bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal experienced bereavement and offspring mental health in early adulthood: the role of modifiable parental factors
Authors: Rashid Layla , Bauer Andreas , Bowes Lucy , Creswell Cathy , Halligan Sarah
Published: February 2024

Background

It is estimated that 78% of children experience the death of a close friend or family member by 16 years of age, yet longitudinal research examining the mental health outcomes of wider experiences of bereavement is scarce. We conducted a longitudinal investigation of the association between maternal experienced bereavement before the age of 11 years and offspring depressive and anxiety disorders at age 18 and examined moderation of this association by modifiable parental factors.

Methods

We analysed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK‐based birth cohort, including 9,088 child participants with data available on bereavement. Bereavement was measured via maternal report at eight timepoints until children were 11 years. Offspring depressive and anxiety‐related disorders were self‐reported at 18 years old using the Clinical Interview Schedule‐Revised (CIS‐R). The potential moderating roles of maternal anxiety, maternal depression, parental monitoring, positive parenting and negative parenting practices were examined.

Results

Maternal experienced bereavement was not associated with depression or anxiety‐related disorders in early adulthood among offspring. In addition, no support was found for negative parenting practices, parental monitoring or maternal anxiety and depression as moderators of the relationship between maternal experienced bereavement and offspring mental health problems at 18 years old. Findings in relation to the moderating role of positive parenting practices were inconsistent.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that a large number of children are exposed to maternal experienced bereavement. We found no evidence that maternal experienced bereavement during childhood increases the risk for offspring psychiatric disorders in early adulthood. Several methodological considerations prudent to bereavement research are discussed.
Chronic oxytocin improves neural decoupling at rest in children with autism: an exploratory RCT
Authors: Alaerts Kaat , Moerkerke Matthijs , Daniels Nicky , Zhang Qianqian , Grazia Ricchiuti , Steyaert Jean , Prinsen Jellina , Boets Bart
Published: February 2024

Background

Shifts in peak frequencies of oscillatory neural rhythms are put forward as a principal mechanism by which cross‐frequency coupling/decoupling is implemented in the brain. During active neural processing, functional integration is facilitated through transitory formations of “harmonic” cross‐frequency couplings, whereas “nonharmonic” decoupling among neural oscillatory rhythms is postulated to characterize the resting, default state of the brain, minimizing the occurrence of spurious, noisy, background couplings.

Methods

Within this exploratory, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial, we assessed whether the transient occurrence of nonharmonic and harmonic relationships between peak‐frequencies in the alpha (8–14 Hz) and theta (4–8 Hz) bands is impacted by intranasal administration of oxytocin, a neuromodulator implicated in improving homeostasis and reducing stress/anxiety. To do so, resting‐state electroencephalography was acquired before and after 4 weeks of oxytocin administration (12 IU twice‐daily) in children with autism spectrum disorder (8–12 years, n = 33 oxytocin; n = 34 placebo). At the baseline, neural assessments of children with autism were compared with those of a matched cohort of children without autism (n = 40).

Results

Compared to nonautistic peers, autistic children displayed a lower incidence of nonharmonic alpha‐theta cross‐frequency decoupling, indicating a higher incidence of spurious “noisy” coupling in their resting brain (p = .001). Dimensionally, increased neural coupling was associated with more social difficulties (p = .002) and lower activity of the parasympathetic “rest & digest” branch of the autonomic nervous system (p = .018), indexed with high‐frequency heart‐rate‐variability. Notably, after oxytocin administration, the transient formation of nonharmonic cross‐frequency configurations was increased in the cohort of autistic children (p < .001), indicating a beneficial effect of oxytocin on reducing spurious cross‐frequency‐interactions. Furthermore, parallel epigenetics changes of the oxytocin receptor gene indicated that the neural effects were likely mediated by changes in endogenous oxytocinergic signaling (p = .006).

Conclusions

Chronic oxytocin induced important homeostatic changes in the resting‐state intrinsic neural frequency architecture, reflective of reduced noisy oscillatory couplings and improved signal‐to‐noise properties.
Clinical performance of different bulk‐fill composite resin systems in classIIcavities: A 2‐year randomized clinical trial
Authors: Goda Badria , Hamdi Kareem , Eltoukhy Radwa I. , Ali Ashraf I. , Mahmoud Salah Hasab
Published: February 2024

Objectives

This study evaluated the clinical performance of bulk‐fill resin composite systems with different viscosities in class II cavities.

Materials and Methods

A total of 80 class II restorations were performed with a single operator in 50 patients using four different bulk‐fill resin composite materials: Filtek™ Bulk Fill, Heated Filtek™ Bulk Fill, G‐ænial™ BULK Injectable, and SonicFill3. A double‐blinded randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate the two‐year clinical performance of the four bulk‐fill composite resins using modified FDI criteria.

Data were analyzed descriptively. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Differences between groups were tested using Wilcoxon‐signed‐rank and Mann–Whitney‐U test as nonparametric tests.

Results

Data were analyzed using Kruskal‐Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests (p < 0.05). Eighty restorations were available for evaluation, with a survival function of 100%. No statistically significant differences were observed between the four groups regarding assessing esthetic, functional, and biological properties during different follow‐up periods.

Conclusions

After 2 years of clinical follow‐up, the bulk‐fill composite systems with different viscosities seem to be esthetically, functionally, and biologically acceptable, with a promising clinical performance in class II cavities.
Identification of new amoebae strains in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) farms affected by nodular gill disease (NGD) in Northeastern Italy
Authors: Brocca Ginevra , Truant Alessandro , Peckova Hana , Lisnerová Martina , Perolo Alberto , Fioravanti Marialetizia , Fiala Ivan , Gabai Gianfranco , Quaglio Francesco , Gustinelli Andrea
Published: February 2024

Nodular gill disease (NGD) is an emerging condition associated with amoeba trophozoites in freshwater salmonid farms. However, unambiguous identification of the pathogens still must be achieved. This study aimed to identify the amoeba species involved in periodic NGD outbreaks in two rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in Northeastern Italy. During four episodes (February–April 2023), 88 fish were euthanized, and their gills were evaluated by macroscopic, microscopic and histopathological examination. The macroscopic and microscopic severity of the lesions and the degree of amoebae infestation were scored and statistically evaluated. One gill arch from each animal was put on non‐nutrient agar (NNA) Petri dishes for amoeba isolation, cultivation and subsequent identification with SSU rDNA sequencing. Histopathology confirmed moderate to severe lesions consistent with NGD and mild to moderate amoeba infestation. The presence of amoebae was significantly correlated with lesion severity. Light microscopy of cultured amoebae strains and SSU rDNA analysis revealed the presence of a previously characterized amoeba Naegleria sp. strain GERK and several new strains: two strains from Hartmannelidae, three vannelid amoebae from the genus Ripella and cercozoan amoeba Rosculus. Despite the uncertainty in NGD etiopathogenesis and amoebae pathogenic role, identifying known and new amoebae leans towards a possible multi‐aetiological origin.
Selection of representative indicators for flood risk assessment using marginal entropy and mutual information
Authors: Joo Hongjun , Choi Wonyoung , Jeon Chansoo
Published: February 2024

Floods are the most frequent types of natural disasters. From the perspective of disaster management, indicators associated with floods are important for accurate flood risk assessment. However, the application of all indicators related to flood risk assessment decreases the evaluation efficiency, because the definitions of the indicators may overlap. Moreover, the volume of data required for collection and evaluation is significantly large, making the evaluation practically impossible. Thus, a scientific and objective method to select indicators for flood risk assessment based on the entropy theory was developed herein. First, the existing 28 assessment indicators were analyzed and probability‐based data were constructed for each indicator considering 28 districts in a midwestern region of Korea. The information quantity for each indicator was then obtained using marginal entropy and mutual information generated in the entropy theory. Next, the total information quantity based on the numbers of combination of indicators was derived by considering the information quantity for each indicator and the overlapping mutual information between the indicators. The maximum amount of information (161.55) was obtained by combining 18 out of the 28 flood risk indicators. The selected 18 indicators reflected regional characteristics better than those used in the existing method, demonstrating that the flood risk of the target area could be adequately assessed.
Questioning the use of ensembles versus individual climate model generated flows in future peak flood predictions: Plausibility and implications
Authors: Devkota Laxmi Prasad , Bhattarai Utsav , Devkota Rohini , Maraseni Tek , Marahatta Suresh
Published: February 2024

Accurate estimation of design floods is necessary for developing effective flood‐management strategies. Climate change (CC) studies on floods generally consider alterations in mean runoff using ensembles compared to a base period. In this study, we examined the plausibility and implications of applying individual climate model‐generated flows versus their ensembles to estimate peak floods (magnitude and timing of occurrence), using Budhigandaki River Basin of Nepal as a case study. Annual maximum one‐day floods were derived for four future climate scenario projections (cold‐dry, cold‐wet, warm‐wet, and warm‐dry) from simulated daily flow series. Future floods of six return periods estimated for the individual climate scenarios were compared with their “Ensemble” (combiner for the ensemble series is the arithmetic mean of daily floods), “Average,” and ‘Baseline.” Results showed that magnitudes of the flood peaks are such that those estimated using “Ensemble” < “Average” < individual series. We conclude that ensemble series should not be used for flood estimation because of the averaging effect. Designers should consider at the least the “Average” instead of the “Ensemble” series while designing climate‐resilient flood structures. Furthermore, the occurrences of flood peaks are likely to be confined within the monsoon season for the “Ensemble” but spread out in the other months for the individual climate scenarios. This could have direct implications on the availability and mobilization of resources as well as the need for a year‐round operational early warning system for flood risk management.
Urinary catheter placement and adverse urinary outcomes with a focus on elevated risk in men with indwelling Foley catheters
Authors: Chang Kai‐Ting , Lai Po‐Husan , Lu I‐Cheng , Huang Ru‐Yi , Lin Chi‐Wei , Huang Chi‐Hsien
Published: February 2024

Background

Prior studies indicated a link between urinary catheter use and urinary complications, highlighting the need for comprehensive, gender‐specific investigations. This study explored the association through a national retrospective cohort, emphasizing gender disparities and long‐term outcomes.

Methods

Our study utilized data from the entire population covered by Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2017. We included 148,304 patients who had undergone Foley catheter placement and their propensity‐scores matched controls in the study. We evaluated urinary complications, which encompassed urinary tract cancer, urolithiasis, urethral stricture, obstructive uropathy, reflux uropathy, fistula, diverticulum, caruncle, false passage, prolapsed urethral mucosa, urinary tract rupture, and urinary tract infection. These were assessed using the Fine and Gray sub‐distribution proportional hazards model to compare between the Foley and non‐Foley groups. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with different matching ratios.

Results

In the study, the non‐Foley group presented a marginally higher mean age (75.24 ± 10.47 years) than the Foley group (74.09 ± 10.47 years). The mean duration of Foley catheterization was 6.1 ± 4.19 years. Men with Foley catheterization exhibited the highest adjusted sub‐distribution hazard ratios for urinary tract cancer (6.57, 95% CI: 5.85–7.37), followed by women with Foley catheterization (4.48, 95% CI: 3.98–5.05), and men without catheterization (1.58, 95% CI: 1.39–1.8) in comparison with women without the procedure. Furthermore, men with Foley catheterization were found to be at the greatest risk for complications such as urolithiasis, urethral stricture, obstructive and reflux uropathy, fistula, diverticulum, caruncle, false passage, prolapsed urethral mucosa, and urinary tract rupture. Conversely, women with urinary catheterization were most susceptible to urinary tract infections.

Conclusions

The evidence confirms that urinary catheterization significantly increases urinary complications, particularly among men. Our study underscores the crucial need for healthcare providers to carefully evaluate the necessity of catheterization, aim to shorten its duration whenever feasible, and strictly adhere to established protocols to minimize complications.
Efficacy of a moisturizing cream and facial mask for alleviating skin problems associated with medical mask use: A half‐face, randomized controlled study
Authors: Wang Yang , Niu Yueqing , Ye Chengda , He Xiaofeng , Frederique Labatut , Zhang Zhongxing , Hsu Kungchi , Lin Xinrong , Andrew Steel , Zhang Xianghua , Frederic Flament , Wu Yan
Published: February 2024

Background

Prolonged use of medical masks has increased skin‐related issues.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of a facial cream and facial mask in mitigating medical mask related skin symptoms.

Methods

Healthy women were randomly assigned to apply a facial cream (n = 32) or a facial mask plus a facial cream (n = 32) on half‐faces after wearing medical masks for 4 h (Tb). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dryness score, and redness area were assessed at Tb and 10 min after using the cream (T1) in the facial cream group, and at Tb, 1 h after using the facial mask (T2), and 10 min after using the cream (T3) in the combined use group.

Results

In the facial cream group, the treated half‐face showed significantly better improvements from Tb to T1 in TEWL (−2.95 ± 0.38 vs. −0.68 ± 0.35 g/h·cm2, p < 0.001) and skin dryness score (−1.00 ± 0.12 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00, p < 0.001). In the combined use group, the treated half‐face showed significantly better improvements from Tb to T2 and T3 in TEWL (T2, −3.46 ± 0.33 vs. −0.09 ± 0.13 g/h·cm2; T3, −4.67 ± 0.31 vs. −0.28 ± 0.22 g/h·cm2) and skin dryness score (T2, −0.63 ± 0.13 vs. 0.03 ± 0.03; T3, −0.94 ± 0.17 vs. 0.19 ± 0.07) (all p < 0.001) then the untreated half‐face. The combined use group had significantly lower TEWL at T3 than T2 (p < 0.05). The reduction in redness area was similar between the treated and untreated half‐faces in both groups.

Conclusions

The test facial cream and mask significantly improved skin barrier function and alleviated dryness symptoms associated with medical mask use, with the combined use offering superior benefits.
Split‐level folding, step‐type tension‐relieving suture technique, and the evaluation on scar minimization
Authors: Zhang Yuheng , Lei Zhanjun , Lin Bin , Lin Zhixiao , Dong Yuchen , Ren Pan , Li Xueyong , Bian Yongqian , Zhao Congying
Published: February 2024

Background

Prevailing tension‐reducing suture methods have a spectrum of issues. This study presents a straightforward yet highly efficacious suture technique known as the Split‐level Folding, Step‐type Tension‐relieving Suture technique, which could play a pivotal role in preempting incisional scarring.

Aims

To introduce Split‐level Folding, Step‐type Tension‐relieving Suture technique and assess its effect on scar minimization.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 64 patients who underwent treatment utilizing the proposed suturing methodology. Assessment parameters included the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), scar width, complications, and all evaluated at 6‐ and 12‐month postoperatively.

Results

At 12‐month follow‐up, the POSAS and VSS scores in the normal suture group (32.58 ± 5.43, 3.58 ± 1.39) were considerably higher than the step‐type suture group (29.75 ± 3.56, p = 0.0007; 2.78 ± 1.17, p = 0.0006). Moreover, the step‐type suture group showcased a significantly narrower average incision scar width (1.62 ± 0.36) than the normal suture group (1.87 ± 0.42, p = 0.0004). This novel tension‐relieving suture technique that effectively circumvents the occurrence of persistent localized eversion and other complications often associated with traditional tension‐relieving sutures.

Conclusions

The Split‐level Folding, Step‐type Tension‐relieving Suture technique emerges as a highly promising option for averting incisional scarring. This suture method works well for incisions on the chest, back, and extremities, resulting in significantly better long‐term outcomes.
Randomized split‐face study using a post‐procedural biotech cellulose mask to improve patient comfort and downtime
Authors: Siperstein Robyn , Nestor Elizabeth , Meran Suzanne , Stankiewicz Stacy
Published: February 2024

Background

There are many post‐procedural treatments touted to improve comfort and decrease downtime, but very few prospective randomized studies.

Aims

To analyze the safety and efficacy of a post‐procedural biotech cellulose mask.

Patients/Method

Fifteen patients undergoing either a microneedling with radiofrequency (n = 5), non‐ablative fractional (n = 5), or full erbium:YAG resurfacing (n = 5) treatment were randomized to receive a biotech cellulose mask on one side of the face for 30 min after the procedure and for 2 h a day until healed. Standardized photos and thermal images were taken 30 min after the procedure and daily until healed. The investigator and blind evaluators reviewed the photos, and subjects answered daily questionnaires.

Results

An analysis of the thermal images showed a significant reduction in facial temperature on the biotech cellulose mask side as compared to the control side in all groups with an average of 2.2 (range 0.2–6.5) degree Celsius reduction across all 15 subjects. All subjects reported less pain and heat immediately upon application of the mask. Thirty minutes after application, 13/15 continued to report less pain and heat, and 11/15 reported less erythema and swelling on the mask side while blind evaluators were able to choose which side had the mask 80% of the time. On average, subjects also reported significantly less swelling on Day 1 and Day 2.

Conclusion

The biotech cellulose mask decreased patient's facial temperature, feelings of heat and pain, as well as downtime without any side effects for the subjects in this study undergoing a variety of treatments.
Fee Variation in Private Equity
Authors: BEGENAU JULIANE , SIRIWARDANE EMIL N.
Published: February 2024

We study how investment fees vary within private equity funds. Net‐of‐fee return clustering suggests that most funds have two tiers of fees, and we decompose differences across tiers into both management‐ and performance‐based fees. Managers of venture capital funds and those in high demand are less likely to use multiple fee schedules. Some investors consistently pay lower fees relative to others within their funds. Investor size, experience, and past performance explain some but not all of this effect, suggesting that unobserved traits like negotiation skill or bargaining power materially impact the fees that investors pay to access private markets.
Navigating the unknown: Uncertainty moderates the link between visionary leadership, perceived meaningfulness, and turnover intentions
Authors: Buss Martin , Kearney Eric
Published: February 2024

Visionary leadership is considered to be one of the most important elements of effective leadership. Among other things, it is related to followers' perceived meaningfulness of their work. However, little is known about whether uncertainty in the workplace affects visionary leadership's effects. Given that uncertainty is rising in many, if not most, workplaces, it is vital to understand whether this development influences the extent to which visionary leadership is associated with followers' perceived meaningfulness. In a two‐source, lagged design field study of 258 leader‐follower dyads from different settings, we show that uncertainty moderates the relation between visionary leadership and followers' perceived meaningfulness such that this relation is more strongly positive when uncertainty is high, rather than low. Moreover, we show that with increasing uncertainty, visionary leadership is more negatively related to followers' turnover intentions via perceived meaningfulness. This research broadens our understanding of how visionary leadership may be a particularly potent tool in times of increasing uncertainty.
Enhancing corporate brands through service robots: The impact of anthropomorphic design metaphors on corporate brand perceptions
Authors: Wünderlich Nancy V. , Blut Markus , Brock Christian
Published: February 2024

The increasing introduction of intelligent, interactive robots in the service industry raises concerns about the potential dehumanization of service provision and its influences on corporate brand perceptions. To avoid adverse effects, new service development (NSD) managers seemingly favor service robots that feature anthropomorphic design metaphors, so they appear more human‐like. The current research investigates explicitly how customers' perception of a robot's anthropomorphic design metaphors might spill over to affect corporate brand perceptions. Study 1, a picture‐based scenario study with 109 participants, reveals the impact of anthropomorphic design metaphors on untested corporate brand outcomes, such as brand trust and brand experience. Then Study 2, a video‐based scenario study with 530 participants, addresses whether these effects depend on the service context. In Study 3, a field study of 393 participants, the authors examine how anthropomorphic design metaphors influence other firm‐related outcomes (e.g., shopping enjoyment, sales). The combined results confirm that anthropomorphic design metaphors strongly affect brand trust and brand experience, as well as other critical firm‐related outcomes; they also reveal notable context effects, such that customers of people‐processing (e.g., care services) and mental‐stimulus‐processing (e.g., shopping assistance) services appear more likely to use anthropomorphic design metaphors as corporate brand cues. Our research encourages NSD managers and scholars to consider the effects of introducing anthropomorphic service robots on corporate brands.
The genetic basis of dispersal in a vertebrate metapopulation
Authors: Saatoglu Dilan , Lundregan Sarah L. , Fetterplace Evelyn , Goedert Debora , Husby Arild , Niskanen Alina K. , Muff Stefanie , Jensen Henrik
Published: February 2024

Dispersal affects evolutionary processes by changing population size and genetic composition, influencing the viability and persistence of populations. Investigating which mechanisms underlie variation in dispersal phenotypes and whether populations harbour adaptive potential for dispersal is crucial to understanding the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of this important trait. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of dispersal among successfully recruited individuals in an insular metapopulation of house sparrows. We use an extensive long‐term individual‐based ecological data set and high‐density single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes for over 2500 individuals. We conducted a genome‐wide association study (GWAS), and found a relationship between dispersal probability and a SNP located near genes known to regulate circadian rhythm, glycogenesis and exercise performance, among other functions. However, this SNP only explained 3.8% of variance, suggesting that dispersal is a polygenic trait. We then used an animal model to estimate heritable genetic variation (σA2), which composes 10% of the total variation in dispersal probability. Finally, we investigated differences in σA2 across populations occupying ecologically relevant habitat types (farm vs. non‐farm) using a genetic groups animal model. We found different adaptive potentials across habitats, with higher mean breeding value, σA2, and heritability for the habitat presenting lower dispersal rates, suggesting also different roles of environmental variation. Our results suggest a complex genetic architecture of dispersal and demonstrate that adaptive potential may be environment dependent in key eco‐evolutionary traits. The eco‐evolutionary implications of such environment dependence and consequent spatial variation are likely to become ever more important with the increased fragmentation and loss of suitable habitats for many natural populations.
Genomic and metabolomic diversity within a familial population of Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Moore Geromy G. , Mack Brian M. , Wendt Karen L. , Castano‐Duque Lina , Anderson Victoria M. , Cichewicz Robert H.
Published: February 2024

Aspergillus flavus is an agriculturally significant micro‐fungus having potential to contaminate food and feed crops with toxic secondary metabolites such as aflatoxin (AF) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Research has shown A. flavus strains can overcome heterokaryon incompatibility and undergo meiotic recombination as teleomorphs. Although evidence of recombination in the AF gene cluster has been reported, the impacts of recombination on genotype and metabolomic phenotype in a single generation are lacking. In previous studies, we paired an aflatoxigenic MAT1‐1 A. flavus strain with a non‐aflatoxigenic MAT1‐2 A. flavus strain that had been tagged with green fluorescent protein and then 10 F1 progenies (a mix of fluorescent and non‐fluorescent) were randomly selected from single‐ascospore colonies and broadly examined for evidence of recombination. In this study, we determined four of those 10 F1 progenies were recombinants because they were not vegetatively compatible with either parent or their siblings, and they exhibited other distinctive traits that could only result from meiotic recombination. The other six progenies examined shared genomic identity with the non‐aflatoxigenic, fluorescent, and MAT1‐2 parent, but were metabolically distinct. This study highlights phenotypic and genomic changes that may occur in a single generation from the outcrossing of sexually compatible strains of A. flavus.
Circadian rhythm and whole gut transit in mice
Authors: Laible Emma , Wegner Andrew , Knutson Kaitlyn , Kacmaz Halil , Garramone Gwyneth K. , Gogineni Kamalika , Matveyenko Aleksey , Linden David R. , Farrugia Gianrico , Beyder Arthur
Published: February 2024

Background

In preclinical studies whole gut transit (WGT) in mice is a gold‐standard “leading‐edge” approach that measures the time between orogastric gavage of carmine red and defecation of the first carmine red pellet. Transit studies in humans are performed during the active day because GI motility and transit are suppressed during the night. Since mice are nocturnal, WGT studies traditionally done during the day occur during their rest phase. How circadian rhythm affects WGT in mice is not known.

Methods

We used an automated approach for high temporal resolution uninterrupted testing of mouse WGT and activity. We housed wild‐type Bl6/C57 mice under the standard 12 h light–dark cycles. At 8 weeks, we performed carmine red orogastric gavage and assessed WGT during Light (rest) conditions. Then, we exposed mice to a reverse 12 h light–dark cycle for 2 weeks and tested them in the Dark (active) under red light conditions. Timelapse videos were analyzed to quantify activity and to timestamp all pellets, and multiple parameters were analyzed.

Key Result

When complementary light cycle reversal experiments were performed, we found a significant increase in mouse activity when mice were tested during their Dark (active) phase, compared to their Light (rest) phase. In mice tested in the Active phase compared to the Rest phase, we found a significant acceleration in WGT, increased rate and total number of pellets produced, and more pellet clustering. These data show that the mice tested in the Active phase have important differences in activity that correlate with multiple alterations in gastrointestinal transit.

Conclusion & Inferences

During the Active phase mice have faster WGT, produce more pellets, and cluster their output compared to testing in the Rest phase. Like in humans, circadian rhythm is an important consideration for transit studies in mice, and a simple reverse light cycle approach facilitates further studies on the role of circadian rhythm in GI motility.
Plant size‐dependent influence of foliar fungal pathogens promotes diversity through allometric growth
Authors: Xiao Yao , Liu Xiang , Song Zhiping , Lu Yawen , Zhang Li , Huang Mengjiao , Cheng Yikang , Chen Shiliang , Zhao Yimin , Zhang Zhenhua , Zhou Shurong
Published: February 2024

The effect of pathogens on host diversity has attracted much attention in recent years, yet how the influence of pathogens on individual plants scales up to affect community‐level host diversity remains unclear.

Here, we assessed the effects of foliar fungal pathogens on plant growth and species richness using allometric growth theory in population‐level and community‐level foliar fungal pathogen exclusion experiments. We calculated growth scaling exponents of 24 species to reveal the intraspecific size‐dependent effects of foliar fungal pathogens on plant growth. We also calculated the intercepts to infer the growth rates of relatively larger conspecific individuals.

We found that foliar fungal pathogens inhibited the growth of small conspecific individuals more than large individuals, resulting in a positive allometric growth. After foliar fungal pathogen exclusion, species‐specific growth scaling exponents and intercepts decreased, but became positively related to species' relative abundance, providing a growth advantage for individuals of abundant species with a higher growth scaling exponent and intercept compared with rare species, and thus reduced species diversity.

By adopting allometric growth theory, we elucidate the size‐dependent mechanisms through which pathogens regulate species diversity and provide a powerful framework to incorporate antagonistic size‐dependent processes in understanding species coexistence.
Major quality regulation network of flavonoid synthesis governing the bioactivity of black wolfberry
Authors: Du Youwei , Ma Huiya , Liu Yuanyuan , Gong Rui , Lan Yu , Zhao Jianhua , Liu Guangli , Lu Yiming , Wang Shuanghong , Jia Hongchen , Li Na , Zhang Rong , Wang Junru , Sun Guangyu
Published: February 2024

Black wolfberry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) contains various bioactive metabolites represented by flavonoids, which are quite different among production regions. However, the underlying regulation mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis governing the bioactivity of black wolfberry remains unclear.

Presently, we compared the bioactivity of black wolfberry from five production regions. Multi‐omics were performed to construct the regulation network associated with the fruit bioactivity. The detailed regulation mechanisms were identified using genetic and molecular methods.

Typically, Qinghai (QH) fruit exhibited higher antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. The higher medicinal activity of QH fruit was closely associated with the accumulation of eight flavonoids, especially Kaempferol‐3‐O‐rutinoside (K3R) and Quercetin‐3‐O‐rutinoside (rutin). Flavonoid biosynthesis was found to be more active in QH fruit, and the upregulation of LrFLS, LrCHS, LrF3H and LrCYP75B1 caused the accumulation of K3R and rutin, leading to high medicinal bioactivities of black wolfberry. Importantly, transcription factor LrMYB94 was found to regulate LrFLS, LrCHS and LrF3H, while LrWRKY32 directly triggered LrCYP75B1 expression. Moreover, LrMYB94 interacted with LrWRKY32 to promote LrWRKY32‐regulated LrCYP75B1 expression and rutin synthesis in black wolfberry. Transgenic black wolfberry overexpressing LrMYB94/LrWRKY32 contained higher levels of K3R and rutin, and exhibited high medicinal bioactivities. Importantly, the LrMYB94/LrWRKY32‐regulated flavonoid biosynthesis was light‐responsive, showing the importance of light intensity for the medicinal quality of black wolfberry.

Overall, our results elucidated the regulation mechanisms of K3R and rutin synthesis, providing the basis for the genetic breeding of high‐quality black wolfberry.
Stomatal response to VPD is not triggered by changes in soil–leaf hydraulic conductance in Arabidopsis or Callitris
Authors: Bourbia Ibrahim , Brodribb Timothy J.
Published: February 2024

Stomatal closure under high VPDL (leaf to air vapour pressure deficit) is a primary means by which plants prevent large excursions in transpiration rate and leaf water potential (Ψleaf) that could lead to tissue damage. Yet, the drivers of this response remain controversial. Changes in Ψleaf appear to drive stomatal VPDL response, but many argue that dynamic changes in soil‐to‐leaf hydraulic conductance (Ks‐l) make an important contribution to this response pathway, even in well‐hydrated soils.

Here, we examined whether the regulation of whole plant stomatal conductance (gc) in response to typical changes in daytime VPDL is influenced by dynamic changes in Ks‐l. We use well‐watered plants of two species with contrasting ecological and physiological features: the herbaceous Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia‐0) and the dry forest conifer Callitris rhomboidea.

The dynamics of Ks‐l and gc were continuously monitored by combining concurrent in situ measurements of Ψleaf using an open optical dendrometer and whole plant transpiration using a balance. Large changes in VPDL were imposed to induce stomatal closure and observe the impact on Ks‐l.

In both species, gc was observed to decline substantially as VPDL increased, while Ks‐l remained stable. Our finding suggests that stomatal regulation of transpiration is not contingent on a decrease in Ks‐l. Static Ks‐l provides a much simpler explanation for transpiration control in hydrated plants and enables simplified modelling and new methods for monitoring plant water use in the field.
Cell‐layer specific roles for gibberellins in nodulation and root development
Authors: Velandia Karen , Correa‐Lozano Alejandro , McGuiness Peter M. , Reid James B. , Foo Eloise
Published: February 2024

Gibberellins (GA) have a profound influence on the formation of lateral root organs. However, the precise role this hormone plays in the cell‐specific events during lateral root formation, rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis, including interactions with auxin and cytokinin (CK), is not clear.

We performed epidermal‐ and endodermal‐specific complementation of the severely GA‐deficient na pea (Pisum sativum) mutant with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Gibberellin mutants were used to examine the spatial expression pattern of CK (TCSn)‐ and auxin (DR5)‐responsive promoters and hormone levels.

We found that GA produced in the endodermis promote lateral root and nodule organogenesis and can induce a mobile signal(s) that suppresses rhizobial infection. By contrast, epidermal‐derived GA suppress infection but have little influence on root or nodule development. GA suppress the CK‐responsive TCSn promoter in the cortex and are required for normal auxin activation during nodule primordia formation.

Our findings indicate that GA regulate the checkpoints between infection thread (IT) penetration of the cortex and invasion of nodule primordial cells and promote the subsequent progression of nodule development. It appears that GA limit the progression and branching of IT in the cortex by restricting CK response and activate auxin response to promote nodule primordia development.
Novel scoring system derived from meta‐analysis and validated in cohort population for predicting 1‐year atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon catheter ablation: The HeLPS‐Cryo score
Authors: Waranugraha Yoga , Hsu Jung‐Chi , Lin Ting‐Tse , Ho Li‐Ting , Yu Chih‐Chieh , Liu Yen‐Bin , Lin Lian‐Yu
Published: February 2024

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rates in 1 year after cryoballoon ablation catheter (CBCA) are still high. We purposed to identify strong predictors for AF recurrence after the successful CBCA procedure and develop a new scoring system based only on pre‐procedural parameters.

Methods

In the derivation phase, a systematic review and meta‐analysis identified the strong predictors of AF recurrence after the CBCA. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) was used to create the new scoring system. The second phase validated the new scoring system in the cohort population.

Results

A meta‐analysis including 29 cohort studies with 16196 participants confirmed that persistent AF, stroke, heart failure, and left atrial diameter (LAD) >40 mm were powerful predictors for AF recurrence after the CBCA procedure. The HeLPS‐Cryo (heart failure [1], left atrial dilatation [1], persistent AF [2], and stroke [2]) was developed based on those pre‐procedural predictors. It was validated in 140 patients receiving CBCA procedures and revealed excellent predictive performance for 1‐year AF recurrence (AUC = 0.8877; 95% CI = 0.8208 to 0.9546). The HeLPS‐Cryo score of ≥3 could predict 1‐year AF recurrence with sensitivity and specificity of 78.9% and 87.9%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 66.7%, and the negative predictive value was 93.1%.

Conclusion

The HeLPS‐Cryo score can help the physician estimate the probability of 1‐year AF recurrence after the successful CBCA procedure. Patients with HeLPS‐Cryo score <3 are good candidates for the CBCA procedure.
Management of the sensitized pediatric renal transplant candidate
Authors: Puliyanda Dechu P. , Jordan Stanley C.
Published: February 2024

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with ESRD as it is associated with improved patient survival and better quality of life, especially in children. There are several barriers to a successful transplant including organ shortage, anatomic barriers, and immunologic barriers. One of the biggest immunologic barriers that precludes transplantation is sensitization, when patients have antibodies prior to transplantation, resulting in positive crossmatches with donor. 30%–40% of adult patients on the wait list are sensitized. There is a growing number of pediatric patients on the wait list who are sensitized. This poses a unique challenge to the pediatric transplant community. Therefore, attempts to perform desensitization to remove or suppress pathogenic HLA antibodies resulting in acceptable crossmatches, and ultimately a successful transplant, while reducing the risk of acute rejection, are much needed in these children. This review article aims to address the management of such patients both prior to transplantation, with strategies to overcome sensitization, and after transplantation with monitoring for allograft rejection and other complications.
Antiradical capacity assay for hydrophobic substances using hemin‐catalyzed luminol chemiluminescence in cationic micelles
Authors: Santos Cerize S. , Lemos Marcos P. O. , Betschart Larissa M. , Baader Wilhelm J.
Published: February 2024

Antioxidant substances which can diminish the steady‐state concentration of free radicals in vivo are important in the human dietary to diminish the deleterious effects of oxidative stress. As the potential of certain substances as antioxidants is difficult to be verified in vivo, simple chemical in vitro assays which test the potential of substances as antioxidants are of great importance for the screening of new antioxidants. These assays measure the capacity of a substance to suppress free radicals. We describe here an antiradical capacity assay, based on luminol chemiluminescence, in cationic micellar medium, allowing the capacity determination of hydrophobic compounds. The antiradical capacity of antioxidants is determined using the Trolox standard by the measurement of the light emission inhibition area caused by the addition of different antiradical concentrations. The obtained results are compared to the values determined using the scavenging of stable free radicals be the substances and shown to be similar for compounds like uric acid, rutin, and quercetin. However, for vitamin E, the luminol assay results in a considerably higher antiradical capacity than the assay with a stable free radical, which is rationalized by the higher reactivity of the radical generated in the luminol assay and a specific localization of vitamin E in the micellar medium.
Does anxiety increase policy learning?
Authors: Lablih Moulay , Bundi Pirmin , Portmann Lea
Published: February 2024

Does anxiety affect how public officials process policy information? It is often argued that the increasing number of policy failures can be explained by a lack of policy learning by decision makers. While previous studies show that socioeconomic and partisan variables are related to the perception of policy information, little attention has been paid to the role of emotions, such as anxiety, in the policymaking process. In this paper, we investigate the impact of anxiety on the policy learning of local office holders at the individual level in Switzerland. We introduce the Marcus' Affective Intelligence Model—which examines how emotions affect individuals' information processing—to the policy learning literature. To test the expectations of the model, we draw on novel experimental data collected among local elected officials from the 26 Swiss cantons. In the experiment, we randomly display anxiety‐inducing images along with policy information. We provide evidence that anxiety has a positive causal effect on learning. Considering potential moderators of this effect, we show that the relationship is not conditioned by the strength of priors or the perceived complexity of public policies. However, these variables are substantially correlated with policy learning. Our findings have important implications for better understanding how information influences policymaking.
Primitive reflexes and dementia in older adults: a meta‐analysis of observational and cohort studies
Authors: Altunkalem Seydi Kübra , Kaya Derya , Yavuz Idil , Ontan Mehmet Selman , Dost Fatma Sena , Isik Ahmet Turan
Published: February 2024

Primitive reflexes (PRs) are clinical signs that indicate diffuse cerebral dysfunction and frontal lesions. We aimed to present a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence and risk of PRs in patients with dementia. English‐language articles published from January 1990 to April 2021 were searched in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and Web of Science with keywords. The titles and abstracts of the identified articles were screened to identify potentially relevant papers. Odds ratios and risk ratios were extracted with 95% confidence intervals and combined using the random‐effects model after logarithmic transformation. The prevalence in dementia patients was also combined using the random‐effects model. This meta‐analysis involved 29 studies. The snout reflex (48% of cases) was the most prevalent. It was found that the risk of PRs in individuals with dementia was significantly elevated, ranging from 13.94 to 16.38 times higher than in healthy controls. The grasp reflex exhibited the highest risk for dementia. This meta‐analysis showed that the prevalence and the risk of PRs is high in older patients with dementia. Therefore, PRs, especially the grasp reflex, should be carefully assessed as a part of routine physical examination in the diagnostic process for dementia.
The harmonious soul and the defence of music in sixteenth‐century England
Authors: Butler Katherine
Published: February 2024

This article examines the history of the concept of the soul as a harmony—as opposed to merely being like a harmony—in sixteenth‐century England, demonstrating how debates over music's morality in sixteenth‐century England were a catalyst for theorising an increasing affinity between music and the soul. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, English writers valued music primarily for its restorative qualities or its potential to instil virtue, akin to arguments in Aristotle's Politics. As attacks on music intensified mid‐century, defenders turned to more Platonic views of music, gradually going as far as arguing that the soul itself was a harmony. As I demonstrate, however, music's defenders trod a fine line in using this concept, which had been challenged since classical times and caused problems for Christian theology and the notion of the immortal soul. Nevertheless, by the seventeenth century, the pervasiveness of the language of soul‐harmony was such that it continued to be influential in the seventeenth century as a tool for conveying the emerging new medical and cognitive theories.
What shapes the formation of interstate benchmarking networks?
Authors: Cao Shuai , Yi Hongtao
Published: February 2024

Most studies on public sector benchmarking focus on performance indicators, processes, and outcomes of managed benchmarking. This article, instead, explores the formation of spontaneous interstate benchmarking networks among U.S. state agency leaders. Informed by social comparison theory, we first recategorize benchmarking into best practice benchmarking and competitive benchmarking. Then, we quantify two benchmarking networks with a survey dataset and employ the Exponential Random Graph Model to analyze both endogenous and exogenous factors in the formation of both types of benchmarking networks. We find that the best practice benchmarking network has a popularity effect, while the competitive benchmarking network has mutuality and transitivity effects. Both types of benchmarking networks are more likely to form among states with historical policy diffusion ties and similar economic and geographic characteristics. This study contributes to the literature on public sector benchmarking and network research by exploring the factors that influence the formation of benchmarking networks.