bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Talker Variability in North‐American Infants' Daily Input
Authors: Bulgarelli Federica , Mielke Jeff , Bergelson Elika
Published: December 2021

Words sound slightly different each time they are said, both by the same talker and across talkers. Rather than hurting learning, lab studies suggest that talker variability helps infants learn similar sounding words. However, very little is known about how much variability infants hear within a single talker or across talkers in naturalistic input. Here, we quantified these types of talker variability for highly frequent words spoken to 44 infants, from naturalistic recordings sampled longitudinally over a year of life (from 6 to 17 months). We used non‐contrastive acoustic measurements (e.g., mean pitch, duration, harmonics‐to‐noise ratio) and holistic measures of sound similarity (normalized acoustic distance) to quantify acoustic variability. We find three key results. First, pitch‐based variability was generally lower for infants' top talkers than across their other talkers, but overall acoustic distance is higher for tokens from the top talker versus the others. Second, the amount of acoustic variability infants heard could not be predicted from, and thus was not redundant with, other properties of the input such as the number of talkers or tokens, or proportion of speech from particular sources (e.g., women, children, electronics). Finally, we find that patterns of pitch‐based acoustic variability heard in naturalistic input were similar to those found with in‐lab stimuli that facilitated word learning. This large‐scale quantification of talker variability in infants' everyday input sets the stage for linking naturally occurring variability “in the wild” to early word learning.
Autonomic nervous system activity in primary Raynaud's phenomenon: Heart rate variability, plasma catecholamines and [123I]MIBG heart scintigraphy
Authors: Lindberg Lotte , Brinth Louise S. , Bergmann Marianne L. , Kristensen Bent , Hansen Tine W. , Hasbak Philip , Thomsen Jane F. , Eldrup Ebbe , Jensen Lars T.
Published: December 2021

Background and Aim

Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (pRP) is characterized by an exaggerated response to cold, resulting in the whitening typically of the fingers and toes. The patients are generally perceived as healthy individuals with a benign condition. However, the condition has been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and changes in autonomic nervous system activity. This study aimed to investigate whether pRP is associated with pervasive changes in autonomic nervous activity. The hypothesis was that patients with pRP have increased sympathetic nervous activity.

Methods

The autonomic nervous activity of 22 patients with pRP was investigated by means of heart rate variability (HRV) and the plasma catecholamine response to head‐up tilt and compared with 22 age‐ and gender‐matched controls. In addition, the patients were examined with a [123I]metaiodobenzylguanidine heart scintigraphy and compared with an external control group.

Results

The plasma norepinephrine response to head‐up tilt was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group. Similarly, the heart scintigraphy revealed a lower heart‐to‐mediastinum ratio in the patient group than in the control group. HRV analysis did not reveal significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion

The findings of the study showed that the autonomic nervous activity of patients with pRP was altered compared with the activity of healthy individuals. This was observed both during rest and after positional stress, but the findings did not uniformly concur with our initial hypothesis.
Pediatric Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System Quality of Life (PELHS‐QOL‐2): A novel health‐related quality of life prompt for children with epilepsy
Authors: Shah Pooja D. , Yun Michelle , Wu Alan , Arnesen Rachel A. , Storey Margaret , Sokoloff Max , Shellhaas Renée A. , Turnage Cassie , Axeen Erika J. , Goodkin Howard P. , Patel Anup D. , Wentzel Evelynne , Modi Avani C. , Grinspan Zachary M.
Published: December 2021

Objective

Pediatric epilepsy is often associated with diminished health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Our aim was to establish the validity of the Pediatric Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System Quality of Life (PELHS‐QOL‐2) questions, a novel two‐item HRQOL prompt for children with epilepsy, primarily for use in clinical care.

Methods

We performed a multicenter cross‐sectional study to validate the PELHS‐QOL‐2. Construct validity was established through bivariate comparisons with four comparator measures and known drivers of quality of life in children with epilepsy, as well as by creating an a priori multivariable model to predict the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE‐55). Validity generalization was established through bivariate comparisons with demographic and clinical information. Content validity and clinical utility were established by assessing how well the PELHS‐QOL‐2 met eight design criteria for an HRQOL prompt established by a multistakeholder group of experts.

Results

The final participant sample included 154 English‐speaking caregivers of children with epilepsy (mean age = 9.7 years, range = .5–18, 49% female, 70% White). The PELHS‐QOL‐2 correlated with the four comparator instruments (ρ = .44–.56), was significantly associated with several known drivers of quality of life in children with epilepsy (p < .05), and predicted QOLCE‐55 scores in the multivariate model (adjusted R2 = .54). The PELHS‐QOL‐2 item was not associated with the age, sex, and ethnicity of the children nor with the setting and location of data collection, although PELHS‐QOL‐Medications was significantly associated with race (worse for White race). Following both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the PELHS‐QOL‐2 met seven of eight design criteria.

Significance

The PELHS‐QOL‐2 is a valid HRQOL prompt and is well suited for use in clinical care as a mechanism to routinely initiate conversations with caregivers about quality of life in children with epilepsy. The association of PELHS‐QOL‐Medications with race merits further study.
Childrearing in stepfamilies: Empirical answers about “what works”
Authors: Ganong Lawrence , Coleman Marilyn , Sanner Caroline , Berkley Steven
Published: December 2021

Objective

The objectives of this project were to (a) examine research evidence on effective childrearing in stepfamilies, (b) draw “best practice” guidelines for effective childrearing in stepfamilies, and (c) identify gaps in what is known about effective childrearing in stepfamilies. Effective childrearing was defined as cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors of stepparents and biological parents that contributed positively to children's physical, cognitive, and emotional well‐being.

Background

The predominant focus of research on stepfamilies has been on investigating stepfamily deficits, problems, and challenges. Recently, more researchers have examined stepfamilies from a resilience perspective in which emphases are placed on processes that contribute to effective development and adaptations to change.

Method

We reviewed 119 studies of effective childrearing in stepfamilies. We examined three bodies of literature: (a) effective parenting in stepfamilies, (b) effective stepparenting in stepfamilies, and (c) effective coparenting in stepfamilies (both within stepfamily households, e.g., between spouses and across stepfamily households, e.g., between ex‐spouses).

Results

The results of this project are reported in three articles in this collection. We extract evidence‐based principles of effective childrearing in stepfamilies.

Conclusions

Researchers have made great strides in identifying parenting practices that promote positive outcomes for children in stepfamilies, although gaps in our knowledge remain.

Implications

In each article, we offer empirically supported suggestions for stepfamily members and for family professionals who work with them.
From energy to (soil organic) matter
Authors: Gunina Anna , Kuzyakov Yakov
Published: January 2022

In this concept paper, we propose a new view on soil organic matter (SOM) formation: microorganisms use most of the organics entering the soil as energy rather than as a source of carbon (C), while SOM accumulates as a residual by‐product because the microbial energy investment in its decomposition exceeds the energy gain. During the initial stages of decomposition, the nominal oxidation state of C (NOSC) in remaining litter decreases, and the energy content increases. This reflects the rapid mineralization of available compounds with positive and neutral NOSC (carboxylic acids, sugars, some amino acids). Consequently, the NOSC of the remaining compounds drops to −0.3 units, and the oxidation rate decreases due to the residual relative accumulation of aromatic and aliphatic compounds (which are hydrolized later) and entombment of the necromass. Ultimately, incompletely decomposed plant residues will have 1%–2.5% more energy per C unit than the initial litter. The linear decrease in energy density of a broad range of organic substances by 106 kJ mol−1C per NOSC unit upon oxidation is supported by experimental data on litter decomposition. Preferential recycling of energy‐rich reduced (lipids, aromatics, certain amino acids, amino sugars) and the microbial degradation of oxidized compounds (carboxylic acids) also energetically enrich SOM. Despite the high energy content, the availability of energy stored in SOM is lower than in litter. This explains why SOM is not fully mineralized (thermodynamically unfavorable), especially in the absence of plant C to provide new energy (e.g., in bare soil). Energy from litter activates decomposers to mine nutrients stored in SOM (the main ecological function of priming effects) because the nutrient content in SOM is 2–5 times higher than that of litter. This results in only 0.4%–5% year−1of litter‐derived C being sequestered in SOM, whereas SOM stores 1%–10% year−1of the total litter‐derived energy. Thus, the energy captured by photosynthesis is the main reason why microorganisms utilize organic matter, whereby SOM is merely a residual by‐product of nutrient storage and a mediator of energy fluxes.
Could the Dilatata group of Paspalum be bred as sexual species? A preliminary assessment
Authors: Monteverde Eliana , Olveyra Mario , Speranza Pablo
Published: December 2021

Paspalum dilatatum Poir. is a perennial apomictic and pentaploid South American grass and a very valued forage crop. The species has been available commercially in several parts of the world; however, its low seed production, apomictic reproduction and ergot susceptibility are important limitations for its adoption and breeding. The Dilatata complex includes five sexual tetraploid mostly selfing species, very closely related to P. dilatatum, which can be hybridized in different combinations. To explore the productive potential of breeding this species group as a sexual selfing tetraploid by combining germplasm from different tetraploid sources, a cross was made between Paspalum flavescens and Paspalum plurinerve which showed high productivity and resistance to ergot. The F1 was compared to the parents and 20 F3 families to evaluate the presence of heterosis, and estimate the additive genetic variance and the degree of transgressive segregation for morphological and productive traits. The F1 showed heterosis for dry matter and the number of fertile tillers, while the F3 showed transgressive segregation in more than 30% of the families for most traits. These results show that hybridization at the tetraploid level can generate vigorous and productive recombinants with a high potential to produce promising transgressive segregants. This breeding strategy appears highly promising, supporting further research on the potential of interspecific hybridization in this group.
Relative validity and reproducibility of food frequency questionnaire for individuals on hemodialysis (NUGE‐HD study)
Authors: Wendling Aline L. , Crispim Sandra P. , Ribeiro Sarah Aparecida V. , Balbino Karla P. , Hermsdorff Helen Hermana M.
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Adequate assessment of food intake is essential to establish the magnitude and direction of the relationship of food, nutrients, and bioactive compounds with clinical outcomes of individuals in hemodialysis. We evaluated the relative validity and reproducibility of a specific food frequency questionnaire for individuals on hemodialysis (FFQ‐HD).

Methods

Eighty‐two participants (57.3% male, 57.5 ± 14.4 years) from the open cohort Nutrition and Genetics in Hemodialysis Outcomes participated in this study. The relative validity of the FFQ‐HD was assessed using the mean of two 24‐h food recall (24hR) adjusted for within‐subject variability as a reference method. We also performed Pearson correlations, and agreement between tertile, kappa statistics, and Bland–Altman scatter plots were validated. Reproducibility was assessed after 1 year using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Findings

Daily energy intake was not different between FFQ‐HD and 24hR (mean difference of 50.1 kcal). Intake of protein, linolenic acid, fiber, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, and sugar showed a moderate correlation (r between 0.4 and 0.5) among instruments, while mean correlation coefficient was r = 0.38 to food group intake. Bland–Altman plots showed good agreement for micronutrients, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium and for the groups “flour, bread, and pasta” and “processed, canned meat, salts, and seasonings”. The reproducibility of FFQ‐HD for nutrients and food groups was satisfactory, reaching a maximum ICC of 0.72 and 0.59, respectively.

Discussion

The FFQ‐HD showed moderate validity and reproducibility for calories, nutrients, and food groups of clinical and nutritional interest for HD subjects so that it can be a useful tool in epidemiological studies in this population.
That's interesting: An examination of interest theory and self‐determination in organisational cybersecurity training
Authors: Kam Hwee‐Joo , Ormond Dustin K. , Menard Philip , Crossler Robert E.
Published: December 2021

With government and industry experiencing a critical shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, organisations are spearheading various training programs to cultivate cybersecurity skills. With more people working from home and the existing cybersecurity staff shortages, cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting new and existing vulnerabilities by launching ubiquitous cyberattacks. This study focuses on how to close the gap in cybersecurity skills through interest cultivation and self‐determined motivation. Our study shows that situational interest (SI) in cybersecurity along with situational motivational determinants (i.e., perceived learning autonomy and perceived relatedness) engendered self‐determined motivation toward cybersecurity training. Consequently, self‐determined motivation facilitated actual learning behaviour. Meanwhile, individual interest in cybersecurity created positive moderating effects in the relationships between self‐determination and its key antecedents (i.e., perceived relatedness and situational interest). Based on these findings, we provide research implications accordingly.
Disagreement about the past: An empirical assessment of bank analysts' GAAP and non‐GAAP earnings measures
Authors: Clatworthy Mark A. , Ho Tuan , Zhu Jude Mengzhu
Published: January 2022

Prior research documents that analysts’ non‐Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non‐GAAP) or “street earnings” exclude transitory items in order to facilitate security valuation. We study sell‐side analysts’ reports for large European banks and find significant variation in analysts’ non‐GAAP actual earnings measures. These measures are not always easily reconcilable to firms’ reported non‐GAAP earnings, to GAAP earnings or to non‐GAAP earnings reported by Institutional Brokers Estimate System (I/B/E/S). By contrast, reported measures of GAAP earnings in analysts’ reports differ from one another (or from firms’ reported GAAP earnings) far less often. When evaluated against analysts’ own actual non‐GAAP earnings measures, forecasts appear more accurate than those based on I/B/E/S actuals. Results for GAAP earnings are less conclusive. Our results indicate that as well as disagreeing about future earnings, analysts also disagree significantly about what earnings were in the past.
Technology‐based self‐monitoring system for on‐task behavior of students with disabilities: A quantitative meta‐analysis of single‐subject research
Authors: Mize Min , Park Yujeong , Carter Amanda
Published: December 2021

Background

There have been several studies that involved technology‐based self‐monitoring procedures to increase on‐task behavior. Although there are continued advancements in technology application such as functions that are embedded in the application (e.g., reinforcement, feedback), the appropriate use of technology is required to be accompanied by evidence‐based guidance.

Objectives

The purpose of this meta‐analytic approach was to (a) examine the effectiveness of a technology‐based self‐monitoring system on the on‐task behavior of students with disabilities and (b) provide information that can support the use of a technology‐based approach as an effective method for the teaching of relevant behavioral skills.

Methods

All reviewed 16 studies employed a single‐case research design, targeting technology‐based self‐monitoring interventions for students with disabilities. Studies were descriptively analyzed and evaluated for methodological quality using the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards and criteria. Additionally, to examine the level and trend of reading fluency outcomes, Tau‐Uwas calculated across the studies by measuring the impact of various moderator variables on the intervention effects.

Results and Conclusions

Overall, studies showed a strong effect of using the technology‐based self‐monitoring on on‐task behaviors. The impacts of six possible moderator variables (i.e., school level, types of technology, student training, teacher feedback and teacher reinforcement) were analyzed and there was no significant difference in the six variables with regards to the effects of the technology‐based self‐monitoring on the improvement of on‐task behaviors.

Implications

Based on the findings that support the positive impact of using mobile technology for increasing on‐task behaviors of students with disabilities, directions for future research and practical applications were discussed.
Macro‐event recognition in healthy ageing, Alzheimer’s disease, and mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Kokje Eesha , Gerwien Johannes , von Stutterheim Christiane
Published: December 2021

Event perception and cognition is integral to our everyday experience and functional ability. A commonly reported complaint in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the inability to follow narratives – be it textual, conversational, video, or pictures. This phenomenon has received little systematic research so far. In the current study, we developed a novel paradigm to examine macro‐event recognition in individuals with AD in the early stage and its preceding stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in comparison with cognitively healthy older adults, using pictures depicting events. In Experiment 1, we examined participants’ ability to integrate pictorially depicted sub‐events into macro‐events. The pictures were presented in a scrambled order, and participants were expected to arrange them in the temporally and causally appropriate sequence, as dictated by the macro‐event schema. Additionally, we investigated the effect of cueing the appropriate event schema by providing a word cue (verb). In Experiment 2, macro‐event recognition was examined again using a cognitively less taxing paradigm, where pictures depicting sub‐events were presented in correct order, but staggered, and recognition speed was measured. We observed significant deficits in the AD and MCI groups’ performance compared with the cognitively healthy older adults, across both experiments, suggesting event perception and cognition is impaired early in the course of AD. There was no effect of cueing on the performance of any of the groups. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Muslim caregivers' experiences in caring for patients receiving peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Seephom Sunisa , Jittanoon Piyanuch , Balthip Karnsunaphat
Published: December 2021

Background

Fulfilling the role of a family caregiver has a substantial effect on the lives of those involved. However, existing information on family caregivers of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis is insufficient—especially Muslim caregivers, whose practice is unique.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of Muslim family caregivers looking after patients receiving peritoneal dialysis in an Islamic context.

Design

A descriptive qualitative approach was employed.

Participants

Thirteen Muslim family caregivers who have cared for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis for at least 1 month.

Approach

Data were collected through face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews and a focus group discussion. Content analysis was used to analyse the data with initial codes grouped into sub‐categories, generic categories, and main categories.

Findings

The experiences of Muslim family caregivers looking after patients receiving peritoneal dialysis generated two main categories: overwhelmed with suffering and learning to live as a caregiver.

Conclusions

Caregiving has a substantial impact on Muslim family caregivers. They need to be cared for holistically. The recognition of Islamic beliefs, doctrine of Allah, and religious practices are clear spiritual anchors for caregiving. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the experiences of Muslim family caregivers looking after patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. These findings could serve as the basis for developing a specific nursing intervention for such caregivers.
Conservative Protestantism, Sexual Insecurity, and Masculine Discrepancy Stress
Authors: Hill Terrence D. , Bartkowski John P. , Pfaffendorf Jessica , Ritter Lacey J. , Burdette Amy M. , Ellison Christopher G.
Published: January 2022

Are conservative Protestant men especially insecure about their sexual prowess and masculinity? A recent state‐level analysis by Perry and Whitehead suggests that they are. In this study, we use national data from the 2021 Crime, Health, and Politics Survey to formally test whether conservative Protestant men are more concerned with their sexual abilities and masculinity than other men. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic and ordinary least squares regression models consistently show that conservative Protestant men tend to exhibit similar levels of sexual insecurity (self‐reported performance anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and ED medication use) and masculine discrepancy stress (perceived failure to conform to normative expectations associated with hegemonic masculinity) as men of other religious faiths (moderate Protestants, Catholics, and other Christians/religions) and men who report no religious affiliation. Our analyses are noteworthy because they call into question the theory of evangelicalism and phallocentric masculine insecurity at the individual level.
Structural individualism or collaborative mindsets: Next steps for peer learning
Authors: Noerholk Laerke Marijke , Tolsgaard Martin Grønnebæk
Published: December 2021

Noerholk and Tolsgaard discuss how peer‐assisted learning (PAL) should move away from treating learning as vertical transmission of knowledge and skills.
Behavior related vocalizations of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Authors: Brady Beth , Moore Jon , Love Kim
Published: December 2021

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus) produce five broadly defined call types (squeaks, squeals, high squeaks, chirps, squeak‐squeals) but their use in social and nonsocial settings is unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate whether call categories and structure of manatee vocalizations varied with behavior. Multiple hydrophones were used to record vocalizations in four different environments and broad behavioral states. Vocalizations recorded from resting, cavorting, stressed, or feeding wild animals were subjected to mixed linear effects models to test whether vocalizations produced varied with behavior and calf presence. Measures of duration, entropy, and frequency modulation were extracted from vocalizations to investigate if structural parameters differ among behaviors. Although all five call categories were recorded, results suggest manatees vocalize using primarily three call types and vary the structure of the call based on behavior. High squeaks were correlated with calf presence. High entropy squeals were proportionally higher during cavorting suggesting they may be related to a heightened state of arousal. Squeaks were the dominant call type produced and were longer in duration and higher in frequency modulation when animals were stressed. This research provides a foundation for comparative studies on vocal behavior for the Florida manatee as well as studies on related species.
Human microbiome and metabolic health: An overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Michels Nathalie , Zouiouich Semi , Vanderbauwhede Bert , Vanacker Judith , Indave Ruiz B. Iciar , Huybrechts Inge
Published: January 2022

To summarize the microbiome's role in metabolic disorders (insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], and metabolic syndrome), systematic reviews on observational or interventional studies (prebiotics/probiotics/synbiotics/transplant) were searched in MEDLINE and Embase until September 2020. The 87 selected systematic reviews included 57 meta‐analyses. Methodological quality (AMSTAR2) was moderate in 62%, 12% low, and 26% critically low. Observational studies on obesity (10 reviews) reported less gut bacterial diversity with higher Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, Bacteroides fragilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas lower Methanobrevibacter, Lactobacillus plantarum, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Bifidobacterium animalis compared with nonobese. For diabetes (n = 1), the same was found for Fusobacterium and A. muciniphila, whereas higher Ruminococcus and lower Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Bacteroides vulgatus, and several Bifidobacterium spp. For NAFLD (n = 2), lower Firmicutes, Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, whereas higher Escherichia and Lactobacillus were detected. Discriminating bacteria overlapped between metabolic disorders, those with high abundance being often involved in inflammation, whereas those with low abundance being used as probiotics. Meta‐analyses (n = 54) on interventional studies reported 522 associations: 54% was statistically significant with intermediate effect size and moderate between‐study heterogeneity. Meta‐evidence was highest for probiotics and lowest for fecal transplant. Future avenues include better methodological quality/comparability, testing functional differences, new intervention strategies, and considerating other body habitats and kingdoms.
Efficacy of pediatric dermatology Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) sessions on augmenting primary care providers' confidence and abilities
Authors: Sun Haorui , Green Brian , Zaenglein Andrea , Butt Melissa , Kirby Joslyn S. , Flamm Alexandra
Published: December 2021

Due to the shortage of pediatric dermatologists and the abundance of skin disorders presenting in childhood, general pediatricians shoulder the management of many pediatric dermatologic disorders and would benefit from additional dermatology‐specific training. To address this educational gap, general pediatricians were enrolled in a pediatric dermatology‐specific Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program and surveyed to assess the efficacy of the program in increasing providers' ability and confidence in managing pediatric dermatologic conditions. Providers unanimously reported increased confidence and abilities in assessment and management of pediatric dermatologic conditions. Pediatric dermatology Project ECHO demonstrated high efficacy in improving general practitioners' comfort and knowledge on dermatology‐specific topics and may be used as an education model for enhancing primary care providers' knowledge and management of common disorders.
Circadian rhythms in immunity and host‐parasite interactions
Authors: Hunter Felicity K. , Butler Thomas D. , Gibbs Julie E.
Published: December 2021

The mammalian immune system adheres to a 24 h circadian schedule, exhibiting daily rhythmic patterns in homeostatic immune processes, such as immune cell trafficking, as well as the inflammatory response to infection. These diurnal rhythms are driven by endogenous molecular clocks within immune cells which are hierarchically coordinated by a light‐entrained central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus and responsive to local rhythmic cues including temperature, hormones and feeding time. Circadian control of immunity may enable animals to anticipate daily pathogenic threat from parasites and gate the magnitude of the immune response, potentially enhancing fitness. However, parasites also strive for optimum fitness and some may have co‐evolved to benefit from host circadian timing mechanisms, possibly via the parasites’ own intrinsic molecular clocks. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge surrounding the influence of the circadian clock on the mammalian immune system and the host‐parasitic interaction. We also discuss the potential for chronotherapeutic strategies in the treatment of parasitic diseases.
Genetic biofortification of wheat with zinc: Opportunities to fine‐tune zinc uptake, transport and grain loading
Authors: Kamaral Chandima , Neate Stephen M. , Gunasinghe Niroshini , Milham Paul J. , Paterson David J. , Kopittke Peter M. , Seneweera Saman
Published: December 2021

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient in the human body, and health complications associated with insufficient dietary intake of Zn can be overcome by increasing the bioavailable concentrations in edible parts of crops (biofortification). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is the most consumed cereal crop in the world; therefore, it is an excellent target for Zn biofortification programs. Knowledge of the physiological and molecular processes that regulate Zn concentration in the wheat grain is restricted, inhibiting the success of genetic Zn biofortification programs. This review helps break this nexus by advancing understanding of those processes, including speciation regulated uptake, root to shoot transport, remobilisation, grain loading and distribution of Zn in wheat grain. Furthermore, new insights to genetic Zn biofortification of wheat are discussed, and where data are limited, we draw upon information for other cereals and Fe distribution. We identify the loading and distribution of Zn in grain as major bottlenecks for biofortification, recognising anatomical barriers in the vascular region at the base of the grain, and physiological and molecular restrictions localised in the crease region as major limitations. Movement of Zn from the endosperm cavity into the modified aleurone, aleurone and then to the endosperm is mainly regulated by ZIP and YSL transporters. Zn complexation with phytic acid in the aleurone limits Zn mobility into the endosperm. These insights, together with synchrotron‐X‐ray‐fluorescence microscopy, support the hypothesis that a focus on the mechanisms of Zn loading into the grain will provide new opportunities for Zn biofortification of wheat.
Factors affecting outcomes of embryo transfer in dromedary camels: A retrospective study
Authors: Karen Aly , Abd‐Elfattah Ahmed , Nasef Mostafa , Rahman Raza Ur , Ihsan Muhammad Babar , Muthukumaran Shanmugavelu
Published: December 2021

The present study aimed to use a comprehensive approach for evaluating 12 factors related to embryo quality (shape, size and transparency), donors (age, ET type, number of recovered embryos and day of uterine flushing), recipients (age), males (age and individual variations) and environment (season and year) which could affect the outcome of ET in terms of pregnancy (PR) and pregnancy losses in dromedary camels. During three breeding seasons, 116 donor females were mated repeatedly at 12‐ to 14‐day intervals by fertile male camels (n = 33) without stimulation of the ovaries (WSPO). Superovulation (SPO ET) regimen was applied for each donor female twice or thrice per season. In the occasions of applying superovulation regimen, donor females having an ovulatory follicle were mated instead of GnRH administration and superovulation regimen was applied 4 days post‐mating (MIX ET). The uteri of all donor females were flushed at Day 8 or 9 post‐mating, and a total of 2,095 embryos were recovered and transferred individually to 924 recipient females. Pregnancy diagnoses were conducted at Day 10 after ET (Days 18–19 of gestation) by using progesterone assay and by transrectal ultrasonography (TRU) at Days 30 and 60 of gestation. By using logistic regression analysis, transparency of embryos and age of recipient females had significant effects on PR at Days 18–19 (p < .01), 30 (p < .01) and 60 (p < .01; p < .05, respectively) of gestation. The shape of embryos had significant effects on the PR at Days 30 (p < .05) and 60 (p < .01) of gestation. Type of ET and the breeding season (year) had significant (p < .05) effects on the PR at Day 30, while day of flushing had the same effect on PR at Day 60. Regarding the pregnancy losses, transparency and shape of the embryo, type of ET, breeding season had significant (p < .05) effect on the late embryonic mortalities (LEM) and shape and season of year had significant (p < .01 and p < .05, respectively) effect on LEM/early foetal mortalities (EFM). Regarding male individual factor, there was a tendency for a significant (p = .055) effect of male camels on the PR at Days 18–19 and rate of LEM. In conclusion, transferring a spherical, transparent or a large‐sized embryo (>750 µm) into recipient females ageing between 8 and 11 y could greatly improve the PR from Days 18 to 60 of gestation. Also, embryo recovered from donor females with Mix ET type or embryos sired by certain male camel or at Day 8 post‐mating of the donor could improve the 2‐month PR. In addition, transferring a transparent or spherical‐shaped embryo or embryos recovered from donor females with SPO or Mix ET could reduce the pregnancy losses during the first 2 months of pregnancy.
Examining multiple features of episodic future thinking and episodic memory among suicidal adults
Authors: Cha Christine B. , Robinaugh Donald J. , Schacter Daniel L. , Altheimer Gizem , Marx Brian P. , Keane Terence M. , Kearns Jaclyn C. , Nock Matthew K.
Published: January 2022

Bckground

Theories of suicide suggest that suicidal ideation (SI) results in part from difficulty imagining the future, which itself relies on the ability to remember the past. The present study examines multiple components of episodic future thinking and memory includingevent richness, which is commonly measured within the cognitive literature but has not previously been assessed with suicidal individuals.

Methods

Here, we tested the associations between SI andepisodic future thinkingandepisodic memoryacross two studies (Study 1,n = 25; Study 2,n = 141): the first with a healthy comparison group and the second with a psychiatric comparison group.

Results

Future event richness yielded large but statistically non‐significant deficits in the SI group relative to healthy controls in Study 1 after controling the false discovery rate. The most robust effects for future thinking emerged in the case of perceiveddurationof future events, such that the SI group (vs. psychiatric comparison) imagined future events as longer‐lasting in Study 2. Across both studies, episodic memory was unrelated to SI, and neither episodic future thinking nor memory predicted future SI.

Conclusion

Episodic future thinking may better distinguish individuals with SI history from psychiatric controls when compared with episodic memory, but that this effect is limited to select components of future thinking.
Drug Normalization and Conventional Social Institutions: The Unusual Case of Prescription Drug Misuse
Authors: Pawson Mark , Kelly Brian C.
Published: January 2022

Sociological and criminological research demonstrates that involvement in conventional social institutions and having a “stake in conformity” serves as a protective factor against various forms of substance use. Yet, the normalization of prescription drug misuse raises questions about these processes. Drawing on interviews of 162 young adult prescription drug misusers, we demonstrate that the normalization of prescription drug misuse is driven by facets of the conventional social institutions of medicine, the family, school, and the workplace. These findings not only contrast the large body of research on the protective role these social institutions typically play regarding substance use, but also the subcultural context of leisure that has historically produced processes of drug normalization among young adults. Through processes of pharmaceuticalization as well as family and institutionally based peer associations, prescription drug misuse emerges as a common and contradictory way in which young adults navigate social expectations of conformity within the contexts of conventional social institutions.
A computational approach for shallow water forced Korteweg–De Vries equation on critical flow over a hole with three fractional operators
Authors: Veeresha Pundikala , Yavuz Mehmet , Baishya Chandrali
Published: December 2021

The Korteweg–De Vries (KdV) equation has always provided a venue to study and generalizes diverse physical phenomena. The pivotal aim of the study is to analyze the behaviors of forced KdV equation describing the free surface critical flow over a hole by finding the solution with the help of q-homotopy analysis transform technique (q-HATT). he projected method is elegant amalgamations of q-homotopy analysis scheme and Laplace transform. Three fractional operators are hired in the present study to show their essence in generalizing the models associated with power-law distribution, kernel singular, non-local and non-singular. The fixed-point theorem employed to present the existence and uniqueness for the hired arbitrary-order model and convergence for the solution is derived with Banach space. The projected scheme springs the series solution rapidly towards convergence and it can guarantee the convergence associated with the homotopy parameter. Moreover, for diverse fractional order the physical nature have been captured in plots. The achieved consequences illuminates, the hired solution procedure is reliable and highly methodical in investigating the behaviours of the nonlinear models of both integer and fractional order.
Some qualitative properties of nonlinear fractional integro-differential equations of variable order
Authors: Refice Ahmed , Souid Mohammed Said , Yakar Ali
Published: December 2021

The existence-uniqueness criteria of nonlinear fractional integro-differential equations of variable order with multiterm boundary value conditions are considered in this work. By utilizing the concepts of generalized intervals combined with the piecewise constant functions, we transform our problem into usual Caputo’s fractional differential equations of constant order. We develop the necessary criteria for assuring the solution's existence and uniqueness by applying Schauder and Banach fixed point theorem. We also examine the stability of the derived solution in the Ulam-Hyers-Rassias (UHR) sense and provide an example to demonstrate the credibility of the results.
Geology of Chief Joseph Pass, Wyoming: Crest of Rattlesnake Mountain anticline and escape path of the Eocene Heart Mountain slide
Authors: Malone* David , Craddock* John , Wallenberg* Alexandra , Gaschot* Betrand , Luczaj* John A.
Published: December 2021

Rattlesnake Mountain is a Laramide uplift cored by Archean gneiss that formed by offset along two reverse faults with opposing dips, the result being an asymmetric anticline with a drape fold of Cambrian–Cretaceous sediments. Rattlesnake Mountain was uplifted ca. 57 Ma and was a structural buttress that impeded motion of upper-plate blocks of the catastrophic Heart Mountain slide (49.19 Ma). North of Pat O’Hara Mountain anticline, Rattlesnake Mountain anticline has a central graben that formed ca. 52 Ma (U-Pb age on vein calcite in normal faults) into which O- and C-depleted fluids propagated upward with hydrocarbons. The graben is defined by down-dropped Triassic Chugwater shales atop the anticline that facilitated motion of Heart Mountain slide blocks of Paleozoic limestones dolomite (i.e., the Ordovician Bighorn Dolomite and Mississippian Madison Limestone) onto, and over, Rattlesnake Mountain into the Bighorn Basin. Heart Mountain fault gouge was also injected downward into the bounding Rattlesnake Mountain graben normal faults (U-Pb age ca. 48.8 ± 5 Ma), based on O and C isotopes; there is no anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility fabric present. Calcite veins parallel to graben normal faults precipitated from meteoric waters (recorded by O and C isotopes) heated by the uplifting Rattlesnake Mountain anticline and crystallized at 57 °C (fluid inclusions) in the presence of oil. Calcite twinning strain results from graben injectites and calcite veins are different; we also documented a random layer-parallel shortening strain pattern for the Heart Mountain slide blocks in the ramp region (n = 4; west) and on the land surface (n = 5; atop Rattlesnake Mountain). We observed an absence of any twinning strain overprint (low negative expected values) in the allochthonous upper-plate blocks and in autochthonous carbonates directly below the Heart Mountain slide surface, again indicating rapid motion including horizontal rotation about vertical axes of the upper-plate Heart Mountain slide blocks during the Eocene.
Successful treatment of pituitary gigantism
Authors: Cunha Clara , Saraiva Catarina , Canas Marques Conceição , Duarte João Sequeira
Published: December 2021

Pituitary gigantism is extremely rare, resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH) before fusion of epiphysial growth plates. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy, who presented with increased statural growth and headaches since the age of 10 years. On physical examination, his height was 180.7 cm (+3.3 SD) and Tanner stage V. Investigation revealed increased levels of serum age-adjusted and sex-adjusted insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and failure of GH suppression during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). MRI of the sellar region revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. He underwent transsphenoidal surgery and histopathological evaluation revealed mammosomatotropic adenoma. Three months after surgery, IGF-1 normalised, nadir GH during OGTT was less than 1 ng/mL and no residual tumour was found on the MRI. Genetic testing identified a mutation in theAIPgene. This case emphasises the importance of early diagnosis of gigantism, as treatment delay increases long-term morbidity.
Association between Genetic Variant rs2267716 of CRHR2 Gene with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ramírez-Guerrero Angélica Araceli , González-Villaseñor Christian Octavio , Leal-Ugarte Evelia , Gutiérrez-Angulo Melva , Ramírez-Flores Mario , Delgado-Enciso Iván , Macías-Gómez Nelly Margarita
Published: December 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and one of the main causes of death around the world. Multiple lines of evidence have suggested the role of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family in CRC induction, including the low expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 ( CRHR2), which is an angiogenesis inhibitor and inflammatory modulator. Previous research suggests that CRHR2 expression in colonic intestinal cells can regulate migration, proliferation and apoptosis through the modulation of several pathways. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of the rs10250835, rs2267716 and rs2267717 variants of CRHR2 gene with CRC in the Mexican population in order to consider its predictive value in CRC. This cross-sectional study included a group of 187 unrelated patients with sporadic CRC and a control group of 191 healthy blood donors. DNA extraction from peripheral blood was carried out using the Miller method. Identification of the rs10250835 variant was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and the rs2267716 and rs2267717 variants using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. The minor allele homozygous CC of the rs2267716 variant of CRHR2 showed significant difference between CRC and control group (p=0.025), as well as the GCA haplotype (p=0.007), corresponding to the rs10250835, rs2267716 and rs2267717 variants, respectively. Our results suggest that the rs2267716 variant and GCA haplotype of CRHR2 represent a risk factor for CRC development in Mexican patients.
Multi-Modal Medical Image Fusion Using 3-Stage Multiscale Decomposition and PCNN with Adaptive Arguments
Authors: Reddy Mummadi Gowthami , Reddy Palagiri Veera Narayana , Reddy Patil Ramana
Published: December 2021

In the current era of technological development, medical imaging plays an important role in many applications of medical diagnosis and therapy. In this regard, medical image fusion could be a powerful tool to combine multi-modal images by using image processing techniques. But, conventional approaches failed to provide the effective image quality assessments and robustness of fused image. To overcome these drawbacks, in this work three-stage multiscale decomposition (TSMSD) using pulse-coupled neural networks with adaptive arguments (PCNN-AA) approach is proposed for multi-modal medical image fusion. Initially, nonsubsampled shearlet transform (NSST) is applied onto the source images to decompose them into low frequency and high frequency bands. Then, low frequency bands of both the source images are fused using nonlinear anisotropic filtering with discrete Karhunen–Loeve transform (NLAF-DKLT) methodology. Next, high frequency bands obtained from NSST are fused using PCNN-AA approach. Now, fused low frequency and high frequency bands are reconstructed using NSST reconstruction. Finally, band fusion rule algorithm with pyramid reconstruction is applied to get final fused medical image. Extensive simulation outcome discloses the superiority of proposed TSMSD using PCNN-AA approach as compared to state-of-the-art medical image fusion methods in terms of fusion quality metrics such as entropy (E), mutual information (MI), mean (M), standard deviation (STD), correlation coefficient (CC) and computational complexity.