bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Esketamine Provides Neuroprotection After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice via the NTF3/PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Niu Xiaoyu , Zheng Yuanyuan , Wang Wang , Zhang Liwei , Wang Shaoshuai , Lu Xihua , Wang Junyang , Yang Gaiqing , Zhao Ting , Li Qiang , Li Nan , Wang Junmin , Wang Jian , Li Changsheng
Published: December 2024

Background

Esketamine (ESK), a noncompetitive antagonist of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, modulates neurotransmitter signaling in the central nervous system. However, the specific mechanisms and therapeutic potential of ESK for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ESK promotes nerve repair and improves neurological outcomes in an experimental model of ICH.

Methods

ICH was induced in mice via collagenase injection into the striatum. Body weight, neurological impairment, and behavioral changes were assessed. ESK administration significantly improved several indicators of ICH. Comprehensive RNA transcriptome sequencing and network pharmacology analyses identified neurotrophin‐3 (NTF3) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway as targets for ESK treatment. Western blotting and immunofluorescence detected the protein expression levels and cellular localization of NTF3.

Results

After 28 days of adeno‐associated virus infection in the mouse striatum, ESK treatment significantly enhanced neuroprotection, indicating the crucial role of NTF3 in ESK‐mediated neuroprotection in ICH mice. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway using the PI3K‐specific inhibitor LY294002 significantly attenuated the therapeutic effects of ESK, suggesting that this pathway is involved in ESK‐mediated neurorepair in ICH mice.

Conclusions

ESK treatment significantly improved functional outcomes and demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animal models of ICH. NTF3/PI3K/AKT pathway activation by ESK indicates its therapeutic potential in the treatment of ICH.
Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Transplantation Reduces White Matter Injury in a Fetal Goat Model
Authors: Yue Yan , Deng Bixin , Zeng Yan , Li Wenxing , Qiu Xia , Hu Peng , Shen LiuHong , Ruan Tiechao , Zhou Ruixi , Li Shiping , Ying Junjie , Xiong Tao , Qu Yi , Luan Zuo , Mu Dezhi
Published: December 2024

Background

Preterm white matter injury (PWMI) is the most common type of brain injury in preterm infants, in which, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are predominantly damaged. In this study, human OPCs (hOPCs) were administered to a fetal goat model of PWMI to examine the differentiation potential and therapeutic effects of the cells on PWMI.

Methods

Preterm goat fetuses were subjected to hypoxic‐ischemia (HI) via intermittent umbilical cord occlusion (5 min × 5). Twenty million hOPCs were administered via a nasal catheter 12 h after an HI insult, and brain tissues were collected 14 or 21 days after the HI insult. Myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin‐associated glycoprotein (MAG) were detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting techniques. The percentage of myelinated nerve fibers and g‐ratio were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Inflammatory cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. Inflammatory and neurotrophic factors were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Our results showed that intermittent umbilical cord occlusion induced PWMI in fetal goats. Transplanted hOPCs can survive in periventricular and subcortical white matter. Further, transplanted hOPCs expressed markers of mature oligodendrocytes (MBP and MAG) and few cells expressed markers of preoligodendrocytes (NG2 and A2B5), suggesting that these cells can differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes in the brain. In addition, hOPCs administration increased MBP and MAG levels, percentage of myelinated nerve fibers, and thickness of the myelin sheath, indicating a reduction in PWMI. Furthermore, hOPCs did not increase the inflammatory response after HI. Interestingly, hOPC administration decreased tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and increased glial‐derived neurotrophic factor and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor levels after HI, suggesting that additional mechanisms mediate the inflammatory microenvironment and neuroprotective effects.

Conclusions

Exogenous hOPCs can differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes in fetal goats and alleviate HI‐induced PWMI. Transplantation of hOPCs is a promising strategy for treating PWMI.
Surveillance of low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms for progression to pseudomyxoma peritonei: Results from a structured surveillance programme
Authors: Hannan Enda , Roman Lorena Martin , O'Brien Lukas , Mueller Anna , Staunton Oonagh , Shields Conor , Aird John , Mulsow Jurgen
Published: December 2024

Aim

Low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) of the appendix is a rare tumour that can progress to pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). There is a lack of standardization of surveillance following resection of LAMN as the progression rate to PMP is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of progression following resection of LAMN to PMP in a structured surveillance programme.

Method

Data for all patients referred for LAMN surveillance from 2013 to 2021 were retrospectively collected. The surveillance regime consisted of annual CT and tumour markers for a 5‐year period. Patients who progressed to PMP were identified.

Results

Of the patients enrolled in surveillance following appendicectomy and LAMN diagnosis (65.1% female, median age 56 years), 83 had completed at least 1 year of surveillance (median follow‐up 24 months). Of these, 6% (n = 5) showed disease progression during follow‐up. The median time to progression was 23 months. Survival analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in progression with regards to T staging (p = 0.39), margin positivity (p = 0.11) or appendiceal perforation (p = 0.26). No patients with Tis disease developed PMP. A statistically significant difference in progression was seen in patients with M1b staging (p = 0.021) and in those with mucin beyond the right iliac fossa at diagnosis (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The observed progression rate justifies the necessity of postappendicectomy surveillance in patients with LAMN, with the risk of progression being highest within the first 3 years of diagnosis. The described surveillance programme allows for early detection of subclinical progression to PMP.
Examining socio‐economic disparities among e‐cigarette users and cigarette smokers in three Canadian jurisdictions
Authors: MacDougall Sarah , Asbridge Mark
Published: December 2024

Introduction

It is well established that a gradient exists among cigarette smokers, such that smoking is more prevalent among individuals who are of lower socio‐economic status (SES). In this study, we examined whether a similar SES gradient exists among electronic cigarette (e‐cigarette) using youth and adults in three Canadian jurisdictions.

Methods

A secondary analysis of data from Ontario, Quebec and Yukon respondents (n = 58,592) to the 2017–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey was conducted. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models explored SES measures: total and relative household income, and education level, separately on use of e‐cigarettes or cigarettes in the past 30 days. Models adjusted for additional socio‐demographic and psychosocial covariates.

Results

A significant inverse SES gradient existed for cigarette smoking based on education and income variables, with higher education and income associated with decreasing consumption in a stepwise manner. No SES gradient was observed for e‐cigarettes.

Discussion and Conclusions

While a robust SES gradient was observed among cigarette smokers, no gradient for e‐cigarette use was observed. Explanations for these findings may be linked to perceptions that e‐cigarettes are healthier, have convenient designs and appealing flavours, and less stigmatised. As more becomes known about potential harms from e‐cigarettes, effective interventions may be needed to prevent the emergence of a gradient that disproportionately affects those at lowest income and education levels. Continued monitoring of e‐cigarette use patterns across SES groups is necessary for public health.
The role of executive functioning in smoking cessation: A scoping review
Authors: Viola Nicole M. , Lundine Jennifer P. , Kirihara Sho , Nemeth Julianna
Published: December 2024

Issues

Creating and implementing a plan to successfully quit smoking likely requires executive function (EF) skills such as inhibition, cognitive flexibility, attention and working memory. This scoping review consolidates the research evidence evaluating the role of EF in smoking cessation.

Approach

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR), researchers and a medical librarian searched PubMed, EMBASE, ERIC, CINAHL and PSYCINFO in June 2022, hand‐search in September 2022 using relevant MeSH terms, and an updated search was completed in August 2024.

Key Findings

Fifteen articles were included. Self‐regulation was the most frequently evaluated EF across all studies. Performance on measures of impulsivity was most frequently related to successful smoking cessation. Across studies, performance on measures in areas of attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility and higher‐level EF was variable as it relates to smoking cessation success. There was considerable variability in the measures used to evaluate EF and definitions of cessation success. Across studies, very little research evaluates higher‐level EF.

Implications and Conclusion

Differences in EF and cessation measures make comparisons across studies difficult. Future work is needed utilising common assessment and outcome measures that will improve our understanding of the complex cognitive skills needed for successful cessation. Particular consideration should be given to higher‐level EFs including reasoning, planning, problem‐solving and decision‐making.
Efficacy and safety of switching to insulin glargine 300 U/mL in people with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin in China: A post hoc subpopulation analysis of the INITIATION study
Authors: Chen Liming , Wan Hailong , Han Jie , Yang Caixian , Shao Hailin , Li Jialin , Yan Wensheng , Xiao Jianzhong , Sun Yadong , Li Min , Han Yanfang , Kang Lei , Zhang Minlu
Published: December 2024

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla‐300) in people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) switching from another basal insulin (BI).

Materials and Methods

INITIATION was an interventional, single‐arm, phase IV study conducted in China. In this post hoc subpopulation analysis, the efficacy and safety of switching to Gla‐300 was investigated in individuals with uncontrolled T2D (HbA1c 7.5%–11.0% [58–97 mmol/mol]) with previous BI. The primary endpoint was HbA1c change at week 24. Other measures of glycaemia, hypoglycaemia, insulin dose and weight change were assessed.

Results

Three hundred and two participants switched to Gla‐300 from another BI, including 232 from insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla‐100) and 55 from insulin degludec (IDeg). At week 24, the mean ± standard error (SE) HbA1c change from baseline was −0.87% ± 0.06% (−9.5 ± 0.7 mmol/mol; p <0.001). Significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (least‐squares mean [LSM] change −1.13 mmol/L) and fasting self‐measured blood glucose (LSM change −1.36 mmol/L) were also observed (both p <0.001). The mean daily BI dose increased from 18.86 U (0.27 U/kg) at baseline to 28.83 U (0.41 U/kg) at week 24. During the 24‐week treatment period, the incidence of any hypoglycaemia was 43.8% for all hypoglycaemia and 15.1% for nocturnal hypoglycaemia; the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia was low (0.7%). Minimal body weight change was documented.

Conclusions

Gla‐300 improved glycaemic control with a relatively low hypoglycaemia risk and minimal weight gain in Chinese people with T2D uncontrolled on previous BI.
Single Coronary Origin From Right Coronary Sinus With Intraseptal Course: How to Make Diagnosis by Echocardiography
Authors: Cantinotti Massimiliano , Clemente Alberto , Capponi Guglielmo , Assanta Nadia
Published: December 2024

We describe a rare case of a male adolescent with anomalous aortic origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus with intraseptal course (L‐ACAO‐IS), which was diagnosed at transthoracic echocardiography. The case we presented confirms how echocardiography is accurate in the diagnosis of even challenging coronary artery origin anomalies such as L‐ACO‐IS. Coronary artery origin evaluation should be an integral part of echocardiography examinations in infants, children, and young adults, especially those undergoing physical activity. We also remark the importance of using multiple views including short axis, long axis, and modified (anteriorized) 4‐chamber view which is very helpful for a better evaluation of coronary artery origin and their proximal course.
Examining the potential involvement of NONO in TDP‐43 proteinopathy in Drosophila
Authors: Koch Rafael , Nagoshi Emi
Published: December 2024

The misfolding and aggregation of TAR DNA binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43), leading to the formation of cytoplasmic inclusions, emerge as a key pathological feature in a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD). TDP‐43 shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm but forms nuclear bodies (NBs) in response to stress. These NBs partially colocalise with nuclear speckles and paraspeckles that sequester RNAs and proteins, thereby regulating many cellular functions. The laboratory of Steven Brown has recently found that the non‐POU domain‐containing octamer‐binding protein (NONO), a component of paraspeckles, forms novel nuclear speckle‐like structures in mouse cortical neurons in response to stress and sleep deprivation. These findings suggest the possibility of a functional link between NONO and TDP‐43, potentially contributing to TDP‐43 proteinopathy. Here, we demonstrate that pathological phenotypes caused by TDP‐43 gain of function—locomotor defects and life span shortening—are exacerbated by silencing the Drosophila homolog of NONO, no on or off transient A (NonA). Additionally, NonA silencing results in an increase in nuclear TDP‐43 NBs. These results provide supporting evidence for the functional link between NONO and TDP‐43 and lay the foundation for dissecting underlying mechanisms.
The stonesphere in agricultural soils: A microhabitat associated with rock fragments bridging rock and soil
Authors: Dittrich Felix , Klaes Björn , Brandt Luise , Groschopf Nora , Thiele‐Bruhn Sören
Published: December 2024

Rock fragments (RFs) are abundant soil constituents, but are routinely excluded from soil analyses. Hence, their contribution to soil properties, and in particular to the microbiome, is incompletely understood. Therefore, shifts in microbial colonisation along the rock‐to‐soil continuum of topsoils from three agricultural sites with different sedimentary parent rock materials were investigated with particular attention to RFs. Microbial biomass and community composition were quantified using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis for unweathered and weathered parent rock materials, two RF fractions (8–16 mm and 2–8 mm) and the fine earth (FE; <2 mm). Trends in biogeochemical weathering, nutrient availability and soil organic matter (OM) development were assessed using mineralogical, geochemical and physical analyses. Actinobacterial PLFA was particularly abundant in parent rocks, where Actinobacteria likely contribute to rock weathering and the initiation of OM accumulation. Conversely, bacterial PLFAs were most abundant in the FE under nutrient‐ and OM‐rich conditions. The integral role of RFs as a microbial habitat is demonstrated by a distinct fungal colonisation, which is enabled by the specific physical features of RFs in combination with the provision of inorganic nutrients. Our findings indicate that RFs are colonised by microbes and that differences in the community structure depend on mineralogical properties and chemical weathering status. We document that RFs are microhabitats with a significant potential to host microbial life in cultivated soils, and thus, could play an important role in biogeochemical cycling and the provision of soil functions in agroecosystems.
Delineating vineyard management zones: Intrafield spatial variability of soil properties of carbonate vineyard soils
Authors: Eslava‐Lecumberri Francisco J. , Jiménez‐Ballesta Raimundo
Published: December 2024

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a traditional crop cultivated in Navarre (NE Spain). However, in some areas, it is grown without harnessing land suitability for its cultivation. This research was conducted to approach the pedological recognition of viticulture zoning (on the farm scale) in a traditional and distinct viticultural region: Olite (Navarre). As grape yield and grape quality in a given field are generally variable and do not coincide one way or another, 13 soil profiles were selected for pedological description and analysis in an attempt to recognise the importance of soil properties. For that purpose, 45 soil samples (corresponding to the different pedogenetic horizons of the 13 soil profiles) were collected to improve zonal vineyard estimations. The most notable characteristics of the studied soils were the presence of petrocalcic horizons, high stone fragments content, mainly loamy textures, high pH (between 8.24 and 9.24), high carbonate (between 19.1% and 90.0%), and active limestone contents (between 5.7% and 26.1%), and relatively low organic matter contents (<3.34%). Appreciable soil properties variability was detected from the results of this study and, therefore, variability in production and grape composition was expected. These results emphasise the spatial variability of the study area soils in a way that allows for the delineation of homogeneous viticultural zones. The results also provide the necessary information not only for viticultural zoning in the Navarre wine‐growing region, but also in wine‐growing regions with a Mediterranean continental climate. Hence, our findings will allow future viticultural management zones to be developed and specific practices to be implemented.
Experimental and Simulation Study on Fatigue Damage Characteristics of HNBR by HTHP Aging in Oil‐Based Mud Environment
Authors: Hu Gang , Deng Jie , Wang Guorong , Tang Kai , Ren Guohui , Wen Xinming
Published: December 2024

Hydrogenated nitrile butyl rubber (HNBR) elastomers are widely used in high‐temperature and high‐pressure (HTHP) corrosive environments, especially in the oil and gas sector. However, fatigue failure, which is often encountered in rubber components, remains a critical issue. In this paper, the effect of HTHP aging on the fatigue damage characteristics of HNBR in an oil‐based mud environment is investigated through experiments and numerical simulations. The experimental results showed that the elongation at break of the specimens decreased by 260% and the compressive stiffness increased with strain after high‐temperature and high‐pressure exposure in the oil‐based mud. Furthermore, tear tests showed that the rate at which the aged HNBR produced unit crack surfaces was significantly accelerated. Finally, the fracture and fatigue crack extension simulation results show the similarity between the damage evolution law of HNBR materials and the stress–strain curve of typical rubber materials.
‘DIE MENSCHENRECHTE HABEN KEIN GESCHLECHT’: HEDWIG DOHM'S FEMINIST CONCEPTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Authors: Wogenstein Sebastian
Published: December 2024

This article discusses Hedwig Dohm's (1831–1919) conceptualisation of women's rights as human rights. The focus is on Dohm's essays and the strategies she employs in dismantling the arguments of women's rights opponents. By casting women's rights as human rights, she links her claims back to earlier human rights declarations and demands that their implied universality be actualised regarding women. The article examines parody and satire as important tools in two of Dohm's works – ‘Was die Pastoren von den Frauen denken’ (1872) and Der Frauen Natur und Recht (1876) – in which Dohm exposes contradictions and logical flaws in antifeminist positions. In particular, she rejects the patriarchal notion that women are biologically determined to serve in certain professions and fulfil specific roles in society. When addressing religion, Dohm, who was Jewish by birth and identified as areligious, typically refers to Christianity, which appears in her writing primarily as a tool of oppression. Notably, Dohm shows how domination and oppression operate in multilayered ways, and this awareness of intersectionality allows her to situate the discussion of women's rights in a larger rights framework in which gender is interlinked with other factors that exacerbate oppression. The article concludes with the suggestion that the concept of ‘jurisgenerativity’, i.e. the generative effect of rights narratives on the normative universe, can capture the process by which words shape the normative foundations from which legal legitimacy emanates.
Liberatory Motherhood: A Framework & Praxis for Caring and Scholaring Otherwise in the Neoliberal Academy
Authors: Sicka Bhavika
Published: December 2024

This article contributes to the emergent literature on motherhood in neoliberal higher education by proposing liberatory motherhood as a theoretical framework and praxis to deconstruct and reconstruct motherhood in the neoliberal academy. The author, an early‐career immigrant woman scholar of color, uses feminist autoethnography to critically examine the disempowering, disembodying, and departicularizing effects of neoliberal subjectivation on motheracademics, foregrounding her lived experiences of caregiving in her analysis. She approaches academic motherhood through a prismatic lens of a pluralistic feminist rhetorical analysis that emphasizes interrelationality, tracing her experiences of caring and producing otherwise as a way to signal opportunities to reembody motherhood in the academy. She finds mothering and othering to be mutually reinforcing in the academy and argues for rehumanizing care through alternative (re)productivity. She offers liberatory motherhood as an emancipated and emancipatory motherhood that draws from queer, decolonial, and other motherhoods, reflecting on its potential to further scholarship and practices geared toward reformulating academic subjectivities and emancipating the academy from coercions set by the market.
Repeated Radiosynovectomy in Haemophilia: Revealing Long‐Term Effectiveness and Safety
Authors: Koc Basak , Turkmen Cuneyt , Polat Gokhan , Zulfikar Bulent
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Radiosynovectomy (RS), which uses beta particle‐emitting radiocolloids, has proven highly effective in significantly reducing the occurrence of haemarthroses and breaking the cycle of bleeding and synovitis. This study now presents the long‐term outcomes of repeated RS in individuals with haemophilia.

Materials and Methods

Repeated RS was administered to 48 joints in 37 people with haemophilia (PwHs) diagnosed with chronic haemophilic synovitis. The frequency of bleeding episodes was meticulously recorded during the 6‐month periods preceding and following each of the initial and subsequent RS procedures. Treatment failure was designated by the necessity for additional RS injections.

Results

The results for 48 joints were analysed. The mean bleeding frequency of the joints was 12.5 ± 7.29 (median 10) within the last 6 months in the pre‐treatment evaluation and after the treatment, the mean bleeding frequency of the joints decreased to 2.25 ± 3.82 (median 0.5) for the first 6 months (p < 0.001) after the first RS. The mean survival of the first intervention was 40.52 ± 33.79 months (range, 1–124 months). In the second RS, the mean bleeding frequency of the joints was 10.29 ± 7.66 (median 8) within the last 6 months in the pre‐treatment evaluation and after the treatment, and the mean bleeding frequency of the joints decreased to 0.93 ± 1.69 (median 0) for the first 6 months (p < 0.001). The survival rate of the second RS was 94% at 12 months, and 87% at 36 months.

Conclusion

Repeated RS was proven to be an effective and safe treatment for Pwh with recurrent bleeding episodes during long‐term follow up. Thirty‐six months survival rate was 87% (42 of 48 joints).
Hepatolithiasis pathogenesis update
Authors: Lu Wei , Li Zhi‐Yuan , Yang Zhi‐Ming , Hao Jing‐Cheng
Published: December 2024

Hepatolithiasis is prevalent in East Asian countries and not common in Western countries. In recent years, because of the increased number of immigrants from East Asia in Western countries, hepatolithiasis has gradually become a global problem. Although current surgical interventions for hepatolithiasis boast a high rate of stone clearance, the persistent challenges of the disease's refractory nature and high recurrence rate continue to complicate its treatment. Therefore, understanding its underlying pathogenesis is meaningful for effective treatment. In this review, we discuss the common risk factors: infection, cholangitis, environmental factors and diet habits, abnormal bile components, anatomical abnormalities, and bile stasis, and summarize the relevant mechanisms.
Rheology and structure of ceramic stereolithography slurries: Role of powder nature, dispersant, and orthogonal strain
Authors: Fournier Sylvain , Chevalier Jérôme , Reveron Helen , Chèvremont William , Baeza Guilhem P.
Published: December 2024

We investigate the rheological properties of ceramic slurries designed for laser stereolithography manufacturing in relation to their formulation, including the powder morphology, their volume fraction, and the concentration of dispersing agent. By combining dynamic strain sweep and Small‐Angle X‐ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments, we first illustrate that slurry viscosity follows an exponential trend with increasing particles content, with steeper increase observed for more aggregated particles. We then show that increasing the dispersant concentration up to an optimal value decreases slurry viscosity, as SAXS measurements reveal a reduction and homogenization in agglomerate size. Finally, we evidence that applying vertical oscillatory deformation during steady shear flow induces fluidization of the slurry. The shear viscosity exhibits a time–strain rate equivalence, enabling the generalization of this effect across a wide range of formulations. This methodology holds potential for industrial applications, where introducing vibration perpendicular to the scraping blade motion could improve the surface quality of the spread slurry prior to polymerization.
Structural origin of anisotropic mechanical/thermal behavior in La2SrAl2O7 and Nd2SrAl2O7 perovskites
Authors: Liu Bin , Zhou Hui , Liu Yuchen , Li Shaoxun , Chu Kaili , Qu Zhixue , Li Wenxian , Li Yiran
Published: December 2024

Rare earth strontium aluminates have attracted much attention due to their excellent properties and widely functional applications. In this work, the bonding characteristics, mechanical/thermal properties, and phonon behavior of La2SrAl2O7 and Nd2SrAl2O7 with layered structure are investigated using first‐principles calculations. The weak chemical bonds within the rock‐salt layer lead to the anisotropy of elastic moduli, tensile, and shear strength, benefiting their damage tolerance. It is also found that the low‐frequency phonons present much lower scattering rates, making themselves vital contributors to heat conduction. Owing to the enhanced anharmonicity, Nd2SrAl2O7 exhibits lower thermal conductivity than La2SrAl2O7. Moreover, the lower thermal conductivities are observed along the z direction, which is attributed to the anisotropic chemical bonding. These results clarify the role of the weak bonds within layered structures in modulating their mechanical and thermal performance, which is expected to shield light on the development of perovskites with layered Ruddlesden–Popper structures.
Tuning interfacial wettability in high‐entropy cemented carbides for enhanced mechanical performance
Authors: Hu Jiaojiao , Yang Qiankun , Wu Weisong , Zhang Yong , Yan Dingshun , Li Zhiming
Published: December 2024

This study investigated three newly developed high‐entropy cemented carbides (HECCs) with high‐entropy carbides (HECs) as the hard phase and Co as the binder. Accordingly, the interfacial wettability between HECs and Co was tuned by the changes in relative concentrations of the different metal components (e.g., W, Ta, and Ti) and C. Results demonstrate that the wettability between HECs and Co is dominated by the dissolution of HECs in Co, which determines the sintering behavior and hence the structure and performance of the materials. More specifically, the (W6Ta4Nb10Zr10Ti20)C50‐Co with lower W content has poorer interfacial wettability, leading to pores in the sintered HECC. The (W10Ta10Nb10Zr10Ti10)C50‐Co shows good interfacial wettability and strong resistance against grain boundary infiltration, owing to the formation of several atomic‐layer‐thick Co films between HEC grain boundaries. Reducing the C content facilitates the dissolution of HECs in Co, which can improve the interfacial wettability, but promotes the formation of η‐W3Co3C phase and embrittle the material. The (W10Ta10Nb10Zr10Ti10)C50‐Co with decent interfacial wettability exhibits a good balance of hardness (HV30 ∼1485), compressive strength (3316 MPa), and fracture toughness (10.9 MPa·m1/2). The work demonstrates a design strategy achieving optimized microstructure and mechanical performance in HECCs via tuning interfacial wettability.
Examining inter‐regional and intra‐seasonal differences in wintering waterfowl landscape associations among Pacific and Atlantic flyways
Authors: Hardy Matthew J. , Williams Christopher K. , Ladman Brian S. , Pitesky Maurice E. , Overton Cory T. , Casazza Michael L. , Matchett Elliott L. , Prosser Diann J. , Buler Jeffrey J.
Published: December 2024

The Central Valley of California (CVC) and Mid‐Atlantic (MA) in the U.S. are both critical sites for nationwide food security, and many waterfowl species annually, especially during the winter, providing feeding and roosting locations for a variety of species. Mapping waterfowl distributions, using NEXRAD, may aid in the adaptive management of important waterfowl habitat and allow various government agencies to better understand the interface between wild and domestic birds and commercial agricultural practices. We used 9 years (2014–2023) of data from the US NEXRAD network to model winter waterfowl relative abundance in the CVC and MA as a function of weather, temporal period, environmental conditions, and landcover characteristics using boosted regression tree modelling. We were able to quantify the variability in effect size of 28 different covariates across space and time within two geographic regions which are critical to nationwide waterfowl management and host a high density of nationally important commercial agriculture. In general, weather, geographic (distance to features), and landcover condition (wetness index) predictors had the strongest relative effect on predicting wintering waterfowl relative abundance in both regions, while effects of land cover composition were more regionally and temporally specific. Increased daily mean temperature was a major predictor of increasing relative waterfowl abundance in both regions throughout the winter. Increasing precipitation had differing effects within regions, increasing relative waterfowl abundance in the MA, while decreasing in general within the CVC. Increasing relative waterfowl abundance in the CVC are strongly tied to the flooding of the landscape and rice availability, whereas waterfowl in the MA, where water is less limiting, are generally governed by waste grain availability and emergent wetland on the landscape. Waterfowl relative abundance in the MA was generally higher nearer to the Atlantic coast and lakes, while in the CVC they were higher nearer to lakes. Our findings promote a better understanding of spatial associations of waterfowl to landscape features and may aid in conservation and biosecurity management protocols.
Editorial: From adolescence into young adulthood – the importance of a longitudinal perspective across development in child and adolescent mental health
Authors: Koenig Julian , Farhat Luis C. , Bloch Michael H.
Published: December 2024

The transition from adolescence into adulthood is a pivotal phase in a person's life, marking a period of significant social, psychological, and biological changes that can profoundly impact an individual's well‐being and developmental trajectory. During this period, adolescents and young adults face increasing environmental demands from academic or occupational responsibilities and social interactions, including the pursuit of romantic partners. These changes are inherently related to stress, which is essential for adolescents and young adults to develop their personality and form an identity. Throughout adolescence into young adulthood, the brain undergoes maturational changes as part of the normal development, and it is possible that deviations from the expected developmental trajectories may contribute to the onset of psychiatric disorders in this age group. This editorial highlights recent work published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry that examines important aspects of this developmental period.
The causal effect of local product market shocks on equity holdings: Evidence from the airline industry
Authors: Bradley Daniel , Mondello Michael , Morgeson Forrest , Williams Jared
Published: December 2024

We examine how local product market shocks impact investors' willingness to own and trade the underlying stock. Using US airlines as our test setting, we exploit plausibly exogenous variation in flight routes. We find that active traders increase their ownership by 10.6% in response to a one standard deviation increase in the airline's local market share supply. The effects occur within a year of the shock and are positively related to measures of customer satisfaction. The evidence is most consistent with the view that investment decisions are based on both familiarity and investors' perception of product quality.
Prevalence of Emotional and Binge Eating Among Patients With Obesity Attending a Specialist Weight Management Service for Bariatric Surgery in the United Kingdom
Authors: Alhindi Yousef , Holt Guy , Jones Katy A. , Khalifa Najat , Al‐Khyatt Waleed , Idris Iskandar
Published: December 2024

Background

Emotional eating (EE) is a tendency to consume food in response to positive or negative emotions, leading to obesity and an increased Body Mass Index (BMI). Evidence supports the positive association between EE and binge eating disorder (BED), but little is known about its prevalence among patients referred for bariatric surgery and the psychological characteristics of this patient population. We aim to examine (i) the prevalence of binge eating and EE, (ii) its association with the prevalence of anxiety, depression, diabetes and hypertension and (iii) the correlation between anxiety and depression with emotional and binge eating behaviours among patients attending a regional bariatric service in the UK.

Method

A cross‐sectional case file design involving 285 participants (mean age = 43.88 ± 11.5, female (80.7%) and male (19.3%)) was used. Outcome measures included body weight, BMI, the Weight Loss Readiness (WLR) Questionnaire, Generalised Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD‐7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test‐ Consumption (AUDIT‐C).

Results

Within this patient group, the prevalence of binge eating and EE were 28.8% and 22.1% respectively. Among these, 19.3% had diabetes mellitus, 24.8% hypertension, 21% harmful alcohol use, 65% had high anxiety score and 77% high depression scores. Most correlations between body weight and variables like AUDIT‐C, GAD‐7, PHQ‐9 scores and WLR scores for hunger, binge eating and EE were not significant. A positive association was observed between depression and anxiety with binge eating, and EE behaviours.

Conclusion

Patients awaiting bariatric surgery have a wide range of mental and physical health comorbidities, with evidence of positive associations between higher depression and anxiety levels with abnormal eating behaviours. These findings highlight the need for screening for comorbidities in this patient population to optimise patient outcomes postbariatric surgery.
Temporal overlap in use of shared latrines by brown hyena and spotted hyena
Authors: de Zeeuw S. , van Langevelde F. , Vissia S.
Published: December 2024

Scent marking at latrines is used by a variety of mammals for communicating an individual's reproductive status, social rank, or territory. Both brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) make use of latrines. Previous research showed that the presence of the more dominant spotted hyena negatively affects the presence of brown hyena. As both species rarely occur in the same area, little is known about the temporal patterns of using shared latrine sites. Central Tuli, Botswana, is home to one of the highest densities of both spotted and brown hyena in southern Africa. We conducted a camera trap study and monthly scat counts for monitoring the visitation and defecation rates of brown and spotted hyenas at shared latrines to examine the temporal patterns of latrine use. Our results showed seasonal differences in latrine use, with lower visitation and defecation rates for both species during the wet season. We found high temporal overlap in latrine use for the two species. However, the time interval between consecutive spotted – brown hyena visits was larger than for consecutive brown hyena–spotted hyena and consecutive conspecific visits during the dry season, suggesting that brown hyena seem to show fine‐scale temporal avoidance of spotted hyenas at shared latrine sites. The presence of spotted hyenas, or other large carnivores, could possibly inhibit intraspecific communication for brown hyena at shared latrine sites.
White Nationalist Identification With the Old English Exile: Or, Why Old English Poems Matter
Authors: Hawkins Maggie
Published: December 2024

White nationalists have coopted medieval symbols and perverted the history and culture of “Anglo‐Saxons.” While these references are often ahistorical, they speak to the strong connection white nationalists feel toward a fantasied idea of the European Middle Ages. The most horrific examples of this practice are when medievalisms appear on the weapons and in the manifestos of white nationalist terrorists. We cannot know definitively if Brenton Tarrant, or Anders Breivik, both white nationalist terrorists, have read specific Old English poems, but white nationalist forum, Stormfront, and white nationalist book collection, The Colchester Collection, include references to, or full‐text translations of the Old English poems The Wanderer and The Seafarer. By exploring the isolated heroicism, displacement, and ironic nostalgia in these Old English poems, the reasons for white nationalists' niche interest in and identification with Anglo‐Saxon peoples and Old English poetry become clear. White nationalists believe the global “white” community is threatened by mass immigration from non‐European countries and that the only way to protect “whites” is to take up arms. Since not all white nationalists can reside in Europe, they use medieval references to bolster the idea of Europe as an ethnoracial home for all “white” peoples. White nationalist terrorists specifically use medievalisms to portray themselves as isolated heroes, like the Anglo‐Saxon warrior in exile, avenging the loss of “white” land.
Tree drought physiology: critical research questions and strategies for mitigating climate change effects on forests
Authors: Groover Andrew , Holbrook N. Michele , Polle Andrea , Sala Anna , Medlyn Belinda , Brodersen Craig , Pittermann Jarmila , Gersony Jessica , Sokołowska Katarzyna , Bogar Laura , McDowell Nate , Spicer Rachel , David‐Schwartz Rakefet , Keller Stephen , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Preisler Yakir
Published: December 2024

Droughts of increasing severity and frequency are a primary cause of forest mortality associated with climate change. Yet, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the complex physiology of trees limit the development of more effective management strategies to mitigate drought effects on forests. Here, we highlight some of the basic research needed to better understand tree drought physiology and how new technologies and interdisciplinary approaches can be used to address them. Our discussion focuses on how trees change wood development to mitigate water stress, hormonal responses to drought, genetic variation underlying adaptive drought phenotypes, how trees ‘remember’ prior stress exposure, and how symbiotic soil microbes affect drought response. Next, we identify opportunities for using research findings to enhance or develop new strategies for managing drought effects on forests, ranging from matching genotypes to environments, to enhancing seedling resilience through nursery treatments, to landscape‐scale monitoring and predictions. We conclude with a discussion of the need for co‐producing research with land managers and extending research to forests in critical ecological regions beyond the temperate zone.
Factors distinguishing leukemoid reaction from hematological malignancy in children
Authors: Kim Heeyung , Ikuse Tatsuki , Matsui Toshihiro , Sakaguchi Hirotoshi , Ishiguro Akira , Shoji Kensuke
Published: December 2024

Background

Information on the etiology and prognosis for leukemoid reaction (LR) in children is still limited and little is known about the factors that distinguish LR from hematological malignancy (HM).

Methods

This was a single‐center, case–control study. Pediatric patients (<18 years) with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 50,000/μL or more were included in the study. Clinical information and laboratory test results were extracted from the electronic medical records. Patients were divided into the LR and HM groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors that discriminated LR from HM.

Results

We found 214 cases (115 cases in the LR group and 99 cases in the HM group) eligible for analysis. Approximately half of the LR cases were due to infectious diseases (n = 58, 50%); bacteremia and respiratory infections were the most common infections. Age younger than 2 years (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) (2.154 [0.690–6.727]), presence of known underlying diseases (10.006 [3.119–32.102]), WBC count <60,555/μL (20.676 [6.357–67.251]), platelet count 118,000/μL or higher (15.059 [3.876–58.504]), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) below 781 U/L (4.219 [1.378–12.915]), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) ≥0.91 mg/dL (10.568 [2.736–40.825]) were identified as the predictive factors for LR by logistic regression analysis. Thirty‐day mortality was higher in the LR group than in the HM group but the difference was not statistically significant (13% vs. 6%, p = 0.087).

Conclusions

Approximately half of the etiology of LR was infectious diseases and prognosis was poorer for LR than for HM. Age, presence of known underlying conditions, and laboratory tests, including WBC count, platelet count, LDH, and CRP, may be useful in distinguishing LR from HM.
Usability of a smartphone application for patients with interstitial lung disease: Results from the Registry for Better Understanding of ILD (RE‐BUILD) pilot study
Authors: Glenn Laura M. , Jackson Dan , Barton Carly , Lan Doris , Fuhrmeister Lisa , Symons Karen , Turnour Louise , Tefay Ben , Holland Anne E. , Goh Nicole S. L. , Troy Lauren K. , Brooke Mark , Glaspole Ian N. , Corte Tamera J.
Published: December 2024

Background and Objective

Digital technologies offer opportunities for remote monitoring, increased patient engagement and incorporation of patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) into interstitial lung disease (ILD) care and research. This study evaluated the usability and patient experience of the RE‐BUILD (Registry for Better Understanding of ILD) application, an ILD‐specific smartphone app.

Methods

Patients with ILD aged ≥18 years were recruited from three tertiary ILD centres to use the RE‐BUILD app for 6 months. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months and patients received monthly prompts to enter clinical and PROM data. Qualitative interviews regarding patient experience were performed in a subset of 10.

Results

Fifty patients, with mean age 66.9 ± 10.3 years, 25 (50%) female were included. Participants used the app for a median of 48 (IQR 21–178.3) sessions, equivalent to 8 sessions (IQR 3.5–29.71) per month. Median number of days that the app was accessed was 37 (IQR 14–96.8), with 13 (26%) patients using the app >30 times per month. The most accessed app feature was physical activity, followed by ‘air quality’.

Participants agreed or strongly agreed that the app was easy to use (76.0%) easy to learn to use (79.8%) and well‐organized with accessible information (74.8%). The median overall MAUQ score for usability was 5.69 (IQR 5.03–6.19). There was also a high rate of engagement with app functionalities.

Conclusion

RE‐BUILD is a usable and intuitive platform for self‐monitoring and data collection in ILD. Patients report a high degree of satisfaction and have provided valuable feedback for its further development.
Household Plastic Waste Management and Gender Dynamics in Circular Economies
Authors: Shakuto Shiori , Yeoh Brenda S. A. , Reynolds David , Rahadini Immanuela Asa , Tan Qian Hui , Pang Natalie
Published: December 2024

A circular economy has emerged as a promising solution for addressing plastic pollution. It directly impacts waste management practices in the household, which has long been considered a feminized domain. What are the hidden gendered costs of household plastic waste management? This paper systematically reviews extant knowledge on household plastic management in sociology and cognate disciplines. Noting the inadequate attention to gender in the current literature, we set out two research agendas. Firstly, we propose that research focus on the household as a site where the gender division of labour may be rigidified or reconfigured through household plastic consumption and waste management. Secondly, plastics research needs to attend to the multiple and overlapping social roles that women play within and beyond the household. Remaining sensitive to how women interact with plastic materials in their daily lives will encourage integrating feminist analysis into environmental analysis so as to work through the challenges posed by a circular economy.