores (average standard score increase per hour increase in PA: 0.54, 95% CI 0.11, 0.96; p=0.013), and lower WPPSI-IV processing speed index scores (average composite score decrease per hour increase in PA: −2.36, 95% CI −4.19 to –0.53; p=0.012). Higher accelerometer-measured PA was associated with better SDQ prosocial scores. Major brain injury in the neonatal period was associated with less moderate-vigorous and less unstructured PA at 4–5 years.

Conclusions

Higher levels of PA are associated with aspects of motor, cognitive and social-emotional skill development in children 4–5 years old born <30 weeks. Those with major brain injury in the neonatal period may be more vulnerable to low PA at preschool age.
Ladders and stairs: how the intervention ladder focuses blame on individuals and obscures systemic failings and interventions
Authors: Paetkau Tyler
Published: February 2024

Introduced in 2007 by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the intervention ladder has become an influential tool in bioethics and public health policy for weighing the justification for interventions and for weighing considerations of intrusiveness and proportionality. However, while such considerations are critical, in its focus on these factors, the ladder overemphasises the role of personal responsibility and the importance of individual behaviour change in public health interventions. Through a study of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine mandates among healthcare workers, this paper investigates how the ladder obscures systemic factors such as the social determinants of health. In overlooking these factors, potentially effective interventions are left off the table and the intervention ladder serves to divert attention away from key issues in public health. This paper, therefore, proposes a replacement for the intervention ladder—the intervention stairway. By broadening the intervention ladder to include systemic factors, the stairway ensures relevant interventions are not neglected merely due to the framing of the issue. Moreover, it more accurately captures factors influencing individual health as well as allocations of responsibility for improving these factors.
Leveraging artificial intelligence to detect ethical concerns in medical research: a case study
Authors: Sridharan Kannan , Sivaramakrishnan Gowri
Published: February 2024

Background

Institutional review boards (IRBs) have been criticised for delays in approvals for research proposals due to inadequate or inexperienced IRB staff. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), has significant potential to assist IRB members in a prompt and efficient reviewing process.

Methods

Four LLMs were evaluated on whether they could identify potential ethical issues in seven validated case studies. The LLMs were prompted with queries related to the proposed eligibility criteria of the study participants, vulnerability issues, information to be disclosed in the informed consent document (ICD), risk–benefit assessment and justification of the use of a placebo. Another query was issued to the LLMs to generate ICDs for these case scenarios.

Results

All four LLMs were able to provide answers to the queries related to all seven cases. In general, the responses were homogeneous with respect to most elements. LLMs performed suboptimally in identifying the suitability of the placebo arm, risk mitigation strategies and potential risks to study participants in certain case studies with a single prompt. However, multiple prompts led to better outputs in all of these domains. Each of the LLMs included all of the fundamental elements of the ICD for all case scenarios. Use of jargon, understatement of benefits and failure to state potential risks were the key observations in the AI-generated ICD.

Conclusion

It is likely that LLMs can enhance the identification of potential ethical issues in clinical research, and they can be used as an adjunct tool to prescreen research proposals and enhance the efficiency of an IRB.
Video analysis of human behaviour during wildfire evacuations
Authors: Carton Hannah , Gales John , Kennedy Eric B.
Published: February 2024

Wildfire impacts are increasing due to the multiplicative effect of several factors, including climate change, increased vulnerability in the wildland-urban interface, and impacts of management decisions. This has also led to an increase in evacuations due to the number of wildfires and people affected. This study collected information on behaviour during wildfire evacuation to fill critical research gaps in human behaviour and evacuation knowledge. Seven videos of residents’ evacuations from the 2016 Fort McMurray fire were collected from public platforms. Their routes were analyzed, and notable behavioural events were recorded. The evacuees mainly used major roads before getting onto the highway (the only route available for vehicular egress). The notable behaviours observed included using opposite lanes and driving outside of marked roads to avoid congestion. Much of the observed behaviours appeared to be motivated by the surrounding traffic or fire behaviour, further supporting the need for further studies of evacuation.
Evaluation of mobile laser scanning acquisition scenarios for automated wood volume estimation in a temperate hardwood forest using quantitative structural models
Authors: Vandendaele Bastien , Martin-Ducup Olivier , Fournier Richard A. , Pelletier Gaetan
Published: February 2024

This study explores how data from a handheld mobile laser scanning (MLS) system and quantitative structural models (QSM) can be used to estimate tree structural attributes. Four MLS acquisition scenarios were investigated in a 1 ha temperate hardwood stand, including 15 and 35 m parallel lines, nine circular plots, and a 20 m × 20 m grid. Results were compared against terrestrial laser scanning and destructive field measurements. All acquisition scenarios yielded comparable results, except for the 35 m scenario, which showed greater variability. The 20 m × 20 m grid scenario showed the highest accuracy, with an RMSE of 0.41 m (2.07%) for tree height, 3.98 cm (14.93%) for diameter at breast height, 0.21 m³ (19.28%) for merchantable wood volume, and 0.07 m³ (10.11%) for merchantable stem volume. A bias < 5% was observed for these key attributes, except for an 11.68% bias in merchantable wood volume. Overestimation of branch volume was identified as the primary source of bias related to merchantable wood volume. This study highlights MLS’s potential for accurate, non-destructive estimation of tree structural attributes, while pointing out the need to refine noise removal and to assess the most suitable acquisition scenarios for various forest types.
Fusarium head blight detection, spikelet estimation, and severity assessment in wheat using 3D convolutional neural networks
Authors: Hamila Oumaima , Henry Christopher J. , Molina Oscar I. , Bidinosti Christopher P. , Henriquez Maria Antonia
Published: February 2024

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most significant diseases affecting wheat and other small-grain cereals worldwide. Developing FHB-resistant cultivars is critical but requires field and greenhouse disease assessment, which are typically laborious and time consuming. In this work, we developed automated applications based on three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that detect FHB symptoms expressed in wheat, estimate the total number of spikelets versus the total number of infected spikelets on a wheat head, and subsequently calculate FHB severity index. Such tools are an important step toward the creation of automated and efficient phenotyping methods. The data used to generate the results are 3D point clouds consisting of four colour channels—red, green, blue (RGB), and near-infrared (NIR)—collected using a multispectral 3D scanner. Our 3D CNN models for FHB detection achieved 100% accuracy. The influence of the multispectral information on performance was evaluated; the results showed the dominance of the RGB channels over both the NIR (720 nm peak wavelength) and the NIR plus RGB channels combined. Our best 3D CNN models for estimation of total and infected number of spikelets achieved mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 1.13 and 1.56, respectively. Our best 3D CNN models for FHB severity estimation achieved 8.6 MAE. A linear regression analysis between the visual FHB severity assessment and the FHB severity predicted by our 3D CNN showed a significant correlation.
Nanohertz gravitational waves from supergravity inflationary model with double-inflection-point
Authors: Gao Tie-Jun , Sun Ke-Sheng , Yang Xiu-Yi
Published: February 2024

Recently, the worldwide pulsar timing array(PTA) collaborations, such as the Chinese Pulsar Timing Array (CPTA), the European PulsarTiming Array (EPTA), the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) and the Parkers Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) published the analysis of PTA data, which is consistent with the Hellings–Downs curve, thus provides evidence for the existence of stochastic gravitational wave backgrounds (SGWB). In this paper, we will show that such SGWB signal observed by PTA can be explained by the gravitational waves (GWs) induced from double-inflection-point inflationary model in the framework of supergravity with a single chiral superfield. In this model, one of the inflection points leads to a large peak in the scalar power spectrum at small scales, and when this peak re-enters the horizon, it will induce GWs with the frequencies around nanohertz. In addition, we show that the high-density regions corresponding to the peak can collapse into planet-mass primordial black holes (PBHs), thus act as a component of dark matter (DM).
Einstein–Bumblebee-dilaton black hole in Lifshitz spacetimes
Authors: Lessa L. A. , Silva J. E. G.
Published: February 2024

We investigate the critical behavior of Lifshitz black holes in Einstein-dilaton gravity in the context of spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking. Considering the effects of both the Bumblebee vacuum expectation value (VEV) and the fluctuations over the VEV, we obtained new asymptotically Lifshitz charged solutions in (3 + 1) dimensions. We consider the longitudinal massive mode of Lorentz violation (LV) as thermodynamic pressure, leading us to establish an $$P-V$$

P
-
V

extended phase space. Within this framework, we derive the equation of state P(T, V), and subsequently identify the critical points, which manifest as discontinuities in the specific heat at constant pressure. Following this, we compute the Gibbs free energy, revealing a first-order phase transition within the model. Finally, we determine the critical exponents, demonstrating their equivalence to those observed in the Van der Waals system.
Mössbauer and magnetic studies of Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared by solution co-precipitation method
Authors: Liu Li , Bao Qifu , Zhao Tiangui , Liu Kun , Shi Detai , Li Siyu , Zhu Wei , Li Xiaolong , Zhou Jianer
Published: February 2024

A series of Zn[Formula: see text]FexO ([Formula: see text], 0.015, 0.045, 0.075) nanoparticles were synthesized using the solution co-precipitation method, and their structural and property characteristics were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all Zn[Formula: see text]FexO samples exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with the P63mc space group. The introduction of Fe doping led to a slight lattice distortion in the samples. The morphology of the nanoparticles, including polydispersion and agglomeration, as well as the presence of the second phase ZnFe2O4, was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated that the band gap of Zn[Formula: see text]FexO lies between 3.152 and 3.163[Formula: see text]eV. With the increase in Fe ion doping, the band gap shows a slight decreasing trend. Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that iron ions in the nanoparticles existed in a trivalent state and exhibited two different configurations: One involved iron replacing zinc without creating a vacancy, while the other involved iron substituting zinc with a vacancy. The ferromagnetic nature of the Fe-doped samples can be attributed to the exchange interaction between two Fe[Formula: see text] ions mediated by the F-center mechanism.
Investigation of electrothermal properties of indium-tin-oxide thin films
Authors: Altinkok Atilgan , Olutas Murat , Altinkok Sevgi
Published: February 2024

Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin films are highly sought-after for their unique characteristics of conducting electricity and transmitting visible light, making them ideal conductive coating materials for electronic devices. We carried out a comprehensive analysis of the deposition, optical, electrical, and structural properties of ITO and Ag/ITO thin films on glass substrates in this study. The weight ratio of the deposited metals was 1:10, 2:10, and 4:10[Formula: see text]wt.% (Sn:In) for ITO films and 1:1:10[Formula: see text]wt.% (Ag:Sn:In) for Ag–ITO film. The films were annealed at 300°C using a program controller furnace. We employed infrared cameras to analyze the surface temperature profiles of these thin films under external voltage supply. We also investigated the resistivity behavior of both ITO and Ag–ITO films, analyzing them with regard to Mott’s variable range hopping (VRH) model and the fluctuation-induced tunneling model. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that adding Ag increased the grain size of ITO thin films. The average grain size for ITO thin film was determined as 186[Formula: see text]nm, while it was found to be 270[Formula: see text]nm for Ag–ITO thin film. Furthermore, incorporating Ag into the ITO thin film resulted in a reduction of 21.5% in transmittance over the complete visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum when compared to the ITO thin film without Ag as measured by ultra-visible spectrophotometer. The figure of merit was obtained as [Formula: see text] for ITO and [Formula: see text] for Ag–ITO thin films. However, the resistance of the ITO thin film was calculated to be 9.58[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text], while that of the Ag–ITO film was found to be 6.99[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]. The ITO thin film that included Ag exhibited a lower electrical resistivity due to the larger grain size caused by doped Ag atoms in the structure, leading to less electron scattering at the grain boundaries and a resulting decrease in resistivity as determined by four-point probe system. Thermal imaging camera measurements revealed that the surface temperature of the ITO thin film decreased with the addition of Ag under high voltage application, but not under low voltage. When a voltage of 350[Formula: see text]V and 250[Formula: see text]V was applied to the thin films, the ITO film exhibited a surface temperature of 73.9°C and 50.4°C, whereas under identical conditions, the Ag–ITO film showed a surface temperature of 62°C and 44.1°C, respectively. Furthermore, both films exhibited exponentially increasing surface temperature behavior under a certain voltage, suggesting that they have potential for transparent heaters and high-voltage/low-current applications.
DENG ENTROPY AND INFORMATION DIMENSION FOR COVID-19 AND COMMON PNEUMONIA CLASSIFICATION
Authors: ORTIZ-VILCHIS PILAR , ANTONIO-CRUZ MAYRA , LEI MINGLI , RAMIREZ-ARELLANO ALDO
Published: February 2024

Motivated by previous authors’ work, where Shannon entropy, box covering and information dimension were applied to quantify pulmonary lesions, this paper extends such a contribution in two fashions: (i) Following the approach to quantify pulmonary lesions with Deng entropy and Deng information dimension obtained through box covering method; (ii) exploiting the Shannon and Deng lesion quantification for pulmonary illnesses classification with a bidirectional Long Short Term Memory (bLSTM). The referred pulmonary illnesses are Common Pneumonia (CP) and COVID-19. Shannon entropy and information dimension are performed here and called the Shannon sequence. Then, Deng entropy and Deng information dimension are computed for chest Computed Tomography (CT) images to obtain and combine two data sequences to quantify the pulmonary lesions. The data sequence resulting from the data combination is called the Deng sequence. Both Shannon and Deng sequences are independently used as input for the bLSTM. CT lung scans of 531 healthy subjects, 497 confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses and 516 with CP were analyzed to obtain the Shannon and Deng sequences. The results demonstrate that Deng entropy and Deng information dimension of CT images can differentiate similar lung lesions between COVID-19 and CP. Besides, a statistical analysis shows that: (a) Classification by the bLSTM is better when using the Deng sequence than the Shannon sequence; (b) Deng sequences plus bLSTM significantly outperform DenseNet-201, GoogLeNet and MobileNet-v2 in classifying COVID-19, CP and Normal CT (healthy subjects) in time and accuracy. Hence, the Deng sequence and bLSTM are fast and accurate tools for helping in diagnosing CP and COVID-19.