bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Hold the course(s)!’ – a qualitative interview study of the impact of pandemic-triggered contact restrictions on online instruction in community-based family medicine teaching
Authors: Steffen Marie-Theres , Fuhr Hannah , Joos Stefanie , Koch Roland
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has been identified as a catalyst for the digitalization of medical education. Less is known about the specific impact of the pandemic on decentralized, community-based education, such as in General Practitioner practices. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of the digital transformation process, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. As, family medicine courses involve both university-based and community-based teaching, this study focuses the mode and quality of instruction and instructors in family medicine teaching. A qualitative interview study was conducted. The participants (N = 12) of a multi-perspective Quality Circle in family medicine teaching were interviewed twice: first, in 2019, about digitalization in family medicine teaching in Tübingen, Germany, not yet aware of the global changes and local transformation that would take place shortly thereafter. Second, in a follow-up interview in 2020 about the transition process and digitalization following the impact of contact restrictions during the pandemic. Grounded Theory was used as a qualitative research approach to analyze the complex processes surrounding this transformation. By analyzing the interviews with various stakeholders of community and university-based teaching, a model for the digital transformation process of family medicine teaching at the University of Tübingen in response to an external stimulus (the pandemic) was developed. It involves six chronological steps: “The calm before the storm,” “The storm hits,” “All hands on deck,” “Adrift,” “Reset course,” and “The silver lining.” This model seeks to understand the process of digital transformation and its impact on the teaching institution (medical faculty of the University of Tübingen, Institute for General Practice and Interprofessional Health Care) and instructors from an integrated perspective and thereby critically revisits prior concepts and opinions on the digitalization of medical teaching. Insights gained are presented as key messages.
The role of dendritic spines in epileptogenesis
Authors: Jean Gary , Carton Joseph , Haq Kaleem , Musto Alberto E.
Published: August 2023

Epilepsy is a chronic central nervous system (CNS) disease associated with high morbidity. To date, there is no known disease-modifying therapy for epilepsy. A leading hypothesis for a mechanism of epileptogenesis is the generation of aberrant neuronal networks. Although the underlying biological mechanism is not clear, scientific evidence indicates that it is associated with a hyperexcitable synchronous neuronal network and active dendritic spine plasticity. Changes in dendritic spine morphology are related to altered expression of synaptic cytoskeletal proteins, inflammatory molecules, neurotrophic factors, and extracellular matrix signaling. However, it remains to be determined if these aberrant dendritic spine formations lead to neuronal hyperexcitability and abnormal synaptic connections or whether they constitute an underlying mechanism of seizure susceptibility. Focusing on dendritic spine machinery as a potential target for medications could limit or reverse the development of epilepsy.
Anatomical network modules of the human central nervous-craniofacial skeleton system
Authors: Qing Gele , Jia Fucang , Liu Jianwei , Jiang Xiling
Published: August 2023

Anatomical network analysis (AnNA) is a systems biological framework based on network theory that enables anatomical structural analysis by incorporating modularity to model structural complexity. The human brain and facial structures exhibit close structural and functional relationships, suggestive of a co-evolved anatomical network. The present study aimed to analyze the human head as a modular entity that comprises the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and craniofacial skeleton. An AnNA model was built using 39 anatomical nodes from the brain, spinal cord, and craniofacial skeleton. The linkages were identified using peripheral nerve supply and direct contact between structures. The Spinglass algorithm in the igraph software was applied to construct a network and identify the modules of the central nervous system-craniofacial skeleton anatomical network. Two modules were identified. These comprised an anterior module, which included the forebrain, anterior cranial base, and upper-middle face, and a posterior module, which included the midbrain, hindbrain, mandible, and posterior cranium. These findings may reflect the genetic and signaling networks that drive the mosaic central nervous system and craniofacial development and offer important systems biology perspectives for developmental disorders of craniofacial structures.
Characteristics of headaches attributed to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and factors associated with its frequency and prolongation: a cross-sectional cohort study
Authors: Jameie Melika , Togha Mansoureh , Azizmohammad Looha Mehdi , Jafari Elham , Yazdan Panah Mohammad , Hemmati Nima , Nasergivehchi Somayeh
Published: August 2023

Background

Headache is the most frequent neurological adverse event following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We investigated the frequency, characteristics, and factors associated with post-vaccination headaches, including their occurrence and prolongation (≥ 48 h).

Methods

In this observational cross-sectional cohort study, retrospective data collected between April 2021–March 2022 were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate the effect of clinicodemographic factors on the odds of post-vaccination headache occurrence and prolongation.

Results

Of 2,500 people who were randomly sent the questionnaire, 1822 (mean age: 34.49 ± 11.09, female: 71.5%) were included. Headache prevalence following the first (V1), second (V2), and third (V3) dose was 36.5, 23.3, and 21.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). Post-vaccination headaches were mainly tension-type (46.5%), followed by migraine-like (36.1%). Headaches were mainly bilateral (69.7%), pressing (54.3%), moderate (51.0%), and analgesic-responsive (63.0%). They mainly initiated 10 h [4.0, 24.0] after vaccination and lasted 24 h [4.0, 48.0]. After adjusting for age and sex, primary headaches (V1: aOR: 1.32 [95%CI: 1.08, 1.62], V2: 1.64 [1.15, 2.35]), post-COVID-19 headaches (V2: 2.02 [1.26, 3.31], V3: 2.83 [1.17, 7.47]), headaches following the previous dose (V1 for V2: 30.52 [19.29, 50.15], V1 for V3: 3.78 [1.80, 7.96], V2 for V3: 12.41 [4.73, 35.88]), vector vaccines (V1: 3.88 [3.07, 4.92], V2: 2.44 [1.70, 3.52], V3: 4.34 [1.78, 12.29]), and post-vaccination fever (V1: 4.72 [3.79, 5.90], V2: 6.85 [4.68, 10.10], V3: 9.74 [4.56, 22.10]) increased the odds of post-vaccination headaches. Furthermore, while primary headaches (V1: 0.63 [0.44, 0.90]) and post-COVID-19 headaches (V1: 0.01 [0.00, 0.05]) reduced the odds of prolonged post-vaccination headaches, psychiatric disorders (V1: 2.58 [1.05, 6.45]), headaches lasting ≥48 h following the previous dose (V1 for V2: 3.10 [1.08, 10.31]), and migraine-like headaches at the same dose (V3: 5.39 [1.15, 32.47]) increased this odds.

Conclusion

Patients with primary headaches, post-COVID-19 headaches, or headaches following the previous dose, as well as vector-vaccine receivers and those with post-vaccination fever, were at increased risk of post-SARS-CoV-2-vaccination headaches. Primary headaches and post-COVID-19 headaches reduced the odds of prolonged post-vaccination headaches. However, longer-lasting headaches following the previous dose, migraine-like headaches at the same dose, and psychiatric disorders increased this odd.
Regression calibration utilizing biomarkers developed from high-dimensional metabolites
Authors: Zhang Yiwen , Dai Ran , Huang Ying , Prentice Ross L. , Zheng Cheng
Published: August 2023

Addressing systematic measurement errors in self-reported data is a critical challenge in association studies of dietary intake and chronic disease risk. The regression calibration method has been utilized for error correction when an objectively measured biomarker is available; however, biomarkers for only a few dietary components have been developed. This paper proposes to use high-dimensional objective measurements to construct biomarkers for many more dietary components and to estimate the diet disease associations. It also discusses the challenges in variance estimation in high-dimensional regression methods and presents a variety of techniques to address this issue, including cross-validation, degrees-of-freedom corrected estimators, and refitted cross-validation (RCV). Extensive simulation is performed to study the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators. The proposed method is applied to the Women's Health Initiative cohort data to examine the associations between the sodium/potassium intake ratio and the total cardiovascular disease.
Greater adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with lower diet-related greenhouse gas emissions but higher costs
Authors: Conrad Zach , Drewnowski Adam , Love David C.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Few studies have evaluated the sustainability of popular diet patterns in the US, which limits policy action and impedes consumer efficacy to make sustainable dietary changes. This study filled this gap by evaluating the relationship between diet quality, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), and diet cost for plant-based, restricted carbohydrate, low grain, low fat, and time restricted diet patterns.

Methods

Dietary data were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018, n = 8,146) and linked with data on GHGE and food prices from publicly available databases. Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index-2015. The present study (1) compared the mean diet quality, GHGE, and diet cost between diet patterns, (2) evaluated the association of diet quality to GHGE and diet cost for each diet pattern, and (3) estimated the contribution of food sources to GHGE and diet cost for each diet pattern.

Results

Higher diet quality was associated with lower GHGE for the general population and for most diet patterns (p < 0.01) except for the plant-based and time restricted diet patterns (p > 0.05). Higher diet quality was associated with higher cost for the general population and for all dietary patterns (p < 0.01) except the time restricted diet pattern (p > 0.05). Protein foods, mostly beef, accounted for the largest share of GHGE (29–40%) and diet cost (28–47%) for all diet patterns except plant-based.

Discussion

Higher diet quality was associated with lower GHGE but was often accompanied by higher diet cost. These sustainability trade-offs can help inform major policy discussions in the US and shed light on further research needs in the area of food systems transformation.
Crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and DNA damage response in cancer: a new direction for overcoming therapy resistance
Authors: Zhang Xixia , Yu Xiaofeng
Published: August 2023

Wnt signaling plays an important role in regulating the biological behavior of cancers, and many drugs targeting this signaling have been developed. Recently, a series of research have revealed that Wnt signaling could regulate DNA damage response (DDR) which is crucial for maintaining the genomic integrity in cells and closely related to cancer genome instability. Many drugs have been developed to target DNA damage response in cancers. Notably, different components of the Wnt and DDR pathways are involved in crosstalk, forming a complex regulatory network and providing new opportunities for cancer therapy. Here, we provide a brief overview of Wnt signaling and DDR in the field of cancer research and review the interactions between these two pathways. Finally, we also discuss the possibility of therapeutic agents targeting Wnt and DDR as potential cancer treatment strategies.
Interactive effect of branch source-sink ratio and leaf aging on photosynthesis in pistachio
Authors: Marino Giulia , Guzmán-Delgado Paula , Santos Emily , Adaskaveg Jaclyn A. , Blanco-Ulate Bárbara , Ferguson Louise , Zwieniecki Maciej A. , Fernández-Suela Eduardo
Published: August 2023

Tree source-sink ratio has a predominant and complex impact on tree performance and can affect multiple physiological processes including vegetative and reproductive growth, water and nutrient use, photosynthesis, and productivity. In this study, we manipulated the branch level source-sink ratio by reduction of photosynthetic activity (partial branch defoliation) or thinning branch fruit load early in the growing season (after fruit set) in pistachio (Pistacia vera) trees. We then characterized the leaf photosynthetic light response curves through leaf aging. In addition, we determined changes in leaf non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and nitrogen (N) concentrations. In leaves with high source-sink ratios, there was a gradual decrease in maximum net photosynthetic rate (ANmax) over the growing season, while in branches with low source-sink ratios, there was a sharp decline in ANmax in the first two weeks of August. Branches with high-sink showed an up-regulation (increase) in photosynthesis toward the end of July (at 1,500 growing degree days) during the period of rapid kernel growth rate and increased sink strength, with ANmax being about 7 μmol m-1 s-1 higher than in branches with low-sink. In August, low source-sink ratios precipitated leaf senescence, resulting in a drastic ANmax decline, from 25 to 8 μmol m-1 s-1 (70% drop in two weeks). This reduction was associated with the accumulation of NSC in the leaves from 20 to 30 mg g-1. The mechanisms of ANmax reduction differ between the two treatments. Lower photosynthetic rates of 8-10 μmol m-1 s-1 late in the season were associated with lower N levels in high-sink branches, suggesting N remobilization to the kernels. Lower photosynthesis late in the season was associated with lower respiration rates in low-source branches, indicating prioritization of assimilates to storage. These results can facilitate the adaptation of management practices to tree crop load changes in alternate bearing species.
Arogenate dehydratases: unique roles in light-directed development during the seed-to-seedling transition in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Muhammad DurreShahwar , Alameldin Hussien F. , Oh Sookyung , Montgomery Beronda L. , Warpeha Katherine M.
Published: August 2023

The seed-to-seedling transition is impacted by changes in nutrient availability and light profiles, but is still poorly understood. Phenylalanine affects early seedling development; thus, the roles of arogenate dehydratases (ADTs), which catalyze phenylalanine formation, were studied in germination and during the seed-to-seedling transition by exploring the impact of light conditions and specific hormone responses in adt mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. ADT gene expression was assessed in distinct tissues and for light-quality dependence in seedlings for each of the six-member ADT gene family. Mutant adt seedlings were evaluated relative to wild type for germination, photomorphogenesis (blue, red, far red, white light, and dark conditions), anthocyanin accumulation, and plastid development-related phenotypes. ADT proteins are expressed in a light- and tissue-specific manner in transgenic seedlings. Among the analyzed adt mutants, adt3, adt5, and adt6 exhibit significant defects in germination, hypocotyl elongation, and root development responses during the seed-to-seedling transition. Interestingly, adt5 exhibits a light-dependent disruption in plastid development, similar to a phyA mutant. These data indicate interactions between photoreceptors, hormones, and regulation of phenylalanine pools in the process of seedling establishment. ADT5 and ADT6 may play important roles in coordinating hormone and light signals for normal early seedling development.
Improved quantification of Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fusarium crown rot) using qPCR measurement of infection in multi-species winter cereal experiments
Authors: Milgate Andrew , Baxter Brad , Simpfendorfer Steven , Herdina  , Giblot-Ducray Daniele , Yang Nannan , Orchard Beverly , Ovenden Ben
Published: August 2023

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) causes significant grain yield loss in winter cereals around the world. Breeding for resistance and/or tolerance to FCR has been slow with relatively limited success. In this study, multi-species experiments were used to demonstrate an improved method to quantify FCR infection levels at plant maturity using quantitative PCR (qPCR), as well as the genotype yield retention using residual regression deviation. Using qPCR to measure FCR infection allowed a higher degree of resolution between genotypes than traditional visual stem basal browning assessments. The results were consistent across three environments with different levels of disease expression. The improved measure of FCR infection along with genotype yield retention allows for partitioning of both tolerance and partial resistance. Together these methods offer new insights into FCR partial resistance and its relative importance to tolerance in bread wheat and barley. This new approach offers a more robust, unbiased way to select for both FCR traits within breeding programs. Key message: Genetic gain for tolerance and partial resistance against Fusarium crown rot (FCR) in winter cereals has been impeded by laborious and variable visual measures of infection severity. This paper presents results of an improved method to quantify FCR infection that are strongly correlated to yield loss and reveal previously unrecognised partial resistance in barley and wheat varieties.
Genetic and environmental manipulation of Arabidopsis hybridization barriers uncovers antagonistic functions in endosperm cellularization
Authors: Bjerkan Katrine N. , Alling Renate M. , Myking Ida V. , Brysting Anne K. , Grini Paul E.
Published: August 2023

Speciation involves reproductive isolation, which can occur by hybridization barriers acting in the endosperm of the developing seed. The nuclear endosperm is a nutrient sink, accumulating sugars from surrounding tissues, and undergoes coordinated cellularization, switching to serve as a nutrient source for the developing embryo. Tight regulation of cellularization is therefore vital for seed and embryonic development. Here we show that hybrid seeds from crosses between Arabidopsis thaliana as maternal contributor and A. arenosa or A. lyrata as pollen donors result in an endosperm based post-zygotic hybridization barrier that gives rise to a reduced seed germination rate. Hybrid seeds display opposite endosperm cellularization phenotypes, with late cellularization in crosses with A. arenosa and early cellularization in crosses with A. lyrata. Stage specific endosperm reporters display temporally ectopic expression in developing hybrid endosperm, in accordance with the early and late cellularization phenotypes, confirming a disturbance of the source-sink endosperm phase change. We demonstrate that the hybrid barrier is under the influence of abiotic factors, and show that a temperature gradient leads to diametrically opposed cellularization phenotype responses in hybrid endosperm with A. arenosa or A. lyrata as pollen donors. Furthermore, different A. thaliana accession genotypes also enhance or diminish seed viability in the two hybrid cross-types, emphasizing that both genetic and environmental cues control the hybridization barrier. We have identified an A. thaliana MADS-BOX type I family single locus that is required for diametrically opposed cellularization phenotype responses in hybrid endosperm. Loss of AGAMOUS-LIKE 35 significantly affects the germination rate of hybrid seeds in opposite directions when transmitted through the A. thaliana endosperm, and is suggested to be a locus that promotes cellularization as part of an endosperm based mechanism involved in post-zygotic hybrid barriers. The role of temperature in hybrid speciation and the identification of distinct loci in control of hybrid failure have great potential to aid the introduction of advantageous traits in breeding research and to support models to predict hybrid admixture in a changing global climate.
The impact of education level and economic freedom on gender inequality: panel evidence from emerging markets
Authors: Tokal Pinar , Sart Gamze , Danilina Marina , Ta’Amnha Mohammad A.
Published: August 2023

Gender equality is a critical factor for all ingredients of a healthy society and sustainable development. Therefore, measures to decrease gender inequalities in economic, social, and political life are important for the economic and social development of a society. This study analyzes the influence of education level and economic freedom on gender inequality in emerging markets over the 2000–2020 term through causality and cointegration tests. The results of the causality test uncover a bidirectional causality between education level, economic freedom, and gender inequality. In other words, there exists a mutual interaction among education level, economic freedom, and gender inequality in the short term. Furthermore, the findings of cointegration analysis indicate that education level and economic freedom have a negative impact on gender inequality in the long term, but education level is much more effective on gender inequality than economic freedom in nearly all emerging markets.
Cultural differences in the relations between expressive flexibility and life satisfaction over time
Authors: Ang Jen Ying Zhen , Tsai William
Published: August 2023

Background

Expressive flexibility refers to the ability to assess situational demands and adjust one’s emotion expressions via enhancement or suppression. It has been associated with lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms and greater social acceptance. These relationships, however, have not yet been examined across cultures—where prior research has found cultural differences in norms on emotion displays and their associations with mental health. This study examined expressive flexibility across three cultural groups and their associations with life satisfaction and depressive symptoms over time.

Methods

276 first-year college students (146 Asian American, 71 European Americans, and 62 Latinx Americans) completed two online surveys during the first (T1) and thirteenth week (T2) of the Fall 2020 academic semester.

Results

Results revealed no significant cultural group differences in the ability to enhance or suppress emotions. However, we found a significant ethnicity x enhancement ability interaction in predicting T2 life satisfaction, controlling for T1 life satisfaction, age, gender, and emotion regulation frequency. Specifically, greater ability to enhance one’s emotions was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction over time among Asian Americans, but not for European Americans and Latinx Americans.

Discussion

Our findings illustrate the importance of not looking just at cultural group differences in the levels of expressive flexibility, but also at the associations between expressive flexibility and mental health.
Wastewater-based epidemiology: the crucial role of viral shedding dynamics in small communities
Authors: Rioux Marc-Denis , Guillemette François , Lemarchand Karine , Doiron Kim , Lemay Jean-François , Maere Thomas , Dolcé Patrick , Quessy Patrik , Abonnenc Nanouk , Vanrolleghem Peter A. , Frigon Dominic
Published: August 2023

Background

Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of pathogens is a rapidly evolving field owing to the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic, which brought about a paradigm shift in public health authorities for the management of pathogen outbreaks. However, the interpretation of WWS in terms of clinical cases remains a challenge, particularly in small communities where large variations in pathogen concentrations are routinely observed without a clear relation to clinical incident cases.

Methods

Results are presented for WWS from six municipalities in the eastern part of Canada during the spring of 2021. We developed a numerical model based on viral kinetics reduction functions to consider both prevalent and incident cases to interpret the WWS data in light of the reported clinical cases in the six surveyed communities.

Results

The use of the proposed numerical model with a viral kinetics reduction function drastically increased the interpretability of the WWS data in terms of the clinical cases reported for the surveyed community. In line with our working hypothesis, the effects of viral kinetics reduction modeling were more important in small communities than in larger communities. In all but one of the community cases (where it had no effect), the use of the proposed numerical model led to a change from a +1.5% (for the larger urban center, Quebec City) to a +48.8% increase in the case of a smaller community (Drummondville).

Conclusion

Consideration of prevalent and incident cases through the proposed numerical model increases the correlation between clinical cases and WWS data. This is particularly the case in small communities. Because the proposed model is based on a biological mechanism, we believe it is an inherent part of any wastewater system and, hence, that it should be used in any WWS analysis where the aim is to relate WWS measurement to clinical cases.
Short-term effects of air pollution and weather changes on the occurrence of acute aortic dissection in a cold region
Authors: Zhang Haiyu , Yin Leilei , Zhang Yingtao , Qiu Zhaowen , Peng Sizheng , Wang Zhonghua , Sun Bo , Ding Jianrui , Liu Jing , Du Kai , Wang Mingxin , Sun Yanming , Chen Jing , Zhao Hongyan , Song Tao , Sun Yuhui
Published: August 2023

Background

Air pollution and severe weather conditions can adversely affect cardiovascular disease emergencies. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether air pollutants and low ambient temperature can trigger the occurrence of acute aortic dissection (AAD) in cold regions.

Methods

We applied a retrospective analysis to assess the short-term effects of air pollution and ambient temperature on the occurrence of AAD in Harbin, China. A total of 564 AAD patients were enrolled from a major hospital in Harbin between January 1, 2017, and February 5, 2021. Weather condition data and air pollutant concentrations, including fine particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) and 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3), were collected every day. Conditional logistic regressions and correlation analysis were applied to analyze the relationship of environmental and atmospheric parameters with AAD occurrence at lags of 0 to 7 days. Specifically, we appraised the air quality index, CO, NO2, SO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5, temperature, dew point temperature, atmospheric pressure, and cloud amount.

Results

A total of 1,496 days at risk were assessed, of which 564 patients developed AAD. Specifically, AAD did not occur on 1,043 (69.72%) days, while 1 or more cases occurred on 453 (30.28%) days. Several pollution and weather predictors for AAD were confirmed by multilevel modeling. The air quality index (p = 0.0012), cloud amount (p = 0.0001), and concentrations of PM2.5 (p = 0.0004), PM10 (p = 0.0013), NO2 (p = 0.0007) and O3 (p = 0.0001) predicted AAD as early as 7 days before the incident (lag of 7 days) in the study period. However, only concentrations of the air pollutants NO2 (p = 0.0468) and O3 (p = 0.011) predicted the occurrence of AAD after the COVID-19 outbreak. Similar predictive effects were observed for temperature, dew point temperature, and atmospheric pressure (all p < 0.05) on all days.

Conclusion

The risk of AAD is closely related to air pollution and weather characteristics in Harbin. While causation was not determined, the impact of air pollutants on the risk of AAD was reduced after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Innovation through the Quintuple Helix in living labs: lessons learned for a transformation from lab to ecosystem
Authors: Merino-Barbancho Beatriz , Abril Jiménez Patricia , Mallo Irene , Lombroni Ivana , Cea Gloria , López Nebreda Cristina , Cabrera María Fernanda , Fico Giuseppe , Arredondo María Teresa
Published: August 2023

Introduction

In the process of growing societies, and especially in the digital era we live in, there is a need for a strong push for innovation that puts citizens at the center of the process from the beginning to build more resilient, cooperative and flexible communities. Different collaborative design approaches have emerged in recent decades, one of the most interesting being Living Labs, which involves user-centered design and co-creative innovation that bring together different actors and roles. However, although these new methodologies are harnessing creativity, some aspects of this new, more ecosystemic and complex vision are not clearly understood: possible barriers, how to facilitate local and operational solutions, overcoming institutional blockage, integrating new roles, etc.

Methods

The incorporation of the Quintuple Helix as a driver to ensure greater coordinated participation of local actors has proven its usefulness and impact during the re-adaptation of LifeSpace (previously named Smart House Living Lab), managed by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain), a transformation based on the experiences and lessons learned during the large-scale ACTIVAGE pilot funded by the European Commission, more specifically at the Madrid Deployment Site. It involved more than 350 older adult people and other stakeholders from different areas, including family members, formal and informal caregivers, hospital service managers, third-age associations, and public service providers, forming a sense of community, which was called MAHA.

Results

The living lab infrastructure evolved from a single multi-purpose environment to incorporate three harmoniously competing environments: (1) THE LAB: Headquarters for planning, demonstration, initial design phases and entry point for newcomers to the process, (2) THE CLUB: Controlled interaction environment where returning users validate solutions, focusing mainly on AHA services (MAHA CLUB), such as exergames, social interaction applications, brain training activities, etc. (3) THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Real-life environments for free and open interaction between actors and implementation of previously validated and tested solutions.

Conclusion

The Quintuple Helix model applied in LifeSpace’s new vision allows a coordinated involvement of a more diverse set of actors, beyond the end-users and especially those who are not traditionally part of research and innovation processes.
Strengthening the social resilience of people living at the intersection of precariousness and migration during pandemics: action recommendations developed in Munich, Germany
Authors: Öcek Zeliha Asli , Geise Mandy , Volkmann Anna-Maria , Basili Acelya , Klünder Vera , Coenen Michaela
Published: August 2023

Introduction

An EU-funded project in five countries examined vulnerability mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research team in Germany concentrated on people living at the intersection of migration and precariousness. The study aimed first to provide an understanding of how migrants living in precarious conditions in Munich had been affected by the pandemic, both from their own and from experts’ perspectives. The second aim was to develop action recommendations to reduce structural vulnerabilities and increase resilience with a view towards improved pandemic preparedness.

Methods

The study followed a two-phase process. The first was a qualitative study based on interviews with 25 migrants and 13 experts. In the second, researchers developed action recommendations based on the vulnerability/ resilience factors that had been generated in the first phase. Three consecutive meetings with stakeholders (expert panel, focus group discussion with two migrant organization, meeting with the Munich Migration Council) were then held to further strengthen the draft recommendations.

Results

Content analysis revealed twelve vulnerability and eight resilience factors in three domains (COVID-19 prevention; human rights, living and housing environment; social support). Migrants had limited access to COVID-19 prevention measures; living conditions made outbreaks inevitable; uncertainty about legal status, employment, and housing, as well as stigma and discrimination, exacerbated their precariousness; social support had decreased; and resilience mechanisms had failed. The initial draft of recommendations contained 24 proposed actions. The meetings added recommendations such as enhancing psychosocial support, preventing ghettoization, improving social housing, preventing the interruption of language education in times of crisis, severe penalties for media stigmatisation and proactive truth-telling. The final list included 30 actions.

Conclusion

In Munich, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vulnerability mechanisms commonly associated with being a migrant. The recommendations developed here speak to those vulnerabilities but need to be refined further to be more actionable and comprehensive. Nonetheless, the recommendations and the processes that led to them highlight the importance of migrant-inclusive approaches and empowerment in increasing migrants’ resilience to future crises.
Oligosaccharide feed supplementation reduces plasma insulin in geldings with Equine Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: von Münchow Alexandra , Torp Yttergren Sarah , Jakobsen Rasmus Riemer , Luthersson Nanna , Hansen Axel Kornerup , Lindenberg Frederikke
Published: August 2023

Background

The prevalence of Equine Metabolic Syndrome and insulin dysregulation is increasing in the horse population. Insulin dysregulation is a risk factor for laminitis, which has significant welfare consequences for the horse. Current treatment strategies for Equine Metabolic Syndrome have variable effects on insulin sensitivity. Findings suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in gastrointestinal barrier protection and metabolic diseases. Dietary supplementation with oligosaccharides has been shown to increase the production of short-chain fatty acids and induce changes in the gut microbiota, with an increase in insulin sensitivity.

Objectives

We hypothesized that dietary oligosaccharide supplementation would ameliorate insulin dysregulation in horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

Study design

Fifteen horses were included in a cross-over study including two feed supplementations periods with oligosaccharide supplementation or calcium carbonate. Before and after each period plasma insulin, endotoxin, serum amyloid A, and blood glucose concentrations were measured during an oral sugar test and fecal samples were collected.

Results

Oligosaccharide supplementation significantly reduced insulin in geldings (p = 0.02). Overall, none of the dominating bacterias changed significantly in relative Δ-abundance. In the gut microbiota of mares, the Akkermansia genus and Clostridiaceae family were significantly more abundant. Within-sample bacterial diversity of horses with insulin concentrations > 60 mIU/L was significantly greater when compared to horses < 60 mIU/L. Horses with insulin concentrations > 60 mIU/L and horses with previous laminitis had a significantly greater beta diversity.

Main limitations

Cut-off values for oligosaccharide feed supplementation/placebo dosing instead of dosing by g/kg body weight; owner compliance; single blood sample in oral sugar test; inter-horse variation

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that oligosaccharide supplementation could improve insulin dysregulation in geldings with Equine Metabolic Syndrome suggesting that sex susceptibility might be a factor to consider. Additionally, a tendency of reduction of obesity-associated bacteria was observed. Furthermore, the diversity of the gut microbiota was significantly dependent on laminitis status and insulin concentrations. However, more studies on the effects of oligosaccharide supplementation on insulin dysregulation are needed to improve the dietary management of horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
Kelp in a Changing Arctic Ocean
Authors: Shipton Megan , Lebrun Anaïs , Comeau Steeve
Published: August 2023

In the northernmost part of our planet, in the icy cold coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean, you will find underwater forests filled with fish, crabs, and sea urchins. Unlike forests found on land, these underwater forests are made up of large brown marine algae called kelp. The various kelp species that make up the underwater forests are important in the Arctic Ocean. As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the future of Arctic kelp is unknown. In this article, we will discuss how changes in the Arctic climate, from melting ice to changes in ocean saltiness, may affect these underwater worlds.
Biomechanical characteristics of proficient free-throw shooters—markerless motion capture analysis
Authors: Cabarkapa Dimitrije , Cabarkapa Damjana V. , Miller Jonathan D. , Templin Tylan T. , Frazer Lance L. , Nicolella Daniel P. , Fry Andrew C.
Published: August 2023

The winning game outcome in basketball is partially contingent on the team's ability to secure and make more free-throw shooting attempts, especially close to the end of the game. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to perform a comprehensive biomechanical analysis of the free-throw shooting motion to examine differences between (a) proficient (≥70%) and non-proficient shooters (<70%) and (b) made and missed free-throw shoots within the proficient group of shooters. Thirty-four recreationally active males with previous basketball playing experience attempted ten consecutive free-throw shots (4.57 m), with a 10–15 s rest interval between each shot. An innovative three-dimensional markerless motion capture system (SwRI Enable, San Antonio, TX, USA) composed of nine high-definition cameras recording at 120 Hz was used to capture and analyze the biomechanical parameters of interest. Independent t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to examine a presence of statistically significant differences. The findings of the present study reveal that proficient free-throw shooters performed the shooting motion in a more controlled manner by having significantly lower knee and center of mass peak and mean angular velocities. Also, proficient shooters attained a significantly greater release height and had less forward trunk lean when compared to non-proficient shooters at the time point of the ball release. Moreover, despite being beneficial for improvements in shooting accuracy, our findings suggest that overemphasizing the release height may be in certain instances counterproductive, as it may lead to more missed than made free-throw shots within the proficient group of shooters.
Early Detection of Cavitation in Centrifugal Pumps Using Low-Cost Vibration and Sound Sensors
Authors: Karagiovanidis Marios , Pantazi Xanthoula Eirini , Papamichail Dimitrios , Fragos Vassilios
Published: August 2023

The scope of this study is the evaluation of early detection methods for cavitation phenomena in centrifugal irrigation pumps by analyzing the produced vibration and sound signals from a low-cost sensor and data acquisition system and comparing several computational methods. Vibration data was acquired using the embedded accelerometer sensor of a smartphone device. Sound signals were obtained using the embedded microphone of the same commercial smartphone. The analysis was based on comparing the signals in different operating conditions with reference to the best efficiency operating point of the pump. In the case of vibrations, data was acquired for all three directional axes. The signals were processed by computational methods to extract the relative features in the frequency domain and use them to train an artificial neural network to be able to identify the different pump operating conditions while the cavitation phenomenon evolves. Three different classification algorithms were used to examine the most preferable approach for classifying data, namely the Classification Tree, the K-Nearest Neighbor, and the Support Vector Data algorithms. In addition, a convolutional neural network was utilized to examine the success rate of the classification when the datasets were formed as spectrograms instead. A detailed comparison of the classification algorithms and different axes was conducted. Comparing the results of the different methods for vibration and sound datasets, classification accuracy showed that in the case of vibration, the detection of cavitation in real conditions is possible, while it proves more challenging to identify cavitation conditions using sound data obtained with low-cost commercial sensors.
Effect of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation on Tuber Vitality of Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Authors: Feys Jeroen , Reheul Dirk , De Smet Wolf , Clercx Shana , Palmans Sander , Van de Ven Gert , De Cauwer Benny
Published: August 2023

Cyperus esculentus is considered the sixteenth worst weed in the world. The weed causes huge losses in arable crops. Current control strategies are based on combinations of chemical and mechanical methods, repeated over years, and aim to deplete the belowground bud bank. However, this is a slow process. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) using readily decomposable carbon sources may be a promising innovative method to quickly deplete the bud bank. This study investigated the effect of ASD with fresh grass clippings (dosage of 80 tonnes ha−1) differing in C:N ratio and Herbie® (consists of organic by-products from the food processing industry, dosage of 25 tonnes ha−1) on the vitality of small and large C. esculentus tubers buried at three depths (5, 15, and 30 cm) into two soils differing in soil type and soil moisture content. Their effects were compared with the effect of chemical soil disinfestation (CSD) with metam-sodium (153 kg ha−1). ASD with Herbie® showed at least equal performance compared with CSD with metam-sodium, with reductions in tuber vitality up to 97.5%. The performance of ASD with grass clippings was less consistent across soils and was affected by the C:N ratio of the grass. Both ASD and CSD showed the highest performance in moist, sandy soil and on small tubers. ASD is an effective and promising method to quickly deplete the C. esculentus bud bank, provided that the soil is sandy and moist, the carbon source has a C:N ratio of about 10, and the incorporation depth is at least 25 cm. To foster the implementation of ASD, future research should evaluate its performance consistency across environments and years.
Seasonal Changes in Photoperiod: Effects on Growth and Redox Signaling Patterns in Atlantic Salmon Postsmolts
Authors: Yin Peng , Saito Takaya , Fjelldal Per Gunnar , Björnsson Björn Thrandur , Remø Sofie Charlotte , Hansen Tom Johnny , Sharma Sandeep , Olsen Rolf Erik , Hamre Kristin
Published: August 2023

Farmed Atlantic salmon reared under natural seasonal changes in sea-cages had an elevated consumption of antioxidants during spring. It is, however, unclear if this response was caused by the increase in day length, temperature, or both. The present study examined redox processes in Atlantic salmon that were reared in indoor tanks at constant temperature (9 °C) under a simulated natural photoperiod. The experiment lasted for 6 months, from vernal to autumnal equinoxes, with the associated increase and subsequent decrease in day length. We found that intracellular antioxidants were depleted, and there was an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver and muscle of Atlantic salmon with increasing day length. Antioxidant enzyme activity in liver and muscle and their related gene profiles was also affected, with a distinct upregulation of genes involved in maintaining redox homeostasis, such as peroxiredoxins in the brain in April. This study also revealed a nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated oxidative stress response in muscle and liver, suggesting that fish integrate environmental signals through redox signaling pathways. Furthermore, growth and expression profiles implicated in growth hormone (GH) signaling and cell cycle regulation coincided with stress patterns. The results demonstrate that a change in photoperiod without the concomitant increase in temperature is sufficient to stimulate growth and change the tissue oxidative state in Atlantic salmon during spring and early summer. These findings provide new insights into redox regulation mechanisms underlying the response to the changing photoperiod, and highlight a link between oxidative status and physiological function.
Special Issue on Intelligent Processing on Image and Optical Information II
Authors: Yeom Seokwon
Published: August 2023

Intelligent image and optical information processing have paved the way for the recent epoch of new intelligence and information [...]
Optimizing Parameters for an Electrical Car Employing Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Program
Authors: Szántó Attila , Hajdu Sándor , Sziki Gusztáv Áron
Published: August 2023

At the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Debrecen we have dealt with the design and construction of electric prototype race cars for more than a decade. With a focus on more conscious design and racing we developed a vehicle dynamics simulation program, which can be used to generate the dynamics functions of the cars from their technical characteristics and data. In this publication, we deal with the optimization of the technical parameters of the above-mentioned cars for various competition tasks using our simulation program. This is a completely new field of application of the used optimization methods. This concept and idea can effectively help student teams all over the world to prepare for various domestic and international competitions. One of the applied methods is a graphic procedure, the other one is the widely used “adaptive simulated annealing” (ASA). After a brief description of the simulation program, the applied optimization methods and developed MATLAB codes for them are described. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods, we optimize the parameters of a prototype race car for different competition tasks and present the obtained results.
Behavioral Investigations of Three Parallel Large Reinforced Concrete Circular Pipes with the Construction of Pipe Jacking
Authors: Ma Minglei , Han Lei , Wu Yuanhao , Li Quanying , Zhang Yongxing
Published: August 2023

The pipe jacking method is gradually attracting increasing levels of attention and is becoming an important method for constructing underground engineering. However, jacking large-size concrete pipes in urban core areas subjected to complicated geological conditions is still a big problem preventing the employment of the pipe jacking method, and further studies related to pipe jacking are required. This paper presents a case study on the construction of three parallel large-size reinforced concrete circular pipes in the upper-soft and lower-hard composite formations, in which the construction work was implemented using the slurry balance pipe jacking method with the sequence of jacking the 1# and 3# pipes prior to the 2# pipe being implemented in field construction. This case study was implemented by employing numerical simulations with the aforementioned pipe jacking sequence, which focused on the stress and deformation variations of the reinforced concrete circular pipes, as well as the vertical settlement of the ground surface during the jacking processes, and considering the influences from the excavation pressure and grouting pressure of the drag-reducing thixotropic slurry. The simulation results revealed that a higher excavation pressure from the pipe jacking machine can easily induce an excessive pushing and squeezing effect of the excavated soil with the uplift phenomenon, while the increasing grouting pressure can be used to reduce the overall vertical settlement of the ground surface, whereas an excessive grouting pressure may have no effectiveness on protecting the reinforced concrete circular pipes. This work provides the numerical foundations for investigating the behavior of jacked parallel large-size reinforced concrete circular pipes.