bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into the digestion of chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells bioactive extracts—ultrasound vs. microwave‐assisted extraction
Authors: Pinto Diana , Moreira Manuela M. , Vallverdú‐Queralt Anna , Delerue‐Matos Cristina , Rodrigues Francisca
Published: May 2024

In the current study, polyphenols were extracted from chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSS) by two eco‐friendly techniques, namely microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE). The bioaccessibility, phenolic composition and bioactivity of CSS extracts were explored upon in vitro gastrointestinal digestion considering a future nutraceutical use. The phenolic and flavonoid concentrations, bioaccessibility and antioxidant/antiradical properties of both extracts decreased during digestion. The bioaccessibility was 25% and 26%, respectively, for UAE and MAE extracts. The phenolic profile demonstrated that gallic acid, caftaric acid and catechin were the most bioaccessible compounds for both extraction techniques. The CSS extracts unveiled notable radicals scavenging efficiency, particularly against HOCl (18.32–75.44% inhibition) and ONOO− (16.78–86.11% inhibition), as well as hypoglycaemic (6.95–17.99% α‐amylase inhibition) and neuroprotective (16.44–54.66% AChE inhibition) properties upon digestion. Considering the undigested extracts, the UAE extract revealed better results than the MAE extract. Oppositely, among digested fractions the MAE digests disclosed the most promising outcomes. The remarkable contribution of phenolic compounds to the bioactivity of CSS extracts after in vitro digestion was proved by heatmap correlations, indicating that their pro‐healthy properties were modified after gastrointestinal digestion, being ascribed to the distinct phenolic composition. This study evaluates, for the first time, the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility and bioactivity of phenolics‐rich CSS extracts prepared by UAE and MAE.
Décrypter l'attrait du télétravail pour les salariés: une expérience d'enquête factorielle
Authors: MOENS Eline , VERHOFSTADT Elsy , VAN OOTEGEM Luc , BAERT Stijn
Published: May 2024

Cet article analyse l'attrait du télétravail par le biais d'une expérience d'enquête factorielle dans laquelle les salariés évaluent des offres d'emploi présentant des caractéristiques divergentes, incluant une large variation dans la possibilité de télétravailler. La relation entre la possibilité de télétravailler et l'attrait de l'emploi s'avère approximativement linéaire: 10 points de pourcentage supplémentaires d'heures de télétravail entraînent une augmentation de 2,2 points de pourcentage de l'attrait et, par conséquent, la volonté de renoncer à une augmentation de salaire de 2,2 points de pourcentage dans le nouvel emploi. La conception expérimentale permet également d’étudier de manière structurée et approfondie les mécanismes sous‐jacents et les modérateurs de cette relation.
Experimento de encuesta factorial sobre el atractivo del teletrabajo para los empleados en Flandes
Authors: MOENS Eline , VERHOFSTADT Elsy , VAN OOTEGEM Luc , BAERT Stijn
Published: May 2024

En este artículo se analiza el atractivo del teletrabajo mediante un experimento de encuesta factorial a empleados que evalúan ofertas de empleo de características divergentes, con una amplia variación en cuanto a la posibilidad de teletrabajar. La relación entre esta posibilidad y el atractivo del empleo resulta ser aproximadamente lineal: una posibilidad 10 puntos porcentuales mayor de teletrabajar aumenta el atractivo del empleo en 2,2 puntos porcentuales y suscita una disposición a renunciar a 2,2 puntos porcentuales de aumento salarial en el nuevo puesto. El diseño experimental también permite investigar de forma estructurada y exhaustiva los mecanismos subyacentes y los moderadores de esta relación.
Synthesis and characterization of mullite‐type Sn(Cr1−xVx)BO4: Structural, vibrational, magnetic, and thermal properties
Authors: Wittmann Sarah , Murshed M. Mangir , Schumacher Lars , Koldemir Aylin , Pöttgen Rainer , Gesing Thorsten M.
Published: May 2024

The susceptibility of either oxidation into Sn(IV) or disproportionation into Sn(IV) and Sn(0) limits the study of metal tin‐(II)‐borate ceramics. We report mullite‐type SnCrBO4 and SnVBO4 synthesized in sealed quartz tubes by conventional solid‐state method. X‐ray powder diffraction data Rietveld refinements confirm that both compounds are isostructural to PbMBO4 phases for M = Al, Ga, Cr, Mn, and Fe. The end‐members show a complete miscibility within the Sn(Cr1−xVx)BO4 solid solution. Both the microstructural (average crystallite size, microstrain, and degree of crystallinity) and crystal structural (metric parameters, bond lengths, polyhedral volume, and polyhedral distortion) parameters are observed with respect to the compositional x‐value. The stereochemical activity of the 5 s2 lone electron pairs of Sn2+ cations has been measured by using the Wang–Liebau eccentricity parameter. The structural features are complemented by 119Sn Mössbauer, Raman, and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy. The 119Sn Mössbauer isomer shifts and the quadrupole splitting values confirm the SnO4 coordination and an Sn(II) valence state. The electronic band gap has been calculated from the UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, which slightly increases with successive decrease of the cationic radius from V to Cr. Temperature‐dependent inverse DC magnetic susceptibility suggests that SnCrBO4 and SnVBO4 are antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic (FM) with a Néel temperature of 17.2(1) K and a Curie temperature of 29.8(1) K, respectively. Alike the end‐member SnVBO4, Sn(Cr0.5V0.5)BO4 is also found to be a rare FM insulator. The thermal stability decreases with increasing vanadium content in the solid solution.
Integrating single‐cell and multi‐omic approaches reveals Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba‐dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Chengcheng , Zhao Xiaoxue , Li Feng , Qin Jingru , Yang Lu , Yin Qianqian , Liu Yiyi , Zhu Zhiyao , Zhang Fei , Wang Zhongqi , Liang Haibin
Published: May 2024

Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba (EHH) is a pivotal therapeutic agent with diverse pharmacological effects. However, a substantial gap exists in understanding its pharmacological properties and anti‐tumour mechanisms. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring EHH's pharmacological properties, identifying NSCLC therapy‐associated protein targets, and elucidating how EHH induces mitochondrial disruption in NSCLC cells, offering insights into novel NSCLC treatment strategies. String database was utilized to explore protein–protein interactions. Subsequently, single‐cell analysis and multi‐omics further unveiled the impact of EHH‐targeted genes on the immune microenvironment of NSCLC, as well as their influence on immunotherapeutic responses. Finally, both in vivo and in vitro experiments elucidated the anti‐tumour mechanisms of EHH, specifically through the assessment of mitochondrial ROS levels and alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential. EHH exerts its influence through engagement with a cluster of 10 genes, including the apoptotic gene CASP3. This regulatory impact on the immune milieu within NSCLC holds promise as an indicator for predicting responses to immunotherapy. Besides, EHH demonstrated the capability to induce mitochondrial ROS generation and perturbations in mitochondrial membrane potential in NSCLC cells, ultimately leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and consequent apoptosis of tumour cells. EHH induces mitochondrial disruption in NSCLC cells, leading to cell apoptosis to inhibit the progress of NSCLC.
Unraveling CCL20's role by regulating Th17 cell chemotaxis in experimental autoimmune prostatitis
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Xu Shun , Hu Rui‐Jie , Liu Xian‐Hong , Yue Shao‐Yu , Li Xiao‐Ling , Dai Bang‐Shun , Liang Chao‐Zhao , Zhan Chang‐Sheng
Published: May 2024

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a prevalent urological ailment, exerts a profound influence upon the well‐being of the males. Autoimmunity driven by Th17 cells has been postulated as a potential factor in CP/CPPS pathogenesis. Nonetheless, elucidating the precise mechanisms governing Th17 cell recruitment to the prostate, triggering inflammation, remained an urgent inquiry. This study illuminated that CCL20 played a pivotal role in attracting Th17 cells to the prostate, thereby contributing to prostatitis development. Furthermore, it identified prostate stromal cells and immune cells as likely sources of CCL20. Additionally, this research unveiled that IL‐17A, released by Th17 cells, could stimulate macrophages to produce CCL20 through the NF‐κB/MAPK/PI3K pathway. The interplay between IL‐17A and CCL20 establishes a positive feedback loop, which might serve as a critical mechanism underpinning the development of chronic prostatitis, thus adding complexity to its treatment challenges.
Effects of 12 crops associated with plantain on arthropods trophic groups and Cosmopolites sordidus abundance
Authors: Pugeaux Pauline , Dépigny Sylvain , Carval Dominique , Fansi Gabriel , Tixier Philippe
Published: May 2024

The control of pests and diseases is one of the main challenges of sustainable agriculture. Plantains, with an annual production of nearly 12 million tons, are a significant staple food crop in West and Central Africa, as well as in Central America. Cosmopolites sordidus is the major pests for plantains and is present in all production areas. This study assessed how the traits and associated agricultural practices of 12 crops, usually associated with plantains in Cameroun, affected the arthropods trophic network and C. sordidus abundance. The abundance and the diversity of arthropods in experimental plots associating plantains with each of the 12 tested crops were measured. Each associated crop was described by a unique profile of traits and agricultural practices. This ‘trait’ approach allowed linking the plant characteristics to the abundance of arthropods from different trophic groups. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the interactions between associated crops traits, their associated agricultural practices and the abundance of main trophic groups. The highest abundance of C. sordidus was observed in plots with Ananas comosus and Xanthosoma sagittifolium as associated crops. These plots also had the lowest abundance of omnivores and predators. In contrast, plots with the lowest abundance of C. sordidus were those with weeds and Vigna unguiculata, where more omnivores and predators were observed. Grouping associated crops by their traits and agricultural practices allowed for drawing conclusions on a wider range than the set of plants tested. For instance, this study showed that plants from the higher strata tend to decrease ground‐dwelling predators. The ideal crop traits and agricultural practices to maximize the regulation of C. sordidus should not be obtained by a single species of crop but rather by a community of associated crops.
Grower assessment of profitability impact from Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the value of management information sources, and use of potential management practices
Authors: Regmi Arun , Neupane Kripa , Harper Jayson
Published: May 2024

An online survey was conducted from June 2018 to March 2021 to elicit information from commercial farmers and growers on the economic impact of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys (Stål)) on agriculture and their attitudes towards adopting various alternative management practices, including use of Trissolcus japonicus as a biocontrol agent. Most respondents reported that BMSB reduced the profitability of their operation, with the largest impacts coming from reduced quality and increased spray cost. Improved monitoring techniques and natural enemies have the greatest probability to be used to manage BMSB, while tactics like attract and kill, border sprays, repellents, trap crops and netting were less likely to be adopted. Further analysis using ordered logistic and tobit regression models shows that the factors that influence potential adoption vary significantly for each management practice. This suggests that adoption efforts for alternate management practices should focus on the attributes of specific commodity groups and targeted educational programmes may be required to overcome the resistance of growers using conventional growing practices. Several variables have a consistent impact on the respondent's willingness to pay for a T. japonicus‐based biocontrol including being a commercial producer (positive impact), use of conventional growing practices (negative) and increased concern about the impact of BMSB (positive).
What is the potential of sugarcane borer in reducing sorghum fitness and grain production?
Authors: da Silva Fernandes Souza Camila , de Souza Bruno Henrique Sardinha , Fadini Marcos Antônio Matiello , França Josélia Carvalho Oliveira , de Menezes Cícero Bezerra , Nascimento Priscilla Tavares , Mendes Simone Martins
Published: May 2024

Pest attack is an important biotic threat to sorghum productivity, and one of the main insect pests of grain sorghum is sugarcane borer (SCB) Diatraea saccharalis. Despite the importance of this insect species, little is known about the relationship between SCB infestation and reduction in sorghum grain yield, as well as on the gain threshold and economic injury level for decision making of pest control. This study evaluated the influence of SCB infestation on plant performance and grain production in three commercial grain sorghum hybrids. Hybrids AG1090, BRS 373, and DKB 590 were planted in three crop seasons in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, and six treatments were assessed in the experiments, consisting of three grain sorghum hybrids with and without the insecticide chlorantraniliprole at 52.5 g a.i. ha−1 under SCB natural infestation. The parameters evaluated on sorghum plants were the length of tunnels, plant height, length and weight of panicles, stem borer injury, and grain yield. The infestation of SCB was higher when sorghum plants were not treated with insecticide, resulting in lower productivity. The use of insecticide increased plant height, reduced tunnel length, and increased panicle length and weight. Hybrids only affected panicle weight. The hybrid that presented the highest panicle weight when using the insecticide was AG 1090. Hybrids AG 1090 and DKB 590 showed reduced grain production with increasing gallery length, whereas BRS 373 did not show a significant correlation, which may suggest a certain level of tolerance to SCB attack. This is the first study that determines the gain threshold and economic injury level and that effectively shows how much grain yield is lost by SCB attack in grain sorghum hybrids.
Total flavone of Abelmoschus manihot regulates autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway to treat intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease
Authors: Zhang Dan , Liu Jiali , Lv Lei , Chen Xiaopin , Qian Yunzhi , Zhao Peizhen , Zhang Qiaofeng , Chen Yugen , Qian Haihua
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim

Drug therapy is the treatment of choice for Crohn's disease because it effectively controls or prevents intestinal inflammation. The purpose was to research the molecular mechanism of the total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot (TFA) on intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease.

Methods

A 2,4,6‐Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis model and IGF‐1‐treated intestinal fibroblasts were established. Then, TFA, 3‐MA, and compound C were used treatments. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson, and Picrosirius red staining were performed to observe the colon tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect α‐SMA expression. Flow cytometry, CCK8, wound healing, and Transwell assays were conducted to determine apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and migration. Col1a1 and Col3a1 levels were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Proteins related to autophagy and apoptosis were detected using western blotting.

Results

TFA treated intestinal fibrosis in chronic Crohn's disease. Colon length was the shortest in the ethanol + TNBS group, and TFA treatment significantly improved the situation. Intestinal fibrosis and the percentage of collagen area decreased after TFA treatment. TFA reduced fibrosis by enhancing autophagy stimulation, whereas an autophagy inhibitor reversed the TFA effect. TFA also inhibited migration, proliferation, and collagen synthesis in intestinal fibroblasts. Moreover, it enhanced autophagy and apoptosis of intestinal fibroblasts. TFA upregulated p‐AMPK expression and decreases p‐mTOR levels. Compound C partially rescued the effect of TFA, indicating that TFA affected intestinal fibroblasts via the AMPK/mTOR pathway in vitro and in vivo. TFA also downregulated Col1a1 and Col3a1 expression.

Conclusion

TFA regulates autophagy through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway to treat intestinal fibrosis, which may provide a new therapy for Crohn's disease treatment.
“Hate has chipped away at my sense of security”: A survey study of the impacts of anti‐Asian hate on the health of older Asians
Authors: Li Lingsheng , Kang Jasmine , Nguyen Brian , Ho Maxwell , Li Andrew T. , Shih Jonathan J. , Kotwal Ashwin , Yeh Jarmin , Karliner Leah , Jeung Russell , Smith Alexander
Published: May 2024

Background

Since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic, older Asians have experienced a rise in racism and discrimination based on their race and ethnicity. This study examines how anti‐Asian hate impacts older Asians' mental, social, and physical health.

Methods

From March 18, 2022 to January 24, 2023, we conducted a cross‐sectional survey study of community‐dwelling Asian/Asian American adults aged ≥50 years from the San Francisco Bay Area. Measures included perceptions of anti‐Asian hate; direct encounters with hate incidents; indirect experiences with hate incidents (e.g. knowing a friend who was a victim); reports of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and changes in daily activities; ways to address these issues; and discussions with clinicians about hate incidents.

Results

Of the 293 older Asians, 158 (54%) were Vietnamese and 97 (33%) Chinese. Eighty‐five (29%) participants were direct victims of anti‐Asian hate, 112 (38%) reported anxiety, 105 (36%) reported depression, 161 (55%) reported loneliness, and 142 (48%) reported decreased daily activities. Compared with those who were “not‐at‐all” to “moderately” worried about hate incidents, participants who were “very” to “extremely” worried experienced heightened anxiety (42% versus 16%), loneliness (30% versus 14%), and changes in daily activities (66% versus 31%), p < 0.01 for all. Most participants (72%) felt comfortable discussing hate incidents with clinicians; however, only 31 (11%) reported that a clinician had talked with them about these incidents.

Conclusion

Both directly and indirectly, anti‐Asian hate negatively impacts older Asians' mental, social, and physical health. Clinicians have a role in addressing the health impacts of anti‐Asian hate.
The role of tryptophan and its derivatives in musculoskeletal pains: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: De La Torre Canales Giancarlo , Al‐Moraissi Essam Ahmed , Fatih Tina , Razavian Artin , Westman Julia , Yanes Yanal , Grigoriadis Anastasios , Christidis Maria , Christidis Nikolaos , Barjandi Golnaz
Published: May 2024

Background

Studies present ambiguous findings regarding the role of tryptophan and its metabolites, kynurenine and serotonin in chronic musculoskeletal pain. This systematic review aimed to investigate the expression of tryptophan and its metabolites, serotonin and kynurenine in patients with local and generalized chronic musculoskeletal pain in comparison with pain‐free controls.

Methods

An electronic search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Web of Science for clinical and observational trials from the beginning of each database to 21 April 2023. Out of 6734 articles, a total of 17 studies were included; 12 studies were used in the meta‐analysis of serotonin, 3 regarding tryptophan and 2 studies for a narrative synthesis regarding kynurenine. Risk of bias was assessed using the quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross‐sectional studies of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, while the certainty of evidence was by GRADE.

Results

All included studies showed a low risk of bias. The meta‐analysis showed lower blood levels of tryptophan (p < .001; very low quality of evidence) and higher blood levels of serotonin (p < .001; very low‐quality evidence) in patients with generalized musculoskeletal pain, when compared to pain‐free individuals. In local chronic musculoskeletal pain, there were higher blood levels of serotonin (p=.251; very low quality of evidence) compared to pain‐free individuals. Regarding kynurenine, the studies reported both higher and lower blood levels in generalized chronic musculoskeletal pain compared to pain‐free individuals.

Conclusions

The blood levels of tryptophan and its metabolites serotonin and kynurenine seem to influence chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Complicating critical discussions in gender sexuality alliances: Youth desire for intersectional conversations and the experience of fragmentation
Authors: Singh Sukhmani , Salgin Linda , Kellogg Daniel , DaSilva Paris , Woodman Emma , Poteat V. Paul , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Calzo Jerel P.
Published: May 2024

Gender sexuality alliances (GSAs) represent consciousness‐raisings that hold potential for critical consciousness development in youth. In this study, we focus on critical reflection—the understanding that oppression is structured and maintained by human action. We engage intersectionality as our analytical framework and analyze both student interview data (n = 38) and advisor closed‐ended and open‐ended survey data (n = 58) to examine: (1) the nature/content of critically reflective discussions in GSAs and (2) how advisors support critically reflective discussions in GSAs and their role in these discussions. Our findings suggest that (1) conversations centering race and its intersections with other socio‐structural axes occur, albeit infrequently; (2) youth recognize and understand the concept of intersectionality in nuanced ways, desire to have critical intersectional conversations, and experience fragmentation from conversations around race, sexuality, and gender if they are situated at privileged locations on those axes; and (3) students want advisors to engage in critically reflective discussions in GSAs. The findings suggest that interventions and programming are needed that could cultivate advisors' and youth leaders' skills in facilitating intersectional dialogues for critical reflection among members.
Insurers' climate change risk management quality and natural disasters
Authors: Berry‐Stölzle Thomas R. , Fritzsch Simon , Scharner Philipp , Weiß Gregor
Published: May 2024

We perform a textual analysis of insurers' climate risk disclosures and construct a climate change risk management quality index. Our index captures to what extent insurers identify, manage, and adjust their business model to climate change risk. We find that natural disasters in an insurer's home state lead to an increase in climate change risk management quality. The effect of natural disasters in an insurer's geographic markets on climate change risk management seems to be less pronounced. Overall, these results are consistent with salience theories of choice.
Self‐love, growth, and competition in a public good game
Authors: Colasante Annarita , Morone Andrea , Nemore Francesco , Tiranzoni Paola
Published: May 2024

Competition and cooperation are not always at odds and contributions to public goods are almost never one‐off one‐shot temporally isolated events. We examine voluntary contribution in a new public good experiment where “self‐love” competitive motivations and time dynamic interdependencies are simultaneously considered. The competitive motivations are manipulated via subjects competing in each group (intragroup competition) for higher return factors on their public expenditure, whereas time dynamic interdependencies are modeled by letting returns from previous periods available for future contributions to public goods (CG). We ran two control conditions where intragroup competition (C) and time dynamic interdependencies (G) are separately implemented. Our findings showed that shares of endowment contributed were significantly greater and increasing over time when endowments growth and heterogeneous returns factors were simultaneously introduced. This effect can be attributed to return factors obtained in previous periods. Accordingly, wealth exponential growth has been greatly accelerated relative to our control condition. Distributive equity concerns have been also documented. Although Gini coefficients were significantly lower in the presence of heterogeneous return factors and endowments growth, inequality trends seemed to converge at control condition values in the long term.
Methanogen–methanotroph community has a more consistent and integrated structure in rice rhizosphere than in bulk soil and rhizoplane
Authors: Wang Wenqi , Guo Yaping , Yang Lin , Adams Jonathan Miles
Published: May 2024

Methanogenic and methanotrophic microbes together determine the net methane flux from rice fields. Despite much research on them as separate communities, there has been little study of combined community patterns, and how these vary between the rhizoplane (root surface), rhizosphere (soil surrounding the root) and bulk soil around rice plants, especially at larger spatial scale. We collected samples from 32 geographically scattered rice fields in east central China, amplicon targeting the mcrA gene for methanogenesis and pmoA gene for methanotrophy by using high‐throughput sequencing. Distinct communities of both methanogens and methanotrophs occurred in each of the three compartments, and predominantly positive links were found between methanogens and methanotrophs in all compartments indicating cross‐feeding or consortia relationships. Methanogens were acting as the network hub in the bulk soil, and methanotrophs in rhizoplane. Network complexity and stability was greater in the rhizosphere than rhizoplane and bulk soil, with no network hubs detected, suggesting the strongest effect of homeostatic influence by plant occurred in the rhizosphere. The proportion of determinism (homogeneous selection) and distance–decay relation (DDR) in rhizoplane was consistently lower than that in the rhizosphere for both communities, indicating weaker phylogenetic clustering in rice root surface. Our results have provided a better understanding of CH4 oxidation and emission in rice paddy fields and future agriculture management could take into consideration of the subtle variation among different soil compartments and interactions within methanogenic and methanotrophic communities.
Parkinson's disease is associated with low striated esophagus contractility potentially contributing to the development of dysphagia
Authors: Kerschner Alexander , Hassan Hamza , Kern Mark , Edeani Francis , Mei Ling , Sanvanson Patrick , Shaker Reza , Yu Elliot
Published: May 2024

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and more than 80% of PD patients will develop oropharyngeal dysphagia. Despite its striated histology, proximity to airway, and potential negative impact of its dysfunction on bolus transport and airway safety, the contractile function of the striated esophagus in PD patients has not been systematically studied.

Methods

Using our repository of clinical manometry and the Milwaukee ManoBank, we analyzed high‐resolution manometry (HRM) studies of 20 PD patients, mean age 69.1 (range 38–87 years); 30 non‐PD patients with dysphagia, mean age 64.0 (44–86 years); and 32 healthy volunteers, mean age 65.3 (39–86 years). Patients with abnormal findings based on Chicago Classification 4.0 were identified. Repeat analysis was performed in 20% of the manometric tracings by a different investigator with inter‐rater concordance between 0.91 and 0.99.

Key Results

The striated esophageal contractile integral in PD patients was significantly lower than that in non‐PD dysphagic patients and healthy controls (p = 0.03 and <0.01, respectively). This significant difference persisted after excluding patients with concurrent Chicago Classification motility disorders (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). In both analyses, the distal esophageal contractile integral did not show any significant difference between groups (p = 0.58 and 0.93, respectively).

Conclusions & Inferences

PD is associated with a significant decrease in striated esophagus contractility compared to non‐PD and healthy controls. This finding may play a pathophysiologic role in development of dysphagia in this patient population.
What physicalism could be
Authors: Raven Michael J.
Published: May 2024

The physicalist credo is that the world is physical. But some phenomena, such as minds, morals, and mathematics, appear to be nonphysical. While an uncompromising physicalism would reject these, a conciliatory physicalism need not if it can account for them in terms of an underlying physical basis. Any such account must refer to the nonphysical. But will not this unavoidable reference to the nonphysical conflict with the physicalist credo? This essay aims to clarify this problem and introduce a novel solution that relies on a distinction between “circumstantial” facts that are based in the circumstances and “acircumstantial” facts that are not. This is used in two ways. First, physicalism is restricted to circumstantial facts: Only they must have a physical basis that does not refer to the nonphysical. Second, facts accounting for the nonphysical are not restricted to the circumstantial: They may refer to the nonphysical if they are acircumstantial. Facts about how the physical accounts for the nonphysical therefore do not conflict with the physicalist's credo. This provides a credible answer to what physicalism could be.
Nourishing Catholic souls in post‐Tridentine miracle narratives
Authors: Rushton Joshua
Published: May 2024

The period of Catholic reform witnessed the proliferation of printed works that narrated historical and contemporary miracles for the edification of a vernacular readership. This article examines the role of printed miracle narratives in stimulating interior Catholic devotional life through close examination of three Italian vernacular collections printed in Italy between 1587 and 1597. Previous studies have focused on miracle stories where the resolution or prevention of earthly suffering in the forms of illness, miscarriages of justice, or accidents was the main event. Such narratives were designed to shape their readers' understanding of the culture of the miraculous and its relevance for their lives. This article takes a different approach to the role of the miraculous in early modern Catholicism by bringing narratives that had spiritual rather than physical outcomes to the centre of study. By bringing into focus the diversity of narratives compiled in miracle collections, it argues that stories also provided readers with opportunities to examine and tend to the state of their interior religious lives. This article offers a fresh perspective on the messages that early modern Catholics received about the value of the miraculous for their lives.
The narrative policy framework and institutions
Authors: McGovern Rachel , Jones Michael D.
Published: May 2024

This paper re‐evaluates conventional Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) scholarship which has traditionally prioritized the study of specific rules configurations and their role in forming effective institutional arrangements. We suggest that effective institutional governance may actually be more reliant on the narrative foundations and personal cognitive interpretations of these rules than on the explicit rules themselves. By drawing insights from the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), which delves into the internal cognitive processes of individuals, we seek to enrich the understanding of institutional‐actor‐rule dynamics. We contend that policy actors often rely on narrative heuristics to navigate complex institutional landscapes, underscoring the role of narratives in both understanding institutional structures and instigating collective action. Although institutional scholarship recognizes the centrality of communication, its impact on shaping institutional arrangements and rule formation remains insufficiently explored. This paper advocates for the integration of the NPF and the Institutional Grammar Tools' (IGT) ADICO, identifying potential parallels between the two frameworks. Our preliminary theorization suggests a cyclical relationship between narratives and institutions, with narratives shaping and being shaped by institutional rules and norms. Building upon Narrative Attention Theory, we aim to understand the broader implications of institutional narratives in driving or reinforcing policy stasis. Our paper represents a foundational step toward a comprehensive theoretical framework on the role of narratives in institutions, spotlighting institutional rules and pointing to future research directions. Through the proposed integration of NPF and IGT's ADICO, we hope to provide a more nuanced understanding of narrative dynamics in institutional arrangements and pave the way for empirical exploration of this relationship.
Hippo and PI5P4K signaling intersect to control the transcriptional activation of YAP
Authors: Palamiuc Lavinia , Johnson Jared L. , Haratipour Zeinab , Loughran Ryan M. , Choi Woong Jae , Arora Gurpreet K. , Tieu Vivian , Ly Kyanh , Llorente Alicia , Crabtree Sophia , Wong Jenny C. Y. , Ravi Archna , Wiederhold Thorsten , Murad Rabi , Blind Raymond D. , Emerling Brooke M.
Published: May 2024

Phosphoinositides are essential signaling molecules. The PI5P4K family of phosphoinositide kinases and their substrates and products, PI5P and PI4,5P
2
, respectively, are emerging as intracellular metabolic and stress sensors. We performed an unbiased screen to investigate the signals that these kinases relay and the specific upstream regulators controlling this signaling node. We found that the core Hippo pathway kinases MST1/2 phosphorylated PI5P4Ks and inhibited their signaling in vitro and in cells. We further showed that PI5P4K activity regulated several Hippo- and YAP-related phenotypes, specifically decreasing the interaction between the key Hippo proteins MOB1 and LATS and stimulating the YAP-mediated genetic program governing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Mechanistically, we showed that PI5P interacted with MOB1 and enhanced its interaction with LATS, thereby providing a signaling connection between the Hippo pathway and PI5P4Ks. These findings reveal how these two important evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways are integrated to regulate metazoan development and human disease.
Childhood socioeconomic background and elevated mortality among the young adult second generation in Sweden: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Wallace Matthew , Mussino Eleonora , Aradhya Siddartha , Harber-Aschan Lisa , Wilson Ben
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The native-born children of migrants represent one of the fastest-growing and most diverse young populations in the world today. A growing body of research highlights an elevated young adult mortality risk in this ‘second generation’ (G2) relative to the majority population at the same ages. Previous studies have tried to understand this increased risk by examining its association with inequality in the adult socioeconomic background (SEB) of the G2. Here, we instead analyse the association of second-generation status with childhood SEB.

Methods

We use administrative register data from Sweden to fit multistate, competing-risk, flexible parametric survival models on a data set of 13 404 deaths in 2.35 million young adults. We examine mortality from all causes and specific causes of death at the generational level and by parental region of birth, both before and after having adjusted for childhood SEB.

Results

The G2 have higher all-cause mortality hazard rates (HR=1.29 (95% CIs=1.23 to 1.34)) than the majority population before adjusting for childhood SEB. Following adjustment, the size of the hazard rate is smaller, but remains higher than the majority population (aHR=1.16 (95% CIs=1.11 to 1.21)). The G2 additionally experience persistent and higher hazard rates of mortality from suicide (aHR=1.29 (95% CIs=1.20 to 1.39)), substance misuse (aHR=1.41 (95% CIs=1.26 to 1.58)) and assault (aHR=2.54 (95% CIs=2.02 to 3.20)). By parental origins, similar patterns to those described are documented among G2 that have at least one parent born in Finland, the other Nordic countries, former Yugoslavia, the rest of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Northern Africa, and Iran and Iraq. However, higher all-cause (aHR=1.42 (95% CIs=1.33 to 1.51)) and external-cause hazard rates of mortality (aHR=1.59 (95% CIs=1.48 to 1.72)) only persist among G2 with parent(s) born in Finland.

Conclusions

G2 with various parental origins have higher mortality rates than the majority population do, and this difference is partly explained by their childhood SEB.
What are the characteristics of disposable electronic cigarettes users in Switzerland? A quantitative study among 14–25 year olds
Authors: Chok Lorraine , Fernandes-Palhares Diana , Cros Jérémy , Lebon Luc , Zürcher Karin , Dubuis Alexandre , Berthouzoz Cathy , Barrense-Dias Yara
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Disposable electronic cigarettes (DEC) appeared in Switzerland in 2020. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of DEC use among youth (14–25 year olds) living in French-speaking Switzerland and their characteristics.

Methods

Data were obtained from a web‐based survey conducted in August 2022. Participants were divided into four DEC user groups according to and were compared on sociodemographic data, substance use, family substance use and advertising viewing. Additional questions such as purchase methods and motivations were asked to the user groups.

Results

Among the 1362 participants, 41.2% had never used a DEC (NEVER), 14.4% once (ONCE), 15.1% several times but not in the last 30 days (PAST) and 29.2% several times in the last 30 days (CURRENT). At the multivariate level, compared with the NEVER group, participants in the CURRENT group were more likely to have used cigarettes and cannabis in the last 30 days, to report family electronic cigarettes use and to have seen online advertising for DEC. Among DEC users, compared with the ONCE group, those in the CURRENT group were less likely to be cisgender males, to have acquired their last DEC through peers or family and to use DEC out of curiosity.

Conclusions

Although most youth do not consume DEC regularly, these results raise concerns about growing exposure of young people to highly addictive products. They underline the importance of monitoring products availability, marketing and prevalence. They also confirm the necessity to inform the public, denormalise use and strengthen regulations.
Washout processes in post-sphaleron baryogenesis from way-out-of-equilibrium decays
Authors: Racker J.
Published: May 2024

We study washout processes in post-sphaleron baryogenesis, a mechanism where the matter–antimatter asymmetry is generated in the decay of exotic particles after the electroweak phase transition. In particular we focus, in a quite model independent way, on those scattering processes that have an amplitude proportional to the CP asymmetry. We find that when the scatterings involve only massless particles, the washouts are very severe for light decaying particles (with masses below a few hundred of GeV) and successful baryogenesis is only possible in a small portion of parameter space. Instead, if even a very light particle participates in these processes, the allowed region of parameter space opens considerably, although the final amount of baryon asymmetry may differ significantly from the expression which is typically used and neglects washouts. Furthermore, we analyze washouts from the non-thermal spectrum of energetic particles produced in cascade decays and indicate in which models they can be relevant.
Probing gauge-Higgs unification models at the ILC with quark–antiquark forward–backward asymmetry at center-of-mass energies above the Z mass
Authors: Irles A. , Márquez J. P. , Pöschl R. , Richard F. , Saibel A. , Yamamoto H. , Yamatsu N.
Published: May 2024

The International Linear Collider (ILC) will allow the precise study of $$e^{-}e^{+} \rightarrow q\bar{q}$$

e
-

e
+

→
q

q

¯

interactions at different center-of-mass energies from the $$Z$$
Z
-pole to 1 TeV. In this paper, we discuss the experimental prospects for measuring differential observables in $$e^{-}e^{+} \rightarrow b\bar{b}$$

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+

→
b

b

¯

and $$e^{-}e^{+} \rightarrow c\bar{c}$$

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→
c

c

¯

at the ILC baseline energies, 250 and 500 GeV. The study is based on full simulation and reconstruction of the International Large Detector (ILD) concept. Two gauge-Higgs unification models predicting new high-mass resonances beyond the Standard Model are discussed. These models predict sizable deviations of the forward–backward observables at the ILC running above the Z mass and with longitudinally polarized electron and positron beams. The ability of the ILC to probe these models via high-precision measurements of the forward–backward asymmetry is discussed. Alternative scenarios at other energies and beam polarization schemes are also discussed, extrapolating the estimated uncertainties from the two baseline scenarios.
Influence of welding parameters on the formation of U-rib fillet welds in single-sided welding of steel bridge panels
Authors: Nie Xiao , Li Ruifeng , Zhang Xiaoqiang , Li Taotao , Liu Zhigang , Yang Liang , Xue Zheyan
Published: May 2024

It is difficult to reach the requirement of 80% U-rib weld penetration in the practical application of single-sided welding of steel bridge panels. Meanwhile, full penetration has to be avoided. In this study, efforts are made in order to achieve fillet welds with 80% and above penetration consistently. The effect of welding parameters on the formation of single-sided U-rib fillet welds is investigated. This work has revealed that U-rib fillet weld penetration is presenting an upward trend as the welding current increases under specific welding conditions, and full penetration was observed at the current of 325 A. With the increasing distance between the filler wire and the root of the weld, the U-rib penetration reduces. As the torch angle increases during ship position welding, the U-rib penetration will first increase and then decrease. The weld formation of flat position welding is more stable and the U-rib weld penetration has been significantly improved. The optimum U-rib weld with penetration of 84.8% is achieved under the conditions of flat position welding with 285 A welding current, 44∘ torch angle, and 2[Formula: see text]mm distance between the wire and the root.
NeighboAR: Efficient Object Retrieval using Proximity- and Gaze-based Object Grouping with an AR System
Authors: Slavuljica Aleksandar , Bektas Kenan , Strecker Jannis , Mayer Simon
Published: May 2024

Humans only recognize a few items in a scene at once and memorize three to seven items in the short term. Such limitations can be mitigated using cognitive offloading (e.g., sticky notes, digital reminders). We studied whether a gaze-enabled Augmented Reality (AR) system could facilitate cognitive offloading and improve object retrieval performance. To this end, we developed NeighboAR, which detects objects in a user's surroundings and generates a graph that stores object proximity relationships and user's gaze dwell times for each object. In a controlled experiment, we asked N=17 participants to inspect randomly distributed objects and later recall the position of a given target object. Our results show that displaying the target together with the proximity object with the longest user gaze dwell time helps recalling the position of the target. Specifically, NeighboAR significantly reduces the retrieval time by 33%, number of errors by 71%, and perceived workload by 10%.
Learning User Embeddings from Human Gaze for Personalised Saliency Prediction
Authors: Strohm Florian , Bâce Mihai , Bulling Andreas
Published: May 2024

Reusable embeddings of user behaviour have shown significant performance improvements for the personalised saliency prediction task. However, prior works require explicit user characteristics and preferences as input, which are often difficult to obtain. We present a novel method to extract user embeddings from pairs of natural images and corresponding saliency maps generated from a small amount of user-specific eye tracking data. At the core of our method is a Siamese convolutional neural encoder that learns the user embeddings by contrasting the image and personal saliency map pairs of different users. Evaluations on two public saliency datasets show that the generated embeddings have high discriminative power, are effective at refining universal saliency maps to the individual users, and generalise well across users and images. Finally, based on our model's ability to encode individual user characteristics, our work points towards other applications that can benefit from reusable embeddings of gaze behaviour.
Shifting Focus with HCEye: Exploring the Dynamics of Visual Highlighting and Cognitive Load on User Attention and Saliency Prediction
Authors: Das Anwesha , Wu Zekun , Skrjanec Iza , Feit Anna Maria
Published: May 2024

Visual highlighting can guide user attention in complex interfaces. However, its effectiveness under limited attentional capacities is underexplored. This paper examines the joint impact of visual highlighting (permanent and dynamic) and dual-task-induced cognitive load on gaze behaviour. Our analysis, using eye-movement data from 27 participants viewing 150 unique webpages reveals that while participants' ability to attend to UI elements decreases with increasing cognitive load, dynamic adaptations (i.e., highlighting) remain attention-grabbing. The presence of these factors significantly alters what people attend to and thus what is salient. Accordingly, we show that state-of-the-art saliency models increase their performance when accounting for different cognitive loads. Our empirical insights, along with our openly available dataset, enhance our understanding of attentional processes in UIs under varying cognitive (and perceptual) loads and open the door for new models that can predict user attention while multitasking.
What Eyeblinks Reveal: Interpersonal Synchronization in Dyadic Interaction
Authors: Çakır Mehtap , Huckauf Anke
Published: May 2024

This study examines eyeblink synchronization in interactions characterized by mutual gaze without task-related or conversational elements that can trigger similarities in visual, auditory, or cognitive processing. We developed a study design capable of isolating the role of gaze in human-human interaction and observed the blinking behavior of dyads with mobile eye tracking glasses under three conditions: face-to-face mutual gaze, mediated mutual gaze through a mirror, and self-directed gaze in a mirror. The results revealed that when the interaction was through direct mutual gaze, eyeblink synchronization increased concurrently with a more structured temporal pattern. Also, the sense of connection between partners mimicked the synchronization. These findings suggest that even minor deviations caused by mediated interaction lead to reduced synchronization and a weakened sense of connection among partners. The paper also discusses the need for methodologies to enhance the efficacy and authenticity of online environments and human-robot interaction.