bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tracking digestible and non-digestible cell wall components during protein concentrate production from grass-clover and alfalfa
Authors: Głazowska Sylwia , Gundersen Emil , Heiske Stefan , Lübeck Mette , Mravec Jozef , Jørgensen Bodil
Published: November 2023

Green biomass from leguminous and gramineous forage crops, such as alfalfa and grass-clover, has been proposed as a potential new source of feed protein concentrates for non-ruminant livestock. However, the efficient separation of the protein fraction from the non-digestible cell components, primarily comprising cell walls (fiber) and starch, presents a significant technological challenge. Moreover, it is crucial to optimize the process to preserve the optimal nutritional value of the final product. This study comprehensively analyzed the non-digestible fiber content and composition across all biorefinery fractions using two different feedstocks: green biomass from alfalfa and grass-clover. The pilot scale refining process involved a combination of screw pressing, lactic acid fermentation, and protein separation via centrifugation. We observed variations in carbohydrate composition and abundance between alfalfa and grass-clover. The lactic acid fermentation led to a reduction in cellulose and total glucose content. Our findings indicate that the final protein concentrate still contains residual cell wall components, including lignin, indicating potential inefficiencies in the filtration, fermentation, and isolation steps. The presented analytical approach provides a valuable framework for optimizing processing conditions and tailoring enzyme cocktails for enhanced valorization of the by-products.
Prognostic factors for falls in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review
Authors: Murueta-Goyena Ane , Muiño Oier , Gómez-Esteban Juan Carlos
Published: November 2023

Background

Falls represent a critical concern in Parkinson’s disease (PD), contributing to increased morbidity and reduced quality of life.

Purpose

We conducted a systematic review to assess the prognostic factors associated with falls in PD, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant demographic and clinical parameters, and aid neurologists in identifying subsets of PD patients most susceptible to falls and associated injuries.

Methods

PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for prospective studies assessing factors associated with falls in ambulatory PD patients across different settings, from inception to August 2023. Data extraction was conducted using CHARMS-PF checklist and risk of bias was assessed with QUIPS tool. PRISMA guidelines were followed.

Results

The initial search yielded 155 references. Thirty-four studies, involving a total of 3454 PD patients, were included in the final analysis. The mean pooled age was 67.6 years, and 45.1% were women. PD patients presented mild motor impairment (UPDRS III score 27.8) with mean pooled disease duration of 5.7 years. Gait and balance disorders and history of prior falls emerged as the most consistent predictors of falls across studies. Disease duration, disease severity, dysautonomic symptoms, freezing of gait, frontal cognitive functions, and PD medication dosages yielded inconsistent findings. Conversely, dyskinesias, age, sex, and depression were unrelated to future falls in PD. Logistic regression models were most commonly employed to identify factors significantly associated with falls in PD. Substantial heterogeneity prevailed in the inclusion of confounding factors.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that previous history of falls, gait disorders, and poor balance are robust prognostic markers for falls in PD.
Preadmission morbidity and healthcare utilization among older adults with potentially avoidable hospitalizations: a Danish case–control study
Authors: Schrøder Christine K. , Kristiansen Eskild B. , Flarup Lone , Christiansen Christian F. , Thomsen Reimar W. , Kristensen Pia K.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Examine preadmission diagnoses, medication use, and preadmission healthcare utilization among older adults prior to first potentially avoidable hospitalizations.

Methods

A nationwide population-based case–control study using Danish healthcare data. All Danish adults aged ≥ 65 years who had a first potentially avoidable hospitalization from January 1995 through March 2019 (n = 725,939) were defined as cases, and 1:1 age- and sex-matched general population controls (n = 725,939). Preadmission morbidity and healthcare utilization were assessed based on a complete hospital diagnosis history within 10 years prior, and all medication use and healthcare contacts 1 year prior. Using log-binomial regression, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Included cases and controls had a median age of 78 years and 59% were female. The burden of preadmission morbidity was higher among cases than controls. The strongest associations were observed for preadmission chronic lung disease (PR 3.8, CI 3.7–3.8), alcohol-related disease (PR 3.1, CI 3.0–3.2), chronic kidney disease (PR 2.4, CI 2.4–2.5), psychiatric disease (PR 2.2, CI 2.2–2.3), heart failure (PR 2.2, CI 2.2–2.3), and previous hospital contacts with infections (PR 2.2, CI 2.2–2.3). A high and accelerating number of healthcare contacts was observed during the months preceding the potentially avoidable hospitalization (having over 5 GP contacts 1 month prior, PR 3.0, CI 3.0–3.0).

Conclusion

A high number of healthcare contacts and preadmission morbidity and medication use, especially chronic lung, heart, and kidney disease, alcohol-related or psychiatric disease including dementia, and previous infections are strongly associated with potentially avoidable hospitalizations.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Distance and similarity measures for (p, q)-fuzzy sets and their application in assessing common lung diseases
Authors: Sivadas Aparna , John Sunil Jacob
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to develop distance and similarity measures for (p, q)-fuzzy sets from t-norms and t-conorms. It showcases a way to generate these measures from a given t-norm or a t-conorm operator. These newly developed distance and similarity measures have applications in various domains, including problems in pattern recognition. The article provides a comparison between the proposed measures and the existing measures for Fermatean fuzzy sets. Additionally, it illustrates a numerical example to showcase the practical application of the proposed distance measures in diagnosing common lung diseases.
Importance of the human factor in user satisfaction with local government office counter services: on-site survey of Higashihiroshima city hall users
Authors: Moteki Yasutoshi
Published: November 2023

This study empirically investigates the major factors determining user satisfaction with counter services at local government offices in Japan. Data were collected via on-site surveys on user satisfaction with the local government office counter services using an original three-category questionnaire scale tailored to fit local administration characteristics in Japan. A total of 1000 questionnaires were distributed at the city hall during August 23–26, 2021; a total of 537 valid responses were received (response rate: 53.7%). Regression analysis indicated that the independent variables of category C (service delivery) were the most influential, followed by the B (human-related factors) and A (office hardware) categories (adjusted R2 value: 0.58). Results showed that the human factor is a key factor in counter service in terms of user satisfaction. The human factor was found to be a statistically significant explanatory variable in two on-site surveys at Higashihiroshima City and Internet surveys of ward office users in Osaka City and the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. These findings align with the conclusions of implementation research, which first emerged in the 1970s. For instance, street-level bureaucracy research has highlighted the importance of frontline administrative officials. For service delivery (C), identified as the most important factor, promptness of service delivery and a short waiting time do not necessarily affect user satisfaction positively. Moreover, this study identified two important factors for the counter-staff responses and human-related factors category: (1) speed with which the attending counter clerk speaks and (2) atmosphere and kindness of the attending counter clerk.
Manufacturing Operations Scheduling Based in a Multidimensional Sustainable Manufacturing Index (SMIik)
Authors: Urzola Juan Angel Chica
Published: November 2023

Many essential human needs can only be satisfied through goods and services provided by industry. The products of industry form the material basis of contemporary living standards. All nations rightly require and aspire to efficient industrial bases to satisfy changing needs (Brundtland in U N Comm 4:300 [1]). This aspiration has led nations into a race for industrialization, and this race, as well recognized by the Bruntland Report (Our Common Future, 1987), requires the permanent use of raw materials, constant increases in productivity, and generation of material goods in large quantities which have imposed a very high economic cost, as well as a heavy burden of environmental impacts (Brundtland in U N Comm 4:300 [1]). This document presents a production scheduling proposal for a manufacturing system, based on the maximization of the sustainable manufacturing index (SMIik) of each of the products to be manufactured. This model manages to develop a utility function that integrates the main dimensions that make up sustainable business development, offering a broader criterion than just economic utility as an element for making the production decision of a manufacturing system. Furthermore, it restricts this function to product demand and the capacity of the production system. In addition, it determines the existing correlation between the sustainable development (SD) dimensions, leading to the decision taken to seek a favorable correlation between them. This model makes it possible to obtain a production sequence oriented to the prioritization of those products that offer a greater contribution to business sustainability, offering, to decision-maker, a novel and synergic option to production scheduling.
The role of ChatGPT in sports trauma: a mini review on strengths and limits of open AI application
Authors: Hasnain Muhammad , Mehboob Bilal , Imran Shahid
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper is focused on the role of ChatGPT an artificial intelligence (AI) language model in the area of sports trauma. Sports trauma represents some significant concerns due to its prevalence and impacts. The objective of this study is to present an overview of the literature on how ChatGPT handles information about sports trauma, considering both its strengths and limitations.

Methods

A review method is used in this study. Well-known online databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer and Google Scholar were searched for the relevant studies. In addition, ChatGPT application was accessed to provide the concise information on the research topic.

Results

Search strategy resulted in 30 articles on the topic. Among them only seven studies revealed the potential applications of ChatGPT in sports. The other five studies presented the current status on ChatGPT and sports trauma. The results show that ChatGPT generates information on several types of sports trauma that align with the published literature. However, some limitations of ChatGPT are identified such as its tendency to provide general information about sprains and lack of updated statistics on sports trauma. This study also identified some serious concerns such ethical considerations, data privacy and security regarding the ChatGPT application in sports industry.

Conclusion

Despite having some limitations, the ChatGPT application has potential to be used in healthcare, and particularly in sports trauma. The implications of this study guide scholars for the development of enhanced AI systems, which are tailored to redress the challenges of sports trauma.
Relationship Between Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Count Ratio and Acute Kidney Injury Following Surgery of Stanford Type A Aorta Dissection
Authors: Ding Xiaoyan , Chen Yuanxiang , Zheng Xiao’e , Zeng Lijuan , Zhou Xiaofen
Published: November 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the hematological index of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following surgery of Stanford acute type A aorta dissection (ATAAD).

Methods

We analyzed the perioperative data of patients with ATAAD who were treated surgically in Fujian Provincial Hospital from December 2016 to December 2021.

Results

Patients were divided into AKI (n = 66) and non-AKI (n = 36) groups based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). There was no difference in preoperative PLR values (T0 PLR). In addition, the PLR within 24 h (T1 PLR) following surgery was higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group (P = 0.001). Reintubation rates, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and 30-day mortality were significantly different in the AKI group (P = 0.004, P = 0.002 and P = 0.002). Multivariate analyses showed that higher body mass index (BMI) and reduced T1 PLR were the risk factors for postoperative AKI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the decline in the cut-off level of T1 PLR predicted AKI:144.6, the area under the curve (AUC):[95%CI] 0.7146, 0.6112–0.8181, and P = 0.0004, with a sensitivity of 58.33% and a specificity of 77.27%.

Conclusions

This retrospective study demonstrated that a decreased T1 PLR after surgery is a risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative AKI in ATAAD patients and has possible predictive value for AKI.
Le rôle des archives dans la compréhension de l’éviction d’Alioune Diop du Deuxième Festival Mondial des Arts Négro-Africains (FESTAC 77) et ses conséquences
Authors: Lock Etienne
Published: November 2023

L’éviction d’Alioune Diop du Deuxième Festival Mondial des Arts Négro-Africains (FESTAC), qui constitue l’un des événements les plus importants ayant marqué ce festival, ne se comprend que si l’on en étend le contexte au-delà du Nigéria. Pour cela, il faut aussi élargir le champ d’investigation de la recherche archivistique. C’est dans cette mesure que se révèle l’importance des archives de l’UNESCO et de Présence Africaine, et qu’il apparaît que cette éviction est d’abord un événement indépendant qui a ses propres conséquences sur le plan historique.
A weakly nonlinear amplitude equation approach to the bypass transition in the two-dimensional Lamb–Oseen vortex
Authors: Ducimetière Yves-Marie , Gallaire François
Published: November 2023

We analytically derive an amplitude equation for the weakly nonlinear evolution of the linearly most amplified response of a non-normal dynamical system. The development generalizes the method proposed in Ducimetière et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 947, 2022, A43), in that the base flow now arbitrarily depends on time, and the operator exponential formalism for the evolution of the perturbation is not used. Applied to the two-dimensional Lamb–Oseen vortex, the amplitude equation successfully predicts the nonlinearities to weaken or reinforce the transient gain in the weakly nonlinear regime. In particular, the minimum amplitude of the linear optimal initial perturbation required for the amplitude equation to lose a solution, interpreted as the flow experiencing a bypass (subcritical) transition, is found to decay as a power law with the Reynolds number. Although with a different exponent, this is recovered in direct numerical simulations, showing a transition towards a tripolar state. The simplicity of the amplitude equation and the link made with the sensitivity formula permits a physical interpretation of nonlinear effects, in light of existing work on Landau damping and on shear instabilities. The amplitude equation also quantifies the respective contributions of the second harmonic and the spatial mean flow distortion in the nonlinear modification of the gain.
The interplay between bulk flow and boundary conditions on the distribution of microswimmers in channel flow
Authors: Maretvadakethope Smitha , Hazel Andrew L. , Vasiev Bakhti , Bearon Rachel N.
Published: November 2023

While previous experimental and numerical studies of dilute microswimmer suspensions have focused on the behaviours of swimmers in the bulk flow and near boundaries, models typically do not account for the interplay between bulk flow and the choice of boundary conditions imposed in continuum models. In our work, we highlight the effect of boundary conditions on the bulk flow distributions, such as through the development of boundary layers or secondary peaks of cell accumulation in bulk-flow swimmer dynamics. For the case of a dilute swimmer suspension in Poiseuille flow, we compare the distribution (in physical and orientation space) obtained from individual-based stochastic models with those from continuum models, and identify under what conditions it is mathematically sensible to use specific continuum boundary conditions to capture different physical scenarios (i.e. specular reflection, uniform random reflection and absorbing boundaries). We identify that the spread of preferred cell orientations is dependent on the interplay between rotation driven by the shear flow (Jeffery orbits) and rotational diffusion. We find that in the absence of hydrodynamic wall interactions, swimmers preferentially approach the walls perpendicular to the surface in the presence of high rotational diffusion, and that the preferential approach of swimmers to the walls is shape-dependent at low rotational diffusion (when suspensions tend towards a fully deterministic case). In the latter case, the preferred orientations are nearly parallel to the surface for elongated swimmers and nearly perpendicular to the surface for near-spherical swimmers. Furthermore, we highlight the effects of swimmer geometries and shear throughout the bulk-flow on swimmer trajectories and show how the full history of bulk-flow dynamics affects the orientation distributions of microswimmer wall incidence.
Time for bed: diet, sleep and obesity in children and adults
Authors: Miller Michelle A.
Published: November 2023

Sufficient sleep is necessary for optimal health, daytime performance and wellbeing and the amount required is age-dependent and decreases across the lifespan. Sleep duration is usually affected by age and several different cultural, social, psychological, behavioural, pathophysiological and environmental factors. This review considers how much sleep children and adults need, why this is important, what the consequences are of insufficient sleep and how we can improve sleep. A lack of the recommended amount of sleep for a given age group has been shown to be associated with detrimental effects on health including effects on metabolism, endocrine function, immune function and haemostatic pathways. Obesity has increased worldwide in the last few decades and the WHO has now declared it a global epidemic. A lack of sleep is associated with an increased risk of obesity in children and adults, which may lead to future poor health outcomes. Data from studies in both children and adults suggest that the relationship between sleep and obesity may be mediated by several different mechanisms including alterations in appetite and satiety, sleep timing, circadian rhythm and energy balance. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that improvements in sleep, in both children and adults, can be beneficial for weight management and diet and certain foods might be important to promote sleep. In conclusion this review demonstrates that there is a wide body of evidence to suggest that sleep and obesity are causally related and recommends that further research is required to inform policy, and societal change.
Difficulties during delivery, brain ventricle enlargement and cognitive impairment in first episode psychosis
Authors: Costas-Carrera Ana , Verdolini Norma , Garcia-Rizo Clemente , Mezquida Gisela , Janssen Joost , Valli Isabel , Corripio Iluminada , Sanchez-Torres Ana M. , Bioque Miquel , Lobo Antonio , Gonzalez-Pinto Ana , Rapado-Castro Marta , Vieta Eduard , De la Serna Helena , Mane Anna , Roldan Alexandra , Crossley Nicolas , Penades Rafael , Cuesta Manuel J. , Parellada Mara , Bernardo Miquel ,   PEPs group
Published: November 2023

Background

Patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) display clinical, cognitive, and structural brain abnormalities at illness onset. Ventricular enlargement has been identified in schizophrenia since the initial development of neuroimaging techniques. Obstetric abnormalities have been associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis but also with cognitive impairment and brain structure abnormalities. Difficulties during delivery are associated with a higher risk of birth asphyxia leading to brain structural abnormalities, such as ventriculomegaly, which has been related to cognitive disturbances.

Methods

We examined differences in ventricular size between 142 FEP patients and 123 healthy control participants using magnetic resonance imaging. Obstetric complications were evaluated using the Lewis–Murray scale. We examined the impact of obstetric difficulties during delivery on ventricle size as well as the possible relationship between ventricle size and cognitive impairment in both groups.

Results

FEP patients displayed significantly larger third ventricle size compared with healthy controls. Third ventricle enlargement was associated with diagnosis (higher volume in patients), with difficulties during delivery (higher volume in subjects with difficulties), and was highest in patients with difficulties during delivery. Verbal memory was significantly associated with third ventricle to brain ratio.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that difficulties during delivery might be significant contributors to the ventricular enlargement historically described in schizophrenia. Thus, obstetric complications may contribute to the development of psychosis through changes in brain architecture.
Exemplars in ‘science and religion’: a theological dialogue with Thomas Kuhn
Authors: Reeves Josh A.
Published: November 2023

This article argues that Thomas Kuhn's landmark work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, has not been adequately explored by theologians and scholars in the field of science and religion. While many cite Kuhn to suggest that science and religion share structural similarities, I contend that his work is crucial in addressing current debates about the definitions of ‘science’ and ‘religion’ and the potential for intellectual progress between them. Kuhn's framework provides more than a justification for adhering to incommensurable worldviews; it offers a nuanced understanding of how science and religion interact and the significance of tacit knowledge in scientific practice. This article explains Kuhn's focus on exemplars in his philosophy of science, which underpin his argument for key differences between science and theological inquiry. The article concludes that Kuhn's pluralistic view of truth offers theologians an opportunity to engage more deeply with science, rather than sidestepping it entirely.
Exploring early syntactic generalisation: evidence from a growth curve analysis of Spanish “se” constructions
Authors: RICHES Nick
Published: November 2023

Children’s early grammatical constructions, e.g., SVO, exhibit a learning curve with cumulative verb types (CVT) increasing exponentially. According to Ninio (2006), the fact that learning curves, though nonlinear, can be modelled by a continuous regression suggests instant generalisation. Moreover, differences in initial verbs across children indicate minimal involvement of semantics. This study tested these claims on the Spanish “se” constructions (SSCs) in two children, Juan and Lucía (Aguado-Orea & Pine, 2015). Ninio’s findings were replicated. Nonetheless, exploratory analyses indicated that curves are driven by the temporal distribution of tokens (instances of the SSC irrespective of verb type) and therefore may reflect non-productivity-related mechanisms, e.g., retrieval-based learning. Furthermore, hapax verbs were relatively late to emerge in the children’s data, suggesting emergent generalisation. Analyses of raw lexical frequencies indicated relative semantic homogeneity across the two children’s verb types, suggesting a semantic prototype. Nonetheless, ecological factors may also explain these lexical similarities.
Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in Tlaxcala, Mexico
Authors: Meneses-León Joacim , Hernández-López Rubí , Hernández-Salazar Sonia , Torres-Ibarra Leticia , Rivera-Paredez Berenice , León-Maldonado Leith , Magis-Rodríguez Carlos , Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo , Salmerón Jorge
Published: November 2023

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are widely recognised as two prevalent sexually transmitted infections that can have detrimental effects on women’s reproductive health. Previous research has concentrated on studying high-risk populations, resulting in limited epidemiological data regarding the general population. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of CT and NG among women attending public primary health care in Tlaxcala, Mexico. The study sample included 2,396 women already participating in the cervical cancer screening programme, from July to November 2014. After obtaining informed consent, the CT and NG tests were conducted on cervical samples, using a nucleic acid amplification test. We estimate the prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Women who tested positive were promptly notified and provided with appropriate treatment. In our study population, CT and NG prevalences were 3.2 (95% CI: 2.6–4.0) and 0.01 (95% CI: 0.01–0.03), respectively. CT prevalence was higher in younger women (age < 40), although the results indicate a low prevalence; due to the potentially significant impact of CT and NG on women’s health, we require adequate surveillance, and guaranteeing rapid referral to the correct treatment is a priority for the control of these diseases.
Parental holding of infants improves haemodynamics in the cardiac ICU
Authors: Elhoff Justin J. , Acosta Sebastian , Flores Saul , LaSalle Julie , Loomba Rohit , McGetrick Molly , McKinney Christy , Ostrom Megan , Pande Chetna K. , Schlosser Robin , Schwab Sarah , Savorgnan Fabio
Published: November 2023

We performed a single-centre, retrospective study to assess physiologic changes of infants in the cardiac ICU while being held by their parent. Continuous data streaming of vital signs were collected for infants included in the study from January 2021 to March 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected from the electronic medical record. The physiologic streaming data were analysed using mixed-effects models to account for repeated measures and quantify the effect of parental holding. Comparison analysis was also performed controlling for intubation, pre-operative versus post-operative status, and whether the holding was skin-to-skin or not. Ninety-five patients with complete physiologic data were included in the study. There were no immediate adverse events associated with holding. Heart rate decreased during the response time compared to its baseline value (p = 0.01), and this decrease was more pronounced for the non-intubated and pre-operative patients. The near-infrared spectroscopy-based venous saturation increased overall (p = 0.02) in patients while being held. We conclude that parental holding of infants in the cardiac ICU can be safely accomplished, and the haemodynamic and oximetric profile during the holding is favourable compared to the infants’ baseline prior to holding.
Access to episodic primary care: a cross-sectional comparison of walk-in clinics and urgent primary care centers in British Columbia
Authors: McCracken Mary A. , Cooper Ian R. , Hamilton Michee-Ana , Klimas Jan , Lindsay Cameron , Fletcher Sarah , Price Morgan , Hedden Lindsay , McCracken Rita K.
Published: November 2023

Aim:

This study aimed to identify publicly reported access characteristics for episodic primary care in BC and provided a clinic-level comparison between walk-in clinics and UPCCs.

Background:

Walk-in clinics are non-hospital-based primary care facilities that are designed to operate without appointments and provide increased healthcare access with extended hours. Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) were introduced to British Columbia (BC) in 2018 as an additional primary care resource that provided urgent, but not emergent care during extended hours.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study used publicly available data from all walk-in clinics and UPCCs in BC. A structured data collection form was used to record access characteristics from clinic websites, including business hours, weekend availability, attachment to a longitudinal family practice, and provision of virtual services.

Findings:

In total, 268 clinics were included in the analysis (243 walk-in clinics, 25 UPCCs). Of those, 225 walk-in clinics (92.6%) and two UPCCs (8.0%) were attached to a longitudinal family practice. Only 153 (63%) walk-in clinics offered weekend services, compared to 24 (96%) of UPCCs. Walk-in clinics offered the majority (8,968.6/ 78.4%) of their service hours between 08:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday. UPCCs offered the majority (889.3/ 53.7%) of their service hours after 17:00.

Conclusion:

Most walk-in clinics were associated with a longitudinal family practice and provided the majority of clinic services during typical business hours. More research that includes patient characteristics and care outcomes, analyzed at the clinic level, may be useful to support the optimization of episodic primary healthcare delivery.
Querying Incomplete Data: Complexity and Tractability via Datalog and First-Order Rewritings
Authors: GHEERBRANT AMÉLIE , LIBKIN LEONID , ROGOVA ALEXANDRA , SIRANGELO CRISTINA
Published: November 2023

To answer database queries over incomplete data, the gold standard is finding certain answers: those that are true regardless of how incomplete data is interpreted. Such answers can be found efficiently for conjunctive queries and their unions, even in the presence of constraints. With negation added, the problem becomes intractable however. We concentrate on the complexity of certain answers under constraints and on effficiently answering queries outside the usual classes of (unions) of conjunctive queries by means of rewriting as Datalog and first-order queries. We first notice that there are three different ways in which query answering can be cast as a decision problem. We complete the existing picture and provide precise complexity bounds on all versions of the decision problem, for certain and best answers. We then study a well-behaved class of queries that extends unions of conjunctive queries with a mild form of negation. We show that for them, certain answers can be expressed in Datalog with negation, even in the presence of functional dependencies, thus making them tractable in data complexity. We show that in general, Datalog cannot be replaced by first-order logic, but without constraints such a rewriting can be done in first order.
Developmental origins of health and disease knowledge is associated with diet quality in preconception young adult men and women
Authors: Salvesen Lorentz , Valen Erlend Nuland , Wills Andrew Keith , Hillesund Elisabet Rudjord , Vik Frøydis Nordgård , Engeset Dagrun , Øverby Nina Cecilie , Medin Anine Christine
Published: November 2023

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) approach supports that nutritional exposures in early life affect an individual’s later health and risk of disease. Dietary exposure during the preconception period may also influence individual, and inter- and transgenerational health and disease risk, in both men and women. This study aimed to describe knowledge of the DOHaD approach (DOHaDKNOWLEDGE) and diet quality in preconception young adults in Norway, to assess associations between DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and a Diet Quality Score (DQS), and to assess gender differences in those above. Data from 1362 preconception young adults was obtained from the PREPARED study baseline dataset. The sample had 88% women participants, a mean age of 27 years, 36% had overweight or obesity, and 77% had higher level of education. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was assessed by the participants’ agreement to five statements using a Likert scale. Diet quality was assessed using aspects of diet quality and a DQS derived from a dietary screener. We found moderate level of both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE (12/20 points) and diet quality (DQS: 60/100 points), indicating potential for improvements. Specifically, the greatest potential for diet quality improvements were observed for sugary foods, red and processed meats, legumes, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Gender differences were observed for both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and diet quality. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was positively associated with DQS, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, with little evidence of an interaction effect by gender. This study indicates that knowledge of the DOHaD approach is positively associated with diet quality in preconception young men and women. Future studies should consider incorporating pregnancy intentions, relationship status, and health literacy.
Global Patterns of Surface Ocean Dissolved Organic Matter Stoichiometry
Authors: Liang Zhou , Letscher Robert T. , Knapp Angela N.
Published: November 2023

Surface ocean marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) serves as an important reservoir of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the global ocean, and is produced and consumed by both autotrophic and heterotrophic communities. While prior work has described distributions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) concentrations, our understanding of DOC:DON:DOP stoichiometry in the global surface ocean has been limited by the availability of DOP concentration measurements. Here, we estimate mean surface ocean bulk and semi‐labile DOC:DON:DOP stoichiometry in biogeochemically and geographically defined regions using newly available marine DOM concentration databases. Global mean surface ocean bulk (C:N:P = 387:26:1) and semi‐labile (C:N:P = 179:20:1) DOM stoichiometries are higher than Redfield stoichiometry, with semi‐labile DOM stoichiometry similar to that of global mean surface ocean particulate organic matter (C:N:P = 160:21:1) reported in a recent compilation. DOM stoichiometry varies across ocean basins, ranging from 251:17:1 to 638:43:1 for bulk and 83:15:1 to 414:49:1 for semi‐labile DOM C:N:P, respectively. Surface ocean DOP concentration exhibits larger relative changes than DOC and DON, driving surface ocean gradients in DOC:DON:DOP stoichiometry. Inferred autotrophic consumption of DOP helps explain intra‐ and inter‐basin patterns of marine DOM C:N:P stoichiometry, with regional patterns of water column denitrification and iron supply influencing the biogeochemical conditions favoring DOP use as an organic nutrient. Specifically, surface ocean marine DOM exhibits increasingly P‐depleted stoichiometries from east to west in the Pacific and from south to north in the Atlantic, consistent with patterns of increasing P stress and alleviated iron stress.
Properties of Quiet Magnetotail Plasma Sheet at Lunar Distances
Authors: Runov A. , Angelopoulos V. , Khurana K. , Liu J. , Balikhin M. , Artemyev A. V.
Published: November 2023

The Earth's magnetotail at lunar distances (R ≈ 60 RE) serves as a unique laboratory to study plasma dynamics in a weak, highly fluctuating magnetic field with a strong magnetic field gradient. In particular, studies of the of quiet‐time plasma in the lunar‐distant magnetotail can inform us about plasma entry to the magnetosphere and sources of magnetospheric plasma populations. We use the data collected by the two lunar‐orbiting Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) spacecraft during its 2013–2019 magnetotail traversals to infer the average thermodynamic and spectral properties of plasma populations in the quiet‐time (i.e., low geomagnetic activity and absence of fast plasma flows) magnetotail at lunar distances. We found that plasma temperature and density in the quiet‐time magnetotail at R ≈ 60 RE are organized by the magnetic field. Three distinct regions with plasma β ≫ 1, β ∼ 1, and β ≪ 1, the central plasma sheet (CPS), outer plasma sheet (OPS), and lobes are sampled. We found that temperatures and energy spectra of ion populations in CPS, OPS, and lobes regimes are different: the hotter CPS temperatures scale with the kinetic energy of solar wind protons; cold OPS/lobe ions are, likely, of ionospheric origin. The ion and electron particle spectra in CPS, OPS, and lobes are nonthermal and reasonably well fitted by the Kappa function, with κ exponent varying between 2.5 and 3.5.
A Structured Graph Neural Network for Improving the Numerical Weather Prediction of Rainfall
Authors: Peng Xuan , Li Qian , Chen Lei , Ning Xiangyu , Chu Hai , Liu Jinqing
Published: November 2023

The current challenges of numerical weather prediction (NWP) of rainfall mainly stem from the complex and multiscale nature of rainfall. In recent years, as observation capability improved worldwide, there has been an increased feasibility to use data‐driven models to enhance forecasting performance with rainfall observation. Compared to traditional statistical and machine learning models, deep‐learning models show considerable promise in capturing the spatial‐temporal features of weather processes from multiple predictors, but the convolution‐based feature extractor is suboptimal due to the linear nature of convolution kernels. In this study, a multilevel forecasting model is proposed to forecast each rainfall level, in which each submodel adopts a graph neural network for feature extraction. Spatial and temporal propagation functions based on grid structure are designed to explicitly represent feature fusion and propagation of multiple predictors across multiple scales. On model training, a weight setting strategy that balances the impact of samples with different rainfall values on the total training loss is proposed, and a soft classification label is designed to convert observed rainfall into the probability of rainfall above each threshold. The proposed model was trained and validated on NWP data provided by European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecast, and results show significant improvement over the NWP in terms of threat score (TS) and Heidke Skill Score (HSS) scores. Analysis of the forecast results for two typical rainfall processes also illustrates that the proposed method can predict rainfall with more reasonable location and intensity.
Toward Optimal Rainfall for Flood Prediction in Headwater Basins—Orographic QPE Error Modeling Using Machine Learning
Authors: Liao Mochi , Barros Ana P.
Published: November 2023

Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) from merged rain gauge and radar measurements have become widely available in the last two decades. The errors associated with these products are yet to be fully understood, especially in complex terrain where ground clutter and overshooting artifacts are significant and vary in space and time depending on the storm and underlying synoptic conditions. The location and timing of precipitation in addition to rainfall intensity and duration are critical to the simulation of flood response in headwater basins. This work proposes a generalizable Physics‐guided Artificial Intelligence (PAI) framework for QPE error modeling. First, QPE error climatology derived from the hydrologic Inverse Rainfall Correction (Liao & Barros, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113107) to historical floods in selected headwater basins is analyzed to identify dominant precipitation regimes. Second, for each precipitation regime, a Multilayer Perceptron error prediction model is trained using event‐specific precipitation metrics at hourly scale as input, and subsequently used to predict estimation errors for various QPE products. The corrected QPE can then be used for hydrologic simulations and flood nowcasting. The PAI framework is demonstrated in the Southern Appalachian Mountains using the 57 largest floods over 2008–2017. The Probability Distribution Function of predicted precipitation errors follows a Gaussian‐like distribution but varies significantly between cold and warm season events, while the spatial distribution is inextricably connected to basin geomorphology. On average, large improvements on hourly Kling‐Gupta Efficiency from −0.5 to 0.4 are achieved, and the peak flood error is reduced by 70%, with distinctively better results for cold season events.
Randomly Distributed Crab Burrows Enhance Groundwater Flow and Salt Transport in Creek‐Marsh Systems
Authors: Yin Maosheng , Xiao Kai , Xin Pei , Li Hailong , Zheng Chunmiao , Smith Erik , Wilson Alicia M.
Published: November 2023

Macropores created by crab burrowing are commonly found in vegetated coastal wetlands. However, their impact on surface water‐groundwater interactions and salt transport is insufficiently understood. In this study, we used numerical models to quantify the impact of crab burrows with random spatial distribution, morphology, and openings on groundwater flow and salt transport in creek‐marsh systems. Results showed that these burrows can lead to a more complex network of preferential flow paths and burrow flushing capabilities than those with a single pipeline. The velocity magnitude varied over seven orders in the burrowed mud layer. Local increases in the hydraulic gradient occurred in the burrows, leading to faster water circulation and salt transport as well as turnover of soil aeration. The salinity front in the burrowed marsh reached two‐m deeper than in the unburrowed marsh. Burrow flushing depth and intensity is significantly enhanced in burrows with multiple openings. This study emphasized the complexity of tortuous burrows regulating groundwater flow and solute transport through modeling realistic crab burrows. This work supports fiddler crabs as ubiquitous “ecoengineers” who can produce more significant impact on local hydrological cycle and ecosystem‐scale geochemical processes than previously indicated.
A skin-integrated device for neck posture monitoring and correction
Authors: Luo Hu , Jin Tianhao , Zhang Yu , Tian Bohao , Zhang Yuru , Wang Dangxiao
Published: November 2023

Cervical spondylosis is a common disease that is often caused by long-term abnormal cervical curvature due to activities such as reading books and using computers or smartphones. This paper explores building an untethered and skin-integrated device in an e-skin form factor to monitor and haptically correct neck posture. The proposed design features a multilayered structure that integrates all flexible electronic circuits and components into a compact skin space while being untethered and skin conformal. An accelerometer in the e-skin attaches to the neck for posture sensing, while four vibration actuators closely touch the neck skin to provide localized vibrotactile stimuli that encode four-direction correction cues of neck flexion$$\pm \alpha$$±αand lateral bending$$\pm \beta$$±β. To ensure the reliability of posture sensing and vibrotactile rendering during neck movement, it is necessary to prevent the e-skin device from shifting position. Thus, a hollow structure-based method is implemented for stably attaching the e-skin to the neck skin. Experiments validated the e-skin device’s sensing precision, skin-conformal compliance, stickiness, stability and effectiveness during the motion of neck postures, including its discrimination of localized four-direction vibrotactile cues. A user study verified the device’s performance for sensing and correcting different abnormal neck postures during activities such as using smartphones, reading books, and processing computer files. The proposed e-skin device may create opportunities for more convenient cervical spondylosis prevention and rehabilitation.
METTL9-SLC7A11 axis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through ferroptosis inhibition
Authors: Bi Fangfang , Qiu Yuxiong , Wu Zongfeng , Liu Shaoru , Zuo Dinglan , Huang Zhenkun , Li Binkui , Yuan Yunfei , Niu Yi , Qiu Jiliang
Published: November 2023

Methytransferase-like proteins 9 (METTL9) has been characterized as an oncogene in several cancers, however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Here, we investigated the function and molecular mechanism of METTL9 in HCC. We showed that METTL9 expression was elevated in HCC, and its high expression was associated with poor survival outcomes. Knockdown of METTL9 observed a significant inhibition of HCC cell viability, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. By contrast, METTL9 overexpression HCC cells obtained stronger abilities in cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we discovered that METTL9 knockdown led to a reduction in the expression level of SLC7A11, a key suppressor of ferroptosis, in turn, promoted ferroptosis in HCC cells, impeding the progression of HCC. Moreover, we have proved that targeting METTL9 could significantly restrain the growth of HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX). Our study established METTL9 as a critical role in promoting HCC development and provides a foundation for further investigation and potential therapeutic interventions targeting ferroptosis in HCC.
Months-long seismicity transients preceding the 2023 MW 7.8 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, Türkiye
Authors: Kwiatek G. , Martínez-Garzón P. , Becker D. , Dresen G. , Cotton F. , Beroza G. C. , Acarel D. , Ergintav S. , Bohnhoff M.
Published: November 2023

Short term prediction of earthquake magnitude, time, and location is currently not possible. In some cases, however, documented observations have been retrospectively considered as precursory. Here we present seismicity transients starting approx. 8 months before the 2023 MW 7.8 Kahramanmaraş earthquake on the East Anatolian Fault Zone. Seismicity is composed of isolated spatio-temporal clusters within 65 km of future epicentre, displaying non-Poissonian inter-event time statistics, magnitude correlations and low Gutenberg-Richter b-values. Local comparable seismic transients have not been observed, at least since 2014. Close to epicentre and during the weeks prior to its rupture, only scarce seismic activity was observed. The trends of seismic preparatory attributes for this earthquake follow those previously documented in both laboratory stick-slip tests and numerical models of heterogeneous earthquake rupture affecting multiple fault segments. More comprehensive earthquake monitoring together with long-term seismic records may facilitate recognizing earthquake preparation processes from other regional deformation transients.
Ocean warming drives rapid dynamic activation of marine-terminating glacier on the west Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Wallis Benjamin J. , Hogg Anna E. , Meredith Michael P. , Close Romilly , Hardy Dominic , McMillan Malcolm , Wuite Jan , Nagler Thomas , Moffat Carlos
Published: November 2023

Ice dynamic change is the primary cause of mass loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet, thus it is important to understand the processes driving ice-ocean interactions and the timescale on which major change can occur. Here we use satellite observations to measure a rapid increase in speed and collapse of the ice shelf fronting Cadman Glacier in the absence of surface meltwater ponding. Between November 2018 and December 2019 ice speed increased by 94 ± 4% (1.47 ± 0.6 km/yr), ice discharge increased by 0.52 ± 0.21 Gt/yr, and the calving front retreated by 8 km with dynamic thinning on grounded ice of 20.1 ± 2.6 m/yr. This change was concurrent with a positive temperature anomaly in the upper ocean, where a 400 m deep channel allowed warm water to reach Cadman Glacier driving the dynamic activation, while neighbouring Funk and Lever Glaciers were protected by bathymetric sills across their fjords. Our results show that forcing by warm ocean water can cause the rapid onset of dynamic imbalance and increased ice discharge from glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula, highlighting the region’s sensitivity to future climate variability.