bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of obesity status and the risk of long‐COVID: Isfahan COVID cohort study
Authors: Mohammadifard Noushin , Arefian Mohadeseh , Najafian Jamshid , Shahsanaei Azadeh , Javanbakht Sahel , Mahmoudi Shirin , Nouri Fatemeh , Sayyah Maedeh , Nilforoushzadeh Farzaneh , Ahmadian Mahshid , Haghighatdoost Fahimeh , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: October 2024

People with COVID‐19 infection continue to have their symptoms or develop new ones after recovery. This is called long‐COVID syndrome. We aimed to examine the association of general and abdominal obesity with long COVID. This study was conducted using Isfahan COVID Cohort (ICC). Totally 4008 including 3213 hospitalized and 795 non‐hospitalized patients with positive RT‐PCR were included. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were calculated. BMI >25 kg/m2 and WC >88 cm in women and 102 cm in men were considered generally and abdominally obese, respectively. By using an open‐ended questionnaire, subjects were asked whether they had any new or persistent symptom. Reported symptoms were categorized in three different fields including general, cardiac, and respiratory symptoms. Higher BMI and WC tended to increase general symptoms (odds ratio [OR] for BMI = 1.16, 95 % confidence interval (95% CI): 0.97, 1.38, and OR for WC = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.32). Higher BMI significantly increased cardiovascular (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.67) and respiratory symptoms (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.78). Compared with patients with normal WC, the risk of cardiovascular (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.69) and respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in subjects with abdominal obesity (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.56). We found that general and abdominal obesity were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms in patients with long‐COVID symptoms. However, only general obesity was associated with increased risk of general symptoms.
The differential effects of parent‐targeted alcohol harm‐reduction campaigns with varying executional styles
Authors: Booth Leon , McCausland Tahnee , Stevens‐Cutler James , Bury Keira , Stafford Julia , Pettigrew Simone
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Parental provision of alcohol to children is associated with a range of negative outcomes. Public health campaigns discouraging this practice are required as part of a comprehensive approach to reduce alcohol‐related harm among minors, however, limited research has examined the relative effectiveness of different messaging approaches. This study compared the effects of two campaigns with different executional styles on parents' intentions to provide alcohol to minors—one campaign used a fear‐based approach and the other adopted a first‐person narrative approach.

Methods

The study used a repeated cross‐sectional design. An independent samples t‐test was used to compare the effects of two campaigns with alternative executional styles on parents' alcohol provision intentions. Two ordinal logistic generalised linear models were used to assess whether intentions effects differed according to parents' demographic and behavioural characteristics.

Results

Both campaigns were effective at motivating parents to abstain from providing alcohol to minors. This outcome was particularly notable among female respondents and those who had never provided alcohol to their children. Older respondents and those who used less alcohol were more likely to intend to change their behaviours as a result of exposure to the fear‐based campaign, while the campaign using a narrative approach was more effective with heavier drinkers.

Discussion and Conclusions

Overall strong performance of both campaigns combined with varying effectiveness by parent attributes highlights the utility of parent‐focused campaigns targeting alcohol provision to minors. To best protect minors, continued investments are needed to develop suites of evidence‐based campaigns that resonate with different parent subgroups.
Toddlers’ Helping Behavior Is Affected by the Effortful Costs Associated With Helping Others
Authors: Radovanovic Mia , Solby Hannah , Rose Katie S. , Hwang Jaemin , Yucer Ece , Sommerville Jessica A.
Published: October 2024

Although the presence of early helping behavior has been firmly established, it is unclear to what extent children are willing to adopt costs to help others, as well as how this willingness changes as children get older. Canadian 21‐ to 36‐month‐olds (N = 48) participated in four helping tasks varying in the type and degree of effort required to help (lifting force, cognitive load, the number of steps in a task, and pushing force). When costs were lower, toddlers were not only more likely to help but also provided help more readily and helped in ways that prioritized others’ needs. Importantly, we found that age and how costly helping was to individual children each uniquely predicted high‐cost helping, but not low‐cost helping. Overall, we demonstrate that toddlers’ helping is sensitive to a variety of effortful costs, while simultaneously demonstrating that maturation and individual costs appear to uniquely influence high‐cost helping.
Rooting for Their Own Gender: Preschoolers’ Selective Preference for Winners
Authors: Galusca Cristina‐Ioana , Helmlinger Anna Eve , Barat Elodie , Pascalis Olivier , Van der Henst Jean‐Baptiste
Published: October 2024

Children's social preferences are influenced by the relative status of other individuals, but also by their social identity and the degree to which those individuals are like them. Previous studies have investigated these aspects separately and showed that in some circumstances children prefer high‐status individuals and own‐gender individuals. Gender is a particularly interesting case to study because it is a strong dimension of social identity, but also one of the most prevalent forms of social hierarchy, with males conceptualised as superior to females, by adults and children alike. Here we directly asked how children's social preferences are influenced by status (winner or loser of a zero‐sum conflict) and winner gender (female or male) in different scenarios (same or mixed‐gender). In Experiment 1, children saw same‐gender conflicts between two females or two males and they displayed an overall preference for winners. In Experiment 2, participants watched two mixed‐gender conflicts, one where the female prevailed and one where the male prevailed. In this case, children chose the winner, but only when they had the same gender as themselves. Experiment 3 confirmed that children preferred own‐gender individuals in the absence of conflict or status. Overall, children are sensitive to the relative status of other individuals and use this information to make social decisions. However, preschoolers do not prefer just any individual who wins access to a resource. They preferred dominant individuals, but only when they were of their own gender. This suggests that children's dominance evaluations are modulated by children's social identity.
Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals from application of sewage sludge on agricultural soils in Europe
Authors: Yunta Felipe , Schillaci Calogero , Panagos Panos , Van Eynde Elise , Wojda Piotr , Jones Arwyn
Published: October 2024

The present European Union (EU) Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) is undergoing modifications aimed at enhancing its applicability in the agricultural sector. The Directive's existing limit values for heavy metal concentrations in soils are in the process of being revised. However, to comprehensively understand their effects on EU agricultural lands, additional evaluations are necessary. This is particularly important given that ecological risk assessments are often performed on a site‐specific basis, potentially overlooking broader regional implications. The main objective of the current work is to introduce a methodological approach to quantify the impact of sewage sludge (SS) application on agricultural soils in the EU and the United Kingdom. Concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in agricultural land from Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) 2009 topsoil database were used as a baseline. Maximum quantities of SS that can be safely applied to agricultural lands were obtained by a modeling procedure was used to determine the maximum safe quantities of SS that can be applied to agricultural lands for each country within the European Member States and the United Kingdom. Accumulation of HMs in soils was modelled by using a representative SS composition, distributed over 10 successive years at 5 Mg ha−1 year−1 rate. Ecological risk impact was assessed by using both the single ecological risk index (Er) and the integrated potential ecological risk index (RI). Maximum quantities of SS applied on agricultural soils in EU + UK were estimated to be 45 Mg ha−1 at the country level. We found that 19% of agricultural land (around 28,471,900 ha) in the EU + UK shows a higher RI than moderate risk after long time application of the representative SS. We show that the combination of the HM concentrations from the LUCAS topsoil survey and assumptions on the SS composition and soil HM partitioning can be used to define the actual and potential soil pollution rate in EU + UK. We demonstrate that the proposed methodology can be used by policymakers, farmers, regional authorities and other stakeholders, with possible adaptions based on local in‐depth soil and SS knowledge.
Early adoption of non‐financial disclosure in family firms
Authors: Manzi Maria Angela , Cirillo Alessandro , Mussolino Donata , Uman Timur
Published: October 2024

This study investigates when the reputation enhancing signals of family firms include early adoption of non‐financial disclosure. Drawing on signalling theory, we examine the effect of family ownership on the early adoption of non‐financial disclosure and the moderating role of contingency signals: founder chief executive officer (CEO) leadership and employee degrowth rate. We test our hypotheses with panel regressions on a dataset of Italian listed family firms over the period 2013–2017, years before the introduction of mandatory non‐financial reporting. The results reveal an inverted U‐shaped relationship between family ownership and early adoption of non‐financial disclosure, negatively moderated by the presence of a founder CEO and positively moderated by employee degrowth. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.
Biochemical plasticity of the Escherichia coliCRISPR Cascade revealed by in vitro reconstitution of Cascade activities from purified Cas proteins
Authors: Lemak Sofia , Brown Greg , Makarova Kira S. , Koonin Eugene V. , Yakunin Alexander F.
Published: October 2024

The most abundant clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) type I systems employ a multisubunit RNA‐protein effector complex (Cascade), with varying protein composition and activity. The Escherichia coli Cascade complex consists of 11 protein subunits and functions as an effector through CRISPR RNA (crRNA) binding, protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)‐specific double‐stranded DNA targeting, R‐loop formation, and Cas3 helicase‐nuclease recruitment for target DNA cleavage. Here, we present a biochemical reconstruction of the E. coli Cascade from purified Cas proteins and analyze its activities including crRNA binding, dsDNA targeting, R‐loop formation, and Cas3 recruitment. Affinity purification of 6His‐tagged Cas7 coexpressed with untagged Cas5 revealed the physical association of these proteins, thus producing the Cas5‐Cas7 subcomplex that was able to bind specifically to type I‐E crRNA with an efficiency comparable to that of the complete Cascade. The crRNA‐loaded Cas5‐7 was found to bind specifically to the target dsDNA in a PAM‐independent manner, albeit with a lower affinity than the complete Cascade, with both spacer sequence complementarity and repeat handles contributing to the DNA targeting specificity. The crRNA‐loaded Cas5‐7 targeted the complementary dsDNA with detectable formation of R‐loops, which was stimulated by the addition of Cas8 and/or Cas11 acting synergistically. Cascade activity reconstitution using purified Cas5‐7 and other Cas proteins showed that Cas8 was essential for specific PAM recognition, whereas the addition of Cas11 was required for Cas3 recruitment and target DNA nicking. Thus, although the core Cas5‐7 subcomplex is sufficient for specific crRNA binding and basal DNA targeting, both Cas8 and Cas11 make unique contributions to efficient target recognition and cleavage.
Body size and early marine conditions drive changes in Chinook salmon productivity across northern latitude ecosystems
Authors: Feddern Megan L. , Shaftel Rebecca , Schoen Erik R. , Cunningham Curry J. , Connors Brendan M. , Staton Benjamin A. , von Finster Al , Liller Zachary , von Biela Vanessa R. , Howard Katherine G.
Published: October 2024

Disentangling the influences of climate change from other stressors affecting the population dynamics of aquatic species is particularly pressing for northern latitude ecosystems, where climate‐driven warming is occurring faster than the global average. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Yukon‐Kuskokwim (YK) region occupy the northern extent of their species' range and are experiencing prolonged declines in abundance resulting in fisheries closures and impacts to the well‐being of Indigenous people and local communities. These declines have been associated with physical (e.g., temperature, streamflow) and biological (e.g., body size, competition) conditions, but uncertainty remains about the relative influence of these drivers on productivity across populations and how salmon–environment relationships vary across watersheds. To fill these knowledge gaps, we estimated the effects of marine and freshwater environmental indicators, body size, and indices of competition, on the productivity (adult returns‐per‐spawner) of 26 Chinook salmon populations in the YK region using a Bayesian hierarchical stock‐recruitment model. Across most populations, productivity declined with smaller spawner body size and sea surface temperatures that were colder in the winter and warmer in the summer during the first year at sea. Decreased productivity was also associated with above average fall maximum daily streamflow, increased sea ice cover prior to juvenile outmigration, and abundance of marine competitors, but the strength of these effects varied among populations. Maximum daily stream temperature during spawning migration had a nonlinear relationship with productivity, with reduced productivity in years when temperatures exceeded thresholds in main stem rivers. These results demonstrate for the first time that well‐documented declines in body size of YK Chinook salmon were associated with declining population productivity, while taking climate into account.
Residual disease is the main, but not the only factor impacting satisfaction in psoriatic patients undergoing biological therapies
Authors: Caldarola Giacomo , De Luca Eleonora , Falco Gennaro Marco , Di Nardo Lucia , Bocchino Enrico , D'Agostino Magda , Peris Ketty , De Simone Clara
Published: October 2024

Background

Despite advancements in psoriasis treatment, a gap remains in aligning patient satisfaction with clinical outcomes. Our study aimed to evaluate which clinical and psychological factors may impact treatment satisfaction in psoriatic patients undergoing long‐term biological therapies.

Methods

We performed an observational, cross‐sectional, single‐center study involving adult patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis treated with biologics for at least 12 months. We collected sociodemographic characteristics and data on the course of the psoriasis. We also assessed the absolute (residual) Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the site of the residual disease, and the severity of pruritus through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Satisfaction was evaluated using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQMv.II). The Type D Personality Scale (DS14 questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 assessed the psychological profile.

Results

Overall, 146 patients were included, and 82.1% were globally satisfied (global satisfaction TSQM score >75). Linear regression analysis showed a negative correlation between global satisfaction scoring and residual PASI. The multivariable analysis found a higher VAS‐pruritus score (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01–1.44; P = 0.043) and not reaching a residual PASI < 2 (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.09–0.94, P = 0.039) as the strongest predictors of global unsatisfied patients (TSQM < 75%).

Other factors unrelated to residual disease, such as gender, class of biologic agent, and type D personality, have also been found to impact patient satisfaction.

Conclusions

Our study's findings underscore the complexity of patient satisfaction in psoriasis management and highlight the multifactorial nature of treatment success beyond traditional clinical measures.
Bond market structure and volatility
Authors: Durongkadej Isarin , Piccotti Louis
Published: October 2024

We apply variance ratio methodologies to examine market quality in the US corporate bond market. We find that the open‐to‐open to close‐to‐close return variance ratio is greater than one suggesting that the corporate bond market is less efficient during the opening hours than during the closing hours. We show that the higher variance ratio at the open is related to the market power of dealers at the open and the sources of power are from lower cost of inventory, lower asymmetric information, and more flexibility to intermediate a trade. Dealers appear to exert less market power for bonds with low volume and credit rating. The results are consistent with dealers behaving strategically to unload risky assets and take on safer assets.
Fast heuristics for the time‐constrained immobile server problem
Authors: Colley Adam Q. , Olinick Eli V.
Published: October 2024

We propose easy‐to‐implement heuristics for time‐constrained applications of a problem referred to in the literature as the facility location problem with immobile servers, stochastic demand, and congestion, the service system design problem, or the immobile server problem (ISP). The problem is typically posed as one of allocating capacity to a set of M/M/1 queues to which customers with stochastic demand are assigned with the objective of minimizing a cost function composed of a fixed capacity‐acquisition cost, a variable customer‐assignment cost, and an expected‐waiting‐time cost. The expected‐waiting‐time cost results in a nonlinear term in the objective function of the standard binary programming formulation of the problem. Thus, the solution approaches proposed in the literature are either sophisticated linearization or relaxation schemes, or metaheuristics. In this study, we demonstrate that an ensemble of straightforward, greedy heuristics can rapidly find high‐quality solutions. In addition to filling a gap in the literature on ISP heuristics, new stopping criteria for an existing cutting plane algorithm are proposed and tested, and a new mixed‐integer linear model requiring no iterating algorithm is developed. In many cases, our heuristic approach finds solutions of the same or better quality than those found by exact methods implemented with expensive, state‐of‐the‐art mathematical programming software, in particular a commercial nonlinear mixed‐integer linear programming solver, given a five‐minute time limit.
Geopolymers made using organic bases. Part III: Cast magnesium, yttrium, and zinc aluminosilicate and silicate ceramics
Authors: Samuel Devon M. , Kriven Waltraud M.
Published: October 2024

It was shown in Part II of this series of articles that geopolymers synthesized with organic bases could be used as precursors to mullite and mullite + glass composites. A natural next step is to determine whether it is possible to synthesize materials outside the Al2O3·SiO2 and alkali oxide·Al2O3·SiO2 phase systems. Hence, the focus of this study was the use of geopolymer‐like processing to make preceramic bodies with magnesium, yttrium, and zinc aluminosilicate and silicate compositions. These preceramics were successfully fired into monolithic bodies of cordierite, mixed yttrium and aluminum silicates, yttrium disilicate, and willemite. The synthesis of these preceramics employed a guanidine silicate solution, a synthetic oxide powder, and in some cases metakaolin to reach the oxide composition of the ceramic. All solidified within 3 days at 20°C or 50°C, depending on the composition. For the first time, this study showed that Y2O3 and ZnO can react with silicate solutions to give some Y‐O‐Si and Zn‐O‐Si bonding analogous to Al‐O‐Si bonding in geopolymers. These results suggest that other silicate compositions may be possible, such as with the rare earth oxides, which might be valuable to process like a geopolymer rather than by traditional ceramic processing. However, the ceramics made here were generally porous due to the expansion of gases within the sample that were trapped by a viscous liquid phase during firing.
Parent Perspectives on Parent‐Mediated Intervention for Young Children With Down Syndrome
Authors: Walsh Madison M. , Van Deusen Kaylyn , Pinks Miranda E. , Ceci Benedetta , Hepburn Susan , Riggs Nathanial R. , Pulina Francesca , Marcolin Chiara , Onnivello Sara , Colaianni Sara , Gray Bethany , Daunhauer Lisa A. , Lanfranchi Silvia , Fidler Deborah J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Parent‐mediated intervention (PMI) is a potentially scalable approach for tailored interventions in neurogenetic conditions like Down syndrome (DS). Because PMIs require ongoing parent engagement, they must be developed in alignment with the needs of intended users. The present study examined caregiver opinions and preferences to inform the development of syndrome‐informed interventions for children with DS.

Method

Parents of children with DS (n = 34) participated in focus groups discussing PMI. Interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis was applied to code the data.

Results

Three themes were identified: advantages of PMI, disadvantages of PMI and preferred features of PMI. To align with parent preferences, future PMIs for children with DS should require a brief time commitment, blend intervention activities into daily routines and include family members in activities.

Conclusions

Findings have implications for developing novel interventions to support early development in children with DS and other neurogenetic conditions.
The management of nonearnings measures: Evidence from initial public offering firms
Authors: Han Snow Xue , Hsieh Su‐Jane
Published: October 2024

Inconsistent with the conventional view that initial public offering firms (IPOs) manage earnings upward to boost offering prices, we posit that IPOs, which are usually in the early stage of their life cycle, focus on sales growth. Using quarterly analyses, we find that both high‐tech and non‐high‐tech IPOs opportunistically manage sales upward in the pre‐IPO period. While high‐tech IPOs manage sales upward via premature revenue recognition and activities‐sales management, non‐high‐tech IPOs only engage in premature revenue recognition practice. Moreover, both subgroups spend aggressively on discretionary expenses during the pre‐IPO period. However, the two subgroups differ in their manipulation of earnings and R&D. Intangible‐intensive high‐tech IPOs not only do not engage in upward accruals earnings management but also exhibit income‐decreasing behavior through intensive R&D spending in the pre‐IPO period. In contrast, non‐high‐tech IPOs incur significant abnormal accruals to opportunistically inflate earnings in the lockup period but do not engage in aggressive R&D spending. Finally, we find subsequent operating performance reversal among IPOs engaged in earnings and nonearnings manipulation except for activities‐sales management.
Effect of ultrasonication and temperature on hydration process and hardness of two cowpea types
Authors: Rostamirad Sholeh , Duodu K. G. , Meyer J. P. , Sharifpur M.
Published: October 2024

Ultrasonication deployment provides a green and non‐thermal option to traditional hydrothermal treatment. This study presents the impact of ultrasonication and soaking temperatures (30 and 50°C) on the water uptake and hardness of two cowpea types under increasing soaking times (15–240 min). Moisture content and hardness of the studied samples were measured using standard test methods and instruments. An increase in soaking temperature and the use of ultrasonication enhanced water uptake and reduced hardness. Ultrasonication improved mass transfer, which enhanced the diffusion of water uptake. The samples' water uptake and softening characteristics were significantly modeled with high accuracy (R2 = 0.99) using sigmoidal and first‐order kinetics equations, respectively. The impact of sonication was found to be more significant at 30°C soaking of the studied cowpeas as the soaking time increased. This work justified using ultrasonication as a green technique to enhance the softening of cowpeas.
Anatomical Considerations for Thread Lifting Procedure
Authors: Hong Gi‐Woong , Kim Soo‐Bin , Park Youngjin , Park Soo Yeon , Chan Lisa Kwin Wah , Lee Kar Wai Alvin , Sydorchuk Olena , Wan Jovian , Yi Kyu‐Ho
Published: October 2024

Background

Thread lifting is a minimally invasive procedure that enhances facial aesthetics by repositioning sagging tissues with absorbable threads. It requires a comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy for safe and effective results.

Aims

This study aims to highlight the critical anatomical considerations in thread lifting, including the navigation of facial vascular structures, the protection of facial nerves, manipulation of fat compartments, and engagement of retaining ligaments. These factors are essential for minimizing complications and achieving optimal outcomes.

Patients/Methods

A review was conducted focusing on the anatomical elements critical to thread lifting. The study analyzed clinical outcomes related to vascular structures, nerve pathways, fat compartments, and ligaments in patients undergoing the procedure.

Results

The review revealed that careful navigation of facial blood vessels is crucial to avoid complications such as bleeding and bruising. Knowledge of facial nerve pathways is essential to prevent nerve damage, which could result in facial weakness or paralysis. Proper manipulation of facial fat compartments helps address aging‐related changes, and engaging retaining ligaments is vital for a sustainable lift without tissue distortion.

Conclusions

Thread lifting demands not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of facial anatomy to ensure patient safety and desired aesthetic results. Expertise in these anatomical considerations is essential for minimizing complications and preserving the natural function of facial structures.
Amniotic fluid glucose concentration as a predictor of fetal trisomy
Authors: Konno Megumi , Miura Hiroshi , Sato Akira , Fujishima Akiko , Makino Kenichi , Shirasawa Hiromitsu , Nomura Kyoko , Terada Yukihiro
Published: October 2024

Aim

We aimed to assess the amniotic fluid glucose concentration cut‐off as an indicator of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomy 13, 18, and 21.

Methods

This prospective observational study included pregnant females who underwent amniocentesis. Participants were divided into two groups on the border of 22 weeks of gestational age (<22 and ≥22‐week groups).

Results

In total, 224 pregnant females were included in the analysis. In the <22 week group, 15 females had trisomies 13/18/21 and 174 females had no trisomies. In the ≥22 week group, 18 females had trisomies 13/18/21 and 17 had no trisomies. In each group, there was a difference in amniotic fluid glucose concentration between fetuses with trisomies 13, 18, and 21 and other fetuses with normal karyotype or minor chromosomal abnormalities. In both groups, the amniotic glucose concentration was noticeably lower in trisomies 13/18/21 (p = 0.002 in the <22 week group; p = 0.039 in the ≥22 week group). According to receiver operating characteristic curves, the optimal cut‐off point of glucose concentration was 46 mg/dL in the <22 week group (odds ratio 6.55; 95% confidence interval 1.78–24.1) and 24 mg/dL in the ≥22 week group (odds ratio 8.40; 95% confidence interval 1.83–38.6).

Conclusions

Our study suggested that glucose concentration in amniotic fluid is an indicator of trisomy 13, 18, and 21. Amniotic fluid glucose concentration itself does not diagnose fetal trisomy, but this may be helpful in selecting treatment facilities.
Factors associated with early sexual onset and delaying sex in rural middle school youth
Authors: Imburgia Teresa M. , Hensel Devon J. , Hunt Abby , James Rebecca , Zhang Jianjun , Cote Michele L. , Ott Mary A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Early sexual onset contributes to poor health outcomes through the life course. We use the social behavioral model to examine the behaviors and attitudes associated with early sexual onset and the intention to delay sex in middle school youth.

Methods

Youth in rural communities with high rates of hepatitis C and HIV filled out a survey prior to implementation of an evidence‐based sex education program. Participants were asked if they had ever had sex and whether they planned to abstain from sex until the end of high school. We collected demographics, attitudes about abstinence, agency for sexual refusal, parent communication, sexual health knowledge, and history of system involvement. Logistic regression was utilized to examine factors associated with each outcome.

Findings

Our sample included 6,799 students, 12.7 years old ± 0.9 and 50.3% female. 5.1% had ever had sex and 73.9% planned to abstain until the end of high school. Early sexual onset was associated with older age, negative attitudes toward abstinence, lower agency for sexual refusal, more frequent parent communication about sex, history of child welfare, and history of juvenile involvement. Planning to abstain until the end of high school was associated with being younger, female, positive attitudes toward abstinence, higher agency for sexual refusal, less communication with parents about sex, more communication with parents about relationships, not having a history of foster involvement, and not having a history of juvenile involvement.

Conclusions

Age, agency, and parent communication were all associated with both outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of early comprehensive, trauma‐informed sex education.
Discovery of Knock‐Down Resistance in the Major African Malaria Vector Anopheles funestus
Authors: Odero Joel O. , Dennis Tristan P. W. , Polo Brian , Nwezeobi Joachim , Boddé Marilou , Nagi Sanjay C. , Hernandez‐Koutoucheva Anastasia , Nambunga Ismail H. , Bwanary Hamis , Mkandawile Gustav , Govella Nicodem J. , Kaindoa Emmanuel W. , Ferguson Heather M. , Ochomo Eric , Clarkson Chris S. , Miles Alistair , Lawniczak Mara K. N. , Weetman David , Baldini Francesco , Okumu Fredros O.
Published: October 2024

A major insecticide resistance mechanism in insect pests is knock‐down resistance (kdr) caused by mutations in the voltage‐gated sodium channel (Vgsc) gene. Despite being common in most malaria Anopheles vector species, kdr mutations have never been observed in Anopheles funestus, the principal malaria vector in Eastern and Southern Africa, with resistance mainly being conferred by detoxification enzymes. In a parallel study, we monitored 10 populations of An. funestus in Tanzania for insecticide resistance unexpectedly identified resistance to a banned insecticide, DDT, in the Morogoro region. Through whole‐genome sequencing of 333 An. funestus samples from these populations, we found eight novel amino acid substitutions in the Vgsc gene, including the kdr variant, L976F (equivalent to L995F in An. gambiae), in tight linkage disequilibrium with another (P1842S). The mutants were found only at high frequency in one region and were accompanied by weak signatures of a selective sweep, with a significant decline between 2017 and 2023. Notably, kdr L976F was strongly associated with survivorship to exposure to DDT insecticide, while no clear association was noted with a pyrethroid insecticide (deltamethrin). The WHO prequalifies no DDT products for vector control, and the chemical is banned in Tanzania. Widespread DDT contamination and a legacy of extensive countrywide stockpiles may have selected for this mutation. Continued monitoring is necessary to understand the origin of kdr in An. funestus, and the threat posed to insecticide‐based vector control in Africa.
Evolution and Plasticity of Gene Expression Under Progressive Warming in Drosophila subobscura
Authors: Antunes Marta A. , Santos Marta A. , Quina Ana S. , Santos Mauro , Matos Margarida , Simões Pedro
Published: October 2024

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of thermal adaptation is crucial to predict the impacts of global warming. However, there is still a lack of research on the effects of rising temperatures over time and of studies involving different populations from the same species. The present study focuses on these two aspects, which are of great importance in understanding how organisms cope and adapt to ongoing changes in their environment. This study investigates the impact of global warming on the gene expression patterns of Drosophila subobscura populations from two different latitudinal locations after 23 generations of evolution. Our results indicate that evolutionary changes depend on the genetic background of the populations, with different starting points for thermal evolution, and that high‐latitude populations show more pronounced evolutionary changes, with some evidence of convergence towards low‐latitude populations. We found an interplay between plasticity and selection, with the high‐latitude population showing fewer initial plastic genes and lower levels of adaptive plasticity, but a greater magnitude of change in both plastic and selective responses during evolution under warming conditions compared with its low‐latitude counterpart. A substantial proportion of the transcriptome was observed to be evolving, despite the lack of observable response at higher‐order phenotypic traits. The interplay between plasticity and selection may prove to be an essential component in shaping species’ evolutionary responses to climate change. Furthermore, the value of conducting studies on multiple populations of the same species is emphasised, given the identification of differences between populations with different backgrounds in several contexts.
Data‐driven machine learning for multi‐hazard fragility surfaces in seismic resilience analysis
Authors: Harati Mojtaba , van de Lindt John W.
Published: October 2024

Offshore earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis pose significant risks to many coastal populations worldwide. This paper introduces a data‐driven machine learning model that synthesizes accurate 3D earthquake–tsunami fragility surfaces from randomly selected 2D fragility curves. The integration of physics‐based simulations enhances the model's reliability for these specific hazards, making it a valuable tool for multi‐hazard analysis in earthquake–tsunami contexts. Additionally, by shifting 2D fragility curves to represent retrofitted structural systems, the model can generate earthquake–tsunami fragility surfaces for community‐level mitigation studies. While the model is demonstrated for earthquake–tsunami scenarios, its methodology architecture has the potential to contribute to other multi‐hazard situations for the initial conditions in multi‐hazard community resilience analysis.
ATP‐binding cassette transporter TaABCG2 contributes to Fusarium head blight resistance by mediating salicylic acid transport in wheat
Authors: Zhang Ya‐Zhou , Man Jie , Wen Lan , Tan Si‐Qi , Liu Shun‐Li , Li Ying‐Hui , Qi Peng‐Fei , Jiang Qian‐Tao , Wei Yu‐Ming
Published: October 2024

ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters hydrolyse ATP to transport various substrates. Previous studies have shown that ABC transporters are responsible for transporting plant hormones and heavy metals, thus contributing to plant immunity. Herein, we identified a wheat G‐type ABC transporter, TaABCG2‐5B, that responds to salicylic acid (SA) treatment and is induced by Fusarium graminearum, the primary pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB). The loss‐of‐function mutation of TaABCG2‐5B (ΔTaabcg2‐5B) reduced SA accumulation and increased susceptibility to F. graminearum. Conversely, overexpression of TaABCG2‐5B (OE‐TaABCG2‐5B) exerted the opposite effect. Quantification of intracellular SA in ΔTaabcg2‐5B and OE‐TaABCG2‐5B protoplasts revealed that TaABCG2‐5B acts as an importer, facilitating the transport of SA into the cytoplasm. This role was further confirmed by Cd2+ absorption experiments in wheat roots, indicating that TaABCG2‐5B also participates in Cd2+ transport. Thus, TaABCG2‐5B acts as an importer and is crucial for transporting multiple substrates. Notably, the homologous gene TaABCG2‐5A also facilitated Cd2+ uptake in wheat roots but did not significantly influence SA accumulation or FHB resistance. Therefore, TaABCG2 could be a valuable target for enhancing wheat tolerance to Cd2+ and improving FHB resistance.
Hippocampal dentate granule cells in temporal lobe epilepsy: A morphometry and transcriptomic study
Authors: Twible Carolyn , Abdo Rober , Zhao Chelsey , Zhang Qi
Published: October 2024

The dentate gyrus (DG) plays a critical role in hippocampal circuitry, providing a “gate‐like” function to the downstream cornu ammonis (CA) sectors. Despite this critical role, pathologies in DG are less commonly described than those in the CA sectors in the diagnosis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). To elucidate the role of the DG in mTLE, we analysed hippocampal sclerosis (HS), no‐HS, non‐TLE epilepsy control, and non‐epilepsy control cohorts using morphometry and gene expression profiling techniques. Morphometry techniques analysed DG cell spacing, nucleus size, and nucleus circularity. Our data show distinct DG morphometry and RNA expression profiles between HS and No‐HS. Dentate granule cells are more dispersed in patients with HS, and the DG shows an elevated expression of the complement system, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix remodelling–related RNA. We also observe an overall decrease in neurogenesis‐related RNA in HS DG. Interestingly, regardless of the pathological diagnosis, the DG morphometry correlates with post‐operative outcomes. Increased cell spacing is observed in the DG of mTLE cases that achieve seizure freedom post‐operatively. This study reveals the possible prognostic value of DG morphometry, as well as supporting the notion that HS and no‐HS TLE may be distinct disease entities with differing contributing mechanisms.
Determining the relationship between moral intelligence and compassion fatigue in intensive care nurses
Authors: Süha Burcu Kübra , Gülsoy Zuhal , Karagözoglu Şerife
Published: October 2024

Background

Compassion and moral intelligence occupy a very significant place in ensuring quality in health care services, increasing patient satisfaction, reducing side effects, increasing patient safety and accelerating the healing process.

Aim

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between moral intelligence and compassion fatigue in nurses working in intensive care units.

Study Design

In this descriptive and cross‐sectional study, 180 nurses working in intensive care units of a hospital comprised the population of the study. Of them, 114 who agreed to participate in the study were included in the study sample. The Personal Information Form, Yakut Moral Intelligence Scale (YMIS) and Compassion Fatigue‐Short Scale were used as data collection tools. The scales and forms used in the study were created on Google Form. Nurses were visited in intensive care units, and the forms were given to them. Then the participating nurses filled in the forms.

Results

Of the nurses participating in the study, 69.3% were women and 65.4% had a bachelor's degree. The analysis of the correlation between the scores obtained from the sub‐dimensions of the YMIS by the nurses participating in the study demonstrated that there was a negative, low‐level significant relationship between the self‐control and kindness sub‐dimensions of the YMIS. As the nurses' compassion fatigue levels increased, their self‐control and kindness levels decreased.

Conclusions

It can be said that as compassion fatigue levels increase in nurses, their moral intelligence levels decrease. Therefore, diagnosing compassion fatigue in nurses and taking precautions to prevent them from suffering from fatigue are of significant importance.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

By determining the healthy intelligence and compensation spending levels of health workers, organizing maid training will increase the service and care provided.
Heterogeneous palaeo‐ecogeography of brachiopods during the Late Ordovician mass extinction in South China
Authors: Huang Bing , Rong Jiayu
Published: October 2024

Following the first phase of the Late Ordovician mass extinction (LOME), the globally distributed Hirnantia brachiopod fauna exhibited homogeneity both latitudinally and longitudinally. The uniform global palaeobiogeography of the Hirnantia fauna, based solely on occurrence data, might obscure its heterogeneous nature during the glaciation. In this study, leveraging diversity and abundance data from well‐sampled collections in South China, along with non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) using the Raup–Crick measure, network analysis (NA), and abundance models, we unveil the palaeo‐ecogeography of the Hirnantia fauna for the first time. The distribution of the Hirnantia fauna in South China is categorized into three areas: the deep water area, the shallower water area, and the very shallow water area, based on NMDS and NA. Drastically different benthic assemblages among these areas reveal diverse environmental settings, with an approximate westward shallower trend and a deeper trend extending both northward and southeastward. Analysis of species‐abundance models for eight well‐sampled collections demonstrates different best‐fitted models, suggesting that competitive ecology operated in varied contexts despite common BA3 environmental settings and close geographical proximity. While a substantial global sea level fall and climate cooling around the Katian–Hirnantian boundary played important roles in the LOME, the palaeo‐ecogeography of the Hirnantia fauna in South China was predominantly influenced by the expansion of the Cathaysian oldland and the Qianzhong uplift. The interval between the two LOME phases, marked by kinetic conditions, witnessed the heterogeneous development of the Hirnantia fauna.
Direct and Legacy Effects of Varying Cool‐Season Precipitation Totals on Ecosystem Carbon Flux in a Semi‐Arid Mixed Grassland
Authors: Zhang Fangyue , Biederman Joel A. , Pierce Nathan A. , Potts Daniel L. , Reed Sasha C. , Smith William K.
Published: October 2024

In the semi‐arid grasslands of the southwest United States, annual precipitation is divided between warm‐season (July–September) convective precipitation and cool‐season (December–March) frontal storms. While evidence suggests shifts in precipitation seasonal distribution, there is a poor understanding of the ecosystem carbon flux responses to cool‐season precipitation and the potential legacy effects on subsequent warm‐season carbon fluxes. Results from a two‐year experiment with three cool‐season precipitation treatments (dry, received 5th percentile cool‐season total precipitation; normal, 50th; wet, 95th) and constant warm‐season precipitation illustrate the direct and legacy effects on carbon fluxes, but in opposing ways. In wet cool‐season plots, gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) were 103% and 127% higher than in normal cool‐season plots. In dry cool‐season plots, GPP and ER were 47% and 85% lower compared to normal cool‐season plots. Unexpectedly, we found a positive legacy effect of the dry cool‐season treatment on warm‐season carbon flux, resulting in a significant increase in both GPP and ER in the subsequent warm season, compared to normal cool‐season plots. Our results reveal positive legacy effects of cool‐season drought on warm‐season carbon fluxes and highlight the importance of the relatively under‐studied cool‐growing season and its direct/indirect impact on the ecosystem carbon budget.
Adult dietary experience influences mortality of the pest melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae), to an ingested toxin
Authors: Mason Charles J. , Grummer April , Bosch Michael , Shikano Ikkei
Published: October 2024

Ingested toxins formulated as baits can be effective in the management of insect pests, but their efficacy may be influenced by insect foraging alongside active ingredients. There are several components that might influence insect consumption of toxic baits, one of which being prior nutritional exposure. In our study, we investigated how protein deprivation following adult emergence influences lethal and sublethal effects of boric acid on the pest tephritid melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae. We performed a series of experiments to address the impact of prior diet on mortality, diet consumption, enzymes involved in detoxification and antioxidation and fly activity. Newly emerged melon fly adults were provided either diet containing 3:1 sucrose/yeast hyrdrolysate or just sucrose for three days prior to bioassays. Overall, protein deprivation had a strong effect on fly interactions with boric acid. In two separate experiments (continuous exposure and short duration feeding), insects only pre‐fed sucrose had significantly higher mortality compared with those pre‐fed protein. Insects that were pre‐fed only sucrose removed more liquid diet over the same duration of the experiments, suggesting compensatory foraging behaviours. Adults pre‐fed sucrose had higher catalase (1.5×) and superoxide dismutase (1.7×) activities compared with adults pre‐fed sucrose‐yeast, but we found no effect of boric acid on their activity or that of glutathione‐S‐transferase or acetylcholinesterase activity. Boric acid consumption also significantly reduced the activity of melon flies. Overall, our results demonstrate that prior diet in fly adulthood can impact subsequent exposure to and efficacy of ingested toxicants.
Successful Aging and Self‐Neglect Among Community‐Dwelling Older People
Authors: Sert Esma Nur , Ilgaz Aysegul
Published: October 2024

Objective

It was aimed to explore the relationship between successful aging and self‐neglect and factors affecting successful aging among community‐dwelling older people.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 316 participants aged 60 years and older in a Family Health Center (FHC). The data were collected by using the questionnaire form, Successful Aging Scale and Self‐Neglect Scale. The questionnaire form includes sociodemographic characteristics, independence (Katz Daily Life Activities Scale) and well‐being status (WHO‐5 Well‐Being Index), psychosocial support (Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale), and depressive symptoms (two questions‐complaints such as feeling depressed or hopeless and loss of interest and inability to enjoy life).

Results

Participants had a mean age of 67.5 (SD: 6.5) years, 55.4% were female. A strong positive correlation was determined between successful aging score and self–neglect score (r = 0.741, p < 0.001). Factors affecting successful aging were age, working status, education level, body mass index, physical activity, subjective health perception, health screening status, self‐neglect level, depressive symptoms, independence in activities, well‐being status, and psychosocial support. Gender, income status, chronic disease presence, cigarette and alcohol use, living alone, and family type did not affect it. According to multivariate linear regression, the factors affecting successful aging were age, psychosocial support presence, and self‐neglect level (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Older people have low successful aging and self‐neglect scores. Successful aging is better at a young age, in the presence of psychosocial support and a low level of self‐neglect. It is recommended to increase the existence of psychosocial support for them and to plan interventions to reduce self‐neglect.