bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miRNAs as biomarkers of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Garrido-Torres Nathalia , Guzmán-Torres Karem , García-Cerro Susana , Pinilla Bermúdez Gladys , Cruz-Baquero Claudia , Ochoa Hansel , García-González Diego , Canal-Rivero Manuel , Crespo-Facorro Benedicto , Ruiz-Veguilla Miguel
Published: February 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex clinical manifestations that arise between 18 and 36 months of age. Social interaction deficiencies, a restricted range of interests, and repetitive stereotyped behaviors are characteristics which are sometimes difficult to detect early. Several studies show that microRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) are strongly implicated in the development of the disorder and affect the expression of genes related to different neurological pathways involved in ASD. The present systematic review and meta-analysis addresses the current status of miRNA studies in different body fluids and the most frequently dysregulated miRNAs in patients with ASD. We used a combined approach to summarize miRNA fold changes in different studies using the mean values. In addition, we summarized p values for differential miRNA expression using the Fisher method. Our literature search yielded a total of 133 relevant articles, 27 of which were selected for qualitative analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 16 studies evaluating miRNAs whose data were completely reported were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. The most frequently dysregulated miRNAs across the analyzed studies were miR-451a, miR-144-3p, miR-23b, miR-106b, miR150-5p, miR320a, miR92a-2-5p, and miR486-3p. Among the most dysregulated miRNAs in individuals with ASD, miR-451a is the most relevant to clinical practice and is associated with impaired social interaction. Other miRNAs, including miR19a-3p, miR-494, miR-142-3p, miR-3687, and miR-27a-3p, are differentially expressed in various tissues and body fluids of patients with ASD. Therefore, all these miRNAs can be considered candidates for ASD biomarkers. Saliva may be the optimal biological fluid for miRNA measurements, because it is easy to collect from children compared to other biological fluids.
Off-policy and on-policy reinforcement learning with the Tsetlin machine
Authors: Rahimi Gorji Saeed , Granmo Ole-Christoffer
Published: February 2023

The Tsetlin Machine is a recent supervised learning algorithm that has obtained competitive accuracy- and resource usage results across several benchmarks. It has been used for convolution, classification, and regression, producing interpretable rules in propositional logic. In this paper, we introduce the first framework for reinforcement learning based on the Tsetlin Machine. Our framework integrates the value iteration algorithm with the regression Tsetlin Machine as the value function approximator. To obtain accurate off-policy state-value estimation, we propose a modified Tsetlin Machine feedback mechanism that adapts to the dynamic nature of value iteration. In particular, we show that the Tsetlin Machine is able to unlearn and recover from the misleading experiences that often occur at the beginning of training. A key challenge that we address is mapping the intrinsically continuous nature of state-value learning to the propositional Tsetlin Machine architecture, leveraging probabilistic updates. While accurate off-policy, this mechanism learns significantly slower than neural networks on-policy. However, by introducing multi-step temporal-difference learning in combination with high-frequency propositional logic patterns, we are able to close the performance gap. Several gridworld instances document that our framework can outperform comparable neural network models, despite being based on simple one-level AND-rules in propositional logic. Finally, we propose how the class of models learnt by our Tsetlin Machine for the gridworld problem can be translated into a more understandable graph structure. The graph structure captures the state-value function approximation and the corresponding policy found by the Tsetlin Machine.
Performance assessment and process optimization of a sulfur recovery unit: a real starting up plant
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed Y. , Ashour Fatma H. , Gadalla Mamdouh A. , Abdelhaleem Amal
Published: February 2023

Sulfur recovery units (SRU) have an important role in the industrial production of elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide, whereas the generated acidic gas emissions must be controlled and treated based on local and international environmental regulations. Herein, Aspen HYSYS V.11 with Sulsim software is used to simulate the industrial and treatment processes in a refinery plant in the Middle East. In the simulation models, in temperature, pressure, flow, energy, and gas emissions were monitored to predict any expected change that could occur during the industrial processes. The simulation models were validated by comparing the obtained data with actual industrial data, and the results showed low deviation values. The simulation results showed that the current process temperature conditions can work efficiently for sulfur production without causing any environmental consequences. Interestingly, the simulation results revealed that sulfur can be produced under the optimized temperature conditions (20° less than design temperatures) with a total amount of steam reduction by 1040.12 kg/h and without any negative impact on the environment. The steam reduction could have a great economic return, where an average cost of 7.6 $ per ton could be saved with a total estimated cost savings by 69,247.03 $ per year. The simulation revealed an inaccurate production capacity calculated by real data in the plant during the performance test guarantee (PTG) where the real data achieved around 1 ton/h higher capacity than the simulation result, with an overall recovery efficiency of 99.96%. Based on this significant result, a solution was raised, and the level transmitters were calibrated, then the test was repeated. The simulation models could be very useful for engineers to investigate and optimize the reaction conditions during the industrial process in sulfur production facilities. Hence, the engineers can utilize these models to recognize any potential problem, thereby providing effective and fast solutions. Additionally, the simulation models could participate in assessing the performance test guarantee (PTG) calculations provided by the contractor.
Principal’s distributive preferences and the incentivization of agents
Authors: Cêtre Sophie , Lobeck Max
Published: February 2023

Do principals' distributive preferences affect the allocation of incentives within firms? We run a Principal-Agent lab experiment, framed as a firm setting. In the experiment, subjects are randomized in the principal or worker position. Principals must choose piece rate wage contracts for two workers that differ in terms of ability. Workers have to choose an effort level that is non-contractible. Principals are either paid in proportion to the output produced (Stakeholder treatment) or paid a fixed wage (Spectator treatment). We study how principals make trade-offs between incentive concerns (motivating workers to maximize output) and their own normative distributive preferences. We find that, despite the firm-frame and the moral hazard situation, principals do hold egalitarian concerns, as principals are on average willing to trade off their firm's performance (and so their own income) for more wage equality among their workers. The willingness to reduce inequality among workers is sensitive to both extensive and intensive margin incentives, which shows that principals' choices are shaped by incentives that they face themselves.
Infinite Volume Gibbs States and Metastates of the Random Field Mean-Field Spherical Model
Authors: Koskinen Kalle
Published: February 2023

For the discrete random field Curie–Weiss models, the infinite volume Gibbs states and metastates have been investigated and determined for specific instances of random external fields. In general, there are not many examples in the literature of non-trivial limiting metastates for discrete or continuous spin systems. We analyze the infinite volume Gibbs states of the mean-field spherical model, a model of continuous spins, in a general random external field with independent identically distributed components with finite moments of some order larger than four and non-vanishing variances of the second moments. Depending on the parameters of the model, we show that there exist three distinct phases: ordered ferromagnetic, ordered paramagnetic, and spin glass. In the ordered ferromagnetic and ordered paramagnetic phases, we show that there exists a unique infinite volume Gibbs state almost surely. In the spin glass phase, we show the existence of chaotic size dependence, provide a construction of the Aizenman–Wehr metastate, and consider both the convergence in distribution and almost sure convergence of the Newman–Stein metastates. The limiting metastates are non-trivial and their structure is universal due to the presence of Gaussian fluctuations and the spherical constraint.
Influence of research on open science in the public policy sphere
Authors: De Filippo Daniela , Sastrón-Toledo Pablo
Published: February 2023

This paper analyses the scientific activity related to open science in Spain and its influence on public policy from a bibliometric perspective. For this purpose, Spanish centres' projects and publications on open science from 2010 to 2020 are studied. Subsequently, policy documents using papers related to open science are analysed to study their influence on policymaking. A total of 142 projects and 1491 publications are analysed, 15% of which are mentioned in policy documents.The publications cited in policy documents display high proportions of international collaboration, open access publication and publication in first-quartile journals. The findings underline governments’ leading role in the implementation of open science policies and the funding of open science research. The same government agencies that promote and fund open science research are shown to use that research in their institutional reports, a process known as knowledge flow feedback. Other non-academic actors are also observed to make use of the knowledge produced by open science research, showing how the open science movement has crossed the boundaries of academia.
Beyond Geography: Social Quality Environments and Health
Authors: Li Yang , Spini Dario , Lampropoulos Dimitrios
Published: February 2023

The concept of social quality has garnered increasing attention as a composite indicator of the well-being of societies as well as individuals embedded within them. Prior research suggests four domains of social quality: socio-economic security, social cohesion, social inclusion, and social empowerment, based on the assumption that these domains influence health and well-being. In this paper, we investigate whether and to what extent social quality environments defined with reference to the cross-cutting social quality domains reliably predict various types of health, using data collected in a municipality in Switzerland as part of a participatory action research project. We found that social inclusion had the highest predictive power for mental health and functional health, while economic security had the highest predictive power for physical capacity and overall self-rated health. Results indicate interaction among various domains of social quality for a subset of health measures. Findings suggest that environments defined as combinations of social quality domains effectively distinguish between population segments with varying levels of health. Social quality represents a promising avenue for policy and intervention development, particularly from the social determinants of health perspective, as it jointly captures the multiple domains of social well-being relevant to population health.
Virtual Restoration of Ancient Wooden Ships Through Non-rigid 3D Shape Assembly with Ruled-Surface FFD
Authors: Nemoto Takashi , Kobayashi Tetsuya , Kagesawa Masataka , Oishi Takeshi , Kurokochi Hiromasa , Yoshimura Sakuji , Zidan Eissa , Taha Mamdouh
Published: February 2023

In recent years, 3D data has been widely used in archaeology and in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural properties. Virtual restoration, which reconstructs the original state in virtual space, is one of the promising applications utilizing 3D scanning data. Though many studies of virtual restoration have been conducted, it is still challenging to restore the cultural properties that consist of multiple deformable components because it is not feasible to identify the original shape uniquely. As a solution to such a problem, we proposed a non-rigid 3D shape assembly method for virtually restoring wooden ships that are composed of multiple timbers. The deformed timber can be well represented by ruled surface. We proposed a free-form deformation method with a ruled surface and an assembly method to align the deformable components mutually. The method employs a bottom-up approach that does not require reference data for target objects. The proposed framework narrows down the searching space for optimization using the physical constraints of wooden materials, and it can also obtain optimal solutions. We also showed an experimental result, where we virtually restored King Khufu’s first solar boat. The boat was originally constructed by assembling several timbers. The boat was reconstructed as a real object and is currently exhibited at a museum. However, unfortunately, the entire shape of the boat is slightly distorted. We applied the proposed method using archaeological knowledge and then showed the virtual restoration results using the acquired 3D data of the boat’s components.
Isolated relapse of plasma cell leukemia in the central nervous systems: a case report and literature review
Authors: Obo Takafumi , Morita Ken , Sumida Yutaro , Nakazaki-Watadani Kumi , Ikemura Masako , Yasaka Koichiro , Abe Osamu , Takami Hirokazu , Takayanagi Shunsaku , Tanaka Shota , Maki Hiroaki , Masamoto Yosuke , Miwa Akiyoshi , Kurokawa Mineo
Published: February 2023

Plasma cell leukemia is a rare yet aggressive form of multiple myeloma characterized by high levels of plasma cells circulating in the peripheral blood. We recently experienced a case of plasma cell leukemia that had been in stringent complete remission for nine years after autologous stem cell transplantations with subsequent courses of lenalidomide maintenance therapy, and then relapsed as an extramedullary plasmacytoma in the central nervous system. Assessment of the bone marrow did not prove proliferation of plasma cells at relapse, but imbalanced elevation of serum levels of free light chains was observed without changes in other clinical biomarkers including immunoglobulin levels. Salvage chemotherapy with isatuximab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (IsaPD) was promptly initiated. After two courses of IsaPD, significant remission was achieved and the neuronal symptoms completely resolved. When excessive serum levels of clonotypic free light chains are noted, their significance should be carefully assessed even when plasma cell propagation in the bone marrow is not observed. In such cases, hematologists should search for extramedullary proliferation of plasma cells, including in the immune-privileged central nervous system.
Comparative evaluation of classical and SARIMA-BL time series hybrid models in predicting monthly qualitative parameters of Maroon river
Authors: Ahmadpour Abbas , Mirhashemi Seyed Hassan , Panahi Mehdi
Published: February 2023

In the present study, seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) time series models, nonlinear BL model, multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network and SARIMA-bilinear hybrid models were employed to predict the quality parameters of total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC) in the Maroon basin in Khuzestan Province. For fitting the mentioned models, the monthly data were used for the calibration (1970–2000), confirmation (2001–2011) and prediction of the model (2012–2018). The appropriate models of SARIMA, the bilinear BL and SARIMA-BL hybrid models of the rationalized parameters of the above-mentioned quality parameters were selected based on the adequacy tests, such as the Akaike criterion and the independence test of the model residuals (Ljung–Box). To determine the effective input parameters of the network, the partial mutual information (PMI) algorithm was used to model the three monthly EC, TDS, and SAR parameters. Also, for input and output layers linear transfer function and for hidden layer various active functions with the back-propagation learning algorithm were used for modeling and predicting this water quality parameters. Comparison of the models showed the tangible superiority of SARIMA-bilinear hybrid models than the artificial neural network with effective input parameters based on PMI algorithm, SARIMA and bl models in performed prediction of the all three monthly qualitative parameters in all three stages, training-validation-test in Maroon basin.
Sexual functioning in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: exploring the relevance of an underlying polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-phenotype
Authors: Barbagallo F. , Pedrielli G. , Bosoni D. , Tiranini L. , Cucinella L. , Calogero A. E. , Facchinetti F. , Nappi R. E.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To study sexual function and distress in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) compared to women with FHA and an underlying polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-phenotype, considering also their psychometric variables. As a secondary aim, we explored the relationship between sexual functioning and hormonal milieu in these women.

Methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted on 36 women with typical FHA and 43 women with FHA + PCOS-phenotype. The following validated psychometric questionnaires were administered: Female Sexual Functional Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), Body Attitude Test (BAT), Bulimia Investigation Test (BITE), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS). Available hormones to formulate FHA diagnosis in the standard routine were considered.

Results

Women with typical FHA reported a significantly lower FSFI total score than women with FHA + PCOS-phenotype (95% CI for median 16–21.3 vs. 21.1–24.1, p = 0.002), whereas the FSDS-R score was similar in the two groups (95% CI for median 6–16 vs. 6–16.3). No statistically significant differences were evident in body attitude, state and trait anxiety, depression, bulimic risk, and perfectionism between the two groups, confirming the two FHA groups were superimposable from a psychometric perspective. State anxiety correlated negatively with the FSFI total score in both typical FHA (rho: − 0.33, p = 0.05) and FHA + PCOS-phenotype (rho: − 0.40, p = 0.009). In the entire study population, a positive correlation was found between luteinizing hormone, androstenedione, and 17ß-estradiol and the total FSFI score (rho: 0.28, p = 0.01; rho: 0.27, p = 0.01, rho: 0.27, p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Women with FHA showed a very high rate of sexual symptoms as part of their condition, but those with a typical diagnosis displayed a more severe sexual impairment as compared with the FHA + PCOS-phenotype, in spite of a similar psychometric profile. Sexual distress was equally present in both groups (approximately 4 out of 10 women). Further studies should be designed to investigate the potential role of sex hormones, mainly LH-driven androstenedione, in influencing women’s sexual functioning.
Improving the genome and proteome annotations of the marine model diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana using a proteogenomics strategy
Authors: Chen Xiao-Huang , Yang Ming-Kun , Li Yuan-Yuan , Xie Zhang-Xian , Zhang Shu-Feng , Töpel Mats , Amin Shady A. , Lin Lin , Ge Feng , Wang Da-Zhi
Published: February 2023

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic phytoplankton that account for approximately 20% of global carbon fixation and 40% of marine primary productivity; thus, they are essential for global carbon biogeochemical cycling and climate. The availability of ten diatom genome sequences has facilitated evolutionary, biological and ecological research over the past decade; however, a complimentary map of the diatom proteome with direct measurements of proteins and peptides is still lacking. Here, we present a proteome map of the model marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana using high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with a proteogenomic strategy. In-depth proteomic profiling of three different growth phases and three nutrient-deficient samples identified 9526 proteins, accounting for ~ 81% of the predicted protein-coding genes. Proteogenomic analysis identified 1235 novel genes, 975 revised genes, 104 splice variants and 234 single amino acid variants. Furthermore, our quantitative proteomic analysis experimentally demonstrated that a considerable number of novel genes were differentially translated under different nutrient conditions. These findings substantially improve the genome annotation of T. pseudonana and provide insights into new biological functions of diatoms. This relatively comprehensive diatom proteome catalog will complement available diatom genome and transcriptome data to advance biological and ecological research of marine diatoms.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers in Lebanon
Authors: Youssef Nour J. , Tfaily Nadim K. , Moumneh Mohammad Bahij M. , Boutros Celina F. , Elharake Jad A. , Malik Amyn A. , McFadden SarahAnn M. , Galal Bayan , Yildirim Inci , Khoshnood Kaveh , Omer Saad B. , Memish Ziad A. , Dbaibo Ghassan S.
Published: February 2023

Background

Lebanon endured its worst economic and financial crisis in 2020–2021. To minimize the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to improve the overall COVID-19 vaccination rate. Given that vaccine hesitancy among health care workers (HCWs) affects the general population’s decision to be vaccinated, our study assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Lebanon HCWs and identified barriers, demographic differences, and the most trusted sources of COVID-19 information.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2021 among HCWs across nine hospitals, the Orders of Physicians, Nurses, and Pharmacists in Lebanon. Descriptive statistics were performed to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, and univariate and multivariable to identify their predictors.

Results

Among 879 participants, 762 (86.8%) were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 52 (5.9%) refused, and 64 (7.3%) were undecided. Males (226/254; 88.9%) and those ≥ 55 years (95/100; 95%) had the highest rates of acceptance. Of the 113 who were not willing to receive the vaccine, 54.9% reported that the vaccine was not studied well enough. Participants with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who did not know if they had a previous infection (p = 0.002) were less likely to accept the vaccine compared to those with no previous infection. The most trusted COVID-19 sources of information were WHO (69.3%) and healthcare providers (68%).

Conclusion

Lebanese HCWs had a relatively high acceptance rate for COVID-19 vaccination compared to other countries. Our findings are important in informing the Lebanese health care authorities to establish programs and interventions to improve vaccine uptake among HCWs and the general population.
Effectiveness of a neonatal intensive care unit–specific antimicrobial stewardship program: A ten-year review
Authors: Assen Katrina H. , Paquette Vanessa , Albert Arianne Y. , Shi Ginger , Srigley Jocelyn A. , Osiovich Horacio , Roberts Ashley D. , Ting Joseph Y.
Published: February 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the change in consumption of specific antibiotics in a neonatal intensive care unit after the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP).

Design:

Retrospective cohort study between January 1, 2010, and December 31,2019.

Setting:

The neonatal intensive care unit at British Columbia Women’s Hospital (Vancouver Canada), a tertiary-care center.

Patients:

Admitted neonates prescribed antibiotics.

Methods:

We implemented an ASP with an early implementation phase starting in January 2014 (period 2) and a later phase starting in January 2017 (period 3). Patient demographics were collected, including birth weight, gestational age, history of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and surgical operations from existing databases. Interrupted time-series analysis was used, and comparison of antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) averages were conducted across the preimplementation period (period 1), period 2, and period 3 regarding total patients and subgroups.

Results:

We identified 4,512 infants. There was a significant decrease in DOT from 472 (95% confidence interval [CI], 431–517) in period 1 to 405 (95% CI, 367–446) in period 2 to 313 (95% CI, 280–350) in period 3. We detected a significant decrease in the use of ampicillin, aminoglycosides, cloxacillin, and linezolid but not in vancomycin or cefotaxime. Subgroup analyses of infants <1,500 g and those without NEC or surgery showed decreases in the use of cloxacillin, aminoglycosides, and linezolid.

Conclusions:

The implementation of an ASP was associated with a significant decrease in the overall DOT and use of certain antibiotics. This study presents important targets for ongoing ASP work.
Unsteady dissipation scaling in static- and active-grid turbulence
Authors: Zheng Yulin , Nakamura Kohtaro , Nagata Koji , Watanabe Tomoaki
Published: February 2023

A new time-dependent analysis of the global and local fluctuating velocity signals in grid turbulence is conducted to assess the scaling laws for non-equilibrium turbulence. Experimental datasets of static- and active-grid turbulence with different Rossby numbers

$R_o({=}U/\varOmega M$

:

$U$

is the mean velocity,

$\varOmega$

is the mean rotation rate and

$M$

is the grid mesh size) are considered. Although the global (long-time-averaged) non-dimensional dissipation rate

$C_\varepsilon$

is independent of the Reynolds number

$Re_\lambda$

based on the global Taylor microscale, the local (short-time-averaged) non-dimensional dissipation rate

$\left \langle C_\varepsilon (t_i) \right \rangle$

(

$t_i$

is the local time) both in the static- and active-grid turbulence clearly show the non-equilibrium scaling

$\left \langle C_\varepsilon (t_i)\right \rangle / \sqrt {Re_0} \propto \left \langle Re_\lambda (t_i) \right \rangle ^{-1}$

(

$\left \langle Re_\lambda (t_i) \right \rangle$

and

$Re_0$

are the Reynolds numbers based on the local Taylor microscale

$\lambda (t_i)$

and the global integral length scale, respectively), which has only been confirmed for global statistics in the near field of grid turbulence. The local value of

$\left \langle L(t_i) / \lambda (t_i) \right \rangle$

(

$L(t_i)$

is the local integral length scale) shifts from the equilibrium to non-equilibrium scaling as

$\left \langle Re_\lambda (t_i) \right \rangle$

increases, further confirming that the non-equilibrium scalings are recovered for local statistics both in the static- and active-grid turbulence. The local values of

$\left \langle C_\varepsilon (t_i) \right \rangle$

and

$\left \langle L(t_i) / \lambda (t_i) \right \rangle$

follow the theoretical predictions for global statistics (Bos & Rubinstein, Phys. Rev. Fluids, vol. 2, 2017, 022601).
Precision diagnostics in children
Authors: Dimitri Paul
Published: February 2023

Medical practice is transforming from a reactive to a pro-active and preventive discipline that is underpinned by precision medicine. The advances in technologies in such fields as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics and artificial intelligence have resulted in a paradigm shift in our understanding of specific diseases in childhood, greatly enhanced by our ability to combine data from changes within cells to the impact of environmental and population changes. Diseases in children have been reclassified as we understand more about their genomic origin and their evolution. Genomic discoveries, additional ‘omics’ data and advances such as optical genome mapping have driven rapid improvements in the precision and speed of diagnoses of diseases in children and are now being incorporated into newborn screening, have improved targeted therapies in childhood and have supported the development of predictive biomarkers to assess therapeutic impact and determine prognosis in congenital and acquired diseases of childhood. New medical device technologies are facilitating data capture at a population level to support higher diagnostic accuracy and tailored therapies in children according to predicted population outcome, and digital ecosystems now tailor therapies and provide support for their specific needs. By capturing biological and environmental data as early as possible in childhood, we can understand factors that predict disease or maintain health and track changes across a more extensive longitudinal path. Data from multiple health and external sources over long-time periods starting from birth or even in thein uteroenvironment will provide further clarity about how to sustain health and prevent or predict disease. In this respect, we will not only use data to diagnose disease, but precision diagnostics will aid the ‘diagnosis of good health’. The principle of ‘start early and change more’ will thus underpin the value of applying a personalised medicine approach early in life.
Theological exegesis and internal trinitarian relations
Authors: Wiarda Timothy
Published: February 2023

The Gospel of Mark includes a series of passages that depict direct interaction between Jesus and God. When viewed in their full literary, historical and canonical contexts, these passages can be seen to address an embryonic trinitarian question concerning the relationship between trusting and worshipping Jesus and trusting and worshipping the one God of Israel. They provide grounds for affirming that mutual love, knowledge and communication have a place in the immanent life of the Trinity, and that these elements bear a meaningful analogical relationship to the love, knowledge and communication that ideally characterise human father–son relations.
A married couple of mathematicians from Vienna remembers Sigmund Freud (1953)
Authors: Siegmund-Schultze Reinhard
Published: February 2023

Argument

The paper is based on a hitherto unexplored document (audiotape of an interview accompanied by a German transcript) from 1953, located in the Freud Papers at the Library of Congress. It contributes to a better understanding of the impact of Freud and of Psychoanalysis on personalities from the exact sciences, here represented by the noted applied mathematicians Richard von Mises and Hilda Geiringer from Vienna. The detailed discussion of the interview sheds some new light on the different roles of Kraus and Freud in the Vienna culture, on the Vienna Jugendkulturbewegung (youth culture movement) during WWI in which Geiringer was involved, on Freud’s and Siegfried Bernfeld’s standing around 1930 among German philosophers and psychologists, and on Wilhelm Fließ’ theory of periodicity, which von Mises—based on his attitude as an applied mathematician—defended against superficial accusations. Finally, new biographical material is provided for von Mises and the remotely related Freud family, and for Geiringer’s and von Mises’ early lives. The interview, which was taken during the Cold War, also allows conclusions as to how politics influenced the memories and views of the participants. Part of the aim of the paper is historical documentation of unknown material (letters by Karl Kraus and Wolfgang Köhler, one book review by Wilhelm Ostwald, a file on Richard Pfennig), including some correction of erroneous information in the literature.
Grass fires and road structure influence plant invasions in a critical wildlife habitat in north-eastern India
Authors: Banerjee Subham , Das Amit , Rahman Masidur , Bhowal Swapnil , Das Dhritiman , John Robert
Published: February 2023

One of the multiple threats to protected areas worldwide, invasive plant species have the potential to decrease biodiversity and ecosystem function. We studied changes in infestation by two widespread invasive plant species – Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha – in India’s Manas National Park, a critical conservation site for threatened flora and fauna. Based on field surveys in 2011 and 2019, we found that C. odorata and M. micrantha were present in most of the sampled plots and had newly invaded over 20% of the plots. However, the abundance of M. micrantha decreased in 45% of the plots while C. odorata increased in >50% of the plots. We used a decision tree-based regression with environmental variables as predictors to generate the distribution, abundance and invasion risk maps of the two species. Among environmental variables, road proximity and fire frequency had the strongest influences, respectively, on C. odorata and M. micrantha. Invaded quadrats exhibited lower native-plant diversity than non-invaded quadrats, and C. odorata specifically had a strong negative association with native-plant community structure. These invasive species have increased their range and abundance, and our predicted invasion risk maps indicate the areas where management intervention is urgently needed.
Trajectories of parental harshness and exposure to community violence differentially predict externalizing and internalizing mental health problems in legal system-involved youth
Authors: Estrada Suzanne , Baskin-Sommers Arielle
Published: February 2023

Youth with legal system involvement are especially likely to experience parental harshness (PH) and exposure to community violence (ETV), two common forms of life stress. However, most studies examine these stressors separately or collapse across them in ways that preclude examination of their co-occurrence. Consequently, it is unclear 1) how PH and ETV simultaneously fluctuate across development and 2) how these fluctuations predict future mental health problems in legal system-involved youth. We used group-based multi-trajectory modeling to estimate simultaneous trajectories of PH and ETV in 1027 legal system-involved youth and regression analyses to understand how trajectory membership predicted mental health problems three years later. Four trajectories of co-occurrence were identified (1: Low; 2: Moderate and Decreasing; 3: Moderate PH/High ETV; 4: High PH/Moderate ETV). Compared to the Low trajectory, all trajectories with PH/ETV elevations predicted violent crime and substance problems; trajectory 3 (Moderate PH/High ETV) predicted nonviolent crime and depression/anxiety symptoms; trajectory 4 (High PH/Moderate ETV) predicted depression diagnosis. These results elucidate how PH and ETV typically co-occur across adolescence for legal system-involved youth. They also reveal important commonalities and dissociations among types of mental health problems.
Better, for worse, or both? Testing environmental sensitivity models with parenting at the level of individual families
Authors: Boele Savannah , Bülow Anne , de Haan Amaranta , Denissen Jaap. J. A. , Keijsers Loes
Published: February 2023

According to environmental sensitivity models, children vary in responsivity to parenting. However, different models propose different patterns, with responsivity to primarily: (1) adverse parenting (adverse sensitive); or (2) supportive parenting (vantage sensitive); or (3) to both (differentially susceptible). This preregistered study tested whether these three responsivity patterns coexist. We used intensive longitudinal data of Dutch adolescents (N = 256, Mage = 14.8, 72% female) who bi-weekly reported on adverse and supportive parenting and their psychological functioning (tmean = 17.7, tmax = 26). Dynamic Structural Equation Models (DSEM) indeed revealed differential parenting effects. As hypothesized, we found that all three responsivity patterns coexisted in our sample: 5% were adverse sensitive, 3% vantage sensitive, and 26% differentially susceptible. No adolescent appeared unsusceptible, however. Instead, we labeled 28% as unperceptive, because they did not perceive any changes in parenting and scored lower on trait environmental sensitivity than others. Furthermore, unexpected patterns emerged, with 37% responding contrary to parenting theories (e.g., decreased psychological functioning after more parental support). Sensitivity analyses with concurrent effects and parent-reported parenting were performed. Overall, findings indicate that theorized responsivity-to-parenting patterns might coexist in the population, and that there are other, previously undetected patterns that go beyond environmental sensitivity models.
Autonomic nervous system reactivity to emotion and childhood trajectories of relational and physical aggression
Authors: Murray-Close Dianna , Lent Maria C. , Sadri Amanda , Buck Casey , Yates Tuppett M.
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the role of autonomic nervous system (ANS) coordination in response to emotion in girls’ and boys’ development of relational (e.g., ignoring, excluding) and physical (e.g., hitting, kicking) aggression. Caregivers reported on children’s relational and physical aggression at ages 6, 7, 8, and 10 years (N = 232, 50.4% girls, 46.6% Latinx). Sympathetic nervous system (assessed via pre-ejection period) and parasympathetic nervous system (assessed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia) reactivity were measured in response to video clips depicting fear, happiness, and sadness at age 7. Growth curve models indicated that ANS reactivity to sadness, but not to fear or happiness, was related to trajectories of relational aggression. In contrast, ANS reactivity to all three emotions was associated with trajectories of physical aggression. Effects differed across genders, indicating that distinct patterns of ANS reactivity to emotion may be involved in girls’ and boys’ development of aggression. Overall, these findings contribute to a growing literature documenting the role of ANS reactivity to emotion in aggressive behavior. Moreover, this study considers ANS reactivity to specific emotions, as related to both relational and physical aggression, and as differentially expressed among girls versus boys.
Stress and diurnal cortisol among Latino/a college students: A multi-risk model approach
Authors: Sasser Jeri , Doane Leah D. , Su Jinni , Grimm Kevin J.
Published: February 2023

The transition to college is a time of increased opportunity and stress spanning multiple domains. Adolescents who encounter significant stress during this transition may be vulnerable to adverse outcomes due to a “wear and tear” of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Latino/a students may be particularly at-risk for heightened stress exposure due to experiences of both minority-specific and general life stress. Despite this, little is known regarding the cumulative impact of multiple stressors on Latino/a students’ HPA axis functioning. The present study employed a “multi-risk model” approach to examine additive, common, and cumulative effects of multiple stress forms (general, academic, social, financial, bicultural, ethnic/racial discrimination) on diurnal cortisol in a sample of first-year Latino/a college students (N = 196; 64.4% female; Mage = 18.95). Results indicated that no stress forms were additively associated with the cortisol awakening response (CAR), but general stress was associated with a flatter diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) and bicultural stress was linked with a steeper DCS. A college stress latent factor was associated with a lower CAR, whereas a latent factor of discrimination was not associated with diurnal cortisol. Cumulative risk was linked with a lower CAR. Findings highlight the physiological correlates of various stressors experienced by Latino/a college students.
Syntactic complexity and connector use in the summary writing of L1 and L2 Canadian students
Authors: Rivard Léonard P. , Gueye Ndeye R.
Published: February 2023

The study compared the syntactic complexity and the use of logical connectors in summaries written in French by two groups of students: speakers of French as first language (L1) and peers in a French-immersion program (L2) from grade nine to university. Both L1 and L2 groups of university students demonstrated more general complexity in their written summaries than less mature writers. However, the use of phrasal elaboration was apparent just at the upper secondary and university levels with L1 students. Both groups generally tend to overuse causal connectors while underusing additive and adversative connectors compared to the author’s use in the source text. Yet both groups employ significantly more adversative connectors just at the post-secondary level. The only difference observed between L1 and L2 writers was in the diversity of connector words used in the summary, with the former group using a richer, more diverse vocabulary. Several measures for succinctness differentiated L1 and L2 students in early secondary with the latter group condensing the source text less than L1 students. Correlation analysis suggested that many measures of syntactic complexity and connector use are inextricably linked.
Assembling urban worlds: always-becoming urban in and through Bir al-Saba’
Authors: Nasasra Mansour , Stanley Bruce E.
Published: February 2023

The ordinary city of Bir al-Saba’, situated within an urban world stretched across southern Palestine, has a story to tell, of dramatic spatiotemporal transformations, presence and absence, capture and resilience. Such connected urban history is profoundly shaped through the world-making relations of those who lived and dwelt within the always-becoming material and ideational spatial geography of the Naqab. Research gathered from diverse archival sources and interview data offers insight into the voices, actions and imaginaries of the Saba'awi as they worked the shifting assemblages of this landscape between 1840 and 1936, making Bir al-Saba’ a thick multiscalar cosmopolitan place of meaning and opportunity.
Anthropometric criteria for best-identifying children at high risk of mortality: a pooled analysis of twelve cohorts
Authors: Khara Tanya , Myatt Mark , Sadler Kate , Bahwere Paluku , Berkley James A , Black Robert E , Boyd Erin , Garenne Michel , Isanaka Sheila , Lelijveld Natasha , McDonald Christine , Mertens Andrew , Mwangome Martha , O’Brien Kieran , Stobaugh Heather , Taneja Sunita , West Keith P , Briend André
Published: February 2023

Objective:

To understand which anthropometric diagnostic criteria best discriminate higher from lower risk of death in children and explore programme implications.

Design:

A multiple cohort individual data meta-analysis of mortality risk (within 6 months of measurement) by anthropometric case definitions. Sensitivity, specificity, informedness and inclusivity in predicting mortality, face validity and compatibility with current standards and practice were assessed and operational consequences were modelled.

Setting:

Community-based cohort studies in twelve low-income countries between 1977 and 2013 in settings where treatment of wasting was not widespread.

Participants:

Children aged 6 to 59 months.

Results:

Of the twelve anthropometric case definitions examined, four (weight-for-ageZ-score (WAZ) <−2), (mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <125 mm), (MUAC < 115 mm or WAZ < −3) and (WAZ < −3) had the highest informedness in predicting mortality. A combined case definition (MUAC < 115 mm or WAZ < −3) was better at predicting deaths associated with weight-for-heightZ-score <−3 and concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) than the single WAZ < −3 case definition. After the assessment of all criteria, the combined case definition performed best. The simulated workload for programmes admitting based on MUAC < 115 mm or WAZ < −3, when adjusted with a proxy for required intensity and/or duration of treatment, was 1·87 times larger than programmes admitting on MUAC < 115 mm alone.

Conclusions:

A combined case definition detects nearly all deaths associated with severe anthropometric deficits suggesting that therapeutic feeding programmes may achieve higher impact (prevent mortality and improve coverage) by using it. There remain operational questions to examine further before wide-scale adoption can be recommended.
Migration and health: exploring healthy ageing of immigrants in European societies
Authors: Jacobsen Frode F. , Glasdam Stinne , Schopman Limke M. , Sodemann Morten , van den Muijsenbergh Maria E.T.C. , Ågotnes Gudmund
Published: February 2023

Aim:

The aim is to identify important factors for immigrants’ health and well-being and for their use (or non-use) of primary health care (PHC) and other non-specialised services, and for possible ways that PHC can support healthy ageing of immigrants.

Background:

Older persons are an increasing share of the immigrant population in the global north, frequently in contact with various forms of health services, (PHC services most of all. Consequently, PHC services are in a particularly unique position to support healthy ageing of immigrants.

Methods:

The position paper builds on five international, multi-professional and cross-disciplinary small group discussions as well as an international workshop early summer. During the discussions and the workshop, topics were arrived at as to factors related to the health situation of older immigrants, their needs, and health-seeking behaviour, and to how PHC professionals could support healthy ageing in immigrants. Those main topics in turn guided search for relevant research literature and informed the selection of the main research questions of this paper.

Findings:

Several factors, in addition to culture and cultural differences, are important to for PHC professionals and decision-makers to take into consideration in encounters with older immigrants. The socio-economic position of the older immigrant and close relatives, inter-generational relationships within the immigrant communities, country-specific factors in the host country like health care expenditure, and communication skills in health professionals are all examples of factors playing an important role regarding the health and health-seeking behaviour of older immigrants.
Against the Grain Theatre'sMessiah/Complexand Indigenous Sovereignty
Authors: Penner Nina
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and the intensification of IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Color) activism during this time have prompted many in the classical music industry to pause and reflect on the ways in which we perpetuate colonialism and racism in our leadership and governance structures, programming, casting practices, performance practices, and treatment of IBPOC artists. This article focuses onMessiah/Complex(2020) by Toronto's Against the Grain Theatre (AtG). All soloists were Indigenous or people of color. Based on conversations with several Indigenous artists involved in this project, this article argues that we need to move from thinking about how to include more Indigenous artists to thinking about how we can create space for Indigenous sovereignty. That is going to involve giving over decision-making power to Indigenous artists at all levels.Messiah/Complexcould have made a more decisive move toward sovereignty if it had begun with conversations with IBPOC artists about what they want to say at this moment. The performers should have been able to decide not only what language to perform in but also whether they want to perform Handel's music at all, who they want to collaborate with, and how they want to work together.