bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between freedom and corruption: the interplay of total reserves during the COVID-19 epoch – a cross-country inquiry
Authors: Arabiat Omar , Abu-Asabeh Sally , Alshurafat Hashem
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study examines the function of total reserves in light of the relationship between the economic freedom index and the corruption perception index during the COVID-19 period over countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis encompasses a sample of 102 nations, spanning the time period from 2020 to 2021, and draws data from several sources. By employing a random effects model, we are able to adequately address the potential influence of year-specific factors, including the effects of COVID-19, as well as country-specific disparities. This approach allows for a comprehensive examination of our primary variables, assuring a nuanced study.

Findings

The findings indicate that when economic freedom and reserves are examined separately, they tend to promote corruption. However, when these factors are studied together, they have a complementary effect in reducing corruption. The impact of the COVID-19 period further confirms the relationship, highlighting its substantial influence on the interplay between economic freedom, reserves, and corruption.

Research limitations/implications

The time frame spanning just two years and the sample limited to 102 nations may affect the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, there is a clear need for additional research to facilitate more comprehensive generalizations.

Originality/value

This study is notable for its distinctive examination of the function of Total Reserves in light of the association between the economic freedom index and the corruption perception index. Within the framework of the challenging COVID-19 era, this investigation offers novel perspectives on the intricate dynamics among economic freedom, reserves, and corruption perceptions.
Addressing gender-based violence and advancing women in leadership through increased social mobility in rural Kenya
Authors: Ebron Kutisha T. , Andenoro Anthony C. , Luzynski Cheyenne , Ngunjiri Anne
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Before COVID-19, Kenya was among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa already dealing with high Gender-Based Violence (GBV) issues. Kenya had experienced prior convoluted emergencies and endemics, which had an inordinate impingement on women and girls that heightened their vulnerability to GBV. The Kenyan Ministry of Public Service and Gender reported that in 2020, there was an increase of 36% in GBV cases (Roy et al., 2021). COVID-19 had a devastating effect in rural communities, whereby women were most impacted. This study aims to understand the lessons learned from public leaders in implementing policies that could address GBV through better leadership approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory-qualitative study in which six participants comprised of policymakers or government representatives that were interviewed in semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The qualitative narratives provided evidence that suggests a complex relationship between the COVID-19 lockdowns and movement restrictions policies and played a direct factor in the rise in GBV in vulnerable populations. The individual country policies and sectoral policies varied in how vulnerable women's needs were addressed, which led to diverse socioeconomic and health consequences.

Originality/value

This research delineates the impacts of the failure of Kenyan leaders to implement gender focused COVID-19 policies and guidelines that considered the physical, mental, violence and the economic impact such emergencies have on women and girls in rural communities.
Research of criteria for analyzing the load-bearing capacity of buildings in areas of technogenic impact caused by mining operations
Authors: Gusev Georgiy , Tsvetkov Roman , Shardakov Igor
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to ensure safe operation of buildings in the mining area.

Design/methodology/approach

The strain energy value was taken as one of the parameters characterizing the deformation process at critical stages in these problems and providing a link between them. Based on the data obtained for the structural element of loading diagrams and assessment of the stress–strain state of the structure as a whole, the maximum permissible horizontal deformations of the soil around the foundation are determined, at which the building elements reach the stress–strain state preceding the loss of bearing capacity. For this purpose, a parameter is used that characterizes the deformation process at the stages of critical deformation in these problems and provides a link between them. This parameter is the value of strain energy.

Findings

Based on the obtained force behavior diagrams of structural elements and assessment of the stress–strain state of the structure as a whole, the maximum permissible horizontal ground deformations in the vicinity of the foundation are determined, at which the building elements reach the stress–strain state preceding the loss of bearing capacity.

Originality/value

The research provides new data in the form of regularities of deformation behavior of building structures in the zones of mine workings. These data formed the basis for the normative documentation being developed. The research results were used for the development of internal instructions of a large mining enterprise.
Corporate disclosure and firm value: do audit quality and foreign listing matter?
Authors: Kumar Praveen
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper analyzed the effect of voluntary corporate disclosure on firm value and how audit quality and cross-border stock market listing moderate this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzed S&P BSE index constituents’ 90 Indian enterprises for 2017–2019. The India Disclosure Index Report was used to fetch the voluntary disclosure scores. Further, the study was conducted in two parts using six different panel-data regression models in the framework of legitimacy, agency, signaling and market segmentation theory. First, the study investigated the direct impact of voluntary disclosures on return on assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q. Second, the moderating effect of the “Big 4” was tested. Third, the paper also examined the moderating role of “cross-border stock market listing” in the direction of voluntary disclosure-firm value relationships.

Findings

Primarily, the results postulate a significant positive impact of voluntary disclosures on ROA and Tobin’s Q. A higher voluntary disclosure leads to a higher ROA and Tobin’s Q for firms. Moreover, the improvement effect of such disclosures on ROA and Tobin’s Q is more pronounced for companies “listed abroad” and audited by “Big 4.”

Research limitations/implications

The findings will enhance managers’ learning about the financial impact of voluntary disclosures. The choice of a “Big 4” and “Cross border stock market listing” indicates firms’ future positive perspectives, strengthening investor trust in the market.

Social implications

The results suggest that companies’ potential auditing, agency and litigation issues could be addressed through fairness in the information content of voluntary disclosures.

Originality/value

This examination presents a firm valuation model in which voluntary disclosure tackles an ethical issue, the resolution of which depends on the “audit quality” and “cross-border stock market listing.”
Categories of white-collar offenders based on the theory of convenience
Authors: Gottschalk Petter , Hamerton Christopher
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to make a contribution to the offender-based perspective when researching white-collar and corporate crime. Previously, the offender-based perspective has emphasized general characteristics of actors such as social and occupational status, respectability and power.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents categories of offender types in their roles when offending.

Findings

Based on the theory of convenience with 14 convenience propositions along three dimensions, it is possible to identify eight offender categories.

Research limitations/implications

Alternative theories for identification of offender categories might be applied in future research to compare with categories presented in this paper based on convenience theory.

Practical implications

These offender categories are labeled opportunist, illusionist, manipulator, ignorer, defender, reactionist, rescuer and controller.

Social implications

The offender-bases rather than the offence-based perspective is needed to increase law enforcement understanding of white-collar and corporate crime.

Originality/value

When researchers study the extent of seriousness of white-collar and corporate crime in the future, it is suggested that they use such labels to distinguish between serious and less serious offenders.
Assessing food preferences in Spain: a historical perspective including attributes and values
Authors: Femi-Oladunni Opeyemi , Ruiz-Palomino Pablo , Pérez Jiménez Israel Roberto
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify how Spanish consumers’ extrinsic preferences for food have evolved by examining the extant literature on food preferences in Spain, focusing on food-related attributes and food-related values.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a synthetic review of the extant academic literature on Spanish consumer preferences for food-related attributes and food-related values from the mid-20th to the 21st century. This study uses key economic and social milestones that are most likely to influence food value chain actors to show how consumer preferences have evolved over the study period.

Findings

Spanish consumer food attribute preferences expanded as the food sector of the nation continued to grow, and value preferences showed a similar pattern from the mid-20th to the 21st century. The drivers of these preferences were trust, lifestyle, education (campaigns), sociodemographic factors and purchasing power.

Originality/value

Evaluating the extant literature’s contribution to consumer preferences for food-related attributes and values is important because it can aid in understanding the hierarchy and variety of consumers’ food preferences as well as the factors that drive these preferences. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore how Spanish consumer preferences evolved between the mid-20th and 21st centuries.
What space are you looking for?
Authors: Zaugg Holt
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe how assessments informed changes to library spaces to improve students' experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The article describes three changes to the library to improve students' experience within the library. For each change, describe the reason for the change, assessments prior to the change to inform decision-making and follow-up assessments to determine value.

Findings

In each instance, the assessment prior to the changes informed decisions that expedited the changes. The results were spaces that improved library spaces to improve students' library experiences and better meet their needs.

Originality/value

The purpose of the article is to describe the importance and use of assessment to assist with changes to library spaces and inform the value of those changes.
The retail wellnesscape: conceptualizing consumer wellness in a health food retailing context
Authors: Chartrand Marie-Eve , Bélisle Deny , Patry-Beaudoin Gabrielle , Cheikhrouhou Soumaya
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to deepen the knowledge of consumer wellness by conceptualizing this construct in an everyday retail setting, specifically a health food store. With wellness seeking being a central theme in the positioning strategy of many food retail stores, this study aims to investigate the development of an everyday wellness pursuit in a retail setting, identify its underlying dimensions in a health food store setting and establish the key managerial drivers that nurture it in such context, from the consumer standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design uses a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews with 20 customers of six multibranch health food retailers were carried out.

Findings

The findings show the holistic and multidimensional nature of wellness in an everyday consumption setting and highlight the development of physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual consumer wellness in this context. They also bring to light how, in an everyday activity such as a health food retail store visit, retailers can co-create and nurture consumer wellness through their product assortment, store environment and employees’ orientation toward customer wellness.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study lies in the conceptualization of the retail wellnesscape, defined as a retail space that consumers choose to visit in their daily lives that contribute to their holistic wellness journey. This paper emphasizes both the importance and the feasibility of cultivating consumer wellness on an everyday basis, for both consumers and retailers, while it has traditionally been associated with more occasional and out of the ordinary settings such as wellness tourism.
Design and performance analysis of different cambered wings for flapping-wing aerial vehicles based on wind tunnel test
Authors: Zhao Min , He Wei , He Xiuyu , Zhang Liang , Zhao Hongxue
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Bionic flapping-wing aerial vehicles (FWAVs) mimic natural flyers to generate the lift and thrust, such as birds, bats and insects. As an important component of the FWAVs, the flapping wings are crucial for the flight performance. The aim of this paper is to study the effects of different wings on aerodynamic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by the wings structure of birds, the authors design four cambered wings to analyze the effect of airfoils on the FWAVs aerodynamic performance. The authors design the motor-driven mechanism of flapping wings, and realize the control of flapping frequency. Combined with the wind tunnel equipment, the authors build the FWAVs force test platform to test the static and dynamic aerodynamic performance of different flapping wings under the state variables of flapping frequency, wind speed and inclined angle.

Findings

The results show that the aerodynamic performance of flapping wing with a camber of 20 mm is the best. Compared with flat wing, the average lift can be improved by 59.5%.

Originality/value

Different from the traditional flat wing design of FWAVs, different cambered flapping wings are given in this paper. The influence of airfoils on aerodynamic performance of FWAVs is analyzed and the optimal flapping wing is obtained.
En route to resources: Foraging strategies of plant‐associated insects to identify resources in complex dynamic environments
Authors: Rusman Q. , Cusumano A. , Vosteen I.
Published: July 2024

In plant‐associated communities, foraging insects aim to find different resources of interest. Herbivores look for the most nutritious plant tissues, pollinators for sweet nectar and protein‐rich pollen, and carnivores for their preferred prey. Although these foragers look for different resources, they face similar problems: resource cues are often highly variable and need to be detected in complex environments among non‐resources. Search templates—a subset of stimuli that is likely correlated with the occurrence of a particular resource—help foragers across trophic levels to find their resources. However, search‐template‐based foraging can also cause perception errors.

Here, we synthesize knowledge on foraging by insects from functional groups belonging to different trophic levels to reveal common problems experienced by foragers and strategies to solve such problems. We focus mostly on volatile‐based foraging because this searching strategy is best studied across functional groups.

We argue that search templates are both multimodal (including multiple trait types, e.g. odour and visual) and hierarchical (including multiple foraging steps). Search templates are plastic and updated by experience to match the dynamic foraging environment over time.

By comparing insects from different functional groups spanning multiple trophic levels, we have identified important missing gaps on cue use and foraging strategies which should be addressed in the future in order to reduce knowledge asymmetries among functional groups about search‐template‐based foraging. We propose a way to achieve this goal arguing that studies on less well investigated functional groups can advance rapidly by borrowing, testing and adjusting already available hypotheses and theories formulated for other insect groups. Knowledge of search‐template‐based foraging across functional groups will give new insights into the evolution of foraging behaviour in complex ecological communities, help predict ecological consequences of large‐scale human‐made disturbances and help optimize insect‐delivered ecosystem services (pollination and biological control) in cropping systems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Effects of two transglutaminases on innate immune responses in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata
Authors: Zhu Ying , Furukawa Seiichi
Published: July 2024

Transglutaminase (TGase) is a key enzyme that mediates hemolymph coagulation and is thought to contribute to the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms in invertebrates. The objective of this study was to elucidate the involvement of TGase in insect immune responses via functional analysis of this enzyme in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, using recombinant proteins and RNA interference technique. We identified two TGase genes, mystgase1 and mystgase2, in Mythimna separata and found that both genes are expressed in all surveyed tissues in M. separata larvae. Significant changes were induced in hemocytes following Escherichia coli injection. Injection of Gram‐positive bacteria (Micrococcus luteus) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) into larvae triggered a time‐specific induction of both mystgase1 and mystgase2 in hemocytes. Recombinant MysTGase1 and MysTGase2 proteins bound to both E. coli and M. luteus, localizing within bacterial clusters and resulting in agglutination in a Ca2+‐dependent manner. The hemocytes of larvae injected with recombinant MysTGase1 or MysTGase2 exhibited enhanced phagocytic ability against E. coli, improved in vivo bacterial clearance, and increased resistance to S. marcescens, decreasing larval mortality rate. Conversely, RNA interference targeting mystgase1 or mystgase2 significantly reduced hemocyte phagocytic capability, decreased bacterial clearance, and increased susceptibility to S. marcescens infection, thereby increasing larval mortality rate. The findings of this study are anticipated to expand our understanding of the function of TGases within insect immune responses and may contribute to developing new pest control strategies.
Anaesthesia associates' clinical activity, case mix, supervision and involvement in peri‐operative cardiac arrest: analysis from the 7th National Audit Project
Authors: Cook Tim M. , Kane Andrew D. , Armstrong Richard A. , Kursumovic Emira , Varney Lee , Moppett Iain K. , Soar Jasmeet ,   collaborators
Published: July 2024

Background

We analysed the clinical practice of anaesthesia associates in the UK, as reported to the 7th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and compared these with medically qualified anaesthetists.

Methods

We included data from our baseline survey, activity survey and case registry as with other reports from the project.

Results

Among 197 departments of anaesthesia, 52 (26%) employed anaesthesia associates. Of 10,009 responding anaesthesia care providers, 71 (< 1%) were anaesthesia associates, of whom 33 (47%) reporting working nights or weekends (compared with 97% of medically qualified anaesthetists in training and > 90% of consultants). Anaesthesia associates reported less training and confidence in managing peri‐operative cardiac arrest and its aftermath compared with medically qualified anaesthetists. Anaesthesia associates were less directly involved in the management and the aftermath of peri‐operative cardiac arrest than medically qualified anaesthetists, and the psychological impacts on professional and personal life appeared to be less. Among 24,172 cases, anaesthesia associates attended 432 (2%) and were the senior anaesthesia care provider in 63 (< 1%), with indirect supervision in 27 (43%). Anaesthesia associates worked predominantly in a small number of surgical specialties during weekdays and working daytime hours. Complication rates were low in cases managed by anaesthesia associates, likely reflecting case mix. However, activity and registry case mix data show anaesthesia associates do manage high‐risk cases (patients who are older, comorbid, obese and frail) with the potential for serious complications. Registry cases included higher risk cases with respect to the clinical setting and patient factors.

Conclusion

Anaesthesia associates work in enhanced roles, relative to the scope of practice at qualification agreed by organisations. Recent changes mean the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists do not currently support an enhanced scope of practice.
Rethinking climate change vulnerabilities after COVID‐19: Recommendations for social science‐based interventions drawn from research on Conspiracy Theories and Diversity Science
Authors: Graton Aurélien , Sarrasin Oriane , Klein Olivier , Schuldt Jonathon P.
Published: July 2024

Scholars have noted several connections between the COVID‐19 pandemic and the climate crisis, ranging from the material influence of the pandemic on climate change processes (e.g., how lockdowns temporarily lowered climate emissions) to the similar ways the crises have been managed. Both crises are also global in scope, have exerted a significant toll on human lives and require major changes in our lifestyles. However, while collective responses to COVID‐19 were rapid and concerted, efforts to address climate change continue to be met with resistance. In this article, we investigate the social vulnerabilities common to both crises and the lessons that policymakers in the climate field can take away from the pandemic. After outlining the theoretical and empirical similarities between the two crises, we present a general framework and recommendations for the use of social science‐based interventions. We focus on two broad topics of contemporary interest that lay bare social vulnerabilities of the coronavirus pandemic—conspiracy theories and racial and ethnic inequities—to highlight the ways that understanding social and psychological processes associated with the pandemic can help inform more efficient climate policies.

Public Significance Statement

This paper shows how the COVID‐19 pandemic's social and psychological lessons can guide climate change policies. By leveraging social science insights, we propose strategies and illustrations to combat misinformation and address social inequities, ultimately fostering more effective and inclusive climate actions and benefiting policymakers and society at large.
External validation of an artificial intelligence model for Gleason grading of prostate cancer on prostatectomy specimens
Authors: Schmidt Bogdana , Soerensen Simon John Christoph , Bhambhvani Hriday P. , Fan Richard E. , Bhattacharya Indrani , Choi Moon Hyung , Kunder Christian A. , Kao Chia‐Sui , Higgins John , Rusu Mirabela , Sonn Geoffrey A.
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To externally validate the performance of the DeepDx Prostate artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm (Deep Bio Inc., Seoul, South Korea) for Gleason grading on whole‐mount prostate histopathology, considering potential variations observed when applying AI models trained on biopsy samples to radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens due to inherent differences in tissue representation and sample size.

Materials and Methods

The commercially available DeepDx Prostate AI algorithm is an automated Gleason grading system that was previously trained using 1133 prostate core biopsy images and validated on 700 biopsy images from two institutions. We assessed the AI algorithm's performance, which outputs Gleason patterns (3, 4, or 5), on 500 1‐mm2 tiles created from 150 whole‐mount RP specimens from a third institution. These patterns were then grouped into grade groups (GGs) for comparison with expert pathologist assessments. The reference standard was the International Society of Urological Pathology GG as established by two experienced uropathologists with a third expert to adjudicate discordant cases. We defined the main metric as the agreement with the reference standard, using Cohen's kappa.

Results

The agreement between the two experienced pathologists in determining GGs at the tile level had a quadratically weighted Cohen's kappa of 0.94. The agreement between the AI algorithm and the reference standard in differentiating cancerous vs non‐cancerous tissue had an unweighted Cohen's kappa of 0.91. Additionally, the AI algorithm's agreement with the reference standard in classifying tiles into GGs had a quadratically weighted Cohen's kappa of 0.89. In distinguishing cancerous vs non‐cancerous tissue, the AI algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 0.997 and specificity of 0.88; in classifying GG ≥2 vs GG 1 and non‐cancerous tissue, it demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.98 and specificity of 0.85.

Conclusion

The DeepDx Prostate AI algorithm had excellent agreement with expert uropathologists and performance in cancer identification and grading on RP specimens, despite being trained on biopsy specimens from an entirely different patient population.
Impacts of higher daytime temperatures on viable pollen and fruit production in common Cerrado tree Byrsonima pachyphylla (Malpighiaceae)
Authors: Werkmeister Georgina A. , Galbraith David R. , Silva Márcia Cardoso , Rocha Jairo Matos , Lima Milene Alves Oliveira , Tubin Pedro Gabriel , Marimon Beatriz Schwantes , Marimon‐Junior Ben Hur , Ashley David , Clerici Santiago , Phillips Oliver L. , Gloor Emanuel
Published: July 2024

Already threatened by deforestation, the Brazilian Cerrado—a complex and biodiverse tropical savannah that provides important ecosystem services—could experience climate warming of 1–5°C by 2100. This could negatively impact sexual reproduction (considered particularly sensitive to temperature stress) in native plant species, potentially limiting the production of viable pollen, fruits, and seeds; however, such impacts are largely unstudied in wild tropical species. To investigate the potential effects of higher temperatures on Cerrado species reproduction, developing inflorescences of common and widespread tree Byrsonima pachyphylla (Malpighiaceae) were passively heated in situ from an early bud stage (by 3–4°C during the daytime). Viability of pollen samples (analyzed through in vitro pollen germination and differential pollen staining) and fruit set (the proportion of hand‐pollinated flowers that developed into mature fruit) were compared between heated and control (ambient temperature) inflorescences, hypothesizing that both would be lower in heated inflorescences. However, higher daytime temperatures had no impact on viable pollen production, suggesting a strong resilience to warming. Nevertheless, fruit set was significantly reduced, which could have serious implications for future species recruitment and potentially Cerrado community structure, insect and animal food chains, and human populations, especially if representative of other Cerrado species. To the best of our knowledge, this experiment is the first manipulative warming of Cerrado vegetation in situ. It provides initial insights into the effects that increasing temperatures could have on future reproductive success and demonstrates the importance of considering reproduction when evaluating the possible impacts of climate change on tropical ecosystems.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Single‐cell sequencing reveals the transcriptional alternations of 17β‐estradiol suppressing primordial follicle formation in neonatal mouse ovaries
Authors: Yan Yutong , Zhang Hui , Xu Rui , Luo Linglin , Yin Lu , Wu Hao , Zhang Yiqian , Li Chan , Lu Sihai , Tang Yaju , Zhao Xiaoe , Pan Menghao , Wei Qiang , Peng Sha , Ma Baohua
Published: July 2024

Estrogen has been implicated in multiple biological processes, but the variation underlying estrogen‐mediated primordial follicle (PF) formation remains unclear. Here, we show that 17β‐estradiol (E2) treatment of neonatal mice led to the inhibition of PF formation and cell proliferation. Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) revealed that E2 treatment caused significant changes in the transcriptome of oocytes and somatic cells. E2 treatment disrupted the synchronised development of oocytes, pre‐granulosa (PG) cells and stromal cells. Mechanistically, E2 treatment disrupted several signalling pathways critical to PF formation, especially down‐regulating the Kitl and Smad1/3/4/5/7 expression, reducing the frequency and number of cell communication. In addition, E2 treatment influenced key gene expression, mitochondrial function of oocytes, the recruitment and maintenance of PG cells, the cell proliferation of somatic cells, as well as disordered the ovarian microenvironment. This study not only revealed insights into the regulatory role of estrogen during PF formation, but also filled in knowledge of dramatic changes in perinatal hormones, which are critical for the physiological significance of understanding hormone changes and reproductive protection.
A nature‐inclusive future with healthy soils? Mapping soil organic matter in 2050 in the Netherlands
Authors: Helfenstein Anatol , Mulder Vera L. , Hack‐ten Broeke Mirjam J. D. , Breman Bas C.
Published: July 2024

Nature‐inclusive scenarios of the future can help address numerous societal challenges related to soil health. As nature‐inclusive scenarios imply sustainable management of natural systems and resources, land use and soil health are assumed to be mutually beneficial in such scenarios. However, the interplay between nature‐inclusive land use scenarios and soil health has never been modelled using digital soil mapping. We predicted soil organic matter (SOM), an important indicator of soil health, in 2050, based on a recently developed nature‐inclusive scenario and machine learning in 3D space and time in the Netherlands. By deriving dynamic covariates related to land use and the occurrence of peat for 2050, we predicted SOM and its uncertainty in 2050 and assessed SOM changes between 2022 and 2050 from 0 to 2 m depth at 25 m resolution. We found little changes in the majority of mineral soils. However, SOM decreases of up to 5% were predicted in grasslands used for animal‐based production systems in 2022, which transitioned into croplands for plant‐based production systems by 2050. Although increases up to 25% SOM were predicted between 0 and 40 cm depth in rewetted peatlands, even larger decreases, on reclaimed land even surpassing 25% SOM, were predicted on non‐rewetted land in peat layers below 40 cm depth. There were several limitations to our approach, mostly due to predicting future trends based on historic data. Furthermore, nuanced nature‐inclusive practices, such as the adoption of agroecological farming methods, were too complex to incorporate in the model and would likely affect SOM spatial variability. Nonetheless, 3D‐mapping of SOM in 2050 created new insights and raised important questions related to soil health behind nature‐inclusive scenarios. Using machine learning explicit in 3D space and time to predict the impact of future scenarios on soil health is a useful tool for facilitating societal discussion, aiding policy making and promoting transformative change.
Aquatic processing enhances the loss of aged carbon from drained and burned peatlands
Authors: Bowen Jennifer C. , Hoyt Alison M. , Xu Xiaomei , Nuriman Muhammad , Anshari Gusti Z. , Wahyudio Putri Juliandini , Aluwihare Lihini I.
Published: July 2024

Water‐logged peatlands store tremendous amounts of soil carbon (C) globally, accumulating C over millennia. As peatlands become disturbed by human activity, these long‐term C stores are getting destabilized and ultimately released as greenhouse gases that may exacerbate climate change. Oxidation of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) mobilized from disturbed soils to streams and canals may be one avenue for the transfer of previously stored, millennia‐aged C to the atmosphere. However, it remains unknown whether aged peat‐derived DOC undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide (CO2) following disturbance. Here, we use a new approach to measure the radiocarbon content of CO2 produced from the oxidation of DOC in canals overlying peatland soils that have undergone widespread disturbance in Indonesia. This work shows for the first time that aged DOC mobilized from drained and burned peatland soils is susceptible to oxidation by both microbial respiration and photomineralization over aquatic travel times for DOC. The bulk radiocarbon age of CO2 produced during canal oxidation ranged from modern to ~1300 years before present. These ages for CO2 were most strongly influenced by canal water depth, which was proportional to the water table level where DOC is mobilized from disturbed soils to canals. Canal microbes preferentially respired older or younger organic C pools to CO2, and this may have been facilitated by the use of a small particulate organic C pool over the dissolved pool. Given that high densities of canals are generally associated with lower water tables and higher fire risk, our findings suggest that peatland areas with high canal density may be a hotspot for the loss of aged C on the landscape. Taken together, the results of this study show how and why aquatic processing of organic C on the landscape can enhance the transfer of long‐term peat C stores to the atmosphere following disturbance.
A Qualitative Exploration of Stroke Survivors' Experiences of Using a Stroke Helpline
Authors: Chaudhry Muneeba T. , McCambridge Alana B. , Rivera Esminio I. I. , William Scott , Stubbs Peter , Verhagen Arianne , Ferguson Caleb
Published: July 2024

Background

StrokeLine is a stroke‐specific helpline used by stroke survivors and their families in Australia to access professional support. There has been little research exploring stroke survivors' experiences of using helplines and their perceived impact on their stroke recovery.

Aim

The aim of this study is to explore the reasons prompting stroke survivors to call StrokeLine and their experiences and to describe the perceived impact of calling StrokeLine on their recovery.

Methods

An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was undertaken using thematic analysis of data collected through semi‐structured interviews of stroke survivors between December 2020 and May 2022. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted via audio‐recorded Zoom conference calling and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis.

Results

A total of eight callers (four men and women women) participated, with the time since stroke ranging from 3.5 months to 5 years. Four major themes were identified, including 17 sub‐themes. Key themes included (1) factors prompting use of StrokeLine; (2) experience of using StrokeLine; (3) perceived impact of using StrokeLine; and (4) conceptualising StrokeLine service provision.

Conclusions

Participants perceived their experience of contacting StrokeLine as having a positive impact on their stroke recovery, leaving them feeling empowered and motivated to self‐manage their condition.

Patient or Public Contribution

Stroke survivors with lived experience influenced the conceptualisation of this study through conversations with consumers and the Stroke Foundation. Eight stroke survivors were involved as participants in the research study.
GABRP inhibits the progression of oesophageal cancer by regulating CFTR: Integrating bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation
Authors: Zhang Jingzhi , Liu Xue , Zeng Ling , Hu Ying
Published: July 2024

Oesophageal cancer (EC) is a malignancy which accounts for a substantial number of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of EC have not been fully elucidated. GSE17351 and GSE20347 data sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) was used to examine hub gene expression. ECA‐109 and TE‐12 cells were transfected using the pcDNA3.1 expression vector encoding GABRP. The cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), cell scratch and Transwell assays were performed to assess the effect of GABRP on EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐associated protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Subsequently, CFTR was knocked down to verify whether GABRP affected biological events in EC cells by targeting CFTR. Seven hub genes were identified, including GABRP, FLG, ENAH, KLF4, CD24, ABLIM3 and ABLIM1, which all could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for EC. The RT‐qPCR results indicated that the expression levels of GABRP, FLG, KLF4, CD24, ABLIM3 and ABLIM1 were downregulated, whereas the expression level of ENAH was upregulated. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that GABRP overexpression suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of EC cells. Mechanistically, GABRP promoted the expression of CFTR, and CFTR knockdown significantly counteracted the influence of GABRP overexpression on biological events in EC cells. Overexpression of GABRP inhibited EC progression by increasing CFTR expression, which might be a new target for EC treatment.
Effectiveness of the transitional care model in total knee arthroplasty patients: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Güllü Ayla , Tosun Betul
Published: July 2024

Aim

This study has aimed to assess the effectiveness of the transitional care model (TCM) on functional status, perceived self‐efficacy and healthcare utilization in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Method

This randomized controlled study was conducted between February and November 2021 in a public hospital. The study randomly assigned patients to either a 6‐week ‘TCM’ program or usual care. The sample size was n = 70, with each group comprising 35 individuals. Patient outcomes, including self‐efficacy, functional status and healthcare service readmission rates, were monitored for TKA patients.

Results

Nursing care based on the ‘TCM’ was found to enhance functional status and increase the level of self‐efficacy among TKA patients, leading to a decrease in healthcare service readmissions.

Conclusions

The study recommends preparing patients and their families for the preoperative and postoperative processes. It emphasizes the importance of providing necessary training and consultancy services under the leadership of orthopaedic nurses responsible for TKA patient care, guided by the principles of TCM.
Serum Mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer dynamics in patients achieving sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus
Authors: Chang Yu‐Ping , Liu Chen‐Hua , Huang Chiuan‐Bo , Lee Ji‐Yuh , Liu Chun‐Jen , Su Tung‐Hung , Huang Shang‐Chin , Tseng Tai‐Chung , Chen Pei‐Jer , Kao Jia‐Horng
Published: July 2024

Background and Aim

Understanding the dynamics of serum Mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) remains pivotal for hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients' post‐sustained virologic response (SVR12) through direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods

We compared areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of M2BPGi, FIB‐4, and APRI and assess M2BPGi cutoff levels in predicting fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 utilizing transient elastography in 638 patients. Variations in M2BPGi levels from pretreatment to SVR12 and their association with pretreatment alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and fibrosis stage were investigated.

Results

The AUROCs of M2BPGi were comparable to FIB‐4 in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.902, P = 0.48) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.915, P = 0.05) but were superior to APRI in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.851, P = 0.001) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.857, P < 0.001). Using M2BPGi cutoff values of 2.83 and 3.98, fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 were confirmed with a positive likelihood ratio ≥10. The median M2BPGi change was −0.55. Patients with ALT levels ≥5 times ULN or ≥F3 demonstrated more pronounced median decreases in M2BPGi level compared to those with ALT levels 2–5 times ULN and <2 times ULN (−0.97 vs −0.68 and −0.44; P < 0.001) or with < F3 (−1.52 vs −0.44; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Serum M2BPGi is a reliable marker for advanced hepatic fibrosis. Following viral clearance, there is a notable M2BPGi decrease, with the extent of reduction influenced by ALT levels and fibrosis stage.
Intravenous fluid therapy compared to no treatment following blood donation in cats: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Guedra Allais M. , Humm K.
Published: July 2024

Objectives

There is currently no consensus regarding the use of intravenous fluid therapy in feline patients post‐blood donation in veterinary medicine. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether blood donation can be performed safely without post‐donation intravenous fluid therapy. The secondary aim was to report owner‐noted post‐donation changes.

Materials and Methods

The study aimed to enrol 100 conscious feline blood donations by client‐owned cats performed at a veterinary teaching hospital. Donors were randomised to either receive intravenous compound sodium lactate (twice the volume of blood donated over 2 hours) immediately after blood donation, or to receive no post‐blood donation intravenous fluid therapy. Systolic blood pressure was measured non‐invasively at 0, 60 and 120 minutes post‐donation. Median blood pressures were compared between the two groups using a Shapiro‐Wilk test. Owners were called the day following the donation to collect information on changes in their cat post‐donation.

Results

One hundred cats were enrolled and the data of 97 cats were analysed; 46 who received intravenous fluid therapy and 51 who did not. Mean donation volume was 9.95 mL/kg for the intravenous fluid therapy group and 9.72 mL/kg for the non‐intravenous fluid therapy group. At each time point, the median blood pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups. The main reported changes in both goups were bruising at the venepuncture site with 27.3% (12/44) in the IVFT group and 23.4% (9/37) in the no‐IVFT group, and mild lethargy up to a maximum of 24 hours post donation with 11.4% (5/44) in the IVFT group and 18.9% (7/37) in the no‐IVFT group.

Clinical Significance

This study suggests that the use of intravenous fluid therapy post‐feline blood donation may not be necessary. This could mean reduced hospitalisation time for feline donors, possibly decreasing feline stress.
“Another Logic is known”: Benedetto Croce's assessment of “Indian Logic”
Authors: Pizzichemi Lorenzo Leonardo
Published: July 2024

This essay aims to shed new light on the theoretical pertinence of classical Indian logic and epistemology in Benedetto Croce's criticism of Western Aristotelian and modern logic. As a matter of fact, Croce gave a positive and extraordinarily enterprising evaluation of “Indian Logic” in his review of Hermann Jacobi's Indische Logik (1905) and in his book Logic as the Science of the Pure Concept (1996 [1909]). Yet Croce's significant and considerable evaluation of “Indian Logic” has remained neglected until today. This essay tries to clear the field of some prejudices that misled scholarly research on Croce and Indian philosophy, and it glosses in detail the “neglected” judgment on “Indian Logic” in Croce's Logic. In doing so, it critically discusses some epistemological questions starting from Croce's philosophy, such as the character of “natural induction,” the relationship between language and thought, and the connection between historical languages and logical forms.
Methodologies and communities in comparative philosophy
Authors: Angle Stephen C.
Published: July 2024

There is considerable disagreement and even confusion over what forms of border‐crossing philosophizing are most appropriate to our times. Are comparative, cross‐cultural, intercultural, blended, and fusion philosophy all the same thing? Some critics find what they call “comparative philosophy” to be moribund or problematically colonialist; others assert that projects like “fusion philosophy” are intellectually irresponsible and colonialist in their own way. Can we nonetheless identify a distinctive project of comparative philosophy and say why it is important? Based on a broad survey of approaches, this essay offers schematic answers to these questions, clarifies some persistent confusions, and stresses the constitutive gamble that lies at the heart of all comparative philosophy. There are several different ways to do comparative philosophy well; which method to employ depends on the values that motivate and the pragmatic situation that frames one's inquiry, and on the ways in which one or more communities receive and respond to one's contribution.
Hemodynamic Characteristics of a Tortuous Microvessel Using High‐Fidelity Red Blood Cell Resolved Simulations
Authors: Hossain Mir Md Nasim , Hu Nien‐Wen , Kazempour Ali , Murfee Walter L. , Balogh Peter
Published: July 2024

Objective

Tortuous microvessels are characteristic of microvascular remodeling associated with numerous physiological and pathological scenarios. Three‐dimensional (3D) hemodynamics in tortuous microvessels influenced by red blood cells (RBCs), however, are largely unknown, and important questions remain. Is blood viscosity influenced by vessel tortuosity? How do RBC dynamics affect wall shear stress (WSS) patterns and the near‐wall cell‐free layer (CFL) over a range of conditions? The objective of this work was to parameterize hemodynamic characteristics unique to a tortuous microvessel.

Methods

RBC‐resolved simulations were performed using an immersed boundary method‐based 3D fluid dynamics solver. A representative tortuous microvessel was selected from a stimulated angiogenic network obtained from imaging of the rat mesentery and digitally reconstructed for the simulations. The representative microvessel was a venule with a diameter of approximately 20 μm. The model assumes a constant diameter along the vessel length and does not consider variations due to endothelial cell shapes or the endothelial surface layer.

Results

Microvessel tortuosity was observed to increase blood apparent viscosity compared to a straight tube by up to 26%. WSS spatial variations in high curvature regions reached 23.6 dyne/cm2 over the vessel cross‐section. The magnitudes of WSS and CFL thickness variations due to tortuosity were strongly influenced by shear rate and negligibly influenced by tube hematocrit levels.

Conclusions

New findings from this work reveal unique tortuosity‐dependent hemodynamic characteristics over a range of conditions. The results provide new thought‐provoking information to better understand the contribution of tortuous vessels in physiological and pathological processes and help improve reduced‐order models.
Sister Gertrude Morgan: A Ministry of Divergence—Exhibit review
Authors: Armstrong Lisa Katina
Published: July 2024

The discourse around Black History in Florida's public schools and public spaces has been notably controversial and in high demand in recent years. Black museums are few in the Tampa Bay area, making the Woodson African American History Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, a community treasure. The Woodson Museum partnered with the Montague Collection, launching Women's History Month in March 2024 by featuring the “Sister Gertrude Morgan: A Ministry of Divergence” exhibition. This exhibit centers on religion, rhythms, and artistry. Sister Gertrude Morgan was an African American, New Orleans‐based, multidisciplinary artist and street evangelist from the late 1950s to the mid‐1970s. Morgan repurposed the streets into her muse, medium, pulpit, and exhibition space in a way that can serve as a Black museum praxis framework.