bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body setae of a carnivorous caterpillar are an antagonistic trait against a defensive trait of prey: A case study of the aphidophagous larvae of Taraka hamada (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Authors: Miyazaki Nanako , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Hattori Mitsuru
Published: April 2023

To feed on prey efficiently, predators must overcome the prey's defensive traits. However, there are fewer reports on the antagonistic traits of predators than there are on the defensive traits of prey.

Here, we focus on prey–predator interactions between social aphids and aphidophagous lepidopteran larvae. Larvae of Taraka hamada (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are specialist predators of the social aphid Ceratovacuna japonica (Homoptera: Aphididae), and later instar larvae have long lateral body setae. Because this aphid produces defensive individuals (soldiers), we hypothesised that T. hamada larvae have an antagonistic trait that prevents attacks by soldiers and tested whether that trait might be their lateral body setae.

To test whether a larva's lateral body setae constitute an antagonistic trait against the soldier's physical defence, we compared the rate of aphid consumption per unit time and the vulnerability to attack by soldiers between larvae with short lateral body setae and larvae with long lateral body setae in the presence of soldiers.

Our results showed that the aphid consumption rate of larvae with long lateral body setae was significantly higher than that of larvae with short lateral body setae. Furthermore, the larvae with short lateral body setae were more vulnerable to soldier attacks than the larvae with long lateral body setae. These results imply that the length of the lateral body setae of T. hamada larvae affects their vulnerability to soldier attacks and that the lateral body setae are an antagonistic trait against the soldiers of this social aphid.
Phytophthora alticola and P. boodjera associated with decline of young Eucalyptus smithii trees in Uruguay
Authors: De Benedetti Franco , Moreira Victoria , Mondino Pedro , Alaniz Sandra
Published: April 2023

Eucalyptus production mainly destined to cellulose pulp production has expanded strongly in the last 30 years in Uruguay. Eucalyptus smithii has recently emerged as a promising species for cellulose pulp production. However, an average of 40% of young trees die during the first and second summer of post‐planting. In this study, 32 Phytophthora isolates were obtained from 132 E. smithii young trees with root and collar rot symptoms, confirming the association of Phytophthora to E. smithii decline. Based on phylogenetic analysis of ITS, TUB2, cox1 and HSP90 gene regions and phenotypical characteristics, two species belonging to the genera Phytophthora clade 4 were identified, P. alticola (96%) and P. boodjera (4%). Tested isolates of both species significantly reduced both shoot and root dry weights of inoculated E. smithii seedlings compared to control plants. To our best knowledge, this is the first time that P. alticola and P. boodjera are recovered from young symptomatic E. smithii trees in commercial plantations as well as the first time these species are found in the Americas.
Maternal choline supplementation during pregnancy to promote mental health in offspring
Authors: Spoelstra S. K. , Eijsink J. J. H. , Hoenders H. J. R. , Knegtering H.
Published: April 2023

Aim

There is increasing interest in the role of choline in brain development, including its possible role in promoting mental health and preventing mental illness. Choline is an essential micronutrient in fetal brain maturation. In more than 90% of pregnant women, choline intake has been found to be lower than the daily‐recommended dose. The aim of this article is to review what is known about the effects of maternal choline supplementation on fetal brain development, early child development and mental health.

Methods

A narrative review of the literature.

Results

A limited number of studies suggest that maternal choline supplementation during pregnancy may enhance fetal brain development and improve early signs and symptoms that may predispose to mental illness.

Conclusion

The general low maternal choline intake during pregnancy, expected health benefits and low risks, make a plea for maternal choline supplementation to promote mental health. Choline supplementation may be especially important for pregnant women with a (family) history of severe mental illness and/or alcohol dependence.
Coping with imbalanced data problem in digital mapping of soil classes
Authors: Sharififar Amin , Sarmadian Fereydoon
Published: April 2023

An unsolved problem in the digital mapping of categorical soil variables and soil types is the imbalanced number of observations, which leads to reduced accuracy and the loss of the minority class (the class with a significantly lower number of observations compared to other classes) in the final map. So far, synthetic over‐ and under‐sampling techniques have been explored in soil science; however, more efficient approaches that do not have the drawbacks of these techniques and guarantee retention of the minority classes in the produced map are essentially required. Such approaches suggested in the present study for digital mapping of soil classes include machine learning models of ensemble gradient boosting, cost‐sensitive learning and one‐class classification (OCC) of the minority class combined with multi‐class classification. In this regard, extreme gradient boosting (XGB) as an ensemble gradient learner, a cost‐sensitive decision tree (CSDT) within the C5.0 algorithm, and a one‐class support vector machine combined with multi‐class classification (OCCM) were investigated to map eight soil great groups with a naturally imbalanced frequency of observations in northwest Iran. A total of 453 profile data points were used for mapping the soil great groups of the study area. A data split was done manually for each class separately, which resulted in an overall 70% of the data for calibration and 30% for validation. The bootstrapping approach of calibration (with 10 runs) was performed to produce multiple maps for each model. The 10 bootstraps were evaluated against the hold‐out validation dataset. The average values of accuracy measures, including Kappa (K), overall accuracy (OA), producer's accuracy (PA) and user's accuracy (UA), were explored. In addition, the results of this study were compared with a previous study in the same area, in which resampling techniques were used to deal with imbalanced data for digital soil class mapping. The findings show that all three suggested methods can deal well with the imbalanced classification problem, with OCCM showing the highest K (= 0.76) and OA (= 82) in the validation stage. Also, this model can guarantee the retention of the minority classes in the final map. Comparing the present approaches with the previous study approach demonstrates that the three newly suggested methods can remarkably increase both overall and individual class accuracy for mapping.
Molecular systems biology approaches to investigate mechanisms of gut−brain communication in neurological diseases
Authors: Boris Vandemoortele , Vanessa Vermeirssen
Published: April 2023

Background

Whilst the incidence of neurological diseases is increasing worldwide, treatment remains mostly limited to symptom management. The gut−brain axis, which encompasses the communication routes between microbiota, gut and brain, has emerged as a crucial area of investigation for identifying new preventive and therapeutic targets in neurological disease.

Methods

Due to the inter‐organ, systemic nature of the gut−brain axis, together with the multitude of biomolecules and microbial species involved, molecular systems biology approaches are required to accurately investigate the mechanisms of gut−brain communication. High‐throughput omics profiling, together with computational methodologies such as dimensionality reduction or clustering, machine learning, network inference and genome‐scale metabolic models, allows novel biomarkers to be discovered and elucidates mechanistic insights.

Results

In this review, the general concepts of experimental and computational methodologies for gut−brain axis research are introduced and their applications are discussed, mainly in human cohorts. Important aspects are further highlighted concerning rational study design, sampling procedures and data modalities relevant for gut−brain communication, strengths and limitations of methodological approaches and some future perspectives.

Conclusion

Multi‐omics analyses, together with advanced data mining, are essential to functionally characterize the gut−brain axis and put forward novel preventive or therapeutic strategies in neurological disease.
Soluble adenylyl cyclase contributes to imiquimod‐mediated inflammation and is a potential therapeutic target in psoriasis
Authors: You Jaewon , Reilly Michael D. , Eljalby Mahmoud , Bareja Rohan , Yusupova Maftuna , Vyas Nikki S. , Bang Jakyung , Ding Wanhong , Desman Garrett , Miller Lloyd S. , Elemento Olivier , Granstein Richard D. , Zippin Jonathan H.
Published: April 2023

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) has a key role in psoriasis pathogenesis, as indicated by the therapeutic efficacy of phosphodiesterase inhibitors that prevent the degradation of cAMP. However, whether soluble adenylate cyclase (sAC) (encoded by the ADCY10 gene), which is an important source for cAMP, is involved in Th17 cell‐mediated inflammation or could be an alternative therapeutic target in psoriasis is unknown. We have utilized the imiquimod model of murine psoriasiform dermatitis to address this question. Adcy10−/− mice had reduced erythema, scaling and swelling in the skin and reduced CD4+ IL17+ cell numbers in the draining lymph nodes, compared with wild‐type mice after induction of psoriasiform dermatitis with imiquimod. Keratinocyte‐specific knock out of Adcy10 had no effect on imiquimod‐induced ear swelling suggesting keratinocyte sAC has no role in imiquimod‐induced inflammation. During Th17 polarization in vitro, naive T cells from Adcy10−/− mice exhibited reduced IL17 secretion and IL‐17+ T‐cell proliferation suggesting that differentiation into Th17 cells is suppressed without sAC activity. Interestingly, loss of sAC did not impact the expression of Th17 lineage‐defining transcription factors (such as Rorc and cMaf) but rather was required for CREB‐dependent gene expression, which is known to support Th17 cell gene expression. Finally, topical application of small molecule sAC inhibitors (sACi) reduced imiquimod‐induced psoriasiform dermatitis and Il17 gene expression in the skin. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sAC is important for psoriasiform dermatitis in mouse skin. sACi may provide an alternative class of topical therapeutics for Th17‐mediated skin diseases.
Drug–drug interaction extraction‐based system: An natural language processing approach
Authors: Machado José , Rodrigues Carla , Sousa Regina , Gomes Luis Mendes
Published: April 2023

Poly‐medicated patients, especially those over 65, have increased. Multiple drug use and inappropriate prescribing increase drug–drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, morbidity, and mortality. This issue was addressed with recommendation systems. Health professionals have not followed these systems due to their poor alert quality and incomplete databases. Recent research shows a growing interest in using Text Mining via NLP to extract drug–drug interactions from unstructured data sources to support clinical prescribing decisions. NLP text mining and machine learning classifier training for drug relation extraction were used in this process. In this context, the proposed solution allows to develop an extraction system for drug–drug interactions from unstructured data sources. The system produces structured information, which can be inserted into a database that contains information acquired from three different data sources. The architecture outlined for the drug–drug interaction extraction system is capable of receiving unstructured text, identifying drug entities sentence by sentence, and determining whether or not there are interactions between them.
Recruiting and retaining sexual and gender minority couples in intervention research: Lessons learned from trials of tailored relationship education programs
Authors: Whitton Sarah W. , Sarno Elissa L. , Josza Kyle , Garcia Christopher P. , Newcomb Michael E.
Published: April 2023

Relationship interventions, including healthy relationship education, couple therapy, and dyadic approaches to treating mental and physical health issues, hold promise for promoting relationship and individual health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. Because SGM couples live within a context of societal stigma against their minority identities and relationships, they are likely to be best served by targeted, culturally sensitive relationship interventions that are affirming, free of hetero‐ and cis‐normativity, and address the unique stigma‐based challenges that they face. Therefore, a key goal for the field today is to conduct research evaluating and refining newly developed relationship interventions designed specifically for SGM couples. In this paper, we offer recommendations for effectively recruiting and retaining large, diverse samples of SGM couples for clinical trials of tailored relationship interventions, grounded in guidelines for psychological practice and conducting research with SGM populations. Throughout, we offer examples and lessons learned from our experiences conducting clinical trials of tailored SGM relationship education programs. We encourage the use of recruitment and retention strategies that involve members of the target SGM community from the outset, are informed by knowledge about SGM individuals and relationships, use currently preferred language for individual identities and relationships, attend to issues of confidentiality regarding sexual/gender identity or relationship involvement, and adhere to the norms of the particular community and recruitment venue.
Human activities at night negatively impact Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) numbers and behaviours
Authors: Costello Emily C. , Colombelli‐Négrel Diane
Published: April 2023

The presence of humans within the natural environment is increasing worldwide. Assessing the impact of such activities on wildlife is crucial for declining populations where human disturbance adds to existing pressures. Here, we investigated how human activities at night influenced Little PenguinEudyptula minornumbers and behaviours (specifically return time, number of vocalizations and time spent in vigilance) on Granite Island, a declining population in South Australia, Australia. We combined data from regular night surveys with continuous video and audio monitoring to assess the impact of human activities on the Little Penguins. The use of white light (i.e. from torches or camera flashes) by people was the most frequent activity recorded at night (recorded on 65% of the monitored nights). Fewer penguins were found on land at night when DogsCanis lupus familiariswere present, but not when the number of people increased, when concerts occurred, or when white lights were used. Little Penguins were observed more often returning late from sea at night when Dogs were present and when white lights were used, but not when concerts occurred. An increase in penguin vocalizations at night correlated with the presence of Dogs and the occurrence of concerts, whereas penguins vocalized less when white lights were used. The time Little Penguins spent in vigilance did not correlate with any of the disturbances analysed. Our study also highlights the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on wildlife, as the occurrence of human activities increased significantly following the implementation of the COVID‐19 health protection measures. These results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that human activities on land, and their consequent disturbance(s), may affect the numbers and behaviours of wildlife and that appropriate measures need to be developed to limit such impacts.
E‐commerce sellers' ratings: Is user feedback adequate?
Authors: Das P. K. , Kumar Talleen
Published: April 2023

The literature on the theory of public procurement points out two well‐known informational problems arising out of information asymmetry: (i) adverse selection and (ii) moral hazard. To reduce these issues and foster credibility and trust in the procurement process while maintaining quality and efficiency in public procurement, e‐procurement platforms have turned to reputation or rating systems. Therefore, the research and design of such rating systems are crucial. In this study, we discuss the theoretical underpinnings of procurement and employ the information‐theoretic, regression analysis, artificial neural network and principal component analysis (PCA) approaches to estimate the weights of the variables entering the rating system. Using real data from Government e‐Marketplace, a business‐to‐business public e‐commerce portal, we empirically determine the weights of the rating variables derived from the transaction‐level and user feedback data for sellers. The weights obtained from the PCA are the most applicable compared with the other three methods. We compare the old rating system with the newly proposed design using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. This results in a statistically significant difference between the two ratings. The canonical correlation and Wilks' trial reveal that the ratings derived from transaction‐level data and user feedback are uncorrelated to a great extent. Hence, considering only transaction‐level data oruser feedbackis unlikely to divulge sellers' intrinsic worth. E‐commerce platforms can use this approach to quickly implement methods to obtain rating scores on a real‐time basis for sellers on online platforms.
How similar is similar enough? Job profile similarity benchmarks using occupational information network data
Authors: Abraham Joseph D. , Lambert Dawn D. , Mihalecz Michael C. , Elcott Monica D. , Asbury Hannah S. , Palmer Penelope C.
Published: April 2023

Job comparison research is critical to many human resources initiatives, such as transporting validity evidence. Job analysis methods often focus on critical attribute (e.g., tasks, work behaviors) overlap when assessing similarity, but profile similarity metrics represent an alternative or complementary approach for job comparisons. This paper utilizes Occupational Information Network (O*NET) data to establish a distribution of job profile correlations across all job pairs for five attributes – generalized work activities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and work styles. These correlations represent effect sizes, or degree of shared variance between jobs. Practitioners may reference these correlational distributions as benchmarks for gauging the practical significance of the observed degree of similarity between two jobs of interest compared to the broader world of work.
Exploring care leavers' agency in achieving entry into the world of work: A cross‐national study in six countries
Authors: Johansson Helena , Sjöblom Yvonne , Höjer Ingrid , Gilligan Robbie , Arnau‐Sabatés Laura , Pazlarová Hana , Soyez Veerle , Stoddart Jill
Published: April 2023

This article draws attention to the relevance of young care leavers' exercise of agency as one possible key ingredient in overcoming barriers to engagement in work. Several previous studies show difficulties in entering adult life, both in relation to higher and further education as well as entrance into work life. The article analyses interviews with young adults from six countries, who have spent at least part of their childhood and youth in out‐of‐home care and the results indicate that the care leavers have the ability to make plans and set up goals for the future that they in many cases are able to achieve or at least are striving for over time. In many instances, they show a strong motivation, for example, to educate themselves pursuing their goals. To support this transition of young care leavers, it is important to listen to ‘successful’ cases such as the ones presented.
Fiscal decentralisation and provincial level service delivery in Sri Lanka: An econometric analysis
Authors: Mudalige Priyantha W. , De Silva Saliya , Cooray N. S.
Published: April 2023

The introduction of Sri Lanka's Provincial Councils has been a part of the country's efforts to decentralise its political, administrative and fiscal powers to the local governments since 1987. One primary reason for the debates on decentralisation is the non‐existence of quantification of the impacts of fiscal decentralisation on the local governments’ service delivery. This study aims to quantify the effects of fiscal decentralisation on Sri Lanka's service delivery using time‐series data from 1988 to 2018. This investigation employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modelling approach and uses a broad range of secondary data. The widely used ARDL modelling approach provides fiscal decentralisation's short‐run and long‐run impact. The results reveal that fiscal decentralisation has had either insignificant or unexpected short‐ or long‐term effects on primary school enrolment and human development index. According to these results, it may be concluded that sufficient fiscal decentralisation has not taken place to provide the necessary funds to improve service delivery. The policymakers should consider restructuring the expenditure and revenue structure of the Provincial Councils. Finally, greater coordination is required between the central government and Provincial Councils in implementing decentralised activities.
The Generation of Cellular Diversity in the Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Price Jack , Williams Brenda , Grove Elizabeth
Published: April 2023

We have studied cell lineage in the rat cerebral cortex using retroviral vectors. With this technique, the virus is used to introduce a marker gene into dividing precursor cells such that their fate can be followed. We have studied cell lineage by using this method in the following ways. First, we have labelled germinal cells of the cerebral cortex in vivo during the period of neurogenesis. Second, we have grown cortical precursor cells in dissociated cell culture, and used the viral labelling technique to follow their development in vitro. Both types of study have shown that by the time neurogenesis is under way, the majority of precursor cells are restricted to the production of a single cell type: neurones, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. The only exception is a cell we call the N‐O cell because it has the ability to generate both neurones and oligodendrocytes. These data suggest that the ventricular zone, the germinal layer of the embryonic cortex, is a mosaic of different precursor cells each with a different restricted potential. However, this restriction of potential of cortical precursor cells does not extend to their ability to contribute to more than one cortical lamina or cytoarchitectonic area. The precursors of both neurones and grey matter astrocytes contribute cells to multiple layers of the cortex. Moreover, in the hippocampal formation, neuronal precursors can contribute cells to more than one hippocampal field.
The effects of patchouli alcohol and combination with cisplatin on proliferation, apoptosis and migration in B16F10 melanoma cells
Authors: Chang Kai‐Fu , Lai Hung‐Chih , Lee Shan‐Chih , Huang Xiao‐Fan , Huang Ya‐Chih , Chou Tien‐Erh , Hsiao Chih‐Yen , Tsai Nu‐Man
Published: April 2023

Melanoma is a highly metastatic cancer with a low incidence rate, but a high mortality rate. Patchouli alcohol (PA), a tricyclic sesquiterpene, is considered the main active component in Pogostemon cablin Benth, which improves wound healing and has anti‐tumorigenic activity. However, the pharmacological action of PA on anti‐melanoma remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of PA in the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and migration of melanoma cells. These results indicated that PA selectively inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. It induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and typical morphological changes in apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic bodies. In addition, PA reduced the migratory ability of B16F10 cells by upregulating E‐cadherin and downregulating p‐Smad2/3, vimentin, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression. PA was also found to strongly suppress tumour growth in vivo. Furthermore, PA combined with cisplatin synergistically inhibited colony formation and migration of B16F10 cells and attenuated the development of resistance to treatment. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that PA may play a pivotal role in inducing apoptosis and reducing the migration of melanoma cells, and may thus be a potential candidate for melanoma treatment.
A new species of Parauchenoglanis (Auchenoglanididae: Siluriformes) from the Upper Lualaba River (Upper Congo), with further evidence of hidden species diversity within the genus
Authors: Sithole Yonela , Musschoot Tobias , Huyghe Charlotte E. T. , Chakona Albert , Vreven Emmanuel J. W. M. N.
Published: April 2023

Parauchenoglanis zebratus sp. nov. is a new species endemic to the Upper Lualaba in the Upper Congo Basin. It is distinguished from all its congeners known from the Congo Basin and adjacent basins by the presence of (1) distinctive dark‐brown or black vertical bars on the lateral side of the body, at least for specimens about ≥120 mm LS, (2) a broad and triangular humeral process embedded under the skin and (3) a well‐serrated pectoral‐fin spine. Genetic analysis based on mtDNA COI sequences confirmed the genetic distinctiveness (2.8%–13.6% K2P genetic divergence) of P. zebratus sp. nov. from congeners within the Congo and adjacent river basins. The study also revealed additional undocumented diversity within P. ngamensis, P. pantherinus, P. punctatus and P. balayi, indicating the need for further in‐depth alpha‐taxonomic attention to provide more accurate species delimitations for this genus. The discovery of yet another new species endemic to the Upper Lualaba, and this well outside the currently established protected areas, highlights the critical need for further assessments to accurately document the species diversity to guide freshwater conservation prioritisation and biodiversity management in this region.
The effect of the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) on corporate short‐term borrowing costs
Authors: Jang Karen Y.
Published: April 2023

In this article, I study the effect of the Money Market Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) on corporate short‐term borrowing costs. Although MMLF loans accept a broader range of collateral acquired from money market funds (MMFs) than Asset‐Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (AMLF) loans, their higher loan rates could make the intervention less effective. I find the average yield has decreased by 20–24 basis points. The yield‐decreasing effects of the MMLF are stronger for securities issued by eligible non‐US firms, non‐asset‐backed commercial paper securities that are newly accepted as collateral under the MMLF, and securities held by affiliated MMFs. However, I do not find an additional yield‐decreasing effect of the MMLF on lower rated securities or nonfinancial sector securities. After the implementation of the MMLF, domestic MMFs seem to increase the weight of nonfinancial sector securities, which helps them achieve a higher return.
Blockholder mutual fund participation in private in‐house meetings
Authors: Bowen Robert M. , Dutta Shantanu , Tang Songlian , Zhu Pengcheng
Published: April 2023

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) in China is unique worldwide in requiring disclosure of the timing, participants, and selected content of private in‐house meetings between firm managers and outsider investors. We investigate whether these private meetings benefit hosting firms and their major outside institutional investors—blockholder mutual funds (i.e., funds with ownership ≥5%). Using a large data set of SZSE firms, we find that blockholder mutual funds have more access to private in‐house meetings, and top management is more likely to be present, especially when a meeting is associated with negative news. Furthermore, when blockholder mutual funds attend negative‐news meetings with top management, they are less likely to sell shares, their investment relationship with the hosting firm lasts longer, and hosting firms experience lower postmeeting stock return volatility. These findings suggest that private in‐house meetings are an informative disclosure channel that improves social bonding between top management and blockholder mutual funds in ways that benefit hosting firms.
Ultrasound assisted extraction: A relook at solvent to material ratio, its effects on process efficiency and how it can be exploited for different uses
Authors: Dzah Courage Sedem , Dzigbor Aaron
Published: April 2023

Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) is one of the preferred green extraction techniques widely used for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials. It has attracted much attention and many studies have been done to understand its mechanism, effects and efficiency. However, no study has discovered and given enough attention to the superior role solvent‐to‐material ratio (SMR) plays in moderating UAE efficiency. This study therefore emphasizes the importance of SMR as the main determinant of UAE efficiency and further proves its mechanistic effects with ultrasound physics. It discusses SMR effects on extraction medium density, acoustic energy transfer, cavitation rate, power intensity attenuation and free hydroxyl radical generation during water‐based UAE. This understanding is needed to assist researchers in the design of their extraction experiments and optimizations. Without this insight, even optimization processes will be limited in giving the true conditions needed for the highest UAE efficiency. The study shows that low SMR increases acoustic energy scattering and absorption and attenuates ultrasound power intensity and vice versa. SMR can be controlled to either preserve bioactivity of compounds or produce free radicals for microbial inactivation and elimination and oxidative degradation of natural pigments in aqueous media.

Practical application

A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism and physics behind the effects of solvent‐to‐material ratio (SMR) during ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds helps in fine‐tuning SMR purposely to ensure that ultrasound power attenuation is minimized. Ultrasound power defines UAE efficiency by virtue of acoustic cavitation. Due to the fact that UAE in aqueous media generates free hydroxyl radicals (*OH) from water autolysis, SMR can be deliberately tuned to induce controlled power attenuation to limit this phenomenon. This becomes a strategy to protect bioactive compounds that are prone to oxidative degradation. As ultrasound power is linked to energy consumption, fine‐tuning SMR to minimize power attenuation can significantly improve process efficiency and reduce treatment time, saving energy and enhancing profitability, especially during large scale industrial treatments.
Quality attributes prediction and maturity discrimination of kiwifruits by hyperspectral imaging and chemometric algorithms
Authors: Shang Jing , Tan Tao , Feng Shunan , Li Qinrong , Huang Renshuai , Meng Qinglong
Published: April 2023

The nondestructive detection of the quality attributes and maturity of kiwifruits by using hyperspectral imaging technique and chemometric algorithms were investigated. Two models of the partial least square regression and principal components regression were built up based on full variables. The multiple linear regression (MLR) was designed to develop the simplified detection models based on feature variables chosen by the successive projection algorithm and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS). Results showed that the optimal CARS‐MLR model was designed to determine the quality attributes with RPD above 2.2. Particularly, about SSC (R2P = 0.896, RMSEP = 0.628%, RPD = 3.121), about firmness (R2P = 0.871, RMSEP = 1.065 kg/cm2, RPD = 2.809). The partial least square discriminant analysis and simplified k nearest neighbor models were designed to discriminate the kiwifruits maturity stages with a classification accuracy of 93.3% and 98.3%. This research demonstrates that the hyperspectral imaging technology coupled with chemometric algorithms is promising for the quality assessment and maturity discrimination of kiwifruits.

Practical applications

The quality and maturity of kiwifruits have a direct relationship with the indicators of the SSC, firmness and color. Traditional methods for predicting the quality and maturity of kiwifruits are destructive, time‐consuming, and unusually affected by subjective factors. Hyperspectral imaging technique has the advantages of nondestructive, rapid, non‐pollution, and so on. The results demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique coupled with chemometric algorithms can predict the quality and maturity of kiwifruits, which provides a theoretical basis to develop a real‐time detection system to predict the quality and maturity of fruits.
Analgesic electrical currents associated with carboxytherapy in women with cellulite: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sadala Adria Yared , Rampazo Érika Patrícia , Liebano Richard Eloin
Published: April 2023

Background

Pain is considered the main limiting factor in carboxytherapy. Electroanalgesia has gained recognition in the field of dermatology and to date, only transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has proved to be effective at reducing pain associated with carboxytherapy; however, the effect of medium frequency currents has yet to be investigated.

Aims

Compare the effects of TENS, interferential current (IFC), and Aussie current on pain intensity associated with carboxytherapy and sensory comfort in the treatment of cellulite.

Patients/Methods

Seventy‐five women aged 18–49 years with moderate and/or severe gluteal cellulite were randomized into three groups: TENS (n = 25), IFC (n = 25), and Aussie current (n = 25), which underwent three sessions of carboxytherapy associated with an electrical current. Current amplitude was adjusted after each puncture, according to the maximum tolerance reported by participants, below the motor threshold. Pain intensity was measured using a numeric rating scale (0–10) and sensory comfort with the visual analogue scale (0–10).

Results

There was no significant intergroup difference in pain intensity (p > 0.05) and sensory comfort (p = 0.502) during the application of carboxytherapy throughout the three treatment sessions.

Conclusion

TENS, IFC, and Aussie currents showed no difference in pain intensity reduction and no current was found to be more comfortable.
Institutional Divide, Political Ties, and Contested Corporate Governance Reform in Taiwan
Authors: Chung Chi‐Nien , Luo Xiaowei Rose , Zheng Weiting
Published: April 2023

This study attempts to address the question of under what conditions political ties buffer firms from, or bind firms to, political pressure. We draw attention to the institutional divide between the executive and legislative branches of a presidential democracy. Using the case of Taiwan, a ‘third wave’ democracy with relatively strong state intervention, we argue that the two branches differ in their respective institutional roles, basis of legitimacy, and resources in a context in which the regime is seeking to fulfil its national agenda and please floating voters. We posit that corporate ties to these respective branches exert divergent influence on the adoption of government‐initiated but highly contested corporate governance reforms. Ties to the executive branch push firms to reform because they depend on the government for resources, while ties to the legislative branch act as a buffer to reform as legislators court the support of firms in pursuit of electoral gains. Empirical analysis of reforms to enhance board independence from 2002 to 2005 supports our thesis. Our study contributes to research on corporate political strategy and corporate governance reform, revealing how the structural fragmentation of the state can give rise to conflicting roles of political ties to different branches.
Preliminary evidence of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation effects on sleep in veterans with post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Bottari Sarah A. , Lamb Damon G. , Porges Eric C. , Murphy Aidan J. , Tran Amy B. , Ferri Raffaele , Jaffee Michael S. , Davila Maria I. , Hartmann Simon , Baumert Mathias , Williamson John B.
Published: April 2023

Sleep problems are common among veterans with post‐traumatic stress disorder and closely associated with hyperarousal symptoms. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) may have potential to improve sleep quality in veterans with PTSD through effects on brain systems relevant to hyperarousal and sleep–wake regulation. The current pilot study examines the effect of 1 h of tVNS administered at “lights out” on sleep architecture, microstructure, and autonomic activity. Thirteen veterans with PTSD completed two nights of laboratory‐based polysomnography during which they received 1 h of either active tVNS (tragus) or sham stimulation (earlobe) at “lights out” with randomised order. Sleep staging and stability metrics were derived from polysomnography data. Autonomic activity during sleep was assessed using the Porges‐Bohrer method for calculating respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSAP‐B). Paired t‐tests revealed a small decrease in the total sleep time (d = −0.31), increase in N3 sleep (d = 0.23), and a small‐to‐moderate decrease in REM sleep (d = −0.48) on nights of active tVNS relative to sham stimulation. tVNS was also associated with a moderate reduction in cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) rate (d = −0.65) and small‐to‐moderate increase in RSAP‐B during NREM sleep. Greater NREM RSAP‐B was associated with a reduced CAP rate and NREM alpha power. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that tVNS may improve sleep depth and stability in veterans with PTSD, as well as increase parasympathetically mediated nocturnal autonomic activity. These results warrant continued investigation into tVNS as a potential tool for treating sleep disturbance in veterans with PTSD.
Pre‐pandemic circadian phase predicts pandemic alcohol use among adolescents
Authors: Hasler Brant P. , Wallace Meredith L. , Graves Jessica L. , Witt Rachel , Guo Kathryn , Buysse Daniel J. , Siegle Greg J. , Clark Duncan B.
Published: April 2023

Later circadian timing during adolescence is linked to worse sleep, more severe depression and greater alcohol involvement, perhaps due to circadian misalignment imposed by early school schedules. School schedules shifted later during the COVID‐19 pandemic, ostensibly reducing circadian misalignment and potentially mitigating problems with depression and alcohol. We used the pandemic as a natural experiment to test whether adolescent drinkers with later circadian timing showed improvements in sleep, depression and alcohol involvement. Participants were 42 adolescents reporting alcohol use. We assessed circadian phase via dim light melatonin onset prior to the pandemic, then conducted remote assessments of sleep, depressive symptoms and alcohol use during the pandemic. Mixed‐effects models were used to test for pandemic effects, covarying for age, sex, time since baseline evaluation, and current school/work status. Adolescents with later circadian timing reported less sleep than other teens on school nights, both before and during the pandemic. Although school night sleep increased during the pandemic (F = 28.36, p < 0.001), those increases were not greater for individuals with later circadian timing. Individuals with later circadian timing reported larger increases in alcohol use than other teens during the pandemic (X2 = 36.03, p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms increased during the pandemic (X2 = 46.51, p < 0.001) but did not differ based on circadian timing. Consistent with prior reports, adolescents with later circadian timing obtained less sleep, and later school schedules facilitated increased sleep duration. Nonetheless, individuals with later circadian timing reported the sharpest increases in alcohol use, suggesting that circadian timing contributes to risk for alcohol use beyond the effects of insufficient sleep.
IN SEARCH OF LOST SIGNS: A NEW APPROACH TO THE ISSUE OF WRITING AND NON‐WRITING ON CRETAN HIEROGLYPHIC SEALS
Authors: Ferrara Silvia , Montecchi Barbara , Valério Miguel
Published: April 2023

This article addresses a long‐debated topic related to the hieroglyphic script from the island of Crete, namely the status of its sign‐list. The signs of this script are predominantly image‐based and as such their inherent position as bona fide signs of writing or, alternatively, decorative symbols with no specific relation to language has raised issues of inclusion or exclusion from the sign‐list as presented in the standard corpus of inscriptions. This article aims to propose a new approach based on a contextual, distributional, and structural architecture of criteria. The goal is to reach a balanced reassessment of the evidence and contribute to a definitive sign‐list. This represents a fundamental step for any cogent decipherment attempt.
Crossing racial predicaments and reconstructing identity: The biopolitics of race in Edwidge Danticat's works
Authors: Cai Yi
Published: April 2023

Focusing on The Farming of Bones, Brother, I'm Dying, and the short story “Night Talkers” collected in The Dew Breaker, this article explores how Edwidge Danticat engages with the biopolitics of race in her writing. The biopolitics of race traumatizes people through racial discrimination, exclusion, and purification; in Danticat's works, this is manifested in atrocities inflicted on Haitian workers, the exclusion of asylum seekers, and the deportation of Haitian descendants. Those racially excluded people resist the destructive effects of state racism by creating testimonial narratives to record crimes and atrocities, or by establishing communities for mutual support. Through the dynamics of biopolitical oppression and resistance, Danticat empowers those precarious people and achieves her purpose of political writing: while dissolving the negative influence of biopolitics, she reconstructs individual subjectivities through testimony, and rebuilds fragmented identities through the solidarity of Haitian communities, in order to reaffirm the national identity of the Haitian people.
Are all reasons for living made equally? Reasons for living and dysfunctional attitudes in psychotic disorders and bipolar I
Authors: Ehret Blaire C. , Titone Madison K. , Carey Colin J. , Martinez Alexandra , Chalker Samantha A. , Granholm Eric L. , Depp Colin A.
Published: April 2023

Objectives: Persons with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar I disorder are more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population. Dysfunctional attitudes have been shown to be significant predictors of cognitive vulnerability to depression, hopelessness, and poor problem‐solving skills, which predict suicidal ideation. Dysfunctional attitudes are common in persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and bipolar I. The Reasons for Living Inventory (RFLI) examines distinct reasons for not dying by suicide. This study's objectives were to examine the relationship between the RFLI subscales and dysfunctional attitudes among persons with SSDs and bipolar I. We hypothesized significant positive correlations between two RFLI subscales (Fear of Suicide and Fear of Social Disapproval) and total score on the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS). We did not expect significant correlations between other subscales.

Design and Methods: This correlational, cross‐sectional study examined baseline scores on the RFLI and dysfunctional attitudes (DAS) among N = 102 outpatients with SSDs or bipolar I.

Results: Significant positive correlations were observed between RFLI subscales Fear of Suicide and Fear of Social Disapproval and DAS total scores. No other significant relationships were observed.

Conclusions: Certain reasons for living (i.e. fear of suicide and social disapproval) may be associated with dysfunctional attitudes among persons with SSDs or bipolar I. These, in turn, may place these individuals at a greater risk for suicide by increasing their cognitive vulnerability. These findings may inform clinical treatment targets for persons with SSDs and bipolar I.
Latent class analysis of college women's motivations for engaging in same‐sex performativity
Authors: Stevens Samantha M. , Oswald Flora , Matsick Jes L.
Published: April 2023

Same‐sex performativity (SSP), or public performances of sexuality (e.g., kissing) between women who identify as heterosexual, is a relatively common relational experience among college‐aged women. Identifying patterns of women's motivations for engaging in SSP can elucidate the heterogeneity among women's social and sexual behaviors during a critical developmental period (i.e., college). We used latent class analysis to identify classes of heterosexual undergraduate women who engaged in SSP (N = 282). We identified three classes of motivational patterns: Other‐Motivated (i.e., notably motivated by male attention, wanting to shock others, wanting to bond, and social pressure), Ambiguously Motivated (i.e., most motivated by alcohol and fun, but minimally motivated overall), and Sexually Motivated (i.e., notably motivated by sexual desire and sexual experimentation). We then examined how class membership was associated with variables related to participants' evaluation of their SSP experience, self and identity, sexuality, and heterosexism. Classes significantly differed in SSP evaluations, as well as in certain facets of self and identity and sexuality (i.e., sorority membership and same‐sex desire). These data provide evidence of substantial complexity in the characterizations of women who engage in SSP. We discuss the implications of the relationship between motivational patterns and women's evaluations of the SSP experience.
Nitrogen enhances the effect of pre‐drought priming against post‐anthesis drought stress by regulating starch and protein formation in wheat
Authors: Ullah Attiq , Zhao Chengfeng , Zhang Maixi , Sun Chuanjiao , Liu Xiaoxue , Hu Jingling , Zeeshan Muhammad , Zaid Abbu , Dai Tingbo , Tian Zhongwei
Published: April 2023

Drought stress is one of the most serious environmental stress factor constraining crop production across the globe. Among cereals, wheat grains are very sensitive to drought as a small degree of stress can affect the enzymatic system. This study aimed to investigate whether nitrogen and pre‐anthesis drought priming could enhance the action of major regulatory enzymes involved in starch accumulation and protein synthesis in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). For this purpose, cultivars YM‐158 (medium gluten) and YM‐22 (low gluten) were grown in rain‐controlled conditions under two nitrogen levels, that is, N180 (N1) and N300 (N2). Drought priming was applied at the jointing stage and drought stress was applied 7 days after anthesis. Drought stress reduced starch content but enhanced protein content in grains. N2 and primed plants kept higher contents of nonstructural carbohydrates, fructans, and sucrose; with higher activity of sucrose‐phosphate synthase in flag leaves. Furthermore, N2 and priming treatments showed higher sink ability to develop grains by showing higher sucrose‐to‐starch conversion activities of adenosine diphosphate‐glucose pyrophosphorylase, uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase, sucrose‐synthase, soluble‐starch synthase, starch branching enzyme, and granule‐bound starch synthase as compared to N1 and non‐primed treatments. The application of N2 and primed treatment showed a greater ability to maintain grain filling in both cultivars as compared to N1 and non‐primed crops. Our study suggested that high nitrogen has the potential to enhance the effect of pre‐drought priming to change source‐sink relationships and grain yield of wheat under drought stress during the filling process.