bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Close-to-nature forest management effects on soil nematodes and microbial activity in pine plantations on aeolian sands
Authors: Renčo Marek , Gömöryová Erika , Čerevková Andrea
Published: April 2024

Close-to-nature forest management combines the economic use of forests with nature conservation in forest, aiming promote stability, productivity, diversity and continuity within forest ecosystems. While close-to-nature management is expected to positively impact the tree growth, its effect on the belowground micro-biota has been poorly investigated. Nematodes and microbes are species-rich and abundant soil microorganisms that have long been used as ecological indicators of soil health. In this study, was assessed the impact of close-to-nature forest management on soil nematode communities and microbial activity in the pine plantations on aeolian sands in Southern Slovakia, 10 years after the introduction of this management approach. Fifteen stands in close-to-nature forest managed and fifteen stands with applying standard forest management were chosen. Our findings revealed that close-to-nature forest management significantly increased the abundance of soil nematodes and nematode biomass in each of the plots. Moreover, close-to-nature forest management significantly increased the mean abundance of omnivores and predators as stress sensitive nematodes (c–p4, c–p5). Additionally, close-to-nature forest management reduces the proportion of stress tolerant nematodes (c–p1) and enrichment opportunists (c–p2), increased all maturity and structure indices as well as composite, structure, predator and omnivore footprints. Furthermore, close-to-nature forest management significantly increased soil moisture, soil carbon content, microbial biomass carbon, basal respiration and N-mineralization, and understory vegetation diversity. These findings suggest that close-to-nature management practice, resulting in forest of different ages, positively influenced nematode communities and microbial activity by changing the quantity and quality of resources associated with increased understory cover and diversity.
Rescue cervical cerclage in twin pregnancy with spontaneous cervical dilatation at 8-week gestation
Authors: Sharma Gaurav , Pradhan Samir , Zaidi Sara , Shreedharan Rinoy , Chandra Vipin , Bhoi Nihar Ranjan
Published: April 2024

Premature spontaneous cervical dilatation can happen among pregnant women leading to miscarriage, preterm labor, or premature delivery. We present a case of twin pregnancy with spontaneous cervical dilatation and membranes bulging into the vagina at 8-week gestation. A 34-year-old primigravida presented to our clinic with complaints of cramping pain in the lower abdomen. Her per speculum pelvic examination showed evidence of dilated cervical os and amniotic membranes bulging through the cervix into the vagina. Her sonogram suggested a dichorionic diamniotic pregnancy of 8-week gestation. Her TVS examination revealed that the internal os was dilated. Both fetuses were alive with regular fetal heart rate. Rescue cervical cerclage by modified Shirodkar’s technique was done under general anesthesia. She was administered prophylactic antibiotics and tocolytic. She was closely followed up at regular intervals and observed for signs of chorioamnionitis. She delivered at 35 weeks of gestation with two female children with birth weights 2.3 kg and 2.1 kg, respectively.
Health service providers’ perspective on barriers and strategies to tuberculosis treatment adherence in Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District in the Ashanti region, Ghana: a qualitative study
Authors: Appiah Maxwell Afranie , Arthur Joshua Appiah , Asampong Emmanuel , Kamau Edward Mberu , Gborgblorvor Delphine , Solaga Peter , Dako-Gyeke Phyllis
Published: April 2024

Background

Despite the substantial improvement in treatment success rate over the past two decades in Ghana, some districts in the country still record high rates of tuberculosis (TB) deaths and lost-to-follow-up. The high incidence of these adverse outcomes suggests that the TB programme is not performing well in these districts which could be due to some barriers in the programme implementation. This paper explored the perspectives of healthcare providers on the barriers to TB treatment adherence and the potential strategies to address them in two high-burden districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Methods

This study utilised an explorative qualitative study design among 16 purposively selected healthcare providers directly involved in TB care in the Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District. Key informant interviews were used to collect data, which were audio-recorded and transcribed word-for-word. The transcriptions were then imported into Atlas.ti version 8.4 software for thematic content analysis.

Results

Findings from this study revealed significant socioeconomic and individual barriers to TB treatment adherence. Key socioeconomic barriers included income insecurity, transportation cost, food insecurity, lack of public education on TB and frequent shortage of TB diagnostic tools. The individual barriers identified were misconception of TB causation, perceived full recovery after intensive phase treatment, inadequate patient privacy and noncompliance to treatment transfer protocol. The strategies recommended by healthcare providers to address these barriers were home-based treatment, provision of food incentives, frequent education on TB, and usage of reminder systems for follow-ups.

Conclusion

The barriers to TB treatment adherence from the healthcare providers’ perspective were mainly socioeconomic and individual. The suggested strategies offer actionable steps towards addressing these barriers. Thus, it is recommended that the TB programme and other supporting stakeholders take into account these barriers and adopt these strategies when planning for TB control to enhance treatment adherence and improve patient health outcomes.
The YouTube Apparatus
Authors: Munger Kevin
Published: April 2024

The academic agenda for studying social media and politics has been somewhat haphazard. Thanks to rapid technological change, a cascade of policy-relevant crises, and sheer scale, we do not have a coherent framework for deciding what questions to ask. This Element articulates such a framework by taking existing literature from media economics and sociology and applying it reflexively, to both the academic agenda and to the specific case of politics on YouTube: the Supply and Demand Framework. The key mechanism, traced over the past century, is the technology of audience measurement. The YouTube audience comes pre-rationalized in the form of Likes, Views and Comments, and is thus unavoidable for all actors involved. The phenomenon of 'radicalization' is best understood as a consequence of accelerated feedback between audiences and creators, radicalizing each other. I use fifteen years of supply and demand data from YouTube to demonstrate how different types of producers respond more or less to this feedback, which in turn structures the ideological distribution of content consumed on the platform. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Residents’ KABP and Social Support Statuses Under Normalized COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yang Kaihan , Peng Yubinxin , Li Jiehang , Xie Yujie , Zhang Fei
Published: April 2024

Objectives:

To investigate the status quo of residents’ knowledge, attitude, belief, and practice (KABP) and social support and the correlation of KABP with social support under normalized coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic prevention and control.

Methods:

A questionnaire was designed based on the KABP model, and an online survey was conducted among residents in September 2022. SPSS software (version 25.0) was used to analyze the data. Two independent sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate linear regression analysis, and Pearson’s correlation analysis were conducted.

Results:

In total, 326 valid questionnaires were obtained. The scoring rates of residents’ KABP and social support were 68.1%, 92.2%, 89.3%, 75.3%, and 62.6%, respectively. Main factors influencing residents’ knowledge included gender, nationality, education level, practice, and social support; those influencing attitude were belief and practice; those influencing belief were place of residence, attitude, and practice; those influencing practice were knowledge, attitude, belief, and social support; and those influencing social support were marital status, place of residence, knowledge, and practice. Social support was positively correlated with knowledge and practice.

Conclusions:

This study provides a scientific foundation for the current normalized prevention and control of COVID-19 and is conducive to health managers to better carry out prevention and control related health education for specific groups.
The Critical Need for Disaster Medicine in Modern Medical Education
Authors: Shah Muhammad Hamza , Roy Subham , Flari Eleni
Published: April 2024

Current escalation of natural disasters, pandemics, and humanitarian crises underscores the pressing need for inclusion of disaster medicine in medical education frameworks. Conventional medical training often lacks adequate focus on the complexities and unique challenges inherent in such emergencies. This discourse advocates for the integration of disaster medicine into medical curricula, highlighting the imperative to prepare health-care professionals for an effective response in challenging environments. These competencies encompass understanding mass casualty management, ethical decision-making amidst resource constraints, and adapting health-care practices to varied emergency contexts. Therefore, we posit that equipping medical students with these specialized skills and knowledge is vital for health-care delivery in the face of global health emergencies.
Dyadic inter-group cooperation in shotgun hunting activities in a Congo Basin village
Authors: Kandza Vidrige H. , Jang Haneul , Kiabiya Ntamboudila Francy , Lew-Levy Sheina , Boyette Adam H.
Published: April 2024

Understanding the dynamics of inter-group cooperation in human adaptation has been the subject of recent empirical and theoretical studies in evolutionary anthropology, beginning to fill gaps in our knowledge of how interactions across political, economic and social domains can – and often do – lead to stable, large-scale cooperation. Here we investigate dyadic intergroup cooperation in shotgun hunting in the Republic of the Congo. In the Congo Basin, inter-group cooperation between foragers and farmers is at the centre of an exchange system maintained by traditional norms and institutions such as fictive kinship. Here, we focused on what factors predict cooperative shotgun hunting exchanges between BaYaka and Yambe. We conducted structured interviews with 48 BaYaka hunters and 18 Yambe men who organise hunts in a village along the Motaba River. We used Bayesian multilevel regression models to investigate the influence of Yambe and BaYaka attributes on probability of dyadic cooperation. We found that BaYaka men's reputations as skilled hunters and their family size each predicted cooperation in shotgun hunting, whereas there was no effect of Yambe attributes (status, wealth, family size). We discuss the results in terms of evolutionary models of men as hunters and inter-group cooperation, as well as biodiversity conservation implications.
Prolonged grief disorder symptomology in three African countries: A network analysis and comparison
Authors: Robinson Martin , Armour Chérie , Levin Yafit
Published: April 2024

Background

Bereavement is a globally prevalent life stressor, but in some instances, it may be followed by a persistent condition of grief and distress, codified within the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Network analysis provides a valuable framework for understanding psychological disorders at a nuanced symptom-based level.

Aim

This study novelly explores the network structure of ICD-11 PGD symptomology in a non-Western sample and assesses the replication of this across three African country sub-samples in these data.

Methodology

Network models were estimated using the “Inventory of Complicated Grief-Revised” in a sample of trauma-exposed individuals who experienced bereavement throughout life (N = 1,554) from three African countries (Ghana, n = 290; Kenya, n = 619; Nigeria, n = 645). These networks were statistically evaluated using the network comparison test.

Results

It was found that “Feelings of Loss” and “Difficulty moving on” were the most central symptoms in the combined sample network. These findings were largely consistent for the Ghana and Nigeria sub-samples, however, network structure differences were noted in the Kenya sub-sample.

Conclusion

The identified PGD network highlights particular indicators and associations across three African samples. Implications for the assessment and treatment of PGD in these cultural contexts warrant consideration.
Buckled elastic sheet as a vortex generator in dual channels
Authors: Cui Jingyu , Wang Zhaokun , Ren Feng , Liu Yang , Yan Weiwei , Jin Yuzhen
Published: April 2024

This study presents a dual-channel vortex generator (VG) that leverages the snap-through behaviour of flexible sheets. The VG outperforms a similar-sized rigid VG in generating vortices within dual-channel flows while minimizing pressure loss. Numerical simulations using the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method analyse the dynamics and vortex generation performance of the sheet under various system parameters. Two distinct modes are identified for the elastic sheet: a sustained snap-through mode (SSTM) and a dormant mode (DM). The sheet's mode is predominantly influenced by its length ratio (L*), bending stiffness

$(K_b^\ast )$

and flow strength, with the mass ratio having a minimal impact. The sheet exhibiting regular SSTM can effectively generate vortices in both channels and the vortex generation performance can be conveniently tuned by altering the sheet's initial buckling (i.e. L*). An increase in

$K_b^\ast $

results in a higher critical Reynolds number (Rec) required for mode transition. An increase in L*, however, initially raises Rec and then lowers it, suggesting an optimal length ratio (approximately 0.7 for our considered system) for minimizing the Rec necessary to trigger SSTM. Furthermore, a disparity in the flow strength between channels is found to suppress the snap-through of the sheet; a greater disparity, however, is permissible to induce the SSTM of more compliant sheets. These findings underscore the potential of snap-through behaviour for enhanced flow manipulation in dual-channel systems.
A fast-running physics-based wake model for a semi-infinite wind farm
Authors: Bastankhah Majid , Mohammadi Mohammad Mehdi , Lees Charlie , Diaz Gonzalo Pablo Navarro , Buxton Oliver R.H. , Ivanell Stefan
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a new generation of fast-running physics-based models to predict the wake of a semi-infinite wind farm, extending infinitely in the lateral direction but with finite size in the streamwise direction. The assumption of a semi-infinite wind farm enables concurrent solving of the laterally averaged momentum equations in both streamwise and spanwise directions. The developed model captures important physical phenomena such as vertical top-down transport of energy into the farm, variable wake recovery rate due to the farm-generated turbulence and also wake deflection due to turbine yaw misalignment and Coriolis force. Of special note is the model's capability to predict and shed light on the counteracting effect of Coriolis force causing wake deflections in both positive and negative directions. Moreover, the impact of wind farm layout configuration on the flow distribution is modelled through a parameter called the local deficit coefficient. Model predictions were validated against large-eddy simulations extending up to 45 km downstream of wind farms. Detailed analyses were performed to study the impacts of various factors such as incoming turbulence, wind farm size, inter-turbine spacing and wind farm layout on the farm wake.
Inclusion, Representation, Populism, and Democracy in Latin America
Authors: Gamboa Laura
Published: April 2024

This essay reviews the following works:

A Dynamic Theory of Populism in Power: The Andes in Comparative Perspective. By: Julio F. Carrión. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. Pp. xi + 269. $26.93 cloth. ISBN: 9780197572290.

¿Por qué funciona el populismo? El discurso que sabe construir explicaciones convincentes en un mundo en crisis. By María Esperanza Casullo. Buenos Aires: Siglo Veintiuno Editores, 2019. Pp. v + 208. $19.52 paperback. ISBN: 9789876298964.

The Chain of Representation: Preferences, Institutions, and Policy across Presidential Systems. By Brian F. Crisp, Olivella Santiago and Guillermo Rosas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. iii + 262. $36.69 paperback. ISBN: 9781108745413.

Shifting the Meaning of Democracy: Race, Politics, and Culture in the United States and Brazil. By Jessica Lynn Graham. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2019. Pp. iii + 365. $29.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780520293762.

The Inclusionary Turn in Latin American Democracies. Edited by Diana Kapiszewski, Steven Levitsky, and Deborah J. Yashar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Pp. iii + 537. $93.45 cloth. ISBN: 9781108842044.

Diminished Parties: Democratic Representation in Contemporary Latin America. Edited by Juan Pablo Luna, Rafael Piñeiro Rodríguez, Fernando Rosenblatt, and Gabriel Vommaro. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Pp. iii + 341. $120.00 cloth. ISBN: 978–1316513187.

Democracia para Venezuela: ¿Representativa, participativa o populista? By Margarita López Maya. Caracas: Editorial Alfa, 2021. Pp. 3 + 238. $19.00 paperback. ISBN: 978–8412266566.

Checking Presidential Power: Executive Decrees and the Legislative Process in New Democracies. By Valeria Palanza. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. iii + 245. $108.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781108427623.
Insights into Growth, Ring Formation and Maximum Ages of Brazil Nut Trees (Bertholletia excelsa) Using 14C Dating and Tree-Ring Analysis
Authors: Caetano Andrade Victor L , Clement Charles R , Herrera-Ramírez David , Larsen Thomas , Durgante Flavia , Boivin Nicole , Schöngart Jochen , Trumbore Susan , Roberts Patrick
Published: April 2024

The Brazil Nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae) is a species of considerable historical, economic and ecological importance in South America. Radiocarbon dating indicates some individuals can live from hundreds to more than 1000 years, which means they have the potential to reconstruct deep time growth patterns and their relationship to anthropogenic management or climate change from pre-colonial to present times. However, age estimates vary considerably amongst trees dated with different methods (i.e. tree-ring analysis, radiocarbon-dating, and repeated diameter measurements). Here we analyze living Brazil Nut trees growing in four distinct regions across the Brazilian Amazon using two dating methods: tree-ring counting and radiocarbon dating. Our results show that the congruence between the two methods varies amongst regions, and the highest congruence is found at the site of Tefé, Amazonas. This region features archaeological sites with anthropogenic Terra Preta soils, and is known for its long-term human forest management. This management likely enhanced light and nutrient availability, which possibly enabled the trees to grow at higher rates and form annual rings. Our findings highlight the need for better understanding of the growth of Brazil Nut trees for ecological research, but also the potential of dendrochronology for exploring climate change and human-forest interactions in the Amazon Basin.
I’m from the Government, and I’m Here to Help: Public Perceptions of Coercive State Power
Authors: BLANKSHAIN JESSICA , COHN LINDSAY P. , LUPTON DANIELLE L.
Published: April 2024

Under what conditions does the US public support the domestic use of different institutions of coercive state power? We theorize how the type of situation, the type of actor, the mission, and the type of intervention influence public support for such missions. We use a preregistered conjoint survey experiment to test our hypotheses and find that participants (i) are less supportive of interventions in response to protests than to natural disasters or terrorism, (ii) generally prefer the police or the National Guard to the military, (iii) mistrust order maintenance interventions, and (iv) prefer intervening actors be unarmed. Preferences (ii)–(iv) are strongly conditioned on the type of event. We also find that Republicans are more accepting of military actors, order maintenance interventions, armed interventions, and policing responses to protests. We note implications for public trust in the military, the militarization of policing, and the domestic use of federal forces.
Peat mine as a threat to the diversity of aquatic beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in the protected area Nature 2000 in Poland
Authors: Kuczyńska Katarzyna , Czerniawski Robert , Krepski Tomasz
Published: April 2024

Peatlands, shaped by centuries of human activities, now face a primary threat from mining activities. Vulnerable to drainage and hydrological instability, peatland areas encounter challenges that compromise their ecological integrity. This study hypothesised that permanent water reservoirs within mines could serve as refugia for water beetles from adjacent areas prone to drying in the summer. Employing standard methods, including entomological scraping and water traps, samples were collected. Results revealed that, in most cases, water beetles exhibited a preference for the Nature 2000 area untouched by mining. Despite unfavourable conditions, the Nature 2000 area showcased a more diverse water beetle fauna. Remarkably, the selected Nature 2000 area, despite its identified degradation based on flora, remained a biodiversity hotspot for peatland water beetle fauna. The study underscores the significance of assessing insects, particularly beetles, as rapid responders to environmental changes. This evaluation holds crucial implications for peatland restoration planning and decision-making regarding mining investments in proximity to peatland areas.
A situational and stakeholder analysis of health technology assessment in Zimbabwe
Authors: Dzingirai Blessing , Dambiko Prudence , Matyanga Celia , Manyau Pinky , Tagwireyi Dexter , Postma Maarten J. , Mafirakureva Nyashadzaishe , van Hulst Marinus
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Systematic priority setting is necessary for achieving high-quality healthcare using limited resources in low- and middle-income countries. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a tool that can be used for systematic priority setting. The objective of this study was to conduct a stakeholder and situational analysis of HTA in Zimbabwe.

Methods

We identified and analyzed stakeholders using the International Decision Support Initiative checklist. The identified stakeholders were invited to an HTA workshop convened at the University of Zimbabwe. We used an existing HTA situational analysis questionnaire to ask for participants’ views on the need, demand, and supply of HTA. A follow-up survey was done among representatives of stakeholder organizations that failed to attend the workshop. We reviewed two health policy documents relevant to the HTA. Qualitative data from the survey and document review were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Forty-eight organizations were identified as stakeholders for HTA in Zimbabwe. A total of 41 respondents from these stakeholder organizations participated in the survey. Respondents highlighted that the HTA was needed for transparent decision making. The demand for HTA-related evidence was high except for the health economic and ethics dimensions, perhaps reflecting a lack of awareness. Ministry of Health was listed as a major supplier of HTA data.

Conclusions

There is no formal HTA agency in the Zimbabwe healthcare system. Various institutions make decisions on prioritization, procurement, and coverage of health services. The activities undertaken by these organizations provide context for the institutionalization of HTA in Zimbabwe.
What is ISTA (International School of Theatre Anthropology)?
Authors: Varley Julia
Published: April 2024

Eugenio Barba first defined ‘theatre anthropology’ as the study of the human being in an organized performance situation in a lecture in Warsaw in May 1980. The first session of ISTA (International School of Theatre Anthropology) was held in October 1980 and the last to date in 2023. This article gives a personal account of ISTA’s history from its origins, rooted in Eugenio Barba’s interest in Asian classical theatre techniques and the founding of Odin Teatret in Denmark, to the most recent experiences, which include the intercultural production of Anastasis/Resurrection at the 2023 Theatre Olympics in Budapest. It identifies masters of given ISTA sessions and their invaluable contribution to the School’s emphasis on, and understanding of, craft, as well as the distinguishing characteristics and points of change and development of selected ISTAs.
Stanislavsky’s Legacy: From Vasily Toporkov to Oleg Yefremov and Oleg Tabakov
Authors: Volkova Viktoria
Published: April 2024

This article discusses the continuity of Konstantin Stanislavsky’s pedagogy directly to his disciple Vasily Toporkov, and from him to his students Oleg Yefremov and Oleg Tabakov. Toporkov joined the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) as an actor eleven years before Stanislavsky’s death, which allowed him to participate in the final phase of Stanislavsky’s life’s work and his development of the method of psychophysical actions. Struck by Stanislavsky’s authority, scrutiny, and caring attitude towards all actors, as well as other co-workers of the theatre, Toporkov transmitted this legacy, together with the practical knowledge that he had gained, to Yefremov and Tabakov, recounting vivid stories and anecdotes about Stanislavsky. The article traces the professional development of both men: each founded his own theatre, Yefremov the Sovremennik, and Tabakov the Tabakerka. Thus, whether or not they set out to do so, both Yefremov and Tabakov followed Stanislavsky’s life example, when he founded the MAT. Their decision to follow Stanislavsky’s example was a logical consequence of this great teacher’s life-affirmative, spiritual, material, and intellectual legacy, which is on a par with the most significant humanistic writings. The key spiritual-physical aspects of Stanislavsky’s legacy have been passed down in a straight line from Stanislavsky to his students, from them to their students, and so on, from one generation of the Moscow Art Theatre to the next, until the present day.
Comparative epidemiology of bacteraemia in two ageing populations: Singapore and Denmark
Authors: Sim Patrick Jian Wei , Li Zongbin , Aung Aung Hein , Coia John Eugenio , Chen Ming , Nielsen Stig Lønberg , Jensen Thøger Gorm , Møller Jens Kjølseth , Dessau Ram Benny , Póvoa Pedro , Gradel Kim Oren , Chow Angela ,   for the SG-DK Bacteraemia study group
Published: April 2024

Burden of bacteraemia is rising due to increased average life expectancy in developed countries. This study aimed to compare the epidemiology and outcomes of bacteraemia in two similarly ageing populations with different ethnicities in Singapore and Denmark. Historical cohorts from the second largest acute-care hospital in Singapore and in the hospitals of two Danish regions included patients aged 15 and above who were admitted from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2016 with at least 1 day of hospital stay and a pathogenic organism identified. Among 13 144 and 39 073 bacteraemia patients from Singapore and Denmark, similar 30-day mortality rates (16.5%; 20.3%), length of hospital stay (median 14 (IQR: 9–28) days; 11 (6–21)), and admission rate to ICU (15.5%; 15.6%) were observed, respectively. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus ranked among the top four in both countries. However, Singaporeans had a higher proportion of patients with diabetes (46.8%) and renal disease (29.5%) than the Danes (28.0% and 13.7%, respectively), whilst the Danes had a higher proportion of patients with chronic pulmonary disease (18.0%) and malignancy (35.3%) than Singaporeans (9.7% and 16.2%, respectively). Our study showed that top four causative organisms and clinical outcomes were similar between the two cohorts despite pre-existing comorbidities differed.
Trilingual parallel processing: Do the dominant languages grab all the attention?
Authors: Pathak Lekhnath Sharma , Vulchanova Mila , Pathak Poshak , Mishra Ramesh Kumar
Published: April 2024

Twenty-five L1 Nepali speaking participants living in Trondheim, Norway who spoke English as L2 and Norwegian as L3 (late adult learners) participated in this study. Participants’ L2 proficiency was established as advanced in LexTALE. We administered language comprehension and production tasks in a trilingual design. In a mouse tracking trilingual parallel activation experiment, participants performed a language comprehension task in which they listened to the spoken word in their L1, L2 and L3 and clicked on the matching target picture. Mouse trajectories of their response pattern were recorded and analyzed. The language production task included a phonological and a semantic verbal fluency task (VFT), which also served as an executive control task. VFT showed their dominance in L1 and L2 compared to L3. This study contributes novel knowledge on trilingual parallel activation and suggests that in the presence of a non-dominant L3, a dominant L1 and a dominant L2 are processed faster than the non-dominant language in phonologically competing conditions.
Using Financial Contracts to Facilitate Informal Leases Within a Western United States Water Market Based on Prior Appropriation
Authors: Zeff Harrison , Hadjimichael Antonia , Reed Patrick M. , Characklis Gregory W.
Published: April 2024

The ability to reallocate water to higher‐value uses during drought is an increasingly important “soft‐path” tool for managing water resources in an uncertain future. In most of the Western United States, state‐level water market institutions that enable reallocation also impose substantial transaction costs on market participants related to regulatory approval and litigation. These transaction costs can be prohibitive for many participants in terms of both costs and lengthy approval periods, limiting transfers and reducing allocation efficiency, particularly during drought crises periods. This manuscript describes a mechanism to reduce transaction costs by adapting an existing form of informal leases to facilitate quicker and less expensive transfers among market participants. Instead of navigating the formal approval process to lease a water right, informal leases are financial contracts for conservation that enable more junior holders of existing rights to divert water during drought, thereby allowing the formal transfer approval process to be bypassed. The informal leasing approach is tested in the Upper Colorado River Basin, where drought and institutional barriers to transfers lead to frequent shortages for urban rights holders along Colorado's Front Range. Informal leases are facilitated via option contracts that include adaptive triggers and that define volumes of additional, compensatory, releases designed to mitigate impacts to instream flows and third parties. Results suggest that more rapid reallocation of water via informal leases could have resulted in up to $222 million in additional benefits for urban rights holders during the historical period 1950–2013.
Stress Variations in Southern Tonga Slab Derived From Deep‐Focus Earthquakes
Authors: Hrubcová Pavla , Rastjoo Ghazaal , Vavryčuk Václav
Published: April 2024

Tonga is a convergent plate boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates and is the fastest and the most seismically active deep subduction system in the world. We focused on southern Tonga (south of latitude 22°S) and the mantle transition zone (depths of 410–670 km), where seismic activity forms two subparallel bands of events in the east and west. We performed stress analysis by inverting focal mechanisms of earthquakes available in the Global Centroid Moment Tensor catalog and revealed two distinct stress regimes in the slab. While the stress orientation in the eastern slab segment conforms to the down‐dip compressional stress along the entire slab, the stress orientation in the western slab segment is different, having the maximum compression in the vertical direction. This suggests that the western segment can represent a stagnant slab with flattening and bending, as proposed by modeling studies. Its connection with the younger actively subducting slab is supported by the horizontal westward shift at 520 km depth. The stress analysis also indicates substantially different fault orientations in both segments. In the actively dipping slab, the majority of activated faults are predominantly sub‐horizontal. However, they are significantly inclined from vertical in the stagnant slab segment. A higher scatter in fault orientations in the stagnant slab suggests deformation, fragmentation and rheological complexity resulting from bending and flattening.
Nutritional interventions to prevent retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Hellström Ann , Kermorvant-Duchemin Elsa , Johnson Mark , Sáenz de Pipaón Miguel , Smith Lois E. , Hård Anna-Lena ,   on behalf of ESPR Nutrition council members, Fusch Christoph , Iacobelli Silvia , Johnson Mark J. , Lapillonne Alexandre , Moltu Sissel J. , Sáenz de Pipaón Miguel , Zachariassen Gitte
Published: April 2024

Very preterm infants are at high risk of growth failure. Poor weight gain is a prominent risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and optimizing nutrition could potentially promote growth and reduce ROP. Most infants at risk of ROP need parenteral nutrition initially and studies of enhanced parenteral provision of lipids and amino acids have suggested a beneficial effect on ROP. Higher amino acid intake was associated with lower incidence of hyperglycemia, a risk factor for ROP. For very preterm infants, providing unpasteurized fortified raw maternal breast milk appears to have a dose-dependent preventive effect on ROP. These infants become deficient in arachidonic acid (ArA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) after birth when the maternal supply is lost. Earlier studies have investigated the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on ROP with mixed results. In a recent study, early enteral supplementation of ArA 100 mg/kg/d and DHA 50 mg/kg/d until term equivalent age reduced the incidence of severe ROP by 50%.

Impact

Previous reviews of nutritional interventions to prevent morbidities in preterm infants have mainly addressed bronchopulmonary dysplasia, brain lesions and neurodevelopmental outcome. This review focusses on ROP.

Neonatal enteral supplementation with arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, at levels similar to the fetal accretion rate, has been found to reduce severe ROP by 50% in randomized controlled trials.
Comparative analysis of novel esophageal pressure monitoring catheters versus commercially available alternatives in a biomechanical model of the thoracic cavity
Authors: Abbate Gabriella , Colombo Sebastiano Maria , Semenzin Clayton , Sato Noriko , Liu Keibun , Ainola Carmen , Milani Angelo , Fior Gabriele , Obonyo Nchafatso , White Nicole , Chiumello Davide , Pauls Jo , Suen Jacky Y. , Fraser John F. , Li Bassi Gianluigi
Published: April 2024

Transpulmonary pressure can be estimated using esophageal balloon (EB) catheters, which come in a variety of manufacturing configurations. We assessed the performance of novel polyurethane EB designs, Aspisafe NG and NG+, against existing alternatives. We created a biomechanical model of the chest cavity using a plastic chamber and an ex-vivo porcine esophagus. The chamber was pressurized (− 20 and + 20 cmH2O) to simulate pleural pressures. We conducted tests with various EB inflation volumes and measured transesophageal pressure (TEP). TEP measurement was defined as accurate when the difference between pressure within the EB and chamber was 0 ± 1 cmH2O. We computed the minimal (Vaccuracy-min) and maximal (Vaccuracy-max) EB inflation volumes of accuracy. Inflation volumes were further validated using a surrogate method derived by the clinically validated positive pressure occlusion test (PPOT). When the esophageal balloons were filled with inflation volumes within the range provided by the manufacturers, the accuracy of TEP measurements was marginal. Our tests found median Vaccuracy-min across EB of 0.00–0.50 mL (p = 0.130), whereas Vaccuracy-max ranged 0.50–2.25 mL (p = 0.002). Post PPOT validation, median TEP was − 0.4 cmH2O (− 1.5 to 0.3) (p < 0.001 among catheters). The Aspisafe NG and NG+ were accurate in 81.7% and 77.8% of the measurements, respectively. We characterized two new EBs, which demonstrated good benchtop accuracy in TEP measurements. However, accuracy was notably influenced by the precise selection of EB inflation volumes.
Exploring inertial sensor-based balance biomarkers for early detection of mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Jamshed Mobeena , Shahzad Ahsan , Riaz Farhan , Kim Kiseon
Published: April 2024

Dementia is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive abilities, and diagnosing its early stages Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), is difficult since it is a transitory state that is different from total cognitive collapse. Recent clinical research studies have identified that balance impairments can be a significant indicator for predicting dementia in older adults. Accordingly, the current research focuses on finding innovative postural balance-based digital biomarkers by using wearable inertial sensors and pre-screening of MCI in home settings using machine learning techniques. For this research, sixty subjects (30 cognitively normal and 30 MCI) with waist-mounted inertial sensor performed balance tasks in four different standing postures: eyes-open, eyes-closed, right-leg-lift, and left-leg-lift. The significant balance biomarkers for MCI identification are discovered by our research, demonstrating specific characteristics in each of these four states. A robust feature selection approach is ensured by the multi-step methodology that combines the strengths of Filter techniques, Wrapper methods, and SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) technique. The proposed balance biomarkers have the potential to detect MCI (with 75.8% accuracy), as evidenced by the results of machine learning algorithms for classification. This work adds to the growing body of literature targeted at enhancing understanding and proactive management of cognitive loss in older populations and lays the groundwork for future research efforts aimed at refining digital biomarkers, validating findings, and exploring longitudinal perspectives.
Exploring drivers of overnight stays and same-day visits in the tourism sector
Authors: Scotti Francesco , Flori Andrea , Secchi Piercesare , Arena Marika , Azzone Giovanni
Published: April 2024

We employ mobile network data referred to the area of Lombardy in Italy to investigate alternative touristic behaviours, such as same-day visits and overnight stays in Italy. We show that larger availability of tourism accommodations, cultural and natural endowments are relevant factors explaining overnight stays. Conversely, temporary entertainment and transportation facilities increase municipalities attractiveness for same-day visits. The results also highlight a trade-off in the capability of municipalities of being attractive in connection to both the tourism behaviours. For instance, higher tourists arrivals are observed in areas receiving limited visitors, coming from municipalities with low same-day visits outflows. We highlight mobile data offer an adequate level of spatial and temporal granularity and can be thus employed to support policy makers in the design of effective tourist management strategies.
Predictive value of lactate dehydrogenase for Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia in children based on decision curve analysis and dose–response analysis
Authors: Yanhong Ren , Shuai Zhao , Dan Chen , Xiaomin Sun
Published: April 2024

Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia (MPNP) has a long and severe disease course, which seriously threatens to jeopardize patients' lives and health. Early prediction is essential for good recovery and prognosis. In the present study, we retrospect 128 children with MPNP and 118 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia combined with pulmonary consolidation to explore the predictive value of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in children with MPNP by propensity score matching method, multiple logistic regression analysis, dose–response analysis and decision curve analysis. The WBC count, PLT count and percentage of neutrophils were significantly higher in necrosis group than consolidation group. The serum CRP, PCT, ESR, D-D, FIB, ALT, LDH, IgG and IgM were significantly higher in necrosis group. Compared to consolidation group, necrosis group is more severe in chest pain and dyspnea. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that duration of LDH levels, high fever, d-dimer, and fibrinogen were independent predictive factors for the incidence of MPNP. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that a non-linear dose–response relationship between the continuous changes of LDH level and the incidence of MPNP. Decision curve analysis revealed that LDH had an important clinical value in predicting MPNP. This study provides a potential serologic indicator for early diagnosis of MPNP.
Improving inceptionV4 model based on fractional-order snow leopard optimization algorithm for diagnosing of ACL tears
Authors: Wang Delei , Yan Yanqing
Published: April 2024

In the current research study, a new method is presented to diagnose Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears by introducing an optimized version of the InceptionV4 model. Our proposed methodology utilizes a custom-made variant of the Snow Leopard Optimization Algorithm, known as the Fractional-order Snow Leopard Optimization Algorithm (FO-LOA), to extract essential features from knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. This results in a substantial improvement in the accuracy of ACL tear detection. By effectively extracting critical features from knee MRI images, our proposed methodology significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy, potentially reducing false negatives and false positives. The enhanced model based on FO-LOA underwent thorough testing using the MRNet dataset, demonstrating exceptional performance metrics including an accuracy rate of 98.00%, sensitivity of 98.00%, precision of 97.00%, specificity of 98.00%, F1-score of 98.00%, and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 88.00%. These findings surpass current methodologies like Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Inception-v3, Deep Belief Networks and Improved Honey Badger Algorithm (DBN/IHBA), integration of the CNN with an Amended Cooking Training-based Optimizer version (CNN/ACTO), Self-Supervised Representation Learning (SSRL), signifying a significant breakthrough in ACL injury diagnosis. Using FO-SLO to optimize the InceptionV4 framework shows promise in improving the accuracy of ACL tear identification, enabling prompt and efficient treatment interventions.
Assessing contemporary Arctic habitat availability for a woolly mammoth proxy
Authors: Poquérusse Jessie , Brown Casey Lance , Gaillard Camille , Doughty Chris , Dalén Love , Gallagher Austin J. , Wooller Matthew , Zimov Nikita , Church George M. , Lamm Ben , Hysolli Eriona
Published: April 2024

Interest continues to grow in Arctic megafaunal ecological engineering, but, since the mass extinction of megafauna ~ 12–15 ka, key physiographic variables and available forage continue to change. Here we sought to assess the extent to which contemporary Arctic ecosystems are conducive to the rewilding of megaherbivores, using a woolly mammoth (M. primigenius) proxy as a model species. We first perform a literature review on woolly mammoth dietary habits. We then leverage Oak Ridge National Laboratories Distributive Active Archive Center Global Aboveground and Belowground Biomass Carbon Density Maps to generate aboveground biomass carbon density estimates in plant functional types consumed by the woolly mammoth at 300 m resolution on Alaska’s North Slope. We supplement these analyses with a NASA Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment dataset to downgrade overall biomass estimates to digestible levels. We further downgrade available forage by using a conversion factor representing the relationship between total biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) for arctic vegetation types. Integrating these estimates with the forage needs of woolly mammoths, we conservatively estimate Alaska’s North Slope could support densities of 0.0–0.38 woolly mammoth km−2 (mean 0.13) across a variety of habitats. These results may inform innovative rewilding strategies.
Importance of CD8 Tex cell-associated gene signatures in the prognosis and immunology of osteosarcoma
Authors: Lu Yining , Cao Nana , Zhao Ming , Zhang Guochuan , Zhang Qi , Wang Ling
Published: April 2024

As a highly aggressive bone malignancy, osteosarcoma poses a significant therapeutic challenge, especially in the setting of metastasis or recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the potential of CD8-Tex cell-associated genes as prognostic biomarkers to reveal the immunogenomic profile of osteosarcoma and guide therapeutic decisions. mRNA expression data and clinical details of osteosarcoma patients were obtained from the TCGA database (TARGET-OS dataset). The GSE21257 dataset (from the GEO database) was used as an external validation set to provide additional information on osteosarcoma specimens. 84 samples from the TARGET-OS dataset were used as the training set, and 53 samples from the GSE21257 dataset served as the external validation cohort. Univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to identify CD8 Tex cell genes associated with prognosis. The LASSO algorithm was performed for 1000 iterations to select the best subset to form the CD8 Tex cell gene signature (TRS). Final genes were identified using the multivariate Cox regression model of the LASSO algorithm. Risk scores were calculated to categorize patients into high- and low-risk groups, and clinical differences were explored by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis to assess model performance. Prediction maps were constructed to estimate 1-, 3-, and 5 year survival rates for osteosarcoma patients, including risk scores for CD8 Texcell gene markers and clinicopathologic factors. The ssGSEA algorithm was used to assess the differences in immune function between TRS-defined high- and low-risk groups. TME and immune cell infiltration were further assessed using the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. To explore the relationship between immune checkpoint gene expression levels and the two risk-defined groups. A CD8 Tex cell-associated gene signature was extracted from the TISCH database and prognostic markers including two genes were developed. The high-risk group showed lower survival, and model performance was validated by ROC curves and C-index. Predictive plots were constructed to demonstrate survival estimates, combining CD8 Tex cell gene markers and clinical factors. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular and immune characteristics of osteosarcoma and offers potential avenues for advances in therapeutic approaches.