bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of the Psychometric Evidence Supporting Use of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Short Form (DASS-21) with Youth
Authors: Dwight Aberdine R. , Briesch Amy M. , Hoffman Jessica A. , Rutt Christopher
Published: March 2024

Background

Although the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Short Form (DASS-21) was developed for adults, its authors noted no compelling reasons to not use the measure with youth as young as 12 years. Despite increasingly widespread use with youth, psychometric evidence in support of its use with this population needs to be investigated to fully understand its utility.

Objective

The goal of this paper was to conduct a systematic review to identify and appraise evidence for the psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Short Form (DASS-21) when used with youth populations.

Methods

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this systematic review identified 18 studies that reported relevant information on the psychometrics of the DASS-21 with youth samples. Each article was coded for evidence of three indicators of particular importance to progress monitoring: reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change.

Results

Studies have found varied factor structures (i.e., 1–4 factors) for the DASS-21 and validity evidence based on relations to other variables has been limited. As such, further research is needed to understand the utility of the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales. Furthermore, no information is currently available about the sensitivity to change of the measure.

Conclusions

Most studies reporting psychometric properties in this review utilized the DASS-21 with mixed-gender groups of secondary school students, thus supporting its use with similar populations. Pending additional inquiry, however, both researchers and practitioners are encouraged to utilize the total score, for which stronger evidence of reliability and validity exist.
Bio-Inspired algorithms for secure image steganography: enhancing data security and quality in data transmission
Authors: Rezaei Samira , Javadpour Amir
Published: March 2024

The proliferation of data sharing over the Internet has given rise to pressing concerns surrounding data security. Addressing these concerns, steganography emerges as a viable mechanism to safeguard data during transmission. It involves concealing messages within other media, such as images, exchanged over networks. In this research, we propose an innovative image steganography approach by harnessing the capabilities of bio-inspired algorithms. A central challenge in steganography revolves around the inherent pixel correlations within cover images, which may inadvertently leak sensitive information to potential intruders. To tackle this challenge head-on, we harness the potential of bio-inspired algorithms, which have exhibited promise in efficiently mitigating these vulnerabilities. This paper introduces a steganography strategy rooted in a fusion model that seamlessly integrates diverse bio-inspired algorithms. Our novel embedding approach ensures the production of robust and high-quality cover images and disrupts bit sequences effectively, thereby enhancing resistance against potential attacks. We meticulously evaluate the performance of our method using a comprehensive dataset encompassing grayscale and JPEG color images. Our particular emphasis on color images arises from their superior capacity to conceal a greater volume of information. The results vividly demonstrate our approach's effectiveness in achieving secure and efficient data concealment within images.
Sex-specific element accumulation in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Zarić Nenad M. , Brodschneider Robert , Goessler Walter
Published: March 2024

Honey bees are social insects that show division of labor and sexual dimorphism. Female honey bees differentiate in two different castes, queens or worker bees, while males are called drones. Worker bees have different tasks in the hive including collection of food, its processing, caring for brood, protecting the hive, or producing wax. The drones’ only role is to mate with a virgin queen. Many studies have dealt with differences in physiology, behavior, and morphology of workers and drones. This is the first study that demonstrates differences in element accumulation and composition between workers and drones honey bees. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we found that worker honey bees have higher concentrations of most elements analyzed. Drones had higher concentrations of elements essential to bees, Na, P, S, Zn, Cu, and especially Se (2.2 × higher), which is known to be important for sperm quality and fertility in many animals. Until now higher Se content was not observed in male insects. These differences can be attributed to different environmental exposure, reproductive role of drones, but mostly to the food workers and drones consume. Worker bees feed on bee bread, which is rich in minerals. Drones are fed food pre-processed by worker bees.
An AI healthcare ecosystem framework for Covid-19 detection and forecasting using CronaSona
Authors: Hassan Samah A. Z.
Published: March 2024

The primary purpose of this paper is to establish a healthcare ecosystem framework for COVID-19, CronaSona. Unlike some studies that focus solely on detection or forecasting, CronaSona aims to provide a holistic solution, for managing data and/or knowledge, incorporating detection, forecasting, expert advice, treatment recommendations, real-time tracking, and finally visualizing results. The innovation lies in creating a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem framework and an application that not only aids in COVID-19 diagnosis but also addresses broader health challenges. The main objective is to introduce a novel framework designed to simplify the development and construction of applications by standardizing essential components required for applications focused on addressing diseases. CronaSona includes two parts, which are stakeholders and shared components, and four subsystems: (1) the management information subsystem, (2) the expert subsystem, (3) the COVID-19 detection and forecasting subsystem, and (4) the mobile tracker subsystem. In the proposed framework, a CronaSona app. was built to try to put the virus under control. It is a reactive mobile application for all users, especially COVID-19 patients and doctors. It aims to provide a reliable diagnostic tool for COVID-19 using deep learning techniques, accelerating diagnosis and referral processes, and focuses on forecasting the transmission of COVID-19. It also includes a mobile tracker subsystem for monitoring potential carriers and minimizing the virus spread. It was built to compete with other applications and to help people face the COVID-19 virus. Upon receiving the proposed framework, an application was developed to validate and test the framework’s functionalities. The main aim of the developed application, CronaSona app., is to develop and test a reliable diagnostic tool using deep learning techniques to avoid increasing the spread of the disease as much as possible and to accelerate the diagnosis and referral of patients by detecting COVID-19 features from their chest X-ray images. By using CronaSona, human health is saved and stress is reduced by knowing everything about the virus. It performs with the highest accuracy, F1-score, and precision, with consecutive values of 97%, 97.6%, and 96.6%.

Graphical Abstract
The Ethics of Stem Cell-Based Embryo-Like Structures
Authors: Pereira Daoud A. M. , Dondorp W. J. , Bredenoord A. L. , de Wert G. M. W. R.
Published: March 2024

In order to study early human development while avoiding the burdens associated with human embryo research, scientists are redirecting their efforts towards so-called human embryo-like structures (hELS). hELS are created from clusters of human pluripotent stem cells and seem capable of mimicking early human development with increasing accuracy. Notwithstanding, hELS research finds itself at the intersection of historically controversial fields, and the expectation that it might be received as similarly sensitive is prompting proactive law reform in many jurisdictions, including the Netherlands. However, studies on the public perception of hELS research remain scarce. To help guide policymakers and fill this gap in the literature, we conducted an explorative qualitative study aimed at mapping the range of perspectives in the Netherlands on the creation and research use of hELS. This article reports on a subset of our findings, namely those pertaining to (the degrees of and requirements for) confidence in research with hELS and its regulation. Despite commonly found disparities in confidence on emerging biotechnologies, we also found wide consensus regarding the requirements for having (more) confidence in hELS research. We conclude by reflecting on how these findings could be relevant to researchers and (Dutch) policymakers when interpreted within the context of their limitations.
Early onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: an update
Authors: Strati Myrsini , Moustaki Melpomeni , Psaltopoulou Theodora , Vryonidou Andromachi , Paschou Stavroula A.
Published: March 2024

The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in young individuals (aged <40 years) have significantly increased in recent years, approximating two to threefold increase in the respective rates. Numerous risk factors including severe obesity, family history, ethnicity, maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes, and female sex contribute to a younger age of onset. In terms of pathogenesis, impaired insulin secretion is the key operating mechanism, alongside with ectopic adiposity-related insulin resistance. T2DM diagnosis in a young adult requires the exclusion of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). The establishment of such diagnosis is critical for prognosis, because early-onset T2DM is associated with rapid deterioration in pancreatic β-cell secretory function leading to earlier initiation of insulin therapy. Furthermore, mortality and lifetime risk of developing complications, especially microvascular, is increased in these patients compared to both later-onset T2DM and T1DM patients; also, the latter are often developed earlier in the course of disease. The management of early-onset T2DM follows the same guidelines as in later-onset T2DM; yet patients aged 18–39 years are underrepresented in the big clinical trials on which the development of guidelines is based. Finally, young people with T2DM face significant challenges associated with social determinants, which compromise their adherence to therapy and induce diabetes distress. Future research focusing on the pathogenesis of β-cell decline and complications, as well as on specific treatment shall lead to better understanding and management of early-onset T2DM.
Mirage: cyber deception against autonomous cyber attacks in emulation and simulation
Authors: Kouremetis Michael , Lawrence Dean , Alford Ron , Cheuvront Zoe , Davila David , Geyer Benjamin , Haigh Trevor , Michalak Ethan , Murphy Rachel , Russo Gianpaolo
Published: March 2024

As the capabilities of cyber adversaries continue to evolve, now in parallel to the explosion of maturing and publicly-available artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, cyber defenders may reasonably wonder when cyber adversaries will begin to also field these AI technologies. In this regard, some promising (read: scary) areas of AI for cyber attack capabilities are search, automated planning, and reinforcement learning. As such, one possible defensive mechanism against future AI-enabled adversaries is that of cyber deception. To that end, in this work, we present and evaluate Mirage, an experimentation system demonstrated in both emulation and simulation forms that allows for the implementation and testing of novel cyber deceptions designed to counter cyber adversaries that use AI search and planning capabilities.
Social Disconnectedness in Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease: Associations with Health Literacy and Treatment Burden
Authors: Christiansen Julie , Lasgaard Mathias , Pedersen Susanne S. , Pedersen Marie Hauge , Friis Karina
Published: March 2024

Background

Knowledge is limited on associations between social disconnectedness (i.e. loneliness and social isolation), health literacy and perceived treatment burden in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, understanding these associations may be important for clinical practice.

Methods

This study used cross-sectional self-reported data from the 2017 Danish health and morbidity survey entitled ‘How are you?’, investigating the associations of loneliness and social isolation with low health literacy and high treatment burden in individuals with CVD (n = 2521; mean age = 65.7 years).

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that loneliness and social isolation were associated with low health literacy in terms of difficulties in ‘understanding health information’ (loneliness: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [1.16, 1.50]; social isolation: AOR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.24, 1.73]) and ‘engaging with healthcare providers’ (loneliness: AOR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.37, 1.70]; social isolation: AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.06, 1.40]) and associated with high treatment burden (loneliness: AOR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.35, 1.65]; social isolation: AOR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.06, 1.37]).

Conclusions

Our findings show that loneliness and social isolation coexisted with low health literacy and high treatment burden in individuals with CVD. These findings are critical as socially disconnected individuals experience more health issues. Low health literacy and a high treatment burden may potentially exacerbate these issues.
Visualization and control of the free-flight transfer phenomenon in the wire feed control process
Authors: Maruyama Toshiki , Ogino Yosuke , Sano Tomokazu
Published: March 2024

Gas metal arc (GMA) welding requires improved process stability, higher quality and efficiency, and quantitative control of the heat input and deposition. These requirements can be achieved by appropriately controlling the metal transfer phenomenon. However, this control method has primarily been applied to short-circuit transfer, and very few examples of its application to free-flight transfer exist. Therefore, the effect of wire feed control on free-flight transfer remains unclear. In this study, the influence of wire feed control on the free-flight transfer phenomenon in the GMA welding process using an aluminum wire electrode was investigated through experimental observations, and free-flight transfer control was attempted.

It was observed the free-flight transfer phenomenon, particularly globular transfer, under low-current conditions with controlled wire feeding under various feed conditions, using wire feed–retract speeds and cycles as parameters. The observation results revealed two patterns with different timings of droplet detachment under long- and short-period conditions. Furthermore, the observation of the droplet detachment motions revealed that the inertia caused by the acceleration or deceleration of the feed speed acts on the droplet. Moreover, the difference between the two transfer patterns is primarily caused by the inertia acting on the droplet before and after switching the wire feed–retract direction and the size of the droplet at that time. Based on this, free-flight transfer can be stabilized by reconfiguring the feed conditions.
A tribo-chemical view on astringency of plant-based food substances
Authors: Gamaniel Samuel S. , Dueñas Robles Paloma S. , Tromp Hans , de Hoog Els H. A. , de Beer Sissi , van der Heide Emile
Published: March 2024

Consumption of plant-based food products having high composition of polyphenols leads to the sensation of astringency. For sliding oral surfaces, friction is an essential property during the oral perception of roughness and dryness which are attributes associated with astringency. Different factors including the chemical composition of interacting layers, structure and operation of interfaces have an effect on the astringency development process. The manner of interactions occurring at oral interfaces suggest there is a system dependence of astringency and highlights the importance of adopting a tribosystems approach. Available measurement techniques have shown an existing relationship between salivary protein-polyphenol interaction and an astringent mouthfeel. Nevertheless, the tribo-chemistry involved in this multifaceted sensation remains largely unexplored in a comprehensive manner. In this review the underlying tribo-chemical processes useful in understanding the mechanism of astringency are highlighted and discussed considering current techniques employed to investigate astringency perception. Loss of lubrication on oral surfaces owing to the tribo-chemical interactions involving saliva and astringent plant proteins requires subsequent deformations of oral tissues which are significant enough to induce strains at mechanoreceptor locations, leading to the sensation of astringency. It is proposed that micro-scale contact modelling on the interaction of food particles/aggregates, boundary layers and oral surfaces shows potential in addressing the knowledge gap between tribo-chemical measurement techniques and panel tests, making it possible to attain a predictor for astringency.
Enhanced Chinese named entity recognition with multi-granularity BERT adapter and efficient global pointer
Authors: Zhang Lei , Xia Pengfei , Ma Xiaoxuan , Yang Chengwei , Ding Xin
Published: March 2024

Named Entity Recognition (NER) plays a crucial role in the field of Natural Language Processing, holding significant value in applications such as information extraction, knowledge graphs, and question–answering systems. However, Chinese NER faces challenges such as semantic complexity, uncertain entity boundaries, and nested structures. To address these issues, this study proposes an innovative approach, namely Multi-Granularity BERT Adapter and Efficient Global Pointer (MGBERT-Pointer). The semantic encoding layer adopts Multi-Granularity Adapter (MGA), while the decoding layer employs Efficient Global Pointer (EGP) network, ensuring collaborative functionality. The MGA, incorporating Character Adapter, Entity Adapter, and Lexicon Adapter through interactive mechanisms, are deeply integrated into the BERT base, significantly enhancing the model’s ability to handle complex contexts and ambiguities. The EGP, utilizing Rotary Position Embedding, resolves the issue of insufficient boundary information in traditional attention mechanisms, thereby improving the model’s understanding and recognition of nested entity structures. Experimental results on four public datasets demonstrate a significant enhancement in Chinese NER performance achieved by the MGBERT-Pointer model.
Personal Thermal Management by Radiative Cooling and Heating
Authors: Xue Shidong , Huang Guanghan , Chen Qing , Wang Xungai , Fan Jintu , Shou Dahua
Published: March 2024

Maintaining thermal comfort within the human body is crucial for optimal health and overall well-being. By merely broadening the set-point of indoor temperatures, we could significantly slash energy usage in building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. In recent years, there has been a surge in advancements in personal thermal management (PTM), aiming to regulate heat and moisture transfer within our immediate surroundings, clothing, and skin. The advent of PTM is driven by the rapid development in nano/micro-materials and energy science and engineering. An emerging research area in PTM is personal radiative thermal management (PRTM), which demonstrates immense potential with its high radiative heat transfer efficiency and ease of regulation. However, it is less taken into account in traditional textiles, and there currently lies a gap in our knowledge and understanding of PRTM. In this review, we aim to present a thorough analysis of advanced textile materials and technologies for PRTM. Specifically, we will introduce and discuss the underlying radiation heat transfer mechanisms, fabrication methods of textiles, and various indoor/outdoor applications in light of their different regulation functionalities, including radiative cooling, radiative heating, and dual-mode thermoregulation. Furthermore, we will shine a light on the current hurdles, propose potential strategies, and delve into future technology trends for PRTM with an emphasis on functionalities and applications.
Die Rolle von neutraler, überregionaler, telefonischer Weiterbildungsberatung und verwandter Formen im Weiterbildungsberatungssystem
Authors: Pätzold Henning , Dohmen Joshua
Published: March 2024

Mit der vorliegenden Untersuchung wird der Frage nachgegangen, welchen spezifischen Beitrag neutrale, überregionale, telefonische Weiterbildungsberatung im System der Weiterbildungsberatung leisten kann und welche Desiderate sich für Weiterbildungsberatung ohne ein solches Angebot ergeben. Grundlage sind dabei Theorien der Beratung sowie Überlegungen zur Struktur von organisierter Weiterbildungsberatung. Die empirische Grundlage der vorliegenden Studie stellt eine Untersuchung des Infotelefon Weiterbildungsberatung dar, das von 2015 bis 2022 vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung angeboten wurde. Auf Basis einer Begleituntersuchung, deren Kern 17 qualitative Interviews mit Beraterinnen und Beratern des Infotelefon Weiterbildungsberatung darstellen, werden insbesondere die Dimensionen Anonymität, Neutralität, Überregionalität, Niedrigschwelligkeit sowie Personalität ins Auge gefasst. Abschließend wird erörtert, inwiefern diese Eigenschaften von Beratung, jeweils für sich, aber auch in ihrer spezifischen Kombination und Interdependenz, im gegenwärtigen Weiterbildungsberatungssystem einzigartig sind und welche Implikationen sich daraus sowohl für zukünftige Beratungskonzepte als auch für daran anknüpfende Forschung ergeben.
Analysis of the dynamics of anthrax epidemic model with delay
Authors: Raza Ali , Abdella Kenzu
Published: March 2024

Anthrax is a potentially fatal infectious zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. While it is a disease of herbivores which primarily affects livestock and wildlife, it could also lead to serious and lethal infections in humans. Its large-scale outbreak could result in devastating economic impact related to losses in livestock and livestock products. Due to its ability to cause widespread disease and death, Anthrax has also become one of the numerous biological agents that is being considered in biowarfare and bioterrorism. Therefore, the modelling and analysis of Anthrax dynamics is crucial for the proper understanding of its prevention and control. In the present study, we investigate the nonlinear dynamics of Anthrax with delay effects which incorporates the mechanism of its incubation period. The sensitivity of the reproduction number dynamics with the model parameters is studied. The local and global stabilities of the model are studied. It is shown that the delay mechanism plays an important role in the dynamics of disease propagation.
Assembly and characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Descurainia sophia: a medical plant producing glucosinolate
Authors: Zhao Le , Yan Hang , Zhu Yun-hao , Jia Hao-yu , Han Yong-guang , Zheng Xiao-ke , Wang Min , Feng Wei-sheng
Published: March 2024

As a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, Descurainia sophia has various reported pharmacological activities such as prevention of chronic diseases, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, anticancer, antioxidant, and has high nutritional values, but its mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has not been reported. In this study, the D. sophia mitogenome was sequenced, assembled and annotated using next generation sequencing technologies on the Illumina HiSeq and PacBio Sequel platform. The results showed that the D. sophia mitogenome was a circular DNA molecule with the length of 265,457 bp and the GC content of 44.78%, encoding unique 56 genes, including 35 protein coding genes, 18 tRNA genes and 3 rRNA genes. We analyzed codon preference, repeated sequences, DNA sequence transformation, phylogenetic relationship, RNA editing and synteny in the D. sophia mitogenome. Based on the DNA sequences of mitogenomes, the phylogenetic and synteny analysis indicated that D. sophia was more closely related to Boechera stricta, and the mitogenome of D. sophia underwent frequent genome recombination. In this study, we obtained the complete mitogenome of D. sophia, which can provide valuable data support for future studies on genetic characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, species identification and development of new molecular markers in D. sophia.
Adaptive cloudiness index for enhanced photovoltaic energy prediction and management in low-income smart homes using geographic information system
Authors: Elazab Rasha , Saif Omar , Metwally Amr M. A. Amin , Daowd Mohamed
Published: March 2024

Solar-powered homes can be an optimal solution for the lack of continuous power sources problem in initial low-income communities. However, the challenge of Photovoltaic (PV) uncertainty can make it difficult to coordinate this vital solar energy in real-time. This paper proposes a new, low-cost solution for assessing the uncertainty of photovoltaic power generation in smart home energy management systems. The proposed index, inspired by the well-known clearness index, is an adaptive deterministic indicator that only requires free Geographic Information System (GIS) models and PV power measurement, without the need for expensive high-tech controllers or expert engineers/programmers. The proposed index successfully predicts the daily PV energy with errors of less than 3% for more than 93% of studied days, according to the 2020 measured solar radiation of the studied case in an African developing location, i.e. Cairo. Egypt.
Effects of riboflavin application on rice growth under salinized soil conditions
Authors: Jiadkong Kamonthip , Ueda Akihiro
Published: March 2024

Salt-sensitive crop varieties suffer from oxidative stress as a consequence of osmotic and ionic stresses in plants under salinity stress. This study is aimed at identifying the effects of riboflavin (RIB) application on uplifting rice growth under salinized soil condition. Two-week-old seedlings of IR29 (a salt-sensitive variety) were supplemented with 0.5 μM of RIB, and 50 mM of NaCl was supplied for 2 weeks, inducing salinized soil conditions. The results indicated that RIB pretreatment (RP) seedlings possessed higher plant biomass, and lower electrolyte leakage ration (ELR), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, higher chlorophyll, magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) concentrations in the leaf blades, a higher proline concentration, and a lower Na+ concentration in the leaf blades. To further understand the mechanisms behind the difference in plant growth between the RP and non-RP seedlings, molecular analysis revealed that RP seedlings upregulated OsNHX1 and OsHKT1;5 expressions were observed in the roots of RP seedlings, regulating Na+ uptake through the transpiration stream and reducing Na+ concentration in the leaf blades. Collectively, these results suggest that RP is a potent method for improving plant growth under salinized soil conditions.
Transparency and nudging: an overview and methodological critique of empirical investigations
Authors: Michaelsen Patrik
Published: March 2024

Transparency is intimately linked to debates about the ethics, political legitimacy and effectiveness of nudging. This paper provides an overview of empirical studies investigating how changes in the transparency of a nudge affect people's choices and evaluations of the nudge. I conclude that the present literature provides generally consistent evidence supporting that the effectiveness of a nudge does not decrease when choosers are given good opportunity to detect and understand the influence it might have on their choices. However, several conceptual and methodological issues are identified, significantly limiting the scope of the conclusions that can be drawn. The limitations are discussed and organized into six themes, with recommendations provided for how future research may address them.
Pore-scale study on the effect of heterogeneity on evaporation in porous media
Authors: Fei Linlin , Derome Dominique , Carmeliet Jan
Published: March 2024

The evaporation process in porous media typically experiences three main periods, among which the first period, named the constant rate period (CRP), performs most efficiently in removing liquid. We aim to prolong the CRP to very low degrees of saturation (S) and increase its evaporation rate by playing with heterogeneity in wettability and pore size. First, we show that a porous medium with a smaller contact angle at the surface and increasing contact angle towards the inside generally dries out faster compared with that with uniform contact angle. Second, a constant contact angle porous medium with smaller/larger pores in the surface/inside part dries out faster than a medium with uniform pore size. The underlying mechanism is the occurrence of a capillary pressure jump at the border between the two layers accompanied by enhanced capillary pumping, increasing/maintaining the interfacial area in the surface pores. Harnessing the potential of this mechanism, we propose an optimized strategy by combining two heterogeneity effects: increasing contact angle and pore size towards the inside. This strategy is found to be robust both for multilayer and larger systems. In this case, a small drying front first penetrates fast towards the inside and then expands, followed by a horizontal drying front moving back layer by layer to the surface. Quantitatively, compared with evaporation from a homogeneously porous medium with uniform contact angle where CRP stops at

$S=0.64$

, our optimized design can extend the CRP down to

$S=0.12$

, and decrease five-fold the drying time needed to reach

$S=0.05$

.
Is that Hospital Food Pantry an Illegal Patient Inducement? Analysis of Health Care Fraud Laws as Barriers to Food and Nutrition Security Interventions
Authors: Landauer Rachel , Seligman Hilary , Pomeranz Jennifer L. , Hager Kurt , Mozaffarian Dariush
Published: March 2024

The complex regulatory framework governing the U.S. health care system can be an obstacle to programming that address health-related social needs. In particular, health care fraud and abuse law is a pernicious barrier as health care organizations may minimize or forego programming altogether out of real and perceived concern for compliance. And because health care organizations have varying resources to navigate and resolve compliance concerns, as well as different levels of risk tolerance, fears related to the legal landscape may further entrench inequities in access to meaningful programs that improve health outcomes. This article uses food and nutrition programming as a case study to explore the complexities presented by this area of law and to highlight pathways forward.
“The Last Piece of the Puzzle that Makes all the Difference in the World:” Team-Facing Medical-Legal Partnership for Reproductive Care Teams
Authors: Jones Griffin , Goulland Latisha
Published: March 2024

As reproductive freedoms in the U.S. undergo significant rollbacks, vital reproductive health services — and the care teams delivering them — face escalating legal threats and complexity. This qualitative case-control community-based participatory research study describes how legal problem-solving supports for reproductive care teams serving mothers with opioid use disorder are protective for both patients and care team members. We describe how medical legal partnerships (MLPs) can promote Reproductive Justice and argue for wider adoption of care-team facing legal supports.
The Family Regulation System and Medical-Legal Partnerships
Authors: Finck Kara R. , Greenberg Susanna
Published: March 2024

This article confronts the challenges and opportunities presented by medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) representing families impacted by the family regulation system. Based on the authors’ experience developing a collaboration between a medical-legal partnership, interdisciplinary law school clinic and nurse home visiting program focused on clients impacted by the family regulation system, the article challenges traditional conceptions of the MLP model and proposes an expanded vision for MLPs to address systemic injustice and improve outcomes for families.
A New Kind of Academic MLP: Addressing Clients’ Criminal Legal Needs to Promote Health Justice and Reduce Mass Incarceration
Authors: Streltzov Nicolas , van Deventer Ella , Vanjani Rahul , Tobin-Tyler Elizabeth
Published: March 2024

This article describes a new type of medical-legal partnership (MLP) that targets the health and justice concerns of people enmeshed in the U.S criminal justice system: a partnership between clinicians who care for people with criminal system involvement and public defenders. This partnership offers an opportunity to not only improve patient health outcomes but also to facilitate less punitive court dispositions, such as jointly advocating for community-based rehabilitation and treatment rather than incarceration.
Quantifying “Community Power” and “Racial Justice” in the Medical-Legal Partnership Literature
Authors: Turlington Alicia , Young Jonathan , Shek Dina
Published: March 2024

Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) have been widely acclaimed for promoting health equity and achieving meaningful outcomes. Yet, little to no research has analyzed if this critical work has been done with communities — through meaningful engagement and building power — or if it has been done for communities without their involvement.
The effects of nutrition and health education on the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in Cameroon: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Nwachan Mirabelle Boh , Ejoh Richard Aba , Noumo Ngangmou Thierry , Njong Clementine Endam
Published: March 2024

Lack of nutrition knowledge and poor dietary practices have profound adverse implications on nutritional status particularly among displaced children. Evidence of the effectiveness of nutrition education interventions in improving the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in Cameroon is scarce. The study objective was to assess the effects of nutrition education on the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. A pre-test-post-test randomised experimental study design was used with an experimental and control group of 160 children from ten primary schools and their caregivers. Anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical signs of malnutrition, dietary, and health status of the children were evaluated, and the caregiver’s nutrition knowledge was assessed in both groups at baseline and end-line with the aid of standard anthropometric and biochemical equipment and recorded in pretested questionnaires. Nutrition education was carried out only with the caregivers of children in the test group. In the test group, significant beneficial outcomes were noticed only for Bitot’s spot (p = 0.047), pallor (0.025), frequency of consumption of fruits (p = 0.002) and vegetables (p = 0.036), caregiver’s nutrition knowledge (p = 0.000), all health-seeking practices of the children (p < 0.05) except immunisation (p = 0.957). No significant change was seen in any of the parameters studied among the participants in the control group. Nutrition education alone was not effective in improving the nutritional status of the children and should be implemented together with other food-based nutrition interventions to improve the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.
Dynamic Funerary Monuments of North-western Europe: Chronological Modelling of a Late Neolithic–Pre-Roman Iron Age Cemetery Complex at Mang de Bargen, Northern Germany
Authors: AGERSKOV ROSE HELENE , SCHAEFER-DI MAIDA STEFANIE , KNEISEL JUTTA
Published: March 2024

This study presents the first extensive radiocarbon dating programme of Bronze Age material from northern Germany, and it combines radiocarbon dates, relative typo-chronological date ranges, and stratigraphic data within a Bayesian chronological framework. We estimate the cemetery complex at Mang de Bargen (Bornhöved, distr. Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein) to be in use for more than two millennia, which is exceptionally long in northern Germany and in a wider European context. The site provides a unique insight into the dynamic nature of burial monuments and associated burial practices, from the Late Neolithic and into the Pre-Roman Iron Age (c. 2500–50 bc). The barrow building tradition lasted around a millennium (c. 2350 –1300 bc), with several barrows in concurrent use. The barrows were persistently re-used as burial ground, both within ‘living memory’ of the primary graves, but also long after. The burial intensity varied over the cemetery’s use-life, with distinct peaks in the Late Neolithic, when the first barrows were erected; in the Older Bronze Age when more barrows were erected; in the Younger Bronze Age, when secondary cremation graves were added to existing barrows; and finally in the Pre-Roman Iron Age, with the addition of an urnfield. The funerary rituals vary considerably over the period: from inhumation to cremation, and from primary and secondary graves in barrows to flat graves. Cremation was introduced in the 14th century bc but inhumation and cremation were used in parallel for around a century before the former ritual was abandoned c. 1300 bc. The study provides absolute chronological distributions of the grave types present at Mang de Bargen and shows them to be comparable to other sites at a regional and over-regional scale, successfully demonstrating how new types were quickly adopted across large parts of north-western Europe.
Description of Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from characid fishes in the Iguazu River Basin based on morphological and molecular evidence
Authors: Montes M.M. , Croci Y. , Barneche J. , Ferrari W. , Reig Cardarella G. , Martorelli S.
Published: March 2024

Here we describe a new species of the genus Saccocoelioides found parasitizing Astyanax dissimilis Garavello & Sampaio, Psalidodon bifasciatus (Garavello and Sampaio) and Bryconamericus ikaa Casciotta, Almirón & Azpelicueta from the Iguazu National Park, Misiones province, Argentina. Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. was studied based on morphological and molecular (28S rDNA and COI mtDNA sequences) data. The COI mtDNA tree indicated that the specimens collected from the three fish hosts are conspecific, with an intragroup p-distance of 0%. The new species shows an intermediate morphological configuration between the diminutive and robust forms described for Saccocoelioides by Curran (2018). Although, in the 28S rDNA tree, it is placed in a well-supported clade with the two robust species analysed (S. elongatus and S. magnus; p-distance of 1 and 2%, respectively), it differs from the robust group by the range of body size, mature egg size, oral and ventral sucker size, sucker ratio, oral sucker to pharynx ratio, and post-cecal or post-testis/body length percentage. Our results led us to redefine the robust group as having eggs shorter or equal in length to the pharynx. Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. the 10th species reported from Argentina and the 7th species within the robust group.
Demonstratives in Spanish–Catalan simultaneous bilinguals: which system do they prefer?
Authors: Todisco Emanuela , Guijarro-Fuentes Pedro , Gudde Harmen B. , Coventry Kenny R.
Published: March 2024

Demonstratives are cross-linguistically widespread deictic expressions. Demonstrative systems exhibit variation in number of terms, and parameters affecting their usage. The present paper assesses the relationship between spatial deixis and bilingualism: how language dominance affects speakers of two languages with different demonstrative systems. Here, we compare the use of demonstratives by 72 European Spanish-Catalan simultaneous bilinguals in Mallorca to 30 European Spanish monolinguals. Our results confirmed a significant effect of physical distance between speaker and referent on demonstrative choice in both languages, and differences between languages in the use of the middle term. We did not find the expected effect of language dominance in simultaneous bilinguals. Moreover, we found no influence of the hearer's position on demonstrative choice in monolinguals or bilinguals in European Spanish or Majorcan Catalan. In view of our results, the present study contributes to the debate on how bilingual speakers employ different deictic expressions.
Seasonal Dependence of Recovery From Surface Cooling Induced by Strong Tropical Volcanic Eruptions
Authors: Kitabayashi Sho , Takahashi Hiroshi G.
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the response of surface air temperature (SAT) to strong tropical volcanic eruptions (STVEs), focusing on the seasonal anchoring of SAT recovery, using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) and CMIP6 climate model outputs. The decrease in SAT was more significant in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. After the STVEs, shortwave radiation at the surface (SW) decreased rapidly and reached a minimum in approximately 6 months, whereas the decrease in SAT lasted for approximately 1 year; thus, the SAT minima lagged behind those of SW. The recovery of SAT from the major minimum SAT after the STVEs occurred in the same seasons, the second boreal autumn and winter. The SAT recovery occurred during the climatologically low solar radiation season after the STVEs. During this season, the decreasing effects of the downward SW (DSRS) by volcanic aerosols could become negligible. The weakening of the decrease in SAT and DSRS had a seasonal cycle in the high‐latitude regions of both hemispheres, which could be a significant factor in the seasonal alignment of returning SATs. Furthermore, the SAT response to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was examined using composite analysis based on the initial state of ENSO. The influence of ENSO on surface cooling after the STVE was at least 1/5 that of the STVEs and might exceed that of the STVEs, particularly in moderate STVEs. These results were commonly found in the CMIP5 and CMIP6 climate models.
Combined Effects of Multiple Forcing Factors on Extreme Summer Multivariate Compound Heatwaves Over Western Europe
Authors: Dong Wei , Li XiuMing , Jia XiaoJing , Liu FangChi , Qian QiFeng , Zhang RuiZhi
Published: March 2024

The Multivariate compound heatwaves (MCHWs) present a significant risk to human health and ecological diversity, which attract widespread attention from researchers and society. The intensity and variability of summer MCHWs over Western Europe (WE) (MCHWs_WE) have substantially increased over the last two decades. The growing chance of such events is likely related to human activity‐induced climate change. However, the possible contributions from multiple atmospheric boundary forcing remain unclear. This study investigates the combined effects of North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST), Tibetan Plateau (TP) snow cover (SC), and Arctic sea ice (SIC) on the variability of extreme summer MCHWs_WE. Observational analysis shows that an intensified anticyclonic system prevailing over WE, one of the centers of an atmospheric wave train dominating the North Atlantic‐Europe sector and persists from late spring to summer, is the essential system contributing to the extreme MCHWs_WE. Spring North Atlantic SST anomalies in the form of a dipole pattern persist from spring to summer and contribute to the summer extreme MCHWs_WE by exciting a downward propagating Rossby wave train pattern. Additionally, excessive late spring SC over the western TP and SIC over the Arctic, which are stimulated by the North Atlantic anomalous SST‐related wave train, can intensify the MCHWs_WE‐related anticyclonic system through vertical circulation and wave energy transport. The study further quantifies the relative contributions of the aforementioned factors. The findings of this study could potentially offer valuable insights for improving the prediction skill of summer extreme MCHWs_WE.
Seamount Subduction Dynamics and Long‐Term Evolution of the Franciscan Active Margin
Authors: Bonnet G. , Apen F. E. , Soret M. , Noël J. , Caron B. , Ninkabou D. , Zverev P. , Deldicque D.
Published: March 2024

The Snow Mountain Volcanic Complex (SMVC; northern California, USA) is a well‐preserved example of a coherently‐exhumed subducted seamount. This study reappraises the genesis and evolution of this complex and surrounding units through detailed field, petro‐structural and geochronological analyses. This work demonstrates that the SMVC (a) erupted at ∼166 Ma as a hotspot volcano on the Farallon Plate, (b) entered the Franciscan subduction trench at ∼118 Ma, and (c) was subsequently subducted to a depth of ∼20 km (within the seismogenic zone), as shown by local blueschist‐facies assemblages formed at 0.6 GPa, 240°C. Transient subduction interfaces are preserved above, within, and below the SMVC, making it an exceptional target to study seamount subduction dynamics. Like other seamounts, the subduction‐related deformation was mainly accommodated along kilometer‐scale internal thrust zones lubricated by serpentinite/metasediments, and within centimeter‐thick crack‐seal veins recording pulsed fluid flow near peak metamorphism. No unequivocal proof of seismic activity was found. The integration of other seamounts (some potentially belonging to a former seamount chain) in the Franciscan Complex suggests that exhumed seamounts are more abundant than previously thought. Moreover, pressure‐temperature‐time estimates of subduction metamorphism for the surrounding units, combined with previous work constrain the thermal maturation of the subduction zone through time and the in‐sequence emplacement of the SMVC. Rapid changes in age of the subducted oceanic plate when subducted additionally hint to the subduction of large‐offset transform faults on the former Farallon plate. Such a process might have been linked to changes in accretion dynamics and magmatic flare‐ups in the arc.
A Long-Lost Tropical Island Lies Off Brazil’s Coast
Authors: Martin-Jones Erin
Published: March 2024

An undersea volcanic plateau in the southwestern Atlantic was a tropical island 45 million years ago.
Bacterial capsules: Occurrence, mechanism, and function
Authors: Gao Shuji , Jin Wenjie , Quan Yingying , Li Yue , Shen Yamin , Yuan Shuo , Yi Li , Wang Yuxin , Wang Yang
Published: March 2024

In environments characterized by extended multi-stress conditions, pathogens develop a variety of immune escape mechanisms to enhance their ability to infect the host. The capsules, polymers that bacteria secrete near their cell wall, participates in numerous bacterial life processes and plays a crucial role in resisting host immune attacks and adapting to their niche. Here, we discuss the relationship between capsules and bacterial virulence, summarizing the molecular mechanisms of capsular regulation and pathogenesis to provide new insights into the research on the pathogenesis of pathogenic bacteria.