bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life on the edge: Animal exploitation at the Shichengzi military fort (Xinjiang, China)
Authors: Dong Ningning , Sun Chen , Zhu Xuchu , Tian Xiaohong , Wu Yong , Luo Yahao , Zhou Yuxuan , Yuan Jing
Published: April 2023

With the Han dynasty's imperial expansion to the west, Xinjiang became a frontier region for political negotiation, military conflict, and cultural contact. The recent excavation at Shichengzi military fort has rendered an opportunity to examine animal exploitation in the empire's frontiers. The results of our zooarchaeological analysis suggest that meat production primarily relied on caprines and cattle. Horses, donkeys, and camels were exploited for labor. Pig husbandry was a novel addition to the local agropastoral regime, and pork became a signature food particular to the identity of the garrison community. A “meat‐not‐milk” dietary preference also underscores this cultural identity. Animal exploitation was a combined result of subsistence adaptation and military reinforcement. Our work further highlights the tension between the flexible husbandry strategy adapted to the new environment and the conservative culinary attitude held by immigrants toward certain new foods. This case study helps contextualize the interaction and integration of different ways of life.
Causal effect of adiposity on the risk of 19 gastrointestinal diseases: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Kim Min Seo , Song Minku , Kim Soyeon , Kim Beomsu , Kang Wonseok , Kim Jong Yeob , Myung Woojae , Lee Inhyeok , Do Ron , Khera Amit V. , Won Hong‐Hee
Published: April 2023

Objective

Although the association between adiposity and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases has been explored, the causal effects of adiposity on GI diseases are largely unknown.

Methods

Mendelian randomization was conducted using single‐nucleotide polymorphisms associated with BMI and waist circumference (WC) as instrumental variables, and the causal associations of BMI or WC with GI conditions were estimated among >400,000 UK Biobank participants, >170,000 Finnish‐descent participants, and numerous consortia participants of predominantly European ancestry.

Results

Genetically predicted BMI was robustly associated with increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and primary biliary cholangitis. For the diseases, the odds ratio per 1‐SD increase in genetically predicted BMI (4.77 kg/m2) ranged from 1.22 (95% CI: 1.12–1.34; p < 0.0001) for NAFLD to 1.65 (95% CI: 1.31–2.06; p < 0.0001) for cholecystitis. Genetically predicted WC was robustly associated with increased risk of NAFLD, alcoholic liver disease, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, colon cancer, and gastric cancer. Alcoholic liver disease was consistently associated with WC even after adjusting for alcohol consumption in a multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis. The odds ratio per 1‐SD increase in genetically predicted WC (12.52 cm) for such associations ranged from 1.41 (95% CI: 1.17–1.70; p = 0.0015) for gastric cancer to 1.74 (95% CI: 1.21–1.78; p < 0.0001) for cholelithiasis.

Conclusions

High genetically predicted adiposity was causally associated with an increased risk of GI abnormalities, particularly of hepatobiliary organs (liver, biliary tract, and gallbladder) that are functionally related to fat metabolism.

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Long COVID in Uganda: Electrographic findings among patients at risk
Authors: Semulimi Andrew Weil , Batte Charles , Iraguha Daniel , Okwir Pamela Apio , Atuhaire Hope , Lipoto Chelsea , Muwonge Tonny , Namirembe Norah , Lubega Grace Biyinzika , Ainembabazi Provia , Mukisa John , Bongomin Felix , Ssinabulya Isaac , Okello Emmy
Published: April 2023

Background

COVID‐19 has a significant cardiovascular involvement. An electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among people at a risk of Long COVID in Uganda was investigated.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted from February to June 2022 at the post COVID‐19 clinic in Mulago National Specialized Hospital, Kampala. A standard resting ECG was performed on individuals at least 2 months following acute COVID‐19, with a negative SARS‐CoV‐2 reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. Socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics as well as vital signs were recorded for all study participants.

Results

Of the 244 study participants, 117 (47.9%) were female. The median age of all the participants was 33.0 (interquartile range: 26.0–43.5) years. Twenty‐five (10.2%) participants had a history of smoking, whereas 117 (48%) had a history of alcohol intake. In total, 46 (18.9%) had abnormal ECG findings (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 14.39–24.29), and nonspecific T‐wave inversion (n = 16, 34%) was the most frequent ECG abnormality. The proportion of participants with ECG abnormalities was 48% lower among females (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28–0.96, p value <0.05) and twofold greater for those with a history of smoking (aPR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.096–3.776, p value <0.05).

Conclusion

One in five Ugandans who were checked at the clinic at a risk of Long COVID showed ECG abnormalities. ECG screening is suggested to be integrated into the follow‐up care of those at a risk of Long COVID.
Children with special needs and their access to rehabilitation services in the Philippines: A Q methodology study on perceived barriers by family members
Authors: Chiu Irish Mae C. , Sy Michael P. , Oruga Myra D. P. , Bonito Sheila R.
Published: April 2023

Background

Childhood disability remains a lowly prioritized and funded international health concern in the world today. Exacerbated by poverty, a lack of bureaucratic support, and societal discrimination, rehabilitation services are not readily accessible for Filipino families who happen to have a child with disability. This article intends to determine the perceived barriers of Filipino service users when it comes to accessing rehabilitation services for children with special needs in Cagayan de Oro City and to propose suggestions to improve the access to rehabilitation services from an international health perspective.

Methods

The study utilized the four‐phased Q methodology, a mixed‐method research design with an exploratory sequential approach: (1) creating and validating the Q‐sort statements, (2) Q‐sorting administration, (3) factor analysis, and (4) interpreting factors.

Results

After going through the four phases of Q methodology, the following factors, called “viewpoints” emerged: systemic discrimination based on differences in culture and ethnicity (Viewpoint 1), socioeconomic factors such as affordability and accessibility (Viewpoint 2), and predisposed health beliefs and lack of trust to health professionals (Viewpoint 3).

Discussion

Barriers to accessing rehabilitation services in the Philippines go beyond the lack of individual resources. These perceived barriers can be mitigated by employing participatory and collaborative approaches in developing rehabilitation programs for children and their families, viable strategies such as integrating telehealth in the rehabilitation process, and cultural competence in recognizing folkloric beliefs as a way to build trust toward health‐care professionals.

Conclusion

This article determined contextualized barriers when accessing health and rehabilitation services based on service users themselves, which in turn hopes to promote inclusive, justice‐oriented, and culturally focused rehabilitation services underpinned by international health principles.
Peaking hydropower and fish assemblages: an example from the Tallapoosa River, AL
Authors: Lamb Elijah B. , DeVries Dennis R. , Wright Russell A.
Published: April 2023

Dams alter many aspects of riverine environments and can have broad effects on aquatic organisms and habitats both upstream and downstream. While dams and associated reservoirs can provide many services to people (hydropower, recreation, flood control, and navigation), they can also negatively affect riverine ecosystems. In particular, hydropeaking dams affect downstream fish habitats by increasing variability in discharge and temperature. To assess the effects of Harris Dam on the Tallapoosa River, AL, operating under an adaptive management plan implemented in 2005, we sampled fish for community analyses from four sites on the river: three in the regulated reach downstream of the dam, and one unregulated site upstream. Fish were collected every other month using boat/barge electrofishing. We used Shannon's H, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), a multiresponse permutation procedure (MRPP), and indicator species analysis to quantify patterns in fish assemblage structure and determine how assemblages varied among sites. NMDS and MRPP indicated significant fish assemblage differences among sites, with the tailrace fish assemblage being distinct from the other downstream sites and sites becoming more similar to the upstream, unregulated site (relative to fish assemblages) with distance downstream of the tailrace. The tailrace fish assemblage included higher proportions of rheophilic species that may be better suited to variable and/or high flows. Altered fish assemblages demonstrated continued effects of Harris Dam on the downstream aquatic systems, particularly close to the dam. These effects may indicate that further mitigation should be considered depending on conservation and management goals.
Fungal isolation and identification from parrot excreta in northeast Iran: A threat to human health
Authors: Malekifard Mahdis , Ghaniei Abolfazl , Eidi Samaneh
Published: April 2023

Background

One of the environmental sources of pathogenic fungi is parrot droppings.

Objectives

Thus, this work aimed to investigate fungal contamination in parrots’ droppings.

Methods

Seventy‐nine parrot droppings including Cockatiel, Cockatoo, Green check conure, Love bird, Budgerigar, African grey parrot, Alexandrine parakeet, Amazon parrot, Yellow crown parakeet, and Macaw were sampled, and suspended 1:10 in saline solution and then 0.5 mL of supernatant was cultured. The fungi were identified by standard mycological techniques.

Results

Fungal contamination was detected in 66 samples (83.54%) out of 79 samples. Yeast and mould fungi were respectively isolated from 44 samples (55.69%) and 36 samples (45.56%) out of 79 samples. Overall 105 fungal isolates were isolated from parrot excreta. Cryptococcus neoformans (17.14%), Rhizopus spp. (10.47%), Rhodotorula spp. and Aspergillus niger (6.66%), and Penicillium spp. (5.71%) were the most fungi isolated from faecal samples.

Conclusions

The evidence from this study suggests that the rate of fungal contamination in parrots’ excreta was high. Keeping parrots in the house and their close contact with humans can double the importance of these contaminations and provide the basis for the transmission of contamination to humans. Therefore, the accumulations of parrot faeces for long periods suggest a potential threat to public health.
Odontogenic periorbital cutaneous fistulae in three West Highland white terriers
Authors: Faux Ian , Thompson Jamie‐Leigh , Tundo Ingrid
Published: April 2023

Three dogs presented to a referral hospital with periorbital cutaneous fistulae. Investigations in all patients identified odontogenic disease as the cause of the fistulae. Treatment by tooth extraction was undertaken in all patients and resulted in resolution of the fistulae. Patients presenting with facial fistulae or swellings should undergo a thorough intra‐oral examination and dental radiography or computed tomography to diagnose/exclude odontogenic cutaneous fistulae. Dental extraction or endodontic treatment is indicated for treatment of odontogenic cutaneous fistulae and is curative.
Natural progression of the pubofemoral distance with age and its correlation with future acetabular index
Authors: Chang Wen-Chieh , Hsu Kuei-Hsiang , Su Yu-Ping
Published: April 2023

Objectives

This study investigated the progression of pubofemoral distance (PFD) with age and assessed the correlation between PFD and late acetabular index (AI) measurements.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted between January 2017 and December 2021. We enrolled 223 newborns who underwent the first, second, and third hip ultrasounds, and pelvis radiograph at a mean age of 18.6 days, 3.1 months, 5.2 months, and 6.8 months, respectively. The difference between PFD measured at serial ultrasounds and the correlation with AI were analyzed.

Results

The PFD increased significantly (p < 0.001) at serial measurements. The mean PFD at the first, second, and third ultrasounds were 3.3 (2.0–5.7), 4.3 (2.9–7.2), and 5.1 (3.3–8.0) mm, respectively. The PFD at three ultrasounds were all significantly (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with AI, with the Pearson correlation coefficients being 0.658, 0.696, and 0.753 for the first, second, and third ultrasounds, respectively. Using AI as reference, the diagnostic ability of PFD was calculated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, which was 0.845, 0.902, and 0.938 for the first, second, and third PFD, respectively. For the first, second, and third ultrasounds, PFD cutoff values of ≥ 3.9, ≥ 5.0, and ≥ 5.7 mm, respectively, yielded the greatest sensitivity and specificity in predicting late abnormal AI.

Conclusion

The PFD naturally progresses with age and is positively correlated with AI. The PFD has potential for predicting residual dysplasia. However, the cutoff for abnormal PFD values may require adjustment according to the patient’s age.

Key Points

• The pubofemoral distance measured in hip ultrasonography naturally increases as the infant’s hips mature.

• The early pubofemoral distance demonstrates a positive correlation with late acetabular index measurements.

• The pubofemoral distance may help physicians predict abnormal acetabular index. However, the cutoff for abnormal pubofemoral distance values may require adjustment according to patient’s age.
Effect of simulated acute bilateral severe conductive hearing loss on static balance function in healthy subjects: a prospective observational pilot study
Authors: Westermann-Lammers Johanna , Salameh Jawad , Dobel Christian , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Maintaining static balance is a process coordinated by central integration of visual, vestibular and somatosensory information. Whether or not hearing and spatial acoustic information contributes to the maintenance of static postural balance is unclear.

Methods

A prospective observational pilot study was performed. Twenty-five normal hearing adults (68% female; 19–31 years) underwent a computerized dynamic posturography test battery including the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), the Motor Control Test (MCT), and the Adaptation Test (ADT). The balance tests were performed two times, in a randomized sequence without or with acute hearing loss. Earplugs (sound insulation 37 dB) or headphones with white noise (sound volume 75 dB) induced the conductive hearing loss. Hence, all participants passed through four sequences of the balance test battery. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the results.

Results

The ANOVA revealed no difference for any SOT and ADT subtest without hearing loss and simulated hearing loss (either earplugs or headphones; all p > 0.05). The ANOVA showed no longer latencies with simulated hearing loss compared to no hearing loss in both experiments with one exception: the reaction of the right foot during large forward translation was longer with hearing loss than without hearing loss in both experiments (p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Overall, a simulated acute conductive bilateral moderate or severe hearing loss did not disturb the static balance function in normal hearing younger adults in this first small pilot study.
Comparing sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on new-onset depression: a propensity score-matched study in Hong Kong
Authors: Mui Jonathan V. , Li Lifang , Chou Oscar Hou In , Azfar Nida , Lee Athena , Hui Jeremy , Lee Sharen , Tse Gary , Zhou Jiandong
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The risk of new onset depression associated with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2I) use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. This study investigated the risk of new onset depression between SGLT2I and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP4I) users.

Methods

This was a population-based cohort study of T2DM patients in Hong Kong between January 1st, 2015, and December 31st, 2019. T2DM patients over 18 with either SGLT2I or DPP4I use were included. 1:1 propensity-score matching using the nearest-neighbour method was conducted based on demographics, past comorbidities and non-DPP4I/SGLT2I medication use. Cox regression analysis models were used to identify significant predictors for new onset depression.

Results

The study cohort included a total of 18,309 SGLT2I users and 37,269 DPP4I users (55.57% male, mean age: 63.5 ± 12.9 years) with a median follow-up duration of 5.56 (IQR: 5.23–5.8) years. After propensity score matching, SGLT2I use was associated with a lower risk of new onset depression compared to DPP4I use (HR: 0.52, 95% CI: [0.35, 0.77], P = 0.0011). These findings were confirmed by Cox multivariable analysis and sensitive analyses.

Conclusion

SGLT2I use is associated with significantly lower risk of depression compared to DPP4 use in T2DM patients using propensity score matching and Cox regression analyses.
The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology consensus recommendations for the management of gout
Authors: Yip Ronald ML , Cheung Tommy T , So Ho , Chan Julia PS , Ho Carmen TK , Tsang Helen HL , Yu Carrel KL , Wong Priscilla CH ,   for the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology
Published: April 2023

Gout is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases in Hong Kong. Although effective treatment options are readily available, the management of gout in Hong Kong remains suboptimal. Like other countries, the treatment goal in Hong Kong usually focuses on relieving symptoms of gout but not treating the serum urate level to target. As a result, patients with gout continue to suffer from the debilitating arthritis, as well as the renal, metabolic, and cardiovascular complications associated with gout. The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology spearheaded the development of these consensus recommendations through a Delphi exercise that involved rheumatologists, primary care physicians, and other specialists in Hong Kong. Recommendations on acute gout management, gout prophylaxis, treatment of hyperuricemia and its precautions, co-administration of non-gout medications with urate-lowering therapy, and lifestyle advice have been included. This paper serves as a reference guide to all healthcare providers who see patients who are at risk and are known to have this chronic but treatable condition.
Climate, flood, and attitudes toward violence: micro-level evidence from Karamoja, Uganda
Authors: von Uexkull Nina , Loy Agnese , d’Errico Marco
Published: April 2023

Concerns about the security implications of climate change are increasing. The growing academic literature on the topic suggests that linkages between climate change and armed conflict are shaped by structural risk factors, but micro-level variation and mechanisms remain poorly understood and flood responses are hardly studied. In this paper, we strive to contribute to a better understanding of such micro-level patterns and investigate how flood exposure affects the support for violence in the Karamoja region of Uganda, which is characterized by many structural vulnerabilities to climate change and armed conflict. We use unique household-level survey panel data and investigate changes in survey responses following a destructive flood. Our study finds that flood exposure was associated with greater support for the use of violence. However, while we identify some adverse impacts of flood exposure on the perceived and actual socio-economic conditions of households and a decrease in perceptions of government support, these do not seem to mediate the estimated flood impact on support for violence against expectations. Our findings point to the limited explanatory power of natural hazards’ economic impacts alone for conflict risk. Further investigation of causal mechanisms between climate hazards and conflict remains an important priority for future research.
Survival in patients with surgically treated brain metastases: does infratentorial location matter?
Authors: Hamed Motaz , Potthoff Anna-Laura , Heimann Muriel , Schäfer Niklas , Borger Valeri , Radbruch Alexander , Herrlinger Ulrich , Vatter Hartmut , Schneider Matthias
Published: April 2023

Surgical resection is a common treatment modality for brain metastasis (BM). Location of the BM might significantly impact patient survival and therefore might be considered in clinical decision making and patient counseling. In the present study, the authors analyzed infra- and supratentorial BM location for a potential prognostic difference. Between 2013 and 2019, 245 patients with solitary BM received BM resection at the authors’ neuro-oncological center. In order to produce a covariate balance for commonly-known prognostic variables (tumor entity, age, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score, and preoperative Charlson Comorbidity Index), a propensity score matching at a ratio of 1:1 between the cohort of patients with infra- and supratentorial BM location was performed using R. Overall survival (OS) rates were assessed for both matched cohorts of patients with BM. Sixty-one of 245 patients (25%) with solitary BM exhibited an infratentorial tumor location; 184 patients (75%) suffered from supratentorial solitary BM. Patients with infratentorial BM revealed a median OS of 11 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.4–14.6 months). Compared with this, median OS for the group of 61 individually matched patients with solitary supratentorial solitary BM was 13 months (95% CI 10.9-15.1 months) (p = 0.32). The present study suggests that the prognostic value of infra- and supratentorial BMs does not significantly differ in patients that undergo surgery for solitary BM. These results might encourage physicians to induce surgical therapy of supra- and infratentorial BM in a similar manner.
Is It Time to Reclaim the ‘Ethics’ in Business Ethics Education?
Authors: Jaganjac Berina , Abrahamsen Line M. , Olsen Torunn S. , Hunnes John A.
Published: April 2023

This study explores the business ethics education literature published between 1982 and 2021. A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of 862 scholarly articles spanning 40 years of research on business ethics education revealed a thematic shift in the literature. Whereas older articles were predominantly concerned with ethics, relatively newer articles mainly focus on addressing the broader concept of sustainability. A content analysis of the 25 most locally cited articles between 1987 and 2012 identified two main research streams: (a) integration of business ethics into business school curricula and (b) the pedagogical approaches and tools used to teach business ethics. An additional content analysis of the 15 most locally cited articles published between 2016 and 2021 revealed that discussions related to integration and pedagogical approaches and tools were still ongoing in the literature, albeit with a focus on sustainability-related concepts such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Building upon our findings and existing literature, we develop a framework that we refer to as Transforming Ethics Education in Business Schools (TEEBS), which we argue may help business schools reclaim the ‘ethics’ in business ethics education.
Trade and economic growth: Does the sophistication of traded goods matter?
Authors: Ekanayake P. Niluka S. P. , Madsen Jakob B. , Bharati Tushar
Published: April 2023

Since the appearance of the seminal paper of Frankel and Romer (Am Econ Rev 89(3): 379–399, 1999), ‘Does trade cause growth?’, the impact of aggregate trade openness on income has been controversial. This research shows that the type of product that is traded has first-order effects, while overall trade intensity has second-order effects on per capita income because of (i) the hierarchical structure of learning-by-doing in products with different levels of sophistication of the production processes; and (ii) the fertility and education effects of trade specialization following the quantity–quality tradeoff framework of Galor and Mountford (Am Econ Rev 96(2): 299–303, 2006). Using data on trade disaggregated by the level of technological sophistication of the production process for 223 countries over the period 1962–2019, we find that (1) the effects of foreign trade on income differ widely across technology categories; (2) high-tech trade has permanent growth effects; and (3) a significant fraction of the impact of trade on income is mediated through education and fertility.
The Effect of Continuous Versus Periodic Vital Sign Monitoring on Disease Severity of Patients with an Unplanned ICU Transfer
Authors: Eddahchouri Yassin , Peelen Roel V. , Koeneman Mats , van Veenendaal Alec , van Goor Harry , Bredie Sebastian J. H. , Touw Hugo
Published: April 2023

Continuous vital sign monitoring (CM) may detect ward patient’s deterioration earlier than periodic monitoring. This could result in timely ICU transfers or in a transfer delay due to misperceived higher level of care on the ward. The primary objective of this study was to compare patient’s disease severity upon unplanned ICU transfer, before and after CM implementation. We included a one-year period before and after CM implementation between August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2019. Before implementation, surgical and internal medicine patients’ vital signs were periodically monitored, compared to continuous monitoring with wireless linkage to hospital systems after implementation. In both periods the same early warning score (EWS) protocol was in place. Primary outcome was disease severity scores upon ICU transfer. Secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital length of stay, incidence of mechanical ventilation and ICU mortality. In the two one-year periods 93 and 59 unplanned ICU transfer episodes were included, respectively. Median SOFA (3 (2–6) vs 4 (2–7), p = .574), APACHE II (17 (14–20) vs 16 (14–21), p = .824) and APACHE IV (59 (46–67) vs 50 (36–65), p = .187) were comparable between both periods, as were the median ICU LOS (3.0 (1.7–5.8) vs 3.1 (1.6–6.1), p.962), hospital LOS (23.6 (11.5–38.0) vs 19 (13.9–39.2), p = .880), incidence of mechanical ventilation (28 (47%) vs 22 (54%), p.490), and ICU mortality (11 (13%) vs 10 (19%), p.420). This study shows no difference in disease severity upon unplanned ICU transfer after CM implementation for patients who have deteriorated on the ward.
On the use of adjoint gradients for time-optimal control problems regarding a discrete control parameterization
Authors: Lichtenecker Daniel , Rixen Daniel , Eichmeir Philipp , Nachbagauer Karin
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we discuss time-optimal control problems for dynamic systems. Such problems usually arise in robotics when a manipulation should be carried out in minimal operation time. In particular, for time-optimal control problems with a high number of control parameters, the adjoint method is probably the most efficient way to calculate the gradients of an optimization problem concerning computational efficiency. In this paper, we present an adjoint gradient approach for solving time-optimal control problems with a special focus on a discrete control parameterization. On the one hand, we provide an efficient approach for computing the direction of the steepest descent of a cost functional in which the costs and the error in the final constraints reduce within one combined iteration. On the other hand, we investigate this approach to provide an exact gradient for other optimization strategies and to evaluate necessary optimality conditions regarding the Hamiltonian function. Two examples of the time-optimal trajectory planning of a robot demonstrate an easy access to the adjoint gradients and their interpretation in the context of the optimality conditions of optimal control solutions, e.g., as computed by a direct optimization method.
Third-Country Effects of Export Incentives
Authors: Ledyaeva Svetlana
Published: April 2023

The existing empirical literature on export promotion policies is almost exclusively focused on their effects for domestic exporters. This paper contributes to this research by empirically examining the effects of export incentives for third-country exports. Using novel CEPR Global Trade Alert data, the study investigates the impact of Brazilian, Indian and Chinese export incentives on exports of OECD and emerging countries. The findings confirm the existence of negative third-country effects of export incentives and demonstrate that these effects are expectedly larger for foreign exporters who exhibit higher similarity in geography of export with subsidized exporters. These results further point to the importance of destination diversification in export strategies. Following strategic trade theory, the study further examines the moderating effect of industries` proclivity to imperfect competition for third-country effects of export incentives. Whereas Chinese export incentives, as predicted by strategic trade theory, cause largest negative effects in industries with higher proclivity to imperfect competition, Brazilian and Indian export incentives, contrarily, cause larger negative third-country effects in industries with lower proclivity to imperfect competition.
A survey of leaf phosphorus fractions and leaf economic traits among 12 co-occurring woody species on phosphorus-impoverished soils
Authors: Tsujii Yuki , Fan Baoli , Atwell Brian J. , Lambers Hans , Lei Zhangying , Wright Ian J.
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

The leaf economic spectrum (LES) is related to dry mass and nutrient investments towards photosynthetic processes and leaf structures, and to the duration of returns on those investments (leaf lifespan, LL). Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for plant growth, yet it is unclear how the allocation of leaf P among different functions is coordinated with the LES. We addressed this question among 12 evergreen woody species co-occurring on P-impoverished soils in south-eastern Australia.

Methods

Leaf ‘economic’ traits, including LL, leaf mass per area (LMA), light-saturated net photosynthetic rate per mass (Amass), dark respiration rate, P concentration ([Ptotal]), nitrogen concentration, and P resorption, were measured for three pioneer and nine non-pioneer species. Leaf P was separated into five functional fractions: orthophosphate P (Pi), metabolite P (PM), nucleic acid P (PN), lipid P (PL), and residual P (PR; phosphorylated proteins and unidentified compounds that contain P).

Results

LL was negatively correlated with Amass and positively correlated with LMA, representing the LES. Pioneers occurred towards the short-LL end of the spectrum and exhibited higher [Ptotal] than non-pioneer species, primarily associated with higher concentrations of Pi, PN and PL. There were no significant correlations between leaf P fractions and LL or LMA, while Amass was positively correlated with the concentration of PR.

Conclusions

Allocation of leaf P to different fractions varied substantially among species. This variation was partially associated with the LES, which may provide a mechanism underlying co-occurrence of species with different ecological strategies under P limitation.
Hemispheric Sunspot Numbers from the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia (1940 – 1956)
Authors: Carrasco V. M. S. , Aparicio A. J. P. , Gallego M. C. , Vaquero J. M.
Published: April 2023

In this work, we present hemispheric sunspot number counts made in the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia for the period 1940 – 1956. We found these data in a secondary source (the bulletins of the Madrid Astronomical Observatory). We digitized the hemispheric sunspot number and group number recorded by the observers. Unfortunately, the sunspot positions or areas were not published in this secondary source. A machine-readable version of the dataset is available as supplementary material. We compare the Valencia hemispheric series with others from other observatories, such as the Madrid Astronomical Observatory, finding similar hemispheric behaviors. We also computed the asymmetry index from the hemispheric data. We found that the northern hemisphere was predominant in our study period (declining phase of Solar Cycle 17, Solar Cycle 18, and rising phase of Solar Cycle 19), and the southern hemisphere was leading. These results agree with those obtained in previous studies. Therefore, the Valencia hemispheric records are one more piece of information to know the behavior of the northern and southern hemispheres during the 20th century.
Antimicrobial peptides CS-piscidin-induced cell death involves activation of RIPK1/PARP, and modification with myristic acid enhances its stability and tumor-targeting capability
Authors: Li Ning , Jiang Xingmei , Ma Xiaowan , Qiu Xiaoju , Chang HuangHuang , Qiao Ying , Luo Hui , Zhang Qingyu
Published: April 2023

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly lethal gynecological malignancy, often diagnosed at advanced stages with limited treatment options. Here, we demonstrate that the antimicrobial peptide CS-piscidin significantly inhibits OC cell proliferation, colony formation, and induces cell death. Mechanistically, CS-piscidin causes cell necrosis by compromising the cell membrane. Furthermore, CS-piscidin can activate Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and induce cell apoptosis by cleavage of PARP. To improve tumor targeting ability, we modified CS-piscidin by adding a short cyclic peptide, cyclo-RGDfk, to the C-terminus (CS-RGD) and a myristate to the N-terminus (Myr-CS-RGD). Our results show that while CS-RGD exhibits stronger anti-cancer activity than CS-piscidin, it also causes increased cytotoxicity. In contrast, Myr-CS-RGD significantly improves drug specificity by reducing CS-RGD toxicity in normal cells while retaining comparable antitumor activity by increasing peptide stability. In a syngeneic mouse tumor model, Myr-CS-RGD demonstrated superior anti-tumor activity compared to CS-piscidin and CS-RGD. Our findings suggest that CS-piscidin can suppress ovarian cancer via multiple cell death forms and that myristoylation modification is a promising strategy to enhance anti-cancer peptide performance.

Graphical Abstract
DNAJB4 promotes triple-negative breast cancer cell apoptosis via activation of the Hippo signaling pathway
Authors: Fang Fang , Mo Linglong , Pan Xiaofeng , Yang Ziquan , Huang Haoyu , Zhu Liangyu , Wang Yingying , Jiang Guoqin
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently the most malignant subtype of breast cancer without effective targeted therapies. DNAJB4 (Dnaj heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B4) is a member of the human heat shock protein family (Hsp40). The clinical significance of DNAJB4 in breast cancer has been reported in our previous study. However, the biological function of DNAJB4 in TNBC cell apoptosis remains unclear to date.

Methods

The expression of DNAJB4 in normal breast cells, breast cancer cells, four-paired TNBC tissues, and adjacent noncancerous tissues was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot assay. The role of DNAJB4 in TNBC cell apoptosis was investigated using a number of gain- and loss-of-function in vitro and in vivo assays. The underlying molecular mechanisms in TNBC cell apoptosis were elucidated via Western blot assay.

Results

DNAJB4 expression was significantly downregulated in TNBC tissues and cell lines. DNAJB4 knockdown inhibited TNBC cell apoptosis and promoted tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo, but DNAJB4 overexpression resulted in the opposite. Mechanically, DNAJB4 knockdown inhibited TNBC cell apoptosis through suppression of the Hippo signaling pathway, and the result was reversed after DNAJB4 overexpression.

Conclusions

DNAJB4 promotes TNBC cell apoptosis by activating the Hippo signaling pathway. Therefore, DNAJB4 may act as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TNBC.
Walter Marget and a brief history of paediatric infectious diseases in Munich, Germany
Authors: von Both Ulrich , Adam Dieter , Hübner Johannes
Published: April 2023

Theodor Escherich (1857–1911) was one of the key players in early paediatric infectious diseases (PID). In fact, he can be regarded as the first paediatric infectious diseases physician and the founder of this subspecialty. During his long years in service for children, he spent 6 years at the Dr von Hauner children’s hospital (1884–1890), laying the foundations for PID clinical care and research in Munich. Walter Marget, founder of this journal and co-founder of the German Society for Infectious Diseases (DGI) graduated from medical school in 1946 and practised in Munich since 1967. His tireless efforts went into establishing close links between clinical paediatrics and microbiological diagnostics culminating in the foundation of the Department of Antimicrobial Therapy and Infection Epidemiology at the Dr von Hauner children’s hospital. Walter Marget was a key figure for PID in Germany having trained and supported many clinician scientists who followed in his footsteps. This article gives a brief overview of the history of PID in Munich while commemorating Walter Marget and his achievements in this field and for INFECTION.
Challenges and approaches when realizing online surface inspection systems with deep learning algorithms
Authors: Stephani Henrike , Weibel Thomas , Rösch Ronald , Moghiseh Ali
Published: April 2023

Using deep learning in complex online surface inspection systems is challenging due to different framework conditions. First, time restrictions in production are usually fixed in terms of clock rate and response time. Furthermore, these methods need a lot of data, while typically the data situation is thin in the beginning as well as continuously unbalanced: defects occur rarely and thereby providing few example data for learning, while the desired detection rate is 100%. Another important issue is that although defect catalogues exist, they often change, especially when automatic inspection is applied for the first time. This is due to imaging systems usually being able to detect more defects than visual-manual inspection, therefore production, management, and quality assurance usually reiterate their prior defect catalogues. However, data driven methods depend heavily on consistent annotation. Therefore, respective parties must be made aware of this issue on the one hand, on the other hand, annotation and reannotation must be easy and useable by non-experts. Related is the issue of parametrization and traceability. Both are not inherent to neural networks but must be provided to some level to help building trust in machine learning methods. In this paper, we present a quality inspection system that uses deep neural networks for defect detection under real production conditions in wood manufacturing. We will address how we systematically deal with the above issues both in terms of process and algorithm.
Displaced Memoryscapes – Archives of Hungarian Women Authors from Post-Yugoslavia
Authors: Roginer Oszkár
Published: April 2023

The article deals with archives of memoryscapes as remembered landscapes of a past society by Hungarian women authors from Yugoslavia. Divided into two separate cycles, it explores how an inhabited geography transgressed from the present into a past, and how it evolved via belletristic practices from the 1990s onward. The archive is therefore assessed as a cumulative development of text-worlds in prose, poetry, and drama by Hungarian women, who either remained in disintegrating Yugoslavia or emigrated to Hungary, both of which led mostly to uprootedness and a misinterpretation of their work. Accordingly, displaced as authors, who remember landscapes that are beyond official memory politics, their archive remained largely unnoticed and marginalised throughout the decades. Emerging in autobiographic writing and literary fiction equally, these memoryscapes are not idiosyncratic but are regulated and systemic representations of a time, a space, and a society. To display such a mnemonic agency, the article integrates the foucauldian notions of the archive with the thirdspace perspective of geocriticism within literary representation, as used in post-colonial thought. Eventually, this enables the exposition of the archive of these female memoryscapes of an ethnic minority not in relation to other “national” archives, or as auxiliary archives of a male perspective, but as a system of thirdspaces and representation in itself.
Robustness of Climate Models
Authors: Gluck Stuart
Published: April 2023

Robustness with respect to climate models is often considered by philosophers of climate science to be a crucial issue in determining whether and to what extent the projections of the Earth’s future climate that models yield should be trusted. Wendy Parker and Lisa Lloyd have introduced influential accounts of robustness for climate models with seemingly conflicting conclusions. I argue that Parker and Lloyd are characterizing distinct notions of robustness and providing complementary insights. Confidence, if warranted, need be by virtue of causally consistent climate models rather than by agreement upon projections by a diverse range of models.
Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Early Carboniferous shoshonitic to calc-alkaline magmatic rocks of the southern Yili terrane, western Tianshan
Authors: Xing Hao , Xue Chunji , Zhao Xiaobo , Symons DTA , Niu Pengqiao
Published: April 2023

In the Yili terrane at Awulale mountain, most shoshonitic lavas are related to post-collision extension and were extruded during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian (310–280 Ma). Herein, we evaluate a small-volume occurrence of shoshonitic magmas in the southern Yili terrane formed c. 346 Ma ago. The high MgO (Mg#) and positive Hf isotope values of the shoshonitic magmas indicate the input of juvenile mantle-derived material. Still, their high Ba–Sr signatures were likely inherited from the partial melting of previously metasomatized lithospheric mantle. We argue the shoshonitic magmatic activity recorded a syn-subduction extensional history in the Yili terrane. This interpretation is consistent with the magmatic records from Early Carboniferous A-type granite and magnesian andesite found in the Zhaosu–Adentao–Dahalajunshan area of the southern Yili terrane. Combined with the geological development in this area, we propose that the emergence of the shoshonitic rocks records either the retreat of the trench or the rollback of the Junggar oceanic slab that occurred at or before the 346.1 ± 3.1 Ma age of the rocks.
Reading in kindergarten Arabic-speaking children with low linguistic skills: A longitudinal study
Authors: Mansour-Adwan Jasmeen , Shalhoub-Awwad Yasmin , Cohen-Mimran Ravit , Khateb Asaid
Published: April 2023

The present longitudinal study aimed to explore the connections between different linguistic profiles at kindergarten and reading achievements at first grade. These profiles are based on the two-dimensional model (Bishop & Snowling, 2004), which associates reading skills with phonological and other language abilities. This model was examined mainly in Indo-European languages but scarcely in Arabic. Arabic-speaking children were assigned to four linguistic profiles in kindergartens: low language (LL; N = 111), low phonology (LPh; N = 120), low language and low phonology (LLLPh; N = 139), and typical language and typical phonology (TLTPh; N = 135). Multivariate analysis was used to compare their reading achievements at first grade, and the overlap between linguistic and reading profiles was estimated. The results revealed significant differences between the different linguistic profiles in all reading measures. LLLPh group gained lower scores in reading tasks compared to the other groups. Significant relationships have been found between linguistic and reading profiles indicating reading difficulties among 14.5% of the children from TLTPh, 63% of LLLPh, 35% of LL, and 35.6% of LPh. The findings support the relationship between low linguistic skills and reading difficulties and emphasize the potential roles of both phonological and language skills for reading.
Surgical strategies to address re-operative complex left ventricular outflow tract and thoracic aortic pathology: Cleveland Clinic children’s experience
Authors: Tucker Dominique L. , Lee Leah J. , Ahmad Munir , Shaheen Naseeb , Gupta Sohini , Najm Hani K. , Hammoud Miza Salim , Tretter Justin T. , Karamlou Tara
Published: April 2023

Background:

Complex patients requiring operations on the left ventricular outflow tract, aortic valve, or thoracic aorta after previous repair of aortopathy constitute a challenging group, with limited information guiding decision-making. We aimed to use our institutional experience to highlight management challenges and describe surgical pearls to address them.

Methods:

Forty-one complex patients with surgery on the left ventricular outflow tract, aortic valve, or aorta at Cleveland Clinic Children’s between 2016 and 2021 following previous repair of aortic pathology were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with known connective tissue disease or single ventricle circulation were excluded.

Results:

Median age at index procedure was 23 years (range 0.25–48) with median of 2 prior sternotomies. Previous aortic operations included subvalvular (n = 9), valvular (n = 6), supravalvular (n = 13), and multi-level surgeries (n = 13). Four deaths occurred in median follow-up of 2.5 years. Mean left ventricular outflow tract gradients improved significantly for patients with obstruction (34.9 ± 17.5 mmHg versus 12.6 ± 6.0 mmHg; p < 0.001). Technical pearls include the following: 1) liberal use of anterior aortoventriculoplasty with valve replacement; 2) primarily anterior aortoventriculoplasty following the subpulmonary conus in contrast to more vertical incision for post-arterial switch operation patients; 3) pre-operative imaging of mediastinum and peripheral vasculature for cannulation and sternal re-entry; and 4) proactive use of multi-site peripheral cannulation.

Conclusions:

Operation to address the left ventricular outflow tract, aortic valve, or aorta following prior congenital aortic repair can be accomplished with excellent outcomes despite high complexity. These procedures commonly include multiple components, including concomitant valve interventions. Cannulation strategies and anterior aortoventriculoplasty in specific patients require modifications.