bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamics of schafarzikite (FeSb2O$$_4$$) and tripuhyite (FeSbO$$_4$$)
Authors: Majzlan Juraj , Tuhý Marek , Dachs Edgar , Benisek Artur
Published: August 2023

In this work, we investigated the thermodynamic properties of synthetic schafarzikite (FeSb2O$$_4$$

4

) and tripuhyite (FeSbO$$_4$$

4

). Low-temperature heat capacity ($$C_p$$

C
p

) was determined by relaxation calorimetry. From these data, third-law entropy was calculated as $$110.7\pm 1.3$$

110.7
±
1.3

J mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

K$$^{-1}$$

-
1

for tripuhyite and $$187.1\pm 2.2$$

187.1
±
2.2

J mol$$^{-1}$$

-
1

K$$^{-1}$$

-
1

for schafarzikite. Using previously published $$\Delta _fG^o$$

Δ
f

G
o

values for both phases, we calculated their $$\Delta _fH^o$$

Δ
f

H
o

as $$-947.8\pm 2.2$$

-
947.8
±
2.2

for tripuhyite and $$-1061.2\pm 4.4$$

-
1061.2
±
4.4

for schafarzikite. The accuracy of the data sets was tested by entropy estimates and calculation of $$\Delta _fH^o$$

Δ
f

H
o

from estimated lattice energies (via Kapustinskii equation). Measurements of $$C_p$$

C
p

above $$T = 300$$

T
=
300

K were augmented by extrapolation to $$T = 700$$

T
=
700

K with the frequencies of acoustic and optic modes, using the Kieffer $$C_p$$

C
p

model. A set of equilibrium constants ($$\log K$$

log
K

) for tripuhyite, schafarzikite, and several related phases was calculated and presented in a format that can be employed in commonly used geochemical codes. Calculations suggest that tripuhyite has a stability field that extends over a wide range of pH-p$$\epsilon$$
ϵ
conditions at $$T = 298.15$$

T
=
298.15

K. Schafarzikite and hydrothermal oxides of antimony (valentinite, kermesite, and senarmontite) can form by oxidative dissolution and remobilization of pre-existing stibnite ores.
Micronutrient intakes in the Dutch diet: foods, fortified foods and supplements in a cross sectional study
Authors: Bird Julia K. , Bruins Maaike J. , Turini Marco E.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study investigates intakes of risk micronutrients from non-fortified foods, fortified foods and food supplements in different age and gender sub-groups of the Dutch population.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (DNFCS 2012–2016, N = 4313, 1–79 years). The proportion of the population with Habitual Intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and above the Upper Level (UL) for calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin D and vitamin E from non-fortified foods, fortified foods and total intake including food supplements was calculated using Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE).

Results

More than 50% of the population had an intake below the EAR for calcium, iron, vitamin D and folate. Intakes were inadequate for certain sub-groups for the other vitamins and minerals. Adolescents and women were the population sub-groups most likely to have an intake below the EAR. For zinc, vitamin A and folic acid, more than 1% of toddlers exceeded the UL from the total intake. A negligible proportion exceeded the UL for the other vitamins and minerals.

Conclusion

Inadequate intakes were found for several micronutrients in various population sub-groups despite an apparently well-nourished population. Intakes of zinc, folic acid and vitamin A from food supplements in toddlers and preschoolers should be investigated further to ensure they do not exceed recommended amounts. These results can be used to inform policy makers and to design nutritional interventions to improve micronutrient intakes in the Netherlands.
Functional and structural alterations in different durations of untreated illness in the frontal and parietal lobe in major depressive disorder
Authors: Liu Wen , Jiang Xiaowei , Deng Zijing , Xie Yu , Guo Yingrui , Wu Yifan , Sun Qikun , Kong Lingtao , Wu Feng , Tang Yanqing
Published: August 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling illnesses that profoundly restricts psychosocial functions and impairs quality of life. However, the treatment rate of MDD is surprisingly low because the availability and acceptability of appropriate treatments are limited. Therefore, identifying whether and how treatment delay affects the brain and the initial time point of the alterations is imperative, but these changes have not been thoroughly explored. We investigated the functional and structural alterations of MDD for different durations of untreated illness (DUI) using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) with a sample of 125 treatment-naïve MDD patients and 100 healthy controls (HCs). The MDD patients were subgrouped based on the DUI, namely, DUI ≤ 1 M, 1 < DUI ≤ 6 M, 6 < DUI ≤ 12 M, and 12 < DUI ≤ 48 M. Subgroup comparison (MDD with different DUIs) was applied to compare ReHo and grey matter volume (GMV) extracted from clusters of regions with significant differences (the pooled MDD patients relative to HCs). Correlations and mediation effects were analysed to estimate the relationships between the functional and structural neuroimaging changes and clinical characteristics. MDD patients exhibited decreased ReHo in the left postcentral gyrus and precentral gyrus and reduced GMV in the left middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus relative to HCs. The initial functional abnormalities were detected after being untreated for 1 month, whereas this duration was 3 months for GMV reduction. Nevertheless, a transient increase in ReHo was observed after being untreated for 3 months. No significant differences were discovered between HCs and MDD patients with a DUI less than 1 month or among MDD patients with different DUIs in either ReHo or GMV. Longer DUI was related to reduced ReHo with GMV as mediator in MDD patients. We identified disassociated functional and anatomical alterations in treatment-naïve MDD patients at different time points in distinct brain regions at the early stage of the disease. Additionally, we also discovered that GMV mediated the relationship between a longer DUI and diminished ReHo in MDD patients, disclosing the latent deleterious and neuro-progressive implications of DUI on both the structure and function of the brain and indicating the necessity of early treatment of MDD.
Blood transcriptomics mirror regulatory mechanisms during hibernation—a comparative analysis of the Djungarian hamster with other mammalian species
Authors: Cuyutupa Valeria Rojas , Moser Dominique , Diedrich Victoria , Cheng Yiming , Billaud Jean-Noël , Haugg Elena , Singer Dominique , Bereiter-Hahn Jürgen , Herwig Annika , Choukér Alexander
Published: August 2023

Hibernation enables many species of the mammalian kingdom to overcome periods of harsh environmental conditions. During this physically inactive state metabolic rate and body temperature are drastically downregulated, thereby reducing energy requirements (torpor) also over shorter time periods. Since blood cells reflect the organism´s current condition, it was suggested that transcriptomic alterations in blood cells mirror the torpor-associated physiological state. Transcriptomics on blood cells of torpid and non-torpid Djungarian hamsters and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed key target molecules (TMIPA), which were subjected to a comparative literature analysis on transcriptomic alterations during torpor/hibernation in other mammals. Gene expression similarities were identified in 148 TMIPAduring torpor nadir among various organs and phylogenetically different mammalian species. Based on TMIPA, IPA network analyses corresponded with described inhibitions of basic cellular mechanisms and immune system-associated processes in torpid mammals. Moreover, protection against damage to the heart, kidney, and liver was deduced from this gene expression pattern in blood cells. This study shows that blood cell transcriptomics can reflect the general physiological state during torpor nadir. Furthermore, the understanding of molecular processes for torpor initiation and organ preservation may have beneficial implications for humans in extremely challenging environments, such as in medical intensive care units and in space.
Neck shrivel in European plum is caused by cuticular microcracks, resulting from rapid lateral expansion of the neck late in development
Authors: Khanal Bishnu P. , Bhattarai Anil , Aryal Divya , Knoche Moritz
Published: August 2023

Main conclusion

Susceptibility to neck shrivel in European plum is due to cuticular microcracking resulting from high surface area growth rates in the neck region, late in development.

Susceptibility to the commercially important fruit disorder ‘neck shrivel’ differs among European plum cultivars. Radial cuticular microcracking occurs in the neck regions of susceptible cultivars, but not in non-susceptible ones, so would seem to be causal. However, the reason for the microcracking is unknown. The objective was to identify potential relationships between fruit growth pattern and microcracking incidence in the neck (proximal) and stylar (distal) ends of selected shrivel-susceptible and non-susceptible cultivars. Growth analysis revealed two allometric categories: The first category, the ‘narrow-neck’ cultivars, showed hypoallometric growth in the neck region (i.e., slower growth than in the region of maximum diameter) during early development (stages I + II). Later (during stage III) the neck region was ‘filled out’ by hyperallometric growth (i.e., faster than in the region of maximum diameter). The second category, the ‘broad-neck’ cultivars, had more symmetrical, allometric growth (all regions grew equally fast) throughout development. The narrow-neck cultivars exhibited extensive radial cuticular microcracking in the neck region, but little microcracking in the stylar region. In contrast, the broad-neck cultivars exhibited little microcracking overall, with no difference between the neck and stylar regions. Across all cultivars, a positive relationship was obtained for the level of microcracking in the neck region and the difference in allometric growth ratios between stage III and stages I + II. There were no similar relationships for the stylar region. The results demonstrate that accelerated stage III neck growth in the narrow-neck plum cultivars is associated with more microcracking and thus with more shrivel.
Body composition in patients with Fontan physiology: a systematic review
Authors: van den Berg Rubens J. , Pos Jayanti N. , Scheffers Linda E. , van den Berg Linda E. M. , Helbing Willem A.
Published: August 2023

Fontan circulation is a highly abnormal circulatory state that may affect various organ systems. The effect on body composition is an important factor to assess the condition of the patient. This systematic review assesses body composition and possibly related adverse outcomes in patients with a Fontan circulation, to provide an overview of current insights. Studies evaluating body composition by compartment (either fat mass or lean/muscle mass) in Fontan patients published up to April 2023 were included in this systematic review. Of 1392 potential studies, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. In total, body composition measurements of 774 Fontan patients were included. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (n = 12), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (n = 5), computer tomography (CT) (n = 1), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (n = 1). All studies reported a normal body mass index (BMI) in Fontan patients, compared to controls. Five out of nine studies reported significantly higher body fat values, and twelve out of fifteen studies reported significantly lower muscle or lean mass values in the Fontan population compared to the healthy population. Unfavorable body composition in Fontan patients was associated with decreased exercise capacity, worse cardiac function, and adverse outcomes including hospital admissions and death.

   Conclusions: Despite having a normal BMI, Fontan patients have an increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass or lean mass compared to the healthy population. This unfavorable body composition was associated with various adverse outcomes, including a decreased exercise capacity and worse cardiac function.What is Known:• Patients with a Fontan circulation have a decreased exercise capacity compared to healthy peers, an unfavorable body composition might be a contributor to their impaired exercise capacity.What is New:• Fontan patients are predisposed to an unfavorable body composition, characterized by increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass accompanied by a normal BMI compared to the healthy population.• Among others, unfavorable body composition was associated with decreased exercise capacity, cardiac function, and increased morbidity in patients with a Fontan circulation.
Prevalence and impact of malnutrition on outcomes and mortality of under-five years children with pneumonia: a study from Upper Egypt
Authors: Gamal Yasser , Mahmoud Asmaa O. , Mohamed Sherif A. A. , I. Mohamed Jaafar , Raheem Yasser F. Abdel
Published: August 2023

Malnutrition has adverse impacts on under-five children with pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to address the prevalence and impact of malnutrition on under-five years children with pneumonia, admitted to a tertiary large children hospital in Upper Egypt. This study is a prospective case-control study. All under-five children diagnosed with pneumonia who were admitted to Assiut University Children’s Hospital (AUCH) from January 1st to December 31st, 2021, were enrolled. Based on their nutritional assessment, the studied participants were classified into 2 groups: (1): Children with pneumonia and with nutritional deficiency considered as cases, and (2): Children with pneumonia and without nutritional deficiency considered as controls. Three hundred-fifty cases and 154 control subjects were enrolled, respectively. 93.4%, 31.1%, and 61.7% of the cases had underweight, stunting, and wasting, respectively. Among those cases, there were significant differences between survivors and non-survivors with regard to some clinicodemographic factors, laboratory parameters, and anthropometric parameters. Lack of compulsory vaccination, presence of sepsis, and blood transfusion (OR 2.874, 95% CI 0.048 – 2.988, p = 0.004, 2.627, 0.040 – 2.677, p = 0.009, and 4.108, 0.134 – 3.381, p < 0.001, respectively) were significant independent predictors for mortality among malnourished children with pneumonia.

   Conclusion: Malnutrition has a high prevalence in under-five children with pneumonia in our locality. It has adverse effects on the outcomes and in-hospital mortality of those children. Lack of compulsory vaccination, presence of sepsis, and blood transfusion were significant independent predictors of mortality in malnourished children with pneumonia. Larger multicenter studies are warranted.

What is Known:• Malnutrition has adverse impacts on under-five children with pneumonia.• Malnutrition could be a reason for in-hospital mortality among under-five children with pneumonia.

What is New:• Malnutrition has a high prevalence in under-five children with pneumonia in Upper Egypt, with its adverse effects on the outcomes and mortality of those children.• Lack of vaccination, presence of sepsis, and blood transfusion are significant independent predictors of mortality in malnourished children with pneumonia in Upper Egypt.
Mixed-precision quantization-aware training for photonic neural networks
Authors: Kirtas Manos , Passalis Nikolaos , Oikonomou Athina , Moralis-Pegios Miltos , Giamougiannis George , Tsakyridis Apostolos , Mourgias-Alexandris George , Pleros Nikolaos , Tefas Anastasios
Published: August 2023

The energy demanding nature of deep learning (DL) has fueled the immense attention for neuromorphic architectures due to their ability to operate in a very high frequencies in a very low energy consumption. To this end, neuromorphic photonics are among the most promising research directions, since they are able to achieve femtojoule per MAC efficiency. Although electrooptical substances provide a fast and efficient platform for DL, they also introduce various noise sources that impact the effective bit resolution, introducing new challenges to DL quantization. In this work, we propose a quantization-aware training method that gradually performs bit reduction to layers in a mixed-precision manner, enabling us to operate lower-precision networks during deployment and further increase the computational rate of the developed accelerators while keeping the energy consumption low. Exploiting the observation that intermediate layers have lower-precision requirements, we propose to gradually reduce layers’ bit resolutions, by normally distributing the reduction probability of each layer. We experimentally demonstrate the advantages of mixed-precision quantization in both performance and inference time. Furthermore, we experimentally evaluate the proposed method in different tasks, architectures, and photonic configurations, highlighting its immense capabilities to reduce the average bit resolution of DL models while significantly outperforming the evaluated baselines.
A systematic approach on the second order regularity of solutions to the general parabolic p-Laplace equation
Authors: Feng Yawen , Parviainen Mikko , Sarsa Saara
Published: August 2023

We study a general form of a degenerate or singular parabolic equation $$\begin{aligned} u_t-|Du|^{\gamma }\big (\Delta u+(p-2)\Delta _\infty ^Nu\big )=0 \end{aligned}$$

u
t

-

|
D
u
|

γ

(

Δ
u
+

(
p
-
2
)

Δ
∞
N

u

)

=
0

that generalizes both the standard parabolic p-Laplace equation and the normalized version that arises from stochastic game theory. We develop a systematic approach to study second order Sobolev regularity and show that $$D^2u$$

D
2

u

exists as a function and belongs to $$L^2_\text {loc}$$

L
loc
2

for a certain range of parameters. In this approach proving the estimate boils down to verifying that a certain coefficient matrix is positive definite. As a corollary we obtain, under suitable assumptions, that a viscosity solution has a Sobolev time derivative belonging to $$L^2_\text {loc}$$

L
loc
2

.
Generalized curvature for the optimal transport problem induced by a Tonelli Lagrangian
Authors: Yang Yuchuan
Published: August 2023

We propose a generalized curvature that is motivated by the optimal transport problem on $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

with cost induced by a Tonelli Lagrangian L. We show that non-negativity of the generalized curvature implies displacement convexity of the generalized entropy functional on the L-Wasserstein space along $$C^2$$

C
2

displacement interpolants.
Mpox: a review of laboratory detection techniques
Authors: Zhou Yunfan , Chen Zixin
Published: August 2023

Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), which, like smallpox, is characterised by skin rashes. While the world is currently grappling with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the appearance of MPXV has presented a global threat and raised concerns worldwide. Since May 2022, MPXV has spread rapidly in non-endemic mpox areas. As of 27 June 2023, the virus has spread to more than 112 countries and regions, with over 88,060 laboratory-confirmed cases and 147 deaths. Thus, measures to control the mpox epidemic are urgently needed. As the principal methods for identifying and monitoring mpox, laboratory detection techniques play an important role in mpox diagnosis. This review summarises the currently-used laboratory techniques for MPXV detection, discusses progress in improving these methods, and compares the benefits and limitations of various diagnostic detection methods. Currently, nucleic acid amplification tests, such as the polymerase chain reaction, are the most commonly used. Immunological methods have also been applied to diagnose the disease, which can help us discover new features of MPXV, improve diagnostic accuracy, track epidemic trends, and guide future prevention and control strategies, which are also vital for controlling mpox epidemics. This review provides a resource for the scientific community and should stimulate more research and development in alternative diagnostics to be applied to this and future public health crises.
Switching pattern and dose adjustment of antidepressants before and during pregnancy
Authors: Robiyanto Robiyanto , Roos Marjolein , Bos Jens H J , Hak Eelko , van Puijenbroek Eugène P , Schuiling-Veninga Catharina C M
Published: August 2023

The purpose of the study is to examine the switching pattern and dose adjustment of antidepressants (ADs) prescribed to women from six months before to six months during pregnancy in the Netherlands. The recorded dispenses or refills were collected from the University of Groningen IADB.nl pregnancy subset for all singleton pregnancies in which the mother received ≥ 1 prescription of an AD dispensed before pregnancy and was present in the database at least six months after conception. The rates of continuation, discontinuation, and switching between 2001 and 2020 were assessed for the ADs studied. The mean number of Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) of the most frequently continued ADs used was calculated both before and during pregnancy, and a paired t-test was used to test for significant changes. The continuation rates for AD users, especially for SSRI and SNRI continued users, increased over time from 27% and 19% (2001–2005) to 65% and 65% (2016–2020). The switching rate between ADs remained consistently low from the start of the study (2001–2005) at 2.0% to the end of the study (2016–2020) at 2.3%. Most women who switched between antidepressants during pregnancy received a different SSRI monotherapy (85%), followed by an SNRI (6%), a TCA (4%), and an “other AD” (4%). In most cases observed, the dose adjustment for the mean DDDs during pregnancy compared to the mean DDDs before pregnancy only changed little (less than 10%). Continued use of SSRIs among singleton pregnancies doubled over the study period. The low rate of AD switching and little changes in the DDD adjustment for most AD continuers indicate that pregnant women prefer to continue their prepregnancy medication rather than switch it. Most observed findings cohere with the Dutch national guidelines for antidepressant use during pregnancy.
Epidemiological and clinical evaluation of patients with a cleft in lower saxony Germany: a mono-center analysis
Authors: Philipp Kauffmann , Anja Quast , Boris Schminke , Johanna Kolle , Susanne Wolfer , Adam Stepniewski , Philipp Meyer-Marcotty , Henning Schliephake
Published: August 2023

Objective

The aim was to provide epidemiological and clinical data on patients with orofacial clefts in Lower Saxony in Germany.

Materials and methods

The records of 404 patients with orofacial clefts treated surgically at the University Medical Center Goettingen from 2001 to 2019 were analyzed in this retrospective study. Prevalence of orofacial clefts in general, orofacial clefts as manifestation of a syndrome, sex distribution, and prevalence of different cleft types was evaluated and associated with the need for corrective surgery, family history, pregnancy complications, and comorbidities.

Results

The prevalence of orofacial clefts for Goettingen in Lower Saxony was 1:890. 231 patients were male and 173 were female. CLP was most common (39.1%) followed by CP (34.7%), CL (14.4%), CLA (9.9%), and facial clefts (2%). The left side was more frequently affected and unilateral cleft forms occurred more often than bilateral ones. Almost 10% of the population displayed syndromic CL/P. 10.9% of all patients had a positive family history regarding CL/P, predominantly from the maternal side. Pregnancy abnormalities were found in 11.4%, most often in the form of preterm birth. Comorbidities, especially of the cardiovascular system, were found in 30.2% of the sample. 2.2% of patients treated according to the University Medical Center Goettingen protocol corrective surgery was performed in form of a velopharyngoplasty or residual hole closure.

Conclusions

The epidemiological and clinical profile of the study population resembled the expected distributions in Western populations. The large number of syndromic CL/P and associated comorbidities supports the need for specialized cleft centers and interdisciplinary cleft care.
Effect of cohesion on structure of powder layers in additive manufacturing
Authors: Roy Sudeshna , Shaheen Mohamad Yousef , Pöschel Thorsten
Published: August 2023

Producing a consistent layer quality for different raw-materials is a challenge for powder-based additive manufacturing. Interparticle cohesion plays a key role on the powder spreading process. In this work, we characterise the structure of deposited layers in the powder-base additive manufacturing process by numerical simulations using the discrete element method. The effect of particle cohesion on the quality of powder layers is evaluated. It is found that higher interparticle cohesion lead to poor spreadability, with more heterogeneous powder layer structure and enhances particle size segregation in the powder layer. We also compare the powder layer quality deposited on a smooth substrate with that on a powder layer. Deposition on a powder layer leads to inferior layer quality of powder layer with higher heterogeneity and higher particle size segregation effects.

Graphical abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the clinical assistance to breast cancer patients
Authors: Ribeiro Inês , Peleteiro Bárbara , Fougo José Luís
Published: August 2023

Purpose

We aimed to disclose the impact of the pandemic on breast cancer patients in a specialized breast cancer center (BCC).

Methods

A total of 501 breast cancer patients with a first appointment in the BCC from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2021 were divided into four consecutive periods of 6 months. Data from the homologous semesters was compared. Patients with an appointment in the BCC during the study period were eligible for the secondary aim of our study (BCC workload).

Results

After the pandemic declaration (period 3), we found a decrease in the referral by screening programs (p = 0.002) and a reduction in the waiting time between the primary care referral and the first BCC appointment (p < 0.001). There were higher rates of palpable axillary nodes (p = 0.001), an increase in N stage 2 and 3 (p = 0.050), and a trend for primary endocrine therapy as the first treatment (p = 0.021) associated with higher rates of complete axillary node dissection (p = 0.030). In period 4, there were more outward diagnoses (p = 0.003) and a higher rate of surgery as the first treatment (p = 0.013).

Conclusion

COVID-19 pandemic implied a more advanced nodal stage, which may be related to the delay in breast cancer screening.

Graphical abstract
Doxastic Affirmative Action
Authors: Bengtson Andreas , Munch Lauritz Aastrup
Published: August 2023

According to the relational egalitarian theory of justice, justice requires that people relate as equals. To relate as equals, many relational egalitarians argue, people must (i) regard each other as equals, and (ii) treat each other as equals. In this paper, we argue that, under conditions of background injustice, such relational egalitarians should endorse affirmative action in the ways in which (dis)esteem is attributed to people as part of the regard-requirement for relating as equals.
The Role of College Study Competencies and Motivations in Determining the Acceptance of Distance Education
Authors: Boerchi Diego , Cacciamani Stefano , Ligorio Maria Beatrice
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to investigate whether students’ Distance Education (DE) acceptance is influenced by the same factors affecting the acceptance of new digital technology. Furthermore, we also study competencies and motivations as factors affecting DE’s acceptance. The study was cross-sectional, and linear regressions tested the hypotheses. 165 Italian college students (F = 87.3%; average age 23) compiled an online survey. The main results are that considering the future intention to use DE as an indicator of its acceptance, the perceived usefulness, subjective norm, and perceived ease of use influence the future use of DE. Moreover, intrinsic motivation and emotional control during the exams directly and negatively determine the intention of using DE in the future. The perceived usefulness and ease of use, together with the subjective norms, totally mediated, in different ways, the effect of teachers’ relationships, time management, learning assessment, extrinsic motivation, and study dedication in explaining the future intention of using DE.
Ophthalmic findings in patients with autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis due to TGM1 mutations in an isolated population
Authors: Macriz-Romero Nicole , Vera-Duarte Guillermo Raul , Guerrero-Becerril Jesus , Chacón-Camacho Oscar Francisco , Astiazarán Mirena C , Zenteno Juan Carlos , Graue-Hernandez Enrique O.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To describe the ocular clinical characteristics of a group of Mexican patients with lamellar ichthyosis (LI) arising from TGM1 pathogenic variants.

Methods

Ophthalmological exploration, pedigree analysis and genetic screening were performed in patients with an established clinical diagnosis of lamellar ichthyosis from families located in a small community in the Southeast of Mexico.

Results

Nine patients with LI in five families were identified. There were six affected females. All patients (9/9) demonstrated eye lid abnormalities with eight patients showing lid margin abnormalities. Madarosis was present in only three individuals and corneal scarring was documented in two. All nine individuals carried biallelic TGM1 variants, either homozygously or as compound heterozygous.

Conclusion

Ocular anomalies are common in individuals with TGM1-related LI. The occurrence of a variety of private or rare mutations hampers the identification of a genotype–phenotype correlation for ocular anomalies in this disorder.
Pitfall trapping outperforms other methods for surveying ground-dwelling large-bodied alpine invertebrates
Authors: Bertoia Aaron , Murray Tara , Robertson Bruce C. , Monks Joanne M.
Published: August 2023

Appropriate sampling methods are essential for monitoring and managing all wildlife. There is limited information on how to monitor ground-dwelling invertebrates in the alpine zone compared to more commonly studied lower-elevation habitats. We aim to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and cost-effectiveness of invertebrate survey methods when deployed in the alpine zone. We tested four methods on the South Island of New Zealand (Aotearoa): pitfall traps, tracking tunnels, visual surveys, and trail cameras. We focused on methods for ground-dwelling large-bodied invertebrates, a group most likely to be impacted by introduced mammalian predators. Pitfall traps and trail cameras were practical methods for surveying alpine invertebrates. Tracking tunnels only reliably detected large wētā (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), as other invertebrates were too light to leave distinguishable tracks. Visual surveys did not generate enough observations to be considered a successful method. We found no difference in the total abundance or easily recognised taxonomic groups detected by pitfall traps and trail cameras. Trail cameras detected fewer wētā compared to tracking tunnels and pitfall traps. Of the successful methods, pitfall traps were the most cost-effective, followed by tracking tunnels and trail cameras. Tracking tunnels were the fastest to install and required the least processing time, followed by pitfall traps and trail cameras. We recommend using pitfall traps to survey large-bodied alpine ground-dwelling invertebrates to better understand population trends or community composition. This method was consistent across all alpine habitat types and has the potential to be an effective method to inform conservation monitoring and management programmes.

Implications for insect conservation

Monitoring is vital to understand how invertebrates respond to change and evaluate conservation management program outcomes. This study provides practical information on potential monitoring tools for invertebrates in the alpine zone and recommends pitfall traps to survey large-bodied alpine invertebrates.
Genetic diversity of a flightless dung beetle appears unaffected by wildfire
Authors: Shofner Ryan , Sherwin William , Reid Chris , Runagall-McNaull Aidan , Cassis Gerasimos , Laffan Shawn
Published: August 2023

The wildfires of Australia’s Black Summer in 2019/2020 caused a massive loss of wildlife and habitats, but the effects of the fire on invertebrate species post-burn are unknown. We hypothesised that the fires would negatively affect the genetic diversity of invertebrate species by impeding movement between populations due to habitat loss. We studied the genetic diversity of a flightless dung beetle, Amphistomus primonactus Matthews 1974, to determine the impact of the wildfires on this species. We examined 90 SNPs from 193 individuals across seven localities impacted by the wildfires in north-eastern New South Wales. We used STRUCTURE to determine the overall population structure of the seven localities. We calculated four within-locality genetic diversity measures (observed heterozygosity (Ho), unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHe), Shannon’s Information (1H), and the inbreeding coefficient (FIS). We calculated three between-locality genetic diversity measures (Fixation Index (FST), Hedrick’s G”ST, and Shannon’s Mutual Information (I). We used partial Mantel tests to compare the between-locality genetic diversity measures with the mean fire intensity along each pairwise linear transect, while accounting for genetic variation due to geographic distance. We compared the within-locality genetic diversity measures to the mean fire intensity at each site. STRUCTURE showed a large degree of intermixing between localities. We found no significant effect of fire on any within-locality genetic diversity measure, or on any between-locality genetic diversity measure. We suggest that the genetic diversity of A. primonactus was not significantly affected by the Black Summer wildfires.

Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that the 2019/2020 wildfires had a negligible impact on the genetic structure of A. primonactus. This offers a promising outlook for the species in its recovery from the fires.
Long-term stability of temperate Australian wet forest-moorland mosaics despite recurrent fires associated with late Holocene climate change
Authors: Adeleye Matthew Adesanya , Haberle Simon Graeme , Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: August 2023

Context

The primary factors(s) responsible for the maintenance of Alternative biome states (ABS) in world forest biomes remains unclear and debatable, partly due to insufficient long-term ecological data from suitable ecosystem sites. The occurrence of moorland in southern and western Tasmanian wet temperate forest presents a suitable setting to test for ABS and understand the main stabilizing factors of ABS.

Objectives

We use a palaeoecological approach to test for ABS and identify the degree of vegetation change and the effect of climate change and fire occurrence associated with ABS in southern Tasmania.

Methods

Sediment sequence from sink-hole lake in a forest and nearby pond in southern Tasmania were analysed for pollen and charcoal to reconstruct histories of forest, moorland and fire in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). Reconstructions were compared to palaeoclimate record.

Results

Moorland and forest in southern Tasmania have occupied the same habitat for at least the last 2600 years, and neither past climate change nor fire occurrence affected the stability of the vegetation mosaic. We suspect that localized environmental settings, such as topography and edaphic conditions are the primary stabilizing factors of the forest-moorland mosaics.

Conclusions

The observed stable vegetation mosaics in our study is contrary to the dominant ecological paradigm of landscape dynamics currently used to manage the TWWHA, and there is a need to refine the ecological basis of fire management in the area. Similar targeted palaeoecological studies are needed to fully understand the underlying factors responsible for the persistence of treeless vegetation in world forest biomes.
Beyond views, productivity, and citations: measuring geopolitical differences of scientific impact in communication research
Authors: Tóth János József , Háló Gergő , Goyanes Manuel
Published: August 2023

Scientometric analyses applying critical sociological frameworks have previously shown that high-prestige research output—with regards to both quantity and impact—is typically clustered in a few core countries and world regions, indicating uneven power relations and systematic biases within global academia. Although citation count is a common formula in these analyses, only a handful of studies investigated altmetrics (impact measures beyond citation-based metrics) in communication science. In this paper, we explore geopolitical biases of impact amongst the most productive scholars in the field of communication from 11 countries and 3 world regions. Drawing on SCOPUS data, we test three formulas that measure scholarly performance (citations per document; views per document; and citations per view) to investigate how geographical location affects the impact of scholars. Our results indicate a strong US-dominance with regard to citation-based impact, emphasizing a further need for de-Westernization within the field. Moreover, the analysis of altmetric formulas revealed that research published by Eastern European and Spanish scholars, although accessed similarly or even more often than American or Western European publications, is less cited than those. Country-level comparisons are also discussed.
Questions as Dialogue Games. The Pragmatic Dimensions of “Authentic” Questions
Authors: Macagno Fabrizio
Published: August 2023

Questions, and more specifically authentic questions, are at the core of dialogue-based learning and teaching. However, what is a question, and how can it be authentic? This paper addresses this problem by analyzing the distinct dimensions of questions, showing how their pragmatic nature is interwoven with the syntactic and semantic one, and how it can be grasped only by considering their dialogical functions. Questions are maintained to be proposals of different dialogue games (or types), pursuing specific interactional purposes, and potentially contributing to learning processes in different ways. By understanding how questions shape different dialogues it is possible to ask more suitable questions to the questioner’s goals. In this framework, the dichotomy between authentic and inauthentic questions becomes a strategic choice between different types of dialogical possibilities.
Flor yeast immobilization in microbial biocapsules for Sherry wine production: microvinification approach
Authors: Pastor-Vega Noelia , Carbonero-Pacheco Juan , Mauricio Juan Carlos , Moreno Juan , García-Martínez Teresa , Nitin Nitin , Ogawa Minami , Rai Rewa , Moreno-García Jaime
Published: August 2023

Sherry wine is a pale-yellowish dry wine produced in Southern-Spain which features are mainly due to biological aging when the metabolism of biofilm-forming yeasts (flor yeasts) consumes ethanol (and other non-fermentable carbon sources) from a previous alcoholic fermentation, and produces volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde. To start aging and maintain the wine stability, a high alcohol content is required, which is achieved by the previous fermentation or by adding ethanol (fortification). Here, an alternative method is proposed which aims to produce a more economic, distinctive Sherry wine without fortification. For this, a flor yeast has been pre-acclimatized to glycerol consumption against ethanol, and later confined in a fungal-based immobilization system known as “microbial biocapsules”, to facilitate its inoculum. Once aged, the wines produced using biocapsules and free yeasts (the conventional method) exhibited chemical differences in terms of acidity and volatile concentrations. These differences were evaluated positively by a sensory panel. Pre-acclimatization of flor yeasts to glycerol consumption was not successful but when cells were immobilized in fungal pellets, ethanol consumption was lower. We believe that immobilization of flor yeasts in microbial biocapsules is an economic technique that can be used to produce high quality differentiated Sherry wines.
How can entrepreneurs improve digital market segmentation? A comparative analysis of supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms
Authors: Sáez-Ortuño Laura , Huertas-Garcia Ruben , Forgas-Coll Santiago , Puertas-Prats Eloi
Published: August 2023

The identification of digital market segments to make value-creating propositions is a major challenge for entrepreneurs and marketing managers. New technologies and the Internet have made it possible to collect huge volumes of data that are difficult to analyse using traditional techniques. The purpose of this research is to address this challenge by proposing the use of AI algorithms to cluster customers. Specifically, the proposal is to compare the suitability of supervised algorithms, XGBoost, versus unsupervised algorithms, K-means, for segmenting the digital market. To do so, both algorithms have been applied to a sample of 5 million Spanish users captured between 2010 and 2022 by a lead generation start-up. The results show that supervised learning with this type of data is more useful for segmenting markets than unsupervised learning, as it provides solutions that are better suited to entrepreneurs’ commercial objectives.
Justifications and Rights-Displacements
Authors: Dsouza Mark
Published: August 2023

In articles published ten years apart in 2011 and 2021, Gur-Arye argues that when considering an agent’s explanation for doing something that looks, prima facie, like a criminal offence, we should distinguish between a plea of justification, and an assertion that one acted within one’s power. The former explains an agent’s reasons for having committed a pro tanto offence (i.e., actus reus + mens rea). The latter is a denial that the agent committed any pro tanto offence at all. In this piece, I build on Gur-Arye’s argument, suggesting that her claim about powers can be extended to all instances in which rights are displaced. I argue that in its expanded form, the practical significance of Gur-Arye’s claim goes well beyond what she identifies. It points to important and underappreciated points about the structure and classification of defensive claims in the criminal law, and helps identify errors in some arguments commonly made to support claims about disputed features of justifications.
Sufficient conditions for perturbations to define the resolvent of the equilibrium problem on complete geodesic spaces
Authors: Kimura Yasunori , Sasaki Kazuya
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we consider sufficient conditions for perturbations to define a resolvent of the equilibrium problem on complete geodesic spaces with curvature bounded above.
Representing and extracting knowledge from single-cell data
Authors: Mihai Ionut Sebastian , Chafle Sarang , Henriksson Johan
Published: August 2023

Single-cell analysis is currently one of the most high-resolution techniques to study biology. The large complex datasets that have been generated have spurred numerous developments in computational biology, in particular the use of advanced statistics and machine learning. This review attempts to explain the deeper theoretical concepts that underpin current state-of-the-art analysis methods. Single-cell analysis is covered from cell, through instruments, to current and upcoming models. The aim of this review is to spread concepts which are not yet in common use, especially from topology and generative processes, and how new statistical models can be developed to capture more of biology. This opens epistemological questions regarding our ontology and models, and some pointers will be given to how natural language processing (NLP) may help overcome our cognitive limitations for understanding single-cell data.
Predicting Changes to Sexual Activity in Later Life: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Gore-Gorszewska Gabriela , Ševčíková Anna , Gottfried Jaroslav
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Prior research has focused intensively on understanding why some older adults are sexually active and others are not. However, very few studies have examined changes in the sexual frequency and the related predictors.

Methods

This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (2017–2020), specifically data from 978 Czechs (meanage = 69.7; SDage = 7.8; 60% women). Logistic and ordinal regression models were constructed to identify older people who were likely to maintain their sexual frequency; cease their sexual activity; and experience a change (i.e., increase or decrease) in the frequency of their sexual activity.

Results

Partnership status discriminated sexually active people from entirely sexually inactive people at both time points. Sexual cessation was connected to an increased number of chronic illnesses and poorer socioeconomic status. However, the target variables were ineffective in predicting the changes in sexual frequency among sexually active people in a heterosexual relationship.

Conclusions

This suggests that a more complex set of factors should be taken into consideration in future research.

Policy Implications

Recommendations related to good health and relationship stability may make later-life sexual activity more normative compared to previous older generations and linking sexual activity to successful ageing still needs to be critically reviewed.
Fish community responses to restoration of a eutrophic coastal bay
Authors: Bergström Lena , Fredriksson Ronny , Bergström Ulf , Rydin Emil , Kumblad Linda
Published: August 2023

Interest in coastal restoration measures is increasing, but information about subsequent ecosystem recovery processes is limited. In Björnöfjärden on the Baltic Sea coast, Stockholm archipelago, a pioneering case study to reduce coastal eutrophication led to improvements and initially halved phosphorus levels. Here, we evaluate the effects of the restoration on the local fish assemblage over one decade after the measures. The study gives a unique possibility to evaluate responses of coastal fish to nutrient variables and abatement in a controlled natural setting. Cyprinid abundance decreased and perch partially increased with decreasing turbidity levels, while mean trophic level increased over time in the restored area. Responses were overall weak, likely attributed to an attenuation of the eutrophication abatement effect over time. The results suggest that nutrient reduction gives slow responses in fish compared to alternative measures such as fishing closures.
Glomerular injury after trauma, burn, and sepsis
Authors: Schult Lorena , Halbgebauer Rebecca , Karasu Ebru , Huber-Lang Markus
Published: August 2023

Acute kidney injury development after trauma, burn, or sepsis occurs frequently but remains a scientific and clinical challenge. Whereas the pathophysiological focus has mainly been on hemodynamics and the downstream renal tubular system, little is known about alterations upstream within the glomerulus post trauma or during sepsis. Particularly for the glomerular endothelial cells, mesangial cells, basal membrane, and podocytes, all of which form the glomerular filter, there are numerous in vitro studies on the molecular and functional consequences upon exposure of single cell types to specific damage- or microbial-associated molecular patterns. By contrast, a lack of knowledge exists in the real world regarding the orchestrated inflammatory response of the glomerulus post trauma or burn or during sepsis. Therefore, we aim to provide an overview on the glomerulus as an immune target but also as a perpetrator of the danger response to traumatic and septic conditions, and present major players involved in the context of critical illness. Finally, we highlight research gaps of this rather neglected but worthwhile area to define future molecular targets and therapeutic strategies to prevent or improve the course of AKI after trauma, burn, or sepsis.

Graphical abstract