bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growing‐Season Precipitation Is a Key Driver of Plant Leaf Area to Sapwood Area Ratio at the Global Scale
Authors: He Pengcheng , Ye Qing , Yu Kailiang , Wang Han , Xu Huiying , Yin Qiulong , Yue Ming , Liang Xingyun , Wang Weiren , You Zhangtian , Zhong Yi , Liu Hui
Published: September 2024

Leaf area to sapwood area ratio (AL/AS) influences carbon sequestration, community composition, and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial vegetation and is closely related to leaf economics and hydraulics. However, critical predictors of AL/AS are not well understood. We compiled an AL/AS data set with 1612 species‐site combinations (1137 species from 285 sites worldwide) from our field experiments and published literature. We found the global mean AL/AS to be 0.63 m2 cm−2, with its variation largely driven by growing‐season precipitation (Pgs), which accounted for 18% of the variation in AL/AS. Species in tropical rainforests exhibited the highest AL/AS (0.82 m2 cm−2), whereas desert species showed the lowest AL/AS (0.16 m2 cm−2). Soil factors such as soil nitrogen and soil organic carbon exhibited positive effects on AL/AS, whereas soil pH was negatively correlated with AL/AS. Tree density accounted for 7% of the variation in AL/AS. All biotic and abiotic predictors collectively explained up to 45% of the variation in AL/AS. Additionally, AL/AS was positively correlated to the net primary productivity (NPP) of the ecosystem. Our study provides insights into the driving factors of AL/AS at the global scale and highlights the importance of AL/AS in ecosystem productivity. Given that Pgs is the most critical driver of AL/AS, alterations in global precipitation belts, particularly seasonal precipitation, may induce changes in plant leaf area on the branches.
The effect of ceramides on skin absorption by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Kim Song Hee , Yun Jeonghoon , Kim Woncheol , Seon Eunsu , Lee Chanhwi , Jeon Jaejoon , Yun Mid Eum , Park Keun Hyung
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Ceramides are essential epidermal constituents that play a critical role in skin moisturization treatment as a raw material in cosmetics formulation. Recently, ceramides have been known to be frequently applied in various cosmetic formulations. Despite ceramide's beneficial characteristics, academic research regarding ceramides and their skin absorption remains insufficient. Therefore, our study conducted clinical research employing Raman spectroscopy to investigate the effects of ceramides on skin absorption to enhance the understanding of ceramides’ dermatological functionality and their topical application in cosmetics science.

Materials and Methods

Twenty healthy individuals with dry skin have participated in this clinical trial. In this double‐arm designed trial, the test group received an investigational product with ceramides (5000 ppm) and a control group received an investigational product without the ceramides while all other components remained identical. The subjects visited the clinical research center and acclimatized for 30 min in constant humidity and temperature for equilibrium, subsequently conducting a measurement. Before the trial, the research subject's target site (lower arm area) was kept clean, devoid of any cosmetic administering 24 h before the trial when investigational product was topically applied.

Results

Our findings with Raman spectroscopy statistically demonstrate that skin absorption amount, speed and depth for both groups improved overall (p < 0.05) after administration of the investigational product. Notably, the test group received an investigational product with ceramides (5000 ppm) indicating superior effectiveness across all parameters compared to a control group from comparison analysis of each parameter (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study concludes that ceramide‐containing cosmetics provide a beneficial effect on skin absorption via visual and statistical results of Raman spectroscopy analysis.
Using Wavelet Analysis of Blood Flow Oscillations to Investigate Differences in Skin Blood Flow Regulations Between the Upper and Lower Limbs
Authors: Guo Jiaqi , Lin Songmei , Hung Isabella Yu‐Ju , Lin Cheng‐Feng , Mo Pu‐Chun , Sun Pu , Jan Yih‐Kuen
Published: September 2024

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in skin blood flow regulations between the upper and lower limbs in healthy adults using wavelet analysis of skin blood oscillations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the dominant skin blood flow control of the upper and lower limbs in healthy adults.

Methods

Skin blood flow of the forearm and leg was simultaneously measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in 17 healthy adults. Skin blood flow oscillations were analyzed using wavelet analysis to assess the dominant control among the metabolic endothelial (0.0095–0.02 Hz), neurogenic (0.02–0.05 Hz), myogenic (0.05–0.15 Hz), respiratory (0.15–0.4 Hz), and cardiac (0.4–2 Hz) origins.

Results

Skin blood flow in the leg (11.13 ± 4.90 perfusion unit) was significantly higher than in the forearm (6.90 ± 2.50 perfusion unit, p < 0.001). The metabolic endothelial control is more dominant in the forearm (1.19 ±0.51 au) compared to the leg (0.73 ± 0.41 au, p < 0.01). The myogenic control is more dominant in the leg (1.18 ± 0.28 au) compared to the forearm (0.96±0.18 au, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Through wavelet analysis of skin blood flow oscillations, the results indicate that metabolic endothelial control is more dominant in the forearm (upper limbs) and myogenic control is more dominant in the leg (lower limbs).
The Basis, Value and Path of Integrating Embodied Cognition into High School Career Education
Authors: Li He
Published: September 2024

Embodied cognition has received a lot of attention in recent cognitive research, and how embodied cognition can be integrated into high school career education is the question of this study. The purpose of the study is to discover the relationship between modal simulation, conceptual metaphor in embodied cognition and high school career education. To integrate embodied cognition into high school career education, it is important to pay attention to the contextual nature of the career education field, emphasise the systematic nature of the career education curriculum, and seek to create a new pattern of career parenting. Integrating embodied cognition into high school career education is a way to improve the quality of high school students’ cultivation, meet the actual needs of high school students’ development, and is of great significance in effectively meeting students' needs and in the cultivation of cognitive generation, emotional experience and behavioural orientation.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Contemporary Education, Vol. 7, No. 2
Authors: Oscar William
Published: September 2024

International Journal of Contemporary Education (IJCE) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJCE publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 2 Božić-Lenard Dragana, University of Osijek Croatia, CroatiaClaire Goode, Otago Polytechnic at Te Pūkenga, New ZealandDina Radeljas, Mohawk Valley Community College, USAEdward Bolden, Case Western Reserve University, USAGiuseppe Maugeri, University of Urbino, ItalyInaad M Sayer, University of Human Development, IraqIvan Lenard, Elementary School Ladimirevci, CroatiaMatthew Schatt, University of Florida, USASaid K. Juma, State University of Zanzibar, TanzaniaVassiliki Pliogou, University of Western Macedonia, Greece William OscarEditorial AssistantInternational Journal of Contemporary Education------------------------------------------------------------Redfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 509Fax: 1-503-828-0537E-mail 1: ijce@redfame.comE-mail 2: ijce@redfame.orgURL: http://ijce.redfame.com
Endothelial force sensing signals to parenchymal cells to regulate bile and plasma lipids
Authors: Lichtenstein Laeticia , Cheng Chew W. , Bajarwan Muath , Evans Elizabeth L. , Gaunt Hannah J. , Bartoli Fiona , Chuntharpursat-Bon Eulashini , Patel Shaili , Konstantinou Charalampos , Futers T. Simon , Reay Melanie , Parsonage Gregory , Moore J. Bernadette , Bertrand-Michel Justine , Sukumar Piruthivi , Roberts Lee D. , Beech David J.
Published: September 2024

How cardiovascular activity interacts with lipid homeostasis is incompletely understood. We postulated a role for blood flow acting at endothelium in lipid regulatory organs. Transcriptome analysis was performed on livers from mice engineered for deletion of the flow-sensing PIEZO1 channel in endothelium. This revealed unique up-regulation of
Cyp7a1
, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for bile synthesis from cholesterol in hepatocytes. Consistent with this effect were increased gallbladder and plasma bile acids and lowered hepatic and plasma cholesterol. Elevated portal fluid flow acting via endothelial PIEZO1 and genetically enhanced PIEZO1 conversely suppressed
Cyp7a1
. Activation of hepatic endothelial PIEZO1 channels promoted phosphorylation of nitric oxide synthase 3, and portal flow-mediated suppression of
Cyp7a1
depended on nitric oxide synthesis, suggesting endothelium-to-hepatocyte coupling via nitric oxide.
PIEZO1
variants in people were associated with hepatobiliary disease and dyslipidemia. The data suggest an endothelial force sensing mechanism that controls lipid regulation in parenchymal cells to modulate whole-body lipid homeostasis.
A gene regulating ergot alkaloid biosynthesis in
Metarhizium brunneum
Authors: Fabian Samantha J. , Steen Chey R. , Damron F. Heath , DeRiggi Celeste A. , Panaccione Daniel G.
Published: September 2024

Ergot alkaloid synthesis (
eas
) gene clusters found in several fungi encode biosynthesis of agriculturally and pharmaceutically important ergot alkaloids. Although the biosynthetic genes of the ergot alkaloid pathway have been well characterized, regulation of those genes is unknown. We characterized a gene with sequence similarity to a putative transcription factor and that was found adjacent to the
eas
cluster of
Metarhizium brunneum
, a plant symbiont and insect pathogen. Function of the novel gene,
easR,
was explored by CRISPR-Cas9-derived gene knockouts. To maximize potential for ergot alkaloid accumulation, strains of
M. brunneum
were injected into larvae of the insect
Galleria mellonella
. Larvae infected with the wild type contained abundant ergot alkaloids, but those infected with
easR
knockouts lacked detectable ergot alkaloids. The
easR
knockout strains had significantly reduced or no detectable mRNA from
eas
cluster genes in RNAseq and qualitative RT-PCR analyses, whereas the wild-type strain contained abundant mRNA from all
eas
genes. These data demonstrate that the product of
easR
is required for ergot alkaloid accumulation and provide evidence that it has a role in the expression of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis genes. Larvae infected with an
easR
knockout survived significantly longer than those infected with the wild type (
P
< 0.0001), indicating a role for EasR, and indirectly confirming a role for ergot alkaloids, in the virulence of
M. brunneum
to insects. Homologs of
easR
were found associated with
eas
clusters of at least 15 other ergot alkaloid-producing fungi, indicating that EasR homologs may contribute to regulation of ergot alkaloid synthesis in additional fungi.

IMPORTANCE

Ergot alkaloids produced by several species of fungi are important as contaminants of food and feed in agriculture and also as the foundation of numerous pharmaceuticals prescribed for dementia, migraines, hyperprolactinemia, and several other disorders. Information on control of the ergot alkaloid pathway may contribute to strategies to limit their production in agricultural settings or increase their yield for pharmaceutical production. Our results demonstrate that a previously uncharacterized gene clustered with the ergot alkaloid synthesis genes is required for the sufficient transcription of the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis genes. This observation suggests the gene encodes a factor regulating transcription of those biosynthetic genes.
Amino acids could sustain fungal life in the energy-limited anaerobic sediments below the seafloor
Authors: Zain Ul Arifeen Muhammad , Ahmad Shoaib , Wu Xinwei , Hou Shengwei , Liu Changhong
Published: September 2024

Deep-sea sediments harbor abundant microbial communities extending vertically up to ~2.5 km below the seafloor. Despite their prevalence, the reasons for their large community sizes and low energy fluxes remain unclear. Particularly, the reliance of fungi, the predominant eukaryotic group, on amino acids in these energy-limited, anaerobic conditions is poorly understood. We investigated the role of amino acids in the growth and development of the fungus
Schizophyllum commune
20R-7-F01, isolated from anaerobic sub-seafloor sediments. The fungus efficiently used all amino acids as carbon sources, and some as nitrogen sources, with specific amino acids influencing sexual reproduction and fruit-body formation. Notably, amino acids with hydrocarbon chains or methyl groups appeared crucial for fruit-body production. The upregulation of genes, metabolites, and pathways related to amino acid metabolism in the fungus under anaerobic conditions underscores the significance of amino acids as energy and nutrient sources in such environments. Amino acids not only served as carbon/nitrogen sources but also contributed to fungal fruit-body formation under low oxygen conditions, vital for long-term fungal survival in the energy-limited deep biosphere. This study sheds light on the crucial role of amino acids in fungal growth and reproduction in energy-limited anaerobic conditions.

IMPORTANCE

In the depths beneath the ocean floor, where darkness, anaerobic conditions, and energy scarcity prevail, life persists against all odds. This study illuminates the pivotal role of amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of life, as a vital energy for deep subseafloor fungi. Our research uncovers how these fungi not only rely on amino acids for survival but also utilize them to reproduce, forming fruit bodies in environments deprived of oxygen and energy. This revelation not only elucidates the mechanisms enabling fungal survival in extreme conditions but also hints at the essentiality of amino acids as nutrients for other deep-sea microbes. By unraveling these mysteries of the hidden biosphere, our study opens new frontiers in understanding the resilience and adaptation of life in the most inhospitable environments on our planet.
Determinants of raffinose family oligosaccharide use in
Bacteroides
species
Authors: Basu Anubhav , Adams Amanda N. D. , Degnan Patrick H. , Vanderpool Carin K.
Published: September 2024

Bacteroides
species are successful colonizers of the human colon and can utilize a wide variety of complex polysaccharides and oligosaccharides that are indigestible by the host. To do this, they use enzymes encoded in polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). While recent work has uncovered the PULs required for the use of some polysaccharides, how
Bacteroides
utilize smaller oligosaccharides is less well studied. Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) are abundant in plants, especially legumes, and consist of variable units of galactose linked by α-1,6 bonds to a sucrose (glucose α-1-β-2 fructose) moiety. Previous work showed that an α-galactosidase, BT1871, is required for RFO utilization in
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
. Here, we identify two different types of mutations that increase
BT1871
mRNA levels and improve
B. thetaiotaomicron
growth on RFOs. First, a novel spontaneous duplication of
BT1872
and
BT1871
places these genes under the control of a ribosomal promoter, driving high
BT1871
transcription. Second, nonsense mutations in a gene encoding the PUL24 anti-sigma factor likewise increase
BT1871
transcription. We then show that hydrolases from PUL22 work together with BT1871 to break down the sucrose moiety of RFOs and determine that the master regulator of carbohydrate utilization (BT4338) plays a role in RFO utilization in
B. thetaiotaomicron
. Examining the genomes of other
Bacteroides
species, we found homologs of BT1871 in a subset and showed that representative strains of species with a BT1871 homolog grew better on melibiose than species that lack a BT1871 homolog. Altogether, our findings shed light on how an important gut commensal utilizes an abundant dietary oligosaccharide.

IMPORTANCE

The gut microbiome is important in health and disease. The diverse and densely populated environment of the gut makes competition for resources fierce. Hence, it is important to study the strategies employed by microbes for resource usage. Raffinose family oligosaccharides are abundant in plants and are a major source of nutrition for the microbiota in the colon since they remain undigested by the host. Here, we study how the model commensal organism,
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
utilizes raffinose family oligosaccharides. This work highlights how an important member of the microbiota uses an abundant dietary resource.
Extensive genomic study characterizing three
Paracoccaceae
populations and revealing
Pseudogemmobacter lacusdianii
sp. nov. and
Paracoccus broussonetiae
sp. nov.
Authors: Deng Yang , Li Cong-Jian , Zhang Jing , Liu Wei-Hong , Yu Li-Yan , Zhang Yu-Qin
Published: September 2024

Bacteria within the family
Paracoccaceae
show promising potential for applications in various fields, garnering significant research attention. Three Gram stain-negative bacteria, strains CPCC 101601
T
, CPCC 101403
T
, and CPCC 100767, were isolated from diverse environments: freshwater, rhizosphere soil of
Broussonetia papyrifera
, and the phycosphere, respectively. Analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences, compared with those in the GenBank database, indicated that they belong to the family
Paracoccaceae
, with nucleotide similarities of 92.5%–99.9% to all of the
Paracoccaceae
members with valid taxonomic names. Phylogenetic studies based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences identified CPCC 101601
T
as a member of the genus
Pseudogemmobacter
, CPCC 101403
T
belonging to the genus
Paracoccus
, and CPCC 100767 as part of the genus
Gemmobacter
. Notably, genomic analysis using average nucleotide identity (ANI; <95%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH; <70%) with their closely related strains suggested that CPCC 101601
T
and CPCC 101403
T
represent new species within their respective genera. Conversely, CPCC 100767 exhibited high ANI (98.5%) and dDDH (87.4%) values with
Gemmobacter fulvus
con5
T
, indicating it belongs to this already recognized species. The in-depth genomic analysis revealed that strains CPCC 101601
T
, CPCC 101403
T
, and CPCC 100767 harbor key genes related to the pathways for denitrifying, MA utilization, and polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis. Moreover, genotyping and phenotyping analysis confirmed that strain CPCC 100767 has the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and produce 5-aminolevulinic acid, whereas CPCC 101601
T
can only perform the former bioprocess.

IMPORTANCE

Based on polyphasic taxonomic study, two new species,
Pseudogemmobacter lacusdianii
and
Paracoccus broussonetiae,
affiliated with the family
Paracoccaceae
were identified. This expands our understanding of the family
Paracoccaceae
and provides new microbial materials for further studies. Modern genomic techniques such as average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization were utilized to determine species affiliations. These methods offer more precise results than traditional classification mainly based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Beyond classification of these strains, the research delved into their genomes and discovered key genes related to denitrification, MA utilization, and polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis. The identification of these genes provides a molecular basis for understanding the environmental roles of these strains. Particularly, strain CPCC 100767 demonstrated the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and produce 5-aminolevulinic acid. These bioprocess capabilities are of significant practical value, such as in agricultural production for use as biofertilizers or biostimulants.
Research exposure in UK paediatric training: how do we address the gaps—experience from the London REACH network
Authors: Loucaides Eva , Carr Dominic , Ghosh Neelakshi , Habermann Stephanie , Hartzenberg Rose , Lawson George , Lin Naomi , Lundy Conan , Robertson Hamish , Sturrock Sarah , Thompson Rachel
Published: September 2024

Trainee-led Research Networks (TRNs) can mitigate against the lack of in-training academic opportunities by offering research experience, support and shared learning for paediatricians. The London Research, Evaluation and Audit for Child Health (REACH) Network, founded in 2021, has grown to involve a diverse group of 190 volunteer members at 28 London hospitals. Planning and delivery of a range of multisite projects bring not only many challenges but also a wealth of learning opportunities relating to research and quality improvement as well as leadership, management, education and fostering an accessible and equitable research culture. TRNs are an effective and valuable tool in improving the experience of trainees.
Barriers and enablers of adherence to high-intensity interval training among patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mahdaviani Behnaz , Selk-Ghaffari Maryam , Sarzaeim Mojdeh , Thornton Jane S
Published: September 2024

Objective

Physical activity confers physical and psychosocial benefits for cancer patients and decreases morbidity and mortality, but adherence varies. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is time-efficient and may improve adherence. Our aim was to determine barriers and enablers of adherence to HIIT in patients diagnosed with cancer.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data source

PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science.

Eligibility criteria

Intervention studies including patients diagnosed with any type of cancer, who engaged in HIIT with or without co-intervention in any stage of treatment and have reported outcomes for adherence.

Results

Eight hundred articles were screened and 22 were included (n=807); 19 were included in the meta-analysis (n=755). Weighted adherence to HIIT was 88% (95% CI, 81% to 94%). None of the studies reported serious adverse events. Although being a woman and having breast cancer were associated with lower adherence (p<0.05), age was not (p=0.15). Adherence was significantly lower during the treatment phase in comparison with pre- and post-treatment phases, 83% versus 94% and 96%, respectively (p<0.001). Session time of more than 60 min, when unsupervised and combined with other interventions, was associated with decreased adherence (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Adherence to HIIT programmes among cancer patients varies and is improved when the intervention is supervised, of shorter duration, consists of solely HIIT and not in combination with other exercise and occurs during pre- and post-treatment phases. Strategies to improve adherence to HIIT in specific subpopulations may be needed to ensure all patients with cancer are provided optimal opportunities to reap the benefits associated with physical activity.

PROSPERO registration

CRD42023430180.
Contemporary national and international guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for people living with chronic conditions, disability and advanced age: a scoping review
Authors: Ranasinghe Mark P , Andersen Harrison , Dempsey Ruby K , Wexler Noah , Davis Rochelle , Francois Monique , Gilbert Stephen , Okely Anthony David , Sherrington Catherine , Dempsey Paddy C
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Physical activity guidelines inform policy and practice in promoting healthier lifestyles. The WHO advocates for distinct recommendations for each country to address variation in needs, resources and context. Specific regional recommendations for three underactive populations facing unique barriers to movement are lacking—people with chronic conditions, disability and advanced age. We review which countries/regions provide specific physical activity guidelines for these populations to identify deficiencies in meeting WHO recommendations and inform future directions for guideline development.

Design

Scoping review.

Data sources

OVID Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest, CINAHL, Google searches, targeted websites.

Eligibility criteria

Data sources were searched from database inception to September 2023 to identify community-facing physical activity guidelines at the national/international level for these populations. We recorded, summarised and analysed physical activity guideline recommendations extracted from published guideline documents, organised by population and country/region.

Results

66 articles were identified, addressing 28 distinct countries/regions, including four international guidelines, published from 2009 to 2023. The WHO guidelines were adopted by 19 countries and the European Union. Across all regions, a lack of specific advice was identified for individuals with chronic conditions (46%), disability (46%) and advanced age (11%). Advice for chronic conditions and disability commonly replicated general adult population advice.

Conclusion

Many countries/regions do not produce physical activity guidelines specific to populations with chronic conditions and disability. As such, a large proportion of countries/regions failed to meet WHO recommendations, highlighting a lack of customised advice to address unique barriers faced by vulnerable populations.
Applying machine learning approaches for predicting obesity risk using US health administrative claims database
Authors: Choong Casey , Brnabic Alan , Chinthammit Chanadda , Ravuri Meena , Terrell Kendra , Kan Hong
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Body mass index (BMI) is inadequately recorded in US administrative claims databases. We aimed to validate the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of BMI-related diagnosis codes using an electronic medical records (EMR) claims-linked database. Additionally, we applied machine learning (ML) to identify features in US claims databases to predict obesity status.

Research design and methods

This observational, retrospective analysis included 692 119 people ≥18 years of age, with ≥1 BMI reading in MarketScan Explorys Claims-EMR data (January 2013–December 2019). Claims-based obesity status was compared with EMR-based BMI (gold standard) to assess BMI-related diagnosis code sensitivity and PPV. Logistic regression (LR), penalized LR with L1 penalty (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and random forest, with features drawn from insurance claims, were trained to predict obesity status (BMI≥30 kg/m2) from EMR as the gold standard. Model performance was compared using several metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The best-performing model was applied to assess feature importance. Obesity risk scores were computed from the best model generated from the claims database and compared against the BMI recorded in the EMR.

Results

The PPV of diagnosis codes from claims alone remained high over the study period (85.4–89.2%); sensitivity was low (16.8–44.8%). XGBoost performed the best at predicting obesity with the highest area under the curve (AUC; 79.4%) and the lowest Brier score. The number of obesity diagnoses and obesity diagnoses from inpatient settings were the most important predictors of obesity. XGBoost showed an AUC of 74.1% when trained without an obesity diagnosis.

Conclusions

Obesity prevalence is under-reported in claims databases. ML models, with or without explicit obesity, show promise in improving obesity prediction accuracy compared with obesity codes alone. Improved obesity status prediction may assist practitioners and payors to estimate the burden of obesity and investigate the potential unmet needs of current treatments.
Do healthcare professionals work around safety standards, and should we be worried? A scoping review
Authors: Clark Debbie , Lawton Rebecca , Baxter Ruth , Sheard Laura , O'Hara Jane. K.
Published: September 2024

Background

Healthcare staff adapt to challenges faced when delivering healthcare by using workarounds. Sometimes, safety standards, the very things used to routinely mitigate risk in healthcare, are the obstacles that staff work around. While workarounds have negative connotations, there is an argument that, in some circumstances, they contribute to the delivery of safe care.

Objectives

In this scoping review, we explore the circumstances and perceived implications of safety standard workarounds (SSWAs) conducted in the delivery of frontline care.

Method

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science for articles reporting on the circumstances and perceived implications of SSWAs in healthcare. Data charting was undertaken by two researchers. A narrative synthesis was developed to produce a summary of findings.

Results

We included 27 papers in the review, which reported on workarounds of 21 safety standards. Over half of the papers (59%) described working around standards related to medicine safety. As medication standards featured frequently in papers, SSWAs were reported to be performed by registered nurses in 67% of papers, doctors in 41% of papers and pharmacists in 19% of papers. Organisational causes were the most prominent reason for workarounds.

Papers reported on the perceived impact of SSWAs for care quality. At times SSWAs were being used to support the delivery of person-centred, timely, efficient and effective care. Implications of SSWAs for safety were diverse. Some papers reported SSWAs had both positive and negative implications for safety simultaneously. SSWAs were reported to be beneficial for patients more often than they were detrimental.

Conclusion

SSWAs are used frequently during the delivery of everyday care, particularly during medication-related processes. These workarounds are often used to balance different risks and, in some circumstances, to achieve safe care.
Early adulthood socioeconomic trajectories contribute to inequalities in adult diet quality, independent of childhood and adulthood socioeconomic position
Authors: Tao Yinhua , Maddock Jane , Howe Laura , Winpenny Eleanor M
Published: September 2024

Background

Diet is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and shows well-established socioeconomic patterning among adults. However, less clear is how socioeconomic inequalities in diet develop across the life course. This study assessed the associations of early adulthood socioeconomic trajectories (SETs) with adult diet quality, adjusting for childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and testing for mediation by adulthood SEP.

Methods

Participants from the 1970 British Cohort Study with socioeconomic data in early adulthood were included (n=12 434). Diet quality at age 46 years, evaluated using the Mediterranean diet pyramid, was regressed on six previously identified classes of early adulthood SETs between ages 16 and 24 years including a continued education class, four occupation-defined classes and an economically inactive class. Causal mediation analyses tested the mediation of the association via household income and neighbourhood deprivation at age 46 years separately. Models were adjusted for sex, childhood SEP, adolescent diet quality and adolescent health.

Results

The continued education class showed the best diet quality at age 46 years while little difference in diet quality was found among the remaining SET classes. The association between the continued education class and adult diet quality was independent of parental SEP in childhood and was largely not mediated by household income or neighbourhood deprivation (0.7% and 3.7% of the total effect mediated, respectively) in mid-adulthood.

Conclusions

Early adulthood SETs independently contribute to adult diet quality with continuing education associated with better adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Early adulthood therefore represents a sensitive period for intervention to alleviate dietary inequalities in later life.
Inversion of short-term precursor of acoustic emission in uniaxial compression based on SOM neural network
Authors: Sun Jie , Liu Dongqiao , Zhang Lei , Cao Binghao , He Manchao , Yang Yuanyuan
Published: September 2024

A good understanding of the precursor characteristics of rock failure is essential for geo-mechanical rock engineering. This paper proposes an inversion method for acoustic emission (AE) precursor signals based on a self-organizing map neural network. The feature of this method lies in a construction of cyclic segmentation iteration process. By segmenting and approximating the set of AE parameters, the AE precursor signals are extracted at 97% of the peak stress moment. The inversion results of the rock failure precursors in different lithology tests verified the rationality of this method. Compared with traditional AE precursor phenomena (including b-value decrease, fractal dimension decrease, and entropy sudden increase), the occurrence time of the precursor signals inverted in this study is closer to the time of rock failure. This indicates that these precursor signals are the approaching points from rock deformation to rock failure, proving the potential application value of these signals in short-term precursors and short-term warnings of rock failure. Considering the damage evolution characteristics of rock failure, the reasons for the generation of precursor signals were preliminarily explored, and the generation of precursor signals was attributed to the sudden increase in damage during the loading process. The obtained results will help develop a deeper understanding of the precursor phenomena of rock failure.
Primordial black holes and scalar-induced gravitational waves in radiative hybrid inflation
Authors: Afzal Adeela , Ghoshal Anish
Published: September 2024

We study the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs) can be formed from large curvature perturbations generated during the waterfall phase transition due to the effects of one-loop radiative corrections of Yukawa couplings between the inflaton and a dark fermion in a non-supersymmetric hybrid inflationary model. We obtain a spectral index $$n_s$$

n
s

, and a tensor-to-scalar ratio r, consistent with the current Planck data. Our findings show that the abundance of PBHs is correlated to the dark fermion mass $$m_N$$

m
N

and peak in the GW spectrum. We identify parameter space where PBHs can be the entire dark matter (DM) candidate of the universe or a fraction of it. Our predictions are consistent with any existing constraints of PBH from microlensing, BBN, CMB, etc. Moreover, the scenario is also testable via induced gravitational waves (GWs) from first-order scalar perturbations detectable in future observatories such as LISA and ET. For instance, with inflaton mass $$m \sim 2\times 10^{12}$$

m
∼
2
×

10
12

GeV, $$m_N \sim 5.4\times 10^{15}$$

m
N

∼
5.4
×

10
15

GeV, we obtain PBHs of around $$10^{-13}\, M_\odot $$

10

-
13

M
⊙

mass that can explain the entire abundance of DM and predict GWs with amplitude $$\Omega _\textrm{GW}h^2$$

Ω
GW

h
2

$$\sim 10^{-9}$$

∼

10

-
9

with peak frequency f$$\sim $$
∼
0.1 Hz in LISA. By explicitly estimating fine-tuning we show that the model has very mild tuning. We discuss successful reheating at the end of the inflationary phase via the conversion of the waterfall field into standard model (SM) particles. We also briefly speculate a scenario where the dark fermion can be a possible heavy right-handed neutrino (RHN) which is responsible for generating the SM neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism. The RHN can be produced due to waterfall field decay and its subsequent decay may also explain the observed baryon asymmetry in the universe via leptogenesis. We find the reheat temperature $$T_R\lesssim 5\times 10^9$$

T
R

≲
5
×

10
9

 GeV that explains the matter-anti-matter asymmetry of the universe.
Characterization of neutron-irradiated SiPMs down to liquid nitrogen temperature
Authors: Consuegra Rodríguez Dania , Dolenec Rok , Križan Peter , Korpar Samo , Seljak Andrej , Žontar Dejan , Pestotnik Rok
Published: September 2024

Photodetectors used in future high-energy physics experiments will need to keep sufficient performance during a few years of data-taking despite radiation load, which, for example, in the planned upgrade of the Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors in Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment is estimated at about 10$$^{13}$$

13

 1-MeV neutron equivalent per cm$$^{2}$$

2

(neq/cm$$^{2}$$

2

). Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are considered as candidates for photodetectors for this application. However, their sensitivity to neutron irradiation may seriously compromise their operation, with the increase in dark count rates being the primary limitation after the irradiation. In this work, 1 $$\times $$
×
 1 mm$$^{2}$$

2

15 $$\mu $$
μ
m pitch NUV-HD-RH silicon photomultipliers developed by the Fondazione Bruno Kessler were characterized before and after the irradiation. In total, 5 SiPMs were irradiated at the Jožef Stefan Institute TRIGA nuclear reactor with different fluences from 10$$^{9}$$

9

 neq/cm$$^{2}$$

2

up to 10$$^{13}$$

13

 neq/cm$$^{2}$$

2

. The SiPMs were also annealed at high temperatures and re-characterized after the annealing. For the SiPM characterization in all the cases, current–voltage (I-V curve) measurements, dark count rate measurements, and waveform analysis, including single photon time resolution, were carried out at different controlled temperature steps from room temperature down to the liquid nitrogen temperature. While cooling to − 20$$^{\circ }$$

∘

C was enough for the SiPM irradiated at 10$$^{9}$$

9

 neq/cm$$^{2}$$

2

to recover the ability to resolve single photons, by 10$$^{13}$$

13

 neq/cm$$^{2}$$

2

, cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature was necessary. With sufficient cooling, the measured single photon time resolution was around 90 ps FWHM for all irradiation levels.
Charged Higgs decay to $$W^{\pm }H$$ at a high energy lepton collider
Authors: Hashemi Majid , Roushandel Laleh
Published: September 2024

In this work, we present a search strategy for heavy charged Higgs boson at compact linear collider (CLIC) as a future $$e^+e^-$$

e
+

e
-

collider. The signal is charged Higgs boson pair production in two Higgs doublet model (2HDM) followed by $$H^{\pm }\rightarrow W^{\pm }H$$

H
±

→

W
±

H

and $$H\rightarrow b\bar{b}$$

H
→
b

b

¯

. Here, H denotes the heavy CP-even neutral Higgs boson of the model. The collider center of mass energy is chosen to be $$\sqrt{s}=1400$$

s

=
1400

GeV as the second stage of CLIC operation. In this case, $$m_{H^+}<\sqrt{s}/2$$

m

H
+

<

s

/
2

can be explored due to the pair production. It is shown that the signal of charged Higgs in the mass range $$250~ \text {GeV}<m_{H^+}< 650~ \text {GeV}$$

250

GeV
<

m

H
+

<
650

GeV

in fully hadronic final state, containing four b-jets from neutral Higgs and four jets from W bosons, can well be observed on top of the standard model background. Finally $$5\sigma $$

5
σ

contours are presented in $$(m_{H^{\pm }},m_{H})$$

(

m

H
±

,

m
H

)

space for different $$\tan \beta $$

tan
β

values.
Climbing over the potential barrier during inflation via null energy condition violation
Authors: Pan Shi , Cai Yong , Piao Yun-Song
Published: September 2024

The violation of the null energy condition (NEC) may play a crucial role in enabling a scalar field to climb over high potential barriers, potentially significant in the very early universe. We propose a single-field model where the universe sequentially undergoes a first stage of slow-roll inflation, NEC violation, and a second stage of slow-roll inflation. Through the NEC violation, the scalar field climbs over high potential barriers, leaving unique characteristics on the primordial gravitational wave power spectrum, including a blue-tilted nature in the middle-frequency range and diminishing oscillation amplitudes at higher frequencies. Additionally, the power spectrum exhibits nearly scale-invariant behavior on both large and small scales.
Transverse Vibration Response and Time-Varying Analysis of Axially Moving Beams Based on Choi–Williams Distribution
Authors: Liu Hailong , Shao Fei , He Lixiang , Xu Qian , Bai Linyue
Published: September 2024

Cantilever beams with axial extension and contraction functions as time-varying parameter systems have attracted extensive research due to their prevalence in engineering structures. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of the flat-push bridge mechanism are investigated from the theoretical aspect, firstly, it is simplified into a cantilever beam model with axial motion, and the transverse vibration equations of the cantilever beam are established based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and D’Alembert’s principle, and the transverse displacements of the beam are discretized using the Galerkin truncation method and solved numerically by using the Newmark-[Formula: see text] method for the second-order vibration differential equations with variable coefficients; second-order vibration differential equations were solved numerically by the Newmark-[Formula: see text] method; then the structural examples in the existing literature are verified numerically, and the calculation results are consistent with the literature results, indicating that the transverse vibration equations derived in this paper are solved effectively; then a parametric analysis of the speed of the cantilever beam during axial extension/contraction was done, which showed that the faster the speed of axial motion, the faster the rate of change of the dynamic characteristics of the beam and the more pronounced the vibration; finally, the power signal is decomposed in the time-frequency domain by using the Choi–Williams Distribution (CWD), and the time-frequency characteristics of the system under different speeds are analyzed, and the results show that the use of CWD technique can accurately reflect the system’s transient vibration frequency and vibration energy with the change rule of time and speed, and the axial motion speed of ±0.05[Formula: see text]m/s, the transient frequency of the theoretical prediction and the average relative deviation between the finite element modal frequencies are kept within 5% and the recognition accuracy is high. This analysis provides flexible technical guidance for vibration control in engineering structures.
Hysteretic Dynamic Modeling and Vibration Characteristics Analysis of Metal-Rubber Isolators
Authors: Du Yihan , Wang Dong , Hu Shaoquan , Fan Xuanhua
Published: September 2024

A novel hysteretic constitutive model (HCM) with four parameters was proposed to reproduce the nonlinear elasticity and dry friction characteristics of metal–rubber isolators (MRIs). The HCM accurately characterized the nonlinear hysteretic behavior due to its intrinsic relationship with the geometric properties of the hysteresis loop. A physics-based parameter estimation strategy was developed to provide reasonable initial iteration values. Three MRIs with different design stiffnesses were tested to investigate their hysteretic behavior under various excitation levels. The HCM accurately reproduced the entire experimental hysteresis loops using only a subset of the experimental data. This exhibited higher precision and scalability compared to the classical dynamic model. Friction damping forces were employed to distinguish the stick-slip states of the three MRIs. Additionally, the identified parameters were used to simulate the steady-state vibration response of a complex MRI system. The resulting frequency response functions (FRFs) agreed well with the experimental data. The proposed model can effectively capture the amplitude-dependent effects in MRI systems with various design stiffnesses, enabling more accurate predictions of vibration responses.
Dynamic Interaction Analysis of a Coupled System of Permanent Maglev Train and Flexible Track Beam
Authors: Shi Mingmin , Su Binbin , Kuang Honglin , Gao Wu , Deng Yongfang , Cao Kun
Published: September 2024

Vehicle–track beam coupling resonance greatly influences the vibration response of the suspended permanent (SPML) system. Therefore, the study established the coupled dynamic model of the SPML train and the track beam using. The model is used to analyze the dynamic response of SPML trains when passing through the long-span flexible track beam at resonance speed. The accuracy of the model was verified by field tests, which simulated and compared the dynamic responses of maglev train and track beam systems at different running speeds. Furthermore, the coupled vibration response of the train and track beam at resonant speed are investigated to gain insight into the mechanism and vibrational properties of the SPML system in a resonant background. It shows that the dominant frequency of the train, suspension frame, and track beam is 6.74[Formula: see text]Hz. They result in resonance in the SPML system at 30[Formula: see text]km/h. Further analysis shows that adjusting the vertical distance between the mass center of the vehicle and the track beam can effectively alleviate the resonance between the vehicle and the track. Additionally, deformation at the ends of the long-span track beams affects the levitation force and gap of the suspension frame, offering valuable guidance for SPML system design.
CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE VERSION OF THE CORE OUTCOME MEASURES INDEX FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW BACK PAIN IN HONG KONG
Authors: WANG RUI-YAO , LIU XIAOLIN , QI TIAN , MA WEI-XING , DING ZEXIN , LIU JIAYANG , LIU YUHANG , LI ZONG-RUN
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) is a multidimensional tool designed to assess the changes in health status of individuals with low back pain (LBP) over time as reported by them. It has been validated and translated into several languages. The objective of this study was to translate COMI into traditional Chinese and test its reliability and validity among the Cantonese-speaking people with LBP in Hong Kong. Methods: The COMI was translated into traditional Chinese following standard procedures and avoiding region-specific terminology. A total of 120 Cantonese-speaking individuals with LBP from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University were recruited. Participants completed a baseline translated COMI questionnaire online. After two–three days, a second set of online questionnaires, including the translated COMI, the traditional Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the EuroQol Five-Dimensional Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), were administered to assess the reliability and validity of the translated COMI. Results: The standard Chinese version of COMI was successfully back-translated. There were low floor and ceiling effects, except for symptom-based well-being (floor effect) and disability (ceiling effect). In two rounds of surveys, the Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.79 and 0.80, respectively, indicating sufficient internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(2,1)] for the overall score of the COMI was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86–0.94), and for each item, it ranged from 0.7 to 0.88, demonstrating good test–retest reliability. The HK-COMI was confirmed to be a valid measure. Spearman’s rho correlation tests showed a high correlation with ODI ([Formula: see text]) and EQ-5D-5L ([Formula: see text]), and a moderate correlation with RMDQ ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: The traditional Chinese version of COMI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the effectiveness of treatment for LBP among the Cantonese-speaking people in Hong Kong. Future studies should focus on assessing the sensitivity of this measure among the people with LBP in Hong Kong.