bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving University Mental Health
Authors: Morris Jane
Published: February 2024

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the midst of global economic turmoil, university students and staff face unprecedented challenges to their mental-wellbeing. With a focus on the UK experience, this book presents a thorough examination of the mental health challenges faced in university communities. Key topics covered include the role of alcohol, social media, and financial pressures, as well as specific challenges presented by ethnicity and gender. The book draws on case studies and media extracts to demonstrate the reality of mental health within universities in the current climate, and includes practice points and suggestions for action to improve policy going forward. This is a much-needed handbook for mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and GPs, social support workers and counsellors, as well as teaching staff, students and parents.
Licensing Scheme in the Green Industry Sector: The Case of Georgia Tree Care Service Providers
Authors: Nouve Yawotse D. , Florkowski Wojciech J.
Published: February 2024

Tree care license requirements are expected to improve service quality and provider competencies. The study elicits the licensing fee Georgia firms would pay using survey data from 153 tree care firms. An empirical relationship identifies firm characteristics that influence the fee size using the inverse hyperbolic sine transformation function. Results show that respondents who propose higher annual licensing fees are on average younger, more educated, male, and likely to agree that mandatory licensing is necessary to establish professionalism in the tree care industry. Also, those often engaged in tree trimming services and firms with higher annual revenues contemplate paying higher licensing fees.
What are the best strategies for stratification of clinical cohorts with depression and other mood disorders?
Authors: Hickie Ian B. , Berk Michael , Scott Jan , Crouse Jacob , Scott Elizabeth , Wray Naomi , Iorfino Frank
Published: February 2024

The recognised heterogeneity of clinical cohorts of people with depression and other mood disorders has been held to be one of the central reasons why so many studies of causation, neurobiological or psychological correlates, or the effectiveness of treatments have failed to yield significant findings or be easily replicated by independent groups.
How Do Past Immunization Strategies Compare With the COVID-19 Immunization Rollout: A New Zealand Analysis
Authors: Anderson Emma , Fenton Elizabeth , Priest Patricia , Sullivan Trudy
Published: February 2024

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare past New Zealand immunization strategies with the New Zealand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunization roll-out.

Methods:

Using the READ document analysis method, 2 New Zealand immunization strategies (for influenza and measles) were analyzed for how the disease, context, vaccine supply and demand, ethical principles (equity, individual autonomy, and maximizing benefits), and the Treaty of Waitangi impacted the immunization programs. The findings were compared with the ongoing COVID-19 mass immunization program in New Zealand, as of October 15, 2021.

Results:

Several themes common to the case-studies and the COVID-19 pandemic were identified including the importance of equity, obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, ethical mandates, and preparedness.

Conclusions:

Future emergency planning should integrate learnings from other infectious disease responses and immunization programs to avoid repeating mistakes and to create better health outcomes. This study has provided a basis for ongoing research into how an appropriate immunization plan can be developed that incorporates ethical values, the Treaty of Waitangi (in the NZ context), and evidence-based research to increase trust, equity, health, and preparedness for future outbreaks.
Adverse childhood experiences, emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood among first-time mothers: Mediations and child differences
Authors: Akintunde Tosin Yinka , Chen Shaojun , Isangha Stanley Oloji , Di Qi
Published: February 2024

Despite the challenges associated with motherhood, studies have not consistently identified factors contributing to first-time mothers’ dissatisfaction with motherhood in resource-limited regions. To fill this research gap, this study investigates how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) result in first-time mothers’ dissatisfaction with motherhood through emotional distress in Nigeria. Results from the partial least square structural equation model suggests that ACEs are associated with dissatisfaction with motherhood ($ \beta $= 0.092;p < 0.01) and emotional distress ($ \beta $= 0.367;p < 0.001). There is also a significant association between emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood ($ \beta $= 0.728;p < 0.001). Indirect path from first-time mothers’ ACEs to dissatisfaction with motherhood through emotional distress shows significance ($ \beta $= 0.267; 95% CI (0.213, 0.323);p < 0.001). In addition, the indirect path from first-time mothers’ ACEs to dissatisfaction with motherhood through child emotional closeness showed significant dampening effects ($ \beta $= 0.044; 95% CI (0.025, 0.066);p < 0.001). No serial impact of emotional distress and child emotional closeness was found in the study. The findings based on child gender indicated that only among first-time mothers of female children are ACEs predictors of dissatisfaction with motherhood. Trauma-informed interventions should be introduced in primary care settings to screen for ACEs and emotional dysfunctions among first-time mothers.
Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow with a rib-roughened porous wall
Authors: Suga Kazuhiko , Kuwata Yusuke
Published: February 2024

To describe the effects of porous roughness on turbulence, we have carried out direct numerical simulations using the lattice Boltzmann method. The simulated flows are fully developed turbulent flows in channels consisting of a solid smooth top wall and a porous bottom wall with transverse porous ribs whose heights are 10 % of the channel height. The considered ratios of the rib spacing to the rib height are

$w/k\simeq 1$

and 9. The Kelvin-cell structure is applied to construct faithfully the porous media whose porosities are

$\varphi \ge 0.79$

. Three kinds of porous media having different permeabilities are considered. The most permeable one has an approximately one order higher permeability than that of the least permeable one. The higher permeability case is designed to have a pore scale that is the same as the rib height so that it is the most permeable case for the rib roughness with the designed porosity. In the simulations, the bulk Reynolds number is set to

$Re_b=5500$

, and the corresponding permeability Reynolds numbers are

$Re_K=2.2\unicode{x2013}7.5$

. The simulated field data and the drag coefficient, which includes both the pressure drag by the ribs and the frictional drag over the porous wall, are analysed to understand the characteristics of the permeable roughness in terms of permeability. The decomposition of the drag coefficient into the integrated laminar, rib-drag, dispersion and turbulence parts elucidates the transition mechanism between the typical d-type to k-type roughness depending on

$Re_K$

. By the double (time and space) averaged budget equations for the dispersion and Reynolds stresses, we explain how the energy generated by the roughness transfers to turbulence through dispersion resulting in the k-type characteristics. The nominal roughness sublayer thickness and the characteristic roughness height are introduced with the parameters obtained by fitting the velocity data to Best's and Nikuradse's logarithmic velocity formulae. Along with data in the literature, it is suggested that the ratio of the characteristic roughness height to the nominal roughness sublayer thickness becomes constant irrespective of the rib spacing in the full permeable-wall turbulence at

$Re_K> 7$

.
Responsible Leadership with Chinese Characteristics
Authors: Qu Qing , Fu Pingping , Tu Yu , Shadnam Masoud
Published: February 2024

Responsible leadership (RL) has become a buzz word in the current lexicon of business and politics, but there is still limited agreement on the components, scope, and characteristics. The confusion is rooted, in part, in the dominance of normative perspectives that take RL as a universal phenomenon. However, embedded in a specific culture, RL cannot be understood fully without understanding the moral traditions of that culture. In this article, we used a case study method to explore how RL is understood and practiced in China. Taking the role theory perspective, we conducted in-depth interviews with 9 highly regarded responsible executive leaders and 92 stakeholders in and outside of their companies who were well acquainted with the leaders. Our findings reveal that in China, the moral character of leaders guides them to define and take responsibility for themselves, their employees, companies, and external stakeholders. The five dimensions of RL we identified and the relationships among the dimensions include characteristics that reflect Chinese culture, such as strong sentiment for the nation, self-discipline, developing employees philosophically, and ‘jun zi wu ben’ (a gentleman should focus on fundamental matters). We conclude by discussing the implications of our study for RL research and practice.
Aggressive behaviours associated with MDMA and psychedelics: a narrative review
Authors: Sayrafizadeh Negar , Ledwos Nicole , Husain M. Ishrat , Castle David J.
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Monoamine neurotransmitters play a role in aggression, especially when altered by illicit substances. However, some literature suggests that not all illicit substances may lead to aggression, notably psychedelics. This narrative review investigates the associations between serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA on aggressive behaviour.

Methods:

PubMed and PsycINFO were searched for original, peer-reviewed articles evaluating the effects of serotonergic psychedelics and 3,4-methyl enedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) on violent and aggressive behaviour using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results:

After removing duplicates, a total of 555 articles were screened, with 16 meeting the inclusion criteria. One additional article was obtained through reference screening bringing the total to 17 articles. Of these 17 articles, 14 studies focused on MDMA and three on serotonergic psychedelics. Findings were mixed, with some results demonstrating increased aggression following psychedelics and others suggesting protective effects. Limitations in the current literature include varied definitions of psychedelics, lack of standardised objective outcome measures and failure to control for confounding.

Conclusion:

As psychedelic research continues to expand, further assessment on the effects of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA on aggressive behaviour is required.
Using Machine Learning to Test Causal Hypotheses in Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Ham Dae Woong , Imai Kosuke , Janson Lucas
Published: February 2024

Conjoint analysis is a popular experimental design used to measure multidimensional preferences. Many researchers focus on estimating the average marginal effects of each factor while averaging over the other factors. Although this allows for straightforward design-based estimation, the results critically depend on the ways in which factors interact with one another. An alternative model-based approach can compute various quantities of interest, but requires correct model specifications, a challenging task for conjoint analysis with many factors. We propose a new hypothesis testing approach based on the conditional randomization test (CRT) to answer the most fundamental question of conjoint analysis: Does a factor of interest matter in any way given the other factors? Although it only provides a formal test of these binary questions, the CRT is solely based on the randomization of factors, and hence requires no modeling assumption. This means that the CRT can provide a powerful and assumption-free statistical test by enabling the use of any test statistic, including those based on complex machine learning algorithms. We also show how to test commonly used regularity assumptions. Finally, we apply the proposed methodology to conjoint analysis of immigration preferences. An open-source software package is available for implementing the proposed methodology. The proposed methodology is implemented via an open-source software R package CRTConjoint, available through the Comprehensive R Archive Network https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/CRTConjoint/index.html.
East Asian monsoon variations in the loess–desert transitional zone (northern China) during the past 14 ka and their comparison with TraCE21K simulation results
Authors: Gu Yao , Lu Huayu , Wang Jingjing , Zhang Hongyan , Zhang Wenchao , Liang Chenghong , Wu Jiang
Published: February 2024

The Holocene is a critical period for understanding the East Asian monsoon system (EAM) over long timescales, but high-precision dating and high-resolution records from the Holocene epoch at monsoonal margins of East Asia are lacking. Here, on the basis of closely spaced radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating results obtained from a typical loess–paleosol sequence on the northern Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), we provide an independent age-based, high-resolution depositional record of East Asian summer (EASM) and winter monsoons (EAWM) variations over the past ~14 ka. We find that both the EASM and EAWM simultaneously strengthened sometime during the Holocene optimum (~7–5 ka BP), with greater seasonality, and weakened during the Late Holocene. These findings are counterintuitive to our understanding of the EAM variations based on loess records at suborbital scales during interglacial periods, providing an alternative scenario of the monsoon system evolution. We postulate that high-latitude forcing and surface feedbacks, such as vegetation change, have modulated the EAM variations during the Holocene warmth.
ADVANCING ANTARCTIC SEDIMENT CHRONOLOGY THROUGH COMBINED RAMPED PYROLYSIS OXIDATION AND PYROLYSIS-GC-MS
Authors: Ginnane Catherine E , Turnbull Jocelyn C , Naeher Sebastian , Rosenheim Brad E , Venturelli Ryan A , Phillips Andy M , Reeve Simon , Parry-Thompson Jeremy , Zondervan Albert , Levy Richard H , Yoo Kyu-Cheul , Dunbar Gavin , Calkin Theo , Escutia Carlota , Gutierrez Pastor Julia
Published: February 2024

Radiocarbon (14C) dating of sediment deposition around Antarctica is often challenging due to heterogeneity in sources and ages of organic carbon in the sediment. Chemical and thermochemical techniques have been used to separate organic carbon when microfossils are not present. These techniques generally improve on bulk sediment dates, but they necessitate assumptions about the age spectra of specific molecules or compound classes and about the chemical heterogeneity of thermochemical separations. To address this, the Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory has established parallel ramped pyrolysis oxidation (RPO) and ramped pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) systems to thermochemically separate distinct carbon fractions, diagnose the chemical composition of each fraction, and target suitable RPO fractions for radiocarbon dating. Three case studies of sediment taken from locations around Antarctica are presented to demonstrate the implementation of combined RPO-AMS and Py-GC-MS to provide more robust age determination in detrital sediment stratigraphy. These three depositional environments are good examples of analytical and interpretive challenges related to oceanographic conditions, carbon sources, and other factors. Using parallel RPO-AMS and Py-GC-MS analyses, we reduce the number of radiocarbon measurements required, minimize run times, provide context for unexpected 14C ages, and better support interpretations of radiocarbon measurements in the context of environmental reconstruction.
Cloning of three epsilon-class glutathione S-transferase genes from Micromelalopha troglodyta (Graeser) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) and their response to tannic acid
Authors: Zhang Ling , Tu Huizhen , Tang Fang
Published: February 2024

Micromelalopha troglodyta (Graeser) is an important pest of poplar in China, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) is an important detoxifying enzyme in M. troglodyta. In this paper, three full-length GST genes from M. troglodyta were cloned and identified. These GST genes all belonged to the epsilon class (MtGSTe1, MtGSTe2, and MtGSTe3). Furthermore, the expression of these three MtGSTe genes in different tissues, including midguts and fat bodies, and the MtGSTe expression in association with different concentrations of tannic acid, including 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg ml−1, were analysed in detail. The results showed that the expression levels of MtGSTe1, MtGSTe2, and MtGSTe3 were all the highest in the fourth instar larvae; the expression levels of MtGSTe1 and MtGSTe3 were the highest in fat bodies, while the expression level of MtGSTe2 was the highest in midguts. Furthermore, the expression of MtGSTe mRNA was induced by tannic acid in M. troglodyta. These studies were helpful to clarify the interaction between plant secondary substances and herbivorous insects at a deep level and provided a theoretical foundation for controlling M. troglodyta.
Can the Depressed Appreciate the Choice to Die?
Authors: Bakhtiar Ariane
Published: February 2024

In this article, I argue that some irremediably depressed patients have the decision-making capacity to consent to medical treatment even when they want to die. These patients are said to have deficits in appreciative capacity because they lack insight into their condition. I argue that some patients have insight if they can cognize and articulate a range of future possibilities regarding their health. The argument requires a phenomenological lens. Phenomenology captures something fundamental about depression, such as temporal experience, which is needed for a more thorough assessment of capacity for medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
Why Democrats Should Be Committed to Future Generations
Authors: Fritsch Matthias
Published: February 2024

In response to the claim that democracies are inherently short-termist, this article argues for a new way to understand them as being committed to future generations. If taking turns among rulers and ruled is a normative idea inherent to the concept of democracy, then such turn-taking commits democrats to a fair turn with future generations.
The Intentio of Pastness in Aquinas's Theory of Memory
Authors: Jalsevac John
Published: February 2024

In the Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas states that the “aspect of pastness” involved in memory is a certain kind of cognitive object — i.e., an intention — apprehended by the “estimative power.” All told, however, Aquinas mentions this idea precisely once. In this article, I construct an account of the idea that pastness is an estimative intention by drawing upon texts in which I argue that Aquinas develops this idea, albeit without invoking the terminology of the estimative intention. I conclude that, by identifying the aspect of pastness as an estimative intention, Aquinas neatly synthesizes the Aristotelian and Arabic traditions on memory.
Advisers and Aggregation in Foreign Policy Decision Making
Authors: Jost Tyler , Kertzer Joshua D. , Min Eric , Schub Robert
Published: February 2024

Do advisers affect foreign policy and, if so, how? Recent scholarship on elite decision making prioritizes leaders and the institutions that surround them, rather than the dispositions of advisers themselves. We argue that despite the hierarchical nature of foreign policy decision making, advisers’ predispositions regarding the use of force shape state behavior through the counsel advisers provide in deliberations. To test our argument, we introduce an original data set of 2,685 foreign policy deliberations between US presidents and their advisers from 1947 to 1988. Applying a novel machine learning approach to estimate the hawkishness of 1,134 Cold War–era foreign policy decision makers, we show that adviser-level hawkishness affects both the counsel that advisers provide in deliberations and the decisions leaders make: conflictual policy choices grow more likely as hawks increasingly dominate the debate, even when accounting for leader dispositions. The theory and findings enrich our understanding of international conflict by demonstrating how advisers’ dispositions, which aggregate through the counsel advisers provide, systematically shape foreign policy behavior.
Causal and non-causal explanations in theology: the case of Aquinas's primary–secondary causation distinction
Authors: Silva Ignacio
Published: February 2024

The basic question of this article is whether Thomas Aquinas's doctrine of divine providence through his understanding of primary and secondary causation can be understood as a theological causal or non-causal explanation. To answer this question, I will consider some contemporary discussions about the nature of causal and non-causal explanations in philosophy of science and metaphysics, in order to integrate them into a theological discourse that appeals to the classical distinction between God as first cause and creatures as secondary causes to explain God's presence and providence in the created universe. My main argument will hold that, even if there are some philosophical models of explanation that seem to allow one to suggest that, at least partially, this doctrine could be seen as a non-causal theological explanation, there are other models that offer seemingly stronger reasons to see this doctrine in full as a causal theological explanation.
SEMIPARAMETRIC ESTIMATION AND VARIABLE SELECTION FOR SPARSE SINGLE INDEX MODELS IN INCREASING DIMENSION
Authors: Dong Chaohua , Tu Yundong
Published: February 2024

This paper considers semiparametric sieve estimation in high-dimensional single index models. The use of Hermite polynomials in approximating the unknown link function provides a convenient framework to conduct both estimation and variable selection. The estimation of the index parameter is formulated from solutions obtained by the routine penalized weighted linear regression procedure, where the weights are used in order to tackle the unbounded support of the regressors. The resulting index parameter estimator is shown to be consistent and sparse, and the asymptotic normality for the estimators of both the index parameter and the link function is established. To perform variable selection in the ultra-high dimension case, we further suggest a forward regression screening method, which is shown to enjoy the sure independence screening property. This screening procedure can be used before the penalized variable selection to reduce the burden of dimensionality. Numerical results show that both the variable selection procedures and the associated estimators perform well in finite samples.
Experimental electron density distribution of KZnB3O6 constructed by maximum-entropy method
Authors: Li Qi , Huang Yi , Lou Yanfang , Hao Munan , Jin Shifeng
Published: February 2024

The dynamic charge density of KZnB3O6, which contains edge-sharing BO4 units, has been characterized using laboratory and synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques. The experimental electron density distribution (EDD) was constructed using the maximum-entropy method (MEM) from single crystal diffraction data obtained at 81 and 298 K. Additionally, MEM-based pattern fitting (MPF) method was employed to refine the synchrotron powder diffraction data obtained at 100 K. Both the room-temperature single crystal diffraction data and the cryogenic synchrotron powder diffraction data reveal an intriguing phenomenon: the edge-shared B2O2 ring exhibits a significant charge density accumulation between the O atoms. Further analysis of high-quality single crystal diffraction data collected at 81 K, with both high resolution and large signal-to-noise ratio, reveals no direct O–O bonding within the B2O2 ring. The experimental EDD of KZnB3O6 obtained aligns with the results obtained from ab-initio calculations. Our work underscores the importance of obtaining high-quality experimental data to accurately determine EDDs.
Association between nurse staffing level in intensive care settings and hospital-acquired pneumonia among surgery patients: result from the Korea National Health Insurance cohort
Authors: Park Yu Shin , Yun Il , Jang Suk-Yong , Park Eun-Cheol , Jang Sung-In
Published: February 2024

This study examined the association between the number of nursing staff in intensive care units (ICUs) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) among surgical patients in South Korea. Data were obtained between 2008 and 2019 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database; 37,706 surgical patients who received critical care services were included in the analysis. Patients with a history of pneumonia 1 year prior to surgery or those who had undergone lung-related surgery were excluded. The ICU nursing management fee is an admission fee that varies based on the grading determined by nurse-to-bed ratio. Using this grading system, we classified four groups from the highest to the lowest level based on the proportion of beds to nurses (high, high-mid, mid-low, and low group). HAP was defined by the International Classification of Disease, 10th revision (ICD-10) code. Multilevel logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between the level of ICU nurse staffing and pneumonia, controlling for variables at the individual and hospital levels. Lower levels of nurse staffing were associated with a greater incidence of HAP than higher levels of nurse staffing (mid-high, OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12–1.57; mid-low, OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.27–2.04; low, OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.67–2.71). The intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.177, and 17.7% of the variability in HAP was accounted for by the hospital. Higher ICU nursing management fee grades (grade 5 and above) in general and hospital settings were significantly associated with an increased risk of HAP compared to grade 1 admissions. Similarly, in tertiary hospitals, grade 2 and higher ICU nursing management fees were significantly associated with an increased risk of HAP compared to grade 1 admissions. Especially, a lower level of nurse staffing was associated with bacterial pneumonia but not pneumonia due to aspiration. In conclusion, this study found an association between the level of ICU nurse staffing and HAP among surgical patients. A lower level of nurse staffing in the ICU was associated with increased rates of HAP among surgical patients. This indicates that having fewer beds assigned to nurses in the ICU setting is a significant factor in preventing HAP, regardless of the size of the hospital.
Let’s face it! The role of social anxiety and executive functions in recognizing others’ emotions from faces: Evidence from autism and specific learning disorders
Authors: Lievore Rachele , Cardillo Ramona , Mammarella Irene C.
Published: February 2024

Youth with different developmental disorders might experience challenges when dealing with facial emotion recognition (FER). By comparing FER and related emotional and cognitive factors across developmental disorders, researchers can gain a better understanding of challenges and strengths associated with each condition. The aim of the present study was to investigate how social anxiety and executive functioning might underlie FER in youth with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and specific learning disorders (SLD). The study involved 263 children and adolescents between 8 and 16 years old divided into three groups matched for age, sex, and IQ: 60 (52 M) with ASD without intellectual disability, 63 (44 M) with SLD, and 140 (105 M) non-diagnosed. Participants completed an FER test, three executive functions’ tasks (inhibition, updating, and set-shifting), and parents filled in a questionnaire reporting their children’s social anxiety. Our results suggest that better FER was consistent with higher social anxiety and better updating skills in ASD, while with lower social anxiety in SLD. Clinical practice should focus on coping strategies in autistic youth who could feel anxiety when facing social cues, and on self-efficacy and social worries in SLD. Executive functioning should also be addressed to support social learning in autism.
A rare variant of scimitar syndrome characterised by right pulmonary vein drainage to portal vein with eventeration of diaphragm
Authors: Puthiyedath Thejaswi , Sagar Pramod , Sivakumar Kothandam
Published: February 2024

While infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage to portal vein is well described, hemianomalous drainage of right pulmonary veins to portal vein in Scimitar syndrome has not yet been reported.
Promoting responsive care and early learning practices in Northern Ghana: results from a counselling intervention within nutrition and health services
Authors: Aidam Enam , Varela Veronica , Abukari Fauzia , Torres Kelsey A , Nisingizwe Marie Paul , Yourkavitch Jennifer , Yakubu Eliasu , Abubakari Abdulai , Ibrahim Rashida , Oot Lesley , Beck Kathryn , Azumah Selorme , Issahaku Al-Hassan , Apoassan Jambeidu Joyce , Abdul-Rahman Lutuf , Adu-Asare Catherine , Uyehara Malia , Cashin Kristen , Karnati Romilla , Kirk Catherine M
Published: February 2024

Objective:

This study assesses change in caregiver practices after integrating responsive care and early learning (RCEL) in nutrition and health services and community platforms in northern Ghana.

Design:

We trained health facility workers and community health volunteers to deliver RCEL counselling to caregivers of children under 2 years of age through existing health facilities and community groups. We assessed changes in caregivers’ RCEL practices before and after the intervention with a household questionnaire and caregiver–child observations.

Setting:

The study took place in Sagnarigu, Gushegu, Wa East and Mamprugu-Moagduri districts from April 2022 to March 2023. Study sites included seventy-nine child welfare clinics (CWC) at Ghana Health Service facilities and eighty village savings and loan association (VSLA) groups.

Participants:

We enrolled 211 adult caregivers in the study sites who had children 0–23 months at baseline and were enrolled in a CWC or a VSLA.

Results:

We observed improvements in RCEL and infant and young child feeding practices, opportunities for early learning (e.g. access to books and playthings) in the home environment and reductions in parental stress.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating RCEL content into existing nutrition and health services. The findings can be used to develop, enhance and advocate for policies integrating RCEL into existing services and platforms in Ghana. Future research may explore the relationship between positive changes in caregiver behaviour and improvements in child development outcomes as well as strategies for enhancing paternal engagement in care practices, improving child supervision and ensuring an enabling environment.
Of pilgrimages and restorations: religion, heritage and politics in divided Cyprus
Authors: Mesaritou Evgenia
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the intersections of religion, heritage, and politics in divided societies by focusing on two events that occurred in Cyprus before the crossing points opened (2003). These are the Greek and Turkish Cypriot reciprocal pilgrimages to a Christian and Muslim site, respectively, and the two sites' restoration. I argue that in these events the Cyprus Issue effected the transformation of pilgrimage practices and sites into matters of political agreement, implicating them in processes of conflict management and resolution. In this context, pilgrimage facilitated inter-communal exchanges and intra-communal frictions and antagonisms that question binary oppositions through which questions of conflict and amity have been debated in pilgrimage studies.
Improved Parameterizations of Vertical Ice‐Ocean Boundary Layers and Melt Rates
Authors: Zhao Ken X. , Skyllingstad Eric D. , Nash Jonathan D.
Published: February 2024

Buoyancy fluxes and submarine melt rates at vertical ice‐ocean interfaces are commonly parameterized using theories derived for unbounded free plumes. A Large Eddy Simulation is used to analyze the disparate dynamics of free plumes and wall‐bounded plumes; the distinctions between the two are supported by recent theoretical and experimental results. Modifications to parameterizations consistent with these simulations are tested and compared to results from numerical and laboratory experiments of meltwater plumes. These modifications include 50% weaker entrainment and a distinct plume‐driven friction velocity in the shear boundary layer up to 8 times greater than the externally‐driven friction velocity. Using these updated plume parameter modifications leads to 40 times the ambient melt rate predicted by commonly used parameterizations at vertical glacier faces, which is consistent with observed melt rates at LeConte Glacier, Alaska.
The Influence of Climate Feedbacks on Regional Hydrological Changes Under Global Warming
Authors: Bonan David B. , Feldl Nicole , Siler Nicholas , Kay Jennifer E. , Armour Kyle C. , Eisenman Ian , Roe Gerard H.
Published: February 2024

The influence of climate feedbacks on regional hydrological changes under warming is poorly understood. Here, a moist energy balance model (MEBM) with a Hadley Cell parameterization is used to isolate the influence of climate feedbacks on changes in zonal‐mean precipitation‐minus‐evaporation (P − E) under greenhouse‐gas forcing. It is shown that cloud feedbacks act to narrow bands of tropical P − E and increase P − E in the deep tropics. The surface‐albedo feedback shifts the location of maximum tropical P − E and increases P − E in the polar regions. The intermodel spread in the P − E changes associated with feedbacks arises mainly from cloud feedbacks, with the lapse‐rate and surface‐albedo feedbacks playing important roles in the polar regions. The P − E change associated with cloud feedback locking in the MEBM is similar to that of a climate model with inactive cloud feedbacks. This work highlights the unique role that climate feedbacks play in causing deviations from the “wet‐gets‐wetter, dry‐gets‐drier” paradigm.
Characterization of Magnetic Flux Contents for Two Flux Transfer Events From Both In Situ and Ionospheric Observations
Authors: Wang Shuo , Zou Ying , Hu Qiang , Shi Xueling , Hasegawa Hiroshi
Published: February 2024

Flux transfer events (FTEs) are a type of magnetospheric phenomena that exhibit distinctive observational signatures from the in situ spacecraft measurements. They are generally believed to possess a magnetic field configuration of a magnetic flux rope and formed through magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause, sometimes accompanied with enhanced plasma convection in the ionosphere. We examine two FTE intervals under the condition of southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) with a dawn‐dusk component. We apply the Grad‐Shafranov (GS) reconstruction method to the in situ measurements by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft to derive the magnetic flux contents associated with the FTE flux ropes. In particular, given a cylindrical magnetic flux rope configuration derived from the GS reconstruction, the magnetic flux content can be characterized by both the toroidal (axial) and poloidal fluxes. We then estimate the amount of magnetic flux (i.e., the reconnection flux) encompassed by the area “opened” in the ionosphere, based on the ground‐based Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) observations. We find that for event 1, the FTE flux rope is oriented in the approximate dawn‐dusk direction, and the amount of its total poloidal magnetic flux falls within the range of the corresponding reconnection flux. For event 2, the FTE flux rope is oriented in the north‐south direction. Both the FTE flux and the reconnection flux have greater uncertainty. We provide a detailed description about a formation scenario of sequential magnetic reconnection between adjacent field lines based on the FTE flux rope configurations from our results.
Oceanographic Variability in Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, and Its Implications for Glacier Retreat
Authors: Zanker Joanna C. , Young Emma. , Holland Paul. R. , Haigh Ivan D. , Brickle Paul
Published: February 2024

South Georgia is a heavily glaciated sub‐Antarctic island in the Southern Ocean. Cumberland Bay is the largest fjord on the island, split into two arms, each with a large marine‐terminating glacier at the head. Although these glaciers have shown markedly different retreat rates over the past century, the underlying drivers of such differential retreat are not yet understood. This study uses observations and a new high‐resolution oceanographic model to characterize oceanographic variability in Cumberland Bay and to explore its influence on glacier retreat. While observations indicate a strong seasonal cycle in temperature and salinity, they reveal no clear hydrographic differences that could explain the differential glacier retreat. Model simulations suggest the subglacial outflow plume dynamics and fjord circulation are sensitive to the bathymetry adjacent to the glacier, though this does not provide persuasive reasoning for the asymmetric glacier retreat. The addition of a postulated shallow inner sill in one fjord arm, however, significantly changes the water properties in the resultant inner basin by blocking the intrusion of colder, higher salinity waters at depth. This increase in temperature could significantly increase submarine melting, which is proposed as a possible contribution to the different rates of glacier retreat observed in the two fjord arms. This study represents the first detailed description of the oceanographic variability of a sub‐Antarctic island fjord, highlighting the sensitivity of fjord oceanography to bathymetry. Notably, in fjords systems where temperature decreases with depth, the presence of a shallow sill has the potential to accelerate glacier retreat.
Potential Contributions of Ammonia‐Oxidizing Microorganisms to the Distributions of Nitrous Oxide in the Northern Bering Sea
Authors: Liu Jian , Chen Liqi , Ling Minghuang , Zhuang Yanpei , Zhang Jiexia , Ye Wangwang , Bai Youcheng , Wen Jianwen , Wu Man , Zhan Liyang
Published: February 2024

Oceanic N2O is a major source of atmospheric N2O gas and is involved in global warming and ozone depletion. It is thought to be mainly produced by nitrification, denitrification and nitrifier denitrification processes mediated by ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and denitrifying bacteria. The Bering Sea, especially its continental shelf area, is considered a typical source of atmospheric N2O. During the 7th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE2016), the distributions of N2O and ammonia‐oxidizing microorganisms (AOOs) in the Bering Sea continental shelf and abyssal basin water were investigated. At a depth of 50∼900 m within the abyssal basin, the in‐situ ammonia oxidation process, particularly performed by AOA, exhibits considerable potential for the formation of supersaturated N2O. Meanwhile, beneath the oxygen minimum zone (depth range is approximately 800∼1,000 m), supersaturated N2O is primarily driven by mixing processes, while the ammonia oxidation mediated by AOA also contributes to a certain extent. In addition, the N2O distribution characteristic exhibits a substantial disparity between the southern and northern Bering Sea shelves, with the former characterized as a mild sink and the latter as a weak source. The water column of the Bering Sea demonstrates a considerable potential for generating supersaturated N2O through ammonia oxidation, as corroborated by the current study.
Flexible pressure sensors with ultrahigh stress tolerance enabled by periodic microslits
Authors: Wang Song , Wang Chenying , Zhao Yifan , Zhang Yujing , Zhang Yaxin , Xu Xiangyue , Lin Qijing , Yao Kai , Wang Yuheng , Han Feng , Sun Yu , Jiang Zhuangde
Published: February 2024

Stress tolerance plays a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness of piezoresistive sensing films used in flexible pressure sensors. However, existing methods for enhancing stress tolerance employ dome-shaped, wrinkle-shaped, and pyramidal-shaped microstructures in intricate molding and demolding processes, which introduce significant fabrication challenges and limit the sensing performance. To address these shortcomings, this paper presents periodic microslits in a sensing film made of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane to realize ultrahigh stress tolerance with a theoretical maximum of 2.477 MPa and a sensitivity of 18.092 kPa−1. The periodic microslits permit extensive deformation under high pressure (e.g., 400 kPa) to widen the detection range. Moreover, the periodic microslits also enhance the sensitivity based on simultaneously exhibiting multiple synapses within the sensing interface and between the periodic sensing cells. The proposed solution is verified by experiments using sensors based on the microslit strategy for wind direction detection, robot movement sensing, and human health monitoring. In these experiments, vehicle load detection is achieved for ultrahigh pressure sensing under an ultrahigh pressure of over 400 kPa and a ratio of the contact area to the total area of 32.74%. The results indicate that the proposed microslit strategy can achieve ultrahigh stress tolerance while simplifying the fabrication complexity of preparing microstructure sensing films.
Oxidation of DNA and RNA in young patients with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder and relatives
Authors: Coello Klara , Mäkinen Ilari Jaakko Olavi , Kjærstad Hanne Lie , Faurholt-Jepsen Maria , Miskowiak Kamilla Woznica , Poulsen Henrik Enghusen , Vinberg Maj , Kessing Lars Vedel
Published: February 2024

Excessive oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage seems to play a key role in bipolar disorder (BD) and may present a trait phenomenon associated with familial risk and is one of the putative mechanisms explaining accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular diseases (CVD) inyoungerpatients with BD. However, oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage has not been studied in young BD patients and their unaffected relatives (UR). Therefore, we compared oxidative stress-generated damage to DNA and RNA in young patients newly diagnosed with BD, UR, and healthy control individuals (HC). Systemic oxidative stress-generated DNA and RNA damage levels were compared by analyzing urinary levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine in participants aged 15–25 years, including 133 patients newly diagnosed with BD, 57 UR, and 83 HC. Compared with HC, damage to DNA was 21.8% higher in BD patients (B = 1.218, 95% CI = 1.111–1.335,p = <0.001) and 22.5% higher in UR (B = 1.225, 95% CI = 1.090–1.377,p = <0.002), while damage to RNA was 14.8% higher in BD patients (B = 1.148, 95% CI = 1.082–1.219,p = <0.001) and 14.0% higher in UR (B = 1.140, 95% CI = 1.055–1.230,p = < 0.001) in models adjusted for sex and age after correction for multiple comparison. Levels did not differ between patients with BD and UR. Our findings support higher oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage being a trait phenomenon in BD associated with familial risk and highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to prevent illness progression and development of premature CVD.
Bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells: dueling immunotherapies for large B-cell lymphomas
Authors: Trabolsi Asaad , Arumov Artavazd , Schatz Jonathan H.
Published: February 2024

Despite recent advances in frontline therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), at least a third of those diagnosed still will require second or further lines for relapsed or refractory (rel/ref) disease. A small minority of these can be cured with standard chemoimmunotherapy/stem-cell transplant salvage approaches. CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-19) therapies are increasingly altering the prognostic landscape for rel/ref patients with DLBCL and related aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Long-term follow up data show ongoing disease-free outcomes consistent with cure in 30–40% after CAR-19, including high-risk patients primary refractory to or relapsing within 1 year of frontline treatment. This has made CAR-19 a preferred option for these difficult-to-treat populations. Widespread adoption, however, remains challenged by logistical and patient-related hurdles, including a requirement for certified tertiary care centers concentrated in urban centers, production times of at least 3–4 weeks, and high per-patients costs similar to allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are molecular biotherapies designed to bind and activate effector T-cells and drive them to B-cell antigens, leading to a similar cellular-dependent cytotoxicity as CAR-19. May and June of 2023 saw initial approvals of next-generation BsAbs glofitamab and epcoritamab in DLBCL as third or higher-line therapy, or for patients ineligible for CAR-19. BsAbs have similar spectrum but generally reduced severity of immune related side effects as CAR-19 and can be administered in community settings without need to manufacture patient-specific cellular products. To date and in contrast to CAR-19, however, there is no convincing evidence of cure after BsAbs monotherapy, though follow up is limited. The role of BsAbs in DLBCL treatment is rapidly evolving with trials investigating use in both relapsed and frontline curative-intent combinations. The future of DLBCL treatment is bound increasingly to include effector cell mediated immunotherapies, but further optimization of both cellular and BsAb approaches is needed.