bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality risk following self‐harm in young people: a population cohort study using the Northern Ireland Registry of Self‐Harm
Authors: Ross Emma , O'Reilly Dermot , O'Hagan Denise , Maguire Aideen
Published: March 2023

Background

Self‐harm is a recognised predictor of suicide and is most common in those aged under 25 years. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of young people who present with self‐harm; quantify the risk of suicide and other causes of death during follow up, and to identify factors associated with mortality risk.

Methods

The Northern Ireland Registry of Self‐Harm (NIRSH) is a national registry capturing complete data on all presentations made to the 12 Emergency Departments (EDs) in Northern Ireland (NI). Data relating to self‐harm presentations registered in the NIRSH between 2012 and 2015 were linked to primary care registrations and death records up until 31st December 2018. Logistic regression was employed to examine the factors associated with self‐harm. Cox regression was used to estimate mortality risk following self‐harm and explore the associated risk factors.

Results

The cohort consisted of 390,740 individuals aged 10–24 years registered with a General Practitioner (GP) in NI. During follow‐up, 4,450 individuals presented with self‐harm. Rates of self‐harm were highest in females, those aged 20–24 years (ORadj = 3.53, 95% CI 3.28–3.80, p < .001), and in the most deprived areas (ORadj = 2.71, 95% CI 2.45–2.99, p < .001). Thirty five individuals who presented with self‐harm died by suicide, accounting for 23% of all suicide deaths in the cohort. Suicide risk was increased 19‐fold in those who presented with self‐harm after adjustment for age, sex and area‐level factors (HRadj = 19.00, 95% CI 12.80–28.21, p < .001). Increased suicide risk was observed in males (HRadj = 2.04, 95% CI 0.99–4.23, p = .05) and those using more violent methods of self‐injury (HRadj = 3.89, 95% CI 1.65–9.13, p < .001).

Conclusions

Young people who self‐harm are at a significantly greater risk of suicide. Almost a quarter of young people who died by suicide in NI had presented to EDs with self‐harm, highlighting that the ED may provide a nodal point of intervention among a typically hard to identify and reach population.
A primer on predictive techniques for food and bioresources transformation processes
Authors: Sicard Jason , Barbe Sophie , Boutrou Rachel , Bouvier Laurent , Delaplace Guillaume , Lashermes Gwenaëlle , Théron Laëtitia , Vitrac Olivier , Tonda Alberto
Published: March 2023

To meet current societal demand for more sustainable transformation processes and bioresources, these processes must be optimized and new ones developed. The evolution of various systems (raw material, food, or process attributes) can be predicted to optimize the uses of biomass for better quality, safety, economic benefit, and sustainability. Predictive modeling can guide the necessary changes and influence industrials, governmental policies and consumers decision‐making. However, achieving good predictive capability requires reflection on the models and model validation, which can be difficult. This review aims to help scientists begin to predict by presenting the techniques currently used in predictive science for food and related bioproducts. First, a guideline helps readers initiate a prediction process along with final tips and a warning about the risks involved, with a particular focus on the crucial validation step. Three broad categories of techniques are then presented: empirical, mechanistic, and artificial intelligence (or “data‐driven”). For each category, the advantages and limitations of current techniques for prediction are explained in light of their current domains of applications, illustrated with literature studies and a detailed example. Thus this article provides engineering researchers information about predictive modeling which is a recent relevant development in optimization of both food and nonfood bioresources processes.

Practical applications

Predictive modeling is a recent development of much relevance in the optimization of both food and nonfood bioresources processes. The goal of this article is to guide those in research or industry who would like to start predicting. Therefore, the article is intended as a primer on prediction concepts and predictive techniques for food and non‐food bioresources processing. Three categories of techniques commonly used in these fields are illustrated by various examples of current applications and a more detailed example helps to understand the implementation process. An increased ability of the global scientific body to predict the outcome of various decisions, often linked or sequential, will open new avenues for designing food products with circularity in mind: maintaining value and not creating waste in the process.
Incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway 1993–2021
Authors: Thiis‐Evensen Espen , Boyar Cetinkaya Raziye
Published: March 2023

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has increased over the last decades. The prevalence of NENs has to a lesser extent been previously reported. We wanted to study the trends in incidence and prevalence of NEN in Norway from 1993 to 2021 through the Cancer Registry of Norway. This registry, which covers the whole population, has been found to be 99% complete. The neoplasms were classified as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). From 1993 to 2021 altogether 10.288 NETs and 13,982 (1.756 outside the lungs) NECs were diagnosed. The incidence of NETs increased from 3.72 to 9.97 per 100,000 per year, corresponding to a 268% increase, p < .001. The largest increase in incidence for NETs was found for pancreas (338%), lung (330%) and small intestine (303%). For NECs there was no change in the incidence, from 9.74 to 9.95 per 100,000 per year, p = .4, but there was an increase in the incidence of NECs originating from the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma) (287%), p < .001, and the GI tract (200%), p = .03. There were no changes in stage distribution at diagnosis for NETs and NECs. The prevalence for NENs increased 666% during the study period, NETs increased from 10.77 to 99.37 per 100.000 (927%), p < .001. For NECs the increase was from 7.4 to 21.56 per 100.000 (291%), p < .001. GI‐NECs increased the most from 0.005 to 0.94 (1880%), p = .002. In conclusion, there was a substantial increase in incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway from 1993 to 2021. This is the first study to report complete prevalence of NENs for a whole nation.
Effects of self‐management interventions for cancer patients with pain: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Chan Dorothy N. S. , Liu Xingling , Cai Yingying , Chen Jiawen , Xie Minjuan
Published: March 2023

Aims

To evaluate the effects of self‐management interventions targeting individuals with cancer‐related pain on pain intensity, self‐efficacy, quality of life (QoL), pain medication adherence, and pain‐related knowledge and provide recommendations for the content and format of self‐management interventions based on the existing evidence.

Design

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and narrative synthesis.

Data Sources

A search of six electronic databases, including Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science and Scopus.

Review Methods

This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published from January 2011 to March 2022 in English were retrieved. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess quality. Data were summarised using narrative synthesis.

Results

This systematic review included six RCTs involving 748 patients with cancer‐related pain. The results support the effectiveness of the intervention on QoL and pain‐related knowledge. Mixed results were observed in the effectiveness on pain intensity, self‐efficacy and medication adherence. Overall, the quality of the evidence was low. The content of self‐management interventions varied across studies but with similar formats (face‐to‐face coaching and telephone follow‐up).

Conclusion

The existing evidence supports the effectiveness of self‐management interventions on pain‐related knowledge and QoL. Further high‐quality RCTs are needed to determine the most effective interventions.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Self‐management is recommended to improve cancer patients' pain awareness, self‐management behaviour and adaptability. Components for self‐management of cancer pain, including patient attitude and knowledge assessment, nurse coaching and counselling, reinforcement during follow‐up period, and provision of supplementary materials on pain management and medication adherence, could be covered in the intervention. In the future, it is worthwhile exploring an effective intervention using Internet‐based information technology, for example WeChat, to aid the delivery of self‐management intervention.

No Patient or Public Contribution

This systematic review does not necessarily involve patients or public members in this work.
Enhancing staff capacity to support children with intellectual disability receiving residential services: A realist evaluation of an improvement program
Authors: Wallin Pontus , Petersson Christina , Josefsson Kristina Areskoug , Nordin Annika
Published: March 2023

Children with intellectual disability receiving residential support, according to the Swedish Disability Act, need substantial support to cope with everyday life. These children have cognitive and communicative limitations, entailing difficulties for staff in consulting the children regarding their support arrangements. In addition, due to lack of research there are knowledge gaps and uncertainties concerning how staff can provide the children's support. To deliver high qualitative support, research suggests that disability organisations should (1) continuously work with quality improvement, (2) adopt a multi‐dimensional framework that explains human functioning and disability as a basis for understanding individual support needs, and (3) use person‐centred approaches. Based on these principles, this study has applied a realist evaluation to identify enablers and barriers during the implementation of an improvement programme aimed at improving staff's ability to provide support to children living in special residences.
In the eye of the beholder: A configurational exploration of perceived deceptive supplier behavior in negotiations
Authors: Woelfl Katja , Kaufmann Lutz , Carter Craig R.
Published: March 2023

Deceptive behavior in negotiations has been found to be widespread and to have harmful consequences. This study shifts the current research direction on deceptive negotiation behavior by adopting a target's perspective on deception and by using a configurational theorizing approach. Prior studies in supply chain management (SCM) and in other disciplines have studied deceptive negotiation behavior—as one specific form of opportunism—based on correlational approaches. In doing so, they have focused almost exclusively on the actor's (i.e., deceiver's) perspective—for example, investigating actors' motivations for using deception. As a result, a profound understanding of deceptive negotiation behavior from a target's perspective is lacking. In three studies, this research investigates what factors, on both the firm and individual levels, combine to lead purchasing managers (i.e., targets) to perceive supplier deception. The configurational analysis uncovers considerably more combinations of firm‐level and individual‐level factors that lead to perceptions of high supplier deception than combinations that lead to perceptions of low supplier deception. Thus, the contribution is twofold: First, the studies shift the perspective from the deception source to the deception target. Second, they uncover the causally complex nature of perceived deception in negotiations. Managerial implications include that purchasing managers, in their efforts to detect supplier deception, should move beyond paying attention to isolated factors, such as body language, and instead should focus on different combinations of power balances, negotiation stakes, and negotiator proficiencies.
Predicting diversity in benthic macro‐scale communities associated with mussel matrices in three Pacific ecoregions
Authors: Wilbur Lynn , Küpper Frithjof C. , Katsiaras Nikolaos , Louca Vasilis
Published: March 2023

Marine mussels are ubiquitous and their tough byssal threads allow for the formation of expansive, age‐aggregated mats known as mussel matrices which can host marine invertebrates and algal macro‐benthic communities playing an important role in food‐web dynamics. Yet, despite the significant implications for biodiversity and intertidal ecosystem functioning, the role of mussel size, individual morphology and community arrangement in determining the structure of the associated community has never been investigated. Species representative of the green, brown and red marine algal phyla as well as polychaetes, crustaceans and gastropods were sampled from mussel matrices in the Guayaquil (GUAY), Humboldtian (HWS, HNS) and North American Pacific Fjordland (NAPF) marine ecoregions. Linear mixed effects modelling (LMM) and linear effects modelling (LEM) were used to determine the effect of mussel matrices as a predictor of species diversity by incorporating variability due to ecoregion and sampling site. Shell length and stratum index demonstrated significant effect on species richness (Sobs) and Menhinick's richness (D), while stratum index demonstrated an effect on species diversity (H). In the linear mixed model analysis, shell length explained most of the variation in Menhinick's richness (D) and observed species richness (Sobs), while stratum index explained most of the variation in (D) in the linear effects model. Our findings reveal that the level of complexity in mussel assemblages plays a major role in determining species diversity.
Markov decision processes under model uncertainty
Authors: Neufeld Ariel , Sester Julian , Šikić Mario
Published: March 2023

We introduce a general framework for Markov decision problems under model uncertainty in a discrete‐time infinite horizon setting. By providing a dynamic programming principle, we obtain a local‐to‐global paradigm, namely solving a local, that is, a one time‐step robust optimization problem leads to an optimizer of the global (i.e., infinite time‐steps) robust stochastic optimal control problem, as well as to a corresponding worst‐case measure. Moreover, we apply this framework to portfolio optimization involving data of the . We present two different types of ambiguity sets; one is fully data‐driven given by a Wasserstein‐ball around the empirical measure, the second one is described by a parametric set of multivariate normal distributions, where the corresponding uncertainty sets of the parameters are estimated from the data. It turns out that in scenarios where the market is volatile or bearish, the optimal portfolio strategies from the corresponding robust optimization problem outperforms the ones without model uncertainty, showcasing the importance of taking model uncertainty into account.
Factors associated with diet diversity among infants and young children in the Eastern and Southern Africa region
Authors: Kang Yunhee , Heidkamp Rebecca A. , Mako‐Mushaninga Kudakwashe , Garg Aashima , Matji Joan N. , Nyawo Mara , Craig Hope C. , Thorne‐Lyman Andrew L.
Published: March 2023

This study explores common factors associated with not meeting minimum dietary diversity (MDD) among 27,072 children aged 6–23 months in Eastern and Southern Africa using data from nine Demographic and Health Surveys from 2013 to 2016. MDD was defined as consumption of more than or equals to five of eight food groups including breast milk in the past 24 h. Equity gaps were calculated as the difference in MDD prevalence between the top and bottom wealth quintiles. Logistic regression was conducted to identify common factors for not meeting MDD at the household, maternal and child levels across two or more countries to inform regional policies to improve children's diets. Kenya had the highest MDD wealth equity gap (40.4 pts), and South Africa had the smallest (14.4 pts). Equity gaps for flesh foods or eggs (up to 39.8 pp) were larger than for grain or legumes (up to 20 pp). Common risk factors for not reaching MDD included younger child age (6–11 months) (n = 9 countries), no formal maternal occupation (n = 6), not receiving vitamin‐A supplementation (n = 3), younger maternal age (n = 3), lower maternal education (n = 3), no media (n = 3) or newspaper (n = 3) exposure, lower household wealth quintile (n = 3), use of nonefficient cooking fuel (n = 2), longer time to get to the water source (n = 2), not listening to the radio (n = 2) and higher birth order (n = 2). Priorities for improving MDD in the region include introducing diverse foods at a young age from 6 months with early nutrition counselling, promoting higher maternal education, increasing food purchasing power and ensuring the support of younger mothers.
Two cyanobacterial response regulators with diguanylate cyclase activity, Rre2 and Rre8, participate in biofilm formation
Authors: Kobayashi Ayumu , Nakamura Masamune , Tsujii Masaru , Makino Kohei , Nagayama Tatsuya , Nakamura Kensuke , Nanatani Kei , Kota Kera , Furuuchi Yuki , Kayamori Shunsuke , Furuta Tadaomi , Suzuki Iwane , Hayakawa Yoshihiro , Tanudjaja Ellen , Ishimaru Yasuhiro , Uozumi Nobuyuki
Published: March 2023

Phototrophic bacteria face diurnal variations of environmental conditions such as light and osmolarity that affect their carbon metabolism and ability to generate organic compounds. The model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 forms a biofilm when it encounters extreme conditions like high salt stress, but the molecular mechanisms involved in perception of environmental changes that lead to biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we studied two two‐component regulatory systems (TCSs) that contain diguanylate cyclases (DGCs), which produce the second messenger c‐di‐GMP, as potential components of the biofilm‐inducing signaling pathway in Synechocystis. Analysis of single mutants provided evidence for involvement of the response regulators, Rre2 and Rre8 in biofilm formation. A bacterial two‐hybrid assay showed that Rre2 and Rre8 each formed a TCS with a specific histidine kinase, Hik12 and Hik14, respectively. The in vitro assay showed that Rre2 had DGC activity regardless of its de/phosphorylation status, whereas Rre8 required phosphorylation for DGC activity. Hik14‐Rre8 likely functioned as an inducible sensing system in response to environmental change. Biofilm assays with Synechocystis mutants suggested that pairs of hik12‐rre2 and hik14‐rre8 responded to high salinity‐induced biofilm formation. Inactivation of hik12‐rre2 and hik14‐rre8 did not affect the performance of the light reactions of photosynthesis. These data suggest that Hik12‐Rre2 and Hik14‐Rre8 participate in biofilm formation in Synechocystis by regulating c‐di‐GMP production via the DGC activity of Rre2 and Rre8.
Translanguaging as a space of simultaneity: Theorizing translanguaging pedagogies in English medium schools from a spatial perspective
Authors: Phyak Prem
Published: March 2023

This article theorizes translanguaging as a space of simultaneity to analyze how teachers use translanguaging to create a multilingual classroom space and engage students with their multilingual identities and epistemologies in the classroom. The data in this article are drawn from an ethnographic study of language policies and practices in a public school in the hills of eastern Nepal. The analysis of classroom anecdotes, observation notes, and interviews with teachers reveals that translanguaging reconfigures the classroom as a critical social space where students’ identities are recognized as multilingual and multiepistemic beings representing their home, community, and school spaces. I argue that translanguaging pedagogies should pay attention to connecting the perceived, conceived, and lived spaces of students to help them resist unequal pedagogies and reclaim their identities as multilingual and multiepistemic subjects. The findings of the study imply that a spatial perspective on translanguaging helps teachers expand the scope of translanguaging pedagogies to transform a monolingualized institutional space as a space of simultaneity that embraces multilingual language practices, transformative ideologies, and the lived experiences of students.
Critiquing Neocolonial Digital Barriers’ Impact on eLibraries and African Scholarship
Authors: Heyward‐Rotimi Kamela
Published: March 2023

This article offers an overview of the Knowledge Exchange Research Group (KERG) West African Elibrary Collaborative (WAELC) study of West African scholars' systemic restricted access to digitized scholarly databases. WAELC, an ongoing qualitative and quantitative study, explores limited accessibility to current open‐access digital repositories and platforms at some African universities. A practical output of the study is to inform the development of a sustainable institutional repository and support the development of an open‐access multimodal digital platform that will feature scholarly and creative works of global Black people. The WAELC data addresses gaps in previous research on library access and usage at African universities and critically responds to the general African Digital Divide literature. A central focus of this article is to discuss the sociocultural and historical practices and processes that shape current digital access to electronic scholarship in Africa. Foregrounded in a Black feminist autoethnographic approach, the author's research process and researcher positionality were central to developing the WAELC research project. A significant finding of this research is that the systemic inequities framing global knowledge access and production in Global South institutions are reproduced in infrastructures weakened from colonial, neocolonial, and neoliberal social, political, and economic systems.
The barrier to radial oxygen loss protects roots against hydrogen sulphide intrusion and its toxic effect
Authors: Peralta Ogorek Lucas León , Takahashi Hirokazu , Nakazono Mikio , Pedersen Ole
Published: March 2023

The root barrier to radial O2 loss (ROL) is a key root trait preventing O2 loss from roots to anoxic soils, thereby enabling root growth into anoxic, flooded soils.

We hypothesized that the ROL barrier can also prevent intrusion of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a potent phytotoxin in flooded soils. Using H2S‐ and O2‐sensitive microsensors, we measured the apparent permeance to H2S of rice roots, tested whether restricted H2S intrusion reduced its adverse effects on root respiration, and whether H2S could induce the formation of a ROL barrier.

The ROL barrier reduced apparent permeance to H2S by almost 99%, greatly restricting H2S intrusion. The ROL barrier acted as a shield towards H2S; O2 consumption in roots with a ROL barrier remained unaffected at high H2S concentration (500 μM), compared to a 67% decline in roots without a barrier. Importantly, low H2S concentrations induced the formation of a ROL barrier.

In conclusion, the ROL barrier plays a key role in protecting against H2S intrusion, and H2S can act as an environmental signalling molecule for the induction of the barrier. This study demonstrates the multiple functions of the suberized/lignified outer part of the rice root beyond that of restricting ROL.
The effect of post‐COVID‐19 on gustatory and olfactory function: A preliminary case‐controlled study
Authors: Livni Dror , Grinstein‐Koren Osnat , Zlotogorski‐Hurvitz Ayelet , Reiter Shoshana , Winocour‐Arias Orit , Edel Jeremy , Goldman Yuli , Vered Marilena , Choshen Guy , Rahamim‐Cohen Daniella , Shapiro‐Ben David Shirley , Kaplan Ilana
Published: March 2023

Aims

The aim of the study was to analyze objective and subjective olfactory/gustatory function in post‐COVID‐19 infection (PCI).

Materials and Methods

Patients with past PCR‐confirmed COVID‐19 infection and persistent olfactory/gustatory complaints were investigated. Olfactory threshold and identification, gustatory detection, identification, and magnitude scaling were tested.

Results

A total of 42 PCI subjects were compared to 41 age‐ and gender‐matched controls with no COVID‐19 history. All PCI tested had mild COVID‐19 disease. Mean interval between COVID‐19 confirmations to testing was 7.4 ± 3.1 months. PCI subjects complained of combined dysfunction in 85.7%, isolated olfactory or gustatory dysfunction in 7.1% each. Combined complaints were significantly higher in PCI (p < 0.001). Objective testing showed significantly higher prevalence of dysfunction in PCI versus controls for hyposmia (73.8%, 12.2%), anosmia (11.9%, 0%), odor identification (68.5%, 83.0%), hypogeusia (23% and 2.4%, respectively), and impaired magnitude scaling, (p < 0.05). All PCI subjects with hypogeusia had abnormal gustatory magnitude scaling.

Conclusions

While most PCI subjects complained of combined gustatory and olfactory dysfunction, objective testing showed in the majority an isolated single sense dysfunction, with a low level of agreement between subjective and objective findings.

Abnormal objective results for all olfactory and gustatory functions tested may suggest a central rather than peripheral mechanism, although concomitant mechanisms cannot be excluded.
Contralateral effect in progression and recovery of lens‐induced myopia in mice
Authors: Ma Ziyan , Jeong Heonuk , Yang Yajing , Jiang Xiaoyan , Ikeda Shin‐ichi , Negishi Kazuno , Kurihara Toshihide , Tsubota Kazuo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Apart from genetic factors, recent animal studies on myopia have focused on localised mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to examine the contralateral effects of monocular experimental myopia and recovery, which cannot be explained by a mere local mechanism.

Methods

One eye of 3‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice was fitted with a −30 dioptre (D) lens. The mice were distributed into two groups based on different conditions in the contralateral eye: either no lens (NLC) (n = 10) or a Plano lens on the contralateral eye (PLC) group (n = 6). Mice receiving no treatment on either eye were set as a control group (n = 6). Lenses were removed after 3 weeks of myopia induction. All mice were allowed to recover for 1 week in the same environment. Refractive status, axial length (AL) and choroidal thickness were measured before myopia induction, after 1 and 3 weeks of lens wear and after 1 week of recovery.

Results

One week after removing the lenses, complete recovery was observed in the eyes that wore the −30 D lenses. In both the PLC and NLC groups, the refractive status showed a myopic shift after lens removal. Additionally, the choroid was significantly thinned in these eyes. The −30 D wearing eye showed a significant increase in AL after 3 weeks of lens wear. While the AL of the −30 D wearing eye ceased to grow after the lens was removed, the AL in the PLC and NLC contralateral eyes increased, and the binocular ALs gradually converged.

Conclusions

Recovery of lens‐induced myopia was observed in mouse models. In the fellow eyes, the effects, including thinning of the choroid and changes in refractive status, were triggered by contralateral visual cues.
Integrative multi‐omics analysis of three early diverged rosid species reveals an ancient hierarchical cold‐responsive regulatory network
Authors: Guo Liangyu , Xu Zhiming , Wang Shuo , Nie Yuqi , Ye Xiaoxue , Jin Xuejiao , Zhu Jianhua , Wu Wenwu
Published: March 2023

Elucidating regulators, including transcription factors (TFs) and RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs), underlying gene transcriptional and post‐transcriptional co‐regulatory network is key to understand plant cold responses. Previous studies were mainly conducted on single species, and whether the regulators are conserved across different species remains elusive. Here, we selected three species that diverged at the early evolution of rosids (~99–113 million years ago), performed cold‐responsive phylotranscriptome experiments, and integrated chromatin immunoprecipitation‐ and DNA affinity purification‐sequencing (ChIP/DAP‐seq) analysis to explore cold‐responsive regulators and their regulatory networks. First, we detected over 10,000 cold‐induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and alternative splicing genes (DASGs) in each species. Among the DEGs, a set of TFs and RBPs were conserved in rosid cold response. Compared to TFs, RBPs displayed a delayed cold‐responsive pattern, implying a hierarchical regulation of DEGs and DASGs. By integrating DEGs and DASGs, we identified 259 overlapping DE‐DASG orthogroups (closely‐related homologs) that were cold‐regulated at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels in all three studied species. Notably, pathway analysis on each of the DEGs, DASGs, and DE‐DASGs in the three species showed a common enrichment connected to the circadian rhythm. Evidently, 226 cold‐responsive genes were directly targeted by at least two circadian rhythm components (CCA1, LHY, RV4, RVE7, and RVE8). Finally, we revealed an ancient hierarchy of cold‐responsive regulatory networks at transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels launched by circadian components in rosids. Altogether, this study sheds light on conserved regulators underlying cold‐responsive regulatory networks across rosid species, despite a long evolutionary history after their divergence.
Native species can reduce the establishment of invasive alien species if sown in high density and using competitive species
Authors: Csákvári Edina , Sáradi Nóra , Berki Boglárka , Csecserits Anikó , Csonka Anna Cseperke , Reis Bruna Paolinelli , Török Katalin , Valkó Orsolya , Vörös Márton , Halassy Melinda
Published: March 2023

Invasion of alien species is one of the main drivers of land degradation threatening both natural and managed ecosystems. Ecological restoration is crucial in controlling invasion to improve biotic resistance and avoid further land degradation. We investigated the possibility of controlling the establishment of invasive alien species (IAS) by native seed addition. We tested if trait similarity or increased propagule pressure of native species results in the suppression of IAS at the early stage of development. We set up a sowing experiment with three widespread IAS in Hungary of different life forms and functional groups (Asclepias syriaca, Conyza canadensis, Tragus racemosus) and four Pannonic sand grassland species (Festuca vaginata, Galium verum, Gypsophila paniculata, Saponaria officinalis). We found no significant differences in germination ability and seedling emergence between native species and IAS, despite the differences in thousand‐seed weight. Using univariate general linear models, we found that the seedling establishment of IAS can be reduced by adding native species at high densities but also depending on the species identity. Instead of species of similar traits, the seeding of a competitor perennial grass of sand grasslands (F. vaginata) reduced the seedling emergence of all studied IAS the most. Our results confirm that IAS can be effectively controlled by native seed addition in the early establishment stage, especially applying higher densities and competitive species. We conclude that invasion‐resistant restoration can be achieved by the combination of several factors, including high‐density sowing of native species that match IAS in the early stage of development.
Contemporary Concise Review 2022: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Calverley Peter M. A. , Walker Paul P.
Published: March 2023

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

International respiratory organizations now recommend using lower limit of normal and standardized residuals to diagnose airflow obstruction and COPD though using a fixed ratio <0.7 is simpler and robustly predicts important clinical outcomes.

The most common COPD comorbidities are coronary artery calcification, emphysema and bronchiectasis. COPD patients with psychological (high anxiety and depression) and cachectic (underweight and osteoporotic) comorbidity have higher mortality and exacerbate more.

Serum eosinophil count remains an important COPD biomarker and we have greater clarity about normal eosinophil levels in COPD and the wider population.

Criteria for entry into COPD clinical trials continue to exclude many patients, in particular those at greater risk of exacerbation and death.

The effect of hyperinflation on cardiac function impacts COPD mortality and is an important target for successful lung volume reduction procedures.
Insights into the complementarity of natural disaster insurance purchases and risk reduction behavior
Authors: Rufat Samuel , Robinson Peter J. , Botzen Wouter J. W.
Published: March 2023

While flooding is the costliest natural disaster risk, public‐sector investments provide incomplete protection. Moreover, individuals are in general reluctant to voluntarily invest in measures which limit damage costs from natural disasters. The moral hazard hypothesis argues that insured individuals take fewer other preparedness measures based on their assumption that their losses will be covered anyway. Conversely, the advantageous selection hypothesis argues that individuals view insurance and other risk reduction measures as complements. This study offers a comprehensive assessment of factors related to the separate uptake of natural disaster insurance and the flood‐proofing of homes as well as why people may take both of these measures together. We use data from a survey conducted in Paris, France, in 2018, after several flood events, for a representative sample of 2976 residents facing different levels of flood risk. We perform both main effects regressions and interaction analyses to reveal that home adaptation to flooding is positively associated with comprehensive insurance coverage, which includes financial protection against natural disasters. Furthermore, actual and perceived risks, as well as awareness of official information on flood risk, are found to explain some of the relationship between home adaptation and comprehensive insurance purchase. We suggest several recommendations to policymakers based on these insights which aim to address insurance coverage gaps and the failure to take disaster risk reduction measures. In particular, groups in socially vulnerable situations may benefit from subsidized insurance, low interest loans, and decision aids to implement costly adaptation measures.
Gender equality in Swedish AI policies. What's the problem represented to be?
Authors: Rönnblom Malin , Carlsson Vanja , Öjehag‐Pettersson Andreas
Published: March 2023

Over the past few decades, Sweden has established itself as a “world leader” in gender equality. Alongside this development, Swedish politicians have also initiated ambitious plans that aim to establish the country as “world class” in terms of digitalization. International research shows that women and racialized groups are in a minority in the design processes, that AI facial recognition systems are built with white male faces as the norm, and that digital tools replicate racial injustices. In this paper, we are interested in if, and if so how, gender equality is articulated and thus filled with meaning in national policies on AI and digitalization. The overall aim is to discuss the potential of gender (equality) mainstreaming to challenge systems of privilege in the implementation of AI systems in the public sector. The paper analyses how gender equality is filled with meaning in national policy documents on AI and gender equality. The main findings show that gender equality is turned into a question of lack of knowledge and information, which in turn blocks out an understanding of gender equality as something that is related to gendered power relations.
Students' approaches to exploring relationships between categorical variables
Authors: Higgins Traci , Mokros Jan , Rubin Andee , Sagrans Jacob
Published: March 2023

In the context of an afterschool program in which students explore relatively large authentic datasets, we investigated how 11‐ to 14‐year old students worked with categorical variables. During the program, students learned to use the Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP), a statistical analysis platform specifically designed for middle and high school students, to create and interpret graphs. Following the program, we conducted individual clinical interviews, during which students used CODAP to answer questions about relationships between variables. Here, we describe how students engaged in exploratory data analysis that involved looking at relationships between two categorical variables. Students worked from data in table form and created “contingency graphs,” a variant of contingency tables, which they used to analyze and draw insights from the data. Our research identified four strategies that students used to examine the data in order to explore patterns, make comparisons, and answer questions with the data.
Methods for matching English language addresses
Authors: Ramani Keshav , Borrajo Daniel
Published: March 2023

Addresses occupy a niche location within the landscape of textual data, due to the positional importance carried by every word, and the geographic scope it refers to. The task of matching addresses happens every day and is present in various fields such as mail redirection, entity resolution, etc. Our work defines, and formalizes a framework to generate matching and mismatching pairs of addresses in the English language, and use it to evaluate various methods to automatically perform address matching. These methods vary widely from distance‐based approaches to deep learning models. By studying the Precision, Recall, and Accuracy metrics of these approaches, we obtain an understanding of the best suited method for this setting of the address matching task.
Invasive aspergillosis in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Melenotte Cléa , Aimanianda Vishukumar , Slavin Monica , Aguado José María , Armstrong‐James Darius , Chen Yee‐Chun , Husain Shahid , Van Delden Christian , Saliba Faouzi , Lefort Agnès , Botterel Francoise , Lortholary Olivier
Published: March 2023

Background

Liver transplantation is increasing worldwide with underlying pathologies dominated by metabolic and alcoholic diseases in developed countries.

Methods

We provide a narrative review of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in liver transplant (LT) recipients. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for references without language and time restrictions.

Results

The incidence of IA in LT recipients is low (1.8%), while mortality is high (∼50%). It occurs mainly early (<3 months) after LT. Some risk factors have been identified before (corticosteroid, renal, and liver failure), during (massive transfusion and duration of surgical procedure), and after transplantation (intensive care unit stay, re‐transplantation, re‐operation). Diagnosis can be difficult and therefore requires full radiological and clinicobiological collaboration. Accurate identification of Aspergillus species is recommended due to the cryptic species, and susceptibility testing is crucial given the increasing resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus to azoles. It is recommended to reduce the dose of tacrolimus (50%) and to closely monitor the trough level when introducing voriconazole, isavuconazole, and posaconazole. Surgery should be discussed on a case‐by‐case basis. Antifungal prophylaxis is recommended in high‐risk patients. Environmental preventative measures should be implemented to prevent outbreaks of nosocomial aspergillosis in LT recipient units.

Conclusion

IA remains a very serious disease in LT patients and should be promptly sought and, if possible, prevented by clinicians when risk factors are identified.

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Character Values in the Oral Tradition of Folk Songs From Dairi
Authors: Nasution Tutiariani , Herman Herman , Resmi Resmi , Saragih Rosmeri , Sabata Yusniati N. , Saputra Nanda
Published: March 2023

One form of the language of a culture that is reflected in the group of speakers is folk songs. A song consists of various word arrangements with a unique and interesting language style. The composition of these words contains meanings that aim to influence the formation of the identity and character of the adherents. The Pakpak Dairi community is no exception. So this study aims to describe the character of the Pakpak Dairi community through folk songs. The research method used is descriptive qualitative interactive model of Miles and Huberman in anthropolinguistic studies. Data on Pakpak Dairi folk songs analyzed were three songs. The results of the analysis obtained a description of the character of the Pakpak Dairi people, namely: 1) love for the motherland (nationalism); 2) environmental care; 3) hard work; 4) independent; 5) responsibility; 6) national spirit; and 7) friendly/communicative.
Experimental and Computational Study of Error and Uncertainty in Real-Time Camera-Based Tracking of a Two-Dimensional Marker for Orthopedic Surgical Navigation
Authors: He Guangyu , Fakhari Amin , Khan Fazel , Kao Imin
Published: March 2023

Tracking of the position and orientation of a moving object by a camera can be accomplished by attaching a 2D marker with a specific pattern on the object. Recently, we have developed a projection-based surgical navigation system that can accurately guide in real-time the pre-operative plan of resection in orthopedic surgery, such as joint replacement or wide-resection of osteosarcoma (bone tumor). To this end, it is important to study the accuracy of registration and tracking due to various sources of errors, such as the printing resolution and quality of the 2D marker. In this study, we investigate and provide analysis of error and uncertainty for real-time tracking using a 2D marker with a camera. Experiments and computational simulations were conducted to quantify the estimation of errors in position and orientation due to the printing error of 2D markers using a 600-dpi laser printer. In addition, a theory of uncertainty propagation in a form of congruence transformation was derived for such systems and is illustrated with experimental results.
Performance Analysis and Optimal Design of a Novel Schöenflies-Motion Asymmetric Parallel Mechanism
Authors: Zhu Wei , Xu Zhu , Ma Zhiyuan , Shen Huiping
Published: March 2023

Since previous studies of parallel mechanisms (PMs) have tended to favor symmetrical overall configuration to obtain relatively stable kinematic and dynamic performance and to satisfy isotropic requirements. The analysis of kinematic and dynamic performance of asymmetric mechanisms has been an issue of interest. In this paper, an asymmetric SCARA-type PM with four-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) is proposed. First, the orientation characteristic set is calculated to obtain the DOF of the PM. Then, the inverse kinematics and the velocity and acceleration of each branch chain of the mechanism are analyzed. The dynamic model of the mechanism is established according to the principle of virtual work. The workspace of the mechanism is drawn according to the constraints that have been given to the mechanism's kinematic pairs. The singularity, dexterity, motion/force transfer performance, and maximum acceleration performance of the mechanism are also analyzed. On this basis, the kinematic and dynamic performance evaluation indexes of the mechanism are studied. Finally, the workspace and acceleration performance of the mechanism are optimized based on the differential evolution (DE) algorithm to obtain the structural parameters when the mechanism achieves optimal performance. The asymmetric PM proposed in this paper, as well as the algorithm of performance index and optimization method used, can provide some reference value for configuration design and optimization analysis.
Production of WE43 magnesium alloy by powder metallurgy and the effect of glucose on wear resistance in biocorrosive wear
Authors: Çiçek Bünyamin
Published: March 2023

In this study, WE43 magnesium alloy was produced by the powder metallurgy method. Microstructural analyses of the produced samples were carried out using the scanning electron microscopy method. X-ray fluorescence, energy dispersive x-ray (EDS) analysis, and hardness tests were also implemented to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the alloys. The volumetric hardness was measured to be approximately 53 HV. The microstructural analysis and EDS results indicated the presence of Mg24Y5 and Mg41Nd5 phases in the alloys. Reciprocating-type experiments were carried out in dry and corrosive environments to evaluate the wear resistance. Hanks’s solution containing 2% g/l glucose was used as the corrosive environment. Gluconic acid resulting from the oxidation of glucose in the Hanks’s solution formed a new thin layer on the alloy surface, which was observed in the worn surface images. The formation of the thin film on the alloy surface resulted in an increase in wear resistance by 37%. The results unraveled the potential of the WE43 alloys as implant materials in areas in contact with glucose.
Estimation of fat content in soft tissues using dual frequency ultrasound—A phantom study
Authors: Solberg Stian , Amini Naseh , Zaza Yamen , Angelsen Bjørn A. J. , Hansen Rune
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an initial investigation into the use of dual frequency pulse-echo ultrasound, second order ultrasound field (SURF) imaging, to measure the fat content of soft tissues. The SURF imaging method was used to measure the non-linear bulk elasticity (NBE) of several fatty phantoms that were created by mixing different mass fractions of soybean oil uniformly into agar phantoms. The median of the measured NBE within the estimation region was found to increase linearly with fat mass fraction (R2 = 0.99), from 1.7 GPa−1 at 9.6% fat to 2.52 GPa−1 at 63.6% fat, thus, showing promise as a sensitive parameter for fat content measurement. Comparisons to mixture laws in earlier literature are made, and the most important error sources that need to be considered for the in vivo applications of the method are discussed.
Human genetic history on the Tibetan Plateau in the past 5100 years
Authors: Wang Hongru , Yang Melinda A. , Wangdue Shargan , Lu Hongliang , Chen Honghai , Li Linhui , Dong Guanghui , Tsring Tinley , Yuan Haibing , He Wei , Ding Manyu , Wu Xiaohong , Li Shuai , Tashi Norbu , Yang Tsho , Yang Feng , Tong Yan , Chen Zujun , He Yuanhong , Cao Peng , Dai Qingyan , Liu Feng , Feng Xiaotian , Wang Tianyi , Yang Ruowei , Ping Wanjing , Zhang Zhaoxia , Gao Yang , Zhang Ming , Wang Xiaoji , Zhang Chao , Yuan Kai , Ko Albert Min-Shan , Aldenderfer Mark , Gao Xing , Xu Shuhua , Fu Qiaomei
Published: March 2023

Using genome-wide data of 89 ancient individuals dated to 5100 to 100 years before the present (B.P.) from 29 sites across the Tibetan Plateau, we found plateau-specific ancestry across plateau populations, with substantial genetic structure indicating high differentiation before 2500 B.P. Northeastern plateau populations rapidly showed admixture associated with millet farmers by 4700 B.P. in the Gonghe Basin. High genetic similarity on the southern and southwestern plateau showed population expansion along the Yarlung Tsangpo River since 3400 years ago. Central and southeastern plateau populations revealed extensive genetic admixture within the plateau historically, with substantial ancestry related to that found in southern and southwestern plateau populations. Over the past ~700 years, substantial gene flow from lowland East Asia further shaped the genetic landscape of present-day plateau populations. The high-altitude adaptiveEPAS1allele was found in plateau populations as early as in a 5100-year-old individual and showed a sharp increase over the past 2800 years.