bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging supply chain collaboration with digital technologies for supply chain performance: an empirical investigation of Indian meat industries
Authors: Srivastava Priyank , Ansari Hammad , Alrasheedi Melfi , Sharma Rohit , Prakash Surya , Gupta Sumit
Published: March 2024

The meat industry plays a vital role in India's economy, contributing significantly to employment and GDP. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in digitalising the meat supply chain in India to address these challenges and enhance efficiency, transparency, and traceability. Digitalisation enables real‐time monitoring of environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature, during storage and transportation, ensuring optimal preservation of meat products. Government initiatives, such as the Digital India programme and the Atma‐Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, provide support and incentives to foster digitalisation in the meat industry and other sectors. This study analysed the implementation of digital technologies and supply chain performance as the involvement of top management commitment is crucial while carrying out this task. It supports that the implementation of digital technologies would lead to an increase in supply chain collaboration and it further would lead to an increase in supply chain performance. This study will help robust and more unified supply chain by connecting the stakeholders digitally as well as by applying digital technologies for smooth industry operations.
Investigating the individual effects of salt, sucrose and native starch on the gelation and rheological behaviour of debranched cassava starch
Authors: Sari Putri Meutia , Uttapap Dudsadee , Wandee Yuree , Kaisangsri Nattapon , Rungsardthong Vilai
Published: March 2024

Debranched starch (DBS) is widely used for the preparation of retrograded resistant starch type 3 due to its linear molecular feature. Upon application, interactions of the DBS with food ingredients can cause rheological and textural changes in cooked foods. This study aimed to investigate the individual effects of salt, sucrose and native starch at varying concentrations on gelation and rheological behaviour of debranched cassava starch (DBCS). Adding salt (NaCl; 0.5%–2.0% w/w) delayed gel formation. Frequency sweep tests of these gels indicated an apparent elastic solid‐like behaviour with or without salt. However, the gel weakened with increasing salt concentration. This result was confirmed by reduced gel hardness and gumminess. Unlike salt, adding sugar (sucrose; 5%–15% w/w) and native cassava starch (0.5%–20.0% w/w) enhanced gel formation. Gels incorporating sucrose or native starch displayed elastic solid‐like behaviour and had higher stiffness than the control. However, the dependence of their elastic moduli on frequency differed. The G′ and G″ of DBCS gels with native starch fluctuated with frequency. Texture analysis confirmed that the gels incorporating sucrose or native starch had higher strength than the control. In conclusion, salt delays gelation and reduces gel strength while sucrose and native starch show the opposite effects. Further research on the effects of other food ingredients especially protein and lipid as well as mixed ingredients on DBS gel properties is needed to gain a better understanding of DBS gel behaviours in real food systems.
Preparation and characterisation of silybin nanoemulsions based on complex emulsifiers: stability, in vitro release properties and antioxidant capacity
Authors: Li Zhibei , Liu Xing , Liu Kai , Zhao Bolin , Li Qiuxia , Xi Jingjing , Li Xiaofang
Published: March 2024

The low solubility of Silybin (Slb) presents a significant obstacle to its further application. In this study, silybin nanoemulsion (Slb‐NE) stabilised by sodium aseinate/glycyrrhetinic acid (NaCas/GA) complex emulsifiers were prepared for effective delivery of Slb. When the NaCas:GA mass ratio was 1:1, Slb‐NE had small particle size (189 nm), low PDI (0.125), and high zeta potential (−27.27 mv). SEM, TEM, and FI‐IR studies indicated that the emulsion system was spherical and homogeneous, and Slb was successfully loaded into Slb‐NE without generating new chemical bonds. Furthermore, the complex emulsifiers improved the stability of Slb‐NE. In vitro release and antioxidant experiments showed that the incorporation of GA strengthened the sustained release and antioxidant capacity of Slb‐NE. NaCas/GA can be used as a natural and green complex emulsifiers for delivery of difficult‐to‐solve ingredients.
Visual attention to food cues and dental caries—Are they associated?
Authors: Cho Vanessa Y. , Anthonappa Robert P.
Published: March 2024

Background

The role of diet has a key role in dental caries. Attention to food cues can be an indicator for food choices.

Aim

This study investigates children's visual attention to images with healthy and unhealthy food cues and correlates it with that of their parents and with their dental caries status using eye‐tracking technology.

Design

A total of 30 children with and without dental caries and their 30 parents were calibrated to the eye‐tracking device (Tobii Nano Pro) to ensure standardisation. Participants viewed matching images of healthy and unhealthy food cues, whereas an eye‐tracking device tracked their eye movements. Children had a dental examination and were classified as children with dental caries (n = 15) and their parents (n = 15), and children without dental caries (n = 15) and their parents (n = 15).

Results

In children with dental caries, visual attention duration was longer to healthy foods than to unhealthy foods. Likewise, parents of children with dental caries spent longer time looking at healthy foods than unhealthy foods.

Conclusion

Our preliminary findings indicate a significant association between children's visual attention to healthy and unhealthy food cues and their dental caries status. This underscores the need for further investigation into the correlation between children's and their parents' visual attention to food, particularly in the context of children with dental caries. Such exploration holds promise for informing targeted interventions in food choice education.
Association between hypertension and pressure ulcer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Yanting , Zhou Wei , Du Haiyang
Published: March 2024

This review aims to systematically evaluate the association between hypertension and pressure ulcer (PU). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies from their inception until September 12, 2023. Literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by two researchers. The random‐effects model was used to calculate the combined odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) of hypertension in patients with PU; subgroup analyses were performed to explore the source of between‐study heterogeneity; sensitivity analysis was used to test the robust of the combined result; and funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess the publication bias. Finally, a total of 19 studies with 564 716 subjects were included; the overall pooled result showed no significant association between hypertension and risk of developing PU (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.90–1.47, p = 0.27); and the sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis showed robust of the combined result. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant association between hypertension and PU when the primary disease was COVID‐19 (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.35–2.22, p < 0.0001). No association between hypertension and PU was seen in subgroup analysis on the patient source and study design. In sum, there is no significantly statistical association between hypertension and the occurrence of PU in most cases, while the risk of PU significantly elevates among COVID‐19 patients combined with hypertension regardless of patient source and study design.
Primary school students' perceptions and developed artefacts and language from learning coding and computational thinking using the 3C model
Authors: Martin David A. , Curtis Peter , Redmond Petrea
Published: March 2024

Background

A resurgence in teaching coding in primary school classrooms has led to a pedagogical swing towards using physical computing and coding to develop students' use of algorithms, computational thinking, and problem‐solving skills. Two obstacles impede the optimal development of these objectives: the availability of a suitable pedagogy and an instructional sequencing model for primary school teachers to effectively present coding and computational thinking concepts and skills to students in alignment with their developmental stage.

Objective

This study aims to address both obstacles by introducing the 3C Model, a newly developed instructional sequence grounded in established pedagogies and designed to effectively teach coding and computational thinking skills to primary school students based on their developmental stage.

Methods

The qualitative study employed two data sources to triangulate findings, using: (1) semi‐structured interviews and thematic analysis to investigate 11 primary school students' perceptions of their learning experiences with the 3C Model, and (2) researcher observations along with reflections of the students' developed and demonstrated learning through the method of knowing‐in‐action, reflection‐in‐action, and reflection‐on‐action.

Results and Conclusions

The findings of this study fill a gap in the existing literature by demonstrating that the pedagogical and sequential approach embedded in the 3C Model not only enhanced students' engagement levels but also resulted in improved curriculum learning outcomes. The 3C Model provides teachers with a coherent and age‐appropriate instructional structure. It uses physical computing devices and digital coding platforms to introduce coding concepts, furthering the development of computational thinking skills in primary school students beyond mere procedural and rote learning.

Implications

The study holds important implications for practical applications, as it addresses an absence in the literature of an established pedagogy and instructional sequencing model for effectively teaching coding and computational thinking concepts and skills to primary school students. Drawing on established pedagogical and developmental learning theories, the 3C Model provides primary school teachers with an engaging, age‐appropriate instructional method that avoids decontextualised teaching and surface‐based learning. Instead, it encourages collaborative student work and contextualised learning, steering away from isolated and generic approaches.
Who benefits and who doesn't in virtual reality learning: An experimental study comparing two types of school
Authors: Šikl Radovan , Brücknerová Karla , Švedová Hana , Děchtěrenko Filip , Ugwitz Pavel , Chmelík Jiří , Pokorná Hana , Juřík Vojtěch
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Media comparison studies examining the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality in education have yielded inconclusive findings, leaving the question of its impact on learning compared to conventional media unanswered. To address this issue, our study employs a novel approach that combines media comparison with an investigation on the influence of broader educational context.

Methods

In the experiment, 262 students from two distinct types of lower secondary schools—comprehensive school and multi‐year gymnasium (a selective academic school)—participated. The students received a lesson on topography and contour line interpretation, using either an immersive virtual environment or a PowerPoint slideshow. A transfer test was carried out before, immediately after, and 1 month after the lesson to measure knowledge application.

Results

The impact of the media (immersive virtual reality vs. PowerPoint slideshow) on learning outcomes was found to be minimal, with no clear advantage of one over the other in any experimental condition. In contrast, a significant influence on learning gains was observed due to school type. Multi‐year gymnasium students consistently outperformed comprehensive school students in the pre‐test and demonstrated greater learning gains, regardless of the learning media.

Conclusion

The present study employs an innovative approach by integrating a comparative analysis of different media types with an investigation into the impact of learner characteristics. By including students from distinct types of schools, the study provides insights into the differential effects of immersive virtual reality in varied educational contexts.
GDF11: An emerging therapeutic target for liver diseases and fibrosis
Authors: Habibi Pardis , Falamarzi Kimia , Ebrahimi Niloofar Dehdari , Zarei Mohammad , Malekpour Mahdi , Azarpira Negar
Published: March 2024

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP11), has been identified as a key player in various biological processes, including embryonic development, aging, metabolic disorders and cancers. GDF11 has also emerged as a critical component in liver development, injury and fibrosis. However, the effects of GDF11 on liver physiology and pathology have been a subject of debate among researchers due to conflicting reported outcomes. While some studies suggest that GDF11 has anti‐aging properties, others have documented its senescence‐inducing effects. Similarly, while GDF11 has been implicated in exacerbating liver injury, it has also been shown to have the potential to reduce liver fibrosis. In this narrative review, we present a comprehensive report of recent evidence elucidating the diverse roles of GDF11 in liver development, hepatic injury, regeneration and associated diseases such as non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We also explore the therapeutic potential of GDF11 in managing various liver pathologies.
Calycosin alleviates titanium particle‐induced osteolysis by modulating macrophage polarization and subsequent osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Jiang Hui , Wang Yang , Tang Zhao , Peng Xianjiang , Li Chan , Dang Yangjie , Ma Rui
Published: March 2024

Periprosthetic osteolysis (PPO) caused by wear particles is one of the leading causes of implant failure after arthroplasty. Macrophage polarization imbalance and subsequent osteogenic inhibition play a crucial role in PPO. Calycosin (CA) is a compound with anti‐inflammatory and osteoprotective properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CA on titanium (Ti) particle‐induced osteolysis, Ti particle‐induced macrophage polarization and subsequent osteogenic deficits, and explore the associated signalling pathways in a Ti particle‐stimulated calvarial osteolysis mouse model using micro‐CT, ELISA, qRT‐PCR, immunofluorescence and western blot techniques. The results showed that CA alleviated inflammation, osteogenic inhibition and osteolysis in the Ti particle‐induced calvarial osteolysis mouse model in vivo. In vitro experiments showed that CA suppressed Ti‐induced M1 macrophage polarization, promoted M2 macrophage polarization and ultimately enhanced osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cells. In addition, CA alleviated osteogenic deficits by regulating macrophage polarization homeostasis via the NF‐κB signalling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. All these findings suggest that CA may prove to be an effective therapeutic agent for wear particle‐induced osteolysis.
CPA4 as a biomarker promotes the proliferation, migration and metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Kongjia , Ding Yixin , Liu Yunbo , Ma Mingyu , Wang Ji , Kou Zengshun , Liu Shuo , Jiang Bo , Hou Sichuan
Published: March 2024

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a commonly occurring and highly aggressive urological malignancy characterized by a significant mortality rate. Current therapeutic options for advanced ccRCC are limited, necessitating the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Carboxypeptidase A4 (CPA4) is a zinc‐containing metallocarboxypeptidase with implications in various cancer types, but its role in ccRCC remains unexplored. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were utilized in order to investigate the differential expression patterns of CPA4. The expression of CPA4 in ccRCC patients was further verified using immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of 24 clinical specimens. A network of protein–protein interactions (PPI) was established, incorporating CPA4 and its genes that were expressed differentially. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to anticipate the contribution of CPA4 in the development of ccRCC. To validate our earlier study, we conducted real‐time PCR and cell functional tests on ccRCC cell lines. Our findings revealed that CPA4 is overexpressed in ccRCC, and the higher the expression of CPA4, the worse the clinical outcomes such as TNM stage, pathological stage, histological grade, etc. Moreover, patients with high CPA4 expression had worse overall survival, disease‐specific survival and progress‐free interval than patients with low expression. The PPI network analysis highlighted potential interactions contributing to ccRCC progression. Functional enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of CPA4 in the regulation of key pathways associated with ccRCC development. Additionally, immune infiltration analysis suggested a potential link between CPA4 expression and immune response in the tumour microenvironment. Finally, cell functional studies in ccRCC cell lines shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of CPA4 in promoting ccRCC formation. Overall, our study unveils CPA4 as a promising biomarker with prognostic potential in ccRCC. The identified interactions and pathways provide valuable insights into its implications in ccRCC development and offer a foundation for future research on targeted therapies. Further investigation of CPA4's involvement in immune responses may contribute to the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for ccRCC treatment.
O‐GlcNAc regulates anti‐fibrotic genes in lung fibroblasts through EZH2
Authors: Wu Qiuming P. , Vang Shia , Zhou Jennifer Q. , Krick Stefanie , Barnes Jarrod W. , Sanders Yan Y.
Published: March 2024

Epigenetic modifications are involved in fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and contribute to the silencing of anti‐fibrotic genes. H3K27me3, a key repressive histone mark, is catalysed by the methyltransferase enhancer of Zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), which is regulated by the post‐translational modification, O‐linked N‐Acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc). In this study, we explored the effects of O‐GlcNAc and EZH2 on the expression of antifibrotic genes, cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox2) and Heme Oxygenase (Homx1). The expression of Cox2 and Hmox1 was examined in primary IPF or non‐IPF lung fibroblasts with or without EZH2 inhibitor EZP6438, O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT) inhibitor (OSMI‐1) or O‐GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitor (thiamet G). Non‐IPF cells were also subjected to TGF‐β1 with or without OGT inhibition. The reduced expression of Cox2 and Hmox1 in IPF lung fibroblasts is restored by OGT inhibition. In non‐IPF fibroblasts, TGF‐β1 treatment reduces Cox2 and Hmox1 expression, which was restored by OGT inhibition. ChIP assays demonstrated that the association of H3K27me3 is reduced at the Cox2 and Hmox1 promoter regions following OGT or EZH2 inhibition. EZH2 levels and stability were decreased by reducing O‐GlcNAc. Our study provided a novel mechanism of O‐GlcNAc modification in regulating anti‐fibrotic genes in lung fibroblasts and in the pathogenesis of IPF.
GPX4‐mediated bone ferroptosis under mechanical stress decreased bone formation via the YAP‐TEAD signalling pathway
Authors: Mengjia Wang , Jun Ji , Xin Zhang , Jiahao Zhang , Jie Guo
Published: March 2024

Fracture of the alveolar bone resorption is a common complication in orthodontic treatment, which mainly caused by extreme mechanical loading. However, the ferroptosis with orthodontic tooth movement(OTM) relationship has not been thoroughly described. We here analysed whether ferroptosis is involved in OTM‐associated alveolar bone loss. Mouse osteoblasts (MC‐3T3) and knockdown glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) MC‐3T3 were stimulated with compressive force loading and ferrostatin‐1 (Fer‐1, a ferroptosis inhibitor), and the changes in lipid peroxidation morphology, expression of ferroptosis‐related factors and osteogenesis levels were detected. After establishing the rat experimental OTM model, the changes in ferroptosis‐related factors and osteogenesis levels were reevaluated in the same manner. Ferroptosis was involved in mechanical stress regulating osteoblast remodelling, and Fer‐1 and erastin affected osteoblasts under compression force loading. Fer‐1 regulated ferroptosis and autophagy in MC‐3T3 and promoted bone proliferation. GPX4‐dependent ferroptosis stimulated the YAP (homologous oncoproteins Yes‐associated protein) pathway, and GPX4 promoted ferroptosis via the YAP‐TEAD (transcriptional enhanced associate domain) signal pathway under mechanical compression force. The in vivo experiment results were consistent with the in vitro experiment results. Ferroptosis transpires during the motion of orthodontic teeth, with compression force side occurring earlier than stretch side within 4 h. GPX4 plays an important role in alveolar bone loss, while Fer‐1 can inhibit the compression force‐side alveolar bone loss. GPX4's Hippo‐YAP pathway is activated by the lack of compression force in the lateral alveolar bone.
Emigration of post‐spawned twaite shad Alosa fallax, an anadromous and iteroparous fish, in a highly fragmented river
Authors: Yeldham Mark I. A. , Britton J. Robert , Crundwell Charles , Davies Peter , Dodd Jamie R. , Nunn Andrew D. , Velterop Randolph , Bolland Jonathan D.
Published: March 2024

Anthropogenic barriers are widely known to negatively impact the spawning migrations of anadromous fishes, by delaying or preventing passage upstream. Although the impacts of barriers on emigrating post‐spawned adults are less well studied, they could potentially impact the fitness and subsequent return rates of iteroparous species. In this study, passive acoustic telemetry was used to track the emigrations of 53 twaite shad Alosa fallax in the River Severn basin in their first spawning migration a year after being tagged, giving insights into their emigration movements and the impacts of anthropogenic weirs on these movements. A. fallax began their emigrations after spending varying amounts of time and migrating various distances within the river, with late‐emigrating individuals moving fastest and most directly. Emigrations became faster and more direct the further downstream individuals were from their furthest upstream extent. Downstream passage delays at weirs increased emigration times by a median of 61%, with environmental conditions (i.e., temperature, flow, and tidal influence on river level) having little influence on downstream passage at weirs with no modifications to facilitate fish passage. As weir‐induced emigration delays are suggested to deplete energy reserves (when energy levels are already depleted post‐spawning), limit spawning opportunities (by preventing access to downstream spawning habitat), and expose individuals to increased predation risk and suboptimal conditions (e.g., high temperatures), these delays can potentially diminish the benefits of iteroparity. The evidence presented here suggests that more consideration should be given to the potential impacts of anthropogenic barriers on the emigrations of iteroparous species when assessing river connectivity or undertaking barrier mitigation.
Committed Actors, Institutional Complexity, and Pathways to Compromise: The Emergence of Islamic Banking in Germany
Authors: Gümüşay Ali Aslan , Meyer Renate E. , Höllerer Markus A.
Published: March 2024

The formation of the first Islamic bank in Germany in 2015 came with considerable tensions at the interface of the religious logic, on the one hand, and the state logic, on the other. With the Islamic religious logic being novel to the German field of banking and finance, innovative templates were established to deal effectively with the resulting tensions and conflicts. Drawing on qualitative data, we investigate how the bank, with its strong commitment to Islam, navigated such novel institutional complexity and the challenges stemming from the jurisdictional overlap. We identify four distinct compromise mechanisms in this institutionally complex situation, in which a committed actor prioritizes one logic over another: explaining, convincing, conceding and suspending. Importantly, as options, these mechanisms are situated in a cascading order of preference for the focal actor. More generally, our research posits that in any encounter between institutional logics in which the specific instantiation of a logic stems from a foreign interinstitutional system, the resulting novel institutional complexity may necessitate the development of innovative templates which, at the same time, may imply ‘stretching’ an institutional logic and, in consequence, impact the compatibility of its jurisdictional claims.
Fus3 is a pathogenicity factor of Botryosphaeria dothidea on kiwifruit
Authors: Shin Yong Ho , Deising Holger B. , Jeun Yong Chull
Published: March 2024

The ascomycete fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea is the causal agent of postharvest rot in kiwifruit. Production and spreading of conidia, differentiation of infection hyphae and invasion of intact fruit surfaces are required to cause fruit rot disease. In several pathogenic fungi, the homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene Fus3 has been identified as a pathogenicity factor. To investigate the role of the Fus3 homologue in B. dothidea, the gene was deleted and the resulting ∆fus3 mutants were characterized. On artificial media, strong growth defects of ∆fus3 strains were observed, mycelia were non‐pigmented, and mutants were unable to conidiate. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the wild‐type strain differentiated thick hyphae on the surface of kiwifruits, and nose‐down growth of hyphae indicated tight attachment to the fruit. In contrast, hyphae of ∆fus3 strains mutants were thinner and did not firmly attach to the fruit surface. Importantly, pathogenicity test revealed that ∆fus3 strains were unable to cause disease symptoms on intact kiwifruits. These results shown here identify Fus3 of B. dothidea as a novel pathogenicity factor of the ripe rot pathogen on kiwifruit.
Too much incentive to innovate? CEO stock option exercise and myopic R&D management
Authors: Wang Xinchun
Published: March 2024

Innovation is a key driver of firm success. To encourage innovation, firms often offer equity‐based compensation, such as stock options, to better align CEOs' personal interests with shareholder value. Drawing on agency theory, we argue that stock options may not always benefit a firm by encouraging innovation. Instead, we demonstrate that CEOs intending to exercise their stock options have the incentive to be myopic in R&D management so that they can temporarily boost the stock price and, thus, increase their personal wealth. Using a unique multi‐source dataset of 335 Standard & Poor 500 companies from 2007 to 2015, we find evidence supporting this argument. Moreover, the findings suggest that factors that can affect the perceived pressure to promote innovation by CEOs might reshape the association between stock option exercise and myopic R&D management. For example, power resulting from CEO duality decreases the perceived pressure to promote innovation, which increases the likelihood of CEOs engaging in myopic R&D management when exercising their stock options. However, when shareholders present a long investment horizon or when firms have high innovativeness, CEOs perceive more pressure to promote innovation and thus are less likely to opt for myopic R&D management while exercising stock options. The findings provide important insights for better understanding and controlling managerial myopia in innovation management.
Spatial phylogenetics of grasses in the Southern Cone provides insights into ecology and evolution of the family in South America
Authors: Aagesen Lone , Salariato Diego L. , Scataglini María A. , Acosta Juan M. , Denham Silvia S. , Delfini Carolina
Published: March 2024

In this study, we explored the distributions of grass genera in the Southern Cone (SC) of South America, applying several phylogenetic diversity (PD) metrics and randomization tests. Grasses appear to have been present in South America since their early evolution as tropical understory species more than 60 Ma. During the course of evolution, grasses have adapted to all terrestrial biomes and become one of the most successful plant families on earth. At present, the SC contains nearly all terrestrial biomes and a wide range of humid to arid ecoregions. Analyzing 126.514 point occurrences and four plastid markers for 148 genera (91% of the native grass genera), we found that tropical humid regions hold the highest PD, with no observed bias in branch lengths. These results indicate that niche conservatism dominates the diversity pattern of grasses in the SC. We found significantly low PD in the Dry Chaco and in the Patagonian Steppe, which suggest ecological filtering in both warm and cold arid regions. The Patagonian Steppe also holds significantly longer branches than expected by chance, as the native grass flora is mainly composed of distantly related Pooideae genera with a northern hemisphere origin. Short branches are found in the Uruguayan Savanna, suggesting that these grasslands could be a cradle for grass diversity within the SC. The dated phylogeny supported the current view of a relatively recent evolution of the family within the SC, with most diversification taking place from the middle Miocene and onwards.
When voting no is not enough: Legislative brawling and obstruction in Korea
Authors: Jeong Gyung‐Ho
Published: March 2024

Although legislative brawling is a common occurrence—with 365 cases reported across the world between 1990 and 2018—we have a limited understanding of why members of representative bodies engage in violence. Does the lack of institutionalization or the violent nature of some legislators cause such behavior? This article argues that legislators with intense policy preferences engage in costly actions, such as brawling, as a means of signaling their policy commitment. To validate this claim, this article examines legislators' participation in legislative brawling and filibusters in Korea before and after the adoption of a filibuster procedure. I find that extreme members engaged in brawling before the adoption of procedural reform, while they engaged in filibusters after the adoption. This transformation of brawlers into filibusterers suggests that legislative brawling does not necessarily indicate a violent nature of some legislators but rather a desire by legislators to signal their policy commitments.
The impact of COVID‐19 on school nursing: A qualitative survey of stressors faced by school nurses
Authors: White Benjamin , Hetzel Annie , Willgerodt Mayumi , Durkee‐Neuman Elizabeth , Nguyen Lan
Published: March 2024

Background

As students returned to school, school nurses were responsible for infection control, communication, and the preparation of supplies and facilities. School nurses in the Pacific Northwest US demonstrated a higher prevalence of mental health symptoms in the years since the pandemic began, suggesting that their experience may have been unique.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the stressors of school nurses in the Pacific Northwest at two time points.

Design

This study is a qualitative, descriptive analysis of anonymous survey responses collected in June of 2021 (n = 333) and between October and December 2021 (n = 284).

Sample

Self‐identifying school nurses working in K‐12 schools in Washington State were invited to participate.

Measurements

Participants completed open‐ended survey questions designed to elicit their experiences during the pandemic.

Results

Four themes emerged from the data: (1) isolation from administration and the school community, (2) COVID‐19‐related workload, (3) disorganized and inconsistent communication, and (4) concern for students, themselves, and others.

Conclusions

School nurses played a vital public health role during the pandemic. However, their effectiveness may not have been fully utilized and sometimes undermined. Lastly, our findings highlight the difficulties encountered in implementing the changing scientific and public health guidance during the pandemic.
Potential i‐Nos/Arg‐1 Switch with NLRP3 and Parasitic Load Down Regulation in Experimental Schistosoma mansoni Infection via Chloroquine Repurposing
Authors: Hasby Saad Marwa A. , El‐Saadi Esraa G. , Ali Dareen A. , Watany Mona M. , Eid Mohammed M.
Published: March 2024

In previous studies, the inhibitory effect of chloroquine on NLRP3 inflammasome and heme production was documented. This may be employed as a double‐bladed sword in schistosomiasis (anti‐inflammatory and parasiticidal). In this study, chloroquine's impact on schistosomiasis mansoni was investigated. The parasitic load (worm/egg counts and reproductive capacity index [RCI]), i‐Nos/Arg‐1 expression, splenomegaly, hepatic insult and NLRP3‐immunohistochemical expression were assessed in infected mice after receiving early and late repeated doses of chloroquine alone or dually with praziquantel. By early treatment, the least RCI was reported in dually treated mice (41.48 ± 28.58) with a significant reduction in worm/egg counts (3.50 ± 1.29/2550 ± 479.58), compared with either drug alone. A marked reduction in the splenic index was achieved by prolonged chloroquine administration (alone: 43.15 ± 5.67, dually: 36.03 ± 5.27), with significantly less fibrosis (15 ± 3.37, 14.25 ± 2.22) than after praziquantel alone (20.5 ± 2.65). Regarding inflammation, despite the praziquantel‐induced significant decrease in NLRP3 expression, the inhibitory effect was marked after dual and chloroquine administration (liver: 3.13 ± 1.21/3.45 ± 1.23, spleen: 5.7 ± 1.6/4.63 ± 2.41). i‐Nos RNA peaked with early/late chloroquine administration (liver: 68.53 ± 1.8/57.78 ± 7.14, spleen: 63.22 ± 2.06/62.5 ± 3.05). High i‐Nos echoed with a parasiticidal and hepatoprotective effect and may indicate macrophage‐1 polarisation. On the flip side, the chloroquine‐induced low Arg‐1 seemed to abate immune tolerance and probably macrophage‐2 polarisation. Collectively, chloroquine synergised the praziquantel‐schistosomicidal effect and minimised tissue inflammation, splenomegaly and hepatic fibrosis.
Pyroptosis Tuning in Intestinal Cryptosporidiosis via the Natural Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Romidepsin
Authors: Shalaby Noha E. , Shoheib Zeinab S. , Yassin Nabila A. , El‐Kaliny Heba H. , Hasby Saad Marwa A.
Published: March 2024

Cryptosporidium is an opportunistic protozoan, with many species of cross‐human infectivity. It causes life‐threatening diarrhoea in children and CD4‐defective patients. Despite its limited efficacy, nitazoxanide remains the primary anti‐cryptosporidial drug. Cryptosporidium infects the intestinal brush border (intracellular–extracytoplasmic) and down‐regulates pyroptosis to prevent expulsion. Romidepsin is a natural histone deacetylase inhibitor that triggers pyroptosis. Romidepsin's effect on cryptosporidiosis was assessed in immunocompromised mice via gasdermin‐D (GSDM‐D) immunohistochemical expression, IFN‐γ, IL‐1β and IL‐18 blood levels by ELISA, and via parasite scanning by modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Oocyst deformity and local cytokines were also assessed in ex vivo ileal explants. Following intraperitoneal injection of romidepsin, oocyst shedding significantly reduced at the 9th, 12th and 15th d.p.i. compared with infected‐control and drug‐control (nitazoxanide‐treated) mice. H&E staining of intestinal sections from romidepsin‐treated mice showed significantly low intestinal scoring with marked reduction in epithelial hyperplasia, villous blunting and cellular infiltrate. SEM revealed marked oocyst blebbing and paucity (in vivo and ex vivo) after romidepsin compared with nitazoxanide. Regarding pyroptosis, romidepsin triggered significantly higher intestinal GSDM‐D expression in vivo, and higher serum/culture IFN‐γ, IL‐1β and IL‐18 levels in romidepsin‐treated mice than in the control groups. Collectively, in cryptosporidiosis, romidepsin succeeded in enhancing pyroptosis in the oocysts and infected epithelium, reducing infection and shifting the brush border towards normalisation.
Effect of off‐label targeted drugs on long‐term survival in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Insights from a national multicentre prospective registry
Authors: Xia Wanying , Qian Yuling , Lin Yangyi , Quan Ruilin , Yang Yuanhua , Yang Zhenwen , Tian Hongyan , Li Shengqing , Shen Jieyan , Ji Yingqun , Gu Qing , Han Huijun , Xiong Changming , He Jianguo
Published: March 2024

Background and Objective

Off‐label pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)‐targeted drugs are commonly prescribed for non‐operated chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but their effect on the long‐term prognosis of CTEPH remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of off‐label PAH‐targeted drugs on the long‐term survival of CTEPH patients.

Methods

CTEPH patients were enrolled from a prospective multicentre national registry. Except for licensed riociguat and treprostinil, other PAH‐targeted drugs were off‐label. In the original and propensity score–matched (PSM) samples, five‐year survival was compared in two groups: (a) patients not receiving off‐label PAH‐targeted drugs (control) versus (b) patients receiving off‐label PAH‐targeted drugs (treatment). The latter group was investigated for the effect of started off‐label PAH‐targeted drugs at baselines (initial) or during follow‐up (subsequent).

Results

Of 347 enrolled patients, 212 were treated with off‐label PAH‐targeted drugs initially (n = 173) or subsequently (n = 39), and 135 were untreated. The 1‐, 2‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (97.1% vs. 89.4%, 92.3% vs. 82.1%, 83.2% vs. 75.1% and 71.1% vs. 55.3%, respectively, log‐rank test, p = 0.005). Initial treatment was correlated with better 5‐year survival after excluding patients with subsequent treatment to reduce the immortal‐time bias (hazard ratio: 0.611; 95% CI: 0.397–0.940; p = 0.025). In PSM samples, patients given initial treatment showed significantly better 5‐year survival than untreated patients (68.9% vs. 49.3%, log‐rank test, p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Off‐label targeted drugs contributed to improved long‐term survival in CTEPH patients receiving pharmacotherapies.

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A history of the intermediate tier in the English NHS: Centre, region, periphery
Authors: Lambert Michael
Published: March 2024

Centre‐periphery relations have constituted a paradox for the English National Health Service (NHS) since its creation in 1948. Is it a top‐down national service organised locally, or a bottom‐up arrangement of local health systems managed nationally? North West England provides a regional case study which traces the changing organisational, relational and spatial dimensions of the intermediate tier. These reposition centre‐periphery tensions. In foregrounding, situating and conceptualising region in these terms, I offer new insight into existing narratives and centre‐periphery relations in the NHS.
Detection of two HLA‐B*35 variants: HLA‐B*35:01:01:39 and ‐B*35:03:01:32
Authors: Arroyo‐Sánchez Daniel , Gil‐Etayo Francisco Javier , Niño Ramírez Jairo Eduardo , Jiménez‐Hernaz Isabel , Tejeda Velarde Amalia
Published: March 2024

Two nucleotide substitutions in intronic regions give rise to the novel alleles: HLA‐B*35:01:01:39 and ‐B*35:03:01:32.
The use of cognitive load theory to assist in the teaching of electrocardiogram interpretation within paramedical science education
Authors: Thomas Marc Gildas
Published: March 2024

Background

Paramedics are expected to record electrocardiograms (ECGs) as part of their clinical assessment; however, it is an extremely difficult skill to learn and understand as it has a high intrinsic cognitive load which can also be challenging to teach effectively.

Aims

This article will explore the use of cognitive load theory to assist in the teaching of ECG interpretation within the context of paramedical education.

Description

Cognitive load theory can be useful to aid teaching within complex medical and health science domains including clinical skills teaching.

Conclusions

The application of cognitive load theory to the teaching of ECG interpretation can be useful as it allows for the development of understanding, building schemata linking information currently being learned to knowledge already gained within the long‐term memory, which can maximise germane load by the appropriate selection of intrinsic load, minimising extraneous load therefore not overloading the working memory.
Social media for learning: A qualitative exploration of the factors that impact clinical learners' attitudes and intentions
Authors: Ho Vincent , Nguyen Angela , Kumar Koshila
Published: March 2024

Background

Social media has created a revolution in learning and teaching. This study set out to provide a theory‐informed exploration of the factors influencing medical students' perspectives of learning with social media using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a framework.

Methods

The study collected data using semi‐structured interviews from seven third year medical students at an undergraduate Australian medical school, who were in their first clinical year. The data were analysed inductively and deductively using TPB.

Results

Three themes emerged relating to the factors that influence medical students' attitudes and intentions regarding using social media for learning: (1) Social media aligns with the needs and preferences of the contemporary learner; (2) rise of medical professionals on social media during the COVID‐19 pandemic; and (3) being an informed user of social media for learning. Participants had largely positive views and attitudes towards social media as a learning tool especially for preclinical content due to its capacity for multimodal information delivery and evolving social norms. However, this positivity was tempered by the challenges they faced in determining quality of resources, linking their learning to clinical medicine and accessing specialist content.

Conclusion

Social media can play a significant role in medical students' learning. However, its potential as an educational tool can be enhanced by widening access to resources, and implementing strategies that help students increase their evaluative judgement skills to make informed decisions regarding the quality of social media resources and to translate their social media‐mediated learning into clinical practice.
How to discuss transferability of qualitative research in health professions education
Authors: Stalmeijer Renée E. , Brown Megan E. L. , O'Brien Bridget C.
Published: March 2024

Transferability is commonly identified as a quality criterion for qualitative research. This criterion was introduced by Lincoln and Guba to describe the degree to which a study's findings can be transferred to other contexts, settings or respondents. In this How To paper, we present a more nuanced, multidimensional view of transferability and explain relevant concepts, reflexive approaches and specific techniques to guide researchers in discussing transferability. We identify three dimensions of transferability for use in many approaches to qualitative research: applicability, resonance and theoretical engagement. Transferability as applicability relates to providing sufficient information for readers to evaluate the relevance of findings to other contexts. Transferability as resonance requires the researcher to present the research in a way that evokes a sense of familiarity or shared experience. Transferability as theoretical engagement refers to ways the researcher uses theory to frame a problem, connects findings to existing constructs and/or proposes a model or theory that could explain a process or phenomenon. We encourage researchers to consider all three dimensions of transferability when developing and presenting their work, keeping in mind that some dimensions may be more relevant than others based on study methodology and project goals.
Helical Actuator–Driven Inchworm Robot Design and Prototype
Authors: Quarnstrom Joel , Xiang Yujiang
Published: March 2024

Bio-inspired robots provide solutions in many applications. Robots that can traverse and transport materials through confined areas are useful in disaster response, mining, mapping, and tunneling. The proposed robot is an inchworm-inspired robot that contracts and expands its body segments to move. It has spiky feet that are angled to only allow each foot to slide forward. It has a small frontal area compared to its length, and this allows it to travel through tight gaps or tunnels. Each segment uses two helical actuators as prismatic linkages to drive both forward movement and turning movement. These helical actuators transform the rotation of stepper motors into linear motion. Many linkage configurations were considered in designing this robot, and one without continuous singularities was selected. The robot stride consists of an extension phase and a contraction phase. In each phase, one foot is stationary, and one foot is moving. When each of the feet is in motion, the ground reaction force is assumed to be zero. The motion planning of the robot is designed so that the velocity and acceleration of each of the robot's rigid bodies are zero at the beginning and end of each movement phase. A 3D-printed prototype of the robot has been manufactured, and initial testing has shown that the foot spike design successfully allows the inchworm to shuffle forward. Testing the turning capabilities of this robot is ongoing.
Lithium-Ion Battery Capacity Prediction Method Based on Improved Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Liu Zhengyu , Huang Zaijun , Tang Liandong , Wang Hao
Published: March 2024

Currently, research and applications in the field of capacity prediction mainly focus on the use and recycling of batteries, encompassing topics such as SOH estimation, RUL prediction, and echelon use. However, there is scant research and application based on capacity prediction in the battery manufacturing process. Measuring capacity in the grading process is an important step in battery production. The traditional capacity acquisition method consumes considerable time and energy. To address the above issues, this study establishes an improved extreme learning machine (ELM) model for predicting battery capacity in the manufacturing process, which can save approximately 45% of energy and time in the grading process. The study involves the extraction of features from the battery charge–discharge curve that can reflect battery capacity performance and subsequent calculation of the grey correlation between these features and capacity. The feature set comprises features with a high correlation with capacity, which are used as inputs for the ELM model. Kernel functions are used to adjust the ELM model, and Bayesian optimization methods are employed to automatically optimize the hyperparameters to improve the capacity prediction performance of the model. The study uses lithium-ion battery data from an actual manufacturing process to test the predictive effect of the model. The mean absolute percentage error of the capacity prediction results is less than 0.2%, and the root-mean-square error is less than 0.3 Ah.