bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative evaluation of the clinical success of 3D‐printed space maintainers and band–loop space maintainers
Authors: Cengiz Ayşe , Karayilmaz Hüseyin
Published: January 2024

Background

Exploring the integration of 3D‐printing technology in space maintainer (SM) manufacturing could offer innovative solutions and insights for enhancing SMs.

Aim

To compare the clinical success, retention, and periodontal effect of traditional band–loop (TBL) SMs with 3D‐printed SMs.

Design

Seventy children (mean age: 6.99 ± 1.18) were divided into two groups. Laser sintering (LS) group (n = 34): Patients were scanned with an intraoral scanner. SMs were produced with LS 3D‐printing method from a titanium‐based metal powder. T group (n = 36): Impressions were taken with alginate. SMs were produced by adjusting the bands and soldering the wires on the model. The retention and effects on oral hygiene of the SMs were evaluated at the sixth month. Preference for impression technique was assessed by a five‐question survey.

Results

Thirty‐eight percent of T SMs and 66% of LS SMs failed (p = .007). The mean survival time was significantly higher in the T group (p = .035). No difference was found between the initial and control full‐mouth Gingival Index (GI) and Plaque Index (PI) values of the two groups. Both groups had increased GI/PI values in abutment teeth. Patients in the LS group interpreted their impression experience more positively.

Conclusion

It is important to provide oral hygiene education before applying fixed SMs and utilize more digital workflow in paediatric dentistry.
Exact and heuristic solutions for the prize‐collecting geometric enclosure problem
Authors: Ramos Natanael , Cano Rafael G. , de Rezende Pedro J. , de Souza Cid C.
Published: January 2024

In the prize‐collecting geometric enclosure problem (PCGEP), a set of points in the plane is given, each with an associated benefit. The goal is to find a simple polygon with vertices in that maximizes the sum of the benefits of the points of enclosed by minus the perimeter of multiplied by a given nonnegative cost. The PCGEP is NP‐complete and has applications to land surveying for exploration or preservation of natural resources. In this paper, we develop the first heuristic, called PCGEP‐GR, for the PCGEP and revisit a previously proposed integer linear programming (ILP) model to solve it to optimality. We conducted a comprehensive experimental study of that heuristic and an exact algorithm based on the ILP model. We show that a new set of constraints, together with the previous set, is necessary to guarantee the correctness of the ILP model and introduce preprocessing strategies that allow us to prove optimality 40% faster on average. The proposed heuristic is able to reach the optimum in 32% of our benchmark instances and, for those with unknown optima, PCGEP‐GR was found better than or at least as good solutions as the ones obtained by the cplex ILP solver in 54% of the cases. Notwithstanding these positive results, the design of effective heuristics for the PCGEP proved to be very challenging, which also led us to obtain a result that provides the theoretical foundation for future advances in the study of this problem.
Epitope screening and vaccine molecule design of PRRSV GP3 and GP5 protein based on immunoinformatics
Authors: Liu Dongyu , Chen Yaping
Published: January 2024

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a respiratory disease in pigs that causes severe economic losses. Currently, live PRRSV vaccines are commonly used but fail to prevent PRRS outbreaks and reinfection. Inactivated PRRSV vaccines have poor immunogenicity, making PRRSV a significant threat to swine health globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an effective PRRSV vaccine. This study used immunoinformatics to predict, screen, design and construct a candidate vaccine that fused B‐cell epitopes, CTL‐ and HTL‐dominant protective epitopes of PRRSV strain's GP3 and GP5 proteins. The study identified 12 B‐cell epitopes, 6 CTL epitopes and 5 HTL epitopes of GP3 and GP5 proteins. The candidate vaccine was constructed with 50S ribosomal protein L7/L1 molecular adjuvant, which has antigenicity, solubility, stability, non‐allergenicity and a high affinity for its target receptor, TLR‐3. The C‐ImmSim immunostimulation results showed significant increases in cellular and humoral responses (B cells and T cells) and production of TGF‐β, IL‐2, IL‐10, IFN‐γ and IL‐12. The constructed vaccine was stable and immunogenic, and it can effectively induce strong T‐cell and B‐cell immune responses against PRRSV. Therefore, it is a promising candidate vaccine for controlling and preventing PRRSV outbreaks.
Substance use outcomes from the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Extended Long‐term Study (CAMELS)
Authors: Rabner Jonathan , Olino Thomas M. , Albano Anne Marie , Keeton Courtney P. , Sakolsky Dara , Birmaher Boris , Piacentini John , Peris Tara S. , Compton Scott N. , Gosch Elizabeth , Ginsburg Golda S. , Pinney Elizabeth L. , Kendall Philip C.
Published: January 2024

Background

Substance use problems and anxiety disorders are both highly prevalent and frequently cooccur in youth. The present study examined the benefits of successful anxiety treatment at 3–12 years after treatment completion on substance use outcomes (i.e. diagnoses and lifetime expected use).

Methods

The sample was from the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Extended Long‐term Study (CAMELS), a naturalistic follow‐up study to the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study (CAMS) which randomized youth to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; Coping cat), medication (sertraline), their combination, or pill placebo. The first CAMELS visit occurred an average of 6.5 years following CAMS randomization. Participants were 319 youth (65.4% of the CAMS sample), aged 7–17 years at CAMS baseline assessment with a mean age of 17.6 years (range: 11–26 years) at the time of the first CAMELS follow‐up. Substance use outcomes included diagnoses as well as lifetime substance use (i.e. alcohol and tobacco use).

Results

Eleven of 319 (3.4%) CAMELS participants were diagnosed with a substance use disorder at the initial follow‐up visit. When compared to the population lifetime rate of 11.4%, the rate of diagnoses in the posttreated sample was significantly lower. Additionally, rates of lifetime alcohol use were lower than population rates at the initial and final follow‐up visits. Rates of lifetime tobacco use were similarly lower than lifetime population rates at the initial visit (driven by significantly lower rates in the CBT treatment condition), but higher by the final visit. Furthermore, treatment remission (but not treatment response) was associated with a lower rate of substance use diagnoses at the initial follow‐up visit, although rates of lifetime alcohol and tobacco use did not differ by treatment outcome.

Conclusions

Anxiety treatments confer a beneficial impact on problematic substance use (i.e. diagnoses) as well as on expected substance use (i.e. alcohol and tobacco use) for on average, a period of 6.5 years.
“They don't let us speak”: Gender, collegiality, and interruptions in deliberations in the Brazilian Supreme Court
Authors: Arguelhes Diego Werneck , Cesario Alvim Juliana , Nogueira Rafaela , Wang Henrique
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we examine a database containing court rulings and debates (acórdãos) of the Brazilian Supreme Court (“STF”) spanning from 1999 to 2018. Our objective is to analyze the relationship between gender and how judges behave when interacting with each other. Specifically, we investigate whether female judges are more likely to be interrupted by their colleagues during oral debates. Our data are built on real‐time public interactions between the judges, as recorded in the Court's transcripts. The results show that female STF judges are interrupted more often than their male counterparts. While male judges display no specific effects, all three female judges in our data display a very significant and positive probability of being interrupted, as compared to their male colleagues participating in the same deliberations. These results show that, even in institutions designed to protect rights of political minorities, including women, gender dynamics, stereotypes and hierarchies can affect the functioning of courts in visible ways, with potential impacts on the rest of the judiciary and the legal profession. They also suggest that merely increasing the number of female judges, without addressing underlying gender dynamics and procedural rules in the judicial decision‐making process, is insufficient to tackle the disadvantages women face within those institutions.
Myocardial oxygen supply and demand imbalance predicts mortality in older nursing home residents: The PARTAGE study
Authors: Salvi Paolo , Grillo Andrea , Gautier Sylvie , Labat Carlos , Salvi Lucia , Valbusa Filippo , Baldi Corrado , Rovina Matteo , Simon Giulia , Gao Lan , Tan Isabella , Fabris Bruno , Carretta Renzo , Avolio Alberto P. , Parati Gianfranco , Benetos Athanase
Published: January 2024

Background

A mismatch between myocardial oxygen supply and demand is the most common cause of ischemic myocardial injury in older persons. The subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) can usefully estimate the degree of myocardial perfusion relative to left‐ventricular workload. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of SEVR to predict long‐term mortality in the older population. Additionally, we aimed to identify the SEVR cutoff value best predicting total mortality.

Methods

This is a multicenter, longitudinal study involving a large population of individuals older than 80 years living in nursing homes. Patients with cancer, severe dementia, and very low level of autonomy were excluded from the study. Participants were monitored for 10 years. Adverse outcomes were recorded every 3 months from inclusion to the end of the study. SEVR reflects the balance between subendocardial oxygen supply and demand, and was estimated non‐invasively by analyzing the carotid pressure waveform recorded by applanation arterial tonometry.

Results

A total of 828 people were enrolled (mean age: 87.7 ± 4.7 years, 78% female). 735 patients died within 10 years and 24 were lost to follow‐up. SEVR was inversely associated with mortality at univariate Cox‐regression model (risk ratio, 0.683 per unit increase in SEVR; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.502–0.930], p = 0.015) and in a model including age, sex, body mass index, Activity of Daily Living index and Mini‐Mental State Examination score (risk ratio, 0.647; 95% CI [0.472–0.930]). The lowest tertile of SEVR was associated with higher 10‐years total mortality than the middle (p < 0.001) and the highest (p < 0.004) tertile. A SEVR cutoff value of 83% was identified as the best predictor of total mortality.

Conclusions

SEVR may be considered as a marker of “cardiovascular frailty.” An accurate non‐invasive estimation of SEVR could be a useful and independent parameter to assess survival probability in very old adults.

Trial Registration

NCT00901355, registered on ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Unequal loss: Disparities in relational closeness to a COVID‐19 death among U.S. older adults
Authors: Riley Alicia R. , Hawkley Louise C. , Piedra Lissette M.
Published: January 2024

Background

COVID‐19 mortality occurred unevenly across U.S. demographic subgroups, leaving some communities harder hit than others. Black and Hispanic/Latino older adults are among those disproportionately affected by COVID‐19 mortality, and in turn, COVID‐19 bereavement. Because disparities in COVID‐19 mortality may extend to COVID‐19 bereavement, it is important to understand the incidence of COVID‐19 bereavement among older adults at various degrees of relational closeness (e.g., spouse vs. household member vs. friend).

Methods

We used the National Social Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) COVID Study to evaluate disparities in loss of a social network member to COVID‐19 among U.S. older adults by race/ethnicity, language, and relational closeness. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of experiencing a COVID‐19 death in one's social network.

Results

None of the English‐speaking, non‐Hispanic White respondents reported the loss of a household member or spouse to COVID‐19. English‐speaking, non‐Hispanic Black and English‐speaking, Hispanic older adults were overrepresented in reporting a death at every degree of relational closeness. However, close COVID‐19 bereavement was most prevalent among Spanish‐speaking older adults of any race. Although Spanish speakers comprised only 4.8% of the sample, half of the respondents who lost a spouse to COVID‐19 were Spanish speakers. Language and ethnoracial group disparities persisted after controlling for age, sex, marital status, and education.

Conclusions

Known ethnoracial disparities in COVID‐19 mortality extend to COVID‐19 bereavement among older adults. Because bereavement impacts health, Black, Latino, and Spanish‐speaking communities need greater protection and investment to prevent disparities in bereavement from exacerbating disparities in later‐life mental and physical health.
Rare deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy and puerperium 3 case series; upper extremities vein thrombosis, ovarian vein thrombosis, portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis
Authors: Na Eun Duc , Kim Ji Yoon , Lee Ji Yeon , Jung Sang Hee , Kim Young Ran , Jang Ji Hyon
Published: January 2024

Pregnancy induces a hypercoagulable state, elevating thrombosis risk by 5–6 times compared to non‐pregnant conditions. Predominantly affecting the left lower extremity due to anatomical and hematological factors, deep vein thrombosis can escalate into pulmonary embolism, impacting mortality. The authors aim to report rare incidents of thrombosis beyond the norm, including upper extremity vein thrombosis, right ovarian vein thrombosis, and portal vein and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, highlighting their significance. Obstetricians should be mindful that thrombosis can occur not only in the lower extremities but also in other areas. Especially when symptoms such as fever unresponsive to antibiotics, atypical pain, and an abnormally high C‐reactive protein level are present. Considering the possibility of a rare thrombosis is crucial. Understanding these less common thrombotic events during pregnancy and the postpartum period can contribute to the improvement of timely diagnosis and management strategies.
Surfing the OCEAN: The machine learning psycholexical approach 2.0 to detect personality traits in texts
Authors: Giannini Federico , Marelli Marco , Stella Fabio , Monzani Dario , Pancani Luca
Published: January 2024

Objective

We aimed to develop a machine learning model to infer OCEAN traits from text.

Background

The psycholexical approach allows retrieving information about personality traits from human language. However, it has rarely been applied because of methodological and practical issues that current computational advancements could overcome.

Method

Classical taxonomies and a large Yelp corpus were leveraged to learn an embedding for each personality trait. These embeddings were used to train a feedforward neural network for predicting trait values. Their generalization performances have been evaluated through two external validation studies involving experts (N = 11) and laypeople (N = 100) in a discrimination task about the best markers of each trait and polarity.

Results

Intrinsic validation of the model yielded excellent results, with R2 values greater than 0.78. The validation studies showed a high proportion of matches between participants' choices and model predictions, confirming its efficacy in identifying new terms related to the OCEAN traits. The best performance was observed for agreeableness and extraversion, especially for their positive polarities. The model was less efficient in identifying the negative polarity of openness and conscientiousness.

Conclusions

This innovative methodology can be considered a “psycholexical approach 2.0,” contributing to research in personality and its practical applications in many fields.
Clinical and imaging findings in dogs with nerve root signature associated with cervical intervertebral disc herniation
Authors: Schachar Jordan , Bocage Alan , Nelson Nathan C. , Early Peter J. , Mariani Christopher L. , Olby Natasha J. , Muñana Karen R.
Published: January 2024

Background

Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is the most common spinal cord disease in dogs. Little information is available regarding the clinical presentation of nerve root signature (NRS) associated with cervical IVDH.

Hypothesis/Objective

To detail the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs with NRS associated with cervical IVDH.

Animals

Forty‐seven client‐owned dogs presenting with thoracic limb NRS and MRI confirmed IVDH.

Methods

Medical records from 2010 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed for dogs that met inclusion criteria. Imaging studies were evaluated by 2 individuals to characterize location and severity of neural tissue compression.

Results

Chondrodystrophoid dogs comprised the majority of the study cohort, with dachshund the most common breed (n = 10). Three‐quarters of dogs were ≥7 years of age. Interobserver agreement was moderate or good for all of the imaging variables evaluated. The C6‐C7 intervertebral disc space was significantly overrepresented (P = .01), comprising 32% (15/47) of the affected discs. However, 42% (20/47) of cases involved C2‐C3 though C4‐C5 disc sites. Disc material was more frequently located laterally compared to medially within the vertebral canal (P = .0005), and to be associated with compression of the nerve root at the level of the intervertebral foramen (P = .012).

Conclusion/Clinical Importance

NRS is most commonly associated with lateralized or foraminal cervical disc herniations. It is most prevalent with C6‐C7 intervertebral disc involvement, suggesting that there might be unique anatomic factors that contribute to development of NRS at this site, but can be a clinical manifestation of IVDH occurring anywhere along the cervical spine.
Bigfoot: If it's there, could it be a bear?
Authors: Foxon Floe
Published: January 2024

It has been suggested that the American black bear (Ursus americanus) may be responsible for a significant number of purported sightings of an alleged unknown species of hominid in North America. Previous analyses have identified a correlation between ‘sasquatch’ or ‘bigfoot’ sightings and black bear populations in the Pacific Northwest using ecological niche models and simple models of expected animal sightings. The present study expands the analysis to the entire US and Canada by modelling sasquatch sightings and bear populations in each state/province while adjusting for human population and forest area in a generalized linear model. Sasquatch sightings were statistically significantly associated with bear populations such that, on the average, every bear increase in the bear population is associated with a ( CI: –) increase in sasquatch sightings. Thus, as black bear populations increase, sasquatch sightings are expected to increase. On average, across all states and provinces in 2006, after controlling for human population and forest area, there were approximately bears per sasquatch sighting. Based on statistical considerations, it is likely that many supposed sasquatch are really misidentified known forms. If bigfoot is there, it could be a bear.
The integrated stress response‐related expression of CHOP due to mitochondrial toxicity is a warning sign for DILI liability
Authors: Vlasveld Matthijs , Callegaro Giulia , Fisher Ciarán , Eakins Julie , Walker Paul , Lok Samantha , van Oost Siddh , de Jong Brechtje , Pellegrino‐Coppola Damiano , Burger Gerhard , Wink Steven , van de Water Bob
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims

Drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most frequent reasons for failure of drugs in clinical trials or market withdrawal. Early assessment of DILI risk remains a major challenge during drug development. Here, we present a mechanism‐based weight‐of‐evidence approach able to identify certain candidate compounds with DILI liabilities due to mitochondrial toxicity.

Methods

A total of 1587 FDA‐approved drugs and 378 kinase inhibitors were screened for cellular stress response activation associated with DILI using an imaging‐based HepG2 BAC‐GFP reporter platform including the integrated stress response (CHOP), DNA damage response (P21) and oxidative stress response (SRXN1).

Results

In total 389, 219 and 104 drugs were able to induce CHOP‐GFP, P21‐GFP and SRXN1‐GFP expression at 50 μM respectively. Concentration response analysis identified 154 FDA‐approved drugs as critical CHOP‐GFP inducers. Based on predicted and observed (pre‐)clinical DILI liabilities of these drugs, nine antimycotic drugs (e.g. butoconazole, miconazole, tioconazole) and 13 central nervous system (CNS) agents (e.g. duloxetine, fluoxetine) were selected for transcriptomic evaluation using whole‐genome RNA‐sequencing of primary human hepatocytes. Gene network analysis uncovered mitochondrial processes, NRF2 signalling and xenobiotic metabolism as most affected by the antimycotic drugs and CNS agents. Both the selected antimycotics and CNS agents caused impairment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption in both HepG2 and primary human hepatocytes.

Conclusions

Together, the results suggest that early pre‐clinical screening for CHOP expression could indicate liability of mitochondrial toxicity in the context of DILI, and, therefore, could serve as an important warning signal to consider during decision‐making in drug development.
On‐eye centration of soft contact lenses
Authors: Walther Grace , Meyer Dawn , Richards Josh , Rickert Martin , Kollbaum Pete
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the relative positions of modern soft contact lenses (SCLs) relative to the limbus/cornea and the pupil.

Methods

Sixty images of the anterior eyes of 101 subjects were acquired over 10 s while participants fixated the centre of the camera lens located 33 cm in front of the eye in a well‐lit (300 lux) clinic. Custom validated image analysis software was used to locate the boundaries of the contact lenses, pupils and corneas (limbus). Horizontal and vertical relative positions of the contact lens, pupil and limbus were calculated from the fitted boundaries.

Results

The mean (standard deviation) pupil and corneal diameters for all subjects were 3.84 mm, (0.83) and 11.97 mm (0.48), respectively. The mean [95% confidence interval] pupil centre was located 0.28 mm [0.26, 0.30] nasally and 0.07 mm [0.05, 0.10] superiorly to the corneal centre. Consistent with clinical observations, the contact lenses centred accurately relative to the corneal centre both nasally 0.04 mm [0.01, 0.07] and inferiorly −0.01 mm [−0.06, 0.03]. However, regardless of the eye, the contact lens was significantly (p < 0.001) decentred relative to the pupil centre both temporally −0.23 mm [−0.26, −0.20] and inferiorly −0.08 mm [−0.12, −0.04]. Decentration magnitudes were significantly correlated between the right and left eyes.

Conclusions

Spherical SCLs centred well on the cornea but temporally and inferiorly from the primary line of sight (pupil centre), due to the differences in the location of the pupil and corneal centres. Contrary to some previous reports, there was no evidence that lens optics or material affected lens centration significantly.
Ignoring by complying: How public officials handle hybridity to pursue the goals of new public governance
Authors: Nielsen Mathias H. , Andersen Niklas A.
Published: January 2024

The article draws on insights from the literature on street‐level bureaucracy to analyze how public officials experience and deal with challenges arising from hybrid governance. Empirically, we focus on managerial staff and front‐line workers employed in Danish employment service delivery organizations, respectively. We develop the term “ignoring by complying” to describe how informants pursue ideals associated with new public governance (NPG) in settings dominated by more than one governance logic. They comply with the minimum standards associated with the logics of public administration (PA) and new public management (NPM) in order to ignore such logics most of the time. The article thereby contributes to the growing bodies of literature on cross‐pressures in public bureaucracies, particularly by putting recent street‐level bureaucracy research in touch with literature on hybrid governance.
Assessment of genetic diversity of latent bacteria in coconut leaves associated with lethal yellowing disease symptoms in Kenya
Authors: Omar Fatma , Neondo Johnstone , Mweu Cecilia , Muli Joshua
Published: January 2024

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is an economically important palm tree with diverse applications. However, limited scientific research exists on coconut diseases in the Kenyan coastal region. This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of latent bacteria associated with yellowing symptoms in coconut plants along the Kenyan coast. Sixty‐two samples with symptoms were collected and their bacterial diversity assessed using culture‐independent methods. DNA was extracted from controls and symptomatic samples using the cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method. Next‐generation sequencing with Illumina MiSeq was used to profile the bacterial communities using amplicons of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences (V4 region). Sequence data were analysed using the Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology 2 (QIIME 2) pipeline. A total of 113,330 reads were obtained, which clustered into 285 Operational Taxonomic Units. Bacterial diversity was highest in Kilifi, followed by Kwale and Lamu, while control samples exhibited low bacterial diversity. Actinobacteria was the predominant phylum across all counties, and Streptomyces was the most abundant genus. Kilifi and Kwale counties were more affected than Lamu. This is a pioneer study that provides insight into the bacterial diversity associated with yellowing disease symptoms in coconut plants in Kenya and will help with future elucidation of the agents causing or exacerbating coconut disease symptoms.
Sleep quality impacts the link between reactivity to uncertain threat and anxiety and alcohol use in youth
Authors: Jenkins Kathryn C. , Difatta Jordan , Jones Emily E. , Kreutzer Kayla A. , Way Baldwin M. , Phan K. Luan , Gorka Stephanie M.
Published: January 2024

Individual differences in reactivity to unpredictable threat (U‐threat) have repeatedly been linked to symptoms of anxiety and drinking behavior. An emerging theory is that individuals who are hyper‐reactive to U‐threat experience chronic anticipatory anxiety, hyperarousal, and are vulnerable to excessive alcohol use via negative reinforcement processes. Notably, anxiety and alcohol use commonly relate to disruptions in sleep behavior and recent findings suggest that sleep quality may impact the link between reactivity to U‐threat and psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. The aim of the current study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of reactivity to U‐threat and sleep quality on anxiety symptoms and drinking behavior in a cohort of youth, ages 16–19 years. Participants (N = 112) completed a well‐validated threat‐of‐shock task designed to probe individual differences in reactivity to U‐threat and predictable threat (P‐threat). Startle eyeblink potentiation was recorded during the task as an index of aversive reactivity. Participants also completed well‐validated self‐report measures of anxiety and depression symptoms, lifetime alcohol use, and current sleep quality. Results revealed significant startle reactivity to U‐threat by sleep quality interactions on anxiety symptoms and lifetime drinking behavior. At high levels of sleep disturbance (only), greater reactivity to U‐threat was associated with greater anxiety symptoms and total number of lifetime alcoholic beverages. These results suggest that sensitivity to uncertainty and chronic hyperarousal increases anxiety symptoms and alcohol use behavior, particularly in the context of poor sleep quality.
The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on rating of perceived exertion: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Baharlouei Hamzeh , Goosheh Meysam , Moore Maha , Ramezani Ahmadi Amir Hossein , Yassin Marzieh , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: January 2024

The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is a widely used method for monitoring the load during training, as it provides insight into the subjective intensity of effort experienced during exercises. Considering the role of brain in monitoring and perception of the effort, several studies explored the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on RPE in different populations. The aim of current study is to review the studies that investigated the effect of tDCS on RPE in three groups including healthy untrained people, physically active persons, and athletes. Nine databases were searched for papers assessing the effect of tDCS on RPE. The data from the included studies were extracted and methodological quality was examined using the risk of bias 2 (ROB2) tool. Thirty‐three studies met the inclusion criteria. According to the meta‐analysis, active a‐tDCS significantly decreased the RPE compared to the sham stimulation. The a‐tDCS could decrease the RPE when it was applied over M1 or DLPF. Regarding the measurement tool, Borg's scale 6–20 and OMNI scale could show an improvement in RPE scale. A‐tDCS is a promising technique that can decrease the RPE. M1 and DLPFC are suggested as the target area of stimulation. From the tools that measure the RPE, Borg's RPE 6–20 and OMNI scale could better show the effect of a‐tDCS.
Evaluation of the effects of long‐term maize–peanut intercropping on soil aggregate stability based on different methods
Authors: Ma Rentian , Yu Ning , Zhao Shiwei , Wang Chunli , Jiao Nianyuan
Published: January 2024

Intercropping is an effective measure to increase crop yield and improve soil structure. The soil aggregate is the basic unit of soil structure, and its stability is affected by intercropping system. To study the effects of intercropping system on soil aggregate stability, the particle size distribution and stability characteristics of soil aggregates under three planting patterns of maize only (SM), peanut only (SP) and maize intercropped with peanut (M‐P) were evaluated by dry sieving (mainly used to determine the mechanical stability of soil aggregates), wet sieving (mainly used to determine the water stability of soil aggregates) and Le Bissonnais (mainly used to distinguish different decomposition mechanisms of soil aggregates) (including slow wetting (SW), wet stirring (WS) and fast wetting (FW) tests) methods. The results showed that the particle size distribution of soil aggregates was mainly the >2 mm fraction in the dry sieving test, the 1–0.5 mm and <0.053 mm fractions in the wet sieving test, the >2 mm fraction in the SW test, the >2 mm and 2–1 mm fractions in the WS test and the 1–0.5 mm and 0.5–0.25 mm fractions in the FW test. The mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD) and R0.25 of soil aggregates in the three determination methods were all ranked as SP < SM < M‐P, indicating that intercropping could increase the proportion of large aggregates and improve the stability of soil aggregates. In the three tests using the Le Bissonnais method, the MWD order was FW < WS < SW, indicating that the soil aggregates in this area were the most sensitive to slaking effects and the least sensitive to mechanical breakdown, and intercropping could reduce the sensitivity of soil aggregates to slaking effects and mechanical breakdown. In addition, the MWD of dry sieving was significantly positively correlated with the MWD of SW and WS, and the MWD of wet sieving was significantly positively correlated with the MWD of FW. The results of this study could provide a reference for better understanding of farmland soil structure and aggregate stability under intercropping system in the North China Plain.
Using music reviews in the intermediate L2 German classroom: An exploratory lesson in genre‐based writing
Authors: Strietholt Sophia , Larson‐Guenette Julie , Fox Gemini
Published: January 2024

This article presents an exploratory genre‐based writing lesson conducted in a third‐year collegiate German language course. While genre‐based approaches to writing have gained recognition in second language (L2) contexts, little attention has been given to learner perceptions of genre‐based writing activities. Additionally, there is a lack of pedagogical strategies and materials for intermediate‐level German language classes. This article addresses these gaps by introducing a lesson on consumer music reviews designed following genre‐based pedagogical principles, the flipped classroom approach, and the use of language corpora. The lesson, consisting of two 75‐min class periods, aimed at familiarizing students with the structure and style of consumer music reviews, culminating in the writing of their own reviews. Using authentic texts and incorporating the Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache corpus tool for vocabulary building, students engaged with contemporary German‐language music. Data from student surveys indicated positive perceptions of the lesson, particularly regarding vocabulary acquisition, lesson structure, and topic relevance. Students also found the corpus tool beneficial for contextual understanding and word usage. This exploratory lesson highlights the potential of genre‐based writing pedagogy, the flipped classroom model, and corpus tools for L2 writing development and contributes to the growing body of literature on genre‐based writing in L2 classrooms.
‘Against all floods’: plant adaptation to flooding stress and combined abiotic stresses
Authors: Renziehausen Tilo , Frings Stephanie , Schmidt‐Schippers Romy
Published: January 2024

Current climate change brings with it a higher frequency of environmental stresses, which occur in combination rather than individually leading to massive crop losses worldwide. In addition to, for example, drought stress (low water availability), also flooding (excessive water) can threaten the plant, causing, among others, an energy crisis due to hypoxia, which is responded to by extensive transcriptional, metabolic and growth‐related adaptations. While signalling during flooding is relatively well understood, at least in model plants, the molecular mechanisms of combinatorial flooding stress responses, for example, flooding simultaneously with salinity, temperature stress and heavy metal stress or sequentially with drought stress, remain elusive. This represents a significant gap in knowledge due to the fact that dually stressed plants often show unique responses at multiple levels not observed under single stress. In this review, we (i) consider possible effects of stress combinations from a theoretical point of view, (ii) summarize the current state of knowledge on signal transduction under single flooding stress, (iii) describe plant adaptation responses to flooding stress combined with four other abiotic stresses and (iv) propose molecular components of combinatorial flooding (hypoxia) stress adaptation based on their reported dual roles in multiple stresses. This way, more future emphasis may be placed on deciphering molecular mechanisms of combinatorial flooding stress adaptation, thereby potentially stimulating development of molecular tools to improve plant resilience towards multi‐stress scenarios.
Homoplastic versus xenoplastic evolution: exploring the emergence of key intrinsic and extrinsic traits in the montane genus Soldanella (Primulaceae)
Authors: Rurik Ivan , Melichárková Andrea , Gbúrová Štubová Eliška , Kučera Jaromír , Kochjarová Judita , Paun Ovidiu , Vďačný Peter , Slovák Marek
Published: January 2024

Specific ecological conditions in the high mountain environment exert a selective pressure that often leads to convergent trait evolution. Reticulations induced by incomplete lineage sorting and introgression can lead to discordant trait patterns among gene and species trees (hemiplasy/xenoplasy), providing a false illusion that the traits under study are homoplastic. Using phylogenetic species networks, we explored the effect of gene exchange on trait evolution in Soldanella, a genus profoundly influenced by historical introgression. At least three features evolved independently multiple times: the single‐flowered dwarf phenotype, dysploid cytotype, and ecological generalism. The present analyses also indicated that the recurring occurrence of stoloniferous growth might have been prompted by an introgression event between an ancestral lineage and a still extant species, although its emergence via convergent evolution cannot be completely ruled out. Phylogenetic regression suggested that the independent evolution of larger genomes in snowbells is most likely a result of the interplay between hybridization events of dysploid and euploid taxa and hostile environments at the range margins of the genus. The emergence of key intrinsic and extrinsic traits in snowbells has been significantly impacted not only by convergent evolution but also by historical and recent introgression events.
Presumed mediastinal cysts have a low prevalence in canine thoracic computed tomographic studies
Authors: Nanni Caterina , Quinci Manuela , Frondizi Noemi , Guarnera Isabella , Marazzi Roberto , Specchi Swan , Morabito Simona
Published: January 2024

Mediastinal cysts (MCs) are rare lesions that can arise from embryonic remnants of various mediastinal structures. MCs usually are incidental findings in dogs and cats; however, they can reach a mass‐like appearance. The description of MCs on CT in dogs is limited. This retrospective, single‐center, descriptive, prevalence study aimed to determine the prevalence of presumed mediastinal cysts (PMCs) in dogs and assess their CT characteristics. Dogs that underwent a thoracic CT scan from January 2019 to August 2021 were included. CT images were evaluated for the presence of PMCs by two diagnostic imaging interns, two last year diagnostic imaging residents, and a board‐certified veterinary radiologist. Number, location, margins, shape, volume, size, mass effect, and attenuation values of PMCs were assessed. A total of 866 CT scans were reviewed, and 49 PMCs were identified. The prevalence of PMCs in dogs was 5.66%. English Bulldog and mixed‐breed dogs were subjectively overrepresented; however, the possibility of population bias could not be excluded. PMCs were subjectively more frequently observed in male dogs. The PMCs were predominantly round, small, solitary fluid‐filled findings localized in the cranioventral mediastinum, with well‐defined margins, homogeneous attenuation, and no contrast enhancement. The median attenuation value was 6.32 HU (range: −20.16 to 23.45 HU) precontrast and 7.58 HU (range: −2.45 to 20.79 HU) postcontrast, and the median volume was 1.19 cm3 (range: 0.02–45.32 cm3). Although the prevalence of PMCs was low in our sample population, findings supported prioritizing a differential diagnosis of incidental PMC for dogs with the above imaging characteristics.
Patterns of use of advanced wound matrices in the Veterans Administration clinics
Authors: Du Yimeng Lina , Lim Pallas , Isseroff Rivkah , Dahle Sara
Published: January 2024

Chronic wounds are a common and costly health issue affecting millions of individuals in the United States, particularly those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, venous insufficiency, and peripheral artery disease. When standard treatments fail, advanced wound care therapies, such as skin substitutes, are often applied. However, the clinical effectiveness, indications, and comparative benefits of these therapies have not been well established. In this study, we report on the usage of both acellular and cellular, single and bilayer, natural and synthetic, dermal, and epidermal skin substitutes in a VA hospital system. We performed a retrospective chart review to understand the ordering and usage patterns of advanced wound therapies for patients with chronic wounds at the VA Northern California Health Care System. We examined types of products being recommended, categories of users recommending the products, indications for orders, and rate of repeated orders. Neuropathic, venous, or pressure ulcers were the main indications for using advanced wound matrices. Only 15.6% of patients for whom the matrices were ordered had supporting laboratory tests. Exactly 34.3% of the ordered matrices were not applied. And the use of wound matrices resulted in increased costs per patient visit of $1018–$3450. Our study sheds light on the usage patterns of these therapies in a VA healthcare facility and highlights the need for more robust evidence‐based studies to determine the true benefits, efficacy, and cost‐effectiveness of these innovative treatment options.
Solutions of the Ginzburg–Landau equations concentrating on codimension‐2 minimal submanifolds
Authors: Badran Marco , del Pino Manuel
Published: January 2024

We consider the magnetic Ginzburg–Landau equations on a closed manifold formally corresponding to the Euler–Lagrange equations for the energy functional
where and is a 1‐form on . Given a codimension‐2 minimal submanifold , which is also oriented and non‐degenerate, we construct solutions such that has a zero set consisting of a smooth surface close to . Away from , we have
as , for all sufficiently small and . Here, is a normal frame for in . This improves a recent result by De Philippis and Pigati (2022), who built a solution for which the concentration phenomenon holds in an energy, measure‐theoretical sense.
A unified half‐integral Erdős–Pósa theorem for cycles in graphs labelled by multiple abelian groups
Authors: Gollin J. Pascal , Hendrey Kevin , Kawarabayashi Ken‐ichi , Kwon O‐joung , Oum Sang‐il
Published: January 2024

Erdős and Pósa proved in 1965 that there is a duality between the maximum size of a packing of cycles and the minimum size of a vertex set hitting all cycles. Such a duality does not hold if we restrict to odd cycles. However, in 1999, Reed proved an analogue for odd cycles by relaxing packing to half‐integral packing. We prove a far‐reaching generalisation of the theorem of Reed; if the edges of a graph are labelled by finitely many abelian groups, then there is a duality between the maximum size of a half‐integral packing of cycles whose values avoid a fixed finite set for each abelian group and the minimum size of a vertex set hitting all such cycles. A multitude of natural properties of cycles can be encoded in this setting, for example, cycles of length at least , cycles of length  modulo , cycles intersecting a prescribed set of vertices at least  times and cycles contained in given ‐homology classes in a graph embedded on a fixed surface. Our main result allows us to prove a duality theorem for cycles satisfying a fixed set of finitely many such properties.
Oversizing Novel Aircraft Propulsion Systems for Power Redundancy
Authors: Papadopoulos Konstantinos I. , Gkoutzamanis Vasilis G. , Kalfas Anestis I.
Published: January 2024

This paper expands the one-engine-inoperative conventional oversizing consideration to account for aircraft propulsion systems with multiple energy sources and thrust-generating media. Components in a generic hybrid propulsion system are categorized into power-generation, power-transmission, and thrust-generation. For a given architecture, each possible single component failure is simulated to identify elements affected or eliminated by the respective loss of power, through the use of connection matrices. Failures are linked to losses in supplied and propulsive power, creating a list of oversizing factors for all individual components. Each element is oversized according to its corresponding maximum oversizing rate, defining the ideally redundant propulsion system. Case studies for conventional, all-electric, and hybrid-electric powertrains highlight the need for balancing the number of components between minimizing excess power and increasing the probability of a failure. Additionally, it is shown that asymmetrical configurations should not have a major imbalance of power to avoid significant oversizing. The proposed methodology is applied to a 19-passenger, commuter aircraft. Increasing oversizing rate close to ideal leads to lower optimum energy consumption and boosts redundancy. However, payload capacity penalties are required, up to four passengers for ideal oversizing. Heavier variants without penalties are up to 4% more efficient in terms of energy-per-weight in their carrying capacity against counterparts of the same oversize rate with reduced payload capacity. The proposed method maintains the principles of the conventional oversizing process and highlights the tradeoffs needed between redundancy and performance in sizing novel propulsion systems.
Performance Portable Graphics Processing Unit Acceleration of a High-Order Finite Element Multiphysics Application
Authors: Stitt Thomas , Belcher Kristi , Campos Alejandro , Kolev Tzanio , Mocz Philip , Rieben Robert N. , Skinner Aaron , Tomov Vladimir , Vargas Arturo , Weiss Kenneth
Published: January 2024

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will soon have in place the El Capitan exascale supercomputer, based on advanced micro devices (AMD) graphics processing units (GPUs). As part of a multiyear effort under the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program, we have been developing marbl, a next generation, performance portable multiphysics application based on high-order finite elements. In previous years, we successfully ported the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE), multimaterial, compressible flow capabilities of marbl to nvidia GPUs as described in Vargas et al. (2022, “Matrix-Free Approaches for GPU Acceleration of a High-Order Finite Element Hydrodynamics Application Using MFEM, Umpire, and RAJA,” Int. J. High Perform. Comput. Appl., 36(4), pp. 492–509). In this paper, we describe our ongoing effort in extending marbl's GPU capabilities with additional physics, including multigroup radiation diffusion and thermonuclear burn for high energy density physics (HEDP) and fusion modeling. We also describe how our portability abstraction approach based on the raja Portability Suite and the mfem finite element discretization library has enabled us to achieve high performance on AMD based GPUs with minimal effort in hardware-specific porting. Throughout this work, we highlight numerical and algorithmic developments that were required to achieve GPU performance.
Supplemental Material: Rapid development of spiral garnets during subduction zone metamorphism revealed from high-resolution Sm-Nd garnet geochronology
Authors: Farrell Thomas P. , al. et
Published: January 2024

 Detailed summary of analytical, modeling, and computional methods and Sm-Nd data (Tables S1–S3). 