bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limb-Specific Comparison of Flow-Mediated Dilation in Abdominal Obese Pre-menopausal Women
Authors: Restaino Robert M. , Barlow Matthew A.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Normal aging can lead to arterial wall stiffening and development of atherosclerosis; however, the effects of overweight conditions can expedite the dysfunction of arterial health. In an earlier study, we identified in a group of abdominal obese pre-menopausal woman that during menses, these women had decreased vascular conductance of the brachial artery during dynamic hand-grip exercise. Endothelial function in abdominal obese (AO) premenopausal women could be associated with being highly sedentary which attenuates dilatory responses to FMD of both upper and lower limb vascular function. We hypothesized that the AO women would exhibit limb-specific differences in artery dilation with reduced dilation in the popliteal artery as compared to the brachial artery.

Methods

Artery dilatory responses in the brachial and popliteal arteries were assessed using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in age-matched sedentary controls and AO groups during menses.

Results

Significant differences were found between groups including % BF, BMI, weight, waist to hip ratio, fasting blood glucose, and oxLDL. A between-group comparison revealed significantly lower percent dilation of the popliteal artery in AO participants compared to controls (p < 0.05) not present in the brachial arteries. Our results also indicate a difference in the time-to-peak (TP) of dilation between the control (33.38 ± 3.232) and AO (62.104 ± 5.813) groups (p < 0.01). Following FMD correction with shear rate as the covariate, significant differences in FMD between the brachial and popliteal artery were abolished.

Conclusion

We conclude that young, AO women show a limb-specific difference in dilation of the upper and lower extremities when compared to controls. Thus, reductions in FMD of the popliteal artery could be due to impaired dilation of the downstream resistance vasculature preventing increases in shear within the leg conduit arteries not as significantly in the arms.
Intersectional racial and gender bias in family court
Authors: Williams Monnica T. , Faber Sonya , Zare Manzar , Barker Theresa , Abdulrehman Rehman Y.
Published: November 2024

Custody cases characterized by conflict may involve allegations of abuse or parental alienation, necessitating a thorough examination of the situation for the child’s wellbeing. This case series describes stereotypes and biases faced by three racialized fathers, resulting in problems in the processes and outcomes of the family court system. Occurring at the intersection of race, culture, religion, and gender, social myths about these fathers of South Asian and MENA (Middle Eastern, North African, Arab) descent led to inequities in parental rights and harm to their children. Biases experienced by fathers included racism, sexism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia, which manifested as presumptions that such fathers espoused outdated gender roles, exerted excessive authority in the home, and were unwilling to adapt to mainstream culture—which can bias the decision-making of custody evaluators, child advocates, lawyers, and judges. This paper presents the relevant facts of each case, critical errors made by the court—such as ignoring the voices of the fathers, delayed verdict delivery, inadequate assessment of abuse, and failure to prioritize the children's welfare. This article discusses stigma, abuse, interracial dynamic, and the mental health toll of this process on fathers, despite having respected professions and financial resources. Also addressed is the challenge of differentiating parental alienation from estrangement due to child abuse when children reject a parent. It is hoped that by recognizing and addressing these biases outcomes in parental disputes can be greatly improved.
Epidemic spreading and herd immunity in a driven non-equilibrium system of strongly-interacting atoms
Authors: Liu Zong-Kai , Ding Dong-Sheng , Yu Yi-Chen , Busche Hannes , Shi Bao-Sen , Guo Guang-Can , Adams C. Stuart , Nori Franco
Published: November 2024

It is increasingly important to understand the spatial dynamics of epidemics. While there are numerous mathematical models of epidemics, there is a scarcity of physical systems with sufficiently well-controlled parameters to allow quantitative model testing. It is also challenging to replicate the macro non-equilibrium effects of complex models in microscopic systems. In this work, we demonstrate experimentally a physics analog of epidemic spreading using optically-driven non-equilibrium phase transitions in strongly interacting Rydberg atoms. Using multiple laser beams we can impose any desired spatial structure. The observed spatially localized phase transitions simulate the outbreak of an infectious disease in multiple locations, and the splitting of the outbreak in subregions, as well as the dynamics towards “herd immunity” and “endemic state” in different regimes. The reported results indicate that Rydberg systems are versatile enough to model complex spatial-temporal dynamics.
Regulation of sulfur molecules for advanced lithium–sulfur batteries: strategies, mechanisms, and characterizations
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Liang
Published: November 2024

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have been regarded as the pinnacle in the domain of high-energy-density Li–metal batteries, mainly because of their high theoretical specific capacity and natural abundance. However, their practical implementation is chiefly impeded by the sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the parasitic shuttle effect, which are associated with the intrinsic physiochemical properties of multiphase sulfur species. On this account, rationally regulating the properties of sulfur species at the molecular level is promising to achieve ample opportunities to circumvent these key stumbling blocks, hence driving the practical application of Li–S technology. Herein, the recent achievements in tailoring the molecular structures of sulfur species are summarized and reviewed, including low-order sulfur molecules, heteroatom-doped sulfur molecules, and LiPSs-based functional intermediates. Moreover, some advanced characterizations allowing structural and chemical environment detection of regulated sulfur species, such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray emission spectroscopy, neutron scattering, and pair distribution function, are also discussed, aimed at propelling the theoretical and practical research of sulfur species. Finally, future perspectives on the molecular engineering of sulfur species are provided to enlighten the development of advanced Li–S batteries.
Impact of varying solar angles on Arctic iceberg area retrieval from Sentinel-2 near-infrared data
Authors: Fisser Henrik , Doulgeris Anthony P. , Høyland Knut V.
Published: November 2024

Icebergs are part of the glacial mass balance and they interact with the ocean and with sea ice. Optical satellite remote sensing is often used to retrieve the above-waterline area of icebergs. However, varying solar angles introduce an error to the iceberg area retrieval that had not been quantified. Herein, we approximate the iceberg area error for top-of-atmosphere Sentinel-2 near-infrared data at a range of solar zenith angles. First, we calibrate an iceberg threshold at a

$56^\circ$

solar zenith angle with reference to higher resolution airborne imagery at Storfjorden, Svalbard. A reflectance threshold of 0.12 yields the lowest relative error of 0.19% ± 15.74% and the lowest interquartile spread. Second, we apply the 0.12 reflectance threshold to Sentinel-2 data at 14 solar zenith angles between

$45^\circ$

and

$81^\circ$

in the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, south-east Greenland. Here we quantify the error variation with the solar zenith angle for a consistent set of large icebergs. The error variation is then standardized to the error obtained in Svalbard. Up to a solar zenith angle of

$65^\circ$

, the mean standardized iceberg area error remains between 5.9% and −5.67%. Above

$65^\circ$

, iceberg areas are underestimated and inconsistent, caused by a segregation into shadows and sun-facing slopes.
The discreet charm of the oligarchy: conceptualizing material power and opportunity hoarding
Authors: Bogliaccini Juan A. , Madariaga Aldo
Published: November 2024

Stark wealth inequality is consequential for politics, yet the underlying mechanisms are still understudied. We join recent research urging a deeper analysis of how oligarchic interests and material power operate in highly unequal societies by expanding the business power literature to understand new sources of influence based on wealth. We engage in a concept-building exercise for the concept of business power and clarify the similarities and differences between material power and other sources of business power. We then discuss different mechanisms underlying material power and develop the mechanism of opportunity hoarding from the literature on social closure. Opportunity hoarding helps understand how oligarchic interests appropriate well-functioning state institutions for their benefit. We illustrate these mechanisms by analyzing the case of Guatemala, a country with tremendous wealth inequality and pervasive political instability. We highlight the usefulness of our proposed concept structure for analyzing diverse instances of business power and the concept of material power for understanding business influence in highly unequal societies.
Pilot training for clinical research professionals in using empathy to recognize and respond to implicit bias in research recruitment and retention
Authors: Adams Jennifer , Gonzalez Cristina M. , Gillespie Colleen , Holahan James , Minsky Maura , Datta Suchismita , Medina Rosario , Yakubov Amin , Byrnes Kimberly , Bredella Miriam A.
Published: November 2024

Recruiting and retaining research participants is challenging because it often requires overcoming structural barriers and addressing how histories of mistrust and individuals’ lived experiences affect their research engagement. We describe a pilot workshop designed to educate clinical research professionals on using empathy skills to recognize and mitigate bias to improve recruitment and retention. In a post-workshop survey (22/31 participants completed), 94% agreed the workshop helped them practice perspective-taking, recognize implicit bias, and identify opportunities for empathy. Participants reported increased confidence in key recruitment and retention skills (p < 0.05). Future studies will evaluate whether this translates into improved recruitment.
A review of reported stakeholder engagement in early-stage translational research
Authors: Concannon Thomas W. , Hughes Marguerite Fenwood , LaVertu Amy E. , Garlick Jonathan , Rushforth Alice M.
Published: November 2024

Background:

We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature to describe the nature and extent of reporting on the involvement of stakeholders in early-stage translational research.

Methods and results:

We conducted two literature searches in six databases, screened records and full-text articles, and abstracted and analyzed data from included publications. The literature searches yielded unduplicated 2,894 records. After screening, 13 articles were included.

Findings:

Our review of the literature yielded rare reports of engagement in early-stage translational research. Half of included articles reported on engagement with patients, clinicians, and researchers while fewer that one in three reported on engagement with policymakers, industry, and insurers. One in four reported engagement in the publication’s acknowledgments but not in the main text. More than half drew unmeasured conclusions about the outcomes of engagement.

Interpretation:

Our definition of early-stage translation pointed to a specific set of peer-reviewed research; our findings indicate a reporting gap and not necessarily a gap in practice. By addressing four themes–developing a shared language, identifying frameworks and principles, creating a repository of resources, and establishing a research agenda, research leaders can develop new insights about how to engage communities in early-stage translational research.
Resonant surface waves in an oscillating periodic tank with a submerged hill
Authors: Schön Franz-Theo , Borcia Ion Dan , Harlander Uwe , Borcia Rodica , Richter Sebastian , Bestehorn Michael
Published: November 2024

Experimental studies on the sloshing of fluid layers are usually performed in rectangular tanks with fixed boundaries. In contrast, the present study uses a 4.76-m-long circular channel, a geometry with open periodic boundaries. Surface waves are excited by means of a submerged hill that, together with the tank, performs a harmonic oscillation. Laboratory measurements are made using 18 ultrasonic probes, evenly distributed over the channel to track the wave propagation. It is shown that a two-dimensional long-wave numerical model derived via the Kármán–Pohlhausen approach reproduces the experimental data as long as the forcing is monochromatic. The sloshing experiments imply a highly complex surface wave field. Different wave types such as solitary waves, undular bores and antisolitary waves are observed. For order one

$\delta _{hill} = h_{hill}/h_0$

, where

$h_0$

is the mean water level and

$h_{hill}$

the obstacle's height, the resonant reflections of solitary waves by the submerged obstacle give rise to an amplitude spectrum for which the main resonance peaks can be explained by linear theory. For smaller

$\delta _{hill}$

, wave transmissions lead to major differences with respect to the more common cases of sloshing with closed ducts having fully reflective ends for which wave transmission through the end walls is not possible. This ultimately results in more complex resonance diagrams and a pattern formation that changes rather abruptly with the frequency. The experiments are of interest not only for engineering applications but also for tidal flows over bottom topography.
Calabresi’s invite: bridging Law & Society and Law & Economics through “situated valuation”
Authors: Tejani Riaz
Published: November 2024

Law & Society scholars often dismiss Law & Economics (L&E) as insoluble with our core beliefs about distributive justice, culture, and social solidarity. This reaction has yielded missed opportunities for new theory emergent between the fields. One such opportunity came in 1978, when Guido Calabresi and Philip Bobbitt argued that societies make “tragic choices” about scarce resource allocations so as to reconcile such choices with core culture, ethics, and values. In Calabresi’s later words, their book was a “more or less explicit appeal to anthropology for help.”1 Today, sociolegal studies remain well-poised to answer this appeal. Taking theory about moral costs from Calabresi in L&E and adding anthropological thought on the meaning of “value,” this essay presents situated valuation – a contextualized notion of value that accounts for the moral costs of inequalities while supporting principled scrutiny of redistributive policies meant to reduce inequality but sometimes worsening it. This discussion highlights the importance of interpretive social science in the study of distributive inequality, while showcasing a neglected but generative link between mutually imbricated interdisciplinary communities.
Are solidarity and identification as people of color distinct? Validating new measures across Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial Americans
Authors: Pérez Efrén , Goldman Seth K. , Huo Yuen J. , Nteta Tatishe , Tropp Linda R.
Published: November 2024

Mounting U.S. research suggests many non-White individuals feel solidarity with, and identify as, people of color (PoC). Yet measurement limitations prevent scholars from testing whether these constructs are empirically different. We explain why these concepts diverge and evaluate our claims with an expanded battery of measures across U.S. Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adults (N = 3402). Using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, we show these items capture related but distinct concepts among PoC (configural invariance). We then establish that these items uniformly measure each construct across PoC groups (metric invariance), with mean level differences validly reflecting actual heterogeneity between groups, rather than measurement artifacts (scalar invariance). Finally, consistent with our conceptualization, we show that solidarity among PoC mediates the association between PoC identification and support for policies that implicate various communities of color. We end with practical advice for using these items in surveys of racially diverse populations.
Gender, Paid Employment, and Deindustrialization in New Towns in North-West England, c. 1970–1990s
Authors: Pennington Eve
Published: November 2024

Existing research into the deindustrialization that afflicted northern England and Scotland during the twentieth century has focused predominantly on men’s experiences of unemployment and strikes. In contrast, this article examines the relationship between women’s employment and deindustrialization through the lens of three new towns in north-west England. Skelmersdale, Runcorn, and Central Lancashire were established during the 1960s and 1970s, partly with the aim of attracting employers and workers to a region experiencing industrial decline. Competing constructions of women’s work, both paid and unpaid, informed how the towns were planned, managed, and experienced. The new towns widened employment opportunities for female workers, but they did not significantly reshape gender roles because women remained responsible for housework and childcare while men were conceptualized as breadwinners. To explore this contradiction, the article analyses archival material produced by the development corporations that planned the new towns, alongside original oral history interviews conducted with women who lived and worked in them. It argues that even in situations of deindustrialization and rising male unemployment, women’s jobs did not displace men’s. Rather, the new towns represented a continuation of and a departure from existing patterns of employment, demonstrating that state-led urban development was fraught with gendered tensions.
Sleep and nutrition for athletes. The Nutrition Society, Scottish Section Conference 2024
Authors: Doherty Rónán , Madigan Sharon , Warrington Giles , Ellis Jason G
Published: November 2024

Sleep is vital for the maintenance of physical and mental health, recovery and performance in athletes. Sleep also has a restorative effect on the immune system and the endocrine system. Sleep must be of adequate duration, timing and quality to promote recovery following training and competition. Inadequate sleep adversely impacts carbohydrate metabolism, appetite, energy intake and protein synthesis affecting recovery from the energy demands of daily living and training/competition related fatigue. Sleep’s role in overall health and well-being has been established. Athletes have high sleep needs and are particularly vulnerable to sleep difficulties due to high training and competition demands, as such the implementation of the potential nutritional interventions to improve sleep duration and quality is commonplace. The use of certain nutrition strategies and supplements has an evidence base i.e. carbohydrate, caffeine, creatine, kiwifruit, magnesium, meal make-up and timing, protein and tart cherry. However, further research involving both foods and supplements is necessary to clarify the interactions between nutrition and the circadian system as there is potential to improve sleep and recovery. Additional research is necessary to clarify guidelines and develop products and protocols for foods and supplements to benefit athlete health, performance and/or recovery. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential interaction between sleep and nutrition for athletes and how these interactions might benefit sleep and/or recovery.
Associations among environmental unpredictability, changes in resting-state functional connectivity, and adolescent psychopathology in the ABCD study
Authors: Yang Yumeng , Kong Tianjiao , Ji Feng , Liu Ran , Luo Liang
Published: November 2024

Background

Unpredictability is a core but understudied dimension of adversities and has been receiving increasing attention recently. The effects of unpredictability on psychopathology and the underlying neural mechanisms, however, remain unclear. It is also unknown how unpredictability interacts with other dimensions of adversities in predicting brain development and psychopathology of youth.

Methods

We applied cluster robust standard errors to examine how unpredictability was associated with the developmental changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of large-scale brain networks implicated in psychopathology, as well as the moderating role of deprivation, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which included four measurements from baseline (mean ± s.d. age, 119.13 ± 7.51 months; 2815 females) to 3-year follow-up (N = 5885).

Results

After controlling for threat, unpredictability was associated with a smaller increase in rsFC within default mode network (DMN) and a smaller decrease in rsFC between cingulo-opercular network (CON) and DMN. Neighborhood educational deprivation moderated the associations between unpredictability and changes in rsFC within DMN and fronto-parietal network (FPN), as well as between CON and DMN. A smaller decrease in rsFC between CON and DMN mediated the association between unpredictability and externalizing problems. Neighborhood educational deprivation moderated the indirect pathway from unpredictability to externalizing problems via a smaller decrease in CON-DMN rsFC.

Conclusions

Our findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying the associations between unpredictability and adolescents' psychopathology and the moderating role of deprivation, highlighting the significance of providing stable environment and abundant educational opportunities to facilitate optimal development.
Theory driven psychological therapy for persecutory delusions: trajectories of patient outcomes
Authors: Jenner Lucy , Payne Mollie , Waite Felicity , Beckwith Helen , Diamond Rowan , Isham Louise , Collett Nicola , Emsley Richard , Freeman Daniel
Published: November 2024

Background

We aimed to identify the common types of outcome trajectories for patients with psychosis who take up specialist psychological therapy for persecutory delusions. Knowing the different potential responses to therapy can inform expectations. Further, determining predictors of different outcomes may help in understanding who may benefit.

Methods

We analyzed delusion conviction data from 767 therapy sessions with 64 patients with persistent persecutory delusions (held with at least 60% conviction) who received a six-month psychological intervention (Feeling Safe) during a clinical trial. Latent class trajectory analysis was conducted to identify groups with distinct outcome profiles. The trajectories were validated against independent assessments, including a longer-term follow-up six months after the end of therapy. We also tested potential predictors of the trajectories.

Results

There were four outcome trajectories: (1) Very high delusion conviction/Little improvement (n = 14, 25%), (2) Very high delusion conviction/Large improvement (n = 9, 16%), (3) High delusion conviction/Moderate improvement (n = 17, 31%) and (4) High delusion conviction/Large improvement (n = 15, 27%). The groups did not differ in initial overall delusion severity. The trajectories were consistent with the independent assessments and sustained over time. Three factors predicted trajectories: persecutory delusion conviction, therapy expectations, and positive beliefs about other people.

Conclusions

There are variable responses to psychological therapy for persecutory delusions. Patients with very high delusion conviction can have excellent responses to therapy, though this may take a little longer to observe and such high conviction reduces the likelihood of positive responses. A trajectory approach requires testing in larger datasets but may prove highly informative.
Adenovirus 41 diversity in Arizona (USA) using wastewater-based epidemiology, long-range PCR, and pathogen sequencing between October 2019 and March 2020
Authors: Faleye Temitope O. C. , Skidmore Peter , Elyaderani Amir , Adhikari Sangeet , Kaiser Nicole , Smith Abriana , Yanez Allan , Perleberg Tyler , Driver Erin M. , Halden Rolf U. , Varsani Arvind , Scotch Matthew
Published: November 2024

By coupling long-range polymerase chain reaction, wastewater-based epidemiology, and pathogen sequencing, we show that adenovirus type 41 hexon-sequence lineages, described in children with hepatitis of unknown origin in the United States in 2021, were already circulating within the country in 2019. We also observed other lineages in the wastewater, whose complete genomes have yet to be documented from clinical samples.
Bioactive components in the marsupial pouch and milk
Authors: Jayamanna Mohottige Manujaya W. , Gardner Chloe E. , Nye-Wood Mitchell G. , Farquharson Katherine A. , Juhász Angéla , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J. , Peel Emma , Colgrave Michelle L.
Published: November 2024

Marsupials give birth to immunologically naïve young after a relatively short gestation period compared with eutherians. Consequently, the joey relies significantly on maternal protection, which is the focus of the present review. The milk and the pouch environment are essential contributors to maternal protection for the healthy development of joeys. In this review, we discuss bioactive components found in the marsupial pouch and milk that form cornerstones of maternal protection. These bioactive components include immune cells, immunoglobulins, the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, lysozymes, whey proteins, antimicrobial peptides and other immune proteins. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of the presence of plurifunctional components in milk and pouches that are potentially bioactive. These compounds include caseins, vitamins and minerals, oligosaccharides, lipids and microRNAs. Where applicable, this review addresses variability in bioactive components during different phases of lactation, designed to fulfil the immunological needs of the growing pouch young. Yet, there are numerous additional research opportunities to pursue, including uncovering novel bioactive components and investigating their modes of action, dynamics, stability and ability to penetrate the gut epithelium to facilitate systemic effects.
Mediterranean diet and oral health: is there an association? A scoping review
Authors: Popovac Aleksandra , Jaćimović Jelena , Trichopoulou Antonia , Peppa Eleni , Kotrokois Kostas , Stančić Ivica , Milić-Lemić Aleksandra , Kossioni Anastassia
Published: November 2024

As the Mediterranean diet (MDi) has demonstrated a powerful preventative effect on various medical conditions, a positive effect on oral health may also be speculated. Tooth loss, pain or tooth mobility may discourage the consumption of specific food types, affecting MDi adherence. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between adherence to MDi and oral health in adult populations. The study protocol was registered in Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/vxbnh/) and adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The principal research questions were: (1) Does better oral health enable adults to better adhere to MDi? and (2) Does better adherence to MDi enable adult individuals to have better oral health? The content of three databases, Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed was searched without language, date or any other restrictions. The search results were imported into the Rayyan environment, and from the initial 1127 studies identified, only 20 remained after the exclusion process. Three articles composed the first group, revealing significant associations between various oral health parameters and adherence to MDi, with large variations in methodology and no safe conclusions. The studies investigating the effect of the level of adherence to MDi on various oral parameters were more numerous and revealed negative associations with the prevalence of periodontal disease and upper aero-digestive tract cancer. Further studies to explore the existence and direction of the association between oral health and MDi are needed, with public health interventions encouraging adherence to the MDi to reduce the burden of oral conditions and other non-communicable diseases.
Oocyte competence develops: nuclear maturation synchronously with cytoplasm maturation
Authors: Torkashvand Hossein , Shabani Ronak , Artimani Tayebe , Amiri Iraj , Pilehvari Shamim , Torkashvand Leila , Mehdizadeh Rana , Mehdizadeh Mehdi
Published: November 2024

Human oocyte maturation is a lengthy process that takes place over the course of which oocytes gain the inherent ability to support the next developmental stages in a progressive manner. This process includes intricate and distinct events related to nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Nuclear maturation includes mostly chromosome segregation, whereas rearrangement of organelles, storage of mRNAs and transcription factors occur during cytoplasmic maturation.

Human oocyte maturation, both in vivo and in vitro, occurs through a process that is not yet fully understood. However, it is believed that the second messenger, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), plays a pivotal role in the upkeep of the meiotic blocking of the human oocyte. Relatively high levels of cAMP in the human oocyte are required to maintain meiosis blocked, whereas lower levels of cAMP in the oocyte enable meiosis to resume. Oocyte cAMP concentration is controlled by a balance between adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterases, the enzymes responsible for cAMP generation and breakdown.

In addition to nuclear maturation, the female gamete requires a number of complicated structural and biochemical modifications in the cytoplasmic compartment to be able to fertilize normally. According to ultrastructural studies, during the transition from the germinal vesicle stage to metaphase II (MII), several organelles reorganize their positions. The cytoskeletal microfilaments and microtubules found in the cytoplasm facilitate these movements and regulate chromosomal segregation.

The aim of this review is to focus on the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation by investigating the changes that take place in the process of oocytes being competent for development.
A qualitative needs assessment of early participants in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program in CHD
Authors: Buehne Kristen L. , Winder Melissa , Marietta Jennifer , Park Jamie , Dwyer Murphy , Eckhauser Aaron W. , Hummel Kevin
Published: November 2024

Although medical advancements have improved the mortality of CHD, morbidity still exists, impacting patient quality of life. Returning to baseline in the early surgical recovery phase is an area of potential improvement. This preliminary project aims to qualitatively understand CHD family perspectives concerning the immediate postoperative recovery phase. The participating patients enrolled in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program, a postsurgical symptom management tool utilised in adult centres and broadening into pediatrics. Twenty-three of 27 contacted families answered open-ended questions 1 to 3 months postoperatively regarding difficulties experienced during their first week home. They reviewed a list of symptoms including: difficulties with pain, nausea, activity, sleep, appetite, bowel or urinary systems, and taking medications. A qualitative thematic analysis was performed with the open responses, as well as a quantitative assessment of the types of issues that made recovery challenging. Participants struggled most with sleep (78%), returning to activity (70%), and pain (57%). Open-ended responses suggested that an inability to do daily activities, sleep (frequently impacted by pain), and inadequate resources most negatively impacted recovery. Given these findings, investigating postoperative sleep regimens and effective pain plan components may prove useful, in addition to the further development of early mobility programs. The positive and negative experiences highlighting the desire for readily available medical guidance enforce the need for open communication between families and team members, potentially aided by digital tools. Ultimately, further data could support the development of a standardised protocol to better the immediate postoperative quality of life for CHD families.
The Effects of Empathic Reactions to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade on Campaign Participation and Voter Turnout: Evidence from the 2022 U.S. Midterm Elections
Authors: Sirin Cigdem V. , Villalobos José D.
Published: November 2024

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, reversing the nearly 50-year-old landmark decision that affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. Several months later, voters turned out in record numbers for the 2022 midterms, though a widely predicted “Red Wave” vote did not materialize. There has since been speculation that overturning Roe v. Wade played a crucial role in the midterms, generating a “Blue Tsunami” or “Roevember” driven largely by young, pro-choice women voting out of self-interest. We posit instead that group empathy was the key motivational mechanism in the link between opposition to Dobbs and voter mobilization in that election. Analyzing data from an original national survey, we find that opposition to overturning Roe v. Wade did not directly affect one’s likelihood to vote unless one is empathic toward groups in distress. Such opposition was actually demobilizing for those low in empathy. The findings indicate group empathy serves as a catalyst for people to act on their opposition to policies that harm disadvantaged groups, in this case women as a marginalized political minority losing their constitutional right to bodily autonomy and access to reproductive care.
Recovering African contestation and innovation in global politics: Francis Deng and sovereignty-as-responsibility
Authors: Mares Gabriel
Published: November 2024

Against both liberal narratives and postcolonial critiques, this article argues that sovereignty-as-responsibility – the theory of sovereignty embraced in the responsibility to protect (R2P) – is part of a problem space that emerged with decolonization, rather than the end of the Cold War. The internally displaced person (IDP), the vehicle which Francis Deng used to critique Westphalian sovereignty, had to be theorized against the rise of the postcolonial state. In recovering the questions motivating Deng, we find a stark politics driving his work on IDPs and sovereignty. Against the claim that the heart of R2P is armed coercive intervention for humanitarian purposes, Deng used sovereignty-as-responsibility to promote a profoundly political critique of the colonial legacy and the postcolonial state, which was taken up by states of the Global South in debates on the ratification of R2P. Recovering Deng's work on IDPs and sovereignty-as-responsibility highlights R2P as itself a site of contestation, and offers a case for how ideas emerge ‘from below’ in global politics.
A dual-band microwave sensor for liquid permittivity characterization based on multiple complementary split-ring resonators
Authors: Xiao Hong , Yan Sen
Published: November 2024

This article presents a dual-band planar microwave sensor to characterize the permittivity of liquid samples. The sensor utilizes a splitter–combiner microstrip segment loaded with two pairs of triangular-shaped complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs). By integrating a meander slot into the CSRRs and incorporating inter-resonator coupling between the CSRRs, the proposed sensor achieves enhanced frequency shifts, resulting in improved sensitivity. An adulteration detection experiment is conducted to validate the sensor’s performance by mixing mineral oil into castor oil with a polydimethylsiloxane container placed on the sensing area. The variations in resonant frequency and peak attenuation are employed to extract the permittivity of the loaded liquid sample. The peak sensitivities in determining the real permittivity are measured to be 6.34% and 5.7% for the first and second frequency bands, respectively. The measured errors for extracting the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity are approximately 3.95% and 7.47% for the first frequency band and 3.67% and 6.28% for the second frequency band, respectively. The proposed dual-band microwave sensor, with its high sensitivity, compact size, small sample volume, and low cost, demonstrates great potential for applications in the quality monitoring of agricultural and industrial products.
(Mis)perception in Social Mobility: Optimistic Bias for Personal (but not Societal) Mobility Beliefs
Authors: Matamoros-Lima Juan , Willis Guillermo Byrd , Navarro-Carrillo Ginés , Moya Miguel
Published: November 2024

Cognitive biases affect how people perceive social class mobility. Previous studies suggest that people find it difficult to estimate actual economic social mobility accurately. These results have also noted differences between regions. While in the United States people overestimate actual economic social mobility, in Europe people tend to underestimate it. Across two independent cross-sectional studies, we examined whether cognitive biases operate in the Spanish context and, if so, whether they depend on the type of social mobility. In Study 1 (N = 480), we tested whether people in Spain have an accurate estimation of actual upward economic societal mobility. The results showed that people in Spain have a pessimistic view of upward societal mobility. In Study 2 (N = 274), we analyzed whether people in Spain are more or less optimistic according to the type of social mobility: Personal vs. societal. We found that Spaniards are more optimistic when estimating their own mobility (i.e., personal mobility) than when estimating the mobility of the Spanish society (i.e., societal mobility). Contrary to our predictions, we found that meritocratic beliefs do not play a relevant role in determining any type of social mobility. These results extend previous research on social mobility and its psychosocial consequences. Furthermore, they are well aligned with a new psychosocial perspective suggesting that social mobility is a multidimensional construct. We also discussed the psychosocial implications of this optimistic bias for personal mobility.
Searching for consistent postemergence weed control in progressively inconsistent weather
Authors: Landau Christopher , Bradley Kevin , Burns Erin , Dobbels Anthony , Essman Alyssa , Flessner Michael , Gage Karla , Hager Aaron , Jhala Amit , Johnson Paul O , Johnson William , Lancaster Sarah , Lingenfelter Dwight , Loux Mark , Miller Eric , Owen Micheal , Sarangi Debalin , Sikkema Peter , Sprague Christy , VanGessel Mark , Werle Rodrigo , Young Bryan , Williams Martin
Published: November 2024

Foliar-applied postemergence herbicides are a critical component of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] weed management programs in North America. Rainfall and air temperature around the time of application may affect the efficacy of herbicides applied postemergence in corn or soybean production fields. However, previous research utilized a limited number of site-years and may not capture the range of rainfall and air temperatures that these herbicides are exposed to throughout North America. The objective of this research was to model the probability of achieving successful weed control (≥85%) with commonly applied postemergence herbicides across a broad range of environments. A large database of more than 10,000 individual herbicide evaluation field trials conducted throughout North America was used in this study. The database was filtered to include only trials with a single postemergence application of fomesafen, glyphosate, mesotrione, or fomesafen + glyphosate. Waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer], morningglory species (Ipomoea spp.), and giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.) were the weeds of focus. Separate random forest models were created for each weed species by herbicide combination. The probability of successful weed control deteriorated when the average air temperature within the first 10 d after application was <19 or >25 C for most of the herbicide by weed species models. Additionally, drier conditions before postemergence herbicide application reduced the probability of successful control for several of the herbicide by weed species models. As air temperatures increase and rainfall becomes more variable, weed control with many of the commonly used postemergence herbicides is likely to become less reliable.
Carbon Mineralization in Fractured Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks: A Review
Authors: Nisbet H. , Buscarnera G. , Carey J. W. , Chen M. A. , Detournay E. , Huang H. , Hyman J. D. , Kang P. K. , Kang Q. , Labuz J. F. , Li W. , Matter J. , Neil C. W. , Srinivasan G. , Sweeney M. R. , Voller V. R. , Yang W. , Yang Y. , Viswanathan H. S.
Published: November 2024

Mineral carbon storage in mafic and ultramafic rock masses has the potential to be an effective and permanent mechanism to reduce anthropogenic CO2. Several successful pilot‐scale projects have been carried out in basaltic rock (e.g., CarbFix, Wallula), demonstrating the potential for rapid CO2 sequestration. However, these tests have been limited to the injection of small quantities of CO2. Thus, the longevity and feasibility of long‐term, large‐scale mineralization operations to store the levels of CO2 needed to address the present climate crisis is unknown. Moreover, CO2 mineralization in ultramafic rocks, which tend to be more reactive but less permeable, has not yet been quantified. In these systems, fractures are expected to play a crucial role in the flow and reaction of CO2 within the rock mass and will influence the CO2 storage potential of the system. Therefore, consideration of fractures is imperative to the prediction of CO2 mineralization at a specific storage site. In this review, we highlight key takeaways, successes, and shortcomings of CO2 mineralization pilot tests that have been completed and are currently underway. Laboratory experiments, directed toward understanding the complex geochemical and geomechanical reactions that occur during CO2 mineralization in fractures, are also discussed. Experimental studies and their applicability to field sites are limited in time and scale. Many modeling techniques can be applied to bridge these limitations. We highlight current modeling advances and their potential applications for predicting CO2 mineralization in mafic and ultramafic rocks.
Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
Authors: Liu Yusen , Yang Ting , Wang Kai , Wang Xiong , Li Yang
Published: November 2024

Recent seismic tomography models suggest large‐radius primary plumes originating from the core‐mantle boundary, with grain size variations potentially explaining these observations. Additionally, grain size variations are thought to enhance the long‐term stability of Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), identified as thermochemical piles near the core‐mantle boundary. Nevertheless, geodynamic models investigating these hypotheses remain limited. To address this gap, we constructed a series of geodynamic numerical models incorporating grain size evolution, plate tectonics, and the spontaneous generation of deep mantle plumes above LLSVPs. Our results reveal that grain size evolution does not significantly affect the plume width, primarily because the increased strain rate in the mantle plume suppresses both its grain size and viscosity. The region adjacent to the plumes, characterized by the accumulation of mantle materials with larger grain size and low‐temperature remnants of subducted slabs, displays a higher viscosity compared to the area near the subducted slabs. Furthermore, grain size evolution plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability of LLSVPs by increasing the viscosity ratio between LLSVPs and the ambient mantle. These findings underscore the need for incorporating grain size evolution in geodynamic models to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of plumes and lower mantle.
Solar Activity Effects on the Near‐Earth Space Regions During the Descending Phase of Solar Cycle 24
Authors: He Zhaohai , Xu Jiyao , Dai Lei , Duan Suping , Gao Hong , Wang Guojun , Roth Ilan , Wang Chi
Published: November 2024

The solar cycle includes multi‐scale variations in the near‐Earth space regions including plasmasphere, inner radiation belt (IRB), ionosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). We present a thorough analysis of the extent of solar cycle effect on those four regions by using mesospheric and thermospheric geopotential height and temperature from SABER on TIMED, ionospheric hmF2 from Chinese Meridian Project, high‐energy protons in IRB and electron density in plasmasphere from Van Allen Probes within 2013–2018 intervals. By analyzing evolutions of these quantities, we find that entire IRB, ionosphere and MLT region shrink at solar minimum and stretch at solar maximum by ∼103, 50–102, and 1 km scales, respectively, while plasmapause shows an opposite trend. Fourier spectra of these quantities have been investigated by Lomb–Scargle periodogram. The mid‐term periodic oscillations (13.5‐day, 45‐day, and 52‐day) have been observed in MLT region, matching well with plasmapause locations and geomagnetic indices, which have not been observed in solar EUV radiation and IRB. This may indicate that those oscillations facilitate energy exchange and mass transportation between MLT region and plasmasphere due to magnetic storms and substorms. The oscillation periods of higher energy (102.6 MeV) in IRB have not been observed in MLT region except for annual variations. The impact of higher energy protons on MLT regions may not be significant, although they could penetrate deeper into MLT region. Our results reveal relationships between some quantities and solar cycle multi‐scale modulation, which may provide assistance and monitors for mass transportation in the near‐Earth space regions.
Calculation and Evaluation of Neutral Winds in the Lower Thermosphere Based on SYISR Observations
Authors: Zhang Ning , Yue Xinan , Wang Junyi , Cai Yihui , Hu Lianhuan , Yu You , Zhou Xu , Ding Feng , Li Mingyuan , Ning Baiqi
Published: November 2024

An algorithm for obtaining ion vector velocities and neutral winds in the lower thermosphere (100–150 km) was applied to the Sanya incoherent scatter radar (SYISR; located at 18.3°N, 109.6°E) for the first time. The observational experiment transmitted alternating code pulses with a code width of 20 μs. The ion vector velocities and neutral winds were derived from multiple‐beam line‐of‐sight ion velocities. To verify the reliability, we first analyzed the variations and errors of the ion vector velocity and the neutral wind at different time scales. Then, we used an empirical model (HWM) and a theoretical model (NCAR‐TIEGCM) for comparison. Both comparisons exhibited good consistency in terms of neutral wind velocity. Furthermore, we compared the SYISR neutral winds with the meteor radar and ICON/MIGHTI winds. The zonal (meridional) wind speeds of the meteor radar and SYISR are 24.95 m/s (13.95 m/s) and 20.68 m/s (16.85 m/s), respectively, at 6:30 LT at 100 km. The amplitudes and phases of the tides derived from the SYISR data are in accordance with those of the meteor radar. The ICON/MIGHTI and SYISR showed consistencies in terms of the wind velocity when ignoring interannual variation.