bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and acceptability of the physical exercise and dietary therapy in a healthy life center
Authors: Mathisen Therese Fostervold , Pettersen Gunn , Rosenvinge Jan H. , Schmidt Ulrike , Sundgot‐Borgen Jorunn
Published: July 2023

Objective

The high burden of eating disorders (EDs) and limited availability of treatment speaks of a need to explore new avenues for treatment delivery. To understand if new treatment avenues are helpful and acceptable to patients, we investigated the effectiveness of Physical Exercise and Dietary Therapy (PED‐t) in participants with bulimia nervosa or binge‐eating disorder, and acceptability when the PED‐t was implemented in a Healthy Life Center in a municipal primary healthcare service.

Method

Exercise physiologists and one dietitian were trained in ED literacy and to run PED‐t, before screening women for eligibility. Effectiveness (n = 16) of PED‐t and participants' experiences (n = 8) were evaluated by a mixed methods study design. Results were analyzed by relevant statistics and reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Of 19 eligible participants, 16 completed treatment. At post‐treatment, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire global score, binge‐eating frequency, and symptoms of depression were lower, and nine (56% of completers) were in remission. Participants' treatment experiences were classified into two overarching themes: “competence” and “emotional support.” Participants reported high acceptance for PED‐t, the local venue and group format, and felt that PED‐t provided them with coping tools and increased mental strength. However, many also spoke of an unmet need to address emotional eating.

Discussion

Findings point to a potential for making an effective ED therapy more accessible, and that participants find the local low‐threshold delivery within a group‐format helpful. With small adjustments, the PED‐t could emerge as a promising first‐line treatment for bulimic EDs.

Public Significance Statement

Limited access to treatment for EDs, patients' high barriers to help‐seeking, and the high rates of limited efficacy from psychotherapy speak of a need to explore new therapies and avenues for delivery. In this study, we build on findings from a controlled ED treatment trial and replicate the beneficial effects and find a high patient acceptance of “physical exercise and diet therapy” implemented in a real, non‐clinical setting.
Developing perennial wildflower strips for use in Mediterranean orchard systems
Authors: Mockford Alice , Urbaneja Alberto , Ashbrook Kate , Westbury Duncan B.
Published: July 2023

To support sustainable food production and the delivery of ecosystem services through ecological intensification, wildflower strips have become a popular strategy. Despite their success in temperate orchard systems, they remain understudied in Mediterranean ecosystems, which poses a significant barrier to uptake. In order to further promote their adoption, seed mixes must be optimised for commercial orchard systems and for the Mediterranean climate. Plant species should be selected for their consistent performance, whilst the availability of resources for ecosystem service providers determines the quality of the wildflower strip. In this study, the suitability of 12 native perennial forbs and two tussock‐forming grass species for wildflower strips in commercial Citrus orchards was assessed over a 3‐year period. Distinct resources for natural enemies according to the different plant growth stages were used an indicator of wildflower strip quality. The wildflower strips were managed under two different cutting strategies: (i) standard management, in which wildflower strips were cut once annually in February, and (ii) active management, in which wildflower strips were cut two additional times each year. The establishment and success of the sown species were compared. The influence of wildflower strips and their management on plant species richness, community structure, and the provision of resources was compared with a control treatment, in which alleyways were managed conventionally by cutting any naturally occurring vegetation to a height of ≤5 cm, four to five times annual. For the first time, the performance of native perennial plant species has been assessed in Mediterranean orchard systems and a seed mix developed for targeting pest regulation services. The wildflower strips were successful in increasing plant species richness and the available resources expected to support natural enemies. However, only wildflower strips managed with cutting once annually enhanced vegetation cover relative to the control, whilst extending the flowering period. This study therefore provides crucial tools for the further development of sustainable approaches to food production in Mediterranean orchard systems.
Ecological indicators for qualitative assessment of Ojarud River: A case study
Authors: Mobasher Aydin , Bayrami Abolfazl , Asadi‐Sharif Ehsan , Rahim Pouran Shima
Published: July 2023

Today, the application of ecological indicators based on organisms has replaced traditional saprobic approaches for assessment of the quality of rivers impaired due to organic pollution and some other environmental disturbances. This study aimed to weigh the quality of the Ojarud River in Ardabil, Iran, applying biological and physiological indices of macro‐invertebrates. A total of 12,524 samplings were fulfilled at four stations (S1, S2, S3, S4) from the headstream to downstream by a Surber sampler (30 × 30 cm2) from June/2020 to April/2021. All year round, the highest frequent families were Chironomidae (2658), Simuliidae (1025) from Diptera and Caenidae (1855), and Baetidae (724) from Ephemeroptera. The diversity pattern was analyzed by PAST software, and Primer 7 (BIO‐ENV analysis) was utilized to understand what factor has the most impact on the distribution of macro‐invertebrates. The least similarity of S4 to other stations was recognized by Cluster analysis. As per the ANOSIM (analysis of similarities), a statistically significant difference in the macroinvertebrates' frequency was established between S3 and other stations (p = .0001, r = .63). Moreover, the relationship between heavy metals and macro‐invertebrate showed that the three families of Simuliidae, Gomphidae, and Caenidae had a positive correlation with the concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment. As per the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera index, the water quality was placed in the “excellent” class, but the Biological Monitoring Working Party and Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index indices scored the water quality “good” class at S1 and the “poor” class at S3. Based on the results of this study, the use of physicochemical and hydro‐morphological indicators can support the biological indicators but cannot replace them. In addition, careful evaluation of biological indicators is required to develop conservation strategies.
Efficiency of phospholipid remodeling via acyl‐CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferases action is modified by acyl‐CoAs
Authors: Jasieniecka‐Gazarkiewicz Katarzyna , Klińska‐Bąchor Sylwia , Banaś Antoni
Published: July 2023

This study investigated the impact of different acyl‐CoAs on remodeling efficiency of PC and PE via the action of acyl‐CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPLAT). Microsomal fractions from yeast ΔALE1 mutant transformed with an empty plasmid pYES2 or plasmid carrying AtLPCAT or ALE1 encoding genes were used in the experiments. In the preliminary assays, presence of 18:1‐CoA in the reaction mixture increased remodeling efficiency of [14C]PC integrated with microsomal fraction of yeast overexpressing AtLPCAT compared to assays without exogenous acyl‐CoA. In further experiments, the effect of five different acyl‐CoAs (16:0‐CoA, 18:0‐CoA, 18:1‐CoA, 18:2‐CoA, and 18:3‐CoA) on remodeling efficiency of yeast microsomal PC and PE via the action of three LPLATs (yeast SLC1 and ALE1 and Arabidopsis LPCAT2) were tested. It has been shown that acyl‐CoAs used in the experiments had different effect on the remodeling intensity of PC and PE via action of the tested acyltransferases. Moreover, each acyl‐CoA used had a different effect on the tested acyltransferases. Additionally, the assays with DTNB (inhibitor of the LPLAT backward reaction) showed that remodeling of PC and PE by LPLATs can also occur through reactions other than the backward reaction carried out by these enzymes, and that acyl‐CoA present in the reaction mixture affected these processes.
The evolution and preservation potential of englacial eskers: An example from Breiðamerkurjökull, SE Iceland
Authors: Lally Amy , Ruffell Alastair , Newton Andrew M. W. , Rea Brice R. , Kahlert Thorsten , Storrar Robert D. , Spagnolo Matteo , Graham Conor , Coleman Millie
Published: July 2023

Directly observing glacial drainage systems (englacial and subglacial) is challenging. The distribution, morphology and internal structure of eskers can provide valuable information about the glacial drainage system and meltwater processes. This work presents the annual evolution (meltout) and internal structure of an esker emerging from the Breiðamerkurjökull ice margin, southeast Iceland. Changes in esker morphology have been repeatedly mapped over a 1‐year period using high temporal and spatial resolution data acquired by an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). The internal architecture of the esker was investigated using ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) surveys. These data are used to identify the dominant processes driving the formation of this englacial esker and to evaluate the preservation potential. The englacial esker was up to 2.6 m thick and ice‐cored. A large moulin upglacier of the esker, which evolved into an englacial conduit, supplied meltwater to the englacial channel. Upglacier dipping debris‐filled basal hydrofractures, formed by pressurised subglacial meltwater rising up the retrograde bed slope, likely supplied sediment to the englacial conduit. Over the 1‐year period of observation the crest morphology evolved from flat‐ to sharp‐crested and the esker footprint increased by a factor of 5.7 in response to post‐depositional processes. The findings presented here indicate that englacial eskers may have low preservation potential due to post‐depositional reworking such as slumping through ice‐core meltout and erosion by later meltwater flow. As englacial eskers may not be preserved in the landscape, they could represent important glacial drainage system components that are not currently captured in palaeo‐ice sheet reconstructions. This work highlights the value of creating a time series of high‐temporal resolution data to quantify morphological evolution and improve glacial process‐form models.
Intrusion detection system using distributed multilevel discriminator in GAN for IoT system
Authors: Poongodi M. , Hamdi Mounir
Published: July 2023

The artificial intelligence‐based Internet of vehicles (IoV) systems are highly susceptible to cyber‐attacks. To reap the benefits from IoV applications, the network must be protected against numerous security threats. Attacks that have been reported by attackers within the IoV system are found using intrusion detection systems (IDSs). Instead of relying on a centralized server, a distributed classifier is required for large‐scale networks like IoV.Datasets are kept secret because managing sensitive information is a difficult task. Due to privacy concerns, devices are not intended to share information among themselves. This paper proposes a multilevel discriminator for the distributed model of IDS with generative adversarial networks (GANs) for IoV devices. Without relying on a centralized controller, the suggested architecture leverages a multilevel distributed GAN model to identify abnormal behavior. Each IoV device in the proposed architecture communicates with its neighbors in a peer‐to‐peer fashion to monitor its data and identify both internal and external threats on other devices nearby. Additionally, the proposed design makes sure that datasets do not need to be shared with other IoV devices, ensuring the privacy of all IoV system data, including sensitive data‐like vehicular data.
Content sharing strategy for blind popularity distribution in D2D communications
Authors: Zhuang Wenqin , Song Yiming , Chen Mingkai , Chen Jianxin , Li Haibo
Published: July 2023

The development of multimedia content continuously encourages the appearances of new multimedia applications. Meanwhile, Device to Device (D2D) is regarded as an important 5G technology that creates a direct connection between two mobile devices. We combine the content sharing traits in D2D network situations in response to the problem of massive amounts of multimedia content being distributed. As a result, in this paper, we provide a popularity‐based information mining and content placement strategy for blind popularity distribution in D2D scenarios. To analyze the cache hit performance in D2D networks under the presumption of deterministic content popularity, we first construct a D2D content caching framework. Then, we design a multiarm bandits model and suggest a single and multicache placement policy based on online learning for blind popularity in D2D networks. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves better convergence and a better cache hit ratio than the other strategies.
Polysaccharides from brown seaweed: Physicochemical properties, absorption in the intestine, and beneficial effects on intestinal barrier
Authors: Yao Wanzi , Kong Qiuhong , You Lijun , Zhong Saiyi , Hileuskaya Kseniya
Published: July 2023

The intestinal barrier is critical in maintaining gut homeostasis and host health. The intestinal barrier dysfunction contributes to intestinal and systemic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and metabolic syndromes. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties of three main kinds of brown seaweed polysaccharides (BSP), laminarin, fucoidan, and alginate, along with their absorption and metabolism in the intestine and their effects on the intestinal barrier. The physicochemical properties of BSP were closely related to their beneficial effects on intestinal health. BSP were not digested directly in the upper gastrointestinal tract but could be utilized through fermentation by the gut microbiota. BSP kept the integrity of intestinal epithelium by ameliorating intestinal oxidative stress through the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 signaling pathway. They also reduced tight junction dysfunction and intestinal permeability and increased the expression of mucins. Moreover, BSP regulated the composition and abundance of gut microbiota and promoted the production of beneficial metabolites such as short‐chain fatty acids. This review will help to understand the gut health‐promoting functions of the natural compounds derived from brown seaweed and offer a new perspective on intestinal disease prevention and therapy with high effectiveness and safety.
Differential effectiveness of COVID‐19 health behaviors: The role of mental health conditions in mask‐wearing, social distancing, and hygiene practice
Authors: Zhai Yusen , Du Xue
Published: July 2023

Background

Mental health conditions are known to increase susceptibility to infectious diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Health behaviors play a crucial role in mitigating this susceptibility. We aim to examine the differential effectiveness of COVID‐19 preventive health behaviors among individuals, considering the presence or absence of specific mental health disorders.

Methods

Multivariable logistic regression with interaction terms was performed to examine whether associations between adherence to health behaviors and COVID‐19 infection were conditional on depression, anxiety, or eating disorders in a national sample of adults (N = 61,891) from 140 US universities, 2020–2021.

Results

Adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and gender/sex, the effectiveness of mask‐wearing was significant and comparable among individuals with and without depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Social distancing provided significantly less protection among individuals with depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Hygiene practice provided significantly less protection among individuals with anxiety.

Conclusion

Mask‐wearing is robustly effective in the prevention of COVID‐19 among individuals. However, social distancing and hygiene practice provide less significant protection among individuals with certain mental health conditions, suggesting the importance of prioritizing these individuals for additional preventive measures (e.g., vaccines targeting variants) and mitigation strategies (e.g., financial assistance, targeted mental health care, health education).
Descriptive spectrum of thiamine deficiency in pregnancy: A potentially preventable condition
Authors: Nisar Sobia , Kareem Ozaifa , Muzaffer Umar , Tanvir Masood , Ganaie Mohd. Ashraf , Ahmed Rabia Nazir
Published: July 2023

Objective

Pregnancy, a nutritionally demanding situation in terms of macro‐ and micronutrient supply owing to heightened maternal, placental, and fetal needs, significantly affects thiamine reserves. Thiamine deficiency during pregnancy and the postpartum period, presenting with varied manifestations and outcomes, is a relatively common condition in our population. The study aimed to understand the various manifestations and outcomes of acute thiamine deficiency in pregnant and postpartum women, emphasizing the significance of early recognition and thiamine therapy to prevent serious complications during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Methods

This prospective study conducted in a tertiary care center in North India enrolled consecutive pregnant and postpartum women presenting with clinical features consistent with thiamine deficiency disorders, such as thiamine deficiency‐related neuropathy, high‐output heart failure, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, Wernicke's encephalopathy, gastric beriberi, and thiamine‐responsive acute pulmonary hypertension. In addition to capturing medical history including drug intake, dietary consumption, and comorbidities, women underwent brief relevant clinical examinations and laboratory assessments, including whole‐blood thiamine levels. Response to intravenous thiamine supplementation was also monitored.

Results

Data of 31 women (12 pregnant, 19 postpartum) with a diagnosis of acute thiamine deficiency and a mean age of 28.88 ± 2.69 years were analyzed. The mean thiamine level was 1.28 ± 0.44 μg/dL with mean blood lactate of 3.46 ± 3.33. The most common presentation was gastric beriberi (n = 10), followed by paraparesis (n = 6), high‐output heart failure (n = 6), acute pulmonary hypertension, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (n = 3 each), and an acute confusional state (n = 2). All patients responded to thiamine challenge.

Conclusion

In the context of borderline thiamine status, particularly in our population with endemic thiamine deficiency and heightened demand for thiamine during pregnancy and the peripartum period, the deficiency can have varied and serious manifestations of dry and wet beriberi. Early recognition of the clinical features and thiamine therapy can be life‐saving. There is a need for validated clinical criteria owing to the non‐availability of thiamine testing in resource‐limited settings.
Effect of renal tubular damage on non‐cancer mortality in the general Japanese population living in cadmium non‐polluted areas
Authors: Sakuma Sayaka , Nogawa Kazuhiro , Watanabe Yuuka , Sakurai Masaru , Nishijo Muneko , Ishizaki Masao , Morikawa Yuko , Kido Teruhiko , Nakagawa Hideaki , Suwazono Yasushi
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to clarify the cause‐effect relationship between renal tubular damage and non‐cancer mortality in the general Japanese population. We conducted a 19‐year cohort study including 1110 men and 1,03 women who lived in three cadmium‐non‐polluted areas in 1993 or 1994. Mortality risk ratios based on urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2MG) and N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were estimated for specific non‐cancer diseases using the Fine and Gray competing risks regression model. In men, continuous urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by diseases of the respiratory system (hazard ratio (HR): 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.15). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortalities caused by kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), renal failure (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03), and external causes of mortality (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02). In women, urinary NAG (+1 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly associated with increased mortality caused by ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04) and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04). Urinary β2MG (+100 μg/g cre) concentrations were significantly correlated with increased mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), ischemic heart diseases (HR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00–1.02), and kidney and urinary tract diseases (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03). The present study indicates that renal tubular damage was significantly related to several non‐cancer disease causes of mortality in Japan's general population living in cadmium‐non‐polluted areas.
Association Between Sarcopenia and Fracture Risk in a Population From the UK Biobank Database
Authors: Jauffret Charlotte , Périchon Renaud , Lamer Antoine , Cortet Bernard , Chazard Emmanuel , Paccou Julien
Published: July 2023

Studies on the fracture risk in presarcopenic and sarcopenic patients report contradictory results. The objective was to assess whether presarcopenia and sarcopenia are associated with an increase in fracture risk. We conducted a retrospective study using the UK Biobank cohort and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) criteria. Muscle strength was evaluated using hand-grip strength (HGS) and muscle mass using the skeletal muscle index (SMI; from bioimpedance analysis). Presarcopenia was defined through the two definitions available in the literature, as low HGS with normal SMI and as normal HGS with low SMI, and sarcopenia as low HGS and low SMI. Fracture events were recorded as “fracture” (location compatible with an osteoporotic origin) and “major osteoporotic fracture” (MOF), as listed in the FRAX tool. Associations were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for sarcopenia and osteoporosis risk factors. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRa) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. A total of 387,025 participants (women 54.4%; median age 58.0 years; interquartile range [IQR] 51.0–63.0 years) were included. At baseline, there were 18,257 (4.7%) presarcopenic participants—subgroup 1 (low HGS only), 7940 (2.1%) presarcopenic participants—subgroup 2 (low SMI only), and 1124 (0.3%) sarcopenic participants. Over a median follow-up of 12.0 years (IQR 11.4–12.6 years), 18,300 (4.7%) participants were diagnosed with at least one incident fracture. Presarcopenic (subgroups 1 and 2) and sarcopenic status were significantly associated with a higher risk of fracture (respectively adjusted HRs: HR = 1.26 [1.19–1.33], HR = 1.20 [1.11–1.30], HR = 1.30 [1.08–1.56]) and with a higher risk of MOF (respectively adjusted HRs: HR = 1.30 [1.21–1.40], HR = 1.19 [1.08–1.72], HR = 1.18 [0.93–1.49]). In a middle-aged population, the fracture and MOF risks were higher in both presarcopenic and sarcopenic participants compared with nonsarcopenic participants. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
University students' psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A structural equation model of the role of resource loss and gain
Authors: Kelada Lauren , Schiff Miriam , Gilbar Ohad , Pat‐Horenczyk Ruth , Benbenishty Rami
Published: July 2023

Using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we aimed to determine whether university students' loss and gain in resources during the pandemic mediated the relationships between COVID‐19 exposure/concern and depression and anxiety. In 2021, 7013 Israeli university students completed online questionnaires. We assessed the data using structural equation modeling. We found that resource loss was directly related to concern (β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were both directly related to loss of resources (depression: β = 0.75, p < 0.001; anxiety: β = 0.69, p < 0.001) and concern (depression: β = 0.06, p < 0.001; anxiety: β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Resource loss had an indirect effect on the relationships between concern and depression (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) and concern and anxiety (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). COR theory may help explain the mechanisms behind university students' mental health during the pandemic and provides a framework to better understand preparedness for future pandemics, epidemics, and major disasters. Governments and universities should help prevent the loss of resources during future emergencies.
SGLT2 Inhibitors’ Cardiovascular Benefits in Individuals Without Diabetes, Heart Failure, and/or Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Khiali Sajad , Taban‐Sadeghi Mohammadreza , Sarbakhsh Parvin , Khezerlouy‐Aghdam Naser , Rezagholizadeh Afra , Asham Hila , Entezari‐Maleki Taher
Published: July 2023

Despite the growing body of evidence regarding the beneficial cardiovascular effects of sodium–glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, clinical data in individuals without diabetes, heart failure (HF), and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is limited. A systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, from database inception until May 4, 2023, to explore new evidence of SGLT2 inhibitors’ cardiovascular benefits in individuals without diabetes, HF, and/or CKD. A total of 1156 individuals from 14 studies (13 randomized controlled trials and 1 nonrandomized study) were included. The results showed the benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors on blood pressure, weight, and body mass index in this population with an acceptable safety profile. The current evidence supports the potential role of SGLT2 inhibitors as primary prevention in individuals without diabetes, HF, and/or CKD. This review may shed light on the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in conditions such as stage A HF and metabolic syndrome. The literature trend is going toward uncovering SGLT2 inhibitors’ role in stage B HF, different types of myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Crop production in northwestern Ethiopian highlands under changing climate
Authors: Misganaw Abebe , Addisu Solomon , Alemayhu Getachew , Kesete Nega , Khan Haroon
Published: July 2023

Climate change is the most serious threat to agricultural productivity. Ethiopia's agricultural sector is affected by climate change. The northern part of Ethiopia is among the drought prone and topographically diversified areas. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of climate change on crop yields, assess the pattern of rainfall maximum and lowest temperatures and assess the trajectory of selected crop yields. Historical weather station and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) power data were collected from 1981 to 2020. The Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test and Sen's slope (SS) method estimator were employed to estimate the trends and the direction of the trend. RClimDex package is used for climate extreme analysis. Nine rainfall and 11 temperature indices from a list of 27 extreme rainfall and temperature indices were used. The study found that the rainfall showed a significant decreasing and insignificant decreasing trend in Farta and Yilmana Densa districts, respectively. Maximum and minimum temperatures in both sites showed increasing trends. Rainfall happenings become more unanticipated, owing to the precipitation concentration index and anomaly trends. The majority of the indicators for extreme rainfall at both sites showed a downward trend. With the exception of the duration of cold spells, the annual lowest value of the daily minimum temperature, cold days and cold nights, the majority of the extreme temperature indices at both sites showed an increasing trend. The principal crop yields were connected with rainfall and temperature fluctuation, according to Pearson's product–moment correlation results, although the effects varied by crop and region. In summary, rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation may have a negative influence on agricultural activities, especially crop productivity.
Identification of traits underpinning good breadmaking performance of wheat grown with reduced nitrogen fertilisation
Authors: Shewry Peter R. , Wood Abigail J. , Hassall Kirsty L. , Pellny Till K. , Riche Andrew , Hussain Abrar , Shi Zhiqiang , Mosleth Ellen F. , Charlton Mark , Poole Mervin , Jones Stuart , Newton Keith , Penson Simon , Tucker Gary , Griffiths Simon , Hawkesford Malcolm J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Nitrogen fertiliser is the major input and cost for wheat production, being required to support the development of the canopy to maximise yield and for the synthesis of the gluten proteins that are necessary for breadmaking. Consequently, current high‐yielding cultivars require the use of nitrogen fertilisation levels above the yield optimum to achieve the grain protein content needed for breadmaking. This study aimed to reduce this requirement by identifying traits that allow the use of lower levels of nitrogen fertiliser to produce wheat for breadmaking.

Results

A range of commercial wheat genotypes (cultivars) were grown in multiple field trials (six sites over 3 years) in the UK with optimal (200 kg Ha‐1) and suboptimal (150 kg Ha‐1) application of nitrogen. Bulked grain samples from four sites per year were milled and white flours were baked using three types of breadmaking process. This identified five cultivars that consistently exhibited good breadmaking quality when grown with the lower nitrogen application. Chemical and biochemical analyses showed that the five cultivars were characterised by exhibiting grain protein deviation (GPD) and high dough elasticity.

Conclusions

It is possible to develop novel types of wheat that exhibit good breadmaking quality by selecting for GPD and high dough strength. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Changing? Secular Changes Versus Referral Patterns
Authors: Joza Stephen , Iranzo Alex , Stefani Ambra , Pelletier Amelie , Serradell Monica , Muñoz‐Lopetegi Amaia , Ibrahim Abubaker , Holzknecht Evi , Montplaisir Jacques Y. , Mayà Gerard , Santamaria Joan , Gaig Carles , Bergmann Melanie , Brandauer Elisabeth , Högl Birgit , Gagnon Jean‐François , Postuma Ronald B.
Published: July 2023

Background

Since 2014, there has been increasing public outreach effort regarding isolated/idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) in Montreal.

Objective

To assess if, over time, milder iRBD cases are presenting earlier.

Methods

Disease‐free survival was compared in two iRBD recruitment epochs: 2004 to 2013 (“earlier”) versus 2014to 2022 (“later”) and by referral type (“self‐referral” vs. “conventional‐referral”) in three large centers.

Results

In Montreal, among 209 subjects followed prospectively, shorter time to phenoconversion was observed in the earlier epoch (5‐year phenoconversion = 42% earlier vs. 23% later); diagnosis before 2014 had a 1.8‐fold phenoconversion hazard. However, no difference was observed in 248 subjects from Barcelona and 166 from Innsbruck. Analysis of Montreal data found that increased survival in the later epoch was driven by an increasing number of self‐referrals, who phenoconverted at 1/3 the rate of physician‐referred subjects.

Conclusions

Increased patient awareness of iRBD results in earlier presentation to clinical attention, with a longer time to phenoconversion.
Relational values of nature in empirical research: A systematic review
Authors: Pratson Daniel F. , Adams Nick , Gould Rachelle K.
Published: July 2023

In the past 5 years, scholarly and policy attention to relational values, a concept that articulates plural values of nature, has grown steadily. To date, there are no published syntheses of empirical research that explicitly addresses relational values.

We perform a systematic literature review of n = 72 empirical studies of relational values to summarize the state of current research and to identify opportunities for future research and conceptual development. In our analysis, we categorize what authors identify as relational values and summarize study characteristics (e.g. study location, methods approach).

Authors collectively report n = 312 unique relational values. Categories of identity, social cohesion, livelihoods, connection to place/human–nature connection and sacred are most common.

Scholarship that explicitly addresses relational values has increased since 2017 and exhibits substantial diversity: in how relational values are conceptualized (or not); in disciplinary associations; in geographical location and in data collection methods.

We find that most empirical research on relational values does not justify how its results reflect characteristics that establish the relational values concept as unique from other environmental values concepts. As a result, diverse interpretations of the relational values concept pose the risk of the relational values concept being so broad and inclusive that it becomes meaningless, or at least meaning‐light.

Policy implications. Understanding why and how nature matters to people is critical to inform effective and just conservation. Relational values can offer nuanced perspectives on the significance associated with people–nature relationships. We argue that empirical relational values research that grounds itself in the concept's ‘core’ characteristics can foster conceptual coherence and bolster the relevance of research findings to sustainability and conservation science.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Utility of triazole antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring: Insights from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
Authors: McCreary Erin K. , Davis Matthew R. , Narayanan Navaneeth , Andes David R. , Cattaneo Dario , Christian Robbie , Lewis Russell E. , Watt Kevin M. , Wiederhold Nathan P. , Johnson Melissa D.
Published: July 2023

Triazole antifungals (i.e., fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole) are commonly used in clinical practice to prevent or treat invasive fungal infections. Most triazole antifungals require therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) due to highly variable pharmacokinetics, known drug interactions, and established relationships between exposure and response. On behalf of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP), this insight describes the pharmacokinetic principles and pharmacodynamic targets of commonly used triazole antifungals and provides the rationale for utility of TDM within each agent.
MAOI prescribing: separating misconceptions from reality
Authors: Molloy Aisling
Published: July 2023

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are generally only initiated by specialists because of safety concerns, making GPs more wary of these medicines. This article discusses the important side‐effects and interactions of MAOIs and how these can be minimised, and explains why MAOI prescribing may be safer than we are led to believe.
Is theNHSready for new Alzheimer's disease treatments?
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: July 2023

New effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease have eluded researchers for many years, but promising pharmacotherapies may at last be approaching clinical approval. This article examines some of these new treatments, their modes of action and the practicalities of implementation once they reach the market.
Best Practice London: focus on lipid and migraine management
Authors: Titmarsh Steve
Published: July 2023

Lipid‐lowering therapy to prevent cardiovascular disease and practical aspects of migraine management were among the topics presented at continuing professional development sessions during the Best Practice London conference held in March 2023. Steve Titmarsh reports.
Research progress of plant‐derived natural alkaloids in central nervous system diseases
Authors: Zhang Qingqing , Jiang Qinghua , Sa Kuiru , Liang Junming , Sun Dejuan , Li Hua , Chen Lixia
Published: July 2023

Central nervous system (CNS) disease is one of the most important causes of human death. Because of their complex pathogenesis, more and more attention has been paid to them. At present, drug treatment of the CNS is the main means; however, most drugs only relieve symptoms, and some have certain toxicity and side effects. Natural compounds derived from plants can provide safer and more effective alternatives. Alkaloids are common nitrogenous basic organic compounds found in nature, which exist widely in many kinds of plants and have unique application value in modern medicine. For example, Galantamine and Huperzine A from medicinal plants are widely used drugs on the market to treat Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to provide the available information on natural alkaloids with the activity of treating central nervous system diseases in order to explore the trends and perspectives for the further study of central nervous system drugs. In this paper, 120 alkaloids with the potential effect of treating central nervous system diseases are summarized from the aspects of sources, structure types, mechanism of action and structure–activity relationship.
Subselection of seasonal ensemble precipitation predictions for East Africa
Authors: Heinrich‐Mertsching Claudio , Sørland Silje Lund , Gudoshava Masilin , Koech Eunice , Bahaga Titike K. , Sobolowski Stefan Pieter
Published: July 2023

The Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) is highly vulnerable to climate and weather hazards such as drought, heat waves, and floods. There is a need for accurate seasonal forecasts to prepare for risks (such as crop failure and reduced grazing opportunities) and take advantage of favorable conditions (rains arrive on time and where they are needed) when they arise. As such, information at finer spatial scales than current state‐of‐the‐art global prediction models can provide is needed. Dynamical downscaling is one method employed to obtain information at finer scales. However, providers of seasonal forecasts over the GHA are hampered by limited computational resources and time constraints that restrict the number of global model ensemble members that can be downscaled. Some ensemble subselection criteria must be employed. Currently, providers take an uninformed (or random) approach. Specifically, forecasters simply take the first ensemble member of the global model seasonal forecast ensemble. However, recent work, focused on decadal prediction, has shown that subselecting global model ensemble members in an informed way, that is, according to their ability to reproduce key features of the climate system, results in improved predictions. This emerges from the fact that the climate system is likely more predictable than our models would have us believe. Seeing an opportunity for improvement, we apply the same thinking to the seasonal context and assess several procedures for subselecting ensemble members from seasonal predictions with exchangeable members. Such informed subselections have the potential to take advantage of information in an ensemble of global simulations that might be missed by random selection. Three subselection methods are investigated, with a focus on seasonal predictions for rainfall over GHA. We demonstrate that informed subselection leads to systematically higher skill than random subselection. We find that (1) for small subsample sizes, such as would be chosen for dynamical downscaling and/or downstream impact modeling, informed subselection nearly always outperforms random subselection, (2) subselecting based on well‐known teleconnections benefits those seasons in which such pathways are active, such as OND and JJAS, and (3) ‐means subselection outperforms random selection for small ensemble sizes throughout all seasons, including the notoriously difficult to predict MAM season. These techniques require only input that is available at the time of the forecast release and are easy to apply operationally.
Command filtered backstepping‐based containment control for a class of multi‐agent systems with uncertainty
Authors: Jiang Mengyi , Yang Yonghui , Gao Chuang , Wu Libing
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a novel containment control scheme is designed for multi‐agent systems with unknown parameters and unknown control coefficients. To achieve the containment control goal, containment reference signals are generated using a certain number of dynamic leaders. Then, the followers directly receiving the reference signals can track their generated reference signals, and the rest of the followers track a certain number of estimated signals generated by designed dynamic equations. Under the backstepping framework, uncertainties of a multi‐agent system are compensated for through the adaptive bound estimation method. Additionally, the command filtered technique is adopted to avoid the cumbersome steps of multiple derivative calculations, and to simplify the operations of the control scheme. Finally, the stability of the closed‐loop multi‐agent system is proved based on the Lyapunov theory. The advantage of the proposed scheme is that the containment reference signal and the position between followers can be adjusted arbitrarily by adjusting the relevant parameters. Through simulations, the effectiveness and superiority of the designed controller are verified.
Event‐triggered‐based secure adaptive NN consensus tracking control of switched multi‐agent systems
Authors: Li Xuejiao , Long Lijun
Published: July 2023

This paper addresses the problem of event‐triggered‐based secure adaptive neural‐networked (NN) consensus tracking control for a class of switched nonlinear multi‐agent systems (MASs) with unknown control directions under network attacks. In order to mitigate the effects of sensor and actuator attacks, a new event‐triggered‐based secure adaptive NN consensus tracking control protocol is proposed by exploring backstepping and the average dwell time method and the Nussbaum gain technique. In addition, if the switching happens between any two consecutive triggering instants, then asynchronous switching between subsystems of each follower and candidate controllers of subsystems will arise. Without any strict limitation on maximum asynchronous time, the asynchronous switching is handled by constructing a novel switching event‐triggered mechanism (ETM) and event‐triggered‐based adaptive NN controllers of subsystems for each follower. Meanwhile, the protocol proposed can guarantee that consensus tracking errors converge to a small neighborhood of the origin. Also, a strictly positive lower bound on inter‐event time is guaranteed. Finally, a practical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed protocol.
Bidirectional Communication between Droplet Interface Bilayers Driven by Cell‐Free Quorum Sensing Gene Circuits**
Authors: Gonzales David T. , Suraritdechachai Surased , Zechner Christoph , Tang T.‐Y. Dora
Published: July 2023

Building synthetic multicellular systems using non‐living molecular components is a grand challenge in the field of bottom‐up synthetic biology. Towards this goal, a diverse range of chemistries have been developed to provide mechanisms of intercellular communication and methods to assemble multicellular compartments. However, building bottom‐up synthetic multicellular systems is still challenging because it requires the integration of intercellular reaction networks with compatible cellular compartment properties. In this study, we encapsulated cell‐free expression systems (CFES) expressing two quorum sensing genetic circuits into droplet interface bilayer (DIB) synthetic cells to demonstrate bidirectional communication. We further develop a method of generating custom DIB multicellular structures by acoustic liquid handling to automatically dispense the CFES droplets and show the potential for multiplexing compartmentalized gene circuits for generating heterogeneous populations of cells. Our work provides a step towards building more complex multicellular systems with intercellular communication from the bottom‐up to study and experimentally model biological multiscalar processes.
Cherishing Immigrant Parents' Aspiration to Support Multilingual Children's Literacy Development Across Languages
Authors: Song Kwangok
Published: July 2023

As children of immigrants are increasing in number across the U.S. classrooms, schools need to develop strategies to engage with immigrant families. Structural and attitudinal issues in the school system create challenges in communicating with immigrant parents. Immigrant parents have high expectations for their children's academic achievement because they view education can bring mobility and stability to their children's future. Immigrant parents also desire that their children continue developing their home language for familial communication and transnational engagement. To enhance the home‐school connections and to promote family engagement, teachers can first diligently communicate with parents. They can also learn about immigrant families' meaning‐making activities at home and in communities. Teachers can also advocate for children of immigrants' home language development.
A transdisciplinary and collaborative urban water security framework: Developed through an interdisciplinary study in Kolkata, India
Authors: Mukherjee Subham , Sundberg Trude
Published: July 2023

Urban water security (UWS) is and will remain a crucial issue over the next decades, especially as it is exacerbated by climate change effects and related hazards. Despite the growing number of studies focusing on more diverse dimensions, including social dimensions, of water security and urban dynamics, there is still an absence of comprehensive, interdisciplinary UWS measurement index that takes into account the complexity and multidimensional aspects of water security. This article discusses a new, transdisciplinary community‐focused approach to analyzing and responding to water insecurity. It draws on findings from a large study carried out over 4 years with a focus on creating a new and comprehensive way of measuring water security, incorporating biophysical and social factors. The project collected data in Kolkata, India. Kolkata is an important megacity in a developing country, facing rising pressures on water‐environmental provision due to rapid population growth and urbanization combined with governance and infrastructural issues. The project team worked collaboratively with affected communities to create a comprehensive framework for measuring and evaluating water security for cities. A water justice approach to water security we argue is particularly important in emerging countries, and one that can be effectively applied to environments where urban growth and resultant shrinking resources have created complicated and fragile systems. This approach adds to existing knowledge and research that focuses on collaborative interdisciplinary methods that aim to create solutions that can help create a sustainable water secure future “leaving no one behind.”