bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of accounting students' decision to pursue career as ACCA-certified accountants: a case study of Omani students
Authors: Bhat Mohd Abass , Khan Shagufta Tariq
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of accounting students' decision to pursue a career path.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative approach was used to analyze the impact of independent variables (career exposure, self-competence, financial award, work environment, social values and market factors) on dependent variable (career path). Data were collected from 264 students of University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Oman. Structural equation modeling technique was mainly utilized to determine the causal relationship between the variables.

Findings

The most influencing factor is financial award followed by market factors and work environment. However, other variables such as career exposure and self-competence though significantly determine career path of the students but are the least contributors to the model. In addition, social value was found insignificant and negative contributor to the model.

Practical implications

The findings of the current study confirm the propositions of the theory of planned behavior that student's decision to pursue career as ACCA-certified accountants is shaped by attitudinal factors as well as subjective norms factors and perceived behavior control. This study's theoretical findings can be used to supplement empirical evidence on impact of career exposure, self-competence, financial awards, work environment, social values and market factors to take the ACCA exam (career path). The implications of this research for academic institutions include providing convenience for students, such as ACCA exam scholarship offers if they have graduated with cum laude and obtained work experience because ACCA involves time and money to participate in.

Originality/value

There has been virtually little research in Oman on this subject though. Investigating Omani accounting students' aspirations to work in public accounting adds additional insight into the field.
Use of endoanal ultrasound in detecting obstetric anal sphincter injury immediately after birth
Authors: Huber Malin , Larsson Charlotta , Harrysson Mathilda , Strigård Karin , Lehmann Jan‐P. , Nordin Pär , Tunón Katarina
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) complicates around 5% of deliveries in primiparas. The study objective was to assess the utility of three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D‐EAUS) in the diagnosis of OASI.

Material and methods

The present study was designed to mirror screening settings with an unselected cohort of nulliparous women. All enrolled patients underwent clinical examination of the perineum by the caregiver, and 3D‐EAUS was conducted. Post‐processing of ultrasonography volume data was performed by an experienced colorectal surgeon who was blinded to all other data. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 3D‐EAUS in the diagnosis of OASI was evaluated. The trial is registered at ISCRTN: 18006769.

Results

A total of 680 scans were performed, of which 18.5% were judged as “non‐assessable”, resulting in 554 assessable recordings. Sphincter defects were observed in 12.8% of all assessable recordings on 3D‐EAUS (n = 71). With clinical examination set as the reference standard, ultrasound sensitivity in the diagnosis of OASI was 30.4%, whereas its specificity was 87.9%. The negative predictive value was 96.7% and the positive predictive value was only 9.9%. Comments were left on 175 examinations, of which 74% referred to the management of the examination.

Conclusions

Using 3D‐EAUS in a maternity ward is demanding because staff generally have little experience in endoanal ultrasound, which contributes to difficulties in obtaining good image quality. When 3D‐EAUS is performed to mirror screening settings, it adds no convincing diagnostic power to clinical examination in the diagnosis of OASI.
Development and verification of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of dronedarone and its active metabolite N‐desbutyldronedarone: Application to prospective simulation of complex drug–drug interaction with rivaroxaban
Authors: Leow Jacqueline Wen Hui , Ang Xiao Jun , Chan Eric Chun Yong
Published: January 2023

Aims

Despite potential enzyme‐ and transporter‐mediated drug–drug interactions (DDIs) between dronedarone and rivaroxaban in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data remain limited to guide clinical practice. We aimed to develop, verify and validate a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of dronedarone and its major metabolite, N‐desbutyldronedarone (NDBD), to prospectively interrogate this clinically relevant DDI in healthy and mild renal impairment populations.

Methods

The middle‐out development of our PBPK model combined literature‐derived or in‐house in vitro data, predicted in silico data and in vivo clinical data. Model verification was performed for intravenous and oral (single and multiple) dosing regimens. Model validation for the accurate prediction of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4‐ and P‐glycoprotein‐mediated DDI utilized simvastatin and digoxin as respective victim drugs. Rivaroxaban‐specific inhibitory parameters of dronedarone and/or NDBD against CYP3A4, CYP2J2, OAT3 and P‐glycoprotein were incorporated into the PBPK‐DDI model for prospective dronedarone–rivaroxaban DDI simulation.

Results

Dronedarone and NDBD PK following clinically relevant doses of 400 mg dronedarone across single and multiple oral dosing were accurately simulated by incorporating effect of auto‐inactivation on dose nonlinearities. Following successful model validation, nondose‐adjusted rivaroxaban–dronedarone DDI in healthy and mild renal impairment populations revealed simulated rivaroxaban area under the plasma concentration–time curve up to 24 h fold change greater than dose exposure equivalence (0.70–1.43) at 1.65 and 1.84, respectively. Correspondingly, respective major bleeding risk was 4.24 and 4.70% compared with threshold of 4.5% representing contraindicated rivaroxaban–ketoconazole DDI.

Conclusion

Our PBPK‐DDI model predicted clinically significant dronedarone–rivaroxaban DDI in both healthy and mild renal impairment subjects. Greater benefit vs. risk could be achieved with rivaroxaban dose reductions to at least 15 mg in mild renal impairment subjects on concomitant dronedarone and rivaroxaban.
Myelodysplastic syndromes, thy name is heterogeneity
Authors: Greenberg Peter L.
Published: January 2023

Classification of the heterogeneous spectrum of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) requires both morphologic and molecular analysis to effectively subgroup patients. The paper by Zhang et al demonstrated the positive impact of combining the International Consensus Consortium (ICC) morphologic approach with prior clinical (IPSS‐R) and mutational (IPSS‐M) categorization to provide useful clinical evaluation of MDS patients.

Commentary on: Zhang et al. Impact of the International Consensus Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Br J Haematol 2022 (Online ahead of print). doi: 10.1111/bjh.18628.
Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians
Authors: Pop Mihai I. , Dyck Marissa A. , Chiriac Silviu , Lajos Berde , Szabó Szilárd , Iojă Cristian I. , Popescu Viorel D.
Published: January 2023

Livestock depredation by brown bears is one of the main source of human–wildlife conflict in rural Eastern Europe. Thus, identifying environmental and anthropogenic drivers of human–bear conflict, and developing spatial predictions for predation intensity are critical to mitigate such conflicts. We used 756 records of bear‐caused livestock predation collected between 2008 and 2016 in the Romanian Carpathians and evaluated predictors and spatial distribution of bear livestock predation events (BPEs) using separate binomial generalized linear mixed models for cows, sheep, and other livestock. Despite differences in the direction and magnitude of the effect, the prevalence of BPE for all livestock was driven by the interaction between environmental drivers along with relative bear abundance. Distance from forest was a strong negative predictor for cows and sheep, while distance to villages was a strong negative predictor for cows. Landscape heterogeneity was positively associated with cow and other livestock predation and negatively associated with sheep. Relative bear abundance data collected by wildlife managers was a positive predictor for predation on all livestock. Livestock damage was more prevalent near villages, showcasing plasticity of food resources sought by bears. Our work informs brown bear and livestock management strategies to develop awareness and implement damage prevention measures.
The indigenous African cultural value of human tissues and implications for bio‐banking
Authors: Nderitu David , Emerson Claudia
Published: January 2023

Bio‐banking in research elicits numerous ethical issues related to informed consent, privacy and identifiability of samples, return of results, incidental findings, international data exchange, ownership of samples, and benefit sharing etc. In low and middle income (LMICs) countries the challenge of inadequate guidelines and regulations on the proper conduct of research compounds the ethical issues. In addition, failure to pay attention to underlying indigenous worldviews that ought to inform issues, practices and policies in Africa may exacerbate the situation. In this paper we discuss how the African context presents unique and outstanding cultural thought systems regarding the human body and biological materials that can be put into perspective in bio‐bank research. We give the example of African ontology of nature presented by John Samwel Mbiti as foundational in adding value to the discourse about enhancing relevance of bio‐bank research in the African context. We underline that cultural rites of passage performed on the human body in majority of communities in Africa elicit quintessential perspective on beliefs about handling of human body and human biological tissues. We conclude that acknowledgement and inclusion of African indigenous worldviews regarding the human body is essential in influencing best practices in biobank research in Africa.
Clinical assessment of impulsiveness and defence mechanisms in young patients with mood disorders in a two‐year prospective study
Authors: Rajewska‐Rager Aleksandra , Dmitrzak‐Weglarz Monika , Lepczynska Natalia , Kapelski Pawel , Pawlak Joanna , Skibinska Maria
Published: January 2023

Aim

There have been limited prospective investigations of early clinical markers involved in mood regulation and diagnosis change in young patients. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in impulsivity and defence mechanisms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) with acute symptoms and remission compared to healthy controls (HC), and possible psychological predictors of diagnosis conversion.

Methods

Seventy‐nine young MDD or BD patients and 40 HC were enrolled in a two‐year prospective study. A comprehensive clinical interview focused on clinical and psychological evaluation during follow‐up visits. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS‐17), whilst the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) was used for hypo/manic symptoms during each control visit. All patients completed the Defence Style Questionnaire (DSQ‐40) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11).

Results

Patients used more immature defences, and had significantly higher total impulsivity scores than controls. BD patients had elevated motor and non‐planning impulsivity compared with HC and MDD subjects. Total and non‐planning impulsiveness remained elevated in euthymia in BD and MDD compared to HC. There were no statistically significant differences in total defence styles and impulsiveness scores at baseline vs. euthymia in MDD or BD patients groups. Significantly higher dissociation scores at baseline discriminated depressive patients who convert to BD in their diagnosis.

Conclusions

Patients with acute mood symptoms used more frequent immature defences and had significantly higher total impulsivity scores than healthy persons. A lack of differences in total defence styles and impulsiveness between patients with acute symptoms and after reaching euthymia in both MDD and BD groups indicates that they are independent of disease status. Dissociation defence mechanisms may be an early diagnostic indicator of BD.
Potential accumulation of toxic trace elements in soils during enhanced rock weathering
Authors: Dupla Xavier , Möller Benjamin , Baveye Philippe C. , Grand Stéphanie
Published: January 2023

Terrestrial enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a carbon dioxide removal technology that aims at accelerating one of the most powerful negative feedbacks on Earth's climate, the chemical weathering of silicates. To achieve this, ERW proposes to spread ground silicate rock on agricultural soils. According to many models, global application rates of 40 tonnes of ground basaltic rock per hectare and per year would be necessary to sequester a significant amount of CO2, representing up to 24% of the current net annual increase in atmospheric CO2. When assessing the viability of ERW as a global geo‐engineering strategy, a pivotal but overlooked question to address is whether ERW may lead to toxic trace element accumulation in soils at unauthorized and potentially harmful levels. This study evaluates the legal sustainability of ERW with regard to trace element contents in soils. We compare different trace element accumulation scenarios considering a range of rock sources, application rates and national regulatory limits. The results indicate that, at the suggested annual application rate of 40 tonnes per hectare, the first regulatory limits would be exceeded after 6 and 10 years for copper and nickel, respectively. This study argues in favour of close tailoring of ERW deployment to local conditions in order to tap into its climate mitigation potential while preserving long‐term soil uses.

Highlights

Terrestrial enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a carbon sequestration technology that consists in applying rock powder to soils.

This study evaluates whether rock powder application can lead to trace metals accumulation in soils beyond regulatory limits.

ERW can lead to the overrun of some environmental regulatory limits within less than a decade.

Specific site and rock selection will be necessary for this method to preserve long‐term soil uses.
Mommy brain in the United States
Authors: Miller Valerie , Price‐Crist Marcy
Published: January 2023

Women undergo profound psychological and cognitive shifts throughout their life course, and motherhood entails dramatic mind–body adjustments. Growing maternal responsibilities and evidence from social sciences suggest motherhood enhances cognitive functioning, but mothers typically claim otherwise. This article uses maternal life stories to reveal cultural schemas of mommy brain as told by mothers in the United States. Our findings illustrate what mommy brain is in practice and how cultural narratives promote associations between motherhood and diminished cognitive functioning. We found that interruptions, cognitive overload, and newfound anxieties were fundamental components in mothers’ mommy brain experiences. We believe that these factors, along with social isolation, play a salient role in self‐reported deficits in maternal cognition. Understandings of mommy brain must move beyond neurobiology and attention and memory studies and consider how interruptions, overload, and other subjective experiences shape our definitions and what we know about maternal cognition.
Transformative change comes from more than structured content: Qualitative exploration of parent experiences of a post‐separation group program
Authors: Bayliss Luke T. , Krishnamoorthy Govind , Malhotra Aastha , Beel Nathan , du Plessis Carol , Crathern Jennifer , Hall Stuart , Burton Lorelle
Published: January 2023

Objective

In this research, we explore participant experiences of a post‐separation parenting program as a protective factor for helping with post‐separation adjustment.

Background

Separation is a difficult process for children and families. It often involves distress and conflict that can negatively affect well‐being. Post‐separation programs are a protective factor to help parents adjust post‐separation. However, there is a dearth of qualitative research exploring how these programs help with post‐separation adjustment.

Method

In‐depth semistructured interviews were conducted with a sample of 13 parents who had attended a post‐separation program. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Two reviewers independently coded data inductively, and coding was subsequently independently reviewed by a third reviewer.

Results

Group processes accompanying the program helped participants reduce distress in the acute post‐separation phase. Participants reported enhanced management of personal responses to the separation that contributed to personal development. Peer learning and support during this phase may be a relatively unexplored area.

Conclusion

Post‐separation programs that normalize separation and include practical strategies for emotion regulation and effective communication may be helpful for individuals' adjustment post‐separation.

Implications

Post‐separation programs should be offered by organizations that support separated parents to help adjust during the early phase of separation.
What ultimately matters in root canal treatment success and tooth preservation: A 25‐year cohort study
Authors: Van Nieuwenhuysen Jean Pierre , D'Hoore William , Leprince Julian G.
Published: January 2023

Aim

There are currently no prospective studies evaluating the long‐term outcomes of non‐surgical root canal treatments beyond 5 years, both in terms of treatment success and tooth preservation, and identifying factors predictive of treatment outcome. The aim of the present work was therefore to fill this gap by assessing these outcomes over time and identifying predictive variables based on systematic data collection over a 25‐year period.

Methodology

Data concerning the treatments (N = 2500) were systematically collected since 1990. Information was recorded among clinical, technical, radiographic and patient‐related characteristics, i.e., approximately 150 variables for each treatment. The data were analysed regarding both treatment success and tooth preservation by multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, and survival curves were generated. The statistical significance level was set at 0.0125.

Results

In total, 56.4% of the treatments could be followed over time (0–25 years, mean = 6.5 years, median = 5 years). Survival probability decreased almost linearly for treatment success, with about 85% after 5 years and 60% after 20 years, and for tooth preservation, with about 90% at 5 years and 50% at 20 years. The variables significantly associated with treatment failure were: pre‐operative pain (Hazard Ratio—HR = 1.56 [95% CI 1.23–1.97]), persistent pain (HR = 2.63 [95% CI 1.44–4.80]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.46 [95% CI 0.36–0.58]), size of periapical bone radiolucency (HR = 1.88 [95% CI 1.67–2.11]), and tooth type (p = .0006). For tooth extraction, they were: combined endodontic‐periodontal lesion (HR = 3.37 [95% CI 1.88–6.05]), pre‐existing complication before treatment (HR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.26–2.21]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.45 [95% CI 0.33–0.60]), clinical failure of root canal treatment (HR = 2.78 [95% CI 1.98–3.89]) and tooth type (p = .0012).

Conclusion

Root canal treatment success and tooth preservation on the arch are not static outcomes, but evolve with time. Among a substantial set of potential predictors, only a small proportion was significantly predictive of treatment success and tooth preservation, most of them being disease and patient characteristics, and not technical aspects, except pre‐existing complications. These observations challenge the importance frequently given to byzantine considerations related to the numerous technical details of endodontic procedures, as opposed to general concepts of good clinical practice.
Seasonal affective disorder and audit quality
Authors: Kalelkar Rachana , Xu Qiao , Chen Lele
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates whether seasonal affective disorder (SAD) influences audit quality. On the one hand, a SAD‐induced negative mood can render auditors risk‐averse in auditing. On the other hand, SAD can lower their cognitive ability and efficiency at work. Our results show that absolute discretionary accruals and the likelihood of restatements are lower when the level of SAD is higher during the audit period, thus suggesting that SAD lowers auditors' willingness to accept aggressive reporting. Other tests show that the relationship between SAD and audit quality is not significantly different between the fall and winter or between industry expert and non‐industry expert auditors. We also find that the association between SAD and audit quality is more pronounced for auditors located in northern states than southern states. Lastly, our results hold after controlling for management reporting choices, auditor busy season, auditor locality and other robustness tests. Overall, this paper contributes to the auditing literature by highlighting the effect of environmental factors on auditors' professional judgement from a psychological perspective.
Hen egg only diets support healthy aging in adult mice
Authors: Nishio Naomi , Isobe Ken‐ichi
Published: January 2023

Hen eggs (eggs) are a conventional food, known to contain the nutrients required for the growth of chicken embryos. These eggs are rich in important proteins and fats, with a very low amount of carbohydrate, and include all of the vitamins and minerals needed for the development of mice. We found that mice fed eggs grew to the same weight as mice fed a normal chow diet (ND) and remained healthy until the 20‐months. As expected, the serological indicators of fat content were higher in egg‐only mice than in ND mice. However, surprisingly the serum glucose levels in the egg‐only mice were nearly identical to those in the ND mice. Given the high fat content in eggs, we expected that our egg‐only mice would develop fatty liver or other metabolic diseases. However, we observed no pathological changes in the livers of egg‐only mice until 20‐months with their serological indicators (ALT and AST) and histological features (no fat droplets) remaining normal. However, when we examined the pups nursed by mothers of the egg‐only diet group we noted that almost the animals died 2 to 4 weeks after birth. This is likely because these pups presented with reduced enzymes for metabolism in their liver when compared to pups of the ND group. In addition, we also found that the expression of various development proteins were severely lacking in liver of these pups. From these results, our report suggested that eggs could support healthy aging in adult mice, but not in pups.
Insomnia and risk of dementia in a large population‐based study with 11‐year follow‐up: The HUNT study
Authors: Selbæk‐Tungevåg Selma , Selbæk Geir , Strand Bjørn Heine , Myrstad Christian , Livingston Gill , Lydersen Stian , Bergh Sverre , Ernstsen Linda
Published: January 2023

Despite evidence suggesting that insomnia is associated with the risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction, studies have shown mixed results. Dementia has a long prodromal phase, and studies with long follow‐up are required to avoid reverse causality. In our 11‐year follow‐up study, we assessed whether probable insomnia disorder (PID) based on diagnostic criteria, and insomnia symptoms were associated with risk of all‐cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognition, measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale. We also examined if Apolipoprotein E genotype modified any associations with dementia through interaction. We analysed data from 7492 participants in the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study. PID was not associated with all‐cause dementia (odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 0.74–1.43), AD (odds ratio = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.71–1.60) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (regression coefficient = 0.37, 95% confidence interval = −0.06 to 0.80). The insomnia symptom “difficulties maintaining sleep” was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause dementia (odds ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval = 0.67–0.98), AD (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval = 0.57–0.93), and better Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, mean 0.40 units (95% confidence interval = 0.15–0.64). No interaction with Apolipoprotein E genotype was found. PID and insomnia symptoms did not increase the risk of dementia in our study. More research with longer follow‐up is needed, and future studies should explore if the associations to dementia risk vary across insomnia subtypes.
The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis response to ovine corticotropin‐releasing‐hormone stimulation tests in healthy and hospitalized foals
Authors: Johnson Katheryn , Peterson Jackie , Kopper Jamie , Dembek Katarzyna
Published: January 2023

Background

The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical axis (HPAA) response to sepsis can be impaired in critical illness. Corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test might assess HPAA function in foals.

Objective

To evaluate plasma cortisol, ACTH, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and endogenous CRH (eCRH) response to different doses of ovine CRH (oCRH).

Animals

Healthy (n = 14) and hospitalized (n = 15) foals <7 days of age.

Methods

In this prospective randomized study, oCRH (0.1, 0.3, and 1 μg/kg) was administered intravenously and blood samples were collected before, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administration of oCRH to determine plasma hormone concentrations. The hormonal response was evaluated as the difference (Delta; μg/dL or pg/mL) or percent change between baseline hormone concentration and each time point after oCRH stimulation.

Results

Cortisol concentrations increased from baseline at 15 minutes with 0.1 and 0.3 μg/kg and at 30 and 60 minutes from baseline with 1 μg/kg oCRH (P < .05) in healthy and hospitalized foals. ACTH concentrations increased from baseline at 15 minutes with 0.1 μg/kg and at 30 minutes with 1 μg/kg oCRH (P < .05) in hospitalized foals. Delta cortisol 0 – 30, ACTH 0 – 30, and eCRH 0 – 30 was higher for the 1 μg/kg compared with 0.1 μg/kg oCRH in healthy foals (P < .05). Delta ACTH 0 – 15 and eCRH 0 – 30 was higher for the 1 μg/kg compared with the lower doses of oCRH in hospitalized foals (P < .05).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Cortisol, ACTH, and eCRH concentrations increased in response to administration of all doses of oCRH. One microgram per kilogram of oCRH appears to be optimal for the assessment of HPAA in healthy and hospitalized foals.
Landscape characteristics influence regional dispersal in a high‐elevation specialist migratory bird, the water pipit Anthus spinoletta
Authors: Ceresa Francesco , Brambilla Mattia , Kvist Laura , Vitulano Severino , Pes Michele , Tomasi Laura , Pedrini Paolo , Hilpold Andreas , Kranebitter Petra
Published: January 2023

Species living in high mountain areas are currently threatened by climate change and human land use changes. High‐elevation birds frequently inhabit island‐like suitable patches around mountain peaks, and in such conditions the capability to exchange individuals among patches is crucial to maintain gene flow. However, we lack information regarding the dispersal ability of most of these species and the possible influence of landscape features on dispersal. In this study, we used population genomics and landscape resistance modelling to investigate dispersal in a high‐elevation specialist migratory bird, the water pipit Anthus spinoletta. We aimed to assess the levels of gene flow in this species within a wide area of the European Alps, and to assess the effects of environmental characteristics on gene flow, by testing the isolation by distance (IBD) hypothesis against the isolation by resistance (IBR) hypothesis. We found clear support for IBR, indicating that water pipits preferentially disperse across suitable breeding habitat (i.e., high‐elevation grassland). IBR was stronger in the part of the study area with less extended suitable habitat. Landscape resistance was slightly better described by habitat suitability models than landscape connectivity models. Despite the observed IBR, gene flow within the study area was high, probably also because of the still wide and relatively continuous breeding range. The forecasted reduction of range of this species may lead to stronger effects of IBR on gene flow. Other high‐elevation specialist birds may show similar IBR patterns, but with possibly stronger effects on gene flow because of their more reduced and patchy habitats.
Characterization of the road profile and the rotational stiffness of supports in a bridge based on axle accelerations of a crossing vehicle
Authors: Feng Kun , Casero Miguel , González Arturo
Published: January 2023

In an effort to find more cost‐effective and proactive ways to keep bridges in good condition, the use of instrumented vehicles has gained great interest in the last decade. Two bridge components that can wear rapidly are the bearings and the road surface. However, past research on drive‐by monitoring has placed focus mostly on detecting losses of bending stiffness in the bridge deck, while assuming ideal support conditions that may differ from real cases significantly, and ignoring the characterization of the road profile. Even further, the need for specialized vehicles equipped with high‐tech instrumentation, low speeds, or very good road profiles has been a major obstacle preventing its practical implementation. This paper investigates the use of axle accelerations from an ordinary two‐axle vehicle crossing the bridge to quantify the rotational stiffness of the supports and the height of the road irregularities while overcoming the limitations exposed above. In contrast to previous research where the response of the contact point has been derived from other vehicular locations based on complex differential equations of motion, transfer functions are employed here. The key advantage of transfer functions is their simple algebraic form that can be easily calibrated on the field. The road profile is then obtained by subtracting the displacement of the bridge under each axle from the displacement of the contact point. There is one prediction of the road profile per axle but only a unique value of rotational stiffness at each support that will yield the same prediction by both axles. The algorithm is successfully tested with a half‐car traveling at 5, 10, 15, and 20 m/s, over a 15‐m bridge beam model with ISO road classes “A,” “B,” and “C,” for boundary conditions ranging from simply supported to fixed. The solution's robustness to modeling inaccuracies and noisy data is also investigated.
Molecular membrane separation: plants inspire new technologies
Authors: De Rosa Annamaria , McGaughey Samantha , Magrath Isobel , Byrt Caitlin
Published: January 2023

Plants draw up their surrounding soil solution to gain water and nutrients required for growth, development and reproduction. Obtaining adequate water and nutrients involves taking up both desired and undesired elements from the soil solution and separating resources from waste. Desirable and undesirable elements in the soil solution can share similar chemical properties, such as size and charge. Plants use membrane separation mechanisms to distinguish between different molecules that have similar chemical properties. Membrane separation enables distribution or retention of resources and efflux or compartmentation of waste. Plants use specialised membrane separation mechanisms to adapt to challenging soil solution compositions and distinguish between resources and waste. Coordination and regulation of these mechanisms between different tissues, cell types and subcellular membranes supports plant nutrition, environmental stress tolerance and energy management. This review considers membrane separation mechanisms in plants that contribute to specialised separation processes and highlights mechanisms of interest for engineering plants with enhanced performance in challenging conditions and for inspiring the development of novel industrial membrane separation technologies. Knowledge gained from studying plant membrane separation mechanisms can be applied to developing precision separation technologies. Separation technologies are needed for harvesting resources from industrial wastes and transitioning to a circular green economy.
Suppression of cuticular wax biosynthesis mediated by rice LOV KELCH REPEAT PROTEIN 2 supports a negative role in drought stress tolerance
Authors: Shim Yejin , Seong Gayeong , Choi Yumin , Lim Chaemyeong , Baek Seung‐A , Park Young Jin , Kim Jae Kwang , An Gynheung , Kang Kiyoon , Paek Nam‐Chon
Published: January 2023

Drought tolerance is important for grain crops, including rice (Oryza sativa); for example, rice cultivated under intermittent irrigation produces less methane gas compared to rice grown in anaerobic paddy field conditions, but these plants require greater drought tolerance. Moreover, the roles of rice circadian‐clock genes in drought tolerance remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the mutation of LOV KELCH REPEAT PROTEIN 2 (OsLKP2) enhanced drought tolerance by increasing cuticular wax biosynthesis. Among ZEITLUPE family genes, OsLKP2 expression specifically increased under dehydration stress. OsLKP2 knockdown (oslkp2‐1) and knockout (oslkp2‐2) mutants exhibited enhanced drought tolerance. Cuticular waxes inhibit non‐stomatal water loss. Under drought conditions, total wax loads on the leaf surface increased by approximately 10% in oslkp2‐1 and oslkp2‐2 compared to the wild type, and the transcript levels of cuticular wax biosynthesis genes were upregulated in the oslkp2 mutants. Yeast two‐hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed that OsLKP2 interacts with GIGANTEA (OsGI) in the nucleus. The osgi mutants also showed enhanced tolerance to drought stress, with a high density of wax crystals on their leaf surface. These results demonstrate that the OsLKP2‐OsGI interaction negatively regulates wax accumulation on leaf surfaces, thereby decreasing rice resilience to drought stress.
Systemic herpes simplex virus infection in a child with eczema herpeticum
Authors: Akamatsu Mami , Kawamura Yoshiki , Miura Hiroki , Sugimoto Erina , Okamoto Kaoru , Nakajima Yoichi , Kozawa Kei , Furukawa Gen , Tanaka Makito , Kudo Kazuko , Yoshikawa Tetsushi
Published: January 2023

Eczema herpeticum (EH) is a disseminated cutaneous infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) that develops in patients with atopic dermatitis. The kinetics and clinical significance of HSV viremia in EH are poorly understood. Herein, we report HSV DNAemia in a child with EH 12 months after the completion of chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Third‐personal evidence for perceptual confidence
Authors: Morrison John
Published: January 2023

Perceptual Confidence is the view that our conscious perceptual experiences assign confidence. In previous papers, I motivated it using first‐personal evidence (Morrison, 2016), and Jessie Munton motivated it using normative evidence (Munton, 2016). In this paper, I will consider the extent to which it is motivated by third‐personal evidence. I will argue that the current evidence is supportive but not decisive. I will then describe experiments that might provide stronger evidence. I hope to thereby provide a roadmap for future research.
Setting wait time targets in a multi‐priority patient setting
Authors: Babashov Vusal , Sauré Antoine , Ozturk Onur , Patrick Jonathan
Published: January 2023

In current clinical practice, priority‐specific wait time targets are usually determined based on the consensus of medical specialists and health care administrators. The rationale behind this approach considers clinical urgency but it does not consider the efficient use of clinical resources and the patient volume associated with each priority class. The approach we present here aims to determine wait time targets in a systematic fashion that both respects clinically acceptable maximum recommended wait times and considers clinic size and demand distribution across patient classes. First, we discuss the performance of several advance patient scheduling policies in the literature in terms of average wait times and overtime and select one for illustrative purposes. Second, we simulate the chosen policy given a demand distribution and a fixed system capacity and approximate (using regression and neural networks) the average wait time for each priority class and the use of overtime as a function of potential wait time targets. Finally, using a parameterized cost function, we formulate forward and inverse mathematical problems to determine when the implicit unit wait time costs drop to zero as wait time target values increase. Using illustrative examples with two patient classes, and a practical application with four patient classes, we demonstrate the potential managerial benefits of the proposed approach in terms of improved clinic efficiency and reduced wait times. This approach ensures that wait times are set to the minimum value that still achieves the maximal resource efficiency ensuring that patients wait for service is not extended unnecessarily.
Drought‐induced CsMYB6 interacts with CsbHLH111 to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chaenomeles speciosa
Authors: Zhang Shuangyu , Ren Yanshen , Zhao Qianyi , Wu Yang , Zhuo Yue , Li Houhua
Published: January 2023

Chaenomeles speciosa is a plant with high ornamental value, and the color of its petals deepens obviously under drought stress. To understand the mechanism of drought‐induced reddening of C. speciosa petal color, the metabolites and transcriptomics of petals from 4% PEG‐8000‐treated and control cuttings were analyzed. In this study, the analysis of metabolites revealed the accumulation of anthocyanins in petals of PEG‐treated cuttings, indicating anthocyanins might be the reason for the deepening of petal color. By using transcriptomics, we identified CsMYB6 as an overexpressed transcription factor in PEG‐treated samples. Transient overexpression and suppression of CsMYB6 revealed that it is a key transcription factor for anthocyanin synthesis. We identified genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and constructed a network of drought‐ and anthocyanin‐related genes (such as CsMYB6, CsbHLH111, CsANS, CsDFR, and CsUFGT). Further experiments indicated that CsMYB6 directly interacted with CsbHLH111, and this interaction increased the binding ability of CsMYB6 to the promoter regions of three structural genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis: CsANS, CsDFR, and CsUFGT. Our findings provide a molecular basis and new insight into drought‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in C. speciosa.
Complications and treatment errors in implant positioning in the aesthetic zone: Diagnosis and possible solutions
Authors: Chen Stephen T. , Buser Daniel , Sculean Anton , Belser Urs C.
Published: January 2023

Incorrect implant positioning can lead to functional and aesthetic compromise. Implant positioning errors can occur in three dimensions: mesiodistal, corono‐apical, and orofacial. Treatment solutions to manage adverse outcomes through positioning errors require an understanding of the underlying conditions and of those factors that may have led to the error being committed in the first place. These types of complications usually occur because of human factors. If errors do occur with adverse aesthetic outcomes, they are difficult and sometimes impossible to correct. Connective tissue grafts to reverse recession defects are only feasible in defined situations. The option to remove and replace the implant may be the only recourse, provided the removal process does not further compromise the site. Error in judgment by the clinician.
Building blocks of polycentric governance
Authors: Morrison Tiffany H. , Bodin Örjan , Cumming Graeme S. , Lubell Mark , Seppelt Ralf , Seppelt Tim , Weible Christopher M.
Published: January 2023

Success or failure of a polycentric system is a function of complex political and social processes, such as coordination between actors and venues to solve specialized policy problems. Yet there is currently no accepted method for isolating distinct processes of coordination, nor to understand how their variance affects polycentric governance performance. We develop and test a building‐blocks approach that uses different patterns or “motifs” for measuring and comparing coordination longitudinally on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Our approach confirms that polycentric governance comprises an evolving substrate of interdependent venues and actors over time. However, while issue specialization and actor participation can be improved through the mobilization of venues, such a strategy can also fragment overall polycentric capacity to resolve conflict and adapt to new problems. A building‐blocks approach advances understanding and practice of polycentric governance by enabling sharper diagnosis of internal dynamics in complex environmental governance systems.
Textual data transformations using natural language processing for risk assessment
Authors: Kamil Mohammad Zaid , Taleb‐Berrouane Mohammed , Khan Faisal , Amyotte Paul , Ahmed Salim
Published: January 2023

Underlying information about failure, including observations made in free text, can be a good source for understanding, analyzing, and extracting meaningful information for determining causation. The unstructured nature of natural language expression demands advanced methodology to identify its underlying features. There is no available solution to utilize unstructured data for risk assessment purposes. Due to the scarcity of relevant data, textual data can be a vital learning source for developing a risk assessment methodology. This work addresses the knowledge gap in extracting relevant features from textual data to develop cause–effect scenarios with minimal manual interpretation. This study applies natural language processing and text‐mining techniques to extract features from past accident reports. The extracted features are transformed into parametric form with the help of fuzzy set theory and utilized in Bayesian networks as prior probabilities for risk assessment. An application of the proposed methodology is shown in microbiologically influenced corrosion‐related incident reports available from the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration database. In addition, the trained named entity recognition (NER) model is verified on eight incidents, showing a promising preliminary result for identifying all relevant features from textual data and demonstrating the robustness and applicability of the NER method. The proposed methodology can be used in domain‐specific risk assessment to analyze, predict, and prevent future mishaps, ameliorating overall process safety.
Methodological quality assessment should move beyond design specificity
Authors: Stone Jennifer C. , Glass Kathryn , Ritskes-Hoitinga Merel , Munn Zachary , Tugwell Peter , Doi Suhail A.R.
Published: January 2023

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the utility of a unified tool (MASTER) for bias assessment against design-specific tools in terms of content and coverage.

Methods:

Each of the safeguards in the design-specific tools was compared and matched to safeguards in the unified MASTER scale. The design-specific tools were the JBI, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tools for analytic study designs. Duplicates, safeguards that could not be mapped to the MASTER scale, and items not applicable as safeguards against bias were flagged and described.

Results:

Many safeguards across the JBI, SIGN, and NOS tools were common, with a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 23 unique safeguards across various tools. These 3 design-specific toolsets were missing 14 to 26 safeguards from the MASTER scale. The MASTER scale had complete coverage of safeguards within the 3 toolsets for analytic designs.

Conclusions:

The MASTER scale provides a unified framework for bias assessment of analytic study designs, has good coverage, avoids duplication, has less redundancy, and is more convenient when used for methodological quality assessment in evidence synthesis. It also allows assessment across designs that cannot be done using a design-specific tool.
Influence of Overburden Pressure on Imbibition Behavior in Tight Sandstones Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technique
Authors: Meng Mianmo , Li Longlong , Yuan Bao , Wang Qianyou , Sun Xiaohui , Zhang Ye , Li Dahua
Published: January 2023

Imbibition under overburden pressure can simulate the imbibition behavior in reservoir conditions during hydraulic fracturing, about which the mechanism is still unclear. This study investigated the imbibition with overburden pressure using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) displacement design. The main contribution of this study is that the initial imbibition rate under confining pressure can reflect the pore connectivity of reservoirs under overburden pressure and a method for appraising the pore connectivity under confining pressure was established. The tight sandstone samples were collected from the Upper Paleozoic Taiyuan and Shihezi Formations in Ordos Basin. The Taiyuan Formation presents the apparent double-peak structure from NMR spectra, and liquid fills into small pore preferentially as a whole. When the imbibition time is on a square root scale, the cumulative imbibition height at the initial imbibition period is not stable, which deviates from the linear principle, and the initial imbibition rate ranges from 0.077 to 0.1145. The Shihezi Formation shows a dominant peak structure from NMR spectra, and the liquid has no obvious filling order as a whole. When the imbibition time is on a square root scale, the cumulative imbibition height at the initial imbibition period also deviates from the linear principle, and the initial imbibition rate ranges from 0.0641 to 0.1619.
An Explanation for a Paradox in a Fluid-Discharging Cantilevered Pipe Attached With an End-Mass
Authors: Guixin Zhao , Shuai Meng , Zhaolong Han , Shixiao Fu
Published: January 2023

For a fluid-discharging cantilevered pipe attached with an end-mass, there are two methods to account for the end-mass effect. The first is that the end-mass is considered in the boundary conditions. The second is that the end-mass is included in the equation of motion via a Dirac delta function. As the analytical solution of the linear free vibration model is not available due to the presence of Coriolis force, the eigenfunctions of a beam, which satisfy the same boundary conditions, are commonly employed in the Galerkin method. It has been found the first method is incorrect for natural frequency calculation when the internal flow velocity is nonzero. However, the intrinsic mechanism remains to be clarified. This study has demonstrated the eigenfunctions in the first method depend on the end-mass and the orthogonality relations are quite different from that of typical simple beams, based on which a new model is proposed and the prediction compares well with that in the second method. For further validation, the critical internal flow velocity, the onset flutter frequency, and the dynamic responses of suspended pipes under gravity are computed, which compare well with experimental observations. This study can provide a workbench for fluid-conveying pipes with various boundary conditions.