bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ZeroEGGS: Zero‐shot Example‐based Gesture Generation from Speech
Authors: Ghorbani Saeed , Ferstl Ylva , Holden Daniel , Troje Nikolaus F. , Carbonneau Marc‐André 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe present ZeroEGGS, a neural network framework for speech‐driven gesture generation with zero‐shot style control by example. This means style can be controlled via only a short example motion clip, even for motion styles unseen during training. Our model uses a Variational framework to learn a style embedding, making it easy to modify style through latent space manipulation or blending and scaling of style embeddings. The probabilistic nature of our framework further enables the generation of a variety of outputs given the input, addressing the stochastic nature of gesture motion. In a series of experiments, we first demonstrate the flexibility and generalizability of our model to new speakers and styles. In a user study, we then show that our model outperforms previous state‐of‐the‐art techniques in naturalness of motion, appropriateness for speech, and style portrayal. Finally, we release a high‐quality dataset of full‐body gesture motion including fingers, with speech, spanning across 19 different styles. Our code and data are publicly available at https://github.com/ubisoft/ubisoft‐laforge‐ZeroEGGS.
Maternal perceptions of infant's body weight and childhood obesity in South Africa: A qualitative study in Soweto
Authors: Cohen Emmanuel , Slemming Wiedaad , Wrottesley Stephanie V. , Prioreschi Alessandra , Norris Shane A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFrom a socio‐anthropological study focusing on maternal body weight perceptions and dietary practices towards infants living in Soweto (South Africa), we studied how lay sociocultural traits may lead to early childhood obesity. Most mothers tended to socially value and normalize fatness. This propensity led mothers, particularly older women at home, to adopt high‐calorie feeding practices towards infants, although some mothers tended to question these lay norms. Further works must consider how lay (emic) sociocultural norms in African townships can contradict biomedical (etic) messages, conveying for the community thinness as the acceptable standard, and may expose infants to early obesity.
How can a researcher minimise causing harm when conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children in longitudinal research?
Authors: Buchanan Denise 
Published: February 2023

AbstractUsing original data, this article explores the ethical issues that arose during a school ‘life histories’ study of ‘lower‐attaining’ of 23 primary school pupils in England, from age seven until they were aged 12 and attending secondary school. These children were viewed as being particularly vulnerable, not only due to their age but also due to being designated as ‘lower‐attaining’ in English and maths by their teachers, alongside the fact they were participating in a longitudinal study. The research involved 230 interviews, class observations and filming. This article seeks to answer the question: ‘How can a researcher minimise causing harm whilst conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children’? Formerly, the fear of causing harm to vulnerable children has at times led ethics review boards to be overly cautious about vulnerable children participating in empirical research. Yet conversely this caution has denied these children their participatory rights and their opportunity to contribute to expanding our knowledge about particularly vulnerable children. The article considers the ethical issues that arose before data collection especially in relation to dealing sensitively with the fact the children were designated as being ‘lower‐attaining’. It also considers the ethical issues that arose during data collection in relation to safeguarding issues and distress occurring during an interview. The significance of this article is in its honest deconstruction of these ethical issues, including the research team's responses to them. Several practical recommendations are made to aid researchers to help to minimise causing harm when conducting research among particularly vulnerable children.
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy—Technique and peri‐operative outcomes in an Australian transplant center
Authors: Jackson Stuart , Combes Alexander , Latif Edward , Tran Minh , Lam Susanna , Gore Neel , Utsiwegota Mike , Mawson Jane , Smith Laura , Palma Catalina , Laurence Jerome , Crawford Michael , Pulitano Carlo , Wyburn Kate , Chadban Steve , Leslie Scott , Vasilaras Arthur 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIntroductionDemand for donor kidneys far exceeds the availability of organs from deceased donors. Living donor kidneys are an important part of addressing this shortfall, and laparoscopic nephrectomy is an important strategy to reduce donor morbidity and increase the acceptability of living donation.AimTo retrospectively review the intraoperative and postoperative safety, technique, and outcomes of patients undergoing donor nephrectomy at a single tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia.MethodRetrospective capture and analysis of clinical, demographic, and operative data for all living donor nephrectomies performed between 2007 and 2022 at a single University Hospital in Sydney, Australia.ResultsFour hundred and seventy‐two donor nephrectomies were performed: 471 were laparoscopic, two of which were converted from laparoscopic to open and hand‐assisted nephrectomy, respectively, and one (.2%) underwent primary open nephrectomy. The mean warm ischemia time was 2.8 min (±1.3 SD, median 3 min, range 2–8 min) and the mean length of stay (LOS) was 4.1 days (±1.0 SD). The mean renal function on discharge was 103 μmol/L (±23.0 SD). Seventy‐seven (16%) patients had a complication with no Clavien Dindo IV or V complications seen. Outcomes demonstrated no impact of donor age, gender, kidney side, relationship to the recipient, vascular complexity; or surgeon experience, on complication rate or LOS.ConclusionLaparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a safe and effective procedure with minimal morbidity and no mortality in this series.
Evaluation of the pattern of fracture formation from trauma to the human mandible with finite element analysis. Part 1: Symphysis region
Authors: Sancar Bahadır , Çetiner Yunus , Dayı Ertunç 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackground/AimThe mandible is the largest, strongest bone in the maxillofacial region. When a fracture occurs in the mandible, its location depends on several factors: the direction of the trauma, the angle of the trauma, masticatory muscles and the quality of the bone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stresses caused by trauma to the symphysis region from different angles.Materials and MethodsComputer‐based mandible models were created, and a 2000 N force was applied to the symphysis at three different angles using finite element analysis. Six trauma situations were simulated with the mouth open or closed. Forces were applied to the symphysis at 90° (Model 1) in the anteroposterior direction, 45° (Model 2) in the anteroposterior–inferosuperior direction and 90° (Model 3) in the inferosuperior direction, when the mouth was open or closed. The resulting stress intensity was assessed using finite element analysis.ResultsAs a result of trauma applied to the symphysis region, maximum stresses were found where the impact originated and at the condyle region (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]). The open mouth position caused higher stress values than the closed mouth position (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]; closed mouth: symphysis 4 [82 MPa]). The Model 2, open‐mouth state (Model 2, open mouth: condyle 1 [1172 MPa]) sustained higher stresses than all the other models.ConclusionThe stress values in the mandible were affected by the force applied to the symphysis region, the angle of impact arrival and the open or closed state of the mouth. Keeping the mouth closed at the time of trauma reduced the stress value. A closed mouth during trauma directed at the symphysis reduced the possibility of mandible fractures.
Prospects, challenges and perspectives in harnessing natural selection to solve the ‘varroa problem’ of honey bees
Authors: Guichard Matthieu , Dainat Benjamin , Dietemann Vincent 
Published: February 2023

AbstractHoney bees, Apis mellifera, of European origin are major pollinators of crops and wild flora. Their endemic and exported populations are threatened by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors. Among the latter, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is the most important single cause behind colony mortality. The selection of mite resistance in honey bee populations has been deemed a more sustainable solution to its control than varroacidal treatments. Because natural selection has led to the survival of some European and African honey bee populations to V. destructor infestations, harnessing its principles has recently been highlighted as a more efficient way to provide honey bee lineages that survive infestations when compared with conventional selection on resistance traits against the parasite. However, the challenges and drawbacks of harnessing natural selection to solve the varroa problem have only been minimally addressed. We argue that failing to consider these issues could lead to counterproductive results, such as increased mite virulence, loss of genetic diversity reducing host resilience, population collapses or poor acceptance by beekeepers. Therefore, it appears timely to evaluate the prospects for the success of such programmes and the qualities of the populations obtained. After reviewing the approaches proposed in the literature and their outcomes, we consider their advantages and drawbacks and propose perspectives to overcome their limitations. In these considerations, we not only reflect on the theoretical aspects of host–parasite relationships but also on the currently largely neglected practical constraints, that is, the requirements for productive beekeeping, conservation or rewilding objectives. To optimize natural selection‐based programmes towards these objectives, we suggest designs based on a combination of nature‐driven phenotypic differentiation and human‐directed selection of traits. Such a dual strategy aims at allowing field‐realistic evolutionary approaches towards the survival of V. destructor infestations and the improvement of honey bee health.
Long‐term changes in macroinvertebrate communities across high‐latitude streams
Authors: Milner Alexander M. , Loza Vega Eva M. , Matthews Thomas J. , Conn Sarah C. , Windsor Fredric M. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractLong‐term records of benthic macroinvertebrates in high‐latitude streams are essential for understanding climatic changes, including extreme events (e.g. floods). Data extending over multiple decades are typically scarce. Here, we investigated macroinvertebrate community structural change (including alpha and beta diversity and gain and loss of species) over 22 years (1994–2016) in 10 stream systems across Denali National Park (Alaska, USA) in relation to climatological and meteorological drivers (e.g. air temperature, snowpack depth, precipitation). We hypothesised that increases in air temperature and reduced snowpack depth, due to climatic change, would reduce beta and gamma diversity but increase alpha diversity. Findings showed temporal trends in alpha diversity were variable across streams, with oscillating patterns in many snowmelt‐ and rainfall runoff‐fed streams linked to climatic variation (temperature and precipitation), but increased over time in several streams supported by a mixture of water sources, including more stable groundwater‐fed streams. Beta‐diversity over the time series was highly variable, yet marked transitions were observed in response to extreme snowpack accumulation (1999–2000), where species loss drove turnover. Gamma diversity did not significantly increase or decrease over time. Investigating trends in individual taxa, several taxa were lost and gained during a relative constrained time period (2000–2006), likely in response to climatic variability and significant shifts in instream environmental conditions. Findings demonstrate the importance of long‐term biological studies in stream ecosystems and highlight the vulnerability of high‐latitude streams to climate change.
Microbial methane cycling in sediments of Arctic thermokarst lagoons
Authors: Yang Sizhong , Anthony Sara E. , Jenrich Maren , in ’t Zandt Michiel H. , Strauss Jens , Overduin Pier Paul , Grosse Guido , Angelopoulos Michael , Biskaborn Boris K. , Grigoriev Mikhail N. , Wagner Dirk , Knoblauch Christian , Jaeschke Andrea , Rethemeyer Janet , Kallmeyer Jens , Liebner Susanne 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThermokarst lagoons represent the transition state from a freshwater lacustrine to a marine environment, and receive little attention regarding their role for greenhouse gas production and release in Arctic permafrost landscapes. We studied the fate of methane (CH4) in sediments of a thermokarst lagoon in comparison to two thermokarst lakes on the Bykovsky Peninsula in northeastern Siberia through the analysis of sediment CH4 concentrations and isotopic signature, methane‐cycling microbial taxa, sediment geochemistry, lipid biomarkers, and network analysis. We assessed how differences in geochemistry between thermokarst lakes and thermokarst lagoons, caused by the infiltration of sulfate‐rich marine water, altered the microbial methane‐cycling community. Anaerobic sulfate‐reducing ANME‐2a/2b methanotrophs dominated the sulfate‐rich sediments of the lagoon despite its known seasonal alternation between brackish and freshwater inflow and low sulfate concentrations compared to the usual marine ANME habitat. Non‐competitive methylotrophic methanogens dominated the methanogenic community of the lakes and the lagoon, independent of differences in porewater chemistry and depth. This potentially contributed to the high CH4 concentrations observed in all sulfate‐poor sediments. CH4 concentrations in the freshwater‐influenced sediments averaged 1.34 ± 0.98 μmol g−1, with highly depleted δ13C‐CH4 values ranging from −89‰ to −70‰. In contrast, the sulfate‐affected upper 300 cm of the lagoon exhibited low average CH4 concentrations of 0.011 ± 0.005 μmol g−1 with comparatively enriched δ13C‐CH4 values of −54‰ to −37‰ pointing to substantial methane oxidation. Our study shows that lagoon formation specifically supports methane oxidizers and methane oxidation through changes in pore water chemistry, especially sulfate, while methanogens are similar to lake conditions.
Loss of functionally important and regionally endemic species from streams forced into intermittency by global warming
Authors: Carey Nicole , Chester Edwin T. , Robson Belinda J. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractClimate change is altering hydrological cycles globally, and in Mediterranean (med‐) climate regions it is causing the drying of river flow regimes, including the loss of perennial flows. Water regime exerts a strong influence over stream assemblages, which have developed over geological timeframes with the extant flow regime. Consequently, sudden drying in formerly perennial streams is expected to have large, negative impacts on stream fauna. We compared contemporary (2016/17) macroinvertebrate assemblages of formerly perennial streams that became intermittently flowing (since the early 2000s) to assemblages recorded in the same streams by a study conducted pre‐drying (1981/82) in the med‐climate region of southwestern Australia (the Wungong Brook catchment, SWA), using a multiple before‐after, control‐impact design. Assemblage composition in the stream reaches that remained perennial changed very little between the studies. In contrast, recent intermittency had a profound effect on species composition in streams impacted by drying, including the extirpation of nearly all Gondwanan relictual insect species. New species arriving at intermittent streams tended to be widespread, resilient species including desert‐adapted taxa. Intermittent streams also had distinct species assemblages, due in part to differences in their hydroperiods, allowing the establishment of distinct winter and summer assemblages in streams with longer‐lived pools. The remaining perennial stream is the only refuge for ancient Gondwanan relict species and the only place in the Wungong Brook catchment where many of these species still persist. The fauna of SWA upland streams is becoming homogenised with that of the wider Western Australian landscape, as drought‐tolerant, widespread species replace local endemics. Flow regime drying caused large, in situ alterations to stream assemblage composition and demonstrates the threat posed to relictual stream faunas in regions where climates are drying.
We are both women and Kurd: An intersectional analysis of female Kolbars challenges in Iranian Kurdistan amid the COVID crisis
Authors: AleAhmad Yosra 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis study uses an intersectional lens to explore the embodied experiences of Kurdish female porters (porters are called Kolbars in the Kurdish language) in Iranian Kurdistan and how their lives and employment have been impacted by the COVID‐19 crisis by drawing on one semi‐structured interview with a female Kolbar living in a rural area of Kurdistan Province. The findings demonstrate that female Kolbars are victims of intersected factors such as gender, ethnicity, solid patriarchal culture in the region and country, the unequal distribution of resources and wealth throughout the country, and economic sanctions and recessions in the state. They resist these various sources of oppression by risking their lives and carrying loads across mountainous borders, staying silent and committing suicide when they have no other options. This study contributes to the feminist intersectionality debate by rendering the intersectional embodied aspects of a marginalized, unfranchised, and under‐studied population of women in one of the most gender‐inequitable countries in the world. Furthermore, it adds to the broader literature on gender inequalities that lie outside of typical organisations and the Western context.
Barriers and facilitators to adopting healthier lifestyle among low‐income women in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study
Authors: Alageel Samah , Alhujaili Maysa , Altwaijri Yasmin , Bilal Lisa , Alsukait Reem 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIntroductionLow socioeconomic status (SES) is significantly associated with increased levels of obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity leading to a higher risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to explore low SES women's barriers and facilitators to engaging in a healthy lifestyle and their accounts in developing future behaviour change interventions.MethodsQualitative study using focus group interviews informed by the Capability Opportunity Motivation—Behavior (COM‐B) framework. Interviews were conducted with a convenience sample, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. This study is conducted in partnership with Alnahda Society, a prominent nongovernmental organization in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ResultsWe conducted five focus groups with a total of 29 participants. We identified five overarching themes from the data related to participants' definition of a ‘healthy life’, the difficulties they face that hinder their engagement with a healthy lifestyle, the methods and reasons for changing health behaviour and participants' views of an ideal future behaviour change intervention. Women's definition of a healthy lifestyle did not only include a healthy diet and physical activity but also emphasized the importance of improving mental wellness. Following a healthy lifestyle, although desired, is not always a priority for women with low SES due to the high cost, lack of availability of healthy options and time constraints. Many women in our sample discussed the need to have a routine and discipline to follow and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Family members' support for behaviour change was discussed as a facilitator to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Women highlighted several reasons that would motivate them to change their health behaviour, including having or preventing health conditions, improving mental health, and managing weight. Participants also discussed the characteristics of an ideal behaviour change intervention.DiscussionThis study suggests that women with low SES are faced with several barriers to adopting a healthy lifestyle. Behaviour change intervention targeting this population needs to be tailored to address these barriers and facilitate behaviour change for people with limited resources. National policies to improve the availability and affordability of healthy options are also needed to reduce health disparities.Patient and Public ContributionsWomen of low SES who took part in the study were given a chance at the end of each focus group discussion to reflect on the questions and add any areas important to them that were not covered during the interview. Experts working with disadvantaged populations in a nonprofit organization (Alnahda society) contributed to the design of the topic guide.
Popular science and education of cosmetic surgery in China: Quality and reliability evaluation of Douyin short videos
Authors: Zhang Jianfei , Han Pengpeng , Tang Yujun , Xi Wenwen , Xiao Xia , Yang Feng 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundDouyin APP is the short video APP with the largest number of users in China.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of short videos about cosmetic surgery on Douyin.MethodsIn August 2022, we retrieved and screened 300 short videos related to cosmetic surgery from Douyin, extracted basic video information, encoded the content and identified the video source. The quality and reliability of short video information were evaluated using the DISCERN instrument.ResultsA total of 168 short videos of cosmetic surgery were included in the survey, and the video sources included personal accounts and institutional accounts. Overall, the total proportion of institutional accounts (47/168, 27.98%) is significantly less than that of personal accounts (121/168, 72.02%); nonhealth professionals received the most praises, comments and even collections and reposts, while for‐profit academic organizations or institutions received the least. The DISCERN scores of 168 short videos of cosmetic surgery were 3.74–4.58 (average 4.22). Content reliability (p = .04) and overall short video quality (p = .02) are significantly different, but short videos published from different sources have no significant difference in treatment selection (p = .052).ConclusionThe overall information quality and reliability of short videos about cosmetic surgery on Douyin are satisfactory in China.Patient or Public ContributionThe participants were involved in developing research questions, study design, management and conduct, interpretation of evidence and dissemination.