bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and validity of selective cerebrospinal fluid drainage in open and endovascular aortic repair
Authors: Ohashi Yuko , Washiyama Naoki , Takahashi Daisuke , Tsuda Kazumasa , Hirano Masahiro , Shiiya Norihiko
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Although cerebrospinal fluid drainage has been shown to reduce the risk of ischemic spinal cord injury, serious complications have also been reported. We have been using it selectively in a pressure- and volume-regulated method and aimed to evaluate its safety, and its validity in elective thoracic endovascular aortic repair in a propensity-matched cohort.

Methods

Among the 450 patients who underwent open surgery (n = 169) or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (n = 281) on the descending or thoracoabdominal aorta, 147 underwent cerebrospinal fluid drainage, which was prophylactic in 135 and therapeutic in 12. Prophylactic drainage was performed in elective open surgery under distal aortic perfusion (n = 67) or in selected patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (n = 68).

Results

Drainage-related complications were observed in 13 (9.6%), one of which was graded severe (0.74%). In patients undergoing prophylactic drainage, spinal cord injury was detected in 2/135 (1.5%). In patients without prophylactic drainage, 15/315 (4.8%) developed spinal cord injury. Therapeutic drainage was performed in 12 of these 15 patients, 10 of whom remained paralytic in varying degree. In the inverse probability weighted analysis of the patients undergoing elective thoracic endovascular aortic repair, the incidence of spinal cord injury was lower with prophylactic drainage (p = 0.028).

Conclusions

Pressure- and volume-regulated spinal drainage rarely causes serious complications. Its prophylactic use seems beneficial in selected patients, including those undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair with high risk for spinal cord injury.
Clinical Trial Data Review of the Combination FTD/TPI + Bevacizumab in the Treatment Landscape of Unresectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: André Thierry , Van Cutsem Eric , Taieb Julien , Fakih Marwan , Prager Gerald W. , Ciardiello Fortunato , Falcone Alfredo , Saunders Mark , Amellal Nadia , Roby Lucas , Tabernero Josep , Pfeiffer Per
Published: September 2024

Opinion Statement

Recommended first and second line treatments for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) include fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-based therapy, and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapies. In third line, the SUNLIGHT trial showed that trifluridine/tipiracil + bevacizumab (FTD/TPI + BEV) provided significant survival benefits and as such is now a recommended third line regimen in patients with refractory mCRC, irrespective of RAS mutational status and previous anti-VEGF treatment. Some patients are not candidates for intensive combination chemotherapy as first-line therapy due to age, low tumor burden, performance status and/or comorbidities. Capecitabine (CAP) + BEV is recommended in these patients. In the SOLSTICE trial, FTD/TPI + BEV as a first line regimen in patients not eligible for intensive therapy was not superior to CAP + BEV in terms of progression-free survival (PFS). However, in SOLSTICE, FTD/TPI + BEV resulted in similar PFS, overall survival, and maintenance of quality of life as CAP + BEV, with a different safety profile. FTD/TPI + BEV offers a possible first line alternative in patients for whom CAP + BEV is an unsuitable treatment. This narrative review explores and summarizes the clinical trial data on FTD/TPI + BEV.
Seeking Autonomy in the Semi-periphery: Neomercantilism and Diversification in Turkey
Authors: Arnold Caroline , Naseemullah Adnan
Published: September 2024

This article considers Turkey as an archetypal example of the semi-periphery, neither entirely beholden to international rules and norms nor free to set them. We focus on three leading export sectors – textiles and garments, automotives and infrastructure – and analyze how the Turkish state and associated industrial firms have worked to navigate the complicated demands of cost-competitiveness while increasing the production of value-added goods. We find that the Turkish state and firms have adopted a mix of strategies for integrating with export markets, combining neoliberal adherence to the rules and norms of Western markets through global value chains with neomercantilist efforts to direct cross-border trade and investment toward the Balkans, Middle East, and Central Asia. Although neoliberalism and neomercantilism are traditionally treated as opposing approaches to international economic integration, we find that, for semi-peripheral countries like Turkey, these strategies are not contradictory but rather complementary, as they reduce exposure to the volatility and dependence upon Western markets. While the success of these efforts varies across industries and types of firms, we suggest that such dualistic approaches may be a key strategy for semi-peripheral countries seeking to minimize their dependence on Western markets while exerting economic influence in their near abroad.
Towards inclusive sports engineering research: considerations of research methods
Authors: Mears Aimée C. , Williams Elisabeth M. P. , Kong Pui Wah , Wood Paul , Brubacher Kristina , Allen Tom
Published: September 2024

Understanding and addressing the needs of diverse demographics is critical for creating sports products or technologies that can enhance the enjoyment, safety, or performance for more inclusive populations. This perspective article has identified opportunities for innovative sports engineering research by considering factors such as sex, socioeconomic background, culture, religion, age, ethnicity, or neurodiversity when developing research studies. The importance of considering diverse study populations, appropriate data collection methods, and ethical considerations to avoid biases is addressed and supported by research.
A case of colon cancer implanted on endoscopic resection ulcer certified by cancer genomic testing
Authors: Urabe Yuji , Tanaka Hidenori , Nakahara Hikaru , Tanino Fumiaki , Yamashita Ken , Akabane Shintaro , Ishikawa Akira , Shimomura Manabu , Ohdan Hideki , Oka Shiro
Published: September 2024

A 90 year-old man underwent endoscopic mucosal resection for lesions in the descending and sigmoid colons as well as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for a lesion in the rectal peritoneal reflection (Ra) 1 month before undergoing laparoscopic resection and D3 dissection for advanced cancer in the descending colon. One year later, he underwent a surveillance colonoscopy, and advanced colorectal cancer was detected on the ESD scar. The history suggested that this newly detected recurrent colorectal neoplasm on the ESD scar may have originated from cancer cells derived from the descending colon cancer that were implanted in the ESD ulcer, thereby initiating a new colorectal neoplasm. Cancer genomic testing further indicated that three of the four pathogenic variants detected in the recurrent colorectal neoplasm were consistent with pathogenic variants of descending colon cancer. This finding strongly supports our contention that cancer cells derived from the descending colon cancer were implanted in the post-ESD ulcer of the rectal Ra and proliferated, forming the recurrent colorectal neoplasm. This case report highlights the potential for tumor cell implantation on endoscopic resection ulcers and the utility of cancer genomic testing in validating this phenomenon.
Exploration of Biologically-Inspired Nanostructures: Review on the Sensing Potential and Technological Integration of the Morpho Butterfly Wing
Authors: Ahmed Mian Aizaz , Hu Dingwen , Shi Yaqi , Chen Yinpeng , Akhavan Shahab , Yang Zongyin
Published: September 2024

The surge in demand for cost-effective, lightweight, and rapidly responsive sensors has propelled research in various fields, and traditional sensors face limitations in performing up to the mark due to their intrinsic properties and a lack of innovative fabrication techniques. Consequently, over the last decade, a notable shift has been toward harnessing naturally existing nanostructures to develop efficient and versatile sensing devices. One such nanostructure in morpho butterfly wings has attracted attention because of its vibrant uniqueness and diverse sensing properties. This review will explore recent interdisciplinary research endeavors on the nanostructure, including chemical, vapor, and acoustic detection. Furthermore, its potential as an infrared sensor, considerations related to heat transfer properties, and a brief overview of various replication techniques and challenges encountered in reproducing the intricate nanostructure are discussed.
Experimental Study of Fiber-Optic Temperature Sensor Based on Dual FSIs
Authors: Xu Xiaotong , Zhou Xuefang , Yang Guowei , Bi Meihua , Xu Mengmeng , Xu Yuansheng
Published: September 2024

To improve the sensitivity measurement of temperature sensors, a fiber optic temperature sensor structure based on the harmonic Vernier effect with two parallel fiber Sagnac interferometers (FSIs) is designed, and theoretical analysis and experimental testing are conducted. The FSI consisting of two polarization maintaining fibers (PMFs) with lengths of 13.62 m and 15.05 m respectively is used to achieve the basic Vernier effect. Then by changing the length of one PMF to approximately i times that of the others, the FSI composed of two PMFs of 7.1 m and 15.05 m is used to achieve the first-order harmonic Vernier effect. Afterward, temperature sensing tests are conducted to observe the wavelength drift during temperature changes and ultimately achieve high sensitivity. The experimental results show that the temperature sensitivity of the sensor based on the first-order harmonic Vernier effect is −28.89 nm/°C, which is 17.09 times that of a single FSI structure (−1.69 nm/°C) and 1.84 times that of the sensitivity generated by the structure based on the basic Vernier effect (−15.69 nm/°C). The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis. The structure proposed in this paper achieves drift measurement of 0.1 °C variation based on 1 °C drift, making the fiber optic temperature sensor applicable to related fields that require high precision temperature. The proposed temperature sensor has the simple structure, low production cost, high sensitivity, and broad application prospects.
Navigating Minefields: Social Work with People with Disabilities in the Context of War
Authors: Zaviršek Darja , Cox James
Published: September 2024

The systematic dehumanization of people with disabilities in peaceful times is magnified in times of war and during post-war periods, especially in regions and countries with prevalent medical-pathological approaches towards individuals with disabilities. This discussion combines historical, current, and anticipated impacts and integrates the experiences of practitioners and communities. Using critical social work and critical disability studies perspectives, we have questioned what we need to attend to in social work to ensure that, in war, we do not overlook people with impairments. We also ask how the lives of people living in long-term institutions have been affected and what has changed since the outbreak of war. Their rights have long been overlooked. The war zone in Ukraine provides a critical case study intended to increase sensitivity and understanding among academics and social work professionals about the needs and rights of people with disabilities, and about the multi-dimensional barriers and hazards, visible and invisible, that they experience in times of armed conflict and its aftermath. It is argued that this is a global and mainstream concern, not a marginal topic. New emphasis is given to social work's potential and shared responsibilities to contribute to the realization of the rights of people with disabilities in a war context, through training, research, practice, and policy.
“Treat people with human dignity”: the perspective of older adults on the quality of geriatric rehabilitation
Authors: Lubbe Anne L. , Schellekens Julia , Pol Margriet C. , Groen Wim G. , Buurman Bianca M. , Hertogh Cees M. P. M. , van Rijn Marjon
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perspectives of older adults on the quality of geriatric rehabilitation (GR) during the trajectory of GR from admission until six weeks after discharge.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study. Participants were interviewed three times: at the start of rehabilitation, at discharge, and six weeks after discharge. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis.

Results

In total, 50 interviews were conducted, with 18 participants being interviewed multiple times. The following themes emerged: 1. A bond of trust with health care professionals (HCPs), 2. Being prepared and informed at all stages of GR, 3. Participants emphasise physical and occupational therapy rather than other aspects of care as comprising GR 4. Changing needs regarding (the extent of) involvement in decision-making, 5. Contact with family and peers.

Conclusion

For older adults, preparation for and good organisation of rehabilitation and social interaction with HCPs and other older adults were found to be important for the perceived quality of GR. Social interaction is influenced by how HCPs engage with older adults in all the phases of the rehabilitation process. Older adults have varying preferences about involvement in decision-making during GR. These perspectives should be acknowledged and acted upon in clinical practice to further improve the quality of care in GR.
Literature in Language Education: Exploring EFL Learners’ Literary Competence Profiles
Authors: Calafato Raees , Hunstadbråten Siri
Published: September 2024

Literary competence is a critical component of foreign language education and has far-reaching implications for language learners’ linguistic and cultural development. This article reports on a study that examined how the receptiveness to literature, immersion, reading strategies, need for structure, and information processing of 72 English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in upper-secondary schools predicted their literary competence. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, including a scored assessment of learners’ EFL literary competence via a cooperative argumentative dialogue (CAD) involving four short stories, post-CAD group interviews, reading logs, and an online questionnaire. The results revealed that participants had significantly higher levels of interpretative and empathic competence than aesthetic-stylistic and cultural-discursive competence. They also tended to favour problem-solving and global reading strategies, which negatively correlated with their literary competence. Meanwhile, their ability to process information analytically and systematically positively moderated the relationship between their receptiveness to literature and their literary competence.
Conversations with the Turtles
Authors: Espino Nilson Ariel
Published: September 2024

Polarization often results from deficient forms of social belonging, caused primarily by stark social inequalities. These inequalities then generate psychological responses that both create and worsen polarization. Yet social stability is possible. In this provocative and original book, Nilson Ariel Espino argues that our current ideological polarizations can be best analysed as springing from the contradictions of modernity and its obsessions. Using culture as a founding and organizing dimension, the author disassembles the typical dichotomies of left versus right, or conservatism versus progressivism, and reveals the opposing sides as mutually interdependent positions that struggle with cultural paradoxes they are ill-suited to address. Written with clarity and verve for the general reader, this book brings classic concepts of cultural anthropology to bear on the key preoccupations of today's world, from poverty and inequality, to political instability and the environmental crisis.
Effectiveness of heterologous and homologous COVID-19 vaccination among immunocompromised individuals: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pardo Isabele , Maezato Aline Miho , Callado Gustavo Yano , Gutfreund Maria Celidonio , Hsieh Mariana Kim , Lin Vivian , Kobayashi Takaaki , Salinas Jorge L. , Subramanian Aruna , Edmond Michael B. , Diekema Daniel J. , Rizzo Luiz Vicente , Marra Alexandre R.
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

We assessed the effectiveness of heterologous vaccination strategy in immunocompromised individuals regarding COVID-19 outcomes, comparing it to homologous approaches.

Design:

Systematic literature review/meta-analysis.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 1, 2020 to September 29, 2023. We included studies that evaluated the heterologous vaccination strategy on immunocompromised individuals through outcomes related to COVID-19 (levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG, neutralizing antibodies, symptomatic COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death) in comparison to homologous schemes. We also used random-effect models to produce pooled odds ratio estimates. Heterogeneity was investigated with I2 estimation.

Results:

Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Fourteen of them provided quantitative data for inclusion in the meta-analysis on vaccine response, being four of them also included in the vaccine effectiveness meta-analysis. The vaccination strategies (heterologous vs homologous) showed no difference in the odds of developing anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG (odds ratio 1.12 [95% Cl: 0.73–1.72]). Heterologous schemes also showed no difference in the production of neutralizing antibodies (odds ratio 1.48 [95% Cl: 0.72–3.05]) nor vaccine effectiveness in comparison to homologous schemes (odds ratio 1.52 [95% CI: 0.66–3.53]).

Conclusions:

Alternative heterologous COVID-19 vaccinations have shown equivalent antibody response rates and vaccine effectiveness to homologous schemes, potentially aiding global disparity of vaccine distribution.
Antibiogram development for Australian residential aged care facilities
Authors: Khatri Dipti , Falconer Nazanin , Coulter Sonali , Gray Leonard C. , Paterson David L. , Freeman Christopher
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Knowledge of local antibiotic resistance data, provided by antibiograms (a cumulative summary of in vitro-antimicrobial-susceptibility-test results), can aid prescribing of appropriate empirical antibiotics. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of antibiogram development for residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Design:

Retrospective observational study of culture and sensitivity data.

Setting:

Nine RACFs in Queensland, Australia.

Method:

Available antimicrobial susceptibility results were collected retrospectively for all residents of recruited RACFs from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. Data were managed and analyzed with WHONET software®, and antibiograms were developed in accordance with the CLSI-M39 guidelines. Antibiogram data beyond the standard 12-months and pooling of data from geographically similar RACFs were explored as options to improve feasibility and validity of the antibiograms.

Results:

The most prevalent bacteria in the RACFs were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Due to the low number of positive cultures (less than 30) for individual RACFs, an annual antibiogram was not feasible. Extending the time-period to three years improved feasibility of antibiograms for E.coli in seven RACFs and S.aureus in five RACFs. Combining the data from closely located RACFs allowed for sufficient urinary and skin swab isolates to produce annual pooled antibiograms for all three years.

Conclusion:

Use of extended time period antibiograms can provide RACF specific urinary and skin/soft tissue resistance data without the necessity of private pathology provider input. However, pooled syndromic antibiograms can be made available on an annual basis, which may be the preferred option.
Criteria for dynamic stall onset and vortex shedding in low-Reynolds-number flows
Authors: Sudharsan Sarasija , Sharma Anupam
Published: September 2024

Dynamic stall at low Reynolds numbers,

$Re \sim O(10^4)$

, exhibits complex flow physics with co-existing laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regions. Current state-of-the-art stall onset criteria use parameters that rely on flow properties integrated around the leading edge. These include the leading edge suction parameter or

$LESP$

(Ramesh et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 751, 2014, pp. 500–538) and boundary enstrophy flux or

$BEF$

(Sudharsan et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 935, 2022, A10), which have been found to be effective for predicting stall onset at moderate to high

$Re$

. However, low-

$Re$

flows feature strong vortex-shedding events occurring across the entire airfoil surface, including regions away from the leading edge, altering the flow field and influencing the onset of stall. In the present work, the ability of these stall criteria to effectively capture and localize these vortex shedding events in space and time is investigated. High-resolution large-eddy simulations for an SD7003 airfoil undergoing a constant-rate, pitch-up motion at two

$Re$

(10 000 and 60 000) and two pitch rates reveal a rich variety of unsteady flow phenomena, including instabilities, transition, vortex formation, merging and shedding, which are described in detail. While stall onset is reflected in both

$LESP$

and

$BEF$

, local vortex-shedding events are identified only by the

$BEF$

. Therefore,

$BEF$

can be used to identify both dynamic stall onset and local vortex-shedding events in space and time.
The Politics of Legal Facts: The Erasure of Pushback Evidence from the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Alpes Maybritt Jill , Baranowska Grażyna
Published: September 2024

This article analyzes how the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handles evidence of pushback, where states violently force asylum seekers away from borders. An examination of how the experiences of pushback survivors get translated (or not) into judgments contributes to theoretical discussions about truth, epistemic practices, and law. The article asks why so little of what researchers, journalists, civil society actors, and international organizations have documented about European border violence is visible in the court’s judgments. Based on a mix of legal and anthropological research methods, the article traces how states and the ECtHR erase pushback evidence at borders and during litigation. Taking seriously on equal grounds the construction of facts outside and inside a court room, the article connects external perspectives on the production of evidence with an internal analysis of evidence in judgments. In doing so, the article highlights the political dimensions of seemingly merely technical and legal procedures. We argue for a clearer separation of courts’ and states’ versions of facts, contending that the presumption of the states’ good faith should no longer apply when there is evidence, including in case law, of misrecordings and false statements by respondent states.
Disappearance and dissemination of sleep symptoms: the importance of sleep medicine expertise for psychiatry. A comment on Forbes et al.
Authors: Martin Vincent P. , Lopez Régis , Micoulaud-Franchi Jean-Arthur , Gauld Christophe
Published: September 2024

Commentary of ‘Elemental psychopathology: distilling constituent symptoms and patterns of repetition in the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5’ Vincent P. Martin 1, Régis Lopez 2,3, Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi 4,5, Christophe Gauld 4,6,*
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence: an umbrella review
Authors: Schincariol Alexa , Orrù Graziella , Otgaar Henry , Sartori Giuseppe , Scarpazza Cristina
Published: September 2024

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most serious and incapacitating mental diseases that can result from trauma exposure. The exact prevalence of this disorder is not known as the literature provides very different results, ranging from 2.5% to 74%. The aim of this umbrella review is to provide an estimation of PTSD prevalence and to clarify whether the prevalence depends on the assessment methods applied (structured interview v. self-report questionnaire) and on the nature of the traumatic event (interpersonal v. not-interpersonal). A systematic search of major databases and additional sources (Google Scholar, EBSCO, Web of Science, PubMed, Galileo Discovery) was conducted. Fifty-nine reviews met the criteria of this umbrella review. Overall PTSD prevalence was 23.95% (95% confidence interval 95% CI 20.74–27.15), with no publication bias or significant small-study effects, but a high level of heterogeneity between meta-analyses. Sensitivities analyses revealed that these results do not change after removing meta-analysis also including data from underage participants (23.03%, 95% CI 18.58–27.48), nor after excluding meta-analysis of low quality (24.26%, 95% CI 20.46–28.06). Regarding the impact of diagnostic instruments on PTSD prevalence, the results revealed a lack of significant differences in PTSD prevalence when structured v. self-report instruments were applied (p = 0.0835). Finally, PTSD prevalence did not differ following event of intentional (25.42%, 95% CI 19.76–31.09) or not intentional (22.48%, 95% CI 17.22–27.73) nature (p = 0.4598). The present umbrella review establishes a robust foundation for future research and provides valuable insights on PTSD prevalence.
The cost of caring: a scoping review of qualitative evidence on the financial wellbeing implications of unpaid care to older adults
Authors: Watkins Maxine , Overton Louise
Published: September 2024

Growing numbers of people help and support family members, friends or others due to long-term health problems, disability or older age–related needs. While care-giving can bring fulfilment and meaning to peoples’ lives, it can negatively affect individuals’ financial wellbeing. Much of the evidence in this area is quantitative, while the subjective, in-depth experience of how unpaid care decisions affect financial wellbeing remains relatively underexplored. This scoping review explores what is known about how unpaid carers experience and understand the financial consequences of providing care. It identified 35 studies containing qualitative evidence and, through thematic analysis, identified four overarching themes: (1) direct and indirect costs of caring; (2) social, cultural and institutional care and work decision-making; (3) the unequal cost of caring; and (4) personal finance and carer wellbeing. Findings indicate that unpaid caring affects financial wellbeing in multiple, overlapping ways. The financial consequences are experienced unequally, with systems, circumstances and contexts serving to exacerbate or reduce these negative effects. Crucially, our analysis reveals the paucity of qualitative research specifically focused on unpaid carers’ financial wellbeing. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding whether, and how, individuals understand the future financial implications of unpaid care-giving, or whether longer-term financial consequences are considered when making decisions about care. Future research designed to address this gap, with greater emphasis on the personal, social and structural influences on care-related financial decision-making, could offer important insights for developing policies and practices aimed at improving the financial wellbeing of carers as they age.
The Holy Souls
Authors: Sire Dominic
Published: September 2024

Worship is the outcome of living faith, the expression of a sincere conviction in some external and visible form. There is innate in every society and individual the urge to communicate and share conviction. Good naturally spreads itself in companionship. The Church is a society both human and divine; divine in its origin and support and human in its composition. It gives effect to this urge in two main streams, the liturgy and private devotion. As a society its worship is found in the liturgy, but the individual members of that society express themselves in a variety of private devotions. These two streams are nevertheless vitally connected. The liturgy of its very nature and because it is the official and common worship of the body, politic remains somewhat static and is carefully prescribed ano ruled by laws.
Hieronymus Jaegen
Authors:   A Discalced Carmelite
Published: September 2024

Very little seems to be known in England as yet concerning this truly remarkable man. He is, indeed, all the more remarkable that his life attracted little attention, and that all his secular activities and circumstances were those of the most ordinary person, while there was no exterior manifestation of the very unusual, supernatural favours of which, for more than fifty years, he was the recipient.
Rosa Rorans Bonitatem: St Bridget of Sweden
Authors: Colledge Eric
Published: September 2024

There can be few saints of the late Middle Ages whose lives are so richly documented or so curiously varied as that of St Bridget of Sweden. A contemporary ot St Catherine of Siena, she lived in Italy for a quarter of a century and played politics almost identical with those of Catherine, yet the two women never met; but their lives resemble each otne at many points. Both of them were in their lifetime openly venerated as saints, a circumstance which must have been a further affliction to women each of a profound humility. Both of them were surrounded by ‘families'; and in either case it appears that only the family's devotion to its mother held it together. Just as Catherine Benincasa seems to have given most of her trust to the English friar-hermit, William Flete, so the favoured son St Bridget's largely Swedish ‘family’ was a Spaniard, the hermit ex-bishop Alphonse of Pecha; and Alphonse seems after Bridget's death to have suffered some of William Flete's neglect at hands of the other devotees.
Nutrition and health effects of pectin: A systematic scoping review of human intervention studies
Authors: Weber Annika M. , Pascale Nélida , Gu Fangjie , Ryan Elizabeth P. , Respondek Frederique
Published: September 2024

Pectin is composed of a group of complex polysaccharides that are naturally found in various plants and are associated with a range of beneficial health effects. Health outcomes from dietary pectin can vary depending on botanical origin, dietary dose and structure of pectin. The objective of this scoping review is to build a comprehensive overview of the current evidence available on intervention studies conducted in humans and to better understand the possible knowledge gaps in terms of structure–function relationships across the different health-related effects. PubMed and Embase databases were searched using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, yielding 141 references (from the initial 3704), representing 134 intervention studies performed between 1961 and 2022 that met inclusion criteria. Studies were divided into six categories, which included gut health, glycaemic response and appetite, fat metabolism, bioavailability of micronutrients, immune response and other topics. Review of these human intervention studies identified a variety of cohort characteristics and populations (life stage, health status, country), sources/types of pectin (i.e. citrus, sugarbeet, apple, other and non-defined), intervention timeframes (from one single intake to 168 d) and doses (0.1–50 g/d) that were tested for health outcomes in people. Gut health, post-prandial glucose regulation and maintenance of blood cholesterol represented the largest categories of studied outcomes. Further research to strengthen the structure–function relationships for pectin with health properties and associated outcomes is warranted and will benefit from a more precise description of physico-chemical characteristics and molecular compositions, such as degree of esterification, weight, degree of branching, viscosity, gel formation and solubility.
Functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and amygdala underlies avoidance learning during adolescence: Implications for developmental psychopathology
Authors: Rosenberg Benjamin M. , Moreira João F. Guassi , Leal Adriana S. Méndez , Saragosa-Harris Natalie M. , Gaines Elizabeth , Meredith Wesley J. , Waizman Yael , Ninova Emilia , Silvers Jennifer A.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Reward and threat processes work together to support adaptive learning during development. Adolescence is associated with increasing approach behavior (e.g., novelty-seeking, risk-taking) but often also coincides with emerging internalizing symptoms, which are characterized by heightened avoidance behavior. Peaking engagement of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) during adolescence, often studied in reward paradigms, may also relate to threat mechanisms of adolescent psychopathology.

Methods:

47 typically developing adolescents (9.9–22.9 years) completed an aversive learning task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, wherein visual cues were paired with an aversive sound or no sound. Task blocks involved an escapable aversively reinforced stimulus (CS+r), the same stimulus without reinforcement (CS+nr), or a stimulus that was never reinforced (CS−). Parent-reported internalizing symptoms were measured using Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales.

Results:

Functional connectivity between the NAcc and amygdala differentiated the stimuli, such that connectivity increased for the CS+r (p = .023) but not for the CS+nr and CS−. Adolescents with greater internalizing symptoms demonstrated greater positive functional connectivity for the CS− (p = .041).

Conclusions:

Adolescents show heightened NAcc-amygdala functional connectivity during escape from threat. Higher anxiety and depression symptoms are associated with elevated NAcc-amygdala connectivity during safety, which may reflect poor safety versus threat discrimination.
The Kids Heart BioBank: supporting 20 years of patient care and research into CHD
Authors: Hilton Desiree C.K. , O’Malley Bridget R. , Cole Andrew D. , Harvey Richard P. , Dunwoodie Sally L. , Sholler Gary F. , Winlaw David S. , Blue Gillian M.
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The cause of most CHD is unknown and considered complex, implicating genetic and environmental factors in disease causation. The Kids Heart BioBank was established in 2003 to accelerate genetic investigations into CHD.

Methods:

Recruitment includes patients undergoing interventions for CHD at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Informed consent is obtained from parents/guardians, and blood is collected at the time of cardiac intervention from which DNA is extracted and stored. Associated detailed clinical information and a family history are stored in the purpose-designed database.

Results:

To date, the Kids Heart BioBank contains biospecimens and associated clinical information from over 4,900 patients with CHD and their families. Two-thirds (64.1%) of probands have been included in research studies with 28.9% of participants who underwent genomic sequencing receiving a molecular diagnosis with direct clinical utility. The value of this resource to patients and families is highlighted by the high consent rate (94.6%) and the low withdrawal of consent rate (0.4%). The Kids Heart BioBank has supported many large national and international collaborations and contributed significantly to CHD research.

Conclusions:

The Kids Heart BioBank is an invaluable resource and, together with other similar resources, the resulting research has paved the way for clinical genetic testing options for CHD patients, previously not possible. With research in the field moving away from diagnosing monogenic disease, the Kids Heart BioBank is ideally placed to support the next chapter of research efforts into complex disease mechanisms, requiring large patient cohorts with detailed phenotypic information.
Large excess reserves, central bank digital currency, and monetary policy
Authors: Park Jaevin
Published: September 2024

In this paper I examine the effect of introducing an account-based central bank digital currency (CBDC) on liquidity insurance and monetary policy implementation. An asset-exchange model is constructed with idiosyncratic liquidity risk, in which one type of agents require currency and/or CBDC to consume while the other type of agents can use any assets to trade. There arises a liquidity insurance to distribute assets efficiently by type. Since central bank reserve accounts are accessible by the public directly, the large excess reserves (LER) in a floor system can make it difficult to separate the types under private information. Therefore, raising the interest on reserves in the floor system can reduce the aggregate liquidity excessively, and the equilibrium allocation with the LER can be suboptimal.
Impact of nutritional and multiple micronutrients supplementation to lactating mothers 6 months postpartum on the maternal and infant micronutrient status: a randomised controlled trial in Delhi, India
Authors: Manapurath Rukman , Chowdhury Ranadip , Upadhyay Ravi Prakash , Bose Beena , Devi Sarita , Dwarkanath Pratibha , Kurpad Anura V , Bhandari Nita , Taneja Sunita
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

To assess the impact of nutritional and multiple-micronutrient supplementation to lactating mothers on the micronutrient status of mother–infant dyad at 6 months of age postnatally.

Design:

This study was a trial that aimed to investigate the impact of maternal nutritional supplementation on infant growth. A secondary objective was to assess the effect on the micronutrient status of mother–infant pairs. The intervention group mothers received snacks with 600 kcal energy, 20 g protein and daily micronutrient tablets.

Setting:

Blood samples were collected from both mothers and infants at 6 months.

Participants:

The participants in this study were mother–infant pairs. The micronutrient status of these pairs was assessed through blood samples, focusing on vitamins A, D, B12, ferritin, Zn and folate.

Results:

Micronutrient analysis of serum samples from 600 mother–infant pairs showed that mothers in the intervention group had higher levels of serum ferritin (mean difference (MD) 14·7 ng/ml), retinol (MD 0·6 μmol/l), folate (MD 3·3 ng/ml) and vitamin D (1·03 ng/ml) at 6 months postpartum. Additionally, the supplementation was associated with a higher mean ± sd of serum ferritin (MD 8·9 ng/ml) and vitamin A (MD 0·2 μmol/l) levels in infants at 6 months.

Conclusions:

The study found that supplementing maternal nutrition with additional dietary and micronutrient intakes during lactation improved maternal micronutrient status and slightly increased ferritin and vitamin A levels in infants at 6 months. The findings highlight the importance of nutritional interventions for improving the micronutrient health of mother–infant pairs, with significant public health implications.

Trial registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (CTRI/2018/04/013095).
Appeals after the Appellate Body
Authors: Pahis Stratos
Published: September 2024

The Appellate Body (AB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has not heard an appeal since 2019. This article explores how adjudicators and member states have navigated WTO dispute settlement in this post-AB world. It begins by providing an overview of dispute settlement practice from 2020 to 2022, including by cataloguing appeals into the void, appeals to arbitration, and appeals forewent. It explains the incentives created by the lack of a functioning appeals mechanism and provides background on the alternative appeals procedure agreed to among a subset of WTO members: the Multi-Party Interim Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). Moreover, it closely examines five WTO disputes: Colombia–Frozen Fries, Turkey–Pharmaceutical Products, EU–Steel Safeguards, Thailand–Cigarettes, and Costa Rica–Avocados. Through these five disputes, the article examines the circumstances in which members have agreed to binding appeals arbitration even absent formally committing to the MPIA, the circumstances in which members have appealed to arbitration or foregone such appeals, and whether facilitated negotiations present a workable alternative to an effective appeals mechanism. Finally, this article closely analyzes the reasoning of two appeals arbitration awards issued to date – Colombia–Frozen Fries and Turkey–Pharmaceutical Products – with a special focus on how those awards depart from AB precedent and what those departures can tell us about the current crisis.
The National Security Exception at the WTO: Should It Just Be a Matter of When Members Can Avail of It? What About How?
Authors: Pinchis-Paulsen Mona , Saggi Kamal , Mavroidis Petros C.
Published: September 2024

The GATT security exceptions were practically in hibernation until recently. The recent WTO disputes panel activity concerning such exceptions is characterized by a standard of review that places the accent on ‘when’ action should be taken and not so much on ‘what’ action should be taken. We see two problems with this construction. First, the ‘when’ might be a function of privileged information that those possessing it might be unwilling to divulge in a transparent manner. Second, national security is an amorphous concept, and unless we disaggregate it, it is impossible to pronounce the appropriateness of measures adopted to pursue the underlying objective. In turn, the absence of disaggregation could lead to false positives and negatives, as the same action could be pursuing essential security or providing protection to domestic players.
Navigating Ambiguity: Adapting and Validating the Personal Need for Structure Scale in Spanish
Authors: Gil Rafael , Horcajo Javier , Nájera Pablo , Sorrel Miguel A.
Published: September 2024

The Personal Need for Structure (PNS) scale assesses individuals’ tendency to seek out clarity and structured ways of understanding and interacting with their environment. The main aim of this study was to adapt the PNS scale to Spanish and assess its psychometric properties. There are two versions of the PNS scale being used, which vary in the number of dimensions (1 vs. 2), and in the number of items (12 vs. 11; because one version excludes Item 5). Therefore, an additional aim of this study was to compare the two existing versions of the PNS scale. This comparison aimed to address the debate regarding the inclusion of Item 5, and the number of dimensions that comprise the PNS scale. A sample of 735 individuals was collected. First, through an approach combining exploratory and confirmatory analyses, evidence was found in favor of the scale being composed of two related but distinguishable factors: Desire for Structure and Response to the Lack of Structure. Scores on these subscales showed acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Evidence supporting the invariance of the internal structure across sociodemographic variables such as gender and age was found. Validity evidence was also analyzed by examining the relationships with other relevant measures. The results indicated that Item 5 can be excluded without reducing scores validity or reliability, which supports preceding research in the literature. In conclusion, the PNS scale was satisfactorily adapted to and validated in Spanish and its use in this context is recommended.
The Role of Personality Features and Cognitive Avoidance Strategies in Cigarette Smoking Behavior
Authors: Ales Francesca , Rusconi Patrice , Giromini Luciano , Zennaro Alessandro , Andò Agata
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Health risk behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, may be triggered by failures in thought suppression, a cognitive avoidance strategy associated with rumination. To date, no study has examined the role of personality features in the performance of thought suppression in smokers and nonsmokers. To address this gap in the literature, we aimed to (1) examine whether some stable personality features might be related to thought suppression failure independent of smoking status and (2) investigate whether smokers have different personality traits compared with nonsmokers that might be related to cognitive avoidance strategies and difficulties in cognitive emotion regulation suggesting the presence of rumination/failures in suppressing mental content. We included 39 nonsmokers and 40 regular smokers in the study and implemented a multimethod psychological research design. Specifically, we administered a typical performance-based measure (i.e., Rorschach [R-PAS]) and a behavioral task (i.e., the thought suppression task). Our results indicate that failures in thought suppression are associated with stable aspects of personality related to the presence of thinking problems (e.g., Sum of Severe Cognitive Codes) and passive attitudes (e.g., Passive proportion). Moreover, failures in suppressing a mental content seem to be associated with difficulties in problem-solving strategies with a constant focus on one’s inner world.
Multi‐Layer Cloud Detection and Distributions Over the Asia–Pacific Region Based on Geostationary Satellite Imagers
Authors: Wang Jianjie , Liu Chao , Yao Bin , Qian Yanzhen , Gu Xiaoli , Kong Yang , Fan Sihui
Published: September 2024

A large portion of cloud scenes over the globe shows multiple layers composed of different phases, in general with ice clouds on the top and liquid water clouds beneath. Such multi‐layer (ML) clouds constitute major challenges in cloud observations and weather and climate modeling. This study improved a threshold algorithm for detecting ice‐over‐water ML clouds using geostationary satellites. Optimal thresholds were established for the spectral characteristics of the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) and the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI), accounting for differences between land and ocean surfaces. Validation with collocated space radar and lidar measurements indicated the identification accuracies of approximately 82% over the land and 76% over the ocean. Annual distributions of ML clouds inferred by AHI and AGRI exhibited strong similarity. Furthermore, 6 years of hourly observations revealed distinct monthly and daily variations in ice‐over‐water clouds over the Asia–Pacific region. The ML cloud monthly variations were similar to those of the seasonal convection cycle, with occurrence frequencies over the typical regions higher in summer (maximum ∼27%) and lower (minimum 6%–10%) in winter. Regarding daily variations, ice‐over‐water clouds occurred more frequently around local noon over most of the six time zones (from UTC + 06 to UTC + 11) throughout all seasons. The refined spatiotemporal distribution of ML clouds, particularly the daily variations, is possible to improve our understanding of cloud vertical distributions and radiative effects, and has the potential to promote subsequent validation and parameterization of cloud overlapping in global climate modeling.