Large Effect Research Articles

Impact of trade on industry-level output

This study examines whether a country's trade significantly increases industry-level output and whether this impact is greater for industries with higher levels of differentiation. To empirically answer these questions, the Frankel and Romer [(1999). “Does Trade Cause Growth?” American Economic Review 89 (3): 379–399] method, which uses the geographical component of trade as an instrument, is extended in two ways. First, the study examines the impacts on industry-level output instead of country-level output. Second, an index of industry differentiation based on Rauch [(1999). Networks Versus Markets in International Trade.” Journal of International Economics 48 (1): 7–35] is introduced. Using a two-stage least squares estimation and data for 20 manufacturing industries and 99 countries in 2015, it is found that the impact of a country’s trade on industry-level output and output per worker is heterogeneous across industries. A one-percentage-point increase in the trade/GDP ratio results in a larger effect for industries with higher degrees of differentiation, ranging from 0.340% to 1.736% for industrial output and from 0.754% to 1.566% for industrial output per worker. This heterogeneity with respect to industry differentiation is robust even when controlling for latitude and institutional variables. These results suggest that a country’s trade affects industry-level output differently depending on the industry’s level of differentiation.

Exercise and Acute Cognitive Enhancement.

Substantial research has explored the effects of a single session of exercise on cognitive performance. Meta-analytic reviews provide summary statistics relative to these effects when the cognitive task is performed while exercising and when performed after exercise. When performed concomitantly the effects of exercise are typically small or negative with the exception of moderate effects for speed of cognitive performance during moderate intensity exercise. When cognitive performance is assessed following the cessation of exercise, the effects are typically positive. When considering the effects following exercise, most studies have focused on executive function and episodic memory as the cognitive outcomes of interest with meta-analyses supporting small-to-moderate benefits. When potential moderators related to exercise parameters or participants characteristics are examined, results suggest that 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise consistently benefits performance with larger effects evident for executive function tasks with higher cognitive demands, for long-term memory tasks when exercise is performed prior to information encoding, and when considering individuals with lower initial cognitive performance levels. These observed benefits are likely due to the impacts acute exercise can have on physiological arousal, brain function, and brain neurotrophic factors. Advancements in our understanding of the potential of a single session of exercise to benefit cognitive performance are important for exercise prescription and to inform chronic exercise programs designed to benefit cognition.

Immorality backward, morality forward? Metaphorical morality in Chinese-English bilinguals.

This study explored whether instructing participants to make forward or backward joystick movements in response to morality words is consistent with the conceptual metaphor MORAL IS MOVING FORWARD/IMMORAL IS MOVING BACKWARD in Chinese-English bilinguals' first and second languages. Chinese-English bilinguals were instructed to categorize words as moral or immoral while moving a joystick in a compatible block (moral-forward, immoral-backward) and an incompatible block (moral-backward, immoral-forward). The results revealed three main conclusions: First, participants showed faster categorization of immoral words when their responses involved backward joystick movements compared to forward joystick movements. Second, participants also demonstrated a slightly faster categorization of moral words when their responses involved backward joystick movements compared to forward joystick movements. Third, Chinese morality words were categorized faster overall than English morality words. However, despite a slightly larger effect size observed in L1, the action compatibility effects for morality words exhibited a similar pattern across both languages. In sum, bilinguals showed shared access to the IMMORAL IS MOVING BACKWARD conceptual metaphor across both L1 and L2, but they did not access the MORAL IS MOVING FORWARD conceptual metaphor in either L1 or L2. This study provides new evidence supporting the conceptual metaphor theory.

A meta-analysis of performance advantages on athletes in multiple object tracking tasks.

This study compared the multiple object tracking (MOT) performance of athletes vs. non-athletes and expert athletes vs. novice athletes by systematically reviewing and meta-analyzing the literature. A systematic literature search was conducted using five databases for articles published until July 2024. Healthy people were included, specifically classified as athletes and non-athletes, or experts and novices. Potential sources of heterogeneity were selected using a random-effects model. Moderator analyses were also performed. A total of 23 studies were included in this review. Regarding the overall effect, athletes were significantly better at MOT tasks than non-athletes, and experts performed better than novices. Subgroup analyses showed that expert athletes had a significantly larger effect than novices, and that the type of sport significantly moderated the difference in MOT performance between the two groups. Meta-regression revealed that the number of targets and duration of tracking moderated the differences in performance between experts and novices, but did not affect the differences between athletes and non-athletes. This meta-analysis provides evidence of performance advantages for athletes compared with nonathletes, and experts compared with novices in MOT tasks. Moreover, the two effects were moderated by different factors; therefore, future studies should classify participants more specifically according to sports levels.

Optimization of rotor profile design and analysis of transient flow fields in an asymmetric singular double claw vacuum pump

The claw vacuum pump is widely used in vacuum industries due to its high-performance, compact structure, and oil-free operation. This study delves into the rotor profile and internal flow field characteristics of an asymmetric singular double claw vacuum pump. Theoretical profile equations for the male-female rotor of claw vacuum pumps were given, and a three-dimensional transient simulation of the internal flow field was carried out using the dynamic mesh reconstruction method. The simulation result was also verified by experiments. Analysis shows that: the radial clearance significantly affects the volumetric efficiency of the claw vacuum pump, with a larger effect than the axial clearance; the maximum instantaneous temperature corresponds to radial clearance, leading to maximum thermal deformation concentrated at the claw tip; thermal deformation is the predominant factor contributing to maximum deformation; the smaller the coefficient of thermal expansion, the less the rotor material affects the claw vacuum pump clearance. Based on these insights, we have innovatively optimized two elements of the theoretical claw vacuum pump rotor profile, i.e., the curvature of the cusp B and three optimized configurations of the complex EH section. The optimization results provide a solid theoretical basis for advancing the design and practical application of this pump type.

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Exposure to War on Domestic Violence

AbstractThis paper highlights the scarring effects of early life exposure to civil war, by examining the impact of exposure to conflict in childhood on the incidence of domestic violence in adulthood among married women. To estimate these effects, we use a difference-in-differences model which exploits variation in exposure to Nigeria’s 30-month-long civil war by year of birth and ethnicity. Our results, based on the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, show that women exposed to the war during childhood are more likely to be victims of domestic violence in adulthood compared to those not exposed to the war, with larger effects observed for those exposed at younger ages. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms through which exposure to civil war might affect domestic violence and find some support for both the normalisation of violence and weakened bargaining power hypotheses. Understanding the root causes of domestic violence is important given the high prevalence in developing countries and the deleterious consequences for women and their children.

Effect of Messaging on Support for Breast Cancer Screening Cessation Among Older US Women

Many older women are screened for breast cancer beyond guideline-recommended thresholds. Messaging holds promise to reduce overscreening. To investigate the effect of a message on older women's support for and intentions of stopping breast cancer screening. A 2-wave randomized clinical online survey trial using a nationally representative online panel was performed from May 12 to June 19, 2023. Women 65 years or older without breast cancer were eligible to participate. A pilot-tested breast cancer screening cessation message delivered to a hypothetical older woman with serious illnesses and functional impairment. The message was described as from 1 of 3 sources (clinician, news story, or family member). Participants were randomized into 4 groups: no message (group 1 [control]), a single message from a clinician at wave 1 and no message at wave 2 (group 2), a message from a news story (wave 1) and a clinician (wave 2) (group 3), and a message from a family member (wave 1) and a clinician (wave 2) (group 4). Support for stopping screening in the hypothetical older woman (primary) and screening intentions for oneself (secondary) were assessed on 7-point scales, with higher values indicating stronger support for and intentions to stop screening. Means were compared using analysis of variance. The message effect on screening intentions among participants 75 years or older and those with life expectancy of less than 10 years were also explored. A total of 3051 women participated in wave 1 of the trial. The mean (SD) age was 72.8 (5.9) years; 272 (8.9%) were non-Hispanic Black and 2506 (82.1%) were non-Hispanic White. Of these women, 2796 (91.6%) completed wave 2. Group 2 had significantly higher support for screening cessation in the hypothetical patient at wave 2 (mean score, 3.14 [95% CI, 2.99-3.29]) compared with group 1 (mean score, 2.68 [95% CI, 2.54-2.82]; P < .001). The effect was even stronger in group 3 (mean score, 4.23 [95% CI, 4.09-4.38]) and group 4 (mean score, 4.12 [95% CI, 3.97-4.27]) compared with both groups 1 and 2 (all P < .001). Message effects on self-screening intentions followed a similar pattern, with larger effects among participants 75 years or older or with limited life expectancy. In this randomized clinical trial, a breast cancer screening cessation message significantly increased older women's support for and intentions of screening cessation. The strongest effects were observed when the message was delivered over time from multiple sources. Future work needs to engage potential message sources to examine the feasibility and acceptability of multilevel messaging strategies and their effect on screening behavior. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05821023.

Exploring the Germline Genetics of In Situ and Invasive Cutaneous Melanoma

It is unknown whether germline genetic factors influence in situ melanoma risk differently than invasive melanoma risk. To determine whether differences in risk of in situ melanoma and invasive melanoma are heritable. Three genome-wide association study meta-analyses were conducted of in situ melanoma vs controls, invasive melanoma vs controls, and in situ vs invasive melanoma (case-case) using 4 population-based genetic cohorts: the UK Biobank, the FinnGen cohort, the QSkin Sun and Health Study, and the Queensland Study of Melanoma: Environmental and Genetic Associations (Q-MEGA). Melanoma status was determined using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes from cancer registry data. Data were collected from 1987 to 2022, and data were analyzed from September 2022 to June 2023. In situ and invasive cutaneous melanoma. To test whether in situ and invasive melanoma have independent heritable components, genetic effect estimates were calculated for single-nucleotide variants (SNV; formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) throughout the genome for each melanoma. Then, SNV-based heritability was estimated, the genetic correlation between melanoma subtypes was assessed, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) were generated for in situ vs invasive status in Q-MEGA participants. A total of 6 genome-wide significant loci associated with in situ melanoma and 18 loci with invasive melanoma were identified. A strong genetic correlation (genetic r = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.76-1.15) was observed between the 2 classifications. Notably, loci near IRF4, KLF4, and HULC had significantly larger effects for in situ melanoma compared with invasive melanoma, while MC1R had a significantly larger effect on invasive melanoma compared with in situ melanoma. Heritability estimates were consistent for both, with in situ melanoma heritability of 6.7% (95% CI, 4.1-9.3) and invasive melanoma heritability of 4.9% (95% CI, 2.8-7.2). Finally, a PRS, derived from comparing invasive melanoma with in situ melanoma genetic risk, was on average significantly higher in participants with invasive melanoma (odds ratio per 1-SD increase in PRS, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.16-1.77). There is much shared genetic architecture between in situ melanoma and invasive melanoma. Despite indistinguishable heritability estimates between the melanoma classifications, PRS suggest germline genetics may influence whether a person gets in situ melanoma or invasive melanoma. PRS could potentially help stratify populations based on invasive melanoma risk, informing future screening programs without exacerbating the current burden of melanoma overdiagnosis.

Selective injury of thalamocortical tract in neonatal rats impairs forelimb use: model validation and behavioral effects.

Unilateral brain injury in neonates results in largely contralateral hand function in children. Most research investigating neurorehabilitation targets for movement recovery has focused on the effects of brain injury on descending motor systems, especially the corticospinal tract. However, a recent human study demonstrated that sensory tract injury may have larger effects on dexterity than motor tract injury. To validate that the sensory tract injury impairs dexterity, we modeled the most common site of sensory tract injury in neonates by targeting the thalamocortical tract. In the postnatal day 7 rats, we used three types of lesions to the thalamocortical tract: periventricular blood injection, photothrombotic lesion, and electrolytic lesion. To test the sensitivity and specificity of these techniques, viral tracers were injected into the primary sensory or motor cortex immediately after injury. Electrolytic lesions were the most specific and reproducible for inducing a lesion compared to the other two methods. Electrolytic lesions disrupted 63% of the thalamocortical tract, while sparing the adjacent corticospinal tract in the internal capsule. To measure the impact on dexterity, the cylinder exploration and pasta handling tests were used to test the changes of forelimb use at 8 weeks after injury when the rats reached maturity. Lesions to the thalamocortical tract were associated with a significant decrease in the use of the contralateral forelimb in the cylinder task, and the degree of impairment positively correlated with the degree of injury. Overall, specific sensory system lesions of the thalamocortical tract impair forelimb use, suggesting a key role for skilled movement.

Effectiveness of Shoe Rotation in Managing Plantar Fasciitis in Patients.

Background/Objectives: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common condition that causes heel pain. While various conservative treatment modalities for PF exist, no previous studies have investigated the effectiveness of shoe rotation (ShR) in patients with PF pain. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of ShR with that of two conventional treatments for PF-namely, foot orthosis (FO) and physical therapy (PT). Methods: Charts of 42 patients with heel pain were retrospectively reviewed. Participants were allocated to one of three treatment groups: the ShR group, the customized FO group, and the PT group. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Digital Pain Scale (DPS), Foot Function Index (FFI), Foot Pain and Function Scale (FPFS), and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (AOFAS-AHS) at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks after the intervention. Results: The ShR, FO, and PT groups all showed improvements, with statistically significant decreases in VAS, DPS, and FFI scores and significant increases in FPFS and AOFAS-AHS scores over time (p < 0.05). All three interventions resulted in significant improvements from baseline to 4 weeks and further to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). The ShR group exhibited a slightly larger effect on all measurements than the other groups. Conclusions: ShR, FO, and PT contributed to pain reduction and functional improvement, and alternating the shoes alleviated PF pain. These results suggest a new approach to managing PF and serve as a basis for providing convenient treatment for patients with PF.

Latent profiles of modifiable dementia risk factors in later midlife: relationships with incident dementia, cognition, and neuroimaging outcomes.

In 2020, the Lancet Commission identified 12 modifiable factors that increase population-level dementia risk. It is unclear if these risk factors co-occur among individuals in a clinically meaningful way. Using latent class analysis, we identified profiles of modifiable dementia risk factors in dementia-free adults aged 60-64 years from the UK Biobank. We then estimated associations between these profiles with incident dementia, cognition, and neuroimaging outcomes, and explored the differences across profiles in the effects of a polygenic risk score for Alzheimer's disease on outcomes. In 55,333 males and 63,063 females, three sex-specific latent profiles were identified: cardiometabolic risk, substance use-related risk, and low risk. The cardiometabolic risk profile in both males and females was associated with greater incidence of all-cause dementia (male: OR [95% CI] = 2.33 [2.03, 2.66]; female: OR [95% CI] = 1.44 [1.24, 1.68]), poorer cognitive performance, greater brain atrophy, and greater white matter hyperintensity volume compared to the low risk profile. The substance use-related risk profile in males was associated with poorer cognitive performance and greater white matter hyperintensities compared to the low risk profile, but no difference in all-cause dementia incidence was observed (OR [95% CI] = 1.00 [0.95, 1.06]). In females, the substance use-related risk profile demonstrated increased dementia incidence (OR [95% CI] = 1.58 [1.57, 1.58]) and greater brain atrophy but smaller white matter hyperintensity volume compared to the low risk profile. The polygenic risk score had larger effects among females, and differentially influenced outcomes across profiles; for instance, there were larger effects of the polygenic risk score on atrophy in the cardiometabolic profile vs. the low risk profile among males, and larger effects of the polygenic risk score on loss of white matter integrity in the cardiometabolic profile vs. the low risk profile among females. These results reveal three modifiable dementia risk profiles, their unique cognitive/neuroimaging outcomes, and their interactions with genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. These differences highlight the need to consider population heterogeneity in risk prediction tools and in planning personalized prevention strategies.

Modulation of circulating free testosterone fraction by testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol during testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone, estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone share common ligand binding sites on sex hormone binding globulin and albumin. It is unknown whether and how changes in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol concentrations during testosterone replacement therapy affect free testosterone fraction. To determine the effect of changes in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol concentrations on free testosterone fraction during testosterone replacement therapy of men with hypogonadism. Using data from the Testosterone Trials, we assessed the association of changes in total testosterone, estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone concentrations over 12 months of testosterone replacement therapy with changes in free testosterone fraction, measured using equilibrium dialysis. We used random forests to evaluate the associations of predicted mean changes in free testosterone fraction with changes in circulating concentrations of each hormone at low, mean, or high change in the other two hormones. Testosterone replacement therapy not only increased total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and free testosterone concentrations, but also the percent free testosterone, even though sex hormone binding globulin levels did not change. The predicted changes in free testosterone fraction during testosterone replacement therapy exhibited a non-linear relationship with changes in each of total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol concentrations. Greater increases in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol levels during testosterone replacement therapy were each associated with higher model-predicted percent free testosterone. Substantially smaller changes in molar concentrations of estradiol and dihydrotestosterone had a greater effect on percent free testosterone than those in testosterone. During testosterone replacement therapy of men with hypogonadism, changes in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol concentrations each altered percent free testosterone non-linearly. Small changes in estradiol concentrations exerted much larger effect on the free testosterone fraction than testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, suggesting complex interactions of the three hormones with the binding proteins. Assessment of changes in free testosterone during testosterone replacement therapy should include consideration of changes in all three hormones.

Field-induced slow magnetic relaxation in a mononuclear Dy(III) complex with octahedral geometry

We have synthesized a mononuclear Dy(III)-based complex, [Dy(CyPh2PO)3Cl3)] (1) (CyPh2PO = cyclohexylbisphenylphosphine oxide), constructed from a phosphine oxide ligand and a light halogen Cl donor. The Dy(III) ion presents an octahedral geometry where two O atoms from two phosphine ligands locate at two vertexes, while the equatorial positions are completed by three Cl anions and a O atom from another phosphine ligand. Magnetism results reveal that slow relaxation of the magnetizations exists in 1 under an extra dc field because of the significant quantum tunnelling of magnetization (QTM) at 0 Oe dc field. The lighter Cl ions in equatorial plane result in a larger effect to QTM, and thus smaller contribution to slow magnetic relaxation.

Quantification choices for individual differences: An example of mapping self-report to psychophysiological responses

A popular focus in affective neuroscience research has been to map the relationships between individual differences (e.g. personality and environmental experiences) and psychophysiological responses, in order to further understand the effect of individual differences upon neurobehavioral systems that support affect and arousal. Despite this trend, there have been a lack of practical examples demonstrating how the quantification of individual differences (e.g. categorical or continuous) impacts the observed relationships between different units of analysis (e.g. self-report > psychophysiological responses). To address this gap, we conducted a two-stage aggregated meta-analysis of self-reported intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and skin conductance responses during threat extinction (k = 18, n = 1006) using different quantification choices for individual differences in self-reported intolerance of uncertainty (continuous, categorical via median split, and categorical via extremes – one standard deviation above/below). Results from the meta-analyses revealed that the different quantification techniques produced some consistent (e.g. higher IU was significantly associated with skin conductance responding during late extinction training) and inconsistent IU-related effects. Furthermore, the number of statistically significant effects and effect sizes varied based on the quantification of individual differences in IU (e.g. categorical, compared to continuous was associated with more statistically significant effects, and larger effect sizes). The current study highlights how conducting different quantification methods for individual differences may help researchers understand the individual difference construct of interest (e.g. characterisation, measurement), as well as examine the stability and reliability of individual difference-based effects and correspondence between various units of analysis.

Genome-wide discovery for biomarkers using quantile regression at biobank scale

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for biomarkers important for clinical phenotypes can lead to clinically relevant discoveries. Conventional GWAS for quantitative traits are based on simplified regression models modeling the conditional mean of a phenotype as a linear function of genotype. We draw attention here to an alternative, lesser known approach, namely quantile regression that naturally extends linear regression to the analysis of the entire conditional distribution of a phenotype of interest. Quantile regression can be applied efficiently at biobank scale, while having some unique advantages such as (1) identifying variants with heterogeneous effects across quantiles of the phenotype distribution; (2) accommodating a wide range of phenotype distributions including non-normal distributions, with invariance of results to trait transformations; and (3) providing more detailed information about genotype-phenotype associations even for those associations identified by conventional GWAS. We show in simulations that quantile regression is powerful across both homogeneous and various heterogeneous models. Applications to 39 quantitative traits in the UK Biobank demonstrate that quantile regression can be a helpful complement to linear regression in GWAS and can identify variants with larger effects on high-risk subgroups of individuals but with lower or no contribution overall.

State Policies Regulating Firearms and Changes in Firearm Mortality

Despite high social and public health costs of firearm violence in the United States, the effects of many policies designed to reduce firearm mortality remain uncertain. To estimate the individual and joint effect sizes of state firearm policies on firearm-related mortality. In this comparative effectiveness study, bayesian methods were used to model panel data of annual, state-level mortality rates (1979-2019) for all US firearm decedents, with analyses conducted in October 2023. Six classes of firearms policies: background checks, minimum age, waiting periods, child access, concealed carry, and stand-your-ground laws. Primary outcomes (total firearm deaths, firearm homicide deaths, and firearm suicide deaths) were assessed using the National Vital Statistics System. Bayesian estimation was used to estimate the partial association of changes in firearms policies with subsequent changes in firearm mortality. The estimated effect sizes of individual policies 5 or more years after implementation were generally small in magnitude and had considerable uncertainty. The policy class with the highest probability of reducing firearm deaths was child-access prevention laws, estimated to reduce overall firearm mortality by 6% (80% credible interval [CrI], -2% to -9%). The policy class with the highest probability of increasing firearm deaths was stand-your-ground laws, estimated to increase firearm homicides by 6% (80% CrI, 0% to 13% increase). Estimates of association of implementing multiple firearm restrictions with subsequent changes in firearm mortality yielded larger effect sizes. Moving from the most permissive to most restrictive set of firearm policies was associated with an estimated 20% reduction in firearm deaths (80% CrI, 10% to 28% reduction), with a 0.99 probability of any reductions in firearm death rates. In this comparative effectiveness study of state firearm policies, the joint effect estimates of combinations of firearm laws were calculated, showing that restrictive firearm policies were associated with substantial reductions in firearm mortality. Although policymakers would benefit from knowing the effects of individual policies, the estimated changes in firearm mortality following implementation of individual policies were often small and uncertain.

Protocol for a randomised controlled unblinded feasibility trial of HD-DRUM: a rhythmic movement training application for cognitive and motor symptoms in people with Huntington’s disease

IntroductionHuntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease causing progressive cognitive and motor decline, largely due to basal ganglia (BG) atrophy. Rhythmic training offers promise as therapy to counteract BG-regulated...

Automatic imitation is modulated by stimulus clarity but not by animacy.

Observing actions evokes an automatic imitative response that activates mechanisms required to execute these actions. Automatic imitation is measured using the Stimulus Response Compatibility (SRC) task, which presents participants with compatible and incompatible prompt-distractor pairs. Automatic imitation, or the compatibility effect, is the difference in response times (RTs) between incompatible and compatible trials. Past results suggest that an action's animacy affects automatic imitation: human-produced actions evoke larger effects than computer-generated actions. However, it appears that animacy effects occur mostly when non-human stimuli are less complex or less clear. Theoretical accounts make conflicting predictions regarding both stimulus manipulations. We conducted two SRC experiments that presented participants with an animacy manipulation (human and computer-generated stimuli, Experiment 1) and a clarity manipulation (stimuli with varying visual clarity using Gaussian blurring, Experiments 1 and 2) to tease apart effect of these manipulations. Participants in Experiment 1 responded slower for incompatible than for compatible trials, showing a compatibility effect. Experiment 1 found a null effect of animacy, but stimuli with lower visual clarity evoked smaller compatibility effects. Experiment 2 modulated clarity in five steps and reports decreasing compatibility effects for stimuli with lower clarity. Clarity, but not animacy, therefore affected automatic imitation, and theoretical implications and future directions are considered.

Assessment the impact of drought on vegetation carbon source/sink at a spatial scale and identify the dominant factors in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River Basin, China

Drought poses a severe threat to terrestrial ecosystems’ carbon sequestration function, which in turn affects regional sustainable development. Understanding its impact on carbon source/sink dynamics is crucial for addressing extreme climate change challenges. This study, based on the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach (CASA) model and soil heterotrophic respiration equation, the Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) of the middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin (MRYRB) from 2001 to 2019 were estimated and utilized to characterize the vegetation carbon source/sink. Additionally, four factors, namely, average surface temperature (AST), root-zone soil moisture (RM), drought frequency (DF), and drought intensity (DI), were selected and a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model was applied to assess the dominant factors influencing vegetation carbon source/sink dynamics at the spatial scale. The results indicated that: (1) MRYRB vegetation acted as a carbon sink, showing an increasing trend. Carbon sink was primarily located in Shaanxi’s central region, while carbon source was primarily located in Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi’s northern part. (2) Both the extent and severity of drought in the MRYRB showed a mitigating trend, presenting a spatial distribution of high-intensity low-frequency and low-intensity high-frequency. (3) AST, RM, DF, and DI had larger effects on carbon source than carbon sink. AST dominated mainly in northern Shanxi and Shaanxi, RM in central Shaanxi and Gansu, while DI and DF were concentrated in central Shaanxi and northern Shanxi.

A Quantitative Systematic Literature Review of Combination Punishment Literature: Progress Over the Last Decade.

This review evaluated single-case experimental design research that examined challenging behavior interventions utilizing punishment elements. Thirty articles published between 2013 and 2022 met study inclusion criteria. Study quality was also assessed. Through multiple levels of analysis (e.g., descriptive statistics, non-parametric statistics), we examined (a) participant and study trends, (b) differential outcomes related to temporal reinforcement approaches (antecedent, consequent, or combined reinforcement) applied alongside punishment element(s), (c) differential outcomes related to the punishment type (negative, positive) applied alongside reinforcement, and (d) effect sizes associated with study rigor across peer-reviewed and gray literature. Our results may tentatively suggest that, for certain situations, concurrently applying punishment with antecedent reinforcement approaches may coincide with significantly larger effect sizes compared to combined temporal reinforcement approaches, while positive punishment applied concurrently with reinforcement may coincide with larger but non-significant intervention effects. Most featured articles met rigor criteria, but larger effects were seen in peer-reviewed literature.