bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contextualizing COVID-19 outcomes in ethical leadership: a process for eradicating gender-based violence in developing contexts
Authors: Ebron Kutisha T. , Andenoro Anthony C. , Luzynski Cheyenne , Ngunjiri Anne
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In May 2020, Kenya declared Gender-Based Violence (GBV) a health emergency amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic and intimate partner violence typically rises during crises, regardless of economic status (Spangaro et al., 2021). Before COVID-19, around 45% of women and girls in Kenya had experienced violence (Musembi et al., 2022). Although Kenya’s constitution has addressed GBV since 2010 and gender equity initiatives have been promoted, the pandemic exacerbated GBV, particularly in rural areas, due to lockdowns and movement restrictions. This study examines the lessons learned from Kenya’s COVID-19 response and proposes policies and processes that integrate ethical leadership to effectively combat GBV and advance gender equity.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory phenomenology study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with pregnant women, mothers, policymakers and government representatives.

Findings

The qualitative narratives reveal several critical issues and areas for improvement in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and related challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Both policymakers and pregnant women highlighted a lack of effective leadership, public policy and application of gender equity principles, with deeply ingrained patriarchal norms hindering progress.

Originality/value

This study aims to improve responses to GBV during crises and promote gender equity through ethical leadership. By examining the impacts of COVID-19 on GBV and assessing the influence of intersectoral factors like employment, healthcare and financial aid, it seeks to provide actionable insights for effective interventions. The findings can inform strategies to prevent and address GBV in crises while ensuring inclusivity and justice. This aligns with international initiatives like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the “Leave No One Behind” agenda, fostering more resilient and equitable communities.
Reliability analysis of wind turbine gearboxes: past, progress and future prospects
Authors: Meng Debiao , Nie Peng , Yang Shiyuan , Su Xiaoyan , Liao Chengbo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

As a clean and renewable energy source, wind energy will become one of the main sources of new energy supply in the future. Relying on the stable and strong wind resources at sea, wind energy has great potential to become the primary energy. As a critical part of the wind turbine, the gearbox of a wind turbine often bears a large external load. Especially at sea, due to the effects of ocean corrosion, waves and wind, the burden of the wind turbine gearbox is greater, which brings great challenges to its reliability analysis. This study aims to systematically review the reliability research in wind turbine gearboxes and guide future research directions and challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study systematically reviews some design requirements and reliability analysis methods for wind turbine gearboxes. Then, it summarizes previous studies on wind load uncertainty modeling methods, including the processing of wind measurement data and the summary of three different classifications of random wind speed prediction models. Finally, existing reliability analysis studies on two major parts of the gearbox are described and summarized.

Findings

First, the basic knowledge of wind turbine gearboxes and their reliability analysis is introduced. The requirements and reliability analysis methods of wind turbine gearboxes are explained. Then, the processing methods of wind measurement data and three different random wind speed prediction models are described in detail. Furthermore, existing reliability analysis studies on two common parts of wind turbine gearboxes, gears and bearings, are summarized and classified, including a summary of bearing failure modes. Finally, three possible future research directions for wind turbine gearbox reliability analysis are discussed, namely, reliability research under the influence of multiple factors on gears, damage indicators of bearing failure modes and quantitative evaluation criteria for the overall dynamic characteristics of offshore wind turbine gearboxes and a summary is also given.

Originality/value

This paper aims to systematically introduce the relevant contents of wind turbine gearboxes and their reliability analysis. The contents of wind speed data processing, predictive modeling and reliability analysis of major components are also comprehensively reviewed, including the classification and principle introduction of these contents.
Smoothness level of linen fabrics: analyzing moisture extraction and wrinkle formation with image processing
Authors: Barros José Marcelo Honório Ferreira , de Carvalho Neto Sálvio Lima , Dal Forno Ana Julia , Valle Rita de Cássia Siqueira Curto , Valle José Alexandre Borges
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The primary goal of domestic washing and drying processes is to deliver clean and dry clothes, but they often result in excessive wrinkling of fabrics. This study aims to evaluate the wrinkling of linen fabric using image processing techniques after these processes and to quantify various drying performance indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

An image processing software was developed to quantify the smoothness level of linen fabrics subjected to domestic washing and drying processes. Additionally, different washing parameters in a front-loading washer that affect fabric wrinkling were evaluated. Three drying cycles (easy-iron, normal and extra-dry) in a condensation dryer were also analyzed in terms of moisture and fabric wrinkling parameters.

Findings

The results demonstrated a close relationship between water extraction from the fabrics and wrinkle formation. The shortest drying cycle with milder temperatures produced wetter and less wrinkled fabrics at the end of the drying cycle. Conversely, the longer, higher-temperature programs completely removed the moisture from the linen fabrics but resulted in greater wrinkling.

Originality/value

The development of an image processing technique to quantify the wrinkling of linen fabric allowed for more objective evaluation of this parameter. Additionally, this study allowed for the correlation of various drying indicators with the wrinkling generated in the linen fabric.
Integrating human trail use in montane landscapes reveals larger zones of human influence for wary carnivores
Authors: Thompson Peter R. , Paczkowski John , Whittington Jesse , St. Clair Colleen Cassady
Published: January 2025

Coexistence between humans and wildlife is necessary for many conservation goals but is difficult to achieve in landscapes with increasing human populations and species that are often wary of people and may also threaten human safety. In these contexts, coexistence may be enhanced by identifying geographic areas where animal movement is particularly important and changes to human use via trail design could support both wildlife conservation and human safety.

We used camera trap data to monitor the spatial distribution of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), grey wolves (Canis lupus), and humans within the central Canadian Rocky Mountains, where anthropogenic development and human activity have gradually encroached on limited wildlife habitat. We quantified spatial variation in human use and then incorporated this output into models for the detection rates of bears and wolves. We interpolated metrics of human use throughout the study area using inverse distance weighted averages of human detection rates from cameras. This approach supported a novel estimate of the cumulative effects of human use at all nearby trails on animal space use. We used our models to estimate the zone of influence of human use on bears and wolves, determining the distance at which human use on nearby trails no longer exhibited a measurable change in detection rates for each of grizzly bears and wolves.

The negative effects of human use on wildlife declined steeply with distance such that 50% of the decrease in detection rates immediately adjacent to trails would be expected to occur at 267 m for grizzly bears and 576 m for wolves. Weak effects, 5% as strong as the effect adjacent to trails, extended up to 1.8 and 6.1 km for grizzly bears and wolves, revealing the importance of cumulative measures of human use.

Synthesis and applications. Our work shows how human activity over entire landscapes can alter wildlife detection rates. Our results identify target buffer distances for protected areas near trails, and the modelling framework could be used by land managers to predict how altering trail networks and modifying human activity could affect wary wildlife species and advance coexistence.
Quantifying the value of participatory science data for conservation decision‐making
Authors: Binley Allison D. , Hanson Jeffrey O. , Robinson Orin J. , Golet Gregory H. , Bennett Joseph R.
Published: January 2025

Monitoring biodiversity can be critical for informing effective conservation strategies, but can also deplete the resources available for management actions if the time and money available for both activities are limited. Freely available participatory science data may help alleviate this issue, but only if data quality is sufficient to inform the best decisions.

Our objective was to quantify the predicted outcomes of prioritizing conservation action based on regional participatory science compared to using targeted professional monitoring data. Using data from the BirdReturns program in the Central Valley of California as a case study, we prioritized properties for conservation action based on the predicted probability of detecting seven shorebird species, using a range of budgets as constraints. For prioritizations conducted using data from the professional surveys, the cost of monitoring was deducted from the total budget available for conservation action.

Crowd‐sourced data performed better than professional data even before accounting for the cost of professional monitoring, and substantially better when monitoring costs were explicitly considered. The difference in performance was particularly stark at lower budgets, where the professional monitoring data consumed a substantial proportion of the budget.

Synthesis and applications. Prioritizing conservation action based on high‐quality, freely available participatory science data could theoretically result in better biodiversity outcomes than paying for targeted professional monitoring, allowing managers to redistribute limited conservation resources from monitoring to action.
‘We carry on living in this othered world’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of lesbian/queer co‐mothers' relationships with professional support
Authors: Levy Beth , Middleton Amanda
Published: January 2025

This paper explores how experiences of support within the helping professions influence non‐birth and/or non‐gestational lesbian/queer co‐mothers' understanding of their maternal identity. Drawing on Park's (2013) concept of monomaternalism, we explore how established norms of families as consisting of two biological opposite‐sex parents impacted participating mothers. Five nonbiological and/or non‐carrying/gestational mothers who had formed a family within a lesbian/queer couple relationship took part in the study. An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach (Smith et al., 2009) was used. Three themes are explored: (1) co‐mothers' experiences of normativity in professional encounters; (2) co‐mothers' co‐creation of their maternal selves; and (3) tension between the co‐mother's constructed identity and the professional systems involved with her family. The study invites family therapists and systemic practitioners working with co‐mothers and their families to consider the impact of heteronormativity and monomaternalism on their work. We hope to enrich understanding, broaden complexity and encourage practitioners to seek out and allow small and subjugated discourses to protect and include co‐mothers and LGBTQ+ families.
Does the Internet Matter for Election? Examining Perceived Internet Effects Across Five Danish Election 2007–2022
Authors: Jensen Jakob Linaa
Published: January 2025

This article provides a comprehensive longitudinal survey of Internet effects in Danish elections, spanning across 15 years and covering five Danish national elections. Rather than utilizing an institutional macro‐level approach, this article adopts a micro‐level perspective by investigating individually perceived effects, assessed through survey questionnaires. The investigation draws on theoretical concepts of media affordances, political engagement, and efficacy as predictors for perceived effects as well as including the influence of demographic factors. This article examines two categories of perceived effects, internal and external. Internal effects are defined as increased political competence and knowledge, what can also be called personal effects. The study reveals a rise in respondents' acknowledgment of the Internet's role in enhancing political awareness and influencing opinions and party choices. Despite positive trends, a significant portion of respondents indicated no discernible impact, indicating a divergence in citizenry between active Internet engagement and indifference to its possibilities and effects. External effects, focusing on the Internet's impact on the election agenda and results, exhibited an upward trajectory over time. However, perceptions regarding the role of social media showed less pronounced increases, with evidence of stagnation or decline in positive perceptions in 2022. This phenomenon may indicate a perceived plateau in the Internet's effects or reflect divergent viewpoints among respondents regarding its democratic ramifications. It is noteworthy that respondents perceive larger internal effects compared to external effects, a pattern that also influences subsequent analyses where demographics and other predictors are used to establish models for likely effects on citizens.
The Welfare Effects of Character Protections on Neighbourhoods*
Authors: Greenaway‐McGrevy Ryan , Jones James Allan
Published: January 2025

We extend the monocentric model to examine the effects of character protections on household welfare. Protections indirectly generate amenity values for residents but require floor area ratio (FAR) restrictions on housing development, presenting a trade‐off between welfare‐increasing amenities and welfare‐decreasing floor space constraints. Welfare effects become negative when the associated FAR restrictions of character protections are sufficiently tight. This is more likely when protections apply to neighbourhoods that have high demand due to proximity to non‐character amenities or employment locations. Calibrating the model to Auckland, we find negative welfare effects, equivalent to a reduction in representative household income of $391 to $1375 per year.
Association of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations and postpartum mental health care utilization
Authors: Ranchoff Brittany L. , Geissler Kimberley H. , Attanasio Laura B. , Jeung Chanup
Published: January 2025

Objective

To examine the association of Massachusetts Medicaid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) implementation with changes in mental health care utilization in the postpartum period.

Study Setting and Design

We examine care for people with a birth covered by Medicaid or private insurance. We used a difference‐in‐differences design to compare differences before and after Medicaid ACO implementation for those with Medicaid versus those with private insurance. The primary outcome was a binary measure of having at least one outpatient mental health care visit in the 6 months postpartum. We estimated linear probability models controlling for age, prenatal mental illness, pregnancy complications, birth mode, and ZIP code characteristics.

Data Sources and Analytic Sample

Data are from the Massachusetts All‐Payer Claims Database. The analytic sample included Massachusetts residents with a live birth between July 1, 2016, and September 30, 2019, with complete data.

Principal Findings

107,813 births were included (53.0% Medicaid, 47.0% private). 7.8% of these had at least one outpatient mental health visit in the 6 months postpartum, with similar rates among those with Medicaid versus those with private insurance pre‐ACO implementation (7.9% Medicaid versus 7.7% private). An increase in utilization among privately insured individuals and a decrease among Medicaid beneficiaries post‐ACO implementation was observed. Regression‐adjusted difference‐in‐differences estimates indicate that Medicaid ACO implementation was associated with a 1.3 percentage point [pp] decrease (95% confidence interval: 1.3 pp, −0.5 pp; p < 0.01) in the probability of having an outpatient mental health visit for those with Medicaid.

Conclusions

Medicaid ACO implementation was associated with decreases in use of outpatient mental health care in the postpartum period among people with Medicaid, overall and compared to those with private insurance. Future research should determine whether this increased disparity in mental health care utilization persists with maturation of the ACO delivery model.
Superior efficacy of intramuscular diclofenac compared to intravenous tramadol for acute renal colic in northern Thai patients: A randomised double‐blind, sham‐controlled trial
Authors: Yaowalaorng Jarupa , Kunthasook Wiracha , Lokeskrawee Thanin , Patumanond Jayanton , Wongyikul Pakpoom , Lawanaskol Suppachai , Udornpim Narada
Published: January 2025

Objective

The present study aimed to compare time to effective pain relief between diclofenac 75 mg intramuscular (IM) and tramadol 50 mg intravenous (IV) for ED patients with acute renal colic.

Methods

A randomised, double‐blinded, sham‐controlled, superiority trial was conducted. Patients diagnosed with acute renal colic (hydronephrosis and/or stone visualisation on point‐of‐care ultrasound) in the ED were randomly assigned to receive an IM injection of 75 mg of diclofenac or IV tramadol 50 mg. Pain relief was defined as a numerical rating scale reduction of two or more points (standard 0–10 scale) and a reduction of at least one level of pain transition question (‘much better’, ‘little better’, ‘unchanged’, ‘little worse’, ‘much worse’). The primary outcome was the multivariable‐adjusted subdistribution‐hazard ratio (SHRs) within 120 min in the ED, estimated using the cumulative incidence function (CIF). The secondary outcome compared the average time to pain relief using the restricted mean survival time (RMST).

Results

A total of 68 patients were randomised, with 34 patients allocated to each group. At the 120 min, pain relief was reported in diclofenac and tramadol, 32 (94%) and 22 (65%) patients respectively. SHR was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.80–4.55; P value <0.001). For diclofenac and tramadol, the RMSTs were 37.09 min (95% CI: 30.00, 44.15) and 78.74 min (95% CI: 66.49, 90.99) respectively, with the difference of 41.67 min (95% CI: 55.71, 27.62).

Conclusion

Diclofenac 75 mg IM provides faster effective pain relief compared with tramadol 50 mg IV.
Insect Cytochrome P450 Database: An Integrated Resource of Genetic Diversity, Evolution and Function
Authors: Wu Hongxin , Li Zhongsheng , Zhong Zichun , Guo Yujing , He Liuyan , Xu Xiaoxia , Mao Yijun , Tang Deyu , Zhang Wenqing , Jin Fengliang , Pang Rui
Published: January 2025

Insects, the most numerous and diverse group of animal species on Earth, have important interactions with humans through providing resources, transmitting diseases and damaging agricultural cultivars. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are one of the most important protein families in insects implicated in the endogenous metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotics, including allelochemicals, insecticides and environmental pollutants. To better understand the evolution and function of insect P450s and support the development and application of insecticides for pest control, an integrated bioinformatics platform is highly desirable. Here, we present the Insect Cytochrome P450 database (ICPD, http://www.insectp450.net/), which contains 66,477 P450s collected from public databases and predicted from the genomes of 682 insect species using a standardised bioinformatics protocol. Phylogenetic relationships between P450 genes are constructed for each species. The structures of all P450 proteins in the database are predicted using ESMFold, then visualised using WeView. Web services, such as BLAST, homogeneous modelling and molecular docking, are provided for determining the catalytic activities of P450 proteins. The ICPD will facilitate systematic investigations of the evolution and functions of the complete insect P450 complement, and represents a powerful tool for guiding insecticide design and application.
Vaginal Transcriptional Signatures of the Neutrophil‐Driven Immune Response Correlate With Clinical Severity During Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Hasselrot Tyra , Alvendal Cathrin , Hunt Sara , Boger Mathias Franzén , Kaldhusdal Vilde , Damdimopoulos Anastasios , Schuppe‐Koistinen Ina , Edfeldt Gabriella , Bohm‐Starke Nina , Broliden Kristina
Published: January 2025

Problem

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) affects 5%−10% of all women, negatively impacting their reproductive health and quality of life. Herein, we investigated the molecular effects of RVVC on the vaginal mucosa of otherwise healthy women.

Method of Study

Gene expression analysis was performed on vaginal tissue biopsies from women with RVVC, including those with a current episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC, n = 19) and women between infections (culture negative RVVC [CNR], n = 8); women asymptomatically colonized with Candida albicans (asymptomatic [AS], n = 7); and healthy controls (n = 18). Gene expression profiles were compared between groups and correlated with clinical data retrieved from questionnaires and gynecologic examinations.

Results

Of 20 171 genes identified in vaginal biopsies, 6506 were differentially expressed in the RVVC group, compared to healthy controls. Gene expression pathway analysis revealed an association between RVVC and pathways of inflammatory responses, especially genes involved in neutrophil recruitment and activation. Expression of genes involved in inflammation and neutrophil recruitment increased with increasing clinical severity of VVC, whereas expression of some genes involved in epithelial integrity decreased with increasing clinical severity of infection. Gene expression profiles of both the CNR and AS groups were comparable to those of healthy controls.

Conclusions

The clinical severity of RVVC during active infection correlates with increased expression of genes involved in molecular inflammation and neutrophil activation in the vaginal mucosa. The lack of differences between healthy controls and women with RVVC who were between acute infections indicates that the molecular effects observed in the RVVC group are only present during active infection.
Electrocardiographic Changes in Pregnant Patients With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Pabon Maria A. , Misra Amrit , Gauvreau Kimberlee , Duncan Madeline E. , Conklin Ava , Economy Katherine E. , Wu Fred M. , Tadros Thomas , Valente Anne Marie ,   For the STORCC Investigators
Published: January 2025

Background

Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are routinely performed in pregnant patients with pre‐existing cardiovascular disease. However, in pregnant patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), EKG changes during gestation have not been explored.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of pregnant patients with CHD enrolled in the STORCC initiative. Patients were included if they had at least two EKGs across the perinatal period and were grouped by specific conditions: atrial septal defect (ASD), tetralogy of Fallot, congenital pulmonary stenosis, coarctation of the aorta (CoA), bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), systemic right ventricle (SRV), and Fontan circulation. EKG parameters were measured in all available EKGs by two investigators, blinded to diagnosis and time of gestation.

Results

One hundred and seventy pregnant patients were included. There was a statistically significant increase in HR from pre‐pregnancy to third trimester in all groups except for those with Fontan and SRV. Patients with ASD and BAV had a statistically significant increase in their QTc (ASD:13 ms, p = 0.017; BAV:7 ms, p = 0.018) during pregnancy. QRS duration was shorter (4 ms) in the third trimester for patients with ASD (p = 0.033) and CoA (p = 0.014). Despite these individual findings, EKG parameters remained within normal limits and regressed to baseline in the postpartum period.

Conclusions

Patients with CHD have statistically significant EKG changes throughout pregnancy, but the values remain within normal limits. Like patients without heart disease, those with CHD increase their HR during pregnancy, except individuals with SRV and Fontan, who appear to lack capacity for physiologic HR augmentation.
Birth weight and prepubertal growth trajectory had a combined effect on pubertal initiation in girls
Authors: Deng Rui , Li Weiqin , Feng Tianshu , Wei Liumei , Li Xingxiu , Leng Junhong , Dong Bin , Sawyer Susan M.
Published: January 2025

Aim

Most studies of prepubertal weight and puberty have not used continuous or long follow‐up periods. We explored the effect that birth weight and growth trajectories from 0–9 years of age had on starting puberty.

Methods

Data were obtained from 1510 children in Tianjin, China, who were born in 2013 and selected by cluster random sampling. Information on pubertal status was collected by parent‐reported questionnaires and up to 14 anthropometric measurements were obtained from physical examinations. A group‐based trajectory model was applied to fit the growth trajectories. Cox regression and log‐binomial regression were used for association analyses.

Results

After exclusions, we studied 1164 children (50.9% girls) up to a mean age of 9.6 years. Girls with a low birth weight or low‐stable growth trajectories were less likely to have started puberty, while those with macrosomia or high‐stable growth trajectories had a higher risk of having started puberty. Combined analyses showed that the risk of pubertal initiation for girls with a normal birth weight and low‐stable trajectories was 0.76. It was 1.42 for those with macrosomia and high‐stable trajectories. Similar results were not found in the boys.

Conclusion

It is important that pubertal initiation studies investigate growth over the life course.
Impact of COVID‐19 Pandemic on Children With Intellectual Disabilities and Their Parents: The Perspective of Parents in India
Authors: Gogoi Pariz Pikul , Jha Munmun
Published: January 2025

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected children with intellectual disabilities and their parents in numerous ways. This study investigates the impact by analysing the narratives of their parents in the city of Guwahati, located in Assam, a northeastern state of India. The study contributes to the scholarship on intellectual disability in relation to the COVID‐19 pandemic. It suggests the central role of parents and the necessity of empowering them with timely information and disability training, which will help sustain the uninterrupted development of children.

Methods

This study employs a qualitative method with semi‐structured interviews. Twelve parents of children with intellectual disabilities from three special schools participated in this study. The questions explored their lived experiences with their children, caregiving responsibilities at home and the challenges they faced due to the disruption of special services during the pandemic.

Findings

Four key themes emerged from this study: (1) the pandemic led to the disruptions of special services for children with intellectual disabilities, (2) children's physical mobility was restricted at home, and they could not access regular need‐based therapies or exercise their social skills in special schools, (3) parents suffered psychological stress as they could not fathom how to manage the children at home and (4) parents underwent financial hardships due to their lack of resources and loss of family income during the pandemic.

Conclusions

Parents emphasized the need for timely information regarding disability‐related measures to understand and deal with the risks of the pandemic. Some parents tried to engage their children in activities at home. This study recommends the strengthening of disability training for parents to limit the negative psychological effects and issues faced by children with intellectual disabilities. Future research should explore and unravel positive coping mechanisms used by the parents.
Getting Crowdsourcing Right: Aligning Crowdsourcing Goals and Decision‐Making Processes
Authors: Shuai Min , Steils Nadia , Gailly Benoît
Published: January 2025

The mismatch between crowdsourcing goals and decision making across the crowdsourcing process is likely to not only generate participants' negative feelings but also unsatisfactory outcomes. However, the crowdsourcing literature has thus far mainly focused on how to make decisions at each stage of the process, overlooking the alignment between crowdsourcing goals, decision making and project outcome satisfaction. To address this gap, our research conducted in‐depth interviews with managers involved in crowdsourcing, triangulated with secondary data from real‐life contests to provide a comprehensive analysis. Specifically, we empirically examine the influence of three types of crowdsourcing goals, namely, fishing, hunting and collective production; on decision making at each stage of the crowdsourcing process, that is, ideation, selection, implementation and evaluation. We additionally observe how the alignment between crowdsourcing goals and decision making affects managers' perception and evaluation of the crowdsourcing initiative. We thus contribute to the crowdsourcing and innovation management literature by investigating project‐related crowdsourcing decision making in line with predefined crowdsourcing goals and provide a blueprint for managers toward a more effective project management style.
Sexual violence, secrets, and work: Ruling relations of campus sexual violence policy
Authors: Ostridge Lindsay
Published: January 2025

Campus sexual violence complaints involving students might seem easy to record and report, but university campuses in North America have a culture of secrecy and tend to focus on neoliberal approaches. In this paper, I trace the genealogy of a sexual violence policy from an unnamed university to argue that ruling relations make the current provincially mandated stand‐alone sexual violence policies into a performative tool that silences expert knowledges, coordinates institutional practices towards a particular type of sexual violence prevention, and re‐inforces a broader neoliberal logic in higher education. I explore my argument in the following three sections: the social organization of the policy and prevention campaign, the rules and regulations of the policy, and the neoliberalism of the current sexual violence discourse. As my analytical framework, I draw on Dorothy Smith's social ontology, which aims to investigate the practices and experiences of people by focusing on work and bodily existence as key points of reference. Drawing upon in‐depth semi‐structured interviews I conducted with fourteen participants (and one email exchange) at an unnamed Ontario university, I analyze how variously positioned people within an institutional structure negotiate relations of ruling in the specific context of campus sexual violence.
Deciphering the Genetic and Epidemiological Landscape of Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) in a Cohort of Eastern Iranian Patients
Authors: Ardehaie Reza Mousavi , Eslahi Atieh , Alerasool Masoome , Rad Elham Khani , Shoeibi Nasser , Sedaghat Mohammad Reza , Avan Amir , Pasdar Alireza , Mojarrad Majid
Published: January 2025

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) may have significant diagnostic challenges due to their genetic complexity and diverse inheritance patterns. Advanced genotyping tools like exome sequencing (ES) offer promising opportunities for identifying causative variants and improving disease management. This retrospective study was aimed to present prevalent pathogenic and novel variants in patients diagnosed with IRDs using ES. We investigated 154 patients diagnosed clinically with IRDs, of which non‐syndromic IRDs were more prevalent than syndromic form (~56% vs. ~44%). Out of 154 unrelated patients, 133 (~86%) were genetically resolved, where retinitis pigmentosa was the most common subtype (26% of all resolved patients). Fifty‐three previously known and also 56 novel variants across known IRD genes were identified. Autosomal recessive inheritance predominated in both resolved forms (112/133, 84.21%), with 46 novel variants. This could be due to high rate of consanguinity in the studied families (114/133 patients, 85.71%). The two previously reported ancestral founder pathogenic variants in TMEM67 (c.725A > G) and BBS2 (c.471G > A) genes, as well as the most common variant in AIPL1 gene (c.834G > A), were also prevalent in our patients. Interestingly, identical novel compound heterozygote of the CEP290 gene (c.3167C > A and c.7024C > T) were identified in two unrelated cases. This retrospective study was the first attempt in terms of sample size and diversity to add more to our current knowledge of the genetic makeup of IRDs in a population from the East of Iran. Our findings can facilitate genetic counselling and subtype classification of IRDs, especially in challenging cases.
Loss‐of‐Function of CLMP Is Associated With Congenital Short Bowel Syndrome and Impaired Intestinal Development
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Xu Juan , Xiao Yongtao , Cai Hui , Zhou Jie , Cai Wei , Wang Ying
Published: January 2025

Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor‐like membrane protein (CLMP) mutation is identified as a genetic risk factor of congenital short bowel syndrome (CSBS). However, the specific pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the clinical manifestations, genetic characteristics, and molecular mechanisms underlying CSBS caused by CLMP mutations. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed to determine the pathogenic gene mutations in children with CSBS and their family members. In addition, a zebrafish model was established by microinjecting morpholinos into zebrafish embryos to investigate the role of clmp in intestinal embryonic development. This was investigated by measuring the length of zebrafish, evaluating gastrointestinal motility, and performing qRT‐PCR assays. Two children with CSBS had CLMP mutations, one with a c.244C>T (p.R82*) mutation and exons 3–5 deletion, and the other with a c.23T>A (p.L8*) mutation and exons 3–5 deletion. After knocking down clmp expression in zebrafish embryos, the intestinal length and the gastrointestinal motility decreased. Furthermore, the expression of smooth muscle‐associated genes decreased significantly. Additionally, clmp mRNA partially rescued zebrafish defects caused by clmp morpholino knockdown. Clmp knockdown decreased intestinal transport dynamics and expression of smooth muscle‐related genes in zebrafish. CLMP is expected to be a potential gene therapeutic target for CSBS.
Blood flow restriction combined with nordic hamstring exercise does not impair endothelial function but does not increase neuromuscular activation
Authors: Yuksel Fuat , Guzel Nevin , Tor Ömer Burak , Akkan Koray
Published: January 2025

Background

Optimizing hamstring exercises is crucial for injury prevention and performance. This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) during Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE) on hamstring muscle activation and vascular function.

Methods

A randomized, single‐blind study included 14 healthy, physically active males (mean age: 27.5 years). Each participant's lower extremities were randomly assigned to BFR or control groups. In the BFR group, blood flow was restricted to 60% of arterial occlusion pressure. Participants performed three sets of five NHE repetitions. Endothelial function was assessed by flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) via Doppler ultrasound before and after exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded neuromuscular activation of the semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during exercises.

Results

FMD values showed no significant differences between BFR and control groups (F(1,13) = 0.156, p = 0.7, partial η² = 0.012). Neuromuscular activations of ST and BF muscles decreased across sets in both groups but did not differ significantly between groups (ST: F(2,26) = 1.172, p = 0.448, partial η² = 0.09; BF: F(2,26) = 1.442, p = 0.527, partial η² = 0.1).

Conclusions

BFR did not produce acute additional effects on muscle activation or endothelial function compared to standard NHE. This suggests that incorporating BFR in NHE may not enhance immediate neuromuscular or vascular responses. Further research is needed to evaluate its long‐term benefits.
Tricuspid Regurgitation after Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: Trajectories and Association With Mortality
Authors: Belani Kiran , Brinker Vincent , Fuller Matthew , Cooter Mary , Schroder Jacob N. , Mamoun Negmeldeen , DeVore Adam , Swaminathan Madhav , Nicoara Alina , McCartney Sharon L.
Published: January 2025

Background

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common immediately after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), though the expected outcomes of TR over time remain undefined. In this study, we examined the natural trajectory of TR in the first 120 days post‐transplantation. We observed the clinical phenotypes of trajectories of TR after OHT, and assessed trajectory correlation with 1‐year mortality and degree of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.

Methods

All patients who underwent OHT at a single institution from January 2009 to July 2019 were included, unless death occurred during the index hospitalization. TR and RV dysfunction on follow‐up transthoracic echocardiograms were tracked on 4‐point scales and latent‐class mixed modeling (LCMM) identified classes of TR trajectories. Fisher's exact test was used to compare 1‐year mortalities between classes.

Results

Based on LCMM, four distinct classes of TR trajectories emerged, characterized as sustained (n = 40), variable (n = 172), stable (n = 175), and recovered (n = 189) TR. Significant differences in mortality rates were found amongst classes at 10.0%, 8.1%, 4.0%, and 2.6%, respectively (p = 0.025). The degree of RV dysfunction mirrored TR severity in all subsets except the sustained TR group.

Conclusions

The trajectory of TR in the first 120 days post‐OHT is associated with 1‐year mortality. In many subsets, there is a close association with TR grade and RV function improvement. However, in the sustained TR group, RV function improved without subsequent improvement in TR severity. These findings could identify patients with higher mortality risk for whom more frequent follow‐up or intervention is warranted.
Increased Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients During the Delta/Omicron Era of the COVID‐19 Pandemic Despite Widespread Vaccination
Authors: Smith Byron , Nair Sumi , Wadei Hani , Mai Martin , Khamash Hasan , Schinstock Carrie , Liang Yun , Abdelrheem Ahmed , Park Walter , Badley Andrew , Stegall Mark D.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The incidence of mortality late in the pandemic, particularly after widespread vaccine availability, is not well understood. Herein, we elucidate the effect of this impact of the COVID pandemic as well as risk factors for mortality during it.

Methods

The primary end point was death with a functioning graft with secondary endpoints of mortality rates in subgroups and at different time intervals during the pandemic.

Results

Despite widespread vaccination, mortality rates for kidney transplant (KTx) recipients almost doubled during the COVID‐19 era (6.40 deaths per 100 person years vs. 3.54 pre‐COVID). Mortality increased in all racial/ethnic groups but increased more in Native Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans compared to non‐Hispanic Caucasians. The highest mortality rate occurred during the Delta and Omicron time frames. In contrast to the general population, mortality was more evenly spread across age groups in KTx recipients.

Conclusions

Mortality rates during the COVID‐19 era were extremely high, more than doubling in some racial/ethnic groups. We conclude that the KTx population was a particularly vulnerable group during the COVID‐19 era and suggests the need for further research into the management of variants in the future.
Socioeconomic and mental health inequalities in global burden of type 2 diabetes: Evidence from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Chen Mingling , Dou Chun , Ye Chaojie , Kong Lijie , Xu Min , Xu Yu , Li Mian , Zhao Zhiyun , Zheng Jie , Lu Jieli , Chen Yuhong , Ning Guang , Wang Weiqing , Wang Tiange , Bi Yufang
Published: January 2025

Aim

To explore the holistic impact of socioeconomic and mental health inequalities on the global burden of type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

This cross‐sectional study used data on the incidence, disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of type 2 diabetes as well as DALYs attributable to risk factors during 1990–2021 from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Average annual percent change (AAPC) was applied to assess the temporal trends from 1990 to 2021. Countries were categorised according to levels of sociodemographic index (SDI) and prevalence of depressive disorders or anxiety disorders.

Results

In 2021, the highest age‐standardised incidence rate (per 100 000 population) for type 2 diabetes was in countries with a higher prevalence of depressive or anxiety disorders (ranging from 466.35 to 517.08), wherein those with higher SDI experienced the fastest increase from 1990 to 2021 (AAPC ranging from 2.51% to 2.61%). The highest age‐standardised rates of DALY and mortality (per 100 000 population) for type 2 diabetes in 2021 were in countries with lower SDI, of which countries with a higher prevalence of depressive or anxiety disorders exhibited the greatest burden (ranging from 1714.38 to 2012.12 for DALY; from 48.66 to 51.91 for mortality). The attributable risk factors for DALYs of type 2 diabetes varied across countries with different SDI levels and prevalence of mental disorders.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the imbalance of faster socioeconomic development but worse mental health underpins diabetes incidence, while slower socioeconomic development and worse mental health jointly contribute to the disability and mortality burdens of diabetes. It is imperative to promote mental health alongside economic and social development to address the public health challenge of type 2 diabetes.
Wildfires induce a reduction in body size and morphological variation of an insular endemic insect
Authors: Rhee Howon , Naber Sabine , Krehenwinkel Henrik , Hochkirch Axel
Published: January 2025

Anthropogenetic disturbance is known to affect population sizes and genetic population structure of many biotas. Wildfires are a major disturbance in many regions of the world, particularly in Mediterranean regions and on the Atlantic islands.

Populations of many insects, such as the Madeiran Green Bush‐Cricket (Psalmatophanes barretoi), are threatened by wildfires. However, the effects of wildfires on genetic structure and diversity as well as morphological variation of the populations remain little understood.

Therefore, we studied genetic diversity, structure and potential bottlenecks of this species using microsatellites. We also studied morphological variation and fluctuating asymmetry within and between populations to unravel potential effects of wildfires.

We did not find any evidence for genetic differentiation of populations, but some populations had high heterozygosity excess, regardless of burning. Morphological variation in burnt areas was lower than in non‐burnt areas. Fluctuating asymmetry of the wing length was significantly higher in burnt areas.

Our results show that even genetically well‐connected populations may suffer from bottlenecks leading to reduced morphological variation after disturbance.
Systemic calcinosis in horses: Pathological and genetic aspects
Authors: Carvalho Serena Guilherme , Marchezan Piva Manoela , Viezzer Bianchi Matheus , Fernandes da Fonseca Helena Carolina , Chitolina Pupin Rayane , Martins Basso Roberta , Secorun Borges Alexandre , Monteiro Nunes Marcelo , Driemeier David , Panziera Welden , Oliveira‐Filho José Paes , Gomes Danilo Carloto , Pavarini Saulo Petinatti
Published: January 2025

Background

In horses, systemic calcinosis is a rare syndrome characterised by muscle lesion associated with the mineralisation of large muscle groups or other organs, in the absence of an alternative cause for the calcification, such as toxic, enzootic or metabolic. Molecular and histopathological aspects of the disease are still poorly elucidated.

Objectives

To describe the epidemiological, pathological and molecular aspects of systemic calcinosis in a convenience sample of six horses submitted to necropsy in the Southern and Midwestern regions of Brazil.

Study design

Retrospective exploratory study.

Methods

Post‐mortem necropsy records of six horses with a cause of death compatible with systemic calcinosis, were reviewed followed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, microbiology and molecular investigation.

Results

The affected horses were all Quarter Horses with a mean age of 16.8 months, and an average disease course of 15.5 days. Muscle necrosis and mononuclear infiltration were observed in all animals in association with mineral deposition variably affecting the muscle tissue and/or other organs such as heart, lung and kidney. All tested animals (5/6) showed positive PCR results for the E321G MYH1 gene variant, which encodes the heavy chain of fast‐contracting skeletal muscle myosin and is associated with myopathy. Three horses demonstrated positive immunostaining for Streptococcus equi, which is a known trigger for immune responses.

Main limitations

The study was limited by the small sample size, molecular evaluation was not completed in one animal due to technical limitations, lack of pre‐mortem evaluation of calcium metabolism and lack of accurate descriptions in the necropsy reports of involvement of each muscle individually.

Conclusions

In horses, systemic calcinosis syndrome causes immune‐mediated muscle lesions in association with calcification of organs and tissues, varying greatly among animals. The E321G MYH1 variant was present in all horses tested for the variant and could be involved in the pathophysiology of systemic calcinosis.
Fatigue Design Curves for Industrial Applications: A Review
Authors: Tridello Andrea , Boursier Niutta Carlo , Rossetto Massimo , Berto Filippo , Paolino Davide S.
Published: January 2025

In the present paper, a review on the design curves for safe–life fatigue design is provided. The methodologies available in the literature for the assessment of the strain–life and stress–life design curves have been analyzed, focusing also on the industrial practice for the design of critical components. The low‐cycle fatigue (LCF), high‐cycle fatigue (HCF), and very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) life ranges have been considered in the analyses. Design curves should take into account the randomness associated with the material parameter estimation and model it in a probabilistic framework. The analyses carried out in the paper have shown that methodologies based on shifting the median curve or the best‐fitting curve by a fixed safety factor or a safety factor dependent on the reliability and confidence targets are among the most used. On the other hand, in several research works, more complex statistical models and methodologies, for example, based on the maximum likelihood principle or the bootstrap approach, have been proposed but are less widespread because they require a more complex implementation. The strengths and the weaknesses of the investigated methodologies have been discussed, providing also indications on future research trends.