bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘An extra level of kind of torment’: Views and experiences of recurrent miscarriage care during the initial phases of COVID‐19 in Ireland—A qualitative interview study
Authors: Dennehy Rebecca , Hennessy Marita , Dhubhgain Jennifer Ui , Lucey Con , O′Donoghue Keelin
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Maternity services underwent much change during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Research on the impact on miscarriage care and experiences during this time is sparse. Within a national evaluation of recurrent miscarriage care, we qualitatively explored stakeholder views and experiences of recurrent miscarriage services in Ireland. This study describes the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on those experiences and perceptions of care.

Methods

People with professional and lived experience of recurrent miscarriage and service engagement were actively involved in this qualitative study from idea generation to analysis and reporting. We recruited women and men with two or more consecutive first‐trimester miscarriages, and people involved in the management/delivery of recurrent miscarriage services and supports. We used purposive sampling to ensure that perspectives across disciplinary or lived experience, geographical, and health service administrative areas, were included. We conducted semi‐structured interviews, virtually all due to COVID‐19 restrictions, between June 2020 and February 2021. These were audio‐recorded, and data were transcribed, and subsequently analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

We interviewed 42 service providers and 13 women and 7 men with experience of recurrent miscarriage. We actively generated two central themes during data analysis. The first—‘Disconnected’—describes how many women navigated miscarriage diagnosis and management and care in subsequent pregnancies alone; many felt that this resulted in increased trauma. At the same time, men struggled with not being present to support their partners and described feeling disconnected. The second theme highlighted ‘The perceived dispensability of recurrent miscarriage services and supports’. Some service providers felt that service reduction and redeployment demonstrated a lack of value in the service. Virtual clinics facilitated access to services, but a preference for in‐person care was highlighted.

Conclusion

Our analysis provides rich insights into the significant impacts that the COVID‐19 pandemic has had on the way recurrent miscarriage care is provided and experienced, with important implications for early pregnancy, miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage care. Services have undergone significant changes and, while these may be temporary, how services should be delivered in the future requires consideration, particularly given the deficits in care and care experiences highlighted prepandemic.

Patient or Public Contribution

Members of the multidisciplinary RE:CURRENT Project Research Advisory Group (including four parent advocates, two of whom are co‐authors on this article) were actively involved throughout the study, including the generation of topic guides and the refining of themes.
Phytochemical characterisation and antioxidant capacities of pomegranate peel
Authors: Kafeel Sadia , Inam‐ur‐Raheem Muhammad , Khan Moazzam Rafiq , Faisal Muhammad Naeem
Published: June 2023

Pomegranate peel, a biological waste, is of great interest due to its higher gallic acid, catechin and quercetin contents and their therapeutic action. The current research focuses on the evaluation of pomegranate peel extracts of two cultivars, Badana and Kandhari. Polyphenols from various concentrations of ethanol were extracted and analysed by modern techniques. Results indicated that the extract of Badana showed the highest phenolics (667.14 ± 7.48 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (151.54 ± 2.01 mg CE/g), antioxidant activity by DPPH (87.77% ± 0.16% inhibition) and FRAP (70.54 ± 0.25 mmol/100 g). Also, the 70% hydroalcoholic Kandhari extract exhibited the highest flavonoids in comparison to 50% and 100% extracts. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy spectra indicated numerous functional groups such as alkyl halides, alcohols, polyphenols, alkenes, carbonyl and carboxylic acid. The HPLC chromatogram revealed the presence of gallic acid, quercetin, ferulic acid, benzoic acid, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and sinapic acid with the highest concentration of gallic acid in Badana extract. So, here we concluded that 70% hydroethanolic Badana extract is an excellent source of bioactive components and can further be utilised for value addition and curative attributes.
The relationship between critical thinking and job performance among nurses: A descriptive survey study
Authors: Ateş Nimet , Erdal Nurgül , Harmancı Seren Arzu Kader
Published: June 2023

Aim

This study investigated the relationship between nurses' critical thinking skills and job performance and whether critical thinking and its subdomains predict job performance.

Background

It is expected that nurses may use critical thinking skills to provide evidence‐based quality patient care in health care settings. However, there is limited evidence about whether critical thinking is related to job performance among nurses.

Design

This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional survey study.

Methods

The study included 368 nurses working in the inpatient wards of a university hospital in Turkey. The survey included a demographic information questionnaire, the Critical Thinking Scale in Clinical Practice for Nurses and the Nurses' Job Performance Scale. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, comparisons, reliability and normality tests, correlation and regression analysis.

Results

Participating nurses got average scores from the critical thinking and job performance scale and sub‐scales, and there was a positive, mid‐level and statistically significant correlation between the scale scores. According to the multiple linear regression analysis results, personal critical thinking, interpersonal and self‐management critical thinking and the total critical thinking scores positively affected the job performance scores of nurses.

Conclusion

As critical thinking predicts nurses' job performance, managers of hospitals and nursing services should consider training programs or activities to increase nurses' essential thinking competencies, thus improving clinical nurses' performances.
Methods used to assess sleep in children who attend community‐based mental health programmes: A systematic review
Authors: Priftis A. , Cruickshank M. , Smith S. M. S.
Published: June 2023

Sleep quality and sleep duration are important for children's physical and mental health. Mental health diagnoses and sleep disturbances may be interlinked. We sought to identify the methods used to assess sleep in paediatric community‐based mental health programmes. A systematic review was conducted using an a priori protocol to ascertain the sleep assessment methods used in paediatric community‐based mental health programmes. Children for this review were defined as any person under the age of 19. Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest, APA PsycInfo, and PubMed databases were searched from January 2021 to March 2022. Of the 320 records screened, 314 records were excluded. Six studies were included for analysis. A variety of validated and non‐validated sleep instruments were used to measure sleep quality and a range of sleep disturbances in community health programmes for children. There were a limited number of studies associated with sleep assessment in paediatric community‐based settings suggesting this is an area of research that may be understudied. Sleep questionnaires were predominately completed by parents or guardians. Further research is required to establish the most effective method for screening sleep behaviour in paediatric community mental health programmes to understand the impact of sleep in the recovery of children and adolescents with mental health disorders.
Salinity effects on the activities of ROS scavenging enzymes in leaves of two sweet potato clones
Authors: Mondal Shimul , Burgert Susane , Asch Julia , Rahaman Ebna Habib Md Shofiur , Asch Folkard
Published: June 2023

Sweet potato production, particularly in coastal areas is often prone to salinity. Salt‐tolerant clones will be needed to maintain production, but to date, little is known about salt tolerance traits in sweet potato. Salt stress may result in excessive uptake of unwanted ions into plant tissues leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn may destroy membranes and reduce photosynthesis and growth. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) scavenge ROS and early changes in the activities of such enzymes could be used to identify salinity tolerant genotypes. Therefore, cuttings of two contrasting cultivars of sweet potato, BARI SP 8 (tolerant) and BARI SP 4 (sensitive) were greenhouse‐cultivated in nutrient solution for 21 days and then exposed to 100 mmol NaCl for 7 days. Three, five and seven days after salt application the youngest leaves were sampled individually and enzyme activities, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) concentrations, and SPAD (as a proxy for chlorophyll content) were determined. In both varieties leaf growth was not affected by salinity and young leaves grown under salinity had higher SPAD values than older leaves. Na concentration increased over time, particularly in earlier and in older leaves, whereas K was reduced in younger leaves. In general, enzyme activities were strongly affected by leaf age and leaf position. SOD and APX showed varietal but no salinity effects, CAT increased under salinity in both varieties, whereas POX was strongly reduced and GR was strongly increased under salinity in BARI SP 8 with no effect in BARI SP 4. Enzyme activities were not correlated to leaf Na, neither in relation to leaf age, nor leaf number or duration of salt stress in both varieties. However, varietal differences were observed regarding leaf K. Activities of SOD were highly positive and of CAT highly negatively correlated with leaf K under salinity in BARI SP 8 but not in BARI SP 4, whereas activities of GR and POX were strongly positively correlated with leaf K in BARI SP 4 under salinity but not in BARI SP 8. We conclude that potassium may have a strong regulating role on leaf stress levels and therefore on the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Varieties may differ in their tolerance strategy and we have shown that salinity does not generally increase levels of ROS‐scavenging enzymes in sweet potato leaves under salt stress. Confounding factors such as leaf age and leaf position as well as maintaining high leaf level K concentrations need to be considered when evaluating metabolic traits for salinity tolerance traits.
Microstructure and strengthening behavior in high content SiC nanowires reinforced SiC composites
Authors: Yang Jiahao , Ahmad Zahoor , Zhu Mingming , Chen Jianjun
Published: June 2023

In this study, the high‐content SiCnw reinforced SiC ceramic matrix composites (SiCnw/SiC CMC) were successfully fabricated by hot pressing β‐SiC and sintering additive (Al2O3‐Y2O3) with boron nitride interphase modification SiCnw. The effects of sintering additive content and mass fraction (5–25 wt%) of SiCnw on the density, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that with the increase of sintering additives from 10 wt% to 12 wt%, the relative density of the SiCnw/SiC CMC increased from 97.3% to 98.9%, attributed to the generated Y3Al5O12 (YAG) liquid phase from the Al2O3‐Y2O3 that promotes the rearrangement and migration of SiC grains. The comprehensive performance of the obtained composite with 15 wt% SiCnw possessed the optimal flexural strength and fracture toughness of 524 ± 30.24 MPa and 12.39 ± 0.49 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Besides, the fracture mode of the composites with 25 wt% SiCnw content revealed a pseudo‐plastic fracture behavior. It concludes that the 25 wt% SiCnw/SiC CMC was toughened by the fiber pull‐outs, debonding, bridging, and crack deflection that can consume plenty of fracture energy. The strategy of SiC nanowires worked as a main bearing phase for the fabrication of SiC/SiC CMC providing critical information for understanding the mechanical behavior of high toughness and high strength SiC nanoceramic matrix composites.
High‐entropy oxides: Harnessing crystalline disorder for emergent functionality
Authors: Kotsonis George N. , Almishal Saeed S. I. , Marques dos Santos Vieira Francisco , Crespi Vincent H. , Dabo Ismaila , Rost Christina M. , Maria Jon‐Paul
Published: June 2023

High‐entropy materials defy historical materials design paradigms by leveraging chemical disorder to kinetically stabilize novel crystalline solid solutions comprised of many end‐members. Formulational diversity results in local crystal structures that are seldom found in conventional materials and can strongly influence macroscopic physical properties. Thermodynamically prescribed chemical flexibility provides a means to tune such properties. Additionally, kinetic metastability results in many possible atomic arrangements, including both solid‐solution configurations and heterogeneous phase assemblies, depending on synthesis conditions. Local disorder induced by metastability, and extensive cation solubilities allowed by thermodynamics combine to give many high‐entropy oxide systems utility as electrochemical, magnetic, thermal, dielectric, and optical materials. Though high‐entropy materials research is maturing rapidly, much remains to be understood and many compositions still await discovery, exploration, and implementation.
Novel color tunable LaCaGaO4:Bi3+,Eu3+ phosphors for high color rendering warm white LEDs
Authors: Lu Zheng , Sun Dashuai , Lyu Zeyu , Shen Sida , Luo Pengcheng , Wei Shuai , Zhou Luhui , You Hongpeng
Published: June 2023

A series of LaCaGaO4:xBi3+,yEu3+ (x = 0.002–0.04, y = 0.02–0.45) phosphors with adjustable emission colors were synthesized by high‐temperature solid‐state reaction. The samples were identified as pure phases by X‐ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement, and the crystal structures were analyzed in detail. The LaCaGaO4:xBi3+ phosphor shows an intense blue emission under near‐ultraviolet excitation, originating from the 3P1 → 1S0 transition. The spectrum analysis reveals that the Bi3+ ions occupy two luminescence centers in the LaCaGaO4 host and that energy transfer can occur. A model of the energy transfer between the Bi3+ and Eu3+ ions was also created and studied in detail. As the Eu3+‐concentration increased, the emission color of the LaCaGaO4:0.005Bi3+,yEu3+ phosphor changed from blue to pink to red. In addition, the fluorescence lifetime, quantum yield, thermal stability, and other properties of the phosphors were characterized and analyzed. Finally, two white light‐emitting diode devices with Ra values of 96.6 and 95 and correlated color temperatures of 4578 and 3324 K were fabricated, indicating the potential of phosphors for warm white lighting applications.
Solubility behavior and thermodynamic modeling of sodium monosulfoaluminate (“U‐phase”) in cementitious systems
Authors: Collin Marie , Prentice Dale P. , Arnold Ross A. , Ellison Kirk , Balonis Magdalena , Simonetti Dante , Sant Gaurav N.
Published: June 2023

The “U‐phase,” a sodium‐containing (alumino‐ferrite‐monosubstituent) AFm phase, has been observed to form in sodium‐enriched highly alkaline cementitious systems, for example, of relevance to nuclear waste, and saline industrial brine management. But, minimal information is available of the U‐phase's (e.g., solubility or thermodynamic properties) due to its limited stability and its tendency to transform into ettringite or monosulfoaluminate. Herein, the U‐phase was systematically synthesized at four temperatures (5, 15, 25, and 50°C) and fully characterized in terms of its thermochemical properties. The average composition of the synthesized U‐phase (4CaO·Al2O3·1.85SO3·0.85Na2O·12H2O) deviates slightly from typical disclosures in the literature. The solubility product of the U‐phase formation was measured from conditions of oversaturation. The measured thermodynamic data accurately predicted experimental observations of U‐phase formation in cementitious environments. In general, it was noted that the U‐phase forms and persists (i.e., remains stable) at pH > 13.7 and [Na+] concentrations superior to 1 mol/L.
NIMBYism and Legitimate Expectations
Authors: Quigley Travis
Published: June 2023

An increasing portion of contemporary politics revolves around a set of claims made by those (typically derisively) referred to as NIMBYs. Despite its practical significance, NIMBYism has not received significant attention in academic philosophy. I attempt a charitable but limited reconstruction of NIMBYism in terms of legitimate expectations. I argue that, despite NIMBY expectations being somewhat vague and at least moderately unjust, they may be legitimate. This does not imply that they are decisive, or entail a conclusion about their overall normative force. I close by developing some tentative details in institutional design, focusing on the possibility of monetary compensation as a way of recognizing, but limiting the force of, NIMBY expectations.
The biogeography of Gabonese savannas: Evidence from termite community richness and composition
Authors: Evouna Ondo Fidèle , Jeffery Kathryn J. , Whytock Robin , Abernethy Katharine A. , Couteron Pierre , Eggleton Paul , Griffin Claire , Ostle Nicolas J. , Koumba Pambo Aurelie‐Flore , Ngomanda Alfred , Edzang Ndong Josué , Parr Catherine L.
Published: June 2023

Aim

The mosaic of savannas that persists in the forest‐dominant Congo Basin is thought to be palaeoclimatic relics, but past biogeographical processes that have formed and maintained these systems are poorly understood. Here, we explored the post‐Pleistocene biogeography of Gabon's savannas using termites as biological indicators to understand historical and mechanistic factors influencing present‐day termite communities in the country's extant savannas.

Location

Gabon, Central Africa.

Taxon

Blattodea: Termitoidae.

Methods

Using standardised transect methods, we sampled termite communities in four disjunct modern savanna areas of Gabon: the centre (Lopé), the southeast (Batéké) and the south (Mayombe North and South). Termites at Lopé were collected in three habitats (annually burned savannas, savannas with a depressed fire regime and forest). We used DNA barcoding of the COII region to identify termite species and compared abundance, species richness and community composition across areas and habitats.

Results

Community composition differed greatly between Lopé and both Batéké and Mayombe savannas with Lopé being exceptionally depauperate and lacking characteristic savanna species. Within Lopé, termite abundance and diversity was highest in forests and lowest in annually burned savannas, with a gradual change in species composition across the forest–savanna gradient associated with fire history.

Main Conclusions

The absence of savanna typical species in Lopé savannas challenges current assumptions that these savannas were linked to the south/southeastern savannas during the Pleistocene and suggests a different evolutionary history. Lopé savannas may instead have opened as an isolated grassland and never have been contiguous with neighbouring savannas, or were isolated soon after forest expansion began and have now lost savanna‐typical species. Furthermore, the patterns of termite community composition in fire suppressed savannas support a hypothesis of rapid change driven by fire frequency where either fire suppression or infrequent burning over 23 years has meant savannas have become ecologically much more forest‐like.
Blockade of glucagon increases muscle mass and alters fiber type composition in mice deficient in proglucagon‐derived peptides
Authors: Ueno Shinji , Seino Yusuke , Hidaka Shihomi , Nakatani Masashi , Hitachi Keisuke , Murao Naoya , Maeda Yasuhiro , Fujisawa Haruki , Shibata Megumi , Takayanagi Takeshi , Iizuka Katsumi , Yabe Daisuke , Sugimura Yoshihisa , Tsuchida Kunihiro , Hayashi Yoshitaka , Suzuki Atsushi
Published: June 2023

Aims/Introduction

Glucagon is secreted from pancreatic α‐cells and plays an important role in amino acid metabolism in liver. Various animal models deficient in glucagon action show hyper‐amino acidemia and α‐cell hyperplasia, indicating that glucagon contributes to feedback regulation between the liver and the α‐cells. In addition, both insulin and various amino acids, including branched‐chain amino acids and alanine, participate in protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. However, the effect of hyperaminoacidemia on skeletal muscle has not been investigated. In the present study, we examined the effect of blockade of glucagon action on skeletal muscle using mice deficient in proglucagon‐derived peptides (GCGKO mice).

Materials and Methods

Muscles isolated from GCGKO and control mice were analyzed for their morphology, gene expression and metabolites.

Results

GCGKO mice showed muscle fiber hypertrophy, and a decreased ratio of type IIA and an increased ratio of type IIB fibers in the tibialis anterior. The expression levels of myosin heavy chain (Myh) 7, 2, 1 and myoglobin messenger ribonucleic acid were significantly lower in GCGKO mice than those in control mice in the tibialis anterior. GCGKO mice showed a significantly higher concentration of arginine, asparagine, serine and threonine in the quadriceps femoris muscles, and also alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glycine and lysine, as well as four amino acids in gastrocnemius muscles.

Conclusions

These results show that hyperaminoacidemia induced by blockade of glucagon action in mice increases skeletal muscle weight and stimulates slow‐to‐fast transition in type II fibers of skeletal muscle, mimicking the phenotype of a high‐protein diet.
Gender Bias in Test Item Formats: Evidence from PISA 2009, 2012, and 2015 Math and Reading Tests
Authors: Shear Benjamin R.
Published: June 2023

Large‐scale standardized tests are regularly used to measure student achievement overall and for student subgroups. These uses assume tests provide comparable measures of outcomes across student subgroups, but prior research suggests score comparisons across gender groups may be complicated by the type of test items used. This paper presents evidence that among nationally representative samples of 15‐year‐olds in the United States participating in the 2009, 2012, and 2015 PISA math and reading tests, there are consistent item format by gender differences. On average, male students answer multiple‐choice items correctly relatively more often and female students answer constructed‐response items correctly relatively more often. These patterns were consistent across 34 additional participating PISA jurisdictions, although the size of the format differences varied and were larger on average in reading than math. The average magnitude of the format differences is not large enough to be flagged in routine differential item functioning analyses intended to detect test bias but is large enough to raise questions about the validity of inferences based on comparisons of scores across gender groups. Researchers and other test users should account for test item format, particularly when comparing scores across gender groups.
Characterization of UDP‐glycosyltranferase genes and their roles in chlorfenapyr tolerance in Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Liang Xinhao , Ding Jianhao , Zhu Hanqi , Miao Wanglong , Li Ping , Zhou Weihong , Wu Fu‐an , Wang Jun , Sheng Sheng
Published: June 2023

Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the main pest of mulberry leaves and causes great losses to the sericultural industry in China. Chlorfenapyr is a new type of arylpyrrole insecticide in mulberry fields. Uridine diphosphate–glycosyltransferase (UGT) is the major phase II metabolizing enzymes that play important roles in detoxifying the toxic substances in insects. However, the roles of UGT genes against chemical insecticides in lepidopteran pests still receive less attention. To better understand the mechanism of insecticide tolerance in G. pyloalis, a LC50 of chlorfenapyr to the fourth‐instar larvae was firstly determined. Subsequently, 24 UGT genes were identified from the previous constructed larvae transcriptome of G. pyloalis. Among these, 23 contained full‐length ORFs and shared high homology with Ostrinia furnacalis and Chilo suppressalis. qRT‐PCR validation revealed that four GpylUGTs (GpUGT33AQ1, GpUGT33AS1, GpUGT50A14, and GpUGT40AV1) were significantly upregulated after 24 h of chlorfenapyr treatment. Three GpylUGTs (GpUGT33AS1, GpUGT40AM4, and GpUGT40AK7) were upregulated after 48 h of chlorfenapyr treatment compared to the control groups. To further explore the functions of UGT genes, GpUGT33AS1 was selected and knocked down, which resulted in the decline of UGT expression and significantly increased the mortality of G. pyloalis larvae under LC30 chlorfenapyr exposure. This study revealed that UGTs in G. pyloalis contributed to the tolerance towards chlorfenapyr and provided basic insight into the insecticide detoxification mechanism in lepidopteran pests.
Postnatal growth and spatial conformity of the cranium, brain, eyeballs and masseter muscles in the macaque (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Jeffery Nathan , Manson Amy
Published: June 2023

Spatial growth constraints in the head region can lead to coordinated patterns of morphological variation that pleiotropically modify genetically defined phenotypes as the tissues compete for space. Here we test for such architectural modifications during rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) postnatal ontogeny. We captured cranium and brain shape from 153 MRI datasets spanning 13 to 1090 postnatal days and tested for patterns of covariation with measurements of relative brain, eyeball, and masseter muscle size as well as callosal tract length. We find that the shape of the infant (<365 days) macaque cranium was most closely aligned to masseter muscle and brain size measured relative to face size. Infant brain and juvenile (365–1090 days) cranium shape were more closely linked with brain size relative to basicranium and face size. Meanwhile, the juvenile macaque brain shape was dominated by the size of the brain relative to that of the basicranium. Associations with relative eyeball size and commissural tract lengths were weaker. Our results are consistent with a spatial‐packing regime operating during postnatal macaque ontogeny, in which relative growth of the masseter, face and basicranium have a greater influence than brain growth on the overall shape of the cranium and brain.
Hygiene management of intermittent self‐catheterization using reusable silicone catheters in people with spinal cord lesions: A cross‐sectional Internet survey in Japan
Authors: Takahashi Ryosuke , Sekido Noritoshi , Matsuoka Mihoko , Sengoku Atsushi , Nomi Masashi , Matsuyama Fujio , Murata Tatsunori , Kitta Takeya , Mitsui Takahiko
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To investigate hygiene management and catheter maintenance of reusable silicone catheters for intermittent self‐catheterization (ISC) in Japan and examine their relationship with symptomatic urinary tract infection (sUTI).

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional Internet survey of people performing ISC using reusable silicone catheters owing to spinal cord lesions in Japan. Hygiene management and catheter maintenance of reusable silicone catheters and the incidence and frequency of sUTI were evaluated. We also examined the significant risk factors for sUTI.

Results

Of 136 respondents, 62 (46%), 41 (30%), and 58 (43%) washed hands with water, washed hands with soap, and cleaned or disinfected the urethral meatus every time or most of the time before ISC, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the incidence and frequency of sUTI between respondents who adhered to these procedures and those who did not. There were no significant differences in the incidence and frequency of sUTI in respondents who changed their catheters every month and in those who changed their preservation solution within 2 days compared with those who did not. In multivariate analysis, pain during ISC, inconvenience of indoor mobility, bowel management problems, and participants' feeling of never having received instruction on catheter replacement were significant risk factors for sUTI.

Conclusions

There are individual differences in hygiene management and catheter maintenance of reusable silicone catheters, but the influence of these differences on the incidence and frequency of sUTI is not clear. Pain during ISC, bowel management problems, and inadequate instruction on catheter maintenance procedures are factors associated with sUTI.
Reassessment of the olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea nesting population at Nancite Beach, Costa Rica
Authors: Fonseca Luis G. , Villachica Wilbert N. , Rangel Eduardo , Palola Eric , Gilbert Monique , Valverde Roldán A.
Published: June 2023

Nancite is a fully protected beach within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica where olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles nest in synchronous mass‐nesting events known as arribadas. Arribadas decreased in magnitude at this beach by approximately 90% during the period 1971–2007 due to unknown causes. The total count estimate of females nesting in a year also decreased over these decades. In the present study, from August 2009 to February 2021, the trend of arribada nesting female abundance and estimated annual production of hatchlings were assessed and compared with previous trend analyses. A total of 62 mass‐nesting events were quantified in the period 2009–2021, with an estimated annual average of 64,694 nesting females. Trend analysis indicated that during our recent study period, the number of females per arribada event increased by an estimated 14% (8%, 20% CI95%). During this period, a mean hatching rate of 33.4% was estimated, corresponding to an overall estimated production average of 2,165,597 per season, which represented an increase of 82.7% compared with a previous estimate for the period 1980–1984, when the arribadas were larger. We suggest that the growth in hatchling production over the past four decades is at least in part responsible for the slight increase in the estimated size of arribadas since 2009/2010. However, because maximal hatching success did not increase above 60%, the beach may be close to reaching carrying capacity, and it seems that high hatchling production may soon level off or begin to decrease. Thus, it is not clear whether current hatchling production will lead to the recovery of the Nancite population to the historical levels documented in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Phylogenetically‐conserved candidate genes unify biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships and eco‐evolutionary dynamics across biological scales
Authors: Blanchet Simon , Fargeot Laura , Raffard Allan
Published: June 2023

The intra‐ and interspecific facets of biodiversity have traditionally been analysed separately, limiting our understanding of how evolution has shaped biodiversity, how biodiversity (as a whole) alters ecological dynamics and hence eco‐evolutionary feedbacks at the community scale. Here, we propose using candidate genes phylogenetically‐conserved across species and sustaining functional traits as an inclusive biodiversity unit transcending the intra‐ and interspecific boundaries. This framework merges knowledge from functional genomics and functional ecology, and we first provide guidelines and a concrete example for identifying phylogenetically‐conserved candidate genes (PCCGs) within communities and for measuring biodiversity from PCCGs. We then explain how biodiversity measured at PCCGs can be linked to ecosystem functions, which unifies recent observations that both intra‐ and interspecific biodiversity are important for ecosystem functions. We then highlight the eco‐evolutionary processes shaping PCCG diversity patterns and argue that their respective role can be inferred from concepts derived from population genetics. Finally, we explain how PCCGs may shift the field of eco‐evolutionary dynamics from a focal‐species approach to a more realistic focal‐community approach. This framework provides a novel perspective to investigate the global ecosystem consequences of diversity loss across biological scales, and how these ecological changes further alter biodiversity evolution.
Gastrointestinal involvement of passenger lymphocyte syndrome followed by minor ABO‐incompatible renal transplantation: A case report
Authors: Yeom Gyeong Eun , Lim Seon Hee , Kim Ji Hyun , Ahn Yo Han , Kim Hyungsuk , Ha Jongwon , Kim Hyun‐Young , Kang Hee Gyung
Published: June 2023

Background

People with group O blood are considered universal organ donors compatible with any other blood group. However, in the case of minor ABO‐incompatible transplantation, immune‐mediated hemolysis may occur due to concomitant transfer of donor B lymphocytes together with the allograft. These passenger lymphocytes can produce antibodies in the recipients erythrocytes, causing hemolytic anemia known as passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed.

Results

A 6‐year‐old boy (A+) underwent transplantation of a kidney from his father (O+). On postoperative day (POD) 6, the patient developed fever with no explainable causes. On POD 11, he presented with abdominal pain, hematochezia, and severe diarrhea, with sudden hemolytic anemia. Since then, GI symptoms have continued. On POD 20, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) was positive, and the anti‐A IgM/G titer was 2/32. The results of the anti‐A antibody elution test were strongly positive (3+). These findings highly suggested PLS. On the same day, the GI symptoms suddenly worsened, and laboratory findings showed hemolysis and thrombocytopenia with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans suggested ischemic colitis of venous origin, and the patient underwent segmental colectomy with ileostomy formation on POD 23. To remove the anti‐A antibodies, the patient underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) five times until the DAT and anti‐A elution test were negative.

Conclusions

We report a case of gastrointestinal involvement of PLS that occurred after minor ABO‐incompatible kidney transplantation. This is the first report of ischemic colitis as an atypical manifestation of PLS.
Moral worth and skillful action
Authors: Horst David
Published: June 2023

Someone acts in a morally worthy way when they deserve credit for doing the morally right thing. But when and why do agents deserve credit for the success involved in doing the right thing? It is tempting to seek an answer to that question by drawing an analogy with creditworthy success in other domains of human agency, especially in sports, arts, and crafts. Accordingly, some authors have recently argued that, just like creditworthy success in, say, chess, playing the piano, or archery, creditworthy moral success is a matter of getting things right by way of manifesting a relevant skill. My main aim in this paper is to bring out an important structural difference between moral creditworthiness and creditworthiness in sports, arts, and craft, undermining attempts to use examples of the latter as a model for understanding the former. As an alternative, I propose an account of morally creditworthy action, according to which such action is a matter of manifesting virtue, not skill—a claim that's based on an important, but underappreciated, difference between the sorts of excellences constituting virtues and skills. The paper thus contributes to a more nuanced picture of normative achievements across different domains of human agency, highlighting largely overlooked structural dissimilarities among them.
The burden of systemic corticosteroid use in asthma management in Asia
Authors: Dhar Raja , Rhee Chin Kook , Perng Diahn‐Warng , Fukunaga Koichi , Ip Mary Sau‐Man , Juthong Siwasak , Koh Mariko Siyue , Li Jing , Sharma Shubham , Wiyono Wiwien Heru
Published: June 2023

For most patients, asthma can be effectively managed using inhaled medications. However, patients who have severe and/or uncontrolled asthma, or who experience exacerbations, may require systemic corticosteroids (SCSs) to maintain asthma control. Although SCS are highly effective in this regard, even modest exposure to these medications can increase the risk for long‐term, adverse health outcomes, such as type 2 diabetes, renal impairment, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. Clinical and real‐world data from studies investigating asthma severity, control and treatment practices around the globe have suggested that SCS are overused in asthma management, adding to the already substantial healthcare burden experienced by patients. Throughout Asia, although data on asthma severity, control and SCS usage are limited and vary widely among countries, available data strongly suggest a pattern of overuse consistent with the broader global trend. Coordinated changes at the patient, provider, institutional and policy levels, such as increasing disease awareness, promoting better adherence to treatment guidelines and increasing availability of safe and effective alternatives to SCS, are likely necessary to reduce the SCS burden for patients with asthma in Asia.
Quantification of blood loss in obstetric haemorrhage: implications on intervention and transfusion
Authors: Haque Noreen , Roberts Ruth , Kumar Bid
Published: June 2023

Key content

Postpartum haemorrhage accounts for 27% of all maternal deaths. Incorrect quantification of blood loss can lead to unnecessary interventions, such as the transfusion of blood products, which is not without risk.

During pregnancy, cardiovascular changes may explain how blood loss can occur rapidly, with pregnant women tolerating large volumes of blood loss before a change in clinical signs is seen.

Several methods are used to quantify blood loss, such as visual estimation, volumetric, gravimetric, colorimetric and photometric.

The Obstetric Bleeding Strategy for Wales (OBS Cymru) project, which standardised management of obstetric haemorrhage in Wales using a four‐stage approach, showed a statistically significant improvement in outcomes.

Different definitions of postpartum haemorrhage make it difficult to compare available evidence. Further studies are required combining the use of point‐of‐care tests and quantitative techniques to help improve morbidity and mortality associated with obstetric haemorrhage.

Learning objectives

To understand the physiological changes in pregnancy and how they affect postpartum haemorrhage.

To know the different available methods of quantifying blood loss.

To review the point‐of‐care tests used to guide transfusion and management of postpartum haemorrhage.

Ethical issues

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of quantifying blood loss is essential to providing appropriate and safe care.

Inaccuracy in measurement increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, in addition to complications of unnecessary treatments.
Hyperlipidaemia and severe hypertriglyceridaemia in pregnancy
Authors: Bashir Mohammed , Navti Osric B , Ahmed Badreldeen , Konje Justin C
Published: June 2023

Key content

Lipid and triglyceride levels increase in pregnancy and do not pose problems for most women. However, pregnancy‐specific factors and genetic aberrations, especially mutations, may result in supraphysiological hypercholesterolaemia (HC) and severe hypertriglyceridaemia (sHTG).

HC and sHTG are associated with complications in pregnancy, including acute pancreatitis, hyperviscosity syndrome and pre‐eclampsia.

Abnormally high levels of lipids and triglycerides also affect fetal growth and the onset of gestational diabetes.

The clinical presentation and diagnosis of HC and sHTG are varied.

Management options include lifestyle and dietary restriction/modification, omega‐3, bile‐acid sequestrants, fenofibrate, statins and plasmapheresis.

Learning objectives

To understand the physiological changes that occur in lipids in pregnancy and how these are modulated.

To appreciate the importance of severe HC and HTG in pregnancy, including their effects on maternal morbidity and mortality.

To understand the various approaches to management and the importance of multidisciplinary management.

Ethical issues

Should every woman be screened for HTG and HC during pregnancy?

How safe are statins and other treatments for lipid disorders in pregnancy?

Should women with very severe HTG be discouraged from getting pregnant?
Veterinary radiologic error rate as determined by necropsy
Authors: Cohen Jonathan , Fischetti Anthony J. , Daverio Heather
Published: June 2023

A large‐scale postmortem auditing of antemortem imaging diagnoses has yet to be accomplished in veterinary medicine. For this retrospective, observational, single‐center, diagnostic accuracy study, necropsy reports for patients of The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center were collected over a 1‐year period. Each necropsy diagnosis was determined to be either correctly diagnosed or discrepant with its corresponding antemortem diagnostic imaging, and discrepancies were categorized. The radiologic error rate was calculated to include only clinically significant missed diagnoses (lesion was not reported but was retrospectively visible on the image) and misinterpretations (lesion was noted but was incorrectly diagnosed). Nonerror discrepancies, such as temporal indeterminacy, microscopic limitations, sensitivity limitations, and study‐type limitations were not included in the error rate. A total of 1099 necropsy diagnoses had corresponding antemortem imaging; 440 diagnoses were classified as major diagnoses, of which 176 were discrepant, for a major discrepancy rate of 40%, similar to reports in people. Seventeen major discrepancies were diagnoses that were missed or misinterpreted by the radiologist, for a calculated radiologic error rate of 4.6%, comparable with error rates of 3%–5% reported in people. From 2020 to 2021, nearly half of all clinically significant abnormalities noted at necropsy went undetected by antemortem imaging, though most discrepancies owed to factors other than radiologic error. Identifying common patterns of misdiagnosis and discrepancy will help radiologists refine their analysis of imaging studies to potentially reduce interpretive error.
Evaluation of the effect of copper on the restart of a novel combined two‐stage anaerobic digester
Authors: Mohan S. Mariraj , Swathi T.
Published: June 2023

The performance of the modified upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (MUASB) reactor–static granular bed reactor (SGBR) series was evaluated during the restart after a starvation period of 6 months. The steady‐state chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of the reactor series obtained during the restart with copper was 98 ± 1.96% with the corresponding biogas production and copper removal of 0.218‐m3/kg CODdigested and 81.5%, respectively. Even though the biogas production of the reactor series with copper decreased because of the inhibitory effect of the accumulated copper on the methanogens, the reactor series was maintained stable throughout the operation with the effluent characteristics well within the discharge standards. The resumption of feed after starvation was sufficient for the recovery of the biomass from a dormant to an active state when operated with and without copper. The restart of the reactor series with copper was achieved in 35 days, indicating robustness and sustainability even after starvation.
Efficient Control of a Switched Inertance Hydraulic Converter With a Time-Varying Load
Authors: Yuan Chenggang , Plummer Andrew , Pan Min
Published: June 2023

Digital hydraulics is a novel alternative to proportional or servovalve-controlled systems in fluid power engineering, providing hydraulic systems with high-energy efficiency, good controllability, and insensitivity to contamination. Switched inertance hydraulic converters (SIHCs) are new digital hydraulic devices that can adjust flow and pressure by digital switching instead of throttling the flow. In this paper, an efficient closed-loop control system is proposed for SIHCs subject to time-varying loading conditions in which the load pressure and/or flow varies with time. The control system is designed to operate SIHCs at optimized switching frequencies and ratios that maximize system efficiency when the load varies. With the proposed controller, the SIHC can effectively adapt to the time-varying load and has achieved up to 10% efficiency improvement and up to 65% pressure ripple reduction without affecting the system's dynamic responses, compared with using a nonoptimized controller. The work shows the feasibility and advantages of simultaneously controlling the switching ratio and switching frequency of SIHCs with a time-varying load. As time-varying loading conditions are commonly found in hydraulic applications, the research outcomes constitute an important aspect in the design and development of highly efficient SIHCs and their practical use in hydraulic machinery.
Importance of Preferential Segregation by Aerodynamics in Dust Rig Tests
Authors: Miranda Cairen , Palmore John
Published: June 2023

This work studies a particle injection rig to understand how its design affects particle impingement and rebound from a target plate. The motivation behind this study is to understand how dust ingestion affects aviation gas-turbine engines. The particles are injected into a constant area duct upstream of the plate, and they exit through a converging nozzle. The major result concerns how particles respond differently to changes in the flow field based on their diameter. Near the plate, small particles follow the flow streamlines which causes them to both significantly slow down and to disperse in all directions. However, large particles move ballistically, so they impact the plate with nearly the same velocity and orientation they had at the duct exit. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations are compared to large eddy simulation (LES). While RANS are capable of predicting mean particle impact statistics, they display narrower statistical variation than LES, suggesting that particle dispersion is underpredicted in RANS.
Response of cohesive–frictional soils at small to medium shear strain levels from thermo-controlled resonant column testing
Authors: Davoodi-Bilesavar Roya , Hoyos Laureano R.
Published: June 2023

The shear modulus and damping ratio are arguably the two most crucial soil parameters to be used in seismic site-response analyses and a wide variety of other geotechnical engineering applications involving soil materials subjected to dynamic loading. The dependency of these parameters on the level of load-induced shear strains in the field has been investigated rather extensively for different types of soils. Most experimental studies, however, have relied on a limited set of controlled environmental factors and stress variables, mainly soil moisture and confinement. The present work is an attempt to gain further insights into the possible impact of an additional critical factor: soil temperature. A resonant column apparatus was upgraded to assess the dynamic response of three types of cohesive–frictional soils as they transitioned from linear to nonlinear behavior under thermo-controlled cyclic torsional loading. Emphasis was placed on shear modulus degradation, and hence variation in damping ratio, with increasing shear strain amplitude (cyclic torque magnitude). Results showed a mostly detrimental effect of increasing soil temperature on the normalized shear modulus, damping ratio, and threshold shear strain of clayey, silty, and sandy soils when subject to small to medium shear strain levels.