bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet usage among the oldest-old: does functional health moderate the relationship between internet usage and autonomy?
Authors: Oswald Veronica , Wagner Michael
Published: February 2023

In recent years, research on internet usage in old age and its associations with well-being outcomes has increased. However, the oldest-old age group (80 years and older) is frequently underrepresented, and autonomy and functional health are rarely considered in these studies. By applying moderation analyses with a representative dataset of the oldest-old in Germany (N = 1863), our study has analyzed the hypothesis that the autonomy of older individuals, in particular of those with limited functional health, can be enhanced by internet usage. The moderation analyses indicate that the positive association between internet usage and autonomy is greater for older individuals with lower functional health. This association remained significant after controlling for social support, housing situation, education, gender, and age. Explanations for these results are discussed, and imply that further research is needed to understand the relationships between internet usage, functional health, and autonomy.
Tuning the Microenvironment to Create Functionally Distinct Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Spheroids
Authors: Thai Victoria L. , Candelas Diego O. , Leach J. Kent
Published: February 2023

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are under investigation for wound healing and tissue regeneration due to their potent secretome. Compared to monodisperse cells, MSC spheroids exhibit increased cell survival and enhanced secretion of endogenous factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), two key factors in wound repair. We previously upregulated the proangiogenic potential of homotypic MSC spheroids by manipulating microenvironmental culture conditions. However, this approach depends on the responsiveness of host endothelial cells (ECs)—a limitation when attempting to restore large tissue deficits and for patients with chronic wounds in which ECs are dysfunctional and unresponsive. To address this challenge, we used a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach to engineer functionally distinct MSC spheroids that maximize VEGF production (VEGFMAX) or PGE2 production (PGE2,MAX) while incorporating ECs that could serve as the basic building blocks for vessel formation. VEGFMAX produced 22.7-fold more VEGF with enhanced endothelial cell migration compared to PGE2,MAX, while PGE2,MAX produced 16.7-fold more PGE2 with accelerated keratinocyte migration compared to VEGFMAX. When encapsulated together in engineered protease-degradable hydrogels as a model of cell delivery, VEGFMAX and PGE2,MAX spheroids exhibited robust spreading into the biomaterial and enhanced metabolic activity. The distinct bioactivities of these MSC spheroids demonstrate the highly tunable nature of spheroids and provide a new approach to leverage the therapeutic potential of cell-based therapies.
Landscape genetics identifies barriers to Natterjack toad metapopulation dispersal
Authors: Reyne Marina I. , Dicks Kara , Flanagan Jason , Nolan Paul , Twining Joshua P. , Aubry Aurélie , Emmerson Mark , Marnell Ferdia , Helyar Sarah , Reid Neil
Published: February 2023

Habitat fragmentation and loss reduce population size and connectivity, which imperils populations. Functional connectivity is key for species persistence in human-modified landscapes. To inform species conservation management, we investigated spatial genetic structure, gene flow and inferred dispersal between twelve breeding sites of the Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita); regionally Red-Listed as Endangered in Ireland. Spatial genetic structure was determined using both Bayesian and non-Bayesian clustering analysis of 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci genotyping 247 individuals. We tested the influence of geographic distance, climate, habitat, geographical features, and anthropogenic pressure on pairwise genetic distances between breeding sites using Isolation-by-distance and Isolation-by-resistance based on least-cost path and circuit theory models of functional connectivity. There was clear spatial structuring with genetic distances increasing with geographic distance. Gene flow was best explained by Isolation-by-resistance models with coniferous forestry plantations, bog, marsh, moor and heath, scrub, anthropogenic presence (Human Influence Index) and rivers (riparian density) identified as habitats with high resistance to gene flow while metapopulation connectivity was enhanced by coastal habitats (beaches, sand dunes and salt marshes) and coastal grassland. Despite substantial declines in census numbers over the past 15 years and its regional status as Endangered, the Natterjack toad population in Ireland retains high genetic diversity. If declines continue, maintaining habitat connectivity to prevent genetic erosion by management of coastal grasslands, pond construction and assisted migration through translocation will be increasingly important.
Marginal Damage of Methane Emissions: Ozone Impacts on Agriculture
Authors: Sampedro Jon , Waldhoff Stephanie , Sarofim Marcus , Van Dingenen Rita
Published: February 2023

Methane directly contributes to air pollution, as an ozone precursor, and to climate change, generating physical and economic damages to different systems, namely agriculture, vegetation, energy, human health, or biodiversity. The methane-related damages to climate, measured as the Social Cost of Methane, and to human health have been analyzed by different studies and considered by government rulemaking in the last decades, but the ozone-related damages to crop revenues associated to methane emissions have not been incorporated to policy agenda. Using a combination of the Global Change Analysis Model and the TM5-FASST Scenario Screening Tool, we estimate that global marginal agricultural damages range from ~ 423 to 556 $2010/t-CH4, of which 98 $2010/t-CH4 occur in the USA, which is the most affected region due to its role as a major crop producer, followed by China, EU-15, and India. These damages would represent 39–59% of the climate damages and 28–64% of the human health damages associated with methane emissions by previous studies. The marginal damages to crop revenues calculated in this study complement the damages from methane to climate and human health, and provides valuable information to be considered in future cost-benefits analyses.
Double Disadvantage in a Nordic Welfare State: A Demographic Analysis of the Single-Parent Employment Gap in Finland, 1987–2018
Authors: Härkönen Juho , Jalovaara Marika , Lappalainen Eevi , Miettinen Anneli
Published: February 2023

This study demonstrates how an evolving negative educational gradient of single parenthood can interact with changing labour market conditions to shape labour market inequalities between partnered and single parents. We analysed trends in employment rates among Finnish partnered and single mothers and fathers from 1987 to 2018. In the late 1980s’ Finland, single mothers’ employment was internationally high and on par with that of partnered mothers, and single fathers’ employment rate was just below that of partnered fathers. The gaps between single and partnered parents emerged and increased during the 1990s recession, and after the 2008 economic crisis, it widened further. In 2018, the employment rates of single parents were 11–12 percentage points lower than those of partnered parents. We ask how much of this single-parent employment gap could be explained by compositional factors, and the widening educational gradient of single parenthood in particular. We use Chevan and Sutherland’s decomposition technique on register data, which allows us to decompose the single-parent employment gap into the composition and rate effects by each category of the background variables. The findings point to an increasing double disadvantage of single parents: the gradually evolving disadvantage in educational backgrounds together with large differences in employment rates between single and partnered parents with low education explain large parts of the widening employment gap. Sociodemographic changes in interaction with changes in the labour market can produce inequalities by family structure in a Nordic society known for its extensive support for combining childcare and employment for all parents.
Robust effects of In, Fe, and Co additions on microstructures, thermal, and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic Sn–Zn-based lead-free solder alloy
Authors: El-Taher A. M. , Mansour S. A. , Lotfy I. H.
Published: February 2023

This study examines the influence of separate and dual minor alloying additions of indium (In) and ferrous/cobalt (Fe/Co) on the microstructure, thermal, and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic Sn–7wt.% Zn lead-free solder alloy. The results showed that the addition of In resulted in significant refinement in the microstructure and formation of new intermetallic compounds (IMCs) such as In–Sn phases which capable of extensively removing the unfavorable needle-like α-Zn phase. However, the additions of Fe/Co resulted in the creation of new coarsening flower-shaped IMCs identified as Zn–Co, Fe–Sn, and Co–Sn–Zn distributed uniformly which may have a marked effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of Sn–Zn solder alloy. Thermal analysis by a differential scanning calorimeter indicates slightly reduction in the onset temperature, melting temperature, and undercooling of the Sn–7wt.% Zn by the addition of In, while the pasty range enlarged as compared to Fe/Co additions. The tensile tests indicate that the Sn-Zn-In solder alloy exhibited a superior balance of ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation of 51.5 MPa, 44.4 MPa, 22.2GPa, and 44.5%, respectively, which are better than both those of the Sn–Zn and Sn–Zn–Fe/Co solder alloys. This can be attributed to the synergistic strengthening mechanism of refinement in the microstructure and precipitation of fine secondary particles.
The status and trends of mitochondrial dynamics research: A global bibliometric and visualized analysis
Authors: Guo Zijian , Wang Zehua , Gao Zhenzhong , Feng Tengda , Gao Yingjie , Yin Zhiwen , Tian Zui , Liu Yang , Mao Xingjia , Xiang Chuan
Published: February 2023

Background

Mitochondria are remarkably dynamic organelles encapsulated by bilayer membranes. The dynamic properties of mitochondria are critical for energy production.

Aims

The aim of our study is to investigate the global status and trends of mitochondrial dynamics research and predict popular topics and directions in the field.

Methods

Publications related to the studies of mitochondrial dynamics from 2002 to 2021 were retrieved from Web of Science database. A total of 4,576 publications were included. Bibliometric analysis was conducted by visualization of similarities viewer and GraphPadPrism 5 software.

Results

There is an increasing trend of mitochondrial dynamics research during the last 20 years. The cumulative number of publications about mitochondrial dynamics research followed the logistic growth model $$\mathrm{f}(x)=\mathrm{a}/\left[1+{e}^{(b-cx)}\right]$$

f

(
x
)

=
a
/

1
+

e

(
b
-
c
x
)

. The USA made the highest contributions to the global research. The journal Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)—Molecular Cell Research had the largest publication numbers. Case Western Reserve University is the most contributive institution. The main research orientation and funding agency were cell biology and HHS. All keywords related studies could be divided into three clusters: “Related disease research”, “Mechanism research” and “Cell metabolism research”.

Conclusions

Attention should be drawn to the latest popular research and more efforts will be put into mechanistic research, which may inspire new clinical treatments for the associated diseases.
BV equivalence with boundary
Authors: Simão F. M. Castela , Cattaneo A. S. , Schiavina M.
Published: February 2023

An extension of the notion of classical equivalence of equivalence in the Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) and Batalin–Fradkin–Vilkovisky (BFV) frameworks for local Lagrangian field theory on manifolds possibly with boundary is discussed. Equivalence is phrased in both a strict and a lax sense, distinguished by the compatibility between the BV data for a field theory and its boundary BFV data, necessary for quantisation. In this context, the first- and second-order formulations of nonabelian Yang–Mills and of classical mechanics on curved backgrounds, all of which admit a strict BV–BFV description, are shown to be pairwise equivalent as strict BV–BFV theories. This in particular implies that their BV complexes are quasi-isomorphic. Furthermore, Jacobi theory and one-dimensional gravity coupled with scalar matter are compared as classically equivalent reparametrisation-invariant versions of classical mechanics, but such that only the latter admits a strict BV–BFV formulation. They are shown to be equivalent as lax BV–BFV theories and to have isomorphic BV cohomologies. This shows that strict BV–BFV equivalence is a strictly finer notion of equivalence of theories.
A regularity result for the bound states of N-body Schrödinger operators: blow-ups and Lie manifolds
Authors: Ammann Bernd , Mougel Jérémy , Nistor Victor
Published: February 2023

We prove regularity estimates in weighted Sobolev spaces for the $$L^2$$

L
2

-eigenfunctions of Schrödinger-type operators whose potentials have inverse square singularities and uniform radial limits at infinity. In particular, the usual N-body Hamiltonians with Coulomb-type singular potentials are covered by our result: in that case, the weight is "Equation missing", where "Equation missing" is the usual Euclidean distance to the union "Equation missing" of the set of collision planes $${\mathcal {F}}$$
F
. The proof is based on blow-ups of manifolds with corners and Lie manifolds. More precisely, we start with the radial compactification $${\overline{X}}$$

X
¯

of the underlying space X and we first blow up the spheres $${\mathbb {S}}_Y \subset {\mathbb {S}}_X$$

S
Y

⊂

S
X

at infinity of the collision planes $$Y \in {\mathcal {F}}$$

Y
∈
F

to obtain the Georgescu–Vasy compactification. Then, we blow up the collision planes $${\mathcal {F}}$$
F
. We carefully investigate how the Lie manifold structure and the associated data (metric, Sobolev spaces, differential operators) change with each blow-up. Our method applies also to higher-order differential operators, to certain classes of pseudodifferential operators, and to matrices of scalar operators.
Bioinformatics investigation on blood-based gene expressions of Alzheimer's disease revealed ORAI2 gene biomarker susceptibility: An explainable artificial intelligence-based approach
Authors: Sekaran Karthik , Alsamman Alsamman M. , George Priya Doss C. , Zayed Hatem
Published: February 2023

The progressive, chronic nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a form of dementia, defaces the adulthood of elderly individuals. The pathogenesis of the condition is primarily unascertained, turning the treatment efficacy more arduous. Therefore, understanding the genetic etiology of AD is essential to identifying targeted therapeutics. This study aimed to use machine-learning techniques of expressed genes in patients with AD to identify potential biomarkers that can be used for future therapy. The dataset is accessed from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (Accession Number: GSE36980). The subgroups (AD blood samples from frontal, hippocampal, and temporal regions) are individually investigated against non-AD models. Prioritized gene cluster analyses are conducted with the STRING database. The candidate gene biomarkers were trained with various supervised machine-learning (ML) classification algorithms. The interpretation of the model prediction is perpetrated with explainable artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. This experiment revealed 34, 60, and 28 genes as target biomarkers of AD mapped from the frontal, hippocampal, and temporal regions. It is identified ORAI2 as a shared biomarker in all three areas strongly associated with AD's progression. The pathway analysis showed that STIM1 and TRPC3 are strongly associated with ORAI2. We found three hub genes, TPI1, STIM1, and TRPC3, in the network of the ORAI2 gene that might be involved in the molecular pathogenesis of AD. Naive Bayes classified the samples of different groups by fivefold cross-validation with 100% accuracy. AI and ML are promising tools in identifying disease-associated genes that will advance the field of targeted therapeutics against genetic diseases.
Facilitation of phosphorus acquisition by Banksia attenuata allows Adenanthos cygnorum (Proteaceae) to extend its range into severely phosphorus-impoverished habitats
Authors: Shen Qi , Ranathunge Kosala , Zhong Hongtao , Finnegan Patrick M. , Lambers Hans
Published: February 2023

Background and aims

In extremely low-phosphorus (P) environments, most Proteaceae exude carboxylates from cluster roots. These carboxylates mobilise inorganic P which leads to a relatively high leaf manganese concentration ([Mn]). However, we found that Adenanthos cygnorum (Proteaceae) in a low-P habitat did not invariably have a high leaf [Mn] in south-western Australia. We aimed to explore how A. cygnorum acquires P in severely P-impoverished habitats.

Methods

We determined soil P concentrations and leaf [Mn] of A. cygnorum growing within 1 m and more than 10 m away from other large Proteaceae. We also grew plants in a glasshouse to determine its root carboxylate exudation and rhizosheath phosphatase activity.

Results

Adenanthos cygnorum did not produce functional cluster roots. It depended on carboxylates released by a P-mobilising neighbour, Banksia attenuata (Proteaceae), to acquire P when growing in severely P-impoverished soil (< 8 mg P kg− 1 dry soil). In slightly less P-impoverished soil (> 11 mg P kg− 1 dry soil), phosphatases released by A. cygnorum hydrolysed sufficient organic P that was relatively mobile.

Conclusion

The reliance on facilitation of P acquisition in A cygnorum depended strongly on location. We demonstrated the exudation of phosphatases, which mobilise inorganic P; this P was adequate for growth when there was sufficient organic P in soil. Facilitation of P acquisition by B. attenuata allowed A. cygnorum to extend its range into severely P-impoverished habitats where it cannot exist without facilitation. This knowledge provides a better understanding of the diversity of P-acquisition strategies in severely P-impoverished environments.
The impact of voter turnout on referendum outcomes: evidence from Ireland
Authors: Munley Vincent , Garcia-Rodriguez Abian , Redmond Paul
Published: February 2023

We estimate the causal effect of voter turnout on referendum outcomes in Ireland using a newly created dataset that links 25 years of constituency-level referendum results to a variety of demographic and economic characteristics, as well as daily rainfall amounts. Our instrumental variables methodology uses rainfall as an instrument for voter turnout to overcome issues of endogeneity. By exploiting Ireland’s extensive experience with referendums, we are the first to explore the heterogeneous effects of turnout by referendum type (social issues versus regime-related issues). We find that a one-percentage-point increase in turnout is associated with a 1.6-percentage-point increase in support for progressively liberal social policies, which include issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion. For regime-related issues, such as EU economic treaties, we find no statistically significant effect of voter turnout on referendum outcomes. Our finding that turnout benefits socially progressive policies is consistent with a related strand of literature for general elections that indicates higher turnout benefits left-wing political parties.
Abnormal nodes sensing model in regional wireless networks based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Xu Xingkun , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei
Published: February 2023

There are some problems in abnormal node sensing in regional wireless networks, such as low sensing accuracy and poor judgment results of abnormal states of sensing nodes. Therefore, this paper develops a method for abnormal node sensing in regional wireless networks based on convolutional neural network. In addition, we will analyze the structure of regional wireless network nodes and determine the distribution mode of wireless network nodes. The regional wireless network node data are extracted and the pivot quantity and two-dimensional Gaussian distribution state are constructed using the median to build the regional wireless network node deployment model according to the confidence interval of the data characteristics; analyze the basic principle of convolution neural network, determine the operation mode of convolution kernel, classify the regional wireless network node data using Bayesian network, set a safety distance to determine the abnormal node of the regional wireless network, train the determined abnormal data as the input data of convolutional neural network and input it into the constructed perception model of the abnormal node of the regional wireless network, the loss function is set to continuously update the iterative results to realize the perception of abnormal node in the regional wireless network. The simulation results show that the sensing range of this method is relatively consistent with the range set by the sample, and the sensing accuracy reaches more than 95%, and the abnormal state error of abnormal nodes in the evaluation sample area is always less than 2%, which verifies that this method improves the sensing accuracy, reduces the error, and has higher application value.
The state of art, opportunities and challenges of blockchain in the insurance industry: a systematic literature review
Authors: Dominguez Anguiano Teresa , Parte Laura
Published: February 2023

Blockchain technologies are quickly changing the competitive business landscape. However, key stakeholders are still sceptical about how, when, and what blockchain might bring to their businesses. This study aims to analyse how blockchain might reshape the insurance industry from an economic and business perspective, as well as to identify which are the challenges and enablers that specifically affect blockchain adoption within this industry, through a Systematic Literature Review (SRL). We also classify existing challenges into five strategic areas: Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, and Political. Additionally, we provide several recommendations to the manager on identifying the existing hurdles and smoothing transformation.
Data-driven information for action
Authors: Wulff Kristin , Finnestrand Hanne
Published: February 2023

Because of the increase in data and the possibilities created by machine learning, organizations are now looking to become more data-driven. In sociotechnical systems design there has been a focus on designing information for action to support decentralized organizations. The purpose of this article, published in Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. is to discuss how data may be gathered and used in organizations striving to become data-driven.

Explorations are based on interviews with experts (leaders and designers) in 13 organizations working on becoming more data-driven.

This study points to 4 findings: first, if someone is expected to record data that informs other people’s actions can lead to data quality issues, which can be mitigated by providing transparency or supporting a joint information for action as an organizational design choice. Second, as organizations are becoming more data-driven, many tasks performed in the organization become design-related. This influences the type of data recorded and used for action. Third, more of the people in the organizations engage in designing the information for action for themselves and others, which means that they might need reskilling. Fourth, the boundaries of what can be considered information for action and for whom should by explored and reflected upon by the people involved in the (re)design.

This means that, as organizations strive to become data-driven, the sociotechnical principle of information flow becomes a central challenge. To ensure quality organizations, there is a need to upskill or reskill employees so that they are able to design and use data for action.
Pre-training in Medical Data: A Survey
Authors: Qiu Yixuan , Lin Feng , Chen Weitong , Xu Miao
Published: February 2023

Medical data refers to health-related information associated with regular patient care or as part of a clinical trial program. There are many categories of such data, such as clinical imaging data, bio-signal data, electronic health records (EHR), and multi-modality medical data. With the development of deep neural networks in the last decade, the emerging pre-training paradigm has become dominant in that it has significantly improved machine learning methods′ performance in a data-limited scenario. In recent years, studies of pre-training in the medical domain have achieved significant progress. To summarize these technology advancements, this work provides a comprehensive survey of recent advances for pre-training on several major types of medical data. In this survey, we summarize a large number of related publications and the existing benchmarking in the medical domain. Especially, the survey briefly describes how some pre-training methods are applied to or developed for medical data. From a data-driven perspective, we examine the extensive use of pre-training in many medical scenarios. Moreover, based on the summary of recent pre-training studies, we identify several challenges in this field to provide insights for future studies.
Social Isolation Affects the Mimicry Response in the Use of Smartphones
Authors: Maglieri Veronica , Zanoli Anna , Giunchi Dimitri , Palagi Elisabetta
Published: February 2023

Humans are social animals that rely on different ways to interact with each other. The COVID-19 pandemic strongly changed our communication strategies. Because of the importance of direct contact for our species, we predict that immediately after the forced social isolation, people were more prone to engage in direct rather than in virtual interactions, thus showing a lower mimicry response in the use of smartphones. In a non-longitudinal study, we collected behavioral data under naturalistic contexts and directly compared the data of the mimicry response gathered immediately following the Italian lockdown (May–September 2020) with those gathered one year later (May–October 2021). Contrary to our expectations, the mimicry response in the use of smartphones was higher immediately after the lockdown than a year later. Probably the large use of these devices during the lockdown translated into a greater sensitivity to be affected by others’ smartphone manipulation. Indeed, social isolation modified, at least in the short term, the ways we interact with others by making us more prone to engage in “virtual” social interactions. The bright side of the coin unveiled by our findings is that the effect seems to diminish over time. The large behavioral dataset analyzed here (1,608 events; 248 people) also revealed that the mimicry response in the use of smartphones was higher between familiar subjects than between strangers. In this view, mimicry in manipulating smartphones can be considered an example of joint action that fosters behavioral synchrony between individuals that, in the long-term, can translate into the formation of social bonding.
Integrating random forest and synthetic aperture radar improves the estimation and monitoring of woody cover in indigenous forests of South Africa
Authors: Qabaqaba Mcebisi , Naidoo Laven , Tsele Philemon , Ramoelo Abel , Cho Moses Azong
Published: February 2023

Woody canopy cover (CC) is important for characterising terrestrial ecosystems and understanding vegetation dynamics. The lack of accurate calibration and validation datasets for reliable modelling of CC in the indigenous forests in South Africa contributes to uncertainties in carbon stock estimates and limits our understanding of how they might influence long-term climate change. The aim of this study was to develop a method for monitoring CC in the Dukuduku indigenous forest in South Africa. Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Arrayed L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) global mosaics of 2008, 2015, and 2018, polarimetric features, and Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCMs) were used. Machine learning models Random Forest (RF) vs Support Vector Machines (SVM) were developed and calibrated using Collect Earth Online (CEO) data, a free and open-access land monitoring tool developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The addition of GLCMs produced the highest accuracy in 2008, R2 (RMSE) = 0.39 (36.04%), and in 2015, R2 (RMSE) = 0.51 (27.82%), and in 2018, only SAR variables gave the highest accuracy R2 (RMSE) = 0.55 (29.50). The best-performing models for 2008, 2015, and 2018 were based on RF. During the ten-year study period, shrubland and wooded grassland had the highest transition, at 6% and 13%, respectively. The observed changes in the different canopies provide valuable insights into the vegetation dynamics of the Dukuduku indigenous forest. The modelling results suggest that the CEO calibration data can be improved by integrating airborne LiDAR data.
Unlocking Teacher Job Satisfaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Multi-criteria Satisfaction Analysis
Authors: Glaveli Niki , Manolitzas Panagiotis , Tsourou Eftychia , Grigoroudis Evangelos
Published: February 2023

Research has so far made a rather limited advancement in identifying the contribution of the aspects of the working environment that matter to teachers’ overall job satisfaction (TJS), as well as in providing evidence-based guidelines for improving their working experience. Addressing these deficiencies, the current work uses data related to school working environment facets, i.e., opportunities for self-fulfillment, work intensity/load, salary/income, leadership and collegial relations, and overall TJS, from a sample of 438 public primary school teachers in Greece and applies a multi-criteria decision analysis method (the multi-criteria satisfaction analysis (MUSA)) to identify the contribution of these facets to overall TJS, underline the strong and weak points of TJS based on their importance for teachers and the school’s performance on them, and provide direct action implications for improving primary TJS. The results reveal that all the examined facets are crucial for TJS. Yet, self-fulfillment is the most important contributor to overall TJS and work intensity/load the least significant one. Also, self-fulfillment is the strongest point of TJS that school leaders and policymakers should continue investing on, whilst salary/income is a risk factor that could easily turn into a threat for TJS into the future.
Narrowing maize yield gaps across smallholder farming systems in Zambia: what interventions, where, and for whom?
Authors: Silva João Vasco , Baudron Frédéric , Ngoma Hambulo , Nyagumbo Isaiah , Simutowe Esau , Kalala Kelvin , Habeenzu Mukwemba , Mphatso Mtendere , Thierfelder Christian
Published: February 2023

Maize production in Zambia must increase with a view towards improved food security and reduced food imports whilst avoiding cropland expansion. To achieve this, it is important to understand the causes behind the large maize yield gaps observed in smallholder farming systems across the country. This is the first study providing a yield gap decomposition for maize in Zambia, and combining it with farm typology delineation, to identify the key limiting factors to maize yield gaps across the diversity of farms in the country. The analysis builds upon a nationally representative household survey covering three growing seasons and crop model simulations to benchmark on-farm maize yields and N application rates. Three farm types were delineated, including households for which maize is a marginal crop, households who are net buyers of maize, and households who are market-oriented maize producers. Yield gap closure was about 20% of the water-limited yield, corresponding to an actual yield of 2.4 t ha− 1. Market-oriented maize farms yielded slightly more than the other farm types, yet the drivers of yield variability were largely consistent across farm types. The large yield gap was mostly attributed to the technology yield gap indicating that more efficient production methods are needed to raise maize yields beyond the levels observed in highest yielding fields. Yet, narrowing efficiency and resource yield gaps through improved crop management (i.e., sowing time, plant population, fertilizer inputs, and weed control) could more than double current yields. Creating a conducive environment to increase maize production should focus on the dissemination of technologies that conserve soil moisture in semi-arid areas and improve soil health in humid areas. Recommendations of sustainable intensification practices need to consider profitability, risk, and other non-information constraints to improved crop management and must be geographically targeted to the diversity of farming systems across the country.
The reflection of principles and values in worldwide organic agricultural research viewed through a crop diversification lens. A bibliometric review
Authors: Chopin Pierre , Menegat Alexander , Bergkvist Göran , Dahlke Steffen , Jäck Ortrud , Karlsson Ida , Lana Marcos , Ortman Tove , Reumaux Rafaelle , Öborn Ingrid , Watson Christine A
Published: February 2023

Organic agriculture and organic food have expanded in recent decades but have undergone conventionalisation. Some claim that this contradicts some or all of the principles of ‘health’, ‘ecology’, ‘fairness’ and ‘care’ established by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM). It is currently unclear how research on organic food/agriculture is structured, whether it embraces these principles, or how key crop diversification, driving sustainability, are addressed. To fill these knowledge gaps, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 10,030 peer-reviewed articles published from 1945 to 2021 with topic and textual analysis. Our main findings were the following: (1) research is compartmentalised into scales and disciplines, with at field-scale ‘weed’, ‘soil’, ‘pest and disease’ management and ‘livestock farming’ seldom addressed together, or with environmental assessment separated from socioeconomic studies at farm scale. (2) The proportion of publications on ‘consumers’ preferences’ and ‘product quality’ research almost tripled in 20 years, from 10 to 27%, emphasizing the consumer orientation of research on organic agriculture and organic food. (3) Only 4% of articles covered all four IFOAM principles, while associated values such as ‘resilience’, ‘integrity’, ‘equity’, ‘transparency’ and ‘justice’ were even less frequently addressed. (4) Fewer diversification practices have been tested in organic than in conventional agriculture research, with fewer articles on ‘crop mixtures’ or ‘bee-friendly crops’ and a smaller range of legumes considered. (5) Research on genetic improvement and processing of organic legumes is lacking, which could constrain adoption of legumes in organic farming even more than in conventional agriculture. These results indicate a need for increasing interdisciplinary efforts at field level, with systematic measurement of multiple processes (weed-nutrient-pest dynamics). Future studies on organic agriculture should combine several diversification practices and legumes, with relevant indicators addressing the IFOAM values explicitly, and consider the whole value chain by linking producers with consumers.
Programs to Prepare Siblings for Future Roles to Support Their Brother or Sister with a Neurodevelopmental Disability: a Scoping Review
Authors: Nguyen Linda , Bootsma Jael , Ketelaar Marjolijn , Di Rezze Briano , Jack Susan M. , Gorter Jan Willem
Published: February 2023

Purpose of Review

To identify and map the characteristics and outcomes of programs designed to prepare siblings for their future roles with their sibling with a neurodevelopmental disability.

Recent Findings

Existing programs to support siblings of individuals with a neurodevelopmental disability often focus on providing information about neurodevelopmental disabilities, creating a community for siblings to connect with each other, and connecting siblings to resources and services to support them in their roles. Some programs are offered to the whole family with specific sessions for siblings. While these program descriptions are provided in the literature, there is limited understanding about the impacts and outcomes of these programs on siblings of an individual with a neurodevelopmental disability.

Fifty-eight articles (published between 1975 and 2020, with > 50% published since 2010) met the inclusion criteria, representing 54 sibling programs from 11 countries. Extracted data represented 1033 (553 females) sibling participants, between 4 and 67 years old. Twenty-seven programs focused on the outcome of knowledge acquisition for the siblings and thirty-one programs focused on the outcome of empowerment for the siblings to teach skills to their sibling with a neurodevelopmental disability. While there is an increasing number of programs for siblings of individuals with a neurodevelopmental disability in the past decade, there is a lack of siblings as co-developers or facilitators. Future research should consider the various roles that siblings can have in programs to address their needs.
COVID-19-related changes in eating disorder pathology, emotional and binge eating and need for care: a systematic review with frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses
Authors: Güzel Âmine , Mutlu Naz Lâl , Molendijk Marc
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a leading cause of stress and feelings of loss of control, both of which have been related to eating disorder (ED) pathology onset and deterioration. We aim to estimate the magnitude of changes in the prevalence rates of, and indicators for, ED psychopathology in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

Pre-registered systematic review with frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses. Searches for eligible studies were performed in PubMed, Web of Science and pre-print servers until January 15 2023.

Results

Our searches yielded 46 eligible studies reporting on a total of 4,688,559 subjects. These data provide strong evidence indicating increased rates of diagnosed and self-reported ED’s and a concordant increased need for care in the face of the pandemic. ED symptom severity scores in patients were not elevated during the pandemic, except for those related to anorexia nervosa. On average, people in the general population report relatively high levels of emotional and binge eating during the pandemic, although the evidential strength for these associations is only anecdotal to moderate. Moderators of between-study heterogeneity were not detected.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a wide spread negative effect on ED pathology in patient samples and the general population. The development of online prevention and intervention programs for EDs during stressful times like a pandemic is encouraged. A limitation is that the results reported here may be prone to biases, amongst others, self-report bias.

Level of evidence: Level I, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Preregistration: Prospero [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero] ID: CRD42022316105.
Body shape perception in men and women without obesity during caloric restriction: a secondary analysis from the CALERIE study
Authors: Jacobson Maci M. , Gardner Alexis M. , Handley Camilla E. , Smith Michael W. , Christensen William F. , Hancock Chad R. , Joseph Paule V. , Larson Michael J. , Martin Corby K. , LeCheminant James D.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To examine body shape perception in 218 adults without obesity or history of eating disorders during caloric restriction (CR).

Methods

Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) is a 2-year, randomized clinical trial using a 2:1 assignment (CR, 25% reduction in calories; Control, typical diet). For this secondary analysis, we examined perceived body shape using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Analyses of BSQ scores are reported by group, over time, by sex, and by BMI. Data for body fat percentage, symptoms of depression, food cravings, maximal oxygen consumption, and stress were analyzed for their association with BSQ scores.

Results

Compared to control, CR reduced BSQ scores. Women tended to have greater concern with body shape than men across all measurement times. There was no difference in change in BSQ scores at 12 or 24 months between those with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 25 kg/m2. Change in body fat percentage was most correlated with change in BSQ score from 0 to 12 (r = 0.39) and 0–24 months (r = 0.38). For change in BSQ score, Akaike/ Bayesian information criterion (AIC/BIC) found that the model of best fit included the following three change predictors: change in body fat percentage, depression symptoms, and food cravings. For 0–12 months, AIC/BIC = 1482.0/1505.6 and for 0–24 months AIC/BIC = 1364.8/1386.5.

Conclusions

CR is associated with reduced concern for body shape in men and women without obesity and with no history of eating disorders. Body shape perception among this sample was complex and influenced by multiple factors.

Level of evidence

Level I, randomized controlled trial.
The factors associated with orthorexia nervosa in type 2 diabetes and their effect on diabetes self-management scores
Authors: Kamarli Altun Hülya , Özyildirim Caner , Koç Şeyma , Aksoy Hatice Nur , Sağir Beyza , Bozkurt Merve Sefa , Karasu Hakan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the ORTO-R scores in individuals with T2DM and to investigate their effect on diabetes self-management.

Methods

The study included 373 individuals with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 18–65 who applied to Akdeniz University Hospital Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Polyclinic between January and May 2022. A questionnaire including sociodemographic data, information about diabetes, and nutritional habits, and the ORTO-R and Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Scales were used to collect data. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting ORTO-R.

Results

The linear regression analysis showed that age, gender, education level, and duration of diabetes affected ORTO-R scores in patients with type 2 diabetes. Body mass index, comorbidities (cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases and hypertension), diabetes-related complications, diabetes treatment method and dieting had no significant contribution to the model (p > 0.05). We also found that education level, comorbidities, diabetes-related complications, diabetes treatment method, dieting, and BMI can affect diabetes self-management.

Conclusion

It should be kept in mind that type 2 diabetes are at risk of orthorexia nervosa (ON) in terms of various aspects such as age, gender, education level and duration of diabetes. Since the factors affecting the risk of ON and the factors affecting diabetes self-management are intertwined, orthorexic tendencies should be kept under control while trying to increase self-management in these patients. In this respect, developing individual recommendations according to the psychosocial characteristics of patients may be an effective approach.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional study.
Porcine Platelet Lysate Intra-articular Knee Joint Injections for the Treatment of Rabbit Cartilage Lesions and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Hsieh Yi-Ho , Chu Yi-Chieh , Hsiao Jui-Ting , Shu Yi-Ting , Hsieh Ming-Fa , Lee Hung-Maan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

At present, autologous platelet-derived therapies such as platelet-rich plasma is widely used in the clinic, but allogeneic and xenogeneic therapies are currently in the research stage, mainly due to their biocompatibility in vivo. Platelet lysates depleted of antigens such as blood cells are a potential solution for allogeneic or xenogeneic applications. Platelet lysates can successfully promote the growth and differentiation of xenogeneic cells in vitro, but in vivo data are not yet available. This study aims to evaluate whether porcine platelet lysate can effectively avoid inflammatory reaction in rabbit knee joint, and then treat cartilage defect and arthritis.

Methods

We developed porcine platelet lysates containing undetectable antigens such as blood cells and complement. For xenogeneic application, platelet lysate was injected into rabbit knee joints to observe joint responses. To examine cartilage repair, osteochondral defects were created in rabbit knee joints. Rabbits were sacrificed three months after treatment with platelet lysate to observe cartilage regeneration and arthritis.

Results

The tissue sections in the rabbit knee joints showed no inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, the injection of platelet lysate was found to effectively inhibit the formation of cartilage arthritis in rabbit knee joints.

Conclusion

Our experimental results show that xenogeneic platelet lysate is a safe and effective method in the treatment of arthritis, which can be used as a research basis for future medical applications. The use of xenogeneic platelet lysate for regenerative therapy in vivo is feasible.
The Evolution of Diabetes Treatment Through the Ages: From Starvation Diets to Insulin, Incretins, SGLT2-Inhibitors and Beyond
Authors: Mudaliar Sunder
Published: February 2023

Diabetes is an ancient disease and for centuries extreme diets and herbal remedies were used to treat diabetes symptoms. The discovery of insulin in 1921 transformed the landscape of diabetes treatment and was followed by the discovery of several new therapies which improved glycemia and increased patient life span. However, as patients with diabetes lived longer, they developed classic microvascular and macrovascular diabetes complications. In the 1990s, the DCCT and the UKPDS trials demonstrated that tight glucose control reduced the microvascular complications of diabetes, but had marginal effects on cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes. In 2008, the FDA directed that all new diabetes medications demonstrate cardiovascular safety. From this recommendation emerged novel therapeutic classes, the GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2-Inhibitors, which not only improve glycemia, but also provide robust cardio-renal protection. In parallel, developments in diabetes technology like continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin pumps, telemedicine and precision medicine have advanced diabetes management. Remarkably, a century later, insulin remains a cornerstone of diabetes treatment. Also, diet and physical activity remain important components of any diabetes treatment. Today type 2 diabetes is preventable and long-term remission of diabetes is possible. Finally, progress continues in the field of islet transplantation, perhaps the ultimate frontier in diabetes management.