bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combatting ageing in dermal papilla cells and promoting hair follicle regeneration using exosomes from human hair follicle dermal sheath cup cells
Authors: Liu Fang , Liu Si , Luo Xiaohua , Fan Zirui , Huang Shaobin , Deng Fangqi , Liu Huanliang , Shi Ge
Published: November 2023

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) undergo premature ageing in androgenetic alopecia and senescent alopecia. As critical components of hair follicle reconstruction, DPCs are also prone to senescence in vitro, resulting in a diminished hair follicle inductivity capacity. Dermal sheath cup cells (DSCCs), a specific subset of hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells, intimately linked to the function of DPCs. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the anti‐ageing effect of exosomes derived from DSCCs (ExoDSCCs) on DPCs. Exosomes were utilized to treat H2O2‐induced DPCs or long‐generation DPCs(P10). Our findings demonstrate that ExoDSCCs(P3) promote the proliferation, viability and migration of senescent DPCs while inhibiting cell apoptosis. The expression of senescence marker SA‐β‐Gal were significantly downregulated in senescent DPCs. When treated with ExoDSCCs(P3), expression of inducibility related markers alkaline phosphatase and Versican were significantly upregulated. Additionally, ExoDSCCs(P3) activated the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in vitro. In patch assay, ExoDSCCs(P3) significantly promoted hair follicle reconstruction in senescent DPCs. In summary, our work highlights that ExoDSCCs(P3) may restore the biological functions and improve the hair follicle induction ability of senescent DPCs. Therefore, ExoDSCCs(P3) may represent a new strategy for intervening in the ageing process of DPCs, contributing to the prevention of senile alopecia.
A Phase 1 randomized, open‐label clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a far‐infrared emitting patch on local skin perfusion, microcirculation and oxygenation
Authors: van Kraaij Sebastiaan J. W. , Hamblin Michael R. , Pickering Gisele , Giannokopoulos Bill , Kechemir Hayet , Heinz Moritz , Igracki‐Turudic Iva , Yavuz Yalçin , Rissmann Robert , Gal Pim
Published: November 2023

Far‐infrared radiation (FIR) has been investigated for reduction of pain and improvement of dermal blood flow. The FIRTECH patch is a medical device designed to re‐emit FIR radiated by the body. This phase 1 study was conducted to evaluate the local effects of the FIRTECH patch on local skin perfusion, microcirculation and oxygenation. This prospective, randomized, open‐label, parallel designed study admitted 20 healthy participants to a medical research facility for treatment for 31 h on three anatomical locations. During treatment, imaging assessments consisting of laser speckle contrast imaging, near‐infrared spectroscopy, side‐stream dark‐field microscopy, multispectral imaging and thermography were conducted regularly on patch‐treated skin and contralateral non‐treated skin. The primary endpoint was baseline perfusion increase during treatment on the upper back. Secondary endpoints included change in baseline perfusion, oxygen consumption and temperature of treated versus untreated areas. The primary endpoint was not statistically significantly different between treated and non‐treated areas. The secondary endpoints baseline perfusion on the forearm (least square means [LSMs] difference 2.63 PU, 95% CI: 0.97, 4.28), oxygen consumption (LSMs difference: 0.42 arbitrary units [AUs], 95% CI: 0.04, 0.81) and skin temperature (LSMs difference 0.35°C, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.6) were statistically significantly higher in treated areas. Adverse events observed during the study were mild and transient. The vascular response to the FIRTECH patch was short‐lived suggesting a non‐thermal vasodilatory effect of the patch. The FIRTECH patch was well tolerated, with mild and transient adverse events observed during the study. These results support the therapeutic potential of FIR in future investigations.
Trichoscopy – a valuable tool for identifying conditions mimicking androgenetic alopecia
Authors: Khutsishvili Nino , Rudnicka Lidia , Ovcharenko Yuliya , Starace Michela , Buchukuri Irma , Pataraia Salome , Lortkipanidze Nino
Published: November 2023

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most prevalent type of hair loss in women and men. Recently, a European consensus group published guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation of AGA in men, women, and adolescents. This S1 guideline presents expert opinion‐based recommendations for gender‐dependent steps in the diagnostic procedure, which can easily be implemented in the daily clinical routine. For diagnosing AGA, detailed anamnesis and objective learning are not enough because there are several conditions mimicking this disease. Trichoscopy can be considered an important, non‐invasive tool for diagnosing hair and scalp disorders that may have similar clinical signs to AGA.
Mianserin: a decade of scientific development.
Authors: Peet M , Behagel H
Published: November 2023

1 Mianserin is a tetracyclic piperazino‐azepine compound synthesized in 1966 for its peripheral anti 5‐hydroxytryptamine properties. Animal screening showed that mianserin was centrally active, but the profile did not indicate possible antidepressant activity. Following clinical observations of sedative and possible mood‐lifting effects, a quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) study showed that the EEG effects of mianserin are similar to those of amitriptyline. 2 Subsequent clinical and pharmacological studies have indicated that mianserin is an effective antidepressant which differs from the tricyclic antidepressants not only chemically but also in its pharmacological and clinical profile. Mianserin seems to lack anticholinergic and cardiotoxic properties, and has unusual effects on monoamine metabolism. 3 On the basis of the initial profile a series of clinical and pharmacological studies has been carried out, and the results of many of these studies are presented in these Proceedings.
Effect of mianserin hydrochloride on peripheral uptake mechanisms for noradrenaline and 5‐hydroxytryptamine in man.
Authors: Coppen A , Ghose K , Swade C , Wood K
Published: November 2023

1. Mianserin seems to have little effect on peripheral noradrenaline (NA) re‐uptake mechanisms as shown by its lack of effects on the tyramine dose and NA dose/pressor response. 2. Mianserin has no effect on the hypotensive action of bethanidine. 3. Mianserin in vivo has a significant action on platlet transport (Vmax) of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), which changes toward normal values in depressive patients on the drug. This action is not observed in vitro. 4. It is possible that a metabolite of mianserin is responsible for this effect, and that this may be of therapeutic importance.
Clinical study of mianserin, imipramine and placebo in depression: blood level and MHPG correlations.
Authors: Perry GF , Fitzsimmons B , Shapiro L , Irwin P
Published: November 2023

1. The clinical efficacy of mianserin, a tetracyclic compound, was compared with imipramine and placebo in 47 hospitalized depressed patients. 2. The clinical ratings showed that the three treatment groups improved equivalently during hospitalization. 3. Plasma levels of mianserin correlated with changes in the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression, total score and two of its factors (anxiety/somatization, and retardation) and the item 'late insomnia'. 4. Drowsiness was a more frequent side‐effect among mianserin patients on day 4; no other side‐ effect distinguished the treatments. 5. No relationship between MHPG levels and treatment or treatment outcome were observed.
Effects of amitriptyline and mianserin on psychomotor skills and memory in man.
Authors: Mattila MJ , Liljequist R , Seppala T
Published: November 2023

1. Twenty volunteers were treated with amitriptyline 25 mg, mianserin 10 mg, and placebo, three times daily for 2 weeks each, in a double‐ blind cross‐over study. Tests of psychomotor function and of learning and memory, were carried out after consumption of alcohol or a placebo drink at intervals during each treatment period. 2. Coordinative and reactive skills were affected by mianserin on the first day only, but by amitriptyline up to day 7 in most of the tests. Both drugs seemed to interact additively with alcohol. 3. Amitriptyline impaired short‐term memory span and acquisition, and alcohol enhanced these effects. Mianserin did not affect learning and memory, and did not interact with alcohol in this respect. 4. The differing effects of amitripyline and mianserin are considered in relation to anticholinergic properties.
A double‐blind multicentre trial comparing mianserin with imipramine.
Authors: Pichot P , Dreyfus JF , Pull C
Published: November 2023

1. Fifty‐four depressive in‐patients aged 18‐45 yr, were treated at random, in double‐blind conditions, with mianserin 60 mg daily or imipramine 150 mg daily in three divided doses for 4 weeks. Nitrazepam and diazepam were also allowed if necessary. 2. There was no significant difference in antidepressant efficacy between the two groups, as assessed by the rating scales of Hamilton, Beck and Overall, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and a global clinical rating. 3. The overall frequency of side‐effects was significantly lower with mianserin than with imipramine. Autonomic symptoms increased in severity during treatment with imipramine, but not with mianserin. 4. the patients treated with imipramine had a fall in blood pressure which was not observed during mianserin treatment.
Contributing to self‐care of a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A qualitative study of the experiences of family caregivers
Authors: Pendoni Roberta , Albanesi Beatrice , Clari Marco , Pecorari Giulia , Matarese Maria
Published: November 2023

Aim

To explore family caregivers' experiences of contributing to self‐care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design

A qualitative description study.

Methods

Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted face‐to face, by telephone or video calls in a purposive sample of 17 family caregivers of patients with COPD recruited in Italy, and analysed through content analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) checklist was used for study reporting.

Results

Ten subcategories were derived from 106 codes grouped into three main categories: family caregiver contributions to maintaining disease stable and ensuring a normal life for patients; family caregiver contributions to disease monitoring; and family caregiver contributions to coping with disease exacerbations. Family caregivers provided practical and emotional support, and their contribution was essential to improve treatment adherence, to enable the patient to continue living a normal life, and to have access to the healthcare services. Family caregivers were constantly vigilant and monitored patients daily to detect worsening conditions, and they managed exacerbations especially when patients were unable to do it due to their critical conditions.

Conclusion

This study broadens knowledge of family caregivers' contributions to patients' self‐care in COPD, describing the different ways family members provide daily care to patients and the many responsibilities they take on.

Impact

Family caregivers perform a variety of behaviours when supporting patients with COPD in self‐care, especially when patients are more dependent and the disease more severe. Nurses should acknowledge the various contributions provided by family caregivers and develop educational interventions aiming to support them in patient care and improve patient outcomes.

Patient or Public Contribution

Researchers shared the draft study report with participants for validation and feedback. This helped to strengthen the study design and results.
Unmet care needs of women who have undergone breast cancer surgery: A scoping review
Authors: Ke Qiaohong , Timmins Fiona , Furlong Eileen , Stokes Diarmuid
Published: November 2023

Aim

To summarize the evidence regarding the unmet care needs of women who have undergone breast cancer surgery and identify research gaps.

Design

A scoping review.

Data Sources

This review entailed a systematic search in EMBASE, Medline via PubMed, CINAHL Complete, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus (up until 30 July 2023).

Review Methods

This review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's Framework (2005) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis‐Scoping Review extension (PRISMA‐ScR).

Results

Twenty‐five studies that included 4914 participants were retrieved. Fourteen studies employed quantitative designs, eight used qualitative methods, two were mixed‐methods studies and one used a qualitative meta‐synthesis. Women who have undergone breast cancer surgery experience a wide range of complex and multifaceted unmet care needs. The informational/educational and psychological/emotional domains were the most frequently reported among the identified domains. Meanwhile, the sexual and spiritual/religious beliefs domains remained relatively underexplored. Furthermore, none of the assessment tools used in these studies captured the entirety of the possible domains of unmet care needs.

Conclusion

Needs assessment should be integrated into the routine care of women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. Interventions should be developed to address the unmet informational/educational and psychological/emotional needs of women. Future studies should employ high‐quality mixed‐methods approaches to explore women's sexual and spiritual/religious concerns.

Impact

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the unmet care needs of women who have undergone the breast cancer surgery. These findings will contribute to the development of tailored interventions. This review also informs future studies to explore distinct domains of unmet care needs.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
‘Hearing silences’: Exploring culturally safe transitional care: A qualitative study among Turkish‐speaking migrant frail older adults
Authors: Dolu İlknur , Hayter Mark , Serrant Laura , Lee Amanda
Published: November 2023

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the experiences and transitional care needs of Turkish frail older adults living in the UK and determine how this information can be utilized to improve the provision of culturally sensitive care during the transitional period.

Design

Qualitative descriptive research with semi‐structured individual interviews.

Methods

“The ‘Silences’ Framework guided the research design, from conceptualizing the research question to structuring the report of final outputs. For this study, semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with sixteen older adults living with frailty and five family caregivers between January and May of 2023 in the United Kingdom.

Results

Major themes that were identified included: (i) information and communication, (ii) care and support, (iii) the role of culture and (iv) trust and satisfaction. Further analysis, through discussion and immersion in the data, revealed that care transition periods were presented alongside three phases of transitional care: pre‐transition (during hospitalization), early‐transition (the period between discharge and the 7th day after discharge) and late transition (the period between the 8th day and 12th month after discharge).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that the communication and informational needs of frail older individuals change during the transition period. While Turkish older adults and family caregivers expressed satisfaction with healthcare services in the UK, many struggled due to a lack of knowledge on how to access them.

Impact

The support of family caregivers is a crucial component in facilitating transitional care for frail older patients, as they help in accessing healthcare services and using technological devices or platforms. It should be noted that family caregivers often hold the same level of authority as their elderly Turkish counterparts.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Island biogeography of mixed‐species bird flocks: A gregarious nuclear species influences island area effects
Authors: Martínez Ari , Zhou Liping , Si Xingfeng , Ding Ping , Goodale Eben
Published: November 2023

Aim

Island biogeography theory has been extended to include various species interactions, but has yet to consider intraguild mutualisms. We compare species‐area relationships for mixed‐species flocks to those for the entire bird community and determine how ‘nuclear’ species, those important to flock formation or cohesion, which often have functional traits such as intraspecific gregariousness, influence flock species richness. We hypothesized that mixed flocks would only form on large islands where nuclear species are present. On the subset of larger islands, we expected flock species richness to rise with island area, reflecting a larger pool of species.

Location

Thirty‐one islands of varying area in the reservoir system of Thousand Island Lake, China.

Taxon

The resident forest bird community and its subcomponent of flock participants. Similar to elsewhere in southern China, the primary nuclear species was Huet's Fulvetta (Alcippe hueti), which averaged 20 individuals per flock, and led the flocks when present.

Methods

Birds were surveyed in the winter of 2017 and the autumn of 2021.

Results

The probability for a flock to be present, and the species richness of birds per transect, increased with island area, but the species richness of flocks did not. Flocks with Huet's Fulvetta were only found on islands larger than 30 ha. Flocks on smaller islands formed around secondary nuclear species typical of northern Chinese flocks.

Main Conclusion

Gregariousness as a functional trait may make nuclear species more susceptible to disappearing in small fragments, leading to flock collapse. The extreme gregariousness of fulvettas may also act to increase competition in the flocks they lead and limit the flocks' species richness. We encourage further comparisons of the species‐area curves of mixed‐species flocks and whole bird communities to better understand the influence of flocks on community assembly and species diversity.
A cross‐sectional epidemiological study conducted in Argentina to evaluate the impact of the exposome on skin aging
Authors: Claros Marina Giselle , Lequio Mariana , Cheli Santiago , Garlatti Agustin Bollea , Cecilia Noelia , Juarez Lucrecia , Bittar Mario , Leiva María José , Hernandez Maria Laura , Márquez Juan Manuel , Badaracco Guillermo , Leclerc‐Mercier Stephanie , Leal Maite Iglesias
Published: November 2023

Background

Skin aging is a gradual cumulative process that may be accelerated by various exposome factors.

Aims

To investigate associations between exposome factors and facial skin aging in 11 locations in Argentina.

Patients/Methods

An observational, cross‐sectional study with assessments by exposome questionnaire, Glogau photoaging classification from I to IV, AI‐based algorithm analysis of 7 skin aging signs, and SCINEXA score.

Results

Of 1346 participants, most were women (82%), aged 31–50 years (62%), of skin phototype III (52%), and living in urban areas (94%). The Glogau skin age was higher than the chronological age for 28% of overall participants, 36% of men, and 45% of participants from Ciudad de Buenos Aires versus 12% from Jujuy (p < 0.001).

Being male (OR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.18–2.13), exposed to agrochemicals (OR = 1.59: 95% CI 1.01–2.51), of lower socioeconomic levels (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.32–3.21) and doing outdoor physical activity (OR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.00–1.76) increased the risk for premature aging. Odds decreased with high daily intake of water (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.59–0.97), daily dermocosmetic use (moisturizers [OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.55–0.94], cleansers [OR = 0.53; CI 95% 0.42–0.67], retinoids [OR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.39–0.95]), and antiaging treatments (OR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.57–0.97).

Conclusions

Some exposome factors increased the risk for premature skin aging (physical outdoor activity, exposure to agrochemicals), while others were protective factors (high water intake, antiaging treatments, use of dermocosmetics). Locations with higher pollution levels had more premature skin aging.
LncRNA JHDM1D‐AS1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells by targeting miR‐532‐5p to activate IGF1R signaling
Authors: Zhong Xiaohuan , Wang Huixin
Published: November 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) osteogenic differentiation.

Background

Periodontitis causes damage to tooth‐supporting apparatus and eventually leads to tooth loss. PDLCs hold great promise in periodontal regeneration due to their osteogenic features.

Methods

The expression of osteogenic markers, lncRNA JHDM1D‐AS1, miR‐532‐5p and IGF1R was examined. For osteogenic differentiation, primary human PDLCs (hPDLCs) were cultured in an osteogenic medium, and it was assessed by ALP activity and Alizarin Red staining. The interaction between JHDM1D‐AS1, miR‐532‐5p and IGF1R was analyzed via dual luciferase, RIP and RNA pull‐down assays.

Results

JHDM1D‐AS1 was up‐regulated during osteogenic differentiation and its silencing inhibited hPDLC osteogenic differentiation. JHDM1D‐AS1 worked as a miR‐532‐5p sponge in hPDLCs. miR‐532‐5p directly targeted IGF1R to suppress its expression, and miR‐532‐5p knockdown facilitated osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs. Overexpression of IGF1R promoted osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs via activating Notch/HES1 signaling in hPDLCs.

Conclusion

JHDM1D‐AS1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs via sponging miR‐532‐5p to facilitate IGF1R expression and activate Notch/HES1 signaling.
Post‐training sleep modulates motor adaptation and task‐related beta oscillations
Authors: Ameen Mohamed S. , Petzka Marit , Peigneux Philippe , Hoedlmoser Kerstin
Published: November 2023

Motor adaptation reflects the ability of the brain's sensorimotor system to flexibly deal with environmental changes to generate effective motor behaviour. Whether sleep contributes to the consolidation of motor adaptation remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the impact of sleep on motor adaptation and its neurophysiological correlates in a novel motor adaptation task that leverages a highly automatised motor skill, that is, typing. We hypothesised that sleep‐associated memory consolidation would benefit motor adaptation and induce modulations in task‐related beta band (13–30 Hz) activity during adaptation. Healthy young male experts in typing on the regular computer keyboard were trained to type on a vertically mirrored keyboard while brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography. Typing performance was assessed either after a full night of sleep with polysomnography or a similar period of daytime wakefulness. Results showed improved motor adaptation performance after nocturnal sleep but not after daytime wakefulness, and decreased beta power: (a) during mirrored typing as compared with regular typing; and (b) in the post‐sleep versus the pre‐sleep mirrored typing sessions. Furthermore, the slope of the electroencephalography signal, a measure of aperiodic brain activity, decreased during mirrored as compared with regular typing. Changes in the electroencephalography spectral slope from pre‐ to post‐sleep mirrored typing sessions were correlated with changes in task performance. Finally, increased fast sleep spindle density (13–15 Hz) during the night following motor adaptation training was predictive of successful motor adaptation. These findings suggest that post‐training sleep modulates neural activity supporting adaptive motor functions.
Blame it on the “night owls”: Perceived discrimination partly mediates the effects of morningness‐eveningness on positive and negative affect
Authors: Stolarski Maciej , Gorgol Joanna
Published: November 2023

The well‐established effects of evening preference on diminished well‐being and poorer mental health are usually explained in terms of common genetic bases of eveningness and negative emotionality and/or the discrepancy between biological and social clocks, experienced far more frequently by the Evening‐types. However, recent studies provide evidence for the negative stereotyping of evening chronotypes which may lead to unexpectedly pronounced social stigma and its consequences. The present article provides a seminal empirical analysis of the role of perceived chronotype‐related discrimination in the association between morningness‐eveningness and both positive affect and negative affect. The study was conducted on a gender‐balanced sample of 768 individuals aged between 18 and 56 years who filled measures of morningness‐eveningness, positive and negative affect, as well as a modified version of the Perceived Devaluation Discrimination scale, tentatively labeled Perceived Chronotype‐Related Discrimination scale (https://osf.io/urs8x/), developed to measure the sense of chronotype‐based discrimination. Conducted analyses provided evidence for a positive association between eveningness and perceived discrimination. Moreover, perceived discrimination partly mediated the associations between morningness‐eveningness and both positive affect and negative affect, explaining 18% and 29% of these effects, respectively. Hence, our results provide initial evidence for yet another mechanism through which chronotype may impact emotional functioning, namely the experience of chronotype‐based stigmatisation.
Depletion of tilmicosin residue in Gushi chickens following oral administration via drinking water
Authors: Zhang Mei , Qian Kun , Li Guang‐Hui , Duan Ming‐Hui , Li Ze‐En , Dai Yan , Chen Jun‐Cheng , Yang Fan
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to examine the depletion of tilmicosin residues in Gushi chickens following the administration at a concentration of 75 mg/L in their drinking water for three consecutive days. Plasma, liver, kidney, lung, muscle, and skin + fat samples were collected from 6 chickens at 6 h, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after the treatment. Tilmicosin concentrations in the samples were determined using a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The findings revealed that the highest tilmicosin residues were detected in the liver, followed by the kidney, lung, skin + fat, muscle, and plasma. Notably, at 7 days post‐treatment, no drug residue was detected in all samples except for the liver and kidney. The non‐compartmental model was employed to calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters. The elimination half‐lives (t1/2λz) of tilmicosin were as follows, ranked from long to short: skin + fat (45.42 h), liver (44.17 h), kidney (40.06 h), plasma (37.64 h), lung (31.39 h), and muscle (30.05 h). Considering the current residue depletion and the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by Chinese regulatory authorities, the withdrawal times for tilmicosin were estimated as 18.91, 10.81, and 8.58 days in the kidney, liver, and skin + fat, respectively. A rounded‐up value of 19 days was selected as the conclusive withdrawal time. Furthermore, based on the observed tilmicosin concentrations in plasma and lung, combined with previously reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Mycoplasma gallisepticum, the current dosing regimen was deemed adequate for treating Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in Gushi chickens.
Sensory evaluations of a novel iron and zinc‐enriched powder for the potential treatment and prevention of iron deficiency in women of reproductive age
Authors: Miller Clara H. , Sheyholislami Hauna , Burns Jessie L. , Connor Kristin L.
Published: November 2023

Iron deficiency (ID) and ID with anaemia (IDA) are serious global health problems that disproportionately affect women aged 15–49 years. Although food fortification is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to combat nutritional deficiencies, iron remains one of the most difficult micronutrients to fortify, given its tendency to react strongly with food constituents. Therefore, it is important to assess the sensory properties of foods fortified with iron to determine the acceptability and palatability in target populations. We aimed to determine the palatability and acceptability of a novel iron and zinc‐enriched powder fortified in tap water by conducting sensory evaluations in 35 women of reproductive age using a 9‐point hedonic scale, where participants rated the sensory properties of six samples containing different amounts of the active or placebo powder. We found significant differences between samples reconstituted at 1, 2, and 3 g/L for sensory properties, including overall taste. Participants were found to be more willing to drink the mineral‐enriched powder when prepared at the lowest concentration (1 g/L) compared to higher concentrations. Our results provide important insight into the sensory qualities of a novel formulation of an iron and zinc‐enriched powder for at‐home fortification and indicate consumer acceptability in reproductive‐aged women, a key group at risk for ID/IDA. If found to improve iron status, novel treatments like this product will contribute to global efforts to develop safe, acceptable and sustainable interventions for ID and IDA.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration after improvement of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Authors: Hirosawa Hiroaki , Maesaka Hiroki , Matsuda Noriyuki , Nukui Takamasa , Nakane Shunya , Nakatsuji Yuji
Published: November 2023

A 57‐year‐old man presented with progressive muscle weakness in the lower limbs, with elevated anti‐P/Q‐type voltage‐gated calcium channel antibody levels. A repetitive stimulation test showed waxing with high‐frequency stimulation. He was diagnosed with Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and small‐cell lung cancer. After four courses of cisplatin and etoposide, computed tomography showed a decrease in tumor size and muscle weakness improved. After 3 months, the patient presented with progressive ataxic gait and dysarthria and was admitted to our hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed slight cerebellar atrophy. We diagnosed the patient with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD)‐LEMS. The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, steroid pulse therapy, and plasmapheresis. The patient's cerebellar ataxia then improved. This represents a rare case of PCD‐LEMS after improvement of LEMS.
Exploring communication apprehension in nursing and healthcare education: A scoping review
Authors: Schulenberg Shannon , Oh Kyeung Mi , Goldberg Debora G. , Kreps Gary L.
Published: November 2023

Communication among healthcare professionals is critical to optimizing patient outcomes, and communication education is incorporated into the educational programs of healthcare professions students. Communication can be a source of stress for new healthcare professionals, however, there is a lack of research on communication apprehension (CA) in healthcare students, especially in nursing education. This scoping review sought to explore CA and factors associated with CA among healthcare professions students. This scoping review report was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (Tricco et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2018, 169, 467–473). Twenty studies of healthcare professions students were included for analysis. The percentage of health professions students with high CA ranged from 0.7% to 27%. Five out of seven intervention studies demonstrated a significant decrease in CA after the intervention. This review identified inconsistent associations between CA and various individual and educational factors. More research is needed utilizing rigorous research designs, designs employing qualitative methodology, and studies to investigate the impact of language on CA in health professions students who speak English as a second language.
Phosphoproteome analyses pinpoint the F‐box protein SLOW MOTION as a regulator of warm temperature‐mediated hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhu Shanshuo , Pan Lixia , Vu Lam Dai , Xu Xiangyu , Orosa‐Puente Beatriz , Zhu Tingting , Neyt Pia , van de Cotte Brigitte , Jacobs Thomas B. , Gendron Joshua M. , Spoel Steven H. , Gevaert Kris , De Smet Ive
Published: November 2023

Hypocotyl elongation is controlled by several signals and is a major characteristic of plants growing in darkness or under warm temperature. While already several molecular mechanisms associated with this process are known, protein degradation and associated E3 ligases have hardly been studied in the context of warm temperature.

In a time‐course phosphoproteome analysis on Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to control or warm ambient temperature, we observed reduced levels of diverse proteins over time, which could be due to transcription, translation, and/or degradation. In addition, we observed differential phosphorylation of the LRR F‐box protein SLOMO MOTION (SLOMO) at two serine residues.

We demonstrate that SLOMO is a negative regulator of hypocotyl growth, also under warm temperature conditions, and protein–protein interaction studies revealed possible interactors of SLOMO, such as MKK5, DWF1, and NCED4. We identified DWF1 as a likely SLOMO substrate and a regulator of warm temperature‐mediated hypocotyl growth.

We propose that warm temperature‐mediated regulation of SLOMO activity controls the abundance of hypocotyl growth regulators, such as DWF1, through ubiquitin‐mediated degradation.
Mana Wahine reworking the power to name taonga
Authors: Ringham Sandi
Published: November 2023

The capacity of Indigenous peoples to officially name taonga species (flora and fauna) within taxonomy signifies resilience and a reworking of western scientific processes and institutions. This article explores the ways in which Ngāti Kuri women contribute to environmental justice through the naming of taonga species. Ngāti Kuri were the first tribe in the world to install a tribal name into the co‐authorship of a nomenclature. The article explores the ways in which Ngāti Kuri women, both past and present, rework environmental relationships and knowledge in both tribal and non‐tribal spaces in Aotearoa's most northern region.
Full‐length sequence of the novel HLA‐B*18:01:01:73 allele by next generation sequencing in a Greek individual
Authors: Kouniaki Diamanto , Fotopoulos Konstantinos , Stamati Vaia , Tsirogianni Alexandra
Published: November 2023

HLA‐B*18:01:01:73 differs from HLA‐B*18:01:01:02 by one nucleotide substitution in intron 2.
A novel homozygous splice‐site mutation of JK gene leads to Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype
Authors: Yang Jiaxuan , Ni Lina , Li Aijing , Li Minghao , Ruan Shulin , Xiang Dong , Zhu Ziyan , Ye Luyi
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype in a Chinese transfusion patient.

Background

Many different mutation types relating to Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype have been reported. However, the splice‐site mutation is relatively rare and the related functional verification is lacking.

Materials and Methods

In this study, the blood sample was collected from a transfusion patient with the Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype. Serotyping was performed using routine serological methods. The exons sequences and coding regions of the JK gene were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. To perform a minigene splicing assay, the intronic mutation sequences were cloned into a pSPL3 splice reporting vector. The splicing reporter minigene assay was performed in HEK 293T cells.

Results

The Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype of the blood sample was identified through serological testing. Sequencing results revealed that the sample had a novel homozygous splice‐site mutation JK*02N (NM_015865.7: c.663+3A>C). Further analysis, including cDNA sequencing and minigene splicing assay, confirmed that the novel splice‐site mutation resulted in exon skipping. Interestingly, different numbers of exons being skipped were obtained by the two methods.

Conclusion

This study revealed a novel homozygous splicing‐site mutation associated with the Jk(a‐b‐) phenotype in Chinese population. Our results emphasise the importance of the in vitro functional method minigene splicing assay, while also acknowledging its potential limitations when compared to cDNA sequencing.
Autumn Migration of Greater Noctule Bat (Nyctalus Lasiopterus): through Countries and over Mountains to a New Migration Flight Record in Bats
Authors: Vasenkov D. A. , Vasiliev N. S. , Sidorchuk N. V. , Rozhnov V. V.
Published: November 2023

Abstract—

For the first time, using GPS-GSM trackers, long-term seasonal flights of greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) from summer habitats in Russia to wintering areas in Europe are recorded. One of the seasonal migratory flights is a record distance for bats (2515 km). The maximum daily flight was 445 km. One of the animals abruptly changed the direction of migration from southwest to north on the third day of flight after crossing the Kursk magnetic anomaly.
Elastic properties and mechanical stability of bilayer graphene: molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Herrero Carlos P. , Ramírez Rafael
Published: November 2023

Graphene has become in last decades a paradigmatic example of two-dimensional and so-called van-der-Waals layered materials, showing large anisotropy in their physical properties. Here, we study the elastic properties and mechanical stability of graphene bilayers in a wide temperature range by molecular dynamics simulations. We concentrate on in-plane elastic constants and compression modulus, as well as on the atomic motion in the out-of-plane direction. Special emphasis is placed upon the influence of anharmonicity of the vibrational modes on the physical properties of bilayer graphene. We consider the excess area appearing in the presence of ripples in graphene sheets at finite temperatures. The in-plane compression modulus of bilayer graphene is found to decrease for rising temperature, and results to be higher than for monolayer graphene. We analyze the mechanical instability of the bilayer caused by an in-plane compressive stress. This defines a spinodal pressure for the metastability limit of the material, which depends on the system size. Finite-size effects are described by power laws for the out-of-plane mean-square fluctuation, compression modulus, and spinodal pressure. Further insight into the significance of our results for bilayer graphene is gained from a comparison with data for monolayer graphene and graphite.

Graphic abstract
Retrieval for Extremely Long Queries and Documents with RPRS: A Highly Efficient and Effective Transformer-based Re-Ranker
Authors: Askari Arian , Verberne Suzan , Abolghasemi Amin , Kraaij Wessel , Pasi Gabriella
Published: November 2023

Retrieval with extremely long queries and documents is a well-known and challenging task in information retrieval and is commonly known as Query-by-Document (QBD) retrieval. Specifically designed Transformer models that can handle long input sequences have not shown high effectiveness in QBD tasks in previous work. We propose a Re-Ranker based on the novel Proportional Relevance Score (RPRS) to compute the relevance score between a query and the top-
k
candidate documents. Our extensive evaluation shows RPRS obtains significantly better results than the state-of-the-art models on five different datasets. Furthermore, RPRS is highly efficient, since all documents can be pre-processed, embedded, and indexed before query time that gives our re-ranker the advantage of having a complexity of
O(N)
, where
N
is the total number of sentences in the query and candidate documents. Furthermore, our method solves the problem of the low-resource training in QBD retrieval tasks as it does not need large amounts of training data and has only three parameters with a limited range that can be optimized with a grid search even if a small amount of labeled data is available. Our detailed analysis shows that RPRS benefits from covering the full length of candidate documents and queries.
Stopping Methods for Technology-assisted Reviews Based on Point Processes
Authors: Stevenson Mark , Bin-Hezam Reem
Published: November 2023

Technology-assisted Review (TAR), which aims to reduce the effort required to screen collections of documents for relevance, is used to develop systematic reviews of medical evidence and identify documents that must be disclosed in response to legal proceedings. Stopping methods are algorithms that determine when to stop screening documents during the TAR process, helping to ensure that workload is minimised while still achieving a high level of recall. This article proposes a novel stopping method based on point processes, which are statistical models that can be used to represent the occurrence of random events. The approach uses rate functions to model the occurrence of relevant documents in the ranking and compares four candidates, including one that has not previously been used for this purpose (hyperbolic). Evaluation is carried out using standard datasets (CLEF e-Health, TREC Total Recall, TREC Legal), and this work is the first to explore stopping method robustness by reporting performance on a range of rankings of varying effectiveness. Results show that the proposed method achieves the desired level of recall without requiring an excessive number of documents to be examined in the majority of cases and also compares well against multiple alternative approaches.
Stochastic Approximation for Estimating the Price of Stability in Stochastic Nash Games
Authors: Jalilzadeh Afrooz , Yousefian Farzad , Ebrahimi Mohammadjavad
Published: November 2023

The goal in this article is to approximate the Price of Stability (PoS) in stochastic Nash games using stochastic approximation (SA) schemes. PoS is among the most popular metrics in game theory and provides an avenue for estimating the efficiency of Nash games. In particular, evaluating the PoS can help with designing efficient networked systems, including communication networks and power market mechanisms. Motivated by the absence of efficient methods for computing the PoS, first we consider stochastic optimization problems with a nonsmooth and merely convex objective function and a merely monotone stochastic variational inequality (SVI) constraint. This problem appears in the numerator of the PoS ratio. We develop a randomized block-coordinate stochastic extra-(sub)gradient method where we employ a novel iterative penalization scheme to account for the mapping of the SVI in each of the two gradient updates of the algorithm. We obtain an iteration complexity of the order ϵ
-4
that appears to be best known result for this class of constrained stochastic optimization problems, where ϵ denotes an arbitrary bound on suitably defined infeasibility and suboptimality metrics. Second, we develop an SA-based scheme for approximating the PoS and derive lower and upper bounds on the approximation error. To validate the theoretical findings, we provide preliminary simulation results on a networked stochastic Nash Cournot competition.
Single-Layer Differential-Fed Wideband Metasurface Antenna Using Characteristic Mode Analysis
Authors: Huang Chao , Guo Chen-Jiang , Yuan Yi , Ma Xia , Ding Jun
Published: November 2023

A single-layer differential-fed (DF) wideband metasurface (MTS) antenna is proposed in this paper. As the prototype, a three-by-three MTS formed by identical rectangular patches is investigated at first. We observe that there are many unwanted higher-order modes (HOMs) resonating near the wanted fundamental mode. Two probes with differential signals feed MTS on its centerline to suppress the majority of HOMs. The remaining HOM can be removed from the discussed frequency range by modifying the prototype MTS to a nonuniform structure. Then, the optimal feeding positions (FPs) are determined by a quantitative prediction of the impendence bandwidth (IBW) without any physical feeds involved. The processes of HOMs suppression and FPs determination are based on characteristic mode analysis with the virtual probes. Moreover, two interdigital capacitor plates are loaded on the probes to improve the impedance matching of the antenna. Finally, the proposed DF MTS antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured −10-dB IBW is 18.4% (4.93 to 5.93 GHz) with broadside radiation, stable high gains, and front-to-back ratios better than 21 dB.
Hepatobiliary Brucellosis: Brucella Bacteremia Presenting with Refractory Hepatobiliary Infection
Authors: El Hallak Dania , Al Habbal Mae , Zorkot Wael Hassan
Published: November 2023

Brucellosis often presents with common and nonspecific symptoms such as fever, malaise, and arthralgia but can also involve primary organs. Intra-abdominal involvement is rare. We report a case of hepatobiliary brucellosis presenting as a refractory hepatobiliary infection in a healthy young adult with no underlying rheumatologic disease or history of exposure to risk factors. Detection of Brucella in the blood led to a shift in the patient’s management and consequently her recovery.
Effects of FeNi3 Nanoparticles and Coal Slag on Mechanical and Durability Properties of Concrete against Acidic Environments
Authors: Rezayt Khargerdi Hossein , Movahedifar Seyed Mojtaba , Motavalizadehkakhky Alireza , Honarbakhsh Amin , Zhiani Rahele
Published: November 2023

In recent years, natural pozzolans have been proposed as a way to improve the mechanical and biocompatible properties of concrete. This study investigated the effects of different amounts of nanoparticles, coal slag pozzolan, and their combination on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. For each mixed design, nine cubic samples of 10 × 10 × 10 cm and 30 × 15 cm were made and then cured in water for 28 days before being tested for compressive and tensile strength. According to the results, pozzolan at about 5% of cement weight increased the compressive strength of concrete compared to samples without pozzolan. Nanoparticles of FeNi3 greatly enhanced the compressive and tensile strength of concrete in most samples containing nanoparticles. The compressive and tensile strength of 28-day concrete increased by 27% and 18%, respectively. Pozzolan (10%) and 2% of FeNi3 (CP10F2) in concrete also reduced the water absorption of the samples, which can improve the durability parameters of concrete. In concrete exposed to sulfuric acid, sample CP0F2 (2% of FeNi3 nanoparticles) had a positive effect on compressive strength, and samples containing 2% of FeNi3 nanoparticles had higher compressive strength than those with pozzolan replacing cement. The simultaneous use of coal slag and FeNi3 nanoparticles has increased the mechanical properties and durability of concrete in addition to reducing cement consumption.
On the Global Asymptotic Stability and 4-Period Oscillation of the Third-Order Difference Equation
Authors: Erdogan M. E.
Published: November 2023

The main objective of this paper is to study the global behavior and oscillation of the following third-order rational difference equation

x

n
+
1

=
α

x

n

x

n
−
1

x

n
−
2

/
β

x

n
−
1

2

+
γ

x

n
−
2

2

, where the initial conditions

x

−
2

,

x

−
1

,

x

0

are nonzero real numbers and

α
,
β
,
γ

are positive constants such that

α
≤
β
+
γ

. Visual examples supporting solutions are given at the end of the study. The figures are found with the help of MATLAB.