bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Celebrating the 2024 Jason Kinsey Award Winner from the National Association for School-University Partnerships
Authors: Burns Rebecca West
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to offer an overview of the prestigious Jason Kinsey Award given by the National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP). The article outlines the history and purpose, chronicles previous winners, and celebrates the 2024 honoree.

Design/methodology/approach

This article highlights recent winners of NASUP’s Jason Kinsey Award.

Findings

Due to the nature of this piece, there are no research findings. The article explains the history of the award, chronicles the winners over the years, and honors the most recent award recipient.

Originality/value

This article draws additional attention to this exemplary partnership work and may inspire future nominations.
Artificial intelligence-based assessment in ELT exam creation: a case study of Van Lang University lecturers
Authors: Luc Ha Duy Nguyen , Nguyen Anh Tu
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Focusing on the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, this research reveals that AI can create and improve English language assessments for learners in order to optimize and enhance test questions as a bilateral tool in the traditional way for English Language Teaching (ELT) is possible.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a qualitative methodology by conducting semi-structured interviews with a varied range of language institutes’ lecturers, revealing new beneficial effects of AI on test time, content and human variables.

Findings

Several interviewees agreed that AI should be used in ELT exam creations because of its overt advantages in making test items automatically, adaptive testing, enhanced feedback mechanisms and quality assurance and innovative formats. Simultaneously, some disadvantages are recorded, including complexity and nuance of language, technical limitations, ethical and bias concerns and human oversight and validation.

Research limitations/implications

The study was also limited by the time frame of the research, which may not have fully captured the complex dynamics between the different actors, such as using AI in preparing questions for reading tasks such as automatic creation of pre-reading questions as well as possible answers.

Originality/value

For future studies, as AI-generated material is becoming more ubiquitous, from music to artwork, it presents crucial legal problems regarding who owns the rights to the work or construct ELT exams. It has also become the next problem that the writers should concentrate on.
Benchmarking the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files for analysis of opioid use disorder treatment
Authors: Chughtai Mah Afroze , Kim Joo Yeon , Donohue Julie M. , Huskamp Haiden A. , Mehrotra Ateev , Barnett Michael L.
Published: December 2024

Objective

To evaluate the data consistency and quality of Medicaid claims data on opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, benchmarking the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files (TAF) against metrics reported by the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN), which analyzed data obtained directly from 11 state Medicaid agencies.

Data Sources and Study Setting

The primary data source was TAF claims for the years 2017 and 2018, limited to non‐dual, full‐benefit Medicaid beneficiaries aged 12–64 in one of the 11 states in our study sample.

Study Design

Using TAF data, we replicated performance on the following five OUD quality metrics reported by MODRN: number of enrollees receiving any OUD medication, receipt of behavioral health counseling, completion of urine drug screens, receipt of any opioid analgesic fill, and receipt of any benzodiazepine fill.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Access to TAF data was facilitated through the Chronic Conditions Warehouse.

Principal Findings

There were 11% fewer Medicaid enrollees with OUD in TAF compared to MODRN (912,478 vs. 1,034,412). Patient characteristics were largely similar across the two datasets, with the exception of more missing race information in TAF (20.9% vs. 7.1%). Across the 11 states, performance on the six quality measures was similar. For example, the rate of use of any OUD medication in 2018 was 57.1% in MODRN and 58.6% in TAF. However, there were important discrepancies in the TAF data in individual states for single years.

Conclusions

TAF data may undercount patients with OUD, but otherwise exhibited consistency with MODRN benchmarks, suggesting suitability of TAF for research on OUD treatment. Our results highlight several data quality issues with TAF that researchers who use these data should be aware of, including reporting of race and ethnicity.
Pear‐Shaped Eggs Evolved to Maximize the Surface Area‐to‐Volume Ratio, Increase Metabolism, and Shorten Incubation Time in Birds
Authors: Narushin Valeriy G. , Romanov Michael N. , Griffin Darren K.
Published: December 2024

Bird eggs can be spherical, ellipsoid, ovoid, or pear‐shaped (pyriform), the latter being the most complex. There is however no unambiguous evolutionary/adaptive explanation for this final, exotic shape. We hypothesized that pyriform eggs have a larger surface area‐to‐volume ratio (S/V) that may be a criterion for increased embryo metabolism. By integrating mathematical approaches, we confirmed this to be the case and developed a model of the egg metabolic rate defined as the ratio of S/V to its maximum possible value, depending on egg length. We found this to be inversely proportional to the egg incubation period and concluded that the complex pyriform shape is most likely due to embryo metabolism increase and, as a result, a reduction in the incubation period and shortened hatching time. As a result of this study, we conclude that some avian eggs are pyriform as this may attain a larger S/V ratio making them grow and hatch quicker.
Artificial intelligence in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy: Current applications and future directions
Authors: Jiang Huan , Ye Lian Song , Yuan Xiang Lei , Luo Qi , Zhou Nuo Ya , Hu Bing
Published: December 2024

Pancreaticobiliary endoscopy is an essential tool for diagnosing and treating pancreaticobiliary diseases. However, it does not fully meet clinical needs, which presents challenges such as significant difficulty in operation and risks of missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has enhanced the diagnostic and treatment efficiency and quality of pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis based on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) images, pathology of EUS‐guided fine‐needle aspiration or biopsy, need for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and assessment of operational difficulty, postoperative complications and prediction of patient prognosis, and real‐time procedure guidance. This review provides an overview of AI applications in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy and proposes future development directions in aspects such as data quality and algorithmic interpretability, aiming to provide new insights for the integration of AI technology with pancreaticobiliary endoscopy.
A New Promising Role for Selexipag in the Treatment of Scleroderma Vasculopathy: Preliminary Results From a Third Level Italian Scleroderma Center
Authors: Giuggioli D. , Orlandi M. , Spinella A. , de Pinto M. , Lumetti F. , Amati G. , Secchi O. , Ariani A.
Published: December 2024

Aim

Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DUs) represent the most frequent manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc), being signs of severe vasculopathy. Selexipag has been proposed as a useful tool for treating peripheral vasculopathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Selexipag for treating complex cases of DUs as compared to the standard of care.

Methods

This is a case–control study in which SSc patients with active and long‐lasting DUs were compared with a control group treated with a standard‐of‐care topical therapy that was stable in the previous 6 months. Clinical outcomes of RP and DUs were evaluated at T0 and after 6 months of follow‐up.

Results

23 SSc patients were enrolled. Selexipag was administered to 9 SSc patients, and its effects were compared with those in 14 SSc patients treated with standard‐of‐ care therapy. Complete healing of DUs in Selexipag patients was higher (56% vs. 7%, p = 0.018). DUs diameter and pain VAS were slightly better—although not statistically significant—at the end of follow‐up in the Selexipag group (respectively 0 vs. 5 p = 0.15 and 5 vs. 6, p = 0.066). All Raynaud Condition Scores outcomes improved in the Selexipag group: number of attacks (4 vs. 6, p < 0.001), duration (20 min vs. 25 mm, p = 0.083), and VAS (5 vs. 6, p = 0.066). Moreover, baseline DU diameter (β = 0.70, p < 0.001) and Selexipag treatment (β = −7.1, p = 0.006) were statistically significant predictors of the diameter of DUs after 6 months (F‐test = 0.038). No new DUs were observed during the 6‐month therapy.

Conclusions

Our preliminary results suggest a potentially new therapeutic indication of Selexipag in SSc for the treatment of SSc vasculopathy, in particular DUs and RP.
Placentas From SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection During Pregnancy Exhibit Foci of Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage
Authors: Nobrega Guilherme M. , McColl Eliza R. , Antolini‐Tavares Arthur , Souza Renato T. , Cecatti José Guilherme , Costa Maria Laura , Mysorekar Indira U.
Published: December 2024

Problem

COVID‐19 during pregnancy is linked to increased maternal morbidity and a higher incidence of preterm births (PTBs), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Cellular senescence, characterized by the irreversible cessation of cell division, is a critical process in placental function, and its dysregulation has been implicated in pregnancy complications like PTB. Senescence can be induced by various stressors, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, and viral infections.

Method of Study

In this study, we determined whether COVID‐19 had an impact on placental senescence. We examined placentas from women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) (n = 10 term, 4 preterm) compared to uninfected controls (n = 10 term, 3 preterm). The placentas were analyzed for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (spike and nucleocapsid viral proteins), markers of DNA damage (γH2AX) and oxidative stress (ROS), and senescence (telomere length, cell cycle regulators, and senescence‐associated secretory phenotype [SASP]).

Results

Although no overall differences in cellular senescence markers were observed between the COVID‐19 positive and negative groups, we found increased secreted SASP markers. Confocal microscopy of placentas from COVID‐19 positive cases revealed localized areas of oxidative stress and DNA damage colocalized with SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection induces localized focal placental damage, warranting further investigation into its impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes.
Association of hemoglobin levels with metabolic traits in women with PCOS
Authors: Virtanen Nikke , Pesonen Emilia , Saarela Ulla , Hurskainen Elisa , Arffman Riikka K. , Koivunen Peppi , Piltonen Terhi
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Within normal variation, higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels are associated with poorer metabolic profile in population cohorts, underlying the link between oxygen delivery and cell metabolism. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women and is commonly accompanied by metabolic derangements. In this study we sought to investigate Hb levels, and their metabolic associations, in women with PCOS.

Material and Methods

We used data from Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 to evaluate Hb levels in women with or without PCOS at the ages of 31 and 46 years. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between Hb levels and essential metabolic parameters in both groups.

Results

Women with PCOS had higher Hb levels than controls at the age of 31 years but not at the age of 46 years. Hb levels were associated positively with most of the metabolic parameters tested (body mass index, waist circumference, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), blood pressure, inflammatory markers, and blood lipids), with stronger associations in women with PCOS than in non‐PCOS controls. There were fewer associations at the age of 46 than at 31 years, and body mass index seemed to explain many, though not all, differences between the PCOS and non‐PCOS groups.

Conclusions

Women with PCOS have higher Hb levels at the age of 31 years. In both women with and without PCOS, Hb levels associate with poorer metabolic profile.
A Novel Machine Perfusion System for Enhancing Hepatic Microcirculation Perfusion
Authors: Fan Lin , Xia Haoyang , Peng Guizhu , Wang Weiyu , Fu Zhen , Ye Qifa
Published: December 2024

Background

Machine perfusion is a promising strategy for safeguarding liver transplants donated after cardiac death (DCD). In this study, we developed and validated a novel machine perfusion approach for mitigating risk factors and salvaging severe DCD livers.

Methods

A novel hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) system was developed, incorporating two pumps and an elastic water sac to emulate the functionality of the cardiac cycle. Compared to conventional systems (HOPE S1 and S2), the novel HOPE system (HOPE S3) was evaluated in rats, utilizing healthy livers perfused with methylene blue diluted using Histidine‐tryptophan‐ketoglutarate (HTK) solution or DCD livers subjected to 60 min of warm ischemia without heparin administration. Liver perfusion outcomes were assessed through macroscopic and microscopic evaluations, molecular analyses, and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Results

DCD livers subjected to HOPE systems' perfusion exhibited decreased injury and enhanced survival rates compared to static cold storage following 60 min of warm ischemia (DCD + SCS). The 4‐week post‐transplantation survival rates were 0%, 20%, and 33% in the DCD + SCS, HOPE S1, and HOPE S2 groups, respectively. HOPE S3 conferred protection against hepatocyte and non‐parenchymal cell injury, resulting in a 67% animal survival rate following 60 min of warm donor ischemia (HOPE S3). Assessments of hepatic sinusoidal microcirculation, morphological changes, and molecular alterations in preserved livers further confirmed these findings.

Conclusions

The newly devised machine perfusion system can enhance and uniform liver perfusion and may become a promising tool for revitalizing DCD liver grafts afflicted with severe warm ischemic injuries.
Two‐year changes of macular choroidal thickness in response to 0.01% atropine eye drops: Results from the myopia outcome study of atropine in children (MOSAIC) clinical trial
Authors: Kobia‐Acquah Emmanuel , Lingham Gareth , Flitcroft Daniel Ian , Loughman James
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To investigate 2‐year changes in macular choroidal thickness (ChT) in children receiving 0.01% atropine eyedrops and its relationship with spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression and axial length (AL) elongation.

Methods

A total of 250 myopic children aged 6–16 years (167%–0.01% atropine, 83‐placebo) were enrolled in the MOSAIC (ISRCTN36732601) clinical trial. Participants with complete 2‐year ChT (Topcon Triton Swept‐Source OCT), SER, and AL data were included in this study. Changes in macular ChT at 2 years and associations with changes in SER and AL elongation were analysed using linear mixed models.

Results

A total of 187 children (126%–0.01% atropine, 61‐placebo) were included in the analysis. Choroidal thickness over 2 years was stable in the 0.01% atropine compared with placebo group, which exhibited consistent thinning in subfoveal (mean ± SE: 0.49 ± 2.22 μm vs. −9.46 ± 2.69 μm; p = 0.034), parafoveal (1.40 ± 1.73 μm vs. −8.11 ± 2.08 μm; p = 0.002), and perifoveal (0.80 ± 1.25 vs. −6.17 ± 1.69; p = 0.002) macular subfields. Choroidal thickening was observed in participants with slower axial eye growth and myopia progression, regardless of their treatment group. Mediation analysis indicated that atropine 0.01% had a significant effect on ChT, with 68.3% of the effect being direct and 31.7% mediated through axial length changes. For SER, the direct effect on ChT was 80%, with the remaining 20% mediated by SER changes.

Conclusions

Myopic participants treated with 0.01% atropine exhibited stable ChT over 2 years, whereas the placebo group showed consistent thinning. The effect of atropine 0.01% on ChT was only partially explained by axial length and SER changes, indicating a direct effect of atropine treatment on the choroid.
Management of Patients With Refractory Reflux‐Like Symptoms Despite Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence‐Based Consensus Statements
Authors: Armstrong David , Hungin A. Pali , Kahrilas Peter J. , Sifrim Daniel , Moayyedi Paul , Vaezi Michael F. , Al‐Awadhi Sameer , Anvari Sama , Bell Reginald , Delaney Brendan , Emura Fabian , Gyawali C. Prakash , Katelaris Peter , Lazarescu Adriana , Lee Yeong Yeh , Repici Alessandro , Roman Sabine , Rooker Ceciel T. , Savarino Edoardo Vincenzo , Sinclair Paul , Sugano Kentaro , Yadlapati Rena , Yuan Yuhong , Zerbib Frank , Sharma Prateek ,   the International Working Group for the Classification of Oesophagitis (IWGCO)
Published: December 2024

Background

Many patients diagnosed with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have persistent symptoms despite proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.

Aims

The aim of this consensus is to provide evidence‐based statements to guide clinicians caring for patients with refractory reflux‐like symptoms (rRLS) or refractory GERD.

Methods

This consensus was developed by the International Working Group for the Classification of Oesophagitis. The steering committee developed specific PICO questions pertaining to the management of PPI rRLS. Methodologists conducted systematic reviews of the literature. The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated using the GRADE approach.

Results

Consensus was reached on 13 of 17 statements on diagnosis and management. For rRLS, suggested diagnostic strategies included endoscopy, ambulatory reflux testing and oesophageal manometry. The group did not reach consensus on the role of oesophageal biopsies or the use of reflux‐symptom association in patients undergoing reflux testing. The group suggested against increasing the PPI dose in patients who had received 8 weeks of a twice‐daily PPI. Adjunctive alginate or antacid therapy was suggested. There was no consensus on the role of adjunctive prokinetics. There was little role for adjunctive transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) inhibitors or bile acid sequestrants. Endoscopic or surgical anti‐reflux procedures should not be performed in patients with rRLS in the absence of objectively confirmed GERD.

Conclusions

The management of rRLS should be personalised, based on shared decision‐making regarding the role of diagnostic testing to confirm or rule out GERD as a basis for treatment optimisation. Anti‐reflux procedures should not be performed without objective confirmation of GERD.
EPPO‐Q‐bank: a curated database to support plant pest diagnostic activities
Authors: Bertaccini A. , van de Bilt J. L. J. , Contaldo N. , Cottyn B. , Damm U. , Duistermaat H. , Giordano L. , Giraldo Lopez A. , Griessinger D. , Grimault V. , van Heese E. , van Ingen‐Buijs V. A. , Kiewnick S. , de Koning P. P. M. , Menzel W. , Pel M. J. C. , Pierre É. , Quaglino F. , Roenhorst J. W. , Rousse P. , Schroers H. J. , Streito J. C. , Trontin C. , van Valkenburg J. , Verloove F. , van der Vlugt R. A. A. , De Vos P.
Published: December 2024

The increased risk of outbreaks of plant pests due to globalization and climate change requires up‐to‐date knowledge and quick and validated detection and identification methods. DNA barcoding and sequence analysis are increasingly used for diagnostics in phytosanitary laboratories. These methods use (short) genomic sequences specific to a well‐defined taxon for species identification. The EPPO‐Q‐bank database (https://qbank.eppo.int/) supports plant pest diagnostics focusing on pests recommended for regulation in the EPPO region and their look‐alikes. It provides a wide range of information on specimens, isolates, strains or populations available in collections, including curated DNA barcodes/sequence data. The cornerstone of this database is its curation by a team of scientists with taxonomic, phytosanitary and diagnostic expertise from National Plant Protection Organizations and institutes with connections to relevant phytosanitary collections.
Storage‐related artefacts in equine blood result in a pseudo‐inflammatory leukogram
Authors: Parsley Ashley L. , Hollingshead Nicholas A. , Gruber Erika J.
Published: December 2024

Background

To minimise storage‐related artefacts, EDTA‐anticoagulated whole blood should be evaluated promptly or refrigerated, a challenge in ambulatory practice. The effects of suboptimal blood storage on equine leukocyte parameters are not well‐documented.

Objectives

Document changes in leukocyte number, automated and manual differential counts, and morphology in equine blood stored at four temperatures for up to 5 days.

Study design

In vitro experimental.

Methods

EDTA‐anticoagulated whole blood from 13 horses was stored in a refrigerator (4°C), cooler with icepacks (3°C–19°C), room temperature (22°C), or incubator (37°C). Automated analyses were performed using an ADVIA 120 at 0, 8, 24, 48, and 120 h. Leukocyte integrity and morphology were evaluated on blood smears prepared at 0, 2, 4, 12, 24, 48, and 120 h.

Results

Automated leukocyte count was stable up to 24 h in samples stored in the refrigerator, cooler, and at room temperature, but decreased after 48 h in samples stored in the cooler (p < 0.01) or at room temperature (p < 0.05). Pseudo‐neutropenia occurred in some samples within 24 h. Storage‐dependent increases in cell swelling, ruptured cells, hypolobulated neutrophils, and cytoplasmic vacuolation were observed in samples stored at each condition but appeared later in samples stored under refrigeration. In samples stored at 37°C, the percentage of pyknotic cells increased by 4 h and WBC concentration decreased by 8 h.

Main limitations

The small study population consisted only of clinically healthy horses. The four static temperature conditions do not capture the full spectrum of potential conditions encountered in the field.

Conclusions

In most conditions, leukocyte counts decreased by 48 h, but remained within reference intervals in blood stored up to 120 h. Storage‐related leukocyte changes in blood stored under conditions mimicking ambulatory practice resulted in a pseudo‐inflammatory leukogram, which could alter interpretation and patient management.
A Potential Contribution of S100A11 to Skin Fibrosis and Pulmonary Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Takahashi Takuya , Takahashi Takehiro , Segawa Yuichiro , Ikawa Tetsuya , Terui Hitoshi , Takahashi Toshiya , Sumida Hayakazu , Yoshizaki Ayumi , Sato Shinichi , Asano Yoshihide
Published: December 2024

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by immune dysregulation, vasculopathy and fibrosis, driven by genetic and environmental factors. S100 proteins, which constitute a unique class of calcium‐binding proteins, have been shown to be critically implicated in various inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of S100A11 in SSc by examining its cutaneous expression and systemic serum levels, correlating them with key clinical parameters. First, we performed immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to examine S100A11 localisation in skin specimens from SSc patients and controls, and found that S100A11 was robustly expressed in SSc dermal fibroblasts. Analysis on the publicly available single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (scRNA‐seq) data of SSc skin samples further confirmed that S100A11 was highly expressed in SSc dermal fibroblasts along with several key genes associated with cellular senescence. Finally, we evaluated serum levels of S100A11 in SSc patients and HCs using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and found that serum S100A11 levels were significantly elevated in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) patients compared to controls. S100A11 serum levels in SSc patients were significantly correlated with modified Rodnan total skin thickness score and key parameters of SSc‐related interstitial lung disease. Our data collectively suggested a potential pathophysiological role of S100A11 in the cutaneous and lung fibrosis associated with SSc, warranting further investigation into its functional roles in this disease.
Microplastics and Skin Aging: Disruption of Barrier Function and Induction of Fibroblast Senescence
Authors: Ouyang Yujie , Wu Songjiang , Zhao Yuanyuan , Hu Yibo , Jiang Ling , Fu Chuhan , Lei Li , Zhang Yushan , Duan Xiaolei , Huang Jinhua , Chen Jing , Zeng Qinghai
Published: December 2024

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major concern among contemporary pollutants, but there is still limited knowledge regarding their impact on skin function. To address this issue, we conducted a transcriptome analysis on skin tissue that had been exposed to polystyrene (PS), which is one of the most prevalent type of MPs that can be absorbed through the skin. The results of our study, obtained through functional enrichment analysis and the experiment of treating HaCaT with PS, revealed that PS may have an effect on skin barrier function, specifically the permeability barrier through inhibiting keratinocyte differentiation. Additionally, PS also induced dysfunction in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanistically, we observed that PS induced fibroblasts senescence and increased the secretion of senescence‐related characteristics. Furthermore, the expression of core genes related to the ECM, such as COL1A1, COL1A2 and SPP1, was found to be down‐regulated in PS‐treated fibroblasts. Moreover, an in vitro experiment provided evidence of the involvement of PPARγ in PS‐induced fibroblast senescence. In conclusion, our study has identified PS as a causal factor for skin barrier dysfunction. Additionally, PS induces fibroblast senescence, leading to ECM dysfunction and contributing to skin aging. These findings further strengthen the understanding and management of the effects of MPs on skin health.
Morpho‐Physiological Traits Linked to Water Stress Responses Among Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Varieties: A Field Study in Kenya
Authors: Suba Vincent Ochieng , Munene Rosepiah , Mustafa Osman , Loftus Sara , Ahmed Mutez , Dippold Michaela , Otieno Dennis , Liu Juxiu , Li Yuelin
Published: December 2024

Sorghum is a drought‐tolerant crop with the potential to alleviate food insecurity in arid and semiarid regions of the world. This study aimed to identify the morphological and physiological traits that are associated with drought tolerance in three sorghum varieties grown in Kenya: the Makueni (MKL) landrace, Gadam (GD) open‐pollinated variety and the IESH 22012 hybrid. A randomised split‐plot design was employed, comprising three sorghum varieties and two moisture input levels (control and drought), replicated four times during the 2021 and 2022 crop seasons. Rainout shelters were utilised to impose drought conditions. Drought stress significantly influenced all traits, and the three varieties exhibited distinct responses. Based on grain yield, IESH demonstrated superior potential, followed by GD, while MKL ranked third under drought conditions. Across all varieties, drought led to reductions in transpiration rates (MKL: 40%, GD: 46% and IESH: 20%) and stomatal conductance (MKL: 31%, GD: 39% and IESH: 21%). Assimilation rates were reduced by 51%, 38% and 23% for GD, MKL and IESH, respectively. Similarly, drought decreased biomass by 46% for GD, 30% for IESH and 26% for MKL. Grain yields were also reduced by 51% for GD, 37% for MKL and 33% for IESH. GD exhibited a more pronounced yield decline than IESH in response to water shortages, indicating a greater sensitivity to reduced water supply. Overall, the results indicate that sorghum responds to drought by reducing plant size, biomass accumulation, leaf area, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance. However, the phenotypic drought response, including the allocation of reduced carbon and biomass formation among plant organs, is specific to each variety. The IESH variety was identified as more suitable for both drought‐stress and nonstress environments, considering its favourable morphological, physiological and yield‐related traits, as well as its sensitivity and tolerance indices.
Exemplifying Procedural Justice While Strengthening Organizational Identification: The Complex Relationship Between Identity Leadership and Unethical Pro‐Organizational Behavior
Authors: Milesi Patrizia
Published: December 2024

Unethical pro‐organizational behavior (UPB) aims at advantaging the organization while transgressing relevant laws or widely held norms of ethical conduct. Across three studies (Study 1 N = 138; Study 2 N = 413; Study 3 N = 139), the paper examines whether identity leadership plays as an antecedent of employees' UPB intention based on two simultaneous processes: one process related to identity leaders being perceived as exemplary group members, who model and inspire given standards of behavior as a function of the procedural justice employees experience within their workgroup; the other process related to identity leaders strengthening employees' organizational identification. The obtained results provided consistent evidence that identity leadership is associated directly with employees’ UPB intention by interacting negatively with procedural justice and that, at the same time, it is associated with it indirectly, through the mediation of organizational identification. Discussion focuses on the complexity of both UPB, where an ethical and a pro‐organizational dimensions are intertwined, and identity leadership, whose contents are conditional on the meanings employees associate with their group membership.
How Latine youth's positive development unfold through farmwork in rural migrant farmworker families in the U.S. Midwest
Authors: Jiang Xue , Taylor Zoe E. , Carlo Gustavo , Suitor J. Jill , Ruiz Yumary
Published: December 2024

Some Latine youth from rural migrant farmworker communities engage in farmwork to help support themselves and their families. Although research has documented their motives for working and some characteristics of their employment, knowledge about how these youth construct their work in the fields and how such experiences relate to their positive development is needed to depict their holistic experiences. Using mixed methods, we explored youth's farmwork experiences and examined how these experiences relate to youth's prosocial behaviors, civic responsibility, and ego‐resiliency. Data are from a mixed‐method study of Latine youth and parents in rural and agricultural families in the U.S. Midwest. The present study uses qualitative data from a subsample of 47 youth (Mage = 11.42, 48.8% boys) who participated in interviews and survey activities. Thematic coding of the interviews revealed sociocognitive, socioemotional, skilled‐related, and physical experiences, as well as prosocial considerations that included perspective taking, moral reasoning, and empathetic concern. Integrating qualitative and quantitative data showed that these experiences were distinctively associated with higher other‐oriented and lower self‐oriented prosocial behaviors and higher ego‐resiliency. Further, farmworker youth also showed significantly lower civic efficacy, indicating that farmwork may discourage some aspects of civic responsibility. The results can inform policy and program designs on promoting Latine youth's positive development in the face of adversity, such as by highlighting character development and bridging youth engagement with civic spheres.
N Protein of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Proven to Be Antagonistic Against Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Qiao Ning , Liu Hongmei , Chen Yuxing , Zhang Dezhen , Liu Jie , Sun Hanru , Liu Yongguang , Zhu Xiaoping , Sun Xiaoan
Published: December 2024

Two phylogenetically unrelated viruses transmitted by different insect vectors, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), are major threats to tomato and other vegetable production. Although co‐infections of TSWV and TYLCV on the same host plant have been reported on numerous occasions, there is still lack of research attempting to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between two viruses when they coexist in the same tomato or other plants. After assessing the effect of four TSWV‐coded proteins on suppressing TYLCV in TSWV N transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings, the TSWV N protein proved to be effective in reducing TYLCV quantity and viral symptoms. Western blot analysis indicated that TSWV N was involved in down‐regulating the expression level of the V1, C3, and C4 proteins of TYLCV, among which V1 was the most significantly suppressed one. Moreover, TSWV N was confirmed to reduce TYLCV V1 within both nucleus and cytoplasm, but a greater suppression was observed in cytoplasm. The co‐immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry identified 244 differential proteins from the TYLCV‐infected TSWV N transgenic N. benthamiana seedling. These proteins pertaining to energy metabolism pathways were enriched, suggesting that TSWV N could inhibit TYLCV through competing for energy or regulating energy‐related metabolism. The evidence presented here offers a novel perspective that will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of virus–virus and virus–host interactions, as well as a potential strategy for plant virus control through using TSWV N in the near future.
Terbinafine Resistance in Trichophyton Species From Patients With Recalcitrant Infections Detected by the EUCAST Broth Microdilution Method and DermaGenius Resistance Multiplex PCR Kit
Authors: Duus Liv , Schachsen Pernille Kræmer , Gertsen Jan Berg , Astvad Karen Marie Thyssen , Kristensen Lise
Published: December 2024

Background

Emerging terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton species has been reported globally. The prevalence in clinical samples from patients with treatment failure is unknown in Denmark.

Objectives

Prospective study of terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton isolates from patients with recalcitrant skin or nail infections.

Patients/Methods

Clinical samples (nails or skin scrapings) from patients with recalcitrant infections were included. Isolates were tested with the EUCAST broth microdilution method, E.Def 11.0 and DermaGenius Resistance Multiplex PCR kit (PathoNostics, The Netherlands).

Results

Thirty‐three isolates were included in the study, 27 (81.8%) T. rubrum, 2 (6.1%) T. interdigitale, 1 (3.0%) T. mentagrophytes and 3 (9.1%) T. indotineae. Sixteen of 31 isolates (52%) were terbinafine resistant with the EUCAST broth microdilution method, 13 T. rubrum and 3 T. indotineae. Two isolates did not grow in the broth culture medium. The DermaGenius Resistance Multiplex PCR kit showed mutations associated with terbinafine resistance in 11 isolates. All of the 11 isolates with detected mutations by PCR also displayed terbinafine resistance by the EUCAST method.

Conclusions

Terbinafine resistance was detected in 52% of Trichophyton isolates from recalcitrant infections by the EUCAST broth microdilution. T. rubrum was the most common species among the resistant isolates (81.3%). The DermaGenius Resistance Multiplex PCR kit was a reliable tool for the detection of mutations associated with terbinafine resistance and is suitable as an initial screening for terbinafine resistance before results from EUCAST broth microdilution testing is available. Susceptibility testing of Trichophyton spp. from skin and nail samples is highly relevant from patients with terbinafine treatment failure.
Diverse Views and Practices on the Handling of Explanted Hardware Highlights the Need for Standardized Management
Authors: Daştan Ali Engin , Vahabi Arman , Günay Hüseyin , Aktuğlu Kemal
Published: December 2024

Objective

Orthopedic implants may need to be removed for various reasons. There is little data on the appropriate handling of implants after their removal from patients. This study aimed to analyze how orthopedic surgeons handle removed implants and their underlying philosophies, using data collected from a survey.

Methods

This study, conducted between May 2024 and June 2024, utilized an online survey targeting orthopedic surgeons and residents in Turkey to investigate practices and views regarding removed implants. A total of 205 participants completed an 11‐question online survey via Google Forms. The survey covered hospital types, professional experience, protocols for handling removed implants, practices for archiving and disposing of implants, and perspectives on current practices and future direction.

Results

Participants' professional experience varied widely. None of the participants followed a specific protocol for managing removed implants. Opinions on giving implants to patients were diverse: 17.1% would never give the implant to the patient, 32.2% would comply with the patient's request, and 50.7% had no definitive approach. A minority (2.9%) systematically archived implants, while others archived selectively or disposed of them as medical waste. The primary motivations for archiving included medicolegal protection (21%) and professional curiosity (75.2%). Only 2.9% had experience with legal requests for removed implants, and 80% supported establishing regulations for handling removed implants.

Discussion

Orthopedic surgeons' legal and ethical perceptions regarding removed implants, as well as their preference of handling, vary widely. Establishing a standardized approach can reduce this variability in practice and ensure uniformity in healthcare.
Collective epistemic vices in Blaise Pascal's Provinciales
Authors: Chaturvedi Aditi
Published: December 2024

Les Provinciales (1656–1657) by Blaise Pascal is best known today for its scathing attack on the Jesuits. Most contemporary accounts treat the work either as a gem of polemical epistolography or of theological and historical interest as a depiction of the debates between the Jansenists and the Jesuits in seventeenth‐century France. In general, Pascal's epistemology is either ignored in Anglophone epistemology or explored in relation to Descartes or other more “substantial” epistemologists. This article argues that such marginalization of Les Provinciales—and Pascal—is a mistake. I contend that Pascal's work offers a fruitful case study in collective epistemic vices. Contrary to the common view that Les Provinciales is merely a series of Jansenist ad hominem attacks, I argue that Pascal's true aim was to expose the epistemic corruption of the Jesuits to a broader audience. In the first section, I offer a few remarks on contemporary vice epistemology and briefly defend the theoretical framework that I rely on. In the second section, I turn to the letters themselves. I first show how Pascal was acutely sensitive to the sociality of knowledge production, then discuss Les Provinciales as a case study of collective epistemic vices.
The impact of Asian‐Indian criteria for higher body mass index and preservative solutions on haemolysis of stored red blood cells: A prospective observational study
Authors: Mukherjee Somnath , Varghese K Stephy , Prakash Satya , Mishra Debasish , Sahu Ansuman
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The quality of packed red blood cells (PRBC) is influenced by various factors such as the collection and processing method, storage conditions, type of bag materials used, anticoagulant properties, and donor characteristics. Studies have indicated that haemolysis in stored RBC bags is linked to male sex, older age, high haemoglobin count, and increased body mass index (BMI). The study's primary objective was to investigate whether a high BMI, as per Asian Pacific criteria among donors, is associated with an elevated haemolysis rate in stored RBC. Additionally, the study aimed to examine any protective effects of different types of preservatives added to blood bags against RBC haemolysis during storage.

Methods

Stored RBCs from 100 blood donors with different BMI are analysed for haemolysis on 0, 21, and last day (35/42 days) of storage. A BMI cut‐off of 23 was taken for healthy and overweight consideration in blood donors. The blood bags selected for storage were either with additive solution (SAGM) or without additive along with an anticoagulant. The association of the percentage of haemolysis with different variables like age, BMI, and Haemoglobin of the donor were analysed. The correlation between the haematocrit of the bag and haemolysis was determined.

Results

This study did not find any significant increase in the percentage of haemolysis in blood bags with higher BMI on the last day of storage (p = 0.424). The haemolysis percentage was higher in bags without SAGM than in bags with an additive solution (p = 0.000). The high haematocrit of the bag has a significant positive correlation with the percentage of haemolysis (p = 0.002). Significantly higher haemolysis in CPDA‐1 bags of donor RBC units of BMI >23 groups was observed (p = 0.000) compared to those stored in CPD‐SAGM bags.

Conclusion

Indian population for higher BMI, as per Asia Pacific cut‐off criteria, did not significantly impact the haemolysis of blood bags. Stored RBCs with SAGM, especially of donors having BMI > 23, had a protective effect against haemolysis in blood bags. The percentage of haemolysis was positively correlated with the haematocrit of stored RBC in bags.
Winterfell survivor: The European phylogeography of a riparian earthworm (Annelida, Clitellata)
Authors: de Sosa Irene , F. Marchán Daniel , Novo Marta , Erséus Christer , Lapied Emmanuel , Jelić Mišel , Jabłońska Aleksandra , Szederjesi Tímea , Almodóvar Ana , Díaz Cosín Darío J.
Published: December 2024

Although some earthworms can survive in permafrost and tolerate cold conditions, it is generally believed that most earthworms were eradicated from northern latitudes during the Last Glacial Maximum. The main goal of this study is to test this hypothesis using a cosmopolitan earthworm as model, Eiseniella tetraedra. We collected 1640 specimens in 294 localities from 19 different countries. We examined three molecular markers (COI, 16S and 28S) and their morphology. Furthermore, we investigated their potential niches through Species Distribution Models. Eleven genetic lineages were found, nested in five clades. Clade I was more prevalent in cold biogeographical regions such as the Continental, the Atlantic or even the Arctic, while clade II was prevalent in Mediterranean regions. Potential niches agreed with the distribution trends. The presence of restricted clades in the Iberian and Scandinavian peninsulas, as well as in Eastern Europe, suggests that these three regions served as refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Thus, nunatak and tabula rasa hypotheses were necessary to explain the actual distribution of this riparian earthworm.
Supplemental Material: Influence of internal fluid driving mechanisms on red bed bleaching in the Paradox Basin (Colorado Plateau, Utah and Colorado, USA)
Authors: Lucero Dolan , al. et
Published: December 2024

Includes description of numerical code, permeability sensitivity analysis, kerogen degradation parameters, alteration fluid composition, and well data from Utah Geological Survey.
Robotic versus Laparoscopic Emergency and Acute Care Surgery: Redefining Novelty (RLEARN): feasibility and benefit of robotic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis at a level 1 trauma center
Authors: Klein Joshua , Lemma Mekedes , Prabhakaran Kartik , Rafieezadeh Aryan , Kirsch Jordan Michael , Rodriguez Gabriel , Blazar Ilyse , Jose Anna , Zangbar Bardiya
Published: December 2024

Background

This study aims to compare outcomes of robotic cholecystectomy (RC) versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the setting of a level 1 trauma center.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of our hospital data (2021–2024) on patients who underwent LC or RC. Using a previously validated intraoperative grading system, four grades of cholecystitis were defined as mild (A), moderate (B), severe (C), and extreme (D). Outcomes were operative times and rates of conversion to open surgery.

Results

In total, 260 patients (n=130 RC and n=130 LC) were included. Patients were primarily female (69.2%), with mean age of 47±18.3 years. The majority of cases had grade B cholecystitis (41.2%). Patients undergoing RC had lower operative times compared with LC in grade B (101.87±17.54 vs 114.96±29.44 min, p=0.003) and grade C (134.68±26.97 vs 152.06±31.3 min, p=0.038). Conversion rate to open cholecystectomy were similar in both groups (p=0.19).

Conclusion

RC had similar results as LC in terms of operative time and in fact has significantly lower operative time in patients with grade B and grade C cholecystitis.

Level of evidence

Level III—retrospective study.
X-ray pulsed light curves of highly compact neutron stars as probes of scalar–tensor theories of gravity
Authors: Ottoni Tulio , G. Coelho Jaziel , C. R. de Lima Rafael , P. Pereira Jonas , A. Rueda Jorge
Published: December 2024

The strong gravitational potential of neutron stars (NSs) makes them ideal astrophysical objects for testing extreme gravity phenomena. We explore the potential of NS X-ray pulsed light curve observations to probe deviations from general relativity (GR) within the scalar–tensor theory (STT) of gravity framework. We compute the flux from a single, circular, finite-size hot spot, accounting for light bending, Shapiro time delay, and Doppler effect. We focus on the high-compactness regime, i.e., close to the critical GR value

$$GM/(c^2 R)=0.284$$

G
M
/
(

c
2

R
)
=
0.284

, over which multiple images of the spot appear and impact crucially the light curves. Our investigation is motivated by the increased sensitivity of the pulse to the scalar charge of the spacetime in such high compactness regimes, making these systems exceptionally suitable for scrutinizing deviations from GR, notably phenomena such as spontaneous scalarization, as predicted by STT. We find significant differences in NS observables, e.g., the flux of a single spot can differ up to 80% with respect to GR. Additionally, reasonable choices for the STT parameters that satisfy astrophysical constraints lead to changes in the NS radius relative to GR of up to approximately 10%. Consequently, scalar parameters might be better constrained when uncertainties in NS radii decrease, where this could occur with the advent of next-generation gravitational wave detectors, such as the Einstein Telescope and LISA, as well as future electromagnetic missions like eXTP and ATHENA. Thus, our findings suggest that accurate X-ray data of the NS surface emission, jointly with refined theoretical models, could constrain STTs.