bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyberbullying during COVID-19 lockdowns: prevalence, predictors, and outcomes for youth
Authors: António Raquel , Guerra Rita , Moleiro Carla
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges to the safety and well-being of young people who were forced to engage in online learning, spending more time than ever online, and cyberbullying emerged as a notable concern for parents, educators, and students. Two studies conducted online examined the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of cyberbullying episodes during the lockdowns due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Portugal. Study 1 (N = 485) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth during the first lockdown period in 2020, focusing on predictors, symptoms of psychological distress and possible buffers of the effects of cyberbullying. Study 2 (N = 952) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying, predictors, and symptoms of psychological distress during the second lockdown period in 2021. Results revealed that most participants experienced cyberbullying, symptoms of psychological distress (e.g., sadness and loneliness) during the lockdowns were higher for those who experienced than for those who did not experience cyberbullying, and those who experienced cyberbullying with higher levels of parental and social support showed lower levels of symptoms of psychological distress (i.e., suicidal ideation). These findings contribute to the existing knowledge on online bullying among youth, specifically during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Analysis of music-exposure interventions for impacting prosocial behaviour via behaviour change techniques and mechanisms of action: a rapid review
Authors: Grimani Aikaterini , Moog Alexander , Vlaev Ivo
Published: February 2023

The aim of the study is to evaluate the interventions examining music exposure’s effects on prosocial behaviour, to identify the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) through which they change it, and to examine the mechanisms of action (MoAs) that mediate the relationship between music exposure and prosocial behaviour. The review identified 15 research articles, comprising 19 relevant studies. The results revealed that, though many of the included studies did not provide enough information to code them adequately, the BCTs “Instruction on how to perform a behaviour”, “Salience of consequences”, “Reduce negative emotions” and “Identification of self as role model” were the most commonly utilized techniques. Additionally, “Emotion” was the most significant MoA in the intervention-behaviour relationship in this context, but too few BCTs were able to be coded to make conclusions about any BCT-MoA relationships.
Combined tumor necrosis factor-α (−308 G/A) and tumor necrosis factor-β (+ 252 A/G) nucleotide polymorphisms and chronicity in Egyptian children with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: El-Ghamrawy Mona , El-Gharbawi Nesrine , Shahin Gehan , Abdelhady Alaa , Sayed Rasha , Diaa Nehal , Bishai Irene
Published: February 2023

Background

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common autoimmune disorder. Secretion of TNF-α, TNF-β and IFN-γ plays a major role in the pathogenesis of ITP.

Objective

This cross-sectional study aimed to detect TNF-α (−308 G/A) and TNF-β (+ 252 A/G) gene polymorphism in a cohort of Egyptian children with chronic ITP (cITP) to clarify their possible association with progression to chronic disease.

Methods

The study included 80 Egyptian cITP patients and 100 unrelated age- and sex-matched controls. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP).

Results

Patients with TNF-α homozygous (A/A) genotype had significantly higher mean age, longer disease duration and lower platelet counts (p values 0.005, 0.024 and 0.008, respectively). TNF-α wild (G/G) genotype was significantly more frequent among responders (p = 0.049). Complete response was more frequent among wild (A/A) TNF-β genotype patients (p = 0.011), and platelet count was significantly lower among homozygous (G/G) genotype (p = 0.018) patients. Combined polymorphisms were strongly associated with susceptibility to chronic ITP.

Conclusion

Homozygosity in either gene might contribute to a worse course of disease, increased severity and poor response to therapy. Patients expressing combined polymorphisms are more prone to progression to chronic disease, severe thrombocytopenia and longer disease duration.
Deoxygenation, Acidification and Warming in Waquoit Bay, USA, and a Shift to Pelagic Dominance
Authors: Long Matthew H. , Mora Jordan W.
Published: February 2023

Coastal nutrient pollution, or eutrophication, is commonly linked to anthropogenic influences in terrestrial watersheds, where land-use changes often degrade water quality over time. Due to gradual changes, the management and monitoring of estuarine systems often lag environmental degradation. One example can be found at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, where we developed an analysis framework to standardize and analyze long-term trends in water quality and submerged vegetation data from monitoring programs that began in the 1990s. These programs started after the nearly complete loss of historically extensive Zostera marina (eelgrass) meadows throughout the estuary. Recently, eelgrass only persisted in small, undeveloped sub-embayments of the estuary, with conservative declines of over 97% in areal coverage. Over the past 2 decades, the average deoxygenation, acidification, and warming were −24.7 µmol O2 kg−1 (−11%), 0.006 µmol H+ kg−1 (+ 34%), and 1.0 °C (+ 4%), respectively. Along with the loss of eelgrass, there was also a decline in macroalgal biomass over 3 decades, resulting in a system dominated by pelagic metabolism, indicated by a 71% increase in water column chlorophyll a concentrations since 2009. This recent increase in phytoplankton biomass, which is highly mobile and transported throughout the estuary by tides, has resulted in recent degradation of isolated embayments despite their lower nutrient loads. This shift toward pelagic dominance in Waquoit Bay may indicate that other eutrophic and warming estuaries may also shift toward pelagic dominance in the future, as the Northeastern US is one of the fastest warming regions across the world.
Multi-focal Stimulation of the Cortico-cerebellar Loop During the Acquisition of a Novel Hand Motor Skill in Chronic Stroke Survivors
Authors: Wessel M.J. , Draaisma L.R. , Durand-Ruel M. , Maceira-Elvira P. , Moyne M. , Turlan J.-L. , Mühl A. , Chauvigné L. , Koch P.J. , Morishita T. , Guggisberg A.G. , Hummel F.C.
Published: February 2023

Impairment of hand motor function is a frequent consequence after a stroke and strongly determines the ability to regain a self-determined life. An influential research strategy for improving motor deficits is the combined application of behavioral training and non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor cortex (M1). However, a convincing clinical translation of the present stimulation strategies has not been achieved yet. One alternative and innovative approach is to target the functionally relevant brain network-based architecture, e.g., the dynamic interactions within the cortico-cerebellar system during learning. Here, we tested a sequential multifocal stimulation strategy targeting the cortico-cerebellar loop. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was applied simultaneously to a hand-based motor training in N = 11 chronic stroke survivors during four training sessions on two consecutive days. The tested conditions were: sequential multifocal (M1-cerebellum (CB)-M1-CB) vs. monofocal control stimulation (M1-sham-M1-sham). Additionally, skill retention was assessed 1 and 10 days after the training phase. Paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation data were recorded to characterize stimulation response determining features. The application of CB-tDCS boosted motor behavior in the early training phase in comparison to the control condition. No faciliatory effects on the late training phase or skill retention were detected. Stimulation response variability was related to the magnitude of baseline motor ability and short intracortical inhibition (SICI). The present findings suggest a learning phase-specific role of the cerebellar cortex during the acquisition of a motor skill in stroke and that personalized stimulation strategies encompassing several nodes of the underlying brain network should be considered.
An approach to using foraminifera in sequence stratigraphic analysis of Wadi Qena, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Mandur Medhat M. M. , Hewaidy Abdel Galil A. , Farouk Sherif , Agroudy Ibrahim S. El
Published: February 2023

In Egypt, Wadi Qena Middle Eastern Desert, Paleogene successions exposed at Hawashiya and Abu Had sections from north to south were measured and comprehensively investigated for their foraminiferal content. The Dakhla, Tarawan, and Esna formations make up the investigated sections. The studied successions are subdivided into six biozones; they are five zones of the Late Paleocene (Igorina albearisubzone (P3b),G. Globanomalina pseudomenardii/P. Parasubbotina variospirasubzone (P4a),Acarinina subsphaericasubzone (P4b),A. soldadoensis/G. pseudomenardiisubzone (P4c),Morozovella velascoensiszone (P5), and one zone of the Early Eocene (P. Pseudohastigerina wilcoxensis/M. velascoensiszone (E2). The paleoenvironmental interpretations and interpretation of sea level changes over the study area during the Paleocene-Eocene time interval have been carried out based on the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, paleoecologic parameters (total foraminiferal number (TFN), diversity indices of foraminifera, life strategies of planktonic foraminifera, planktonic/benthonic (P/B) foraminiferal ratio, agglutinated/calcareous benthonic foraminiferal ratios, benthonic foraminiferal biofacies and total organic carbon (TOC), and calcium carbonate CaCo3%). Five sequences are identified in the studied Lower Paleogene successions in the Wadi Qena area. Four depositional sequences are determined in the Paleocene, and one in the Lower Eocene. A comprehensive description of these depositional sequences and their boundaries is provided. The findings of the current study are calibrated with sequence stratigraphy of the world sea-level variations.
Fuzzy PROMETHEE model for public transport mode choice analysis
Authors: Oubahman Laila , Duleba Szabolcs
Published: February 2023

The importance of public transportation service quality research is significantly increasing in recent years, it is the key to understanding and analyzing passengers’ preferences. Different approaches are utilized to explore users’ preferences however, dominantly these apply merely subjective scoring of the attributes and alternatives of the mobility. In this paper, we design a specific model for public transportation mode choice which is capable of integrating subjective scoring with scoring by objective measures such as distance or time. Owing to this purpose, we combine the outranking Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) as a method to evaluate passengers’ preferences for tangible and intangible criteria with the fuzzy theory, and the Graphical Analysis for Interactive Aid (GAIA) plane to visualize the interactions between attributes as well as to test the robustness of the results via sensitivity analysis. The contribution of this paper is the constructed integrative method that is less subjective than the well-known models but also keeps the freedom of individual evaluators in expressing their preferences. Moreover, another significant issue of mode choice analysis is the group consideration, which is also refined in the new methodology by taking into account not only the mean of group preferences but also their range. A common characteristic of public surveys, the possible vague responses of the layman pattern is solved with the fuzzy approach to reduce the risk of uncertain scoring. The proposed model acts as a great base for the fuzzy inference system that can facilitate mode choice for passengers within a changing environment. The efficiency of the new methodology is demonstrated through a real-world case study of Budapest city, the obtained results are supporting underground mode service quality and highlighting its impact on citizens’ behavior in favor of public transport.
Heterogeneous impacts of home-gardening on household food and nutrition security in Rwanda
Authors: Issahaku Gazali , Kornher Lukas , Saiful Islam Abu Hayat Md. , Abdul-Rahaman Awal
Published: February 2023

This study examines farmers’ decisions to engage in subsistence home-gardening and its impact on food and nutrition security among farm households in Rwanda under diverse conditions. The study uses a nationally representative dataset from Rwanda from 2012, 2015, and 2018. We employ an endogenous switching regression model to jointly estimate the drivers of home-gardening participation decisions and food and nutrition security outcomes, whiles accounting for selection bias from observable and unobservable factors. We also estimate the treatment effects of home-gardening participation on dietary diversity, food consumption score, and anthropometric markers of women and children. The treatment effects are calculated at sample means and connected to market-related variables, such as land ownership, commercialization extent, and market distance. We find that having a home-garden is linked to improved dietary diversity and better nutritional outcomes. If households have restricted access to land and reside further away from marketplaces, the benefits are larger. In contrast, the benefits of home-gardening are positive and significant regardless of the level of commercialization of production. We also discover that family size, gender, education, access to land, and livestock ownership are statistically significant drivers of home-gardening participation in Rwanda. However, the amount of commercialization did not affect a household’s decision to participate in home-gardening.
Fuzzy logic for situation awareness: a systematic review
Authors: D’Aniello Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

Situation awareness is the cognitive capability of human and artificial agents to perceive, understand and predict the status of the situation in an environment. Situation awareness systems aim at supporting the situation awareness of human and artificial agents using computational techniques, models, and approaches for supporting the assessment, tracking, and prediction of critical situations. Fuzzy logic formalisms have been extensively used in situation awareness systems thanks to their capability of dealing with uncertainties while providing agents with easily understandable models of situations and decisions. This paper proposes a systematic, unbiased, and updated review of the literature on fuzzy logic for situation awareness from 2010 to 2021, conducted using the PRISMA methodology, analyzing 139 articles. An in-depth discussion of the main open challenges and future research directions is provided.
Kinesthetic Coordination Abilities in 6-Year-Old Children: School Quintile, Gender, and Hand Dominance Differences
Authors: Bonafede Carmen , van der Merwe Elna
Published: February 2023

Proprioceptive kinaesthetic control underpins motor movements of developing children and can be influenced by several factors. The main aim of this study was to establish proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in six-year-olds from different school quintiles, of different genders, and with different handedness. A total of 193 six-year-olds from 10 schools of different quintiles in the Motheo District, Mangaung, were included, of which 97 (50.3%) were boys and 96 (49.7%) were girls. A quantitative cross-sectional study design was followed to determine proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences. Right-handed participants performed significantly better than left-handed participants in the Finger-to-Nose task (p = 0.0125) when moving and positioning their dominant arm and hand. When using their dominant arm, significant differences in the shoulder-level-arm-raise (p = 0.0288) favoured boys. Girls showed superior execution of the force perception task (p = 0.0322). In conclusion, significant proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in six-year-olds were mainly not evident. Future work should explore proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in children of other ages and determine the practical implications of identified differences.
Homogeneous Riemannian structures in dimension three
Authors: Calviño-Louzao E. , Ferreiro-Subrido M. , García-Río E. , Vázquez-Lorenzo R.
Published: February 2023

In this note, we determine all the homogeneous structures on non-symmetric three-dimensional Riemannian Lie groups. We show that a non-symmetric three-dimensional Riemannian Lie group admits a non-canonical homogeneous structure if and only if its isometry group has dimension four.
Prediction model of volume average diameter and analysis of atomization characteristics in electrostatic atomization minimum quantity lubrication
Authors: Jia Dongzhou , Li Changhe , Liu Jiahao , Zhang Yanbin , Yang Min , Gao Teng , Said Zafar , Sharma Shubham
Published: February 2023

Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is a relatively efficient and clean alternative to flooding workpiece machining. Electrostatic atomization has the merits of small droplet diameter, high uniformity of droplet size, and strong coating, hence its superiority to pneumatic atomization. However, as the current research hotspot, the influence of jet parameters and electrical parameters on the average diameter of droplets is not clear. First, by observing the shape of the liquid film at the nozzle outlet, the influence law of air pressure and voltage on liquid film thickness (h) and transverse and longitudinal fluctuations are determined. Then, the mathematical model of charged droplet volume average diameter (VAD) is constructed based on three dimensions of the liquid film, namely its thickness, transverse wavelength (λh), and longitudinal wavelength (λz). The model results under different working conditions are obtained by numerical simulation. Comparisons of the model results with the experimental VAD of the droplet confirm the error of the mathematical model to be less than 10%. The droplet diameter distribution span value Rosin-Rammler distribution span (R.S) and percentage concentrations of PM10 (particle size of less than 10 µm)/PM2.5 (particle size of less than 2.5 µm) under different working conditions are further analyzed. The results show that electrostatic atomization not only reduces the diameter distribution span of atomized droplets but also significantly inhibits the formation of PM10 and PM2.5 fine-suspension droplets. When the air pressure is 0.3 MPa, and the voltage is 40 kV, the percentage concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 can be reduced by 80.72% and 92.05%, respectively, compared with that under the pure pneumatic atomization condition at 0.3 MPa.
Method for the measurement of triboelectric charge transfer at solid–liquid interface
Authors: Chen Qin , Cheng Bingxue , Wang Tiancheng , Shang Hongfei , Shao Tianmin
Published: February 2023

Triboelectrification between a liquid and a solid is a common phenomenon in our daily life and industry. Triboelectric charges generated at liquid/solid interfaces have effects on energy harvesting, triboelectrification-based sensing, interfacial corrosion, wear, lubrication, etc. Knowing the amount of triboelectric charge transfer is very useful for studying the mechanism and controlling these phenomena, in which an accurate method is absolutely necessary to measure the triboelectric charge generated at the solid—liquid interface. Herein, we established a method for measuring the charge transfer between different solids and liquids. An equipment based on the Faraday cup measurement was developed, and the leakage ratio (rl) was quantified through simulation based on an electrostatic field model. Typical experiments were conducted to validate the reliability of the method. This work provides an effective method for charge measurement in triboelectrification research.
Ultra-robust icephobic coatings with high toughness, strong substrate adhesion and self-healing capability
Authors: Zhuo Yizhi , Håkonsen Verner , Liu Siqi , Li Tong , Wang Feng , Luo Sihai , Xiao Senbo , He Jianying , Zhang Zhiliang
Published: February 2023

Enabling surfaces with passive anti-icing properties is an emerging, facile, economical, and energy-saving strategy to mitigate the harm caused by ice accretion. However, the combination of icephobicity and robustness remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we present an ultra-robust transparent icephobic coating with high toughness, strong substrate adhesion, and self-healing capability. Hydrophobicity, smoothness, and softness of the coating guarantee low ice adhesion strength. By incorporating a spongy structure, the ice adhesion strength of the coating is lowered further down to 26.7 ± 1.1 kPa. Importantly, the coating exhibits high toughness, strong adhesion to the substrate, and self-healing capability due to the presence of multiple hydrogen bonding. Consequently, the coating maintains its icephobicity after 35 icing/deicing cycles and 600 abrasion cycles, is resilient to delamination, and is able to heal and recover its icephobicity from the mechanical damage introduced by both cuts and abrasions. Moreover, the coating sustains its icephobicity after eight months of immersion in saltwater, as well as exposure to the near-arctic weather in Trondheim (Norway). This work presents new insights into the design of robust icephobic coatings that can sustain severe mechanical loading for use in real complex environments.
Response and prediction of unsaturated permeability of loess to microstructure
Authors: Wang Haiman , Ni Wankui
Published: February 2023

The study of water infiltration helps to investigate the pollutants' migration, grasp the mechanism of the water cycle, and correctly evaluate water resources. This paper reveals the mechanism of compacted loess's one-dimensional vertical water infiltration characteristics using a low-cost water infiltration device. In addition, it investigates particle arrangement and pore size distribution characteristics using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test finding suggests that the loess's early-stage infiltration rate is significant, and the dry density is not related to the infiltration characteristics. With the advance of the wetting front, the infiltration rate decreases under air resistance. The unsaturated permeability decreases with dry density at lower matric suction while unaffected by the dry density at higher matric suction. Moreover, the volume and connectivity of pores mainly control the water infiltration characteristics. Finally, based on the test results, a method for rapidly predicting the unsaturated permeability of loess is proposed. The results of the study help predict contaminant transport and guide groundwater extraction and management.
Automatic characterization of spherical metal powders by microscope image analysis: a parallel computing approach
Authors: Li Xiang , Cui Linyi , Shonkwiler Sara , McMains Sara
Published: February 2023

The microstructural characteristics of spherical metal powders play an important role in determining the quality of mechanical parts manufactured by powder metallurgy processes. Identifying the individual powder particles from their microscopic images is one of the most convenient and cost-efficient methods for the analysis of powder characteristics. Although numerous image processing algorithms have been developed for automating the powder particle identification process, they perform less accurately in identifying adjacent particles that are heavily overlapped in their image regions. We propose an automatic algorithm to robustly and accurately identify spherical powder particles, especially heavily overlapped particles, from their microscope images. A parallel computing framework is designed to further enhance the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Powder characteristics such as particle size distribution and the location of potential satellite particles have been derived from our identification results. The accuracy and efficiency of our algorithm are validated by real-world scanning electron microscope images, outperforming other existing methods and achieving both precision and recall above 99%.
A new algorithm for uncertainty quantification for thermal conductivity measurement on polymers with the Haakvoort method using differential scanning calorimetry considering specimen height and real contact area
Authors: Yagdjian Harutyun , Rommelfanger Simon , Gurka Martin
Published: February 2023

A new algorithm for the quantification of uncertainty in thermal conductivity measurements on polymers according to the Haakvort method is presented. This fast and convenient method using differential scanning calorimetry has been established as DIN EN ISO Standard 11357–8 with an error margin of 5–10%, which is a rather large value when considering that this is an important material parameter for many applications and is often used in combined quantities, such as thermal diffusivity or thermal effusivity. Unfortunately, the DIN EN ISO standard does not provide useful information on the dependence of the error range on the number of specimens or important parameters, such as the height of the specimens or their real contact area. Applying a rigorous statistical approach, based on the law of large numbers (LLN) and different techniques which are also used in well-known methods, such as Monte-Carlo- or Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms, we establish and investigate a method to optimize the experimental effort to a specific target, especially the number of specimens, the aspect ratio and the real contact surface of the specimen.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Research on reliability evolutionary optimization of relays device based on Multi-Markov model
Authors: Wang Xiang , Zhao JianFeng , Wang GaoLei , Wang TianShuo
Published: February 2023

As a critical component of the present day power system, a few studies have been conducted on the optimization and future prediction for quality reliability of relay protection devices during their production stage of intelligent testing. Therefore, in this study, a Markov model of multimodal hierarchical spatial states is proposed (1) to calculate the stationary probability and comprehensive availability of different spatial state transfers (2) to predict the quality reliability of the device during production intelligence testing and (3) to infer and calculated the integrated availability of the relay protection device for its future operation during testing. Statistical results from the theoretical findings of this study are highly relevant when compared to the actual operation of relay protection device systems. The correctness of the model calculation method proposed in this study is verified, which provides a feasible method for reliability assessment of relay protection device intelligence tests. In addition, it was also found that the failure rate of the device internal module CPU has a relatively large impact on the comprehensive availability. It is therefore recommended to focus on CPU module detection and timely replacement during the maintenance cycle of on-site operations and maintenance. Finally, the CPU module failure rate threshold for production intelligence testing was amended, which is a valuable indicator for the evolutionary optimization of quality problems in actual smart manufacturing and testing.
Back to the basics of polar expeditions: personality hardiness, fear, and nutrition in polar environments
Authors: Johnsen Bjørn Helge , Gjeldnes Rune
Published: February 2023

The present paper aims at presenting an overview of findings relating personality hardiness to adaptation to polar environments. Several studies from the Operational Psychology Research group at the University of Bergen have depicted individual characteristics of high hardy subjects involved in stressful activities in polar environments. These high hardy subjects have superior coping skills, are less influenced by environmental stress, show increased motivation during endurance activities, and have a more adaptive biological stress response. It could be assumed that explorers undertaking solo expeditions in polar environments would represent extremely hardy people. Thus, in addition to previously reported studies on hardiness in polar environment, the results from two previously published papers are presented and re-interpreted. The studies provided a rare opportunity to separate the effects of extreme physiological and emotional strain (mainly fear) and present the trajectory of relevant biomarkers of fear, stress, appetite, and nutritional status during a 90-day expedition across Antarctica. The studies expanded on previous knowledge by showing extreme variations in biomarkers during the expedition and suggested that extreme fear has the highest impact on indicators of stress, stress regulation, appetite, and nutritional status. This, together with the recovery effects found on nutrition status after a daily energy uptake of 5–6000 kcal, expands on previous knowledge about adaptation in polar environments.
One stage correction via the Hi-PoAD technique for the management of severe, stiff, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curves > 90°
Authors: Faldini Cesare , Viroli Giovanni , Barile Francesca , Manzetti Marco , Ialuna Marco , Traversari Matteo , Vita Fabio , Ruffilli Alberto
Published: February 2023

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Purpose

to assess the efficacy and safety of Hi-PoAD technique in patients with a major thoracic curve > 90°, < 25% of flexibility and deformity spread over more than five vertebral levels.

Methods

retrospective review of AIS patients with a major thoracic curve (Lenke 1–2–3) > 90°, with < 25% of flexibility and deformity spread over more than five vertebral levels. All were treated via the Hi-PoAD technique. Radiographic and clinical score data were collected pre-operatively, operatively, at 1 year, 2 years and at last follow-up (2 years minimum).

Results

19 patients were enrolled. A 65.0% correction rate of the main curve was achieved, from 101.9° to 35.7° (p < 0.001). The AVR reduced from 3.3 to 1.3. The C7PL/CSVL reduced from 1.5 to 0.9 cm (p = 0.013). Trunk Height increased from 31.1 to 37.0 cm (p < 0.001). At the final follow-up no significant changes, except from an improvement in C7PL/CSVL (from 0.9 cm to 0.6 cm; p = 0.017). SRS-22 increased in all patients, from 2.1 to 3.9 at 1 year of follow-up (p < 0.001). 3 patients had a transient drop of MEP and SEP during maneuver and were managed with temporary rods and a second surgery after 5 days. 2 of these 3 cases (66.7%) had a Total-Deformity Angular Ratio (T-DAR) > 25; conversely, among patients who had a one-stage procedure, only 1 (6.2%) had a T-DAR > 25 (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

The Hi-PoAD technique proved to be a valid alternative for the treatment of severe, rigid AIS involving more than 5 vertebral bodies.

Study design

Retrospective comparative cohort study.

Level of evidence

III.
AtBBX29 integrates photomorphogenesis and defense responses in Arabidopsis
Authors: Medina-Fraga Ana L. , Chinen Lucas A. , Demkura Patricia V. , Lichy Micaela Z. , Gershenzon Jonathan , Ballaré Carlos L. , Crocco Carlos D.
Published: February 2023

Light is an environmental signal that modulates plant defenses against attackers. Recent research has focused on the effects of light on defense hormone signaling; however, the connections between light signaling pathways and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites involved in plant defense have been relatively unexplored. Here, we show that Arabidopsis BBX29, a protein that belongs to the B-Box transcription factor (TF) family, integrates photomorphogenic signaling with defense responses by promoting flavonoid, sinapate and glucosinolate accumulation in Arabidopsis leaves. AtBBX29 transcript levels were up regulated by light, through photoreceptor signaling pathways. Genetic evidence indicated that AtBBX29 up-regulates MYB12 gene expression, a TF known to induce genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis in a light-dependent manner, and MYB34 and MYB51, which encode TFs involved in the regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis. Thus, bbx29 knockout mutants displayed low expression levels of key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, and the opposite was true in BBX29 overexpression lines. In agreement with the transcriptomic data, bbx29 mutant plants accumulated lower levels of kaempferol glucosides, sinapoyl malate, indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate (I3M), 4-methylsulfinylbutyl glucosinolate (4MSOB) and 3-methylthiopropyl glucosinolate (3MSP) in rosette leaves compared to the wild-type, and showed increased susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea and to the herbivore Spodoptera frugiperda. In contrast, BBX29 overexpressing plants displayed increased resistance to both attackers. In addition, we found that AtBBX29 plays an important role in mediating the effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on plant defense against B. cinerea. Taken together, these results suggest that AtBBX29 orchestrates the accumulation of specific light-induced metabolites and regulates Arabidopsis resistance against pathogens and herbivores.

Graphical Abstract
The Archaeology of the East Anglian Conversion
Authors: Hoggett Richard
Published: February 2023

The huge changes in the landscape as a result of the Christian conversion of East Anglia are examined in this multi-disciplinary study.
Longitudinal stability of
gyroplanes
Authors: Houston S. S.
Published: February 2023

The class of aircraft known as gyroplanes (or
autogyros) helped to pave the way for the
development of the helicopter. However, they have
found no application in contemporary commercial or
military aviation. It is in recreational or sport
flying that the gyroplane has proved popular. Most
if not all designs are however homebuilts, and as a
consequence little analysis of any significance has
been conducted on the flight mechanics of these
aircraft. This Paper presents an analysis of the
longitudinal stability of gyroplanes. Simple
consideration of the basic forces and moments that
might influence stability, in the context of
elementary rotor behaviour, is used to assess the
fundamental nature of gyroplane longitudinal
stability. This is quantified by the application of
a sophisticated generic rotorcraft mathematical
model to the gyroplane problem. It is concluded that
the basic configuration can be longitudinally stable
with appropriate design, and that the rotorspeed
degree of freedom must also be included when
modelling the aircraft.
Automatic grid generation for complex
geometries
Authors: Smith R. J. , Leschziner M. A.
Published: February 2023

A novel automatic grid generation method for complex
CFD applications has been developed, driven by the
need of the industrial CFD practitioner to reduce
the turnaround time from an initial CAD geometry to
obtaining a flow simulation. The method uses a
subdivision strategy, allowing hanging nodes in a
Cartesian unstructured mesh environment and is
combined with a non-overlapping, semi-structured
surface grid. Unusually, the surface grid is the end
rather than the starting point of the present
approach. This reversal of gridding strategy allows
usability to be enhanced, in that the grid
generation is reduced to one automatic step. The
capabilities of the method are demonstrated by
reference to selected inviscid and viscous flow
solutions using the Fluent code Rampant v4.0 as a
flow solver.
Rutile Ages and Thermometry Along a Grenville Anorthosite Pathway
Authors: Liebmann Janne , Barham Milo , Kirkland Christopher L.
Published: February 2023

The Grenville Orogen, in North America, contains a belt of Proterozoic anorthosite massifs with an episodic emplacement history. These distinctive magmas reflect extensive fractional crystallization of plagioclase from a mafic magma and contain layers dominated by Ti‐bearing minerals including ilmenite and rutile. U‐Pb geochronology and Zr‐in‐rutile analyses from the Lac Malbaie complex in the Saint Urbain area of Quebec help to constrain the tectonothermal history of repeated anorthosite emplacement into the crust. Geologically significant dates were obtained from low‐U (<2 ppm) rutile in anorthosite drill cores and a boulder. Rutile ages of c. 1158, 1069–1056, and 936–910 Ma are interpreted to reflect variable modification of cooling ages during later intrusion and fluid mobilization events. Zr‐in‐rutile temperatures track higher apparent temperatures of >800°C in earlier events. Apparently younger rutile grains, and those influenced by fast pathway diffusion, record lower apparent temperatures. The Grenville Orogen comprises major trans‐lithospheric structures that facilitate the repeated bottom‐up transit of mantle‐derived magmas. At depth this led to the emplacement of anorthositic magmas whose thermal pathway is tracked by rutile passing through their Pb blocking temperature during crustal unroofing. This same broad crustal architecture, in the comparatively shallow crust, provided a favorable pathway for top‐down hydrothermal fluids to interact with younger rutile as successive anorthosites were emplaced. Rutile demonstrates that the current crustal section represents the juxtaposition of minerals preserving information from different thermal regimes, retaining vestiges of a protracted history due to incomplete re‐equilibration with subsequent chemical or thermal conditions.
Origin of 182W Anomalies in Ocean Island Basalts
Authors: Archer Gregory J. , Budde Gerrit , Worsham Emily A. , Stracke Andreas , Jackson Matthew G. , Kleine Thorsten
Published: February 2023

Ocean island basalts (OIB) show variable 182W deficits that have been attributed to either early differentiation of the mantle or core‐mantle interaction. However, 182W variations may also reflect nucleosynthetic isotope heterogeneity inherited from Earth's building material, which would be evident from correlated 182W and 183W anomalies. Some datasets for OIB indeed show hints for such correlated variations, meaning that a nucleosynthetic origin of W isotope anomalies in OIB cannot be excluded. We report high‐precision W isotope data for OIB from Samoa and Hawaii, which confirm previously reported 182W deficits for these samples, but also demonstrate that none of these samples have resolvable 183W anomalies. These data therefore rule out a nucleosynthetic origin of the 182W deficits in OIB, which most likely reflect the entrainment of either core material or an overabundance of late‐accreted materials within OIB mantle sources. If these processes occurred over Earth's history, they may have also been responsible for shifting the 182W composition of the bulk mantle to its modern‐day value. We also report Mo isotope data for some Hawaiian OIB, which reveal no resolved nucleosynthetic Mo isotopic anomalies. This is consistent with inheritance of 182W deficits in OIB from the addition of either core or late‐accreted material, but only if these materials have a non‐carbonaceous (NC) meteorite‐like heritage. As such, these data rule out significant contributions of carbonaceous chondrite (CC)‐like materials to either Earth's core or late accretion.
Modulation of Cyclones With Tropical and Extratropical Origins by Mesoscale SSTs in the Kuroshio Extension Region
Authors: Zhang Xingzhi , Ma Xiaohui , Ma WeiWei , Wu Lixin , Liu Qinyu , Zhang Li , Wang Baiping
Published: February 2023

Two typical classes of cyclones originating from the tropics (ToCs) and extratropics (EoCs) with distinct preconditions, and passing the Kuroshio Extension (KE) region in cold season in the North Pacific are detected and tracked based on high‐resolution atmospheric simulations with and without mesoscale sea surface temperature (SST) forcing. A comparison between ToC‐to‐mesoscale SST and EoC‐to‐mesoscale SST responses indicates that the different cyclone development and the environmental water vapor restoration in the KE are primarily attributed to different ToC and EOC's preconditions. The higher initial intensity of ToCs leads to stronger atmospheric response to mesoscale SSTs and extended cyclone growth whilst the colder and drier precondition of EoCs induces stronger water vapor restoration in the KE after EoCs passing‐by. It is further demonstrated that the water vapor restoration is dominated by moisture convergence. The study provides new insights into the physical understanding of mesoscale SSTs' influence on cyclogenesis in the midlatitudes.
Reconciling Observations of Solar Irradiance Variability With Cloud Size Distributions
Authors: Mol Wouter B. , van Stratum Bart J. H. , Knap Wouter H. , van Heerwaarden Chiel C.
Published: February 2023

Clouds cast shadows on the surface and locally enhance solar irradiance by absorbing and scattering sunlight, resulting in fast and large solar irradiance fluctuations on the surface. Typical spatiotemporal scales and driving mechanisms of this intra‐day irradiance variability are not well known, hence even 1 day ahead forecasts of variability are inaccurate. Here, we use long‐term, high‐frequency solar irradiance observations combined with satellite imagery, numerical simulations, and conceptual modeling to show how irradiance variability is linked to the cloud size distribution. Cloud shadow sizes are distributed according to a power law over multiple orders of magnitude, deviating only from the cloud size distribution due to cloud edge transparency at scales below ≈750 m. Locally cloud‐enhanced irradiance occurs as frequently as shadows, and is similarly driven mostly by boundary layer clouds, but distributed over a smaller range of scales. We reconcile studies of solar irradiance variability with those on clouds, which brings fundamental understanding to what drives irradiance variability. Our findings have implications not only for weather and climate modeling, but also for solar energy and photosynthesis by vegetation, where detailed knowledge of surface solar irradiance is essential.
Seasonality of brain function: role in psychiatric disorders
Authors: Zhang Rui , Volkow Nora D.
Published: February 2023

Seasonality patterns are reported in various psychiatric disorders. The current paper summarizes findings on brain adaptations associated with seasonal changes, factors that contribute to individual differences and their implications for psychiatric disorders. Changes in circadian rhythms are likely to prominently mediate these seasonal effects since light strongly entrains the internal clock modifying brain function. Inability of circadian rhythms to accommodate to seasonal changes might increase the risk for mood and behavior problems as well as worse clinical outcomes in psychiatric disorders. Understanding the mechanisms that account for inter-individual variations in seasonality is relevant to the development of individualized prevention and treatment for psychiatric disorders. Despite promising findings, seasonal effects are still understudied and only controlled as a covariate in most brain research. Rigorous neuroimaging studies with thoughtful experimental designs, powered sample sizes and high temporal resolution alongside deep characterization of the environment are needed to better understand the seasonal adaptions of the human brain as a function of age, sex, and geographic latitude and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the alterations in seasonal adaptation in psychiatric disorders.
Rational thinking as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and dental anxiety
Authors: Yao Jiaxuan , Carciofo Richard , Pan Li
Published: February 2023

Dental anxiety causes people to postpone or refuse to go to the dentist, which further negatively impacts their quality of life and public health. Previous research has shown that mindfulness is inversely related to anxiety. However, little is known about the relationship between mindfulness and dental anxiety. The current research aimed to explore the relationship between mindfulness and dental anxiety and investigate the mediating role of rational thinking. Two studies were conducted. In study one, 206 Chinese participants completed questionnaires measuring trait mindfulness and dental anxiety (state, responding to a dental treatment scenario). In study two, 394 participants completed questionnaires measuring trait mindfulness, dental anxiety (trait), and rational thinking. The results for both studies showed that mindfulness is negatively correlated with dental anxiety. In study 1, each facet of mindfulness except Non-judging was negatively correlated with dental anxiety with Acting with Awareness having the strongest correlation, while in study 2, only Acting with Awareness was significantly negatively correlated with dental anxiety. Furthermore, rational thinking mediated the effect of mindfulness on dental anxiety. In conclusion, mindfulness is negatively related to both state and trait dental anxiety, and rational thinking mediates the relationship between mindfulness and dental anxiety. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Comparison of RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR with Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) RNA
Authors: Park Changwoo , Park Dongju , Hassan Zohaib Ul , Choi Sang Ho , Kim Seil
Published: February 2023

Rift valley fever (RVF) is an important zoonotic disease caused by the Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) which can affect ruminants and humans. In this study, a comparison was done of the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays with synthesized RVFV RNA, cultured viral RNA, and mock clinical RVFV RNA samples. The genomic segments (L, M, and S) of three RVFV strains (BIME01, Kenya56, and ZH548) were synthesized and used as templates for in vitro transcription (IVT). Both the RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR assays for RVFV did not react with any of the negative reference viral genomes. Thus, both the RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR assays are specific to RVFV. The comparison of both the RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR assays with serially diluted templates showed that the LoD of both assays are similar, and a concordant of the results was observed. The LoD of both assays reached the practical measurable minimum concentration. Taken altogether, the sensitivity of the RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR assays is similar, and the material measured by RT-ddPCR can be used as a reference material for RT-qPCR.
Effect of total knee replacement on skeletal muscle mass measurements using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
Authors: Jang Jae Young , Kim Miji , Lee Daehyun , Won Chang Won
Published: February 2023

Sarcopenia is becoming prevalent in an increasing number of older adults undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Metal implants may overestimate lean mass (LM) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This study aimed to examine the effects of TKR on LM measurements according to automatic metal detection (AMD) processing. The participants from Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study, who had underwent TKR were enrolled. A total of 24 older adults (mean age 76.4 ± 4.0 years, 92% female) were included in the analysis. The SMI with AMD processing was 6.1 ± 0.6 kg/m2, which was lower than that without AMD processing of 6.5 ± 0.6 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). The LM of the right leg with AMD processing was lower than that without AMD in 20 participants who had underwent TKR surgery on the right (5.5 ± 0.2 kg vs. 6.0 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.001), and that of the left leg was also lower in with AMD processing than in without AMD processing in 18 participants who had underwent TKR surgery on the left (5.7 ± 0.2 kg vs. 5.2 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.001). Only one participant was classified as having low muscle mass without AMD processing, but this came to four after AMD processing. LM assessment in individuals who had TKR could be significantly different according to the use of AMD.