bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of anesthesia choice in cutaneous melanoma surgery
Authors: Benesch Matthew G.K. , Skitzki Joseph J.
Published: November 2023

Invasive cutaneous melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, but fortunately, the vast majority can be surgically treated with wide local excision, and sometimes additionally with sentinel or index lymph node biopsy for prognostication. Melanomas are particularly immunogenic malignancies, and preclinical studies have demonstrated that use of volatile anesthetics and opioids, unlike local agents, can suppress the immune system during the perioperative period. Immunosuppression has implications for creating a potentially favorable microenvironment for the survival and propagation of residual melanoma cells or micro-metastases, which could lead to disease relapse, both in the local tumor bed and distally. Results from observational clinical studies are mixed, but the literature would suggest that patients are at risk of decreased melanoma-specific survival after undergoing general anesthesia compared to regional anesthesia and spinal blocks. With the safety of close observation now established rather than automatic completion or total lymph node dissection for patients with either a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy or significant clinical response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy after index node sampling, the indications for definitive surgery with local or regional anesthesia have increased tremendously in recent years. Therefore, cutaneous melanoma patients might benefit from avoidance of general anesthesia and other perioperative drugs that suppress cell-mediated immunity if the option to circumvent systemic anesthesia agents is feasible.
Systemic Therapy for Lichen Sclerosus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hargis Abby , Ngo Madeline , Kraus Christina N. , Mauskar Melissa
Published: November 2023

Background

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, inflammatory process affecting predominantly anogenital skin, with extragenital involvement in up to 20% of cases. The mainstay of therapy for anogenital LS is topical immunosuppression. However, in treatment-refractory cases, severe, or hypertrophic disease, systemic modalities may be used. Currently, there are no guidelines for systemic therapy in LS.

Objective

This study aimed to provide a review of the current literature on use of systemic therapies for LS, including demographic and clinical features of LS, as well as reported outcomes.

Methods

A primary literature search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science, from the year the journal was published until June 2022.

Results

Ultimately, 71 studies consisting of 392 patients were included. Of these, 65% (n = 254) had anogenital disease, 9% (n = 36) had extragenital disease, and 19% (n = 73) had both anogenital and extragenital disease, and in 7% (n = 29) of cases, location was not specified. The most frequent therapies, stratified by total cases, included oral retinoids (n = 227), methotrexate (n = 59), hydroxychloroquine (n = 36), and systemic steroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, oral triamcinolone, and other systemic steroids) (n = 60). Overall, 76% (n = 194) of anogenital, 94% (n = 34) of extragenital, and 81% (n = 59) of patients with both anogenital and extragenital involvement were reported to have clinical or symptomatic improvement.

Conclusion

Overall, we found many therapies that have been used with reported success for extragenital and genital LS. However, future studies are needed to better define treatment outcomes and directly compare efficacy of different therapies for LS.
Recurrence After Biopsy-Confirmed Cervical High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion Followed by Negative Conization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Viveros-Carreño David , Mora-Soto Nathalia , Rodríguez Juliana , Rauh-Hain José Alejandro , Ramírez Pedro T. , López Varón Melissa , Krause Kate J. , Grillo-Ardila Carlos Fernando , Jeronimo Jose , Pareja René
Published: November 2023

The aim of the study is to assess the recurrence rate (as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ [CIN2+]) in patients who had a confirmed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN2–3) in a cervical biopsy specimen followed by a negative conization specimen.

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Ovid/MEDLINE, Ovid/Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception until January 2023. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID number CRD42023393951). The search identified 3,089 articles; 1,530 were removed as duplicates, and 1,559 titles and abstracts were assessed for inclusion. The full text of 26 studies was assessed for eligibility, and finally, 12 studies with 1,036 patients were included. All included studies were retrospective cohort studies. A proportion meta-analysis was performed.

Results

For patients with negative conization specimens, the recurrence rate as CIN2+ during follow-up was 6% (95% CI, 1.8%–12.1%; I
2 = 49.2; p < .0001, 215 patients and 4 studies) in the proportion meta-analysis, ranging from 0.3% to 13.0% for the individual studies. For patients with ≤CIN1 conization specimens, the recurrence rate as CIN2+ during follow-up was 3.6% (95% CI, 1.2%–7%; I
2 = 75.1; p < .0001, 991 patients and 10 studies) in the proportion meta-analysis and ranged from 0.6% to 13.0% for the individual studies.

Conclusions

The recurrence rate as CIN2+ for patients with a confirmed high-grade intraepithelial lesion on a cervical biopsy followed by a negative conization specimen is 6%. In patients with negative and CIN1 conization specimens, the recurrence rate is 3.6%.
A Comparison of Lichen Sclerosus and Vulvodynia Content Across Social Media Platforms: What Is Trending Over Time
Authors: Shiplo Samantha , Sivajohan Brintha , Selk Amanda
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Vulvovaginal diseases are common gynecologic complaints and patients often turn to social media (SM) for medical information. The objective of this study is to examine vulvovaginal content on SM and how it has changed over time.

Materials and Methods

Four SM platforms were searched (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube) at 2 time points from March 30 to May 7, 2021, and again from November 24 to December 10, 2022. Newer SM platforms became popular during this time interval and thus TikTok and Reddit were included in the search in 2022. This study focused on 2 common vulvovaginal conditions: lichen sclerosus and vulvodynia. The SM platforms were searched for content on these conditions and the type of content, language, and country of origin were assessed.

Results

A total of 1228 SM accounts, posts, and pages were assessed. Lichen sclerosus content on SM was mostly informational (32.6%), whereas vulvodynia content was mostly personal experience (30.5%). Patient support groups were significantly more popular in 2021 compared with 2022 and professional groups were more common in 2022 compared with 2021 (p < .001). Overall, Facebook and Instagram consisted mostly of patient support groups, YouTube had both informational and professional videos, TikTok had mostly personal experiences and healthcare professional videos, and Reddit was mostly discussions about patient personal experiences.

Conclusions

The current study highlights the content and quantifies user engagement of lichen sclerosus and vulvodynia on SM.
Clinical and demographic factors modify the association between plasma phosphorylated tau-181 and cognition
Authors: Bolton Corey J. , Steinbach Marilyn , Khan Omair A. , Liu Dandan , O’Malley Julia , Dumitrescu Logan , Peterson Amalia , Jefferson Angela L. , Hohman Timothy J. , Zetterberg Henrik , Gifford Katherine A. ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTION

Plasma phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181) associations with global cognition and memory are clear, but the link between p-tau181 with other cognitive domains and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) across the clinical spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and how this association changes based on genetic and demographic factors is poorly understood.

METHODS

Participants were drawn from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and included 1185 adults aged >55 years with plasma p-tau181 and neuropsychological test data. Linear regression models related plasma p-tau181 to neuropsychological composite and SCD scores with follow-up models examining plasma p-tau181 interactions with cognitive diagnosis,APOEε4 carrier status, age, and sex on cognitive outcomes.

RESULTS

Higher plasma p-tau181 was associated with worse memory, executive functioning, and language abilities, and greater informant-reported SCD. Visuospatial abilities and self-report SCD were not associated with plasma p-tau181. Associations were generally stronger in MCI or dementia,APOEε4 carriers, women, and younger participants.

DISCUSSION

Higher levels of plasma p-tau181 are associated with worse neuropsychological test performance across multiple cognitive domains; however, these associations vary based on disease stage, genetic risk status, age, and sex.
Real-world comparative effectiveness of a third dose of mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 among adults aged ≥65 years in the United States
Authors: Kirk Brenna , Bush Chris , Toyip Astra , Mues Katherine E. , Beck Ekkehard , Li Linwei , St. Laurent Samantha , Georgieva Mihaela , Marks Morgan A. , Sun Tianyu , Esposito Daina B. , Martin David , Van de Velde Nicolas
Published: November 2023

Introduction

To compare the real-world effectiveness of a third dose of mRNA-1273 versus a third dose of BNT162b2 against breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations among adults age ≥65 years who completed a primary series of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (regardless of which primary series was received).

Materials and methods

This observational comparative vaccine effectiveness (VE) study was conducted using administrative claims data from the US HealthVerity database (September 22, 2021, to August 31, 2022). A third dose of mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 was assessed for preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and medically attended COVID-19 among adults ≥65 years. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to balance baseline characteristics between vaccine groups. Incidence rates from patient-level data and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using weighted Cox proportional hazards models were calculated to estimate relative VE for each outcome.

Results

Overall, 94,587 and 92,377 individuals received a third dose of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2, respectively. Among the weighted population, the median age was 69 years (interquartile range, 66-74), 53% were female, and 46% were commercially insured. COVID-19 hospitalization rates per 1000 person-years (PYs) were 5.61 (95% CI, 5.13-6.09) for mRNA-1273 and 7.06 (95% CI, 6.54-7.57) for BNT162b2 (HR, 0.82; 0.69-0.98). Medically attended COVID-19 rates per 1000 PYs (95% CI) were 95.05 (95% CI, 93.03-97.06) for mRNA-1273 and 106.55 (95% CI, 104.53-108.57) for BNT162b2 (HR, 0.93; 0.89-0.98).

Conclusions

Results from this observational comparative VE database study provide evidence that among older adults, a third dose of mRNA-1273 was more effective in preventing breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalization and medically attended COVID-19 infection compared with a third dose of BNT162b2.
Cell type-specific translational regulation by human DUS enzymes
Authors: Yu Nathan J. , Dai Wei , Li Ang , He Muhan , Kleiner Ralph E.
Published: November 2023

Dihydrouridine is an abundant and conserved modified nucleoside present on tRNA, but characterization and functional studies of modification sites and associated DUS writer enzymes in mammals is lacking. Here we use a chemical probing strategy, RNABPP-PS, to identify 5-chlorouridine as an activity-based probe for human DUS enzymes. We map D modifications using RNA-protein crosslinking and chemical transformation and mutational profiling to reveal D modification sites on human tRNAs. Further, we knock out individual DUS genes in two human cell lines to investigate regulation of tRNA expression levels and codon-specific translation. We show that whereas D modifications are present across most tRNA species, loss of D only perturbs the translational function of a subset of tRNAs in a cell type-specific manner. Our work provides powerful chemical strategies for investigating D and DUS enzymes in diverse biological systems and provides insight into the role of a ubiquitous tRNA modification in translational regulation.
Determinants of higher education quality in Afghanistan's higher education sector: insights from students' perceptions
Authors: Wani Nassir Ul Haq , Deshpande Amruta , Sidana Neeru , Rasa Mohammad Mirwais
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of higher education quality in Afghanistan based on insights from student perceptions. Understanding this part holds paramount importance in enunciating sound policies for the smooth functioning of the higher education sector of Afghanistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to classify students' background and demographic data, distinguishing their perception of higher education quality using a deductive research approach. A sample of 418 students from five top private universities in Afghanistan was chosen to assess their perceptions of higher education dimensions by employing a multinomial regression analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate that extracurricular activities, students' scholarship status, parents' education, age, previous academic results and the university they attend significantly impact their perception of the quality of higher education.

Practical implications

This research is essential for education policymakers and university administrators. These findings can be replicated to develop regulations and target specific groups of students to ensure a favourable academic environment and boost the brand image of their universities. This would ensure long-term quality improvement and assurance outcomes, allowing higher education institutions to compete with regional and international institutions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to identifying the determinants of higher education quality based on the perceptions of the students in Afghanistan.
Revolutionizing family businesses with artificial intelligence: a perspective article
Authors: Sawang Sukanlaya , Kivits Robbert Anton
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This perspective article addresses the essential need to comprehend what artificial intelligence (AI) entails and how it can revolutionize the family business sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This article presents a literature review and the authors' perspectives to unravel the potential benefits of AI in family businesses.

Findings

It is crucial to understand what AI is and its various types before the authors can discern which AI tools can be beneficial or tailored to family businesses. A promising area for future research is the use of Theory of Mind AI, which can help minimize conflicts of interest among family business members and assist in clear decision-making and succession planning. However, integrating AI brings about ethical implications, such as data privacy concerns, the need for transparency in AI decision-making and the necessity to ensure fair AI practices. These are all critical issues that the future research will need to tackle.

Originality/value

This article emphasizes the potential of AI to be customized and incorporated to tackle the distinct dynamics, obstacles and opportunities prevalent in family-owned businesses. It also proposes future research areas that could enhance the application of AI in such enterprises.
Sociolinguistic Typology Meets Historical Corpus Linguistics
Authors: Walkden George , McCarley Gemma Hunter , Montero Raquel , Rolf Molly , Einhaus Sarah , Kauhanen Henri
Published: November 2023

This paper makes the case for using historical corpora to assess questions of sociolinguistic typology. A full account of any contact‐induced change will need to establish what the linguistic innovation in question was, who was in contact, where and when the contact took place and how the change happened, both at the individual level and at the population level. The historical corpus approach complements other methods by narrowing down the where and the when, allowing us to develop a clearer picture of how the change diffused. In support of our approach, we present three case studies of potential morphosyntactic simplification using quantitative evidence gleaned from historical corpora: the loss of number concord in the history of English, change in the null‐subject system(s) of Latin American Spanish and reduction of the case system in the history of Balkan Slavic. All three cases allow us to test theoretical predictions and uncover new influencing factors in a way that would be impossible without fine‐grained quantitative corpus research.
Improving Agricultural Policy Decisions through Replications
Authors: Finger Robert , Grebitus Carola , Henningsen Arne
Published: November 2023

Currently, policy decisions are often made based on untested scientific results. Replication studies repeat previously published research and, thus, are an effective way to test the validity and reliability of research studies, as well as to test the potential for generalisations of such studies. Replications can contribute to improved policy decisions and thus more efficient use of resources. To date, very few replications of research in agricultural economics are available and the incentives to engage in replications are low. Moreover, the conditions for replicating studies are poor. For example, published articles often lack full transparency in terms of documentation, data and computer code. This Point de Vue highlights the advantages of striving for conditions that facilitate replication studies and foster such a culture in agricultural economics. Policymakers could explicitly invite and support replications of studies that are key for good policymaking. To this end, they can address both demand‐side and supply‐side problems of replications, for example, by inviting, valuing and supporting replications of policy‐relevant analyses and by providing institutional and legal infrastructure facilitating open science and replications. With this, policy can support the agricultural economics profession, while agricultural economists can support sound policymaking, both reaping the benefits of a more transparent research culture.
Gender differences in the prevalence of stimulant misuse in the United States: 2015–2019
Authors: McHugh R. Kathryn , Korte Francesca M. , Bichon Juliette A. , Weiss Roger D.
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives

The gender gap in prevalence of substance‐use disorders has narrowed. However, gender differences in stimulant misuse have not been well‐characterized in recent years. The aim of this study was to quantify gender differences in past‐year stimulant misuse and stimulant‐use disorder, separated by stimulant type (cocaine/crack, prescription stimulants, and methamphetamine). In an exploratory aim, we investigated whether gender differences were moderated by age or sexual orientation.

Methods

We combined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019 (unweighted N = 282,768) to test gender differences in the prevalence of past‐year stimulant misuse.

Results

Results indicated that stimulant misuse was significantly more prevalent in men than women for all stimulant types for both past‐year use and past‐year use disorder. The magnitude of this sex difference was smallest for prescription stimulants, where men had 1.37 times higher odds of past‐year misuse and no gender difference was observed in the prevalence of prescription stimulant‐use disorder. The magnitude of gender differences also varied based on both age and sexual orientation.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Illicit stimulant misuse continues to be more common in men than in women; however, gender differences are more modest for prescription stimulant misuse, suggesting a narrowing of this historical gender difference.
Trends in cocaine use among United States females of reproductive age, 2005–2019
Authors: Orndorff Madelyn , Shipp Gayle M. , Kerver Jean M. , Ondersma Steven J. , Alshaarawy Omayma
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives

The prevalence of cocaine use has increased in the United States, with an estimated 5.5 million people have used it at least once in 2019. We report trends in cocaine use for reproductive age females who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2005–2019).

Methods

Interviewers for NSDUH recruited and assessed a representative sample of the US noninstitutionalized population. The prevalence of cocaine use was estimated annually for females (15–44 years; n = 295,751). Joinpoint regression was then used to test for significant changes in trends.

Results

Approximately 2.4% of females (n = 8136) reported past 12‐month cocaine use. Joinpoint regression revealed an initial decline in cocaine use prevalence between 2005 and 2011, followed by a robust increase (2011–2019 annual percent change = 5.2; 95% confidence interval = 2.6, 7.8%). This nonlinear trend was observed for all subgroups, except for adolescent and pregnant females for whom a decrease in cocaine use prevalence was observed.

Discussion and Conclusions

Although the prevalence of cocaine use remains scarce among US females, the uptake in use after a period of initial decline is concerning, highlighting the need for continued public health awareness and action.

Scientific Significance

Cocaine use among females of reproductive age is particularly concerning given the increased likelihood of transitioning to disordered use and the risk of use during pregnancy. Previous studies have not reported cocaine use estimates specific to reproductive age females or only reported co‐drug use patterns, without detail of specific cocaine use trends.
‘Othering’ the unprepared: Exploring the foodwork of Brexit‐prepping mothers
Authors: Kerrane Ben , Kerrane Katy , Bettany Shona , Rowe David
Published: November 2023

We explore the foodwork performed by white middle‐class mothers in the United Kingdom who were preparing to feed their families in anticipation of post‐Brexit resource scarcity. We illustrate their laborious preparations (‘prep‐work’) as they stockpiled items (mostly food) in anticipation of shortages. We reveal tensions in how they envisaged how (and who) to feed. Analysis reveals how our (privileged, white middle‐class) participants enrolled ‘good’ motherhood into prep‐work and engaged in a new form of ‘othering’. Non‐prepping ‘(m)others’ were positioned as deficient, ‘bad’ parents due to failure to save children from post‐Brexit risk/hunger, and participants downplayed their own (classed and material) advantage in being able to prepare. By exploring their prep‐work accounts, we illustrate how they assumed a morally superior motherhood position to the non‐prepared underclass and make several contributions. First, we extend foodwork categories, recognizing additional foodwork of managing and hiding stockpiles (given stigma/ridicule surrounding prep‐work). Second, we illustrate the darker side of motherhood that prep‐work revealed, which clashes with elements of intensive motherhood ideology. Third, we illuminate the ‘othering’ of a new parental underclass: the unprepared.
Effect and mechanism of Fe2O3 decomposition in the preparation of foaming ceramics from industrial solid waste
Authors: Chen Shize , Luo Liming , Sun Hongjuan , Peng Tongjiang , Lei Jie , Wu Mengji , Wang Can , Huang Shaokun
Published: November 2023

MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 foam ceramics were prepared by direct sintering of asbestos tailings and coal fly ash by spontaneous bubble process. By X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermodynamic analysis, the effect of Fe2O3 decomposition on the preparation of foaming ceramics from industrial solid waste and the pore‐forming process was studied. The results show that the foaming effect of foaming ceramics with higher raw iron content is better when the roasting temperature is higher. Increasing the content of iron is beneficial to the formation of cordierite, and increasing the roasting temperature is beneficial to the relative content of spinel in foaming ceramics. Combined with the change in the Fe valence state, content in porous ceramic samples, and thermodynamic analysis of the product, it is found that Fe2O3 decomposition is the fundamental cause of ceramic foaming at high temperature. Fe2+ produced after decomposition replaces Mg2+ into spinel and cordierite structures, and the O2 produced by decomposition cannot be discharged in time to cause ceramic foaming. The research results can provide theoretical basis for the preparation of industrial solid waste foamed ceramics.
Effect of glucagon on ventricular arrhythmias after coronary artery occlusion and on ventricular automaticity in the dog
Authors: MADAN B. R.
Published: November 2023

In anaesthetized dogs, glucagon (100 μg/kg i.v.), caused a significant increase in heart rate and decrease in mean arterial blood pressure. Ventricular automaticity, as determined by the time to the onset of first vagal escape beat and the number of such indioventricular beats during the 30 s period of vagal stimulation, was not significantly altered.

In unanaesthetized dogs with ventricular arrhythmias produced by two‐stage ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, glucagon (30 and 100 μg/kg i.v.), restored normal sinus rhythm in a few animals. In the remaining dogs, there was a significant reduction in the ventricular ectopic activity.

The significant positive chronotropic response to glucagon elicited in anaesthetized animals was not observed in conscious dogs whose coronary arteries had been ligated.

These findings enhance the potential usefulness of glucagon in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, which may often be associated with disturbances of ventricular rhythm.

In the light of observations made by other workers, it is suggested that the antiarrhythmic effect of glucagon may be due to movement of potassium ions into the cardiac cell.
Chloroquine concentrations in the skin of rabbits and man
Authors: OLATUNDE I. A.
Published: November 2023

Chloroquine was given by a single intravenous injection to rabbits and to two groups of patients. The concentrations of the drug and its more polar metabolites in plasma and tissue were measured by a fluorometric method.

The concentrations of chloroquine in rabbit liver exceeded those in skin and these in turn exceeded those in plasma. Chloroquine concentrations in rabbit skin were fairly steady between 24 and 72 h after injection. Chloroquine was still present in skin 30 days after the injection. Metabolites of chloroquine were present in plasma, skin and liver.

Skin was taken from patients 48 h after an intravenous dose of chloroquine (1·25 mg/kg). Skin from patients prone to chloroquine‐induced pruritus contained higher concentrations of chloroquine (P<0·01) and lower concentrations of metabolites (P<0·01) than skin from other patients.

It is suggested that increased liability to chloroquine‐induced pruritus may be associated with a lower rate of chloroquine metabolism.
Sexual dimorphic distribution of G protein‐coupled receptor 30 in pain‐related regions of the mouse brain
Authors: Li You , Jiang Zhenhua , Zuo Wenqiang , Huang Chenchen , Zhao Jianshuai , Liu Peizheng , Wang Jiajia , Guo Jingzhi , Zhang Xiao , Wang Minghui , Lu Yan , Hou Wugang , Wang Qun
Published: November 2023

Sex differences in pain sensitivity have contributed to the fact that medications for curing chronic pain are unsatisfactory. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Brain‐derived estrogen participates in modulation of sex differences in pain and related emotion. G protein‐coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), identified as a novel estrogen receptor with a different distribution than traditional receptors, has been proved to play a vital role in regulating pain affected by estrogen. However, the contribution of its distribution to sexually dimorphic pain‐related behaviors has not been fully explored. In the current study, immunofluorescence assays were applied to mark the neurons expressing GPR30 in male and female mice (in metestrus and proestrus phase) in pain‐related brain regions. The neurons that express CaMKIIα or VGAT were also labeled to observe overlap with GPR30. We found that females had more GPR30‐positive (GPR30+) neurons in the primary somatosensory (S1) and insular cortex (IC) than males. In the lateral habenula (LHb) and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), males had more GPR30+ neurons than females. Moreover, within the LHb, the expression of GPR30 varied with estrous cycle phase; females in metestrus had fewer GPR30+ neurons than those in proestrus. In addition, females had more GPR30+ neurons, which co‐expressed CaMKIIα in the medial preoptic nucleus (mPOA) than males, while males had more than females in the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA). These findings may partly explain the different modulatory effects of GPR30 in pain and related emotional phenotypes between sexes and provide a basis for comprehension of sexual dimorphism in pain related to estrogen and GPR30, and finally provide new targets for exploiting new treatments of sex‐specific pain.

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Rhizobium symbiotic efficiency meets CEP signaling peptides
Authors: Laffont Carole , Frugier Florian
Published: November 2023

C‐terminally encoded peptides (CEP) signaling peptides are drivers of systemic pathways regulating nitrogen (N) acquisition in different plants, from Arabidopsis to legumes, depending on mineral N availability (e.g. nitrate) and on the whole plant N demand. Recent studies in the Medicago truncatula model legume revealed how root‐produced CEP peptides control the root competence for endosymbiosis with N fixing rhizobia soil bacteria through the activity of the Compact Root Architecture 2 (CRA2) CEP receptor in shoots. Among CEP genes, MtCEP7 was shown to be tightly linked to nodulation, and the dynamic temporal regulation of its expression reflects the plant ability to maintain a different symbiotic root competence window depending on the symbiotic efficiency of the rhizobium strain, as well as to reinitiate a new window of root competence for nodulation.
Beam merging assisted by a bent crystal
Authors: Scandale W. , Cerutti F. , Esposito L. S. , Gilardoni S. , Losito R. , Smirnov G. I. , Giribono A. , Bauce M. , Collamati F. , Valente P. , Variola A. , Galluccio F. , Hall G. , Pesaresi M. , Uchida K. , Rossi R.
Published: November 2023

Bunch merging is a well-established technique to increase the intensity of synchrotrons and the luminosity of circular colliders. We suggest to exploit a combination of channeling, volume reflection and amorphous interactions in a bent crystal for beam merging in a transfer line. Two beams converging into the bent crystal along special directions should emerge in almost parallel directions. A merging scenario is discussed, and data collected by the UA9 Collaboration are reprocessed to prove its feasibility. Comparison with magnetic stacking, which is a similar process, is presented.
Revelation of Genotype × Environment Interaction in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Under Conventional and Natural Farming Production Systems in the North-Western Himalayas
Authors: Thakur Garima , Paul Satish , Gautam R. K. , Langyan Sapna
Published: November 2023

The development of superior genotypes for use in plant breeding programmes is significantly influenced by the genotype in environment (G × E) interaction. The effects of G × E complicate the improvement of linseed as an important oilseed crop. The present study aimed at assessing the G × E interaction of 30 linseed genotypes for seed yield traits and oil content under conventional and zero-budget natural farming conditions across four locations for two consecutive years (16 different environments) in the North-Western Himalayan region. The AMMI model was used to estimate G × E interaction in the present study. The highest contribution to the total variance belonged to G × E interaction (34.75%), followed by genotype main effects (34.28%). Based on the IPCA1 scores, the most stable genotypes identified with high mean performance for oil content were KL-257 and Nagarkot, and for seed yield, Giza-7 was the most promising genotype. However, genotypes KL-280, KL-285, and Giza-8 showed specific adaptation to the natural production system environments in both years for oil content at locations of Palampur, Bajaura, and Kangra, respectively. Therefore, these genotypes could be recommended specifically under the natural production system in the respective locations. However, the genotypes with stable oil content did not have stable seed yields as well. None of the genotypes that exhibited high oil content stability also exhibited good seed yield stability. In terms of the environment, Palampur was recognised as a favourable location for oil content based on the above average performance, whereas Kangra and Dhaula Kuan were found to be unfavourable locations. In terms of discriminating ability, the natural production system at Palampur showed the highest discrimination, whereas Dhaula Kuan was revealed as the least discriminating environment. These stable and high oil-yielding genotypes are valuable genetic resources for linseed breeding programs for reduced input conditions and marginal environments.
Venetian – Ottoman Wars in the East Adriatic Theatre of Operations (1645–1718)
Authors: Markulin Nikola
Published: November 2023

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire clashed in three wars spanning from 1645 to 1718, with intermittent periods of peace. These military conflicts unfolded in two distinct theatres of operations – the Aegean and the East Adriatic. While the former has received considerable attention in international scholarship, the latter remains largely overlooked. This article seeks to shed light on the East Adriatic theatre and, more specifically, to examine the ratio of forces between the warring armies during this period. This enquiry holds great significance, as local historians have often uncritically relied on Venetian sources, which consistently portrayed the Ottoman armies as substantially larger than they were. By thoroughly examining these Venetian sources, this analysis aims to provide a reevaluated force ratio between the belligerent armies, which can serve as a valid starting point for explaining the consecutive Venetian victories in this theatre.
Envisioning Global Governance in Chinese Sci-fi Blockbusters: Crazy Alien (2019) and The Wandering Earth (2019)
Authors: Yang Xiao
Published: November 2023

This article examines two Chinese sci-fi blockbusters, Crazy Alien and The Wandering Earth, under a theoretical framework of global governance and its variation in Chinese state rhetoric. The article explores how the notion of global governance in China is echoed, reconfigured, and mediated in these two films via their depiction of China’s leadership in solving fictionalized futuristic global challenges. It argues that while Crazy Alien criticizes the present, neoliberal global governance, The Wandering Earth envisages a new global governance system led by China. These two films provide case studies of sci-fi blockbusters produced in a non-Western context and illustrate the convergence of Chinese politics with its sci-fi film production.
What the Sciences of Human Learning and Development Tell Us about Civic Reasoning and Discourse
Authors: Lee Carol D. , Nasir Na’ilah Suad , Immordino-Yang Mary Helen
Published: November 2023

There is perhaps no more important skill to cultivate in today’s students than civic reasoning: the ability to think about social issues in complex ways. Civic reasoning involves the integration of knowledge, epistemological orientations, and ethics, and this integration is influenced by individuals’ perceptions of themselves and others, and by the problems they seek to address in the civic domain. We synthesize research from psychology, learning science, human development, and brain development to identify conditions that maximize opportunities for children, adolescents, and adults to learn to engage in civic reasoning. We argue that a commitment to democratic principles, and the development of the reasoning skills and ethical dispositions that undergird them, results in a more engaged populace that is willing and able to understand multiple perspectives and to make sound decisions for the collective good.
The Immigrant Backstories of Asian American Surgeons
Authors: Nakayama Don K.
Published: November 2023

The stories of Asian immigrants have both shared themes and ones that are unique to the histories of their homelands. Their labor was essential to the settlement and economic development of America, yet their presence incited riots and official restrictions to their rights to immigration and citizenship. Chinese laborers mined the Gold Country, built the transcontinental railroad, and reclaimed tillable land in the Central Valley. Yet they were denied the immense bounty they created, and their immigration was blocked by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Japanese, Asian Indians, and Filipinos replaced them on farms as migrant laborers. As foreign nationals they were not allowed to own land, but they thrived as independent farmers on leased plots. Their success attracted discrimination and racist violence. They, too, were barred from immigration and citizenship (Johnson-Reed Act, 1924).

World War II was a watershed event for Asians in America. Japanese Americans, ethnically identical to the enemy, were imprisoned in concentration camps in the American interior. China, the Philippines, and India, all allies of the US, were rewarded with naturalization rights for their nationals. In 1965 Congress liberalized immigration quotas and reversed the 1924 restrictions, with priority given to those with advanced technical ability in science, including medicine. Asians from Taiwan and India took advantage of the new regulations and predominated among the newcomers. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, America accommodated yet another Asian population in the country, the tens of thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia.
China’s Low-Productivity Innovation Drive: Evidence From Patents
Authors: Ang Yuen Yuen , Jia Nan , Yang Bo , Huang Kenneth G.
Published: November 2023

Can China catch-up with the United States technologically by mobilizing its bureaucracy and assigning ambitious targets to local governments? We analyzed an original dataset of 4.6 million patents filed in China from 1990 through 2014 and paired this with a new, rigorous measure of patent novelty that approximates the quality of innovation. In 2006, China’s central government launched a national campaign to promote indigenous innovation and introduced bureaucratic targets for patents. Our analysis finds evidence that these targets, combined with political competition, pushed local governments to “game the numbers” by channeling relatively more effort toward boosting non-novel—possibly junk—patents over novel patents. Nationally, this is reflected in a surge of aggregate patents paired with a falling ratio of novel patents. China’s innovation drive is susceptible to manipulation and waste—it is enormous in scale but low in productivity.
Numerical investigation into performance of Savonius wind turbine equipped with inner blades: Overlap ratio effect
Authors: Hassanshahi Mohammad Mahdi , Kharati-Koopaee Masoud
Published: November 2023

This research focuses on the effect of overlap ratio on the performance of Savonius rotor in the presence of inner blades in such a way that inner blade tip is parallel to the main blade tip and root. Findings reveal that at low overlap ratios, using inner blade that the inner blade tip is parallel to the main blade root leads to a higher power and torque coefficients than the other inner blade configuration and also conventional rotor. This research indicates that for the overlapped rotor and for the two inner blade configurations, the higher power and torque coefficients could be obtained at high and low tip speed ratios, respectively. Results show that for both inner blade configurations, the overlapped rotors overcome the negative torque generated by the non-overlapped one. It is also shown that at high overlap ratio, using inner blade has no advantage over the conventional rotor.
Impact of Angiotensin Blockade on Development of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction
Authors: January Spenser E. , Hubbard Julie , Fester Keith A. , Dubrawka Casey A. , Vazquez Guillamet Rodrigo , Kulkarni Hrishikesh S. , Hachem Ramsey R.
Published: November 2023

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is responsible for a multitude of physiological functions, including immunological effects such as promotion of TGF-β and upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8 which are also implicated in the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Blockade of the RAAS pathway in pre-clinical models has demonstrated a decrease in these cytokines and pulmonary neutrophil recruitment. Objective: This study sought to evaluate whether use of RAAS inhibitor (RAASi) in lung transplant recipients impacted CLAD-free survival. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, 35 lung transplant recipients who received a RAASi post-transplant were compared to 70 lung transplant recipients not exposed to a RAASi and were followed for up to 5 years post-transplant. Results: The incidence of CLAD did not differ based on RAASi treatment (34.3% in RAASi vs 38.6%, P-value .668). This was confirmed with a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model with RAASi initiation as a time-varying covariate (RAASi hazard ratio of 1.01, P-value .986). Incidence of hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury were low in the RAASi group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated no association between post-transplant RAASi use and decreased risk of CLAD development. RAASi were also well tolerated in this patient population.
A novel real time sensing framework for assessment of thrust force in drilling of composites using Taguchi and NSGA-II
Authors: David Amos Gamaleal , Ramalingam Vimal Samsingh , Sundarsingh Esther Florence
Published: November 2023

Monitoring thrust during drilling operations is critical to optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring safe and efficient drilling. In this study, we will monitor variations in thrust force during the drilling process using a sensor coated with carbon black. These sensors measure changes in electrical resistance when the sensor is subjected to a mechanical load, such as drilling force. Carbon black at 5 wt% was used, which was embedded in a fiberglass composite. For this study, an orthogonal arrangement of Taguchi’s L27 sequence was used, with drill diameter D, feed rate F, and spindle speed S as machining parameters. The thrust force was measured with a force dynamometer and the resistance change was measured simultaneously with the developed new system. Analysis of variance was used to find the optimal parameters, and in this study, a mathematical model was proposed to measure the thrust force directly using the electrical resistance detected. NSGA-II algorithm was used to predict solutions for the given parameters for comparison. A comprehensive way of drilling process and data-driven decisions to improve drilling performance and safety was studied, and a correlation between actual thrust and calculated thrust of 0.91 was found. The proposed system was able to monitor and continuously record thrust force in real time during drilling, with electrical resistance as the most important factor with an error percentage of less than 8% compared to the NSGA-II predictions of less than 5%.
First-Time Parents’ Support Needs and Perceived Support From a Child Health Service With the Integrated New Families Home Visiting Programme
Authors: Sæther Kristin Marie , Holmberg Fagerlund Bettina , Glavin Kari , Jøranson Nina
Published: November 2023

The transition to parenthood is complex and influenced by interacting factors related to society, the parents and the child. Professional support is considered to be one of the societal factors affecting this transition by facilitating parents’ sense of confidence and their competence as parents. In this study, we aimed to explore first-time parents’ support needs and experiences of support from a child health service with the integrated New Families home visiting programme, in the context of their transition to parenthood in the first year postnatally. Interpretive description guided this qualitative study. Six couples and one mother, all well-educated and employed, were interviewed individually ( N = 13). The parents were recruited from the research project ‘New Families – Innovation and Development of the Child Health Service in Oslo’. We found that being a first-time parent is perceived as overwhelming and that defining support needs may be challenging, particularly in the first period postnatally. In addition, the support needs are constantly changing due to the complexity of interacting factors and the ongoing development of confidence in the parental role. Retrospectively, the parents were satisfied overall with the support from the child health service. The home visit during pregnancy facilitated management and relational and informational continuity. However, we identified a need for even more proactive information provision and communication to optimise the service’s availability and efficiency postnatally. In addition, the importance of peers and of approaching both mothers and fathers must be acknowledged in facilitating parental confidence.
Looking Ahead, Looking Around, and Looking to Others: Identifying Core Proactive Behaviors in the Quest for Career Sustainability
Authors: Lent Robert W. , Brown Steven D. , Wang Ruogu J. , Cygrymus Emily R. , Moturu Bhanu Priya
Published: November 2023

The topic of proactivity has long captured the attention of career scholars, leading to fertile, yet often disconnected streams of inquiry on personality traits and behaviors that can help workers to advance their own careers, improve their work conditions, or access desired rewards. Based on a review of diverse approaches to conceptualizing and assessing proactive career behavior and related constructs, we identified seven commonly appearing behavioral categories and assembled a representative set of items of each category. An exploratory factor analysis in a sub-sample of adult workers ( n = 250) yielded three interrelated factors, labeled (a) planning/reflecting/reskilling (or looking ahead, e.g., engaging in self-reflection and skill development efforts); (b) networking/conferring (or looking to others, e.g., consulting with colleagues and supervisors); and (c) exploring/searching (or looking around, e.g., monitoring career options proactively). A bifactor model fit the data well in another sub-sample ( n = 337), suggesting that the three factors were subsumed by a larger construct, which we labeled career sustainability behavior. Results of a structural path analysis indicated that, along with supervisor support, proactive personality, and conceptually-relevant self-efficacy measures, engagement in career sustainability behaviors was predictive of perceived internal and external job marketability.