bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HORA 3D: Personalized Flood Risk Visualization as an Interactive Web Service
Authors: Rauer‐Zechmeister Silvana , Cornel Daniel , Sadransky Bernhard , Horváth Zsolt , Konev Artem , Buttinger‐Kreuzhuber Andreas , Heidrich Raimund , Blöschl Günter , Gröller Eduard , Waser Jürgen
Published: June 2024

We propose an interactive web‐based application to inform the general public about personal flood risks. Flooding is the natural hazard affecting most people worldwide. Protection against flooding is not limited to mitigation measures, but also includes communicating its risks to affected individuals to raise awareness and preparedness for its adverse effects. Until now, this is mostly done with static and indiscriminate 2D maps of the water depth. These flood hazard maps can be difficult to interpret and the user has to derive a personal flood risk based on prior knowledge. In addition to the hazard, the flood risk has to consider the exposure of the own house and premises to high water depths and flow velocities as well as the vulnerability of particular parts. Our application is centered around an interactive personalized visualization to raise awareness of these risk factors for an object of interest. We carefully extract and show only the relevant information from large precomputed flood simulation and geospatial data to keep the visualization simple and comprehensible. To achieve this goal, we extend various existing approaches and combine them with new real‐time visualization and interaction techniques in 3D. A new view‐dependent focus+context design guides user attention and supports an intuitive interpretation of the visualization to perform predefined exploration tasks. HORA 3D enables users to individually inform themselves about their flood risks. We evaluated the user experience through a broad online survey with 87 participants of different levels of expertise, who rated the helpfulness of the application with 4.7 out of 5 on average.
Object detection for caries or pit and fissure sealing requirement in children's first permanent molars
Authors: Jiang Chenyao , Zhai Shiyao , Song Hengrui , Ma Yuqing , Fan Yachen , Fang Yancheng , Yu Dongmei , Zhang Canyang , Han Sanyang , Wang Runming , Liu Yong , Chen Zhenglin , Li Jianbo , Qin Peiwu
Published: June 2024

Dental caries, a common oral disease, poses serious risks if untreated, necessitating effective preventive measures like pit and fissure sealing. However, the reliance on experienced dentists for pit and fissures or caries detection limits accessibility, potentially leading to missed treatment opportunities, especially among children. To bridge this gap, we leverage deep learning in object detection to develop a method for autonomously identifying caries and determining pit and fissure sealing requirements using smartphone oral photos. We test several detection models and adopt a tiling strategy to reduce information loss during image pre‐processing. Our implementation achieves 72.3 mAP.5 with the YOLOXs model and tiling strategy. We enhance accessibility by deploying the pre‐trained network as a WeChat applet on mobile devices, enabling in‐home detection by parents or guardians. In addition, our data set of children's first permanent molars will also aid in the broader study of pediatric oral disease.
Behandlung der mukokutanen Leishmaniose – eine systematische Übersicht
Authors: Fischer Theresa , Fischer Marcellus , Schliemann Sibylle , Elsner Peter
Published: June 2024

Die mukokutane Leishmaniose ist eine schwere Infektionskrankheit, die überwiegend in Zentral‐ und Südamerika endemisch ist und sich klinisch mit granulomatösen, destruierenden Schleimhautläsionen im Mund‐Nasen‐Rachenraum manifestiert. Sie wird durch Protozoen, Leishmania spp., ausgelöst, die durch Sandmücken auf den Menschen übertragen werden. Sie tritt nach vorangegangener kutaner Leishmaniose auf, wenn diese nicht oder nur unzureichend behandelt wurde und kommt gehäuft bei immunsupprimierten Patienten vor. Das Ziel dieser systematischen Übersicht besteht darin, alle publizierten Behandlungsmöglichkeiten für die mukokutane Leishmaniose zusammenzufassen. Sie basiert auf allen englischen, deutschen, französischen, spanischen und portugiesischen Artikeln, die in den Datenbanken „PubMed“ und „Lilacs“ von 1995 bis 2020 veröffentlicht wurden. Die medizinische Literatur beschränkt sich auf Einzelfallberichte, kleine Fallserien, retrospektive Studien und nur wenige randomisierte kontrollierte Studien. Zu den Therapieoptionen gehören pentavalente Antimonverbindungen wie Megluminantimonat oder Natriumstibogluconat, Amphotericin B (liposomal, Desoxycholat, Lipidkomplex, kolloidale Dispersion), Miltefosin und Pentamidin. Weitere mögliche Therapien sind Itraconazol, Fluconazol, Ketoconazol, Aminosidinsulfat und Azithromycin. Die Wahl des geeigneten Medikaments richtet sich in erster Hinsicht nach der Verfügbarkeit im Endemiegebiet und den begleitenden Erkrankungen des Patienten.
Treatment intensification following glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes: Comparative effectiveness analyses between different basal insulins. RESTORE‐G real‐world study
Authors: Napoli Raffaele , Nicolucci Antonio , Larosa Monica , Rossi Maria Chiara , Candido Riccardo ,   the RESTORE‐G (Retrospective analysis on the therapeutic approaches after GLP‐1 RA treatment in type 2 diabetes patients) Study Group
Published: June 2024

Aim

To compare the effectiveness of different basal insulins (BI) prescribed as an add‐on to or switch from glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) therapy.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective, real‐world data from electronic medical records of 32 Italian diabetes clinics were used, after propensity score adjustment, to compare effectiveness after 6 months of treatment with second‐ versus first‐generation BI (2BI vs. 1BI) or glargine 300 U/ml versus degludec 100 U/ml (Gla‐300 vs. Deg‐100), when added to (ADD‐ON) or in substitution of (SWITCH) GLP‐1 RA. Only comparisons, including a minimum of 100 patients per group, were performed to ensure adequate robustness of the analyses.

Results

In the ADD‐ON cohort (N = 700), greater benefits of 2BI versus 1BI were found in glycated haemoglobin {HbA1c; estimated mean difference: −0.32% [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.62; −0.02]; p = .04} and fasting blood glucose [FBG; −20.73 mg/dl (95% CI −35.62; −5.84); p = .007]. In the SWITCH cohort (N = 2097), greater benefits of 2BI versus 1BI were found in HbA1c [−0.22% (95% CI −0.42; −0.02); p = .03], FBG [−10.15 mg/dl (95% CI −19.04; −1.26); p = .03], and body weight [−0.67 kg (95% CI −1.30; −0.04); p = .04]. In the SWITCH cohort starting 2BI (N = 688), marked differences in favour of Gla‐300 versus Deg‐100 were documented in HbA1c [−0.89% (95% CI −1.26; −0.52); p < .001] and FBG [−17.89 mg/dl (95% CI −32.45; −3.33); p = .02]. Using propensity score matching as a sensitivity analysis, the benefit on HbA1c was confirmed [−0.55% (95% CI –1.02; −0.08); p = .02]. BI titration was suboptimal in all examined cohorts.

Conclusions

2BI are a valuable option to intensify GLP‐1 RA therapy. Switching to Gla‐300 versus Deg‐100 was associated with greater HbA1c improvement.
Efficacy and tolerability of initial triple combination therapy with metformin, dapagliflozin and saxagliptin compared with stepwise add‐on therapy in drug‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (TRIPLE‐AXEL study): A multicentre, randomized, 104‐week, open‐label, active‐controlled trial
Authors: Kim Nam Hoon , Moon Jun Sung , Lee Yong‐ho , Cho Ho Chan , Kwak Soo Heon , Lim Soo , Moon Min Kyong , Kim Dong‐Lim , Kim Tae Ho , Ko Eunvin , Lee Juneyoung , Kim Sin Gon
Published: June 2024

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an initial triple combination therapy (TCT) compared with conventional stepwise add‐on therapy (SAT) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials and Methods

This multicentre, randomized, 104‐week, open‐label trial randomized 105 patients with drug‐naïve T2D (with HbA1c level ≥ 8.0%, < 11.0%) to the TCT (1000 mg of metformin, 10 mg of dapagliflozin and 5 mg of saxagliptin once daily) or SAT (initiated with metformin, followed by glimepiride and sitagliptin) groups. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved an HbA1c level of less than 6.5% without hypoglycaemia, weight gain of 5% or higher, or discontinuation of drugs because of adverse events at week 104.

Results

HbA1c reduction from baseline at week 104 was similar between the groups (the least squares mean change was −2.56% in the TCT group vs. –2.75% in the SAT group). The primary outcome was achieved in 39.0% and 17.1% of the TCT and SAT groups, respectively, with a risk difference of 22.0 (95% confidence interval 3.0, 40.8; P = .027). HbA1c level less than 6.5% at week 104 was 46.3% in both the TCT and SAT groups, whereas the incidence of hypoglycaemia, weight gain, or discontinuation of drugs was 16.7% and 62.0% in the TCT and SAT groups, respectively (P < .001). TCT was well‐tolerated and had fewer adverse events than SAT.

Conclusions

Among newly diagnosed patients with T2D, initial TCT effectively lowered HbA1c levels with higher tolerability and safety than SAT for 104 weeks, suggesting a novel strategy for initial combination therapy in T2D patients.
Research progress on the mechanism and signalling pathway of ferroptosis and its potential role in dermatosis research
Authors: Li Min , Gong Jian , Liu Qiao , Wu Weiwei
Published: June 2024

Ferroptosis is a novel type of cell death that is dependent on lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation, which distinguishes it from other types of programmed cell death. Current research indicates a significant association between ferroptosis and various pathological conditions, including cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, albeit with a relatively unexplored role in dermatological afflictions. This paper elaborates on the mechanisms and signalling pathways of ferroptosis, summarizing the recent studies on ferroptosis and its related factors in dermatosis. Our objective is to shed light on novel perspectives and therapeutic strategies for dermatosis, enhancing the understanding of this under‐researched area through this comprehensive review.
IL‐4 and IL‐13 are not involved in IL‐31‐induced itch‐associated scratching behaviour in mice
Authors: Kawai Rana , Ichimasu Nao , Katagiri Kazumoto
Published: June 2024

Itchy skin or pruritus is a common cutaneous symptom that causes an urge to scratch, and the role of interleukins (IL) in itchy skin has been widely studied. IL‐4 and IL‐13 are known to induce chronic itch. Similarly, the direct role of IL‐31 in inducing itch has been demonstrated in clinical situations such as atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. Moreover, IL‐4 receptor α antibodies (dupilumab) and IL‐31 receptor A antibodies (nemolizumab) inhibit pruritus. However, the interplay between these ILs in pruritus remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the reciprocal effects of these cytokines on pruritus in mice. The intradermal administration of IL‐31 induced itch‐associated scratching behaviour in a dose‐dependent manner. Interestingly, the amount of IL‐31 and IL‐4/IL‐13, co‐administration or 30 min pre‐administration of IL‐4/IL‐13 and intradermal or intravenous pre‐administration of IL‐4 did not affect IL‐31‐induced itch‐associated scratching behaviour when it was observed for 30 min, 2 h, 24 h or 48 h. Pre‐administration of neutralising antibodies against IL‐4 and IL‐13 also did not affect IL‐31‐induced itch‐associated scratching behaviour. These results suggest that IL‐31 can induce itching independently of IL‐4 and IL‐13 in vivo.
A circumpolar study unveils a positive non‐linear effect of temperature on arctic arthropod availability that may reduce the risk of warming‐induced trophic mismatch for breeding shorebirds
Authors: Chagnon‐Lafortune Aurélie , Duchesne Éliane , Legagneux Pierre , McKinnon Laura , Reneerkens Jeroen , Casajus Nicolas , Abraham Kenneth F. , Bolduc Élise , Brown Glen S. , Brown Stephen C. , Gates H. River , Gilg Olivier , Giroux Marie‐Andrée , Gurney Kirsty , Kendall Steve , Kwon Eunbi , Lanctot Richard B. , Lank David B. , Lecomte Nicolas , Leung Maria , Liebezeit Joseph R. , Morrison R. I. Guy , Nol Erica , Payer David C. , Reid Donald , Ruthrauff Daniel , Saalfeld Sarah T. , Sandercock Brett K. , Smith Paul A. , Schmidt Niels Martin , Tulp Ingrid , Ward David H. , Høye Toke T. , Berteaux Dominique , Bêty Joël
Published: June 2024

Seasonally abundant arthropods are a crucial food source for many migratory birds that breed in the Arctic. In cold environments, the growth and emergence of arthropods are particularly tied to temperature. Thus, the phenology of arthropods is anticipated to undergo a rapid change in response to a warming climate, potentially leading to a trophic mismatch between migratory insectivorous birds and their prey. Using data from 19 sites spanning a wide temperature gradient from the Subarctic to the High Arctic, we investigated the effects of temperature on the phenology and biomass of arthropods available to shorebirds during their short breeding season at high latitudes. We hypothesized that prolonged exposure to warmer summer temperatures would generate earlier peaks in arthropod biomass, as well as higher peak and seasonal biomass. Across the temperature gradient encompassed by our study sites (>10°C in average summer temperatures), we found a 3‐day shift in average peak date for every increment of 80 cumulative thawing degree‐days. Interestingly, we found a linear relationship between temperature and arthropod biomass only below temperature thresholds. Higher temperatures were associated with higher peak and seasonal biomass below 106 and 177 cumulative thawing degree‐days, respectively, between June 5 and July 15. Beyond these thresholds, no relationship was observed between temperature and arthropod biomass. Our results suggest that prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can positively influence prey availability for some arctic birds. This positive effect could, in part, stem from changes in arthropod assemblages and may reduce the risk of trophic mismatch.
Fast evaluation of the temperature dependence of residual stress in ceramic coatings via an image relative method
Authors: Li Junfeng , Li Haiyan , Bao Yiwang
Published: June 2024

Although the residual stress in one‐side coating (type‐I coating) on a beam specimen can be determined by comparing the bending deformation before and after coating, the stress of a coated component without bending deformation (type‐II coating) is difficult to obtain via conventional methods, especially at high temperature. An image relative method is presented to determine variations in the curvature radius with temperatures for stress analysis at high temperature. A relationship between the residual stresses in type‐I and type‐II coatings was established so that the residual stress of type‐II coating was determined from the measured stress in type‐I coating. Thus, the core issue is to measure the temperature dependence of the bending deformation of the sample with one‐side coating. The temperature dependence of the residual stress in thermal barrier coatings on metal substrate was obtained by continuously photographing deflections of the beam specimen at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 1000°C, and the residual stress in components with symmetrical coatings in the temperature range was then determined.
Comparison of pregnancy outcomes between indigenous and non‐indigenous lupus patients
Authors: Nossent Johannes C. , Inderjeeth Charles , Keen Helen
Published: June 2024

Aim

To compare pregnancy outcomes between IA and non IA lupus patients.

Background

Pregnancy in lupus patients confers an increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity. There are no data on pregnancy outcomes for indigenous Australian (IA) patients with lupus.

Methods

Using state‐wide longitudinal hospital morbidity data, we studied 702 pregnancies in IA (n = 31) and non‐indigenous (NI) patients with lupus (n = 357) in Western Australia and compared rates for live birth (LB), preterm birth (PB) and gestational complications in the period 1985–2015. Results are presented as medians or frequency.

Results

IA patients had proportionally more pre‐existing renal disease (35 vs 13%, P < 0.01) and lower socio‐economic status (P = 0.02). Age at first pregnancy was lower in IA patients (27 vs 30 years, P < 0.001), recorded gravidity was similar (2 vs 2, P > 0.6) and elective termination (n = 138) was more frequent in NI than IA pregnancies (21.1 vs 4.8%, P < 0.01). For continued pregnancies (59 in IA and 505 in NI), respective outcomes were as follows: LB 84.7% versus 91.5% (P = 0.15), spontaneous abortion 13.5% versus 6.9% (P = 0.13), (pre‐)eclampsia 8% versus 9.9% (P = 0.89), PB 12% versus 13.4% (P = 0.98) and caesarean delivery 30% versus 47.2% (P = 0.02). Gestational diabetes (26% vs 6.1%), renal flares (20% vs 5.6%) and infections (22% vs 6.3%) were all more frequent in IA lupus pregnancies (all P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The burden of comorbidities was higher in IA patients with lupus due to renal flares, gestational DM and infections. Although PB rates were overall high, they were, however, similar for IA and NI lupus pregnancies, as were LB rates.
Arterial blood gas analysis or venous blood gas analysis for adult hospitalised patients with respiratory presentations: a systematic review
Authors: Weimar Zoe , Smallwood Natasha , Shao Jeffrey , Chen Xinye E. , Moran Thomas P. , Khor Yet H.
Published: June 2024

Background

Identification of hypoxaemia and hypercapnia is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of acute respiratory failure. While arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is standard for PO2 and PCO2 measurement, venous blood gas (VBG) analysis is increasingly used as an alternative. Previous systematic reviews established that VBG reporting of PO2 and PCO2 is less accurate, but the impacts on clinical management and patient outcomes are unknown.

Aims

This study aimed to systematically review available evidence of the clinical impacts of using ABGs or VBGs and examine the arteriovenous difference in blood gas parameters.

Methods

A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases since inception was conducted. Included studies were prospective or cross‐sectional studies comparing peripheral ABG to peripheral VBG in adult non‐critical care inpatients presenting with respiratory symptoms.

Results

Of 15 119 articles screened, 15 were included. No studies were found that examined clinical impacts resulting from using VBG compared to ABG. Included studies focused on the agreement between ABG and VBG measurements of pH, PO2, PCO2 and HCO3−. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, qualitative evidence synthesis was performed. While the arteriovenous difference in pH and HCO3− was generally predictable, the difference in PO2 and PCO2 was more significant and less predictable.

Conclusions

Our study reinforces the notion that VBG is not comparable to ABG for physiological measurements. However, a key revelation from our research is the significant lack of data regarding the clinical implications of using VBG instead of ABG, a common scenario in clinical practice. This highlights a critical knowledge gap.
Applications of machine‐learning interatomic potentials for modeling ceramics, glass, and electrolytes: A review
Authors: Urata Shingo , Bertani Marco , Pedone Alfonso
Published: June 2024

The emergence of artificial intelligence has provided efficient methodologies to pursue innovative findings in material science. Over the past two decades, machine‐learning potential (MLP) has emerged as an alternative technology to density functional theory (DFT) and classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations for computational modeling of materials and estimation of their properties. The MLP offers more efficient computation compared to DFT, while providing higher accuracy compared to CMD. This enables us to conduct more realistic simulations using models with more atoms and for longer simulation times. Indeed, the number of research studies utilizing MLPs has significantly increased since 2015, covering a broad range of materials and their structures, ranging from simple to complex, as well as various chemical and physical phenomena. As a result, there are high expectations for further applications of MLPs in the field of material science and industrial development. This review aims to summarize the applications, particularly in ceramics and glass science, and fundamental theories of MLPs to facilitate future progress and utilization. Finally, we provide a summary and discuss perspectives on the next challenges in the development and application of MLPs.
The regulatory basis of migratory behaviour in birds: different paths to similar outcomes
Authors: Caballero‐Lopez Violeta , Bensch Staffan
Published: June 2024

Animal migration is a fascinating phenomenon that has puzzled mankind since the time of ancient Greece. It is a process widespread across a varied range of taxa and it shines especially in birds which, because of their mobility, display an amazing diversity of routes and strategies. With the advances in tracking devices and improvements of sequencing technologies, recent work provides support for a strong genetic influence of several migratory traits across different species. However, there is little to no evidence of any common sequence‐based mechanism behind this complex behaviour, nor any unifying principle explaining it. We review how the focus in understanding the genetic basis for migratory traits should be shifted towards studying regulatory mechanisms of gene expression instead of the traditional candidate gene approach. Importantly, a role for gene expression as the underlying driver of the migratory phenotype can resolve the opposing and often strong views that migration is mainly either under genetic or environmental influence. We emphasise that research should take new directions, reinforcing that there is probably not a common genetic basis for how migration is regulated in birds. Here, we support the notion that 1) migration can only evolve this fast if it is a quantitative trait with a large standing variation; 2) the main drivers for migration evolution seem to be diverse expression–regulation mechanisms rather than gene‐level polymorphisms; and 3) non‐coding sequences of the genome, epigenetics and structural variation might be more important in shaping complex traits than previously thought. Further, we present several hypotheses outlining how these regulatory mechanisms might work across different bird species defining certain migratory traits.
Improving word reading skills of low‐skilled readers: An intervention combining a syllable‐based approach with digital game‐based features
Authors: Heß Janina , Karageorgos Panagiotis , Müller Bettina , Riedmann Anna , Schaper Philipp , Lugrin Birgit , Richter Tobias
Published: June 2024

Background

Children with low reading skills are less frequently engaged in reading activities and therefore the likelihood of improving their reading skills decreases. Digital game‐based interventions have emerged as a promising tool for promoting reading development in children, particularly those with reading difficulties. As syllable‐based reading interventions are likely to increase word reading skills in low‐skilled readers, we developed a new reading intervention application that emphasizes syllable segmentation and integrates proven elements of digital game‐based learning. The intervention aimed to promote phonological recoding and consolidating orthographic representation of syllables.

Objectives

The present study investigated the effects of the newly developed syllable‐based reading intervention application on general word recognition skills, phonological recoding processes, orthographic decoding processes and text‐level reading comprehension skills in German second graders.

Methods

In a quasi‐experimental design, children with low word recognition skills were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 66) or a wait‐list group (n = 66). General word recognition skills, phonological recoding processes, orthographic decoding processes and text‐level reading comprehension were measured with standardized German reading tests before and after the treatment group received the digital reading intervention for 20 sessions.

Results

Results indicated that the children in the treatment group showed significant improvement in general word recognition and in phonological recoding processes compared to equally low‐skilled untreated children in the wait‐list group. Orthographic decoding processes improved only in children with less severe impairments, whereas no significant improvements were found in text‐level reading comprehension.

Take Aways

The digital reading intervention is a promising approach for supporting word reading in low‐skilled reading second graders and can serve as an effective intervention tool for this target group.
A degree‐hour phenological model to forecast the first invasion of Sesamia cretica (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Arbabtafti Roya , Fathipour Yaghoub , Aghdam Hossein Ranjbar
Published: June 2024

Corn stem borer, Sesamia cretica Lederer, is an important pest of corn and sugarcane worldwide. The validation of a linear and some selected nonlinear models in semi‐field and field conditions regarding the development time of the Varamin and Rey populations of S. cretica was performed. Our previously published laboratory data on the development rate and thermal constant of the pest for both populations were used as baseline information. The results showed that to construct a forecasting model, the lower temperature threshold of the Ikemoto model and estimated thermal constant of semi‐field or field conditions could provide a more accurate model. In the management of corn stem borer, when the thermal constant of the environment reached 44874.45 DH and 51,644 degree‐hour (DH) for the populations of Varamin and Rey, respectively, in the second generation on corn, which coincides with the peak of eggs, the necessary measures for inhibition should be prepared. Pest control was recommended when it reached 45857.01 DH and 52692.56 DH in Varamin and Rey, respectively, which coincides with the emergence of neonate larvae. Using these results leads to more successful pest management and saving time and financial resources.
Effectiveness and safety of biosilicate‐enhanced bleaching gels on enamel with early erosion lesion
Authors: Dascanio Rafael , de Oliveira Ribeiro Rafael Antonio , Coelho Camila Siqueira Silva , Souza Marina Trevelin , Kury Matheus , Zanotto Edgar Dutra , de Souza Costa Carlos Alberto , Cavalli Vanessa
Published: June 2024

Aim

This study evaluated the efficacy and cytotoxicity of 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) gel incorporated with 10% (w/w) biosilicate (BioS) on sound enamel and early‐stage enamel erosion lesions.

Methods

Discs of enamel/dentin were selected, subjected to erosive cycles (0.3% citric acid, pH 2.6), and treated with (n = 8): HP (35% HP, positive control); HP_BioS [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) + HP + BioS]; BioS (CMC + BioS); CMC (negative control). The discs were adapted to artificial pulp chambers with the enamel exposed for bleaching, and the dentin facing toward the culture medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM]). Bleaching was performed in three 30‐min sessions at 7‐day intervals. After bleaching, the diffusion product (DMEM extract + diffused HP) was pipetted onto MDPC‐23 odontoblastic cell line and inoculated. Color parameters (ΔL, Δa, Δb), color change (ΔE00), and changes in whiteness index (ΔWID) were determined before (T0) and after the last bleaching session (T3). Cell viability (MTT, %), H2O2 diffusion (μg/mL), oxidative cell stress (OxS), and cell fluorescence (live/dead assay, in confocal microscopy) were assessed (ANOVA/Tukey; α = 0.05).

Results

No difference in ΔL, Δa, Δb, ΔE00, and ΔWID were found between HP and HP_BioS (p > 0.05). The incorporation of BioS decreased the HP diffusion into the substrates and mitigated oxidative stress in early‐stage eroded enamel (p < 0.05). HP_BioS presented significantly higher cell viability compared with HP under erosion conditions. Live/dead assay indicated that BioS_HP maintained viability with larger clusters of viable cells.

Conclusion

Incorporating BioS into HP maintained bleaching effectiveness, favored cell viability, reduced the oxidative stress, and the cytotoxicity in teeth with early‐stage erosion.

Clinical Significance

BioS formulation showed promising results for reducing cytotoxicity in patients seeking tooth bleaching and presenting undetectable early‐stage erosion.
Intermediary processes in Hispanic/Latinx/o youths' coping responses to cultural stressors
Authors: Lorenzo‐Blanco Elma I. , Henriquez Kimberly L. , Stein Gabriela Livas
Published: June 2024

Cultural stressors related to racism, xenophobia, and navigating bicultural contexts can compromise the healthy development of Hispanic/Latinx/o (H/L) youth. Youth' coping can minimize the adverse impact of this stress. Less is known about the intermediary processes related to youths' cultural stressor experiences and coping responses. We analyzed focus group data from H/L youth (N = 45; 50% girls; 0% nonbinary; Mage = 15.3) to hear their voices on how they interpret, react to, are impacted by and cope with cultural stressors. Using a Grounded Theory approach, we constructed four themes of intermediary processes (e.g., meaning making) and four themes of coping (e.g., distancing oneself). Youth actively processed their experiences, which informed their coping choices, pointing to youths' agency and resilience.
Hyperarousal features in the sleep architecture of individuals with and without insomnia
Authors: Di Marco Tobias , Scammell Thomas E. , Sadeghi Kolia , Datta Alexandre N. , Little David , Tjiptarto Nurkurniati , Djonlagic Ina , Olivieri Antonio , Zammit Gary , Krystal Andrew , Pathmanathan Jay , Donoghue Jacob , Hubbard Jeffrey , Dauvilliers Yves
Published: June 2024

Sleep architecture encodes relevant information on the structure of sleep and has been used to assess hyperarousal in insomnia. This study investigated whether polysomnography‐derived sleep architecture displays signs of hyperarousal in individuals with insomnia compared with individuals without insomnia. Data from Phase 3 clinical trials, private clinics and a cohort study were analysed. A comprehensive set of sleep architecture features previously associated with hyperarousal were retrospectively analysed focusing on sleep–wake transition probabilities, electroencephalographic spectra and sleep spindles, and enriched with a novel machine learning algorithm called the Wake Electroencephalographic Similarity Index. This analysis included 1710 individuals with insomnia and 1455 individuals without insomnia. Results indicate that individuals with insomnia had a higher likelihood of waking from all sleep stages, and showed increased relative alpha during Wake and N1 sleep and increased theta power during Wake when compared with individuals without insomnia. Relative delta power was decreased and Wake Electroencephalographic Similarity Index scores were elevated across all sleep stages except N3, suggesting more wake‐like activity during these stages in individuals with insomnia. Additionally, sleep spindle density was decreased, and spindle dispersion was increased in individuals with insomnia. These findings suggest that insomnia is characterized by a dysfunction in sleep quality with a continuous hyperarousal, evidenced by changes in sleep–wake architecture.
Generalist carabid beetles are more malacophagous than previously recognized and cause diversified types of shell damage
Authors: Němec T. , Horsák M.
Published: June 2024

Although most carabids are carnivorous generalists, some species show dietary specializations such as malacophagy, which is characterized by two main strategies of snail predation: entering the shell or breaking it. The shell‐breaking strategy has been well studied in the malacophagous specialists of the tribe Licinini. However, little is known about the ability of other carabids to feed on snails and, in particular, to use the shell‐breaking strategy. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the ability of various generalist carabid species to feed on snails under laboratory conditions. We recorded 723 instances of predation in 89 of 180 carabid individuals (representing 23 of 33 species); all of them were exclusively shell‐breaking attacks. While carabids mostly favoured individuals <8 mm as prey, they showed no preference for shell shape. Using a subset of 14 carabid species with a high frequency of snail predation, we found significant differences between the predation rates of carabid species depending on their body size using GLMMs. This study revealed that many generalist carabids can indeed feed on snails by breaking the shell, but predation rates were highly inconsistent among individual species. Shell‐breaking patterns of generalists differed markedly from those of malacophagous specialists reported in the literature, as damage parallel to the shell coiling axis occurred more frequently than spiral damage. Our results show that the shell‐breaking predation patterns of carabids are closely related to their degree of dietary specialization on snails and that many generalist carabids frequently accept snails as their prey.
Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) mitochondrial genomes from Senegal reveal geographic structure across the North Atlantic but provide no support for global long‐beaked clade
Authors: Becker Madeleine A. , Murphy Katherine R. , Archer Frederick I. , Jefferson Thomas A. , Keith‐Diagne Lucy W. , Potter Charles W. , Urrutia‐Osorio M. Fernanda , Ndong Ibrahima , McGowen Michael R.
Published: June 2024

The common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is a widely distributed species exhibiting extensive morphological diversity, with previous taxonomies recognizing multiple Delphinus species primarily based on relative beak length. We sequenced mitochondrial genomes of D. delphis morphotypes from multiple regions, calculated mitogenome nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00504), dated Delphinus mitogenome diversification to 1.27 mya, and conducted phylogenetic and population‐level analyses focusing on morphotype and geographic origin. We present the first Delphinus sequencing data from Senegal, at the edge of where long‐ and short‐beaked dolphins co‐occur in the Atlantic, but only recovering stranded dolphins with long or indeterminate beak lengths. While we detected little genetic structure across most of the North Atlantic, fixation indices demonstrate that Senegalese dolphins are distinct. Geography did not reliably predict phylogeny, with few monophyletic localities, but we do infer a monophyletic group of long‐beaked dolphins from California, Peru, and possibly China. However, neither Senegalese long‐beaked dolphins nor long‐beaked D. d. tropicalis are closely related to Pacific long‐beaked dolphins, providing no support for a worldwide long‐beaked clade (formerly D. capensis). Our findings reveal a distinctive Senegal Delphinus population and provide a foundation for global genomic analyses to further investigate the evolution of Delphinus morphotypes.
Answering the call: Experiences of nurses of color during COVID‐19
Authors: Woodward Kyla F. , Willgerodt Mayumi , Walsh Elaine , Johnson Susan
Published: June 2024

In the years following the COVID‐19 pandemic, issues such as high job demands, burnout, and turnover continue to influence the nursing workforce, with heavier impacts to marginalized groups. Understanding the work and life contexts of nurses of color can help guide strategies for workplace equity and meaningful support. This qualitative study explored the experiences of nurses of color in the United States during the pandemic, focusing on feelings about the profession and job decisions. The overarching theme was “answering the call,” with subthemes of “COVID shone a light,” “being consumed by COVID,” and “is it worth it?” Participants shared how their racial identities shaped their perceptions and job decisions in positive and negative ways, noting how racism impacted many facets of their work and added to the stressors felt in the workplace and the community. Findings provide insight into the underrepresented perspectives of nurses of color and suggest strategies to eliminate racism in nursing.
Uncovering genes involved in pollinator‐driven mating system shifts and selfing syndrome evolution in Brassica rapa
Authors: Kofler Xeniya V. , Grossniklaus Ueli , Schiestl Florian P. , Frachon Léa
Published: June 2024

Shifts in pollinator occurrence and their pollen transport effectiveness drive the evolution of mating systems in flowering plants. Understanding the genomic basis of these changes is essential for predicting the persistence of a species under environmental changes. We investigated the genomic changes in Brassica rapa over nine generations of pollination by hoverflies associated with rapid morphological evolution toward the selfing syndrome.

We combined a genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) approach with a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) to identify candidate genes, and assessed their functional role in the observed morphological changes by studying mutations of orthologous genes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

We found 31 candidate genes involved in a wide range of functions from DNA/RNA binding to transport. Our functional assessment of orthologous genes in A. thaliana revealed that two of the identified genes in B. rapa are involved in regulating the size of floral organs. We found a protein kinase superfamily protein involved in petal width, an important trait in plant attractiveness to pollinators. Moreover, we found a histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMT) associated with stamen length.

Altogether, our study shows that hoverfly pollination leads to rapid evolution toward the selfing syndrome mediated by polygenic changes.
‘Ordered and Placed in a Certain Form’: Kant on the Spatiality of Sensation
Authors: Jankowiak Tim
Published: June 2024

Kant claims repeatedly that experience involves sensations being ‘ordered and placed’ in space. This paper considers what this surprising claim could possibly mean. After presenting the relevant textual evidence and rejecting two candidate interpretations of it, I defend a qualia or ‘mental paint’ interpretation, according to which experience involves a direct, conscious ‘acquaintance’ with sensations arrayed in a ‘phenomenal space.’ This interpretation allows us to take literally many of Kant's claims about sensation: that it is the matter of both intuition and appearance, that we are conscious of sensation in perception, and that sensible qualities like color are sensations.
The death of the embodied philosopher and the life of the mind: On the literary and poetic features of Plato's Phaedo
Authors: Furtak Rick Anthony
Published: June 2024

Socrates is a man of faith whose love and pursuit of the truth is grounded in religious conviction. Faith, whatever else it may be, involves guiding one's life in terms of a transcendent dimension, recognizing a reality lying behind any particular experience. In Plato's Phaedo, a literary and philosophical masterpiece, we enter the narrative of Socrates' trial and execution on the day of his death, examining arguments for the immortality of the psyche. The dialogue combines logical argument and mythological speculation, and presents Socrates simultaneously as an abstract theorist and an unforgettably singular person. Distinct persons, such as Socrates, have an interest in continuing to exist as the individuals that they are. When we cease to exist, we lose the opportunity to engage in any activity that is worth doing, such as—emphatically, for some of us—doing philosophy. What Socrates is presented as having discovered in the Phaedo—with the ostensibly absent Plato lurking behind every line in this literary gem of a text—is a way of transforming oneself with an eye on immortality. That Socrates dies utterly without fear is the supreme vindication of the philosophical life.
The Plague: Modern life
Authors: Fendt Gene
Published: June 2024

The social structures and thought patterns of the modern world are the fruits of the Enlightenment, which begins by eliminating final causal explanations in favour of purely material and efficient causes. The development and great technical success of Enlightenment procedures has, however, produced a cultural blindness about the good. Camus's novel shows us this cultural blindness through characters who themselves suffer from it; for modern man, it is almost a natural evil—we are born into it. Camus' hope must have been that the vision of the characters' incapacity might help break us from the same incapacity. What the cured life looks like Camus does not say; in the world of our plague, it appears as either odd or mystery.
The strange thing of which we find ourselves a part: Theodore Dreiser's virus novel
Authors: Brown Curtis
Published: June 2024

An American teacher of literature and poetry living in Montréal, Curtis Brown, recovers Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy (1925) as a ‘virus novel’, venturing an integrated response to two literary questions occasioned by the recent pandemic: What might the contemporary ‘Covid novel’ look like? And how did the Spanish flu of 1918–1919—which infected a third of the world's population and killed 50 million—leave literary traces so few and faint? Brown tracks the genesis of An American Tragedy in Dreiser's personal life, his research in microbiology and his general interest in plagues to show how a form traditionally associated with the ‘individual moral adventure’ was repurposed for an institutional epic of viral contagion and systemic malaise. Charting the vicissitudes of Dreiser's reputation over a century, and presenting his formal innovations as widely assimilated, largely unrecognized, and more relevant than ever, Brown concludes that a writer's influence, like a virus, can disappear into ubiquity.
Characterization of Erwinia amylovora isolates from the northern region of Saudi Arabia, including CRISPR genotyping
Authors: Ibrahim Yasser E. , Rafique Abdurrehman M. , Al‐Masrahi Ali A. , Al‐Saleh Mohammed A.
Published: June 2024

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, poses a global threat to the pome fruit industry, leading to reduced yields and significant economic losses. A comprehensive countrywide survey was carried out to determine the possible E. amylovora distribution in pome fruit‐growing regions. During the period 2020–2023, 85 isolates characteristic of E. amylovora were obtained from pear across 23 locations in three main pear‐producing regions (Al‐Jouf, Hail and Tabuk) in northern Saudi Arabia (SA). Isolates were identified using biochemical, molecular and pathogenicity assays. Molecular characterization of Saudi strains was achieved using partial 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing, rep‐PCR (specifically, BOX‐PCR) and CRISPR array analysis. The CRISPR genotyping in particular, using an existing scheme of three CRISPR arrays, CR1, CR2 and CR3, provided consistent patterns of the Saudi isolates with high similarity to those of E. amylovora strains from the UK and France, hinting at a possible origin of the fire blight infections from these countries. Some variation was observed in patterns between local strains, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance and genetic studies for effective disease management strategies. Identification of fire blight in three regions over several years should serve as a warning to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia, prompting the initiation of a more comprehensive survey and an active disease management programme. This programme should include early detection and advice to growers on prevention and control measures. This is the first scientific study on the occurrence and genetic variability of E. amylovora in Saudi Arabia.
Application of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in the Indian core industries: Towards a greener economy
Authors: Gogoi Nivaj , Hussain Farah
Published: June 2024

The study investigates the long‐term effects of two core industries of India, namely crude oil and electricity on the environment by adopting the industry‐specific environmental Kuznets curve (IEKC) hypothesis. While crude oil is high‐polluting, the impact of the electricity industry on the environment is less severe. A traditional EKC hypothesis, described by an inverted U‐shape, demonstrates the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. The study tests IEKC individually for each of the two industries for time series data ranging from 1994 to 2021 for the crude oil industry and from 1994 to 2019 for the electricity industry. Carbon dioxide emission levels and the Index of Eight Core Industries are the indicators used to measure the environmental degradation and industrial growth levels, respectively. The study adopts autoregressive distributed lag approach to test the IEKC hypothesis. The findings suggest rejecting the IEKC hypothesis in the Indian crude oil industry, indicating its long‐term adverse environmental effects. In contrast, acceptance of the hypothesis in the electricity industry confirms that electricity energy can potentially lower the country's pollution level in the long run. The study adds to the existing literature by applying the IEKC hypothesis in the core industries of India to judge their environmental sustainability.
An instructional framework for teaching STEM to students with moderate to severe disabilities
Authors: Wood Leah , Jimenez Bree , Courtade Ginevra
Published: June 2024

Answering questions and solving problems are critical skills that affect the quality of life for all people. The content areas of science and engineering traditionally and most directly address the processes of inquiry and problem‐solving. While there is an increasing body of research surrounding teaching academic content (i.e., mathematics and science) as well as skills that are critical to support student success in these areas (i.e., communication and self‐determination), the research supporting instruction of math, science, and engineering practices and processes are only emerging. The purpose of this article is to provide a research‐based framework for instructional design that provides ideas for cognitive accessibility and supports for students with MSD in STEM. The framework aims to guide teachers in considering why to teach STEM, what to teach, and how to teach it. The framework guides teachers to use evidence‐based practices in special education to teach students to know about STEM (i.e., academic content), do STEM practices and processes (i.e., critical thinking skills combined into routines for asking questions or solving problems), and think in ways that support this learning (i.e., metacognitive behaviors).
Varieties of democracy and life satisfaction: Is there a connection?
Authors: Bromo Francesco , Pacek Alexander C. , Radcliff Benjamin
Published: June 2024

Objective

How, if at all, do different “varieties” or “principles” of democracy affect human happiness? While the study of democracy's relationship with well‐being is an old one, recent conceptual developments in the study of democracy have not been assessed to a great extent. In this article, we attempt to address this shortcoming.

Method

We examine the relationship between five varieties of democracy (liberal, participatory, deliberative, egalitarian, and polyarchy) and life satisfaction across 103 high‐, middle‐, and low‐income countries in the 2010s.

Results

We find a modest, positive association between most democratic principles and self‐reported satisfaction. Further exploration indicates that the strongest association is the one between life satisfaction and participatory democracy.

Conclusion

This analysis represents an initial attempt at probing the effect of democracy on human happiness by disentangling the heterogeneous impact of different democratic principles. Implications for the study of democracy and subjective well‐being are discussed.