bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Privilege of Family History
Authors: Field Kendra T
Published: August 2022

This article situates the recent phenomenon of historians writing openly about their own familial and kin networks. After a brief discussion of the evolution of family history as a scholarly field, this article foregrounds the experiences and words of a number of African Americans who engaged in a diverse range of historical, genealogical, archival, and memorial “family history” work over the last two centuries. In the context of slavery, I approach family history as a form of enslaved resistance and anti-slavery argument. In the post-emancipation era, I consider African American family history within and beyond the nascent historical profession amid the racist national backlash to Reconstruction and the early Jim Crow era. From the Great Migration and Harlem Renaissance to the modern civil rights era, I explore the popularization of African American family history, the rise of the “new” social history, and the waves of men and women who entered the profession at the intersection of scholarship and social movement. In closing, I reflect upon African American family history in the post-civil rights era, from Roots to the rise of genetic genealogy, and the legacies of these transformations for the historical profession.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2021 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States
Authors: Garcia Edna , Kundu Iman , Fong Karen
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To inform the pathology and laboratory field of the most recent national wage data. Historically, the results of this biennial survey have served as a basis for additional research on laboratory recruitment, retention, education, marketing, certification, and advocacy.

Methods

The 2021 Wage Survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and the ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, IL.

Results

Compared with 2019, results show that mean hourly wage for staff-level personnel increased for only two occupations—cytologist and medical laboratory scientist/medical technologist/clinical laboratory scientist—after adjusting for inflation. Geographically, laboratory professionals from urban areas continue to earn more than their rural counterparts. Most respondents reported no change in their salaries during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Conclusions

The pandemic had a significant effect on staffing, workload, and work-life balance of many laboratory professionals. Even with the salary increases reported from the results of this survey, it is evident that the increases have not kept up with the current inflation. Focus on visibility, recruitment and retention, and diversity are essential to develop long- and short-term solutions.
The Internal Point of View in Private Law
Authors: Miller Paul B , Pojanowski Jeffrey A
Published: August 2022

Most private law theorists claim to analyze private law from an internal point of view; a vantagepoint within which private law doctrine, institutions and procedure enjoy pride of place. Private law theory of a generation ago distinguished the internal from external points of view, valorizing the former and criticizing the latter for ignoring the normativity of private law or for mistaking private law for public law or regulation. The New Private Law, by contrast, asserts the complementarity of internal and external points of view, partly by emphasizing the value of functionalist analyses of legal form. In this article, we canvas leading accounts of the internal point of view in private law (provided by corrective justice and civil recourse theorists, respectively) and identify their shortcomings: notably, their inability to ground assertions about the normative and explanatory priority of the internal point of view, and about its relationship (whether of exclusivity or complementarity) to external points of view. We offer an alternative, and we think better, rendering of the internal point of view, drawing on the work of John Finnis. Amongst other things, our account vindicates the New Private Law’s alluring but elusive promise of perspectival integration, showing how private law may be understood as an interlocking set of practices of public practical deliberation equally concerned with reasoned compliance and behavioral conformity with practically reasonable laws.
The State before the State: A Critique of New Democracy: The Creation of the Modern American State, by William J Novak
Authors: Tomlins Christopher
Published: August 2022

This essay is a critical appraisal of William Novak’s New Democracy, published in March 2022. A sequel to The People’s Welfare, published in 1996, New Democracy continues Novak’s revisionist account of American state building in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In particular, the book draws attention to the years between the American Civil War and the onset of the Great Depression as the formative period of the American administrative–regulatory state, assailing a historiography that has credited the epoch of the New Deal as the definitive creative moment of the modern American state. Assessing New Democracy’s evidence and arguments, the essay finds that Novak’s book makes an important contribution to the intellectual history of state advocacy, but fails to offer definitive empirical measures for its central claim that the New Deal origin of the modern American state is a myth. Examining the philosophy of history that lies beneath New Democracy’s arguments, the essay holds that Novak’s claim that history is irreversibly linear markedly constricts the interpretive possibilities open to him and to those who may follow his lead.
Language and Culture as Sources of Inequality in US Police Interrogations
Authors: Filipović Luna
Published: August 2022

The aim of the study was to check whether minorities such as LEP/ZEP (limited/zero English proficiency) speakers can expect the same access to justice as competent English speakers in a majority language (US English) justice system. The main hypothesis is that, due to linguistic and cultural factors, the instances of miscommunication in the interrogation of LEP/ZEP suspects and witnesses will be more numerous than in the interrogation of the majority language (English) speakers. The data consist of authentic police interrogations by US law enforcement. All instances of miscommunication were classified based on the linguistic profiles of the interrogations: monolingual English, monolingual Spanish, and bilingual Spanish/English. The analyses were both quantitative and qualitative. Miscommunication occurs more frequently if interrogations are conducted bilingually (via interpreters) and cultural differences are exploited as part of pressure to confess. The main sources of miscommunication identified are (i) the questioning method, (ii) the lack of professional interpreting, and (iii) culture-specific communication patterns. We offer concrete suggestions for ensuring equality before the law for linguistic and cultural minorities.
Convenient Auditory-Based Language and Executive Function Test for Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ohdake Reiko , Watanabe Hirohisa , Kawabata Kazuya , Ogura Aya , Sato Maki , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Imai Kazunori , Masuda Michihito , Kato Toshiyasu , Yokoi Takamasa , Hara Kazuhiro , Nakamura Ryoichi , Atsuta Naoki , Nakagawa Masafumi , Katsuno Masahisa , Sobue Gen
Published: August 2022

Objective

About 30%–50% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show cognitive impairment ranging from mild dysexecutive syndrome to frontotemporal dementia. We aimed to develop a brief cognitive test, convenient auditory-based language and executive function test (CABLET), for rapid detection of cognitive impairment in ALS, with reduced load on motor function.

Method

The CABLET comprises two tests using auditory verbal stimuli: Test 1, assessing word repetition and lexical judgment, and Test 2, evaluating verbal short-term memory and semantics knowledge. The administration time of Test 1 and Test 2 was 1 and 3–5 min, respectively. Overall, 61 patients with ALS and 46 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls participated in this study. All participants underwent existing neuropsychological tests and the CABLET. We investigated the applicability of the CABLET to detect ALS with cognitive impairment (ALSci) from normal cognition.

Results

Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that both the CABLET total and Test 2 had good diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]: total = 0.894, Test 2 = 0.893). Test 2 had the highest sensitivity (100% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity). No significant difference existed in the AUC between the analyses with and without age, education, and disease severity as covariates. Correlations were observed between the CABLET and established neuropsychological tests, supporting its good convergent validity.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that the CABLET could be useful in identifying ALSci quickly without adjusting for confounding factors. Further validation is required to evaluate it in larger groups and compare with ALS-specific cognitive screen.
XII—Deferring to Doubt
Authors: Schoenfield Miriam
Published: August 2022

In this paper I’ll suggest that a certain challenge facing defeatist views about higher-order evidence cannot be met, namely, motivating principles that recommend abandoning belief in cases of higher order defeat, but do not recommend global scepticism. I’ll propose that, ultimately, the question of whether to abandon belief in response to the realization that our belief can’t be recovered from what I’ll call ‘a perspective of doubt’ can’t be answered through rational deliberation aimed at truth or accuracy.
XIII—Moral Criticism and the Metaphysics of Bluff
Authors: Della Rocca Michael
Published: August 2022

By invoking surprising rationalist considerations that Bernard Williams does not anticipate, this paper defends Williams’s claim that that moral criticism on the basis of purported external reasons amounts to ‘bluff’. After strengthening this rejection of external reasons by drawing parallels to compelling rationalist arguments in other domains, the paper mounts a similarly rationalist critique of internal reasons invoked by Kantian moral philosophers. The paper closes with an apocalyptic line of thought that develops the preceding rationalist arguments into a challenge to the notion of acting for reasons in general.
Functional eye rudiments in the anchialine crab Munidopsis polymorpha (Crustacea: Galatheidae)
Authors: Wilkens Horst
Published: August 2022

The white crab Munidopsis polymorpha (Crustacea: Galatheidae) is the only one of a species-rich genus not occurring in the deep sea. It is endemic to marine caves, anchialine pools and groundwaters of the volcanic island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands). The eye derives from the superposition type possessing a clear zone formed by the proximal extensions of the rudimentary crystalline cones. The number of ommatidia ranges among the lowest found in decapods and the optic ganglia are strongly diminished in size. The crystalline cones are rudimentary or lost and facets with individual corneas are not discernible. The rhabdoms are tiny and irregularly arranged in the rhabdom layer. Some rhabdoms display an open arrangement of rhabdomers with microvilli that are not aligned to form orthogonal layers. The eye is one of the rare exceptions of traits that despite being rudimentary is still partially functional. The absence of stabilizing selection is probably the reason for variability or reduction of the traits necessary for image formation. In contrast, negative phototactic behaviour is present, because light is still perceived by the eyes of M. polymorpha.
Fine-scale geographical sampling and molecular characterization of the giant African land snail in its invasive range in Asia shows low genetic diversity, new haplotypes and the emergence of another haplotype from the Indian Ocean Islands
Authors: Vijayan Keerthy , Suganthasakthivel R , Naggs Fred , Fontanilla Ian Kendrich , Soorae Pritpal Singh , Sajeev T V , Wade Christopher M
Published: August 2022

Native to East Africa, the giant African snail Lissachatina [=Achatina] fulica (Bowdich, 1822) is a tropical crop pest and one of the world’s top 100 invasive species. It is now present in at least 52 countries worldwide, with an actively expanding range. Lissachatina fulica was first introduced to India in 1847, but subsequent arrivals in India and local patterns of spread remain unclear. This study uses the 16S rRNA gene to identify the extent of genetic variation in India by sampling Indian populations and comparing them with published sequence data. A total of 307 snails were collected from 178 localities in India and from a single locality in the UAE, and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Eight haplotypes were identified from India of which four are newly recognized. The new haplotypes identified in this study have increased the number of L. fulica 16S rRNA haplotypes from 19 to 23. Examination of haplotype and nucleotide diversities revealed that genetic variation is low in India, the UAE and across Asia as a whole. The number of haplotypes was higher in India when compared to other invasive regions but all of the Asian haplotypes appear to be closely related to the most common haplotypes in the Indian Ocean Islands. Heavy trade between the snail-infested and native-range countries suggests that the variation observed in India might be traced back to its native range, but the lack of sampling and paucity of sequences from East Africa currently prevents a comparison. Tracing back the emergent haplotypes by additional sampling could throw more light on the spread of L. fulica.
ARHGEF15 in Sertoli cells contributes to germ cell development and testicular immune privilege
Authors: Chen Feng , Wu Yingjie , Ke Lu , Lin Xinyi , Wang Fengchao , Qin Yinghe
Published: August 2022

Sertoli cells (SCs), the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules, facilitate the maintenance of testicular immune privilege through the formation of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and the expression of immunoregulatory factors. Rho guanosine exchange factor 15 (ARHGEF15) is a member of the guanosine exchange factors, which are involved in cell migration, cell polarity, and cell cycle progression via activation of Rho GTPases. This study investigated the functional role of ARHGEF15 in SCs during spermatogenesis using SC–specific Arhgef15 knockout mice. The results revealed that Arhgef15 deficiency in SCs affected the localization of SC nuclei, disrupted BTB integrity, and led to premature shedding of germ cells. In Arhgef15flox/flox/Amh-Cre+ mice, the ultrastructure of the round spermatids was impaired, accompanied by acrosome degeneration, acrosomal vesicle shedding, and atrophic nuclei. Consequently, the percentage of abnormal sperm in the Arhgef15flox/flox/Amh-Cre+ epididymis was markedly elevated. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that most of the differentially expressed genes in SCs of Arhgef15flox/flox/Amh-Cre+ mice were associated with immunity. Further study revealed that the sera of Arhgef15flox/flox/Amh-Cre+ mice showed immunoreactivity against testicular lysate of wild-type mice, indicating the production of antibodies against testicular autoantigens in Arhgef15flox/flox/Amh-Cre+ mice. In conclusion, the specific deletion of Arhgef15 in SCs of mice leads to sperm abnormality, probably by disrupting the testicular immune homeostasis.
The Impact of Field Courses on Undergraduate Knowledge, Affect, Behavior, and Skills: A Scoping Review
Authors: Shinbrot Xoco A , Treibergs Kira , Hernández Lina M Arcila , Esparza David , Ghezzi-Kopel Kate , Goebel Marc , Graham Olivia J , Heim Ashley B , Smith Jansen A , Smith Michelle K
Published: August 2022

Field courses provide transformative learning experiences that support success and improve persistence for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors. But field courses have not increased proportionally with the number of students in the natural sciences. We conducted a scoping review to investigate the factors influencing undergraduate participation in and the outcomes from field courses in the United States. Our search yielded 61 articles, from which we classified the knowledge, affect, behavior, and skill-based outcomes resulting from field course participation. We found consistent reporting on course design but little reporting on demographics, which limits our understanding of who takes field courses. Cost was the most commonly reported barrier to student participation, and knowledge gains were the most commonly reported outcome. This scoping review underscores the need for more rigorous and evidence-based investigations of student outcomes in field courses. Understanding how field courses support or hinder student engagement is necessary to make them more accessible to all students.
Differences in set-based tests for sparse alternatives when testing sets of outcomes compared to sets of explanatory factors in genetic association studies
Authors: Sun Ryan , Shi Andy , Lin Xihong
Published: August 2022

Set-based association tests are widely popular in genetic association settings for their ability to aggregate weak signals and reduce multiple testing burdens. In particular, a class of set-based tests including the Higher Criticism, Berk–Jones, and other statistics have recently been popularized for reaching a so-called detection boundary when signals are rare and weak. Such tests have been applied in two subtly different settings: (a) associating a genetic variant set with a single phenotype and (b) associating a single genetic variant with a phenotype set. A significant issue in practice is the choice of test, especially when deciding between innovated and generalized type methods for detection boundary tests. Conflicting guidance is present in the literature. This work describes how correlation structures generate marked differences in relative operating characteristics for settings (a) and (b). The implications for study design are significant. We also develop novel power bounds that facilitate the aforementioned calculations and allow for analysis of individual testing settings. In more concrete terms, our investigation is motivated by translational expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies in lung cancer. These studies involve both testing for groups of variants associated with a single gene expression (multiple explanatory factors) and testing whether a single variant is associated with a group of gene expressions (multiple outcomes). Results are supported by a collection of simulation studies and illustrated through lung cancer eQTL examples.
Economic Inequality and the Spatial Distribution of Stop and Search: Evidence from London
Authors: Suss Joel H , Oliveira Thiago R
Published: August 2022

We analyse the spatial concentration of stop and search (S&S) practices. Previous work argues that the persistent reliance on S&S, despite weak to null deterrent effects on crime, results from a social order maintenance motivation on the part of the police. Expanding previous studies that focused on who tends to be stopped and searched by police officers, we focus on where S&S concentrates and investigate the role of economic inequality. We use data from London in 2019 and demonstrate that a novel measure of salient, spatially granular economic inequality is positively associated with S&S incidence at a small spatial scale, even when controlling for crime rates and other important variables. Police officers more frequently stop and search members of the public in places where the well-off and the economically precarious co-exist. Implications for understanding S&S as a tool that distinguishes between citizens, between those to protect and potential criminals, are discussed.
Stable isotope approaches and opportunities for improving plant conservation
Authors: Snyder Keirith A , Robinson Sharon A , Schmidt Susanne , Hultine Kevin R
Published: August 2022

Successful conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in a rapidly changing world requires scientifically sound decision-making tools that are readily accessible to conservation practitioners. Physiological applications that examine how plants and animals interact with their environment are now widely used when planning, implementing and monitoring conservation. Among these tools, stable-isotope physiology is a potentially powerful, yet under-utilized cornerstone of current and future conservation efforts of threatened and endangered plants. We review the underlying concepts and theory of stable-isotope physiology and describe how stable-isotope applications can support plant conservation. We focus on stable isotopes of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen to address plant ecophysiological responses to changing environmental conditions across temporal scales from hours to centuries. We review examples from a broad range of plant taxa, life forms and habitats and provide specific examples where stable-isotope analysis can directly improve conservation, in part by helping identify resilient, locally adapted genotypes or populations. Our review aims to provide a guide for practitioners to easily access and evaluate the information that can be derived from stable-isotope signatures, their limitations and how stable isotopes can improve conservation efforts.
School Social Worker Performance Evaluation: Illustrations of Domains and Components from the National Evaluation Framework for School Social Work Practice
Authors: Horton Karla B , Prudencio Amy
Published: August 2022

The role and duties of a school social worker can differ greatly by state. The National School Social Work Practice Model and the National Association of Social Workers’ school social work standards describe practice approaches and behaviors endorsed by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). The National Evaluation Framework for School Social Work Practice is intertwined with the practice model and standards. The purpose of this article is to provide an explanation of the school social workers’ practice behaviors as described in the performance evaluation framework. This article takes a comprehensive look at what school social workers do and offers suggestions on role clarity and its relation to performance evaluation for school social workers. The performance evaluation tool endorsed by SSWAA will be described for use by school social workers and school administrators. This article also provides an explanation of how to apply the National Evaluation Framework for School Social Work Practice using a synthesis of recommendations on performance evaluation documentation.
Ambrosia Beetle Occurrence and Phenology of Xylosandrus spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Ornamental Nurseries, Tree Fruit, and Pecan Orchards in Georgia
Authors: Monterrosa Alejandra , Joseph Shimat V , Blaauw Brett , Hudson Will , Acebes-Doria Angelita L
Published: August 2022

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae) in the genus Xylosandrus are problematic in ornamental nurseries and are emerging as serious pests in orchard crops. An updated survey of ambrosia beetles focusing on these damaging species, and their corresponding phenology was conducted in Georgia to aid in refining management practices for these beetles. Ambrosia beetles were monitored across nine sites in 2019 and seven sites 2020 at ornamental nurseries, tree fruit, and pecan orchards in Georgia. At each site, six ethanol-baited bottle traps were deployed; with three traps along the edge of a wood-line and three traps placed 30 m from the edge of the nurseries and orchards. Traps were deployed from mid-January through July or August depending on site and year. All captured ambrosia beetles were counted and identified. Captures of X. crassiusculus, X. germanus, and X. compactus, were analyzed further to investigate spatial distribution and seasonal flight activity. At high population sites, more beetles were captured along adjacent wood lines than in the orchard or nursery interior. At most sites, flight activity began in February and March continued until the termination of the study in July or August. At most sites, sustained flight activities with multiple peaks were observed in March, April, and May, corresponding to average weekly temperatures reaching ≥15.5°C. These results have important implications on temporally and spatially precise management for these beetles across three important agricultural production systems in the southeastern US.
Electoral Success at the ICC: A State-Level Analysis
Authors: Nimigan Sarah
Published: August 2022

This article seeks to understand why some candidates are elected to the International Criminal Court (ICC) bench, while others are not, using a state-level analysis between the years 2003 to 2020. Two interrelated analyses are used. The first measures the levels of judicial representativeness based on geography, gender, and expertise. This provides a conceptualization of ‘electoral success’ that is then situated within state-level judicial nomination processes to better understand the level of judicial representation on the ICC bench by state. The overall argument is that three types of states have had the most judicial electoral success at the ICC: (i) states that have contributed the most financially to the Court; (ii) states that have allocated the necessary amount of human resources to ensure that their candidates were successfully elected, especially in the form of vote trading and diplomatic lobbying; and (iii) states where the ICC is, or has been, involved in an investigation. The problem of politicization at both the domestic and international level(s) permeates the analysis herein.
Effects of chlorhexidine use on periodontal health during fixed appliance orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hussain Umar , Alam Shamsul , Rehman Khalid , Antonoglou Georgios N , Papageorgiou Spyridon N
Published: August 2022

Background

Proper oral hygiene and absence of periodontal inflammation is pre-requisite for orthodontic treatment. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is an established oral antiseptic used in the treatment of periodontal disease, but its role in orthodontic therapy is unclear.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of adjunct use of CHX-containing products in maintaining gingival health among orthodontic patients with fixed appliances.

Search methods

Five databases were searched without limitations up to August 2021.

Selection criteria

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing Gingival Index (GI) (primary outcome), Plaque Index (PI), Bleeding Index (BI), or Pocket Probing Depth (PPD).

Data collection and analysis

Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were done independently in duplicate. Random-effects meta-analyses of mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were conducted, followed by sensitivity and Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation analysis.

Results

Twenty RCTs (1001 patients) were included assessing CHX-containing mouthwashes (n = 11), toothpastes (n = 2), gels (n = 3), or varnishes (n = 4) compared to placebo/control (n = 19) or sodium fluoride-products (n = 4). In the short-term, CHX-containing mouthwash was associated with lower GI (n = 9; MD = −0.68; 95% CI = −0.97 to −0.38; P < 0.001; high quality), lower PI (n = 9; MD = −0.65; 95% CI = −0.86 to −0.43; P < 0.001; high quality), lower BI (n = 2; SMD = −1.61; 95% CI = −2.99 to −0.22; P = 0.02; low quality), and lower PPD (n = 2; MD = −0.60 mm; 95% CI = −1.06 to −0.14 mm; P = 0.01; low quality). No considerable benefits were found from the use of CHX-gel or CHX-varnish in terms of GI, PI, or PPD (P > 0.05/low quality in all instances). Use of a CHX-containing toothpaste was more effective in lowering PI (Heintze-index) than adjunct use of fluoride-containing mouthwash (n = 2; MD = −5.24; 95% CI = −10.46 to −0.02; P = 0.04), but not GI (P = 0.68) or BI (P = 0.27), while sensitivity analyses indicated robustness.

Conclusions

Adjunct use of CHX mouthwash during fixed-appliance treatment is associated with improved gingival inflammation, plaque control, and pocket depths, but caution is warranted and recommendations about CHX use during orthodontic treatment of children/adults should consider the heterogeneous patient response, cost-effectiveness, and potential adverse effects.

Registration

PROSPERO registration (CRD42021228759).
Ringing the bell for quality P.E.: What are the realities of remote physical education?
Authors: Kovacs Viktoria A , Csanyi Tamas , Blagus Rok , Brandes Mirko , Starc Gregor , Rocha Paulo , Scheuer Claude , Okely Anthony D
Published: August 2022

Background

To date, few data on the quality and quantity of online physical education (P.E.) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been published. We assessed activity in online classes and reported allocated curriculum time for P.E. in a multi-national sample of European children (6–18 years).

Methods

Data from two online surveys were analysed. A total of 8395 children were included in the first round (May–June 2020) and 24 302 in the second round (January–February 2021).

Results

Activity levels during P.E. classes were low in spring 2020, particularly among the youngest children and in certain countries. 27.9% of students did not do any online P.E. and 15.7% were hardly ever very active. Only 18.4% were always very active and 14.9% reported being very active quite often. In winter 2020, we observed a large variability in the allocated curriculum time for P.E. In many countries, this was lower than the compulsory requirements. Only 65.7% of respondents had the same number of P.E. lessons than before pandemic, while 23.8% had less P.E., and 6.8% claimed to have no P.E. lessons. Rates for no P.E. were especially high among secondary school students, and in large cities and megapolises.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, European children were provided much less P.E. in quantity and quality than before the pandemic. Countermeasures are needed to ensure that these changes do not become permanent. Particular attention is needed in large cities and megapolises. The critical role of P.E. for students’ health and development must be strengthened in the school system.
Mentioning smoking cessation assistance during healthcare consultations matters: findings from Dutch survey research
Authors: van Westen-Lagerweij Naomi A , Bommelé Jeroen , Willemsen Marc C , Croes Esther A
Published: August 2022

Background

Smoking cessation assistance (SCA) can help smokers to successfully quit smoking. It is unclear to what extent hearing about SCA from a healthcare professional is associated with using SCA during a quit attempt.

Methods

We used pooled survey data from the 2016, 2018 and 2020 ‘Module Substance Use’ survey in the Netherlands (N = 5928). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between having heard about SCA from one or more healthcare professionals in the last year and the use of SCA during the most recent quit attempt in the last year. We used two models: model 1 included any type of assistance; model 2 included assistance typically recommended by treatment guidelines (i.e. counselling and pharmacotherapy).

Results

Hearing about any type of SCA from a healthcare professional in the last year was significantly associated with using any type of SCA during the most recent quit attempt [odds ratio (OR) = 2.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.16–4.06; P < 0.001]. We found the strongest association between hearing about counselling and/or pharmacotherapy and using counselling and/or pharmacotherapy (OR = 5.40; 95% CI 4.11–11.60; P < 0.001). The odds of using SCA was not significantly higher for smokers who had heard about it from two or more healthcare professionals compared to one healthcare professional (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 0.79–2.42; P = 0.26).

Conclusions

Healthcare professionals can play a greater role in stimulating the use of SCA, especially counselling and pharmacotherapy, by mentioning it to smokers during consultations.
Bacterial community composition and indicators of water quality in Caizi Lake, a typical Yangtze-connected freshwater lake
Authors: Gao Na , Liang Yangyang , Li Jing , Cui Kai , Lu Wenxuan
Published: August 2022

Caizi Lake is an important lake connected to the Yangtze River in Anhui Province and a crucial connection for the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project. There were marked differences in trophic status of the six sampling sites based on the physicochemical characterization. The Bacterial Eutrophic Index (BEI), used to quantify water quality, was well related to Carlson's trophic state index (TSI) (Spearman's ρ = 0.829, P < 0.05). Mean TSI and BEI were 54 and 0.58, respectively, indicating that Caizi Lake was slightly eutrophic. Actinobacteriota were the predominant bacterial phylum in the water and Acidobacteriota in sediments. The diversity and composition of the bacterial community was markedly different between sites for water but not sediment samples. Unlike other Yangtze-connected freshwater lakes, the distance-based redundancy analysis revealed that dissolved oxygen affected the composition of the planktonic bacterial community (P < 0.001), while total phosphorus was the major factor in the sediments (P < 0.05). The water quality of Caizi Lake has significantly improved since a few years ago. These results contribute to the long-term monitoring of the ecological quality of the water environment along the Yangtze River to the Huaihe River.
Plasma Membrane Ca2+ ATPase Activity Enables Sustained Store-operated Ca2+ Entry in the Absence of a Bulk Cytosolic Ca2+ Rise
Authors: Barak Pradeep , Kaur Suneet , Scappini Erica , Tucker Charles J , Parekh Anant B
Published: August 2022

In many cell types, the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ due to opening of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels drives a plethora of responses, including secretion, motility, energy production, and gene expression. The amplitude and time course of the cytosolic Ca2+ rise is shaped by the rates of Ca2+ entry into and removal from the cytosol. However, an extended bulk Ca2+ rise is toxic to cells. Here, we show that the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) pump plays a major role in preventing a prolonged cytosolic Ca2+ signal following CRAC channel activation. Ca2+ entry through CRAC channels leads to a sustained sub-plasmalemmal Ca2+ rise but bulk Ca2+ is kept low by the activity of PMCA4b. Despite the low cytosolic Ca2+, membrane permeability to Ca2+ is still elevated and Ca2+ continues to enter through CRAC channels. Ca2+-dependent NFAT activation, driven by Ca2+ nanodomains near the open channels, is maintained despite the return of bulk Ca2+ to near pre-stimulation levels. Our data reveal a central role for PMCA4b in determining the pattern of a functional Ca2+ signal and in sharpening local Ca2+ gradients near CRAC channels, whilst protecting cells from a toxic Ca2+ overload.
Abdominal Aortic Calcification, Bone Mineral Density, and Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Gebre Abadi K , Lewis Joshua R , Leow Kevin , Szulc Pawel , Scott David , Ebeling Peter R , Sim Marc , Wong Germaine , Lim Wai H , Schousboe John T , Kiel Douglas P , Prince Richard L , Rodríguez Alexander J
Published: August 2022

Background

Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been inconsistently associated with skeletal health. We aimed to investigate the association of AAC with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk by pooling the findings of observational studies.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched (August 2021). All clinical studies that assessed the association between AAC and BMD or fracture were included. AAC was categorized into any/advanced (all higher reported groups) versus no/less advanced (lowest reported group). Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for BMD and fracture, respectively, using random-effects models.

Results

Of 2 192 articles screened, 86 (61 553 participants) were included in the review, while 42 provided data for meta-analysis. AAC was associated with lower BMD at the total hip (SMD = −1.05 [95%CI: −1.47 to −0.63]; 16 studies), femoral neck (−0.25 [−0.46 to−0.04]; 10), and lumbar spine (−0.67 [−1.21 to −0.12]; 20). AAC was associated with a greater risk of any fracture (RR = 1.73 [95%CI: 1.48–2.02]; 27). AAC was also associated with vertebral, non-vertebral, and hip fractures. In dose–response analysis, the highest AAC group had greater risks of any, vertebral and non-vertebral fractures.

Conclusions

AAC is associated with lower BMD and increased fracture risk at multiple sites, underscoring the potential importance of vascular disease on skeletal health. Detection of AAC at the time of BMD testing may provide clinicians with prognostic information about bone health to enhance osteoporosis screening programs and fracture risk prediction.
Factors Associated With Health Care Delays Among Adults Over 50 During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chan Athena C Y , Sneed Rodlescia S
Published: August 2022

Background

Adults over 50 have high health care needs but also face high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related vulnerability. This may result in a reluctance to enter public spaces, including health care settings. Here, we examined factors associated with health care delays among adults over 50 early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Using data from the 2020 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 7 615), we evaluated how race/ethnicity, age, geographic region, and pandemic-related factors were associated with health care delays.

Results

In our sample, 3 in 10 participants who were interviewed from March 2020 to June 2021 reported delays in medical or dental care in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-Hispanic Whites (odds ratio [OR]: 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.58) and those of other racial/ethnic backgrounds (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.02–1.67) delayed care more than Non-Hispanic Blacks. Other factors associated with delayed care included younger age, living in the Midwest or West, knowing someone diagnosed with or who died from COVID-19, and having high COVID-19-related concerns. There were no differences in care delays among adults aged > 70; however, among those ≤ 70, those who knew someone diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to delay care than those who did not. Additionally, among those ≤ 70, Non-Hispanic Whites and those of other racial/ethnic backgrounds delayed care more than Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics.

Conclusions

There is considerable heterogeneity in care delays among older adults based on age, race/ethnicity, and pandemic-related factors. As the pandemic continues, future studies should examine whether these patterns persist.
Test of P-wave receiver functions for a seismic velocity and gravity model across the Baikal Rift Zone
Authors: Zhou Zhipeng , Thybo Hans , Tang Chi-Chia , Artemieva Irina , Kusky Timothy
Published: August 2022

The seismic receiver function (RF) technique is widely used as an economic method to image earth's deep interior in a large number of seismic experiments. P-wave receiver functions (RFs) constrain crustal thickness and average Vp/Vs in the crust by analysis of the Ps phase and multiples (reflected/converted waves) from the Moho. Regional studies often show significant differences between the Moho depth constrained by RF and by reflection/refraction methods. We compare the results from RF and controlled source seismology for the Baikal Rift Zone by calculating 1480 synthetic RFs for a seismic refraction/reflection velocity model and processing them with two common RF techniques [H–κ and Common Conversion Point (CCP) stacking]. We compare the resulting synthetic RF structure with the velocity model, a density model (derived from gravity and the velocity model), and with observed RFs. Our results demonstrate that the use of different frequency filters, the presence of complex phases from sediments and gradual changes in the properties of crustal layers can lead to erroneous interpretation of RFs and incorrect geological interpretations. We suggest that the interpretation of RFs should be combined with other geophysical methods, in particular in complex tectonic regions and that the long-wavelength Bouguer gravity anomaly signal may provide effective calibration for the determination of the correct Moho depth from RF results. We propose and validate a new automated, efficient method for this calibration.
Upper crustal structure beneath the Qin-Hang and Wuyishan metallogenic belts in Southeast China as revealed by a joint active and passive seismic experiment
Authors: Zheng Mengjie , Xu Tao , Lü Qingtian , Lin Jiyan , Huang Minfu , Bai Zhiming , Deng Yangfan , Zhang Yongqian , Badal José
Published: August 2022

Southeast China is one of the most important polymetallic metallogenic provinces in the world. However, distinct differences in the type and origin of the mineral deposits are present between the major metallogenic belts in this province. To deepen our knowledge of this regional metallogenic setting, investigate the factors controlling its metallogenic differences and explore the feasibility of active and passive seismic imaging, we performed a multibatch seismic experiment using active and passive sources with the help of 437 short-period seismographs deployed across the Qin-Hang and Wuyishan metallogenic belts in Southeast China. We resolved the S-wave velocity structure beneath the profile using ambient noise tomography and derived a Vp/Vs model by combining with a published P-wave model. A good correlation between the obtained seismic velocity models and geological observations is observed. The Proterozoic volcanic-sedimentary rock series and the Fuzhou-Yongfeng sedimentary basin are identified by low P- and S-wave velocities, high Vp/Vs ratios and low S-wave velocity perturbations. Within the core of the Wuyishan Metallogenic Belt, several narrow, elongated and low seismic velocity anomalies are considered to be signs of the nearby fault zones, and these anomalies provide reference information on the extension and pattern of these faults at depth. Combined with the geological and mineralogical evidence, we propose that theses faults function as ore-guiding structures and facilitate the formation of regionally representative mineral species and metal assemblages.
22. Digital Technologies and the Future of Poverty and Development
Authors: Roberts Tony , Hernandez Kevin , Faith Becky
Published: August 2022

This chapter assesses the use of digital technologies in international development. Digital technologies are transforming economic and social life and are used in almost every sector of development. However, positive benefits in the form of digital dividends are limited by continued digital divides in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) access. Use of digital technologies tends to reflect, reproduce, and amplify existing patterns of inequality. Thus, digital development initiatives need to design for equity, include non-digital communication, and pay attention to potential risks. The chapter then provides examples of contemporary digital development projects applying Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D), and looks at 'frontier technologies' that may shape the future of international development.
Failure of diet-induced transcriptional adaptations in alpha-synuclein transgenic mice
Authors: Kilzheimer Alexander , Hentrich Thomas , Rotermund Carola , Kahle Philipp J , Schulze-Hentrich Julia M
Published: August 2022

Nutritional influences have been discussed as potential modulators of Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology through various epidemiological and physiological studies. In animal models, a high-fat diet (HFD) with greater intake of lipid-derived calories leads to accelerated disease onset and progression. The underlying molecular mechanisms of HFD-induced aggravated pathology, however, remain largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to further illuminate the effects of a fat-enriched diet in PD by examining the brainstem and hippocampal transcriptome of alpha-synuclein transgenic mice exposed to a life-long HFD. Investigating individual transcript isoforms, differential gene expression and co-expression clusters, we observed that transcriptional differences between wild-type (WT) and transgenic animals intensified in both regions under HFD. Both brainstem and hippocampus displayed strikingly similar transcriptomic perturbation patterns. Interestingly, expression differences resulted mainly from responses in WT animals to HFD, while these genes remained largely unchanged or were even slightly oppositely regulated by diet in transgenic animals. Genes and co-expressed gene groups exhibiting this dysregulation were linked to metabolic and mitochondrial pathways. Our findings propose the failure of metabolic adaptions as the potential explanation for accelerated disease unfolding under exposure to HFD. From the identified clusters of co-expressed genes, several candidates lend themselves to further functional investigations.
Burden Predictors for Informal Caregivers of Older Adults in Spain: The Role of Cohabitation, Coping Strategies, Social Support, and Evaluation of Preexisting Relationships
Authors: Montañés Pilar , Lacalle María , Carbonero Domingo , Manzano-García Guadalupe
Published: August 2022

Given the role that informal caregivers play in caring for older adults and the importance of understanding the variables that may predict the burden that they experience due to caregiving, the aim of this article is to examine the relationship between different variables and the caregiver’s subjective burden. Authors examined the relationship between caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics (age and gender), the context in which the care is provided (cohabiting or not), duty as a reason for taking on the role of caregiver, the evaluation of the preexisting relationship between caregiver and care recipient, as well as coping strategies and social support as predictor variables of subjective burden. For this purpose, 161 caregivers of older Spanish adults completed a questionnaire containing information on the corresponding variables. The results indicate that people cohabiting with care recipients experience a greater subjective burden than those who live apart. The caregiver’s evaluation of their preexisting relationship with the care recipient and perceived family support negatively predicts the subjective burden, while maladaptive coping strategies positively predict it. These results underline the importance of considering these variables in caregiver support programs.
Racial Capitalism: What’s in a Name?
Authors: Hall Catherine
Published: August 2022

Racial capitalism is a way of talking about the intersections of racisms and capitalisms: but how does it operate in practice? This essay explores the derivation of the term and focuses on one concrete example from the eighteenth-century Atlantic. Hereditary racial slavery and mercantile capitalism were articulated together: the expropriation of African lives and labour enabled the production of wealth for slave-owners and merchants. Both the metropolitan state and the Jamaican colonial state were critical in providing economic, legal, political and military frameworks legitimating White power and Black subjection.