bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling performances of maize cultivars under current and future climate scenarios in southern central Ethiopian rift valley
Authors: Markos Daniel , Worku Walelign , Mamo Girma
Published: March 2024

Background

In southern central rift valley of Ethiopia, maize is an important crop because of its adaptation to wider agro-ecologies and higher yield potential. However, most cultivars were not parameterized to include in the database of Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT). As a result simulation of growth and yield of those cultivars was not possible under changing climate.

Methods

Two set of independent crop, management and soil data were used for calibration and validation of genetic coefficients of maize cultivars (BH-540, BH-546, BH-547, Shala and Shone) under condition of historic weather (1990–2020). Later, we simulated the growth and yield of maize using twenty multimodel climate ensembles across RCP 4.5 and 8.5 during early, medium and late century across Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa and Dilla clusters using DSSATv4.8 model.

Results

Cultivars BH-540, BH-546, BH-547, Shala and Shone produced yields of 5.7, 5.4, 5.2, 6.9 and 7.4 t ha
−1
with the corresponding error percentage of − 0.1, − 0.8, − 1.0, − 6.1 and 2.6%. The results of normalized root mean square were 1.14–4.2 and 3.0–3.9%, for grain yield during calibration and validation, respectively showing an excellent rating. The simulation experiment produced 5.4–9.2 t ha
−1
for grain yield of maize cultivars across the study areas, which is likely to fall close to 63.3% by 2070 if right adaptation options are not introduced necessitating switch in cultivars and production areas.

Conclusions

There is critical need for reduction of GHGs emissions, generation of innovative adaptation strategies, and development of drought and heat stress tolerant maize cultivars. Hence, researchers and policy makers shall act with utmost urgency to embark with breeding programs that target climate change adaptation traits in maize crop.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescent mental health in-patient service use in England: interrupted time-series analysis of national patient records
Authors: Tsiachristas Apostolos , Holland Josephine , Guo Boliang , Chitsabesan Prathiba , Sayal Kapil , Abdul Pari Anees Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Background

During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and young people (CYP) faced significant restrictions. The virus and mitigation approaches significantly impacted how health services could function and be safely delivered.

Aims

To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on CYP psychiatric admission trends during lockdown 1 (started 23 Mar 2020) and lockdown 2 (started 5 Nov 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in England.

Method

Routinely collected, retrospective English administrative data regarding psychiatric hospital admissions, length of stay and patient demographic factors were analysed using an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to estimate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns 1 and 2 on service use trends. We analysed data of 6250 CYP (up to 18 years of age) using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis with Newey–West standard errors to handle autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity.

Results

Psychiatric hospital admissions for CYP significantly fell during lockdown 1, and then fell even further during lockdown 2. A greater proportion of admissions during lockdown were out of area or to independent sector units. During lockdown, the average age of CYP admitted was higher, and a greater proportion were female. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of looked-after children and CYP from the most socioeconomically deprived areas admitted during lockdown 2.

Conclusions

During both lockdowns, fewer CYP had psychiatric admissions. The subsequent rise in admissions for more socioeconomically deprived CYP and looked-after children suggests that these CYP may have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, or overlooked during earlier phases.
Peritoneal Tumor DNA as a Prognostic Biomarker in Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Allan Zexi , Witts Sasha , Wong Darren J. , Lee Margaret M. , Tie Jeanne , Tebbutt Niall C. , Clemons Nicholas J. , Liu David S.
Published: March 2024

PURPOSE

Gastric cancers commonly spread to the peritoneum. Its presence significantly alters patient prognosis and treatment-intent; however, current methods of peritoneal staging are inaccurate. Peritoneal tumor DNA (ptDNA) is tumor-derived DNA detectable in peritoneal lavage fluid. ptDNA positivity may indicate peritoneal micrometastasis and may be more sensitive than cytology in staging the peritoneum. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the prognostic potential of ptDNA in gastric cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between January 1, 1990, and April 30, 2023, containing quantitative data relating to ptDNA in gastric cancer were meta-analyzed.

RESULTS

Six studies were analyzed. Of the total 757 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 318 (42.0%) were stage I, 311 (41.0%) were stage II/III, 116 (15.3%) were stage IV, and 22 (2.9%) were undetermined. Overall, ptDNA detected cytology-positive cases with a sensitivity and specificity of 85.2% (95% CI, 66.5 to 100.0) and 91.5% (95% CI, 86.5 to 96.6), respectively. Additionally, ptDNA was detected in 54 (8.5%) of 634 cytology-negative patients. The presence of ptDNA negatively correlated with pathological stage I (relative risk [RR], 0.29 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.66]) and positively correlated with pathological stage IV (RR, 8.61 [95% CI, 1.86 to 39.89]) disease. Importantly, ptDNA positivity predicted an increased risk of peritoneal-specific metastasis (RR, 13.81 [95% CI, 8.11 to 23.53]) and reduced 3-year progression-free (RR, 5.37 [95% CI, 1.39 to 20.74]) and overall (hazard ratio, 4.13 [95% CI, 1.51 to 11.32]) survival.

CONCLUSION

ptDNA carries valuable prognostic information and can detect peritoneal micrometastases in patients with gastric cancer. Its clinical utility in peritoneal staging for gastric cancer deserves further investigation.
Spatial cell fate manipulation of human pluripotent stem cells by controlling the microenvironment using photocurable hydrogel
Authors: Wang Zhe , Numada Akira , Wagai Fumi , Oda Yusuke , Ohgushi Masatoshi , Maki Koichiro , Adachi Taiji , Eiraku Mototsugu
Published: March 2024

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) dynamically respond to their chemical and physical microenvironment, dictating their behavior. However, conventional in vitro studies predominantly employ plastic culture wares, which offer a simplified representation of the in vivo microenvironment. Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of mechanical and topological cues in hPSC differentiation and maintenance. In this study, we cultured hPSCs on hydrogel substrates with spatially controlled stiffness. The use of culture substrates that enable precise manipulation of spatial mechanical properties holds promise for better mimicking in vivo conditions and advancing tissue engineering techniques. We designed a photocurable polyethylene glycol-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-PEG) hydrogel, allowing the spatial control of surface stiffness and geometry at a micrometer scale. This versatile hydrogel can be functionalized with various extracellular matrix proteins. Laminin 511-functionalized PVA-PEG gel effectively supports the growth and differentiation of hPSCs. Moreover, by spatially modulating the stiffness of the patterned gel, we achieved spatially selective cell differentiation, resulting in the generation of intricate patterned structures.
Age-dependent perfume development in male orchid bees, Euglossa imperialis
Authors: Henske Jonas , Eltz Thomas
Published: March 2024

Male neotropical orchid bees concoct complex perfume blends by collecting exogenous volatiles from various sources, including orchids. These perfumes, stored in specialized hind-leg pouches and released during courtship, serve as inter-sexual signals. It has been hypothesized that male perfumes honestly indicate aspects of male fitness. If perfume traits such as quantity or complexity increase over individual lifetime, perfumes could reflect age (survival) and cumulative foraging success of males. We conducted a two-season mark–recapture study with Euglossa imperialis in Costa Rica, monitoring the balance of perfume uptake and expenditure over individual male lifetime. We sealed one hind-leg pouch upon initial capture, ‘freezing’ the perfume status on one side, and compared it with the other side at recapture to assess changes in perfume traits over time. Additionally, we used a novel method to estimate individual age by combining two parameters of wing degradation. Contrary to predictions, young to intermediate-aged bees had the highest quantities of perfume and the highest diversity of detected compounds. At the same time, the change in perfume between recaptures was positive (increase in amount and complexity) in young bees, whereas it was neutral to negative in older bees. Although these findings do not disprove an indicator function of male perfume, they shift the emphasis to non-cumulative fitness components such as sensory acuteness or cognitive capacity as likely targets of selection. Females preferring strong perfume signals in mates would maximize speed of foraging in offspring rather than their lifetime cumulative yield.
Receptors underlying an odorant's valence across concentrations in Drosophila larvae
Authors: Perry Sarah , Clark Jonathan T. , Ngo Paulina , Ray Anandasankar
Published: March 2024

Odorants interact with receptors expressed in specialized olfactory neurons, and neurons of the same class send their axons to distinct glomeruli in the brain. The stereotypic spatial glomerular activity map generates recognition and the behavioral response for the odorant. The valence of an odorant changes with concentration, typically becoming aversive at higher concentrations. Interestingly, in Drosophila larvae, the odorant (E)-2-hexenal is aversive at low concentrations and attractive at higher concentrations. We investigated the molecular and neural basis of this phenomenon, focusing on how activities of different olfactory neurons conveying opposing effects dictate behaviors. We identified the repellant neuron in the larvae as one expressing the olfactory receptor Or7a, whose activation alone at low concentrations of (E)-2-hexenal elicits an avoidance response in an Or7a-dependent manner. We demonstrate that avoidance can be overcome at higher concentrations by activation of additional neurons that are known to be attractive, most notably odorants that are known activators of Or42a and Or85c. These findings suggest that in the larval stage, the attraction-conveying neurons can overcome the aversion-conveying channels for (E)-2-hexenal.
Συγκρούσεις συμφερόντων στις σχέσεις επιμέλειας ξένων υποθέσεων
Authors: Νάζου Μαριάνθη
Published: March 2024

Αντικείμενο της διατριβής αποτελεί η συστηματική διερεύνηση των συγκρούσεων συμφερόντων ως νομικού φαινομένου και η ανάλυση του ισχύοντος νομοθετικού πλαισίου σχετικά με την αντιμετώπισή τους στο ιδιωτικό δίκαιο. Κεντρικό στόχο της διατριβής αποτελεί η ανάδειξη και οριοθέτηση της προβληματικής των συγκρούσεων συμφερόντων με τη βοήθεια και των πορισμάτων της οικονομικής επιστήμης. Πεδίο της έρευνας αποτελούν οι συγκρούσεις συμφερόντων που αναπτύσσονται στις ιδιωτικές έννομες σχέσεις επιμέλειας ξένων υποθέσεων, όπου ένα πρόσωπο (ο λεγόμενος «διαχειριστής») αναλαμβάνει την υποχρέωση να διεκπεραιώσει ξένες υποθέσεις για λογαριασμό του φορέα τους. Δεδομένου ότι το στοιχείο της επιμέλειας ξένων υποθέσεων εντοπίζεται σε μεγάλο αριθμό ενοχικών σχέσεων, οι οποίες εκκινούν από τις σχέσεις αντιπροσώπευσης ή επαγγελματικής προσφοράς υπηρεσιών και φθάνουν μέχρι και τις σχέσεις διαχείρισης ξένης περιουσίας επί τη βάση κάποιου λειτουργήματος, αφετηρία της δ.δ. αποτελεί το αστικό δίκαιο, όμως η τελευταία εμφανίζει σημαντικές προεκτάσεις τόσο στο εμπορικό δίκαιο όσο και στους ειδικότερους τομείς της παροχής επενδυτικών υπηρεσιών και της εταιρικής διακυβέρνησης των εισηγμένων ανωνύμων εταιριών. Η δ.δ. περιλαμβάνει επτά κεφάλαια: Στο Πρώτο Κεφάλαιο επιχειρείται η συστηματική διερεύνηση των ιδιωτικών σχέσεων επιμέλειας ξένων υποθέσεων. Στο Δεύτερο Κεφάλαιο επιχειρείται η οριοθέτηση της αόριστης νομικής έννοιας της σύγκρουσης συμφερόντων. Στα Κεφάλαια Τρίτο έως Έκτο, αναλύονται οι νομικοί μηχανισμοί διαχείρισης των συγκρούσεων συμφερόντων. Τέλος, στο Έβδομο Κεφάλαιο επιχειρείται η συστηματική αποτίμηση του ισχύοντος νομοθετικού πλαισίου σχετικά με τις συγκρούσεις συμφερόντων και διατυπώνονται ορισμένες προτάσεις για τη βελτίωσή του.
Δομές φιλοξενίας ασυνόδευτων ανηλίκων και σχολεία
Authors: Καλομενίδου Όλγα
Published: March 2024

Η παρούσα έρευνα ασχολείται με τη σχέση των εργαζομένων σε Δομές Φιλοξενίας Ασυνόδευτων Ανηλίκων (ΔΦΑΑ) με τους εκπαιδευτικούς στα σχολεία, στο πλαίσιο της εκπαίδευσης ενηλίκων και της μάθησης στους χώρους εργασίας. Για τη μελέτη αυτών των δύο συστημάτων χρησιμοποιήθηκε η Θεωρία της Δραστηριότητας (activity theory) και ειδικότερα της «εκτατικής» μάθησης. Τα δεδομένα από τις συνεντεύξεις αναλύθηκαν με θεματική ανάλυση που έγινε με τη βοήθεια του λογισμικού ανοιχτού κώδικα Qualcoder. Οι κώδικες που προέκυψαν από τα δύο συστήματα συγκρίθηκαν και στη συνέχεια συζητήθηκαν τα σχετικά συμπεράσματα. Αναδύθηκαν ενδοσυστημικές και διασυστημικές συγκρούσεις που οδήγησαν άλλοτε σε κύκλους «εκτατικής» μάθησης και άλλοτε σε κύκλους αμυντικής μάθησης. Τα δύο συστήματα αποτελούν πρόσφορο έδαφος για περαιτέρω μελέτη μέσω εργαστηρίων «διέλευσης ορίων», ώστε να ξεπεραστούν οι διπλοδεσμοί και να οδηγηθούν στην ολοκλήρωση των κύκλων «εκτατικής» μάθησης που ξεκινούν από τις μεταξύ τους συγκρούσεις.
On the biology of blackbellied angler, Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807, in the north-western Mediterranean
Authors: MASSARO ANDREA , MUSUMECI CLAUDIA , De CARLO FRANCECO , LIGAS ALESSANDRO , RUSSO LOREDANA , CARBONARA PIERLUIGI , PRETTI CARLO , SARTOR PAOLO
Published: March 2024

In the Mediterranean Sea, the blackbellied angler, Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807, represents a relevant fraction of the commercial by-catch of bottom trawling and small-scale fisheries that use passive gears (e.g., set nets, bottom longlines, etc.). Despite its importance, there are no comprehensive studies on the population dynamics of this species, and there is still scarce and scattered knowledge of its biology and ecology. Biomass, morphometric, and biological data of the blackbellied angler were collected from 1994 to 2021 by means of the Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey (MEDITS) programme in the Ligurian and northern Tyrrhenian Seas, and in the EU Data Collection Framework during the period of 2006-2021. Furthermore, ageing was performed on specimens collected from 2013 to 2021 during the MEDITS programme. There were high values for the density indices and the spatial distribution of biomass in the central sector of the investigated area (the Tuscan Archipelago), mostly on the continental shelf. The length-weight relationship showed negative allometric growth when considering the sexes together, and no difference between the sexes. The size at first maturity (L50) was estimated at 39.4 cm total length (TL) in females and at 29.2 cm TL in males. The obtained Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: in females, L∞ = 74.50 cm, k = 0.10 years-1, and t0 = -0.40 years; in males, L∞ = 61.30 cm, k = 0.14 years-1, and t0 = -0.38 years. There were differences in growth between males and females for L∞ (χ2 = 10.04; p < 0.05) and k (χ2 = 6.12; p < 0.05).
Environmental retrieval during COVID-19 lockdown in the megacity Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Nida , Kausar Anila , Vambol Sergij , Kozub Pavlo , Kozub Svetlana
Published: March 2024

The global devastating effect of COVID-19 has also wrapped up the mega city of Pakistan-Karachi. The study was conducted to reveal the effects of limited anthropogenic activities, in terms of national lockdown, on the environmental pollution in Karachi. No study has been conducted to monitor the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on levels of PM2.5 and noise in Karachi so far. The levels of PM2.5 and noise were monitored before and during the imposition of the COVID-19 lockdown with the help of a particulate monitor and environmental meter, respectively. The monitoring was conducted for 12 hours at 25 locations. The spatial distribution of mean PM2.5 and noise levels were represented by thematic maps. Statistical evaluation revealed a significant decrease in PM2.5 and noise pollution by 53.55% and 24.98%, respectively. The percentage of locations where the mean PM2.5 level was surpassing the Sindh environmental quality standards before the lockdown had dropped from 56% to 8% during the lockdown. Similarly, the percentage of locations where the mean value of noise exceeded the standard values before lockdown had descended from 96% to 24 % for residential areas; 72% to 12% for commercial areas; and 44% to 0% for industrial areas, during lockdown.
Key factors influencing tree planting decision of farmers on farm land: A case study in Malakand, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Pervez , Bui Manh Hung , Le Dinh Hai , Ahmad Sohail , Khan Faisal , Ullah Sajjad , Ahmad Adnan , Shiou Yih Lee
Published: March 2024

In order to cope with forest degradation and deforestation, farm forestry is a new tool for plantation purposes that combat these issues. Planting trees on farmlands is the most practical and viable approach given in the current situation in Pakistan for recovering the degraded forest lands, ensuring the sustainable use of marginal areas, and satisfying the rural requirements for the benefits of trees, both economically and non-economically. Therefore a socio-economic study of farmers in relation to tree planting is very important, to understand farmers perception about farm trees growing. In this study a total of 120 households were surveyed and interviewed in district Malakand for factor affecting farm tree planting decision. The result of step wise binary logistics regression analysis indicated that the factors including: Education level, Attitude of tree planting and silviculture knowledge were significantly influenced on tree planting decision of household in the study area. The total household income for planter was significantly higher than non-planter. The study result may provide the basis for proposing solution for future to strengthen trees planting decision for plantation, with the intention of promoting household engagement and attract farmers towards plantation activities in the study area.
Excepciones generales y de seguridad en el sistema multilateral de comercio
Authors: Esteban Tovar Andrés Felipe
Published: March 2024

La creación del sistema multilateral de comercio trajo consigo la búsqueda de un balance entre los objetivos legítimos de política pública de los Estados y la consecución de la liberalización del comercio como instrumento para alcanzar los objetivos plasmados en el Acuerdo de Marrakech. Las excepciones generales y de seguridad sirven como herramienta de justificación por eventuales incompatibilidades de medidas adoptadas por los Estados frente a los acuerdos abarcados de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC).
Buy Now Pay (Pain?) Later
Authors: deHaan Ed , Kim Jungbae , Lourie Ben , Zhu Chenqi
Published: March 2024

“Buy-now-pay-later” (BNPL) is a relatively unregulated FinTech innovation that provides consumers with easy access to credit for retail purchases. BNPL spending is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2025, but we know little about its effects. Using banking data for 10.6 million U.S. consumers, we investigate the effects of BNPL on leading indicators of users’ financial health. We find that new BNPL users experience rapid increases in bank overdraft charges and credit card interest and fees compared with nonusers, consistent with BNPL facilitating overborrowing. An instrumental variable exploiting consumers’ pre-BNPL shopping habits bolsters our inferences. Our results inform regulatory investigations into the effects of BNPL on users’ financial health and expand academia’s understanding of an important consumer credit innovation.

This paper was accepted by Camelia Kuhnen, finance.

Funding: E. deHaan acknowledges financial support from Stanford University; B. Lourie and C. Zhu acknowledge financial support from University of California Irvine.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.03266 .
study on auditory perception of tense and lax vowels of English as a FL by learners with Spanish as L1
Authors: Bustos Jose , Vignolo Francisca , Vyhmeister Gerald
Published: March 2024

Different studies in the field of perception of second-language sounds (L2) suggest that English learners with Spanish as their mother tongue language (L1) are influenced by the sounds of their L1 to perceive the sounds in the L2. As a result, learners are not able to perceive speech sounds as they are in English, because they assimilate the sounds of the foreign language (FL) based on their L1 (Best & Tyler, 2007; Gibson & Gibson, 1955). The objective of this research is to explore the capacity of perception of tense and lax vowels of English (Standard British accent) in 8 high school students from two subsidised schools in Chillán and San Carlos, Chile. The age of the participants range from 15 to 18 years old. One auditory perception test was used: An Identification Test was applied to measure the capacity of the participants to perceive lax and tense vowels: /i:/, /ɪ/, /æ/ and /^/.
Curriculum development for translingual orientation: Teaching poetry writing in first-year Composition Courses
Authors: Liao Fang-Yu
Published: March 2024

This study offers insights on developing poetry writing assignment in first-year composition courses for translingual orientation. Through a close examination of semi-structured interviews and students’ poems, the study aims to evaluatethe effectiveness of the teaching of poetry writing as translingual pedagogy in college English composition courses for both monolingual and multilingual students. Five monolingual and five multilingual students in this project experienced a three-week curriculum design to compose their poetry project in two different sections. The interview data shows that both monolingual and multilingual students acknowledge positive traits about the translingual pedagogy through a poetry writing assignment toward the end of the semester. The data also demonstrates that five monolingual students in this study value this poetry writing assignment with its invitation for being free and self-expressive, while the five multilingual students stress the practical outcomes, such as a personal breakthrough, poetry book as a concrete record of their life, or negotiation experiences. Furthermore, the study provides implications for developing curriculum design to enact translingual pedagogy based on students’ perceived difficulties and struggles.
Evaluation of the offset couch parameter between kilovoltage on-board imaging and cone-beam computed tomography in patients with prostate cancer
Authors:   Master of Science in Radiological Technology Programme, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, Guawgumnerdtong Tanaporn , Damrongkijudom Nuanpen ,   Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, Suwannarat Achawee ,   Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, Chailapakul Piyawan ,   Department of Radiation Oncology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand, Ekjeen Tawatchai ,   Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
Published: March 2024

Background: External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is a curative therapy technique for prostate cancer. Since the prostate is unstable and surrounded by the bladder and rectum, precision of the target location is critical. Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) can improve treatment precision. The bladder and rectum may alter volume during IGRT, shifting the prostate’s position and resulting in missed target volume doses and extra organs at risk (OARs) doses. Objective: To assess setup error and residual error during patient positioning, as well as the current IGRT protocol efficiency, in prostate cancer patients while recommending a planning target volume (PTV) margin. Materials and methods: The offset couch parameter of on-board imaging (OBI) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was computed to determine the error distribution, magnitude, and error difference between treatment phases. The systematic and random errors were calculated using the van Herk equation to determine the planning target volume (PTV) margin. Results: The setup error was -0.86 to 0.25 mm, and the residual error was -0.15 to 0.32 mm. The couch displacement percentage for OBI was 29.44% to 58.89%, and for CBCT was 8.10% to 34.12%. The systematic error was 1.65 to 3.21. The random error was 1.78 to 3.29. The setup error was greatest in the longitudinal (Lng) direction, residual error was greatest in the vertical (Vrt) direction, and systematic and random error were greatest in the Vrt and lateral (Lat) direction, respectively. The PTV margin was greatest in the Vrt direction, while the Lng direction was the narrowest margin for every treatment phase. Conclusion: The highest setup error occurs in the Lng direction for all treatment phases. For the 46 Gy and 60 Gy phases, the highest residual error is in the Vrt direction. However, in the 78 Gy phase, the error is relatively close to 0.01mm in every direction. The current IGRT protocol is effective in detecting setup and residual errors. The 78 Gy phase has the greatest PTV margin, whereas the 46 Gy phase shows the narrowest margins in all directions.
Overlooked Silver: Reassessing Ming–Qing Silver Supplies
Authors: Yang Yuda , Kim Nanny
Published: March 2024

abstract: Numerous silver mines in the southwestern borderlands of Ming and Qing China (present-day Yunnan Province, Myanmar, and Vietnam) are known from occasional historical mention. Despite some regional attention, they were regarded as a marginal source of silver for the Chinese monetary system. This article presents a new research approach that overcomes the scarcity of written sources by tapping mineralogical material remains on historic mining sites. We present case studies of three well-documented sites and discuss our comparative assessment of forty-seven identified mines of importance. Our reconstruction of total silver outputs based on slag dumps permits quantification based on material evidence. We estimate southwestern mines' outputs at 20,000 to 50,000 tons of monetary-grade silver for the period 1400–1850. Domestic silver flows on this order revise the current view that the monetary system of early modern China depended on overseas silver. 摘要: 本文根據古爐渣遺存開拓了技術史的方法 ， 重新研究了明清時期中國西 南 、 緬甸和越南邊境地區的白銀生產 ， 結果發現這一區域的產量至少為 20,000 噸 ⸺ 甚至可達 50,000 噸 ， 超過同期海外白銀輸入的數量 ， 從而修正了中國傳統市場體系 的發展依賴於海外白銀輸入的認識 。
Ecological Implications of the Sacred in Azor’s “Palmis Kanpe”
Authors: Travieso Emilio
Published: March 2024

Abstract: In “Palmis Kanpe,” the rasin musician Azor laments the absence of a sacred tree. The song is not about deforestation, nor does it lend itself to an ethnobotanical analysis with lessons for environmental policy. Still, it has deep ecological implications flowing from the song’s ethical stance, which is ultimately about overcoming alienation. Stephen Gudeman’s theory of economic anthropology helps to clarify this argument. Economies are shaped by a tension between the realm of the market and the realm of community, which is held together by a “base” of tangible and intangible goods. The market’s tendency to colonize the base can be destructive. To ensure proper balance, the base must be protected. This model, implicit in Azor’s song, offers a radical frame for addressing Haiti’s ecological crisis. Further, by pointing to the nature of the sacred, this frame reveals the interconnectedness of the Haitian base and of the wider struggle for its restoration. Rezime: Nan « Palmis Kanpe », Azor regrèt absans yon pye bwa sakre. Mizik la pa gen pou wè ak debwazman. Si gen moun ki ta bezwen analize konpreyansyon pye bwa yo nan kilti ayisyen an, pou yo fòmile yon pi bon politik anviwònmantal, mizik sa a pa vrèman ofri yo anyen, tou. Poutan, li enpòtan anpil pou kesyon anviwònman an, kanmenm. Enpòtans sa a soti nan pozisyon etik nou jwenn ladan l, ki se yon pozisyònman kont alyenasyon. Stephen Gudeman gen yon teyori, nan kad antwopoloji ekonomik, ki ka ede nou eklèsi agiman sa a. Tout ekonomi gen de (2) bò, yon bò mache ak yon bò kominote, epi toujou gen anpil tansyon nan relasyon ant 2 bò sa yo. Sa k kenbe kominote a se « baz » li, ki gen bagay vizib ak bagay envizib ladan l. Men, mache a plede ap kolonize baz la, yon jan ki ka kraze l. Pou ekonomi an kapab jwenn ekilib li, fòk yo pwoteje baz la. Modèl sa a, ki chita dèyè mizik Azor a, ofri nou yon fason radikal pou n abòde kriz anviwònmantal Ayiti a. Lè fini, pou tèt li montre nou sa k sakre a, modèl sa a pemèt nou wè jan tout bagay konekte anndan baz ayisyen an ak nan lit pou nou retabli li.
Conservation in Community: FoProBiM’s Mangrove Restoration Project
Authors: Wiener Jean
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Haiti’s forests are some of the most degraded on earth. Charcoal production is one of the primary causes of this degradation, and the need for fuel is the main driver. These photos show efforts by the Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM), one of Haiti’s oldest environmental organizations, to rehabilitate the mangrove forests devastated by the charcoal trade.
Marasa: A Special Issue and a Working Group for the Environment
Authors: Benson LeGrace , Wilcken Lois
Published: March 2024

Abstract: This special issue on Haiti’s environment and a recently created working group within the Haitian Studies Association (HSA) share a birth year: 2020. The pair had their conception during HSA’s 2016 conference in Cap-Haïtien, “Haiti’s Eco-systems: Focus on Environmental Realities and Hopes.” The meeting in Cap-Haïtien demonstrated a significant interest in the environment of Haiti and its challenges. Members responded to the call with papers, panels, and a plenary session, all of which examined Haiti’s ecosystems through the lenses of education, economics, visual and performing arts, spirituality, natural science, communications, literature, archaeology, agriculture, and health—to name a few. Following up from the interest generated, members responded again in 2020 to a call for working-group proposals. The lanbi (conch shell) sounded, and HSA’s Working Group on Haiti’s Ecosystems (WGE, also Konbit) answered. As the special-issue and working-group projects took shape together, we might think of them as Marasa, named after the sacred twins of Haitian Vodou who dramatize the ultimate unity in dualisms that might help us think through our human-nature divisions. The Marasa also represent new beginnings.
Caribbean Eco-fictions: Multilayered Stories of the Haitian Environment
Authors: Paravisini-Gebert Lizabeth
Published: March 2024

Abstract: The duty of care for the nation’s threatened environment, for which the forest and its inhabitants stand as potent symbols, has been at the center of Haitian fiction, as well as of fiction by other Caribbean writers who have set their work in Haiti. The Haitian novel has mourned the impacts of deforestation on both human and nonhuman communities and denounced the practices that have led to catastrophic deforestation and the concomitant biodiversity losses, offering in turn new approaches and potential remedies for addressing one of the nation’s most central problems. The Haitian novel has counseled, above all, political action against extractivist practices and misguided environmental management and conservation measures, portraying the state’s inaction as conducive to the slow violence of environmental neglect. Above all, the Haitian novel has relied on the ecological principles of Vodou, particularly its deep connection to nature, as a foundational source for notions of sustainable development, landscape restoration, and multispecies justice.
Direct detection Φ-OTDR based on UWFBG array using linear-phase-modulated double-pulse
Authors: Hong Rui , Wang Feng , Yu Yong , Tian Ruifeng , Jiang Wei , Lu Yanqing , Zhang Lin , Zhang Yixin , Zhang Xuping
Published: March 2024

We propose what we believe to be a novel direct detection phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (Φ-OTDR) based on ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating (UWFBG) array to achieve distributed vibration measurements with exceptional sensitivity and remarkable stability. Our system employs a pulse modulator to generate a double pulse and achieves linear phase modulation of one pulse by one cycle through a phase modulator. The phase change can be quantitatively demodulated using our proposed N-step phase-shifted demodulation algorithm. This method effectively mitigates the influence of phase noise of the laser and the pulse modulator, while also eliminating fluctuations in the half-voltage of the phase modulator. Compared with the existing phase modulation methods, our method avoids stringent requirements for the stability and precision of phase modulation. Moreover, we propose a phase-shifted approximation method, breaking the limitation of sensing length on the traditional differential approximation method and improving the accuracy significantly. The technique's effectiveness is experimentally demonstrated on a 1 km UWFBG array with a reflectivity of −40 dB to −45 dB and a spatial resolution of 10 m. Vibrations with different amplitudes are measured quantitatively with good linearity. The low-frequency self-noise is greatly suppressed and the overall self-noise is −54.3 dB rad2/Hz.
Functional OCT reveals anisotropic changes of retinal flicker-evoked vasodilation
Authors: Son Taeyoon , Ma Guangying , Yao Xincheng
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of anisotropic property of retinal biomechanics on vasodilation measurement. A custom-built optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for time-lapse imaging of flicker stimulation-evoked vessel lumen changes in mouse retinas. A comparative analysis revealed significantly larger (18.21%) lumen dilation in the axial direction compared to the lateral (10.77%) direction. The axial lumen dilation predominantly resulted from the top vessel wall movement toward the vitreous direction, whereas the bottom vessel wall remained stable. This observation indicates that the traditional vasodilation measurement in the lateral direction may result in an underestimated value.
Cardiovascular risk factors among nurses: A global systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khani Saghar , Rafiei Sima , Ghashghaee Ahmad , Masoumi Maryam , Rezaee Srva , Kheradkhah Golnaz , Abdollahi Bahare
Published: March 2024

Background

Nurses as the largest group of health workers have a very stressful job which can cause number of diseases specially increase cardiovascular risk factors. This study aims to investigate the overall epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among nurses.

Method

We searched all four main databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Embase and Web of Sciences from the beginning of 2000 to March 2022 with appropriate Mesh Terms. We also searched Google scholar. Then we applied inclusion and exclusion criteria and after selection the studies the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Comprehensive Meta-analysis and R software was used for analysis.

Results

Finally, 22 articles with a total number of 117922 nurses were included. Among all risk factors, sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular physical activity with a prevalence of 46.3% (CI 95%, 26.6–67.2) was regarded as the main prevalent risk factor among nurses. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured in the study population was 121.31 (CI 95%, 114.73–127.90) and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 78.08 (CI 95%, 74.90–81.25). Also family history of cardiovascular disease (41.9%; 95% IC: 29.8–55.1%), being overweight (33.3%; 95% IC: 24.7–43.2%), and alcohol consumption (24.6%; 95% IC: 16.4–35.2%) was found among the participants.

Conclusion

Study results revealed that sedentary lifestyle was the main prevalent CVD risk factor among nurses followed by family history of cardiovascular disease, being overweight and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, among nurses with shift works almost all risk factors got higher score representing the worse condition in comparison with day workers’ nurses. This study enables learning the associated risk factors of CVD among nurses to facilitate interventional programs with a view to reduce the exposure of nursing staff particularly those who work in shifts to cardiovascular risk factors.

1. What was already known?

In general, many studies have emphasized the impact of the nursing profession on the incidence of some cardiovascular patients. Also, different shifts of nurses can have a double effect.

2. What are the new findings?

In this study, the mean for sedentary lifestyle was reported to be 46.3% which represented the most prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular risk factors among study population.

3. What is their significance?

This study enables learning the associated risk factors of CVD among nurses to facilitate interventional programs with a view to reduce the exposure of nursing staff particularly those who work in shifts to cardiovascular risk factors. This information can comprise essential tools for health human resource management contributing to advance nursing.
Estimating multiplicity of infection, allele frequencies, and prevalences accounting for incomplete data
Authors: Hashemi Meraj , Schneider Kristan A.
Published: March 2024

Background

Molecular surveillance of infectious diseases allows the monitoring of pathogens beyond the granularity of traditional epidemiological approaches and is well-established for some of the most relevant infectious diseases such as malaria. The presence of genetically distinct pathogenic variants within an infection, referred to as multiplicity of infection (MOI) or complexity of infection (COI) is common in malaria and similar infectious diseases. It is an important metric that scales with transmission intensities, potentially affects the clinical pathogenesis, and a confounding factor when monitoring the frequency and prevalence of pathogenic variants. Several statistical methods exist to estimate MOI and the frequency distribution of pathogen variants. However, a common problem is the quality of the underlying molecular data. If molecular assays fail not randomly, it is likely to underestimate MOI and the prevalence of pathogen variants.

Methods and findings

A statistical model is introduced, which explicitly addresses data quality, by assuming a probability by which a pathogen variant remains undetected in a molecular assay. This is different from the assumption of missing at random, for which a molecular assay either performs perfectly or fails completely. The method is applicable to a single molecular marker and allows to estimate allele-frequency spectra, the distribution of MOI, and the probability of variants to remain undetected (incomplete information). Based on the statistical model, expressions for the prevalence of pathogen variants are derived and differences between frequency and prevalence are discussed. The usual desirable asymptotic properties of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) are established by rewriting the model into an exponential family. The MLE has promising finite sample properties in terms of bias and variance. The covariance matrix of the estimator is close to the Cramér-Rao lower bound (inverse Fisher information). Importantly, the estimator’s variance is larger than that of a similar method which disregards incomplete information, but its bias is smaller.

Conclusions

Although the model introduced here has convenient properties, in terms of the mean squared error it does not outperform a simple standard method that neglects missing information. Thus, the new method is recommendable only for data sets in which the molecular assays produced poor-quality results. This will be particularly true if the model is extended to accommodate information from multiple molecular markers at the same time, and incomplete information at one or more markers leads to a strong depletion of sample size.
Hope for success as a mediator between Big Five personality traits and achievement goal orientation among high performance and recreational athletes
Authors: Tomczak Maciej , Kleka Paweł , Tomczak-Łukaszewska Ewa , Walczak Małgorzata
Published: March 2024

The main objective of this study was to determine whether hope for success mediates the relationship between personality and goal orientation in high performance and recreational athletes. The cross-sectional study included 289 high performance and recreational athletes of various sports (age: M = 20.34, SD = 1.86). To examine personality, we used the Big Five IPIP-BFM-20 questionnaire. To assess hope for success, we used the Hope for Success Questionnaire. The Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) was employed to examine goal orientation. Hope for success significantly mediates the relationships between conscientiousness, extraversion, emotional stability, intellect, and task goal orientation in sport. Higher levels of these personality traits are related to athletes’ higher hope for success, which, in turn, is positively related to their task orientation. Personality traits may underpin the hope for success that develops from childhood. This, in turn, appears to be an important component on which, combined with the positive interaction and support from coaches, a task goal orientation beneficial to sport can be shaped in athletes.
From an election to an insurrection: Investigating differential engagement and sentiment in the #defundthepolice and #defendthepolice network on Twitter
Authors: Wirth Bianca , Evans Megan
Published: March 2024

Social movements and their respective countermovements have evolved to use online social media platforms to recruit followers, share pertinent information, discuss relevant issues, and draw the attention of political figures. Movements’ strategic use of Twitter has increasingly been studied, though there are relatively few studies that compare social movements and their corresponding countermovements simultaneously. We examine engagement in the #DefundthePolice social movement and #DefendthePolice countermovement in a Twitter network comprised of retweets using both hashtags from August 2020 to January 2021. Text and sentiment analysis as well as a content analysis of a random sample of retweets in the network’s 20 largest subgroups reveal four key patterns. First, information commonly communicated in historical social movements is communicated in the online, Twitter network. Second, the use of movement and countermovement hashtags to criticize is common, suggesting Twitter engagement with the movement/countermovement is not a sufficient indicator of support for the movement. Third, social movements are inextricably embedded in politics, with political discourse present in all the 20 largest subgroups. Finally, though we do not include geo-tagged tweets in the analysis, physical geography is key theme in multiple subgroups. Broadly, our findings demonstrate the breadth of topics communicated within movement networks and highlight the importance of qualitatively examining Twitter data in the study of social movements.
Dance for the dead: The role of top-down beliefs for social cohesion and anxiety management in naturally occurring collective rituals
Authors: Irving Briar , Kavanagh Christopher , Fischer Ronald , Yuki Masaki
Published: March 2024

Collective rituals, particularly those characterized by synchrony and pain, have been shown to yield positive social and emotional outcomes. The question arises as to whether these findings extend to low-arousal, family-centered rituals and how spiritual beliefs factor into these communal practices. This study set out to examine the interplay between belief, ritual participation, and their effects on anxiety, social cohesion, and prosocial behavior during a low-arousal collective ritual in Mikasa, Japan. Drawing upon a sample of 183 festival participants, we measured belief in ancestors using a novel scale, identifying significant and consistent associations between these beliefs and measures of social cohesion across multiple targets. Moreover, active participation as a festival dancer displayed a positive relationship with feelings of social cohesion, particularly towards other festival attendees and at the national level. On measures of prosocial behavior, ancestral beliefs were positively associated with generosity shown within the festival setting, whereas observers were less generous towards community members than a non-attending control group. Anxiety outcomes displayed a negative relationship with ancestral beliefs and ritual observation but not participation as seen in previous research, suggesting a complex interplay between rituals, emotions, and individual states. These findings provide novel insights into the importance of belief systems and active participation in shaping social bonds and behaviors in the context of collective rituals.
Web-based survey investigating cardiovascular complications in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after COVID-19 infection and vaccination
Authors: Guerrerio Anthony L. , Mateja Allyson , MacCarrick Gretchen , Fintzi Jonathan , Brittain Erica , Frischmeyer-Guerrerio Pamela A. , Dietz Harry C.
Published: March 2024

Background

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a heritable connective tissue disorder associated with generalized joint hypermobility but also other multisystem comorbidities, many of which may be exacerbated during a viral illness or after a vaccination. We sought to determine whether individuals with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome report an increase in adverse events, including cardiovascular events, after COVID-19 illness or vaccination.

Methods

A cross-sectional web-based survey was made available from November 22, 2021, through March 15, 2022. 368 respondents primarily from the United States self-reported data including diagnosis. We used a Cox proportional hazards model with time varying indicators for COVID-19 illness or vaccination in the previous 30 days.

Results

We found a significantly increased rate of new abnormal heart rhythms reported in the 30 days following COVID-19 illness. No additional cardiovascular events were reported after COVID-19 illness. 2.5% of respondents with COVID-19 illness were hospitalized. We did not find a statistically significant increased rate of cardiovascular events in the 30 days following any COVID-19 vaccination dose. Post COVID-19 vaccination, 87.2% of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome respondents endorsed an expected adverse event (EAE), and 3.1% reported an emergency department visit/hospitalization, of those who received at least one vaccine dose. Events possibly reflecting exacerbation of orthostasis/dysautonomia were common.

Conclusion

Respondents did not report an increased rate of any cardiovascular events in the 30 days following COVID-19 vaccination; however, those with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome experienced a high rate of expected adverse events after vaccination consistent with a high baseline prevalence of similar symptoms. No cardiovascular events other than new abnormal heart rhythms were reported at any point after a COVID-19 illness.