bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous infusion of meropenem–vaborbactam for a KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection in a critically ill patient with augmented renal clearance
Authors: Larcher Romaric , Laffont-Lozes Paul , Naciri Tayma , Bourgeois Pierre-Marie , Gandon Cléa , Magnan Chloé , Pantel Alix , Sotto Albert
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of continuous infusion of meropenem–vaborbactam to optimize the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Methods

Report of a case of a Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection comfirmed by whole genome sequencing and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of meropenem.

Results

A patient with augmented renal clearance (ARC) went into septic shock caused by an ST11 KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection that was successfully treated with a continuous infusion of meropenem–vaborbactam at a dosage of 1 g/1 g q4h as a 4-h infusion. TDM confirmed sustained concentrations of meropenem ranging from 8 to 16 mg/L throughout the dosing interval.

Conclusion

Continuous infusion of meropenem–vaborbactam was feasible. It could be appropriate for optimizing the management of critically ill patients with ARC, as it resulted in antibiotic concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration for susceptible carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (up to 8 mg/L) throughout the dosing interval.
The Impact of Insider Researcher Trainees in Recruiting and Retaining Latinx in an Outdoor Health Promotion Research Study
Authors: Mendez Rebecca , Velazquez Edgar , Gimenez Alyssa , Michaud Midley , Mendez Jaqueline , Wong Miriam , Quesada James , Márquez-Magaña Leticia , Samayoa Cathy
Published: June 2023

Latinx represent the second largest ethnic group in the USA and remain significantly underrepresented in research studies. Efforts to better include Latinx make use of community-engaged research (CEnR) approaches, peer-navigators, and cultural humility training for research teams. While these efforts have led to slight increases in Latinx participation, studies to identify strategic practices for better inclusion of Latinx participants are needed. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine factors leading to successful recruitment and retention of Latinx participants in the Promoting Activity and Stress Reduction in the Outdoors (PASITO) intervention. For this intervention, 99 low-income Latinx clients in a local community were contacted and 52 participants were recruited (53%). All were retained in the 3-month intervention. Of these, 12 were interviewed within 6 months of the close of PASITO by bi-cultural and bi-lingual non-research staff. They conducted one-on-one structured telephone interviews. Of the twelve participants, three (25%) were men, nine (75%) were women, and the mean age was 43.7 (SD = 8.7). Four critical themes for the recruitment and retention of Latinx populations emerged from the interviews: (1) importance of insider researchers; (2) sense of community and belonging; (3) responsive programming; and (4) health-promoting activities. These findings support the significant role insider researchers can play, and social identity theory provides a useful framework for understanding the role of insider researchers in recruiting and retaining Latinx, and likely other minoritized groups, in clinical studies. Insider researchers possess the skills, training, community cultural wealth, in-depth understanding of their communities, and structural competencies that position them to carry out more inclusive studies to address the needs of marginalized communities and advance science.
Low-risk cefalexin allergies are associated with inpatient prescribing of second-line non-beta-lactam antibiotics
Authors: Jiang Melinda , Bacchi Stephen , Lam Lydia , Lam Antoinette , Inglis Joshua M. , Gilbert Toby , Gluck Samuel , Shakib Sepehr , Yuson Chino , Smith William
Published: June 2023

Background

Cefalexin is a commonly prescribed oral antibiotic, with a similar side chain to amoxicillin. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the frequency and nature of previously recorded cefalexin adverse reaction (AR) labels in the electronic medical record (EMR) in a medical inpatient cohort, (2) evaluate the accuracy of these labels and (3) examine the association between a cefalexin allergy label and the antibiotics prescribed during an inpatient admission.

Methods

Consecutive admissions under general medicine in a tertiary hospital over a 1-year period were included in this retrospective cohort study. Data regarding cefalexin adverse reaction (AR) history, and antibiotics prescribed during admission were collected from the EMR. Cefalexin allergy descriptions were reviewed using expert criteria to determine whether the described reaction was most consistent with allergy or intolerance.

Results

The number of admissions included in this study was 12,134. Of the 224 (1.9%) admissions with a recorded cefalexin AR, 196 (87.5%) had a label of allergy and 28 (12.5%) of intolerance. Following the application of expert criteria, 43 (21.9%) of cefalexin allergy labels were found to be consistent with intolerance. The presence of a low-risk cefalexin allergy was associated with an increased likelihood of receiving non-penicillin antibiotics including clindamycin and ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion

Cefalexin AR are common, and frequently incorrectly classified in the electronic medical record with consequences for in-hospital antibiotic prescribing and antimicrobial stewardship.
Ko te mana o te tamaiti te aro o tātou mahi: Listening to voices from Tai Tokerau to re-frame literacies
Authors: Hetaraka Maia , Meiklejohn-Whiu Selena , Webber Melinda , Jesson Rebecca
Published: June 2023

Western literacy theories and models often reflect Eurocentric notions of literacy and literacy practices. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the prevalence of these conceptualisations is linked to issues of power and result in a narrow and inaccurate framing of Māori tamariki (children). In this article Tiritiria, a Māori philosophical view of knowledge, knowledge generation and knowledge exchange is used alongside Webber and Macfarlane’s (2020) Mana Model to challenge this dominant framing of literacy. Using the whakataukī ‘Ko te mana o te tamaiti te aro o tātou mahi', translated literally as ‘Let the mana of the child guide our work’, tamariki Māori are (re)positioned as maurea (treasures) to further support the (re)framing of literacies. In this study we focus on listening to the voices of whānau Māori from Te Tai Tokerau (Northland, New Zealand), including the voices of tūpuna (ancestors). Through a developing understanding of tiritiria and an analysis of data sets from Tai Tokerau a nascent definition of literacies, as multitudinous, practical enactments of tirititia, emerged. Findings indicated that Māori literacy practices (both traditional and contemporary) move beyond subject learning, to incorporate multiple interpersonal, cultural, environmental and textual processes of knowledge transfer which affirm the inherent and inherited mana of tamariki.
Population Genetic Analysis of the Wild Hard-shelled Mussel, Mytilus Unguiculatus (Valenciennes 1858) in South Korea Using a Microsatellite Multiplex Assay
Authors: Woo Jiyoung , Heo Jung Soo , Kim Keun-Yong , Kim Keun-Sik , Hwang Hyun-Ju , Yoon Moongeun , An Hyesuck , Kang Kook Hee , Park Jeong Su , Nam Ki-Woong , Koh Insong , Tran Biet Thanh
Published: June 2023

The Korean or hard-shelled mussel, Mytilus unguiculatus, previously known as Mytilus coruscus, is one of the most economically and ecologically important bivalves in South Korea. However, the population size of this species has drastically reduced owing to overharvesting and habitat shrinkage. Because its genetic information is poorly documented, we contributed, in this study, the genetic diversity and structural analyses of 246 adult samples of M. unguiculatus from seven populations along the coastal areas of the mainland and islands of South Korea using a microsatellite multiplex assay. Genetic diversity analyzed from eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci was consistently moderate (0.50–0.57) in all populations. No recent bottleneck was found, indicating that the number of the studied populations did not decrease to an extent that resulted in a reduction of genetic diversity. Additional tests did not reveal any genetic structure across them, possibly resulting from constant gene flow, strong dispersal of planktonic larvae, and genetic admixture between wild populations. These results suggest that M. unguiculatus populations along the coastal areas of South Korea should be managed as a single unit. Our study provides crucial information for future genetic monitoring, conservation management, and population restoration plan in preparation for the rapid decline in bivalve resources.
Training Direct Care Staff to Empower Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families to Reduce Overmedication
Authors: Deb Shoumitro , Limbu Bharati
Published: June 2023

Objectives

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism are subject to restrictive practices like physical restraint and the overuse of psychotropic medications for challenging behavior. People with disabilities and their families are often not involved in shared decision-making for prescription and other care planning, which may violate the UN Human Rights Charter.

Methods

One way of reducing overmedication is by empowering adults with IDD and their family caregivers to collaborate in the decision to use medications. SPECTROM (https://spectrom.wixsite.com/project), a training program for direct care workers, was developed to help reduce the overmedication of these people. This article presents ideas on how SPECTROM resources could empower adults with IDD and their families to influence their care decisions, including psychotropic prescribing.

Results

Information provided in 32 easy-read leaflets in SPECTROM on psychotropic medications can be used to improve shared decision-making involving people with IDD and their families. Similarly, the Yellow Passport, an easy-read health record, could help information sharing among care service providers, thus improving their health care. SPECTROM has one module devoted to effectively engaging with people with IDD to improve their communication and help them with their skills building.

Conclusions

Currently, very limited evidence exists on the effects of SPECTROM to empower individuals with IDD and their families in reducing psychotropic medications for challenging behaviors. In addition to the two pilot studies on SPECTROM from UK and Australia, further research is needed to explore the evidence supporting the above suggestions.
“Crack on”: a qualitative study of care home managers experiences and responses to system-led setbacks during the crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in England
Authors: Marshall Fiona , Gordon Adam L. , Gladman John R. F. , Bishop Simon
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To explore care home managers’ experiences of systems working with various organisations, including statutory, third sector and private, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from Sept 2020 to April 2021

Design

An exploratory qualitative interview study using a systems theory approach focussing on the intersections of relationship interdependencies with other organisations.

Setting

Conducted remotely with care home managers and key advisors who had worked since the start of the pandemic in/with care homes for older people across the East Midlands, UK.

Participants

8 care home managers and 2 end-of-life advisors who participated during the second wave of the pandemic from Sept 2020. A total of 18 care home managers participated in the wider study from April 2020 to April 2021

Results

Four organisational relationship interdependencies were identified: care practices, resources governance and wise working. Managers identified changes in their care practices as a shift towards the normalisation of care, with an emphasis on navigating pandemic restrictions to fit the context. Resources such as staffing, clinical reviews, pharmaceutical and equipment supplies were challenged, leading to a sense of precarity and tension. National polices and local guidance were fragmented, complex and disconnected from the reality of managing a care home. As a response a highly pragmatic reflexive style of management was identified which encompassed the use of mastery to navigate and in some cases circumvent official systems and mandates. Managers’ experience of persistent and multiple setbacks were viewed as negative and confirmed their views that care homes as a sector ere marginalised by policy makers and statutory bodies.

Conclusions

Interactions with various organisations shaped the ways in which care home managers responded to and sought to maximise residents and staff well-being. Some relationships dissolved over time, such as when local business and schools returned to normal obligations. Other newly formed relationships became more robust including those with other care home managers, families, and hospices. Significantly, most managers viewed their relationship with local authority and national statutory bodies as detrimental to effective working, leading to a sense of increased mistrust and ambiguity. Respect, recognition and meaningful collaboration with the care home sector should underpin any future attempts to introduce practice change in the sector.
Measuring range sizes in a 100-g rodent: mini-GPS are more reliable than transmitters, but the location error reduces reliability
Authors: Makuya Lindelani , Schradin Carsten
Published: June 2023

Home ranges of free-living mammals have typically been studied via radio-tracking to understand how individuals use their environment. Recently, GPS collars have become popular in large mammals. However, GPS collars are rarely used in small mammals, as they are too heavy, especially when needing coating to protect against gnawing. Here we test the efficiency of mini-GPS collars to measure range estimates compared to the use of radio-collars in a small rodent of 100 g body mass. We equipped 20 bush Karoo rats with mini-GPS loggers and thereafter with radio-transmitters to determine ranges. We validated the accuracy of the mini-GPS loggers by comparing them with the fixes from a handheld GPS and found both to be similar. We estimated range sizes using both traditional methods of Kernel and minimum convex polygon estimates as well as modern methods from movement ecology taking the location error of the mini-GPS into account. Using modern methods led to smaller range estimates, but results were in so far consistent that daily ranges for bush Karoo rats determined using mini-GPS were much larger than home range estimates from radio tracking. Using radio-tracking enabled us to establish the central shelter, while the mini-GPS revealed areas where rats had been observed foraging. We found a distinct location error and therefore suggest using modern approaches from movement ecology which can take this error into account. In sum, mini-GPS revealed more accurate estimates of the ranges than radio-tracking in a small rodent of 100 g body mass.
Polypharmacology: promises and new drugs in 2022
Authors: Ryszkiewicz Piotr , Malinowska Barbara , Schlicker Eberhard
Published: June 2023

Polypharmacology is an emerging strategy of design, synthesis, and clinical implementation of pharmaceutical agents that act on multiple targets simultaneously. It should not be mixed up with polytherapy, which is based on the use of multiple selective drugs and is considered a cornerstone of current clinical practice. However, this ‘classic’ approach, when facing urgent medical challenges, such as multifactorial diseases, increasing resistance to pharmacotherapy, and multimorbidity, seems to be insufficient. The ‘novel’ polypharmacology concept leads to a more predictable pharmacokinetic profile of multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs), giving a chance to avoid drug-drug interactions and improve patient compliance due to the simplification of dosing regimens. Plenty of recently marketed drugs interact with multiple biological targets or disease pathways. Many offer a significant additional benefit compared to the standard treatment regimens. In this paper, we will briefly outline the genesis of polypharmacology and its differences to polytherapy. We will also present leading concepts for obtaining MTDLs. Subsequently, we will describe some successfully marketed drugs, the mechanisms of action of which are based on the interaction with multiple targets. To get an idea, of whether MTDLs are indeed important in contemporary pharmacology, we also carefully analyzed drugs approved in 2022 in Germany: 10 out of them were found multi-targeting, including 7 antitumor agents, 1 antidepressant, 1 hypnotic, and 1 drug indicated for eye disease.
Sorptivity and rapid chloride ion penetration of self-compacting concrete using fly ash and copper slag
Authors: Arunchaitanya Sambangi , Dey Subhashish
Published: June 2023

This paper represents experimental work on the mechanical and durability parameters of self-compacting concrete (SCC) with copper slag (CS) and fly ash (FA). In the first phase of the experiment, certain SCC mixes are prepared with six percentages of FA replacing the cement ranging from 5% to 30%. In the second phase, copper slag replaces fine aggregate at an interval of 20% to 100% by taking the optimum percentage value of FA. The performance of SCC mixes containing FA and copper slag is measured with fresh properties, compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths. SCC durability metrics, such as resistance against chloride and voids in the concrete matrix, is measured with rapid chloride ion penetration test (RCPT) and sorptivity techniques. The microstructure of the SCC is analyzed by using SEM and various phases available in the concrete matrix identified with XRD analysis. It is found that when replacing cement with 20% of FA and replacing fine aggregate with 40% of copper slag in SCC, higher mechanical strengths will be delivered. Resistance of chloride and voids in the concrete matrix reaches the optimum value at 40%; and with the increase of dosage, the quality of SCC will be improved. Therefore, it is recommended that copper slag be used as a sustainable material for replacement of fine aggregate.
A principles-based ethics assurance argument pattern for AI and autonomous systems
Authors: Porter Zoe , Habli Ibrahim , McDermid John , Kaas Marten
Published: June 2023

An assurance case is a structured argument, typically produced by safety engineers, to communicate confidence that a critical or complex system, such as an aircraft, will be acceptably safe within its intended context. Assurance cases often inform third party approval of a system. One emerging proposition within the trustworthy AI and autonomous systems (AI/AS) research community is to use assurance cases to instil justified confidence that specific AI/AS will be ethically acceptable when operational in well-defined contexts. This paper substantially develops the proposition and makes it concrete. It brings together the assurance case methodology with a set of ethical principles to structure a principles-based ethics assurance argument pattern. The principles are justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for human autonomy, with the principle of transparency playing a supporting role. The argument pattern—shortened to the acronym PRAISE—is described. The objective of the proposed PRAISE argument pattern is to provide a reusable template for individual ethics assurance cases, by which engineers, developers, operators, or regulators could justify, communicate, or challenge a claim about the overall ethical acceptability of the use of a specific AI/AS in a given socio-technical context. We apply the pattern to the hypothetical use case of an autonomous ‘robo-taxi’ service in a city centre.
Influence of sugar metabolism on the dialogue between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants
Authors: Wang Yu-Juan , Wu Qiang-Sheng
Published: June 2023

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses in plants are broadly significant because of their capacity to facilitate water and nutrient acquisition and thus, to promote vigorous growth and development among host plants. Many horticultural plants, especially citrus plants, are highly dependent on AM fungi. In return, AM fungi receive sugars and lipids from their host plants. The sugars (mainly sucrose) are transported from the aerial parts of host plants to the roots and thus, form a mycorrhizal carbon pool. In roots, sucrose is converted to hexoses, which are then taken up by AM fungal intraradical hyphae and converted to trehalose and glycogen for growth and storage in extraradical hyphae and potentially participate in the soil carbon cycle through as the glomalin-related soil proteins. Therefore, the root mycorrhizal carbon pool influences the sugar (mainly sucrose) metabolism of plants, providing a guarantee for mycorrhizal plants to maintain better plant growth, stress resistance, fruit quality, lateral root development, and soil carbon sequestration. Thus, sugar metabolism is a player in the dialog between AM fungi and plants. This review briefly summarizes the processes of sucrose synthesis, transport, and metabolism, and highlights the relationship between AM fungi and plant sugars with an emphasis on AM-carbon pools, osmotic adjustment, fruit quality, and sugar-associated gene expression. Future research prospects are discussed.
Public attitudes and preferences for green rooftop technologies in the US: a choice experiment
Authors: Meyer Natalie , Trandafir Simona
Published: June 2023

Green rooftops, also known as vegetated roofs, will play a critical role in enhancing the resilience of urban areas in the face of climate change and other contemporary environmental and social challenges. To ensure the optimal design and implementation of these green technologies, it is vital to understand the public’s preferences, values, and attitudes toward the government support for green rooftops. This study employs contingent valuation methods, specifically utilizing a payment card and a choice experiment, to investigate these topics that have received inadequate exploration within the current body of literature. Our findings indicate that 45% of the public is aware of green rooftops, and the most desired features on an extensive green rooftop, ranked by importance, are: flowers, grass, trees, and walking paths. The majority (79%) of the public supports a federally proposed legislation currently under review (the Public School Green Rooftop Program) and has a mean willingness to pay of approximately $176 per household as a one-time payment. Additionally, the results show that individuals place a higher value on green rooftops that incorporate solar energy technology compared to those without. Furthermore, there is a perceived, loss of value when access to a green rooftop is limited, as opposed to having open access.
ON A BERNSTEIN–SATO POLYNOMIAL OF A MEROMORPHIC FUNCTION
Authors: TAKEUCHI KIYOSHI
Published: June 2023

We define Bernstein–Sato polynomials for meromorphic functions and study their basic properties. In particular, we prove a Kashiwara–Malgrange-type theorem on their geometric monodromies, which would also be useful in relation with the monodromy conjecture. A new feature in the meromorphic setting is that we have several b-functions whose roots yield the same set of the eigenvalues of the Milnor monodromies. We also introduce multiplier ideal sheaves for meromorphic functions and show that their jumping numbers are related to our b-functions.
What are the priorities and the points to be addressed by a legal framework for quantum technologies?
Authors: D’Auria Virginia , Teller Marina
Published: June 2023

Quantum technologies (QTechs) have the potential to have revolutionary effects in scientific, technological and commercial areas in equal measure. This includes major transformations boosted by quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum sensing, with applications ranging from information technologies to chemistry or finance.
Holding Back the Race Card: Black Candidates, Twitter, and the 2021 Canadian Election
Authors: Wagner Angelia , Bird Karen , Everitt Joanna , Lalancette Mireille
Published: June 2023

Politicians carefully construct a public persona that is authentic to who they are as individuals but also addresses voter expectations. Many Black candidates follow a deracialization strategy in which they downplay their racial identities to seek voter support while some follow a racial distinction strategy in which they highlight their racial identities but situate them within hegemonic national narratives. But questions remain about whether a candidate’s decision to use one strategy over another is shaped by national context, partisanship, political position, and riding competitiveness. This paper thus asks the question: How do Black candidates in Canadian elections deploy race in their campaign communications, and what factors might explain any differences in their strategies? To answer this question, we analyze how Black candidates used Twitter during the 2021 Canadian election. Our analysis reveals that Black candidates generally used a deracialization strategy when communicating on Twitter, opting to celebrate the many cultural groups in their riding rather than casting their appeal only to Black voters. They only highlighted their racial identities or racial issues when world or campaign events gave them the political cover to do so. But the degree to which Black candidates engaged in (de)racialized communications differed by party.
Molecular identification of hymenopteran parasitoids and their endosymbionts from agromyzids
Authors: Xu Xuefen , Hoffmann Ary A. , Umina Paul A. , Ward Samantha E. , Coquilleau Marianne P. , Malipatil Mallik B. , Ridland Peter M.
Published: June 2023

Three polyphagous pestLiriomyzaspp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) have recently invaded Australia and are damaging horticultural crops. Parasitic wasps are recognized as effective natural enemies of leafmining species globally and are expected to become important biocontrol agents in Australia. However, the hymenopteran parasitoid complex of agromyzids in Australia is poorly known and its use hindered due to taxonomic challenges when based on morphological characters. Here, we identified 14 parasitoid species of leafminers based on molecular and morphological data. We linked DNA barcodes (5′ endcytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI) sequences) to five adventive eulophid wasp species (Chrysocharis pubicornis(Zetterstedt),Diglyphus isaea(Walker),Hemiptarsenus varicornis(Girault),Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood), andNeochrysocharis okazakiiKamijo) and two braconid species (Dacnusa areolaris(Nees) andOpius cinerariaeFischer). We also provide the first DNA barcodes (5′ end COI sequences) with linked morphological characters for seven wasp species, with three identified to species level (Closterocerus mirabilisEdwards & La Salle,Trigonogastrella parasitica(Girault), andZagrammosoma latilineatumUbaidillah) and four identified to genus (Aprostocetussp.,Asecodessp.,Opiussp. 1, andOpiussp. 2). Phylogenetic analyses suggestC. pubicornis,D. isaea,H. varicornis,andO. cinerariaeare likely cryptic species complexes.Neochrysocharis formosaandAprostocetussp. specimens were infected withRickettsia. Five other species (Cl. mirabilis,D. isaea, H. varicornis, Opiussp. 1, andOpiussp. 2) were infected withWolbachia, while two endosymbionts (RickettsiaandWolbachia) co-infectedN. okazakii.These findings provide background information about the parasitoid fauna expected to help control the leafminers.
Toll-interacting protein participates in immunity and development of the lepidopteran insect Antheraea pernyi
Authors: Chen Zhe , Zhang Awei , Xu Xuan , Ding Lu , Zhang Xiaojiao , Qian Cen , Zhu Baojian
Published: June 2023

Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) participates in multiple biological processes. However, the biological functions of Tollip proteins in insects remain to be further explored. Here, the genomic sequence of tollip gene from Antheraea pernyi (named Ap-Tollip) was identified with a length of 15,060 bp, including eight exons and seven introns. The predicted Ap-Tollip protein contained conserved C2 and CUE domains and was highly homologous to those tollips from invertebrates. Ap-Tollip was highly expressed in fat body compared with other determined tissues. As far as the developmental stages were concerned, the highest expression level was found at the 14th day in eggs or the 3rd day of the 1st instar. Ap-Tollip was also obviously regulated by lipopolysaccharide, polycytidylic acid or 20E in different tissues. In addition, the interaction between Ap-Tollip and ubiquitin was confirmed by western blotting and pull-down assay. RNAi of Ap-Tollip significantly affected the expression levels of apoptosis and autophagy-related genes. These results indicated that Ap-Tollip was involved in immunity and development of A. pernyi.
Intrinsic vowel pitch in Hamont Dutch: Evidence for If0 reduction in the lower pitch range
Authors: Verhoeven Jo , Connell Bruce
Published: June 2023

This study investigated Intrinsic Vowel Pitch (If0) in the Belgian Limburg dialect of Hamont. Its main aim was to investigate a potential correlation between If0 and f0, which has been attested in previous research, especially on contour tone languages. The Hamont dialect is particularly interesting because it has a pitch accent distinction, but also because the vowel system has a high and low vowel contrast in the front and the back dimension of the vowel space. The results of this study are generally compatible with If0 research on many languages but adds some new insights. Firstly, it was found that If0 in the Hamont dialect is comparatively large (1.97 semitones). Secondly, it was confirmed that the front–back distinction in vowel articulation has no significant effect on If0. Thirdly, when If0 is expressed on a semitone scale, no significant differences in If0 were found between male and female speakers of the dialect. The most important finding of the paper is the significant positive correlation between f0 and If0 in that If0 is smaller in the lower pitch range and bigger in the higher pitch range. This phenomenon in Hamont Dutch is much the same to what is observed in contour tone languages that have been examined for this. There are indications that a similar tendency exists in register tone languages and intonation languages. Although the cause of this progressive If0 reduction is not entirely clear, its wide distribution across prosodic systems seems to point towards a universal tendency.
Photographic evidence suggests habitat overlap and co-occurrence of tigers and snow leopards in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan
Authors: Dendup Pema , Lham Choki
Published: June 2023

The Endangered tiger Panthera tigris and Vulnerable snow leopard Panthera uncia are umbrella species and conservation priorities. Jigme Dorji National Park is an important protected area for the conservation of both species because it serves as a source site for tigers to adjacent areas and has the largest snow leopard population in Bhutan. Habitat overlap of tigers and snow leopards in Bhutan has been previously reported based on evidence of tigers (pugmarks, livestock killed and camera-trap images) in known snow leopard habitat above 4,000 m altitude. Here we report the first photographic evidence of both tigers and snow leopards at the same locations, confirming habitat overlap and co-occurrence of the two species. The data are derived from the countrywide tiger survey carried out during October 2021–January 2022. Fifty-six pairs of camera traps were installed in a 5 × 5 km grid at an altitude range of 1,200–4,300 m. After a survey effort of 1,528 trap-nights, 478 tiger images and 31 snow leopard images were captured at 12 and three camera stations, respectively. At all three camera stations that captured snow leopard images, tigers were also captured. These findings indicate the habitat overlap and co-occurrence of tigers and snow leopards in Jigme Dorji National Park. Further research is required to inform conservation practice in the National Park focusing on these apex predators.
The congruency effect in L2 collocational processing: The underlying mechanism and moderating factors
Authors: Chen Yingzhao
Published: June 2023

The congruency effect—that is, faster and more accurate processing of congruent multiword units, has been demonstrated in multiple studies. It is still unclear, however, what its underlying mechanism is, and how congruency may interact with other factors. Using an acceptability judgement task, this study examined the congruency effect in immersive (Experiment 1) and nonimmersive (Experiment 2) L2 learners’ collocational processing while taking into account L2 collocation frequency, immersive learners’ L2 use, their length and starting age of immersion, nonimmersive learners’ length of instruction, and their L2 proficiency. The study also tested whether L1 counterparts of words in L2 collocations were activated. Nonmmersive learners showed a congruency effect in both processing speed and accuracy. In contrast, immersive learners were affected by congruency only in processing accuracy. Higher L2 collocation frequency, greater length of instruction, and higher L2 proficiency did not reduce the congruency effect, whereas longer duration of immersion improved the processing of incongruent items. An effect of L1 lexical frequency was found, an indication of L1 activation. Results were discussed in light of how L2 proficiency and experiences changed the amount of L1 influence in L2 collocational processing.
Literature review on maritime cybersecurity: state-of-the-art
Authors: Yu Hongchu , Meng Qiang , Fang Zhixiang , Liu Jingxian
Published: June 2023

Maritime cybersecurity has attracted increasing attention in industrial and academic scope, which may be relevant to the increasing cyber-incidents in the maritime shipping industry. This paper presents a critical review of publications related to cybersecurity in the maritime transportation industry, to explore the current research status and gaps, as wells as to guide new probe avenues by employing bibliometric approaches. With the advantage of bibliometric methods, the research focus and evolution are conformed and visualised. Representative papers are reviewed together to demonstrate maritime cyber-threats recognition and categories, as well as potential consequence assessment and risk mitigation actions recommendation. This paper also created a detailed database that is comprised of attack form, occurring time, targets, purpose, as well as potential results and cost, which has been included in the Appendix and is fully portable and extendible.
Beyond rhetoric: Interrogating the Eurocentric critique of international criminal law’s selectivity in the wake of the 2022 Ukraine invasion
Authors: Labuda Patryk I.
Published: June 2023

Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine has reinvigorated the debate over international criminal law’s selectivity. While many have welcomed the renewed interest in accountability for international crimes in the wake of the ‘Ukraine moment’, others have emphasized double standards in the enforcement of international criminal law, including a lack of accountability for Western violations and disproportionate attention to European victims. This article interrogates the master narratives about international criminal law’s post-Ukraine selectivity and complicates accusations of bias by emphasizing Ukraine’s liminal status in the global order and the cross-border nature of aggression as an explanatory factor for differentiated responses from states. It suggests that concerns about an invidious ‘Ukraine effect’ on international criminal law enforcement are less persuasive after the International Criminal Court’s decade-long conflict with the African Union, and that a decentring of investigations to Eurasia should be construed not only as a moment of soul-searching but also as a welcome opportunity to rebalance the scales of justice. The article encourages international criminal law stakeholders to move beyond critique that unwittingly essentializes Eurocentric assumptions and to devise a more compelling vision of global criminal law enforcement that challenges crimes and inequalities both between and within states.
Seed dormancy diversity of the mangrove plant community in Sri Lanka to assist in direct seeding and seedling transplanting restoration
Authors: Wijayasinghe Malaka M. , Jayasuriya K.M.G. Gehan , Gunatilleke C.V.S. , Gunatilleke I.A.U.N. , Walck Jeffrey L.
Published: June 2023

Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems in the world being found in the tropical–subtropical belt. Despite their significance, they have been highly disturbed due to many anthropogenic and natural causes. A significant effort has been made to restore mangroves around the world. However, a lack of information on the seed biology of mangrove species has impeded restoration. Thus, this study aimed to produce a seed dormancy profile for selected plant species of mangroves in Sri Lanka. This profile would allow restoration ecologists to better understand what kinds of dormancy are present, how to alleviate dormancy and how to best stimulate germination to generate seedlings for nursery stock or out-planting. Mature fruits/seeds were collected from coastal zone mangroves in Sri Lanka. Germination and imbibition of non-scarified and manually scarified seeds and embryo:seed length (E:S) ratio of fresh and radicle-emerged seeds were evaluated to assess the class of dormancy. Of the 30 species, seeds from 12 (40%) were non-dormant and 18 (60%) were dormant. Three dormancy classes [physiological (PD), physical (PY) and morphophysiological (MPD)] and presence of epicotyl dormancy were identified. Among species producing dormant seeds, most of them showed PD (44%). PY, MPD and presence of epicotyl dormancy were represented by 28, 17 and 11% of the species, respectively. These findings aid practitioners to craft strategies to effectively break dormancy and germinate seeds for conservation and restoration activities of mangroves.
Innovation Climate Profiles
Authors: Bonnardel Dana , Chénard-Poirier Léandre Alexis , Lajoie Denis
Published: June 2023

Abstract: While person-centered analyses can provide information on important configural effects in the context of multi-dimensional constructs, we have found little research taking this approach with innovation climate. Specifically, we found no research applying this approach to results from the Team Climate Inventory, the most frequently used questionnaire on innovation climate. Therefore, we explore the presence of latent profiles in responses to the Team Climate Inventory and extend this exploration to associations between the profiles and self-reported innovative behaviors. Latent profile analyses conducted on two samples of 435 and 461 participants indicated the presence of three innovation climate profiles respectively indicating low, medium, and high scores on innovation climate dimensions. Innovative behaviors covaried with profiles accordingly. The multi-group analysis supported the similarity between latent profile solutions across samples. We discuss the apparent lack of potential for configural effects and invite researchers who could be interested in interactive effects between climate dimensions to verify whether the configurations implied by their interactions are actually present in the data.
Climate Change Is Drying Out Earth’s Soils
Authors: Fritts Rachel
Published: June 2023

Earth’s land is drying as it warms, but it is not clear how dry is too dry.
Perovskite sensitized 2D photodiodes
Authors: Li Dong , Pan Anlian
Published: June 2023

A new type of perovskite sensitized programmable WSe2 photodiode is constructed based on MAPbI3/WSe2 heterojunction, presenting flexible reconfigurable characteristics and prominent optoelectronic performances.
Evolution of focused streams for viscoelastic flow in spiral microchannels
Authors: Gao Hua , Zhou Jian , Naderi Mohammad Moein , Peng Zhangli , Papautsky Ian
Published: June 2023

Particle migration dynamics in viscoelastic fluids in spiral channels have attracted interest in recent years due to potential applications in the 3D focusing and label-free sorting of particles and cells. Despite a number of recent studies, the underlying mechanism of Dean-coupled elasto-inertial migration in spiral microchannels is not fully understood. In this work, for the first time, we experimentally demonstrate the evolution of particle focusing behavior along a channel downstream length at a high blockage ratio. We found that flow rate, device curvature, and medium viscosity play important roles in particle lateral migration. Our results illustrate the full focusing pattern along the downstream channel length, with side-view imaging yielding observations on the vertical migration of focused streams. Ultimately, we anticipate that these results will offer a useful guide for elasto-inertial microfluidics device design to improve the efficiency of 3D focusing in cell sorting and cytometry applications.
Psychiatric polygenic risk as a predictor of COVID-19 risk and severity: insight into the genetic overlap between schizophrenia and COVID-19
Authors: Alemany-Navarro M. , Diz-de Almeida S. , Cruz R. , Riancho J. A. , Rojas-Martínez A. , Lapunzina P. , Flores C. ,   Scourge Cohort Group, Carracedo A.
Published: June 2023

Despite the high contagion and mortality rates that have accompanied the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, the clinical presentation of the syndrome varies greatly from one individual to another. Potential host factors that accompany greater risk from COVID-19 have been sought and schizophrenia (SCZ) patients seem to present more severe COVID-19 than control counterparts, with certain gene expression similarities between psychiatric and COVID-19 patients reported. We used summary statistics from the last SCZ, bipolar disorder (BD), and depression (DEP) meta-analyses available on the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium webpage to calculate polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for a target sample of 11,977 COVID-19 cases and 5943 subjects with unknown COVID-19 status. Linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) regression analysis was performed when positive associations were obtained from the PRS analysis. The SCZ PRS was a significant predictor in the case/control, symptomatic/asymptomatic, and hospitalization/no hospitalization analyses in the total and female samples; and of symptomatic/asymptomatic status in men. No significant associations were found for the BD or DEP PRS or in the LDSC regression analysis. SNP-based genetic risk for SCZ, but not for BD or DEP, may be associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, especially among women; however, predictive accuracy barely exceeded chance level. We believe that the inclusion of sexual loci and rare variations in the analysis of genomic overlap between SCZ and COVID-19 will help to elucidate the genetic commonalities between these conditions.
Biomarkers of central and peripheral inflammation mediate the association between HIV and depressive symptoms
Authors: Mudra Rakshasa-Loots Arish , Bakewell Nicholas , Sharp David J. , Gisslén Magnus , Zetterberg Henrik , Alagaratnam Jasmini , Wit Ferdinand W. N. M. , Kootstra Neeltje A. , Winston Alan , Reiss Peter , Sabin Caroline A. , Vera Jaime H. ,   on behalf of the COmorBidity in Relation to AIDS (COBRA) cohort
Published: June 2023

People living with HIV are at increased risk for depression, though the underlying mechanisms for this are unclear. In the general population, depression is associated with peripheral and central inflammation. Given this, and since HIV infection elicits inflammation, we hypothesised that peripheral and central inflammatory biomarkers would at least partly mediate the association between HIV and depressive symptoms. People living with HIV (n = 125) and without HIV (n = 79) from the COmorBidity in Relation to AIDS (COBRA) cohort were included in this study. Participants living with and without HIV had similar baseline characteristics. All participants living with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy and were virally suppressed. Plasma, CSF, and brain MR spectroscopy (MRS) biomarkers were measured. Using logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors, we found that participants with HIV were more likely to have Any Depressive Symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score >4) (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 3.27 [1.46, 8.09]). We then sequentially adjusted the models for each biomarker separately to determine the mediating role of each biomarker, with a >10% reduction in OR considered as evidence of potential mediation. Of the biomarkers analysed, MIG (−15.0%) and TNF-α (−11.4%) in plasma and MIP1-α (−21.0%) and IL-6 (−18.0%) in CSF mediated the association between HIV and depressive symptoms in this sample. None of the other soluble or neuroimaging biomarkers substantially mediated this association. Our findings suggest that certain biomarkers of central and peripheral inflammation may at least partly mediate the relationship between HIV and depressive symptoms.
LRFN5 and OLFM4 as novel potential biomarkers for major depressive disorder: a pilot study
Authors: Xu Ke , Zheng Peng , Zhao Shuang , Wang Jiubing , Feng Jinzhou , Ren Yi , Zhong Qi , Zhang Hanping , Chen Xiangyu , Chen Jianjun , Xie Peng
Published: June 2023

Evidences have shown that both LRFN5 and OLFM4 can regulate neural development and synaptic function. Recent genome-wide association studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) have implicated LRFN5 and OLFM4, but their expressions and roles in MDD are still completely unclear. Here, we examined serum concentrations of LRFN5 and OLFM4 in 99 drug-naive MDD patients, 90 drug-treatment MDD patients, and 81 healthy controls (HCs) using ELISA methods. The results showed that both LRFN5 and OLFM4 levels were considerably higher in MDD patients compared to HCs, and were significantly lower in drug-treatment MDD patients than in drug-naive MDD patients. However, there were no significant differences between MDD patients who received a single antidepressant and a combination of antidepressants. Pearson correlation analysis showed that they were associated with the clinical data, including Hamilton Depression Scale score, age, duration of illness, fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, and hepatic, renal, or thyroid function. Moreover, these two molecules both yielded fairly excellent diagnostic performance in diagnosing MDD. In addition, a combination of LRFN5 and OLFM4 demonstrated a better diagnostic effectiveness, with an area under curve of 0.974 in the training set and 0.975 in the testing set. Taken together, our data suggest that LRFN5 and OLFM4 may be implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD and the combination of LRFN5 and OLFM4 may offer a diagnostic biomarker panel for MDD.