bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An updated infrageneric classification based on phylogenomics and character evolution in Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae)
Authors: Yang Xudong , Xue Tiantian , Gao Tiangang , Liang Yunfen , Smets Erik F. , Gadagkar Sudhindra R. , Yu Shengxiang
Published: March 2024

The genus Hydrangea s.l. (Hydrangeaceae), a favorite among gardeners, comprises more than 80 species that are important understory plants in natural temperate and subtropical forests of the Northern Hemisphere. These species are hypervariable in morphology, especially in indumentum and floral characters, warranting a thorough exploration of the complex evolutionary history of morphological characters of the genus. Ideally, this is done within a robust phylogenetic framework with extensive taxon sampling. In this study, we propose a comprehensive taxonomic reassessment of Hydrangea based on a reconstruction of its molecular phylogeny based mainly on the chloroplast genome (plastome) and the most representative taxon sampling reported to date. Phylogenomic reconstruction yielded five well‐resolved major clades and three newly recognized subclades. Inspection of the 28 characters employed in traditional taxonomic revisions revealed homoplasy in many of these traits. Our results show that characters such as growth habit, woody stem type, number of enlarged marginal sepals, style and stamen number, fruit shape, and ovary position are useful for circumscribing infrageneric divisions. Unique synapomorphies are limited. For example, herb and subshrub growth habits are associated with all the species in H. sect. Deinanthe and sect. Cardiandra, respectively. Character state combinations are proposed for distinguishing infrageneric taxa. Based on a robust phylogenetic framework, our findings suggest a complex evolutionary history of Hydrangea morphological characters. Following the criterion of monophyly and considering the morphological consistency and synapomorphy of single and combined characters to diagnose relevant lineages, we update the classification of Hydrangea into 5 subgenera and 19 sections. Our proposed taxonomic scheme, based on a robust phylogenetic framework and in‐depth character study, provides an updated perspective on the infrageneric subdivision of Hydrangea s.l.
Molecular autopsy for fetal structural anomaly: diagnostic and clinical utility of multidisciplinary team approach
Authors: Wall E. , Petley E. , Mone F. , Doyle S. , Hartles‐Spencer L. , Allen S. K. , Castleman J. , Marton T. , Williams D.
Published: March 2024

Objective

In the West Midlands regional genetics service, cases of perinatal death with a possible genetic diagnosis are evaluated by the perinatal pathology genetic multidisciplinary team (MDT). The MDT assesses autopsy findings and suggests appropriate genomic assessment. The objective of this retrospective service evaluation was to determine the clinical utility of the MDT in assessing perinatal deaths associated with structural anomaly. This is the first evaluation since the introduction of whole‐genome and whole‐exome sequencing in routine clinical care.

Methods

This was a retrospective service evaluation including all cases of perinatal death with an associated structural anomaly and suspected genetic etiology that underwent perinatal MDT assessment between January and December 2021. All cases received a full or partial postmortem examination and at least a chromosomal microarray analysis. Demographic characteristics, phenotype, genotype, MDT recommendations, diagnoses, outcomes and impact of postmortem analysis and genetic testing data were collected from patient case notes.

Results

Overall, 123 cases were discussed at the MDT meetings in 2021. Genetic evaluation was recommended in 84 cases and accepted in 64 cases. A range of genetic tests were requested according to indication and availability. Thirty diagnoses were made in 29 cases from 26 unrelated families. The diagnostic yield was 24% (29/123) in all cases or 45% (29/64) in cases with a suspected genetic diagnosis who underwent genetic testing. Postmortem examination provided clinically actionable phenotypic data in 79% of cases. A genetic diagnosis enabled accurate recurrence risk counseling and provision of appropriate follow‐up, including prenatal testing and preimplantation diagnosis for patients with inherited conditions.

Conclusions

Genomic testing was a clinically useful addition to (but not a substitute for) postmortem examination in cases of perinatal death associated with structural anomaly. The MDT approach helped assess cases and plan appropriate follow‐up. Expedited whole‐genome sequencing or panel‐agnostic analysis were most appropriate for heterogeneous presentations. This broad approach can also expand knowledge of prenatal phenotypes and detect novel disease genes, and should be a priority in future research. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Improving Output Visualization of an Algorithm for the Automated Detection of the Perceived Origin of Movement
Authors: Gnecco Giorgio , Fausto Martina , Romano Gabriele , Volpe Gualtiero , Camurri Antonio
Published: March 2024

The perceived Origin of full-body human Movement (OoM), i.e., the part of the body that is perceived by an external observer as the joint from which movement originates, represents a relevant topic for movement analysis. Indeed, its automated detection is important to contribute to the automated analysis of full-body emotions and of non-verbal social signals, and has potential applications, among others, in dance and music teaching, cognitive and motor rehabilitation, sport, and entertainment. In this work, we further develop a recently proposed algorithm for the automated detection of the perceived OoM, by improving the visualization of its output. Specifically, the core of that algorithm relies on clustering a skeletal representation of the human body based on the values assumed by a movement-related feature on all its vertices, then finding those vertices that are at the boundary between any two resulting clusters. In the work, we improve the visualization of the clusters generated by that algorithm in successive frames, by “colouring” them by means of the resolution of a sequence of minimum cost bipartite matching subproblems. Finally, based on a real-world dataset, we show that the proposed modification of the algorithm provides, indeed, a better visualization of the clusters than its original version.
Nutzen der partizipatorischen Mitwirkung von PatientInnen an der Entwicklung einer dermatologischen Therapie-App – ein Bericht aus der Praxis
Authors: Koopmann Anne , Pfeifer Anna Maria , Schweickart Lara , Biniaminov Nathalie , Haas Valentin , Marquardt Philipp , Gößwein Astrid , Czaban Christopher , Biniaminov Sergey , Blauth Mara , Glatzel Caroline , Zimmermann Christoph , Stork Wilhelm , Olsavszky Victor , Schmieder Astrid
Published: March 2024

Etwa 2 % der Bevölkerung in Deutschland leiden an Psoriasis. HybridVITA hat eine mobile Applikation (App) entwickelt, mit der Psoriasispatienten ihren Krankheitsverlauf und ihre aktuelle psychische Belastung eigenständig zu Hause dokumentieren und an ihre Behandler übermitteln können. Die HybridVITA-App wurde in enger Zusammenarbeit mit den Nutzergruppen entwickelt, um sie optimal an deren Bedürfnisse anzupassen. Zwei interaktive Workshops mit den Nutzergruppen und den technischen Entwicklern der App waren ein Kernelement dieses Prozesses. Die Workshops dienten der Ermittlung von Bedürfnissen und Verbesserungsvorschlägen der verschiedenen Nutzergruppen sowie der Formulierung von „user stories“ für die Weiterentwicklung der App mithilfe der Scrum-Methode. Durch den partizipatorischen Ansatz des Workshops konnte das Projektteam wertvolles Praxiswissen bereits in einem frühen Entwicklungsstadium sammeln. Das Wissen um mögliche Hürden in einer frühen Projektphase ermöglichte es dem Team, Lösungen für Probleme zu finden, bevor die App in der dermatologischen Versorgung eingesetzt wird. Aus unserer Sicht kann eine partizipative und patientenzentrierte Herangehensweise bei der Entwicklung von Gesundheits-Apps einen großen Erkenntnisgewinn für die Entwickler bedeuten.
Not “what”, but “where is creativity?”: towards a relational-materialist approach to generative AI
Authors: Celis Bueno Claudio , Chow Pei-Sze , Popowicz Ada
Published: March 2024

The recent emergence of generative AI software as viable tools for use in the cultural and creative industries has sparked debates about the potential for “creativity” to be automated and “augmented” by algorithmic machines. Such discussions, however, begin from an ontological position, attempting to define creativity by either falling prey to universalism (i.e. “creativity is X”) or reductionism (i.e. “only humans can be truly creative” or “human creativity will be fully replaced by creative machines”). Furthermore, such an approach evades addressing the real and material impacts of AI on creative labour in these industries. This article thus offers more expansive methodological and conceptual approaches to the recent hype on generative AI. By combining (Csikszentmihalyi, The systems model of creativity, Springer, Dordrecht, 2014) systems view of creativity, in which we emphasise the shift from “what” to “where” is creativity, with (Lievrouw, Media technologies, The MIT Press, 2014) relational-materialist theory of “mediation”, we argue that the study of “creativity” in the context of generative AI must be attentive to the interactions between technologies, practices, and social arrangements. When exploring the relational space between these elements, three core concepts become pertinent: creative labour, automation, and distributed agency. Critiquing “creativity” through these conceptual lenses allows us to re-situate the use of generative AI within discourses of labour in post-industrial capitalism and brings us to a conceptualisation of creativity that privileges neither the human user nor machine algorithm but instead emphasises a relational and distributed form of agency.
Heat conduction in multi-component step-wise FGMs
Authors: Szlachetka Olga , Giorgio Ivan
Published: March 2024

This paper provides a thorough investigation of a heat conduction problem that pertains to tolerance modelling in layered materials made up of multiple components. These media are functionally graded materials and thus have varying properties that affect their effectiveness. The proposed equations explain the conduction of heat in layered composites. The formulation involves partial differential equations, which utilise smooth and slowly varying functions. Notably, an extension of the unified tolerance modelling procedure is presented generalising existing models for two-component step-wise functionally graded materials (FGMs). This extension allows for the analysis of specific issues related to heat conduction in multi-component stratified composites with a transversal gradation of effective properties. This is the most important novelty achievement of the present paper because it will contribute to advancing knowledge and allows researchers, engineers, and practitioners to use the method in a broader context, addressing a more extensive set of real-world situations not limited to the number of component materials.
Qualitative and quantitative spermatic cord abnormalities at CT predict symptomatic scrotal pathology
Authors: Whitesell Ryan T. , Brunner John F. , Collins Heather R. , Sheafor Douglas H.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To evaluate quantitative and qualitative spermatic cord CT abnormalities and presence of unilateral or bilateral symptomatic scrotal pathology (SSP) at ultrasound.

Methods

This retrospective study included 122 male patients (mean age 47.8 years) undergoing scrotal ultrasound within 24 h of contrast-enhanced CT (n = 85), non-contrast CT (NECT, n = 32) or CT-Urogram (n = 5). CECT quantitative analysis assessed differential cord enhancement using maximum Hounsfield unit measurements. Three fellowship trained body radiologists independently assessed qualitative cord abnormalities for both CECT and NECT. Qualitative and quantitative findings were compared with the presence of SSP. Reader performance, interobserver agreement and reader confidence were assessed for NECT and CECT. Quantitative cutoff points were identified which maximized accuracy, specificity, negative predictive value, and other measures.

Results

SSP was present in 36/122 patients (29.5%). Positive cases were unilateral in 30 (83.3%) and bilateral in 6 (16.6%). At quantitative assessment, 25% differential cord enhancement had the highest diagnostic accuracy (88.9%), with 90.5% positive predictive value, 88.4% negative predictive value, 96.8% specificity, and 70.4% sensitivity. At qualitative evaluation, CECT reader performance was excellent (aggregate AUC = 0.86; P < .001); NECT was poorly discriminatory, although remained significant (aggregate AUC = 0.67; P = .002). Readers had significantly higher confidence levels with CECT (P < .001). Qualitative inter-observer agreement was high for both CECT and NECT (ICC = 0.981 and 0.963, respectively).

Conclusion

Simple quantitative assessment of differential cord enhancement is highly accurate and specific for SSP at CECT. Qualitative abnormalities at CECT and NECT are also both predictors of SSP, however, CECT significantly out-performs non-contrast exams.

Graphical abstract
Adrenal fast-track and enhanced recovery in retroperitoneoscopic surgery for primary aldosteronism improving patient outcome and efficiency
Authors: van de Wiel Elle C. J. , Mulder Janneke , Hendriks Anke , Booij Liewes-Thelosen Ingeborg , Zhu Xiaoye , Groenewoud Hans , Mulders Peter F. A. , Deinum Jaap , Langenhuijsen Johan F.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

No data exist on perioperative strategies for enhancing recovery after posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA). Our objective was to determine whether a multimodality adrenal fast-track and enhanced recovery (AFTER) protocol for PRA can reduce recovery time, improve patient satisfaction and maintain safety.

Methods

Thirty primary aldosteronism patients were included. Fifteen patients were treated with ‘standard-of-care’ PRA and compared with 15 in the AFTER protocol. The AFTER protocol contains: a preoperative information video, postoperative oral analgesics, early postoperative mobilisation and enteral feeding, and blood pressure monitoring at home. The primary outcome was recovery time. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, postoperative pain and analgesics requirements, patient satisfaction, perioperative complications and quality of life (QoL).

Results

Recovery time was much shorter in both groups than anticipated and was not significantly different (median 28 days). Postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly reduced in AFTER patients (mean 32 vs 42 h, CI 95%, p = 0.004). No significant differences were seen in pain, but less analgesics were used in the AFTER group. Satisfaction improved amongst AFTER patients for time of admission and postoperative visit to the outpatient clinic. There were no significant differences in complication rates or QoL.

Conclusion

Despite no difference in recovery time between the two groups, probably due to small sample size, the AFTER protocol led to shorter hospital stays and less analgesic use after surgery, whilst maintaining and even enhancing patient satisfaction for several aspects of perioperative care. Complication rates and QoL are comparable to standard-of-care.
Secondary solid malignancies and precancerous lesions after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using non-total body irradiation-based conditioning in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Isabella Gruber , Katharina Appel , Matthias Edinger , Oliver Koelbl , Daniel Wolff
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Long-term survivors have an increased risk of developing secondary solid malignancies (SSMs) after allogeneic-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) potentially modulating these risks.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed the cumulative incidences of SSMs after chemotherapy-based conditioning for allo-HSCT patients with acute myeloid leukemia (n = 266) transplanted at the University Hospital Regensburg between 1999 and 2016.

Results

The median follow-up was 11.4 years (Interquartile range, 9.0–14.9). The 100-day cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 44.4% [95% CI (38.3, 50.2)], while the 5-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD, requiring systemic immunosuppression) was 36.9% [95% CI (31.1, 42.6)]. The cumulative incidences of secondary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) at 10 and 15 years were 4.2% [95% CI (2.2, 7.2)] and 8.1% [95% CI (4.6, 12.8)], while the cumulative incidences of non-SCCs at 10 and 15 years were 5.4% [95% CI (3.1, 8.7)] and 6.9% [95% CI (4.0, 10.8)]. Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was associated with reduced incidences of SCCs but not of non-SCCs. Patients with grade II-IV aGVHD had increased rates of SCCs after adjusting with patient age and ATG, while patients with cGVHD showed only a trend for increased rates of SCCs.

Conclusion

The data indicate that aGVHD and cGVHD affect the rates of secondary SCCs. While the use of ATG is associated with lower incidences of SCCs via reduction of GVHD, there was no association of ATG with non-SCCs.
Proper generalized decomposition-based iterative enrichment process combined with shooting method for steady-state forced response analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems
Authors: Lim Dae-Guen , Lee Gil-Yong , Park Yong-Hwa
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a novel framework combining proper generalized decomposition (PGD) with the shooting method to determine the steady-state response of nonlinear dynamical systems upon a general periodic input. The proposed PGD approximates the response as a low-rank separated representation of the spatial and temporal dimensions. The Galerkin projection is employed to formulate the subproblem for each dimension, then the fixed-point iteration is applied. The subproblem for the spatial vector can be regarded as computing a set of reduced-order basis vectors, and the shooting problem projected onto the subspace spanned by these basis vectors is defined to obtain the temporal coefficients. From this procedure, the proposed framework replaces the complex nonlinear time integration of the full-order model with the series of solving simple iterative subproblems. The proposed framework is validated through two descriptive numerical examples considering the conventional linear normal mode method for comparison. The results show that the proposed shooting method based on PGD can accurately capture nonlinear characteristics within 10 modes, whereas linear modes cannot easily approximate these behaviors. In terms of computational efficiency, the proposed method enables CPU time savings of about one order of magnitude compared with the conventional shooting methods.
Acute kidney injury in pediatric burn patients
Authors: Kahramanlar Demet , Özlü Sare Gülfem , Demirci Pervin , Erten Elif Emel , Şenel Emrah , Bayrakçi Umut Selda
Published: March 2024

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and important complication of burn injury. Although there are numerous adult studies, data regarding AKI in pediatric burn patients are scarce. Here, we aimed to evaluate the frequency, clinical features, and prognosis of AKI among pediatric burn injury patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients aged between 1 month and 18 years who had been followed up between the years 2011 and 2017 were included, and patients with previous kidney disease were excluded. Demographic data, laboratory and clinical variables, management strategies, and outcome data were obtained from the hospital records. Factors associated with AKI were determined by logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 697 patients had been followed up, and 87 (12.5%) had AKI. Older age, refugee status, prolonged duration between the incident and time of hospitalization, presence of sepsis, severity and type of burn, volume of fluid administration, intubation status, and accompanying organ failure were all associated with the development of AKI. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, the most statistically significant factors associated with the development of AKI were older age and increased serum hemoglobin values. In terms of outcomes, length of stay and mortality increased in patients with AKI when compared with patients without AKI.

Conclusion

Similar to adults, AKI is an important and common complication of burn injury in pediatric burn patients and is associated with increased length of stay, morbidity, and mortality. Early recognition and prompt and appropriate management are crucial to avoid morbidity and mortality.

Graphical abstract
Technical note: preliminary surgical experience with a new implantable epicranial stimulation device for chronic focal cortex stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy
Authors: Coenen Volker A. , Jarc Nadja , Hirsch Martin , Reinacher Peter C. , Steinhoff Bernhard J. , Bast Thomas , Schulze-Bonhage Andreas , Sajonz Bastian E. A.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study is to report some preliminary surgical considerations and outcomes after the first implantations of a new and commercially available implantable epicranial stimulation device for focal epilepsy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from clinical notes. Outcome parameters were as follows: wound healing, surgery time, and adverse events.

Results

Five patients were included (17–52 y/o; 3 female). Epicranial systems were uneventfully implanted under neuronavigation guidance. Some minor adverse events occurred. Wound healing in primary intention was seen in all patients. Out of these surgeries, certain concepts were developed: Skin incisions had to be significantly larger than expected. S-shaped incisions appeared to be a good choice in typical locations behind the hairline. Preoperative discussions between neurologist and neurosurgeon are mandatory in order to allow for the optimal coverage of the epileptogenic zone with the electrode geometry.

Conclusion

In this first small series, we were able to show safe implantation of this new epicranial stimulation device. The use of neuronavigation is strongly recommended. The procedure is simple but not trivial and ideally belongs in the hands of a neurosurgeon.
Incidence of surgically treated chronic subdural hematoma after head injury with normal initial computed tomography
Authors: Heinonen Aaro , Rauhala Minna , Isokuortti Harri , Raj Rahul , Kataja Anneli , Nikula Milaja , Öhman Juha , Iverson Grant L. , Luoto Teemu
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The objective was to determine the incidence of surgically treated chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) within six months after head trauma in a consecutive series of head injury patients with a normal initial computed tomography (CT).

Methods

A total of 1941 adult patients with head injuries who underwent head CT within 48 h after injury and were treated at the Tampere University Hospital’s emergency department were retrospectively evaluated from medical records (median age = 59 years, IQR = 39–79 years, males = 58%, patients using antithrombotic medication = 26%). Patients with no signs of acute traumatic intracranial pathology or any type of subdural collection on initial head CT were regarded as CT negative (n = 1573, 81%).

Results

Two (n = 2) of the 1573 CT negative patients received surgical treatment for cSDH. Consequently, the incidence of surgically treated cSDH after a normal initial head CT during a six-month follow-up was 0.13%. Both patients sustained mild traumatic brain injuries initially. One of the two patients was on antithrombotic medication (warfarin) at the time of trauma, hence incidence of surgically treated cSDH among patients with antithrombotic medication in CT negative patients (n = 376, 23.9%) was 0.27%. Additionally, within CT negative patients, one subdural hygroma was operated shortly after trauma.

Conclusion

The extremely low incidence of surgically treated cSDH after a normal initial head CT, even in patients on antithrombotic medication, supports the notion that routine follow-up imaging after an initial normal head CT is not indicated to exclude the development of cSDH. Additionally, our findings support the concept of cSDH not being a purely head trauma-related disease.
The user experience of distal arm-level vibrotactile feedback for interactions with virtual versus physical displays
Authors: Terenti Mihail , Pamparău Cristian , Vatavu Radu-Daniel
Published: March 2024

Haptic feedback, a natural component of our everyday interactions in the physical world, requires careful design in virtual environments. However, feedback location can vary from the fingertip to the finger, hand, and arm due to heterogeneous input/output technology used for virtual environments, from joysticks to controllers, gloves, armbands, and vests. In this work, we report on the user experience of touch interaction with virtual displays when vibrotactile feedback is delivered on the finger, wrist, and forearm. In a first controlled experiment with fourteen participants and virtual displays rendered through a head-mounted device, we report a user experience characterized by high perceived enjoyment, confidence, efficiency, and integration as well as low perceived distraction, difficulty, and confusion. Moreover, we highlight participants’ preferences for vibrotactile feedback on the finger compared to other locations on the arm or through the VR controller, respectively. In a follow-up experiment with fourteen new participants and physical touchscreens, we report a similar preference for the finger, but also specific nuances of the self-reported experience, not observed in the first experiment with virtual displays. Overall, our results depict an enhanced user experience when distal vibrotactile feedback is available over no vibrations at all during interactions with virtual and physical displays, for which we propose future work opportunities for augmented interactions in virtual worlds.
Laying date depends on territorial breeders’ age, climatic conditions and previous breeding success: a long-term study (2004–2021) with Bonelli’s eagle in Spain
Authors: López-Peinado Andrés , López-López Pascual
Published: March 2024

Adjustment of reproductive timing within the annual cycle is a crucial issue for both offspring and parents’ survival, and breeding success. Early laying date is closely related to successful breeding outcome and better survival. Obtaining long datasets on threatened long-lived species’ breeding performance can contribute to their conservation. Using field observations and telemetry information, here we analyse how laying date of an endangered long-lived raptor varies with nest characteristics, individual factors and climatic variables during an 18-year (2004–2021) study period in eastern Spain. To this end, we estimated how environmental and individual variables affect laying date. Our results showed that average laying date in our study area took place on February 17th. Laying date showed no trend during the study period. Nests placed in higher elevations showed delayed laying dates. Territories occupied by adults with previous successful experience and high brood size showed earlier laying dates. Current year laying date was highly correlated with previous year laying date. Colder territories delayed laying date and the minimum temperature of the previous December were negatively correlated to previous laying date. Our results highlight the importance of experienced birds able to adjust timing of reproduction to maximise biological fitness. High adult mortality allows sub-adults to settle as breeders and jeopardises species’ persistence. Therefore, the reduction of mortality of territorial birds is of the outmost importance to improve the conservation status of declining long-lived species such as the Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata).
Development of nature-related habits and their relation to mental health outcomes during two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study in Sweden
Authors: Klein Yannick , Lindfors Petra , Hanson Linda L. Magnusson , Stenfors Cecilia U. D.
Published: March 2024

Aims

Spending time in natural environments has been linked to mental health benefits, and may have been an important resilience factor during the COVID-19 pandemic, but longitudinal studies are limited. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the development of nature-related habits and their relationship to different mental health outcomes before and during early and later phases of COVID-19 (2019–2022). Furthermore, the buffering potential of nature-related habits on effects of major life events on mental health outcomes was investigated.

Subject and methods

A subsample of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) was studied during 2018–2022, including follow-ups in early 2021 (n  = 1902) and 2022 (n = 1580). Visits to various types of nature, mental health outcomes (symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness, sleep difficulties), and major life events were analyzed across the study period while controlling for confounders.

Results

Greater overall engagement in nature visits, particularly visiting forests or using one’s garden, was associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep problems in early 2021 and 2022.

Importantly, changes in nature visits were consistently negatively associated with investigated mental health outcomes across the study period. All nature visits, except for garden time, increased in the long term (2019–2022). Visiting forests also increased in the short term, while overall nature visits initially decreased (2019–2020).

Conclusion

Generally, nature visits increased longitudinally and were associated with better mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the importance of green- and blue-space accessibility for facilitating outdoor recreation in natural environments, to support resilience and public health during pandemics.
Review of mental healthcare provision by primary care physicians in the Department of Defense (DoD)
Authors: Hines Christopher E. , Watson Nora , Brooks Zachary , Tucker Taylor
Published: March 2024

Aim

Primary care visits in the United States increasingly involve the treatment of mental health concerns, and the Military Health System (MHS) is no exception. The authors characterize treatment trends of mental healthcare in military primary care.

Subject and methods

A retrospective analysis of 110 million primary care visits and 27 million behavioral healthcare visits from an MHS database evaluated frequencies and proportions of mental health-related care in both military and civilian healthcare facilities for the years 2017–2021. Prevalence ratios were compared with Poisson regression models by year and by characteristic, with potential linear trends evaluated.

Results

A notable amount of behavioral healthcare provision transitioned from military to civilian healthcare facilities during this period. A comparison showed that psychotropic medication prescriptions from primary care prescribers with primary care visits coded for psychiatric diagnoses were similar for dependents (16.5% vs. 15.5%) but nearly doubled for military (7.7% vs. 3.9%). Active-duty personnel seen by primary care providers in purchased care (PC) were more than twice as likely to have a behavioral health diagnosis as those seen in direct care (DC) (8.4% vs. 3.9%).

Conclusion

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to use a comprehensive database to evaluate behavioral healthcare provision trends in the MHS. This provides a baseline of healthcare burden numbers useful for determining the training needed for primary care clinicians to feel comfortable appropriately treating mental health conditions. Future research should focus on diagnostic differences between civilian and military healthcare facilities as well as prescription discrepancies for service members.
Killing with care? The potentials at the sustainability/masculinity nexus in an ‘alternative’ Danish slaughterhouse
Authors: Rutt Rebecca Leigh , Tjørring Lise
Published: March 2024

In this paper we investigate the connection between forms of sustainability and masculinity through a study of everyday life in a Danish alternative slaughterhouse. In contrast to the predominant form of slaughterhouses today in Western contexts, the ‘alternative’ slaughterhouse is characterized as non-industrial in scale and articulating some form of a sustainability orientation. Acknowledging the variability of the term, we firstly explore how ‘sustainability’ is understood and practiced in this place. We then illuminate the situated manifestations of masculinities, which appear predominantly- though not exclusively- hegemonic in nature. We next reflect on how the situated and particular sustainability of this site come to bear on a workplace long characterized as a masculinized site of, e.g., violence and repression, showing how the sustainability of the alternative slaughterhouse has potential to nourish alternative masculinities. We finally call for more attention at this nexus of sustainability and masculinities studies, to examine how the broad sustainability turn in food systems needs to be further examined in relation to what masculinities it perpetuates, as well as how a focus on masculinities may enhance our understanding of varying forms of sustainability, especially their potential for ecologically and socially just food systems.
On the effect of confounding in linear regression models: an approach based on the theory of quadratic forms
Authors: Narcisi Martina , Greco Fedele , Trivisano Carlo
Published: March 2024

In the last two decades, significant research efforts have been dedicated to addressing the issue of spatial confounding in linear regression models. Confounding occurs when the relationship between the covariate and the response variable is influenced by an unmeasured confounder associated with both. This results in biased estimators for the regression coefficients reduced efficiency, and misleading interpretations. This article aims to understand how confounding relates to the parameters of the data generating process. The sampling properties of the regression coefficient estimator are derived as ratios of dependent quadratic forms in Gaussian random variables: this allows us to obtain exact expressions for the marginal bias and variance of the estimator, that were not obtained in previous studies. Moreover, we provide an approximate measure of the marginal bias that gives insights of the main determinants of bias. Applications in the framework of geostatistical and areal data modeling are presented. Particular attention is devoted to the difference between smoothness and variability of random vectors involved in the data generating process. Results indicate that marginal covariance between the covariate and the confounder, along with marginal variability of the covariate, play the most relevant role in determining the magnitude of confounding, as measured by the bias.
Angular Momentum in a Special Nonlinear Elastic Rod
Authors: Rubin M. B.
Published: March 2024

In the constrained Cosserat theory of a rod with a rigid cross-section, the balance of angular momentum is satisfied by a restriction on the constitutive equations that requires a second order tensor to be symmetric. The kinematics of the rod are determined by satisfying the balances of linear and director momentum and kinematic constraints. In contrast, the Antman model for a special Cosserat theory of rods proposes constitutive equations directly for the force and mechanical moment applied to the rod and the kinematics are determined by the balances of linear and angular momentum. These two models differ by their treatment of angular momentum. This note poses and answers the question: Are the solutions of these two models identical for the same strain energy?
Simple economics of vaccination: public policies and incentives
Authors: Villota-Miranda Jesús , Rodríguez-Ibeas R.
Published: March 2024

This paper focuses on the economics of vaccination and, more specifically, analyzes the vaccination decision of individuals using a game-theoretic model combined with an epidemiological SIR model that reproduces the infection dynamics of a generic disease. We characterize the equilibrium individual vaccination rate, and we show that it is below the rate compatible with herd immunity due to the existence of externalities that individuals do not internalize when they decide on vaccination. In addition, we analyze three public policies consisting of informational campaigns to reduce the disutility of vaccination, monetary payments to vaccinated individuals and measures to increase the disutility of non-vaccination. If the public authority uses only one type of policy, herd immunity is not necessarily achieved unless monetary incentives are used. When the public authority is not limited to use only one policy, we find that the optimal public policy should consist only of informational campaigns if they are sufficiently effective, or a combination of informational campaigns and monetary incentives otherwise. Surprisingly, the requirement of vaccine passports or other restrictions on the non-vaccinated are not desirable.
A Decomposition and a Scheduling Framework for Enabling Aerial 3D Printing
Authors: Stamatopoulos Marios-Nektarios , Banerjee Avijit , Nikolakopoulos George
Published: March 2024

Aerial 3D printing is a pioneering technology yet in its conceptual stage that combines frontiers of 3D printing and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) aiming to construct large-scale structures in remote and hard-to-reach locations autonomously. The envisioned technology will enable a paradigm shift in the construction and manufacturing industries by utilizing UAVs as precision flying construction workers. However, the limited payload-carrying capacity of the UAVs, along with the intricate dexterity required for manipulation and planning, imposes a formidable barrier to overcome. Aiming to surpass these issues, a novel aerial decomposition-based and scheduling 3D printing framework is presented in this article, which considers a near-optimal decomposition of the original 3D shape of the model into smaller, more manageable sub-parts called chunks. This is achieved by searching for planar cuts based on a heuristic function incorporating necessary constraints associated with the interconnectivity between subparts, while avoiding any possibility of collision between the UAV’s extruder and generated chunks. Additionally, an autonomous task allocation framework is presented, which determines a priority-based sequence to assign each printable chunk to a UAV for manufacturing. The efficacy of the proposed framework is demonstrated using the physics-based Gazebo simulation engine, where various primitive CAD-based aerial 3D constructions are established, accounting for the nonlinear UAVs dynamics, associated motion planning and reactive navigation through Model predictive control.
Decreased river runoff on the Mongolian Plateau since around 2000
Authors: Qi Wenhua , Hu Xiaomei , Bai Hao , Yusup Asadilla , Ran Qinwei , Yang Hui , Wang Haijun , Ao Zurui , Tao Shengli
Published: March 2024

Context

Mongolian Plateau is one of the largest contingent arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Rivers on the plateau provide vital water for millions of indigenous Mongolian people and numerous endangered wildlife, but are increasingly disturbed by climate change and human activities. Yet, long-term changes in river runoff across the plateau remain poorly studied due to data unavailability.

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the temporal trends in gauged river runoff on the Mongolian Plateau, identify drivers of the observed changes, and evaluate CMIP6 models' performance in simulating historical runoff changes across the plateau.

Methods

We compiled possibly the largest database of long-term (20 - 71 years) river runoff for the plateau comprising measurements over 30 major rivers. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess trends in river runoff and correlations between runoff and climatic variables. Additionally, we applied the Budyko curve framework to identify the influence of human activities on river runoff in specific basins. Furthermore, we compared ground-measured runoff data with simulations from CMIP6 models to evaluate the ability of CMIP6 models to replicate runoff dynamics in typical arid and semi-arid regions.

Results

We observed pervasive and abrupt reduction in runoff in 21 out of the 30 rivers within 5 years before or after the year of 2000. Variations in river runoff were most significantly caused by changes in total precipitation (TP). In particular, 27 rivers experienced abrupt TP changes around 2000, and there was a significant positive correlation between annual fluctuations in TP and river runoff for 18 rivers. In addition to climate factors, the influence of human activities was identified in certain basins. The CMIP6 simulations failed to capture the abrupt changes in runoff occurred pervasively across the plateau around 2000.

Conclusions

Around 2000, major rivers on the Mongolian Plateau, especially in Inner Mongolia, experienced runoff declines, primarily due to TP changes. Human activities like dam construction and water diversion further influenced local runoff. CMIP6 historical runoff simulations were inaccurate across the plateau, highlighting the difficulty of simulating river runoff in this critical region. Our study could contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the water resource changes on the Mongolian Plateau, with direct implications for enhancing ecological conservation and management practice.
Distributional impact of climate-smart villages on access to savings and credit and adoption of improved climate-smart agricultural practices in the Nyando Basin, Kenya
Authors: van Asseldonk Marcel , Oostendorp Remco , Recha John , Gathiaka John , Mulwa Richard , Radeny Maren , Wattel Cor , van Wesenbeeck Lia
Published: March 2024

Adoption of improved livestock breeds requires, as with other climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices, upfront investments, which might be a significant barrier for smallholders. For this reason, the climate-smart village (CSV) approach not only includes CSA interventions, but also interventions to improve access to savings and credit among smallholders by means of a community-based approach. In this paper we study smallholders in CSVs in Kenya who were encouraged, among others, to adopt improved livestock breeds for crossbreeding with indigenous breeds to improve their resilience to climate change and variability. The farmers were also encouraged to become part of savings and credit groups to improve smallholder access to finance. The objective of this paper is thus to determine the (distributional) impact of CSVs on access to savings and credit and the adoption of improved CSA practices. Due to the as good as random selection of CSVs, we are able to estimate the treatment effects on the treated for the smallholders who decided to participate in the CSA intervention by means of a linear probability model. The analysis is based on a balanced panel of 118 farm households interviewed in 2017, 2019, and 2020. The main findings of this study are that the CSV intervention increased the adoption of improved livestock breeds. It also stimulated the membership of savings and credit groups which in turn stimulated the adoption of improved livestock breeds. These findings point to the importance of community-based savings and loan initiatives to mobilize finance among farmers enabling them to invest in CSA practices. Also, the introduction of improved breeds in CSVs has benefited especially the larger livestock owners. However, the availability of credit is found to have mitigated the concentration of improved livestock ownership since the diffusion of improved livestock in CSVs was somewhat more equitable than the (spontaneous) spill-over diffusion in the non-CSVs (reducing the Gini by 0.04).
Incorporating Spatio-Temporal Changes of Well Irrigation into a Distributed Hydrologic Model to Improve Groundwater Anomaly Estimations for Basins with Expanding Agricultural Lands
Authors: Koycegiz Cihangir , Demirel Mehmet Cuneyd , Sen Omer Lutfi , Buyukyildiz Meral
Published: March 2024

This paper seeks to address the deficiency of utilizing satellite-based GRACE observations and model-based GLDAS water budget components in estimating the changes in the groundwater storage in Konya Endorheic Basin (KEB), a basin experiencing considerable land use land cover (LULC) change, primarily agricultural expansion. Cereal cultivation in the basin has a slight decreasing trend, however, the cultivation of crops with high water consumption, such as maize and sunflower, is increasing substantially. And total agricultural areas are increasing. GRACE-GLDAS approach does not accurately give the long-term groundwater decline in the basin, mainly because the land surface models employed in GLDAS cannot realistically simulate variations in water budget components as they do not consider the changes in LULC and do not possess an elaborated irrigation scheme. Here, we used a fully-distributed mesoscale hydrologic model, mHM, that can handle multiple LULC maps from different years. The model was modified to incorporate the spatio-temporal changes of agricultural fields in KEB and an explicit irrigation scheme since we hypothesized that the groundwater depletion is mainly caused by well irrigation. mHM was calibrated against streamflow observations for the period 2004–2019. The simulations show that the use of mHM with the incorporated features gives groundwater storage changes that are more consistent with the well-based observations than those obtained from the GRACE-GLDAS approach. On the other hand, the mHM simulation with a static LULC map, as in GLDAS models but with a better representation of irrigated fields, provides groundwater anomaly changes that are more consistent with the GRACE-GLDAS results, a further justification of insufficiency of the GLDAS-based approach in estimating groundwater variations for basins with considerable landscape change.
Highly Sensitive Detection of Melanin in Melanomas Using Multi-harmonic Low Frequency EPR
Authors: Wehbi Mohammad , Mignion Lionel , Joudiou Nicolas , Harkemanne Evelyne , Gallez Bernard
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Low frequency EPR can noninvasively detect endogenous free radical melanin in melanocytic skin lesions and could potentially discriminate between benign atypical nevi and malignant melanoma lesions. We recently succeeded in demonstrating the ability of clinical EPR to noninvasively detect the endogenous melanin free radical in skin lesions of patients. However, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was extremely low warranting further research to boost the sensitivity of detection. In the present study, we assessed the performance of a clinical EPR system with the capability to perform multi-harmonic (MH) analysis for the detection of melanin.

Procedures

The sensitivity of MH-EPR was compared with a classical continuous wave (CW)-EPR (1st harmonic) detection in vitro in melanin phantoms, in vivo in melanoma models with cells implanted in the skin, in lymph nodes and having colonized the lungs, and finally on phantoms placed at the surface of human skin.

Results

In vitro, we observed an increase in SNR by a factor of 10 in flat melanin phantoms when using MH analysis compared to CW combined with an increase in modulation amplitude. In B16 melanomas having grown in the skin of hairless mice, we observed a boost in sensitivity in vivo similar to that observed in vitro with the capability to detect melanoma cells at an earlier stage of development. MH-EPR was also able to detect non-invasively the melanin signal coming from melanoma cells present in lymph nodes as well as in lungs. We also observed a boost of sensitivity using phantoms of melanin placed at the surface of human skin.

Conclusions

Overall, our results are paving the way for new clinical trials that will use MH clinical EPR for the characterization of pigmented skin lesions.