bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed Bone Age in a Child with a Novel Loss-of-Function Variant in SETBP1 Gene Sheds Light on the Potential Role of SETBP1 Protein in Skeletal Development
Authors: Miolo Gianmaria , Colavito Davide , Della Puppa Lara , Corona Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

Introduction: SETBP1 gene variants that decrease or eliminate protein activity have been associated with phenotypes characterized by speech apraxia and intellectual disabilities. This condition, distinctly separated from Schinzel-Giedion syndrome, is referred to as autosomal dominant mental retardation 29 (ADR29). Case Presentation: In this report, we present the case of a 6-year-old male patient exhibiting fine and global motor skill impairments along with expressive language delay. The patient carried a novel germline, heterozygous, de novo nonsense variant in the SETBP1 gene, specifically the c.532C>T variant, which prematurely terminates protein translation at amino acid 178, p.(Gln178*), and removes more than 10% of the reference protein isoform consisting of 1,596 amino acids. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, this variant has been classified as pathogenic. Conclusion: Given the limited number of ADR29 cases reported to date, it is critical to focus attention on the phenotypic features of each new individual and seek out previously undocumented defects. The clinical findings found in our patient align with current knowledge on the correlation between the genotypes characterized by loss-of-function variants in SETBP1 gene and a particular neurological phenotype. Furthermore, the presence of a severely delayed bone age in this patient, which we report for the first time, could indicate a possible indirect but significant contribution of the SETBP1 protein in bone development and maturation processes. This finding highlights the need for further investigation into the potential effects of SETBP1 gene variants on bone health and the possible involvement of the SETBP1 protein in skeletal growth and development.
Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Incidence and Immunisation Rates on Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Incidence
Authors: Hermann Peter , Böhnke Julia , Bunck Timothy , Goebel Stefan , Jaeger Veronika K. , Karch André , Zerr Inga
Published: December 2023

Background: Recent case studies and media outlets have hypothesised an effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunisation on the development or progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Objectives: This study aims to identify potential associations of SARS-CoV-2 infections and SARS-CoV-2 immunisation with sCJD incidence, disease duration, and age of onset. Method: We used data from a prospective sCJD surveillance study in Germany (2016–2022) and publicly available datasets of SARS-CoV-2 cases and vaccination numbers in Germany for the years 2020–2022. Associations of SARS-CoV-2 incidence and immunisation rates with sCJD incidence were assessed by comparing quarterly and annual cumulative sCJD incidences in the periods before (2016–2019) and during the pandemic (2020–2022). Results: We could not identify any time-related effect of SARS-CoV-2 incidence or immunisation rate on the sCJD incidence. Moreover, we did not find any sCJD incidence alterations before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on a federal or state level. The overall sCJD incidence was within expected ranges in the years 2020–2022. There were no changes in age of onset and clinical disease duration in these years. Conclusions: We found no evidence supporting a short-term effect of the pandemic on sCJD incidence. However, considering the extended pre-clinical phase of sCJD, continued surveillance is needed to identify potential future incidence alterations.
Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Failure of the Transfemoral Approach of Endovascular Treatment for Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Holswilder Ghislaine , Bonneville Edouard F. , van Hees Julia , Kremer Stijn W.F. , van Os Hendrikus J.A. , van der Lugt Aad , Schonewille Wouter J. , Lycklama à Nijeholt Geert J. , Majoie Charles B.L.M. , Emmer Bart J. , Kruyt Nyika D. , Wermer Marieke J.H. , van Walderveen Marianne A.A. ,   on behalf of the MR CLEAN Registry investigators
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Extracranial vascular characteristics determine the accessibility of the large vessel intracranial occlusion for endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke. We developed and validated a prediction model for failure of the transfemoral approach to aid clinical decision-making regarding EVT. Methods: A prediction model was developed from data of patients included in the Dutch multicenter MR CLEAN Registry (March 18, 2014, until June 15, 2016) with penalized logistic regression. Predictor variables were available prior to the EVT procedure and included age, hypertension, and extracranial vascular characteristics assessed on baseline CTA. The prediction model was internally validated, temporally validated within a second MR CLEAN Registry cohort (June 15, 2016, until November 1, 2017), and updated by re-estimating the coefficients using the combined cohort. Results: Failure of the transfemoral approach occurred in 7% of patients, in both cohorts (derivation cohort: n = 887, median age 71 years, interquartile range [IQR] 60–80, 52% men; validation cohort: n = 1,111, median age 73 years, IQR: 62–81, 51% men). The prediction model had a c-statistic of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.86) in the derivation cohort, 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62–0.75) at temporal validation, and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.71–0.79) in the final prediction model, with the following penalized β-coefficients for predictor age (per decade): 0.26, hypertension: −0.16, severe aortic arch elongation: 1.45, bovine aortic arch: 0.44, elongation of the supra-aortic arteries: 0.72, cervical ICA elongation: 0.44, and high-grade stenosis of the cervical ICA: 0.78. Conclusion: Our prediction model showed good performance for prediction of failure to reach the intracranial occlusion by the transfemoral approach.
Lazer e turismo: perspectivas no âmbito da pós-graduação no Brasil
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Panosso Netto Alexandre , Uvinha Ricardo Ricci ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades
Published: December 2023

O lazer e o turismo são temas estudados na Universidade de São Paulo-USP desde o início da década de 1970. Foi em 1973 que a USP implantou o primeiro curso de graduação em turismo em uma universidade pública brasileira, na Escola de Comunicações e Artes - ECA. Esse é o curso embrião do qual se propagaram os estudos de lazer e turismo por toda a USP, mas não foi só na ECA que esses temas foram e são estudados. Os estudos de lazer encontraram berço na USP com duas abordagens definidas: lazer como elemento para o desenvolvimento pessoal e para a promoção da saúde, e lazer como instrumento para a educação e para o desenvolvimento social. Em 2005, com a criação da Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades-EACH, os estudos e a formação humana no campo do lazer e do turismo ganharam um reforço fundamental na USP. Esta obra Lazer e Turismo: Perspectivas no Âmbito da Pós-Graduação no Brasil surge com o objetivo de apresentar temas atuais e relevantes da investigação e das práticas de lazer e turismo. A publicação também é um espaço de apresentação das áreas interdisciplinares às quais se dedicam docentes e discentes do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Turismo da EACH. O material apresentado traz assim um amplo arranjo de contribuições que extrapolam o campo específico do lazer e turismo, com claras interfaces com as demais áreas do conhecimento. Ao ser produzido por docentes e discentes da Universidade de São Paulo, oriundos da graduação em Lazer e Turismo e da Pós-Graduação em Turismo, propõe-se a ser uma base relevante de consulta enquanto uma obra didática original e inédita com forte potencial de aplicação no ensino superior.
Abstract 15023: Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Complete Revascularization in AMI Patients With Angiographically Severe Non-Culprit Lesion: FRAME-AMI Substudy
Authors: Seung Jaeho , Shin Sang Hoon , Shin Chang Yong , lee junghyuck , Kim Do Young , kim yeo reum , Lee Hyun Ki , Roh Kyung Hoon , Jung Moon Kyung , KIM YONGHEE , Choo Eunho , Hwang Byung-Hee , Chang Kiyuk
Published: December 2023

Background:
The benefit of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for non-culprit lesions with angiographically severe stenosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear
Objectives
We evaluated the relationship between non-culprit lesion stenosis measured by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and the efficacy of FFR-guided PCI

Methods:
Severity of non-culprit lesion stenosis of 562 patients from FRAME-AMI (FFR vs. Angiography-Guided Strategy for Management of Non-Infarction Related Artery Stenosis in Patients with AMI) was measured using QCA in the core laboratory. The effect of FFR-guided versus angiography-guided PCI according to non-culprit lesion stenosis (QCA stenosis ≥70% or <70%) on the primary end point (risk of death, MI or repeat revascularization) was analyzed

Results:
At a median follow-up of 3.5 years, the primary end point occurred in 14 patients of 181 patients with FFR-guided PCI and 31 of 197 patients with angiography-guided PCI among patient with QCA stenosis ≥70% (7.7% vs 15.7%; hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.90; P=0.022), while occurred in 4 of 103 patients with FFR-guided PCI and 9 of 81 patients with angiography-guided PCI among those with QCA stenosis < 70% (3.9% vs 11.1%, p=0.079). FFR-guided PCI was associated with the reduction of death and myocardial infarction in patients with QCA stenosis ≥70% (6.1% vs 13.7%, p=0.019) and those with QCA stenosis < 70% (1.0% vs 9.9%, p=0.028) compare to angiography-guided PCI

Conclusions:
In patients with AMI and multivessel disease, patients with severe non-infarct related artery lesion was also benefited by FFR-guided PCI.
Abstract 15061: Long-Term Outcome of Stentless Coronary Intervention With Drug-Coated Balloon in Patients With High Bleeding Risk
Authors: Nagano Kohei , Takahashi Tomonori , Wakatsuki Tetsuzo , Ryo Bando , Zheng Robert , Saijo Yoshihiro , Kadota Muneyuki , Kawabata Yutaka , Matsuura Tomomi , Ise Takayuki , Yamaguchi Koji , Yagi Shusuke , Yamada Hirotsugu , Soeki Takeshi , Sata Masataka
Published: December 2023

Introduction:
Conventional PCI with stenting in high bleeding risk (HBR) patients is associated withhigher all-cause mortality rates and bleeding complications. To minimize DAPT duration, stentlessPCI using drug-coated balloons (DCB) is increasingly favored. However, there is a lack ofcomprehensive long-term outcome data on stentless therapy in HBR patients within real-worldclinical practice.

Research Questions:
Do discernible disparities exist in the extended-term ramifications of stentless treatment utilizing DCB between patients classified as having HBR and those without in clinical practice?

Methods:
We incorporated patients who underwent stentless PCI employing DCB for de novo lesions at our medical facility from January 2015 to December 2021. Exclusion criteria encompassedpatients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. The primary outcome measure was defined as all-cause mortality, whereas the secondary outcome measure focused on bleeding events as per thedefined criteria of BARC bleeding grades 3 or 5. Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on the ARC-HBR criteria and subsequently subjected to comparative analysis utilizing Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Results:
A total of 392 patients were included, including a mean age of 70 ± 11 years and 46% male. Of these patients, 62% had HBR, and the procedure's success rate was 99.7%. Over a median follow-up period of 24 months, 29 patients (7.4%) experienced all-cause mortality. HBR patients showed significantly higher blood BNP levels compared to non-HBR patients (median [IQR]: 85pg/mL [36-226] vs. 27 pg/mL [15-49], p<0.01). After adjusting for blood BNP levels, the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality in HBR patients was 4.06 [1.18-14.00], indicating a 4-fold higher risk compared to non-HBR patients (p=0.03). Among the cohort, 12 individuals (1.8%) experienced BARC grades 3 or 5 bleeding events, with a tendency towards a greater occurrence in the HBRpatient group (adjusted HR: 2.26 [0.46-11.20], p=0.32), although the difference was not significant.

Conclusions:
The findings further indicate that patients with HBR exhibit a propensity for inferior long-term outcomes relative to non-HBR patients in stentless treatment with DCB in the real world.
Cumulative Diastolic Blood Pressure Burden in Normal Systolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Cho So Mi Jemma , Lee Hokyou , Koyama Satoshi , Zou Roger S. , Schuermans Art , Ganesh Shriienidhie , Hornsby Whitney , Honigberg Michael C. , Natarajan Pradeep
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

The clinical significance of isolated diastolic hypertension defined by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood pressure (BP) guidelines remains inconsistent. We examined whether long-term diastolic burden predicts the first major adverse cardiovascular event in participants with sustained and untreated normal systolic BP.

METHODS:

The Mass General Brigham Biobank is a New England health care–based cohort recruited between 2010 and 2021. A total of 15 979 participants aged 18 to 64 years and without prior cardiovascular disease, antihypertensives, or high systolic BP were studied. The cumulative diastolic burden was determined as the area under the curve for diastolic BP (DBP) ≥80 mm Hg over 5 years before enrollment. Major adverse cardiovascular event was defined as a composite of first incident ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, or all-cause death.

RESULTS:

Of the 15 979 participants, mean (SD) age at enrollment was 47.6 (14.3) years, 11 950 (74.8%) were women, and the mean (SD) systolic BP and DBP were 118.0 (12.9) and 72.2 (9.3) mm Hg, respectively. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 3.5 (1.8–5.4) years, 2467 (15.4%) major adverse cardiovascular events occurred. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, each SD increase in cumulative DBP was independently associated with a hazard ratio (95% CI) of 1.06 (1.02–1.10) without effect modification by sex (
P
=0.65), age (
P
=0.46), or race/ethnicity (
P
=0.24). In addition to traditional risk factors, cumulative DBP modestly improved the discrimination C index (95% CI) from 0.74 (0.72–0.75) to 0.75 (0.74–0.76; likelihood ratio test,
P
=0.037).

CONCLUSIONS:

Among individuals with normal systolic BP, cumulative DBP may augment cardiovascular disease risk stratification beyond a single DBP measure and traditional risk factors.
Higher Cumulative Blood Pressure in Midlife Predicts an Increased Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: Evidence From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Cheng Yun‐Jiu , Deng Hai , Ling Yun , Lin Wei‐Dong , Liang Zhuomin , Chen Yili , Fang Xian‐Hong , Liao Hong‐Tao , Liu Yang , Wei Hui‐Qiang , Liu Fang‐Zhou , Jiang Jun‐Rong , Wu Shu‐Lin , Xue Yu‐Mei , Wu Zexuan
Published: December 2023

Background

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is reportedly associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the association between cumulative BP exposure in midlife and incident AF in mid‐to‐late life remains unclear.

Methods and Results

Participants enrolled in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study with 4 consecutive BP measurements and no prevalent AF at baseline were included. Cumulative BP was calculated as the area under the curve from visit 1 to visit 4. Incident AF was identified by study visit ECGs, hospital discharge codes, or death certificates. A total of 9892 participants were included (44.6% men and mean age 62.9±5.7 years at visit 4) with 1550 (15.7%) individuals who developed new‐onset AF during an average follow‐up of 15.4 years. The incidence rates of AF per 1000 person‐years across the 4 quartiles of cumulative systolic BP were 7.9, 9.2, 12.5, and 16.9, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios for incident AF among participants in the highest quartile of cumulative systolic BP, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure were 1.48 (95% CI, 1.27–1.72), 1.81 (95% CI, 1.53–2.13), and 1.22 (95% CI, 1.05–1.41), respectively, compared with those in the lowest quartile. The addition of cumulative systolic BP or pulse pressure slightly improved the ability to predict new‐onset AF.

Conclusions

Higher exposure to cumulative systolic BP, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure was significantly associated with increased risk of incident AF.
Polysemy—Evidence from Linguistics, Behavioral Science, and Contextualized Language Models
Authors: Haber Janosch , Poesio Massimo
Published: December 2023

Polysemy is the type of lexical ambiguity where a word has multiple distinct but related interpretations. In the past decade, it has been the subject of a great many studies across multiple disciplines including linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, and computational linguistics, which have made it increasingly clear that the complexity of polysemy precludes simple, universal answers, especially concerning the representation and processing of polysemous words. But fuelled by the growing availability of large, crowdsourced datasets providing substantial empirical evidence; improved behavioral methodology; and the development of contextualized language models capable of encoding the fine-grained meaning of a word within a given context, the literature on polysemy recently has developed more complex theoretical analyses.

In this survey we discuss these recent contributions to the investigation of polysemy against the backdrop of a long legacy of research across multiple decades and disciplines. Our aim is to bring together different perspectives to achieve a more complete picture of the heterogeneity and complexity of the phenomenon of polysemy. Specifically, we highlight evidence supporting a range of hybrid models of the mental processing of polysemes. These hybrid models combine elements from different previous theoretical approaches to explain patterns and idiosyncrasies in the processing of polysemous that the best known models so far have failed to account for. Our literature review finds that (i) traditional analyses of polysemy can be limited in their generalizability by loose definitions and selective materials; (ii) linguistic tests provide useful evidence on individual cases, but fail to capture the full range of factors involved in the processing of polysemous sense extensions; and (iii) recent behavioral (psycho) linguistics studies, large-scale annotation efforts, and investigations leveraging contextualized language models provide accumulating evidence suggesting that polysemous sense similarity covers a wide spectrum between identity of sense and homonymy-like unrelatedness of meaning.

We hope that the interdisciplinary account of polysemy provided in this survey inspires further fundamental research on the nature of polysemy and better equips applied research to deal with the complexity surrounding the phenomenon, for example, by enabling the development of benchmarks and testing paradigms for large language models informed by a greater portion of the rich evidence on the phenomenon currently available.
The Legal Case for Children’s Right to Vote in the United States
Authors: Grover Sonja , Wall John , Chen Robin
Published: December 2023

This article argues that US constitutional law supports the right to vote of children regardless of age. First, it places US law in the context of the legal, philosophical, and social scientific discussion of the issue and recent children’s suffrage movements, which suggest that barring the right to vote according to age neglects children’s democratic interests, harms societies, and is discriminatory. Second, it considers the further context of US obligations under international law, especially the udhr, iccpr, and crc, in which children’s voting is arguably implied as a universal, equal, and fundamental human right. Finally, it considers US constitutional law itself and shows why ageless voting is an issue of the fundamental interests of children as a suspect class in need of special protection against voting discrimination.
Whither Health Research
Authors: Patrinos Dimitri , McDougall Robyn , Beauvais Michael J. S. , Knoppers Bartha Maria
Published: December 2023

Under Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (crc), children have the right to the highest attainable standard of health. One component of this right that has received little attention is the connection between children’s health and their participation in health-related research. This represents a missed opportunity in the full realisation of the right to health. This paper accordingly argues that Article 24 should obligate or incentivise State Parties to create more research opportunities for children in implementing this right. It explores the links between paediatric research and children’s health, highlighting the impacts of the lack of research on the paucity or absence of many treatment and prevention options for childhood diseases. It also considers the application of other rights which may be implicated in paediatric research. While paediatric health-related research is imperative, it must occur within a framework which respects all children’s rights.
‘Doing Harm Was the Point’
Authors: Risley Amy
Published: December 2023

This article analyses the Trump administration’s policy of forcibly separating thousands of immigrant families at the border. Using a rights-based and childist approach, I explore the policy’s severe consequences for children’s rights to family unity and protection from cruel and degrading treatment. I argue that family separations abandoned the best-interests principle and entailed severe rights violations and due process irregularities. The policy deliberately inflicted suffering and trauma on immigrant families to deter immigrants and coerce asylum-seekers into relinquishing their claims to protection, contrary to treaty obligations and domestic laws. The article also examines the policy’s formulation and implementation, which were characterised by cruelty, chaos and confusion. This case provides incontrovertible evidence of the myriad strategies governments use to exclude immigrant children from the benefits of the global children’s rights regime.
Most of the Time we are Taking Decisions for Children
Authors: Shaik Naseema
Published: December 2023

It is imperative that children’s participatory rights are supported and therefore it is incumbent upon adults genuinely to listen to them and take their views seriously. However, 28 years into a democratic South Africa and children’s participatory rights are not fully actualised and implementation seems to be problematic in early childhood education. The purpose of this article was to explore 13 final-year student teachers’ understandings about children’s participatory rights in the Reception Year (Grade R) and how these understandings influence their practice using Lundy’s model of participation and Honneth’s theory of recognition. A qualitative approach was applied, and data was collected through a focus group interview that was undertaken online. The data revealed that student teachers had a limited understanding of children’s participatory rights but aligned more towards children’s protection rights. Additionally, whilst the participants related the concepts of Lundy’s model of participation to mainly pedagogical scenarios that lacked children’s genuine participation, the participants gave children the recognition to building their self-confidence, self-respect and self-esteem.
A new species of Echyridella from New Zealand, and recognition of Echyridella lucasi (Suter, 1905) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Hyriidae)
Authors: FENWICK MARK C. , MARSHALL BRUCE A.
Published: December 2023

Echyridella McMichael Hiscock, 1958 is elevated to genus level on the basis of our interpretation of published molecular data. A new species of freshwater mussel, Echyridella onekaka, is described from the north-western South Island of New Zealand. Diplodon menziesi lucasi Suter, 1905 is resurrected from synonymy under E. menziesii (Gray, 1843) as a distinct species of Echyridella.
A morphological and molecular comparison between Elysia crispata and a new species of kleptoplastic sacoglossan sea slug (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from the Florida Keys, USA
Authors: PIERCE SIDNEY K. , CURTIS NICHOLAS E. , MASSEY STEVEN E. , BASS ANNA L. , KARL STEPHEN A. , FINNEY COLIN M.
Published: December 2023

A comparison of Elysia (=Tridachia) crispata (Mörch, 1863) from the Virgin Islands with elysiid slugs from the mangrove swamps and canals in the Florida Keys that have previously been identified as E. crispata reveals many differences in habitat, gross and microscopic anatomy, food preferences of juveniles, sources of symbiotic chloroplasts and their localization within the digestive tubules, radular morphology, and nucleic acid sequences of two genes. The differences between the two groups of slugs are such that the Florida Keys animals are considered to represent a new species, Elysia clarki.
Egg brooding behavior and embryonic development ofOctopus laqueus(Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)
Authors: KANEKO NATSUMI , OSHIMA YOTA , IKEDA YUZURU
Published: December 2023

Egg brooding behavior and embryonic development of the tropical intertidal octopus, Octopus laqueus, were observed in captivity. Three females spawned eggs in captivity and cared for them until the juveniles hatched. Some eggs were reared separately in an incubator for observation. The eggs of O. laqueus are small (mean capsule length 2.6 ± 0.1 mm) and hatchlings are planktonic. Embryonic development of O. laqueus closely resembled that of other octopus species with planktonic young including two reversals of embryos, at stage VII or VIII and stage XIX. Although hatching of maternal reared eggs was observed from 22 to 30 days after eggs were spawned, more than 75 % of hatching occurred within one hour on the same day. When the eggs hatched the mother flushed them from the den by jetting water from her funnel. Hatchlings possess short arms (47% of mantle length) with three suckers per arm. They remain in the plankton for an unknown period of time as paralarvae.
Micro-CT as a novel technique for 3D reconstruction of molluscan anatomy
Authors: GOLDING ROSEMARY E. , JONES ALLAN S.
Published: December 2023

X-ray micro-CT is demonstrated to be a novel technique to examine soft-tissue anatomy and is used here to reconstruct images of molluscan soft-tissue for the first time. Two micromolluscs ( 1.8 mm diameter) were imaged using micro-CT, and then reconstructed to form 3D models of the tissues. Discrete organs of the alimentary system of large gastropods were also imaged. Osmium tetroxide and phosphomolybdic acid were identified as useful stains and a specimen preparation protocol is presented. Micro-CT is a rapid, non-destructive technique which complements and may in some circumstances replace traditional 3D reconstruction of molluscan specimens from histological sections. Micro-CT is faster and more spatially accurate than reconstruction from histological sections, but organs of a similar density are difficult to distinguish due to a lack of cellular detail.
Edgbastonia alanwillsin. gen amp; n. sp. (Tateinae: Hydrobiidae s.l.: Rissooidea: Caenogastropoda);<span style="font-weight: 400;" a snail from an artesian spring group in western Queensland, Australia,<span style="font-weight: 400;" convergent with some Asian Amnicolidae
Authors: PONDER W. F. , WILKE T. , ZHANG W.-H. , GOLDING R. E. , FUKUDA H. , MASON R. A. B.
Published: December 2023

Edgbastonia alanwillsi n. gen. n. sp. is restricted to a small group of springs on Edgbaston Station near Aramac in western Queensland where it is assumed to be relictual. It has close similarities in shell morphology to some species of Amnicolidae found in China and India and the female reproductive system has unique characters that separate it from any other described taxon attributed to the Hydrobiidae or any related family. Sequence data from COI, 16S and 18S indicate that this species is closely allied to taxa included in Jardinella Iredale Whitley, 1938, the only genus of Hydrobiidae (sensu lato) that has been previously recognised as inhabiting the Queensland artesian discharge springs. However, several important morphological characters separate this taxon from species included in the possibly para- or polyphyletic Jardinella. Based on our molecular results, the Australasian ‘hydrobiid’ taxa fall within a distinct clade (Tateinae) within a broad concept of Hydrobiidae.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Authors: Anonymous
Published: December 2023

From the first issue of 2009, Molluscan Research will be jointly published by the Malacological Society of Australasia and the Society for the Study of Molluscan Diversity (formally The Malacozoological Association of Yamaguchi which published the journal Yuriyagai). The Yuriyagai will cease production this year with Volume 10, numbers 12...
A review of advances in research on marine molluscan antimicrobial peptides and their potential application in aquaculture
Authors: LI CHENG-HUA , ZHAO JIAN-MIN , SONG LIN-SHENG
Published: December 2023

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immune response against microbial invasion. They are usually characterized by their small-size, heat-stability and broad range of antimicrobial activity. This review covers research advances on marine mollusc AMPs, specifically those isolated from mussels, scallops, oysters, venerid clams and abalone, which mainly include MGD, mytilin, myticin, mytimycin, big defensin, and RPD-1. Their structural characteristics, antibacterial activity, and expression pattern as well as peptide distribution and their release following microbial challenge are also discussed. In addition, the prospect of the application of AMPs as food additives or their use in immunostimulation to prevent diseases of aquatic animals, as well as their potential hazards, are also discussed.
Effects of low temperature on the schistosome-transmitting snail Oncomelania hupensis and the implications of global climate change
Authors: ZHOU YI-BIAO , ZHUANG JIAN-LIN , YANG MEI-XIA , ZHANG ZHI-JIE , WEI JIAN-GUO , PENG WEN-XIANG , ZHAO GEN-MING , ZHANG SI-MING , JIANG QING-WU
Published: December 2023

The impact of climate change on schistosomiasis transmission has attracted considerable attention in recent years. As the inter-mediate hosts for schistosomes, snails play an obligatory role in schistosomiasis transmission. In order to determine the impact of low temperature on snail survival, we studied crystallization temperature (Tc) and lower lethal temperature (LLT) of the snail Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum, under different physiological conditions. The mean Tc of ‘dry’ snails was -12.79 ± 1.17°C, which is significantly lower than that of ‘wet’ snails (-5.36 ± 2.11°C). Survival of ‘dry’ snails was high (92% after 24 h) when the temperature was higher than -7°C, then decreased rapidly between -7°C and -12°C (92% to 0 % after 24h). LT50 between 0.25 h and 24 h exposure was between -10.8 °C and -9.4°C. Our data suggest that O. hupensis out of water could be avoiding freezing. As winter temperatures continue to rise due to global warming, O. hupensis may increase its range, thereby spreading schistosomiasis to the northern part of China.
A revision of the genus Satondella Bandel, 1998 (Gastropoda, Scissurellidae)
Authors: LUQUE ÁNGEL A. , GEIGER DANIEL L. , ROLÁN EMILIO
Published: December 2023

This revision of the scissurellid genus Satondella Bandel, 1998 is mainly based on shell characters due to the availability of only a few live collected specimens. There are seven Recent species (two described as new) and one Eocene fossil. Satondella minuta Bandel, 1998, the type species from Indonesia, is redescribed and its range extended to New Caledonia, Solomon and Fiji Islands. Satondella tabulata (Watson, 1886) is only known from type material off Culebra Island (Puerto Rico); lectotype and paralectotypes are here designated, and similar material from the Indo-Pacific is discussed. Satondella brasiliensis (Mattar, 1987) is another W. Atlantic species, ranging from Bermuda to Brazil. Satondella senni (Geiger, 2003) is only known from the E. Pacific (Easter Island) and Satondella danieli Segers, Swinnen Abreu, 2009 from the NE. Atlantic Ocean (Desertas and Madeira Islands). The two new species are distributed through the E. Indian and W. Pacific oceans (S. cachoi n. sp.) and W. Pacific (S. dantarti n. sp.). The Tongan Eocene fossil S. kondoi (Ladd, 1970) is redescribed and illustrated with SEM images. Satondella brasiliensis and S. cachoi have a typical scissurellid radula, except for uniquely having one cusp on the inner edge of the third lateral. The monophyly of the genus is discussed, since species currently included in Satondella show two clearly different shell patterns but all share the unique chimney-like foramen.
First evidence of drilling predation by Conuber sordidus (Swainson, 1821) (Gastropoda: Naticidae) on soldier crabs (Crustacea: Mictyridae)
Authors: HUELSKEN THOMAS
Published: December 2023

Moonsnails (Naticidae) are major predators in marine soft substrates worldwide and are thought to prey almost exclusively on shelled molluscs by drilling predation. However, reports on single individuals of various naticid species showing unusual feed-ing behaviour indicate that naticids possibly also feed on other prey which have an external skeleton. The present study pro-vides the first evidence for size selective feeding of an Australian moonsnail (Conuber sordidus) on crustaceans. C. sordidus preys on soldier crabs (Mictyris longicarpus and Mictyris platycheles) on intertidal sand/muddy tidal flats, representing the first well-documented example of a naticid preying on large non-molluscan invertebrates in addition to shelled molluscs. This indicates that prey choice in C. sordidus is less stereotyped than predicted for naticid species, although the feeding mode docu-mented here is similar to that used to capture their main diet of shelled molluscs. The results strongly support some contested earlier studies that have also indicated that naticids will eat non-molluscan prey with an external skeleton, highlighting a need to re-examine generally accepted models concerning naticid feeding ecology.
First report of Amphioctopus neglectus (Nateewathana amp; Norman, 1999) and A. rex (Nateewathana amp; Norman, 1999) (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from the Indian coast
Authors: SREEJA V. , BIJUKUMAR A. , NORMAN MARK D.
Published: December 2023

Two ocellate octopus species from the genus Amphioctopus; Amphioctopus neglectus (Nateewathana Norman, 1999) and A. rex (Nateewathana Norman, 1999) are recorded from Indian waters for the first time. These octopus species are present in fisheries trawl catches off the Kerala coast and have current or potential commercial value. The new records extend the known distribution of these species, previously known from Thai territorial waters, both in the Gulf of Thailand (Pacific Ocean) and the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean), and suggest their potentially continuous distribution from the tropical continental waters of south-east Asia to the western Indian Ocean. These taxa are also discriminated from other ocellate Amphioctopus species described or reported more widely from the tropical Indian Ocean.
First record of the frog parasite genus Batrachomyia Krefft from New Guinea (Diptera: Chloropidae)
Authors: EVENHUIS NEAL
Published: December 2023

A new species of Batrachomyia, B. krausi, n. sp., from Oya Tabu, Fergusson Island off the southeastern coast of Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. It marks the first record of this genus of frog parasites outside of Australia. The larva of B. krausi was found parasitizing the frog Rana supragrisea, the first record of the fly genus from the frog family Ranidae. The biology of this species is summarized and a table of known hosts for the genus is given.
A new annual killifish, Moema beltramonorum (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Amazon basin, Bolivia
Authors: VALDESALICI STEFANO
Published: December 2023

A new annual killifish species, Moema beltramonorum, is described from a seasonal swamp next to arroyo Crespo, belonging to Río San Martin, a tributary of Río Iténez, Amazon River basin, Bolivia. The new taxon presents an unique combination of male colour pattern characters not present in any congener, and an unique caudal fin coloration.
Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) off Kıyıköy (Black Sea, Türkiye) with descriptions of three new species
Authors: ÇINAR MELIH ERTAN , ERDOĞAN-DERELİ DENIZ
Published: December 2023

The examination of benthic materials collected in September 2022 at six stations off Kıyıköy (south-west coast of the Black Sea, Türkiye) both on hard (three stations) and soft substrata (three stations) at depths ranging from 8 and 27 m revealed a total of 57 polychaete species belonging to 22 families. Among the species, the polynoid Malmgrenia polypapillata is a new record for the Black Sea fauna, and three species belonging to the Syllidae (Erinaceusyllis defneae n. sp.) and Terebellidae (Polycirrus karadenizicus n. sp. and P. rhombolabiatus n. sp.) are new to science. Algae dominated (Cystoseira cinita, Cladophora sp. and Phyllophora crispa) rocky substrata had 30 polychaete species and a maximum polychaete density of 7325 individuals/m2, while soft bottom substrata (fine sand and muddy sand with shell fragments) possessed 38 species and a maximum polychaete density of 3520 individuals/m2. The family Nereididae (31–76% of the total number of individuals), and the species Platynereis dumerilii and Polyphthalmus pictus dominated hard bottom stations, whereas the families Nephtyidae, Spionidae and Dorvilleidae, and the species Micronephthys longicornis, Protodorvillea kefersteini and Prionospio maciolekae were represented by high number of individuals at soft-bottom stations.
Response to Britz (2022) regarding the validity of the giant sunfish Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1834) (Teleostei: Molidae)
Authors: SAWAI ETSURO , NYEGAARD MARIANNE
Published: December 2023

The small family of ocean sunfishes has a long and complicated taxonomic and nomenclatorial history dating back several centuries. Most recently, Britz (2022) questioned the validity of Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839) as the valid name for Mola sp. A sensu Yoshita et al. (2009). Specifically, he questioned the authenticity of the purported Orthragoriscus alexandrini holotype rediscovered by Sawai et al. (2018) due to uncertainties regarding the original units of measurement, along with discrepancies between the original illustration and the purported holotype. He also questioned the reliability of the illustration to reflect the fresh morphology, and the adequacy of the species description (sans illustration and holotype) to link it to any of the currently recognized Mola species. In summary, Britz (2022) opined that M. alexandrini is a species inquirenda. Here we respond to Britz’s concerns with the findings from an additional literature review. Firstly, the original species description appears to give measurements in ‘Parisian units’, yielding a discrepancy in length with the purported holotype within human error. However, due to various uncertainties, length does not appear to be a robust piece of evidence to neither confirm nor refute the specimen’s authenticity. Secondly, the morphological differences between the original illustration and the purported holotype were found to be within the expected level of accuracy for Mola illustrations at the time, by both Ranzani and others. Thirdly, a contemporaneous publication describes how Ranzani himself bought the specimen which became the Or. alexandrini holotype, suggesting he would likely have seen it in its fresh state, rendering it unlikely he would have produced a species description and illustration incongruent with this. Fourthly, re-examining the original species description suggests this provides adequate and sufficient information to link Or. alexandrini to Mola sp. A, even in the absence of a holotype. Finally, during this review, we came upon an even older paper describing Or. alexandrini, and we conclude that the currently valid name for Mola sp. A sensu Yoshita et al. (2009) is Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1834).
On a new species of freshwater crab from southern China (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae)
Authors: SHI BOYANG , PAN DA , SUN HONGYING
Published: December 2023

A new species of potamid freshwater crab of the genus Indochinamon Yeo & Ng, 2007, is described from a recent collection in Yunnan Province, China. Indochinamon frontatum sp. nov. is distinguished from congeners by the form of the carapace, notably in the features of the convex frontal region, and distinctively structured male first gonopod. Molecular data derived from the mitochondrial 16S rDNA supports the recognition of the taxon.
Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Stenopelmatoidea) XXIV: Update on the Raspy Cricket species’ checklist with some comments
Authors: BIAN XUN
Published: December 2023

This paper lists the updated Chinese Gryllacrididae checklist, including 24 genera and 174 species/subspecies. One new replacement name and the type information of Neolarnaca longipenna Bian & Shi, 2016 are provided. Lastly, one intraspecific variation of Larnaca (Larnaca) nigrifrons is briefly described and illustrated.
5. Public Investment, Deficit and Public Debt in Spain, 1995–2022
Authors: Perez Francisco , Benages Eva
Published: December 2023

Over the past three decades, public investment in Spain has followed an extremely irregular trajectory, with periods of significant capital accumulation and others in which net investment has been negative. The sustainability of the pace of investment has been challenged by expenditure policies that are procyclical instead of stabilizing, in addition to fiscal regulations that have not been able to improve public-productive capital by following the golden rule. The revision of the EU's economic-governance framework should take into account this and other experiences to enhance the compatibility between fiscal rules and the expanded investment envisaged by the Recovery and Resilience mechanism.
‘The Church of God is Convoked in Synod’: An Evaluation of the Synodal Process in the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic
Authors: Mikulášek Josef
Published: December 2023

In October 2021, the synodal process of the Catholic Church worldwide began. All Catholic Christians were invited to participate in the consultation of the faithful, which represents the first stage of the Synod on Synodality For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission (2021–24). In this article, I offer a qualitative assessment of the national synthesis of the synodal process in the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic. I analyse the relevant ecclesiological suggestions in the Czech national synthesis and place them in the context of the broader theological and canonical discussion that is currently taking place in the Catholic Church on these issues. This article discusses how relevant these suggestions are and how they can contribute to the synodal renewal of the Catholic Church.
Effect of reinforcement ratio and textile pre-impregnation on the mechanical properties of flax textile reinforced sulfoaluminate matrix
Authors: Bardouh Rafik , Homoro Omayma , Amziane Sofiane
Published: December 2023

This study evaluates the effect of reinforcement ratio and textile pre-impregnation on the tensile behavior of flax textile, embedded in an inorganic CSA matrix (sulfoaluminate cementitious matrix), known as Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM). Two reinforcement ratios of (3 and 6%) and two impregnation techniques (polymeric and mineral) are applied. Direct tensile tests are conducted on FRCM specimens as well as on bare flax textiles featuring three configurations: NP (non-impregnated), PP (polymeric-impregnated), and PM (mineral-impregnated), between 1L (one layer) and 2L (two layers) of flax textile. The results show a direct correlation between the reinforcement ratio and the enhancement of mechanical properties, with a notable 44% increase in mechanical strength observed for NP FRCM specimens between 1L and 2L of flax textile. Mineral pre-impregnation enhances yarn-cement matrix bonding inside FRCM, while FRCM specimens with polymeric-impregnated textiles have limited influence on the mechanical properties due to premature failure. Polymeric impregnation has a pronounced effect when applied to bare flax textiles, with PP flax textiles demonstrating exceptional mechanical strength and rigidity, reaching up to 480 MPa and 37 GPa, respectively. In contrast, this effect was mitigated when employing PP textiles in FRCM specimens, where the lowest fabric efficiency reached 12% for the 2L.PP configuration suggests significant chemical incompatibility between epoxy resin and CSA matrix. Mineral-impregnated specimens display consistent efficiency regardless of reinforcement ratio, suggesting a novel and homogeneous distribution of cement matrix particles within the yarns of textiles. Two distinct failure modes of FRCM are observed in this study, a delamination for PP configurations and a fiber pullout for NP and PM configurations. No effect of reinforcement ratio is remarked on the failure mode. The cracking mode in PM FRCM configurations showcased improved aesthetics, durability, and elongation after rupture (6.28%). As a result, 2L.PM FRCM is the best configuration in terms of mechanical strength, rigidity, ductility, and durability.
Psychometric Validation of the PROMIS Social Support Scale in a Sample of Individuals With Chronic Health Conditions and Disabilities: A Factor Analytic Study
Authors: Rung Wu Jia , Chen Xiangli , Iwanaga Kanako , Bezyak Jill , Rumrill Stuart , Lee Deborah , Chan Fong
Published: December 2023

Social support is a significant protective factor for health and well-being of people with chronic health conditions and disabilities. It is important to include a psychometrically sound measure of social support in their clinical assessment practices, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to validate the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Support Scale in a sample of people with chronic health conditions and disabilities. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine and validate the three-factor measurement structure of the PROMIS Social Support Scale. Exploratory factor analysis and CFA results confirmed that a three-factor measurement structure (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) accounted for 82.75% of the total variance. All items loaded highly onto their respective factors (ranging from .73 to .99). Reliability coefficients of the three subscales ranged from .95 to .97. The three social support factors were positively associated with community participation and subjective well-being in the theoretically expected directions. Findings of this study provide strong empirical support for the psychometric properties of the PROMIS Social Support Scale and its use with people with chronic health conditions and disabilities in clinical practice and research.