bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Costs and benefits in extreme nesting associations: do Sociable Weavers benefit from hosting African Pygmy Falcons?
Authors: Lowney Anthony M. , Thomson Robert L.
Published: October 2023

Avian nesting associations are a prominent feature of breeding bird communities. Protective associations between a predator and prey species represent a scenario where typically antagonistic interacting species may confer benefits on each species. The outcomes of these interactions are likely to be context‐dependent and influenced by biotic and abiotic conditions. African Pygmy Falcons Polihierax semitorquatus are obligate nest associates of Sociable Weavers Philetairus socius, using weaver colonies to breed and roost. As a result, the escalated rate of biotic interactions between associates may enhance rates of adaptation, speciation and coevolution. Falcons occasionally prey on weavers but have the potential to defend colonies from nest predators. We used observational and experimental tests to determine if falcons deter snakes from accessing weaver colonies and if this increased nest survival for weavers that ‘host’ falcons in their colonies. We observed a reduction in the number of snakes at colonies hosting falcons and an increase in all colonies when weavers were breeding. Falcons were also more aggressive towards a snake stimulus than a control but only when they were breeding. However, weaver nest survival did not increase at colonies hosting falcons. Falcon defence probably reduces weaver nest predation by snakes; however, this is likely to be offset by nest predation by falcons. Additionally, we compared the breeding success of falcons whose breeding attempts overlapped with weaver breeding with breeding success of those that did not. Weaver breeding did not explain falcon breeding success but did lead to an increase in falcon nest predation by snakes, and the likelihood that all chicks from a successful brood fledged, suggesting an ‘all or nothing’ scenario when weavers are breeding. In conclusion, we show that both weavers and falcons incur costs and benefits of their close association (i.e. snake predation or food availability) and the net effects are likely to depend on the exact conditions in a particular breeding season. The intricacies of communalistic relationships continue to evade objective testing, and long‐term demographic monitoring may offer better proof of the net benefits for each species.
Tourist personality, value co‐creation, and emotional well‐being
Authors: Uslu Abdullah , Tosun Petek
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to examine value co‐creation as a predictor of customer satisfaction and emotional well‐being using a comprehensive research model. It investigated the personal (customer extraversion and agreeableness) and situational (customer–employee rapport) variables that influence value co‐creation (customer participation and citizenship behaviors) and, consequently, lead to customer satisfaction and emotional well‐being. The tourism sector was selected for the study because value co‐creation, satisfaction, and emotional well‐being are crucial for hotel managers and academic researchers in the dynamic and competitive service environment. Around 400 tourists in Turkey participated in the field research. Data analysis with partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that extraversion and agreeableness positively influenced customer–employee rapport and value co‐creation; agreeable and extroverted customers are more likely to positively interact with the service staff and engage in value co‐creation. Customer–employee rapport positively affects value co‐creation, customer satisfaction, and emotional well‐being. Value co‐creation has a significant positive impact on customer satisfaction and emotional well‐being. The results contribute to the literature by testing an original model illustrating customers' role in value co‐creation. Customer personalities shape value co‐creation in dyadic exchange relationships. Their personalities, behaviors, and interactions during the service process shape their satisfaction and emotional well‐being. This study contributes to the social exchange theory and service‐dominant logic perspectives by providing empirical evidence regarding the significant direct impact of value co‐creation on tourists' emotional well‐being.
Exploration of the mechanism of reinfusion of fresh autologous blood in type 2 diabetes mice to induce macrophage polarization and inhibit erythrocyte damage
Authors: Hu She‐jun , Xu Jia‐ming , Wu Man‐di , Yue Ke , Cui Ying‐hui , Bai Yu , You Lai‐wei , Guo Jian‐Rong
Published: October 2023

Aims/Introduction

Type 2 diabetes triggers an inflammatory response that can damage red blood cells. M2 macrophages have inhibitory effects on inflammation, and play an important role in tissue damage repair and fibrosis. Autologous blood transfusion has the potential to inhibit red blood cell damage by mediating macrophage polarization.

Materials and Methods

Swiss mice were used to establish a suitable type 2 diabetes model, and autologous blood transfusion was carried out. The mice were killed, the blood of the mice was collected and CD14+ monocytes were sorted. The expression levels of phenotypic molecules CD16, CD32 and CD206 in CD14+ monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. The proportion of M1 and M2 macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry. The Q value, P50, 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate and Na+‐K+‐ATPase of red blood cells were detected. The red blood cell osmotic fragility test analyzed the red blood cell osmotic fragility. Western blot analysis was used to analyze the expression changes of erythrocyte surface membrane proteins or transporters erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate, glycolipid transfer protein and signal peptide peptidase‐like 2A.

Results

Autologous blood transfusion induced a significant increase in the number of macrophages. The state and capacity of blood cells improved with autologous blood transfusion. Reinfusion of fresh autologous blood in type 2 diabetes mice made erythrocytes shrink. The expression of erythrocyte‐related proteins proved that the erythrocyte injury in the reinfusion of fresh autologous blood + type 2 diabetes group was significantly reduced.

Conclusion

The reinfusion of fresh autologous blood into the body of patients with type 2 diabetes can induce macrophage polarization to M2, thereby inhibiting red blood cell damage.
Use of a refractive index–coupled diffuser to both generate and measure high‐numerical aperture illumination for light microscopy
Authors: Tadrous Paul J.
Published: October 2023

While numerical aperture of transillumination at or above 1.25 can be achieved with a substage oiled Abbe condenser, such immersion‐capable condensers can be expensive limiting their use in resource poor settings. Also the measurement of numerical aperture generated by illuminators has received relatively little attention in the literature compared to methods for measuring the numerical aperture of acceptance by objectives. In this article, I show how an inexpensive paper diffuser with refractive‐index coupling to the sample slide can generate illumination of a numerical aperture of over 1.4 at a small fraction of the cost of oiled dioptric condensers of comparable numerical aperture. In addition, I present two ways in which a diffuser may also be used to measure the numerical aperture generated by an illuminator using either a calibrated index‐coupled paper diffuser to implement an interpolative variation of the Horsfall method or a diffuser as a detector screen coupled to a self‐built microscope slide‐based illumination system apertometer.
Repair of Asian nasal subunit defects using nasolabial perforator flaps: A retrospective study
Authors: Lin Hong‐Ying , Bu Xi , Yang Xin , Zhen Yong‐Huan , Li Dong , Zhao Zhen‐Min , An Yang
Published: October 2023

Background

The application of nasolabial perforator flap for nasal reconstruction has been reported previously with satisfactory outcomes, but the outcomes and risk factors of postoperative adverse events have been unclear to plastic surgeons.

Aims

To statistically analyze the effectiveness of the nasolabial perforator flap in nasal reconstruction and the risk factor of postoperative complications and re‐operation.

Patients/Methods

This retrospective study evaluated 58 Chinese patients who underwent nasal reconstruction with the nasolabial perforator flap from 2009 to 2021. The esthetic and blood supply outcomes were measured by plastic surgeons on a 5‐point Likert scale. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors associated with postoperative complications and re‐operation.

Results

The mean age of the cohort was 66.4 ± 2.0 years. The defect size ranged from 6.5 × 5.5 mm2 to 40 × 70 mm2, and 48.3% of defects covered more than one nasal subunit. Venous congestion occurred in 4.9% of flaps, and the immediate overall postoperative score was 7.72/10. More than one nasal subunit of involvement was the risk factor associated with re‐operation (p = 0.004), but no risk factor was associated with complications.

Conclusions

The nasolabial perforator flap is reliable for nasal reconstruction with good esthetic outcomes and fewer complications. However, a large number of involved subunits may lead to multiple surgeries for flap trimming in easterners.
Ramelteon attenuates hippocampal neuronal loss and memory impairment following kainate‐induced seizures
Authors: Park Jung Hoon , Hwang Yeonggwang , Nguyen Yen Nhi Doan , Kim Hyoung‐Chun , Shin Eun‐Joo
Published: October 2023

Evidence suggests that the neuroprotective effects of melatonin involve both receptor‐dependent and ‐independent actions. However, little is known about the effects of melatonin receptor activation on the kainate (KA) neurotoxicity. This study examined the effects of repeated post‐KA treatment with ramelteon, a selective agonist of melatonin receptors, on neuronal loss, cognitive impairment, and depression‐like behaviors following KA‐induced seizures. The expression of melatonin receptors decreased in neurons, whereas it was induced in astrocytes 3 and 7 days after seizures elicited by KA (0.12 μg/μL) in the hippocampus of mice. Ramelteon (3 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) mitigated KA‐induced oxidative stress and impairment of glutathione homeostasis and promoted the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of Nrf2 in the hippocampus after KA treatment. Ramelteon and melatonin also attenuated microglial activation but did not significantly affect astroglial activation induced by KA, despite the astroglial induction of melatonin receptors after KA treatment. However, ramelteon attenuated KA‐induced proinflammatory phenotypic changes in astrocytes. Considering the reciprocal regulation of astroglial and microglial activation, these results suggest ramelteon inhibits microglial activation by regulating astrocyte phenotypic changes. These effects were accompanied by the attenuation of the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) induced by KA. Consequently, ramelteon attenuated the KA‐induced hippocampal neuronal loss, memory impairment, and depression‐like behaviors; the effects were comparable to those of melatonin. These results suggest that ramelteon‐mediated activation of melatonin receptors provides neuroprotection against KA‐induced neurotoxicity in the mouse hippocampus by activating Nrf2 signaling to attenuate oxidative stress and restore glutathione homeostasis and by inhibiting NFκB signaling to attenuate neuroinflammatory changes.
Discovery through citizen science III: Cryptocoryne zamboangensis (Araceae), a new water trumpet discovered in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Authors: Arcebal K. Naive Mark , Wongso Suwidji , Paglalunan Ariel , Ponteras Edilberto , Jacobsen Niels
Published: October 2023

Cryptocoryne zamboangaensis, is described as a new water trumpet species discovered by citizen scientists in the streams of Zamboanga del Norte, southwestern Philippines. It resembles C. aponogetifolia in having a spathe tube longer than spathe limb, but differs significantly by its ovate, densely verrucose bright purple limb with a narrow collar. A preliminary analysis of the conservation status and a dichotomous key to the species of the genus in the Philippines are provided.
Competition‐induced downregulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation
Authors: Dagan Rotem , Dovrat Guy , Masci Tania , Sheffer Efrat
Published: October 2023

Controlled experiments at the level of individual plants show that legume species use different strategies for the regulation of symbiotic dinitrogen fixation in response to nitrogen availability. These strategies were suggested to improve legume fitness in the context of the plant community, although rarely studied at this level. We evaluated how nitrogen availability and conspecific vs heterospecific interactions influenced the strategy of regulation of nitrogen fixation.

We grew two species of herbaceous legumes representing two different strategies of regulation without interaction, under treatments of deficient and sufficient nitrogen availability, with conspecific or heterospecific interaction.

We found that Hymenocarpus circinnatus maintained a facultative strategy of downregulating nitrogen fixation when nitrogen was available under both con‐ and heterospecific interactions, as was also found for this species when grown alone. Vicia palaestina also downregulated nitrogen fixation under both con‐ and heterospecific interactions but did not regulate fixation when grown alone. Our results showed that under nitrogen limitation, interaction with a neighboring plant reduced fitness, reflecting a competitive effect.

Our findings suggest that when interacting with other plants, downregulation of nitrogen fixation is more likely, therefore reducing the energetic cost of fixation, and improving plant performance in competitive ecological communities, especially when nitrogen is available.
The naturalistic paradigm: An approach to studying individual variability in neural underpinnings of music perception
Authors: Alluri Vinoo , Toiviainen Petri
Published: October 2023

Music listening is a dynamic process that entails complex interactions between sensory, cognitive, and emotional processes. The naturalistic paradigm provides a means to investigate these processes in an ecologically valid manner by allowing experimental settings that mimic real‐life musical experiences. In this paper, we highlight the importance of the naturalistic paradigm in studying dynamic music processing and discuss how it allows for investigating both the segregation and integration of brain processes using model‐based and model‐free methods. We further suggest that studying individual difference‐modulated music processing in this paradigm can provide insights into the mechanisms of brain plasticity, which can have implications for the development of interventions and therapies in a personalized way. Finally, despite the challenges that the naturalistic paradigm poses, we end with a discussion on future prospects of music and neuroscience research, especially with the continued development and refinement of naturalistic paradigms and the adoption of open science practices.
Do autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) have a role in intra‐oral bone regeneration? A critical review of clinical guidelines on decision‐making process
Authors: Quirynen Marc , Siawasch Sam , Temmerman Andy , Cortellini Simone , Dhondt Rutger , Teughels Wim , Castro Anna B.
Published: October 2023

In the past decades, personalized regenerative medicine has gained increased attention. Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) such as PRP, PRGF, and L‐PRF, all serving as a source of a large variety of cells and growth factors that participate in hard and soft tissue healing and regeneration, could play a significant role in regenerative periodontal procedures. This narrative review evaluated the relative impact of APCs in alveolar ridge preservation, sinus floor augmentation, and the regeneration of bony craters around teeth, both as a single substitute or in combination with a xenograft. L‐PRF has a significant beneficial effect on alveolar ridge preservation (bone quality). The data for PRGF are less convincing, and PRP is controversial. L‐PRF can successfully be used as a single substitute during transcrestal (≥3.5 mm bone gain) as well as 1‐stage lateral window sinus floor elevation (>5 mm bone gain). For PRGF and especially PRP the data are very scarce. In the treatment of bony craters around teeth, during open flap debridement, L‐PRF as a single substitute showed significant adjunctive benefits (e.g., >PPD reduction, >CAL gain, >crater depth reduction). The data for PRP and PRGF were non‐conclusive. Adding PRP or L‐PRF to a xenograft during OFD resulted in additional improvements (>PPD reduction, >CAL gain, >bone fill), for PRGF no data were found. Autologous platelet concentrates demonstrated to enhance bone and soft tissue healing in periodontal regenerative procedures. The data for L‐PRF were most convincing. L‐PRF also has the advantage of a greater simplicity of production, and its 100% autologous character.
Environmental favorability models as a tool to support trophic rewilding initiatives
Authors: Rossa Mariana , Torres Rita Tinoco , Linck Paloma , Martins Raquel , Couto André , Aliácar Sara , Hipólito Dário , Brotas Gonçalo , Fonseca Carlos , Carvalho João
Published: October 2023

Trophic rewilding is considered a conservation measure that aims to restore the trophic interactions. In north‐central Portugal, the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is endangered mainly due to human persecution, triggered by wolf depredation on livestock. Several initiatives have occurred in this area to increase wolf wild prey availability by reintroducing/reinforcing roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations. However, the success of trophic rewilding initiatives relies on up‐to‐date scientific evidence, considering both ecological and social settings. Favorability models can be used to infer the most suitable habitats for roe deer settlement and expansion by analyzing the environmental variables known to influence species ecology and behavior. In this study, we infer how the prey habitat favorability can contribute to plan prey populations reinforcement processes as a tool for trophic chain restoration. Using 330 camera traps, we monitored the roe deer population over 8,940 km2in north‐central Portugal. Field data were used to evaluate the environmental determinants of roe deer presence. By using the favorability function, we created a spatially explicit gradient of habitat favorability that allowed us to define key areas for the application of management measures. The selected sites are strategically positioned to promote the natural expansion of established roe deer populations and overlap the current distribution of Iberian wolf. These results are an important step toward the restoration of the trophic chain and to reduce human–wolf conflicts. Our proposal paves the way for future rewilding initiatives, especially where prey species are central to the survival of top predators.
“[A]ltered that a litle which before I had written”: how Margaret Hoby wrote and rewrote her manuscript
Authors: Lamata Juan Pedro
Published: October 2023

This essay conducts a paleographic study of Egerton Manuscript 2614, more commonly known as the “diary” of Margaret Hoby. To date, all scholarly studies of this document have been based on one of two print editions of the text. Unfortunately, these editions regularly mistranscribe and misrepresent the early modern manuscript and reduce its palimpsestic complexity. This is the first systematic study of this manuscript as a manuscript and what this textual artefact with all of its scratches, blots, strikethroughs, rewrites, and unfamiliar layout can tell us about how and why Hoby wrote it, and how and why she spent considerable time returning to and amending it. I argue that by looking at never before considered manuscriptal evidence we can conclude that Margaret Hoby produced her manuscript via a multistep process of rereading and revision, and that by approaching her revisionary marks as a form of tattoo, that is, as a form of writing over the self, we can better understand these marks as evidence of an iterative early modern form of self‐making through self‐writing and rewriting.
Judicial reasoning, individual cultural types, and support for COVID‐19 vaccine mandates
Authors: Brough Christopher , Liu Li‐Yin , Yeh Yao‐Yuan
Published: October 2023

With heated political and public debate over government vaccine mandates, COVID‐19 offers an opportunity to better understand the role of policy justifications on people's perceptions towards a policy. Through this study, we aim to move beyond the partisan and ideological arguments for and against vaccine mandates to illustrate how individuals' worldviews, based on Cultural Theory, can better explain why people have different perceptions towards vaccine mandates. Using the judiciary and judicial reasoning as the setting, and controlling for individuals' preexisting opinion on COVID‐19 vaccines, we hypothesize that people who prefer vaccine mandates will agree with judicial reasoning that appeals towards individualistic and hierarchical statements. Additionally, we hypothesize that those who have confidence in the judiciary will agree with individualistic and hierarchical statements. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a conjoint survey experiment through Amazon Mechanical Turk. The results confirm the hypotheses.
Referee statement
Authors:   Council for British Archaeology, Redfern Neil
Published: October 2023

The dataset produced by DigVentures captures the approach and outputs of the project, and demonstrates how wider engagement and participation can be incorporated into project planning at all levels as well as how this integrated approach can lead to substantial public benefits and the creation of wider public value.
High Temperature Tensile and Compressive Behaviors of Nanostructured Polycrystalline AlCoCrFeNi High Entropy Alloy: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Yoon Sungmin , Kimura Yasuhiro , Uchida Motoki , Ju Yang , Toku Yuhki
Published: October 2023

Molecular dynamics studies were performed to assess tensile and compressive behaviors at high temperatures up to 1200 °C for nanostructured polycrystalline AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA). As the temperature increased, the tensile yield stress, tensile/compressive ultimate strengths, and elastic modulus decreased, whereas the compressive yield stress remained constant. The temperature dependence of the phase structures (face-centered cubic (FCC) and hexagonal close-packed (HCP)) showed notable features between tension and compression. The HEA underwent FCC → HCP phase transformation when strained under both tension and compression. The evolution of the intrinsic stacking faults (ISFs) and extrinsic stacking faults (ESFs), which underwent FCC → HCP phase transformation, was observed. During compression, the ISFs → ESFs transition produced parallel twins. The evolution of mean dislocation length for the perfect, Shockley, and stair-rod partial dislocations was observed. Changes in the Shockley and stair-rod partial dislocations were observed after experiencing strain. The temperature dependence of the Shockley partial dislocation was high, whereas the stair-rod partial dislocation exhibited low-temperature dependence. From the simulation results, the structural usage of nanostructured polycrystalline AlCoCrFeNi HEA at elevated temperatures is recommended.
Modeling Green Water Load on a Deck Mounted Circular Cylinder
Authors: Gao Min , Draper Scott , McCauley Guy , Chen Lifen , Zhang Xiantao , Wolgamot Hugh , Taylor Paul H. , Cheng Liang
Published: October 2023

This article uses scaled physical and numerical modeling to investigate an idealized but complicated problem in which green water impacts a circular cylindrical structure located on top of a fixed box representative of a vessel. A focused wave group was used to overtop the box and generate the green water event, which resembled a plunging wave with air entrainment. The plunger collapsed and ran across the deck before impacting and then scattering from the cylinder. To test the adequacy of the physical modeling, nominally identical experiments were conducted in two different laboratories, in different countries. The numerical modeling comprised computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed using openfoam. The flow features, the force on the cylinder, and the surface elevation on top of the box are compared in detail across the two physical models and the CFD. Consistent load measurements were obtained from the two physical model tests, with force impulse results differing by less than 10%, underscoring the validity of the results, even accounting for the complexity of flow–structure interactions. A comparison with numerical model results reveals some sensitivity to experimental precision in the flow measurements on top of the box and the green water load. Nonetheless, the overall force impulse discrepancy between experiments and numerical models is within 15%, highlighting that the robustness of the methods was used despite these sensitivities. The sensitivity to CFD mesh and iterating the incident wave to match CFD and experiment are also explored. The agreement between experiment and CFD serves as an example of the utility of CFD for modeling green water loads.
Thermal and Electrical Analyses of Organometallic Halide Solar Cells
Authors: Ozurumba Anthony C. , Ogueke N. V. , Madu C. A.
Published: October 2023

For organometallic halide solar cells (OHSC), it is expected that their performance in hot climates is to be challenged by high operating temperature conditions typical of these regions. This study explores, for the first time, the performance of formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3) solar cells under variations of seasonal and climatic conditions in Nigeria using a non-steady- state thermal model. From the thermal analysis, results show that the air temperature in the location of the solar cell under study played a significant role in the increase and decrease of the rate of the overall heat transfer coefficient of the OHSC. However, the cell temperature depended on the rate of heat loss and the solar radiation absorbed by the OHSC. The electrical analysis was based on the numerical simulation of a FASnI3 solar cell with the aid of a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). A decrease in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) as the cell temperature increased was observed. Overall, while the OHSC suffered losses in efficiency in all locations during the hot season, the wet season saw an improvement in the PCE, especially in Twon-Brass (0.5% increase) where the most heat loss and least insolation were recorded. This shows that the power conversion efficiency of an operating OHSC is temperature-dependent, rather than the abundance of solar irradiance.
Photo-Thermal Conversion Analysis of a Medium-Flux Direct Absorption Solar System Using Gold Nanoparticles With Natural Extract of Azadirachta Indica
Authors: Singh Parminder , Kumar Sanjay , Bagha Ashok Kumar
Published: October 2023

Recently, direct absorption solar collector (DASC) system has emerged a new class of solar collectors with much improved solar thermal conversion potential over conventional surface-based absorption solar collectors. Further, introducing noble metallic particles like Ag, Au, Al, TiN, or Cu (at nano ranges) in the working fluids enhanced the optical properties of the working fluid and hence the overall thermal performance of such DASC systems. However, these novel thermal systems are prone to high emissive and radiative losses at high-temperature ranges. Additionally, the nanoparticles used in the working fluid are expensive, toxic after use, complex to synthesize, and mostly non-biodegradable. In the present study, a medium-flux asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC) based concentrating DASC system has been tested over clear sky days in the months of September and October, 2022 at the composite climate of Jalandhar (latitude 31.25 deg N, longitude 75.44 deg E), India. A hybrid heat transfer fluid is prepared using Azadirachta Indica leaves’ extract and blended with gold plasmonic nanoparticles (Au nanoparticles of mean sizes ∼ 40 nm, mass fraction ∼ 4 ppm) to improve the overall thermal performance of the concentrating DASC system. Stored energy fraction of hybrid heat transfer fluid at a depth of 2 cm reached about 74.9%, which is about 67% higher than base fluid water. The outdoor experiments showed that hybrid heat transfer fluid had about 10.4 °C higher temperature gains in concentrating DASC system, and the photo-thermal efficiency was enhanced up to 40% as compared to base fluid water. The study demonstrates the advantage of an eco-friendly, low cost, and highly stable hybrid heat transfer fluid as a potential candidate for a medium-flux DASC system.
Clinical use of an emergency manual by resuscitation teams and impact on performance in the emergency department: a prospective mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Dryver Eric , Olsson de Capretz Pontus , Mohammad Mohammed , Armelin Malin , Dupont William D. , Bergenfelz Anders , Ekelund Ulf
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Simulation-based studies indicate that crisis checklist use improves management of patients with critical conditions in the emergency department (ED). An interview-based study suggests that use of an emergency manual (EM)—a collection of crisis checklists—improves management of clinical perioperative crises. There is a need for in-depth prospective studies of EM use during clinical practice, evaluating when and how EMs are used and impact on patient management.

Methods and analysis

This 6-month long study prospectively evaluates a digital EM during management of priority 1 patients in the Skåne University Hospital at Lund’s ED. Resuscitation teams are encouraged to use the EM after a management plan has been derived (‘Do-Confirm’). The documenting nurse activates and reads from the EM, and checklists are displayed on a large screen visible to all team members. Whether the EM is activated, and which sections are displayed, are automatically recorded. Interventions performed thanks to Do-Confirm EM use are registered by the nurse. Fifty cases featuring such interventions are reviewed by specialists in emergency medicine blinded to whether the interventions were performed prior to or after EM use. All interventions are graded as indicated, of neutral relevance or not indicated. The primary outcome measures are the proportions of interventions performed thanks to Do-Confirm EM use graded as indicated, of neutral relevance, and not indicated. A secondary outcome measure is the team’s subjective evaluation of the EM’s value on a Likert scale of 1–6. Team members can report events related to EM use, and information from these events is extracted through structured interviews.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Dnr 2022-01896-01). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and abstracts submitted to national and international conferences to disseminate our findings.

Trial registration number

NCT05649891.
Survival analysis and nomogram for pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: an SEER analysis and external validation
Authors: Wu Weishuai , Zheng Lijing , Li Feng , Chen Hongchao , Huang Chen , Chen Qianshun , Lin Yidan , Xu Xunyu , Dai Yongmei
Published: October 2023

Objective

Uncommon and particularly deadly, pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is an aggressive type of lung cancer. This research aimed to create a risk categorisation and nomogram to forecast the overall survival (OS) of patients with PSC.

Methods

To develop the model, 899 patients with PSC were taken from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from the USA. We also used an exterior verification sample of 34 individuals with PSC from Fujian Provincial Hospital in China. The Cox regression hazards model and stepwise regression analysis were done to screen factors in developing a nomogram. The nomogram’s ability to discriminate was measured employing the area under a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the concordance index (C-index) and the calibration curve. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to evaluate the nomogram to the tumour–node–metastasis categorisation developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC-TNM), eighth edition, and an additional sample confirmed the nomogram’s accuracy. We further developed a risk assessment system based on nomogram scores.

Results

Six independent variables, age, sex, primary tumour site, pathological group, tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) clinical stage and therapeutic technique, were chosen to form the nomogram’s basis. The nomogram indicated good discriminative ability with the C-index (0.763 in the training cohort and 0.746 in the external validation cohort) and time-dependent AUC. Calibration plots demonstrated high congruence between the prediction model and real-world evidence in both the validation and training cohorts. Nomogram outperformed the AJCC-TNM eighth edition classification in both DCA and IDI. Patients were classified into subgroups according to their risk ratings, and significant differences in OS were observed between them (p<0.001).

Conclusion

We conducted a survival analysis and nomogram for PSC. This developed nomogram holds potential to serve as an efficient tool for clinicians in prognostic modelling.
Adverse childhood experiences, morbidity, mortality and resilience in socially excluded populations: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Campbell Alexander Charles , Pearce Lindsay A , Willoughby Melissa , Borschmann Rohan , Young Jesse , Bruun Andrew , Sundbery Jacqui , Kinner Stuart A
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Socially excluded populations, defined by homelessness, substance use disorder, sex work or criminal justice system contact, experience profound health inequity compared with the general population. Cumulative exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including neglect, abuse and household dysfunction before age 18, has been found to be independently associated with both an increased risk of social exclusion and adverse health and mortality outcomes in adulthood.

Despite this, the impact of ACEs on health and mortality within socially excluded populations is poorly understood.

Methods and analysis

We will search MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Educational Resources Information Center, PsycINFO, Applied Social Science Index and Abstracts and Criminal Justice Database for peer-reviewed studies measuring ACEs and their impact on health and mortality in socially excluded populations.

Three review questions will guide our data extraction and analysis. First, what is the prevalence of ACEs among people experiencing social exclusion in included studies? Second, what is the relationship between ACEs and health and mortality outcomes among people experiencing social exclusion? Does resilience modify the strength of association between ACEs and health outcomes among people experiencing social exclusion?

We will meta-analyse the relationship between ACE exposure and health outcomes classified into six a prior categories: (1) substance use disorders; (2) sexual and reproductive health; (3) communicable diseases; (4) mental illness; (5) non-communicable diseases and (6) violence victimisation, perpetration and injury. If there are insufficient studies for meta-analysis, we will conduct a narrative synthesis. Study quality will be assessed using the MethodologicAl STandards for Epidemiological Research scale.

Ethics and dissemination

Our findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal, in presentations at academic conferences and in a brief report for policy makers and service providers. We do not require ethics approval as this review will use data that have been previously published.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022357565.
Identifying costs in health professions education: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Yaros Jennifer , de Mortier Chloe , oude Egbrink Mirjam G A , Evers Silvia , Paulus Aggie
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Profound changes in the healthcare sector and the growing, global shortage of healthcare workers are driving the demand to update and scale-up health professions education (HPE). At the same time, educational institutions are faced with increasing resource scarcity and decisions of where and how to allocate resources must be made conscious of costs. However, costs are known to be inaccurately and incompletely identified in HPE research. Therefore, to improve rigour in cost evidence and enable its use in decision-making, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the costs, stakeholders and cost identification methods being used in HPE research. This protocol has been developed to outline the rationale and methods for a scoping review of the literature intended to map the current state of cost and cost identification evidence in HPE.

Methods and analysis

This protocol is developed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis. PubMed, ERIC, CINAHL and PsycInfo will be scoped for all types of English language publications from 2012 to 2022 that investigate costs associated with the education of health professionals. Two independent reviewers will assess publications for eligibility. Data will be extracted on the educational topic and context, the costs, cost types, perspectives and methods of cost identification as represented in the literature.

Ethics and dissemination

No human participants are involved in this scoping review. All evidence for this study are sourced from public databases; therefore, ethical approval was not required. Final results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presented at conferences.

Trial registration number

A preliminary version of this protocol was prospectively registered on Open Science Framework (OSF) on 13 June 2022 and is available athttps://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ET4XB.
Outcomes of right heart dysfunction in the acutely and severely unwell: protocol for a prospective, longitudinal observational study using multimodal assessment
Authors: Gerhardy Benjamin , Orde Sam , Morgan Lucy
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The relationship of acute right heart dysfunction (RHD) with long-term cardiopulmonary dysfunction and its’ associated morbidity has not been clearly elucidated. We propose a prospective, observational study to assess the natural history of acute RHD using a combination of imaging, functional and qualitative assessment methods, including the recently described combination of simultaneous maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise testing and stress echocardiography.

Methods and analysis

We propose a single-centre study of patients ≥18 years admitted to either the intensive care or respiratory close observation units with RHD on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Participants will undergo a repeat TTE ~72 hours after the initial study, with a final TTE performed prior to discharge in patients who have a prolonged (>1 week) stay. Inpatient clinical, biochemical and therapeutic indices will be collected contemporaneously. At ~6 months postdischarge, participants will undergo evaluation with validated symptom assessment tools (Dyspnoea-12 and PAH-SYMPACT Questionnaires) and a combined maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise test and stress echocardiogram. This study is an observational, hypothesis-generating study with a recruitment target of 100 patients established based on typical admission rates of the relevant hospital departments. Measures of central tendency and dispersion will be used to describe the cohort. Inferential statistics will be used to compare the two a priori defined groups of those whose RHD had resolved prior to hospital discharge and those whose dysfunction persisted at time of discharge.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received ethics approval from the local ethics committee (Nepean and Blue Mountains Local Health District approval, project 2021/ETH12111). Written informed consent will be sought from all patients prior to recruitment. The results will be submitted for publication in a relevant peer-reviewed journal and presented at an appropriate national/international conference.

Study registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ANZCTR12623000309684.
Placebo and nocebo effects and mechanisms associated with pharmacological interventions: an umbrella review
Authors: Frisaldi Elisa , Shaibani Aziz , Benedetti Fabrizio , Pagnini Francesco
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This review aimed to summarise the existing knowledge about placebo and nocebo effects associated with pharmacological interventions and their mechanisms.

Design

Umbrella review, adopting the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 tool for critical appraisal.

Data sources

MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial were searched in September 2022, without any time restriction, for systematic reviews, narrative reviews, original articles. Results were summarised through narrative synthesis, tables, 95% CI.

Outcome measures

Mechanisms underlying placebo/nocebo effects and/or their effect sizes.

Results

The databases search identified 372 studies, for a total of 158 312 participants, comprising 41 systematic reviews, 312 narrative reviews and 19 original articles. Seventy-three per cent of the examined systematic reviews were of high quality.

Our findings revealed that mechanisms underlying placebo and/or nocebo effects have been characterised, at least in part, for: pain, non-noxious somatic sensation, Parkinson’s disease, migraine, sleep disorders, intellectual disability, depression, anxiety, dementia, addiction, gynaecological disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, immune and endocrine systems, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, influenza and related vaccines, oncology, obesity, physical and cognitive performance. Their magnitude ranged from 0.08 to 2.01 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.89) for placebo effects and from 0.32 to 0.90 (95% CI 0.24 to 1.00) for nocebo effects.

Conclusions

This study provides a valuable tool for clinicians and researchers, identifying both results ready for clinical practice and gaps to address in the near future.

Funding

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy with the ‘Finanziamento Ponte 2022’ grant.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023392281.
Slow-roll inflation and growth of perturbations in Kaniadakis modification of Friedmann cosmology
Authors: Lambiase G. , Luciano G. G. , Sheykhi A.
Published: October 2023

Kaniadakis entropy is a one-parameter deformation of the classical Boltzmann–Gibbs–Shannon entropy, arising from a self-consistent relativistic statistical theory. Assuming a Kaniadakis-type generalization of the entropy associated with the apparent horizon of Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) Universe and using the gravity-thermodynamics conjecture, a new cosmological scenario is obtained based on the modified Friedmann equations. By employing such modified equations, we analyze the slow-roll inflation, driven by a scalar field with power-law potential, at the early stages of the Universe. We explore the phenomenological consistency of this model by computation of the scalar spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio. Comparison with the latest BICEP and Planck data allows us to constrain Kaniadakis parameter to $$\kappa \lesssim \mathcal {O}(10^{-12}\div 10^{-11})$$

κ
≲
O
(

10

-
12

÷

10

-
11

)

, which is discussed in relation to other observational bounds in the literature. We also disclose the effects of Kaniadakis correction term on the growth of perturbations at the early stages of the Universe by employing the spherically symmetric collapse formalism in the linear regime of density perturbations. We find out that the profile of density contrast is non-trivially affected in this scenario. Interestingly enough, we observe that increasing Kaniadakis parameter $$\kappa $$
κ
corresponds to a faster growth of perturbations in a Universe governed by the corrected Friedmann equations. Finally, we comment on the consistency of the primordial power spectrum for scalar perturbations with the best data-fit provided by Planck.
Advanced morphological characterization of DC sputtered copper thin films
Authors: Korpi Alireza Grayeli , Rezaee Sahar , Ahmadpourian Azin , Ţălu Ştefan , Jen Tien-Chien
Published: October 2023

In this paper, Cu thin films were successfully deposited on glass substrates using DC magnetron sputtering at varying deposition times. The deposition time was varied as 5, 9, 11 and 17[Formula: see text]min. The obtained Cu thin films were analyzed for morphology and topography using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The size of the surface structures/grains was seen to evolve with deposition time. The conventional/statistical, fractal and multifractal analyses were carried out on AFM images using existing imaging algorithms. The arithmetic roughness and interface width parameters were seen to evolve with the sputtering time. The autocorrelation and height–height correlation functions revealed that the surfaces of all the Cu thin films exhibited self-affine character, but were not mounded properties. The fractal dimensions computed using box counting and power spectral density functions revealed that larger dimensions were associated with larger surface features. The lacunarity coefficients were too small indicating that the surfaces were generally deficient in porosity and other defects. The multifractal analyses revealed that spatial roughness does not exhibit linear relationship with the deposition time. The study reveals that surface evolution and nanoscale behavior is significantly influenced by the deposition time although a linear relationship is not established.
A revision of the ‘coelophysoid-grade’ theropod specimen from the Lower Jurassic of the Isle of Skye (Scotland )
Authors: Ezcurra Martín D. , Marke Daniel , Walsh Stig A. , Brusatte Stephen L.
Published: October 2023

The broadest diversification of early predatory dinosaurs is represented by the ‘coelophysoid-grade’ neotheropods, but their Hettangian–Sinemurian (
c.
191–201 Ma) record is scarce worldwide. More information is needed to shed light on the evolution of this dinosaur group after the end-Triassic mass extinction (
c.
201 Ma). Here we revisit the anatomy and phylogeny of one of these earliest Jurassic neotheropod specimens, an isolated partial tibia from the lower Sinemurian of the Isle of Skye (Scotland) that was previously identified as probably closely related to
Liliensternus liliensterni
and coelophysids. However, we found that the Skye specimen is positioned in the branch leading to Averostra (Ceratosauria + Tetanurae), in a polytomy with
Sarcosaurus woodi
from the late Hettangian–lower Sinemurian of central England and a clade composed of
Tachiraptor admirabilis
and Averostra. The morphology of the Skye specimen is congruent with that of referred specimens of
Sarcosaurus woodi
, but because it probably represents a skeletally immature specimen, we assign it to cf.
Sarcosaurus woodi
. The Skye specimen increases the number of averostran-line neotheropod specimens recorded in the Lower Jurassic of Europe and current evidence indicates that these forms, and not coelophysoids, were relatively common in this part of the world at that time.

Supplementary material
: Character list and dataset for phylogenetic analysis and 3D model of the tibia are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6863016

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Palaeontology of Scotland collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/palaeontology-of-scotland