bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HERACLIS‐HDV cohort for the factors of underdiagnosis and prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in HBsAg‐positive patients
Authors: Papatheodoridis George , Mimidis Konstantinos , Manolakopoulos Spilios , Triantos Christos , Vlachogiannakos Ioannis , Veretanos Christos , Deutsch Melanie , Karatapanis Stylianos , Goulis Ioannis , Elefsiniotis Ioannis , Cholongitas Evangelos , Sevastianos Vassilios , Christodoulou Dimitrios , Samonakis Dimitrios , Manesis Emanuel , Kapatais Andreas , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Ioannidou Panagiota , Germanidis Georgios , Giannoulis George , Lakiotaki Dimitra , Kogias Dionysios , Kranidioti Ηarikleia , Zisimopoulos Konstantinos , Mela Maria , Kontos George , Fytili Paraskevi , Manolaka Chrysanthi , Agorastou Polyxeni , Pantzios Spyridon I. , Papatheodoridi Margarita , Karagiannakis Dimitrios , Geladari Eleni , Psychos Nikolaos , Zachou Kalliopi , Chalkidou Anna , Spanoudaki Anastasia , Thomopoulos Konstantinos , Dalekos George
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) underdiagnosis remains common. We assessed the HDV screening and prevalence rates in HBsAg‐positive patients seen at tertiary liver centres throughout Greece as well as factors affecting HDV diagnosis.

Methods

All adult HBsAg‐positive patients seen within the last 5 years were included. Non‐screened patients who visited or could be recalled to the clinics over a 6‐month period were prospectively tested for anti‐HDV.

Results

Of 5079 HBsAg‐positive patients, 53% had anti‐HDV screening (41% before and 12% after study initiation). Pre‐study (8%–88%) and total screening rates (14%–100%) varied widely among centres. Screening rates were associated with older age, known risk group, elevated ALT, centre location and size and period of first visit. Anti‐HDV prevalence was 5.8% without significant difference in patients screened before (6.1%) or after study initiation (4.7%, p = 0.240). Anti‐HDV positivity was associated with younger age, parenteral drug use, born abroad, advanced liver disease and centre location. Overall, HDV RNA detectability rate was 71.6% being more frequent in anti‐HDV‐positive patients with elevated ALT, advanced liver disease and hepatitis B therapy.

Conclusions

Anti‐HDV screening rates and recall capabilities vary widely among Greek liver clinics being higher in HBsAg‐positive patients of known risk group with active/advanced liver disease seen at smaller centres, while non‐medical factors are also important. Anti‐HDV prevalence varies throughout Greece being higher in patients born abroad with younger age, parenteral drug use and advanced liver disease. Viremia is more frequently but not exclusively detected in anti‐HDV‐positive patients with elevated ALT and advanced liver disease.
Metabarcoding reveals marked seasonality and a distinctive winter assemblage of dinoflagellates at a coastal LTER site in the Gulf of Naples
Authors: Mordret Solenn , Piredda Roberta , Zampicinini Gianpaolo , Kooistra Wiebe H. C. F. , Zingone Adriana , Montresor Marina , Sarno Diana
Published: June 2023

Dinoflagellates constitute an abundant and diversified component of marine plankton, mostly associated with stratified conditions typical of late spring through autumn in temperate regions. Yet, difficulties with the identification of many species limit the knowledge of their composition and seasonal succession. Here we use a 3‐year V4‐18S rDNA metabarcoding dataset (4,366,007 reads, 4650 Amplicon Sequence Variants, ASVs) collected on 48 dates at the Long‐Term Ecological Research site MareChiara (LTER–MC) to explore the diversity and temporal distribution of dinoflagellates in the Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea). A large fraction of dinoflagellate ASVs (55%, 68% of the reads) were assigned to 187 species in 85 genera, while 33% (23% of the reads) were attributed to undetermined Syndiniales, and the remainder to unidentified groups. A total of 147 ASVs were assigned at 100% similarity to 135 reference sequences, corresponding to 116 species, 46 of which were putative new records for the Gulf of Naples. Cluster analysis conducted on a normalized dataset of 1199 ASVs identified four sample clusters that corresponded largely to the spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons, respectively, each including samples from all 3 years. Syndiniales were particularly abundant (43.1%) in the winter cluster, whereas Gyrodinium reached higher percentages in the summer and autumn ones (38.6% and 57.8%), Gymnodiniales sensu stricto were more abundant in spring (11.5%) and Gonyaulacales in summer (13.5%). Almost half of the ASVs analysed (561) were significantly associated with one of the four seasonal clusters (p < .05). The winter group of ASVs was particularly rich (348 ASVs) and mainly consisted of naked and parasitic taxa, which are impossible to identify in routine phytoplankton observations in light microscopy. Despite biases mainly ascribed to both the incompleteness of the reference dataset and the limited resolution of the marker gene, the metabarcoding approach has provided new insights into the ecology and distribution of this important component of the plankton, highlighting its marked seasonality along with the existence of a diversified and previously overlooked dinoflagellate community in winter.
Regulation of host gene expression by gastrointestinal tract microbiota in Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Authors: Sadeghi Javad , Chaganti Subba Rao , Heath Daniel D.
Published: June 2023

Differences in gut microbiome composition are linked with health, disease and ultimately host fitness; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying that relationship are not well characterized. Here, we modified the fish gut microbiota using antibiotic and probiotic feed treatments to address the effect of host microbiome on gene expression patterns. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) gut gene expression was evaluated using whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐Seq) on hindgut mucosa samples from individuals treated with antibiotic, probiotic and control diets to determine differentially expressed (DE) host genes. Fifty DE host genes were selected for further characterization using nanofluidic qPCR chips. We used 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to characterize the rearing water and host gut microbiome (bacterial) communities. Daily administration of antibiotics and probiotics resulted in significant changes in fish gut and aquatic microbiota as well as more than 100 DE genes in the antibiotic and probiotic treatment fish, relative to healthy controls. Normal microbiota depletion by antibiotics mostly led to downregulation of different aspects of immunity and upregulation of apoptotic process. In the probiotic treatment, genes related to post‐translation modification and inflammatory responses were up‐regulated relative to controls. Our qPCR results revealed significant effects of treatment (antibiotic and probiotic) on rabep2, aifm3, manf, prmt3 gene transcription. Moreover, we found significant associations between members of Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae with host gene expression patterns. Overall, our analysis showed that the microbiota had significant impacts on many host signalling pathways, specifically targeting immune, developmental and metabolic processes. Our characterization of some of the molecular mechanisms involved in microbiome‐host interactions will help develop new strategies for preventing/ treating microbiome disruption‐related diseases.
Increasing a patient's sense of security in the hospital: A theory of trust and nursing action
Authors: Groves Patricia S. , Bunch Jacinda L. , Kuehnle Francis
Published: June 2023

Having a decreased sense of security leads to unnecessary suffering and distress for patients. Establishing trust is critical for nurses to promote a patient's sense of security, consistent with trauma‐informed care. Research regarding nursing action, trust, and sense of security is wide‐ranging but fragmented. We used theory synthesis to organize the disparate existing knowledge into a testable middle‐range theory encompassing these concepts in hospitals. The resulting model illustrates how individuals are admitted to the hospital with some predisposition to trust or mistrust the healthcare system and/or personnel. Patients encounter circumstances increasing their emotional and/or physical vulnerability to harm, leading to experiences of fear and anxiety. Without intervention, fear and anxiety lead to a decreased sense of security, increased distress, and suffering. Nurse action can ameliorate these effects by increasing a hospitalized person's sense of security or by promoting the development of interpersonal trust, also leading to an increased sense of security. Increased sense of security results in diminished anxiety and fear, and increased hopefulness, confidence, calm, sense of value, and sense of control. The consequences of a decreased sense of security are harmful to patients and nurses should know that they can intervene in ways that both increase interpersonal trust and sense of security.
Insect pollination for most of angiosperm evolutionary history
Authors: Stephens Ruby E. , Gallagher Rachael V. , Dun Lily , Cornwell Will , Sauquet Hervé
Published: June 2023

Most contemporary angiosperms (flowering plants) are insect pollinated, but pollination by wind, water or vertebrates occurs in many lineages. Though evidence suggests insect pollination may be ancestral in angiosperms, this is yet to be assessed across the full phylogeny. Here, we reconstruct the ancestral pollination mode of angiosperms and quantify the timing and environmental associations of pollination shifts.

We use a robust, dated phylogeny and species‐level sampling across all angiosperm families to model the evolution of pollination modes. Data on the pollination system or syndrome of 1160 species were collated from the primary literature.

Angiosperms were ancestrally insect pollinated, and insects have pollinated angiosperms for c. 86% of angiosperm evolutionary history. Wind pollination evolved at least 42 times, with few reversals to animal pollination. Transitions between insect and vertebrate pollination were more frequent: vertebrate pollination evolved at least 39 times from an insect‐pollinated ancestor with at least 26 reversals. The probability of wind pollination increases with habitat openness (measured by Leaf Area Index) and distance from the equator.

Our reconstruction gives a clear overview of pollination macroevolution across angiosperms, highlighting the long history of interactions between insect pollinators and angiosperms still vital to biodiversity today.
Molecular mechanisms of shade tolerance in plants
Authors: Martinez‐Garcia Jaime F. , Rodriguez‐Concepcion Manuel
Published: June 2023

Shade tolerance is an ecological concept used in a wide range of disciplines, from plant physiology to landscaping or gardening. It refers to the strategy of some plants to persist and even thrive in environments with low light levels because of the shade produced by the vegetation proximity (e.g. in the understory). Shade tolerance influences the organization, structure, functioning, and dynamics of plant communities. However, little is known about its molecular and genetic basis. By contrast, there is a good understanding on how plants deal with the proximity of other plants, a divergent strategy used by most crops to respond to vegetation proximity. While generally shade‐avoiding species strongly elongate in response to the proximity of other plants, shade‐tolerant species do not. Here we review the molecular mechanisms that control the regulation of hypocotyl elongation in shade‐avoiding species as a reference framework to understand shade tolerance. Comparative studies indicate that shade tolerance is implemented by components also known to regulate hypocotyl elongation in shade‐avoiding species. These components, however, show differential molecular properties that explain how, in response to the same stimulus, shade‐avoiding species elongate while shade‐tolerant ones do not.
Philosophically, is obesity really a disease?
Authors: Steele Margaret , Finucane Francis M.
Published: June 2023

The question of whether obesity should be regarded as a disease remains controversial. One source of controversy can be addressed by distinguishing between two ways in which the word “obesity” is used. In medicine, the word “obesity” now typically refers to some or all of a set of interrelated dysfunctions of metabolism, adipose tissue, and dietary intake regulation. In other contexts, such as government‐funded public education programs, the word “obesity” refers to a body mass index (BMI) category taken to indicate excess body fat. The result is that when medical experts say, “Obesity is a disease,” the majority of outside medicine inevitably takes this to mean “being fat is a disease.” In order to address this ambiguity, we apply key philosophical accounts of disease to the two different senses of “obesity.” We draw two major conclusions: First, although obesity as understood in clinical medicine meets the criteria to be considered a disease, obesity as defined by BMI does not. Second, adequately addressing this disease requires us to distinguish it clearly and unambiguously from high BMI. Making this distinction would help both the public and policymakers to better understand the disease of obesity, facilitating advances in both prevention and treatment.
Intake and serum levels of micronutrients and chronic oral diseases burden
Authors: Costa Susilena Arouche , Nascimento Gustavo G. , Leite Fábio R. M. , Ribeiro Cecilia Claudia Costa , de Fatima Carvalho Souza Soraia
Published: June 2023

Objective

To investigate pathways from micronutrient intake and serum levels to Chronic Oral Diseases Burden.

Methods

We analyzed cross‐sectional data from NHANES III (n = 7936) and NHANES 2011–2014 (n = 4929). The exposure was the intake and serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. Considering the high correlation of those micronutrients in the diet, they were analyzed as a latent variable dubbed Micronutrient intake. The outcome was the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden, a latent variable formed by probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, furcation involvement, caries, and missing teeth. Pathways triggered by gender, age, socioeconomic status, obesity, smoking, and alcohol were also estimated using structural equation modeling.

Results

In both NHANES cycles, micronutrient intake (p‐value < 0.05) and vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05) were associated with a lower Chronic Oral Diseases Burden. Micronutrient intake reduced the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden via vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05). Obesity increased the Chronic Oral Diseases Burden by reducing vitamin D serum (p‐value < 0.05).

Conclusion

Higher micronutrient intake and higher vitamin D serum levels seem to reduce Chronic Oral Diseases Burden. Healthy diet policies may jointly tackle caries, periodontitis, obesity, and other non‐communicable diseases.
Immunosenescence and inflammaging: Conspiracies against alveolar bone turnover
Authors: Zhou Feng , Wang Zhanqi , Zhang Guorui , Wu Yingying , Xiong Yi
Published: June 2023

Objective

Inflammaging and immunosenescence are characteristics of senescent immune system alterations. This review provides insights into inflammaging and immunosenescence in periodontitis and focuses on the innerlink of inflammaging and immunosenescence in alveolar bone turnover from a perspective of cell–cell interaction.

Methods

This review is conducted by a narrative approach to discuss the effect of inflammaging and immunosenescence in aging‐related alveolar bone loss. A comprehensive literature research in PubMed and Google was applied to identify reports in English.

Results

Inflammaging is concerned with abnormal M1 polarization and increasing circulating inflammatory cytokines, while immunosenescence involves reduced infection and vaccine responses, depressed antimicrobial function, and infiltration of aged B cells and memory T cells. TLR‐mediated inflammaging and altered adaptive immunity significantly affect alveolar bone turnover and aggravate aging‐related alveolar bone loss. Besides, energy consumption also plays a vital role in aged immune and skeletal system of periodontitis.

Conclusions

Senescent immune system exerts a significant function in aging‐related alveolar bone loss. Inflammaging and immunosenescence interact functionally and mechanistically, which affects alveolar bone turnover. Therefore, further clinical treatment strategies targeting alveolar bone loss could be based on the specific molecular mechanism connecting inflammaging, immunosenescence, and alveolar bone turnover.
The impact of oil price shocks on the agricultural commodity prices
Authors: Kandemir Kocaaslan Ozge
Published: June 2023

In this study, we empirically examine the effects of oil‐related shocks on the prices of nine agricultural commodities for the period 1974:01–2022:02. We decompose real oil prices into three independent parts: oil supply shocks; global demand shocks; demand shocks that are specific to the crude oil market applying a symmetric VAR model. Then, we assess the effects of these three shocks on the prices of nine major agricultural commodities individually. Based on our findings, we reveal that the responses of agricultural commodity prices to an oil price change depend significantly on the timing and the driver of the underlying oil price change.
Value of ATRIA stroke risk score in predicting atrial high‐rate episodes: A comparison of six different risk scores
Authors: Artac Inanc , Karakayali Muammer , Omar Timor , Hamideyin Serif , Karabag Yavuz , Ilis Dogan , Rencuzogullari Ibrahim
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Atrial high‐rate episodes (AHRE) are asymptomatic atrial tachy‐arrhythmias detected through continuous monitoring with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). AHRE's have been associated with increased risks of developing clinically manifested atrial fibrillation (AF), thromboembolism, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Several variables has been researched and identified to predict AHRE development. The aim of this study, which compared the six frequently‐used scoring systems for thromboembolic risk in AF (CHA2DS2‐VASc, mC2HEST, HAT2CH2, R2‐CHADS2, R2‐CHA2DS2‐VASc, and ATRIA) in terms of their prognostic power in predicting AHRE.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 174 patients with CIED's. The study population was divided into two groups according to presence of AHRE: patients with AHRE (+) and patients without AHRE (‐). Thereafter, patients baseline characteristics and scoring systems were analyzed for prediction of AHRE.

Results

The distribution of patients’ baseline characteristics and scoring systems according to presence of AHRE was evaluated. Furthermore, ROC curve analyses of the stroke risk scoring systems have been investigated in terms of predicting the development of AHREs. ATRIA, which predicted AHRE with a specificity of 92% and sensitivity of 37.5% for ATRIA values of >6, performed better than other scoring systems in predicting AHRE (AUC: 0.700, 0.626‐0.767 95% confidence interval (CI), p = .004)

Conclusion

AHRE is common in patients with a CIED. In this context, several risk scoring systems have been used to predict the development of AHRE in patients with a CIED. This study's findings revealed that The ATRIA stroke risk scoring system performed better than other commonly used risk scoring systems in predicting AHRE.
Updating the dual C and O isotope—Gas‐exchange model: A concept to understand plant responses to the environment and its implications for tree rings
Authors: Siegwolf Rolf T. W. , Lehmann Marco M. , Goldsmith Gregory R. , Churakova (Sidorova) Olga V. , Mirande‐Ney Cathleen , Timoveeva Galina , Weigt Rosmarie B. , Saurer Matthias
Published: June 2023

The combined study of carbon (C) and oxygen (O) isotopes in plant organic matter has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding plant functional responses to environmental change. The approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic fractionation to derive a series of model scenarios that can be used to infer changes in photosynthetic assimilation and stomatal conductance driven by changes in environmental parameters (CO2, water availability, air humidity, temperature, nutrients). We review the mechanistic basis for a conceptual model, in light of recently published research, and discuss where isotopic observations do not match our current understanding of plant physiological response to the environment. We demonstrate that (1) the model was applied successfully in many, but not all studies; (2) although originally conceived for leaf isotopes, the model has been applied extensively to tree‐ring isotopes in the context of tree physiology and dendrochronology. Where isotopic observations deviate from physiologically plausible conclusions, this mismatch between gas exchange and isotope response provides valuable insights into underlying physiological processes. Overall, we found that isotope responses can be grouped into situations of increasing resource limitation versus higher resource availability. The dual‐isotope model helps to interpret plant responses to a multitude of environmental factors.
Substrate and adenylate limit subtropical tree fine‐root respiration under soil warming
Authors: Jiang Qi , Jia Linqiao , Chen Yuhui , Yang Zhijie , Chen Shidong , Xiong Decheng , Liu Xiaofei , Wang Xiaohong , Yao Xiaodong , Chen Tingting , Fan Ailian , Wu Dongmei , Chen Guangshui , Yang Yusheng
Published: June 2023

How root respiration acclimates to global warming remains unclear, especially in subtropical forests that play a key role in the global carbon budget. In a large‐scale in situ soil warming experiment, the occurrence of, and mechanisms controlling over, the acclimation of fine‐root respiration ofCunninghamia lanceolataduring the fourth year of warming were investigated. Specific respiration rates (at reference temperature of 20°C; SRR20) were measured with exogenous glucose addition, uncoupler addition, or no addition, and root morphological and chemical traits were also measured. Warming decreased SRR20by 18.4% only during summer, indicating partial thermal acclimation of fine‐root respiration under warming. Warming did not change fine‐root N concentration, showing no possible enzyme limitation on respiration. Warming decreased root soluble sugar/starch ratio in summer, and glucose addition increased respiration only under warming, indicating a warming‐induced substrate limitation on respiration. Uncoupler addition also stimulated respiration only under warming, showing a warming‐induced adenylate limitation on respiration. These findings suggest that thermal acclimation of root respiration in subtropical forests, which is at least partially constrained by substrate and adenylate use, is conducive to reducing ecosystem carbon emissions and mitigating the positive feedback between atmospheric CO2and climate warming.
Increased uptake of deep soil water promotes drought resistance in mixed forests
Authors: Liu Ziqiang , Ye Limin , Jiang Jiang , Liu Rilin , Xu Yuanke , Jia Guodong
Published: June 2023

The intensity and frequency of droughts are projected to rise in recent years and adversely affect forests. Thus, information on plant water use and acclimation during and after droughts is crucial. This study used the stable isotope and thermal dissipation probes to detect the water‐use adaptation of mixed forests to drought using a precipitation gradient control experiment in the field. The results showed that Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis mainly absorbed stable water from deep soil layers during the drought (32.05% and 28.2%, respectively). The synergetic nocturnal sap flow in both species replenished the water loss, but P. orientalis experienced a greater decline in transpiration acclimation to drought. The transpiration of Q. variabilis remained high since it was mainly induced by radiation. After short‐term exposure to drought, P. orientalis majorly obtained shallow soil water, confirming its sensitivity to shallow water. Contrarily, Q. variabilis mainly absorbed stable water from deep soil layers regardless of the soil water content. Therefore, these findings suggest that Q. variabilis cannot physiologically adjust to extreme drought events, possibly limiting their future distributions and altering the composition of boreal forests.
Histogenetic and disease‐relevant phenotypes in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs): The potential significance for future TET classification
Authors: Yamada Yosuke
Published: June 2023

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) encompass morphologically various subtypes. Thus, it would be meaningful to explore the expression phenotypes that delineate each TET subtype or overarching multiple subtypes. If these profiles are related to thymic physiology, they will improve our biological understanding of TETs and may contribute to the establishment of a more rational TET classification. Against this background, pathologists have attempted to identify histogenetic features in TETs for a long time. As part of this work, our group has reported several TET expression profiles that are histotype‐dependent and related to the nature of thymic epithelial cells (TECs). For example, we found that beta5t, a constituent of thymoproteasome unique to cortical TECs, is expressed mainly in type B thymomas, for which the nomenclature of cortical thymoma was once considered. Another example is the discovery that most thymic carcinomas, especially thymic squamous cell carcinomas, exhibit expression profiles similar to tuft cells, a recently discovered special type of medullary TEC. This review outlines the currently reported histogenetic phenotypes of TETs, including those related to thymoma‐associated myasthenia gravis, summarizes their genetic signatures, and provides a perspective for the future direction of TET classification.
Should the fox guard the henhouse? Category captainship arrangement as a strategic information transmission mechanism
Authors: Timoumi Ahmed , Esseghaier Skander , Koçkesen Levent
Published: June 2023

Retailers may collaborate with key suppliers to manage some specified categories. This collaboration is often formalized as a “captainship arrangement” between the retailer and her leading supplier in the category. The designated “category captain” assists the retailer with category management decisions. We show that captainship arrangements have the potential to generate a valuable information effect for the retailer: nonprice decisions by the category captain can reveal information that allows the retailer to improve profit through better retail pricing decisions. We also show that captainship arrangements have the greatest potential to make the retailer better off in categories where the retailer is highly uncertain about the impact of category resources on brands' demand. Moreover, the more substitutable the brands in the category, the more valuable a captainship arrangement is to the retailer. The information effect of category captainship is robust to a variety of arrangements. It is present under delegation arrangements (where the retailer delegates the task of category resources deployment to the captain), as well as under advisory arrangements (where the retailer retains control over category decisions, relying on the captain for advice). Interestingly, we find that delegation has a “better” potential to transmit information than advisory. Furthermore, in case of an advisory arrangement, the retailer is better off keeping the captain's advice confidential rather than sharing it with the other suppliers.
Sourcing for online marketplaces with demand and price uncertainty
Authors: Gaur Vishal , Osadchiy Nikolay , Seshadri Sridhar , Subrahmanyam Marti G.
Published: June 2023

Our paper is motivated by a manufacturer that sells a seasonal product through multiple retailers competing on an online marketplace, such as the Amazon marketplace. Demand and selling price uncertainty are key features of the online marketplace. Sourcing choices are differentiated by cost and available lead times—delaying shortens the lead time which is more expensive but yields more accurate information about future selling price and demand. Thus, ahead of the season, each retailer faces a continuous‐time decision problem about when to place an order with the manufacturer and in what quantity. The manufacturer is interested in knowing the ordering pattern of the retailers in order to plan production. We consider two sourcing strategies varying in the flexibility of order timing: an optimal precommitted ordering time strategy and an optimal time‐flexible ordering strategy. We prove that the former is optimal when the selling price is constant and the latter when the selling price is uncertain. We show that time‐flexible ordering can be mutually beneficial for the retailer and the manufacturer in a wide range of scenarios and that the manufacturer can favorably influence order timing by adjusting its wholesale price trajectory. The predictions of our model are consistent with the experience of a large U.S. manufacturer that motivated our study.
The role of product and market information in an online marketplace
Authors: Hu Shu , Wei Mike Mingcheng , Cui Shiliang
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study how provision of product information and/or market information affects buyers' and sellers' behavior and the resultant sales in an online marketplace. We first identify the Pareto‐dominant equilibrium for the sellers' pricing decisions. Then, we study the impact of market parameters on the sales of the platform in equilibrium, under various information structures. We find that the platform's sales increase with the size of potential buyers but change nonmonotonically with the size of potential sellers. Next, we analytically characterize the platform's optimal information strategy as a function of the underlying market parameters. We find that while it is always optimal for the platform to reveal some information, it should be strategic about which information to reveal when faced with different supply and demand conditions. In particular, in a seller's market (high ratio of potential buyers to sellers), the platform should provide both product and market information to the sellers and buyers. However, in a buyer's market (low ratio of potential buyers to sellers), it is optimal for the platform to only provide the market information—providing both the product and market information would backfire on the platform by jeopardizing its sales.
Dynamic pricing and production control in a two‐item make‐to‐stock system with flexible dual sourcing and lost sales
Authors: Li Ruobing , Xiao Li , Yao Dacheng
Published: June 2023

We consider a joint control of pricing and production in a two‐item inventory system, where each item can be produced by its dedicated source or a shared flexible source, under the lost‐sales setting. The demands of the two items are correlated. Due to the complexity caused by the lost‐sales assumption and the interplay between pricing and production decisions, we show the optimal value function satisfies five structural properties under certain conditions. The optimal ordering and pricing policies are then fully characterized by five production curves and two pricing functions. Different from existing literature, we show that the optimal price path may not be monotone in the inventory level of either item. Next, we estimate the value of flexibility by comparing two systems, one with the flexible source only and the other with the dedicated source only, and show that the value of flexibility is positive (or negative) if the flexible source has a faster (or slower) production rate and a lower (or higher) production cost. Through numerical experiments, we find that in most cases flexibility and dynamic pricing are substitutes except for a few exceptions; and product substitution can either increase or decrease the value of flexibility.
Is the US Supreme Court a reliable backstop for an overreaching US president? Maybe, but is an overreaching (partisan) court worse?
Authors: Brown Rebecca L. , Epstein Lee
Published: June 2023

The Roberts Court has been called the most “___” Court in history, with many different adjectives being offered. Surprisingly, our study of voting data from Supreme Court terms 1937–2021 shows that the Roberts Court is the most “anti‐president” Court in that period: It has ruled against the president at a greater rate than any other Court. Should we take this to mean that the Court will be there to protect democracy if an overreaching president tries to trample constitutional limits? Not necessarily. Additional analysis and a deep dive into the cases and reasoning reveal a more complicated picture, of a Court exhibiting historic levels of partisan and loyalty bias as well as a strong penchant for judicial supremacy.
Detection of Chlamydia and Chlamydia‐like organisms in bovine placental tissue
Authors: Van Loo Hans , Pascottini Osvaldo Bogado , Ribbens Stefaan , Hooyberghs Jozef , Mori Marcella , Vanrompay Daisy , Opsomer Geert , Pardon Bart
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Chlamydia spp. and Parachlamydia acanthamoebae in bovine placental tissue originating from abortion and non‐abortion cases in Belgium. Placentas of 164 late term bovine abortions (last trimester of gestation) and 41 non‐abortion (collected after calving) cases were analysed by PCR for Chlamydia spp., Chlamydia abortus, C. psittaci and P. acanthamoebae. Additionally, a subset of 101 (75 abortion and 26 non‐abortion cases) of these placenta samples were also analysed by histopathology to detect possible Chlamydia‐induced lesions. In 5.4% (11/205) of the cases, Chlamydia spp. were detected, and three of those cases were positive for C. psittaci. Parachlamydia acanthamoebae was detected in 36% (75/205) of the cases, being 44% (n = 72) in abortions and 7.3% (n = 3) in non‐abortions cases (p < .001). None of the cases was positive for C. abortus. Purulent and/or necrotizing placentitis with or without vasculitis was observed in 18.8% (19/101) of the histopathologically analysed placenta samples. In 5.9% (6/101) of the cases, placentitis was observed along with vasculitis. In the abortion cases, 24% (18/75) of the samples showed purulent and/or necrotizing placentitis, while purulent and/or necrotizing placentitis was visible in 3.9% (1/26) of the non‐abortion cases. Placental lesions of inflammation and/or necrosis were present in 44% (15/34) of the cases where P. acanthamoebae was detected, while inflammation and/or necrosis was present in 20.9% (14/67) of the negative cases (p < .05). The detection of Chlamydia spp. and especially P. acanthamoebae, in combination with correlated histological lesions such as purulent and/or necrotizing placentitis and/or vasculitis in placental tissue following abortion, suggests a potential role of this pathogen in cases of bovine abortion in Belgium. Further in‐depth studies are necessary to unravel the role of these species as abortifacient agents in cattle and to include them in bovine abortion monitoring programmes.
Lesions in the oral mucosa associated with the use of checkpoint inhibitors: A bibliometric and critical review
Authors: Jural Lucas Alves , Estanho Daniella , Pereira Juliana da Silva Rangel , Ribeiro‐Lages Mariana Batista , Lima da Silva Larissa Soares , Cavalcante Israel Leal , Maia Lucianne Cople , Andrade Bruno Augusto Benevenuto de , Tenório Jefferson R.
Published: June 2023

Aims

Immune‐related adverse events (irAEs) linked to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become increasingly frequent. To perform a bibliometric and critical review of the general panorama of publications on oral mucosal lesions (OML) associated with ICIs.

Methods and Results

Systematized searches were performed in four databases. The included studies were organized and bibliometric and clinical data were extracted and analyzed using VantagePoint and Microsoft Excel. Most of the 35 included studies were reports or case series (n = 33/94.2%). The American authors stood out (n = 17/48.5%), with the majority presenting only one publication. Independent groups carried out most of the publications (n = 31/88.5%). Over the years, publications have increased for users of nivolumab and pembrolizumab. In 21 studies (60%), OML were more common in men, between the 6th and 9th decades of life and who had lung carcinoma (n = 13/37.1%). Pembrolizumab (n = 17/48.5%) was the most used ICI. The patients were affected by one or more OML, including: ulcers (n = 28/80%) and erythema (n = 11/31.4%). Systemic corticosteroids (n = 24/68.5%) and the discontinuation of ICI use (n = 18/51.4%) were the main approaches used.

Conclusion

OML related to the use of ICIs have become increasingly common. More accurate data need to be published.
Predictors of satisfaction with digital follow‐up in Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration: A sequential mixed‐methods study
Authors: Finne Joakim , Sadeghi Talieh , Løberg Ida Bring , Bakkeli Vidar , Sehic Belma , Thørrisen Mikkel M.
Published: June 2023

This study examines predictors of satisfaction with digital follow‐up among young people in the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV). A total of 1195 young employment seekers were recruited across Norway. Participants completed a cross‐sectional online survey comprising demographic questions, general questions on service quality, digital services, and open‐ended questions on their experiences with NAV. Using a mixed‐methods approach, we developed hypotheses derived from qualitative open‐ended text fields and tested these assumptions with quantitative analyses. Results revealed three themes related to satisfaction (information, response time, and impersonal contact), and multiple linear regression identified perceived response time, language comprehension, and information as predictors. Perceived response time was found to be the strongest predictor. We suggest that clients' perceptions of response time may be influenced by their service expectations, and service expectations may be shaped by the application of digital technologies. Hence, clarification of expectations may be of importance in digital follow‐up of young people. Finally, this study underscores the importance of clear and understandable information to reduce digital exclusion. We suggest that these changes should occur in collaboration with user‐panels.
Gender and ethno‐racial disparities in access to mortgage credit
Authors: Loya Jose
Published: June 2023

There is a long history of gender and ethno‐racial stratification in access to homeownership. Previous research highlights unequal treatment of minorities and women in the mortgage market. However, prior studies focus on single loan applicants when assessing the roles of both gender and race and ethnicity in their analysis. Because of this, it is unclear how mortgage lending disparities differ when considering the intersection of gender and race and ethnicity across single and co‐applicants. This paper draws on annual data from the 2018 and 2019 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) to assess gender and ethno‐racial disparities in loan outcomes. I document two diverging trends. On the one hand, single applicant women generally perform similarly or outperform single applicant men in the mortgage market even across ethno‐racial groups. On the other hand, women‐headed co‐applicants are more likely to experience an adverse loan outcome compared to male‐headed co‐applicants. The gender gap is substantially larger for black and Latino co‐applicants than for white co‐applicants. This is particularly true for black women‐ and Latina‐headed co‐applicants when examining mortgage denials. The results for Asian co‐applicants are mixed, as gender disparities differ across mortgage outcomes. Implications for gender and ethno‐racial stratification are discussed.
Challenges and solutions of environmental scanning electron microscopy characterisation of biomaterials: Application to hygro‐expansion of paper
Authors: Vonk N. H. , van Weele S. , Slokker G. , van Maris M. P. F. H. L. , Hoefnagels J. P. M.
Published: June 2023

Most methodologies to measure the moisture‐induced deformation (hygro‐expansion) of paper microconstituents, including fibres and interfibre bonds, are low resolution or time‐consuming. Hence, here, a novel method is proposed and validated to measure high‐resolution full‐field strain maps of paper microconstituents during hygro‐expansion, based on environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). To this end, a novel climate stage enables accurate control of the relative humidity (RH) near the specimen in the ESEM from 0%–100%. The fibre surface, which is decorateda prioriwith a microparticle pattern, is captured during RH change. Subsequently, correlating the fibre surface using a dedicated global digital image correlation algorithm enables high‐resolution hygro‐expansion strain maps. Method optimisation involved performing contrast enhancement, scan‐correction to reduce ESEM artefacts and a background correction, resulting in a strain resolution of . Method validation revealed that the fibres' crystallinity is affected by the electron beam, even for minimal invasive electron beam settings. Interestingly, however, the fibres consistently exhibit conventional hygro‐expansion behaviour during the drying slopes. Using the optimised procedure, hygro‐expansion characterisation of two interfibre bonds and four interfibre bond cross‐sections revealed the competition between the low longitudinal and large transverse fibre hygro‐expansion in the bonded area.
Identifiability for mixtures of centered Gaussians and sums of powers of quadratics
Authors: Blomenhofer Alexander Taveira , Casarotti Alex , Michałek Mateusz , Oneto Alessandro
Published: June 2023

We consider the inverse problem for the polynomial map that sends an ‐tuple of quadratic forms in variables to the sum of their th powers. This map captures the moment problem for mixtures of centered ‐variate Gaussians. In the first nontrivial case , we show that for any , this map is generically one‐to‐one (up to permutations of and third roots of unity) in two ranges: for and for , thus proving generic identifiability for mixtures of centered Gaussians from their (exact) moments of degree at most . The first result is obtained by the explicit geometry of the tangential contact locus of the variety of sums of cubes of quadratic forms, as described by Chiantini and Ottaviani [SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl. 33 (2012), no. 3, 1018–1037], while the second result is accomplished using the link between secant nondefectivity with identifiability, proved by Casarotti and Mella [J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS) (2022)]. The latter approach also generalizes to sums of th powers of ‐forms for and .
Affine deformations of quasi‐divisible convex cones
Authors: Nie Xin , Seppi Andrea
Published: June 2023

We study subgroups of obtained by adding a translation part to the holonomy of a finite‐volume convex projective surface. Under a natural condition on the translations added to the peripheral parabolic elements, we show that the affine action of the group on has convex domains of discontinuity which are regular, generalizing a result of Mess for globally hyperbolic flat spacetimes. We then classify all such domains arising from a fixed group and show that the quotient of each of them is an affine manifold foliated by convex surfaces with constant affine Gaussian curvature (CAGC). The proof is based on the analysis of CAGC surfaces developed in a previous work, along with a correspondence between the geometry of an affine space endowed with a convex cone and the geometry of a convex tube domain. We also show that the moduli space of such groups is a vector bundle over the moduli space of finite‐volume convex projective structures, with rank equal to the dimension of the Teichmüller space.
Tribological Characteristics of Tantalum-Oxide Coating Fabricated on Pre-Treated 2024 Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Albayrak Sevda , Gül Canser , Çinici Hanifi , Şahin Ömer
Published: June 2023

Aluminum has many advantages, such as being lightweight, but it may not provide sufficient wear resistance for some applications. Tantalum oxide is a ceramic-based coating layer that can improve wear resistance. In this study, 2024 aluminum alloy samples with different surface treatments were coated with amorphous Ta2O5 using the RF spraying method under the same conditions. Polishing, 10% HCl solution, 5% NaOH solution, and 50% HNO3 solution, as well as sandblasting, were applied to the surfaces of aluminum alloys separately, and the sample groups were coated. The effects of pre-coating surface treatments on coating morphology and wear resistance were investigated. The surface morphologies of the coatings were examined using scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersion spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Wear tests were then conducted to determine the mechanical properties, and after the tests, scanning electron microscopy examinations and volume loss calculations were performed using a profilometer. The wear test results were discussed and compared. The investigation yielded continuous, homogeneous, and crack-free coatings on the 2024 aluminum alloy surfaces. However, the wear resistance of these coatings was compromised by acid etching. Following polishing and sandblasting, the coated surfaces experienced a decrease in volume losses from abrasion by 4.3% and 44.8%, respectively, compared to the uncoated samples.
Structural characterization of epitaxial γ-Ta2N thin films and AlN/γ-Ta2N heterostructures on SiC substrates
Authors: Nepal Neeraj , Katzer D. Scott , Lang Andrew C. , Downey Brian P. , Hardy Matthew T. , Meyer David J.
Published: June 2023

Tantalum nitride (γ-Ta2N) thin films were grown by radiofrequency plasma molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on 3 in. diameter 6H- or 4H-SiC substrates. Epitaxial characteristics of these MBE grown layers were determined using high resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. HRXRD, TEM, and XRD reciprocal space map measurements show that γ-Ta2N on SiC grows pseudomorphically and stabilizes to a nearly pure γ-Ta2N phase. Structural properties of these layers are uniform across the 3 in. wafer diameter. Measured a and c lattice parameter values of a 43 nm thick γ-Ta2N film on 6H-SiC are 3.079 and 4.898 Å, respectively, and the film has an in-plane tensile strain of 1.03%. MBE growth of AlN/ γ-Ta2N /SiC heterostructures has also been demonstrated. Measured lattice a and c constants of AlN on γ-Ta2N /SiC are 3.120 and 4.974 Å, respectively. TEM and XRD show that SiC substrate and γ-Ta2N films have parallel epitaxial relation.