bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial and Antibiotic-Resistance Reversal Activity of Some Medicinal Plants from Cameroon against Selected Resistant and Non-Resistant Uropathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Arsene Mbarga Manga Joseph , Viktorovna Podoprigora Irina , Davares Anyutoulou Kitio Linda , Parfait Kezimana , Andreevna Smolyakova Larissa , Mouafo Hippolyte Tene , Rehailia Manar , Vyacheslavovna Yashina Natalia , Pavlovna Smirnova Irina , Manga Irma Aurelia Monique , Sergueïevna Das Milana
Published: September 2022

Background and Aim: Antibiotics’ resistance is the leading cause of complications in the treatment of urinary tract infections. This study aimed to screen the antimicrobial potential of 8 plants from Cameroon against multi-resistant uropathogenic (MRU) bacteria and to investigate their antibioresistance reversal properties. Method: Bioactive compounds were extracted from leaves of Leucanthemum vulgare, Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina; barks of Cinchona officinalis and Enantia chlorantha barks and seeds of Garcinia lucida and leaves and seeds of Azadirachta indica using water and ethanol as solvents. The extracts were tested against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Candida albicans 10231 using the well diffusion and the broth microdilution methods. The antibiotic-resistance reversal activity was assessed against selected MRU bacteria. The phytochemical composition and the elemental composition of the most active extracts were assessed respectively using HPLC-MS/MS and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Results: Among the most active plants, in decreasing order of antimicrobial activity we found ethanolic (EE) and aqueous extracts (AE) of E. chloranta bark (ECB), EE of L. vulgare leaves and G. lucida seeds. The best synergies between common antibiotics and extracts were found with EE-ECB which well-modulated kanamycin nitrofurantoin and ampicillin. All the compounds identified in EE-ECB were alkaloids and the major constituents were palmatine (51.63%), columbamine+7,8-dihydro-8-hydroxypalmatine (19.21%), jatrorrhizine (11.02%) and pseudocolumbamine (6.33%). Among the minerals found in EE-ECB (S, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn and Br), Br, Fe and Cl were the most abundant with mean fluorescence intensities of 4.6529, 3.4854 and 2.5942 cps/uA respectively. Conclusions: The ethanol extract of the bark of E. chlorantha has remarkable, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and contains several palmatine derivatives.
Diagnostic Potential of the Serum lncRNAs HOTAIR, BRM and ICR for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lou Zhong-Han , Xu Ke-Yang , Qiao Liang , Su Xiao-Qian , Ou-Yang Yuan , Miao Liang-Bin , Liu Fang , Wang Yi , Fu Ai , Ren Xian-Hua , Huang Jing-Song , Li Zhao-Yi , Bao Jian-Feng
Published: September 2022

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely associated with the initiation, progression, metastasis, and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They could therefore serve as markers for the early diagnosis and for the prognosis of HCC patients. Methods: This was an observational prospective cohort study. A total of 101 participants were included, comprising patients with HCC (n = 61), liver cirrhosis (LC) (n = 20), or healthy controls (HC) (n = 20). The baseline characteristics of participants in each group were compared. Serum levels of the lncRNAs HOTAIR, BRM and ICR were determined in each group by reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlations between the serum levels of the three lncRNAs and multiple clinical parameters were analysed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic potential for HCC of each lncRNA individually, or in combination with AFP. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of these lncRNAs for predicting the outcome and survival of HCC patients. Results: The serum levels of HOTAIR, BRM and ICR were significantly higher in HCC patients compared to LC patients and healthy subjects. The HOTAIR level was positively correlated to tumour-node metastasis (TNM), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, extrahepatic metastasis, vascular invasion, portal vein tumour thrombus (PVTT), and tumour size. The BRM level was positively associated with TNM stage, BCLC stage, vascular invasion, PVTT, and tumour size, while the ICR level was positively correlated with PVTT. A combination of the three lncRNAs and AFP showed the highest diagnostic accuracy for HCC, with an AUC of 0.998, sensitivity of 98.4%, and specificity of 100.0%. This combination showed a better diagnostic accuracy than the individual lncRNAs or AFP alone. Serum levels of the HOTAIR and ICR lncRNAs decreased significantly following surgery. Conclusions: Serum levels of the HOTAIR, BRM and ICR lncRNAs are potential prognostic markers for HCC. Upregulation of HOTAIR, BRM and ICR may facilitate early diagnosis and indicate poor prognosis for HCC. These lncRNAs could potentially serve as therapeutic targets for HCC. Combination of the three lncRNAs with AFP may increase the diagnostic accuracy for HCC. Further studies in larger cohorts of patients are needed to validate these findings.
M1ARegpred: Epitranscriptome Target Prediction of N1-methyladenosine (m1A) Regulators Based on Sequencing Features and Genomic Features
Authors: Yao Jia-Hui , Lin Meng-Xian , Liao Wen-Jun , Fan Wei-Jie , Xu Xiao-Xin , Shi Haoran , Wu Shu-Xiang
Published: September 2022

Background: N1-methyladenosine (m1A) is a reversible post-transcriptional modification in mRNA, which has been proved to play critical roles in various biological processes through interaction with different m1A regulators. There are several m1A regulators existing in the human genome, including YTHDF1-3 and YTHDC1. Methods: Several techniques have been developed to identify the substrates of m1A regulators, but their binding specificity and biological functions are not yet fully understood due to the limitations of wet-lab approaches. Here, we submitted the framework m1ARegpred (m1A regulators substrate prediction), which is based on machine learning and the combination of sequence-derived and genome-derived features. Results: Our framework achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) scores of 0.92 in the full transcript model and 0.857 in the mature mRNA model, showing an improvement compared to the existing sequence-derived methods. In addition, motif search and gene ontology enrichment analysis were performed to explore the biological functions of each m1A regulator. Conclusions: Our work may facilitate the discovery of m1A regulators substrates of interest, and thereby provide new opportunities to understand their roles in human bodies.
Factors Associated with Receiving a Discharge Care Plan After Stroke in Australia: A Linked Registry Study
Authors: Polhill Emma , Kilkenny Monique F , Cadilhac Dominique A , Lannin Natasha A , Dalli Lachlan L , Purvis Tara , Andrew Nadine E , Thrift Amanda G , Sundararajan Vijaya , Olaiya Muideen T
Published: September 2022

Background: Discharge planning is recommended to optimise the transition from acute care to home for patients admitted with stroke. Despite this guideline recommendation, many patients do not receive a discharge care plan. Also, there is limited evidence on factors influencing the provision of discharge care plan post-stroke. We evaluated patient, clinical and system factors associated with receiving a care plan on discharge from hospital back to the community after stroke. Methods: This was an observational cohort study of patients with acute stroke who were discharged to the community between 2009–2013, using data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry linked to hospital administrative data. For this analysis, we used merged dataset containing information on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and receipt of acute care processes. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with receiving a discharge care plan. Results: Among 7812 eligible patients (39 hospitals, median age 73 years, 44.7% female, 56.9% ischaemic stroke), 47% received a care plan at discharge. The odds of receiving a discharge care plan increased over time (odds ratio [OR] 1.39 per year, 95% CI 1.37–1.48), and varied between hospitals. Factors associated with receiving a discharge care plan included greater socioeconomic position (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.38), diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05–1.33), greater stroke severity (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01–1.31), or being discharged on antihypertensive medication (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.69–3.50). In contrast, factors associated with a reduced odds of receiving a discharge care plan included being aged 85+ years (vs<85 years; OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.96), discharged on a weekend (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.46–0.67), discharged to residential aged care (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39–0.60), or being treated in a large hospital (>300 beds; OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.92). Conclusions: Implementing practices to target people who are older, discharged to residential aged care, or discharged on a weekend may improve discharge planning and post-discharge care after stroke.
Lived Experiences of English Teachers in Integrating Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy on Their Differentiated Instruction Practices: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Mae E. Nava Clara , P. Cortezano Glen , D. Yazon Alberto , A. Manaig Karen , Frederick B. Tesoro John
Published: September 2022

This qualitative research, a hermeneutic study, focused on exploring and capturing the essence and meaning of lived experiences of English teachers in integrating Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy into their differentiated instruction practices. Bloom's Digital Taxonomy highly contributes to the change that education witnesses today. Students acquire knowledge and skills in various ways and at different speeds, and the idea of giving a personalized learning experience for students in a digital classroom is challenging. From the interviews and observations conducted, participants revealed that acceptance and self-initiated learning served as the key to adapting to technology and learning tools as anchored in Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy for the sudden paradigm shift in education. Participants considered technical aspects, digital literary skills, monitoring, and interaction as challenges to overcome and should be a part of the virtual preparedness.
Moreover, teachers positively embrace and maximize the use of technology in education. BDT keeps them on track in aligning learning objectives in differentiated instruction attainable in a virtual set-up. The use of Digital tools as anchored in BDT boosts engagement and motivation, builds closer imitation of face-to-face classes, and enhances education delivery and management in a virtual environment. The researcher recommends that teachers undergo professional development focusing on BDT in differentiated instruction teaching English subjects. The education may use the MDT-EDP Training plan of this study and may conduct a needs analysis to provide the most relevant training for the educators based on their skills, needs, and interest.
Marketing of Moa buffalo at farm level in Maluku Province, Indonesia
Authors: Tatipikalawan Jomima Martha , Haryadi F. T. , Sulastri E. , Widi T.S.M.
Published: September 2022

Buffalo Moa is Indonesia's local livestock which is potentially maintained by the community on Moa Island as a source of family income and nutrition. This study aims to examine the marketing system, selling prices and factors that influence the price of buffalo at the farmer level. The results of the study found that the maintenance system was still traditionally carried out with two systems, namely semi-intensive during the rainy season and extensive during the dry season. The main motivation for raising livestock as a source of income, others as a means of payment for customary sanctions, family and religious events, marriage dowries. Buffalo cattle are marketed in the form of live animals and use intermediary traders. Weak market information so traders are more dominant in selling prices. Determination of the value of buffalo as a medium of exchange based on horn length and sex, the value of buffalo to be traded based on its performance, not defective, male sex at a higher price and the age range of 5–10 years, normal skin (not albino) is preferred Factors that influence the selling price at the breeder level are buffalo age, gender, skin color and climate.
Impact of Exercise Training on Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Olagunju Abdulbaril , Yamani Naser , Unzek Samuel , Lee-Iannotti Joyce K. , Mookadam Farouk , Mookadam Martina
Published: September 2022

Background

Randomized controlled trials have highlighted the importance of exercise training on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to analyze the data from these studies on the severity of OSA indices as measured by formal polysomnography. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of exercise on oxygen desaturation index, body mass index and several metabolic parameters associated with OSA.

Methods

Two independent reviewers and an experienced librarian searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases from January 1, 2000, to October 21, 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the impact of exercise training on OSA severity. Pre-exercise and postexercise training data on the primary and secondary objectives were extracted.

Results

A total of 11 randomized controlled trials (533 study participants) were identified based on the inclusion criteria. The mean pre-exercise and postexercise reduction in apnea hypopnea index was −6.94 event per hour (95% confidence interval [CI]: −10.74 to −3.13, I2 = 84%). The mean changes in oxygen desaturation index and body mass index were −5.32 events per hour (95% CI: −9.65 to −0.99, I2 = 73%) and −1.21 kg·m−2 (95% CI: −1.80 to −0.62, I2 = 49%) respectively.

Conclusion

In adult patients with OSA, exercise training was associated with statistically significant reduction in OSA severity.
Low-Level Exercise During Chemotherapy Infusion: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kerrigan Dennis J. , Walker Eleanor M. , Ehrman Jonathan K. , Baxter Jodi , Harbac Roxanne M. , Keteyian Steven J.
Published: September 2022

Background

Exercise training mitigates some adverse side effects (i.e. fatigue, nausea) of chemotherapy. However, many patients with cancer do not participate in regular exercise due to these adverse side effects as well as other common barriers (e.g. access, time, motivation). This brief report describes the physiological response during a low level cycle ergometry exercise, performed while patients were receiving their chemotherapy infusion. Additionally, the frequency of clinical events following exercise infusion was reported.

Methods

Breast cancer patients (n = 14, mean age = 54) who were currently participating in the Exercise and Cancer Integrative Therapies Education Program (ExCITE) at Henry Ford Hospital were asked to perform self-selected light intensity exercise on a portable leg ergometry machine (Monarck) while receiving chemotherapy. Heart rate during exercise infusion was maintained approximately at 30–40% of heart rate reserve. Differences in adverse clinical events following the exercise-infusion sessions were compared to standard infusion only visits (no exercise) using a Pearson Chi-Square test.

Results

These 5 patients underwent 17 chemotherapy infusions during exercise i. Participants tolerated the exercise during infusion with no adverse events completing an average duration of 16.4 + 6.2 minutes at a work rate of 18 + 6 W and an exercise heart rate 24 beats above rest. Additionally, there were fewer reported adverse clinical events following exercise infusion compared to infusion alone (12% vs. 53%; P = 0.002).

Conclusion

These preliminary data indicate that performing light-intensity exercise during chemotherapy infusion can be well tolerated in select patients. Further research is needed to further assess safety and if an exercise during chemotherapy may have any clinical benefit.
Differential expression of PMP2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: September 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases that affect the motor neurons, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have little treatment options and are generally rapidly fatal (1, 2). We harnessed the power of unbiased, whole transcriptome differential gene expression analysis, utilizing primary patient cells and tissues to discover genes whose expression defines ALS using published data (3, 4). We found significant differential expression of PMP2, encoding peripheral myelin protein 2, in the motor neurons of patients with ALS. PMP2 was also differentially expressed in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons of patients with ALS. PMP2 transcript was present at significantly higher levels in ALS patient motor neurons as compared to control motor neurons. These analyses will begin to define the transcriptional landscape of ALS.
Differential expression of LOC339685 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: September 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases that affect the motor neurons, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have little treatment options and are generally rapidly fatal (1, 2). We harnessed the power of unbiased, whole transcriptome differential gene expression analysis, utilizing primary patient cells and tissues to discover genes whose expression defines ALS using published data (3, 4). We found significant differential expression of LOC339685, encoding uncharacterized LOC339685, in the motor neurons of patients with ALS. LOC339685 was also differentially expressed in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons of patients with ALS. LOC339685 transcript was present at significantly lower levels in ALS patient motor neurons as compared to control motor neurons. These analyses will begin to define the transcriptional landscape of ALS.
The Effect of Music on the Motivation of Athletes in Taekwondo and Karate Training
Authors: Erbaş Ülfet , Çakir Zekai
Published: September 2022

This study examines the effect of music on motivation during sports activities in taekwondo and karate training. A total of 258 active athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 be engaged in taekwondo (n=159) and karate (n=99) branches participated in the study voluntarily. “The Effect of Music in Sports Activities Scale (SUMEÖ),” developed by Karayol and Turhan (2020), was used to collect data in the study. The scale consists of 18 items, has 3 sub-dimensions, and is in a 5-point Likert type. The data were collected using the Effect of Music in Sports Activities Scale and digital web technologies. Descriptive statistics were made for demographic variables in the analysis of the research data. Data obtained from the scale were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 program. According to the results of the analysis, it can be said that the type of music chosen by the athletes and the upbeat music has a significant effect on sports activities. In training with technical exercises step, it was determined that listening to fast-paced music chosen by the athletes themselves can increase the motivation of the exercises while listening to slow-paced music contributes to the recovery process. It can be said that music is a tool to motivate athletes by reducing the stress on athletes and that the gender variable is a factor affecting the effect of music in sports activities in different branches.
Reassembling Durkheimian Sociology of Space
Authors: Liebst Lasse Suonperä
Published: September 2022

The social morphological research program outlined by the founding fa-ther of French sociology, Émile Durkheim, recognizes space as a key el-ement in the structuring of the social world. Yet, this early Durkheimian sociology of space is often neglected in the older as well as newer socio-logical literature. This article examines the theory historical background of this neglected status of Durkheimian social morphology and considers which steps need to be taken in order to allow the social morphology to further fulfill its space sociological potential.
Differential expression of CACNA2D1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: September 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases that affect the motor neurons, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have little treatment options and are generally rapidly fatal (1, 2). We harnessed the power of unbiased, whole transcriptome differential gene expression analysis, utilizing primary patient cells and tissues to discover genes whose expression defines ALS using published and public data (3, 4). We found significant differential expression of CACNA2D1, encoding calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha 2 delta 1, in the motor neurons of patients with ALS. CACNA2D1 was also differentially expressed in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons of patients with ALS. CACNA2D1 transcript was present at significantly lower levels in ALS patient motor neurons as compared to control motor neurons. These analyses will begin to define the transcriptional landscape of ALS.
Loss of FOXP2 expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: September 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases that affect the motor neurons, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have little treatment options and are generally rapidly fatal (1, 2). We harnessed the power of unbiased, whole transcriptome differential gene expression analysis, utilizing primary patient cells and tissues to discover genes whose expression defines ALS using published data (3, 4). We found significant differential expression of FOXP2, encoding forkhead box P2, in the motor neurons of patients with ALS. FOXP2 transcript was present at significantly lower levels in ALS patient motor neurons as compared to control motor neurons. Loss of FOXP2 was also observed in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons of patients with ALS. These data demonstrate substantially reduced FOXP2 expression in motor neurons of patients with ALS, a transcription factor expressed in the spinal cord during development (5), and suggest that this is a fundamental feature of the motor neuron in ALS.
Seasonality of human orthopoxvirus infections
Authors: Lover Andrew , Noymer Andrew
Published: September 2022

Variola infections (smallpox) showed seasonality in temperate climates. This sharp seasonality (peaking in the Winter-Spring) may have important ramifications for control and elimination of human monkeypox (MPX) and should be considered in planning public health response.
Road accidents in India: Looking through the behavioural lens
Authors: Goutam Neeti
Published: September 2022

Roads are meant to connect people and their lives together, also taking a toll over them. It is apparent that deaths caused by road accidents are one of the leading causes of death globally. 1.35 million have people died of road traffic in 2016 worldwide, 90% of them took place in developing countries (World Health Organization, 2018). Road traffic injuries are one of the leading cause of deaths among children aged 5 to 29 years. People succumbing their life to road traffic injuries are higher than that to diarrheal diseases and Tuberculosis. Lots of efforts and mitigation strategies have been put up by the government at the local and also at the global level, still there lacks infrastructure, enforcement and behavioral understanding about road safety. The sustainable Development Goal target 3.6 of reducing the number of road accidents by 50% is far from sufficient.This paper thus tries to presents the overview of road accidents at Global & National Level and behavioral attributions and modifications of people for road safety.
Rethinking replication in empirical legal research
Authors: Chin Jason , Holcombe Alex O.
Published: September 2022

A large number of systematic replication attempts in the social sciences have failed to support the claims in the original studies. These surprising results have inspired a body of metascientific research aimed at understanding these failures to replicate and ensuring future research is credible. In this article, we relate these new insights from metascience to empirical legal research. Specifically, a recent effort to replicate three influential empirical legal studies published in law journals found results that diverged from the originals. The replicators suggested their results were caused by the changing social context and did not explicitly consider whether the original effects were overstated or false positives. We re-analysed the data from the replications to attempt to confirm their results (i.e., computational reproducibility) with mixed success. When possible, we combined the data from the replications (i.e., meta-analysis) to leverage the greater precision that comes with large sample sizes. In one case, we found an effect where the replicators did not. Overall, however, our re-analysis and review of the broader social scientific context suggests that empirical legal research suffers from the same challenges plaguing other fields – small sample sizes and undisclosed flexibility have produced untrustworthy results.
"It's your fault!" - said the vaccinated to the unvaccinated. The effect of COVID-19 vaccination on responsibility attribution
Authors: Drążkowski Dariusz , Trepanowski Radosław
Published: September 2022

Little is known about what determines the perceptions of a person who may have infected someone with COVID-19. We examined how observers' perception is affected by (not) being vaccinated against COVID-19 by 1) the observer (study participants), 2) the infectious actor (who is assessed), and 3) the infected person. Overall, 395 participants were assigned to one of four conditions which differed in who was vaccinated or not. We found that vaccinated observers (as opposed to unvaccinated) attributed more responsibility for infection to the unvaccinated actor, whom they perceived as less moral, trustworthy, and empathetic. Generally, it did not affect observers' evaluation of the actor whether the infected person was vaccinated, just as it did not affect unvaccinated observers whether the actor was vaccinated or not. Our results suggest that unvaccinated individuals may be negatively assessed by vaccinated ones when they are suspected of being the source of COVID-19 infections.
Religious Beliefs and Protesting Poland's Abortion Rights Restriction: A Study of Motivational Pathways
Authors: Drążkowski Dariusz , Trepanowski Radosław
Published: September 2022

The motivational associations between components of religiosity and protests against abortion restrictions are unknown. The present study aimed to identify the determinants of engaging in protests against abortion restrictions by examining two components of religiosity, transcendence and symbolism, as predictors of reactance state. We analyzed data collected from 853 Poles during protests against the restriction of abortion rights. We found that transcendence belief declined and belief symbolism increased, reactance against abortion restriction increased, attitudes towards antiabortion protests became more positive, and engagement in those protests increased. These results showed motivational pathways linking religiosity to involvement in protests against abortion restriction.
Attention Deficits Linked with Proclivity to Explore while Foraging
Authors: Barack David L , Ludwig Vera U. , Parodi Felipe , Ahmed Nuwar , Brannon Elizabeth M. , Ramakrishnan Arjun , Platt Michael
Published: September 2022

Background: All mobile organisms forage for resources, choosing to depart for a new source based on changes in resource intake rates and comparisons with the average for the environment. In humans, nomadic lifestyles favoring exploration have been associated with genetic mutations implicated in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inviting the hypothesis that this condition may impact foraging decisions in the general population. Here we tested this pre-registered hypothesis by examining when human participants chose to leave depleting resource patches for new ones in an online foraging task.Design: The report studied the foraging behavior of participants [n = 506; mean age = 45.72 ± 16.08 y.o.; 46.4% male], drawn from an online experimental platform. Participants completed a basic foraging task on the computer, deciding on every trial whether to continue collecting rewards from a depleting patch of resources or to replenish the patch, from their home and then completed an ADHD self-report survey. Results: Participants departed resource patches sooner when travel times between patches were shorter than when they were longer, as predicted by optimal foraging theory. Participants whose scores on a well-validated self-report assessment for ADHD crossed the threshold for a positive screen departed patches significantly sooner than participants who did not meet this criterion. Participants meeting this threshold for ADHD also achieved higher reward rates than individuals who did not.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ADHD attributes may confer foraging advantages in some environments and invite the possibility that this condition may reflect an adaptation favoring exploration over exploitation.
HBMIRT: A SAS Macro for Estimating Uni- and Multidimensional 1- and 2-Parameter Item Response Models in Small (and Large!) Samples (R1)
Authors: Wagner Wolfgang , Zitzmann Steffen , Hecht Martin
Published: September 2022

Item response theory (IRT) has evolved as a standard psychometric approach in recent years, in particular for test construction based on dichotomous (i.e., true/false) items. Unfortunately, large samples are typically needed for item refinement in unidimensional models and even more so in the multidimensional case. However, Bayesian IRT approaches with hierarchical priors have recently been shown to be promising for estimating even complex models in small samples. Still, it may be challenging for applied researchers to set up such IRT models in general purpose or specialized statistical computer programs. Therefore, we developed a user-friendly tool – a SAS macro called HBMIRT – that allows to estimate uni- and multidimensional IRT models with dichotomous items. We explain the capabilities and features of the macro and demonstrate the particular advantages of the implemented hierarchical priors in rather small samples over weakly informative priors and traditional maximum likelihood estimation with the help of a simulation study. The macro can also be used with the online version of SAS OnDemand for Academics that is freely accessible for academic researchers.
Why should we punish and how? The role of moral intuitions and personal worldviews for punitiveness and sentencing preferences
Authors: Jorgensen Oyvind , Nilsson Artur
Published: September 2022

This research investigated the role of moral foundations and broader worldviews in judgments about why and how criminal offenders should be punished. In Study 1, Swedish law students (N = 103) and social science students (N = 130) evaluated how harsh the punishment for crimes that varied across three crime categories and five contexts should be. In Study 2, Swedish adults (N = 161) evaluated eight sentencing goals and thirteen sentencing methods. Humanism and individualizing intuitions were associated with higher punitiveness for crimes that involved a selfish motive or harm inflicted upon the victim and with increased focus on rehabilitation and counseling. Normativism and binding intuitions were associated with higher punitiveness when the damage was primarily material, less leniency when there were mitigating circumstances, and more focus on retribution, deterrence, restoration, incapacitation, denunciation, and imprisonment. The moral foundations predicted preferences concerning sentence goals and methods better while the worldviews predicted punitiveness better. The results show that we need to take both people’s moral foundations and their broader worldviews into consideration to understand why and how they think criminals should be punished.
Relationships between drinking habits, psychological resilience, and salivary cortisol responses on the Trier Social Stress Test–Online among Japanese people
Authors: Ueno Masaharu
Published: September 2022

Background: This study aimed to determine whether individual differences in resilience interacted with those in alcohol consumption habits in situations involving exposure to psychosocial stressors (Trier Social Stress Test-Online; TSST-OL). In addition, we investigated whether individuals with resilience regarding the psychological scale scores showed biological responses that could be interpreted as resilience in stressful situations, such as the TSST-OL. We hypothesized that there would be no association between drinking habits and stress responses in the high resilience group. Furthermore, high drinking habits would be associated with high stress responses in the low resilience group. Methods: We recruited 22 and 20 individuals from the high and low resilience groups, respectively, from among those who completed to the online survey including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and resilience scales, excluding individuals with AUDIT scores of 15 or higher, and dividing them by the median total resilience scale score. During the TSST-OL, self-rating stress measurement and saliva sample collection were performed seven times. Frozen samples were collected at the Tokyo site, and salivary hormonal (cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone) levels were measured after transport in the frozen state. Finally, 36 participants were included in the analysis of self-rating stress and cortisol levels. Results: We observed the typical stress responses to the TSST-OL. People with higher psychological scale scores for resilience traits showed significantly higher salivary cortisol levels compared to those with lower scores. Due to deficiencies in the survey and experimental design, the classification criteria were changed and an exploratory analysis was performed to investigate the interaction of individual differences in resilience and drinking habits. In contrast to our expectation, those with low resilience scores showed stress responses, regardless of their drinking habits. Furthermore, those with high resilience and drinking habits showed a specific insensitivity to salivary cortisol levels. Their self-rating of stress scores were similar to those of other groups. Conclusions: Our study showed the applicability of the TSST-OL in the Japanese population, the individual relationship between psychological resilience measures and biological stress responses, and a specific insensitivity in the salivary cortisol response as a result of individual differences in high resilience and drinking habits.
What does sociological research tell us about ethnic inequalities in European labour markets?
Authors: van Tubergen Frank
Published: September 2022

This paper provides an overview of the sociological literature on ethnic inequalities in European labour markets. It gives an outline of various theories that can explain ethnic inequalities in the labour market, and reviews the empirical evidence drawing on studies in Europe. Subsequently, I show how scholars have used these theoretical and empirical insights to account for the heterogeneity in ethnic inequality by country of origin and immigrant generation. I end with a discussion of policy measures to mitigate ethnic inequality.
Introducing a system operator in the waste management industry by adapting lessons from the energy sector
Authors: Di Foggia Giacomo , Beccarello Massimo
Published: September 2022

Governance of waste management is historically based on local issues, with different applications and rules across countries. To meet the increasing number of circular economic goals, countries worldwide are seeking to improve the efficiency of waste management markets in terms of environmental performance and cost efficiency. For this market to effectively move toward a more circular perspective, sound reforms are needed at the market design level. We suggest that a system operator should be introduced in the industry to coordinate and support the healthy functioning of the market. We develop our idea starting from lessons learned from the energy market that apply governance characteristics and environmental goals. Focusing on the industry structure, we identify tasks and duties that a waste management system operator should perform to boost the transition toward a more circular economy. Our proposal has policy ramifications, with the most important identifying an appropriate legal entity. The study has managerial implications, and we suggest that a system operator is needed for reporting environmental results, ensuring the universality of service, planning and monitoring environmental goals, and supporting local authorities, as well as other coordination activities. These activities will facilitate a move toward a more circular economy, addressing issues concerning the complexity of waste management industries, markets, and outputs.
Ethnic segregation across fields of study in the Netherlands
Authors: van Tubergen Frank
Published: September 2022

Studies on the educational attainment of the second generation have largely focused on vertical ethnic stratification, whereas less is known about ethnic differences in fields of study, i.e., ‘horizontal ethnic stratification’. In this contribution, I examined study choices among the second generation, i.e., children born in the host country with at least one foreign-born parent. I studied the four largest non-EU ethnic groups in the Netherlands, i.e., Turkey, Morocco, Suriname, and Netherlands Antilles, while comparing their choices with ethnic majority members (i.e., those with two native-born parents). I relied on a pooled dataset of annual large-scale labor force surveys conducted in the Netherlands (2003-2018). The results of this study largely confirm the materialism hypothesis. Evidence suggests that -as compared with the ethnic majority population- among these four non-EU ethnic groups, fields of study with better economic prospects are more popular. The traditionalism hypothesis predicted that gender segregation in field of study would be more pronounced among second generation Turks and Moroccans than among ethnic majority members and the Dutch Caribbean groups. Results, however, suggest that the strongest pattern of gender segregation is among the ethnic majority group.
Measurement error and model instability in automated text analysis: the case of topic models
Authors: Ralund Snorre , Carlsen Hjalmar Bang , Klemmensen Robert , Lassen David Dreyer
Published: September 2022

Topic models (TMs) have become the de facto standard for automated content analysis in the social sciences. Some problematic aspects of the models, however, have been recently identified. These mainly concern the high variability of solutions that is the result of both preprocessing and non-deterministic inference in high-dimensional and very large solution spaces. Whether current model selection and validation practices are sufficient to ensure precise and unbiased measurement has been the subject of debate. This paper argues that the prevalent practices of model selection and validation for ensuring unbiased measurement are indeed insufficient. This paper focus is on the use of summarization techniques during labeling, indirect validation techniques, and the employment of heuristics for model selection. Our results document non-trivial biases and show that current model validation techniques lead to arbitrary research outcomes. The study concludes by providing recommendations on ways to validate work based on topic models.
Opportunity Cost of Carbon Pricing and White Certificate Programs: A Business Case
Authors: Di Foggia Giacomo , Beccarello Massimo
Published: September 2022

Carbon pricing aims to capture the external costs of emissions and link them to their sources through a price signal, while market-based policy tools support investments in energy efficiency, rewarding investors following certified energy savings. The interplay between the emission trading system and the white certificate scheme is complex, especially regarding opportunity costs and the efficiency of the two mechanisms combined in achieving environmental goals. Using monthly data covering six years, we analyze how carbon pricing and white certificate programs intertwine. We consider the opportunity cost as the savings from an energy efficiency intervention under the white certificate program in a firm covered by the emission trading system. We calculate the €/MWh savings corresponding to a one MWh reduction in energy consumption to assess the contribution of white certificates and the emission trading system as determinants of the savings induced by an energy efficiency intervention. We then simulate how the economic determinants of saving vary as the dynamics of the gas and emission permit markets change. The relative weight of the components on saving differs significantly according to the dynamics of the related commodity and environmental markets. Provided that the emission trading system is mandatory for certain industries while participation in a white certificate scheme is voluntary, we argue that the overlap between the two mechanisms can be effective. This is important for policymaking, periodic fine-tuning interventions to market-based mechanisms, and increasing flexibility. The paper also has business implications, given that energy managers may use this framework in building energy management strategies.
A Systematic Review of Measures of Perceived Stigma in People with Addictions
Authors: Mackey Sara A , Hunter Simon C.
Published: September 2022

AimsThis systematic review assessed the quality of two measures of perceived stigma in people with addictions: the Perceived Stigma of Addiction Scale (PSAS) and the Alcohol Adapted Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (AA-PDD) (Glass et al., 2013; Luoma et al., 2010). The aim was to identify the patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that best evaluates this phenomenon so future researchers can use it to improve understanding and create change for this population. MethodThree databases: PsychInfo, MEDLINE, and PsychArticles were systematically searched for articles on the evaluation or development of measures of perceived stigma in people with addictions. Included studies aimed to develop or evaluate the psychometric properties of PROMs, focusing solely on perceived stigma in people with addictions. The consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) methodology was used to critically appraise the quality of both PROMS’ measurement properties (Mokkink et al., 2017; Prinsen et al., 2018; Terwee et al., 2018).ResultsNeither PROM showed high-quality psychometric properties that met COSMIN standards (Mokkink et al., 2017; Prinsen et al., 2018; Terwee et al., 2018). Both showed sufficient structural validity, but were indeterminant in most of the other psychometric properties. Having only one article assessing the psychometrics of each PROM, rather than pooling data from multiple articles, limited the results. The PSAS rated slightly better than the AA-PDD due to better results on the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist and its ease of accessibility and scoring. ConclusionsOf the two identified measures, the Perceived Stigma of Addiction Scale rated as the highest-quality. However, neither measure met the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments standards for high-quality measures because most of their psychometric properties were rated as indeterminant.
Diversified and Long-term Cropping Systems Alters the System Sustainability and Energy Use Efficiency in Soils of Indo-Gangetic Plains
Authors: Bhandari Laxmi , Meena Ram Swaroop , Prajapati Birendra , Amgain Lal Prasad
Published: September 2022

The cereal-based intensive cropping practices have posed the yield at a plateau and reduced the energy use efficiency (EUE) of the cropping systems in the Indo-genetic plains (IGPs). The long-term cropping systems experimentations with 4 diversified legumes and cereal cropping systems and a grassland fallow system were studied for >10 years representing different agro-ecological regions at the agricultural research farm, IAS, BHU-Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh of IGPs to assess their impacts on system productivity and energy use efficiency. Out of 4 cropping systems viz, Pigeon pea-Pigeon pea (PP-PP) and Rice-Maize (R-M) systems were managed as conventional cultivation running under the breeding project, however; Dryland Rice-Lentil (R-L) and Zero-till Rice-Wheat (R-W) systems were running under agronomy project. The grassland fallow system was maintained in the agronomy block. The maximum system productivity was seen in the zero till rice-wheat (8185 kg ha-1) system and the lowestpigeon peanpea- pigeonpea system (1615 kg ha-1). However, the maximum EUE was found in pigeonpea system (13.23 MJ ha-1) and the lowest in the zero till rice-wheat system (8.88 MJ ha-1). The study suggests that the inclusion of legumes in the cropping system is vital in enhancing the system productivity and energy use efficiency than the long-term cereal-based system in long-run to the alluvial soils of IGPs.
Multi-year Prediction of Wheat Yield under the Changing Climatic Scenarios in Central-west Terai using DSSAT Crop Model
Authors: Amgain Lal Prasad , Dhakal Devid , Bhandari Laxmi
Published: September 2022

The central-west Terai region is one of the major production domains of wheat in Nepal; however, its yield over the past three decades has been greatly affected by climate anomalies such as fluctuating temperatures, decreased solar radiation and rainfall. NASA-POWER derived weather data of Taulihawa in Kapilbastu (27.55° N, 83.667° E) district in central Terai for the past 32–33 years (1984/85 - 2017/18) were purposively selected and downloaded and validated with recorded weather data (1985/86, 1995/96, 2005/06 and 2015/16) of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM). The trend analysis for grain yield of wheat yield in Kapilvastu was drawn with the historical data of maximum and minimum temperatures and rainfall. Positive correlations between grain yields and minimum temperature and rainfall each showed an acceptable coefficient of determinations (R2). The Cropping system Model - Crop Environment Resource Synthesis (CSM-CERES)- Wheat model, embedded in Decision Support Systems for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) ver 4.7 was used for multi-year predictions of wheat yields using both historically recorded and simulated climatic scenarios. Model simulated results closely agreed with the observed wheat yields recorded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) in Nepal. The correlation coefficient of minimum temperature and wheat yield was 0.272 (p<0.05). The correlation between precipitation and observed and DSSAT simulated wheat yield were 0.379 (p<0.01). The multi-year predicted wheat yields using the historical weather data and by the use of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) scenario embedded in DSSAT crop model showed that yield of wheat could be sustained with use of the current crop cultivars only for 2050 scenarios. Agro-climatic index, mainly temperature, was found to be more sensitive to wheat production in the Nepalese central-west Terai region. This study suggests for the development of new temperature and drought tolerant ready wheat cultivars to feed the increasingly growing Nepalese population.