bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metallurgical study of copper objects from the Varanasi region, India (1200 BCE to 400 CE)
Authors: Upadhyay Prabhakar , Sivarajan Rajalakshmi , Tripathi Vibha , Upadhyay Chandan
Published: December 2024

This study aims to investigate ancient Indian copper metallurgy based on selected copper artifacts recovered from India. The collected objects belong to the period c. 1200 BCE to 400 CE. The paper discusses the analysis of seven artifacts from two archaeological sites (Agiabir and Raipura) around the Varanasi region in Northern India. The study explores the manufacturing techniques and alloying practices applied to the artifacts by analyzing the excavated objects using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The microstructure of the artifacts revealed the practice of annealing, casting, and forging. Elemental analysis of these objects shows that most of the artifacts are copper–tin alloys, having varying amounts of tin. This study indicates that the tin amount has been varied according to the object's functionality.
Potentiating microglial efferocytosis by MFG‐E8 improves survival and neurological outcome after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in mice
Authors: Zhang Kunxue , Zhang Yuzhen , Li Zhentong , Chen Jiancong , Chang Yuan , Li Yongchuan , Zeng Shuxin , Pan Sifan , Pan Suyue , Huang Kaibin
Published: December 2024

Brain injury represents the leading cause of mortality and disability after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from cardiac arrest (CA), in which the accumulation of dying cells aggravate tissue injury by releasing proinflammatory intracellular components. Microglia play an essential role in maintaining brain homeostasis via milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG‐E8)‐opsonized efferocytosis, the engulfment of dying cells and debris. This study investigates whether potentiating microglia efferocytosis by MFG‐E8 provides neuroprotection after CA/CPR. After 8‐minute asphyxial CA/CPR, male adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to receive recombinant mouse MFG‐E8 (rmMFG‐E8) or vehicle. We evaluated the survival and neurological deficits of mice, along with histological damages, phagocytosis index of dying cells, and microglia polarization. A transcriptome analysis was conducted to explore the downstream molecules modulated by MFG‐E8. In mice resuscitated from CA, rmMFG‐E8 administration significantly enhanced the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells by microglia, improved the survival and neurological function of mice, and attenuated neuropathological injuries. Additionally, rmMFG‐E8 induced a prominent alteration in microglial gene expression and promoted a shift from a proinflammatory phenotype to an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, rmMFG‐E8 treatment induced up‐regulation of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), and IRF7 gene silencing largely reversed the neuroprotective effects of rmMFG‐E8. This study demonstrates that rmMFG‐E8 improves survival and neurological outcomes after CA/CPR by enhancing microglial efferocytosis and reshaping the inflammatory microenvironment in brain tissue. Potentiating MFG‐E8 is a promising strategy to combat post‐CA brain injury.
Implications and Identification of Specific Learning Disability Using Weighted Ensemble Learning Model
Authors: Alzahrani Sultan , Algahtani Faris
Published: December 2024

Background

Learning disabilities, categorized as neurodevelopmental disorders, profoundly impact the cognitive development of young children. These disabilities affect text comprehension, reading, writing and problem‐solving abilities. Specific learning disabilities (SLDs), most notably dyslexia and dysgraphia, can significantly hinder students' academic achievement. The timely identification of such students is crucial in providing them with essential assistance and facilitating the development of skills required to overcome their limitations.

Methods

The proposed model, which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI), plays a crucial role in identifying and diagnosing SLDs. This system allows students suspected of having SLD to engage in personalized exams and unique tasks tailored to their SLDs. The data generated from these activities, including performance scores and completion times, are fed into the proposed weighted ensemble learning (WEL) variation of the XGBoost (XGB) algorithm. The WEL‐XGB model is designed to detect learning challenges by analysing these datasets, even when dealing with imbalanced data.

Results

The WEL‐XGB model has been successfully integrated into a user‐friendly application for assessing reading and writing impairments. The proposed model not only identifies SLD but also offers tailored recommendations for effective instructional strategies for parents and educators. Comparative analyses with other machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models demonstrate the superiority of the WEL‐XGB model, which achieved an accuracy rate of 98.7% for dyslexia datasets and 99.08% for dysgraphia datasets.

Conclusion

The proposed WEL‐XGB model effectively identifies learning disabilities in children, offering a powerful tool for both diagnosis and instructional support. Its high accuracy rates underscore its potential to revolutionize the assessment and intervention process for dyslexia and dysgraphia, benefiting students, parents and educators alike.
Distraction Therapies for Office‐Based Otolaryngology Procedures Performed on the Upper Airway
Authors: Curry Tanika , Lasso Andrea , Kilty Shaun
Published: December 2024

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of auditory and visual distraction interventions on patient discomfort, pain and anxiety during office‐based otolaryngologic upper airway procedures.

Data Sources

Literature searches were done through Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Lilacs, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature.

Review Methods

The protocol was registered in PROSPERO on August 17th 2022, under Registration number CRD42020204354.

Results

We identified 138 records; two randomised controlled trials using virtual reality as a distraction technique in adults and one in children were included. All studies had some concerns regarding risk of bias. In adults, anxiety was lower in the virtual reality group than in the standard of care, (mean difference −16.72, 95% CI −27.19 to −6.24, p = 0.002, I
2 = 0%). There was no difference in procedure related pain between groups, (mean difference −0.28, 95% CI −1.24 to 0.68, p = 0.57, I
2 = 10%). There was no difference in satisfaction between groups (standardised mean difference 0.18, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.58, p = 0.37, I
2 = 0%). Only one Paediatric study was included hence no meta‐analysis was done. Anxiety and pain were lower and satisfaction was higher in the group using virtual reality.

Conclusions

The use of virtual reality distraction in addition to standard analgesia during office‐based otolaryngology upper airway procedures reduced anxiety in adults. It did not decrease pain or increase the level of patient satisfaction. In the paediatric population, there is a reported benefit for procedural anxiety, pain and satisfaction.
Increased Infectious Risk Donor Status and Equity‐Relevant Predictors of Organ Donation Organization Approach and Caregiver Consent for Deceased Organ Donation in a Canadian Province (2015–2021)
Authors: Leeies Murdoch , Doucette Karen , Dufault Brenden , Carta Tricia , Mooney Owen , Hrymak Carmen , Balzer Nicolette , Borys Ben , El‐Salakawy Yasmine , Ragheb Mirna , Xie Davie , Christie Emily , Collister David , Weiss Matthew J. , Dhanani Sonny , Ho Julie
Published: December 2024

Background

Current donor risk assessments to identify risk of infectious transmission through transplantation have been criticized as unnecessarily discriminatory for sexual and gender minorities. Little is known about how increased infectious risk donor (IIRD) patients transition through the deceased donation system. We sought to evaluate how IIRD status and other equity‐relevant identities impacted the likelihood of a caregiver of a deceased donor being approached for organ donation and the likelihood of caregiver consent.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of potential deceased donors referred to a Canadian provincial organ donation organization (ODO) from 2015 to 2021. Our primary outcome is the difference in the likelihood of being approached by the ODO for organ donation for IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors, amongst referred potential deceased organ donors. Secondary outcomes include the difference in caregiver consent for donation for IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors, amongst approached deceased organ donors. We built multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate these outcomes.

Results

Amongst all referred potential deceased organ donors, IIRD status did not impact the likelihood of being approached by our ODO for deceased organ donation compared to baseline risk donors (OR 1.695, 95% CI 0.902–3.197). Amongst approached deceased organ donors, there was no significant difference in caregiver consent for donation between IIRD and baseline risk donors (OR 1.854, 95% CI 0.902–3.929). Approached eligible IIRDs were younger with fewer comorbidities, lower KDPI scores, were more likely to have died from anoxic brain injuries and have death determined by neurologic criteria, and more likely to have non‐medical injection drug use than baseline risk donors. There were no cases of donor‐derived human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or hepatitis B virus (HBV) reported for any donors included, regardless of IIRD status, during the study period.

Conclusions

We found no significant difference in the likelihood of ODO approach in IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors. There was no difference in caregiver consent for donation in IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors. A greater proportion of IIRDs became successful donors compared to baseline risk donors.
The Role of Chronotypes and Perceived Stress on Sleep Quality in Undergraduates in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Ren‐Rong , Syu Jia‐Yin , Chen Jeff Chien‐Ta , Fetzer Sue Jane , Lin Esther Ching‐Lan
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Chronotypes and perceived stress can predict psychiatric symptoms and affect sleep quality, though the relationships between these factors are not completely described. This study explores the influence of chronotypes and perceived stress on sleep quality among undergraduates.

Methods

An online survey was administered to a convenience sample of 110 undergraduates aged 18–23 years (mean age 20.32 ± 1.00) at a university in southern Taiwan, predominantly women and senior students. Three self‐reporting instruments were used: the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to investigate the influence of chronotype and perceived stress on sleep quality in undergraduates.

Results

Sixty‐one per cent of the respondents were poor‐quality sleepers. Moreover, 85.5% of the respondents were classified as “neither” chronotype, whereas 13.6% were “evening” chronotype. Sleep quality was associated with both chronotype and perceived stress level (r = 0.41, 0.43, p < 0.01). Multiple regression revealed higher MCTQ scores (continuous or categorical) and higher perceived stress were significantly associated with poorer sleep quality, explaining approximately 30% of the variance (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The findings of this study showed evening‐type undergraduates with higher perceived stress exhibited poorer sleep quality. Highlight the importance of considering chronotype in health promotion among individuals transitioning to adulthood. Early interventions may help align an individual's chronotype with their external time schedule, mitigate the negative impacts of misaligned later chronotypes, enhance sleep quality, and help to manage perceived stress levels in undergraduates.
Theory Into Practice in Teacher Education: Applying Engaging Pedagogies in the Arab EFL Classroom
Authors: Hayik Rawia
Published: December 2024

PhotoVoice invites students to capture photos of concerning issues, elaborate on them in writing, and share the photos and written accounts with the community, hoping for change. Inspired by critical pedagogy, it challenges teaching English as a set of linguistic skills/standards detached from students' life challenges. As a teacher‐educator and pedagogical advisor, I invited 18 Palestinian‐Israeli third‐year English studentteachers to implement ‘PhotoVoice’ in their English practice‐teaching contexts. They worked with small groups of school children on the PhotoVoice projects and reflected on the whole process in their portfolios. Thematic analysis of their reflections illuminated that the process was emotionally charged and changed their views of themselves as teachers. This innovative method for improving literacy skills while promoting change has significant implications for practitioners and policymakers, underscoring the need for fostering a more engaging approach to language education that connects literacy teaching with social action. It is especially important for minoritized students who are often offered limited opportunities to experience empowering pedagogies.
Characterisation and Profiling of Standard Atopic Dermatitis Therapies in a Chronic Dermatitis Murine Model Induced by Oxazolone
Authors: Calama Elena , Blanco Ana I. , Trincado Juan L. , Nueda Arsenio , Gil Félix , Aniorte Gloria , Godessart Nuria , Gavaldà Amadeu
Published: December 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder characterised by hypersensitivity to allergens, eczematous lesions and pruritus. The aim of this study was to comprehensively characterise a murine model of dermatitis and assess the similarity with the human disease, as well as to profile clinically relevant AD therapies. Four repeated topical administrations of oxazolone in the auricular skin of sensitised mice induced morphological features compatible with AD, including redness and swelling, as well as histological changes typical of spongiotic (eczematous) dermatitis and increased plasmatic IgE. Additionally, key driver Type 2 cytokines involved in the pathophysiology of the disease, IL‐4, IL‐13 and IL − 31, were upregulated in the skin, along with cytokines related to Type 1, 17 and 22 responses, which have been reported to be relevant in the chronic stages of the disease. RNA‐seq studies in OXA model mice samples validate expression changes obtained by q‐PCR and suggest a greater significant similarity with the transcriptomic signature of human AD with respect to psoriasis studies. Oral (cyclosporine, prednisolone and baricitinib) and topical treatments (betamethasone, tacrolimus and crisaborole) were effective inhibiting the induced pathology, as well as modulating the cytokine gene signature of AD. In conclusion, our 4 oxazolone challenges model recapitulates many of the key features of the disease and is responsive to AD standard of care therapies in humans.
The Dynamics of Looking and Smiling Differ for Young Infants at Elevated Likelihood for ASD
Authors: Yurkovic‐Harding Julia , Bradshaw Jessica
Published: December 2024

Social smiling is the earliest gained social communication skill, emerging around 2 months of age. From 2 to 6‐months, infants primarily smile in response to caregivers. After 6 months, infants coordinate social smiles with other social cues to initiate interactions with the caregiver. Social smiling is reduced in older infants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but has rarely been studied before 6 months of life. The current study therefore aimed to understand the component parts of infant social smiles, namely look to caregiver and smile, during face‐to‐face interactions in 3 and 4‐month‐old infants at elevated (EL) and low likelihood (LL) for ASD. We found that EL and LL infants looked to their caregiver and smiled for similar amounts of time and at similar rates, suggesting that social smiling manifests similarly in both groups. A nuanced difference between groups emerged when considering temporal dynamics of looking and smiling. Specifically, 3‐month‐old EL infants demonstrated extended looking to the caregiver after smile offset. These findings suggest that social smiling is largely typical in EL infants in early infancy, with subtle differences in temporal coupling. Future research is needed to understand the full magnitude of these differences and their implications for social development.
Strong Source and Fluent Flow May Increase Grain Weight and Yield in Water‐Saving and Drought‐Resistance Rice: A 5‐Year Field Study
Authors: Liu Kun , Zhao Hong , Hou Dangping , Wang Chenyu , Li Zhikang , Cui Jiarong , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yiying , Ren Li , Huang Jian , Zhang Jingli , Huang Jingyan , Li Shouguo , Chu Yunxia , Chen Hairong , Deng Shan , Han Ruixi
Published: December 2024

Water‐saving and drought‐resistance rice (WDR) is a new type of cultivated rice, which not only has the characteristics of high yield and quality of rice, but also has the properties of water‐saving and drought‐resistance of upland rice. However, the source, flow and sink basis of its high yield were still unclear. It was of great significance for the breeding of high‐yielding WDR varieties and cultivation regulation to clarify the characteristics of the source, flow, and sink of WDR yield formation and its regulation effects. In this study, WDR varieties (more than 20) with three groups of different grain weight types: small grain weight type (SGWT, grain weight < 22.5 mg), medium grain weight type (MGWT, 22.5 mg < grain weight < 25 mg) and large grain weight type (LGWT, grain weight > 25 mg), were selected as materials. The contribution of grain weight to the yield, the changes of source (flag leaf length and width), flow (stem length and diameter), and sink (grain length and width) and the regulation effects of grain fertiliser application rate (GFAR) on grain weight in WDR were studied through a 5‐year field cultivation. The results showed that (1) the average yield of LGWT was significantly higher than that of SGWT and MGWT varieties, with an increase of 5.23%–9.88% and 2.06%–3.08%, respectively. Larger grain weight was the primary feature of high‐yielding WDR varieties. (2) There was a significant positive correlation between grain weight and, flag leaf width (source) and stem diameter (flow) at the middle grain filling stage (25 days after heading) (r = 0.467*–0.688**). (3) Compared with no GFAR treatment, the applying GFAR treatments (GFAR at 25 and 50 kg ha−1) increased the stem diameter, flag leaf width, grain weight and yield of Huhan1505 (SGWT), Huhan1517 (MGWT) and Hanyou756 (LGWT) to varying degrees, and the increase of SGWT was greater. Larger flag leaf width (strong source) and wider stem diameter (fluent flow) were material foundation for high yield of WDR. Promoting source strength and smooth flow at the middle grain filling stage was conducive to promoting the increase of grain weight and yield of WDR.
Senior Registered Nurses' Organisational Communication Satisfaction, Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Intention to Stay: A Cross‐Sectional Study of Two Healthcare Groups
Authors: Doleman Gemma , Nosaka Kaoru , De Leo Annemarie
Published: December 2024

Aim

To explore organisational communication satisfaction and its impact on senior registered nurses' job satisfaction, burnout, and intention to stay.

Design

A cross‐sectional design using surveys. The study was conducted with senior registered nurses across two healthcare groups in Western Australia.

Results

One hundred seventy‐four usable surveys were returned. The results of this study indicated that those with higher communication satisfaction levels were more likely to have higher levels of job satisfaction. Senior registered nurses who intended to leave their jobs had a higher risk of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, which may result in higher rates of burnout compared to those who intended to stay. The open‐ended questions were analysed with four overarching themes being identified: information needs, optimising communication, job satisfaction, retention, and attrition.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide insight into senior registered nurses' perception of communication and the impact that this has on job satisfaction, burnout, and intention to stay. It is recommended that organisations explore strategies to support the senior registered nurse cohort to improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout levels, and improve retention rates.

Implications for the Nursing Profession

Senior registered nurses are considered integral to the delivery of healthcare services and, the provision of positive practice environments. Their success is measured by nurse and patient outcomes. When senior registered nurses intend to leave their roles the practice environment is disrupted resulting in an increase in frontline nurse turnover and negative patient outcomes, which increases the costs of care provision. Therefore, it is vital to support this cohort to improve retention of the senior and experienced workforce and to assist with the creation of positive practice environments that promote clinical nurse retention and successful transition of newly qualified nurses into the profession.

Reporting Method

STROBE.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Japan Diabetes Complications Study: Revisiting one of the first large‐scale clinical studies in East Asians with diabetes
Authors: Sone Hirohito , Horikawa Chika , Tanaka‐Mizuno Sachiko , Kawasaki Ryo , Fujihara Kazuya , Moriya Tatsumi , Araki Atsushi , Tanaka Shiro , Akanuma Yasuo
Published: December 2024

This review highlights the significance of the Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS), one of the earliest large‐scale studies of people with type 2 diabetes outside Europe and the United States, in understanding type 2 diabetes mellitus among East Asian populations, particularly in Japan. Historically, large‐scale clinical studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus have predominantly focused on Western populations, despite East Asians comprising the largest proportion of diabetic patients globally. The JDCS, which was initiated in 1996, enrolled 2,033 Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. It aimed to evaluate the effects of intensive lifestyle interventions on diabetic complications. The study demonstrated that lifestyle‐focused interventions significantly reduced the risk of stroke and other complications compared to conventional treatment. Key findings of its sub‐analyses include the unique characteristics of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, such as their lower body mass index (BMI) compared to Western counterparts and a stronger association between even modest BMI increases and beta cell dysfunction. Additionally, the JDCS provided insights into the risk factors for nephropathy, retinopathy, and macrovascular complications, emphasizing the importance of controlling blood pressure, glycemia, and lifestyle factors. The study also explored the impact of diet, exercise, and mental health on diabetic outcomes, revealing the protective effects of physical activity and a balanced diet, while highlighting the risks associated with high salt intake and depression. A risk prediction model tailored to Japanese patients was also developed. Overall, this study made a significant contribution to the evidence‐based management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in East Asia.
Pimelodus maculatus abundance in the tailrace of the Machadinho hydroelectric power plant during drought conditions
Authors: Bernardes Junior Jurandir Joaquim , Pedron Janaína dos Santos , Guereschi Renata Maria , Dias Rafael José Gonçalves , Nuñer Alex Pires de Oliveira
Published: December 2024

Fish presence in tailraces is a remarkable management concern in operating hydroelectric power plants (HPP) in Brazilian rivers. Fish get blocked during upstream migration for spawning, and large shoals can last for days in the tailrace; however, the circumstances that attract fish throughout the year to this region are uncertain, especially during drought conditions. To unravel this uncertainty, we modeled the relationship between Pimelodus maculatus abundance and environmental and operational variables (N = 26) in monthly fishing campaigns at the Machadinho HPP (N = 18). A generalized additive model was fitted to fish abundance in which water conductivity, 30‐day accumulated precipitation, reservoir inflow, and seasonality explained 93% of the deviance. It was found that abundance decreased as water conductivity increased, but abundance was higher in summer. However, winter showed the highest abundance in the entire rainfall range with peaks between 130 and 150 mm and above 250 mm. An increase in reservoir inflow decreased fish abundance. During droughts, our findings suggest that the powerhouse foundations, particularly the draft tube, may serve as refugia to P. maculatus.
Tea Consumption and Long‐Term Mortality in Very Elderly Individuals With or Without Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease: Findings From a Sample of 19664 Chinese
Authors: Liao Guang‐zhi , Luo Man‐qing , Zhao Xue‐mei , Huang Bo‐ping , Zhang Yu‐hui , Zhang Jian
Published: December 2024

Background

The association between tea consumption and mortality among very elderly individuals, with or without cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCD), including stroke, remains unclear. This study hypothesised that a significant association exists.

Methods

We analysed data from two waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), spanning 1998/2000 to 2018, with a maximum follow‐up of 20 years. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to examine the association between tea consumption and all‐cause mortality among the oldest old ( ≥ 80 years) with or without CCD. Participants were categorised based on the frequency of tea consumption (rare, occasional or regular) at the time of the survey and around the age of 60.

Results

Due to violations of the proportional hazards assumption, Cox model results were reliable only for the first 8 years of follow‐up. Among 19,664 elderly participants, frequent tea consumption was associated with a lower mortality risk during the initial 8 years (adjusted HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.97) compared to never or rare tea consumption. However, this association diminished over the full 20‐year follow‐up. The significant association was observed only in participants who also reported frequent tea consumption around the age of 60 (adjusted HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.95). No significant interaction was found between pre‐existing CCD and the 8‐year effect of tea consumption (P for interaction > 0.05).

Conclusion

Among very elderly Chinese individuals, frequent tea consumption was associated with reduced mortality over the short term, particularly in those who maintained this habit throughout life. No significant interaction effect was observed between pre‐existing CCD and the mortality benefits of tea consumption.
Increased sampling reveals the complex evolution of sauropod dinosaur tooth replacement rates
Authors: D'Emic Michael D. , Finch Stephen P. , Britt Brooks B. , Wilson Mantilla Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2024

Unlike most herbivores, sauropod dinosaurs evolved simple teeth that were replaced rapidly. Sauropod craniodental morphology is conserved relative to that of many archosaur clades, but tooth breadth and replacement rate vary substantially. Two neosauropod clades, Titanosauria and Diplodocoidea, independently evolved both narrow‐crowned teeth and high tooth replacement rates among a suite of other convergent features. Brachiosaurids also evolved somewhat narrower‐crowned teeth, but the two brachiosaurids whose tooth replacement rate has been examined to date have low replacement rates. Poor and uneven sampling across Sauropoda limits our understanding of the evolution of tooth replacement rate and related ecological inferences. To better understand the evolution of tooth replacement rate and tooth breadth, we integrated histological and tomographic data to nearly double the number of examined sauropod genera, focusing on improved sampling through the Cretaceous. We provide histological descriptions of the dentine and enamel of two Early Cretaceous taxa, Abydosaurus and Moabosaurus. The former has unusually thin daily increments in its dentine, indicating prolonged tooth formation times. The dentine of the latter is typical of what is observed in most sauropods, but it has enigmatic banding in its enamel. We performed ancestral state reconstruction on a time‐calibrated phylogeny to show that the earliest macronarians and brachiosaurids retain the ancestral sauropod condition of relatively low tooth replacement rates (2–3 months to replace a tooth in each alveolus), whereas diplodocoids evolved much higher rates (2–5 weeks to replace a tooth in each alveolus). Early diverging somphospondylans had a broad range of tooth replacement rates. Broad‐crowned teeth exhibit some correlation with low tooth replacement rates, whereas narrow‐crowned teeth display a more variable relationship with replacement rate.
Size, not phylogeny, explains the morphology of the endosseous labyrinth in the crown clade Crocodylia
Authors: Pochat‐Cottilloux Yohan , Perrichon Gwendal , Hautier Lionel , Rinder Nicolas , Amiot Romain , Raselli Irena , Adrien Jérôme , Lachambre Joël , Fernandez Vincent , Martin Jeremy E.
Published: December 2024

The endosseous labyrinths are associated with several functions, including hearing and spatial orientation. Throughout their evolutionary history, crocodylomorphs have thrived in diverse environments, and the morphology of their endosseous labyrinths has been suggested as a proxy for inferring their lifestyle. However, the relationships between the shape of their endosseous labyrinths and ontogenetic and phylogenetic factors are difficult to interpret and have rarely been investigated in depth previously, particularly in terms of dataset size. Here, we present the most complete dataset to date on the endosseous labyrinths of extant crocodylians, including 111 specimens covering 22 species of different ontogenetic status (from hatchlings to adults). Using 3D geometric morphometrics, we show that allometry constitutes a major contributor of the shape variation of the crocodylian endosseous labyrinths and that the development of this structure is likely linked to the braincase conformation, in all extant genera. We also find a moderate phylogenetic signal, but only without considering the size effect, so it could not be translated into relevant discrete morphological characters. Based on these results, we discuss several remaining problems that prevent the inclusion of fossil forms with highly divergent lifestyles to study how ecological differences shaped the endosseous labyrinths of crocodylomorphs.
Fluid Institutions of Access: Sea Space as a Livelihood Resource in Coastal Indonesia
Authors: Rahmat Yunie N. , Neilson Jeff , Langford Alexandra , Walyandra Zulung , Ruhon Radhiyah , Armis Risya , Lapong Imran
Published: December 2024

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of carrageenan seaweed, the cultivation of which is dominated by household operators and is transforming livelihoods in many coastal communities. Growing demand from the global food processing sector has rapidly transformed Indonesian coastal sea space into a commoditized livelihood resource, where access is governed by emergent, and highly fluid, institutions. Through an extensive ethnographic study in two coastal villages in South Sulawesi, we show how a new property rights regime is being created through evolving institutions of access (both formal and informal) in continual feedback with the livelihood strategies pursued by individual households. The ability to benefit from access to sea space, during a price boom, emerges from within multiple strands of intersecting power relations, producing a range of livelihood outcomes. This study contributes to debates on how rural livelihood opportunities are infused by the politics of access to natural resources, thus reshaping processes of agrarian change in coastal regions.
How Social‐Symbolic Work Changes Places
Authors: Wright April L. , Lang Richard , Kibler Ewald
Published: December 2024

We advance the social‐symbolic work perspective by developing an understanding of places as objects characterized by location, materiality, function, and symbolic meaning and which can be changed through social‐symbolic work. Drawing from a longitudinal study of the ‘Empty Homes’ Programme in England, our analysis identifies an unfolding process of social‐symbolic work through which organizational actors change three distinct places – a historic chapel hall, a village public tavern, and derelict terraced houses – into social housing. Our findings develop a theoretical model of how social‐symbolic work changes place objects through a process involving dislodging functionality of how a place is actually used, inscribing liminality, and consolidating coherence across new function, new symbolic meaning and reconstructed materiality at a fixed geographic location. This process creates a new place as a social‐symbolic object that is both stable and dynamic. Our findings and model contribute to the social‐symbolic work perspective and have broad relevance within the management studies literature to research on place and organizational and institutional change processes.
The Course of COVID‐19 Infection in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis Delta
Authors: Parlar Yavuz Emre , Gülnar Müge Özarı , Kırmızıgül Beril , Gençdal Genco , Zeybel Müjdat , Keskin Onur , Yurdaydın Cihan
Published: December 2024

In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), older age and co‐morbidities are associated with mortality. Among liver disease aetiologies alcoholic liver disease was associated with mortality. Chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) had not been studied. The current study explores course of COVID‐19 disease in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and CHD. This retrospective study included CHB and CHD patients from the gastroenterology departments of Hacettepe and Koç University Hospitals. COVID‐19 was confirmed via PCR testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA. Data on liver disease severity, including MELD‐Na and Child‐Pugh scores, as well as vaccination status, were collected. A total of 618 patients (343 M/275 F) were evaluated, comprising 540 CHB patients (27 [5%] cirrhotic) and 78 CHD patients (43 [55%] cirrhotic). COVID‐19 was diagnosed in 47 CHB patients (8.7%) and 12 CHD patients (15.4%), p = NS. Hepatic reactivation occurred in 3 CHB patients (6.3%) and 4 CHD patients (33%), (p = 0.018). Reactivation was more frequent in cirrhotic patients than non‐cirrhotic patients (50% vs. 4%, p = 0.0009). One cirrhotic CHB patient decompensated, while one cirrhotic CHD patient died and another developed hepatic decompensation. The majority of cirrhotic CHB patients (96.3%) were receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), whereas only one cirrhotic CHD patient was on treatment for Hepatitis D virus (HDV). Although the small number of CHD patients and COVID‐19‐positive cases limits definitive conclusions, CHD patients may experience a more severe course of COVID‐19 compared to CHB patients. This may be due to the higher proportion of cirrhotics among CHD patients and the lack of effective antiviral treatment for HDV.
Metabolomic Changes Associated With the Change in HVPG After DAAs Therapy in HCV Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Virseda‐Berdices Ana , Martín‐Escolano Rubén , Berenguer Juan , González‐García Juan , Brochado‐Kith Oscar , Rojo David , Díez Cristina , Hontañon Víctor , Pérez‐Latorre Leire , Ibañez‐Samaniego Luis , Llop‐Herrera Elba , Olveira Antonio , Fernández‐Rodríguez Amanda , Barbas Coral , Resino Salvador , Jiménez‐Sousa María Ángeles ,   the ESCORIAL Study Group
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

In response to direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy, patients who experience a decrease in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) considerably reduce liver complications and have increased survival. This study aimed to assess the metabolomic changes associated with the changes in HVPG from the start of DAA therapy until 48 weeks after effective DAA therapy in patients with advanced HCV‐related cirrhosis.

Methods

We carried out a multicenter longitudinal study in 31 patients with advanced hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐related cirrhosis. We performed a non‐targeted metabolomic analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, as well as analysis of inflammation‐related biomarkers using Luminex technology. The statistical analysis was performed by Generalised Linear Mixed‐effects Models (GLMM), correcting for multiple testing.

Results

We found that increases of 2,3‐butanediol (AMR = 1.15; q‐value = 0.023) and taurocholic acid (AMR = 1.06; q‐value < 0.001) were significantly associated with increases in HVPG and inflammatory biomarker levels from before DAA therapy to one year after completion of successful HCV treatment.

Conclusions

These metabolites have a potential role as indicators of portal hypertension evolution.
A Genetic Variant of Delta‐9 Desaturase Is Associated With Latitudinal Adaptation in a Coral from the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Black Kristina L. , Bay Line K. , Matz Mikhail V.
Published: December 2024

Coral populations across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) could rapidly adapt to the warming climate if they have standing genetic variation for thermal tolerance. Here, we describe a locus likely involved in latitudinal adaptation of Acropora millepora. This locus shows a steep latitudinal gradient of derived allele frequency increasing at higher latitudes, and harbours a cluster of eight tandemly repeated Δ9‐desaturase genes adjacent to a region in the genome where a hard selective sweep likely occurred. In colonies reciprocally transplanted across 4.5° of latitude, the expression of Δ9‐desaturase is upregulated at the high‐latitude reef. Furthermore, corals from the low‐latitude reef bearing the derived Δ9‐desaturase allele express the gene more and grow faster than their peers when transplanted to the high‐latitude reef. In other organisms ranging from bacteria to fish, Δ9‐desaturase is upregulated under cold conditions to adjust membrane fluidity by introducing double bonds into fatty acid chains of membrane lipids. It is therefore plausible that the signal of latitudinal adaptation at the Δ9‐desaturase locus is due to its involvement in adaptation to cooler temperatures at higher latitudes.
A meta‐analysis assessing reliability of the Yale Food Addiction Scale: Implications for compulsive eating and obesity
Authors: Jahrami Haitham , Husain Waqar , Trabelsi Khaled , Ammar Achraf , Pandi‐Perumal Seithikurippu R. , Saif Zahra , Potenza Marc N. , Lin Chung‐Ying , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: December 2024

Food addiction (FA) is linked to eating disorders and obesity. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), which has various versions in different languages, is widely used to assess FA worldwide. This meta‐analysis aimed to assess the YFAS through reliability generalization meta‐analysis (REGEMA). From their inception until April 2024, a comprehensive systematic review across more than 30 databases was conducted to identify studies reporting reliability measures (e.g., Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) of the YFAS. Sixty‐five studies were included in this meta‐analysis, with a median sample size of 451 participants. The results of the random‐effects meta‐analysis showed a high pooled reliability coefficient (α = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.86 p < 0.001). Test–retest reliability was also estimated using a random‐effects meta‐analysis of 10 studies, resulting in a pooled test–retest correlation coefficient of intraclass coefficients of (ICC = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.84, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the consistency and robustness of the YFAS in detecting FA across studies, suggesting its reliability for screening for FA‐related disordered eating.
Conduction System Pacing Following a Double Switch Operation for Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries
Authors: Regan William , Rosenthal Eric , Clarke John‐Ross , Alam Harith , Wong Tom
Published: December 2024

The use of conduction system pacing (CSP) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) is growing, however data remain limited. In patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries following the double switch operation, existing CSP tools and techniques require modification to allow for the anterior displacement of the atrioventricular node and proximal conduction system in addition to navigating the tortuous route of the atrial redirection. We report the successful use of CSP focusing on the technique of delivery tool modification to allow stability on the basal septum for deployment to the area of the distal His bundle and proximal left bundle branch.
The inner struggle: Co‐optation and moral authenticity within social movements scholarship
Authors: Guevara Fino José
Published: December 2024

The concept of co‐optation, denoting the appropriation of actors and ideas to support unintended agendas, has been widely employed in social movements studies. Despite its prominence, some scholars argue that the concept introduces ambiguous discussions of authenticity that morally judge activists under categories that are disconnected from their experiences of political participation. Consequently, they choose to separate morality from politics. I propose a meaningful approach to engage with morality and authenticity that contributes to the current understanding of the implications of co‐optation on movements and activists. First, I illustrate that moral concepts and attributions of responsibility are inherent to how activists experience co‐optation. Next, I highlight the limitations of existing theories of authenticity in capturing these moral elements. I then introduce the concept of moral authenticity, which refers to the importance that individuals place on acting in accordance with the type of person they aspire to be. I argue that integrating this notion with co‐optation offers a robust framework for describing and evaluating what authenticity means in the context of movements. This framework offers new insights into the relationship between individuals' personal lives and activism, an emerging field of inquiry in social movement scholarship.
Public Support for Gay Rights Across Countries and Over Time
Authors: Woo Byung‐Deuk , Ko Hyein , Tai Yuehong Cassandra , Hu Yue , Solt Frederick
Published: December 2024

Objective

Support for gay rights has increased in the publics of many countries over recent decades, but the scholarship on the topic has been hindered by the limited available data on these trends in public opinion. The goal of the Support for Gay Rights (SGR) dataset is to overcome this problem.

Method

The SGR dataset is constructed by combining a comprehensive collection of survey data with a latent‐variable model to provide annual time‐series estimates of public support for gay rights across 118 countries and over as many as 51 years that are comparable across space and time.

Results

We show these data perform well in validation tests and demonstrate their potential by replicating the influential but recently questioned finding of Andersen and Fetner that more income inequality yields less tolerant and supportive attitudes toward gay people.

Conclusion

We anticipate that the SGR data will become a crucial source for cross‐national, cross‐regional, and longitudinal research that improves our understanding of the sources and consequences of public support for gay rights.
A Working Memory Model of Sentence Processing as Binding Morphemes to Syntactic Positions
Authors: Keshev Maayan , Cartner Mandy , Meltzer‐Asscher Aya , Dillon Brian
Published: December 2024

As they process complex linguistic input, language comprehenders must maintain a mapping between lexical items (e.g., morphemes) and their syntactic position in the sentence. We propose a model of how these morpheme‐position bindings are encoded, maintained, and reaccessed in working memory, based on working memory models such as “serial‐order‐in‐a‐box” and its SOB‐Complex Span version. Like those models, our model of linguistic working memory derives a range of attested memory interference effects from the process of binding items to positions in working memory. We present simulation results capturing similarity‐based interference as well as item distortion effects. Our model provides a unified account of these two major classes of interference effects in sentence processing, attributing both types of effects to an associative memory architecture underpinning linguistic computation.
Uniform thermal expansion reactivity evaluation based on reactivity coefficient for sodium-cooled fast reactor
Authors: Takeda Satoshi , Kitada Takanori , Okita Takafumi , Hoashi Eiji
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a method for calculating reactivity changes caused by uniform thermal expansion in sodium-cooled fast reactors using reactivity coefficients. The reactivity changes due to both Z-axis and radial expansion are separated into two effects: the shape change effect and the macroscopic cross-section change effect. These effects are expressed using the reactivity coefficients of materials in the reactor core. The reactivity change due to Z-axis expansion considers the expansion of the fuel, cladding, and wrapper tube, while the radial expansion considers the fuel pin, structural materials, and reactor core support structures. To confirm the accuracy of this approach, calculations were performed for simplified reactor geometry with different height-to-diameter ratios. The results show that reactivity changes behave almost linearly for expansions of up to 2%. Additionally, the difference between the expansion reactivity obtained by using reactivity coefficients and those by direct calculations considering core expansion is within a few percent.
An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Gear Vibro-impacts Caused by Torque Reversals
Authors: O'Toole Michael , Donmez Ata , Kahraman Ahmet
Published: December 2024

Rapid shift towards electrified powertrains has provided gear train dynamics researchers with new challenges, one of them being transient vibro-impact behavior caused by torque reversals during the drive and regenerative braking modes of operation. Contrary to ample studies on the steady-state dynamic behavior to aid with gear whine and rattle related noise and vibration problems, the transient behavior associated with such torque reversals has not been investigated extensively. Accordingly, this paper studies the dynamic response of a single-mesh gear system subjected to external torque reversals. A reduced-order dynamic model is proposed, accompanied by a computationally efficient piecewise-linear solution method. An experimental set-up of the same system is developed. Measurements within a wide spectrum of operating conditions and system parameters are compared to the model predictions for its validation. At the end, the model is employed for key parameter sensitivity studies on the influence of drivetrain stiffness, backlash and torque magnitudes on the resultant vibro-impact behavior depicted by an impact severity index.