bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Ohinmaa Arto , Wen Jiabi , Currie Gillian R. , Benseler Susanne M , Swart Joost F , Vastert Sebastiaan J , Yeung Rae S M , Marshall Deborah A.
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis among children. It can cause joint pain and permanent physical damage, which affects mobility and daily activities. The EQ-5D-Y-3L self-report version has been validated in JIA, but the validity of EQ-5D-Y-5L remains unknown. We examined the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with JIA.

Methods

We used data from the Understanding Childhood Arthritis Network Canadian-Dutch collaboration study cohort, including patients with new-onset JIA, and those starting or stopping biologics. Clinical data and the parent-proxy version of the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) and EQ-5D-Y-5L were collected. We evaluated the ceiling and floor effect; convergent and divergent validity using Spearman’s rank correlation; known-group validity using one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and effect size; and informativity using Shannon’s evenness index.

Results

467 patient visits representing 407 patients were analyzed. The EQ-5D-Y-5L had no ceiling/floor effect. The EQ-5D-Y-5L showed good convergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ pain index (Spearman’s r = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (C.I.): 0.69–0.79)), divergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ eating dimension (Spearman’s r = 0.19, 95% C.I.: 0.09–0.29)) and known-group validity (e.g., mean EQ-5D-Y-5L level summary score for patients with inactive versus active disease status, 6.34 vs. 10.52 (p < 0.001, effect size = 1.20 (95% C.I.: 0.95–1.45)). Shannon’s evenness index ranged from 0.52 to 0.88, suggesting most dimensions had relatively even distributions.

Conclusions

In this patient sample, EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version exhibited construct validity and informativity, suggesting the EQ-5D-Y-5L can be used to measure the quality of life of children with JIA.
Response processes for patients providing quantitative self-report data: a qualitative study
Authors: Grindheim Øyvind , McAleavey Andrew , Iversen Valentina , Moltu Christian , Tømmervik Kristin , Govasmark Hege , Brattland Heidi
Published: August 2024

Objective

To identify factors that influence response processes for patients providing quantitative self-report data. Secondly, due to the lack of integrative and explanatory models in this area, to develop a model of patients’ response processes that can guide what to look for when considering validity evidence and interpreting scores on individual items.

Methods

Participants (n = 13) were recruited from a specialized substance use disorder treatment clinic and interviewed while responding to items from a clinical feedback system implemented for routine outcome monitoring in that setting. The interview approach was based on cognitive interviewing. Data collection and analysis were inspired by a grounded theory approach.

Results

We identified several variables that influenced the participants’ response processes. The variables were organized into five categories: context-related variables; item-related variables; response base variables; reasoning strategies; and response selection strategies. We also found that the participants’ responses for many items were affected by different aspects of the response process in ways that are relevant to interpretation but not necessarily discernible from the numerical scores alone, and we developed response categories to capture this.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that patients providing quantitative self-report data encounter conditions in the response process that challenge and influence their ability to convey meaning and accuracy. This results in responses that for many of the items reflect messages important for interpretation and follow-up, even if it does not appear from the numerical scores alone. The proposed model may be a useful tool when developing items, assessing validity, and interpreting responses.
Living with faecal incontinence: a qualitative investigation of patient experiences and preferred outcomes through semi-structured interviews
Authors: Assmann S. L. , Keszthelyi D. , Breukink S. O. , Kimman M. L.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Faecal incontinence (FI) is a prevalent and debilitating anorectal problem causing embarrassment, anxiety, and social isolation, diminishing quality of life. At present there is no optimal treatment option for FI. Consequently, treatments primarily focus on symptom reduction and improving quality of life. Understanding patient experiences and outcomes they seek from treatment is crucial for improving care. This study aims to explore how FI impacts patients’ lives and identify important treatment outcomes as part of the development of a Core Outcome Set (COS).

Methods

Patients with FI were recruited from outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. Semi-structured interviews were performed, audio recorded, transcribed per verbatim and coded. Thematic analysis was performed to identify (sub)themes and categories relevant to the patients.

Results

Twelve interviews were conducted before saturation was reached (75% female, 25% male, mean age 63, range 39–83 year). Four main themes emerged ‘Physical symptoms’, ‘Impact on daily life’, ‘Emotional impact’ and ‘Coping’. Patients expressed how FI severely limits daily activities and emotional wellbeing. Treatment priorities centred on resuming normal activities rather than solely on symptom reduction.

Conclusion

The impact of FI extends far beyond uncontrolled loss of faeces, affecting psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. Patients prioritise outcomes focussed on reclaiming normalcy and independence rather than focusing on physical symptoms alone. Integrating these patient-centered outcomes in future studies could enhance treatment satisfaction and patient-perceived treatment success. Furthermore, the outcomes identified in this study can be included in a Delphi survey alongside other relevant outcomes, paving the way for the development of a COS.
Recent Increases in Vegetarianism may be Limited to Women: A 15-Year Study of Young Adults at an American University
Authors: Nezlek John B. , Forestell Catherine A.
Published: August 2024

The present study examined changes in the rates of vegetarianism among a sample of young American adults. Over 15 years, students at an American university (N = 12,704) described their dietary habits. Multilevel modeling analyses (participants nested within semesters) found that overall, the percentage of vegetarians increased over time, whereas the percentage of omnivores decreased over time; however, these changes occurred only for women. The dietary habits of men did not change over time. In a second study, in a sample of 363 adult vegetarians from the US, we found that women were more likely than men to become vegetarians due to concerns about the ethics of raising animals for food and eating them, suggesting that increased societal concern about animal rights may be responsible in part for the gender differences over time in vegetarianism. These results extend existing research on gender differences and suggest that if current trends continue, gender differences in vegetarianism may be more pronounced in the future.
Regulating Misinformation: Political Irrationality as a Feasibility Constraint
Authors: Chomanski Bartlomiej
Published: August 2024

This paper argues that the well-established fact of political irrationality imposes substantial constraints on how governments may combat the threat of political misinformation. Though attempts at regulating misinformation are becoming increasingly popular, both among policymakers and theorists, I intend to show that, for a wide range of anti-misinformation interventions (collectively termed “debunking” and “source labeling”), these attempts ought to be abandoned. My argument relies primarily on the fact that most people process politically-relevant information in biased and motivated ways. Since debunking or factual correction of politically relevant misinformation (as well as source labeling) themselves consist of providing politically-relevant information, they are also very likely to be processed in irrational ways. This makes it extremely difficult to effectively correct people’s political beliefs and political information processing. Since governments should not pursue policies likely to be futile, they should refrain from mandating such interventions. My conclusion is of relevance to considerable literature in digital ethics of misinformation. It shows that many celebrated works in the field ignore political irrationality and fail to consider its implications.
Out-of-Distribution Detection with Virtual Outlier Smoothing
Authors: Nie Jun , Luo Yadan , Ye Shanshan , Zhang Yonggang , Tian Xinmei , Fang Zhen
Published: August 2024

Detecting out-of-distribution (OOD) inputs plays a crucial role in guaranteeing the reliability of deep neural networks (DNNs) when deployed in real-world scenarios. However, DNNs typically exhibit overconfidence in OOD samples, which is attributed to the similarity in patterns between OOD and in-distribution (ID) samples. To mitigate this overconfidence, advanced approaches suggest the incorporation of auxiliary OOD samples during model training, where the outliers are assigned with an equal likelihood of belonging to any category. However, identifying outliers that share patterns with ID samples poses a significant challenge. To address the challenge, we propose a novel method, Virtual Outlier Smoothing (VOSo), which constructs auxiliary outliers using ID samples, thereby eliminating the need to search for OOD samples. Specifically, VOSo creates these virtual outliers by perturbing the semantic regions of ID samples and infusing patterns from other ID samples. For instance, a virtual outlier might consist of a cat’s face with a dog’s nose, where the cat’s face serves as the semantic feature for model prediction. Meanwhile, VOSo adjusts the labels of virtual OOD samples based on the extent of semantic region perturbation, aligning with the notion that virtual outliers may contain ID patterns. Extensive experiments are conducted on diverse OOD detection benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed VOSo. Our code will be available at https://github.com/junz-debug/VOSo.
Benchmark of Techniques for the Characterization of the Mechanism of Phase Transformations in Steel of Near-Peritectic Composition
Authors: Kargul Tomasz , Moon Suk-Chun , Dippenaar Rian
Published: August 2024

This study addresses challenges in elucidating the mechanism of phase transformations occurring in steel of near-peritectic composition. The importance of using and integrating, complementary experimental techniques is emphasized. While thermal analysis tools such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) are vital, they offer limited insight on events occurring during cooling. Employing standard thermal analysis (DSC) alongside high-temperature microscopy, incorporating simultaneous thermal analysis within a high-temperature microscope, and concentric solidification, two of steels of near-peritectic composition were investigated. Key findings include the correlation between heating rates and completion temperatures of phase transformation in the DSC heating experiments; absence of a peritectic transition inferred from DSC cooling curves supported by visual observation, and insights into restricted austenite phase nucleation attributed to diffusional constraint and limited nucleation sites. This investigation not only contributes to understanding phase transformation behaviour in peritectic steels, but more generally provides a framework for utilizing different techniques synergistically to address complexities in the interpretation of the mechanism of phase development.
Online Search Trends Related to Bariatric Surgery and Their Relationship with Utilization in Australia
Authors: Huynh Roy , Satchithanandha Vyshi , Park Jin-Soo , Seyfi Doruk , Joseph David
Published: August 2024

Purpose

There is an abundance of online information related to bariatric surgery. Patients may prefer a specific type of bariatric surgery based on what they read online. The primary aim of this study was to determine online search trends in bariatric surgery over time in Australia and worldwide. The secondary aim was to establish a relationship between public online search activity and the types of bariatric surgery performed in Australia.

Materials and Method

The terms “adjustable gastric band,” “sleeve gastrectomy,” and “gastric bypass surgery” were submitted for search volume analysis in Australia and worldwide using the Google Trends “Topic” search function. This was compared alongside the numbers of gastric bandings, sleeve gastrectomies, and gastric bypass surgeries performed in Australia over time to determine if there was a relationship between the two.

Results

Search trends for “adjustable gastric band” and “sleeve gastrectomy” in Australia were similar to trends seen worldwide. However, search trends for “gastric bypass surgery” differ between Australia and the rest of the world. It took at least a year for online searches to reflect the higher number of sleeve gastrectomies performed relative to gastric bandings. There was a lag time of over four years before online searches reflected the higher number of gastric bypass surgery performed compared to gastric banding.

Conclusion

Search interests in Australia and worldwide were similar for gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy but different for gastric bypass surgery. Online search activity did not have a significant association with the types of bariatric surgery being performed in Australia.

Graphical Abstract
Early sepsis mortality prediction model based on interpretable machine learning approach: development and validation study
Authors: Wang Yiping , Gao Zhihong , Zhang Yang , Lu Zhongqiu , Sun Fangyuan
Published: August 2024

Sepsis triggers a harmful immune response due to infection, causing high mortality. Predicting sepsis outcomes early is vital. Despite machine learning’s (ML) use in medical research, local validation within the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database is lacking. We aimed to devise a prognostic model, leveraging MIMIC-IV data, to predict sepsis mortality and validate it in a Chinese teaching hospital. MIMIC-IV provided patient data, split into training and internal validation sets. Four ML models logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), deep neural networks (DNN), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were employed. Shapley additive interpretation offered early and interpretable mortality predictions. Area under the ROC curve (AUROC) gaged predictive performance. Results were cross verified in a Chinese teaching hospital. The study included 27,134 sepsis patients from MIMIC-IV and 487 from China. After comparing, 52 clinical indicators were selected for ML model development. All models exhibited excellent discriminative ability. XGBoost surpassed others, with AUROC of 0.873 internally and 0.844 externally. XGBoost outperformed other ML models (LR: 0.829; SVM: 0.830; DNN: 0.837) and clinical scores (Simplified Acute Physiology Score II: 0.728; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment: 0.728; Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score: 0.738; Glasgow Coma Scale: 0.691). XGBoost’s hospital mortality prediction achieved AUROC 0.873, sensitivity 0.818, accuracy 0.777, specificity 0.768, and F1 score 0.551. We crafted an interpretable model for sepsis death risk prediction. ML algorithms surpassed traditional scores for sepsis mortality forecast. Validation in a Chinese teaching hospital echoed these findings.
Life history strategies of two springtails species (Hexapoda: Collembola) from saline soils
Authors: Pérez-Velázquez Daniela , Castaño-Meneses Gabriela , Palacios-Vargas José G. , Contreras-Ramos Atilano
Published: August 2024

Springtails are a very common, widely spread component of soil fauna that play a significant role in numerous physical, chemical, and biological processes in the soil. Therefore, it is important to understand how their evolution and demographic parameters have changed throughout time. Since salinity is a relevant condition in the soils around the World and particularly in Mexico, the major goal of the current research is to understand the life cycle strategies of two springtail species from saline soils in Mexico. The studied species are Clavisotoma filifera and Brachystomella gabrielae, both widely distributed in Mexico, but their development or life history strategies are unknown. We found from laboratory cultures that C. filifera had a shorter life cycle and a faster reproduction rate than B. gabrielae. Nevertheless, both species show the same number of developmental stages, but there are interspecific differences in their duration. Although both species continuously reproduce throughout the year, the reproductive rate is lower in the months that are associated with the dry season at the source site. Additionally, we discovered variations in both the size and number of eggs in each species. It was found that the species under study had various life strategies for growth in the same environment. Clavisotoma filifera shows a more r-focused strategy (high fecundity, numerous offspring, shorter gestation and faster maturity), B. gabrielae shows an opposite strategy, closer to q strategy, with a lower fecundity, larger eggs, fewer reproductive events and slower maturity.
Impact of vandalism on avian nest-box studies: challenges and strategies for research and conservation
Authors: Nowak Marta Kornelia , Mizera Tadeusz , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: August 2024

Human interaction with nature often exhibits negative aspects, such as vandalism, which involves the destruction of or damage to property. Unfortunately, very little is known about the extent, causes, and frequency of this phenomenon. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate a scale of vandalism in studies using nest-boxes in Poland. Data from published papers (n = 256) indicated that researchers are aware of the devastation and destruction of nest-boxes, but often lacking detailed reports. We further validated this data through emails or phone calls to the authors. Surprisingly, only 14 (5.5%) papers mentioned vandalism, and during interviews, we found that vandalism occurred in 51.7% of studies. In response to vandalism, researchers have taken measures to reduce the scale of damages, such as hanging boxes far from paths and roads, placing them above 3 m from the ground, or, more recently, using security cameras. Although vandalism was quite common, its scale was rather marginal, with some local exceptions. For a better understanding of this phenomenon, we suggest including more detailed information on vandalism in future papers, which could aid in the interpretation of scientific data, as well as in nature conservation.
The role of IGF1 in determining body composition in children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency and those with idiopathic short stature
Authors: Zaitoon Hussein , Yackobovitch-Gavan Michal , Midlej Eyas , Uretzky Adi , Laurian Irina , Dorfman Anna , Interator Hagar , Lebenthal Yael , Brener Avivit
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) increases insulin growth factor-1 (IGF1) levels, therefore, monitoring both IGF1 and growth constitutes an acceptable parameter of therapeutic safety and efficacy. We aimed to investigate the relationship between IGF1 level and body composition in children and adolescents undergoing rhGH therapy for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS).

Methods

This observational retrospective study included the bioimpedance analysis (BIA) reports (n = 305) of 135 pediatric patients (age 5–18 years), 64 with GHD and 71 with ISS, conducted as part of routine clinic visits. Sociodemographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. Generalized estimating equations linear models were used to explore the contributing factors for body composition components of fat percentage (FATP), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) z-score, and muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) z-score while adjusting for cumulative doses of rhGH.

Results

Subjects with GHD exhibited higher body mass index z-scores (p < 0.001), higher FATP and truncal FATP scores, lower MFR z-score, and higher diastolic blood pressure percentiles than the ISS group (p = 0.010, p = 0.027, p = 0.050, and p = 0.050, respectively). Female sex (p < 0.001) and a GHD diagnosis (p < 0.001), were major contributors to higher FATP scores; female sex (p = 0.049) and ISS diagnosis (p = 0.005) were major contributors to higher MFR z-scores; and female sex (p < 0.001), older age (p < 0.001) and higher insulin-like growth factor 1 z-scores (p = 0.021) were major contributors to higher ASMM z-scores. Socioeconomic position and cumulative rhGH dose were not significant contributors to body composition parameters.

Conclusion

Children with GHD, including those undergoing rhGH treatment, may be at risk for increased adiposity and associated metabolic implications. Sex- and age-adjusted IGF1 levels were related to muscle mass but not to adiposity. Hence, rhGH treatment aimed at increasing IGF1 levels may alleviate these effects by promoting muscle growth.
‘These KMA People are also our Customers’: Coconut Sellers Making Space in Downtown Kumasi
Authors: Forkuor John Boulard , Jones Ben
Published: August 2024

Street vendors are some of the most put-upon actors in urban Africa and elsewhere, vulnerable to harassment by government, commercial businesses, and residents. We look at a group of vendors occupying a sidewalk next to the offices of the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) in Ghana’s second city. We demonstrate how the sidewalk functions as a family-like space for the coconut sellers. They not only work there, but also use the sidewalk as a space to sleep and bathe. The coconut sellers are migrants from the central region of Ghana and spoke of their relationship to one another, as they lived and worked on the sidewalk, as that of a ‘family’. We build on recent scholarship that focuses on sidewalks as places where economic activities are shaped by social relationships. We also show how the location of the sidewalk – near local government offices, next to an urban park – made the coconut sellers less vulnerable to harassment and being moved along.
Rapid Screening of Colorado Potato Beetle Resistance Derived from Solanum okadae
Authors: McCoy Hanna J. , Fenstemaker Sean , MacKinley Pamela , Vickruck Jess , Bamberg John , Calhoun Larry A. , Tai Helen H.
Published: August 2024

Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) is a major insect pest of potato and development of resistant varieties is part of a strategy for management. Wild relatives of potato are resources for genetic improvement through breeding. Interspecies crosses to introgress CPB resistance will be facilitated with rapid and inexpensive selection methods. Solanum okadae is a novel source of feeding deterrence against the beetle and was associated with production of a naturally occurring leaf-specific lactone-containing metabolite in the foliage. The Baljet assay has been used for decades in pharmaceuticals for rapid screening of lactone-containing compounds. A modified Baljet assay was developed for potato foliar tissue to rapidly screen for lactone-containing compounds in plants from the field, greenhouse, and laboratory. Herein we report the screening of potato foliage for CPB resistance with a Baljet assay validated by CPB larval feeding studies. Foliage from wild accessions of S. okadae were tested using the Baljet assay and results showed that production of the leaf-specific lactones has a large range of variation in the species. In addition, tubers tested using the Baljet assay had negligible levels of lactone-containing metabolites, confirming leaf-specific production of lactones. This inexpensive method using leaf disk screening will allow potato breeders to quickly select for potential CPB resistant germplasms and advance the breeding of sustainable crops.
Clinicopathological and prognostic features of HER2-null and HER2-low advanced breast cancer treated with eribulin or capecitabine
Authors: Kitadai Rui , Shimoi Tatsunori , Yazaki Shu , Okuma Hitomi Sumiyoshi , Hoshino Mai , Ito Munehiro , Saito Ayumi , Kita Shosuke , Kojima Yuki , Nishikawa Tadaaki , Sudo Kazuki , Noguchi Emi , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Yoshida Masayuki , Yonemori Kan
Published: August 2024

Background

HER2-low populations constitute a heterogeneous group, and the cytotoxic anticancer agent efficacy based on HER2 status remains unclear. This study evaluated the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with advanced breast cancer showing HER2-low expression treated with eribulin or capecitabine, two treatment options after anthracycline and taxane treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients who were treated with eribulin or capecitabine between 2011 and 2015. HER2 status was evaluated according to the ASCO/CAP guidelines.

Results

No significant difference was observed in overall survival (OS; eribulin: hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% CI 0.40–1.10; capecitabine: HR, 0.76; 95% CI 0.45–1.30) or progression-free survival (PFS; eribulin: HR, 1.13; 95% CI 0.72–1.78; capecitabine: HR, 0.90; 95% CI 0.56–1.44) between patients receiving eribulin (HER2-null: 35, HER2-low: 44) and those receiving capecitabine (HER2-null: 41, HER2-low: 33). Subgroup analysis revealed no significant differences in OS between the two groups in the hormone-positive and -negative populations for eribulin and capecitabine. HER2-null and HER2-low patients showed objective response rates (ORRs) of 22.5% and 9.1% (p = 0.09) overall, and 32.0% and 10.5% (p = 0.03), respectively, in hormone-positive cases among eribulin-treated patients. No response was observed in hormone-negative patients. Capecitabine treatment in HER2-null and HER2-low patients had overall ORRs of 26.8% and 15.2% (p = 0.23), respectively, with 27.3% and 16.1% (p = 0.28) for hormone-positive cases; and 25.0% and 0% (p = 1.0), respectively, for hormone-negative cases.

Conclusions

Eribulin and capecitabine sensitivity may vary based on HER2 expression in patients with HER2-low and HER2-null breast cancer. Prognosis was similar between the HER2-low and the HER2-null groups.
The interdependence of functional properties of a football boot outsole during the shape optimisation process
Authors: Lee Jeong Ro , Harland Andy , Roberts Jonathan , Price Dan , Jadoul Geoffroy
Published: August 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship and interdependence of functional properties of the football boot outsole during the shape optimisation process. Sensitivity-based shape optimisation technique was applied to a football boot outsole to modify its thickness to have various functional properties. Three functional properties of the outsole, which are the midfoot and forefoot bending stiffness and torsional stiffness, were investigated. The midfoot and forefoot bending stiffness were measured via a three-point bending test. Torsional stiffness was measured via a bespoken mechanical test. The functional properties were evaluated by finite element models, representing the developed mechanical tests. Through the optimisation tasks, it was explored how much each functional property could be changed individually and also while minimising the influence of the other two functional properties. With the modification of the regions of the outsole to optimise for various individual target functional property values, the changes in the other two functional properties were observed. Lastly, the optimised outsoles from the finite element models were 3D printed and tested to determine the accuracy of the process. Within a permitted thickness limit, modifying the region associated with the torsional stiffness measurement influenced the other two functional properties the most. Especially, the midfoot bending stiffness was influenced more than the forefoot bending stiffness. On the other hand, the areas involved in the midfoot and forefoot bending stiffness measurements were independent of each other. The conclusions drawn in this study are limited to the particular outsole design, single outsole component and mechanical test utilised.
Detection of exogenous siRNA inside sweet corn bundle sheath cells and the RNAi dynamics in the early stage of Maize dwarf mosaic virus infection
Authors: Balassa Kinga , Balassa György , Almási Asztéria , Visnovitz Tamás , Rudnóy Szabolcs
Published: August 2024

Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is one of the most serious viruses of sweet corn. Utilising the process of RNA interference, the exogenous introduction of small RNA molecules mimicking virus-derived small interfering RNA (siRNA) into the plant prior to infection triggers the antiviral RNA silencing effect, thereby promoting more effective antiviral protection. Hence, a treatment with MDMV-derived small RNA was applied to sweet corn plants one day before MDMV virus inoculation. ALEXA FLUOR®488 fluorophore-bound exogenous siRNA was successfully detected inside intact sweet corn cells using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the exogenous siRNA treatment led to a notable upregulation of the AGO1, AGO2b, AGO10b, AGO18a, DCL1, DCL3a, DCL4, RDR1, and MOP1 genes within 24 h of the treatment. Overall, exogenous siRNA treatment resulted in better virus control of infected sweet corn plants, as indicated by the lower viral RNA and coat protein levels compared to the infected group without pre-treatment.
Developing Optimized School-Based Mental Health Interventions: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Priorities and Opportunities
Authors: Rooney Mary E. , Burstein Marcy , Acri Mary
Published: August 2024

The current youth mental health crisis has highlighted a substantial unmet need for effective, accessible, culturally sensitive mental health services and interventions. Schools have the potential to address this gap through the provision of evidence-based mental health interventions and services that meet the needs of their diverse student bodies. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) supports school mental health research that relies on partnerships between academic researchers and school communities to develop optimized interventions that bridge the research-to-practice gap. This article highlights current NIMH priorities in school mental health research and provides additional context for recent federal investments targeting the expansion of school-based mental health infrastructure and interventions.
Uncovering external factors that influence the acquisition of knowledge for innovative purposes
Authors: Fuentes-Fernández Rosana , Sánchez-García Eduardo , Martínez-Falcó Javier , Marco-Lajara Bartolomé
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to evaluate through an empirical analysis the impact of social capital on the innovative performance of companies of the energy sector in Spain, as well as the role of firms’ absorptive capacity and membership to a business association as mediating variables in this relationship. The energy supply sector in Spain is analyzed through a sample of 197 companies, using PLS-SEM technique. This study provides empirical evidence on the positive and significant effect of firms’ social capital on their innovative performance, and the mediating effect of firms’ absorptive capacity and membership in a business association. It is concluded that politicians and managers should be aware about the importance of firms’ connectivity in the current digital society. But interaction and knowledge diffusion are of little use if companies do not develop their knowledge absorptive capacity, to effectively exploit external knowledge. Finally, the role of business associations as platforms for the dissemination and absorption of knowledge, as well as business innovation, is highlighted.
Healthcare consumption of patients with left ventricular assist device: real-world data
Authors: Bosch Lena , Zwetsloot Peter-Paul M. , Brons Maaike , van Hout Gerardus P. J. , van der Meer Manon G. , Szymanski Mariusz K. , Troost-Oppelaar Anne-Marie , Ramjankhan Faiz Z. , van der Harst Pim , Gianoli Monica , Oerlemans Marish I. F. J. , van Laake Linda W.
Published: August 2024

Background

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a life-saving but intensive therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. We evaluated the healthcare consumption in a cohort of LVAD patients in our centre over 6 years.

Methods

All patients with a primary LVAD implantation at the University Medical Centre Utrecht in Utrecht, the Netherlands from 2016 through 2021 were included in this analysis. Subsequent hospital stay, outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits and readmissions were recorded.

Results

During the investigated period, 226 LVADs were implanted, ranging from 32 in 2016 to 45 in 2020. Most LVADs were implanted in patients aged 40–60 years, while they were supported by or sliding on inotropes (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support class 2 or 3). Around the time of LVAD implantation, the median total hospital stay was 41 days. As the size of the LVAD cohort increased over time, the total annual number of outpatient clinic visits also increased, from 124 in 2016 to 812 in 2021 (p = 0.003). The numbers of emergency department visits and readmissions significantly increased in the 6‑year period as well, with a total number of 553 emergency department visits and 614 readmissions. Over the years, the annual number of outpatient clinic visits decreased by 1 per patient-year follow-up, while the annual numbers of emergency department visits and readmissions per patient-year remained stable.

Conclusion

The number of patients supported by an LVAD has grown steadily over the last years, requiring a more specialised healthcare in this particular population.
Projected future changes in food insecurity hotspots over the IGAD region of Eastern Africa
Authors: Omay Paulino Omoj , Kinama Josiah M. , Muthama Nzioka J. , Oludhe Christopher , Artan Guleid , Atheru Zachary
Published: August 2024

Food insecurity is a major issue in many parts of the world, driven by conflict, economic instability, environmental challenges, and poor governance processes. Understanding the impact of future rainfall extremes on areas already experiencing food insecurity is crucial. This study investigates how food insecurity hotspots (FIH), food crisis frequency, and duration will change in the near future (2021–2050) and far future (2071–2100) under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5). The study utilizes precipitation data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and FIH data from the NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). To calculate future exposure and vulnerability to FIH, as well as food crisis frequency and duration, weighted sum models were used. The results indicate that arid and semi-arid areas in northeastern Kenya, most of Somalia, zones in southeastern Ethiopia, most of Djibouti, and central and northern Sudan are highly vulnerable to future extreme rainfall events, an increase in FIH cases, and longer food crisis frequency and duration in the near future (2021–2050) and far future (2071–2100) under all scenarios. On the other hand, most districts in Uganda, southern and southwestern South Sudan, counties in western Kenya, and the majority of zones in western Ethiopia are projected to have very few FIH cases, low food crisis frequency, and duration in both the near and far future under all scenarios. These findings are crucial for early warning systems, humanitarian responses, and food security interventions. We recommend harnessing projected increases in rainfall for water harvesting in Kenya, as well as promoting cash and food crop production in central and western Ethiopia, central and northern Uganda, and most of South Sudan.
Normen bei der Bewertung von Argumenten – Bewertungskriterien und Bewertungstypen von Lehrpersonen
Authors: Meyer Michael , Schnell Susanne
Published: August 2024

Mathematische Begründungen bzw. Argumente zeichnen sich dadurch aus, dass sie faktisch, also stichhaltig sind. Ein mathematisches Argument soll also unabhängig von individuellen Meinungen sein. Entsprechend dieser Perspektive sind mathematische Argumente entweder richtig oder falsch. Dass diese Sichtweise aus didaktischer Perspektive nicht ausreichend ist, mag bereits aus der Erfahrung bekannt sein, wenn verschiedene Personen eine mathematische Begründung unterschiedlich bewerten. Dies wurde auch schon wissenschaftlich belegt. Welche Normen bzw. Kriterien bei der Bewertung von Argumenten im Einzelnen eine Rolle spielen (können), wurde jedoch kaum untersucht. Entsprechend stellt sich die Frage, welche Kriterien Lehrpersonen in ihrer Praxis anwenden (können) und ob es Bewertungsmuster, also Bewertungstypen von Lehrpersonen, gibt, welche Argumente unter verschiedenen Perspektiven betrachten. Ausgehend von einem Mixed-Methods-Ansatz, welcher Ansätze aus der interpretativen Forschung und quantitative Ansätze der Datenauswertung kombiniert, werden in diesem Beitrag verschiedene Bewertungstypen von Lehrpersonen bei der Bewertung verschiedener Argumente zu einer Aufgabe aus dem Bereich der Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung rekonstruiert.
Manipulation of Farmed Wetlands Increases use by Migrating Shorebirds and Ducks
Authors: Toy Dustin L. , Anteau Michael J. , Pearse Aaron T. , DeKeyser Edward S. , Roberts David C.
Published: August 2024

The Drift Prairie, in central North America, has been largely converted from grasslands to croplands, but still contains thousands of wetlands used by shorebirds and waterfowl during breeding and migration periods. Consequently, many of the remaining wetlands are situated within cropland where disturbance regimes (i.e., fire, grazing, and water-level dynamics), which occurred naturally prior to agricultural development, have been highly altered by landscape fragmentation from agriculture practices. Currently, smaller wetlands within crop fields are subject to disturbances stemming from agricultural practices (i.e., manipulations), such as burning, disking, harvesting, and mowing. We evaluated vegetation structure of idled (i.e., not recently manipulated by farming practices) and manipulated agricultural wetlands to investigate whether management method or resulting vegetation structure had greater influence on occurrence probabilities and densities of dabbling ducks and shorebirds during spring. All manipulation methods reduced vegetation heights compared to idled wetlands and most manipulations reduced the proportion of vegetation cover in inundated areas. Wetland manipulations generally increased shorebird occurrence compared to idled wetlands, whereas vegetation variables better explained duck occurrence probabilities. Duck occurrence peaked in wetlands with lower vegetation coverage (32%), and duck densities decreased as vegetation coverage increased beyond 10%. While more studies are needed to understand underlying mechanisms driving these outcomes, our results indicate that including periodic disturbances that reduce dense vegetation within wetlands in agricultural fields would increase their use by migrating and breeding shorebirds and dabbling ducks.
Comparing methods for creating a national random sample of twitter users
Authors: Alizadeh Meysam , Zare Darya , Samei Zeynab , Alizadeh Mohammadamin , Kubli Mael , Aliahmadi Mohammadhadi , Ebrahimi Sarvenaz , Gilardi Fabrizio
Published: August 2024

Twitter data has been widely used by researchers across various social and computer science disciplines. A common aim when working with Twitter data is the construction of a random sample of users from a given country. However, while several methods have been proposed in the literature, their comparative performance is mostly unexplored. In this paper, we implement four common methods to create a random sample of Twitter users in the US: 1% Stream, Bounding Box, Location Query, and Language Query. Then, we compare these methods according to their tweet- and user-level metrics as well as their accuracy in estimating the US population. Our results show that users collected by the 1% Stream method tend to have more tweets, tweets per day, followers, and friends, a fewer number of likes, are younger accounts, and include more male users compared to the other three methods. Moreover, it achieves the minimum error in estimating the US population. However, the 1% Stream method is time-consuming, cannot be used for the past time frames, and is not suitable when user engagement is part of the study. In situation where these three drawbacks are important, our results support the Bounding Box method as the second-best method.
Identification of genes involved in the tomato root response to Globodera rostochiensis parasitism under varied light conditions
Authors: Matuszkiewicz Mateusz , Święcicka Magdalena , Koter Marek D. , Filipecki Marcin
Published: August 2024

Understanding the intricate interplay between abiotic and biotic stresses is crucial for deciphering plant responses and developing resilient cultivars. Here, we investigate the combined effects of elevated light intensity and nematode infection on tomato seedlings. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis revealed significant enhancements in PSII quantum yield and photochemical fluorescence quenching under high light conditions. qRT-PCR analysis of stress-related marker genes exhibited differential expression patterns in leaves and roots, indicating robust defense and antioxidant responses. Despite root protection from light, roots showed significant molecular changes, including downregulation of genes associated with oxidative stress and upregulation of genes involved in signaling pathways. Transcriptome analysis uncovered extensive gene expression alterations, with light exerting a dominant influence. Notably, light and nematode response synergistically induced more differentially expressed genes than individual stimuli. Functional categorization of differentially expressed genes upon double stimuli highlighted enrichment in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and amino acid metabolism, whereas the importance of specific pathogenesis-related pathways decreased. Overall, our study elucidates complex plant responses to combined stresses, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches for developing stress-resilient crops in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Locus of control over global mine production– developments between 1985 and 2018 against a historical background
Authors: Ericsson Magnus , Löf Olof , Löf Anton
Published: August 2024

It is a well-known fact that mine production has shifted from the industrialised countries of Europe, North America and Japan to emerging economies in Latin America, Africa and Asia and to Australia since the mid-20th century. The lack of self-sufficiency or high import dependence, in particular of the so-called critical metals, has become an issue of great political concern in these industrialised countries over the past 15 years. This study of six metals, cobalt, copper, iron ore, lithium, manganese and rare earths, contrasts this picture of geographical location of production with an analysis of where the control over mine production around the world is based, which we call the locus of control. Production might have moved out of the industrialised countries but control over production by companies based in the industrialised countries remains and has even increased between 1985 and 2018. We measure control as share of the total value of the production of the six metals. European transnational mining companies have increased their control from 14 to 18% while mining companies based in North America have lost control, a decline from 13 to 8%. When Australian companies, that have more than tripled their control in the same period, are added, control by the industrialised countries has increased to 44% of these six metals. Companies based in Latin America, Africa and Asia excluding China, taken together have maintained their control level, roughly a third of the total value of the six metals. Inside this group of countries African share has dwindled from 12 to 3% while Asian companies have more than doubled their share from 5 to 12%. Control by mining companies based in the republics of the former Soviet Union have been reduced from 25 to 7% while in the same period Chinese companies’ control has doubled from 6 to 12% of the total value of these six metals. Countries in Asia (excluding China) together with Latin American and African countries produce 51% of these six metals measured by the value at the mine stage. However, companies based in these countries control not more than 33% of the production.
How do school experiences in adolescence affect educational investment in adulthood? The case of parental investment in private tutoring in Germany
Authors: Entrich Steve R.
Published: August 2024

This article examines the role of parents’ school experiences in adolescence on their educational investment strategies for their own children in middle adulthood. We focus our analysis on the parents’ decision to organize private tutoring (also called shadow education) for their children. Previous international research largely agrees that families with a high socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to invest in tutoring to achieve competitive advantages in the educational race for higher credentials and maintain a high social status. In Germany, however, recent studies suggest that tutoring in Germany primarily serves underperforming children from les educated families to acquire relatively higher school degrees by compensating the higher demands of academic school tracks. We propose a theoretical decision model based on rational choice and life course theory incorporating psychological factors related to school performance of the parents (such as performance anxiety and ability self-concept) and operationalize four components that are intended to explain the (un)equal use of tutoring: (1) children’s school background, (2) parents’ cost and (3) benefit considerations, as well as (4) parents’ school biography. In addition, we hypothesize on the intergenerational transmission of performance-related factors from parents to their children and how this affects SE investment. We test our hypotheses quantitatively through logit regressions and a structural equation model using unique longitudinal data for 558 families (parents and their children) from the German “LifE” study (1979–2012). Our study produced two key findings: On the one hand, the parents’ previous school performance plays a direct role in the extent to which they themselves are able to provide their children with the necessary support in the event of poor performance. On the other hand, the performance-related experiences of the parents during school are to a certain extent transmitted to their children and thus influence their grades, ability self-concept and performance anxiety. These factors, in turn, are decisive for the decision to organize SE. Our findings indicate that instead of reducing the decision-making process for SE to absolute dimensions of student performance and parents’ SES and related cost-benefit calculations, dynamic factors behind this family decision related to intergenerational transmission and individual characteristics should be considered.