bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic and thermodynamic processes related to precipitation diurnal cycle simulated by GRIST
Authors: Zhou Yihui , Yu Rucong , Zhang Yi , Li Jian
Published: April 2023

Most state-of-the-art general circulation models cannot well simulate the diurnal cycle of precipitation, especially the nocturnal rainfall peak over land. This study assesses the diurnal cycle of precipitation simulated using the Global-to-Regional Integrated forecast SysTem (GRIST) in its numerical weather prediction (NWP) configuration at resolutions typical of current global climate models. In the refinement region, the variable-resolution model well distinguishes the distinct features of diurnal cycle. No apparent artificial features are observed in the transition zone of the variable-resolution mesh. The model also exhibits a similar diurnal cycle pattern to the observation in the coarse-resolution region. We further investigate the model behaviors of dynamics–physics interaction by analyzing hourly dynamical and thermodynamical diagnostics. Composite analysis based on rainfall peak time is applied to examine the model capability in distinguishing different precipitation processes of daytime and nighttime peaks. Over East Asia, the model well reproduces both the nocturnal-to-early-morning and the afternoon rainfall peaks. The model simulates the dominant contribution of large-scale upward moisture advection to the formation of stratiform-like rainfall peaks, and produces daytime surface-heating induced rainfall. Refinement of the resolution substantially increases the composited nighttime precipitation intensity but has little impact on the composite percentage. The model captures the realistic dynamical and thermodynamical conditions for the occurrence of nocturnal rainfall. These results demonstrate that the variable-resolution model is able to reproduce the diurnal cycle of climatological summer rainfall through realistic precipitation processes.
Uncertain role of clouds in shaping summertime atmosphere-sea ice connections in reanalyses and CMIP6 models
Authors: Luo Rui , Ding Qinghua , Baxter Ian , Chen Xianyao , Wu Zhiwei , Bushuk Mitchell , Wang Hailong
Published: April 2023

Downwelling longwave radiation (DLR) driven by the atmospheric and cloud conditions in the troposphere is suggested to be a dominant factor to determine the summertime net surface energy budget over the Arctic Ocean and thus plays a key role to shape the September sea ice. We use reanalyses and the self-organizing map (SOM) method to distinguish CMIP6 model performance in replicating the observed strong atmosphere-DLR connection. We find all models can reasonably simulate the linkage between key atmosphere variables and the clear sky DLR but behave differently in replicating the atmosphere-DLR connection due to cloud forcing. In ERA5 and strongly coupled models, tropospheric high pressure is associated with decreased clouds in the mid- and high-levels and increased clouds near the surface. This out-of-phase structure indicates that DLR cloud forcing is nearly neutral, making the clear sky DLR more important to bridge JJA circulation to late-summer sea ice. In MERRA-2 and weakly coupled models, tropospheric clouds display a vertically homogeneous reduction; the cloud DLR is thus strongly reduced due to the cooling effect, which partially cancels out the clear sky DLR and makes the total DLR less efficient to translate circulation forcing to sea ice. The differences of cloud vertical distribution in CMIP6 appear to be differentiated by circulation related relative humidity. Therefore, a better understanding of the discrepancy of different reanalyses and remote sensing products is critical to comprehensively evaluate simulated interactions among circulation, clouds, sea ice and energy budget at the surface in summer.
Effects of intake of four types of snack with different timings on postprandial glucose levels after dinner
Authors: Masutomi Hirofumi , Mineshita Yui , Ishihara Katsuyuki , Hirao Kazuko , Shibata Shigenobu , Furutani Akiko
Published: April 2023

Purpose

It has been reported that the consumption of fruit granola (FG), mulberry leaves, and barley cookies as an afternoon snack suppresses the postprandial increase in glucose levels at dinner. However, there have been no reports on the second-meal effect of snacking on popular snacks, such as potato chips (PC), roasted sweet potato (SP), and black beans (BB), or on the interval between snacking and dinner.

Method

The present study was an open-label randomized crossover trial of five study groups (PC, SP, BB, FG, and no snack) regarding the second-meal effects with different intervals between snacks and dinner. The subjects consumed prescribed meals for lunch and dinner at 12:00 and 19:00, and a snack fixed at 838 kJ (= 200 kcal) at 15:00 or 17:00.

Results

When the participants snacked at 15:00, the postprandial glucose elevation at dinner was suppressed in the FG and SP groups, and the area under the curve (AUC) was also low. When they snacked at 17:00, the postprandial glucose elevation was suppressed in all the groups. The AUCs for PC, FG, and SP were lower than those for no snacking. On the other hand, carbohydrate intake increased with snacking, but the total AUC of snacks and dinner did not differ in any of the groups. The duration of hyperglycemia decreased with snack intake, as did the glucose amplitude.

Conclusion

We believe that the intake of carbohydrates and soluble fiber in snacks is an important factor in the second-meal effect at dinner. These results will contribute to the development of snacking and research into the second-meal effect.
Steroids for the treatment of viral encephalitis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hodzic Emira , Hasbun Rodrigo , Granillo Alejandro , Tröscher Anna R. , Wagner Helga , von Oertzen Tim J. , Wagner Judith N.
Published: April 2023

Background

Specific antiviral treatment is only available for a small subset of viral encephalitis (VE). Adjunctive steroids are used, but there is scant evidence evaluating its utility. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcome of steroid use in VE.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review and reported it according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. Two observational studies from unpublished or partially published data were added. For the meta-analysis, we employed the metaphor package of the statistical software R-4.3.1.

Results

We screened 378 studies and included 50. 155 patients were added from the Houston and Linz cohorts. Individual data were available for 281 persons, 120 (43%) of whom received steroids. The most common pathogens were herpes simplex virus 1, West Nile virus, and measles. Study designs and patient outcomes were heterogeneous. Only three of the trials report an advantage of steroid therapy. Steroid-induced side effects were scarce. Ten cohorts were included into the meta-analysis. For the pooled data, the null hypothesis could not be rejected (p = 0.245) using a random effects model, i.e., a benefit of steroid treatment on survival in VE could not be shown.

Conclusions

Steroids as potent anti-inflammatory agents may act through a reduction of secondary inflammation-mediated damage. Our data do not support the use of steroids in VE. However, multiple shortcomings apply. Standardized controlled trials are needed to investigate optimal dosing and timing of steroid administration and to explore potential subgroups that could benefit.
Anxiety in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing primary surgery
Authors: Harms Jens , Kunzmann Benedikt , Bredereke Jan , Harms Lea , Jungbluth Thomas , Zimmermann Tanja
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Anxiety in the perioperative period is not only an unpleasant emotional state, but can also negatively affect the outcomes and quality of life of surgical patients. The present study investigated anxiety in patients with gastrointestinal cancer scheduled for primary surgery.

Methods

A total of 101 patients in four non-university surgical departments were included. Anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), distress (Distress thermometer), and illness perception (Brief IPQ) were assessed at four time points: first outpatient contact before surgery (t1), preoperative inpatient contact (t2), postoperative inpatient contact before hospital discharge (t3), and postoperative outpatient follow-up contact after 30 days (t4).

Results

56% of patients had an episode of mild or moderate anxiety and 5% had an episode of severe anxiety and/or depression. Subjectively perceived anxiety and depression were highest at t1, followed by t3. 30% of patients had elevated anxiety and depression scores at t1. Regression analyses showed that high subjectively perceived mental distress at t1 was associated with higher anxiety scores at t3 and t4. Women, and younger women in particular, were significantly more likely to experience stress than men. Higher levels of subjectively perceived stress at t1 were associated with higher levels of anxiety at t3 and t4. Sociodemographic factors were not relevant predictors of anxiety.

Conclusion

Anxiety and depression appear to be a persistent problem during the perioperative course in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Identifying patients at risk for clinically relevant anxiety and depression remains a particular challenge. The results confirm the relevance of repeated screening for mental distress.
SOAT1 missense variant in two cats with sebaceous gland dysplasia
Authors: Kiener Sarah , McMahill Barbara G. , Affolter Verena K. , Welle Monika , Yager Julie A. , Jagannathan Vidhya , Leeb Tosso
Published: April 2023

Spontaneously arisen hereditary diseases in domestic animals provide an excellent opportunity to study the physiological functions of the altered genes. We investigated two 4-month-old sibling domestic short haired kittens with dry dark debris around the eyes, nose, and ears, dark crusting on the legs and a thin poor hair coat. Skin biopsies revealed abnormal sebaceous gland morphology with lack of normal sebocyte arrangement and differentiation. Hair follicles had a distorted silhouette, interpreted as a change secondary to the observed sebaceous gland dysplasia. Whole genome sequencing on both affected kittens and 65 genetically diverse feline genomes was performed. Filtering for variants that were present in both kittens but absent from the control genomes revealed a homozygous missense variant in SOAT1, encoding sterol O-acyltransferase 1. The protein is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and catalyzes the formation of cholesteryl esters, an essential component of sebum and meibum. The identified SOAT1:c.1531G > A variant is predicted to change a highly conserved glycine residue within the last transmembrane domain of SOAT1, p.Gly511Arg. In mice, variants in Soat1 or complete knockout of the gene lead to the “hair interior defect” (hid) or abnormal Meibomian glands, respectively. SOAT1:c.1531G > A represents a plausible candidate variant for the observed sebaceous gland dysplasia in both kittens of this study. The variant was not present in 10 additional cats with a similar clinical and histopathological phenotype suggesting genetic heterogeneity. SOAT1 variants should be considered as potential cause in hereditary sebaceous gland dysplasias of humans and domestic animals.
Repeated seismic swarms near Paricutin volcano: precursors to the birth of a new monogenetic volcano in the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field, México?
Authors: Legrand D. , Perton M. , Macías J. L. , Siebe C. , Pacheco J. , Chacón F. , Lermo J. , Quintanar L. , Cisneros G.
Published: April 2023

The birth of a new monogenetic volcano is difficult to forecast with precision, both in space and time. Nevertheless, seismic activity can alert of the imminence of such an eruption because it usually occurs as small-magnitude earthquake swarms that can last for a few weeks to months prior to an eruption. These swarms are usually related to magma that becomes stalled in the Earth’s crust for variable periods of time before its eventual eruption at the surface. For several reasons, volcanic seismic swarms have rarely been recorded with seismometers before the birth of a new monogenetic volcano. Over the past 25 years, six distinct seismic swarms (in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2020, and 2021) were detected between Tancítaro and Paricutin volcanoes, in the southwestern part of México’s Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field. They are believed to represent repeated attempts of magma to reach the surface hinting that in this region magma might become stalled for some time, so as to not reach the surface in a single ascent event from its source in the mantle. To better understand the magma’s migration path through the crust, we re-located with greater precision some of these seismic swarms by using the same methodology and velocity model to the entire data set. Our results show that these swarms originated within a small area beneath the NE flank of Tancítaro at depths of between 15 and 8 km below sea level (bsl). Apparently, magma is trying to reach the surface within the same conduit network at these crustal depths, but stalls when reaching a depth of ~ 8 km bsl. It is crucial to study these swarms because they might be precursors to a new eruption in this part of the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field. This monogenetic field has been very active, producing several dozen eruptions during the Holocene, the last two Jorullo (1759–1774) and Paricutin (1943–1952). Furthermore, the Tancítaro area displays one of the highest densities of Holocene volcanoes within the entire field, making it a probable candidate location for the birth of a future monogenetic volcano. For these reasons, a permanent seismic network should be installed as soon as possible.
Anxiety, depression, and concentration in cancer survivors: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey results
Authors: Fardell Joanna E. , Irwin Chase M. , Vardy Janette L. , Bell Melanie L.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

We report on prevalence of anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties and their associations in survivors of cancer in a nationally representative sample up to 25 years after diagnosis.

Methods

Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2015 to 2018, participants between the ages of 18 and 79 self-reported on cancer history, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and difficulties with concentration.

Results

Of 10,337 participants, 691 (6.7%) reported a previous diagnosis of cancer; the median time since diagnosis was 8 years. Prevalence was similar between those with and without cancer for anxiety (45.8% versus 46.9%) and depression (19.7% versus 20.0%). Concentration difficulties were more common (11.3% versus 9.0%) for those with a history of cancer compared to those without (adjusted OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.00–1.90). Prevalence of mental health symptoms was not related to time since diagnosis. Anxiety and depression were highly correlated (r = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74–0.86) and moderately correlated with difficulty with concentration (r = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.40–0.64 and r = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53–0.74 respectively).

Conclusions

Difficulty with concentration was more commonly reported by participants with than without a cancer history. Report of anxiety and depression was no different between participants with and without a history of cancer. Anxiety, depression, and difficulties with concentration were strongly related. Further research is needed to explore if there is a causal association, and if so, the direction of these correlations, so that interventions may be appropriately targeted.
Effect of Pore Pressure on Strain Rate-Dependency of Coal
Authors: Su Linan , Siddiqui Mohammed Abdul Qadeer , Roshan Hamid
Published: April 2023

Viscoelastic strain rate-dependent behaviour of coal is critical in several subsurface engineering applications especially coal seams gas production. Such rate dependency is controlled by the interaction between coal bulk and gas sorption (a sorbing gas) or gas pressure (a non-sorbing gas). Despite the research conducted to date, the gas pressure effect (non-sorbing) on the viscous behaviour of sediments in particular coal remains unexplored. We, therefore, investigate the strain rate-dependent mechanical behaviour of coal under isotropic loading to specifically explore the effect of gas pressure (Helium) on its rate dependency eliminating the sorption effect. We perform a set of triaxial experiments on coal specimens at dry and pressurised gas (Helium) conditions under different strain rates under isotropic loading. The experimental results show that all coal specimens have viscoelastic strain rate dependency at a dry condition where viscous effect increases with strain rate. As a result, the bulk modulus of the specimens increases with the increase in strain rates. This strain rate dependency response, however, reduces with an increase in pore pressure and vanishes at a certain pore pressure under the same effective stress to that of dry specimens. We further employ X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (XRCT) to 3D scan a coal specimen saturated with Krypton gas undergoing different loading rates to shed light on the micro-mechanisms of gas pressure effect on specimens’ rate dependency. The XRCT results show that gas can be trapped in small-scale fractures and pores during the loading process leading to a localised undrained response that can stiffen the specimen and reduce its ability to show viscous rate dependency. The obtained results are significant in optimizing coal seam gas production and coal seam gas drainage applications.
Phylogeography and classification of Dusty Miller (Spyridium parvifolium; Rhamnaceae): a morphologically variable shrub from south-east Australia
Authors: Clowes Catherine , Fowler Rachael , Fahey Patrick , Kellermann Jürgen , Brown Gillian , Bayly Michael
Published: April 2023

Spyridium parvifolium is a widespread and morphologically variable shrub from south-eastern Australia. Several varieties have been recognised, and there is disagreement on the accepted taxonomy between Australian states. This study investigated the phylogeography of the species and assessed genetic distinctiveness of its morphological variants. Nuclear ribosomal DNA and complete chloroplast genomes from seventy-two samples of S. parvifolium and seven samples from closely related species were sequenced and analysed using both Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic methods. The results showed incongruence in the placement of several associated taxa (S. cinereum, S. obcordatum and S. daltonii), plausibly due to long branch attraction, introgression or incomplete lineage sorting. Spyridium parvifolium was resolved as paraphyletic in both phylogenies, with accessions from west of the Murray Darling Depression divergent from those east of the Depression. We found evidence of isolation within S. parvifolium on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range and recent gene flow across Bass Strait. The variants of S. parvifolium were not supported as genetically distinct, and with the prevalence of several variants at single sites and morphological intergrades between variants, we conclude that the taxon is a single, morphologically variable species and that no infraspecific classification is warranted.
Environmental surveillance detects circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 that was undetected by acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in 2021 in Uganda
Authors: Tushabe Phionah , Bwogi Josephine , Eliku James Peter , Aine Francis , Birungi Molly , Gaizi Joseph , Nakabazzi Lucy , Kabaliisa Theopista , Turyahabwe Irene , Namuwulya Prossy , Nanteza Mary Bridget , Bukenya Henry , Kanyesigye Christopher , Katushabe Edson , Ampeire Immaculate , Kisakye Annet , Bakamutumaho Barnabas , Byabamazima Charles R.
Published: April 2023

The success of the global polio eradication initiative is threatened by the genetic instability of the oral polio vaccine, which can result in the emergence of pathogenic vaccine-derived polioviruses following prolonged replication in the guts of individuals with primary immune deficiencies or in communities with low vaccination coverage. Through environmental surveillance, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was detected in Uganda in the absence of detection by acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. This underscores the sensitivity of environmental surveillance and emphasizes its usefulness in supplementing AFP surveillance for poliovirus infections in the race towards global polio eradication.
Structural studies on synthetic A2−x[M2(TeO3)3]·nH2O phases (A = Na, K, Rb, Cs; M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) with zemannite-type structures
Authors: Eder Felix , Marsollier Alexandre , Weil Matthias
Published: April 2023

During a systematic study on formation conditions of new compounds with zemannite-type structures, crystals of ten new oxidotellurate(IV) phases were grown under hydrothermal conditions, partially by employing a drastic reduction of the water content. The crystal structures of the obtained phases were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Na2[Ni2(TeO3)3]·2.5H2O, K2[Ni2(TeO3)3]·H2O, K2[Zn2(TeO3)3]·2H2O, Rb1.25[Co2(TeO3)3]·1.5H2O and Rb1.24[Mn2(TeO3)3]·2H2O exhibit a unit-cell with hexagonal symmetry (Z = 2, a ≈ 9.3 Å, c ≈ 7.7 Å), in which most of the other compounds with a zemannite-type structure are known to crystallize. Relative to this unit-cell, K2[Cu2(TeO3)3]·2H2O exhibits a twofold superstructure, K2[Co2(TeO3)3]·2.5H2O a twofold superstructure with an additional incommensurate modulation, Na2[Cu2(TeO3)3]·1.5H2O a threefold superstructure, and Rb1.5[Mn2(TeO3)3]·1.25H2O and Cs[Mn2(TeO3)3]·H2O a fourfold superstructure. Disorder of the alkali metal cations and crystal water molecules in the channels as well as variable water contents complicate modelling and structure refinement.
My smart home: an auto-ethnography of learning to live with smart technologies
Authors: Aagaard Line Kryger , Christensen Toke Haunstrup , Gram-Hanssen Kirsten
Published: April 2023

Smart home technology is expected to be widespread in the future and to accommodate a green transition to reduce and time-shift energy consumption. However, smart technologies also have social consequences, which are important to understand. At a basic level, we need to know more about learning to live with these technologies and how they influence our everyday practices and routines. Providing in-depth longitudinal insights into these processes, this paper presents an auto-ethnography of living with smart home technology: a 20-month diary kept by one of the authors. The paper uses theories of practice to investigate details of learning processes when interacting with three selected technologies: smart alarm and lighting management, smart control of heating, and a smart electric vehicle (EV). Theories of learning have a well-established tradition within theories of practice, and the concept of “knowing how to go on” and the concept of practical intelligibility are central in this work. This paper investigates the adoption of new smart technologies and how they interact with learning processes in different material and social contexts. Such an approach can lay the groundwork for further empirical research with a broader set of materials. It can also provide knowledge to assist in the design of better technologies and in developing policies and regulations to promote this.
Wheat sprouts (Triticum aestivum Linn.) cultured by a smart farm system ameliorate NAFLD through the AMPK-mediated SREBP signaling pathway
Authors: Chang BoYoon , Bae JinHye , Yun SeungBeom , Kim YongDuk , Park SeongJin , Kim SungYeon
Published: April 2023

Wheat is cultivated worldwide and is the most widely distributed food crop. Wheat is a staple crop in many countries. However, the effects of various cultivation methods on the efficacy of wheat sprouts have not been determined. This study investigated wheat sprouts obtained using a standardized smart farm system (WS-S) to improve the effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and molecular mechanism. Wheat sprouts significantly attenuated the accumulation of lipid droplets in FFA-induced HepG2 cells through AMPK pathway activity. In vivo experiments showed that WS-S significantly lowered body weight gain and decreased adipose tissue, lipid, aspartate transaminase, and alanine aminotransferase levels in HFD/F-treated mice. Furthermore, WS-S stimulated the phosphorylation of ACC and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha via the AMPK pathway and inhibited SREBP-1/FAS signaling to inhibit de novo adipogenesis and increase fatty acid oxidation. These results suggest that WS-S ameliorates NAFLD by regulating fatty acid metabolism via the AMPK pathway.
Fair division of graphs and of tangled cakes
Authors: Igarashi Ayumi , Zwicker William S.
Published: April 2023

Fair division has been studied in both continuous and discrete contexts. One strand of the continuous literature seeks to award each agent with a single connected piece—a subinterval. The analogue for the discrete case corresponds to the fair division of a graph, where allocations must be contiguous so that each bundle of vertices is required to induce a connected subgraph. With envy-freeness up to one item (EF1) as the fairness criterion, however, positive results for three or more agents have mostly been limited to traceable graphs. We introduce tangles as a new context for fair division. A tangle is a more complicated cake—a connected topological space constructed by gluing together several copies of the unit interval [0, 1]—and each single tangle $$\mathcal {T}$$
T
corresponds in a natural way to an infinite topological class $$\mathcal {G}(\mathcal {T})$$

G
(
T
)

of graphs, linking envy-free fair division of tangles to EFk fair division of graphs. In addition to the unit interval itself, we show that only five other stringable tangles guarantee the existence of envy-free and connected allocations for arbitrarily many agents, with the corresponding topological classes containing only traceable graphs. Any other tangle $$\mathcal {T}$$
T
has a bound r on the number of agents for which such allocations necessarily exist, and our Negative Transfer Principle then applies to the graphs in $$\mathcal {T}$$
T
’s class; for any integer $$k \ge 1$$

k
≥
1

, almost all graphs in this class are non-traceable and fail to guarantee EFk contiguous allocations for $$r + 1$$

r
+
1

or more agents, even when very strict requirements are placed on the valuation functions for the agents. With bounds on the number of agents, however, we obtain positive results for some non-stringable classes. An elaboration of Stromquist’s moving knife procedure shows that the non-stringable lips tangle $$\mathcal {L}$$
L
guarantees envy-free allocations of connected shares for three agents. We then modify the discrete version of Stromquist’s procedure in Bilò et al. (Games Econ Behav 131:197–221, 2022) to show that all graphs in the topological class $$\mathcal {G}(\mathcal {L})$$

G
(
L
)

(most of which are non-traceable) guarantee EF1 allocations for three agents.
Diverse collections in matroids and graphs
Authors: Fomin Fedor V. , Golovach Petr A. , Panolan Fahad , Philip Geevarghese , Saurabh Saket
Published: April 2023

We investigate the parameterized complexity of finding diverse sets of solutions to three fundamental combinatorial problems. The input to the Weighted Diverse Bases problem consists of a matroid $$M$$
M
, a weight function $$\omega :E(M)\rightarrow \mathbb {N} $$

ω
:
E
(
M
)
→
N

, and integers $$k\ge 1, d\ge 1$$

k
≥
1
,
d
≥
1

. The task is to decide if there is a collection of $$k$$
k
bases$$B_{1}, \dotsc , B_{k}$$

B
1

,
⋯
,

B
k

of $$M$$
M
such that the weight of the symmetric difference of any pair of these bases is at least $$d$$
d
. The input to the Weighted Diverse Common Independent Sets problem consists of two matroids $$M_{1},M_{2}$$

M
1

,

M
2

defined on the same ground set $$E$$
E
, a weight function $$\omega :E\rightarrow \mathbb {N} $$

ω
:
E
→
N

, and integers $$k\ge 1, d\ge 1$$

k
≥
1
,
d
≥
1

. The task is to decide if there is a collection of $$k$$
k
common independent sets$$I_{1}, \dotsc , I_{k}$$

I
1

,
⋯
,

I
k

of $$M_{1}$$

M
1

and $$M_{2}$$

M
2

such that the weight of the symmetric difference of any pair of these sets is at least $$d$$
d
. The input to the Diverse Perfect Matchings problem consists of a graph $$G$$
G
and integers $$k\ge 1, d\ge 1$$

k
≥
1
,
d
≥
1

. The task is to decide if $$G$$
G
contains $$k$$
k
perfect matchings$$M_{1},\dotsc ,M_{k}$$

M
1

,
⋯
,

M
k

such that the symmetric difference of any two of these matchings is at least $$d$$
d
. We show that none of these problems can be solved in polynomial time unless $${{\,\mathrm{\textsf{P}}\,}} ={{\,\mathrm{\textsf{NP}}\,}} $$

P

=

NP

. We derive fixed-parameter tractable ($${{\,\mathrm{\textsf{FPT}}\,}}$$

FPT

) algorithms for all three problems with $$(k,d)$$

(
k
,
d
)

as the parameter, and present a $$poly(k,d)$$

p
o
l
y
(
k
,
d
)

-sized kernel for Weighted Diverse Bases.
Uniform integrability in periodic homogenization of fully nonlinear elliptic equations
Authors: Kim Sunghan
Published: April 2023

This paper is devoted to the study of uniform $$W^{1,\frac{np}{n-p}}$$

W

1
,

np

n
-
p

- and $$W^{2,p}$$

W

2
,
p

-estimates for periodic homogenization problems of fully nonlinear elliptic equations. We establish sharp, global, large-scale estimates under the Dirichlet boundary conditions. The main novelty of this paper can be found in the characterization of the size of the “effective” Hessian and gradient of viscosity solutions to homogenization problems. Moreover, the large-scale estimates work in a large class of non-convex problems. It should be stressed that our global estimates are new even for the standard problems without homogenization.
Attraction of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to the semiochemical volatiles of stored rice materials
Authors: Cao Yu , Hu Qiqi , Huang Lujie , Athanassiou Christos G. , Maggi Filippo , D’Isita Ilaria , Liu Yangyang , Pistillo Onofrio Marco , Miao Mingzhi , Germinara Giacinto Salvatore , Li Can
Published: April 2023

In order to explore the influence of stored cereal volatiles on the behavior of Sitophilus oryzae, the olfactory responses of adult rice weevils to the volatiles of different rice cultivars [Red brown rice (RBR), Daohuaxiangmi (DHXM), Baishuigongmi (BSGM), Yashuixinmi (YSXM), and white glutinous rice (WGR)] were studied using electroantennography (EAG) and behavioural bioassays in different types of olfactometers. S. oryzae showed significantly different preferences for these rice cultivars, in the order RBR > DHXM = YSXM ≥ BSGM > WGR. Furthermore, 26 components were identified in the volatile profile of RBR. Nonanal (29.37%), hexanal (16.08%), and 1-octen-3-ol (8.83%) were the most abundant compounds. EAG recordings showed that the antennae of S. oryzae were able to perceive these three compounds in a dose-dependent manner. The compounds elicited significant EAG responses at various concentrations, with the strongest responses at 100 μg μL−1. S. oryzae had a significant positive behavioural response to nonanal, hexanal, and 1-octen-3-ol at various concentrations, with the most attractive being 50, 100, and 100 µg µL−1, respectively. The olfactory preferences of S. oryzae, based on a comparison of these compounds at their optimal concentrations, were nonanal > 1-octen-3-ol = hexanal. These results indicated that the volatiles of the preferred rice cultivar (RBR) were perceived by the peripheral olfactory system of S. oryzae adults and individually elicited positive chemotaxis. These findings offer new insights into the mechanism of host preferences of stored-grain pests. Nonanal showed the greatest potential for use as a novel monitoring and control tool against this storage-beetle pest.
Embryonic exposure to native and alien predator cues tunes tadpole defensive behaviour
Authors: Gazzola Andrea , Balestrieri Alessandro , Pellitteri-Rosa Daniele
Published: April 2023

When exposed to predation risk, some amphibian species show innate responses, while others recognize their predators by learning. To explore the role played by each mechanism in the assessment of predation risk, we investigated the effects of embryonic and larval exposure to predator chemical cues on tadpole defensive responses, including behavioural, morphological and life history traits. In the first experiment, agile frog (Rana dalmatina) embryos were exposed to the odour of either native (Aeshna cyanealarvae) or alien (Procambarus clarkii) predators each day from egg collection to hatchling (14 days). Body measures (mass, developmental stage, body length, tail length and tail depth) were recorded at hatching and a behavioural test was conducted to explore tadpole responses to predator cues and the potential interaction with their previous embryonic experience. In general, embryonic conditioning did not affect life history traits, except for a slight reduction in tail depth:length ratio for tadpoles exposed to odonate odours. Controls (embryos treated with water) after hatchling reduced their activity when exposed to gammarid-fed odonate cues, suggesting that responses were at least partially innate. Tadpoles exposed to odonate cues as embryos showed a strong defensive response when exposed to dragonfly kairomones. Tadpoles exposed to gammarid-fed crayfish as embryos showed clear behavioural responses towards the same cue (irrespectively of predator diet). Overall, our results suggest that embryonic exposure may tune the defensive responses of the larval stage and early exposure to naïve stimuli may promote their cautionary associations with predation risk.
Pathological angiogenesis: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies
Authors: Dudley Andrew C. , Griffioen Arjan W.
Published: April 2023

In multicellular organisms, angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an essential process for growth and development. Different mechanisms such as vasculogenesis, sprouting, intussusceptive, and coalescent angiogenesis, as well as vessel co-option, vasculogenic mimicry and lymphangiogenesis, underlie the formation of new vasculature. In many pathological conditions, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, arthritis, psoriasis, endometriosis, obesity and SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19), developmental angiogenic processes are recapitulated, but are often done so without the normal feedback mechanisms that regulate the ordinary spatial and temporal patterns of blood vessel formation. Thus, pathological angiogenesis presents new challenges yet new opportunities for the design of vascular-directed therapies. Here, we provide an overview of recent insights into blood vessel development and highlight novel therapeutic strategies that promote or inhibit the process of angiogenesis to stabilize, reverse, or even halt disease progression. In our review, we will also explore several additional aspects (the angiogenic switch, hypoxia, angiocrine signals, endothelial plasticity, vessel normalization, and endothelial cell anergy) that operate in parallel to canonical angiogenesis mechanisms and speculate how these processes may also be targeted with anti-angiogenic or vascular-directed therapies.
Mergeable weighted majority games and characterizations of some power indices
Authors: Armijos-Toro Livino M. , Alonso-Meijide José M. , Mosquera Manuel A.
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we introduce a notion of mergeable weighted majority games with the aim of providing the first characterization of the Colomer–Martínez power index (Colomer and Martínez in J Theor Polit 7(1):41–63, 1995). Furthermore, we define and characterize a new power index for the family of weighted majority games that combines ideas of the Public Good (Holler in Polit Stud 30(2):262–271, 1982) and Colomer–Martínez power indices. Finally, we analyze the National Assembly of Ecuador using these and some other well-known power indices.
Coconut rhinoceros beetle in Solomon Islands: a tale of two invasions
Authors: Marshall Sean D. G. , Paudel Sulav , Mansfield Sarah , Richards Nicola K. , Tsatsia Francis , Fanai Crispus , Suda Gideon , Jackson Trevor A.
Published: April 2023

Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in 2015 in a small outbreak in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. This was the first record of CRB from Solomon Islands and a response plan was prepared. An awareness programme was launched and where CRB sightings were confirmed, delimitation surveys were carried out. Following the launch of the awareness programme, later in 2015, CRB was also reported from the Shortland Islands in the Western Province. Other islands were surveyed from 2015 to 2020. If CRB presence was confirmed, beetles were collected and analysed for haplotype and presence of the classical biological control agent, Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV). A distribution map and timeline of invasion were developed. The initial populations belonged to two distinct haplotypes: CRB-G (clade IA) in Honiara and CRB-S (clade II) in Shortland Islands. Despite control measures, by 2020 CRB-G had spread to islands in eight provinces and CRB-S had spread to islands in seven provinces. CRB-S and CRB-G co-occur in Guadalcanal and Malaita provinces. In 2019, OrNV was detected from field collected CRB from Guadalcanal and has since spread to Malaita Island. In both cases the virus was detected where CRB-G and CRB-S co-occur. Other outbreak areas in Solomon Islands remain OrNV-free. The two haplotypes appear to have spread following patterns of air and sea movement between the point of origin (CRB-G from Honiara and CRB-S from the Shortland Islands) to other islands/provinces.
Transformative potential of conservation actions
Authors: Arponen Anni , Salomaa Anna
Published: April 2023

Transformative change can help achieve the 2050 vision of biodiversity, but concrete ways to achieve it are only being discovered. To contribute to the understanding of the practical options for concrete action to foster, accelerate and maintain the transformative change, we assessed the leverage potential of existing conservation actions using the Meadows’ Leverage points framework. We took the actions from the Conservation Actions Classification by the Conservation Measures Partnership. The outcome is a scheme that evaluates at which leverage points, from simple parameters to paradigms, the different conservation actions have potential to make an impact, and thus impact systemic change. We found that all conservation actions have potential to leverage systemic transformative change, with varying coverage of the leverage points. All leverage points were addressed by several actions. The scheme could be used both as an interim tool for evaluating transformative potential in different broad datasets, but also help with planning of new conservation policies, interventions and projects. We hope our work could be a first step toward standardization and broader adoption of assessing leverage in conservation research and practice, achieving broader socio-ecological system leverage with conservation tools.
On the chemical fate of propyl gallate as stabilizer in Lyocell spinning dopes
Authors: Melikhov Ivan , Bacher Markus , Hosoya Takashi , Hettegger Hubert , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas
Published: April 2023

Propyl gallate (PG, gallic acid propyl ester, Tenox®) is a very frequently used stabilizer and antioxidant in food and material applications, also used on large scale in the Lyocell process to stabilize the cellulose spinning dopes. In the present study we have investigated the fate of PG under classical Lyocell conditions (cellulose dissolved in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate at temperatures above 80 °C) by means of multiple analytical techniques, including NMR, GPC, and MS-hyphenated chromatography. It is demonstrated that propyl gallate is quickly hydrolyzed to gallate or, as a side reaction, aminolyzed to gallic acid morpholide. The products of the antioxidative action of gallic acid and propyl gallate, namely ellagic acid and its bis(ortho-quinone), are very easily adsorbed to cellulosic surfaces and are chiefly responsible for the discoloration of Lyocell spinning dopes and the resulting fibers. However, gallic acid morpholide and its parent compound gallic amide, while both having good antioxidant activity similar to propyl gallate itself, do neither form ellagic acid nor the bis(ortho-quinone) and are thus significantly superior to the conventionally used propyl gallate with regard to chromophore generation and resulting brightness loss. Also gallate moieties in tannins can be converted into the amide or morpholide to be further used as Lyocell stabilizers, which might open the way both to new Lyocell stabilizers and to a niche utilization for tannins.

Graphical abstract
Interactions between migrant race and social status in predicting acceptance of climate migrants in Norway
Authors: Bye Hege H. , Yu Hui , Portice Jennie Sofia , Ogunbode Charles A.
Published: April 2023

An emerging stream of research documents that climate migrants are more acceptable than economic migrants to citizens in high-income countries. However, extant research has not considered migrant race, and how race, along with socioeconomic status, interact with reasons for migrating to impact the perceptions of acceptability among residents in the receiving society. We investigated the joint effects of reason for migration (economic vs. climate), race (Black vs. White), and socioeconomic status (low vs. high) on migrant acceptability judgments among a national sample of Norwegian residents (N = 1637) using a preregistered survey experiment. The results indicate that climate migrants are more acceptable to participants than economic migrants, and White migrants are preferred to Black migrants. There was also an interaction between reason for migrating, race, and social status whereby Black, low social status, and economic migrants were less accepted than any other migrant profile. Especially notable was the finding that Black climate migrants of low socioeconomic status were seen by participants as being much more acceptable than Black economic migrants of low socioeconomic status. The notion that climate and economic migrants can be meaningfully differentiated in the real world is debatable. Nonetheless, our study suggests that framing migrants’ motivation in terms of environmental influences, compared with economic motivations, has potentially major effects on migrant acceptance in receiving societies.
Assurance and Development of Interaction Quality: The Impact of Blended-Learning Professional Development Training Programme
Authors: Pölzl-Stefanec Eva , Barta Mailina , Walter-Laager Catherine
Published: April 2023

In recent years, there has been considerable investment at the European Union level in expanding early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities. In line with this quantitative substantial initiative, research and social policies are increasingly focusing on the quality of such facilities. High quality depends, among other things, on well-trained early childhood educators. This poses a dilemma for early childhood educators for various reasons; there is a shortage of skilled early childhood professionals, so that low-skilled staff are also being employed in early childhood education facilities. Online formats for professional development can contribute to the professionalisation of the ECEC system through vocational training. Since these formats are designed and produced to high professional and technical standards, they can be cost-effective thanks to their multiple uses and because they can often be completed by participants independent of time and location. This article presents an empirically studied blended e-learning training format based on the principles of co-constructivist didactics. The content focuses on the quality of interaction between early childhood professionals and children. Before and after the training course was completed, standardised non-participant observations were conducted in Austrian, German, Hungarian, Slovenian, Italian, and Portuguese early childhood education and care institutions. The before/after measurements (N = 43) showed a significant effect on the quality of interaction between the early childhood professionals and the children.
Distribution of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Ascochyta blight (Didymella rabiei) and analyses of factors affecting disease epidemics in Central Ethiopia
Authors: Addisu Shugute , Fininsa Chemeda , Bekeko Zelalem , Mohammad Abdi , Kumar Alok , Fikre Asnake
Published: April 2023

Ascochyta blight (caused by Didymella rabiei) is one of the most important diseases affecting chickpea production and productivity. The distribution, incidence and severity of the disease, and the association of agronomic practices and environmental factors on the intensity of the disease mainly remained undermined. Chickpea field surveys were conducted in two main chickpea growing regions of central Ethiopia during the 2020 and 2021 main cropping seasons to determine the distribution and importance of Ascochyta blight and analyse its association with biophysical factors. A total of 366 chickpea fields were surveyed in five zones, and 76.6% of the fields were infected with Ascochyta blight. The results revealed that the overall mean prevalence and incidence of the disease ranged from 46.66 to 100%. Ascochyta blight in the infected fields had a mean severity index of 40.17%. The mean disease incidence was higher in fields at altitudes below 2129 m.a.s.l (39.2%) than the mean incidence of fields at higher altitudes. Using logistic regression analysis, the independent variables—zone, altitude, cropping season, seed source, cultivar type, variety, planting pattern, and plant density—were shown to have significant effects on the severity index (P < 0.001). High weed density, growth stage, planting time, crop rotation, Fusarium wilt, pod borer, aphid spp., and dry root rot were also significantly associated (P < 0.05) with Ascochyta blight epidemics. The highest severity (SI = 60.3%) was obtained in Arsi Zone, and the lowest in South West Shewa Zone (SI = 32.1%). The results of this survey indicate that planting chickpea in the middle of the main rainy season, proper weed management, planting improved varieties, and crop rotation should be practiced to reduce the negative impact of the disease until effective resistant chickpea varieties are developed. Furthermore, it is recommended that effective and feasible integrated management options need to be developed against the disease to boost the production and productivity of the crop.
Automatic identification of self-admitted technical debt from four different sources
Authors: Li Yikun , Soliman Mohamed , Avgeriou Paris
Published: April 2023

Technical debt refers to taking shortcuts to achieve short-term goals while sacrificing the long-term maintainability and evolvability of software systems. A large part of technical debt is explicitly reported by the developers themselves; this is commonly referred to as Self-Admitted Technical Debt or SATD. Previous work has focused on identifying SATD from source code comments and issue trackers. However, there are no approaches available for automatically identifying SATD from other sources such as commit messages and pull requests, or by combining multiple sources. Therefore, we propose and evaluate an approach for automated SATD identification that integrates four sources: source code comments, commit messages, pull requests, and issue tracking systems. Our findings show that our approach outperforms baseline approaches and achieves an average F1-score of 0.611 when detecting four types of SATD (i.e., code/design debt, requirement debt, documentation debt, and test debt) from the four aforementioned sources. Thereafter, we analyze 23.6M code comments, 1.3M commit messages, 3.7M issue sections, and 1.7M pull request sections to characterize SATD in 103 open-source projects. Furthermore, we investigate the SATD keywords and relations between SATD in different sources. The findings indicate, among others, that: 1) SATD is evenly spread among all sources; 2) issues and pull requests are the two most similar sources regarding the number of shared SATD keywords, followed by commit messages, and then followed by code comments; 3) there are four kinds of relations between SATD items in the different sources.