bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disaster management timeline: an extended version
Authors: Sawalha Ihab Hanna
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to review the stages of the traditional disaster timeline, propose an extended version of this timeline and discuss the disaster strategies relevant to the different stages of the extended timeline.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of the existing literature was made to discuss the need for an extended version of the conventional disaster timeline and to explain the differences between the various disaster management strategies. The research approach was based on theoretical and practical reasoning underpinned by the literature.

Findings

The proposed extended disaster timeline allows better allocation of a wider range of management strategies. Successful disaster management depends on prioritisation of efforts and the use of the right strategy(s) at the right time: before, during and after an incident.

Practical implications

This study provides a better conceptualisation of the disaster stages and corresponding strategies. It clarifies the role of each strategy, thus linking it more effectively with the disaster timeline. Subsequently, this study is expected to improve decision-making associated with the disaster management process. In the end, it is expected to help transforming the conventional disaster timeline into a more practical one that is result-oriented more than only being a conceptual model.

Originality/value

Disaster management strategies are used interchangeably very often in the literature. A few attempts were made to capture multiple strategies in one study to demonstrate what constitutes effective disaster management without mixing irrelevant strategies with the different disaster stages.
Is COVID-19 a turning point? Evidence from CEOs' investment behavior and risk tolerance
Authors: Rahman Md Jahidur , Zhu Hongtao , Beiyi Sun
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study explores the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) career experience on the investment behavior and risk tolerance of chief executive officers (CEOs). Specifically, this study focuses on CEOs' abilities to allocate financial assets and maintain solvency.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a comprehensive approach to analyze financial assets and asset-to-liability ratios. Financial data and individual information of CEOs from listed companies are collected from 2020Q1 to 2021Q4, along with statistics on confirmed COVID-19 cases. Instrumental and alternative variables are used to examine the robustness and endogeneity of the research, ensuring a thorough analysis.

Findings

A significant positive correlation is revealed between CEOs' COVID-19 career experience and their capacity to effectively allocate financial assets. However, COVID-19 has a negative effect on firm performance in terms of solvency. These findings contribute to the empirical evidence linking the pandemic to company performance, representing part of the initial research in this area.

Originality/value

The study suggests that the implementation of potential policy implications, such as loose monetary policies and tax and fee reduction measures, may alleviate the tax burden on listed companies.
Strategic insights for MSMEs: navigating the new normal with big data and business analytics
Authors: Caraka Rezzy Eko , Kurniawan Robert , Chen Rung Ching , Gio Prana Ugiana , Jamilatuzzahro Jamilatuzzahro , Nasution Bahrul Ilmi , Sakti Anjar Dimara , Hendrawan Muhammad Yunus , Pardamean Bens
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to manage knowledge pertaining to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) actors in the business, agriculture and industry sectors. This study uses text mining techniques, specifically Latent Dirichlet Allocation Mallet, to analyze the data obtained from the in-depth interviews. This analysis helps us identify and understand the issues faced by these actors.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors use big data and business analytics to recalculate the MSME business vulnerability index in 503 districts and 34 provinces across Indonesia. Subsequently, the authors conduct in-depth interviews with MSME actors in Medan, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Bali and Manokwari, West Papua. Through these interviews, the authors explore their strategies for surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent of their digital literacy, and the application of technology to maximize sales and business outcomes.

Findings

The findings reveal that, for the sustainable growth of MSMEs during and after the pandemic, collaboration across the Penta-Helix framework is essential. This collaboration enables the development of practical solutions for the challenges posed by COVID-19, particularly in the context of the “new normal.” In addition, the authors’ survey of MSMEs involved in agriculture, trade and processing sectors demonstrates that 58.33% experienced a decrease in income during the pandemic and 12.66% reported an increase in revenue. In contrast, 25% experienced no change in income before and during the pandemic.

Originality/value

This research contributes significantly by offering comprehensive insights obtained from in-depth surveys conducted with MSMEs across multiple sectors. The findings underscore the importance of addressing the challenges MSMEs face and highlight the need for collaboration within the Penta-Helix framework to foster their resilience and success amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parentage of 920 gray‐sided voles (Myodes rufocanus) born in a 3‐ha outdoor enclosure between September 1992 and May 1994
Authors: Ishibashi Yasuyuki , Saitoh Takashi
Published: December 2023

This dataset provides the estimated birth location, sex, assigned parents, and estimated birth and death dates of 920 gray‐sided voles (Myodes rufocanus) born in a 3‐ha outdoor enclosure in Sapporo, Japan between September 1992 and May 1994, as well as capture–recapture data for 30 trapping sessions. We introduced 22 males and 25 females from several natural populations into the enclosure in late September 1992. Individuals in the enclosure were captured using live traps every 2 weeks until late April 1994, except for periods with deep snow cover. The location, body weight, and reproductive status of each vole were monitored throughout the study period. Complementary trapping was performed within the home ranges of breeding females to mark juveniles as early as possible. Upon first capture, each individual was marked by toe clipping for subsequent identification, and the clipped toes were used as DNA samples. For each individual, candidate parents were selected based on female reproduction history and capture points. Parentage then was determined using genotypes at 3–5 microsatellite loci with the CERVUS program. The results show that individuals born in the enclosure (N = 920) were derived from 215 litters, among which multiple males sired 51 litters. We used this database to elucidate the promiscuous mating system and inbreeding‐avoidance mechanism of the gray‐sided vole and to develop a new method for estimating the frequency of multiple‐male mating. This dataset will contribute to future behavioral ecological research on this and other small mammal species. The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Article section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2023-03.1/jalter-en.
The impact of STEAM (STEM + arts) activities on learning outcomes in students with specific learning disabilities
Authors: Sari Hakan , Çevik Mustafa , Çevik Özge
Published: December 2023

The aim of this research is to examine the effect of STEAM (STEM + Arts) education, which is an interdisciplinary approach that has been frequently used in developed countries in recent years, on the science course learning outcomes of students with specific learning disabilities. The model of the research was structured as a mixed design and was realized with an explanatory sequential design. In this context, the research took place in two separate interactive stages. In the first stage, a quantitative method was applied. In this section, a one‐group pretest–posttest pre‐experimental model was used. The research was carried out with 4 students who were studying in a state primary school in a province in the Southern Region of Anatolia and who were diagnosed with specific learning disabilities. As data collection tools, an academic achievement test and STEAM process rubric were used. Means and standard deviations were used in the analysis of the data collected from the pretest, posttest, persistence test and rubrics. In the qualitative section of the study, interviews were conducted with the participants in order to evaluate STEAM education in the light of the quantitative stage, and diaries were kept for the participants in the context of a more in‐depth and objective examination of the process. The data collected by qualitative data tools were subjected to content analysis and direct quotations were made from the opinions and diaries of the participants. As a result of the research, it was determined that the quantitative findings overlapped with the qualitative findings. It was observed that the STEAM activities increased the academic success of the participants, that their motivation was high, and that they were curious and eager for the activities. In addition, it was revealed that they made an effort to use the knowledge and experience they had gained from the STEAM activities in other courses.
Spontaneous regression of recurrent pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with alteration of PD‐L1 expression after surgical resection: A case report
Authors: Hong Green , Chung Chaeuk , Park Dongil , Lee Song‐I , Lee Jeong Eun , Kang Da Hyun
Published: December 2023

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non‐small cell lung cancer with a poor prognosis. Spontaneous regression, that is, partial or complete disappearance of a malignancy without medical intervention, is extremely rare in LCNEC. Herein, we present a case of spontaneous complete regression in a 71‐year‐old male patient with recurrent LCNEC after surgical resection. The patient was diagnosed with stage IB LCNEC and underwent surgical resection. At 1‐year follow‐up, chest computed tomography revealed a recurrent lesion next to the stump site and enlargement of lymph nodes 4R and 7; recurrent LCNEC was confirmed. The patient declined chemoradiation therapy. One year after recurrence, the patient experienced severe multifocal necrotizing pneumonia and was treated with antibiotics, resulting in a gradual decrease in the size of the recurrent lesion. Five years after the initial diagnosis, positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed no hypermetabolic lesions, indicating the spontaneous complete regression of LCNEC.
On the informativeness of unexpected exclusions from street earnings
Authors: Bratten Brian , Larocque Stephannie , Yohn Teri
Published: December 2023

Exclusions from street earnings can include both expected exclusions, forecasted ex ante by analysts, and unexpected exclusions, revealed after earnings are reported. While prior research largely examines total exclusions from street earnings, unexpected exclusions reflect the news or surprise in exclusions. We investigate the properties and informativeness of unexpected exclusions for future profitability, benchmark beating, analyst forecast errors, and future stock returns. We find that unexpected exclusions represent a mix of transitory and recurring items and are informative about future street earnings. In an analysis of hand‐collected analysts' reports, we find that unexpected exclusions are more likely to reflect misestimated recurring items when analysts forecasted exclusions, and unexpected transitory items when analysts did not forecast exclusions. We also examine benchmark‐beating behavior, in which street earnings meet street forecasts but GAAP earnings miss GAAP forecasts. We observe that benchmark beating is more likely to occur when analysts forecast exclusions than when they do not. Moreover, we find unexpected exclusions are more persistent when street earnings meet street forecasts but GAAP earnings miss GAAP forecasts. These findings are consistent with recurring earnings amounts being opportunistically shifted to excluded items to meet analysts' street forecasts. Finally, we find some evidence that analysts and investors react to, but do not fully incorporate, the information in unexpected exclusions, based on forecast revisions and stock price reactions.
Transcriptional changes are tightly coupled to chromatin reorganization during cellular aging
Authors: Braunger Jana M. , Cammarata Louis V. , Sornapudi Trinadha Rao , Uhler Caroline , Shivashankar G. V.
Published: December 2023

Human life expectancy is constantly increasing and aging has become a major risk factor for many diseases, although the underlying gene regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. Using transcriptomic and chromosomal conformation capture (Hi‐C) data from human skin fibroblasts from individuals across different age groups, we identified a tight coupling between the changes in co‐regulation and co‐localization of genes. We obtained transcription factors, cofactors, and chromatin regulators that could drive the cellular aging process by developing a time‐course prize‐collecting Steiner tree algorithm. In particular, by combining RNA‐Seq data from different age groups and protein–protein interaction data we determined the key transcription regulators and gene regulatory changes at different life stage transitions. We then mapped these transcription regulators to the 3D reorganization of chromatin in young and old skin fibroblasts. Collectively, we identified key transcription regulators whose target genes are spatially rearranged and correlate with changes in their expression, thereby providing potential targets for reverting cellular aging.
An individual patient data meta‐analysis of wound care in patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis
Authors: Lee J. S. , Mallitt K. , Fischer G. , Saunderson R. B.
Published: December 2023

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) involves extensive mucocutaneous loss, and care is supportive. The approach to wound care includes surgical debridement or using dressings while leaving the epidermis intact. Robust evidence for either approach is lacking. We compared surgical debridement to the use of dressings while leaving the epidermis in situ (referred to hereon as dressings) in adult patients with TEN. The primary outcome assessed was mortality. The secondary outcome was time to re‐epithelialisation. The impact of medications was evaluated. An individual patient data (IPD) systematic review and meta‐analysis was undertaken. A random effects meta‐analysis and survival analysis for IPD data examined mortality, re‐epithelisation time and the effect of systemic medications. The quality of evidence was rated per the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). PROSPERO: CRD42021266611 Fifty‐four studies involving 227 patients were included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis, with a GRADE from very low to moderate. There was no difference in survival in patients who had surgical debridement or dressings (univariate: p = 0.91, multivariate: p = 0.31). Patients who received dressings re‐epithelialised faster than patients who underwent debridement (multivariate HR: 1.96 [1.09–3.51], p = 0.023). Intravenous immunoglobulin (univariate HR: 0.21 [0.09–0.45], p < 0.001; multivariate HR: 0.22 [0.09–0.53], p < 0.001) and cyclosporin significantly reduced mortality (univariate HR: 0.09 [0.01–0.96], p = 0.046; multivariate HR: 0.06 [0.01–0.73], p = 0.028) irrespective of the wound care. This study supports the expert consensus of the dermatology hospitalists, that wound care in patients with TEN should be supportive with the epidermis left intact and supported with dressings, which leads to faster re‐epithelialisation.
Control Beyond Ownership: Open‐Book Accounting in Unbalanced Supply Chain Networks*
Authors: Liu Yunxiao , Kim Woojin , Lee Jongsub
Published: December 2023

Open‐book accounting is a practice to disclose the full cost structure of suppliers to customers to achieve cost efficiency in supply chains. However, the dominant market power of customers could interfere with this goal in practice. Using unique data on the suppliers of large Korean business groups, we find that open‐book accounting is associated with profit rate regulation by customers. Suppliers' price growth is capped despite the increase in supplied goods. Profit rates of suppliers significantly co‐move in times of low average profitability. Using an exogenous regulatory reform that outlawed coercive open‐book accounting, we find the tendencies significantly reversed post‐reform.
Effects of Ureaplasma parvum infection in the exosome biogenesis‐related proteins in ectocervical epithelial cells
Authors: Tantengco Ourlad Alzeus G. , Menon Ramkumar
Published: December 2023

Ureaplasma parvum is a mycoplasma commonly associated with female reproductive pathologies, such as preterm birth and infertility. It can survive intracellularly and utilize exosomes to propagate infection and its virulence factors. This study explored the differential protein composition of exosomes derived from normal and U. parvum‐infected cells. We also investigated the impact of U. parvum on exosome biogenesis in ectocervical epithelial cells. Ectocervical epithelial (ECTO) cells were infected with U. parvum, and immunocytochemical staining was performed using U. parvum‐specific marker multiple banded antigen (mba) and exosome marker CD9. NanoLC–MS/MS analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed proteins in exosomes. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was performed to identify affected canonical pathways and biological functions associated with the protein cargo of exosomes. Western blot analysis of ECTO cells validated the proteomic findings in ECTO cells. U. parvum exhibited colonization of ECTO cells and colocalization with CD9‐positive intraluminal vesicles. Proteomic analysis revealed decreased protein abundance and distinct protein profiles in exosomes derived from U. parvum‐infected ECTO cells. Differentially expressed proteins were associated with clathrin‐mediated endocytosis and various signaling pathways indicative of infection, inflammation, and cell death processes. Additionally, U. parvum infection altered proteins involved in exosome biogenesis. In ECTO cells, U. parvum infection significantly decreased clathrin, ALIX, CD9, and CD63 and significantly increased TSG101, Rab5, Rab35, and UGCG. These findings contribute to our understanding of the infection mechanism and shed light on the importance of exosome‐mediated communication in the pathophysiology of diseases affecting the cervix, such as cervicitis and preterm birth.
Gynecological cancer survivors' experiences with sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations
Authors: Paulsen Anita , Vistad Ingvild , Fegran Liv
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Gynecological cancer and its treatment may cause sexual difficulties in terms of physical and psychosocial health. Considering the essential role that nurses play in cancer care, they are well positioned to be ideal providers for addressing sexual health concerns in the follow‐up phase of gynecological cancer. The aim of this study was to gain in‐depth knowledge of how gynecological cancer survivors experience sexual health communication in nurse‐led follow‐up consultations.

Material and methods

Using a qualitative hermeneutic approach, we conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with 17 women from five different hospitals in Norway between April 4, 2022, and June 2, 2022. The women participated in a large intervention study on cancer follow‐up that included sexual health as one of several topics addressed by trained nurses in three consultations in the first year of follow‐up. A five‐stage Gadamerian‐inspired research method was utilized for data collection and analysis.

Results

We identified three themes: (1) the importance of nurses listening to the women's own perceptions of sexuality, (2) post‐treatment sexual challenges influence the women's need to communicate about sexual health, and (3) nursing communication can help women regain their sexual health.

Conclusions

Women who have undergone treatment for gynecological cancer find communication with trained nurses regarding sexual health beneficial. We recommend integration of trained nurses in the follow‐up team. The nurses should adjust communication according to each gynecological cancer survivor's unique understanding of sexuality and inform women with sexual health concerns at that end of treatment, that sexual health can improve during follow‐up.
The role of the Geographies of Health and Wellbeing Research Group in shaping an evolving field over time
Authors: Power Andrew
Published: December 2023

The Geographies of Health and Wellbeing Research Group of the Royal Geographical Association‐Institute of British Geographers is perhaps the major professional organisation for health and medical geographers working in the UK. This paper reviews the organisational history and operation of the group, and its forerunners, and its role in shaping the development of the geographies of health and wellbeing, since its inaugural symposium in 1972, marking its 50th Anniversary.
Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of shallow and deeper marine Miocene deposits: A case study from the St. Paul and Gebel El‐Zeit blocks, Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Authors: El‐Azabi Mounir H.
Published: December 2023

Marginal and deeper marine facies typify the Miocene exposures along the western margin of the Gulf of Suez rift basin. The stratigraphic setting of these facies is a subject of debate and confusing at best. Integrative sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic study of successions exposed in the St. Paul and El‐Zeit blocks provides insight into the lateral relationships between the two facies and their evolution, a topic that is not fully understood. The St. Paul block, located at the basin margin, has thin shallow marine facies, while the succession of El‐Zeit block, situated near the basin axis, consists of basal conglomerates, thin shallow marine carbonates, thick deeper marine shale and marginal evaporites. The facies architecture of these successions is interpreted as belonging to two different depositional models: a fan‐delta/lagoon system followed upwards by an alluvial fans/sabkha‐tidal flat system in the St. Paul hangingwall basin, and carbonate–siliciclastic–evaporite systems on the hangingwall dip‐slope ramp of El‐Zeit block. These models may help understanding the sedimentary history of other similar blocks in the rift basin. The studied facies show many striking features such as deposition during tilting of fault block, abrupt facies and thickness variations, coarse clastic shedding, erosion channel filling, onlapping of high standing blocks and evaporite accumulation. These features are the result of major tectonic events that triggered the formation of unconformities at different hierarchical levels during the late early to middle Miocene. These unconformities subdivide the Miocene facies into five depositional sequences separated by basin‐wide erosional boundaries. This division greatly improves the age control of marginal marine facies. It affords new insight into the evolution of marginal marine facies along the western margin of the basin in relation to deeper facies in the basin centre. Facies and thickness changes in these tectonically induced sequences indicate that basin floor irregularities, subsidence rates, climatic changes, variable sediment influx, sea‐level/brine‐level changes and basin isolation/connection to the Mediterranean Sea are also important factors responsible for their evolution.
Long‐term effects of a community‐based oral health intervention for young children in the Netherlands: A 5‐year follow‐up
Authors: Verlinden Deborah Ashley , Schuller Annemarie A. , Vermaire Jan H. , Reijneveld Sijmen A.
Published: December 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess whether referral of parents of 6 months old children by a well‐child care (WCC) clinic medical practitioner for an early first dental visit combined with the Non Operative Caries Treatment and Prevention (NOCTP) approach in dental practices was effective to maintain oral health in children.

Methods

The study was conducted as a quasi‐experimental comparative pre‐post trial with a baseline measurement before the intervention. In total 1347 children were allocated at the age of 6 months and 306 children (intervention group: n = 166; care as usual (CAU) group: n = 140) underwent an oral examination at 5 years of age and their parents completed a questionnaire. Nonparametric tests and Hurdle models were used to determine differences in caries experience between the intervention and CAU groups.

Results

Children in the intervention group had significantly lower caries experience (d1,2,3mfs) than children in the CAU group (Median = 2 vs. 5, r = .15, p < .01). Children in the intervention group had significantly fewer inactive caries lesions compared with children in the CAU group (Median = 2 vs. 3, r = .18, p < .001). No differences were found for dentin caries experience and also no differences for active caries lesions.

Conclusions

Referral of parents of newborns for a preventive first dental visit by a WCC medical practitioner combined with NOCTP in dental practices may offer a new opportunity to reduce enamel caries lesions in young children.
Clinical features associated with epilepsy occurrence, resolution, and drug resistance in children with cerebral palsy: A population‐based study
Authors: Feroze Nimra , Karim Tasneem , Ostojic Katarina , Mcintyre Sarah , Barnes Elizabeth H. , Lee Byoung Chan ,   Cerebral Palsy Alliance study group, Dale Russell C. , Gill Deepak , Kothur Kavitha
Published: December 2023

Aim

To investigate clinicoradiological features associated with epilepsy, its resolution, and drug resistance in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Data were gathered from the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory CP Register, encompassing children with CP born between 2003 and 2015 (n = 1916). Clinical features and the severity of impairments were compared among three groups: children with current epilepsy (n = 604), those with resolved epilepsy by age 5 years (n = 109), and those without epilepsy (n = 1203). Additionally, a subset of the registry cohort attending Children's Hospital Westmead (n = 256) was analysed to compare epilepsy and treatment characteristics between drug‐responsive (n = 83) and drug‐resistant groups (n = 147) using logistic regression and hierarchical cluster analysis.

Results

Manual Ability Classification System levels IV and V, intellectual impairment, and vision impairment were found to be associated with epilepsy in children with CP on multivariable analysis (p < 0.01). Moderate to severe intellectual impairment and bilateral spastic CP were independent positive and negative predictors of epilepsy persistence at the age of 5 years respectively (p < 0.05). Microcephaly and multiple seizure types were predictors of drug‐resistant epilepsy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.77–0.9). Children with a known genetic cause (14%) and CP epilepsy surgery group (4.3%) formed specific clinical subgroups in CP epilepsy.

Interpretation

Our study highlights important clinical associations of epilepsy, its resolution, and treatment response in children with CP, providing valuable knowledge to aid in counselling families and identifying distinct prognostic groups for effective medical surveillance and optimal treatment.

What this paper adds

Severe motor and non‐motor impairments in cerebral palsy (CP) increase epilepsy risk.

Epilepsy more likely resolves in bilateral spastic and milder CP impairments.

Epilepsy in CP often manifests at an early age with multiple seizure types and high drug resistance.

Children with a known genetic cause and CP epilepsy surgery group represent distinct clinical subgroups.
The role of psychotic‐like experiences in the association between aberrant salience and anxiety: A psychopathological proposal based on a case–control study
Authors: Merola Giuseppe Pierpaolo , Patti Andrea , Benedetti Davide , Bozza Bernardo , Ballerini Andrea , Ricca Valdo
Published: December 2023

Aim

Aberrant salience (AS) and psychotic‐like experiences (PLEs) have been proven to be linked. Moreover, anxiety is a key symptom in psychosis‐prone subjects and most psychotic patients. We propose a model that attempts to interpret the role of PLEs in the association between AS and anxiety among healthy controls and psychotic patients.

Methods

Demographic and psychometric data (Aberrant Salience Inventory, Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, Symptom Check List‐90‐revised) from 163 controls and 44 psychotic patients was collected. Descriptive statistics, correlations, a linear regression model and a mediation analysis with covariates were subsequently performed.

Results

AS correlated with more frequent positive PLEs and higher anxiety levels in both patients and controls. However, positive PLEs' frequency mediated the relationship between AS and anxiety only among controls.

Conclusions

PLEs linked to AS appear to induce anxiety among the control group but not among psychotic patients. The progressive loss of both novelty and insight, which may, respectively, impair the somatic emotional reactivity to PLEs and the ability to recognize some bodily phenomena as the embodied correlates of anxiety, is seen as the most probable theoretical explanation.
Experimental and numerical study on the multi‐site fretting fatigue crack initiation of press‐fitted axles
Authors: Zou Lang , Zeng Dongfang , Tian Xu , Jiang Guangyao , Dong Yihui , Zhao Hai , Lu Liantao
Published: December 2023

In this study, fretting fatigue tests were conducted to gather information on both fretting fatigue and fretting wear. Subsequently, an evaluation methodology that combined the Modified Wöhler Curve Method (MWCM) with the theory of critical distance (TCD) was established to investigate multi‐site fretting crack initiation. The results showed that the fretting fatigue damage could be reasonably evaluated using the MWCM equivalent stress σMWCM. σMWCM is greatly influenced by both bulk stress and fretting wear‐induced stress concentration. The stress field close to the wear boundary increased due to the continuous fretting wear, leading to an increase in σMWCM; meanwhile, the bulk stress near the wear boundary decreased as the crack propagated, resulting in a decrease in σMWCM. The combined effect of the fretting crack propagation and wear caused σMWCM, which was located within an annular strip of the axle, to exceed the critical value, causing the multi‐site fretting crack initiation.
Alternative fatigue–creep performance of rock‐backfill composite structure material in mine stopes under high static stress: Disturbed amplitude effect
Authors: Wang Yu , Long Dayu , Yi Xuefeng , Mao Tianqiao
Published: December 2023

This work aims to investigate the dynamic stress amplitude on the mechanical responses of rock‐backfill composite structure material under alternative low‐cycle fatigue loading and creep loading tests. Results show that deformation, damage propagation, and failure pattern are all impacted by the stress amplitude, and volumetric deformation is the largest for a sample subjected to strong stress disturbance. The equivalent lifetime decreases with the increase of disturbed amplitude. A notable positive interaction between the fatigue damage and time‐dependent damage is found, and they promote each other. Additionally, a novel damage evolution model is proposed by the irreversible radial strain, and the model matches well with the testing data. Moreover, post‐test computed tomography imaging reveals that cracks at rock‐backfill interfaces are relatively easy to be stimulated under low stress disturbance, and it is suggested that tension‐splitting failure is more likely to occur within the surrounding rock, and shear failure seems to occur within the cemented tailings backfill for all the tested samples.
Research on university‐based Spanish heritage language programs in the United States: The state of affairs in 2022
Authors: Beaudrie Sara M. , Marrero‐Rivera Anna
Published: December 2023

Research on Spanish heritage language (SHL) education has grown exponentially in the last two decades. The most recent nationwide study on SHL programs in US postsecondary institutions was conducted a decade ago. To continue this line of research, the primary aim of this study is to provide an update about the current state of SHL course offerings at 4‐year universities in the United States. SHL programs can promote academic success for Latinx students who see their language and culture asserted. In turn, valuing their heritage language skills and supporting their language development can help Latinx students expand their multilingual abilities for use with their families and communities, as well as in professional contexts. Results reveal that the last decade (2012–2022) witnessed tremendous increase in the availability of SHL programs, although some of the challenges reported in prior research still remain nationwide.
Impact of obese patients in ovarian cancer surgery on postoperative wound complications: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Xianxia , Du Shengye , Wang Qun , Yang Chenchen , Liu Xueling , Chen Kai , Zhao Yinghui , He Ning , Wang Hongping
Published: December 2023

The effect of obesity on wound‐related outcomes in post‐ovarian cancer patients is not clear. A number of studies on the association of fat with post‐operation injury in ovarian carcinoma have produced contradictory findings. This study aims to conduct a study of the available data to assess the association of obese individuals with significant surgery results in ovarian cancer. We looked up Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed for qualifying research on ovarian cancer operations to determine the primary evidence for evaluating the association of obesity with post‐surgical wound injury in ovarian cancer. The odds ratio (OR) was analysed with a fixed effect model if the variability of the study was small; otherwise, the analysis of the data was done with a random effect model. Out of 1259 related trials which were reviewed for eligibility, 6 publications were chosen from 2009 to 2019, 3076 patients who had had an operation for ovarian cancer. Obesity has been linked to an increased rate of wound‐related complications in ovarian cancer operations compared to those without obesity (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.37, 0.69 p < 0.0001). Non‐obesity was significantly less likely to occur with respect to operation time compared to those with obesity (MD, −48.00; 95% CI, −55.33, −40.68 p < 0.00001). There were no statistically significant differences in the rate of haemorrhage after the operation (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.04, 1.57, p = 0.14). Because of the limited number of trials in this meta‐analysis, caution should be exercised in their treatment. More high‐quality research with a large sample is required in order to confirm the findings.
The environment, life expectancy, and growth in overlapping generations models: A survey
Authors: Dugan Anna , Prskawetz Alexia , Raffin Natacha
Published: December 2023

It is widely accepted that environmental and demographic changes will significantly influence the future of our society. In recent years, an increasing number of studies has analyzed the interlinkages among economic growth, environmental factors, and a specific demographic variable, namely life expectancy, applying an overlapping generations framework. The aim of this survey is threefold. First, we review the role of life expectancy and pollution for sustainable growth. Second, we discuss the role of intervening factors like health investment and technological progress as well as institutional settings including government expenditures, tax structures, and inequality. Finally, we summarize policy implications obtained in different models and compare them to each other.
Road crack detection interpreting background images by convolutional neural networks and a self‐organizing map
Authors: Yamaguchi Takahiro , Mizutani Tsukasa
Published: December 2023

The presence of road cracks is an important indicator of damage. Deep learning is a prevailing method for detecting cracks in road surface images because of its detection ability. Previous research works focused on supervised convolutional neural networks (CNNs) without non‐crack features or unsupervised crack analysis with limited accuracies. The novelty of this study is the addition of background classification. By increasing the number of non‐crack categories, CNNs are driven to learn non‐crack features and improve crack detection performances. Non‐crack images are preprocessed, and their features are extracted in an unsupervised way by a deep convolutional autoencoder. A self‐organizing map clusters features to obtain non‐crack categories. This study focusses on classification though the method can be adopted in parallel with the latest segmentation algorithms. Using common road crack datasets, modified deep CNN models significantly improved accuracy by 1%–4% and f‐measure by 3%–8%, compared to previous models. The modified visual geometry group (VGG) 16 showed the top‐level performance, 96% accuracy and 84%–85% f‐measure. The models drastically reduced false detection cases while maintaining their crack detection abilities.
Immune and metabolic perturbations in COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary mucormycosis: A transcriptome analysis of innate immune cells
Authors: Dhaliwal Manpreet , Muthu Valliappan , Sharma Arunima , Raj Khem , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M , Agarwal Ritesh , Kaur Harsimran , Rawat Amit , Singh Surjit , Chakrabarti Arunaloke
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

The mechanisms underlying COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary mucormycosis (CAPM) remain unclear. We use a transcriptomic analysis of the innate immune cells to investigate the host immune and metabolic response pathways in patients with CAPM.

Patients and Methods

We enrolled subjects with CAPM (n = 5), pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) without COVID‐19 (n = 5), COVID‐19 (without mucormycosis, n = 5), healthy controls (n = 5) without comorbid illness and negative for SARS‐CoV‐2. Peripheral blood samples from cases were collected before initiating antifungal therapy, and neutrophils and monocytes were isolated. RNA sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeqX from monocytes and neutrophils. Raw reads were aligned with HISAT‐2 pipeline and DESeq2 was used for differential gene expression. Gene ontology (GO) and metabolic pathway analysis were performed using Shiny GO application and R packages (ggplot2, Pathview).

Results

The derangement of core immune and metabolic responses in CAPM patients was noted. Pattern recognition receptors, dectin‐2, MCL, FcRγ receptors and CLEC‐2, were upregulated, but signalling pathways such as JAK–STAT, IL‐17 and CARD‐9 were downregulated; mTOR and MAP‐kinase signalling were elevated in monocytes from CAPM patients. The complement receptors, NETosis, and pro‐inflammatory responses, such as S100A8/A9, lipocalin and MMP9, were elevated. The major metabolic pathways of glucose metabolism—glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, HIF signalling and iron metabolism‐ferroptosis were also upregulated in CAPM.

Conclusions

We identified significant alterations in the metabolic pathways possibly leading to cellular iron overload and a hyperglycaemic state. Immune responses revealed altered recognition, signalling, effector functions and a pro‐inflammatory state in monocytes and neutrophils from CAPM patients.
Post‐implantation CMR imaging to study biventricular pacing effects on the right ventricle in left bundle branch block patients
Authors: Hopman Luuk H. G. A. , Zweerink Alwin , van de Veerdonk Mariëlle C. , van der Lingen Anne‐Lotte C. J. , Huntelaar Marthe J. , Robbers Lourens F. H. J. , van Rossum Albert C. , Götte Marco J. W. , van Halm Vokko P. , Allaart Cornelis P.
Published: December 2023

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for heart failure patients with left ventricular dysfunction and a left bundle branch block. However, its impact on right ventricular (RV) function remains uncertain. This cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study found that CRT did not improve RV volumes and function, and CRT‐off during follow‐up had an immediate detrimental effect on the RV, which may suggest potential unfavorable RV remodeling with RV pacing during CRT.
Soybean and grapevine rusts accelerate the defoliation rates of host plants
Authors: Primiano Isabela Vescove , Amorim Lilian
Published: December 2023

Grapevine leaf rust (GLR) and soybean rust (SBR), caused by Neophysopella tropicalis and Phakopsora pachyrhizi, respectively, may lead to early defoliation of the host, depending on disease severity level. The rate of defoliation is an important parameter in mechanistic models aimed at simulating yield loss, but such knowledge is not available for these rust diseases. This work aimed to (i) relate the temporal dynamics of GLR and SBR to defoliation; and (ii) estimate the relative rates of defoliation and model their relationship with rust severities. Grapevine and soybean plants were inoculated in the field at increasing concentrations of urediniospore suspensions of the respective causal agent. Control plots of the vineyard and the soybean field were protected with sequential fungicide sprays to evaluate natural defoliation. Rust severity (proportion of area affected) of each leaf or leaflet was evaluated every three or four days on 1323 grapevine leaves and 655 soybean leaflets, respectively. The relative rates of defoliation were estimated as the slope parameters of linear regression of the Napierian logarithm of the number of alive leaves or leaflets over time. Defoliation rates in grapevine and soybean incremented logarithmically with the increase of rust severity. Defoliation rates on symptomless grapevine and soybean leaves were 0.018 and 0.05 day−1, respectively, while they averaged 0.033 day−1 on diseased grapevine leaves (rust severity between 5% and 12%), and 0.12 day−1 on diseased soybean leaflets (rust severity between 25% and 60%). Thus, a quantitative relationship was established between rust severity and defoliation on grapevine and soybean.
Synergistic regulation at physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels in tomato plants subjected to a combination of salt and heat stress
Authors: Li Yankai , Jiang Fangling , Niu Lifei , Wang Ge , Yin Jian , Song Xiaoming , Ottosen Carl‐Otto , Rosenqvist Eva , Mittler Ron , Wu Zhen , Zhou Rong
Published: December 2023

With global warming and climate change, abiotic stresses often simultaneously occur. Combined salt and heat stress was a common phenomenon that was severe, particularly in arid/semi‐arid lands. We aimed to reveal the systematic responsive mechanisms of tomato genotypes with different salt/heat susceptibilities to combined salt and heat stress. Morphological and physiological responses of salt‐tolerant/sensitive and heat‐tolerant/sensitive tomatoes at control, heat, salt and combined stress were investigated. Based on leaf Fv/Fm and H2O2 content, samples from tolerant genotype at the four treatments for 36 h were taken for transcriptomics and metabolomics. We found that plant height, dry weight and net photosynthetic rate decreased while leaf Na+ concentration increased in all four genotypes under salt and combined stress than control. Changes in physiological indicators such as photosynthetic parameters and defence enzyme activities in tomato under combined stress were regulated by the expression of relevant genes and the accumulation of key metabolites. We screened five key pathways in tomato responding to a combination of salt and heat stress, such as oxidative phosphorylation (map00190). Synergistic regulation at morphological, physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels in tomato plants was induced by combined stress. Heat stress was considered as a dominant stressor for tomato plants under the current combined stress. The oxidative phosphorylation pathway played a key role in tomato in response to combined stress, where tapped key genes (e.g. alternative oxidase, Aox1a) need further functional analysis. Our study will provide a valuable resource important for studying stress combination and improving tomato tolerance.
Effects of paracetamol/acetaminophen on the expression of solute carriers (SLCs) in late‐gestation fetal rat brain, choroid plexus and the placenta
Authors: Huang Yifan , Qiu Fiona , Dziegielewska Katarzyna M. , Koehn Liam M. , Habgood Mark D. , Saunders Norman R.
Published: December 2023

Solute carriers (SLCs) regulate transfer of a wide range of molecules across cell membranes using facilitative or secondary active transport. In pregnancy, these transporters, expressed at the placental barrier, are important for delivery of nutrients to the fetus, whilst also limiting entry of potentially harmful substances, such as drugs. In the present study, RNA‐sequencing analysis was used to investigate expression of SLCs in the fetal (embryonic day 19) rat brain, choroid plexus and placenta in untreated control animals and following maternal paracetamol treatment. In the treated group, paracetamol (15 mg/kg) was administered to dams twice daily for 5 days (from embryonic day 15 to 19). In untreated animals, overall expression of SLCs was highest in the placenta. In the paracetamol treatment group, expression of several SLCs was significantly different compared with control animals, with ion, amino acid, neurotransmitter and sugar transporters most affected. The number of SLC transcripts that changed significantly following treatment was the highest in the choroid plexus and lowest in the brain. All SLC transcripts that changed in the placenta following paracetamol treatment were downregulated. These results suggest that administration of paracetamol during pregnancy could potentially disrupt fetal nutrient homeostasis and affect brain development, resulting in major consequences for the neonate and extending into childhood.