bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementarity and sensitivity of benthic state indicators to bottom‐trawl fishing disturbance
Authors: van Denderen P. Daniël , Plaza‐Morlote Maider , Vaz Sandrine , Wijnhoven Sander , Borja Angel , Fernandez‐Arcaya Ulla , González‐Irusta José M. , Hansen Jørgen L. S. , Katsiaras Nikolaos , Pierucci Andrea , Serrano Alberto , Reizopoulou Sofia , Papadopoulou Nadia , Sköld Mattias , Smith Christopher J. , Nygård Henrik , Van Hoey Gert , Dinesen Grete E. , Virtanen Elina A. , Boyé Aurélien , García‐Alegre Ana , Bellas Juan , Bolam Stefan , Muñoz Pablo Durán , Sacau Mar , Riva Giada , Kenchington Ellen , Raicevich Saša , Reid David , Roux Marie Julie , Hiddink Jan Geert , Valanko Sebastian
Published: October 2024

Many indicators have been developed to assess the state of benthic communities and identify seabed habitats most at risk from bottom trawling disturbance. However, the large variety of indicators and their development and application under specific geographic areas and management contexts has made it difficult to evaluate their wider utility. We compared the complementarity/uniqueness, sensitivity, and selectivity of 18 benthic indicators to pressure of bottom trawling. Seventeen common datasets with broad regional representation covering a range of pressure gradients from bottom trawling disturbance (n = 14), eutrophication (n = 1), marine pollution (n = 1), and oxygen depletion (n = 1) were used for the comparison. The outcomes of most indicators were correlated to a certain extent with response to bottom trawling disturbance, and two complementary groups of indicators were identified: diversity‐based and biological trait‐based indicators. Trait‐based indicators that quantify the changes in relative abundance of sensitive taxa were most effective in identifying benthic community change in response to bottom trawling disturbance. None of the indicators responded to the trawling pressure gradient in all datasets, and some showed a response that were opposed to the theoretical expectation for some gradients. Indicators that showed clear responses to bottom trawling disturbance also showed clear responses in at least one other pressure gradient, suggesting those indicators are not pressure specific. These results emphasize the importance of selecting several indicators, at least one from each group (diversity and trait‐based), to capture the broader signals of change in benthic communities due to bottom trawling activities. Our systematic approach offers the basis from which scientific advisors and/or managers can select suitable combinations of indicators to arrive at a sensitive and comprehensive benthic status assessment.
Previous reproductive success and environmental variation influence nest‐site fidelity of a subarctic‐nesting goose
Authors: Thompson Jordan M. , Uher‐Koch Brian D. , Daniels Bryan L. , Riecke Thomas V. , Schmutz Joel A. , Sedinger Benjamin S.
Published: October 2024

Nest‐site fidelity is a common strategy in birds and is believed to be adaptive due to familiarity with local conditions. Returning to previously successful nest sites (i.e., the win‐stay lose‐switch strategy) may be beneficial when habitat quality is spatially variable and temporally predictable; however, changes in environmental conditions may constrain dispersal decisions despite previous reproductive success. We used long‐term (2000–2017) capture‐mark‐reencounter data and hierarchical models to examine fine‐scale nest‐site fidelity of emperor geese (Anser canagicus) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska. Our objectives were to quantify nest‐site dispersal distances, determine whether dispersal distance is affected by previous nest fate, spring timing, or major flooding events on the study area, and determine if nest‐site fidelity is adaptive in that it leads to higher nest survival. Consistent with the win‐stay lose‐switch strategy, expected dispersal distance for individuals that failed their nesting attempt in the previous year was greater (207.7 m, 95% HPDI: 151.1–272.7) than expected dispersal distance for individuals that nested successfully in the previous year (125.5 m, 95% HPDI: 107.1–144.9). Expected dispersal distance was slightly greater following years of major flooding events for individuals that nested successfully, although this pattern was not observed for individuals that failed their nesting attempt. We did not find evidence that expected dispersal distance was influenced by spring timing. Importantly, dispersal distance was positively related to daily survival probability of emperor goose nests for individuals that failed their previous nesting attempt, suggesting an adaptive benefit to the win‐stay lose‐switch strategy. Our results highlight the importance of previous experience and environmental variation for informing dispersal decisions of a long‐lived goose species. However, it is unclear if dispersal decisions based on previous experience will continue to be adaptive as variability in environmental conditions increases in northern breeding areas.
Identifying Key Environmental Drivers of Reach‐Scale Salmonid eDNA Recovery With Random Forest
Authors: Melendy Shawn A. , Olson John R.
Published: October 2024

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling from rivers has emerged as a promising new method for monitoring freshwater organisms of management concern. However, eDNA sampling cannot yet offer reliable estimates of a target species' abundance/biomass or confident determinations of a species' absence from a river segment. To unlock these abilities—and thereby greatly improve eDNA as a tool for management decision‐making—the influence of local environmental factors on eDNA fate must be better understood. At nine river sites across the central California coast, we added a known quantity of novel eDNA (Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis) and collected eDNA at sequential downstream distances for qPCR analysis. We then used random forest modeling to identify the most important environmental factors to reach‐scale (≤ 200 m) sampling outcomes and characterize salmonid eDNA fate. Our final model identified six factors important to sampling outcomes, including five environmental factors (discharge, local catchment calcium oxide content, average depth of the sampling cross‐section, presence of pools, and impervious cover of the watershed) and one factor regarding our experimental design (the number of qPCR technical replicates). Our results highlight the notable effects of cross‐sectional area, turbulence, and catchment geology on eDNA fate, and we suggest the discharge and presence of pools as useful proxies for evaluating a site's favorability for eDNA recovery.
V9 Hypervariable Region Metabarcoding Primers for Euglenozoa and Metamonada
Authors: Novák Jiří , Treitli Sebastian Cristian , Füssy Zoltán , Záhonová Kristína , Hamplová Blanka , Hrdá Štěpánka , Hampl Vladimír
Published: October 2024

Short amplicon sequencing is a commonly used method to study the diversity of organisms in various habitats. The hypervariable regions of the small subunit rRNA gene (18S rDNA) are the most general barcodes for eukaryotes, which can provide detailed taxonomic information across a wide range of eukaryotic diversity. However, some organisms are often missed by universal primers, which have difficulty amplifying their barcodes. In this study, specific primers were designed for the amplification of the highly diverse 18S‐V9 region of the Euglenozoa and Metamonada groups. The performance of the newly designed primers—V9Eug and V9Meta—was compared with the universal V9 primer on cultured communities derived from a range of freshwater environments of the Soos Natural Reserve and the Slavkov Forest in the Czech Republic. The V9Eug primer was more specific with Euglenozoa representing 91.8% of reads and 57.0% of OTUs, while the V9Meta primer showed lower specificity with only 48.4% of reads and 19.7% of OTUs assigned to Metamonada. Both the Euglenozoa and Metamonada primer pairs significantly improved recovery of their target groups compared to the universal V9 primer pair, detecting 2.7 and 1.8 times more OTUs, respectively. These results provide a more sensitive protocol for studying the diversity of these eukaryotic taxa.
Multi‐Environment Quantification of Parasite and Intermediate Host DNA on Pasture for Fine‐Scale Disease Risk Assessment
Authors: McFarland Christopher , McCann Emer , McCann Peter , Morgan Eric R. , Marks Nikki J. , McVeigh Paul , Gobert Geoffrey N.
Published: October 2024

Parasite transmission occurs in complex environments comprising multiple matrices. Trematode parasites of ruminant livestock such as the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica and the rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, show affinity with freshwater environments shared with their amphibious snail intermediate host, Galba truncatula. Isolation of environmental DNA (eDNA) from these parasites and their snail hosts in water draining from grazing land provides opportunities for improved molecular diagnostic detection and can help identify infection risks at farm level. The detection and quantification of eDNA from other environmental matrices has received less attention but would improve the understanding of parasite dynamics on pasture. Our study has considerably extended eDNA sampling methods for the detection of parasitic trematodes of ruminant livestock and their snail intermediate host by including for the first time the analysis of soil and herbage environmental samples alongside water collections. A droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) workflow was developed to detect parasite and snail eDNA from soil, herbage, and water collected from livestock farms. For the first time, C. daubneyi eDNA was isolated from agricultural soil alongside water samples and G. truncatula eDNA was detected in water, soil, and herbage samples. No environmental samples were positive for F. hepatica eDNA. Assessing multiple environmental matrices increased the number of positive sites. Future implementation of eDNA detection methods alongside traditional parasite diagnostics can underpin more holistic evaluations of the environmental components of parasite epidemiology and facilitate adaptation to changing disease patterns.
Lower thresholds and stronger adaptation to pain in musicians reflect occupational‐specific adaptations to contact heat stimulation
Authors: Divarco Rebecca , Sternkopf Fabian , Karst Matthias , Altenmüller Eckart , Ramasawmy Perianen , Antal Andrea , Lee André
Published: October 2024

Background

Extensive audio‐motor training and psychological stress can cause professional musicians acute overstrain‐injury and chronic pain, resulting in damaged careers and diminished quality of life. It has also been previously shown that musicians might perceive pain differently than non‐musicians. Therefore, the aim of our study was to quantify differences between musicians and non‐musicians regarding their subjective responses to painful contact heat stimuli and assess how emotional traits might influence these responses.

Methods

Upon completing the StateTrait‐Anxiety‐Depression Inventory, 15 healthy musicians and 15 healthy non‐musicians from German universities received 15 noxious contact heat stimuli at the dorsal side of each hand and foot. After each stimulation, participants were asked to provide a pain rating from 0 to 10.

Results

Musicians not only reported significantly higher pain ratings after the first stimulation but also showed a significantly higher degree of habituation compared to non‐musicians. Additionally, musicians showed a significantly less pronounced difference regarding the pain rating of the hands compared to the feet than non‐musicians. Trait anxiety and trait depression scores had no effect on the pain rating or the habituation.

Conclusion

The more pronounced habituation of musicians might hint at a neuroplastic nociceptive alteration in musicians. The lack of significance between the psychological traits and their effect on the pain ratings is surprising but could be a result of both participant groups having stressful careers.

Significance

The findings of this report justify musicians' repetitive sensorimotor training as an important model for plasticity and contribute to a better understanding of pain perception in musicians.
Absence of genotoxicity following pulmonary exposure to metal oxides of copper, tin, aluminum, zinc, and titanium in mice
Authors: Gutierrez Claudia Torero , Hadrup Niels , Loizides Charis , Hafez Iosif , Biskos George , Roursgaard Martin , Saber Anne Thoustrup , Møller Peter , Vogel Ulla
Published: October 2024

Inhalation of nanosized metal oxides may occur at the workplace. Thus, information on potential hazardous effects is needed for risk assessment. We report an investigation of the genotoxic potential of different metal oxide nanomaterials. Acellular and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined for all the studied nanomaterials. Moreover, mice were exposed by intratracheal instillation to copper oxide (CuO) at 2, 6, and 12 μg/mouse, tin oxide (SnO2) at 54 and 162 μg/mouse, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 18 and 54 μg/mouse, zinc oxide (ZnO) at 0.7 and 2 μg/mouse, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and the benchmark carbon black at 162 μg/mouse. The doses were selected based on pilot studies. Post‐exposure time points were 1 or 28 days. Genotoxicity, assessed as DNA strand breaks by the comet assay, was measured in lung and liver tissue. The acellular and intracellular ROS measurements were fairly consistent. The CuO and the carbon black bench mark particle were potent ROS generators in both assays, followed by TiO2. Al2O3, ZnO, and SnO2 generated low levels of ROS. We detected no increased genotoxicity in this study using occupationally relevant dose levels of metal oxide nanomaterials after pulmonary exposure in mice, except for a slight increase in DNA damage in liver tissue at the highest dose of CuO. The present data add to the body of evidence for risk assessment of these metal oxides.
Rational Design of Facile and Low‐Cost Construction of Carbon‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells using Garcinia Mangostana L. as a Photosensitizer
Authors: Pertiwi Erma Surya , Jiwanti Prastika Krisma , Taufiq Ahmad , Amrillah Tahta
Published: October 2024

Research on solar cell devices is not only always related to how to obtain high power conversion efficiency (PCE), but also other factors need to be fully considered, such as the cost and their ecofriendliness. In this present research, a low‐cost and ecofriendly dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is being developed using a graphite‐based nanocomposite and an unusual plant extract (Garcinia mangostana L.) as the dye photosensitizer. A rational design on how to use graphite as a photoanode and counter electrode (CE) in DSSC is carried out by combining the graphite with ZnO and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), respectively. It is observed that graphite acts as a matrix for ZnO and MWCNT to make these nanocomposites have very appropriate optoelectronics and catalytic properties compared to the control sample. Therefore, they could serve as an excellent photoanode and CE, respectively. It is also expected that the anthocyanin absorption in Garcinia mangostana L. dye which is found in the visible light range can efficiently absorb photons, thus supporting the enhancement of photovoltaic performance of the DSSC. The generated voltage (V) and current (I) from light irradiation using commercial lamps are higher compared to halogen lamps, indicating that the obtained DSSC has potential as indoor powered devices. It is believed that our study can shed light on the development of DSSC using low‐cost material graphite as the main component for the realization of low‐cost DSSC devices.
EDTA‐modified cellulose from sago bark (Metroxylon sagu) for anionic and cationic dyes removal
Authors: Fauzia Syiffa , Yuliani Fitri , Suherman Suherman , Kamasinta Shafa
Published: October 2024

The present research employed ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) modified cellulose to remove basic violet 10 (BV10) and reactive orange 16 (RO16) dyes. The cellulose was obtained from sago bark which was solid waste of sago starch industries. Sago bark contains 56.86% cellulose so that it can provide significant amount of active site. The optimum condition was examined using batch method investigating some parameters including pH, initial dye concentration, contact time, and thermodynamics. The adsorption capacity of cellulose (Cell) itself was also investigated for the comparison. The characterization of adsorbent showed the presence of ester bond, amine groups and escalating of surface area and pores after EDTA modification. The adsorption capacity of EDTA‐modified cellulose (Cell‐EDTA) was 73.53 mg/g for BV10 and 22.42 mg/g for RO16. The adsorption of both dyes onto Cell‐EDTA followed Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic and feasible. Desorption studies proved that NaOH was an effective desorbing agent of BV10 and RO16. Based on research, Cell‐EDTA was more favorable in cationic dye, basic violet 10 than anionic dye, reactive orange 16.
Childhood adversity, stress reactivity, and structural brain measures in stress‐related/neurodevelopmental disorders, and their comorbidity: A large transdiagnostic cross‐sectional study
Authors: van der Weerd Nelleke , Mulders Peter , Vrijsen Janna , van Oort Jasper , Collard Rose , van Eijndhoven Philip , Tendolkar Indira
Published: October 2024

Childhood adversity (CA), including childhood adverse life events, increases the risk for development of psychiatric disorders later in life. Both CA and psychiatric disorders are associated with structural brain changes and dysfunctional hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal‐axis. However, many studies investigated single diagnostic and single regions of interest of the brain, and did not take stress reactivity into account. We investigated associations of CA and cortisol levels with gray matter volume and cortical thickness, in a whole‐brain manner. Primary analysis constituted of a transdiagnostic approach, followed by a moderation analysis to investigate the influence of diagnosis. Patients with stress‐related and/or neurodevelopmental disorders and matched healthy controls underwent an magnetic resonance imaging scan, next to assessing hair cortisol levels and CA/life events. CA was reported by 62–72% of the patients versus 33% of the controls. Primary transdiagnostic linear regression analyses revealed that CA was not associated with gray matter volume, while childhood life events were associated with lower right thalamic volume. Hair cortisol was not associated with any lobe volume. None of the associations were moderated by diagnosis. In conclusion, CA is a risk factor that needs to be taken into account when investigating psychiatric disorders. Yet the relationship with structural brain changes and stress reactivity is less clear than postulated on the basis of more seed‐based studies.
Neural Representations of Emotions in Visual, Auditory, and Modality‐Independent Regions Reflect Idiosyncratic Conceptual Knowledge
Authors: Gao Chuanji , Oh Sewon , Yang Xuan , Stanley Jacob M. , Shinkareva Svetlana V.
Published: October 2024

Growing evidence suggests that conceptual knowledge influences emotion perception, yet the neural mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that brain representations of facial emotion categories in visual‐perceptual areas are predicted by conceptual knowledge, but it remains to be seen if auditory regions are similarly affected. Moreover, it is not fully clear whether these conceptual influences operate at a modality‐independent level. To address these questions, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study presenting participants with both facial and vocal emotional stimuli. This dual‐modality approach allowed us to investigate effects on both modality‐specific and modality‐independent brain regions. Using univariate and representational similarity analyses, we found that brain representations in both visual (middle and lateral occipital cortices) and auditory (superior temporal gyrus) regions were predicted by conceptual understanding of emotions for faces and voices, respectively. Additionally, we discovered that conceptual knowledge also influenced supra‐modal representations in the superior temporal sulcus. Dynamic causal modeling revealed a brain network showing both bottom‐up and top‐down flows, suggesting a complex interplay of modality‐specific and modality‐independent regions in emotional processing. These findings collectively indicate that the neural representations of emotions in both sensory‐perceptual and modality‐independent regions are likely shaped by each individual's conceptual knowledge.
Lung cancer incidence rates in young women and men by state in the United States
Authors: Jemal Ahmedin , Schafer Elizabeth J. , Star Jessica , Bandi Priti , Sung Hyuna , Islami Farhad , Siegel Rebecca L.
Published: October 2024

Previous studies reported higher lung cancer incidence in women than men among persons aged 35–54 years in the United States, a reversal of historically higher rates in men. We examined whether this pattern varies by state. Based on lung cancer incidence (2015–2019) data among adults aged 35–54 years from Cancer in North America database and historical cigarette smoking prevalence data (2004–2005) among adults 20–39 years from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, incidence rates in women were equal to or higher than rates in their male counterparts in 40 of 51 states, with statistically significant differences in 20 states (two‐sided, p < .05). In contrast, current and ever smoking prevalence in women compared to men was statistically significantly lower (33 and 34 states, respectively) or similar. Furthermore, there was no association between differences in historical smoking prevalence and lung cancer incidence by sex. Lung cancer incidence rate is higher in young women than young men in most states and is unexplained by differences in smoking prevalence.
Residential exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and risk of childhood hematological malignancies in Switzerland: A census‐based cohort study
Authors: Coste Astrid , Kreis Christian , Backes Claudine , Bulliard Jean‐Luc , Folly Christophe , Brack Eva , Renella Raffaele , Vernez David , Spycher Ben D. ,   for the SNC study group
Published: October 2024

Still little is known about possible environmental risk factors of childhood hematological malignancies (CHM). Previous studies suggest that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is associated with a lower risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. We investigated the association between solar UVR exposure and risk of CHM in Switzerland, a country with greatly varying topography and weather conditions. We included all resident children aged 0–15 years from the Swiss National Cohort during 1990–2016 and identified incident cancer cases through probabilistic record linkage with the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We estimated the overall annual mean UV level and the mean level for the month of July during 2004–2018 at children's homes using a climatological model of the midday (11 am–3 pm) UV‐index (UVI) with a spatial resolution of 1.5–2 km. Using risk‐set sampling, we obtained a nested case–control data set matched by birth year and fitted conditional logistic regression models (virtually equivalent to analyzing full cohort data using proportional hazards models) adjusting for sex, neighborhood socio‐economic position, urbanization, air pollution, and background ionizing radiation. Our analyses included 1446 cases of CHM. Estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) per unit increase in UVI in July were 0.76 (95% CI 0.59–0.98) for leukemia and 0.74 (0.55–0.98) for ALL. Results for annual exposure were similar but confidence intervals were wider and included one. We found no evidence for an association for lymphoma overall (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.59–2.19 for annual exposure) or diagnostic subgroups. Our study provides further support for an inverse association between exposure to ambient solar UVR and childhood ALL.
Diagnostic performance of tomosynthesis plus synthetic mammography versus full‐field digital mammography with or without tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hamad Wasim , Michell Michael J. , Myles Jonathan P. , Gilbert Fiona J. , Chen Yan , Jin Huajie , Loveland John , Halling‐Brown Mark , Satchithananda Keshthra , Morel Juliet , Wasan Rema , Taylor Caroline , Sharma Nisha , Valencia Alexandra , Teh Will , Majid Faisal , De Visser Ronald M , Iqbal Asif , Duffy Stephen W.
Published: October 2024

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with full‐field digital mammography (FFDM) exposes women to a higher radiation dose. A synthetic 2D mammogram (S2D) is a two‐dimensional image constructed from DBT. We aim to evaluate the S2D performance when used alone or combined with DBT compared to FFDM alone or with DBT. Studies were included if they recruited screening participants and reported on S2D performance. Studies were excluded if they included symptomatic patients, imaging was for diagnostic purposes, or if participants had a breast cancer history. Meta‐analyses for cancer detection rates (CDR) and Specificities were conducted where available. Differences in the performance of imaging modalities were calculated within individual studies, and these were pooled by meta‐analysis. Out of 3241 records identified, 17 studies were included in the review and 13 in the meta‐analysis. The estimated combined difference in CDRs per thousand among individual studies that reported on DBT plus S2D vs. FFDM and those reporting on DBT plus S2D versus DBT plus FFDM was 2.03 (95% CI 0.81–3.25) and − 0.15 (95% CI −1.17 to 0.86), respectively. The estimated difference in percent specificities was 1.13 (95% CI −0.06 to 2.31) in studies comparing DBT plus S2D and FFDM. In studies comparing DBT plus S2D and DBT plus FFDM, the estimated difference in specificities was 1.08 (95% CI 0.59–1.56). DBT plus S2D showed comparable accuracy to FFDM plus DPT and improved cancer detection to FFDM alone. Integrating S2D with DBT in breast cancer screening is safe and preserves performance.
Latent class analysis‐derived classification improves the cancer‐specific death stratification of lymphomas: A large retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liang Xiaojie , Wu Yuzhe , Lu Weixiang , Li Tong , Liu Dan , Lin Bingyu , Zhou Xinyu , Jin Zhihao , Luo Baiwei , Liu Yang , Tian Shengyu , Wang Liang
Published: October 2024

Lymphomas have diverse etiologies, treatment approaches, and prognoses. Accurate survival estimation is challenging for lymphoma patients due to their heightened susceptibility to non‐lymphoma‐related mortality. To overcome this challenge, we propose a novel lymphoma classification system that utilizes latent class analysis (LCA) and incorporates demographic and clinicopathological factors as indicators. We conducted LCA using data from 221,812 primary lymphoma patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and identified four distinct LCA‐derived classes. The LCA‐derived classification efficiently stratified patients, thereby adjusting the bias induced by competing risk events such as non‐lymphoma‐related death. This remains effective even in cases of limited availability of cause‐of‐death information, leading to an enhancement in the accuracy of lymphoma prognosis assessment. Additionally, we validated the LCA‐derived classification model in an external cohort and observed its improved prognostic stratification of molecular subtypes. We further explored the molecular characteristics of the LCA subgroups and identified potential driver genes specific to each subgroup. In conclusion, our study introduces a novel LCA‐based lymphoma classification system that provides improved prognostic prediction by accounting for competing risk events. The proposed classification system enhances the clinical relevance of molecular subtypes and offers insights into potential therapeutic targets.
Evaluation of hemoglobin A1c control among Medicare advantage patients not meeting non‐insulin diabetes medication adherence metric
Authors: Doles Mark , Caswell Benjamin , Conty Nicolas
Published: October 2024

Background

Clinical pharmacists are often tasked with improving medication‐related performance metrics such as medication adherence to diabetes medications (MAD). Although the primary goal in patient care is excellent clinical outcomes, it is unknown if poor diabetes disease state control correlates with nonadherence to diabetes medications per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) MAD metric specifications. This retrospective study aimed to identify the degree of disease state control in patients identified as nonadherent to their diabetes medications among patients in value‐based Medicare Advantage payer‐provider reimbursement models and its impact on the clinical pharmacist.

Methods

Patients attributed to a health system‐employed primary care provider group from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 and identified as non‐adherent (percentage of days covered [PDC] <80%) for non‐insulin diabetic medications were included in the study.

Results

Of the 370 patients who met criteria for study inclusion, 256 (69%) had a controlled hemoglobin A1C of <7.5%; 305 patients also had a previous A1c available in the electronic medical record. Of those, 260 (85%) had an A1C that had improved or was unchanged between the two most recent readings. One hundred sixty (43%) patients had a reason listed for gaps within refill history including verbal dose change, adverse reaction, manufacturer‐supplied medications, fills from Veteran's Affairs pharmacy, provider samples, or nondiabetes diagnosis.

Conclusion

A large percentage of patients identified as non‐adherent had a high degree of disease state control suggesting an issue with the measurement of adherence rather than a true reflection of patients' adherence with prescribed drug regimens. Strategies to improve diabetes medication adherence based on PDC will likely need to look beyond disease state control.
Analysis of Diurnal Air Temperature Trends and Pattern Similarities in Highland and Lowland Stations of Italy and UK
Authors: Liyew Chalachew Muluken , Meo Rosa , Ferraris Stefano , Di Nardo Elvira
Published: October 2024

In this study, an analysis of hourly air temperatures in four groups of 32 stations from the UK highland (5 stations), UK lowland (4 stations), Italian highland (11 stations), and Italian lowland (12 stations) at different altitudes was carried out  over the period from 2002 to 2021. The study aimed to examine the trends of each hour of the day during this period, over different averaging time windows (10‐day, 30‐day, and 60‐day). The trends were computed using the Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen's slope estimator. The similarity of trends within and across the groups of stations was assessed using the hierarchical clustering with dynamic time warping technique. An additional analysis was conducted to show the correlation of trends among the group of stations using the correlation distance matrix. Hierarchical clustering and distance correlation analysis show trend similarities and correlations, also indicating dissimilarities among different groups. Using 30‐day averages, significant warming trends in specific months at the Italian stations are evident, especially in February, July, August, and December. The UK highland stations did not show statistically significant trends, but clear pattern similarities were found within the groups, especially in certain months. The ultimate goal of this article is to provide insights into temperature dynamics and climate change characteristics on regional and diurnal scales.
Heatwave Intensifications in Armenia: Evidence From Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Observational Data Over the Last Decades
Authors: Galstyan Hrachuhi , Kocharyan Hrachya , Khan Shamshad
Published: October 2024

Increasing temperatures cause the weather to become more severe. Studying how heatwaves (HWs) impact individual heat exposure and susceptibility is vital for building climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. So, this study explores the impact of HWs on individual heat exposure and susceptibility. The assessment was based on the highly complex topographic region contribution to HWs in the Republic of Armenia (RA) using data from 16 meteorological stations for the extended warm season (May–September). We developed a regional HW catchment program to estimate the HW indices' responses to climatic change and to present them in terms of topography changes. The Mann–Kendall (MK) test was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends for 10 distinct HW indicators using linear and exponential trends along with graphical interpretations. This study reveals a large‐scale, significant increasing trend in annual maximum temperatures (T
max) and observed HWs over the period 1955–2019. The rising temperature is accompanied by an increase in HW indices, particularly at low altitudes up to 1250 m above sea level (ASL), where the main population centres and national crop production are concentrated. According to our classification, the above‐mentioned areas have faced extreme and severe increases in HW intensity, covering more than 60% of the country's territory. Moreover, not only the intensity and frequency have been identified but the HW period extension as well. This extreme increase has been found in the low‐lying highly populated and intensively cultivated areas, such as in the Ararat valley. These results have implications for future climate assessments, adaptation strategies, agriculture and public health in Armenia. The development of targeted mitigation measures and adaptation strategies informed by these findings is essential for addressing the escalating challenges posed by HWs in the region.
Helping hampered bidders—Do subsidy auctions work as intended?
Authors: Cho Sanghoon , Wooten Joel O. , Fry Timothy D.
Published: October 2024

The use of preference or discriminatory auctions, where one class of bidders is offered favored treatment over another class, has received mixed attention in the literature. Research has shown there is often an economic benefit of such policies in procurement auctions thanks to lower costs for buyers as incentives are offered to disadvantaged sellers. In this paper, we study one type of preferential procurement auction: the subsidy. Using a set of controlled experiments, we compare actual bidder behavior to what is predicted in equilibrium and find consistent (but overly aggressive) patterns overall. By testing a common bid strategy assumption, we also identify a behavioral framing bias that may trap sellers in these suboptimal strategies. Finally, we compare subsidies to another common discriminatory mechanism—the price preference—and find evidence that buyers interested in increasing the welfare of disadvantaged sellers should use subsidies instead of price preference auctions, thanks to a surprising difference in outcomes between preference types. Due to the wide use of bid preference auctions to support both policy and social aims, our findings have both financial and societal implications.
Variability in strawberry tunnels impacts fruit quality and limits melatonin effects
Authors: Arabia Alba , Pallarés Núria , Munné‐Bosch Sergi , Muñoz Paula
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Fluctuations in environmental conditions within fields and crop plant performance can greatly affect production and quality standards. These factors are particularly relevant for producers, who require sustained optimal production to profit from small margins. Fluctuations might be exacerbated at the end of the crop season, where neither of the aforementioned factors are optimal. In the present integrated study, we assess strawberries' nutritional quality and the impact of harvest timing, tunnel conditions and inter‐individual variability in a Mediterranean production tunnel divided into blocks, where two harvests were performed 3 weeks apart. In addition, the effects of sprayed melatonin at the end of productive season were also evaluated.

RESULTS

End‐season harvesting negatively impacted fruit hydration, antioxidant capacity and ripening‐related hormones in strawberry fruits. Additionally, tunnel distribution influenced fruit nutritional quality, with light radiation being the main variable factor disturbing antioxidant contents. Nutrients exhibited high inter‐individual plant variability, accounting for 20% variation, and were strongly correlated with fruit hydration and ripening‐related phytohormones. Finally, melatonin applications affected neither fruit production, nor nutritional parameters, for which the effects were masked by the intrinsic strawberry variability. Overall, the results underline the limitations of this type of application for field implementation.

CONCLUSION

Fruit quality variation in strawberry fields is explained by environmental and inter‐individual variability. Likewise, the implementation of regulatory molecules such as melatonin in field applications relies on crop homogeneity and might have limited applicability in heterogeneous productive systems. Consequently, identifying and reducing microclimate variability in productive fields is paramount for advancing agricultural practices to uphold unwavering standards on fruit quality. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Impact of calcium‐reinforcement on stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of quercetin‐loaded zein/alginate‐pectin nanoparticles
Authors: Li Wan , Zhu Xiaoqing , Zhou Yingchun , Jiang Yuan , Feng Jingying , McClements David Julian , Hu Kun
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Cationic calcium ions can crosslink anionic alginate and pectin molecules. It was hypothesized that calcium crosslinking would improve the stability and functionality of biopolymer nanoparticles consisting of zein cores coated by alginate‐pectin shells. The effects of calcium ion addition on the structural, physicochemical, and gastrointestinal properties of quercetin‐loaded zein/alginate‐pectin nanoparticles were therefore investigated.

RESULTS

The nanoparticles remained stable to aggregation at calcium ion concentrations of 9 mmol/L or less but aggregated and sedimented at higher concentrations. Calcium ion reinforcement increased the particle dispersion stability even at NaCl concentrations up to 1.4 molL‐1. The presence of the calcium ions also reduced quercetin release during the early stages of simulated gastrointestinal digestion but increased its release during the later stages. The relatively high release (56.1%) of quercetin from the calcium‐reinforced nanoparticles after digestion resulted in higher intracellular antioxidant activities. The pharmacokinetics of the encapsulated quercetin was measured after its oral administration to rats. The maximal concentration (Cmax) of quercetin in rat plasma for calcium‐reinforced nanoparticles was 6.1% higher than non‐reinforced nanoparticles; the half‐life (t1/2) increased by 17.5%, and the mean retention time (MRT) was 10.0% higher (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that calcium ion addition improved the performance and bioavailability of nutraceutical‐loaded biopolymer nanoparticles. This might find application in the food and beverage industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data for the evaluation of the impact of irrigation systems on the time until the occurrence of phoma leaf spot in Arabica coffee plants
Authors: de Oliveira Gonçalves Daiane , da Silva Martins Fonseca Natalia , Martins Pereira Renata Cristina , Pozza Edson Ampélio , Cirillo Marcelo Ângelo
Published: October 2024

Background

The coffee crop is prominent in Brazilian agriculture, making the country a global power in this area. One of the main concerns in the coffee sector is disease, which can affect coffee productivity and quality. Thus, it is important to evaluate the factors that may affect coffee quality and thus enhance the development of strategies to reduce coffee losses and costs and optimize production. This study evaluated the influence of the type of irrigation (self‐propelled, drip, and center pivot) on the time until the occurrence of phoma leaf spot on Arabica coffee plants, considering the intensity of the disease. Additionally, the association between longitudinal incidence and the time until an event of interest was assessed based on the joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data.

Results

The results of this study identify the effectiveness of drip irrigation system compared with other systems; the use of such systems was associated with an ~46.5% reduction in the risk of leaf spot disease compared with the use of a self‐propelled irrigation system. The use of a center pivot system increased the risk of disease progression compared with a self‐propelled system. An association between the longitudinal and survival processes was also observed.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate the superior performance of the drip irrigation system in controlling phoma leaf spot disease in Arabica coffee plants compared with self‐propelled and center pivot systems. This research highlights the potential of using drip irrigation to establish more effective agricultural practices in coffee cultivation, contributing to better disease management and improved crop quality. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
How do consumers discuss the texture of frozen blueberries? An investigation using word association, hedonic scales and rate‐all‐that‐apply
Authors: Moss Rachael , Stright Allison , Baxter Laura , McSweeney Matthew B
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Flavour, texture, and extended shelf life are key quality traits for blueberries. Studies have used trained panelists and texture analysers to evaluate frozen blueberries. However, more studies are needed to investigate consumer perception and acceptance of frozen blueberries' texture. This study used word association, hedonic scales, and rate‐all‐that‐apply to evaluate how consumers perceive the texture of frozen blueberries.

RESULTS

Consumers were interested in the firmness of frozen blueberries, as well as crunchiness, softness, juiciness, and smoothness. They also identified the textural descriptors mushy, tough, chewy, squishy, and mealy. The participants separated the wild blueberries from the cultivated blueberries when evaluating their liking. Textural attributes were correlated with the consumers' overall liking (juicy, firm, crunchy, smooth positively and mushy, tough, squishy negatively).

CONCLUSION

This study identified which textural attributes influence consumers' liking of frozen blueberries. Consumers preferred frozen blueberries that were firm, juicy and crunchy. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Enhancing optical output power efficiency in nitride‐based green micro light‐emitting diodes by sidewall ion implantation
Authors: Chang Yu‐Hsiang , Wang Yuan‐Chao , Huang Jian‐Jang
Published: October 2024

Though micro‐LED (light‐emitting diode) displays are considered the emerging display technology, the micron‐scale LED chip size encounters severe efficiency degradation that may impact the power budget of the displays. This work proposes an ion implantation method to deliberately create a high‐resistivity sidewall in the InGaN/GaN green LED. Our study demonstrates that ion implantation suppresses reverse leakage current due to the mitigation of sidewall defects. For an LED mesa size of 10 × 10 μm2, optical output power density is improved by 36.2% compared to the device without implantation. Compared to a larger 100 × 100 μm2 device without implantation, we achieve only 21.3% degradation of output power density under 10 A/cm2 injection for a 10 × 10 μm2 LED with implantation. In addition, the ion implantation method can lower the wavelength shift by reducing light emission from the region near the sidewall (where the amount of Indium [In] clustering differs from the mesa region). The results show promise in addressing the efficiency challenges of micro‐LED displays by selective ion implantation.
Complement factor B inhibitor LNP023 mediates the effect and mechanism of AMPK/mTOR on autophagy and oxidative stress in lupus nephritis
Authors: Zhang Xi‐Mei , Qing Ming‐Jie , Liu Xin‐Kuo , Peng Liang
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the impact of LNP023 on the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in lupus nephritis (LN) and its effects on autophagy and oxidative stress. A mouse model of LN was established, and renal injury was confirmed by assessing various LN markers, including antinuclear antibody, ds‐DNA, anti‐Sm antibody, and others. Mice were treated with LNP023, the AMPK activator AICAR, or the AMPK inhibitor dorsomorphin. Renal injury and fibrosis were evaluated using HE and Masson staining. Expression levels of AMPK, mTOR, LC3, Beclin1, and p62 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. LN mice exhibited low AMPK/p‐AMPK and high mTOR/p‐mTOR levels, alongside significant renal injury, fibrosis, reduced autophagy, and elevated oxidative stress. LNP023 treatment improved these parameters, with enhanced effects when combined with AICAR. Conversely, dorsomorphin reversed LNP023's therapeutic benefits. The complement factor B inhibitor LNP023 promotes kidney health in LN mice by mediating the AMPK/mTOR pathway, promoting autophagy, and attenuating oxidative stress.
Unethical favouritism and KH: The mediating role of organisational injustice
Authors: Inegbedion Henry , Asaleye Abiola , Sajuyigbe Ademola , Ediagbonya Kennedy , Okoye‐uzu Chinenye
Published: October 2024

This study examined unethical favouritism and knowledge hiding (KH) to ascertain the extent to which unethical favouritism influences KH as well as the extent to which organisational injustice mediates the relationship between unethical favouritism and KH. The study employed a cross‐sectional survey design of 305 randomly selected respondents from one public and four private universities in northcentral Nigeria. A structured questionnaire served as the research instrument. The study used the Content validity index and Cronbach alpha to test for the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Structural equation modelling served as the data analysis technique. The results indicate that unethical favouritism significantly influences KH, and organisational injustice mediates the relationship between unethical favouritism and KH. The point of departure of this study from previous studies is the unveiling of the influence of favouritism on KH through the mediation of organisational injustice, which is a consequence of favouritism.
Soleus Muscle Necrosis Following Harvest of Fibula Free Flap: A Case Report and Retrospective Contrast CT Analysis
Authors: Nuri Takashi , Asaka Akinori , Lee Sooyeon , Otsuki Yuki , Ueda Koichi
Published: October 2024

Soleus muscle necrosis is a rare complication following fibula free flap harvest for mandibular reconstruction. This report presents a case of soleus necrosis without compartment syndrome or infection and reviews the blood supply of the soleus muscle in 24 patients. Variations in the vascular anatomy of the soleus muscle, particularly reliance on the peroneal artery, may predispose to this complication. Clinicians should consider soleus muscle necrosis in patients with atypical donor site pain after fibula harvest. Laryngoscope, 135:1083–1085, 2025