bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global profile of anemia during pregnancy versus country income overview: 19 years estimative (2000–2019)
Authors: Araujo Costa Evelyn , de Paula Ayres-Silva Jackline
Published: May 2023

Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that is worst in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), reaching 60% of prevalence. The etiology of anemia is diverse and multifactorial, with iron deficiency being the most prevalent, and often found in pregnant women. Iron is indispensable for the production of red blood cells and approximately 80% of the available heme iron is used for hemoglobin synthesis in mature erythroblasts. Iron deficiency affects oxygen transport, compromising energy and muscle metabolism and can occur with depletion of iron storage, defective erythropoiesis, and low hemoglobin levels. We analyzed anemia prevalence in pregnant women from 2000 to 2019 worldwide correlating them with current (2022) country income, with especial attention to LMICs using WHO dataset. Our analysis indicates that pregnant women from LMICs had a higher probability (40%) of anemia during pregnancy especially those from Africa and South Asia. Africa and the Americas showed a higher decrease in the prevalence of anemia from 2000 to 2019. The Americas and Europe have a lower prevalence, concentrated in 57% of most upper-middle- and high-income countries. Black women are also more prone to develop anemia during pregnancy, especially if they are from LMICs. However, the prevalence of anemia appears to decrease with an increase in educational level. In conclusion, anemia prevalence fluctuated from 5.2 to 65.7% worldwide in 2019, validating it as a public health problem.
Where have all the petrels gone? Forty years (1978–2020) of Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) population dynamics at King George Island (Isla 25 de Mayo, Antarctica) in a changing climate
Authors: Ausems A. N. M. A. , Kuepper N. D. , Archuby D. , Braun C. , Gębczyński A. K. , Gladbach A. , Hahn S. , Jadwiszczak P. , Kraemer P. , Libertelli M. M. , Lorenz S. , Richter B. , Ruß A. , Schmoll T. , Thorn S. , Turner J. , Wojczulanis-Jakubas K. , Jakubas D. , Quillfeldt P.
Published: May 2023

Numerous seabird species are experiencing population declines, and this trend is expected to continue or even accelerate in the future. To understand the effects of environmental change on seabird populations, long-term studies are vital, but rare. Here, we present over four decades (1978–2020) of population dynamic and reproductive performance data of Wilson’s Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) from King George Island (Isla 25 de Mayo), Antarctica. We determined temporal trends in population size, breeding output, and chick growth rates, and related interannual variation in these variables to various environmental variables. Our study revealed a decline of 90% in population size of Wilson’s Storm Petrels in two colonies, and considerable changes in breeding output and chick growth rates. Temporal changes in breeding demographics were linked to interannual environmental variation, either causing changes in food availability (particularly Antarctic krill,Euphausia superba) or in nest burrow accessibility due to snow blocking the entrance. With the expected rise in air and sea surface temperatures, the predicted increases in precipitation over the Antarctic Peninsula will likely lead to increased snowstorm prevalence. Additionally, the rising temperatures will likely reduce food availability due to reduced sea ice cover in the wintering grounds of Antarctic krill, or by changing phyto- and zooplankton community compositions. The ongoing environmental changes may thus lead to a further population decline, or at the very least will not allow the population to recover. Monitoring the population dynamics of Antarctic seabirds is vital to increase our understanding of climate change-induced changes in polar food webs.
Morphologic spectrum of the epithelial tumors of the male and female urethra
Authors: Cimadamore Alessia , Lopez-Beltran Antonio , Cheng Liang , Montironi Rodolfo
Published: May 2023

The classification of the epithelial tumors of the male and female urethra includes benign and malignant neoplasms. Primary urethral carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the accessory glands are the most relevant tumors, both from the morphologic and clinical point of view. An accurate diagnosis, grading and staging are essential for determining adequate treatment strategies and outcome. Information on anatomy and histology of the urethra is of fundamental importance in understanding the morphology of the tumors, including the clinical importance of their location and origin.
Novel biphasic mechanism of the canonical Wnt signalling component PYGO2 promotes cardiomyocyte differentiation from hUC-MSCs
Authors: Shi Yan , Qin Bin , Fan Xiongwei , Li Yongqing , Wang Yuequn , Yuan Wuzhou , Jiang Zhigang , Zhu Ping , Chen Jimei , Chen Yu , Li Fang , Wan Yongqi , Wu Xiushan , Zhuang Jian
Published: May 2023

Human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are used to regenerate the myocardium during cardiac repair after myocardial infarction. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying their ability to form mesodermal cells and differentiate into cardiomyocytes remains unclear. Here, we established a human-derived MSCs line isolated from healthy umbilical cords and established a cell model of the natural state to examine the differentiation of hUC-MSCs into cardiomyocytes. Quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, RNA Seq, and inhibitors of canonical Wnt signalling were used to detect the germ-layer markers T and MIXL1; the markers of cardiac progenitor cells MESP1, GATA4, and NKX2.5 and the cardiomyocyte-marker cTnT to identify the molecular mechanism associated with PYGO2, a key component of the canonical Wnt signalling pathway that regulates the formation of cardiomyocyte-like cells. We demonstrated that PYGO2 promotes the formation of mesodermal-like cells and their differentiation into cardiomyocytes through the hUC-MSC-dependent canonical Wnt signalling by promoting the early-stage entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Surprisingly, PYGO2 did not alter the expression of the canonical-Wnt, NOTCH, or BMP signalling pathways during the middle–late stages. In contrast, PI3K-Akt signalling promoted hUC-MSCs formation and their differentiation into cardiomyocyte-like cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that PYGO2 uses a biphasic mechanism to promote cardiomyocyte formation from hUC-MSCs.
Pathogen detection in suspected spinal infection: metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus culture
Authors: Huang Haihong , Shi Jiawei , Zheng Minghui , Su Shenghui , Chen Weidong , Ming Jing , Ren Tao , Qu Dongbin
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The aim is to compare the pathogen detection performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and the culturing of percutaneous needle biopsy samples obtained from an individual with a suspected spinal infection.

Methods

A retrospective study of 141 individuals with a suspected spinal infection was conducted, and mNGS was performed. The microbial spectra and detection performance between mNGS and the culturing-based method were compared, and the effects of antibiotic intervention and biopsy on the detection performance were assessed.

Results

The microorganisms isolated most commonly via the culturing-based method were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 21), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 13). The most common microorganisms detected via mNGS were Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) (n = 39), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 15). The difference in the type of detected microorganisms between culturing and mNGS was observed only in Mycobacterium (P = 0.001). mNGS helped identify potential pathogens in 80.9% of cases, which was significantly higher than the positivity rate of 59.6% observed for the culturing-based method (P < 0.001). Moreover, mNGS had a sensitivity of 85.7% (95% CI, 78.4% to 91.3%), a specificity of 86.7% (95% CI, 59.5% to 98.3%), and sensitivity gains of 35% (85.7% vs. 50.8%; P < 0.001) during culturing, while no differences were observed in the specificity (86.7% vs. 93.3%; P = 0.543). In addition, antibiotic interventions significantly lowered the positivity rate of the culturing-based method (66.0% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.021) but had no effects on the results of mNGS (82.5% vs. 77.3%, P = 0.467).

Conclusion

The use of mNGS could result in a higher detection rate compared to that observed with the culturing-based method in an individual with spinal infection and is particularly valuable for evaluating the effects of a mycobacterial infection or previous antibiotic intervention.
Immune-related lncRNAs pairs prognostic score model for prediction of survival in acute myeloid leukemia patients
Authors: Liang Xue , Li Cong , Fan Mengmeng , Zhang Wanqiu , Liu Linlin , Zhou Ji , Hu Linhui , Zhai Zhimin
Published: May 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common malignant and aggressive hematologic tumors, and risk stratification is indispensable to ensure proper treatment. But immune-related long noncoding RNAs (ir-lncRNAs) pairs prognostic risk models used to stratify AML have yet to be reported. In this study, we established a prognostic risk model based on eight ir-lncRNAs pairs using LASSO-penalized Cox regression analysis and successfully validated the model in an independent cohort. According to risk scores, patients were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. High-risk patients presented more tumor mutation frequency and higher expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-related genes and immune checkpoint molecules. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicated that the transforming growth factors β (TGFβ) pathway was activated in the high-risk group; meanwhile, we found that TGFβ1 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in AML patients and correlated with poor prognosis, which is closely related to drug resistance. Consistently, in vitro studies found that exogenous TGFβ1 can protect AML cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Collectively, we developed an ir-lncRNA prognostic model that helps predict the prognosis of AML patients and provides valuable information about their response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and we found that increased TGFβ1 levels resulting in chemoresistance may be one of the leading causes of treatment failure in high-risk AML patients.
Gender and Sexual Health-Related Knowledge Gaps and Educational Needs of Parents of Transgender and Non-Binary Youth
Authors: Kantor Lane Z. , Tordoff Diana M. , Haley Samantha G. , Crouch Julia M. , Ahrens Kym R.
Published: May 2023

Parents can have a substantial impact on adolescent sexual decision-making, but few studies have explored the role of parents in providing sexual health information to transgender and non-binary (TNB) youth, a population that experiences significant sexual and mental health disparities and lower levels of perceived family support compared with other youth. This study aimed to elucidate existing knowledge gaps and content deemed important for a sexual health curriculum and educational materials for parents of TNB youth. We conducted 21 qualitative interviews with five parents of TNB youth, 11 TNB youth aged 18+, and five healthcare affiliates to identify parents’ educational needs. We analyzed the data using theoretical thematic analysis and consensus coding. Parents self-reported multiple knowledge deficits regarding gender/sexual health for TNB individuals and were primarily concerned with long-term impacts of medical interventions. Youth goals for parents included greater understanding of gender/sexuality and sufficient knowledge to support youth through social transition to their affirmed gender identity. Content areas suggested for a future curriculum for parents of TNB youth included: basics of gender/sexuality, diverse narratives of TNB experiences/identities, gender dysphoria, non-medical gender-affirming interventions, medical gender-affirming interventions, and resources for peer support. Parents desired access to accurate information and wanted to feel equipped to facilitate affirming conversations with their child, something that could combat health disparities among TNB youth. An educational curriculum for parents has the potential to provide a trusted information source, expose parents to positive representations of TNB individuals, and help parents support their TNB child through decisions about potential gender-affirming interventions.
The Contribution of Attentional Bias to Negative Information to Social Anxiety-Linked Heightened State Anxiety During a Social Event
Authors: Grafton Ben , Long Christian , MacLeod Colin
Published: May 2023

Background

It has been proposed that people with high compared to low trait social anxiety pay greater attention to negative information concerning upcoming social events, and that such attentional bias drives the disproportionately elevated levels of state anxiety they exhibit in response to these events. These two hypotheses have not yet been adequately tested.

Method

We recruited participants who were high or low in trait social anxiety. Participants completed a mock job interview, and reported their state anxiety during this experience. Prior attentional bias to negative, relative to benign, information concerning this event was assessed using a variant of the dual probe approach, in which participants were exposed to dual videos, each comprising two video clips of people who had completed the mock job interview, discussing either negative or benign aspects of this experience.

Results

High compared to low trait social anxiety participants displayed higher attentional bias to negative social information, and this bias mediated the association between elevated trait social anxiety and heightened state anxiety experienced during the mock job interview.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that elevated trait social anxiety is characterized by an attentional bias to negative, relative to benign, information concerning an upcoming social event, and that this attentional bias statistically predicts the disproportionately elevated state anxiety that people with high trait social anxiety experience during such an event.
Reducing Violent Discipline by Teachers: a Matched Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Tanzanian Public Primary Schools
Authors: Masath Faustine Bwire , Mattonet Katharina , Hermenau Katharin , Nkuba Mabula , Hecker Tobias
Published: May 2023

Violent discipline in schools infringes on children’s rights and is associated with harmful developmental consequences for students. This calls for effective intervention programs, particularly in countries with high prevalence of violent discipline in schools. This study tested the effectiveness of the preventative intervention Interaction Competencies with Children—for Teachers (ICC-T) in reducing violent discipline by teachers in a two-arm matched cluster-randomized controlled trial. The sample comprised teachers (n = 173, 53.7% female) and students (n = 914, 50.5% girls) from 12 public primary schools from six regions in Tanzania. Teacher physical and emotional violent discipline reported by teachers and students was assessed before and six to eight and a half months after the intervention. The schools were randomly allocated to either intervention (6; ICC-T) or control condition (6; no intervention). Teachers were not blinded. Students and research assistants conducting the follow-up assessment were blinded. A series of multivariate multilevel models revealed significant time*intervention effects on physical violent discipline reported by teachers and students and teachers’ favorable attitudes towards physical violent discipline, FDRs < .05. In addition, we found a spill-over effect on peer-to-peer violence and students’ externalizing, ps < .05. There were no significant time*intervention effects either on emotional violent discipline, FDRs > .05, teachers’ favorable attitudes towards emotional violent discipline or on student’s internalizing problems and academic performance, ps > .05. Our results provide further evidence that ICC-T may positively change teachers’ violent disciplining behavior and their attitudes towards violent discipline. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03893851.
A systematic review of health state utility values and psychometric performance of generic preference-based instruments for children and adolescents with mental health problems
Authors: Thai Thao T. H. , Engel Lidia , Perez Joahna Kevin , Tan Eng Joo , Eades Sandra , Sanci Lena , Mihalopoulos Cathrine
Published: May 2023

Aims

This paper aims to systematically identify reported health state utility values (HSUVs) in children and adolescents with mental health problems (MHPs) aged less than 25 years; to summarise the techniques used to elicit HSUVs; and to examine the psychometric performance of the identified multi-attribute utility instruments (MAUIs) used in this space.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published in English, reporting HSUVs for children and adolescents with MHPs using direct or indirect valuation methods were searched in six databases.

Results

We found 38 studies reporting HSUVs for 12 types of MHPs across 12 countries between 2005 and October 2021. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression are the most explored MHPs. Disruptive Behaviour Disorder was associated with the lowest reported HSUVs of 0.06 while cannabis use disorder was associated with the highest HSUVs of 0.88. Indirect valuation method through the use of MAUIs (95% of included studies) was the most frequently used approach, while direct valuation methods (Standard Gamble, Time Trade-Off) were only used to derive HSUVs in ADHD. This review found limited evidence of the psychometric performance of MAUIs used in children and adolescents with MHPs.

Conclusion

This review provides an overview of HSUVs of various MHPs, the current practice to generate HSUVs, and the psychometric performance of MAUIs used in children and adolescents with MHPs. It highlights the need for more rigorous and extensive psychometric assessments to produce evidence on the suitability of MAUIs used in this area.
Don’t be deceived: bald-faced lies are deceitful assertions
Authors: Rudnicki Jakub , Odrowąż-Sypniewska Joanna
Published: May 2023

The traditional conception of lying, according to which to lie is to make an assertion with an intention to deceive the hearer, has recently been put under pressure by the phenomenon of bald-faced lies i.e. utterances thatprima facielook like lies but because of their blatancy allegedly lack the accompanying intention to deceive. In this paper we propose an intuitive way of reconciling the phenomenon of bald-faced lies with the traditional conception by suggesting that the existing analyses of the phenomenon overlook a non-obvious category of hearers whom the speakers of bald-faced lies intend to deceive. Those hearers are institutions represented by the people involved, such as courts or secret police. We also criticize two recent rival accounts (Jessica Keiser’s and Daniel Harris’s) that attempt to save the traditional conception by saying that some bald-faced lies are not assertions, because they are conventional—rather than illocutionary—speech acts.
Compassion and envy in distributional comparisons
Authors: Palmisano Flaviana
Published: May 2023

Normative-based distributional comparisons across countries and over time build upon the assumption that individuals are selfish. However, there is a consolidated evidence that individuals also care about what others have. In this paper, we propose a framework for comparing and ranking distributions that includes non-individualistic possibilities. Specifically, we consider ranking criteria that account, in one case, for the feeling of compassion and, in the other case, for the feeling of envy. These feelings are generated respectively by those having lower resources and those having higher resources. We illustrate our framework using CNEF data for Australia, Korea, Germany, Switzerland, and the US and show that accounting for the presence of compassion and envy might lead to different welfare rankings.
Alleviating the toxic effects of Cd and Co on the seed germination and seedling biochemistry of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using Azolla pinnata
Authors: Shedeed Zeinab A. , Farahat Emad A.
Published: May 2023

One of the most significant environmental challenges in the twenty-first century is heavy metal pollution. The potential use of fresh Azolla pinnata to alleviate the toxic effects of Cd and Co on the germination measurements of wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L.) and the biochemistry of seedlings was studied. Two concentrations (80 and 100 mg L−1 solutions) of CdNO3 and CoCl2 were used before and after treatment with A. pinnata. The highest removal efficiency (RE) by A. pinnata was obtained on the fifth day, with a Cd RE = 55.9 and 49.9% at 80 and 100 mg L−1, respectively. Cadmium and cobalt solutions reduced the germination percentage, and the measured variables of wheat seeds meanwhile increased the radicle phytotoxicity. In contrast, the presence of A. pinnata in the germination medium increased all the measured variables and decreased radicle phytotoxicity. At 80 and 100 mg L−1, Cd significantly reduced the fresh and dry biomass, and height of wheat seedlings after 21 days of cultivation compared to Co. Cadmium and high concentrations of cobalt increased the contents of H2O2, proline, MDA, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds. The application of treated Cd and Co solutions by A. pinnata showed a decrease in H2O2, proline, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds levels accompanied by a reduction in catalase and peroxidase activities compared to the control. This study showed the positive role of A. pinnata in alleviating the metal impacts, particularly Cd, on the seedling growth of wheat and its germination.
Environmental assessment of design choices of green walls based for materials combination and plants
Authors: Reyhani Milad , Santolini Enrica , Tassinari Patrizia , Torreggiani Daniele
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Green infrastructures have been considered as a sustainable solution to deal with the problems in dense urban spaces. This acceptance has led to the use of various materials and methods in designing and producing green infrastructures. The purpose of this study is to emphasize the components and materials used in the green walls system. By determining the environmental impact of each element, it can be replaced with another component with the same function. This approach ultimately leads to the sustainable design of systems.

Methods

Accordingly, two green wall systems were selected for the environmental assessment using the life cycle assessment method. Data related to all processes and components involved in each system are reviewed for a 10-year lifespan. For each system, eight different scenarios of component composition are considered. The functional unit is 1 square meter and the ILCD method is used to evaluate the impact of the life cycle. OpenLCA software and Ecoinvent® v3.7 database are used to model and analyze all 16 scenarios.

Results

The results clearly show that the components and materials used in the production and construction of the green wall system have a very high impact on the environmental performance of these systems. A better design can be achieved by doing an environmental assessment, identifying the undesirable components in the system, and replacing them. Different scenarios' results show the potential to improve the environmental performance of systems in all impact categories. This highlights the great importance of the green wall system's design, material selection and maintenance methods.

Conclusions

Considering the ability of the LCA method to identify the weak and strong points of the systems, the lack of using this method in the design phase is strongly sensed. With this method's help, it is possible to produce more sustainable systems. On the other hand, the studies conducted in the field of green walls are limited compared to other green infrastructures. At the same time, the design of the green wall system can be changed based on geographical location, weather conditions, access to raw materials and consumer needs. As the number of studies on these systems increases in different places and weather conditions, it can help the stability of these systems.
Autoregulation of Transcription and Translation: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Murray Philip J.
Published: May 2023

The regulation of both mRNA transcription and translation by down-stream gene products allows for a range of rich dynamical behaviours (e.g. homeostatic, oscillatory, excitability and intermittent solutions). Here, qualitative analysis is applied to an existing model of a gene regulatory network in which a protein dimer inhibits its own transcription and upregulates its own translation rate. It is demonstrated that the model possesses a unique steady state, conditions are derived under which limit cycle solutions arise and estimates are provided for the oscillator period in the limiting case of a relaxation oscillator. The analysis demonstrates that oscillations can arise only if mRNA is more stable than protein and the effect of nonlinear translation inhibition is sufficiently strong. Moreover, it is shown that the oscillation period can vary non-monotonically with transcription rate. Thus the proposed framework can provide an explanation for observed species-specific dependency of segmentation clock period on Notch signalling activity. Finally, this study facilitates the application of the proposed model to more general biological settings where post transcriptional regulation effects are likely important.
An investigation of camera movements and capture techniques on optical flow for real-time rendering and presentation
Authors: Modi Nishant , Ramakrishna M.
Published: May 2023

New and interesting uses for portable devices include the creation and viewing of 3D models and 360-degree photos of real landscapes. To provide a 3D model and a 360-degree view of a scenario, these apps search for real-time rendering and presentation. This study examines the impact of real-time image processing on movements in camera view and the application of optical flow algorithms. The optical flows are affected by how the objects involved motion. The way the image is recorded and the camera movements affect the relative motion. As a consequence, camera motions are responsive to optical flow algorithms. To record an image, the camera may pan around, move in a straight path, or move randomly. We have captured datasets of videos produced in different contexts to better replicate real-world scenarios. Each dataset was captured in a variety of illumination situations, camera movements, and indoor and outdoor recording sites. Here, to determine the most effective optical flow algorithms for use in near real-time applications, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, we compare results based on quality and processing delay for each video frame. We conducted a comparison study to better understand how random camera motion affects real-time video processing. These methods can be used to handle a variety of real-world issues, such as object tracking, video segmentation, structure from motion, gesture tracking, and so on.
Assessing the subsistence strategies of the earliest North African inhabitants: evidence from the Early Pleistocene site of Ain Boucherit (Algeria)
Authors: Cáceres Isabel , Chelli Cheheb Razika , van der Made Jan , Harichane Zoheir , Boulaghraief Kamel , Sahnouni Mohamed
Published: May 2023

The archaeological data on the earliest hominin behavioral subsistence activities in North Africa are derived primarily from the Early Pleistocene site of Ain Boucherit (northeastern Algeria). Ain Boucherit consists of two archaeological layers, Ain Boucherit Upper (AB-Up) and Ain Boucherit Lower (AB-Lw), estimated to ~ 1.9 Ma and ~ 2.4 Ma, respectively. Cutmarked and hammerstone percussed bones associated with Oldowan stone tools were found in both layers, with AB-Lw yielding the oldest in North Africa. The faunal assemblages from both deposits are dominated by small-sized bovids and equids. Evidence of cutmarks and percussion marks in both assemblages shows that hominins exploited animal carcasses, involving skinning, evisceration and defleshing activities. The evidence of meat and marrow acquisition is more abundant at AB-Lw with carnivore activity being scarce. However, the AB-Up assemblage shows more carnivore damage and less hominin-induced tool marks. Ain Boucherit evidence, is similar, in type and chronology, to that provided by the Early Pleistocene sites in East Africa (e.g., the Gona sites), where the oldest evidence of stone tools used in faunal exploitation have been discovered. This paper reports on the ability of early North African Oldowans to compete successfully for accessing animal resources with other predators.
Holt–Winters method for run-off triangles in claims reserving
Authors: Cipra Tomáš , Hendrych Radek
Published: May 2023

Run-off triangles present usual instruments for claims reserve predictions. The paper suggests a relatively simple method of such predictions based on the Holt–Winters recursive formulas modified for missing data. The technique explicitly calculates the corresponding prediction error grounded in the state space modeling and evaluates the claims reserving risk in this way. Empirical data examples enable us to compare the suggested approach with results published by other authors.
Design method of enhancing the tightness of a spiral wound gasket with PTFE filling
Authors: Adamek Konrad , Jaszak Przemysław
Published: May 2023

The paper presents the experimental research results and numerical computations of two constructions of a spiral wound gasket with a PTFE filling. The first construction was a standard one in which the shape of the spiral’s windings in a cross section view resembles the shape of the letter ‘V.’ The second solution has an original, asymmetric shape of windings’ profile. Based on the vast experimental research tests, it was proved that the gasket with an asymmetric shape of windings is characterized with larger stiffness than the standard design, as well as increased tightness. Numerical calculations and a topography analysis of the contact surface of the gaskets showed that the asymmetric gasket under load is characterized with a larger effective contact surface when compared to the standard gasket. The gasket of an asymmetric construction can have a special application at small contact stress, which allows to avoid an excessive stress of flanges and bolts.
Literalität und Mehrsprachigkeit: Begriffsklärungen, Förderansätze und Forschungsbefunde
Authors: Busse Vera , Hardy Ilonca
Published: May 2023

Literale Fähigkeiten des Lesens und Schreibens sind von zentraler Bedeutung für die Bildungsverläufe und gesellschaftliche Partizipation von Kindern und Jugendlichen. Im einführenden Beitrag zum Themenheft Literalität und Mehrsprachigkeit wird der Forschungsstand zur Entwicklung und Förderung literaler Fähigkeiten bei mehrsprachig aufwachsenden Kindern und Jugendlichen systematisch aufbereitet. Dabei wird Mehrsprachigkeit sowohl auf den individuellen Hintergrund von Lernenden bezogen als auch auf didaktische Ansätze zur Nutzung der Familiensprachen im Unterricht. Die Befunde weisen zwar auf vielversprechende Ansätze der Literalitätsförderung hin, zeigen aber auch, dass bei der systematischen Untersuchung von Wirkungen bei mehrsprachigen Lernenden noch Forschungslücken existieren und dass insbesondere die Einbindung von Familiensprachen als Ressource im Prozess des Lesens und Schreibens bislang noch nicht ausreichend untersucht ist. Vor diesem Hintergrund beschäftigen sich die Aufsätze des Themenheftes mit dem Zusammenwirken individueller Lernendenvoraussetzungen und unterrichtlichen Arrangements.
Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) is spread by rain splash from infected leaf litter in a semi-controlled experiment
Authors: Li Kevin , Hajian-Forooshani Zachary , Vandermeer John , Perfecto Ivette
Published: May 2023

The coffee leaf rust disease (CLR), caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is an economically significant phytopathogen of cultivated Coffea species. Since coffee plants with CLR drop their infected leaves, rain splash from infected leaf litter could be one way H. vastatrix spores are dispersed, but this mechanism has not been demonstrated. Here we experimentally verify that splash from leaf litter can lead to H. vastatrix dispersal and infection. In a semi-controlled experiment, we compared the infection rates of pairs of potted uninfected, susceptible C. arabica plants with leaf litter that was either infected with CLR (experimental treatment) or without CLR (control). Plants with CLR litter became infected sooner than control plants by a median difference of 2.5 weeks. On average, CLR litter treatment plants had 18% of their leaves infected, while control plants had 9% of leaves infected, though later patterns could reflect leaf turnover and reinfection. Future research should investigate the dynamics of leaf litter splash for CLR in the field. Possible management measures to limit the effect of splash from leaf litter could include planting cover crops or restoring natural groundcover, techniques known to provide additional benefits as understood in general practices of agroecology.
Biological control of strawberry diseases by Aureobasidium pullulans and sugar beet extract under field conditions
Authors: Iqbal Mudassir , Andreasson Erik , Stenberg Johan A.
Published: May 2023

Grey mould (caused by Botrytis cinerea) is the most important pathogen underlying high fungicide dependence in strawberry fields. Reliable biocontrol agents (BCAs) with improved efficiency are needed to replace fungicides. The yeast-like beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (AP-SLU6) has previously exhibited great potential to combat grey mould in greenhouse environments. Here we report results from a two-year full-factorial field trial in a conventional strawberry field, in which we tested two different concentrations of A. pullulans (107 CFU/ml and 106 CFU/ml) and sugar beet extract (SBE). The results showed that all the field treatments reduced grey mould severity postharvest and increased shelf life of the harvested fruit in both years. The best effect was achieved using the highest conidial concentration of A. pullulans, which also resulted in 53% higher fruit production compared to the control treatment at the end of the season, indicating a plant-growth promoting effect of the BCA. These results reveal that spray applications of these novel BCAs contribute to reliable biocontrol of grey mould, leading to improvement of the shelf life of strawberry sales boxes. These findings suggest that A. pullulans and SBE can contribute to a shift from chemical fungicides to sustainable methods without compromising cropping security.
The Adoption of Circular Business Models in Germany: an Analysis of the DAX40 Companies
Authors: Al-Naami Mounir , Hofmann Kay H. , Griese Kai-Michael
Published: May 2023

In view of the rapid depletion of natural resources and the associated overloading of the biological ecosystem, the concept of circular business models (CBMs) is increasingly discussed in the literature as well as in business practice. CBMs have the potential to significantly reduce the demand for natural resources. Despite their increasing relevance, the diffusion of CBMs in business practice is largely unexplored. Consequently, this article investigates the extent to which CBMs have already been adopted by large German companies. To answer this question, the annual and sustainability reports of the members of the DAX40 are analyzed for the presence of five specific types of CBMs. Data was gathered for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to describe the development over time. The results show an increasing prevalence of CBMs in the DAX companies. In addition, it is noticeable that CBM types that serve to close material cycles are implemented more frequently than those that decelerate material cycles. In particular Sharing Platforms and Product as a Service stand out due to comparatively low adoption. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed and managerial as well as policy implications suggested.
Simple and universal function of acetic acid to overcome the drought crisis
Authors: Kudo Toru , To Taiko Kim , Kim Jong-Myong
Published: May 2023

Acetic acid is a simple and universal compound found in various organisms. Recently, acetic acid was found to play an essential role in conferring tolerance to water deficit stress in plants. This novel mechanism of drought stress tolerance mediated by acetic acid via networks involving phytohormones, genes, and chromatin regulation has great potential for solving the global food crisis and preventing desertification caused by global warming. We highlight the functions of acetic acid in conferring tolerance to water deficit stress.
Shut Up & Write!® builds writing self-efficacy and self-regulation in early-career researchers
Authors: Proulx Chelsea N. , Rubio Doris M. , Norman Marie K. , Mayowski Colleen A.
Published: May 2023

Introduction:

High writing self-efficacy and self-regulation are tied to publication and grant submission. Writers with these attributes are more productive. We investigated whether participating in a Shut Up & Write!®-style intervention (SUAW) would produce statistically significant gains in writing self-efficacy and self-regulation when comparing pre-post-participation surveys.

Methods:

Forty-seven medical students, TL1/KL2, and early-career faculty from across the USA expressed interest in participating, with 37 completing the pre-survey. We conducted (on Zoom) a 12-week SUAW series and measured the effect using a pre-post survey adapted from the Writer Self-Perception Scale. Paired t-tests (α = 0.05) were conducted on three subscales to test for significant differences between pre- and post-test means. The subscales reflected writing attitudes, writing strategies, and avoiding writing distractions. Subscales showed acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach’s alphas of 0.80, 0.71, and 0.72, respectively.

Results:

Twenty-seven participants attended at least one session. Of these, 81% presented as female, and 60% were from NIH-defined Underrepresented Backgrounds and/or were from Minority-Serving Institutions. Twenty-four completed both the pre- and post-surveys. Sixty percent previously participated in an activity similar to SUAW. We found significant improvements in writing attitudes (p = 0.020) and writing strategies (p = 0.041) for those who previously participated. For those who had not previously participated, we found improved writing strategies (p = 0.002). Eighty percent were very satisfied/satisfied with SUAW.

Discussion:

Researchers have tied writing self-efficacy and self-regulation to timely publication and grant submission. We found significant gains in self-efficacy and self-regulation, suggesting that participation in a SUAW-style intervention may increase writing productivity.
Reynolds number dependence of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface in temporally developing turbulent boundary layers
Authors: Zhang Xinxian , Watanabe Tomoaki , Nagata Koji
Published: May 2023

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of temporally developing turbulent boundary layers are performed with a wide range of Reynolds numbers based on the momentum thickness

$Re_{\theta } = 2000$

–

$13\,000$

for investigating the Reynolds number dependence of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) layer. The grid spacing in the DNS is determined carefully such that small-scale turbulent motions near the TNTI are well resolved. The outer edge of the TNTI layer, called the irrotational boundary, is detected with vorticity magnitude. The mean thicknesses of the TNTI layer,

$\delta _{TNTI}$

, turbulent sublayer,

$\delta _{TSL}$

, and viscous superlayer,

$\delta _{VSL}$

, are found to be approximately

$15\eta _{TI}$

,

$10\eta _{TI}$

and

$5\eta _{TI}$

, respectively, where

$\eta _{TI}$

is the Kolmogorov scale taken in the turbulent region near the TNTI layer. The mean curvature of the irrotational boundary is also characterized by

$\eta _{TI}$

. The shear parameter and the shear-to-vorticity ratio show that the mean shear effects near the TNTI layer are not significant for both large and small scales. The anisotropy tensors of Reynolds stress and vorticity suggest that the turbulence under the TNTI layer tends to be isotropic at high

$Re_{\theta }$

, for which

$\eta _{TI}/\delta \sim Re_{\theta }^{-3/4}$

is valid with the boundary layer thickness

$\delta$

. The surface area of the irrotational boundary is consistent with the fractal analysis of the interface, where the fractal dimension

$D_f$

is found to be

$2.14$

–

$2.20$

. The present results suggest that the mean entrainment rate per unit horizontal area normalized by the friction velocity varies slowly as

$Re_{\theta }^{(3/4)(D_f-2)}$

for

$Re_{\theta } \geq 4000$

.
A confirmation of a conjecture on Feldman’s two-armed bandit problem
Authors: Chen Zengjing , Lin Yiwei , Zhang Jichen
Published: May 2023

The myopic strategy is one of the most important strategies when studying bandit problems. In 2018, Nouiehed and Ross put forward a conjecture about Feldman’s bandit problem (J. Appl. Prob. (2018) 55, 318–324). They proposed that for Bernoulli two-armed bandit problems, the myopic strategy stochastically maximizes the number of wins. In this paper we consider the two-armed bandit problem with more general distributions and utility functions. We confirm this conjecture by proving a stronger result: if the agent playing the bandit has a general utility function, the myopic strategy is still optimal if and only if this utility function satisfies reasonable conditions.
Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of Olibanum extract against enteric and intramuscular phases of trichinosis in experimentally infected mice
Authors: Matar A.M. , Kora M.A. , Shendi S.S.
Published: May 2023

Trichinosis is a global food-borne zoonotic disease. Most drugs used in its treatment have low bioavailability and reduced activity against larvae. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and effective medications. This study aimed to investigate thein vivoanti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of olibanum (OL) extract, alone or combined with albendazole (ABZ) during both intestinal and muscular phases of trichinosis. Male Swiss albino mice (n = 130) were allocated to seven groups, with 20 mice in each group except for the negative control group (10 mice): negative control (GI), positive control (GII), OL25- treated (GIII), OL50- treated (GIV), ABZ50- treated (GV), OL25 + ABZ25 (GVI), and OL50 + ABZ25 (GVII). For intestinal and muscular phase analysis, each group was divided into two subgroups based on euthanizing day (6 and 35 days post-infection). The drug’s efficacy was evaluated through parasitological, biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies. OL extract at both concentrations (25 mg/kg/d, 50 mg/kg/d) significantly reduced adult (53.7% and 68.1%, respectively) and larval counts (57.3% and 78.8%, respectively). It improved the histopathological changes in intestine and muscle. The expression of CD8+T cells and the serum level of IL-10 increased significantly during both intestinal and muscular phases (P< 0.05) in OL50 treated mice. Additionally, OL decreased abnormal levels of liver enzymes (ALT & AST). Its effects were dose-dependent in both adult and larval stages. In conclusion, OL exhibits promisingin vivoactivity against both stages ofTrichinella spiralisinfection, particularly at the intramuscular phase. It can be safe as an alternative treatment for trichinosis.
The wisdom of ghosts
Authors: Clack Beverley
Published: May 2023

According to Carolyne Larrington, legends of the past ‘offer particular kinds of answers – beautiful and mysterious answers. . . – to very large questions through a kind of metaphorical thinking . . . which, in their stripped-down clarity, show us what's really important in an unfamiliar light’. The claim that ‘what is really important [is disclosed] by casting it in an unfamiliar light’ I take into a philosophical engagement with the figure of the ghost. Far from being of dubious interest for the philosopher of religion, the continuing fascination with ghosts and hauntings offers promising ground for the discussion of religion, for the study of ghosts holds out the possibility of engaging with the wonder and terror of the human condition. The figure of something that is dead yet alive is a creative representation of the fact that we who are alive are also mortal, destined to die. The resulting confrontation with death arouses anxiety, but also has the potential to enrich life. The wisdom of the ghost thus enables the possibility of returning philosophy of religion to the great themes of human existence – birth, suffering, loss, and death – which provide rich resources for understanding religion and its relation to the experience of being human.
Framing dementia care in families with a migration background: an analysis of practitioners’ and family carers’ views and experiences
Authors: Ahmad Menal , Saharso Sawitri , Tonkens Evelien
Published: May 2023

Little is known regarding the ways in which practitioners’ views and approaches impact support for persons with a migration background (PwM) caring for individuals with dementia. This paper responds to this knowledge gap by identifying how practitioners frame dementia care in families with a migration background, and how these frames can be understood in light of the experiences of PwM caring for a family member with dementia. A total of 41 participants were included: ten practitioners (i.e. health and social care workers) and 31 PwM caring for a family member with dementia. All participants were part of a qualitative research project on dementia care in Dutch families with a migration background. Practitioners’ expressed frames were identified through Hochschild’s interpretive framework of ‘framing and feeling rules’. Thereafter, practitioners’ identified frames were related to the care experiences of PwM caring for a family member with dementia. Findings indicate that practitioners operate within an approach that does not sufficiently take into account the uniqueness of each family carer. This leads to frictions within the practitioner–client relationship. We thus highlight the need for discussions about the tenability of practitioners’ views and approaches in an increasingly globalised and diverse society.