Showing papers by "University of Greenwich published in 2019"
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that agricultural intensification reduces network complexity and the abundance of keystone taxa in the root microbiome, and this is the first study to report mycorrhizal keystoneTaxa for agroecosystems.
Abstract: Root-associated microbes play a key role in plant performance and productivity, making them important players in agroecosystems. So far, very few studies have assessed the impact of different farming systems on the root microbiota and it is still unclear whether agricultural intensification influences the structure and complexity of microbial communities. We investigated the impact of conventional, no-till, and organic farming on wheat root fungal communities using PacBio SMRT sequencing on samples collected from 60 farmlands in Switzerland. Organic farming harbored a much more complex fungal network with significantly higher connectivity than conventional and no-till farming systems. The abundance of keystone taxa was the highest under organic farming where agricultural intensification was the lowest. We also found a strong negative association (R2 = 0.366; P < 0.0001) between agricultural intensification and root fungal network connectivity. The occurrence of keystone taxa was best explained by soil phosphorus levels, bulk density, pH, and mycorrhizal colonization. The majority of keystone taxa are known to form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations with plants and belong to the orders Glomerales, Paraglomerales, and Diversisporales. Supporting this, the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in roots and soils was also significantly higher under organic farming. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report mycorrhizal keystone taxa for agroecosystems, and we demonstrate that agricultural intensification reduces network complexity and the abundance of keystone taxa in the root microbiome.
573 citations
University of Würzburg1, National University of Comahue2, Spanish National Research Council3, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences4, Universidade Federal de Goiás5, University of Lisbon6, Stanford University7, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation8, National University of Río Negro9, ETH Zurich10, Cornell University11, University of California, Davis12, The Nature Conservancy13, Wageningen University and Research Centre14, University of British Columbia15, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center16, University of California, Santa Cruz17, University of Padua18, University of New England (Australia)19, Lund University20, University of Göttingen21, University of La Rochelle22, Institut national de la recherche agronomique23, Federal University of Ceará24, University of Freiburg25, Concordia University Wisconsin26, University of Belgrade27, National University of Tucumán28, Michigan State University29, University of Brasília30, University of Greenwich31, University of Reading32, University of Wisconsin-Madison33, National Institute of Amazonian Research34, Boise State University35, University of Texas at Austin36, University of Haifa37, Kansas State University38, University of Hamburg39, Bioversity International40, University of California, Santa Barbara41, Seattle University42, University of Vienna43, University of Florida44, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza45, National Audubon Society46, University of Buenos Aires47, Virginia Tech48, University of Bordeaux49, University of Auckland50, University of California, Berkeley51, University College Dublin52, Trinity College, Dublin53, University of Tokyo54, Federal University of Bahia55, Lincoln University (New Zealand)56, National Institute for Environmental Studies57, International Food Policy Research Institute58, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University59
TL;DR: Using a global database from 89 studies (with 1475 locations), the relative importance of species richness, abundance, and dominance for pollination; biological pest control; and final yields in the context of ongoing land-use change is partitioned.
Abstract: Human land use threatens global biodiversity and compromises multiple ecosystem functions critical to food production. Whether crop yield-related ecosystem services can be maintained by a few dominant species or rely on high richness remains unclear. Using a global database from 89 studies (with 1475 locations), we partition the relative importance of species richness, abundance, and dominance for pollination; biological pest control; and final yields in the context of ongoing land-use change. Pollinator and enemy richness directly supported ecosystem services in addition to and independent of abundance and dominance. Up to 50% of the negative effects of landscape simplification on ecosystem services was due to richness losses of service-providing organisms, with negative consequences for crop yields. Maintaining the biodiversity of ecosystem service providers is therefore vital to sustain the flow of key agroecosystem benefits to society.
434 citations
University of Würzburg1, National University of Comahue2, Spanish National Research Council3, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences4, University of Lisbon5, Universidade Federal de Goiás6, Stanford University7, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation8, National University of Río Negro9, ETH Zurich10, Cornell University11, University of California, Davis12, The Nature Conservancy13, Wageningen University and Research Centre14, University of British Columbia15, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center16, University of California, Berkeley17, University of Padua18, University of New England (United States)19, Lund University20, University of Göttingen21, Institut national de la recherche agronomique22, University of La Rochelle23, Federal University of Ceará24, Concordia University Wisconsin25, University of Belgrade26, National University of Tucumán27, Michigan State University28, University of Brasília29, University of Greenwich30, University of Reading31, University of Wisconsin-Madison32, Boise State University33, University of Texas at Austin34, University of Haifa35, Kansas State University36, University of Freiburg37, University of Hamburg38, University of California, Santa Barbara39, Seattle University40, University of Vienna41, University of Florida42, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza43, National Audubon Society44, University of Buenos Aires45, Virginia Tech46, University of Bordeaux47, University of Auckland48, University College Dublin49, Trinity College, Dublin50, University of Tokyo51, Federal University of Bahia52, Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)53, National Institute for Environmental Studies54, International Food Policy Research Institute55, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University56
TL;DR: Using a global database from 89 crop systems, the relative importance of abundance and species richness for pollination, biological pest control and final yields in the context of on-going land-use change is partitioned.
Abstract: Human land use threatens global biodiversity and compromises multiple ecosystem functions critical to food production. Whether crop yield-related ecosystem services can be maintained by few abundant species or rely on high richness remains unclear. Using a global database from 89 crop systems, we partition the relative importance of abundance and species richness for pollination, biological pest control and final yields in the context of on-going land-use change. Pollinator and enemy richness directly supported ecosystem services independent of abundance. Up to 50% of the negative effects of landscape simplification on ecosystem services was due to richness losses of service-providing organisms, with negative consequences for crop yields. Maintaining the biodiversity of ecosystem service providers is therefore vital to sustain the flow of key agroecosystem benefits to society.
237 citations
14 Oct 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the potential of mitigating CO2 in a mineralization step involving biomass residues, and the implications for CO2 capture and utilisation (CCU) to produce construction products from both solid and gaseous wastes.
Abstract: The increasing demand for food and other basic resources from a growing population has resulted in the intensification of agricultural and industrial activities. The wastes generated from agriculture are a burgeoning problem, as their disposal, utilisation and management practices are not efficient or universally applied. Particularly in developing countries, most biomass residues are left in the field to decompose or are burned in the open, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Similarly, with rapid global urbanisation and the rising demand for construction products, alternative sustainable energy sources and raw material supplies are required. Biomass wastes are an under-utilised source of material (for both energy and material generation), and to date, there has been little activity focussing on a ‘low-carbon’ route for their valorisation. Thus, the present paper attempts to address this by reviewing the global availability of biomass wastes and their potential for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of high-volume construction materials. Although targeted at practitioners in the field of sustainable biomass waste management, this work may also be of interest to those active in the field of carbon emission reductions. We summarise the potential of mitigating CO2 in a mineralisation step involving biomass residues, and the implications for CO2 capture and utilisation (CCU) to produce construction products from both solid and gaseous wastes. This work contributes to the development of sustainable value-added lower embodied carbon products from solid waste. The approach will offer reduced carbon emissions and lower pressure on natural resources (virgin stone, soil etc.).
237 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed an enhanced hybrid ensemble ML approach called RS-MultiBoosting by incorporating two classic ensemble ML approaches, random subspace (RS) and MultiBoosting, to improve the accuracy of forecasting SMEs' credit risk.
169 citations
TL;DR: The proposed taxonomy makes it easier to understand the existing attack landscape towards developing defence mechanisms, and is leveraged to identify open problems that can lead to new research areas within the field of adversarial machine learning.
161 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted an analysis of the empirical literature relating to meaningful work and found that there is little consensus over what comprises meaningful work or concerning the antecedent and outcome factors associated with meaningfulness.
Abstract: Meaningful work is a topic of importance in core domains of human resource development (HRD) such as employee engagement, motivation, and personal development However, there is little consensus over what comprises meaningful work or concerning the antecedent and outcome factors associated with meaningfulness Prior theorizing has tended to conflate conceptual and empirical arguments, and hence, we lack clear insight into factors related to employees’ experience of meaningfulness To address these gaps, we undertook an analysis of the empirical literature relating to meaningful work In all, 71 studies met the inclusion criteria We focused on the question, “What is the empirical evidence base concerning meaningful work, and how can this inform theory and practice in HRD?” The synthesis revealed dominant trends alongside significant gaps in understanding We highlight the practical implications of our analysis for the HRD field and propose avenues for future research on meaningfulness within HRD
140 citations
National Institutes of Health1, University of Bamako2, National Museum of Natural History3, Smithsonian Institution4, Nanjing Agricultural University5, University of Exeter6, Rothamsted Research7, University of Greenwich8, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine9, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services10, University of Maryland, College Park11, Goddard Space Flight Center12
TL;DR: Aerial sampling in the Sahel of Mali reveals large numbers of windborne malaria mosquitoes that had recently fed on blood and could cover hundreds of kilometres in a single night, providing compelling evidence that millions of malaria vectors that have previously feed on blood frequently migrate over hundreds of miles, and thus almost certainly spread malaria over these distances.
Abstract: Over the past two decades efforts to control malaria have halved the number of cases globally, yet burdens remain high in much of Africa and the elimination of malaria has not been achieved even in areas where extreme reductions have been sustained, such as South Africa1,2. Studies seeking to understand the paradoxical persistence of malaria in areas in which surface water is absent for 3–8 months of the year have suggested that some species of Anopheles mosquito use long-distance migration3. Here we confirm this hypothesis through aerial sampling of mosquitoes at 40–290 m above ground level and provide—to our knowledge—the first evidence of windborne migration of African malaria vectors, and consequently of the pathogens that they transmit. Ten species, including the primary malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii, were identified among 235 anopheline mosquitoes that were captured during 617 nocturnal aerial collections in the Sahel of Mali. Notably, females accounted for more than 80% of all of the mosquitoes that we collected. Of these, 90% had taken a blood meal before their migration, which implies that pathogens are probably transported over long distances by migrating females. The likelihood of capturing Anopheles species increased with altitude (the height of the sampling panel above ground level) and during the wet seasons, but variation between years and localities was minimal. Simulated trajectories of mosquito flights indicated that there would be mean nightly displacements of up to 300 km for 9-h flight durations. Annually, the estimated numbers of mosquitoes at altitude that cross a 100-km line perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction included 81,000 Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, 6 million A. coluzzii and 44 million Anopheles squamosus. These results provide compelling evidence that millions of malaria vectors that have previously fed on blood frequently migrate over hundreds of kilometres, and thus almost certainly spread malaria over these distances. The successful elimination of malaria may therefore depend on whether the sources of migrant vectors can be identified and controlled. Aerial sampling in the Sahel of Mali reveals large numbers of windborne malaria mosquitoes that had recently fed on blood and could cover hundreds of kilometres in a single night.
135 citations
TL;DR: In vivo animal trials revealed fast insulin action with excellent hypoglycaemia control and lower glucose levels achieved within 60 min, combined with steady state plasma glucose over 4 h compared to subcutaneous injections.
133 citations
TL;DR: The roles of sexual abuse, other abuse and discrimination in contributing to increased rates of mental illness and self-harm in non-binary and binary transgender individuals, particularly those who were assigned female at birth, relative to those assigned male, require investigation.
Abstract: Background: Little research has compared the mental health and victimization experiences of non-binary youth depending on their sex assigned at birth (SAAB), or compared these two groups with bina...
133 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that hypnotic intervention can deliver meaningful pain relief for most people and therefore may be an effective and safe alternative to pharmaceutical intervention.
TL;DR: This article analyzed methanol extracts of flowers, nectar, and pollen from 31 cultivated and wild plant species, including multiple sites and cultivars, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Abstract: Floral chemistry mediates plant interactions with pollinators, pathogens, and herbivores, with major consequences for fitness of both plants and flower visitors. The outcome of such interactions often depends on compound dose and chemical context. However, chemical diversity and intraspecific variation of nectar and pollen secondary chemistry are known for very few species, precluding general statements about their composition. We analyzed methanol extracts of flowers, nectar, and pollen from 31 cultivated and wild plant species, including multiple sites and cultivars, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. To depict the 29 chemical niche of each tissue type, we analyzed differences in nectar and pollen chemical richness, absolute and proportional concentrations, and intraspecific variability. We hypothesized that pollen would have higher concentrations and more compounds than nectar, consistent with Optimal Defense Theory and pollen’s importance as a male gamete. To investigate chemical correlations across and within tissues, which could reflect physiological constraints, we quantified chemical overlap between conspecific nectar and pollen, and phenotypic integration of individual compounds within tissue types Nectar and pollen were chemically differentiated both across and within species. Of 102 compounds identified, most occurred in only one species. Machine-learning algorithms assigned samples to the correct species and tissue type with 98.6% accuracy. Consistent with our hypothesis, pollen had 23.8- to 235-fold higher secondary chemical concentrations and 63% higher chemical richness than nectar. The most common secondary compound classes were flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics (primarily phenylpropanoids including chlorogenic acid). The most common specific compound types were quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, known to mediate biotic and abiotic effects. Pollens were distinguished from nectar by high concentrations of hydroxycinnamoyl-spermidine conjugates, which affect plant development, abiotic stress tolerance, and herbivore resistance. Although chemistry was qualitatively consistent within species and tissue types, concentrations varied across cultivars and sites, which could influence pollination, herbivory, and disease in wild and agricultural plants. Analyses of multivariate trait space showed greater overlap across sites and cultivars in nectar than pollen chemistry; this overlap reflected greater within-site and within-cultivar variability of nectar. Our analyses suggest different ecological roles of nectar and pollen mediated by chemical concentration, composition, and variability.
TL;DR: An extensive research programme into fundamental mechanisms of cavitation melt processing using state-of-the-art and unique facilities and methodologies is undertaken, providing valuable new insights and knowledge that are essential for upscaling ultrasonic melt processing to industrial level.
Linköping University1, University of Ioannina2, University of Padua3, King's College London4, National Health Service5, University of Pavia6, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust7, University of Greenwich8, University of Manchester9, University of Western Sydney10, University of Melbourne11, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health12, Ministry of Science and Innovation13, Yonsei University14, Imperial College London15
TL;DR: It is suggested that most putative adverse health outcomes associated with antidepressant use may not be supported by convincing evidence, and confounding by indication may alter the few associations with convincing evidence.
Abstract: Importance Antidepressant use is increasing worldwide. Yet, contrasting evidence on the safety of antidepressants is available from meta-analyses, and the credibility of these findings has not been quantified. Objective To grade the evidence from published meta-analyses of observational studies that assessed the association between antidepressant use or exposure and adverse health outcomes. Data Sources PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO were searched from database inception to April 5, 2019. Evidence Review Only meta-analyses of observational studies with a cohort or case-control study design were eligible. Two independent reviewers recorded the data and assessed the methodological quality of the included meta-analyses. Evidence of association was ranked according to established criteria as follows: convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant. Results Forty-five meta-analyses (17.9%) from 4471 studies identified and 252 full-text articles scrutinized were selected that described 120 associations, including data from 1012 individual effect size estimates. Seventy-four (61.7%) of the 120 associations were nominally statistically significant atP ≤ .05 using random-effects models. Fifty-two associations (43.4%) had large heterogeneity (I2 > 50%), whereas small-study effects were found for 17 associations (14.2%) and excess significance bias was found for 9 associations (7.5%). Convincing evidence emerged from both main and sensitivity analyses for the association between antidepressant use and risk of suicide attempt or completion among children and adolescents, autism spectrum disorders with antidepressant exposure before and during pregnancy, preterm birth, and low Apgar scores. None of these associations remained supported by convincing evidence after sensitivity analysis, which adjusted for confounding by indication. Conclusions and Relevance This study’s findings suggest that most putative adverse health outcomes associated with antidepressant use may not be supported by convincing evidence, and confounding by indication may alter the few associations with convincing evidence. Antidepressant use appears to be safe for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, but more studies matching for underlying disease are needed to clarify the degree of confounding by indication and other biases. No absolute contraindication to antidepressants emerged from this umbrella review.
TL;DR: Migrant hoverfly abundance fluctuated greatly between years, but there was no evidence of a population trend during the 10-year study period, demonstrating that migrant hoverflies are key to maintaining essential ecosystem services.
University of Bordeaux1, Australian National University2, International Center for Tropical Agriculture3, Environmental Change Institute4, James Cook University5, University of Oxford6, Sichuan University7, University of Greenwich8, University of Melbourne9, Hobart Corporation10, King's College London11, International Food Policy Research Institute12, National Marine Fisheries Service13, Norwegian School of Economics14, University of Santiago de Compostela15, University of Adelaide16
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define social-ecological resilience as a property of social ecological systems that includes resistance, recovery and robustness (the "three Rs"), and integrate the three Rs into a heuristic for resilience management that they apply in multiple management contexts to offer practical, systematic guidance about how to realize resilience.
Abstract: Researchers and decision-makers lack a shared understanding of resilience, and practical applications in environmental resource management are rare. Here, we define social-ecological resilience as a property of social-ecological systems that includes at least three main characteristics — resistance, recovery and robustness (the ‘three Rs’). We define socio-economic resilience management as planning, adaptation and transformational actions that may influence these system characteristics. We integrate the three Rs into a heuristic for resilience management that we apply in multiple management contexts to offer practical, systematic guidance about how to realize resilience.
TL;DR: These compounds as exemplified by pinocembrin could induce the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2- (Nrf2-) heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) axis leading to amelioration of oxidative stress in cellular and animal models.
Abstract: Flavanones are a group of flavonoids that derive from their immediate chalcone precursors through the action of chalcone isomerase enzymes. The Aromatic A and B rings, C4-keto group, and the 15-carbon flavonoid skeleton are all evident in flavanones, but a notable absence of C2-C3 double bond and a lack of oxygenation at C-3 position of the C-ring makes them distinctively different from other groups such as flavonols (e.g., quercetin). On the basis of oxygenation level in the B ring, flavanones can vary from each other as exemplified by pinocembrin (no oxygenation), naringenin (4'-hydroxyl), or eriodictyol (3',4'-dihydroxyl substitution). These groups are generally weaker free radical scavengers as compared to quercetin and derivatives though eriodictyol has a better free radical scavenging profile within the group due to the presence of the catechol functional moiety. In this communication, their antioxidant potential through the induction of antioxidant defenses is scrutinized. These compounds as exemplified by pinocembrin could induce the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2- (Nrf2-) heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) axis leading to amelioration of oxidative stress in cellular and animal models. Their neuroprotective effect through such mechanism is discussed.
TL;DR: The Journal of Management Studies Special Issue on Meaningful Work as mentioned in this paper explores the need for a deeper understanding of meaningfulness within the context of the current socio-political environment, coupled with the growing use of organizational strategies aimed at managing the soul.
Abstract: In this introduction to the Journal of Management Studies Special Issue on Meaningful Work, we explain the imperative for a deeper understanding of meaningfulness within the context of the current socio-political environment, coupled with the growing use of organizational strategies aimed at ‘managing the soul’. Meaningful work remains a contested topic that has been the subject of attention in a wide range of disciplines. The focus of this Special Issue is the advancement of theory and evidence about the nature, causes, consequences and processes of meaningful work. We summarize the contributions of each of the seven articles that comprise the Special Issue and, in particular, note their methodological and theoretical plurality. In conclusion, we set forth a future research agenda based on five fundamental paradoxes of meaningful work.
TL;DR: Cytotoxicity assay using human skin fibroblast cell lines demonstrated that more than 90% of cells were viable after 48 h confirming non‐toxic nature of the 3D printed CH‐GE‐PEG600 films and therefore promising dressing for chronic wound healing applications.
01 Mar 2019
TL;DR: This paper presents a classification and survey of intrusion detection systems designed and evaluated specifically on vehicles and networks of vehicles to help identify existing techniques that can be adopted in the industry, along with their advantages and disadvantages, as well as to identify gaps in the literature.
Abstract: With the growing threat of cyber and cyber-physical attacks against automobiles, drones, ships, driverless pods and other vehicles, there is also a growing need for intrusion detection approaches that can facilitate defence against such threats. Vehicles tend to have limited processing resources and are energy-constrained. So, any security provision needs to abide by these limitations. At the same time, attacks against vehicles are very rare, often making knowledge-based intrusion detection systems less practical than behaviour-based ones, which is the reverse of what is seen in conventional computing systems. Furthermore, vehicle design and implementation can differ wildly between different types or different manufacturers, which can lead to intrusion detection designs that are vehicle-specific. Equally importantly, vehicles are practically defined by their ability to move, autonomously or not. Movement, as well as other physical manifestations of their operation may allow cyber security breaches to lead to physical damage, but can also be an opportunity for detection. For example, physical sensing can contribute to more accurate or more rapid intrusion detection through observation and analysis of physical manifestations of a security breach. This paper presents a classification and survey of intrusion detection systems designed and evaluated specifically on vehicles and networks of vehicles. Its aim is to help identify existing techniques that can be adopted in the industry, along with their advantages and disadvantages, as well as to identify gaps in the literature, which are attractive and highly meaningful areas of future research.
TL;DR: These results suggest that microdose LSD produces temporal dilation of suprasecond intervals in the absence of subjective alterations of consciousness, and this effect is most pronounced in the 10 μg dose condition.
Abstract: Previous research demonstrating that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces alterations in time perception has implications for its impact on conscious states and a range of psychological functions that necessitate precise interval timing. However, interpretation of this research is hindered by methodological limitations and an inability to dissociate direct neurochemical effects on interval timing from indirect effects attributable to altered states of consciousness. We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study contrasting oral administration of placebo with three microdoses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) in older adults. Subjective drug effects were regularly recorded and interval timing was assessed using a temporal reproduction task spanning subsecond and suprasecond intervals. LSD conditions were not associated with any robust changes in self-report indices of perception, mentation, or concentration. LSD reliably produced over-reproduction of temporal intervals of 2000 ms and longer with these effects most pronounced in the 10 μg dose condition. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that LSD-mediated over-reproduction was independent of marginal differences in self-reported drug effects across conditions. These results suggest that microdose LSD produces temporal dilation of suprasecond intervals in the absence of subjective alterations of consciousness.
TL;DR: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory axis of UA's pharmacology is appraised for its therapeutic potential in some common CNS disorders.
Abstract: Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpene which is found in common herbs and medicinal plants that are reputed for a variety of pharmacological effects. Both as an active principle of these plants and as a nutraceutical ingredient, the pharmacology of UA in the CNS and other organs and systems has been extensively reported in recent years. In this communication, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory axis of UA's pharmacology is appraised for its therapeutic potential in some common CNS disorders. Classic examples include the traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebral ischemia, cognition deficit, anxiety, and depression. The pharmacological efficacy for UA is demonstrated through the therapeutic principle of one drug → multitargets → one/many disease(s). Both specific enzymes and receptor targets along with diverse pharmacological effects associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling are scrutinised.
TL;DR: An opinion dynamics model where individuals are connected through a social network and adopt opinions as function of the view points they are exposed to is devised, finding that algorithmic filtering might influence opinions’ share and distributions, especially in case information is biased towards the current opinion of each user.
Abstract: Modern technology has drastically changed the way we interact and consume information. For example, online social platforms allow for seamless communication exchanges at an unprecedented scale. However, we are still bounded by cognitive and temporal constraints. Our attention is limited and extremely valuable. Algorithmic personalisation has become a standard approach to tackle the information overload problem. As result, the exposure to our friends' opinions and our perception about important issues might be distorted. However, the effects of algorithmic gatekeeping on our hyper-connected society are poorly understood. Here, we devise an opinion dynamics model where individuals are connected through a social network and adopt opinions as function of the view points they are exposed to. We apply various filtering algorithms that select the opinions shown to each user (i) at random (ii) considering time ordering or (iii) its current opinion. Furthermore, we investigate the interplay between such mechanisms and crucial features of real networks. We found that algorithmic filtering might influence opinions' share and distributions, especially in case information is biased towards the current opinion of each user. These effects are reinforced in networks featuring topological and spatial correlations where echo chambers and polarisation emerge. Conversely, heterogeneity in connectivity patterns reduces such tendency. We consider also a scenario where one opinion, through nudging, is centrally pushed to all users. Interestingly, even minimal nudging is able to change the status quo moving it towards the desired view point. Our findings suggest that simple filtering algorithms might be powerful tools to regulate opinion dynamics taking place on social networks.
TL;DR: The results suggest that the necessary steps of eliminating explicit and implicit gender bias in academia are insufficient and might be complemented by measures to make fields more attractive to minority genders.
TL;DR: Among patients with type 2 diabetes at 3 diabetes clinics in Rome who were followed up for 3 years, a behavioral intervention strategy compared with standard care resulted in a sustained increase in physical activity and decrease in sedentary time.
Abstract: Importance There is no definitive evidence that changes in physical activity/sedentary behavior can be maintained long term in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Objective To investigate whether a behavioral intervention strategy can produce a sustained increase in physical activity and reduction in sedentary time among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants The Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study 2 was an open-label, assessor-blinded, randomized clinical superiority trial, with recruitment from October 2012 to February 2014 and follow-up until February 2017. In 3 outpatient diabetes clinics in Rome, 300 physically inactive and sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized 1:1 (stratified by center, age, and diabetes treatment) to receive a behavioral intervention or standard care for 3 years. Interventions All participants received usual care targeted to meet American Diabetes Association guideline recommendations. Participants in the behavioral intervention group (n = 150) received 1 individual theoretical counseling session and 8 individual biweekly theoretical and practical counseling sessions each year. Participants in the standard care group (n = 150) received only general physician recommendations. Main Outcomes and Measures Co-primary end points were sustained change in physical activity volume, time spent in light-intensity and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, and sedentary time, measured by an accelerometer. Results Of the 300 randomized participants (mean [SD] age, 61.6 [8.5] years; 116 women [38.7%]), 267 completed the study (133 in the behavioral intervention group and 134 in the standard care group). Median follow-up was 3.0 years. Participants in the behavioral intervention and standard care groups accumulated, respectively, 13.8 vs 10.5 metabolic equivalent-h/wk of physical activity volume (difference, 3.3 [95% CI, 2.2-4.4];P Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with type 2 diabetes at 3 diabetes clinics in Rome who were followed up for 3 years, a behavioral intervention strategy compared with standard care resulted in a sustained increase in physical activity and decrease in sedentary time. Further research is needed to assess the generalizability of these findings. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT01600937
TL;DR: The proposed numerical model couples acoustic cavitation, fluid flow, heat and species transfer, and solidification to predict the flow pattern, acoustic pressure, and temperature fields in the sump of a direct-chill (DC) casting process for the first time.
TL;DR: A novel prediction model based on classification and regression tree (CART) and ensemble extreme learning machine (EELM) methods is developed to split the dataset into subsets in a hierarchical fashion and build a prediction model for each leaf, having better performance than global models including random forest, v-support vector regression and EELM.
TL;DR: Multi-targeting approaches through general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms coupled with specific receptor and/or enzyme-mediated effects in neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and other rational perspectives of novel drug discovery are emphasized.
Abstract: Despite extensive progress in understanding the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the last 50 years, clinical trials based on the amyloid–beta (Aβ) hypothesis have kept failing in late stage human trials. As a result, just four old drugs of limited clinical outcomes and numerous side effects are currently used for AD therapy. This article assesses the common pharmacological targets and therapeutic principles for current and future drugs. It also underlines the merits of natural products acting through a polytherapeutic approach over a monotherapy option of AD therapy. Multi-targeting approaches through general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms coupled with specific receptor and/or enzyme-mediated effects in neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and other rational perspectives of novel drug discovery are emphasized.
TL;DR: A novel method for accurately predicting tool wear under varying cutting conditions based on a proposed new meta-learning model which can be easily trained, updated and adapted to new machining tasks of different cutting conditions is presented.