bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and treatment eligibility in Lesotho, Southern Africa: a population-based cross-sectional study with case-based follow-up
Authors: Firima Emmanuel , Ntsoaki Rameno , Lukau Blaise , Tlahali Mosa , Gonzalez Fernandez Lucia , Manthabiseng Molulela , Sematle Mamoronts’ane P , Bane Matumaole , Khomolishoele Makhebe , Ikhetheleng Leisa , Retselisitsoe Lefokosane , Gupta Ravi , McCrosky Stephen , Lee Tristan , Chammartin Frederique , Weisser Maja , Labhardt Niklaus D , Amstutz Alain
Published: November 2024

Background and aims

There is no data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence and treatment eligibility among the general population in Lesotho. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection in a large-scale cross-sectional survey among the general population in Lesotho, assess determinants of seropositivity, and evaluate treatment eligibility according to the 2024 WHO guidelines.

Approach and results

We conducted a household-based, cross-sectional survey among participants≥10 years old in 120 randomly sampled village clusters in two districts. From participants screened positive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), we collected dried blood spots for HBV DNA measurement and referred the participants to health facilities for clinical assessment and treatment eligibility evaluation.

Out of 6709 participants screened, 6705 had a valid HBsAg test result (3509 (52.3%) female, median age 33 years (IQR: 20–53)), which was positive in 78 participants, yielding a prevalence of 1.2% (95% CI: 0.9 to 1.4). Being≥18 years old, male, living in urban areas, living with HIV, consuming tobacco and belonging to higher wealth index quintiles, were associated with increasing odds of HBV infection. Of the 78 participants with HBV infection, 62 (79.5%) linked to care. Among these, 25/62 (40.3%) were also living with HIV and 23/25 (92%) already taking antiretroviral treatment active against HBV. Among the remaining, 10/37 (27.0%) were eligible for antiviral treatment based on HBV DNA, Aspartate aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index or alanine aminotransferase levels.

Conclusions

We observed a low prevalence of HBV infection among Basotho. Treatment eligibility was high mostly due to the presence of HIV co-infection. However, nearly one-third of HBV mono-infected participants were eligible for treatment, suggesting a testing and treatment gap in this population.
Psychological distress as a driver of early COVID-19 pandemic fatigue: a longitudinal analysis of the time-varying relationship between distress and physical distancing adherence among families with children and older adults
Authors: Morris Keeley J , Ashida Sato , Ramirez Marizen R , Tarr Gillian A M
Published: November 2024

Background

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions is especially critical to controlling disease spread. Understanding the factors that influence the initial demotivation to comply with public health guidance can enable the design of more effective interventions for future epidemics.

Methods

We collected participant-reported data on psychological distress and the number of weekly contacts with non-household members across six surveys administered between April and September 2020 among two cohorts: (1) families with children and (2) adults aged 50 years and older. We then used marginal structural models to examine the time-varying effect of distress on future interactions with non-household members as a measure of pandemic fatigue.

Results

Among families with children, each unit increase in distress at the beginning of the study resulted in a 9% increase in non-household contacts (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.16), but the effect declined with each additional week by 1.8% (ratio of RR: 0.982; 95% CI: 0.971 to 0.993). For adults over age 50, the relationship was reversed. Increasing distress led to a 7.2% decline in contacts (RR: 0.928; 95% CI: 0.863, 0.998) at the beginning of the study, but this effect increased by 1.0% with each additional week (ratio of RR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.02).

Conclusions

We observed that the initial effect of psychological distress on adherence to recommendations to reduce non-household contacts and the change in the effect of distress over time (pandemic fatigue) differed between our two cohorts. Response strategies among younger/lower risk populations may be more effective when focused on broader implications of community transmission, while response strategies among older/higher risk populations may be more effective if they focus on increasing resilience and fostering safe coping strategies.
Engineered oncolytic virus expressing B7H3-targeting BiTE enhances antitumor T-cell immune response
Authors: Zhu Haoran , Zhang Wanrong , Guo Qingguo , Fan Ruoyue , Luo Guangzuo , Liu Ying
Published: November 2024

Background

Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are recombinant bispecific proteins designed to stimulate polyclonal T-cell immunity. In recent years, B7H3, a pan-cancer antigen, has been considered a promising target for future immunotherapy. However, the B7H3-targeting BiTE faces the challenge of systemic toxicity. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a new class of cancer immunotherapeutics and serve as an appropriate platform for locoregional delivery of therapeutic genes. In this study, we designed an oncolytic adenovirus (OAd) encoding BiTE targeting human B7H3. We hypothesized that OVs encoding B7H3 BiTE deliver this molecule persistently to the tumor site while mediating polyclonal T-cell activation and redirecting it to tumor cells.

Methods

B7H3-targeting BiTE was constructed by linking a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that recognizes human B7H3 to an scFv that recognizes human CD3. B7H3 BiTE was inserted into OAd to construct OAd-B7H3-BiTE. The function of the OV-delivered B7H3 BiTE was detected via co-culturing B7H3+target cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A humanized immune system mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects in vivo.

Results

B7H3 is highly expressed in a high proportion of human malignancies. OV-delivered BiTEs bind to T cells and target cells. We observed a series of phenomena reflecting T-cell activation induced by OAd-B7H3-BiTE, including cell clustering, cell size, activation markers, cytokine secretion, and proliferation. Furthermore, T-cell activation was mirrored by the corresponding cytotoxicity against B7H3+tumor cells. In vivo, B7H3 BiTE was persistently expressed in tumors and enhanced the antitumor T-cell immune response.

Conclusions

Using an OV for the local expression of B7H3 BiTE maximizes the local concentration of BiTE while reducing systemic exposure. OV also provides a relatively “hot” T-cell immune environment for the function of BiTE. Because of its capacity to activate polyclonal T cells, BiTE has the potential to redirect virus-specific T cells to tumors. Our study provides new opportunities for the exploitation of B7H3-BiTE-armed OVs as therapeutic agents for the treatment of B7H3-positive malignancies.
Application of multidimensional soil data harmonization to develop the Ontario Soil Information System (OSIS)
Authors: Gobezie Tegbaru B. , Saurette Daniel , Scott Stacey D. , Daggupati Prasad , Bedard-Haughn Angela , Biswas Asim
Published: November 2024

In the digital age, soil data have become crucial for understanding the role of soil in agricultural systems, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, ecosystem services, and sustainability, thus guiding decision-making. However, diverse data collection methods and fragmented soil data management practices complicate creation of a unified soil database from varied datasets. In Ontario, Canada, data fragmentation across different institutions hinders access and use of this vital soil data for spatial and temporal analyses. Moreover, the latest update in the National Pedon Database is dated back to 2011, underscoring the need for centralized provincial data warehouses for systematic soil information access and analysis. This study addressed these challenges by developing and implementing an end-to-end, multidimensional soil data curation framework that integrates diverse soil data genres and sources in Ontario, enhancing the database updating process. Applying minimum inclusion criteria, data from 13 sources across four different data genres (fixed depth, topsoil, profile, and peatland), comprising 14 145 observation sites and their respective layers, were integrated into an SQLite database. Despite dense sampling in southern Ontario, data gaps increased with depth. Harmonization focused on key attributes such as depth, soil organic carbon, and texture yielded 6335 unique sites and 28 134 layers, including 5460 profiles, 178 topsoil, and 697 fixed depth sites. Using a scalable and transparent soil data “hyperlooping” framework, integrated with platforms like KNIME, R, and SQL, this comprehensive database supports enhanced digital soil assessment and mapping in Ontario, and beyond.
Parallelizable Chaotic Encryption for Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Xing Meng , Yu Hai , Zhang Wei , Zhu Zhiliang
Published: November 2024

High-resolution remote sensing images with complex contents have garnered significant attention for practical applications, which also pose substantial challenges related to space occupation, security, and information privacy. Compression is frequently coupled with encryption to balance the above-mentioned issues. Most existing methods for joint compression and encryption are primarily designed for common low-resolution images. Toward this end, we propose a novel compression-and-encryption algorithm for remote sensing images that maintains the JPEG format compatibility while virtually eliminating the block effects in the encrypted images. A novel block segmentation strategy that is friendly to simple images is first introduced, in which the original image is divided into nonoverlapping sub-blocks that are greater than the blocks in JPEG compression. The key that is utilized to encrypt the values of DC coefficients is generated through a fusion of the 2D Logistic-Sine-Coupling Map and SHA-512. After that, a parallel diffusion method is proposed for all nonzero AC coefficients, which significantly enhances the encryption efficiency. The global blocks permutation is conducted to further improve the security. Extensive experiments are carried out to demonstrate that our encryption scheme is highly efficient, provides enhanced security, and maintains format compliance for JPEG. Meanwhile, the presented method can resist various attacks to a certain extent.
Co-Secure Domination in Generalized Sierpiński Graph of Paths
Authors: Saraswathy Gisha , Menon Manju K.
Published: November 2024

Any network can be modeled by a connected graph [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the set of nodes and [Formula: see text] is the set of direct communication links between the nodes. Many graph theoretical parameters are helpful in the study of the efficiency and reliability of an interconnection network model. A dominating set [Formula: see text] is a co-secure dominating set if, for each [Formula: see text], there exists [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is adjacent to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is a dominating set. The minimum cardinality of a co-secure dominating set in [Formula: see text] is called the co-secure domination number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. The study of a co-secure dominating set is essential in interconnection networks as it studies the security in it. Sierpiński graphs and generalized Sierpiński graphs are one among the well-known networks. Applications for Sierpiński graphs may be found in many fields, such as computer science, chemistry, psychology, probability, and dynamic systems. Sierpiński graphs are explored in fractal theory. Generalized Sierpiński graphs may be used to represent polymer networks and [Formula: see text] recursive networks. In this paper, we have obtained an upper bound for the co-secure domination number of the generalized Sierpiński graph of paths, and we have proved that this bound is sharp.
The Stock and Option Market Response to Negative ESG News
Authors: Orpiszewski Tomasz , Thompson Mark James , Schwendner Peter
Published: November 2024

Synopsis

The research problem

This study investigates the response of stock prices and equity options to negative environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) incidents.

Motivation

Despite the growing significance of ESG news and the prominent role of equity options in portfolio management, empirical research on the relationship between options and ESG news remains notably scarce. Yet, the bulk of active asset managers, hedge funds, and investment banks continuously analyze stock prices and option prices simultaneously, to improve strategy performance and risk management and to search for information signals.

The test hypotheses

We hypothesize that negative ESG news events tend to negatively impact stock prices and trigger an increase in implied volatility (IV). We also postulate that the magnitude of market response is driven by the event characteristics, that is, “severity,” “novelty,” and “reach,” as well as the financial materiality.

Target population

Active asset managers, investment banks, regulators.

Adopted methodology

We employed a two-stage approach to analyze the effect of ESG events on stocks and option IVs. We estimated expected returns and expected change in IV using regression techniques. First, we used these to calculate abnormal returns (AR) and abnormal implied volatility (AIV). We then summed up the ARs and AIVs over several days to obtain cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) and cumulative abnormal changes in volatility (CAIV). Second, we used the CARs and CAIVs as dependent variables for fixed effect panel regressions.

Analyses

We created a large dataset of daily stock and options data on the companies from the S&P 500 index between 2006 and 2021. Most importantly, we use two unique datasets — one on negative ESG news from RepRisk and the other on options prices from OptionMetrics. Out of nearly 3 billion option prices, we extracted option implied volatilities for each stock, applied Bayesian imputation, and obtained daily average IV per stock.

Findings

Results of event studies indicate that, on average, option IV exhibits a minimal day-to-day reaction to ESG incidents. However, more severe incidents and those reported by major business sources result in a more pronounced increase in IV within 10 days following the event. Additionally, our empirical analysis highlights the influence of financial materiality on asset prices, as financially material ESG incidents lead to significant declines in stock prices and an upward surge in IV. Notably, this effect is particularly prominent for incidents related to natural capital. In conclusion, the options market incorporates information regarding ESG events, while stock prices exhibit comparatively lower and less systematic reactivity.
A Trustworthy and Untraceable Centralised Payment Protocol for Mobile Payment
Authors: Neera Jeyamohan , Chen Xiaomin , Aslam Nauman , Issac Biju
Published: November 2024

Current mobile payment schemes gather detailed information about purchases customers make. This data can then be used to infer a customer’s spending behaviour, potentially violating their privacy. To tackle this problem, we propose an untraceable mobile payment scheme that strikes a better balance, preserving user privacy while allowing the Third-Party Service Provider (TPSP) to collect necessary information such as card details and transaction amount for regulatory compliance. Our scheme offers untraceability for legitimate users from malicious adversaries and curious TPSPs using cryptographic primitives such as partially blind signatures, zero-knowledge proofs, and identity-based signatures. It also guarantees that only authorised TPSPs can issue valid payment tokens, and even with limited data, the TPSP can still prevent dishonest customers/merchants from double-spending a payment token. We also propose a comprehensive evaluation framework to assess the untraceable payment schemes against seven key criteria such as untraceability, exculpability—merchant double-spending, exculpability—customer double-spending, unforgeability, confidentiality, message authenticity, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. We rigorously benchmark the security and privacy of our proposed payment scheme against this framework and other established schemes. Furthermore, we formally verify these properties using complexity-based analysis and Proverif modelling.
Mechanised Safety Verification for a Distributed Autonomous Railway Control System
Authors: Sachtleben Robert , Haxthausen Anne , Peleska Jan
Published: November 2024

We present a distributed railway interlocking (IXL) method based on trains communicating with switch boxes deployed along the railway network for switching points and monitoring the occupancy states of track elements. The method does not require any centralised IXL components. A distributed architecture is proposed that carefully separates the overall business logic and automated train operation from the safety-critical automated train protection and distributed IXL logic. This architecture is also suitable for autonomous trains traversing the railway network. The safety of the IXL logic is formally proven, using the Isabelle/HOL proof assistant. Experiments confirm that this proof-based approach is superior to model checking approaches, since the model checking effort grows exponentially with the size of the railway network. In contrast to this, the mathematical safety proof is performed once and for all railway networks fulfilling a realistic well-formedness condition. For a concrete network, only the well-formedness of the network and its initial train placements has to be verified, whereas the safety of the dynamic behaviour is a consequence of the network-independent safety proof.
Long‐Term Effects of Sugarcane Cultivation on the Physicochemical Quality Indices of Saline and Sodic Soils: A Case Study of South Khuzestan
Authors: Hashemy Najm , Khademalrasoul Ataallah , Ghafari Heidar , Zahirnia Ali Reza
Published: November 2024

Sugarcane cultivation has a long history in Iran, particularly in Khuzestan province. However, the sugarcane expansion has always been challenging due to environmental impacts and high water demand in this area. Changing soil quality (SQ) is one of the environmental impacts caused by the sugarcane expansion which can be considered when making decisions. Therefore, this research was carried out to assess the long‐term effects of sugarcane cultivation on the SQ. For this purpose, soil samples were taken from the sugarcane fields (SC) of Mirza Koochak Khan Site and surrounding lands with different land use such as wheat–rice rotation (WR) and desert pasture (DP) from 0 to 30 cm depth. After air‐drying and sieving (2‐mm), soil samples were analyzed for several key physicochemical properties. Two sets of data were generated, including the total dataset (TDS) and the minimum dataset (MDS). Finally, the changes in SQ were investigated using soil quality indices (SQIs) such as IQI and NQI. The results depicted that both selected indicators were able to quantify the SQ changes between different land uses. Moreover, there was a positive and strong correlation (R2 = 0.80–0.92) between the SQI obtained from both the TDS and MDS, indicating that if the TDS is not available, the MDS can be used to assess and monitor changes in SQ. Regardless of the type of dataset and the type of index, the SQ of SC is significantly higher than that of the others. According to the IQITDS and NQITDS indices, the functional capacity of the soil in the SC was 68% and 52%, respectively, which is between 44% and 58% higher than that of the DP. The functional capacity of the soil in the WR and DP were 61% and 44%, respectively. Soil compaction and water infiltration rates are the important issues that need to be addressed to improve soil productivity of SC.
Release Kinetics of Boron in Acidic Soils as Affected by Calcium Form Different Sources
Authors: Bowichean Roongnapa , Bell Richard William , Cheng Miaomiao , Thanachit Suphicha , Anusontpornperm Somchai
Published: November 2024

Boron (B) release mechanism is vital in supplying available B, particularly in acidic soils, because a temporary B deficiency can be triggered when liming the soil. This research was conducted with the aim at elucidating the role of Ca on B release kinetics in three acidic soils of Thailand to ascertain the kinetic release of B as affected by added calcium (Ca) from two sources: ground limestone (GL) and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Topsoil samples were incubated with either GL or CaCl2 at 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 times of the lime requirement for 7 days; thereafter, the soil pH and the kinetics of B release were analyzed based on successive extractions with 0.01 M CaCl2 solution for 72 h, which was comparatively described using four kinetic models: Elovich, parabolic diffusion, power function, and first‐order of which each model would differently provide unique insights into the kinetic release of plant nutrient from soil. The added Ca significantly affected B release into the soil with the release kinetics of B in the two‐time segments only conforming to the power function model in which approximately 70% of B was released rapidly during the initial phase and the rest was in a slow‐release phase later on. Compared at the same rates of Ca applied, CaCl2 accelerated more B release than GL with no statistical difference in some soils. This was directly impacted by a decrease in soil pH as significantly caused by the addition of CaCl2. In addition, the B release rate significantly correlated with soil organic matter (r = 0.699∗∗, p < 0.01). Our findings suggested that increasing soil organic matter should be recommended to provide more B availability but liming or using GL as a Ca source should be cautious as it can lead to B deficiency for plants grown in these acidic soils.
Induction of Innate Immune Memory in LPS‐Primed Microglial Cells by Water‐Soluble Chitosan
Authors: Thu Vo Thuy Anh , Hoang Thi Xoan , Park Jae Kweon , Kim Jae Young
Published: November 2024

Innate immune memory or trained immunity refers to a long‐lasting response of the innate immune cells against repeated exposure to the homogenous or heterogenous infectious agent. The trained immunity is induced through epigenetic modification and is characterized by the change of both intracellular immunological signaling and cellular metabolism. Recently, different groups have tried to establish protocols to generate trained innate immune cells. However, the molecular basis of innate memory induction remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the impact of water‐soluble chitosan on the innate immune memory induction in microglial cells primed with LPS. The trained‐immune response was accessed by measuring proinflammatory markers, metabolic change, and epigenetic modification. We showed that the stimulation/restimulation with LPS only caused a robust reduction of iNOS, and proinflammatory cytokines, indicating induced immune tolerance. In contrast, the treatment of chitosan induces long‐lasting memory microglial cells accompanied by a high level of iNOS, increased lactate production, induced epigenetic modification, and the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines upon further exposure to the same stimulus. These findings suggest that chitosan induces microglial‐trained immunity by targeting distinct epigenetic and metabolic pathways; therefore, chitosan treatment may provide a novel approach for targeting innate immunity towards a memory‐like response in an in vitro model.
KIT V560D‐Mutated Systemic Mastocytosis Associated With High‐Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Unique Case of Systemic Mastocytosis–Associated Hematologic Neoplasm
Authors: Medawar Georgio , Sakalabaktula Krishna , Magri Jenna , Rinker Elizabeth , Baratam Praneeth
Published: November 2024

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of mast cells in the bone marrow and/or other organs. SM‐associated hematologic neoplasm (SM‐AHN) is one of the advanced SM variants that usually confer a poor prognosis. We present a case of a 75‐year‐old female patient with SM‐AHN, specifically myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), that harbored a unique KIT mutation KIT V560D, not previously described in the literature in this setting. We describe the clinical course and the outcome with the use of avapritinib, midostaurin, and decitabine‐cedazuridine.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00782067
Associations Between Childhood Neglect and Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Effect of Avoidant Coping
Authors: Eggert Laura , Kenntemich Laura , von Hülsen Leonie , Gallinat Jürgen , Schäfer Ingo , Lotzin Annett
Published: November 2024

Background: Individuals with a history of childhood neglect may be vulnerable to develop depression, as they may more often use avoidant strategies to cope with the stressors. This study examined (1) whether a history of childhood neglect was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and (2) whether avoidant coping behaviors mediated this association.

Methods: In total, N = 2245 German adults (mean age = 41.1 years, age range = 18–82 years, 70.2% female) were recruited from the general population between June and September 2020 during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Childhood neglect (Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire [ACE]), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ‐9]), and three avoidant coping behaviors (substance use, behavioral disengagement, and self‐blame; Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced [COPE]) were assessed. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we examined the direct pathway from childhood neglect to depressive symptoms in a simultaneous parallel multiple mediation model and the possible mediating paths of avoidant coping behaviors.

Results: Childhood neglect was positively and significantly associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.24, p < 0.01) while controlling for the presence of childhood abuse. The three avoidant coping behaviors significantly mediated this association (substance use: bias‐corrected 95% confidence intervals [BC 95% CI], 0.02, 0.05; behavioral disengagement: BC 95% CI, 0.04, 0.12; and self‐blame: BC 95% CI, 0.16, 0.19). Post hoc contrasts between the mediators showed that self‐blame had a significantly stronger indirect effect than substance use (BC 95% CI, −0.12, −0.01).

Conclusions: This study provides evidence that avoidant coping behaviors mediate the association between childhood neglect and depressive symptoms in adults. Avoidance coping behaviors may be a promising target for psychological interventions to reduce depressive symptoms.
Salicylic Acid Mitigates Cadmium Stress in Wheat: Experimental Insights Into Growth and Biochemical Parameters
Authors: Zulfiqar Asma , Gul Beenish , Saleem Ammara , Islam Areeba , Zulfiqar Usman , Ali Muhammad Fraz , Nawaz Mohsin , Al-Ghamdi Abdullah Ahmed , Rizwana Humaira
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of salicylic acid (SA) on wheat subjected to cadmium (Cd) stress. The experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2022‐2023 (November to February) at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. The study involved four wheat varieties: Akbar‐2019, Galaxy‐2013, Ujala‐16, and Chakwal‐86. The study utilized a factorial design with three replicates, examining three Cd levels (0.1 mM, 0.2 mM, and 0.3 mM) and two SA levels (0.5 mM and 0.9 mM). SA was applied as a seed priming agent, while cadmium sulfate (CdSO4) solution induced Cd toxicity. Various growth parameters, including plant height, total plant length, leaf length, leaf breadth, and leaf area, were measured alongside physiological and biochemical parameters such as total chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H2O2), and antioxidants (total soluble protein, CAT, and APX)—to assess the effects of SA under Cd stress. The results indicated that the application of 0.5 mM SA resulted in the highest vegetative growth and maximum physiological and biochemical parameters, while 0.3 mM Cd significantly reduced growth. The performance of the treatments was observed in the following order: 0.5 mM SA > 0.3 mM Cd. Ujala‐16 showed intermediate growth and yield, while Chakwal‐86 had the lowest growth rate and yield. The study demonstrated that SA mitigates Cd stress effects, with 0.9 mM SA and 0.1 mM Cd yielding the highest growth, second only to 0.5‐ and 0.9‐mM SA treatments. These findings underscore the potential of SA to enhance wheat growth and yield in Cd‐contaminated soils. In conclusion, SA is suggested as a beneficial treatment for improving productivity and economic returns in Cd‐stressed areas. Future recommendations include conducting long‐term studies to evaluate cumulative treatment effects and investigating how salicylic acid mitigates cadmium stress through biochemical pathways and gene expression, enhancing agricultural practices.
From Body to Substance: Islamic Menstruation Laws in the Shadow of Late Antiquity?
Authors: Scheunchen Tobias
Published: November 2024

This essay traces the development of the Islamic legal discourse on menstruation (ḥayd) in the formative and classical periods of Islamic law (until approximately 1200 ce). I argue that, unlike their late antique predecessors and contemporaries, Muslim jurists parsed menstrual blood, with its perceived ability to travel and pollute other bodies and substances, as a generically polluting substance (the “substance-thesis”). This development marked a noteworthy departure from rabbinic law, in which the menstruating female body was regarded as inherently impure. The complex and sophisticated conceptual shift in Islamic legal discourse involved the participation of Muslim jurists, exegetes, theologians, and grammarians, who constructed and justified the new social boundaries between men and menstruant women in their respective disciplines. By treating menstruation laws as part of a comprehensive cultural regime governing the body, I seek to understand the nexus between Islamic menstruation laws and the social worlds they constituted, historically examining the conceptual shifts in the logic of making such laws. The essay puts sociological and anthropological theories in conversation with a wide array of Islamic legal and quasi-legal sources, offering a model for understanding the legal and cultural process by which Islamic (menstruation) laws became codified against the backdrop of much older late antique legal epistemologies.
In vitro efficacy of the skin peptide Brevinin-1Da against two isolates of the Global Pandemic Lineage of the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Authors: Ujszegi János , Vörös Judit , Hettyey Attila
Published: November 2024

The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), causing chytridiomycosis, continues to threaten the existence of hundreds of amphibian species worldwide. It has remained difficult to predict the sensitivity of species to the disease, but skin-secreted antimicrobial peptides have been proposed to provide effective defences. In this study we tested this hypothesis by assessing in vitro the bioactivity of the antimicrobial peptide Brevinin-1Da, which is known to be synthesized in the skin of agile frogs (Rana dalmatina), against two isolates (IA042 and Hung_2014) of the highly virulent Global Pandemic Lineage (GPL) of Bd. Our results showed for the first time that Brevinin-1Da can inhibit the growth of Bd, and its efficacy appeared to be similar to that of other members of the Brevinin-1 peptide family isolated from other Ranid frogs. Finally, efficacy of Brevinin-1Da appeared to be higher against the Bd isolate Hung_2014, which was isolated in the core area of Rana dalmatina’s geographic distribution, and lower against IA042, which was isolated from outside the current distribution of this frog species. These results show that the efficacy of Brevinin-1Da may contribute to the previously documented resistance of agile frogs and that the sensitivity of Bd to the chemical defence of hosts can vary depending on the isolate.
Unpacking Police and Policing in New York City Through the Lens of Caribbean Immigrants
Authors: Wallace Wendell C.
Published: November 2024

Immigrant perceptions of the police and policing hold important implications for police departments, police administrators and immigrants. In the aftermath of several police killings of African-Americans and the harsh and oppressive treatment of immigrants during the Donald Trump administration (January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021), immigrants in the United States are becoming increasingly wary of the police. During the past three to four decades, research on immigrant perceptions of police and policing has proliferated, especially in the United States where a large number of immigrants reside. Despite the proliferation of scholarship on immigrant perceptions of police in host communities, research examining Caribbean immigrants’ perceptions of police and policing is almost non-existent. In an attempt to bridge this gap, the current study utilized a qualitative approach to gather data from 37 Caribbean immigrants in New York City (Boroughs of Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island) between June and July 2023 to ascertain their perceptions of the police in New York City. The findings indicate a lack of confidence, high levels of distrust and avoidance of the police in New York City. Five themes emerged from the dataset, namely: (a) bias, (b) poor treatment of Blacks, people of color, minorities and immigrants, (c) unlikable, (d) caring professionals, and (e) avoidance.
Public Opinion, Immigration Enforcement, and Donald Trump: A Micro-Level Analysis
Authors: Dzordzormenyoh Michael K.
Published: November 2024

This study examines the variables that influence public opinion regarding immigration enforcement in the United States during a period of heightened anti-immigration sentiments and policies. Specifically, this study investigates the factors that contributed to public support for or against police stops aimed at undocumented immigrants during the Trump presidency. By focusing on undocumented immigrants rather than the entire spectrum of immigrants, this study makes a unique contribution to the existing literature. To achieve this objective, this research used public opinion data across all 50 states in the United States and employed binary logistic regression analysis on the data. The results indicate that political ideology, party identification, region, and education significantly decreased the likelihood of public support for immigration enforcement against undocumented immigrants. On the other hand, age significantly increases public support for immigration enforcement. The findings partially support the assumptions of the group threat and conflict theories, and the study discusses the theoretical and policy implications of these results.
Influence of Trauma Patients Aged ≥55 With PEC in Long Stay in the Hospital and Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Resto Zulmari , Luque Ilko , López Nicole , Mendez Hector , Javier Mariel , Ramirez Marcela , Morejón Orlando , McKenney Mark
Published: November 2024

Background

Trauma and pre-existing conditions (PECs) can independently impact patient hospital length of stay (H-LOS) or intensive care unit (ICU) ICU-LOS. Pre-existing conditions impact on LOS has rarely been studied in older trauma patients aged ≥55. Our purpose is to examine the relationship between PEC status and ICU-LOS and H-LOS in this population.

Methods

This is a 3-year retrospective study, for calendar years 2020 through 2022. Multiple linear regression was used for analysis. Confounding factors were controlled for. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05.

Results

There were 5168 patients (54.9% female) reviewed. The age breakdown was 51.6% were 70-80 years old. The injury breakdown showed 49.1% mild injury. The mean H-LOS was 6.00 and mean ICU-LOS was 2.55. Having certain PECs increases H-LOS, including congestive heart failure (CHF) by 2.29 days ( P < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 1.10 days ( P < 0.001), and chronic renal failure (CRF) by 0.96 days ( P = 0.02). Increases in ICU-LOS were associated with having certain PECs, specially CRF by 1.03 days ( P < 0.001) and CHF by 1.47 days ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Older trauma patients aged ≥55 with certain PECs had an associated increase in ICU and hospital length of stay. Identifying PEC is essential for the care and management of any patient. Identification of PECs on injured patients is essential since this can prolong the LOS. Early involvement of specialists in patient care directed to each PEC may improve these outcomes.
Exploratory study on reference intervals of calprotectin and pentraxin 3
Authors: Alfirevic Igor , Saracevic Andrea , Cicak Helena , Galic Hrvoje , Radisic Biljak Vanja , Simundic Ana-Maria
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The aim of our study was to determine reference intervals for serum pentraxin 3 and calprotectin, as well as for urine calprotectin according to the CLSI EP28-A3C guidelines for defining, establishing, and verifying reference intervals in the clinical laboratory.

Materials and methods

A total of 120 serum and urine samples from either healthy volunteers or outpatients were used for reference interval establishment. The participants had CRP levels, leucocyte counts, serum urea levels, creatinine levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (CKD-EPI eGFRs) within the reference range and no medical history of acute/chronic inflammatory diseases/conditions or cancer. Calprotectin was measured via a commercially available turbidimetric method – the Bühhlmann fCAL® Turbo Reagent Kit – while pentraxin 3 was measured using the Human Pentraxin 3 ELISA Kit from the BioVendor Group.

Results

The serum calprotectin reference range was ≤3.6 mg/L, the 90% CI for the upper reference range was 3.1–4.1 mg/L, while the serum pentraxin 3 reference concentration was ≤3.0 µg/L, and the 90% CI for the upper reference range being 2.7–3.2 µg/L. Additionally, the urinary calprotectin concentration was ≤1.4 mg/L, with a 90% CI for the upper reference range of 1.0–1.7 mg/L.

Conclusion

This study reports sample and method-specific reference intervals for the detection of various inflammatory conditions.
Mobile Flu Fighter! Development and Pilot Implementation of a Mobile Vaccination Program to Reduce Pediatric Influenza Vaccination Disparities
Authors: Denney Meredith R. , Moore Kelly , Patterson Barron , Bialostozky Adriana , Williams Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

Severe pediatric influenza outcomes disproportionately affect racial minority groups, yet flu vaccination rates are often lower in these populations. Community Engagement Studios were conducted among parents/caregivers who refused flu vaccination for their children to discuss vaccination decision-making. A pilot program, Mobile Flu Fighter!, was created for pediatric patients in Nashville, Tennessee, and 4 events were conducted during the 2021 to 2022 flu season. Events provided free flu vaccines to all eligible children (aged 6 months to <18 years old), recorded vaccinations in electronic medical records and the state vaccine registry, and incorporated community partners. Events resulted in 49 pediatric flu vaccinations. Patient flu vaccination rates were compared with previous seasons, which resulted in an overall decrease in 2.9% to 3.5%. The decrease may be influenced by factors like COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, vaccine infodemics, and not employing family-centered approaches. More work is necessary to reduce pediatric vaccination disparities.
Treating Noneffortful Responses as Missing
Authors: DeMars Christine E.
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the treatment of rapid-guess (RG) responses as missing data within the context of the effort-moderated model. Through a series of illustrations, this study demonstrates that the effort-moderated model assumes missing at random (MAR) rather than missing completely at random (MCAR), explaining the conditions necessary for MAR. These examples show that RG responses, when treated as missing under the effort-moderated model, do not introduce bias into ability estimates if the missingness mechanism is properly accounted for. Conversely, using a standard item response theory (IRT) model (scoring RG responses as if they were valid) instead of the effort-moderated model leads to considerable biases, underestimating group means and overestimating standard deviations when the item parameters are known, or overestimating item difficulty if the item parameters are estimated.
Exploring the Evidence to Interpret Differential Item Functioning via Response Process Data
Authors: Li Ziying , Shin Jinnie , Kuang Huan , Huggins-Manley A. Corinne
Published: November 2024

Evaluating differential item functioning (DIF) in assessments plays an important role in achieving measurement fairness across different subgroups, such as gender and native language. However, relying solely on the item response scores among traditional DIF techniques poses challenges for researchers and practitioners in interpreting DIF. Recently, response process data, which carry valuable information about examinees’ response behaviors, offer an opportunity to further interpret DIF items by examining differences in response processes. This study aims to investigate the potential of response process data features in improving the interpretability of DIF items, with a focus on gender DIF using data from the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2012 computer-based numeracy assessment. We applied random forest and logistic regression with ridge regularization to investigate the association between process data features and DIF items, evaluating the important features to interpret DIF. In addition, we evaluated model performance across varying percentages of DIF items to reflect practical scenarios with different percentages of DIF items. The results demonstrate that the combination of timing features and action-sequence features is informative to reveal the response process differences between groups, thereby enhancing DIF item interpretability. Overall, this study introduces a feasible procedure to leverage response process data to understand and interpret DIF items, shedding light on potential reasons for the low agreement between DIF statistics and expert reviews and revealing potential irrelevant factors to enhance measurement equity.
Reciprocal Relations Between Climate Change Anxiety and Pro-Environmental Behavior
Authors: Kühner Clara , Rudolph Cort W. , Zacher Hannes
Published: November 2024

The temporal precedence of the association between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior has not yet been established. This study examines reciprocal relations between the two variables while controlling for personal values to rule out potential third-variable explanations. Based on theorizing on the functionality of anxiety and self-perception theory, it was hypothesized that climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior positively predict each other. Building on value-belief-norm theory and related empirical work, it was further expected that biospheric and altruistic values positively predict both climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior. Two-wave panel data across 6 months were collected from N = 1,355 individuals in Germany. Results showed that climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior positively, albeit weakly, predicted each other across a 6-month interval, while controlling for personal values. Biospheric, but not altruistic, values positively predicted pro-environmental behavior, and neither biospheric nor altruistic values significantly predicted climate change anxiety.
Assessing the Predictive Value of the SAMe-TT2R2 Score for Poor Anticoagulation Control in a Diverse Ethnic Population
Authors: Mohamed Sahimi , Nik Abdul Rahman Nik Najibah , Tan Jun Yuan , Selvam Tarani , Zulkifly Hanis Hanum ,   Cardiology Subspecialty Working Committee
Published: November 2024

Introduction: In Asian countries, warfarin is still widely used for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation compared to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) due to its affordability. A tool such as the SAMe-TT2R2 is needed to determine the probability of achieving and maintaining good anticoagulation control with warfarin therapy. However, it requires validation in the Malaysian cohort. Therefore, the objective of our study is to validate the SAMe-TT2R2 score in predicting poor anticoagulation control in Malaysia. A time in therapeutic range (TTR) < 65% was used to determine poor anticoagulation control. Method: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from July 2022 to July 2023. Patients were enrolled in 2020 from 49 facilities located across Malaysia resulting in a total of 957 included patients. TTR was calculated using Roseendaal’s method. Results: The mean (SD) TTR and SAMe-TT2R2 score in the overall cohort is 65.2% (±24) and 5.5 (±0.9) respectively. Almost half of the population (43.7%) has the SAMe-TT2R2 score of 5. Having diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and increasing HAS-BLED and SAMe-TT2R2 score affects anticoagulation control on univariate analysis. However, after adjusting for demographics and clinical variables on multivariate analysis, only the SAMe-TT2R2 score as a continuous variable persists in predicting poor anticoagulation control. A SAMe-TT2R2 score cut-off point of >5 best predicts poor anticoagulation control with a sensitivity of 0.49 and a specificity value of 0.68. Conclusion: The SAMe-TT2R2 score, especially when exceeding 5, was associated with a higher likelihood of poor anticoagulation control, emphasizing its relevance in clinical assessment. However, its limited predictive capability, reflected by a C-statistic of 0.548, suggests the need for cautious interpretation and consideration of additional factors in anticoagulation management decisions. Continuous monitoring and personalized strategies are crucial for optimizing outcomes in this population.
Local ruling elites and historical origin of modern state capacity: Evidence from rural Japan
Authors: Shen Jiali
Published: November 2024

How to explain the spatial variation in state capacity at the sub-national level? This study develops a historical explanation in which the relationship between traditional local ruling elites and the new central government leads to persistent differences in state capacity at the sub-national level. Using data from rural areas in Japan, this study finds that areas once ruled by daimyo who supported the new central government now have higher state capacity, and this result still holds even after accounting for spatial spillovers and making causal inference. Using the case of modern state-building in Japan, this study shows that the relationship between local elites and the central government in the early stages has a long-term impact on the expansion of state capacity.
Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Small and Medium Enterprises Performance in Botswana
Authors: Khwae Goitseone Bridget
Published: November 2024

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are an essential component of an economy. However, in today’s increasingly challenging business environment, SMEs encounter challenges in their performance. Therefore, there is a necessity to identify strategies that can enhance their performance such as Entrepreneurial Orientation. Guided by the resource-based view and dynamic capability theory, the study assessed the impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation and SMEs performance. A survey research design was adopted to gather information from SMEs in Gaborone through the quantitative method. Data from 368 SMEs owners/managers were collected and analyzed through Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) technique. From statistical results, all dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, except risk-taking have a significant impact on SMEs’ performance. This evaluation may assist decision makers in enhancing their business practices consequently influencing their performance and insightful implications for researchers.