bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ReadFree tool for the identification of poor readers: a validation study based on a machine learning approach in monolingual and minority-language children
Authors: Carioti Desiré , Stucchi Natale Adolfo , Toneatto Carlo , Masia Marta Franca , Del Monte Milena , Stefanelli Silvia , Travellini Simona , Marcelli Antonella , Tettamanti Marco , Vernice Mirta , Guasti Maria Teresa , Berlingeri Manuela
Published: August 2023

In this study, we validated the “ReadFree tool”, a computerised battery of 12 visual and auditory tasks developed to identify poor readers also in minority-language children (MLC). We tested the task-specific discriminant power on 142 Italian-monolingual participants (8–13 years old) divided into monolingual poor readers (N= 37) and good readers (N= 105) according to standardised Italian reading tests. The performances at the discriminant tasks of the“ReadFree tool” were entered into a classification and regression tree (CART) model to identify monolingual poor and good readers. The set of classification rules extracted from the CART model were applied to the MLC’s performance and the ensuing classification was compared to the one based on standardised Italian reading tests. According to the CART model, auditory go-no/go (regular), RAN and Entrainment100bpmwere the most discriminant tasks. When compared with the clinical classification, the CART model accuracy was 86% for the monolinguals and 76% for the MLC. Executive functions and timing skills turned out to have a relevant role in reading. Results of the CART model on MLC support the idea that ad hoc standardised tasks that go beyond reading are needed.
Pyschological traumatic perinatal experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, epigenetic hypothesis and protective suggestions
Authors: İsbir Gözde Gökçe , Turner Jonathan , Gabbianelli Rosita
Published: August 2023

Whether Covid-19 will continue with different viral mutations it will last is not yet known. For this reason, correct management of the process becomes important in order to ensure that future generations are least affected by this experience. This literature review aims to discuss hypotheses for the epigenetic effect of perinatal experiences affecting mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic and protective intervention recommendations. A comprehensive understanding of epigenetic mechanisms can allow early risk detection and directed prevention and intervention strategies. There is a need for epigenetic studies that monitor the short- and long-term effects in women/infants going through the perinatal period during the Covid-19 pandemic. Epigenetic studies are costly and take a long time. At this time where the pandemic is still ongoing, it is predicted that the negative effects will be reduced by predicting epigenetic effects and taking protective approaches in line with the results obtained from previous studies. These will be possible with the collective work of multidisciplinary team members. Mental health care professionals should receive training on epigenetics in the perinatal period and should be able to integrate it into counseling processes.
Culture-directed antibiotics in peritoneal dialysis solutions: a systematic review focused on stability and compatibility
Authors: Ling Chau Wei , Sud Kamal , Patel Rahul , Peterson Gregory , Wanandy Troy , Yeoh Siang Fei , Van Connie , Castelino Ronald
Published: August 2023

Background

This systematic review summarises the stability of less commonly prescribed antibiotics in different peritoneal dialysis solutions that could be used for culture-directed therapy of peritonitis, which would be especially useful in regions with a high prevalence of multidrug antibiotic-resistant strains.

Methods

A literature search of Medline, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published from inception to 25 January, 2023 was conducted. Only antibiotic stability studies conducted in vitro and not recently reviewed by So et al.were included. The main outcomes were chemical, physical, antimicrobial and microbial stability. This protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration number CRD42023393366).

Results

We screened 1254 abstracts, and 28 articles were included in the study. In addition to those discussed in a recent systematic review (So et al., Clin Kidney J 15(6):1071–1078, 2022), we identified 18 antimicrobial agents. Of these, 9 have intraperitoneal dosing recommendations in the recent International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) peritonitis guidelines, and 7 of the 9 had stability data applicable to clinical practice. They were cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, daptomycin, ofloxacin, and teicoplanin in glucose-based solutions, tobramycin in Extraneal solution only and fosfomycin in Extraneal, Nutrineal, Physioneal 1.36% and 2.27% glucose solutions.

Conclusions

Physicochemical stability has not been demonstrated for all antibiotics with intraperitoneal dosing recommendations in the ISPD peritonitis guidelines. Further studies are required to determine the stability of antibiotics, especially in icodextrin-based and low-glucose degradation products, pH-neutral solutions.

Graphical abstract
Methods and standards of pollen monitoring—significance of pollen measurements at different altitudes
Authors: Bastl Maximilian , Bastl Katharina , Dirr Lukas , Berger Markus , Berger Uwe
Published: August 2023

Background

The measurement of pollen concentrations has been performed according to various protocols in recent decades. In all approaches the following questions were of importance: the positioning of the measuring device (whether at roof or nose level), the reliability as well as the comparability of measurements.

Methods

Current methods for pollen measurements and previous studies on measurement heights are presented and compared.

Results

The most widely used device is the Hirst pollen and spore trap. Its data is widely used for pollen information, pollen prediction models, and clinical studies. The position of the trap at roof level remains the current standard as the pollen concentrations correlate best with “real world” situation and regional symptom data.

Conclusion

The guideline for the detection of pollen and spores for allergy networks (EN 16868:2019-09) in Europe was an important step towards standardization. Modern, automated measurement methods are still in experimental stage in terms of validation and comparability. Harmonization of data from different measurement methods is a future challenge.
In Vitro Assessment of Antiviral, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Ulvan Extracted from the Green Seaweed Ulva lactuca
Authors: Maray Sahar O. , Abdel-Kareem Mohamed S. M. , Mabrouk Mona E. M. , El-Halmouch Yasser , Makhlof Mofida E. M.
Published: August 2023

Marine macroalgae contain a variety of bioactive substances that have many different uses. Ulvan, a sulfated hetero-polysaccharide isolated from Ulva lactuca, has been described and investigated for its antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and cytotoxic action against the cell lines PC-3 and A-549. The yield of polysaccharides was 26.53 ± 0.32. (Algal dry weight) with 2.23% uronic acid. According to HPLC estimates, the polysaccharide isolated from Ulva lactuca contains the neutral sugars glucose, rhamnose and galactose, as well as fructose, and melibiose. The FT-IR spectrum of ulvan revealed bands at 1227.73 cm− 1 and 1333.97 cm− 1, respectively, indicative of sulfate esters and uronic acids. This study came to the conclusion that Ulva lactuca ulvan (ULU) contains beneficial elements that can stop the development of cancer cells. The lowest viability of PC-3 cells, which occur at the highest concentration of ULU (500 µg/ml), was 17.58% with an IC50 of 237.02 ± 6.84 µg/ml, while the lowest viability of lung carcinoma cells was 13.91% with an IC50 of 124.38 ± 4.78 µg/ml. This indicates that the cytotoxicity against the prostate cancer cell line was lower than that against the lung carcinoma cell line. Although ULU has no activity against adenovirus, it had antiviral efficacy against HAV-10. ULU has been shown to have antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29,212, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 13,883, Pseudomonas fluorescent ATCC13525 and Streptococcus agaloctiae ATCC13813. The polysaccharide, meanwhile, has limited antioxidant action.
The Increasing Complexity of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction and Challenges for Real-world Implementation
Authors: Soh Bing Wei Thaddeus , Langille Jaimie , O’Brien Kathryn , Glasgow Jacinta , Murray Siobhan , Abbas Syed , O’Connor Cormac , Arnous Samer , Kiernan Thomas
Published: August 2023

The latest guidelines for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) recommend concurrent treatment with four drug classes to improve patient outcomes. While physicians likely have the skillsets needed to navigate the complexities of multiple drug interactions, HF nurse prescribers lack experience needed to implement the latest guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). As nurse-led HF services continue to expand, implementing GDMT is essential for gold-standard care. We describe and compare the abilities of physician-led and nurse-led HF clinics in implementing GDMT in HFrEF within the outpatient setting. A retrospective multi-centre cohort study was performed on the pharmacotherapy patterns of HFrEF patients attending either a physician-led or nurse-led HF clinic in 2021. Pharmacotherapy patterns of prescribing on the pillars of HFrEF therapy were collected: ACEi/ARB/ARNi, BB, MRA, SGLT2i. 164 and 231 HFrEF patients were reviewed in a physician-led and nurse-led group respectively. Compared to physicians, there were significantly lower rates of MRA (42.0% vs 62.8%, P < 0.001) and SGLT2i (7.8% vs 24.4%, P < 0.001) prescribed by nurses. Most patients seen by physicians were treated with three drug classes (45.7%) versus two drug classes (50.2%) when seen by nurses. Ongoing gaps in GDMT implementation are driven by the suboptimal MRA and SGLT2i use. Patients seen by nurses were treated with less drug classes and less likely to be treated with MRA and SGLT2i compared to physicians. These findings highlight the ongoing difficulties autonomous nurse prescribers face in HF prescribing and the need for further educational supports.
The Mythological Origins of Renaissance Florence
Authors: Chernetsky Irina
Published: August 2023

In this book, Irina Chernetsky examines how humanists, patrons, and artists promoted Florence as the reincarnation of the great cities of pagan and Christian antiquity – Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem. The architectural image of an ideal Florence was discussed in chronicles and histories, poetry and prose, and treatises on art and religious sermons. It was also portrayed in paintings, sculpture, and sketches, as well as encoded in buildings erected during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Over time, the concept of an ideal Florence became inseparable from the real city, in both its social and architectural structures. Chernetsky demonstrates how the Renaissance notion of genealogy was applied to Florence, which was considered to be part of a family of illustrious cities of both the past and present. She also explores the concept of the ideal city in its intellectual, political, and aesthetic contexts, while offering new insights into the experience of urban space.
A Student's Guide to Rotational Motion
Authors: Seitaridou Effrosyni , Farris Alfred C. K.
Published: August 2023

Rotational motion is of fundamental importance in physics and engineering, and an essential topic for undergraduates to master. This accessible yet rigorous Student's Guide focuses on the underlying principles of rotational dynamics, providing the reader with an intuitive understanding of the physical concepts, and a firm grasp of the mathematics. Key concepts covered include torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum, work and energy, and the combination of translational and rotational motion. Each chapter presents one important aspect of the topic, with derivations and analysis of the fundamental equations supported by step-by-step examples and exercises demonstrating important applications. Much of the book is focused on scenarios in which point masses and rigid bodies rotate around fixed axes, while more advanced examples of rotational motion, including gyroscopic motion, are introduced in a final chapter.
The Near Future in Twenty-First-Century Fiction
Authors: Sergeant David
Published: August 2023

A growing awareness of climate change and looming planetary crisis has put unprecedented pressure on the near future, leading to an increasing amount of fiction being set there. But what do these disparate works have in common, other than their temporal setting? And what can the imagination of the near future tell us about where we live now? The Near Future in 21st Century Fiction ranges across novels and films to reveal how our contemporary near future splits between two divergent paths. One seeks to retreat from climate change and the disruption it threatens to affluent lifestyles; the other tries to imagine new forms of community, and radical change, but struggles to locate a genre adequate to the task. It in this struggle, however, that we begin to glimpse the outlines of an emergent near future form: a revolution fit for the Anthropocene.
Benefit–Cost Analysis of Increased Funding for Agricultural Research and Development in the Global South
Authors: Rosegrant Mark W. , Wong Brad , Sulser Timothy B. , Dubosse Nancy , Lybbert Travis J.
Published: August 2023

This paper conducts a benefit–cost analysis of expanding agricultural research and development (R&D) in the Global South. We extend a recent modeling exercise that used IFPRI’s IMPACT model to estimate the investments required to reduce the global prevalence of hunger below 5%. After 35 years, the increased funding is estimated to increase agricultural output by 10%, reduce the prevalence of hunger by 35%, reduce food prices by 16%, and increase per capita incomes by 4% relative to a counterfactual where funding continues to rise on historical trends. Using an 8% discount rate, the net present value of the costs of agricultural R&D are estimated at $61 billion for the next 35 years, while the net present benefits in terms of net economic surplus (the sum of consumer and producer surplus) are estimated at $2.1 trillion. The central estimate of the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) is 33, consistent with previous research documenting high average returns to agricultural research and development. The central BCR reported in this study places the intervention at the 91st percentile of all previous Copenhagen Consensus BCRs in agriculture, and 87th percentile for all BCRs regardless of sector. Agricultural R&D is likely one of the best uses of resources for the remainder of the Sustainable Development Goals and decades beyond.
Predictive puericulture in Argentina: The Plataforma Tecnológica de Intervención Social and the reproduction of Latin eugenics
Authors: Hagerty Alexa , Aranda Florencia , Jemio Diego
Published: August 2023

In April 2018, as the Argentine Congress debated decriminalizing abortion, local media revealed that public-health officials in a northern province had deployed an algorithmic system to predict teenage pregnancy. Public response to the technology quickly became entangled in society-wide debates about reproductive rights. Both proponents and detractors of the algorithmic system framed the technology as novel and cutting-edge. However, this paper argues for an analysis of the system not as a form of innovation or rupture but as a continuation of historical forms of biopolitical governance in Argentina, particularly puericultura, a eugenic theory of child rearing.
Characterization of Spinal Cord Injury Patients for Arm Functional Restoration through Nerve Transfer
Authors: Jack Andrew , Rajshekar Mithun , Witiw Christopher D. , Curran Matthew W.T. , Olson Jaret L. , Morhart Michael J. , Jacques Line , Chan K. Ming
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (tSCI) are common, often leaving patients irreparably debilitated. Therefore, novel strategies such as nerve transfers (NT) are needed for mitigating secondary SCI damage and improving function. Although different tSCI NT options exist, little is known about the epidemiological and injury-related aspects of this patient population. Here, we report such characteristics to better identify and understand the number and types of tSCI individuals who may benefit from NTs.

Materials and Methods:

Two peripheral nerve experts independently evaluated all adult tSCI individuals < 80 years old admitted with cervical tSCI (C1–T1) between 2005 and 2019 with documented tSCI severity using the ASIA Impairment Scale for suitability for NT (nerve donor with MRC strength ≥ 4/5 and recipient ≤ 2/5). Demographic, traumatic injury, and neurological injury variables were collected and analyzed.

Results:

A total of 709 tSCI individuals were identified with 224 (32%) who met the selection criteria for participation based on their tSCI level (C1–T1). Of these, 108 (15% of all tSCIs and 48% of all cervical tSCIs) were deemed to be appropriate NT candidates. Due to recovery, 6 NT candidates initially deem appropriate no longer qualified by their last follow-up. Conversely, 19 individuals not initially considered appropriate then become eligible by their last follow-up.

Conclusion:

We found that a large proportion of individuals with cervical tSCI could potentially benefit from NTs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detail the number of tSCI individuals that may qualify for NT from a large prospective database.
Sustainable product development in aeroengine manufacturing: challenges, opportunities and experiences from GKN Aerospace Engine System
Authors: I. Hallstedt Sophie , Isaksson Ola , Nylander Johanna W. , Andersson Petter , Knuts Sören
Published: August 2023

A radical shift in technology is necessary to enable future air transport solutions. Sustainability targets for aeroengine manufacturing mean more than reducing CO2 and NOX. The future will open up possibilities and bring new challenges when introducing hybrid- and electrical propulsion technologies using new materials, technology solutions and new business models. This article reports on findings from a longitudinal study and many years of collaboration between researchers and industry experts, where a first-tier aeroengine manufacturer transforms their product development capabilities to enable sustainable product development. The article highlights some activities undertaken and identifies critical challenges and opportunities remaining for a manufacturer of next-generation aeroengine solutions. It is argued that the challenge for aeroengine manufacturers to develop new-generation propulsive technologies will require a systemic change in the undertaking of design and development. The opportunities of sustainable technologies are evident yet require: (1) means to tighter integrate business and technology development, (2) the ability to quantify and assess sustainability impacts of different concept solutions, and (3) means to utilise natural resources, alloys and materials for a circular and life-cycle optimised solution.
Medical Colonialism and the Power to Care: Unsettling Participatory Inclusion in the Settler-State Care Paradigm
Authors: Boodman Eva
Published: August 2023

This article looks at the implications of medical colonialism in Canada for the feminist concept of care. Because medical colonialism is an ongoing material relation where “good” settler care cannot be separated from Indigenous dispossession, I defend the view that care and violence can be coextensive and suggest that a decolonial care ethic needs to disrupt the directionality of care as flowing from agential carers toward colonized care-receivers. I argue that contemporary medical colonialism should indeed be understood as a form of care if structural harm is to be addressed in practice, and trouble the notion of inclusion at work in some contemporary theories of care. By finding demands for assimilationist “participatory inclusion” in examples of government-run, Indigenous-serving care services, I caution against the implicit settler-colonial assumptions in notions of “caring democracies” and “caring societies” on the welfare-state model. If care is political and can participate in the normative pressures of civic assimilation, then to “decolonize” it through refraction, disruption, infiltration, disconnection, re-appropriation, and resistance also means to “decolonize” citizenship and civic life in the interests of Indigenous self-determination, rather than presumed inclusion in settler-state processes.
The Church of England and her Presbyterian Curates, 1662–1672
Authors: TUNNICLIFFE S. J.
Published: August 2023

After their ejection from the Church of England, it is said that the English Presbyterians split into two factions. The ‘Dons’, led by Richard Baxter, pursued comprehension and reunion with the national Church, whilst the ‘Ducklings’ petitioned for an indulgence of their separation. In this article, it is argued that this twofold distinction is largely false. Rather, all English Presbyterians sought unity; their divergence in terms of practical policy stemmed from subtly different conceptions of catholicity. Thus, paradoxically, indulgence came to be seen as a pathway towards comprehension. Conventicle preaching, meanwhile, became a curious form of curacy, operating in tandem with the parish ministry.
Contracting Costs, Covenant-Lite Lending, and Reputational Capital
Authors: Badoer Dominique C. , Emin Mustafa , James Christopher M.
Published: August 2023

Using a large sample of leveraged loans, we provide evidence that, despite having fewer creditor control rights, covenant-lite (Cov-Lite) loans have similar recovery rates and significantly lower spreads than loans with maintenance covenants. We find that the propensity to borrow Cov-Lite is related to various proxies for the reputational capital of a borrowing firm’s private equity sponsor. We construct a simple model to illustrate the relationship between reputational capital, covenants, and loan spreads in the leveraged loan market. Our model illustrates how reputational capital can substitute for covenants in mitigating agency costs of debt, leading to lower loan spreads for Cov-Lite loans.
Silent Heritage: Investigating Ruxton's Nigeria Collection at the Horniman Museum and Gardens
Authors: Martin Fleur
Published: August 2023

Museums which display all of their colonial collections are rare, and those which offer clear information on collection provenances and colonial histories in displays are rarer still. Absence and silence surrounding the colonial past in Europe's museums places them at odds with international pressure to account for the custodianship of colonial-era collections. This is examined here through investigating the silent heritage of the Ruxton Nigeria Collection, held at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London. Ruxton collected as a military official during Britain's conquest of Nigeria. His collection is typical of assemblages throughout European ethnographic museums, dominated by “everyday” material heritage, not the “treasures” of elites which monopolise restitution discourse. How can provenance research be conducted upon quieter collections dating from the colonial era with little accompanying documentation? What are the potential impacts of such research upon restitution debates? From the available evidence around the Ruxton collection, it is clear that silences are more fundamental than just a matter of archival gaps, and if silences remain even after provenance research (which many museums are unable to conduct on all of their collections), then we need to question not only why and how collections are displayed, but how museums justify having them at all.
Concerns, perceived risk, and hesitancy on COVID-19 vaccine: a qualitative exploration among university students living in the West Bank
Authors: Veronese Guido , Mahamid Fayez , Bdier Dana
Published: August 2023

The current study aimed to explore Palestinian university students’ perceptions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy. Our sample comprised 50 university students selected using snowball sampling techniques from Palestinian universities in the West Bank, Palestine. Thematic content analysis was conducted to identify the main themes of semi-structured interviews with students. The results of the thematic content analysis yielded four main themes: Students’ perceptions and concerns on COVID-19 vaccinations, perceived risks of vaccination, experiences related to vaccination, and causes of vaccination hesitancy. Participants expressed concerns and doubts about the vaccine’s safety, showing high hesitancy and scepticism; they also reported different causes for COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in the Palestinian context, such as the lack of confidence in vaccines, false beliefs about vaccines, and peculiar political instability and conflict of the Palestinian territories enduring a military occupation undermining the health system’s capacity to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak appropriately. Health authorities and policymakers are urgently called to invest in and potentiate awareness campaigns to change the diffuse people’s stereotypes related to the COVID-19 vaccine in the Palestinian territories.
Exploring Australian night shift workers’ food experiences within and outside of the workplace: a qualitative photovoice study
Authors: Leung Gloria KW , Huggins Kate E , Bonham Maxine P , Kleve Sue
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Night shift workers are at a 20 to 40 % increased risk of metabolic diseases, which may be associated with their disrupted eating patterns. This qualitative study explores factors that influence night shift workers’ eating habits, within and outside of the workplace, to identify target areas for health promotion strategies.

Participants and Setting:

Eligible participants resided in Australia, working at least three overnight shifts per month.

Design:

The photovoice method was used, whereby participants were asked to take photos that represent their typical eating habits. These photos were incorporated as prompts in a semi-structured interview, which explored factors influencing eating habits on night shifts and days-off and perceptions and enablers to healthy eating.

Results:

Ten participants completed the study. Thematic analysis generated four main themes, which were mapped onto the Social Ecological Model (SE Model). Aligned with the SE Model, our results show night shift workers’ eating habits are influenced by intrapersonal, interpersonal and (work) organisational levels. Participants reported that at work, appropriate food preparation facilities are required to enable healthy food choices. Poor shift work rostering leads to prolonged fatigue on days-off, limiting their ability and motivation to engage in healthy eating. Consequently, night shift workers seem to require additional supports from their social networks and enhanced food literacy skills, in order to adopt/ maintain healthy eating behaviours.

Conclusions:

Night shift work creates individual and environmental barriers to healthy eating, which are present during and outside of work. Health promotion strategies for this population should include multiple approaches to address these barriers.
Associations between food and beverage purchases and skin carotenoids among diverse small food retail store customers
Authors: Dixon Jocelyn , Stage Virginia C , Truesdale Kimberly P , Wu Qiang , Kolasa Kathryn , Haynes-Maslow Lindsey , McGuirt Jared T , Jilcott Pitts Stephanie
Published: August 2023

Objective:

To determine if customer purchases at small food stores are associated with healthfulness of the diet as approximated by skin carotenoids.

Design:

This is a cross-sectional survey of customers in small food stores regarding demographics and food purchases. Food and beverage purchases were classified as ‘healthy’ or ‘non-healthy’ and ‘carotenoid’ v. ‘non-carotenoid’ using a systematic classification scheme. Fruit and vegetable intake was objectively assessed using a non-invasive device to measure skin carotenoids. Associations between variables of interest were examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, t tests and multiple linear regression analyses.

Setting:

Twenty-two small food retail stores in rural (n 7 stores) and urban (n 15) areas of North Carolina.

Participants:

Customers of small food stores

Results:

Of study participants (n 1086), 55·1 % were male, 60·0 % were African American/Black and 4·2 % were Hispanic, with a mean age of 43·5 years. Overall, 36 % purchased at least one healthy item, and 7·6 % of participants purchased a carotenoid-containing food/beverage. Healthy foods and beverages purchased included produce, lean meats, 100 % juices, plain popcorn, plain nuts, milk and yogurt. Unhealthy items included non-100 % juices, crackers, chips, candy, cakes and donuts. Purchase of a healthy or carotenoid-containing item was positively associated with skin carotenoid scores (P = 0·002 and 0·006, respectively).

Conclusions:

A relatively small proportion of customers purchased any healthy or carotenoid-containing foods and beverages, and those who did purchase healthy options had higher skin carotenoid scores. Future research should confirm these findings in different populations.
Snack frequency, size, and energy density are associated with diet quality among US adolescents
Authors: Tripicchio Gina L , Bailey Regan L , Davey Adam , Croce Christina M , Fisher Jennifer Orlet
Published: August 2023

Objective:

To evaluate snacking and diet quality among US adolescents.

Design:

Cross-sectional analysis examined snack frequency (snacks/day), size (kcal/snack) and energy density (kcal/g/snack) as predictors of diet quality using the mean of two 24-h dietary recalls. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015, 0–100), a mean adequacy ratio (MAR, 0–100) for under-consumed nutrients (potassium, fibre, Ca, vitamin D) and mean percentage of recommended limits for over-consumed nutrients (added sugar, saturated fat, Na). Linear regression models examined total snacks, food only snacks and beverage only snacks, as predictors of diet quality adjusting for demographic characteristics and estimated energy reporting accuracy.

Setting:

2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Participants:

Adolescents 12–19 years (n 4985).

Results:

Snack frequency was associated with higher HEI-2015 (β = 0·7 (0·3), P < 0·05) but also with higher intake of over-consumed nutrients (β = 3·0 (0·8), P ≤ 0·001). Snack size was associated with lower HEI (β = –0·005 (0·001), P ≤ 0·001) and MAR (β = –0·005 (0·002), P < 0·05) and higher intake of over-consumed nutrients (β = 0·03 (0·005), P ≤ 0·001). Associations differed for food only and beverage only snacks. Food only snack frequency was associated with higher HEI-2015 (β = 1·7 (0·03), P ≤ 0·001), while food only snack size (β = –0·006 (0·0009), P ≤ 0·001) and food only snack energy density (β = –1·1 (0·2), P ≤ 0·001) were associated with lower HEI-2015. Conversely, beverage only snack frequency (β = 4·4 (2·1) P < 0·05) and beverage only snack size (β = 0·03 (0·01), P ≤ 0·001) were associated with higher intake of over-consumed nutrients.

Conclusions:

Smaller, frequent, less energy-dense food only snacks are associated with higher diet quality in adolescents; beverages consumed as snacks are associated with greater intake of over-consumed nutrients.
Application of Satellite‐Based Detections of Arctic Bromine Explosion Events Within GEOS‐Chem
Authors: Wales P. A. , Keller C. A. , Knowland K. E. , Pawson S. , Choi S. , Hendrick F. , Van Roozendael M. , Salawitch R. J. , Sulieman R. , Swanson W. F.
Published: August 2023

During polar spring, periods of elevated tropospheric bromine drive near complete removal of surface ozone. These events impact the tropospheric oxidative capacity and are an area of active research with multiple approaches for representing the underlying processes in global models. We present a method for parameterizing emissions of molecular bromine (Br2) over the Arctic using satellite retrievals of bromine monoxide (BrO) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). OMI retrieves column BrO with daily near global coverage, and we use the GEOS‐Chem chemical mechanism, run online within the Goddard Earth Observing System Earth System Model to identify hotspots of BrO likely associated with polar processes. To account for uncertainties in modeling background BrO, hotspots are only identified where the difference between OMI and modeled columns exceeds a statistical threshold. The resulting hotspot columns are a lower‐limit for the portion of OMI BrO attributable to bromine explosion events. While these hotspots are correlated with BrO measured in the lower troposphere over the Arctic Ocean, a case study of missing detections of near‐surface BrO is identified. Daily flux of Br2 is estimated from hotspot columns of BrO using internal model parameters. When the emissions are applied, BrO hotspots are modeled with a 5% low bias. The sensitivity of the resulting ozone simulations to the treatment of background uncertainties in the BrO column is demonstrated. While periods of isolated, large (>50%) decreases in surface ozone are modeled, this technique does not simulate the low ozone observed at coastal stations and consistently underestimates ozone loss during March.
How Ice Particles Increase Mobility of Rock‐Ice Avalanches: Insights From Chute Flows Simulation of Granular Rock‐Ice Mixtures by Discrete Element Method
Authors: Feng Zetao , Fan Xuanmei , Ni Tao , Deng Yu , Zou Chengbin , Zhang Jing , Xu Qiang
Published: August 2023

Rock‐ice avalanches occurring in cold high‐mountain regions often cause catastrophic damages due to their extremely high mobility. Rock and ice have different physical properties, such as particle size, density, friction, etc., leading to the segregation of rock and ice in the mixture and impacting its mobility. However, how ice affects the mobility of rock‐ice avalanches is still poorly understood. A series of numerical experiments were conducted by using the discrete element method to quantify the effect of rock‐ice particle size ratio and ice content on the particle segregation and mobility of their mixtures. Results show that rock‐ice particle size ratio and volumetric ice content determine the spatial distribution of ice, thereafter affecting the mobility of the rock‐ice mixture by controlling the ratio of particle collision stress and coulomb friction stress. In particular, different from conventional understanding, the ice spatial distribution can have a significantly greater influence on the mixture's mobility compared to the volumetric ice content in some scenarios. This study provides insights into the effect of granular ice on the mobility law in the early phase of rock‐ice avalanches and has important implications for their hazard assessment.
Compact Sub‐Semicircular Axial Gradient Index Lens Synthesized by Metasurfaces: A Promising Solution for Miniaturized Antenna and Subwavelength Focusing Systems
Authors: Wang Yuan‐Chu , Ng Mou Kehn Malcolm
Published: August 2023

We present the design, fabrication, and experimental measurements of an Axial Gradient‐index (AGRIN) flat lens synthesized by 2D periodic metallic patches on a grounded dielectric slab, known as metasurfaces. Metasurfaces can be considered as artificial materials that possess unique characteristics, which mainly revolve around the two‐dimensional distribution of the structure. By manipulating the phase and amplitude of the near‐fields over the surface of the metasurface, specific values of the effective permittivity and permeability can be achieved, thereby regulating the overall field behavior by gaining control of the refractive index that is related to the aforementioned two material parameters. By configuring the refractive index, metasurfaces enable the manipulation of the direction in which electromagnetic waves propagate, as dictated by Snell's law. By varying the geometric dimensions of unit cells in each segment that compose the lens, the gradient refractive index profile required for our AGRIN lens can be achieved. A primary feature of this lens lies with its semicircular structure, in contrast to conventional circular ones. Its perimeter comprises a convex boundary and a straight one. In comparison to traditional circular lenses like the Luneburg lens and Maxwell fisheye lens, our proposed AGRIN lens offers the advantage of being more compact. Despite its smaller area, the AGRIN lens maintains its focusing ability. The AGRIN lens is capable of focusing over 71.75% of the energy from the incident wave onto the focal point. This efficient focusing ability, combined with its reduced size, makes the AGRIN lens highly advantageous for various applications.
Pharmacogenomic testing for antidepressant treatment selection: lessons learned and roadmap forward
Authors: Frye Mark A. , Nemeroff Charles B.
Published: August 2023

Pharmacogenomic technology is a developing field with enthusiastic interest and broad application potential. Three large, controlled studies have been published exploring the benefit of pharmacogenomically guided antidepressant treatment selection. Though all three studies did not show significant benefit of using this technology, these studies laid the foundation for further research that should address the limitations of this previous research and currently available commercial platforms. Future research needs to include large scale pharmacogenomic trials with GWAS analytics across diverse groups with attention to cost-effectiveness models, particularly for cases of treatment resistance and polypharmacy. The application of results from these large scale pharmacogenomic trials must also include exploring optimal EHR user interface design.
Brain criticality predicts individual levels of inter-areal synchronization in human electrophysiological data
Authors: Fuscà Marco , Siebenhühner Felix , Wang Sheng H. , Myrov Vladislav , Arnulfo Gabriele , Nobili Lino , Palva J. Matias , Palva Satu
Published: August 2023

Neuronal oscillations and their synchronization between brain areas are fundamental for healthy brain function. Yet, synchronization levels exhibit large inter-individual variability that is associated with behavioral variability. We test whether individual synchronization levels are predicted by individual brain states along an extended regime of critical-like dynamics – the Griffiths phase (GP). We use computational modelling to assess how synchronization is dependent on brain criticality indexed by long-range temporal correlations (LRTCs). We analyze LRTCs and synchronization of oscillations from resting-state magnetoencephalography and stereo-electroencephalography data. Synchronization and LRTCs are both positively linearly and quadratically correlated among healthy subjects, while in epileptogenic areas they are negatively linearly correlated. These results show that variability in synchronization levels is explained by the individual position along the GP with healthy brain areas operating in its subcritical and epileptogenic areas in its supercritical side. We suggest that the GP is fundamental for brain function allowing individual variability while retaining functional advantages of criticality.
Getting personal with epigenetics: towards individual-specific epigenomic imputation with machine learning
Authors: Hawkins-Hooker Alex , Visonà Giovanni , Narendra Tanmayee , Rojas-Carulla Mateo , Schölkopf Bernhard , Schweikert Gabriele
Published: August 2023

Epigenetic modifications are dynamic mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression. Unlike the DNA sequence, epigenetic patterns vary not only between individuals, but also between different cell types within an individual. Environmental factors, somatic mutations and ageing contribute to epigenetic changes that may constitute early hallmarks or causal factors of disease. Epigenetic modifications are reversible and thus promising therapeutic targets for precision medicine. However, mapping efforts to determine an individual’s cell-type-specific epigenome are constrained by experimental costs and tissue accessibility. To address these challenges, we developed eDICE, an attention-based deep learning model that is trained to impute missing epigenomic tracks by conditioning on observed tracks. Using a recently published set of epigenomes from four individual donors, we show that transfer learning across individuals allows eDICE to successfully predict individual-specific epigenetic variation even in tissues that are unmapped in a given donor. These results highlight the potential of machine learning-based imputation methods to advance personalized epigenomics.
Phenotypically complex living materials containing engineered cyanobacteria
Authors: Datta Debika , Weiss Elliot L. , Wangpraseurt Daniel , Hild Erica , Chen Shaochen , Golden James W. , Golden Susan S. , Pokorski Jonathan K.
Published: August 2023

The field of engineered living materials lies at the intersection of materials science and synthetic biology with the aim of developing materials that can sense and respond to the environment. In this study, we use 3D printing to fabricate a cyanobacterial biocomposite material capable of producing multiple functional outputs in response to an external chemical stimulus and demonstrate the advantages of utilizing additive manufacturing techniques in controlling the shape of the fabricated photosynthetic material. As an initial proof-of-concept, a synthetic riboswitch is used to regulate the expression of a yellow fluorescent protein reporter in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 within a hydrogel matrix. Subsequently, a strain of S. elongatus is engineered to produce an oxidative laccase enzyme; when printed within a hydrogel matrix the responsive biomaterial can decolorize a common textile dye pollutant, indigo carmine, potentially serving as a tool in environmental bioremediation. Finally, cells are engineered for inducible cell death to eliminate their presence once their activity is no longer required, which is an important function for biocontainment and minimizing environmental impact. By integrating genetically engineered stimuli-responsive cyanobacteria in volumetric 3D-printed designs, we demonstrate programmable photosynthetic biocomposite materials capable of producing functional outputs including, but not limited to, bioremediation.
Impact of hierarchical water dipole orderings on the dynamics of aqueous salt solutions
Authors: Shi Rui , Cooper Anthony J. , Tanaka Hajime
Published: August 2023

Ions exhibit highly ion-specific complex behaviours when solvated in water, which remains a mystery despite the fundamental importance of ion solvation in nature, science, and technology. Here we explain these ion-specific properties by the ion-induced hierarchical dipolar, translational, and bond-orientational orderings of ion hydration shell under the competition between ion-water electrostatic interactions and inter-water hydrogen bonding. We first characterise this competition by a new length λHB(q), explaining the ion-specific effects on solution dynamics. Then, by continuously tuning ion size and charge, we find that the bond-orientational order of the ion hydration shell highly develops for specific ion size and charge combinations. This ordering drastically stabilises the hydration shell; its degree changes the water residence time around ions by 11 orders of magnitude for main-group ions. These findings are fundamental to ionic processes in aqueous solutions, providing a physical principle for electrolyte design and application.
Discovering conservation laws using optimal transport and manifold learning
Authors: Lu Peter Y. , Dangovski Rumen , Soljačić Marin
Published: August 2023

Conservation laws are key theoretical and practical tools for understanding, characterizing, and modeling nonlinear dynamical systems. However, for many complex systems, the corresponding conserved quantities are difficult to identify, making it hard to analyze their dynamics and build stable predictive models. Current approaches for discovering conservation laws often depend on detailed dynamical information or rely on black box parametric deep learning methods. We instead reformulate this task as a manifold learning problem and propose a non-parametric approach for discovering conserved quantities. We test this new approach on a variety of physical systems and demonstrate that our method is able to both identify the number of conserved quantities and extract their values. Using tools from optimal transport theory and manifold learning, our proposed method provides a direct geometric approach to identifying conservation laws that is both robust and interpretable without requiring an explicit model of the system nor accurate time information.
Enhancing quantum teleportation efficacy with noiseless linear amplification
Authors: Zhao Jie , Jeng Hao , Conlon Lorcán O. , Tserkis Spyros , Shajilal Biveen , Liu Kui , Ralph Timothy C. , Assad Syed M. , Lam Ping Koy
Published: August 2023

Quantum teleportation constitutes a fundamental tool for various applications in quantum communication and computation. However, state-of-the-art continuous-variable quantum teleportation is restricted to moderate fidelities and short-distance configurations. This is due to unavoidable experimental imperfections resulting in thermal decoherence during the teleportation process. Here we present a heralded quantum teleporter able to overcome these limitations through noiseless linear amplification. As a result, we report a high fidelity of 92% for teleporting coherent states using a modest level of quantum entanglement. Our teleporter in principle allows nearly complete removal of loss induced onto the input states being transmitted through imperfect quantum channels. We further demonstrate the purification of a displaced thermal state, impossible via conventional deterministic amplification or teleportation approaches. The combination of high-fidelity coherent state teleportation alongside the purification of thermalized input states permits the transmission of quantum states over significantly long distances. These results are of both practical and fundamental significance; overcoming long-standing hurdles en route to highly-efficient continuous-variable quantum teleportation, while also shining new light on applying teleportation to purify quantum systems from thermal noise.
Fabrication of p-type 2D single-crystalline transistor arrays with Fermi-level-tuned van der Waals semimetal electrodes
Authors: Song Seunguk , Yoon Aram , Jang Sora , Lynch Jason , Yang Jihoon , Han Juwon , Choe Myeonggi , Jin Young Ho , Chen Cindy Yueli , Cheon Yeryun , Kwak Jinsung , Jeong Changwook , Cheong Hyeonsik , Jariwala Deep , Lee Zonghoon , Kwon Soon-Yong
Published: August 2023

High-performance p-type two-dimensional (2D) transistors are fundamental for 2D nanoelectronics. However, the lack of a reliable method for creating high-quality, large-scale p-type 2D semiconductors and a suitable metallization process represents important challenges that need to be addressed for future developments of the field. Here, we report the fabrication of scalable p-type 2D single-crystalline 2H-MoTe2 transistor arrays with Fermi-level-tuned 1T’-phase semimetal contact electrodes. By transforming polycrystalline 1T’-MoTe2 to 2H polymorph via abnormal grain growth, we fabricated 4-inch 2H-MoTe2 wafers with ultra-large single-crystalline domains and spatially-controlled single-crystalline arrays at a low temperature (~500 °C). Furthermore, we demonstrate on-chip transistors by lithographic patterning and layer-by-layer integration of 1T’ semimetals and 2H semiconductors. Work function modulation of 1T’-MoTe2 electrodes was achieved by depositing 3D metal (Au) pads, resulting in minimal contact resistance (~0.7 kΩ·μm) and near-zero Schottky barrier height (~14 meV) of the junction interface, and leading to high on-state current (~7.8 μA/μm) and on/off current ratio (~105) in the 2H-MoTe2 transistors.