bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Polymeric Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Carriers to Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Jin Lian , Nie Libo , Deng Yan , Khana Ghulam Jilany , He Nongyue
Published: February 2025

In spite of great advances in modern medicine, there are a few effective strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases characterised by neuron loss or degeneration. This results from complex pathogenesis of the diseases and the limited drug uptake of the brain due to the presence of blood‐brain barrier. Nanoparticle‐based drug delivery systems are expected to improve the drug utilisation. Polymeric nanoparticles represent promising drug delivery carriers to the brain due to their unique advantages such as good biodegradability and biocompatibility, flexibility in surface modification and nontoxicity. In addition, the delivery of genetic drugs may stop the progression of neurodegenerative diseases at the genetic level and even avoid the irreversible damage in the central nervous system. In this review, an overview of studies on polymer‐based nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system in typical neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's diseases and Parkinson's diseases, is described. Meanwhile, their applications in gene delivery in these disorders are discussed. And the challenges and future perspectives for the development of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers in neurodegenerative diseases are concluded.
Efficacy and hypoglycaemia outcomes with once‐weekly insulin icodec versus once‐daily basal insulin in individuals with type 2 diabetes by kidney function: A post hoc participant‐level analysis of the ONWARDS 1–5 trials
Authors: Rossing Peter , Benamar Malik , Cheng Alice Y. Y. , Kumar Bharath , Laugesen Christian , Bajaj Harpreet S.
Published: February 2025

Aim

This post hoc analysis of ONWARDS 1–5 assessed the efficacy and hypoglycaemia outcomes with once‐weekly insulin icodec (icodec) versus once‐daily basal insulin comparators (degludec, glargine U100 or glargine U300) in insulin‐naive (ONWARDS 1, 3 and 5) and insulin‐experienced (ONWARDS 2 and 4) adults (aged ≥18 years) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) by kidney function subgroup.

Materials and Methods

Treatment outcomes were analysed by trial according to kidney function subgroup (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥90; eGFR 60–<90; eGFR 30–<60; eGFR <30; all mL/min/1.73m2). Severe kidney function impairment (eGFR <30) at screening was an exclusion criterion for ONWARDS 1–4, but not ONWARDS 5.

Results

ONWARDS 1–5 included 3765 participants; 3763 were included in this analysis. In ONWARDS 1, 3 and 5, there were no statistically significant treatment interactions by kidney function subgroup for change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to end of treatment (EOT); there were statistically significant subgroup interactions in ONWARDS 2 and 4 (both p‐interaction <0.05). Change in body weight (baseline to EOT) across kidney function subgroups was comparable between treatment arms. Across trials, there was no consistent trend by kidney function subgroup for mean weekly insulin dose during the last 2 weeks of treatment or rates of combined clinically significant or severe hypoglycaemia. There were no statistically significant treatment interactions by kidney function subgroup for the achievement of HbA1c <7% without clinically significant or severe hypoglycaemia; all p‐interaction >0.05.

Conclusions

Efficacy and hypoglycaemia outcomes of icodec versus once‐daily comparators were generally consistent among adults with T2D, regardless of kidney function.
A DiRECT approach to weight loss in a culturally diverse, low‐income population: Pilot randomised controlled trial and meta‐analysis of similar interventions
Authors: Campbell Kate , Ashton Natalie , Peddie Meredith C. , Ma'ia'i Kim , Camp Justine , Mann Jim , Reynolds Andrew N.
Published: February 2025

Aims

To consider an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight loss in type 2 diabetes or prediabetes when delivered within a primary care service catering to indigenous (Māori), Pacific, refugee, and low‐income clientele.

Materials and Methods

Adults with obesity, type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and a desire to lose weight were randomised to dietitian‐supported usual care or the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT)‐type intervention (3 months of total diet replacement followed by 9 months of food reintroduction and supported weight loss maintenance). Both interventions included equal dietetic support delivered within primary care. Primary outcome was weight loss at 3 and 12 months. We performed random‐effects meta‐analysis of body weight of existing DiRECT‐type interventions.

Results

Forty participants were randomised to the dietitian‐led DiRECT‐type intervention or dietitian‐supported usual care. At 3 months, weight loss among DiRECT‐type intervention participants was −6.1 kg (95% CI −10.2, −2.0) greater than with dietetic support. At 12 months, this difference decreased to −3.8 kg (−7.6, −0.1) due to gradual weight loss with dietitian‐supported usual care, not weight regain in DiRECT. Meta‐analyses indicated −8.5 kg (−11.1, −5.9) and −6.0 kg (−8.4, −3.5) greater weight loss for DiRECT‐type interventions than usual diabetes care (with or without dietary advice) at 3 and 12 months.

Conclusions

In this pilot effectiveness trial, the DiRECT‐type intervention generated clinically relevant and greater weight loss than dietitian‐supported usual care at 3 and 12 months. These results align with the effect sizes generated by meta‐analyses of existing DiRECT‐type interventions, demonstrating the potential use of DiRECT‐type approaches across a much broader spectrum of the population than previously considered including those with both type 2 and prediabetes. ACTRN12622000151730.
The real‐life experiences of people living with overweight and obesity: A psychosocial perspective
Authors: Flint Stuart W. , Vázquez‐Velázquez Verónica , Le Brocq Sarah , Brown Adrian
Published: February 2025

Understanding the lived experience of obesity, just like any other chronic outcome, is essential to addressing deep routed inequalities and stigma associated with obesity, as well as creating more inclusive and effective policies and healthcare. The psychosocial aspects of obesity are vast and as such the lived experience of obesity differs between individuals and groups. However, there are consistent psychosocial issues identified within empirical studies as well as lived experience accounts that require consideration and potential adaption in the design and delivery of care including weight management and obesity services. Improving perceptions and understanding of the lived experience can also foster empathy which appears to be lacking based on research examining everyday encounters, media portrayal of people living with obesity, and in healthcare settings. Stigma and discrimination are consistent and, in some instances, occur daily in many societal settings leading to mental and physical health concerns, social disengagement and dysfunctional relationships with significant others, as well as avoidance of health promoting activities and settings. Using a narrative review approach, our aim was to examine the empirical evidence generated in countries across the world, reporting on the real‐life experiences of people living with obesity. Our search strategy was informed by existing empirical evidence of the psychosocial aspects of obesity and an in‐depth interview exploring the lived experience of obesity specifically conducted to inform this article. In doing so, we highlight key psychosocial aspects and provide a voice for a personal account of the challenges experienced in child and adulthood. Recommendations are offered for stakeholders including policymakers and practitioners that aim to address these real‐life challenges experienced by people living with obesity.
Do Firms Pollute Less in Special Economic Zones? Firm‐Level Evidence From China
Authors: Zhang Lihua , Gan Tian , Xu Zheng
Published: February 2025

Using micro‐level data, this paper examines the effects of special economic zones (SEZs) on firms' pollution emissions in China. Our results show that the establishment of SEZs in China lowers SEZ firms' air pollution by at least 13%. Incumbents play the major role in generating this effect. Surrounding non‐SEZ firms' emissions also decrease through spillover effects. We also employ the boundary discontinuity difference‐in‐differences (BD‐DID) approach to tackle the endogeneity problem. Our results are robust when focusing on SEZs whose boundaries are more exogenous to local firms. SEZs' export promotion, innovation stimulation, environmental regulation and public abatement facilities potentially contribute to these effects.
Rethinking Schools: Transformative Hope and Utopian Possibility
Authors: Webb Darren
Published: February 2025

This article explores the work of Rethinking Schools (RS). RS is at one and the same time a grassroots movement of teacher‐activists, a quarterly journal, and a publishing house. For almost four decades the movement has sought to enact Freirean‐inspired curricular/pedagogical initiatives within US public schooling. What makes the work of RS significant is the way it connects critical pedagogy to specific examples of concrete practice. It thus provides an invaluable corrective to the abstruseness and high levels of theoretical abstraction one finds in critical pedagogy as an academic field. Of particular interest is the explicitly utopian dimension to the work of the movement. Underpinning all the curriculum materials, resources, lesson plans, reading lists, and pedagogical strategies is a desire to provide children and young people with an opportunity to flex their utopian imaginations. Drawing on Freirean theory to reflect on the practice of the movement, Webb highlights the ways in which RS finds utopian possibility blooming in that most unpromising of grounds — public schooling. While the context for utopian praxis feels unpropitious to say the least, Rethinking Schools offers a corrective to doom‐laden assessments of the scope for radical pedagogical initiatives within public schooling, not only in the US but more widely.
Broadening and Deepening Teachers' Professional Vision through Science and Scientific Theories: A Conversation between John Dewey and Hans‐Georg Gadamer
Authors: Edling Silvia
Published: February 2025

While some researchers argue that theories and abstract knowledge are unreliable bases for teachers' work, a wide range of research stresses the need to overcome the gap between theory and practice, or abstract academic knowledge and experience‐based knowledge. Here, Silvia Edling maintains that it is relevant to ask why the relationship is necessary in the first place and in so doing revive the notions of teacher seeing in education. The purpose of this article is to contribute knowledge about the role of teacher vision by turning to how two different theoretical researchers, John Dewey and Hans‐Georg Gadamer, approach the notion of vision and its related concepts in relation to science. Aided by a hermeneutic conversation, the article provides a roadmap of similarities and differences between Dewey and Gadamer that can facilitate more nuanced reflections and deliberations among teachers and educational researchers on the meaning and usefulness of stimulating a broad and deep repertoire for teacher's professional vision.
Termites group size affects termitophiles survival: Exploring the Constrictotermes–Corotoca relationship
Authors: Lira Derick , de Melo Ellen Alves , de Oliveira Mário Herculano , do Socorro Lacerda‐Rolim Maria , de Oliveira Giovana Mendonça , Eloi Igor , Bezerra‐Gusmão Maria Avany
Published: February 2025

Termites are social insects that form large groups and share complex behaviors among nestmates to promote the well‐being of their colony members. The benefits of living in termite groups can also be appealing to non‐related organisms, such as termitophiles, which directly benefit from interactions with termites by being fed, cared for and protected. To date, no study has investigated whether the benefits associated with life in large termite groups extend beyond the termites themselves and benefit other associated opportunistic organisms. Here, we evaluated the effect of the host termite group size of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) (Blattaria: Termitidae) on the survival time of two species of termitophilous beetles of the genus Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Survival bioassays were conducted with termitophiles confined with different group sizes of termite workers. We observed that termite group size is an important factor for the survival of both tested species of termitophiles. Overall, the mean time to death of termitophiles increases with the size of the termite group. Our results suggest that the benefits associated with being in larger termite groups may potentially extend beyond the host species and mitigate negative effects for their guests.
Deepening Awareness of Circular Economy Concepts in the Textile Sector Among University Students
Authors: López Portillo Pilar , Gutiérrez Duarte María Victoria , Muñoz‐Sepúlveda Jesús A. , Hilliard Ivan
Published: February 2025

Any attempt to reverse the catastrophic consequences of climate change requires adaptation or mitigation measures. These measures can be implemented both at institutional and individual levels. For these measures to be effective, it is essential that economic agents are aware of the consequences of their decisions. This article presents the results of an activity carried out with university students to help strengthen their understanding of environmental protection. Specifically, it focuses on the implementation of a circular economy system in the textile sector. The aim is for students to gain a higher level of knowledge about the production, consumption and recycling of their clothes and discover how the circular economy can contribute to sustainability goals and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Cognitive Outcomes of Advanced Therapies in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of Apomorphine and Levodopa–Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Therapies
Authors: Longo Chiara , Papagno Costanza
Published: February 2025

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) treatments, such as apomorphine (APO) and levodopa–carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG), represent advanced therapeutic options for managing motor symptoms. However, clear selection criteria and well‐defined cognitive outcomes are lacking. This systematic review specifically aimed to address these gaps by assessing the cognitive impact of APO and LCIG in PD patients.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. Two authors screened studies based on key inclusion criteria, including at least two cognitive tests, and a follow‐up of 6 months or more. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results

Fifteen studies were identified (7 APO and 8 LCIG). APO generally preserved cognitive function over a 12‐month follow‐up, with some decreases in visuospatial memory and executive functions. LCIG, with a 28‐month follow‐up, showed more extensive cognitive decline, particularly in patients with pre‐existing impairments. Variability in cognitive tests made direct comparisons difficult.

Discussion

APO may have a more favorable cognitive profile than LCIG. However, differences in follow‐up duration, moderate risk of bias, and inconsistent cognitive assessments warrant cautious interpretation. Improved patient selection and comprehensive cognitive evaluations are recommended for future practice.
Seizure control and pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with epilepsy: A prospective multicenter cohort study
Authors: Hao Nanya , Abdulaziz Ammar T. , Lu Lu , Chen Yujie , Li Tao , Liu Jie , Lin Xu , Chen Lei , Hao Xiaoting , Li Jinmei , Wu Xintong , O'Brien Terence J. , Sander Josemir W. , Zhou Dong
Published: February 2025

Objective

Data on seizure and pregnancy outcomes in Asian women with epilepsy are limited. We used a Chinese pregnancy registry to assess the impact of seizures and antiseizure medications (ASMs) on pregnant women with epilepsy and their children.

Methods

This is an ongoing prospective multicenter study of pregnant women with epilepsy that has been running since 2012. Eligible participants were consecutively enrolled and had multiple follow‐ups up to one year after delivery. We assessed ASM use and seizure frequency during pregnancy to establish potential effects on the mothers and infants and to identify relevant correlations. Descriptive analysis was used to estimate proportions. Logistic regression was used to identify the relevant risk factors and correlations.

Results

Of 1907 potentially eligible pregnancies, we included 1763 in 1483 women with known outcomes from January 2012 to February 2022. There were 1278 completed pregnancies, resulting in 1270 live births. Tonic–clonic seizures occurred in fewer than one‐third of pregnancies in each trimester. Compared with baseline, seizure frequency remained relatively stable throughout approximately two‐thirds of the pregnancies. The majority were on ASM, with levetiracetam (39%), oxcarbazepine (19%), and lamotrigine (17.5%) being the most commonly used. In contrast, only 14.2% of pregnancies were exposed to valproate (VPA). There was a declining trend in treatment adjustments over the course of the pregnancy, with most changes occurring in the first trimester. The incidence of major congenital malformation (MCM) was 4.4%, with cardiogenic and orofacial anomalies being the most common. VPA use (p < .001), lack of folic acid use (p = .009), positive family history of MCM (p = .006), and topiramate (TPM) use (p = .04) were the most important predictors of MCM.

Significance

Seizure control remained stable for the majority of women with epilepsy throughout pregnancy. Family history of MCM, VPA use, TPM use, and not taking folic acid were strong predictors of MCM in infants born to women with epilepsy.
Fracture margin sequestration in mandibular fractures in three horses: Radiographic, computed tomographic and histological appearance
Authors: Aßmann A. D. , Donati B. , Geyer H. , Theiss F. , Bischofberger A. S.
Published: February 2025

Three horses with mandibular fractures (two chronic and one acute) were referred for fixation. Clinical signs, radiographical findings, computed tomography (CT) appearance of fractures and complicating fracture margin sequestra were documented and histology performed. The chronic fractures were treated with an external skeletal fixator type I (Horse 1) and an internally applied locking compression plates (LCP) (Horse 3). Horse 2 (acute fracture) was treated with an LCP applied as external fixator type I. All horses developed fracture margin sequestration visible radiographically and on CT, representing three parallel zigzagging radiolucent/hypoattenuating lines, consistent of a central fracture line, paralleled by two elongated sequestra and additional parallel demineralised lines separating the sequestra from the parent bone. Horses 1 and 2 were euthanised. Histology showed sequestra of the fracture margins, osteoclasts and inflammatory cells. In Horse 3, the fracture healed and the implants were removed. Drainage persisted for 3 years post‐operatively due to the non‐accessible fracture margin sequestra. Possible aetiology of fracture margin sequestration included motion in the region of the fracture, infection and disruption of the mandibular blood supply.
Crystal structure of Anopheles gambiae actin depolymerizing factor explains high affinity to monomeric actin
Authors: Lasiwa Devaki , Kursula Inari
Published: February 2025

Actin is an intrinsically dynamic protein, the function and state of which are modulated by actin‐binding proteins. Actin‐depolymerizing factors (ADF)/cofilins are ubiquitous actin‐binding proteins that accelerate actin turnover. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which belong to the phylum Apicomplexa. The parasites require two hosts to complete their life cycle: the definitive host, or the vector, an Anopheles spp. mosquito, and a vertebrate intermediate host, such as humans. Here, the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae ADF (AgADF) crystal structure is reported. AgADF has a conserved ADF/cofilin fold with six central β‐strands surrounded by five α‐helices with a long β‐hairpin loop protruding out of the structure. The G‐ and F‐actin‐binding sites of AgADF are conserved, and the structure shows features of potential importance for regulation by membrane binding and redox state. AgADF binds monomeric ATP‐ and ADP‐actin with a high affinity, having a nanomolar Kd, and binds effectively also to actin filaments.
Structure predictions of MuRF1‐UBE2 complexes identify amino acid residues governing interaction selectivity for each MuRF1‐E2 pair
Authors: Claustre Agnès , Malige Mélodie , Macheton Maëlys , Combaret Lydie , Lefai Etienne , Fafournoux Pierre , Taillandier Daniel , Henri Julien , Polge Cécile
Published: February 2025

The RING‐type E3 ubiquitin–protein ligase MuRF1 (also known as TRIM63) plays an important role in skeletal muscle atrophy by targeting contractile proteins. In cellulo, MuRF1 can alternatively interact with four E2 enzymes (UBE2E1, UBE2J1, UBE2J2, or UBE2L3), suggesting different functions or targets for the four MuRF1‐E2 complexes. In this article, we studied the interface of these MuRF1‐UBE2 complexes based on AlphaFold2 and AlphaFold3 predictions. These predictions revealed the involvement of different residues at the interface of each complex. We confirmed this overall interface difference by the differential sensitivity of MuRF1‐E2 complexes to regenerating solutions in surface plasmon resonance experiments. We further confirmed several predictions individually by affinity measurements with point‐mutant E2 enzymes and truncated MuRF1. We used the interaction‐induced fluorescence change approach with fluorescent MuRF1. Besides canonical E2‐RING‐type E3 interactions, we were able to identify selective contact points between MuRF1 and its UBE2 partners. Furthermore, in the case of the MuRF1‐E2E1 pair, unlike the other MuRF1‐E2 pairs, the interaction may also be governed by a domain outside the RING domain. Since the function of RING‐type E3s is regulated by E2 enzymes, deciphering the mechanisms of selective recruitment of E2s by MuRF1 paves the way for the development of targeted therapeutics to fight muscle atrophy.
Molecular mechanisms of hotspot variants in cytoskeletal β‐actin associated with Baraitser–Winter syndrome
Authors: Greve Johannes N. , Manstein Dietmar J.
Published: February 2025

Baraitser–Winter cerebrofrontofacial syndrome (BWCFF) is the most common and best‐defined clinical entity associated with heterozygous single‐point missense mutations in cytoskeletal β‐actin. Patients present with distinct craniofacial anomalies and neurodevelopmental disabilities of variable severity. To date, the most frequently observed variants affect residue R196 of cytoskeletal β‐actin. Patients carrying the p.R196 variants are likely to suffer from pachygyria, probably due to neuronal migration defects contributing to the development of abnormal convolutions of the cerebral cortex. Here, we report on the recombinant production, purification and characterization of the BWCFF hotspot variants p.R196H, p.R196C and p.R196S. Our findings reveal that the stability of the monomeric variants remains unaffected, suggesting that the disease mechanism involves the incorporation of these variants into actin filaments. This incorporation alters F‐actin stability and polymerization dynamics to varying degrees, depending on the specific variant. These effects are consistent with the positioning of residue R196 near the helical filament axis. Observed changes include an increased critical concentration for polymerization, reduced elongation rates and accelerated filament depolymerization. Within the actin‐related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3)‐generated branch junction complex, which is critical for processes such as cell migration and endocytosis, residue R196 is located at the interface between the first protomer of the nucleated filament and the Arp2 subunit. Variant p.R196H specifically results in reduced branching efficiency and impaired branch stability. Future research will seek to elucidate the impact of these actin filament defects on cellular processes and their contribution to the multifaceted pathophysiology of BWCFF, with a particular emphasis on cortical development.
Effect of Pore Size on the High Cycle Fatigue Property of Al‐Si‐Mg Alloy for High Speed Train Gearbox Housing
Authors: Li He‐Fei , Wang Xiao‐Peng , Yang Shao‐Pu , Liu Yong‐Qiang , Zhang Jian‐Chao , Cai Guo‐Jie
Published: February 2025

Casting defects are the important factors in casting aluminum alloy, which would significantly reduce the fatigue life of engineering components. In this study, the quantitative relationship between the pore size and high cycle fatigue property of Al‐Si‐Mg alloy for high‐speed train gearbox housing was systematically studied. The projected areas of pores within the fracture zone for all failed specimens were systematically measured. The equivalent diameter of most pore defects is less than 400 μm, and the median equivalent diameter of the pore defects is 280 μm. The effect of pore size on the fatigue life of Al‐Si‐Mg alloy is expressed by the improved Shiozama model, which can explain its fatigue life dispersion. Additionally, the critical defect size of Al‐Si‐Mg alloy calculated by the standard KT diagram is 276 μm. The results would provide a theoretical basis for the manufacturing process and evaluation standards of high‐speed train gearbox housing.
The Roles of Discrete Populations of Neurons Expressing Short Neuropeptide F in Sleep Induction in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Stonemetz Jamie M. , Chantzi Nikoleta , Perkins Emily L. , Peralta Aaliyah J. , Possidente Debra R. , Tagariello John P. , Bennett Marryn M. , Alnassar Hooralain , Dacks Andrew M. , Vecsey Christopher G.
Published: February 2025

Sleep is of vital importance in our lives, yet we are far from understanding the neuronal networks that control the amount and timing of sleep. There is substantial conservation of known sleep‐regulating transmitters, allowing for studies in simpler organisms to lead the way in gaining insight into the organization of sleep control circuits. In Drosophila melanogaster, we recently showed that optogenetic activation of neurons that produce the neuropeptide Y (NPY)‐related transmitter short neuropeptide F (sNPF) increases time spent asleep. However, sNPF is expressed in several neuronal populations, and thus it is unknown which of those populations play roles in the sleep‐promoting effect. In this study, we addressed this issue using a genetic approach to limit optogenetic activation to subsets of sNPF‐expressing neurons. We found that sleep promotion was shorter‐lived when cryptochrome (CRY)‐positive neurons were excluded from being activated. Pigment‐dispersing factor (PDF) neurons were not required for sleep promotion, nor were mushroom body (MB) neurons. Acute reactions to a short, 10‐s period of optogenetic activation were largely unchanged by excluding activation of the three neuronal populations mentioned above. Together, these results suggest that clock neurons that are CRY‐positive and PDF‐negative are important contributors to the long‐lasting sleep promotion produced by sNPF neuron activation. However, other neurons targeted by the sNPF‐GAL4 driver appear to mediate the more rapid behavioral responses. Future studies will seek to identify these additional sNPF neuron populations and to determine how sNPF‐expressing clock neurons act in concert with other neuronal circuits to promote sleep.
Comparisons Between Robbery and Break‐And‐Enter: Area‐Specific Trends, Socioeconomic Risk Factors, and Hotspots Analysis Using a Bayesian Spatial and Spatiotemporal Approach
Authors: Law Jane , Abdullah Abu Yousuf Md
Published: February 2025

Robbery and break‐and‐enter (BE) crimes require investigations into how these contrasting crimes co‐occur. Utilizing robbery and BE data from the City of Toronto in Canada, this study analyzed the mean and area‐specific crime trends, their risk factors, and the shared and crime‐specific risk and hotspot areas. Results suggest an increase in robbery (0.23, 95% credible interval (CI): 0.17–0.29) and BE (0.08, 95% CI: 0.04–0.12) crimes during 2021–2022, revealing the most prominent area‐specific trends in northwest and northeastern Toronto. The findings suggest that spatially lagged variables can offer deeper insights into complex spatial interactions of real‐life factors that influence crime. Robberies were positively associated with the household and dwellings indicator (2021 Ontario Marginalization Index) but not its spatial lag, while BE crimes had no direct association with it but showed a positive association with its spatial lag. Neighborhoods in northwestern, northeastern, and southcentral parts of Toronto were hotspots of robberies, while southcentral and northwestern parts were at elevated risk due to BE. The findings demonstrate the complexities associated with the co‐occurrence of multiple crime types and highlight the need for more unified and integrated theories to contextualize neighborhood effects of crime determinants and their impact on crimes.
Singing Community in Martin Luther's Kirchenlieder
Authors: Strouss Evan
Published: February 2025

In this essay, I claim that Martin Luther's Kirchenlieder can be read as Volkslieder, a reading  which allows us to account for their function of consolidating identity through communal singing. Luther's songs, I argue, are activated in their being voiced—voice, here, understood in a non‐metaphorical mode, as the material utterance of a singing community. These texts have often been understood as efficient vehicles of doctrine, but their role in calling a Volk into being remains underexamined. I begin by outlining Luther's theory of music and the voice's important role therein before closely reading key hymns in order to attend to their communal function. The Volk they implicate is, in Luther's time, not yet embroiled in nationalist ideology. It can, I argue, nevertheless be productively examined on the horizon of later nationalist identity, which I demonstrate in dialogue with early twentieth‐century critics who take up these songs.
Irrigation Strategies for Tall Fescue Under Grazing in a Humid Subtropical Temperate Climate
Authors: Puppo L. , Hayashi R. , Boggiano P. , Ernst J. M. , Beretta A. , Morales P.
Published: February 2025

During the last 10 years, there has been a rapid expansion of irrigation in pastures in Uruguay. It is necessary to define the irrigation management under grazing conditions to achieve the best balance between productivity and the sustainability of natural resources. A trial was established with the drought‐sensitive Festuca arundinacea Schreb. cultivar INIA Aurora under grazing. During two and a half years, the following treatments were evaluated: frequent irrigation (T1), which was applied whenever 30% of the available water was depleted; spaced irrigation (T2), which was applied whenever 65% of the available water was depleted and rainfed treatment, which only received rainwater. The experimental design was a randomised complete block with four replications. Grazing was carried out every time the tall fescue reached 2.5 leaves. There was a significant difference in annual dry matter yield between the irrigated and rainfed treatments, but the irrigated treatments did not differ from each other. The average dry matter yield of irrigated treatments was 41% and 56% higher than the rainfed treatment for the first and second year of pasture, respectively. The spaced irrigation management resulted in a 38% saving in pumped water compared to frequent irrigation. However, when considering water productivity as a selection criterion, frequent irrigation would be the recommended irrigation strategy. Irrigation increases soil compaction in a grazing system, and with frequent irrigation management, this effect persists even up to 10 cm of soil depth.
Regulation and Restructuring in the Craft Brewing Industry
Authors: Wood Gavin , Martin Declan
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the relationship between regulatory settings and differences in the development of craft brewing industries across regions. We argue that changes in consumption‐focused regulations have impacted production in the craft brewing industry. Drawing on a comparative case study of two Australian states, we also demonstrate how growth and development vary across jurisdictions with different regulatory approaches to the distribution and sale of alcohol. Specifically, we find three dimensions of liquor licensing strongly influence industry outcomes: (1) the timing of regulatory interventions; (2) their flexibility regarding the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol; and (3) their intersection with national competition policy. Early licensing reforms in Victoria during the 1980s catalysed new independent brewery formation by facilitating the emergence of new types of licenced premises to compete with hotels. This intervention lowered barriers to entry for craft brewers. In the 2010s, more flexible producers' licences were introduced that allowed on‐site sale and consumption of beer. Currently, intersecting liquor and competition policy settings are reshaping the craft brewing industry by enabling consolidation of liquor retailing. Our research offers an institutional interpretation of the rapid growth in craft brewing that broadens a literature primarily focussed on organisational and cultural factors.
The Multidimensional Approach to Innovation in the United States and Turkey
Authors: Köroğlu Bilge Armatlı , Reid Neil
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this study is to identify the dimensions of innovation in the U.S. and Turkey. Although there is an extensive literature on traditional determinants of innovation, they only explain a limited part of the innovation process and are insufficient to describe the complex nature of the innovation ecosystem. Moreover, in this ecosystem, seeing innovation as a part of creativity and learning processes requires a broader framework for understanding it. This study argues that a multidimensional approach, including the dimensions of creativity, is needed to understand innovation across regions. Thus, factor analysis is used to explore innovation dimensions. Seventeen variables including industrial specialization, population, human capital, entrepreneurship, income, social and cultural activities, enplanement, international migration, and crime rates are reduced to five factors in the cases of the U.S. and Turkey. As a result, the five factors reflecting the similarities between the U.S. and Turkey offer a new perspective, providing a multidimensional approach to regional innovation. In addition, the results of the study reveal that regions in each country innovate in different ways and each region requires a different mix of innovation dimensions and also policy measures.
Association between obstructive sleep apnea and migraine: A United States population‐based cohort study
Authors: Chen Thomas Yen‐Ting , Hsieh Tina Yi‐Jin , Wang Yu‐Hsun , Chang Renin , Hung Yao‐Min , Wei James Cheng‐Chung
Published: February 2025

Objective

To determine the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the incidence of migraine using a large population‐based dataset, as well as to identify the at‐risk target groups.

Background

Epidemiological and biochemical studies have provided evidence for the close connection between sleep disorders and migraine. Understanding the connections between OSA and migraine, as well as their shared risk factors, may provide new perspectives on the pathophysiology of both OSA and migraine and novel approaches to managing and treating these conditions.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used data from the TriNetX network from 2010 to 2021. We compared 196,864 adult participants with OSA to a group of 196,864 participants who had never been diagnosed with OSA (1:1 propensity score‐matching for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and body mass index [BMI] categories) in relation to the risk of incident migraine. We performed subgroup analyses based on age (18–39, 40–59, ≥60 years), sex (female, male), race (White, Black or African American, Asian), BMI categories (<18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, ≥30 kg/m2), and the presence of hypoxemia (yes, no). Sensitivity analyses were performed to validate our findings.

Results

During the follow‐up period, 12,613 (6.4%) and 6356 participants (3.2%) developed migraine in the OSA and non‐OSA cohorts, respectively. Patients with OSA were found to have a 1.85‐fold risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79–1.90) of incident migraine when compared to those without OSA, after accounting for age, sex, race, and baseline comorbidities. The results were consistent in sensitivity analyses (test‐negative design: HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.28–1.49) and also cross‐validated in a different dataset from TriNetX (Global Collaborative Research Network: HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.82–1.93). The results of subgroup analysis by sex, age, race, BMI categories, and the presence of hypoxemia were generally consistent.

Conclusion

We found OSA to be associated with an elevated risk of developing migraine using a large United States nationwide database, and the association was generalizable across sex, age, race, and BMI categories. Our results suggest that awareness of migraine should be increased among patients with OSA. The findings also encourage further research to clarify the role of obesity and overweight in the relationship between OSA and migraine, as well as the potential benefits of body weight control for those with these two comorbid conditions.
Comparison of hepatitis B virus genotype B and C patients in Japan in terms of family history and maternal age at birth
Authors: Sato Kosuke , Inoue Jun , Akahane Takehiro , Kobayashi Tomoo , Ninomiya Masashi , Sano Akitoshi , Tsuruoka Mio , Onuki Masazumi , Sawahashi Satoko , Ouchi Keishi , Doi Kotaro , Watanabe Kengo , Niitsuma Hirofumi , Masamune Atsushi
Published: February 2025

Aim

Hepatitis B virus of genotypes B (HBV/B) and C (HBV/C) prevails in Japan and patients with HBV/B have been known to be older than those with HBV/C, but the reason has remained unknown. We aimed to clarify the reason by focusing on the family history of HBV infection.

Methods

In a total of 508 patients with chronic HBV infection, HBV genotype, patient age, and age of the mother at birth were compared.

Results

Patient age was significantly older in HBV/B than in HBV/C, and the patient percentage with a family history of HBV infection was lower in HBV/B. When comparing maternal age at birth between the two genotypes, there was no significant difference in the overall patient population, but the proportion of older birth group (≥26 years old) was significantly lower in HBV/B (38.7% vs. 59.3%, p = 0.048) in patients with a family history of HBV infection in both mothers and siblings whose HBV were considered to be transmitted vertically. There was a negative correlation between maternal age at birth and patient age in this group, reflecting the fact that the age of childbearing is increasing recently in Japan. Because patients with HBV/B experience hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion at an earlier age, it was considered that HBV/B has become harder to transmit vertically in recent decades.

Conclusion

The recent decrease in vertical transmission of HBV/B associated with an older childbearing age in Japan might be one of the reasons for the finding that HBV/B patients were older than HBV/C patients.
‘They Take the Mum Off You When You Come In’: An Ethnographic Study of Parent Experiences of Medicines Safety Systems in English Hospitals
Authors: Sutherland Adam , Phipps Denham L. , Tomlin Stephen , Grant Suzanne , Hughes Joanne , Chambers Joanna , Kafka Susan , Ridgewell Heidi , Ashcroft Darren M.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Medication safety in healthcare settings is a persistent problem, and children may be at greater risk of harm than adults. Most existing research examining medication safety for hospitalised children is from the perspective of healthcare professionals and organisations. This study aimed to ethnographically explore parent and staff perspectives on the role of parents in medication safety in the paediatric hospital setting.

Methods

230 h of ethnographic observation and 19 semi‐structured interviews with clinical staff and parents were conducted over paediatric wards in three acute hospitals in Northern England between October 2020 and May 2022. Data was organised and coded using NVivo and analysed thematically.

Results

Three main themes were identified: (1) Capacity and Capability: Parents were often assumed to be incompetent by organisational policies and managers but at the same time were co‐opted to undertake medication processes to meet operational needs. Parental experience was often ignored or judged negatively. When things went wrong parents were sometimes blamed. (2) Communication: parents were seldom meaningfully involved in decisions about their children's medication or provided with appropriate information unless requested. Parental medication histories were treated with suspicion and validated against inaccurate records. (3) Agency and Autonomy: parents often wanted to participate in their child's care but were expected to be passive observers.

Conclusions

Medication safety for children is a social phenomenon involving healthcare professionals and parents. However, parents are often relegated to a passive role by healthcare staff. We posit that this represents an example of epistemic injustice in the way parents are assumed to be incompetent outsiders with no understanding of the medical care of their children, despite them offering resilience for medicines safety. We recommend further exploration of how parents contribute to resilience and safety for children in hospital and the barriers to this, and how health services can safely support increased engagement and involvement of parents in the care of their children while in hospital.

Patient or Public Contribution

Parents contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the data collection and have contributed to the preparation of the manuscript.
Effect of H2O impurity in marine exhaust on the CO2 capture performance of novel composite CaO–Al2O3–Fe2O3 absorbents
Authors: Zhang Xin , Shen Qiuwan , Chen Gaokui , Zhu Kuanyu , Li Shian
Published: February 2025

The CaO‐based absorbent recycling carbon capture technology is an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions from marine exhaust gas. Inert supports (MgO, Al2O3) and active additives (Fe2O3) were used to obtain economical and efficient CaO‐based absorbents. The experiment results show that CaO–Al2O3–Fe2O3 (CAF) absorbent has the best CO2 adsorption performance. Compare with the initial adsorption capacity of 0.64 g/g, the adsorption capacity after 20th cycle can still achieve 0.62 g/g. The characterizing results show that CAF absorbent has the largest pore size and specific surface area. The absorbents doped with active additives Fe2O3 can effectively improve the CO2 adsorption capacity and cycle stability. In addition, the influence of H2O impurity on the cycle performance of the developed CAF absorbent was studied deeply. Results show that the cyclic adsorption performance of CAF absorbent decreases with the increase of the H2O concentration. With the increase of the cycle numbers, the existence of H2O will reduce the anti‐sintering performance of absorbents, which will lead to the aggregation of absorbents particles, thus reducing their adsorption performance. Therefore, the CAF absorbent developed in this study has excellent adsorption capacity and cycle stability.
Language Teachers’ Development of Decision‐Making and Pedagogical Reasoning: A Sociocultural Perspective on Peer Coaching
Authors: Saeedian Sam , Ghaderi Ata , Nguyen Minh Hue
Published: February 2025

Decision‐making and pedagogical reasoning are two of the underlying skills in language teaching. Integrating sociocultural theory (SCT) into teachers’ classroom decisions can be one novel way to inform their decisions with pedagogical reasoning. This study adopted peer coaching as an SCT‐oriented inquiry‐based approach to professional development and drew on the concepts of the zone of proximal development and mediation. Two novice teachers of English participated in the study. The data were collected through documentation, classroom observation, teachers’ self‐reflection, and video‐stimulated recall within the context of online teaching during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Conversation analysis and qualitative content analysis of the data showed that the peers scaffolded each other's decisions, actively applying the key tenets of mediation using each other, the video recordings, and the metalanguage they had mastered as mediational resources to achieve their goals in language teacher learning. The findings offer practical implications for teacher educators to implement this mediational approach to professional development in their teacher education programs.
Behind closed doors: Sousveillance in mandated social welfare interventions
Authors: La Rose Tara , Mule Jennifer
Published: February 2025

The Behind Closed Doors project is a qualitative research study considering sousveillance in mandated social welfare contexts. Sousveillance (the practice of recording people in authority without their consent) and sousveillance social media advocacy (posting sousveillance recordings publicly without consent) are significant phenomena effecting the delivery of contemporary mandated social services (e.g., child protective services; probation and parole; mandatory mental health intervention). Sousveillance video recordings shared online via social media (e.g., YouTube and TikTok) are analysed using multi‐modal discourse analysis; individual interviews with client content creators, frontline social workers, union representatives and professional regulators supported a deeper understanding of the effect of sousveillance on workers, clients and organisations. The significance of sousveillance as a resource for shifting power relations in practice is also considered.
Fostering Competence and Performance Development in the Nursing Profession in Ghana
Authors: Quartey Samuel Howard
Published: February 2025

This study explored the competence and performance development experiences of nurses working in public hospitals in Ghana. The study employed an exploratory qualitative research design. Participants were 25 public sector nurses who were purposively selected from two major hospitals in Ghana. Data were gathered using semi‐structured interviews. The data were analyzed using an inductive thematic analytic framework. The findings indicated that nurses develop their competence by training continuously, joining fora, furthering education, and doing research. In addition, the findings revealed that nurses also develop their performance through scientific problem‐solving, professionalism, ethics and protocols, nursing interventions, and patient–staff relationships. The findings further showed that favourable staff–manager relationships, staff motivation and satisfaction, and hospital equipment described the nature of a supportive hospital work environment. This study opens an attractive research window on the competence and performance development of public sector nurses in Ghana.