bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomics Analysis of Meat to Identify Goat Intramuscular Fat Deposits Potential Biomarkers
Authors: Xie Yuchun , Zhang Chongyan , Qin Qing , Li Xuewu , Guo Juntao , Dai Dongliang , Wang Zhixin , Zhao Yanhong , Su Rui , Wang Zhiying , Wang Ruijun , Zhang Yanjun , Li Jinquan , Liu Zhihong
Published: May 2023

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a central attribute of goat nutrition qualities and consumers’ choice. Here, we reported potential markers of IMF deposits in goat meat. Based on IMF content that was significantly higher in longissimus dorsi (LD) than in biceps femoris (BF) (P < 0.01), goats were divided into a high-IMF (HI) group (n = 6) and a low-IMF (LI) group (n = 6). To better understand the molecular variations underlying IMF anabolism and catabolism in goats, we performed a proteomic analysis of the HI group and LI group, and 110 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified. After bioinformatics analysis of GO, KEGG, and protein–protein interaction (PPI), 6 DEPs (HADHA, HADHB, ACSL1, ACADS, ACAT1, and ACAA2) have positive contributions to the regulatory machinery of IMF position. Finally, a potential mRNA–miRNA–protein regulatory network of IMF was created, and the results demonstrated that ACADS and ACSL1 were identified as candidate biomarkers for IMF deposits that are worthy to evaluate in the future. Our study lays a foundation for further improving the meat quality of these animals.
Fasting plasma glucose and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in individuals with Middle Eastern and Swedish descent
Authors: Taloyan Marina , Steiner Kristin Hjörleifdottir , Östenson Claes-Göran , Salminen Helena
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To determine fasting plasma glucose and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) levels and associations between abnormal fasting plasma glucose levels and inadequate s-25(OH)D levels in individuals of Middle Eastern and Swedish descent.

Methods

Observational study with individuals without a diabetes diagnosis, 54.5% of Swedish descent and 45.5% of Middle Eastern descent. In total, 830 participants from two primary healthcare centres in Flemingsberg and Jakobsberg, which are southern and northern suburbs, respectively, of Stockholm, Sweden were included in the study.

Results

Prevalence of inadequate s-25(OH)D levels (at or below 50 nmol/L) was 67.2% among those of Middle Eastern descent and 20.5% among those of Swedish descent (P < 0.001). S-25(OH)D levels correlated weakly positively with fasting plasma glucose levels (ρ = 0.20, P = 0.002) in individuals of Middle Eastern descent. Being of Middle Eastern descent (OR 6.7, 95% CI 4.3–10.4) and having abnormal fasting plasma glucose (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.9) were independent predictors of having inadequate s-25(OH)D levels.

Conclusions

Healthcare in Sweden should consider testing fasting plasma glucose and s-25(OH)D levels, particularly in individuals of Middle Eastern descent. The unclear relationship between vitamin D and glucose levels warrants investigation.
Businesses create more jobs in countries with higher share of immigrants because of skill complementarity
Authors: Gutiérrez-Romero Roxana
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Past and recent immigration flows have made societies increasingly more diverse, with important implications for the economy. This article investigates the empirical relationship between ethnic, and birthplace immigration diversity on job creation and entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

We use multilevel modelling and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor adult population survey across 60 countries from 2001 to 2018.

Findings

As earlier literature, we find that people have a higher probability of becoming entrepreneurs in more ethnically diverse countries. Nonetheless, businesses located in more ethnically diverse countries hire fewer employees. Businesses, on the other hand, create more jobs in countries with a higher proportion of skilled and unskilled immigrants due to skill complementarity.

Research originality

Contrary to commonly held views, our findings suggest that ethnic and immigration diversity have opposing effects on entrepreneurship and provide important insights into the debate over the economic impact of immigration.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Electrophysiological Studies of Online Social Exclusion: Evidence for the Neurobiological Impacts of Cyberbullying
Authors: Mills Lia , Driver Christina , McLoughlin Larisa T. , Anijärv Toomas Erik , Mitchell Jules , Lagopoulos Jim , Hermens Daniel F.
Published: May 2023

Cyberbullying is an increasingly problematic psychosocial health risk, particularly in youth. Electroencephalography (EEG) is commonly utilized to investigate the potential effects of social behaviors on brain activity. Hence, the current paper provides a systematic review of EEG-related studies that have addressed cyberbullying-like behaviors. Initial searches from 4 databases returned 1150 unique articles, which were screened according to PRISMA guidelines. The 29 articles remaining after full text screening investigated online social exclusion, a method of cyberbullying. Across these studies, there was evidence of links between social exclusion and abnormalities in a range of event related potential (ERP) and EEG measures representative of deviance detection (“N2” ERP), response to detection (“P3” ERP), emotional attention (“late slow wave” ERP) and emotional regulation (“frontal theta” EEG). Meta-analysis demonstrated increased P3 and late slow wave amplitudes in response to social exclusion, as well as increases in frontal-medial theta power, particularly in child and adolescent samples. However, many studies had small sample sizes, and lacked longitudinal insight into the effects of recurrent ostracism on brain function. Future research should explore the effects of a broader range of cyberbullying behaviors on psychophysiology longitudinally, particularly in vulnerable populations such as adolescents.
Hermeneutik des Decknamens
Authors: Mohagheghi Yashar
Published: May 2023

Mallarmés Dichtung gilt als der Höhepunkt einer selbstreferentiellen Dichtung des l’art pour l’art. In den letzten Jahrzehnten indes hat die Forschung verstärkt Mallarmés Bezug zur Alltagskultur hervorgehoben. Dieser zeigt sich besonders deutlich in der Modezeitschrift La Dernière Mode, die Mallarmé im Jahr 1874 in acht Ausgaben allein verfasst hat. Die Spannung zwischen den Autonomieanforderungen der hohen Kunst und der Populärkultur thematisiert die Zeitschrift dabei selbst. Das zeigt sich auch im Gebrauch der für Modezeitschriften zeittypischen Pseudonyme. Diese gehen über eine rein pragmatische Funktion hinaus und eröffnen ein literarisiertes Spiel der Allusionen und Verweise, das zur Deutung einlädt. Die Hermeneutik des Decknamens erweist sich als Geschlechtertravestie und reflektiert das geschlechtlich kodierte Verhältnis von Hoch- und Populärkultur.
An online fast multi-track locating algorithm for high-resolution single-event effect test platform
Authors: Hu Yu-Xiao , Yang Hai-Bo , Zhang Hong-Lin , Liao Jian-Wei , Mai Fa-Tai , Zhao Cheng-Xin
Published: May 2023

To improve the efficiency and accuracy of single-event effect (SEE) research at the Heavy Ion Research Facility at Lanzhou, Hi’Beam-SEE must precisely localize the position at which each heavy ion hitting the integrated circuit (IC) causes SEE. In this study, we propose a fast multi-track location (FML) method based on deep learning to locate the position of each particle track with high speed and accuracy. FML can process a vast amount of data supplied by Hi’Beam-SEE online, revealing sensitive areas in real time. FML is a slot-based object-centric encoder–decoder structure in which each slot can learn the location information of each track in the image. To make the method more accurate for real data, we designed an algorithm to generate a simulated dataset with a distribution similar to that of the real data, which was then used to train the model. Extensive comparison experiments demonstrated that the FML method, which has the best performance on simulated datasets, has high accuracy on real datasets as well. In particular, FML can reach 238 fps and a standard error of 1.6237 μm. This study discusses the design and performance of FML.
A Novel Handheld Spectroscopy Tool for Detection of Lymphedema
Authors: Sibley Jennifer , Baldwin Jarren , Pamplin John , Rodrick Julia , Liu Charles , Hettrick Heather , Doraiswamy Anand
Published: May 2023

The abstract provides an overview of lymphedema, a chronic and progressive lymphatic disorder that affects millions of people globally. This condition is associated with high costs and comorbidity, with limited treatment options available. Phlebolymphedema, a common form of secondary lymphedema, is linked to the combined effects of lymphatic and chronic venous insufficiencies. Early intervention is crucial to managing the condition; however, early detection remains challenging due to the lack of reliable diagnostic tools. This case study evaluates the clinical utility of a portable tissue analytical tool in a subject with bilateral lower extremity lymphedema undergoing a 60-day self-management program. The study includes details of the subject's profile, the intervention, and the measurements taken with the novel tool.
The importance of cultivating awareness of environmental matters in science classrooms: a cross-regional study
Authors: Lee Ahlam
Published: May 2023

As scientific literacy plays a contributing role in identifying, analysing, and solving environmental matters that our world is facing, there is growing consensus to mandate environmental matters in science classrooms following five decades of efforts in promoting environmental education. However, much remains unknown about the relationship between students’ awareness of environmental matters and their science literacy scores on standardised test. Using data drawn from the 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) science performance assessment, this study investigates the relationship between students’ awareness of environmental matters and their science literacy scores in the context of established predictors for science learning. In all the regions’ multilevel models ranging from medium to large effect sizes, a significant and positive relationship emerges between students’ awareness of environmental matters and science literacy scores. Among the well-known predictors for science learning, student science self-efficacy associates positively with student science literacy scores across the regions. In contrast, inquiry-based science instruction associates negatively with the scores. Except for these two well-known predictors, variations exist in the relationships between other variables among the regions. Given all the regions’ evidence showing the positive linkage between students’ awareness of environmental matters and science literacy scores, the present study signifies the importance of integrating environmental issues into traditional science classrooms, suggesting that there should be systematic supports that enable both environmental and science educators to collaborate towards the development of an interdisciplinary environmental science curriculum.
The Impact of Digitalization on Global Trade Law
Authors: Burri Mira
Published: May 2023

The Article explores the transformations triggered by digitalization in the domain of global trade law and seeks to evaluate the nature and the effects of the unfolding legal adaptation in this field of international law. For this purpose, the Article starts by mapping the sweeping effects of digitalization on trade and trade policies. It then turns to the current regulatory framework for digital trade—first, by sketching the state of affairs in the multilateral forum of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and second, by analyzing the more deliberate regulatory responses to the challenge of digitalization formulated in free trade agreements (FTAs), with a particular focus on some more recent advanced models of digital trade regulation. The Article finally seeks to contextualize and assess the impact of the existing legal framework and its adequacy for the contemporary data-driven economy, pointing also at some current deficiencies and potential setbacks going forward.
Does Digitalization Change International Law Structurally?
Authors: Burchardt Dana
Published: May 2023

The article provides a meta-analysis of the structural impact of digitalization on international law. It synthesizes the contributions of this special issue, showing how their findings are interrelated and which cross-cutting trends we can observe. It uses an analytical framework designed to assess structural changes in international law by analyzing the impact that digitalization has on key reference points: Actors, norms, and values. From this assessment, it draws the conclusion that digitalization is changing, and will continue to change structural features of international law.
Effects of phase boundary and shear on diffusive instability
Authors: Lu Cailei , Zhang Mengqi , He Xuerao , Luo Kang , Yi Hongliang
Published: May 2023

We study the diffusive instability subject to a solid–liquid interface and a Kolmogorov flow using modal, non-modal analyses and energy analysis. It is found that the phase boundary has different effects on the threshold of diffusive convection for weak and strong salinity stratification. In the context of oceanography where the salinity Rayleigh number RS is very high, the ice–water interface has negligible influence on the onset of diffusive convection. In the presence of shear, the diffusive convection for RS < 106 tends to be inhibited and with the increase of shear intensity, the oscillatory, steady convective and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities will be successively dominant. For RS > 106, the shear has a destabilizing effect on the diffusive convection, due to the generation of thermohaline-sheared instability found by Radko (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 805, 2016, pp. 147–170). Non-modal analysis indicates that for realistic parameters of high-latitude oceans, with the transition of the ultimate energy source of instability from the density gradient to background current, the thermohaline-shear instability is expected to transition from oscillatory to steady instability. The initial transient amplification due to double diffusion has also been studied, which is due to the generation of overstable instability at the initial phase. For RS < 106, the optimal initial condition to achieve the maximum transient growth favours longitudinal rolls. For thermohaline-shear instability, however, it favours transverse rolls and specifically, in oscillatory thermohaline-shear instability, the transient amplification can be enhanced by the shear by one order of magnitude, thus having important influence on the stability of the system.
Fully conservative hydraulic jumps and solibores in two-layer Boussinesq fluids
Authors: Priede Jānis
Published: May 2023

We consider a special type of hydraulic jumps (internal bores) which, in the vertically bounded system of two immiscible fluids with slightly different densities, conserve not only the mass and impulse but also the circulation and energy. This is possible only at specific combinations of the upstream and downstream states. Two such combinations are identified with arbitrary upstream and downstream interface heights. The first has a cross-symmetry between the interface height and shear on both sides of the jump. This symmetry, which is due to the invariance of the two-layer shallow-water system with swapping the interface height and shear, ensures the automatic conservation of the impulse and energy as well as the continuity of characteristic velocities across the jump. The speed at which such jumps propagate is defined uniquely by the conservation of the mass and circulation. The other possibility is a marginally stable shear flow that can have fully conservative jumps with discontinuous characteristic velocities. Both types of conservative jumps are shown to represent a long-wave approximation to the so-called solibores that appear as smooth permanent-shape solutions in a weakly non-hydrostatic model. A new analytical solution for solibores is obtained and found to agree very well with the previous DNS results for partial-depth lock release flow. The finding that certain large-amplitude hydraulic jumps can be fully conservative, while most are not such even in the inviscid approximation, points towards the wave dispersion as a primary mechanism behind the lossy nature of internal bores.
Análisis tecnológicos y distribucionales de material lítico del sitio Pago Lindo (Departamento de Tacuarembó, Uruguay)
Authors: Gazzán Nicolás , Gianotti Camila , Bonomo Mariano
Published: May 2023

Este trabajo se focaliza en el análisis espacial intrasitio del material lítico procedente de un montículo de tierra del sitio arqueológico Pago Lindo (Departamento de Tacuarembó, Uruguay). Se realizaron análisis tecnológicos y distribucionales (vecino más cercano, K de Ripley y modelos kernel) que permitieron caracterizar distintas fases de ocupación y uso del espacio entre 3021 ± 32 y 690 ± 35 años14C aP. Se reconoció una tecnología predominantemente expeditiva en la que no se observaron cambios significativos a través del tiempo. Los resultados de los análisis distribucionales muestran patrones heterogéneos que responden al uso diferencial del espacio en la estructura monticular. Los patrones agrupados, observados principalmente en microlascas, permitieron identificar sectores donde se localizaron espacios domésticos cuya ocupación y gestión de residuos contribuyó al crecimiento del montículo. También se reconocieron sectores donde las agrupaciones del material lítico tienden principalmente a la aleatoriedad, y que corresponden a episodios constructivos planificados. Esto es congruente con el modelo de crecimiento espaciotemporal discontinuo de las estructuras monticulares —basado en la alternancia de momentos de abandono y momentos de uso— pero también con episodios constructivos intencionales.
The Logic of NIMBYism: Class, Race, and Stigma in the Making of California’s Legal Cannabis Market
Authors: Moiseeva Ekaterina (Katya)
Published: May 2023

This article explores how not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) sentiments affect the implementation of new cannabis laws in California cities. Despite increasing legality and growing social tolerance, the actual status of cannabis remains controversial. Large segments of the population and local authorities remain uncomfortable with the use of cannabis and resist allowing cannabis facilities in their communities. I employ statistical analysis to understand why some jurisdictions move toward more permissive cannabis policies and others do not. The results show that, on average, socially and economically prosperous cities express higher support for cannabis legalization, but cannabis businesses are more likely to receive permits in cities that are socially and economically distressed. The disparity between demand (white middle-class communities) and supply (poor Hispanic communities) demonstrates that stereotypes generated by the war on drugs have not disappeared after the passage of new cannabis laws and continue to perpetuate the marginalization of disadvantaged individuals and places.
Groundstates of the planar Schrödinger–Poisson system with potential well and lack of symmetry
Authors: Liu Zhisu , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D. , Zhang Jianjun
Published: May 2023

The Schrödinger–Poisson system describes standing waves for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation interacting with the electrostatic field. In this paper, we are concerned with the existence of positive ground states to the planar Schrödinger–Poisson system with a nonlinearity having either a subcritical or a critical exponential growth in the sense of Trudinger–Moser. A feature of this paper is that neither the finite steep potential nor the reaction satisfies any symmetry or periodicity hypotheses. The analysis developed in this paper seems to be the first attempt in the study of planar Schrödinger–Poisson systems with lack of symmetry.
Polysomnogram outcomes in patients with laryngomalacia and obstructive sleep apnoea treated surgically versus non-surgically
Authors: Casellas Nicolas J , Shah Shalini , Ravikumar Saiganesh , Vandjelovic Nathan D , Faria John , Allen Paul D , McKenna Benoit Margo K
Published: May 2023

Objective

To compare supraglottoplasty versus non-surgical treatment in children with laryngomalacia and mild, moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Methods

Patients were classified based on their obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index on initial polysomnogram, which was compared to their post-treatment polysomnogram.

Results

Eighteen patients underwent supraglottoplasty, and 12 patients had non-surgical treatment. The average obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index after supraglottoplasty fell by 12.68 events per hour (p = 0.0039) in the supraglottoplasty group and 3.3 events per hour (p = 0.3) in the non-surgical treatment group. Comparison of the change in obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index in the surgical versus non-surgical groups did not meet statistical significance (p = 0.09).

Conclusion

All patients with laryngomalacia and obstructive sleep apnoea had a statistically significant improvement in obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index after supraglottoplasty irrespective of obstructive sleep apnoea severity, whereas patients who received non-surgical treatment had more variable and unpredictable results. Direct comparison of the change between the two groups did not find supraglottoplasty to be superior to non-surgical treatment. Larger prospective studies are recommended.
Design, static analysis, and dynamic system modeling of 3-PPRS parallel manipulator with load-balancing UPS leg
Authors: Xavier Reni Prasad A. , Ganesh M.
Published: May 2023

As a heavy load is applied to the parallel manipulators, it causes inaccuracies while positioning the end-effector or unbalanced dynamic forces in the legs. Various load-balancing techniques overcome this. However, the disadvantage of most load-balancing mechanisms is that they add inertia to the assembly and decrease the speed of motion. This article studies a new load-balancing method (a passive damper mechanism). The passive balancing mechanism is proposed to negate the inertia effects while countering the static inaccuracies in the parallel mechanism. This is verified by the structural analysis of the mechanism. The impact of the damper element on the dynamics of the mechanism is unknown. Hence, a complete mathematical model for the balancing mechanism has been developed to study its impact on the dynamics of the entire structure. Laplace transformations characterize the system response. The inclusion of a passive damper in a 3-prismatic-prismatic-revolute-spherical system was examined and found to be stable and critically damped. Such a passive damper was envisaged to facilitate additional force transmission for the actuators, and the DC gain from the system response validates the torque support for the actuators.
Stakeholder perspectives on cooperation in the clinical and nonclinical health technology assessment domains
Authors: Zimmermann Gina , Michelmore Sandra , Hiligsmann Mickaël
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to deliver insights from multiple stakeholders into actual and future collaboration for health technology assessment (HTA) in general and in oncology in particular.

Methods

Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from European HTA bodies (HTAbs), former board members of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA), and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, a regulatory agency, academia, and patient organizations. The stakeholders were asked about their support of the EUnetHTA’s intent, about the general strengths and challenges of the EUnetHTA and its Joint Action 3 (JA 3), the strengths and challenges of the clinically oriented HTA collaboration in oncology during JA 3 across the technology life cycle, about future challenges to HTA in oncology with consequences for collaboration, and about collaboration in the economic domains of HTA. The transcribed interviews were analyzed qualitatively.

Results

The participants perceived the intention and work quality of the EUnetHTA as positive. The experts described methodological, procedural, and capacity challenges in early dialogues (EDs) and rapid relative effectiveness assessments (REAs) meant to analyze clinical effectiveness in oncology. The majority attached increasing importance to collaboration in the future to cope with the uncertainty of HTA. Several stakeholders also proposed the incorporation of joint postlaunch evidence generation (PLEG) activities. Some gave sporadic suggestions for voluntary nonclinical collaboration as well.

Conclusion

Stakeholders’ continued readiness to discuss the remaining challenges to and sufficient resources for implementing HTA regulation, as well as further cooperative expansion along the technology life cycle, are necessary for improved HTA collaboration in Europe.
Genomic analysis of an outbreak of toxin gene bearing Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Northern Queensland, Australia reveals high level of genetic similarity
Authors: Graham Rikki M. A. , Rathnayake Irani U. , Sandhu Sumeet , Bhandari Murari , Taunton Caroline , Fisher Valmay , Hempenstall Allison , Marquardt Tonia , Jennison Amy V.
Published: May 2023

Toxigenic diphtheria is rare in Australia with generally fewer than 10 cases reported annually; however, since 2020, there has been an increase in toxin gene-bearing isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae cases in North Queensland, with an approximately 300% escalation in cases in 2022. Genomic analysis on both toxin gene-bearing and non-toxin gene-bearing C. diphtheriae isolated from this region between 2017 and 2022 demonstrated that the surge in cases was largely due to one sequence type (ST), ST381, all of which carried the toxin gene. ST381 isolates collected between 2020 and 2022 were highly genetically related to each other, and less closely related to ST381 isolates collected prior to 2020. The most common ST in non-toxin gene-bearing isolates from North Queensland was ST39, an ST that has also been increasing in numbers since 2018. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that ST381 isolates were not closely related to any of the non-toxin gene-bearing isolates collected from this region, suggesting that the increase in toxigenic C. diphtheriae is likely due to the expansion of a toxin gene-bearing clone that has moved into the region rather than an already endemic non-toxigenic strain acquiring the toxin gene.
Exonic genetic variants associated with unexpected fertilization failure and zygotic arrest after ICSI: a systematic review
Authors: Torra-Massana Marc , Rodríguez Amelia , Vassena Rita
Published: May 2023

Fertilization failure (FF) and zygotic arrest after ICSI have a huge effect on both patients and clinicians, but both problems are usually unexpected and cannot be properly diagnosed. Fortunately, in recent years, gene sequencing has allowed the identification of multiple genetic variants underlying failed ICSI outcomes, but the use of this approach is still far from routine in the fertility clinic. In this systematic review, the genetic variants associated with FF, abnormal fertilization and/or zygotic arrest after ICSI are compiled and analyzed. Forty-seven studies were included. Data from 141 patients carrying 121 genetic variants affecting 16 genes were recorded and analyzed. In total, 27 variants inPLCZ1(in 50 men) and 26 variants inWEE2(in 24 women) are two of the factors related to oocyte activation failure that could explain a high percentage of male-related and female-related FF. Additional variants identified were reported inWBP2NL,ACTL9, ACTLA7,andDNAH17(in men), andTUBB8,PATL2,TLE6,PADI6,TRIP13,BGT4, NLRP5, NLRP7,CDC20andZAR1(in women). Most of these variants are pathogenic or potentially pathogenic (89/121, 72.9%), as demonstrated by experimental and/orin silicoapproaches. Most individuals carried bi-allelic variants (89/141, 63.1%), but pathogenic variants in heterozygosity have been identified forPLCZ1andTUBB8. Clinical treatment options for affected individuals, such as chemical-assisted oocyte activation (AOA) orPLCZ1cRNA injection in the oocyte, are still experimental. In conclusion, a genetic study of known pathogenic variants may help in diagnosing recurrent FF and zygotic arrest and guide patient counselling and future research perspectives.
Start codon-targeted marker evaluation of genetic relationship and population structure in southern Nigerian fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) collection
Authors: Aworunse Oluwadurotimi S. , Popoola Jacob O. , Paliwal Rajneesh , Obembe Olawole O.
Published: May 2023

Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) is an underutilized indigenous leafy vegetable with enormous prospects for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, relatively little is known about genetic relationships and population structure in the species. In this study, 32 landraces of fluted pumpkin collected across three southern geographical regions in Nigeria were assessed for genetic diversity and population structure using 8 start codon-targeted (SCoT) makers. The polymorphic information content of the SCoT markers ranged from 0.48 in SCoT36 to 0.94 in SCoT28, with an average of 0.77. Hierarchical cluster dendrogram based on Ward's method and principal component analysis grouped the landraces into four clusters without affiliation to provenance. Overall, the mean values of the population genetic diversity parameters – Nei's gene diversity (H) and Shannon's information index (I) showed values of 0.28 ± 0.01 and 0.43 ± 0.02, respectively, implying a narrow genetic base for the landraces. The result was further corroborated by a very close Nei's genetic distance and identity among populations of the landraces. Furthermore, the south-west population exhibited the higher genetic diversity (H = 0.31 ± 0.02 and I = 0.45 ± 0.03). Population structure analysis inferred three subpopulations for the accessions with varying degrees of allelic admixture. An analysis of molecular variance revealed that almost all the genetic variation occurred within (99%) than between (1%) populations. The findings shed light on the genetic diversity of southern Nigerian fluted pumpkin and have significant implications for the characterisation, conservation, exploitation and improvement of the species.
VARIETIES OF CLASS-THEORETIC POTENTIALISM
Authors: BARTON NEIL , WILLIAMS KAMERYN J.
Published: May 2023

We explain and explore class-theoretic potentialism—the view that one can always individuate more classes over a set-theoretic universe. We examine some motivations for class-theoretic potentialism, before proving some results concerning the relevant potentialist systems (in particular exhibiting failures of the
$\mathsf {.2}$
and
$\mathsf {.3}$
axioms). We then discuss the significance of these results for the different kinds of class-theoretic potentialists.
Akute Depression
Authors: Hautzinger
Published: May 2023

Niedergeschlagenheit, emotionale Leere, Antriebslosigkeit, Interessenverlust und zahlreiche körperliche Beschwerden sind wesentliche Merkmale von akuten Depressionen. Sie gehören zu den häufigsten psychischen Beeinträchtigungen und können in allen Lebensphasen auftreten. Akute Depressionen zählen mit zu den häufigsten Gründen für Krankschreibung, Arbeitsunfähigkeit und Frühberentung und haben damit gesamtgesellschaftliche Auswirkungen. Inzwischen liegen erfolgreiche psychotherapeutische Behandlungsmöglichkeiten vor, die u.a. Eingang in die Nationale Versorgungsleitlinie unipolare Depression gefunden haben und über die in der Neubearbeitung dieses Bandes berichtet wird.
Der Band beschreibt die Symptomatik akuter Depressionen und geht dabei auch auf die neuen Diagnosekriterien und -kategorien nach ICD-11 ein. Zudem wird aktuelles Wissen zur Ätiologie, zu diagnostischen Verfahren, zur Psychotherapieforschung sowie zur Wirksamkeit von Behandlungen vermittelt. Ausführlich wird anschließend die Behandlung akuter depressiver Episoden und dysphorischer Zustände vorgestellt. Hierbei werden insbesondere die Behandlungsphasen und -elemente der Kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie (KVT) und Interpersonellen Psychotherapie (IPT) aufgezeigt, da sich diese empirisch bewährt haben. Ziel ist es, die depressive Spirale zu stoppen und umzukehren, die depressive Symptomatik zu lindern und die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen zu verbessern. Der Band vermittelt die Standards erfolgreicher Therapie akuter Depressionen.
On the Scaling and Growth Limit of Fluvial Dunes
Authors: Lee Jiyong , Singh Arvind , Guala Michele
Published: May 2023

Bedforms emerge in a variety of shapes and sizes when a granular erodible surface is subject to a strong enough shear flow, as observed in topographic data from submarine canyons, rivers, deserts, and planetary bodies. The two salient features of bedforms are the ability to collectively transport particles, and to generate form drag thus increasing flow resistance. These two mechanisms are in competition and contribute to force bedforms of increasing size migrating more slowly. In a dedicated large‐scale open channel flow facility, hierarchies of fluvial bedforms were generated and measured in equilibrium conditions. The corresponding scale‐dependent migration velocity and mass flux contributions were quantified in the wave number and frequency domains. Experimental results are paired with a validated set of theoretical models to demonstrate that ripples or dunes reach an equilibrium state when drag partitioning ensures high enough frictional drag to sustain the bedload transport of sediment, and low enough form drag to enable the migration of the largest bedform size. This mechanism is inferred to constrain the growth of bedforms when sediment supply is not the limiting factor.
Changes in Non‐Dipolar Field Structure Over the Plio‐Pleistocene: New Paleointensity Results From Hawai'i Compared to Global Data Sets
Authors: Cych Brendan , Tauxe Lisa , Cromwell Geoffrey , Sinton John , Koppers Anthony A. P.
Published: May 2023

A foundational assumption in paleomagnetism is that the Earth's magnetic field behaves as a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) when averaged over sufficient timescales. Compilations of directional data averaged over the past 5 Ma yield a distribution largely compatible with GAD, but the distribution of paleointensity data over this timescale is incompatible. Reasons for the failure of GAD include: (a) Arbitrary “selection criteria” to eliminate “unreliable” data vary among studies, so the paleointensity database may include biased results. (b) The age distribution of existing paleointensity data varies with latitude, so different latitudinal averages represent different time periods. (c) The time‐averaged field could be truly non‐dipolar. Here, we present a consistent methodology for analyzing paleointensity results and comparing time‐averaged paleointensities from different studies. We apply it to data from Plio/Pleistocene Hawai'ian igneous rocks, sampled from fine‐grained, quickly cooled material (lava flow tops, dike margins and scoria cones) and subjected to the IZZI‐Thellier technique; the data were analyzed using the Bias Corrected Estimation of Paleointensity method of Cych et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC009755), which produces accurate paleointensity estimates without arbitrarily excluding specimens from the analysis. We constructed a paleointensity curve for Hawai'i over the Plio/Pleistocene using the method of Livermore et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggy383), which accounts for the age distribution of data. We demonstrate that even with the large uncertainties associated with obtaining a mean field from temporally sparse data, our average paleointensities obtained from Hawai'i and Antarctica (reanalyzed from Asefaw et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020834) are not GAD‐like from 0 to 1.5 Ma but may be prior to that.
External Dynamic Mechanisms Controlling the Periodic Offshore Blooms in Beibu Gulf
Authors: Lao Qibin , Liu Sihai , Ling Zheng , Jin Guangzhe , Chen Fajin , Chen Chunqing , Zhu Qingmei
Published: May 2023

Since offshore waters are less affected by human activities and nutrient‐rich water masses, existing theories on periodic offshore blooms (POB) consider that the POB is proportional to the intensity of ocean fronts (nutrient supply from enhancing vertical mixing), ignoring external nutrient supply and external forcing (climatic oscillations). This study proposes an external dynamic mechanism of the POB on the basis of field observations and long‐term satellite remote sensing data (1981–2022) in Beibu Gulf, which is influenced by remarkable external forcing. A strong thermal front with an inverted‐V structure occurred in the central gulf every winter due to the strong wind stress. The intensity of the front on the east side is weaker due to the intrusion of the west‐Guangdong coastal current (WGCC). However, nutrient supply variation resulted in the POB's different intensity in different areas of the inverted‐V front. Chlorophyll a concentrations in the eastern (nutrients supplied by WGCC) and northern (nutrients supplied by vertical mixing) were obviously higher than that in the western front (limited nutrient supply) in winter. On an interannual scale, the intensity of POB in La Niña years is remarkably stronger than in El Niño years due to the stronger WGCC supplying more nutrients in La Niña. This study suggests that the intensity and range of POB are not proportional to the frontal intensity in the gulf, but are directly driven by the internal forcing (fronts and nutrient supply from WGCC), which is controlled by the external forcing.
Seg2Link: an efficient and versatile solution for semi-automatic cell segmentation in 3D image stacks
Authors: Wen Chentao , Matsumoto Mami , Sawada Masato , Sawamoto Kazunobu , Kimura Koutarou D.
Published: May 2023

Recent advances in microscopy techniques, especially in electron microscopy, are transforming biomedical studies by acquiring large quantities of high-precision 3D cell image stacks. To examine cell morphology and connectivity in organs such as the brain, scientists need to conduct cell segmentation, which extracts individual cell regions of different shapes and sizes from a 3D image. This is challenging due to the indistinct images often encountered in real biomedical research: in many cases, automatic segmentation methods inevitably contain numerous mistakes in the segmentation results, even when using advanced deep learning methods. To analyze 3D cell images effectively, a semi-automated software solution is needed that combines powerful deep learning techniques with the ability to perform post-processing, generate accurate segmentations, and incorporate manual corrections. To address this gap, we developed Seg2Link, which takes deep learning predictions as inputs and use watershed 2D + cross-slice linking to generate more accurate automatic segmentations than previous methods. Additionally, it provides various manual correction tools essential for correcting mistakes in 3D segmentation results. Moreover, our software has been optimized for efficiently processing large 3D images in diverse organisms. Thus, Seg2Link offers an practical solution for scientists to study cell morphology and connectivity in 3D image stacks.
Determination of optimum intensity and duration of exercise based on the immune system response using a machine-learning model
Authors: Asadi Shirin , Tartibian Bakhtyar , Moni Mohammad Ali
Published: May 2023

One of the important concerns in the field of exercise immunology is determining the appropriate intensity and duration of exercise to prevent suppression of the immune system. Adopting a reliable approach to predict the number of white blood cells (WBCs) during exercise can help to identify the appropriate intensity and duration. Therefore, this study was designed to predict leukocyte levels during exercise with the application of a machine-learning model. We used a random forest (RF) model to predict the number of lymphocytes (LYMPH), neutrophils (NEU), monocytes (MON), eosinophils, basophils, and WBC. Intensity and duration of exercise, WBCs values before exercise training, body mass index (BMI), and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max) were used as inputs and WBCs values after exercise training were assessed as outputs of the RF model. In this study, the data was collected from 200 eligible people and K-fold cross-validation was used to train and test the model. Finally, model efficiency was assessed using standard statistics (root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), relative absolute error (RAE), root relative square error (RRSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE)). Our findings revealed that the RF model performed well for predicting the number of WBC with RMSE = 0.94, MAE = 0.76, RAE = 48.54, RRSE = 48.17, NSE = 0.76, and R2 = 0.77. Furthermore, the results showed that intensity and duration of exercise are more effective parameters than BMI and VO2 max to predict the number of LYMPH, NEU, MON, and WBC during exercise. Totally, this study developed a novel approach based on the RF model using the relevant and accessible variables to predict WBCs during exercise. The proposed method can be applied as a promising and cost-effective tool for determining the correct intensity and duration of exercise in healthy people according to the body’s immune system response.
The retinal neurovascular coupling is impaired in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction
Authors: Borrelli Enrico , Quarta Alberto , Pozzi Edoardo , Fallara Giuseppe , Pennisi Flavia , Casaluci Marco , Lamanna Francesca , Querques Lea , Sacconi Riccardo , Bandello Francesco , Montorsi Francesco , Salonia Andrea , Querques Giuseppe
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to study the retinal vessels in patients affected by vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), using dynamic vessel analyzer (DVA). Patients with vasculogenic ED and control subjects were prospectively enrolled to undergo a complete urological and ophthalmologic evaluation, including DVA and structural optical coherence tomography (OCT). The main outcome measures were: (1) arterial dilation; (2) arterial constriction; (3) reaction amplitude (the difference between arterial dilation and constriction); and, (4) venous dilation. Thirty-five patients with ED and 30 male controls were included in the analysis. Mean ± SD age was 52.0 ± 10.8 years in the ED group and 48.1 ± 16.3 years in the control group (p = 0.317). In the dynamic analysis, the arterial dilation was lower in the ED group (1.88 ± 1.50%), as compared with the control group (3.70 ± 1.56%, p < 0.0001). Neither arterial constriction nor venous dilation differed between groups. The reaction amplitude was decreased in ED patients (2.40 ± 2.02%, p = 0.023), compared to controls (4.25 ± 2.20%). In the Pearson correlation analysis, the ED severity, was directly correlated with both reaction amplitude (R = .701, p = 0.004) and arterial dilation (R = .529, p = 0.042). In conclusion, subjects with vasculogenic ED are featured by a significant dysfunction of the retinal neurovascular coupling, which is inversely correlated with ED severity.
Social deprivation in maternal mouthbrooders Tropheus sp. “Caramba” (Teleostei: Cichlidae) decreases the success rate of reproduction and survival rate of fish fry
Authors: Novák Jindřich , Frynta Daniel , Nováková Daniela , Patoka Jiří
Published: May 2023

Early offspring separation from mothers causes social deprivation. Mouthbrooding, when eggs and fry are incubated in the buccal cavity of the parent, is one of the reproductive strategies in fish. The mother is the incubating parent in African lake cichlids from the genus Tropheus. Many of these are produced in captivity and some producers use artificial incubators in which eggs are incubated separately from the mother. We hypothesized that this practice may dramatically modify the reproduction rate of fish individuals produced by the method of artificial incubation. The long-term experiment focused on Tropheus sp. “Caramba” had been carried out for 10 years when maternally incubated and separated individuals were compared. We found a negative effect of artificial egg and offspring incubation out of the mother’s buccal cavity. The deprived females laid the same number of eggs as maternally incubated females, but most eggs were lost during the incubation. Moreover, the reproduction frequency was significantly lower in deprived females in comparison with those maternally incubated. This study should be perceived as preliminary. For this reason and with respect to welfare principles, we strongly recommend similarly designed experiments focused on other potentially sensitive fish mouthbrooders. Once the syndrome would be confirmed, we recommend avoiding artificial incubation of mouthbrooding fish in general.
Improving stress management, anxiety, and mental well-being in medical students through an online Mindfulness-Based Intervention: a randomized study
Authors: Fazia Teresa , Bubbico Francesco , Nova Andrea , Buizza Chiara , Cela Herald , Iozzi Davide , Calgan Beril , Maggi Federica , Floris Valentina , Sutti Irene , Bruno Salvatore , Ghilardi Alberto , Bernardinelli Luisa
Published: May 2023

Pressures and responsibilities of medical school put a strain on medical student's personal wellbeing, leading among all to high rates of anxiety, emotional discomfort and stress. In this work we evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) in reducing this load. The intervention comprised 10 twice-a-week Integral Meditation classes, dietary advice, and brief yoga sessions. We performed a randomized trial on two cohort of medical students from Italian universities: 239 in cohort 1 (106 treated and 133 controls), and 123 in cohort 2 (68 treated and 55 control) for a total sample of 362 students. Nine questionnaires for evaluating the effectiveness of our intervention on stress (PSS), state anxiety (STAIX-1), well-being (WEMWBS), mind-wandering (MW-S), overall distress (PANAS), emotion regulation (DERS), resilience (RS-14), and attentional control (ACS-C and ACS-D) were collected both pre and post intervention. Linear mixed effect models were run on the whole sample showing that, after multiple testing correction, our intervention was effective in reducing perceived stress (β = − 2.57 [− 4.02; − 1.12], p = 0.004), improving mental well-being (β = 2.82 [1.02; 4.63], p = 0.008) and emotional regulation (β = − 8.24 [− 12.98; − 3.51], p = 0.004), resilience (β = 3.79 [1.32; 6.26], p = 0.008), reducing the tendency to wander with the mind (β = − 0.70 [− 0.99; − 0.39], p = 0.0001), ameliorating the ability to maintain attention (AC-S (β = − 0.23 [− 0.44; − 0.02], p = 0.04) and AC-D (β = − 0.19 [− 0.36; − 0.01], p = 0.04)), and the overall distress (β = 1.84 [0.45; 3.23], p = 0.02).
Quantifying the human cost of global warming
Authors: Lenton Timothy M. , Xu Chi , Abrams Jesse F. , Ghadiali Ashish , Loriani Sina , Sakschewski Boris , Zimm Caroline , Ebi Kristie L. , Dunn Robert R. , Svenning Jens-Christian , Scheffer Marten
Published: May 2023

The costs of climate change are often estimated in monetary terms, but this raises ethical issues. Here we express them in terms of numbers of people left outside the ‘human climate niche’—defined as the historically highly conserved distribution of relative human population density with respect to mean annual temperature. We show that climate change has already put ~9% of people (>600 million) outside this niche. By end-of-century (2080–2100), current policies leading to around 2.7 °C global warming could leave one-third (22–39%) of people outside the niche. Reducing global warming from 2.7 to 1.5 °C results in a ~5-fold decrease in the population exposed to unprecedented heat (mean annual temperature ≥29 °C). The lifetime emissions of ~3.5 global average citizens today (or ~1.2 average US citizens) expose one future person to unprecedented heat by end-of-century. That person comes from a place where emissions today are around half of the global average. These results highlight the need for more decisive policy action to limit the human costs and inequities of climate change.